Exclusive

1 - Hiding

Disclaimer: I do not own anything that pertains to Glee or references to popular culture. 

1

Hiding

At the end of the hallway of William McKinley High, a tall dark senior stood next to a particular locker. He wore the traditional red and white Letterman jacket that gleamed under the ceiling's incandescent light and his refined face glossed over a piece of notebook paper instructing him to meet his Friday night date. He was the kind of guy everyone liked. The kind of guy every girl had a crush on; and the kind of guy Kurt Hummel deemed suitable for his best friend, Mercedes Jones.

*~*~*

When Kurt and Mercedes walked into the cafeteria for lunch today, they noticed it was swarming with a myriad of juniors and seniors wearing winter coat jackets over hooded sweatshirts. Usually during lunch most students sat outside in the courtyard, but with the heavy rainstorms pouring all day it seemed everyone wanted to stay dry today.

"So," Kurt frankly began as they tried to find an empty seat, "I know since my relationship with Blaine flourished you've been substituting me as a boyfriend." He glanced from the corner of his eye the skepticism brewing in Mercedes and promptly realized he needed to get his point across fast. "But have no fear, because I know love is just around the corner for you too," he exclaimed as their steps halted a few feet away from a table where the football players and cheerleaders sat.

"You see him?" Kurt pointed to a guy with a coffee brown complexion and wearing a red and white Letterman jacket. Mercedes shifted her gaze to whom Kurt was pointing at. He was sitting at the far end of the table looking over a piece of notebook paper. "His name's Anthony Rashād. He's the wide receiver on the football team and a member of The Black Student Union. And I, my best friend, have set you up on an exclusive date with him tomorrow night."

"A date?" Mercedes warily asked, her eyes widening with the sudden engagement Kurt had bestowed upon her.

"Yes," Kurt happily nodded.

"With him?" Mercedes pointed, "Tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"But...," Mercedes reluctantly thought, "why?"

"Okay Mercedes," Kurt put his hands on her shoulders, "it seems you're not getting the concept here."

"But-"

"I know this seems completely forced upon you," he looked into her eyes with no means of contempt, "but please know it's for your own good."

RING

"He'll meet you at your locker," he entailed and with a sudden wave of goodbye scrambled out of the way before the entire student body stampeded inside the hallway.

"But -,"

...I've never seen him before, Mercedes thought and looked back to watch the football player named Anthony meet her at her locker.

Mercedes walked out of the cafeteria wondering what had just occurred. She didn't get Kurt at times and especially this week it felt like he was signing her off. First it was cancelling on bowling to be with Blaine and now telling her she was substituting him as a boyfriend. But I know he's gay, she consciously thought as she started to walk down the hallway. She envisaged if she had seen this date coming and didn't know how to comprehend the situation at hand. She turned a corner and unexpectedly heard the resonance of the rain outside. Her head quickly jerked up to the pouring sound and noticed at the far end of the hallway the florescent green exit sign glowing above the opened doors. I really don't want to go on that date tomorrow, Mercedes thought as she gazed at the neon green sign.