The final chapter!
Thank you everyone that followed Noah and Kurt through their journey of healing.
Chapter 12: how to heal a person.
Is this a dream?
If it is
Please don't wake me from this high
I'd become comfortably numb
Until you opened up my eyes
It had been five days since Kurt's graduation and there were two more days until he, Santana, Rachel and Brittany flew out to New York and he and Noah had barely seen each other. He wasn't sure if he was avoiding Noah or if Noah was avoiding him but they only saw glimpses of each other recently, sharing quick kisses if in the same location or quick talks on the phone at night.
And Kurt didn't know if he preferred it that way or not. Blaine had done the same thing earlier on in the year where he became distant in order to get used to a Kurt free life and he wasn't sure if that was what Noah was doing. It didn't help that Kurt refused to track him down either. As much as the pale boy wanted to be near the bronze teen constantly, he knew it was a stupid thing to do, seeing as they would be hundreds of miles apart in 48 hours.
Kurt had first thought that Noah was avoiding him because they had sex again, put he quickly had that thought squashed when Noah laughed at him then proceeded to fuck him senseless against the wall. He then thought that Noah regretted saying he loved Kurt and didn't mean it, but once again Noah laughed down the phone and promised with all his heart that it beat for Kurt. Which was sweet, but still left his questions unanswered.
So here he was now, Packing up his room with the help of Blaine, half listening to Blaine recall his latest boyfriend, some man called Eli.
"He started messaging me on facebook and we agreed to meet and then one thing led to another" Blaine smiled as he neatly folding a jumper of Kurt's and placed it in a box.
"We broke up less than a month ago and how many boys have you slept with since then?" Kurt asked teasingly and he threw a pair of last seasons jeans in the 'ditch' pile. He wasn't sure if he actually wanted that question answered actually.
"7, 8 tonight is things go to plan" Blaine mumbled quietly, making Kurt suspicious.
"And who is this lucky man?" Kurt asked with narrowed eyes as more and more clothes fell into the 'ditch' pile. He didn't even realise he owned half of his wardrobe and half his clothing still had tags on them.
"Promise you wont get mad?" Blaine said with a faltered smile as he did a good job of avoiding his ex boyfriend's eyes.
"As long as you don't say Noah, I'll keep calm. After all, I don't think it could be any worse the when you told me you fucked Sebastian" Kurt grimaced at the thought of it.
"Chandler" Blaine stage whispered.
"WHAT!" Kurt screeched. "The guy you thought I was cheating on you with?" Kurt gaped in horror to the back of Blaine's gelled head.
"Yeah, sorry about that" Blaine muttered casually as he went back to folding more clothes.
Kurt chose to ignore his slut of an ex boyfriend, instead he picked up his ringing phone and smiled when Noah's name flashed across the screen.
"Hey, Noah" Kurt smiled down the phone.
"Hey, Princess. Bad news I'm afraid, Ma's fallen ill and she isn't up for visitors today" Noah replied in a solemn voice, which wiped the smile completely from Kurt's face.
"Oh no" Kurt frowned as he sat on his bed. "How am I meant to say goodbye to her before I leave?"
"Hopefully she'll be better in time to see you off at the airport" Noah grunted, actually grunted, breathlessly at that. A sound Kurt was sure he had heard before, during certain activities.
"Well, ok" Kurt mumbled into the phone, his frown deepening. "Will I still get to see you today?"
"Oh ah, about that *breathless grunt* I'm going to stay here today to help her get better. Like I said, she's not up for visitors so don't come over. *deep exhale and an addition muffled voice in the background* Love you babe, gotta go" and then the line went dead.
Kurt was left staring at his phone when the call disconnected, not really knowing what to make of what just happened. Why had his boyfriend been so abrupt? Why did he keep making excuses not to see him? Kurt felt immediately guilty for thinking such silly things. He trusted Noah, and if he's boyfriend said his mom was ill, then Kurt believed him.
"Everything alright?" Blaine asked softly as he re-emerged from the wardrobe with a armful of clothes.
"I don't know" Kurt replied, eyes still glued to his blank screen.
To what it's like
When everything's right
I can't believe
"You think he fell for it?" Finn asked Noah as he stretched himself out of the bed, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Hope so" Noah replied as he threw his phone on the bed next to his shirtless best friend and gave him a cheeky wink. "What he don't know can't hurt him right?"
"Same goes for Rachel" Finn replied as he smirked at his equally undressed friend. "Our little secret"
So, here we are
That's pretty far
When you think of where we've been
"Ok, lets go around in a circle and say what we are going to miss the most about Lima" Santana declared to Brittany and Rachel while they sat in their pyjama's on Rachel's bed.
"Glee Club" Rachel responded immediately with a definite nod of her head as she sat with her back against the head board of her Hello Kitty dressed bed.
"Over your own family and Finn? Douche move Rachel" Brittany chastised as she grabbed for her second slice of pizza.
"Well I can come visit them anytime" Rachel defended herself. "I'll never be the star of that club again. What about you guys"
"Noah" Brittany and Santana chorused together.
"You know what, I'm really going to miss him aswell, isn't that crazy?" Rachel vocalised and gave a dramatic pout.
"Not really" Santana answered as she painted her toes in deep jungle red. "Noah's the sweetest man I know under the Puck façade" she pulled her hand back to inspect her work and smiled when she was satisfied.
"Him and Kurt could have been so good together" Rachel whispered miserably.
"Hey don't write them off so soon" Santana laughed. "They are still going to be together. They'll talk every night, visit each other over holidays and Noah said himself, that if they still love each other after a year apart, and things at home are good, that he might come and join us"
"I can't believe Finn is joining the army though" Brittany mumbled through a mouthful of pizza giving no care as half of it sprayed from her mouth.
"Do not start me on that one" Rachel spat angrily as she straight sat straight. "if it's meant to be, it'll happen, whether it's a week from now or five years" she mimicked her boyfriend, or should she say ex, considering he pretty much broke up with her earlier that day. That was the reason that Santana and Brittany were over at her house. She had called an emergency slumber party for the future New Yorkers and was glad when the girls turned up on her doorstop with ice cream and pizza. Kurt had declined the offer due to previous engagements with Mercedes and Tina.
"Finn's an idiot, but the love you two have for each other will last forever. In 5 years time, you will both look back on this experience, in your New York apartment and laugh" Santana comforted, happy to of gained a weak smile from her.
No going back
I'm fading out
All that has faded me within
"Tina, it is officially your job to watch over Blaine to make sure he doesn't contract STD's before he joins us in New York next year" Kurt said with struggle through his tight face mask.
"I'll do my best" Tina replied with equal struggle. "I'll also make sure Puck keeps it in his pants as well. Although it'll be hard to keep an eye on him while he's at Lima University"
"He got into Lima?" Kurt asked in surprise, although his facemask resisted his facial movements.
"Yeah, he apparently got his acceptance letter this morning" Mercedes said as she rubbed cocoa butter into her arms and face. "Didn't he tell you?"
"No, we had a brief conversation earlier, but he seemed somewhat preoccupied" Kurt mumbled, sticking his bottom lip out as far as the face mask would allow.
"Uh-Oh. What's that tone of voice about?" Mercedes asked curiously as she placed the cream on the vanity and turned to face her pale friend.
"Nothing, I'm probably over thinking things. His mom's ill so he was probably busy looking after her." Kurt replied with a shrug of his shoulders and turned from her questioning gaze.
"She seemed fine when I saw her at the store earlier" Tina said in confusion as she picked gently at the corner of her mask.
"What?!" Kurt asked in horror, his eyebrows flying so high that his mask cracked along his forehead and cheeks.
"I could have been mistaken though" Tina quickly added with wide eyes. "Puck wouldn't lie to you, surely" she comforted him and patted his knee for good measure and when Kurt looked away, her and Mercedes shared a quick look between each other.
"Of course not" Kurt mumbled and tried to squash the niggling doubt inside of him. He trusted Noah, he was sure of it. Yes they had been distant lately, but Kurt had been extremely busy with packing and saying goodbyes to people. And Noah had obviously been busy getting into colleges that Kurt had no knowledge of.
You're by my side
Now everything's fine
I can't believe
"I feel guilty" Finn declared randomly from the passenger seat as he and Noah drove to the airport to see off their significant others. "I'm not a natural liar" he moaned.
"We only have to keep it up until they are on the plane, dude" Noah laughed as he patted Finn in his thigh. "Do you wanna stop and pull out or something? He asked, fearing the answer. Finn was never one for secrets and lies and that's why he failed to find he fact that he was lusting after Rachel at the beginning of Sophomore year. Noah hoped to good that his skills had improved since then.
"Of course not" Finn said quickly, shaking his head. It's just… the consequences of what you and me are doing kinda scare me a bit"
"What's life without a bit of risk" Noah smirked and gave Finn's thigh a reassuring squeeze and which Finn gave a dopey smile to.
You found me
When no one else was lookin'
How did you know just where I would be?
"What's taking them so long? We have to be at our gate in twenty minutes" Kurt huffed in frustration as he pace the airport floor. His normal perfectly styled hair was a complete mess with the amount of times he had ran his hands through it.
"Relax buddy, he'll be here" Burt chuckled as he watched his son become more and more impatient. He laughed simply to mask his fears of practically losing his little boy.
"Finn just called" Carole smiled as she looked at both an impatient Kurt and a sobbing Rachel. "Their just pulling up outside now"
"I'm gonna go get him" Kurt decided as he began stalking towards the exit.
"No you're not" Burt laughed again as he grabbed his son by the wrist. "He knows where you are, now come and say goodbye to your old man"
And the flood gates opened for Kurt as he ran into his dad's arms. His father, the only constant thing in his life. Kurt had tried so hard not to cry or get overly emotional, he was 18 for Gucci sakes. Normal 18 year old boys didn't wail into their father's neck when they left home, but then again, when had Kurt ever been described as normal. He not only cried because he was leaving for New York, but cried because he was leaving his dad alone. Well with Carole and Finn, but it wasn't the same.
"I'm gonna miss you so much, Dad" Kurt's whole body shook violently as sobs ripped out of him. "I'll be back for thanksgiving, I promise" he declared determinedly.
"You better" Burt whispered wetly into his son's hair as he squeezed him tighten in his arms and tried to hold back his own tears, with little success.
"Here they come" Santana called out as Noah and Finn strolled into the airport. Noah as confident as ever and Finn seemingly avoiding eye contact with everyone and wringing his hands together.
Kurt broke free from his dads embrace and dashed up to his boyfriend, who caught him in his muscular arms.
"Slow down there, Princess" Noah chuckled into Kurt's neck. "We'll see each other again soon, it's not like it's forever" he continues as he nuzzled deeper, determined to lock the smell of Kurt's scent into his memory.
"It's going to feel like it" Kurt pouted as he pulled back slightly to wipe his tears away. "You're not ready to be alone. I could stay, that's it, I'm staying" Kurt rambled.
"Like hell you are, you are getting on that plane and having the best life you possibly can, Kurt. That's what I need you to do for me" Noah said sternly. If Kurt picked up on how his voice wobbled with emotion, he thankfully didn't mention it.
"You sure? Because I would stay if you asked me too" Kurt sniffed as his watery blue-green eyes locked with hazel ones.
"Princess, you healed me completely and gave me another shot at life, go live yours. We'll be back together before we know it" Noah promised and captured his boyfriends lips in a soft but meaningful kiss.
"I'm gonna miss you" Kurt whispered when they broke apart as more tears fell from his eyes.
"Hey, I'll always be in here" Noah reassured as he pointed to the pale boy's chest. "For as long as you'll have me"
"Always"
"Kurt, we got to go" Brittany called as she started making her way towards the gate. Kurt looked around quickly to see Santana standing next to him, obviously waiting to say goodbye, and Finn and Rachel is what seemed like a very tearful embrace.
"Love you" he whispered as he turned back to his boyfriend.
"Love you too, now go" Noah smiled, which quickly faded when Kurt finally left his arms.
"Take care of yourself, ok" Santana said as she approached Noah, with tears in her eyes. "I mean it, I almost lost you once before and I don't want to have it happen again. Call us anytime, day or night and I promise I'll answer"
"Come here" Noah smiled weakly and grabbed his best friend in his arms and held tightly. "I'll always love you, Panther" he whispered in a cracked voice.
"you too, Tiger"
And then Noah's arms were empty as Santana went and joined Brittany, Rachel and Kurt as they all disappeared from view.
Noah let a few stray tears fall slowly down his cheek as he stood, motionless.
"That was really fucking hard" Finn voice cracked as he walked up beside him with red rimmed eyes.
Noah couldn't speak due to the lump in his throat, so settled for nodding as they both stood there for several minutes.
"Boys" Nora Puckerman's voice came to them as she walked up with Sarah. " You okay?"
"Have they gone? Noah asked, his voice thick with unshed tears.
"Just boarded" Burt answered as he approached them and gave them both pats on the shoulder.
"Thanks Mr. Hummel, and Ma, all of you. For everything" Noah sniffed and coughed to clear his throat.
"Not a problem" Carole smiled sweetly at her son and his best friend. "Go do your thing boys"
With that, Finn and Noah looked at each other and smiled as they walked away from the adults and the gate.
"You Okay, dude?" Finn asked curiously as he eyed his best friend.
"I will be. You?"
"Same" he replied with a dopey smile.
"How can I help you" came the voice of a pretty young woman in front of them.
Noah and Finn ground to a halt at the desk and looked at her and then back at each other and smiled widely.
"2 one way tickets on the next available flight to New York please"
Yeah, you broke through
All of my confusion
The ups and the downs
And you still didn't leave
I guess that you saw what nobody could see
You found me
END!
Song - Kelly Clarkson - you found me.
there we have it, the end!
Left it open for a sequel should I choose to do one.
let me just explain a few things that you might find confusing:
the grunts down the phone and the 'Nora being ill' excuse were because Finn and Noah were busy packing up Noah's bedroom.
the army and university admission was a lie, the lie that Finn didn't think he'll keep.
and the reason why Kurt and Noah didn't see much of eachother in the last week was because kurt was busy and Noah was trying to come up with the money to go to New York, which the adults helped pay for (hence why he thanked them at the airport)
and I think that's it.
Thank you and goodbye.
Dame Ditta x