Chapter Text
Stories, gossip and tales of waking up the day after what had been the most epic New Years party ever kept the Glee club from talking of much else. Yet after a week of telling and hearing the same stories over and over again, the members of the New Directions began to try and make plans for the upcoming spring break. They all agreed that they wanted to do something together since it was their last year together for most of them, and everyone also agreed that leaving Lima was a necessity. But where to go?
During lunch one Tuesday, Blaine comes up with the first idea. “We could take a road trip to Boston. My mom and brother live there, and we could stay with them.”
“Is there anything to do in Boston?”
“I don’t even like the Sox!”
“Well, we could go to Nashville in Tennessee. My house isn’t too far out of town and we could go the Grand Ole Opry and check out the country music Hall of Fame. There is a ton of musical stuff in Nashville.” Sam interjected his suggestion, hoping beyond all hope that his friends would want to go to Nashville. He missed his family, and this would be the perfect chance to see them again.
“San and I want to go to the beach. She says her cousin lives by the ocean, so maybe I could swim with a dolphin since Kurtie doesn’t like to get pool water in his hair.”
Everyone stared at Brittany for a moment before the table burst out in excitement.
“Santana, where exactly does your cousin live?” Kurt leaned over the table, trying to get the attention of the girl at the other end.
“Panama City. Brits and I are gonna go gets our tans on surrounded by the hot college crowd.” The Latina grinned as jealous murmurs broke out along the table.
Everyone’s attention was diverted from their various topics of discussion when Blaine stood up, calling for attention. “We all want to spend spring break together, right?” A chorus of ‘yeah’ answered back and the curly haired teen couldn’t help but smile. “We can take going to my mom’s off of the short list of possibilities. I would like to suggest that we take a road trip down to Panama City, where we can all spend the week on the beach hanging out.”
“I agree.” Rachel stood, standing next to the male vocalist, their heights nearly equal. “I would like to nominate myself to plan this trip. My leadership abilities are above those of anyone else, so I suggest you all agree that this is for the best.” Flipping her hair over her shoulder, the short girl flashed her widest smile, sure that this would be the best vacation ever thanks to her masterful planning.
Shaking her head, Mercedes stood, pushing her chair back from the table. “Aw hell naw, hobbit. This vacation is going to be fun, and not some Rachel Berry train wreck. I vote that Kurt and Kassie plan this thing. Look at what they pulled off at Christmas and New Years. I say we let them map out the details. We need people we can trust to make this the best spring break ever, and after their parties, I say we let them have it. Now, who’s with me?”
Every hand at the table with the exception of Rachel and the two in question raised into the air.
Grinning, Mercedes sat back down. “So it’s settled then. We’re going to Panama City!”
“It’s so not fair! This trip is going to be a disaster since no one is letting me plan it. I had such great ideas as well. We would all drive down to Florida and when there I would find us the greatest hotel right on the beach, and we could even have performances for all of the beach goers, with myself leading the songs. You would help as well, since I need you for the duets of course. Why did you vote against me, Finn?”
Pacing around her bedroom, Rachel crossed her arms across her blue and white polka-dotted dress and glared at her boyfriend. He hadn’t stuck up for her at all, and no, she wasn’t happy.
“I’m sorry, Rach. What do you want me to say? Mercedes had a point; Kurt threw a great dinner party downstairs in our basement even though he and Blaine had fought. Kassie and Lauren’s fancy costume party for new years was beyond epic. Those two should be able to plan such a big trip. There are seventeen of us going to Florida. They are used to planning big things, and anyway, if this doesn’t work out and they fail like epically, then everyone will know that you would have been better.”
Throwing herself at her boyfriend and pulling him into a hug, Rachel smiled before she kissed him on the cheek. “And this is why I love you, Finn Hudson. When they fail, and I’m sure they will, I know everyone will see that I was right all along.” She kissed the boy again, before standing and smoothing out her dress. “Now, get on that balance ball. We have to look perfect in our swim suits.”
“How are we going to afford this? Even if we got our parents to donate to our spring break cause, I don’t think we are going to have enough to cover this trip.” Kurt sighed heavily, leaning back against the wall of the choir room. He and his co-planner, Kassie Reynolds, had spent their entire lunch period in the choir room, papers strewn about as they tried to figure in their budget for the trip. It had been two weeks since everyone had agreed on a destination spot, and one since everyone had gotten permission from their parents to be able to go.
“Our budget just isn’t big enough. We will have to have at least two drivers and will probably have to rent vans in order to get us all to fit with our luggage and Artie’s chair. Figure in gas, and the fact that the bigger vehicles don’t get much mileage, we’re looking at a steep gasoline bill. Then hotel rooms, and food… we may as well give up.”
Thumping his head against the wall, Kurt caught himself frowning before he could catch himself and remember that frowning caused wrinkles. A ruffle of papers and Kassie’s voice pulled the boy from his negative thoughts.
“What can we help you with, sir?”
An unfamiliar man dressed in a black suit paired with a light gray shirt and black tie stood before the pair of teens, a confident smile spread across his rather chiseled features. From behind him stepped their fellow glee club member, Sugar. It was Kassie who spoke first.
“Hi, Sugar. Hello, Mr….”
“Motta. Al Motta. Sugar’s father.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, sir.” The pair quickly rose to their feet, Kassie a bit slower than Kurt thanks to the leg that had fallen asleep. They shook the man’s hand, before Kurt spoke again.
“How can we help you, sir?”
“I told Daddy how you all want to go to Panama City for spring break, but that you wouldn’t let me go because I’m too young.”
Kassie frowned a bit, recalling the decision that had been made about not only Sugar not going, but Rory as well since both were hardly fifteen. “Well yes. You and Rory are only fifteen; most of us agree that fifteen is still a bit young to be going on a road trip with other teenagers, only six of whom are eighteen. It is the responsible thing to do.”
“I quite agree; that is responsible thinking on your part Miss…”
“Reynolds, sir. Kassie Reynolds.”
“Miss Reynolds. I also see that you may not be able to go at all due to financial difficulties, am I correct?”
“Yes, Mr. Motta. It is true that we may have to cancel the trip or plan something else entirely, but I’m not sure exactly what you are getting at.”
Kurt stood back during the exchange, watching his friend and the strange adult speak. He had noticed that Sugar seemed to have her father wrapped around her finger, because he used to have his own father whipped just like that. He smirked to himself, figuring out what was coming next.
“Let me guess; you would like to offer us some money, and I would assume quite a bit of it if we let Sugar go with us.” Kurt stepped forward, his eyes slightly narrow as he looked over at his friend.
“You are right, mister… Hummel, isn’t it? In exchange for letting my daughter join you and the rest your group of friends on your roar trip, I would like to offer to pay for any and all lodgings, and I would be more than glad to offer my personal credit card to pay for all gasoline used on your trip.”
The seniors exchanged looks; both wanted this trip desperately, and knew their friends did as well. If that meant taking the annoying Sugar Motta along for the ride, then they would do it.
“You have a deal, Mr. Motta.”
The pair shook hands with the tall man as Sugar bounced around them, singing rather horribly that she was going to Florida.
“You have GOT to be shitting me!” Noah Puckerman shouted as he stood, bulky arms crossing his broad chest. “We have to take Sugar with us? Why not just take the money and run?” The boy huffed as he was pulled back down onto the couch by his girlfriend, Lauren Zizes.
The New Directions had gathered down in Kassie’s basement for a meeting about their trip the day after she and Kurt had had their talk with Mr. Motta. Everyone, including the red headed freshman and even Rory had shown, excited to hear how plans for their ten day vacation were going. Kurt stood; his hands on his hips.
“And that’s not all; after getting a phone call from a group of very excited boys, I have been given an offer from some of the Warblers. They have offered to lend as many vehicles we may need to transport everyone, and have offered to cover not only their own food and other spending costs, but to also pay for any unexpected expenses that may occur.”
As the boy paused for a breath, pandemonium broke out among the group:
“How do we know they don’t just want to spy on us?”
“We don’t really know them, how can we trust them to follow up on their word?”
“I bet that crab has something to do with this!”
Sighing heavily, Kurt looked over to Kassie for help. Shaking her head sadly, the girl stood, her hands crossed over her chest.
“Hey! Can it! Listen; we know the Warblers. Kurt and Blaine both used to be one. Yes, Wes and David did hear about the trip from Sebastian Smythe after Blaine had told him, but none of us agreed to keep our trip a secret. Kurt and I have even considered extending an olive branch and inviting one more person.”
Exchanging a look with the boy beside her, Kassie nodded at him to continue.
“I have taken to invite Dave Karofsky to join us.”
The large basement nearly exploded in a burst of shouts, screams and anger. The pair it was directed at merely shrugged at each other, waiting for their friends to come to their senses. After several long minutes in which neither teen thought the madness would end, a voice broke out from the middle of the crowd.
Tina had sat across Mike’s lap, having watched the whole spectacle from an outsider’s point of view. While everyone else had been enraged, she had been merely curious as to the situation.
“I don’t see why not. We all know Kurt has forgiven Dave for their past issues- we have known that since he and Santana started the Bully Whips. If Kurt of all people is willing to be nice to the guy who threatened his life and ran him away from his friends, then I don’t see why we can’t. I may not fully trust Karofsky, but I do trust Kurt.”
Dipping her head in the crook of Mike’s neck, the girl sighed heavily. Sometimes being quiet and reserved had its uses.
No one knew what to say to Tina’s comments. Everyone knew she was right, yet no one wanted to say so.
“Thank you, Tina. Thank you.”
“Now, all those in favor of Dave Karofsky, who will be putting in his share of the fee- joining us in going to Panama City?”
Kassie counted as ten hands slowly made their way through the air and she had to bite back a smile. “And it is decided. Dave will be joining us. Now, who wants to know what the rough plan is so far?”
As Kassie launched into a description of what had been planned so far, Kurt pulled his phone from his pocket to send a couple of text messages.
To: Hamhock
Looks like you’re joining us for spring break. Blaine managed to get the crab invited as well. This is shaping up to be a great vacation.
To: David
Alright boys, ND is all for you guys. Give me a head count and names.
From: Hamhock
I think I’m in for a world of trouble. See you later?
From: David
AWESOME! Looks like it’s me, Wes, Niff, Trent, Thad and the crab. I’ll offer to drive since I can seat 8.
To; Hamhock
Sure. See you in a bit.
To: David
I’ll let Kass know. Thanks. Tell everyone I said hi.
Setting his phone back down, Kurt caught the part where Kassie was explaining that since the trip was so long, they planned to split the driving over the course of two days.
“We figured that since we would be going right through Tennessee, we could go through Nashville. This way Sam can see his family, and we can tour Ryman Auditorium and go see a show at the Opry.”
Tapping the girl on the arm, Kurt cut in. “Looks like there will be twenty-five of us altogether. David Thompson has offered to be one of our drivers since his Honda Pilot can seat eight. I’m driving as well since I also have a Pilot that will seat eight. We need room for nine more people, so probably two more drivers. Any volunteers?”
Kassie shrugged. “I’ll drive as well. My Fiesta will hold five including myself, and Kurt, you and I can keep touch through our Bluetooth’s if we need to.”
“I’ll drive,” Quinn offered. “My Fusion can seat five including me as well, and I like to drive, so sure.”
Nodding, Kurt and Kassie agreed. “So it’s agreed; Kurt, David Thompson, Quinn and I will be driving. We have still got to arrange lodgings for all of us and get everything set in stone. We should have all plans finalized by the end of the month.”
Finn stood; a broad, loopy smile on his face. “Dudes, spring break is gonna be awesome!”
“What was that about, Kurt?”
The meeting had broken up and Kurt was gathering his things into his messenger bag when he felt his arm being pulled, swinging him around. Glaring at him was Blaine, whose hazel eyes Kurt found himself wishing were looking at him loving instead of glaringly.
“What was what, Blaine? And let go of me!” Pulling him arm out of the other boys’ grasp, Kurt then swung his bag around his chest before crossing his arms. “What was what?”
“You know what. How dare you invite Karofsky on this trip? After everything he did to you, how could you?” Blaine glared at the slightly taller boy, hands on his hips as he frowned.
“And why should you care, Blaine? We’re not together anymore. You made that perfectly clear at the Christmas dinner and then again on New Year’s Eve. Who I hang out with and who I reconcile with is no longer your business. You don’t see me getting mad at you for telling Sebastian and basically getting him invited along, so back off.”
Kurt turned on his heel, fuming over his ex and how the boy had once again tried to point accusatory fingers in his direction.
Mike, having caught the whole argument, made his way to Kurt’s side, hardly noticing that his girlfriend had joined him.
“Hey, Kurt.”
Kurt turned, and Mike could see the relief that momentarily crossed the pale face. “I just wanted to say that I think it’s cool that you and Karaof… Dave, have managed to put everything behind you. I remember when Dave used to be cool and not a jerk, and every time I run into him somewhere, I see that old Dave again. You have my support, and I can’t wait to see Dave and tell him as well.”
Squeezing her boyfriends’ hand, Tina nodded. “Yeah, Kurt. I know how nice it has been, being able to feel safe in the hallways again, but I also know that you and Dave are friends now. My secret ninja skills aren’t always awesome, but I did hear you and Kassie talking about him the other day. We’re totally here for you, Kurt.”
The Asian couple pulled the brunette into a hug, and with a laugh, Kurt tried to bat them away before screaming that he was being kidnapped by ninjas. “Thanks, guys. I appreciate it.” He endured one more crazy ninja hug before Kurt left. There was still so much to do.