The Music Brings Us Together (13/?)
Title: The Music Brings Us Together
Chapter: 13/?
Pairing: Adam/Kris
Rating: R (For later chapters)
Summary: The behind-the-scenes story that we never saw, as I imagine it, anyways.
Beta: Adamgrrrl
Disclamer: Unfortunately, I do not own Kris, Adam, or anyone else in this story. Nor do I own any of the songs, or anything recognizable from American Idol or Ford. I barely own the plotline, as its based on the show. Adam and Kris belong completely to themselves, and each other.
The whole next week was complete insanity. Adam kept telling Kris they’d take that shopping trip, but like that 'glass-of-water wake-up call,' they were both starting to think it wouldn’t be happening anytime soon. Adam and Ali were all for going Monday after they finished recording their songs for Itunes, but Kris begged off, saying he was exhausted. And since taking Kris had been the entire point of the shopping trip, Adam and Ali stayed in, too.
Top 8 week came and went, with Ali still gushing over Adam’s song on Friday. “It was your best song ever, no question!” Ali exclaimed happily.
“She’s right,” Kris added, joining them in the kitchen. He opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water before turning back and leaning against the counter beside Ali, to face Adam sitting on a stool across from them. “You could put ‘Mad World’ on your album.”
“You really think so?” Adam asked, raising his eyebrows. He’d enjoyed doing the song; it was one of his favorites. But was it really good enough to put on an album?
“Of course,” Ali said excitedly. She glanced from Adam to Kris, then back to Adam and grinned. “Ok, so when are we going shopping?”
Kris groaned, his head falling back, which only made Adam laugh. “Did you really think we’d forget?” he asked, acting appalled.
“I’d hoped,” Kris muttered, letting his head fall forward again and opening his eyes to look up at Adam through his lashes.
“Not gonna get off the hook that easy,” Ali laughed, slinging an arm around him.
“It’ll take lots more than a busy schedule to get rid of us,” Adam said, raising his eyebrows in amusement. “We’re like boomerangs, baby. Just keep comin’ back.”
Kris and Ali laughed at that, but Adam was focused on Kris. His face was scrunched up as he laughed and Adam had to smile at that. He loved that laugh. Kris cleared his throat after a moment and Adam realized he was staring. Ali was giving him an odd look, but he just smirked at her. He wasn’t embarrassed at being caught staring at Kris. Adam Lambert doesn’t get embarrassed. Ever. Period. End of story.
“So, we’ll go tomorrow?” Adam suggested. “We’ll have a couple hours before the rehearsals for the group number. That’s not til two, right?”
“Right,” Ali said brightly, thankfully ignoring the slightly awkward moment.
“I don’t have a say in this at all, do I?” Kris asked in a resigned voice.
“Nope. Not at all!” Adam said with a bright grin.
Kris sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Fine, fine,” he sighed, though Adam could detect a small smile through his reluctance.
“It’ll be completely painless,” Ali said encouragingly.
“Well, mostly,” Adam added with a shrug. Kris’ eyes widened at him.
“Ignore him," Ali said, waving Adam off. Adam shrugged as if to say ‘Well, you want the truth?’ “I’ll make sure he behaves,” she added, giving Adam what was apparently supposed to be a stern look.
“Who, me?” Adam asked innocently. And judging by the look on Kris’ face, he probably would’ve pulled off the whole ‘completely innocent’ thing if not for the black hair, eyeliner and nail polish.
“Yes, you!” Ali said with a laugh, swatting him playfully on the shoulder. Adam laughed and stuck his tongue out at her childishly.
“Ok then, its settled,” Adam announced, jumping off the stool dramatically, even though his feet touched the ground even while he was sitting on it. “F irst thing tomorrow we are going shopping!” Ali squealed happily, and Kris groaned reluctantly. Adam just grinned at them. This would definitely be a fun shopping trip.
-----------------------
“Dude! I am not trying that on!” Kris said defiantly, glaring at the glittery whatever-it-was that Adam was holding. He actually had the nerve to try and get Kris to wear the thing!
“Come on, just try it,” Adam whined and wheedled, pressing it into Kris’ hands.
Kris made a face at it and held it up as though it were diseased. Yeah, if Adam were to wear this thing it would look as if it had been custom tailored just for him. But Kris? No, uh-uh, it would be the equivalent of him trying on eyeliner; people would just stare and say, "Ummm... what?"
“It’s just a vest,” Adam said, exasperatedly. “You can even try it on with that boring shirt you picked out.”
“It’s not boring,” Kris said, glancing down at the white v-neck t-shirt in his other hand. “It’s just…simple.”
“Same thing,” Adam said under his breath, guiding Kris towards the back of the store where the dressing rooms were.
“Excuse me,” a small voice interrupted them and they both glanced sideways. The redheaded girl gave Adam a shy smile, her blonde friend behind her giggling slightly. “Um, can I have your autograph?” she asked.
“Sure,” Adam said kindly, reaching for the small notepad and pen she was holding.
Kris glanced at the blonde girl, who was staring at him curiously, as though he were a puzzle she couldn’t quite figure out. “Are you on American Idol too?” she asked after a moment.
“Of course he is,” Adam cut in before Kris could answer. He’d handed the notepad and pen back to the first girl, and now slung an arm around Kris’ shoulders. “Kris is gonna win, too. Mark my words,” he said with a grin.
Kris just laughed and elbowed Adam in the stomach. “Doubt it,” he muttered, his face now red as the girl extended the notepad and pen to him as well. She bit her lip, her eyes wide in a silent question. He just smiled and took the notepad, signing the page behind Adam’s autograph before handing it back to her.
The girls thanked them and walked away as Adam turned to face Kris, his face now serious. “How did she really not know you’re on the show?”
Kris just shrugged. “I know it’s not really your thing, but some people are completely okay with being in the background. And I’m one of them. I like blending in a bit.”
“Well, that’s not gonna get you noticed.” Adam stated bluntly. He poked at the vest i n Kris’ hands. “Now go try it on.”
Kris groaned, turning around as Adam pushed him, again, towards the dressing rooms. “I don’t want to stand out as much as you do. I’ll just fly under the radar for the rest of the show!”
“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Adam said, giving Kris one last push into one of the open dressing rooms. Kris cast one more desperate look over his shoulder for Ali, but she was lost somewhere on the other side of the small store in the girl’s section. Even Kris’ handler didn’t seem too concerned with his predicament. She was standing some ten feet away talking with Adam’s handler. Sigh.
Kris glared at the door after Adam had closed it, though he knew Adam wouldn’t see him. “I’m not putting this thing on,” Kris called to him, still defiant over the pile of glitter that had a bit of cloth underneath it.
“Yes, you are,” Adam stated matter-of-factly, and Kris could practically hear the smirk in his voice. “You want me to come in there and put it on for you?”
Kris groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. Adam could be so damn stubborn sometimes. “I hate you.”
“Love you too!” The chipper response made Kris laugh. He shook his head as he unbuttoned and removed the orange plaid shirt he was wearing. He pulled the white shirt over his head, then picked up the ‘vest’ tentatively. He raised his eyebrows in equal amounts of amusement and despair as glitter fell off of it so easily, coating the floor of the dressing room. How was it still so glittery if so much of the stuff fell off? It was like a never-ending pile of glitter. No wonder Adam had picked it out.
Resigned to the fact that he wasn’t getting out of this, Kris pulled on the vest and buttoned the three small buttons in the front that came up the middle of his chest. He looked up in the mirror and made a face at the silvery vest. It was hideous, really. Just… so not him.
“I wanna see it,” Adam called from the other side of the door. Kris sighed and rolled his eyes. Of course, this was probably the only time Adam would see him in anything remotely glittery, so why not let him have his moment?
Kris stepped out of the dressing room and held his arms out to the side like he was afraid of his arms getting too close to the foreign clothing. “I don’t think it’s me,” Kris stated as though it were the most obvious thing it world.
“Are you kidding?” Adam gasped, his eyes bright. “I think it looks hot!”
Kris could feel a blush on his cheeks, and his eyes darted to Ali who was walking into one of the dressing rooms a few doors down from his, her arms laden with clothes. “Hey, Ali!” He called, and she glanced over. “Tell him this looks terrible,” he said before she had a chance to speak.
Ali just gave him a quick once over and a smile. “But Kris, I’ve never lied to Adam!”
Kris groaned and rolled his eyes, glaring at Adam, who was laughing and holding his arms up triumphantly. “Come on, you have to buy it,” Adam said with a grin. “It’s fate!”
“It’s not fate,” Kris said firmly, “It’s a project by someone who had a bigger obsession with glitter than you!” Kris thought for a moment, then shook his head. “Actually, no, never mind, I don’t think that’s really possible.”
He laughed when Adam hit him lightly on the shoulder. “Come on, you have to buy something new and different,” Adam said in his most cajoling tone, giving Kris that small smile that never failed to make him smile, too. “It’s all part of the experience. Try something new. Please?”
Kris thought for a moment, then sighed, partially done in. “Fine, I’ll try something new, but not this one, ok?” Kris asked, hoping for a compromise.
“Why not this one?” Adam asked.
“Cause I don’t like silver,” Kris said with a laugh. “Maybe a darker color?”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Adam said with a wink, then excitedly disappeared around the corner, back into the store.
Kris groaned, and Ali laughed. She put a hand on his shoulder, then made a face and removed it, wiping the glittery remnants onto her jeans. Kris laughed at her, agreeing with the unspoken statement that there was way too much glitter. But she continued, undeterred. “You probably shouldn’t have done that.”
“Why?” Kris asked, though he knew the answer before Ali said it.
“Adam’s not gonna give up,” Ali laughed. “He’s going to bring you every piece of glittery clothing in this entire mall until you find something you like. Or can at least tolerate.”
Kris sighed and went back into the dressing room to change. When he came out, Adam had an armful of, well, Kris wasn’t quite sure what it was. All he could tell was that not a single piece of clothing was devoid of glitter. Kris gave Adam his best attempt at a glare. “I can’t even get this shirt now,” he said, holding up the white shirt that was now covered in silver glitter.
“But it looks better like that,” Adam said, horrified at Kris' assertion that it might now be worse than it had been before.
Kris just shook his head and tossed the shirt along with the vest onto the pile of discarded clothing outside of the dressing room. “Whatever you say, Adam,” he said distractedly, his eyes now glued on the pile of clothes before him.
Adam grinned. “I’m always right,” he claimed brightly before thrusting the shiny pile of clothing at Kris. “I think you’ll really like that black one on top. Though the purple one just under it is my favorite.”
“Uh-huh,” Kris muttered, already positive he wouldn’t like any of them as he snatched them from Adam's hands and stomped back into the changing room.
“And I wanna see all of those on you, too,” Adam called after him.
“Me too,” Ali’s voice joined Adam’s as Kris shut the door. He made a mental note to never let Adam and Ali take him shopping again.
Setting the purple and black ones aside, Kris decided he might as well get the more unlikely, nightmare-inducing pieces over with first. For what felt like decades, though Kris conceded was probably only about half an hour, he tried on the most outrageous outfits he’d ever seen in his life. Some of the shirts had so many accessories that it too k him several minutes to figure out where his arms were supposed to go.
After shooting down every single outfit, he finally tried on the purple shirt that Adam said he liked. Surprisingly, it wasn’t completely over-the-top. It had a weird cinched part around his waist that made him wonder if Adam actually got it from the women’s side of the store, but other than that it wasn’t too bad. Kris had finally given up complaining about the pounds of glitter on everything. He was now covered head-to-toe in it.
“I love it!” Ali cried happily, as she had every time he emerged from the dressing room.
“See? Told you the purple one was the best,” Adam said, raising his eyebrows and giving Kris an obvious once-over.
“I don’t know,” Kris said, scrunching his face a bit. “It feels weird,” he added, pulling at the sides of the shirt that were clinging to him for dear life.
“So picky,” Adam said with a click of his tongue, rolling his eyes. “ How many more?”
“Just the black one,” Kris said, stepping back into the dressing room to change yet again.
After trying on so many different shirts, Kris switched the two in ten seconds flat and stepped back out of the dressing room. “I think I actually like this one,” he said slowly, almost scared to admit it to Adam’s face.
Adam grinned. “I knew you would!” he said brightly, glancing over him again. Kris acted like he didn’t notice how often Adam had been doing that today, and ignored even more the way it didn’t make him feel at all uncomfortable as he knew it should.
“What do you think?” he asked, turning to Allison.
Ali grinned brightly. “Amazing!”
“It’s settled then,” Adam said, in his commanding voice. Kris just smiled slightly, knowing that he’d never get out of this once Adam started with that voice again.
“Ok, ok, I’ll get this one,” Kris finally conceded. “But when am I going to wear it?”
“Pick any Tuesday night,” Adam said, shrugging.
“Are you almost done?” one of the handlers poked her head around the corner to look at them, “We have to have you all at the studio in half an hour.”