Kurt's life couldn't possibly get any worse. He picked himself off the linoleum floor of McKinley High School and smoothed out the creases in his dress shirt. The jocks on the football team found every opportunity to make his life a living hell. They locker checked him or book dropped him. They insulted him at every turn and graced him with a slushie facial whenever they could. It was a nightmare, one Kurt feared he would never wake up from.
Everything had happened so fast. One day he had a father and the next, he was alone. Sure he still had Finn and Carole, but they couldn't replace the father that had raised him after his mother died when Kurt was eight. The Hudson's couldn't replace the man who had known he was gay way before Kurt got the courage to tell his father the truth. Burt Hummel had been the only person Kurt loved more than being famous and moving out of cow-town Lima, Ohio. At the age of fifteen, Kurt Hummel had become an orphan.
Kurt had been so afraid that he was going to be put in foster care, but Carole had informed him that she wouldn't let that happen. As far as the older woman was concerned Kurt was her son and she would do everything in her power to keep him out of the system. Kurt had been grateful for the woman's kindness and had faith that everything would work out.
Carole and Finn had sat through the reading of his father's will with him which basically left Kurt everything. The house and the tire shop as well as his father's money. Kurt was grateful for that as well. Burt Hummel had been a smart man and Kurt took after him in that department. Luckily, Kurt knew that his father's mechanics at the tire shop would help him with everything that needed to be done. They had been loyal to Burt and would be loyal to Kurt also. When school was over Kurt was giving the tire shop to Finn, if he wanted it, or they could co-own it for all Kurt cared. Kurt refused to sell it and the Hudson's agreed that Burt wouldn't want that, so Hummel Tire and Lube would stay open for as long as Kurt and Finn were alive.
Kurt had convinced the Hudson's to move in with him. He didn't want to be alone and he wanted to be surrounded by people he knew loved him. They agreed and planned on selling their house so they could have the extra money to renovate Kurt's childhood home. They were going to add-on another bedroom for Finn and maybe expand the kitchen if they could. Kurt was happy even through his heart was breaking at the loss of his father. It comforted him to know that he still had people who cared. Kurt still had people who wanted to love him. Who did love him.
Then things took a surprising turn.
It wasn't the Hudson's that Kurt had been adopted by or placed with. Unfortunately, for some reason, Sue Sylvester had taken him in instead stating that she wouldn't mind having a live in housekeeper. Kurt hadn't even had a chance to protest when she handed him the foster home papers, upon which she had forged his signature. He had been furious, but Sue Sylvester held all the cards and even when he pleaded to have the papers switched over the Hudson's she refused. She then threatened to have him change his last name to Sylvester. He snapped his mouth shut at the thought. He would not change his name. He would still be Kurt Elizabeth Hummel.
Kurt couldn't say that Sue was all bad, but she wasn't exactly nice either. She was an egotistic arrogant woman who had used him for many things her hired maid could or should have been doing. Like when the Cheerios needed their uniforms mended Kurt had to stay up late into the night to stitch them back together or when she needed all of her numerous trophies dusted and polished before a television home interview it was Kurt's job to do so. That was only the beginning, but he didn't feel like elaborating on his "chores" as she called them.
Sue told him that he could spend as much time with Hudson's as we wanted and even gave him Friday nights off so that he could still have Friday night dinner with them. She said that as long as his chores were done and he kept up his grades he could whatever he wanted. At the beginning of Kurt's time with Sue the chores hadn't been bad and he was still able to participate in Glee rehearsals. But know Kurt could barely keep his head above water. His grades weren't slipping, but he was tired all the time since he stayed up late just to complete his homework on time. Sue always had a plethora of chores for Kurt to do throughout the week and if they weren't done to her specific standards his phone was taken away as well as his nighttime and daytime moisturizers. In Kurt's eyes, Sue Sylvester had become more of a monster than she had been already. Taking away his moisturizers basically meant he was going to freckle and break out and, to Kurt, it was part of his worst nightmare.
That, however, hadn't been the end to his torment.
The day that David Karofsky had hate-kissed him in the locker room and then began bullying him more harshly was the pieced résistance. He had been terrified and shocked all at the same time. Kurt never would have taken the jock for a closeted homosexual, but it did explain a lot. Karofsky didn't only hate Kurt because he was gay, but because he was open enough to flaunt the fact that Karofsky wasn't comfortable with his urges. He should have said something a lot sooner before things got worse, but he hadn't due to his father's heart attack. He hadn't even told Carole that the older boy had threatened him into silence. He knew there was nothing the school could do and he didn't want to cause trouble for the other boy even if he was making Kurt's life hell.
But when Sue had seen Kurt's plight one day in the hallway she had been the one to intervene. She had, for some weird reason, taken over as principal in light of Mr. Figgins' absence. When she had seen Kurt being thrown into lockers by Karofsky she took action and sent them both to "her" office. Karofsky had been suspended from school till the end of the month, but only because Kurt had shown bruises from other times Karofsky had assaulted him. Kurt didn't know how safe he would be, though. Karofsky's friends would surely find him and beat him up for Karofsky's own stupid choices. So in the end Kurt had talked to Sue about attending Dalton Academy. They had a no tolerance bullying policy and Kurt felt that it would be a better fit for him.
Sue had shot him down saying that she would protect Kurt from those that planned to hurt him. Kurt tried to look grateful, but it was hard when he knew that Sue couldn't be around him every second of the school day. Karofsky's friends would find Kurt alone at some point. Even when Kurt had been on the Cheerios they hadn't left him alone. Kurt didn't know what he was going to do when they got around to cornering him.
When Kurt had told the Glee Club that he had gotten Karofsky suspended for a month they knew immediately that someone needed to be around to protect him. He had classes with almost every member of the Glee Club, but seeing as the Glee Club consisted mostly of girls and only Finn, Puck, Artie, Mike, and Sam he didn't feel too confident. Kurt believed in them on the stage as well as off, but when it came to his protection he just couldn't see Artie or Mike standing up to bullies. Finn had assured him that someone would always be with him when he walked to and from class. Kurt nodded in defeat and allowed Finn to walk him to his car that day.
After about four days, Kurt arrived at the school completely exhausted. Sue had asked him to help her personal seamstress make costumes for the Cheerios. She wanted them done as soon as possible and said it would go faster with four hands instead of two. It was nice to know that the seamstress seemed impressed by his skills and his fashion ideas, but Kurt still had a mountain of homework to finish. When Kurt and the seamstress had finished three quarters of the outfits at 10:30 p.m. she said that they could finish the rest tomorrow. Kurt nodded and went to work on his homework. He had finished his homework at 1 o'clock that morning and then did his moisturizer routine which lasted a half hour before putting on his silk pajamas and falling into bed.
When Kurt's alarm had gone off that morning he was beyond willing to go to school, but he knew that if he missed a day he would be even farther behind and he didn't have the energy for that. So Kurt had gotten up, gotten dressed, had his morning coffee, grabbed his school bag and drove to school. Luckily, the sky outside was clear and it looked like a promising day.
When Kurt arrived in the school parking lot he looked around to see if any of the jocks were outside. He scanned the area and when he found no one he let out a sigh of relief. Hopefully, he could get to his locker without incident. He grabbed his bag and kept his eyes focused on the ground as he passed through the parked cars into the school building.
Once Kurt was in front of his locker he let out a sigh before putting in the combination and pulling out the books he needed for his morning classes when Mercedes came barreling down the hallway. Tina wasn't far behind her and they both seemed to be squealing with delight. When they reached his locker they came to a stop and smiled warmly at him.
Mercedes Jones was the same height as Kurt with more meat on her bones then him. She was a beautiful and strong African American girl with bright brown eyes. Her hair was pulled out of her face by a stylish bandana and a light blush was spread across her cheeks. Mercedes had been his friend when Glee club had been established and he loved her like a sister. She had been the first person to know that he was gay after she confessed feelings for him and she had never looked down on him for it. She had supported him.
Tina Cohen-Chang had been a quiet Asian girl when he met her with a stutter. She was a little Goth and had been best friends with Artie long before the Glee club, but she was smart and Kurt had come to appreciate her loyalty. She had really come into herself and opened up about not really having a stutter. Kurt believed that the affirmation had freed her somehow. She smiled more and was dating Mike Chang who was a player on the football team.
"Morning," he greeted.
"Morning, Kurt," they both responded back.
"What was with all the squealing back there? For a moment I thought you had both had made it onto American Idol," he joked. He hadn't really and to be honest they both could make it onto American Idol if they applied themselves more.
"McKinley High just got a new transfer student," Tina explained excitedly. "And he is gorgeous."
"Tina, you have a boyfriend," he reminded her.
"I can look," she snapped.
Kurt raised a perfect eyebrow and chuckled. Mike and Tina were like two lovebirds. He couldn't see them breaking up anytime soon. The two completed each other as far as Kurt was concerned. Mike had even begun singing with the group openly now instead of just focusing on the dancing part. Tina had helped him blossom and Mike had helped Tina accept that she was more than a background voice to the group.
"Mmhmm," Mercedes agreed. "He has a fine ass too."
Kurt rolled his eyes at the girls. It wasn't unusual for there to be transfers to McKinley. Kurt, however, didn't understand why anyone would come to Lima, Ohio. It was a hick town he couldn't wait to get out of and a town Kurt wasn't really ready to leave. He really didn't care about a transfer student and really didn't have the time right now, even if he was supposedly gorgeous. Not to mention the transfer student was probably straight, which meant he would have no interest in Kurt unless he needed his notes or need Kurt to pass him an assignment.
"Oh, come on Kurt!" Tina replied exasperated reading his mind. "You have no idea if he is straight or not yet. He could definitely play for your team."
"Be optimistic, Kurt. You haven't had a decent crush since Finn and I have to admit that that wasn't even a decent crush," Mercedes chimed in. They both smiled at him and Kurt couldn't help but smile back.
"Honestly ladies, I am not going to hold my breath. We live in Lima, Ohio. I have got to be the only boy alive here who doesn't care that he is a homosexual," Kurt snapped back. He hadn't mentioned to the girls or anyone else that Karofsky was a closet gay at all and it wasn't his secret to tell. Just as he shut his locker and turned around he was met with two red Letterman jackets. Kurt's heart froze. Both of those jackets belonged to Karofsky's friends that Kurt didn't know the name of.
"Well if it isn't Mister Twinkle-Toes," one sneered. Mercedes and Tina were quiet behind him. Kurt knew he was on his own. "So I heard you got Karofsky suspended."
"Considering he left bruises on me after a particularly hard shove into the lockers, it didn't surprise me at all," Kurt replied back.
"He was only trying to teach you a lesson, Hummel. He didn't want anyone else to catch your disease," another said.
"Homosexuality isn't a disease," Kurt snapped back. Kurt was quickly losing his temper. He had been born gay. It hadn't been something he chose. Kurt hated that he was judged and ridiculed for who he chose to love.
"It is actually. It's a sin against God and disgusting at that. I only wish Karofsky had hit you harder maybe it would have knocked the gay out of you."
"Karofsky couldn't knock the gay out of me anymore than I could knock the ignoramus out of him," Kurt said without even meaning too. He hadn't even realized he said it out loud until he heard Mercedes and Tina gasp behind him. Crap!
"What did you say, Lady Hummel?" the first questioned stupidly. Kurt realized that they didn't know what the word "ignoramus" meant, but the first must have assumed it was an insult. Why couldn't Kurt keep his mouth shut? He threw his books towards Tina and Mercedes and took off. He yelled behind him that he would see them in class. "Hummel!"
Kurt was pushing his way through the crowd of students. He made a beeline for another hallway and smacked into someone's back who hadn't seen him coming. Kurt fell on the floor with a loud "oof." His butt was now sore and he could hear the jocks coming down the hallway. Kurt looked up and met a pair of hazel eyes framed by thick lashes.
"Hey, are you okay?" a voice asked. Kurt was too busy getting lost in the boy's eyes to realize that the boy was holding his hand out to him to help him up, let alone talking to him of all people. Kurt was used to people just turning a blind eye to his plight so this was a huge change. Kurt slowly nodded his head as the voice washed over his skin and made it tingle. Kurt took the boy's hand and the boy helped him up.
"Yeah, I'm fi.." Kurt began, but he was cut off when he heard the jocks from before.
"Hummel! Get you gay ass back here!" Kurt winced at the words and looked behind him to see them walking menacingly towards him. He vaguely noticed the glitter on the boy's jackets and in their hair as he turned back to the boy in front of him.
"Thanks…I…um…have to go," Kurt said quickly and reluctantly removed his hand from the boy's as he took off down the hall again. Kurt turned right and ran straight into the principal's office. Sue was technically "still" principle and those two boys wouldn't think twice about entering her office.
When they saw where he was they gave up and headed back down the hallway again. Kurt let out a sigh of relief as he waited a few more moments before going back out into the hallway. Kurt retraced his steps and headed to his first period class, which he had with Mercedes. When we walked in she gave him a relieved smile as he sat down next to her. She handed him his books before she wrapped him in a quick hug just as the teacher came in followed by the transfer student. Mercedes poked him in the ribs as the boy's hazel eyes fell on Kurt's face.
"Everyone, I would like to introduce you to Blaine Anderson. He's a transfer from Westerville and I want everyone to help him out as much as you can," the teacher announced. "You can take any open seat, Mr. Anderson."
Blaine nodded and chose the seat right behind Kurt. Mercedes' smile grew bigger as she flashed Blaine a bright smile behind him. Kurt just blushed at the fact that Blaine's eyes were the same eyes he had seen in the hallway. Now those gorgeous eyes were burning holes into the back of his head.
"Now if everyone could help pass these papers back."
When Kurt was handed the papers he took a deep breath, pulled one out for himself, and turned to face Blaine. Blaine smiled at him and as he took the stack of papers from Kurt he managed to brush their fingers together. Kurt shivered, but tried to look as if the touch hadn't affected him. Blaine's smile only grew and Kurt inwardly cursed himself for letting something so small as a touch affect him so deeply.
Mercedes gave him a huge knowing smile, but Kurt refused to acknowledge it. There was no way that the new kid played for his team. And, even if Blaine did, there was no way he was interested in Kurt. Kurt was destined to be alone as far as he knew and he wasn't about to let this one boy change his mind about any of it.