Kurt Hummel approached the daunting castle of Dalton Academy, pausing to straighten his tie. He already felt stifled in his new uniform; despite his extensive wardrobe, he had never really been one for school blazers, and it only added to his nerves.
"Kurt!" The boy turned back to the car he had just climbed out of. His father, Burt, looked at him, concerned, through the passenger window. "Are you alright?"
Kurt nodded slowly, swallowing. "It's just a lot bigger than I remember," he called back, smiling nervously. He walked back to the car, his new shoes crunching on the gravel. "I'm fine, Dad. Promise." Burt nodded supportively. "I love you, Dad."
For a moment, Kurt couldn't tell if his father was going to cry, but then: "I love you too, Kurt. Have a good day; I'll see you later."
Kurt smiled and nodded again, straightening up. "Bye."
It was when the car pulled out onto the road, disappearing behind the buildings, that Kurt felt alone, stifled by the silence and this damn uniform. He wondered how good an idea it was to transfer to Dalton so quickly, but his mind flashed back to McKinley High School, and David Karofsky, staring hate at him: "I'll kill you." No. Moving here, away from that, was definitely the best thing to do. Deep breath. Courage.
He smiled at the thought of that: of Blaine, who was somewhere in this labyrinth of historical architecture. Kurt's phone buzzed. Speak of the devil...
How are you enjoying it so far?
Kurt rolled his eyes, but pressed 'Reply'. He couldn't not when it was Blaine.
I'm outside and already lost. Where am I supposed to go anyway?
The reply came swiftly, and made Kurt frown:
Wait there.
Was Blaine coming to get him? That seemed a bit drastic, since the other boy must have had things to do and didn't even know where Kurt was. Kurt remembered his last visit – Dalton had a huge amount of outside space, with different blocks for different subjects. He supposed if Blaine could find him in this place, it couldn't be so difficult.
"Kurt!" Recognising the voice immediately, Kurt span around and beamed. Blaine Anderson had rounded the nearest corner and was jogging towards him, grinning.
"Hey!" Kurt walked to meet the other boy. They met and smiled at each other. Blaine collected Kurt in a brief, but tight, hug. "I didn't realise you were my chaperone," Kurt laughed.
Blaine raised his eyebrows. "Well, we couldn't have you wandering around school grounds hopelessly lost," he replied. "Besides, we've still got a while before morning lessons start. I thought I could show you some highlights of the school."
"Presumably the first and only being the Warblers' hall?" Kurt asked.
Blaine flushed awkwardly. "Maybe," he said to the floor.
Kurt beamed again as his heart skipped a beat. His stomach was tying itself in knots and he knew it wasn't from first-day nerves anymore. "Sounds great," he said quickly when Blaine's eyes met his.
Blaine smiled, smoothly grabbing Kurt's hand and pulling him with him. "Well, come on then," he whispered, close enough that Kurt blushed as the pair hurried through the school grounds and then into a large building that Kurt had noticed earlier. He stopped fruitlessly trying to remember the route, and concentrated on keeping up with Blaine, clutching his hand tightly.
They arrived at a huge oak door, which Blaine pressed his back against. "Here we are," he announced, breathless from the trip. "Welcome to the Warblers' hall!" The door opened behind him as he leant against it, and he and Kurt stepped inside.
Kurt was surprised: the room was mostly filled with sofas and armchairs, with a fireplace against one wall, a table with chairs near another, and a piano in the far corner. He recognised the room, when he thought about it, from his first time to Dalton when he had seen the Warblers perform for the first time, but he had been too distracted by Blaine's breathtaking performance to notice it. He nodded in approval. "It seems smaller when it's full of people," he noted.
Blaine laughed airily. "Yeah, I suppose so," he agreed, standing next to Kurt and taking in the room yet again. He put his arm round Kurt's shoulders. "We still have a little time," he added quietly, and pushed Kurt in the direction of the piano.
"What?" Kurt exclaimed, freezing halfway there. "You want to sing? Now?"
Blaine leapt into the piano seat and started to run his fingers over the keys playfully, looking up at Kurt. "If you want to join the Warblers before Sectionals," he explained, "you'll have to sing sometime."
Kurt's heart had leapt. Blaine wanted to sing... with him. He felt suddenly self-conscious: Blaine had never heard him sing before. But, taking a breath, he slid onto the seat next to Blaine, who grinned at him.
The chords were easily recognisable, and Kurt inhaled sharply when he realised what song Blaine was playing. The darker-haired boy looked back at his friend, who was watching him play with fascination, and smiled, beginning to sing.
This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending,
No hope, no love, no glory,
No happy ending.
Kurt caught himself staring at Blaine with unmasked delight – listening to his friend sing made his breath catch in his throat and set his stomach doing backflips – and he closed his eyes, managing to come in with the higher harmony just in time.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever,
Then live the rest of our lives,
But not together.
Blaine nodded his head slightly, motioning for Kurt to continue singing. Kurt smiled and nodded in return, before staring awkwardly at the piano keys where Blaine's hands were moving with ease.
Wake up in the morning, stumble on my life,
Can't get no love without sacrifice.
If anything should happen, I guess I wish you well,
Mmm, a little bit of heaven, but a little bit of hell.
Blaine came back in with a selection of well-timed 'ooh's and harmonies and Kurt kept singing.
This is the hardest story that I've ever told,
No, hope, no love, no glory, happy ending's gone forevermore, oh –
I (This is the way you left me, I'm not pretending)
Feel as if I'm wasted (No hope, no love, no glory, no happy ending)
And I've (This is the way that we love, like it's forever)
Wasted every day (Then live the rest of our lives, but not together)
A loud bell sounded briefly, and Blaine's hands faltered on the keys as he jumped. The sudden ensuing silence seemed deafening and much too long as he and Kurt looked at each other.
Blaine blinked, breaking the stillness. "Oh, crap!" he exclaimed, jumping to his feet and pulling Kurt to his. "We're late! You're late! We have to go!" Kurt straightened his satchel (he'd been too distracted to take it off) and Blaine reached for his rucksack, which was under the piano (and must have been left there when he went to fetch Kurt) and the two of them rushed out of the room.