A/N: For those who don't know this is a revised version of the other Klaine fic i have posted with the same name. I am leaving the original edition up. This version of the story will essentially be the same but with some different plot points, or variations on the chapters and chapter titles. The main plot will be the same but there may be points in the story that are different. If this is your first time reading, and you do not want any spoilers please do not go over to the other story. Although certain plot points are subject to change the over all plot will be the same. :) I hope you enjoy this newly revised version of this fic. I love it so much, I just wanted to try and make it better. I wrote the other one so fast I know I can rework it and I had more ideas after I published. Anyway, enough explanation on with the story! Again each chapter title will be a song that is either feature in the chapter or something I felt fit with the chapter. Enjoy! :)
I'm staring at my feet. My cheeks are turning red. I'm searching for the words inside my head. I'm feeling nervous, trying to be so perfect. Cause I know you're worth it, you're worth it, yeah.
"Things I'll Never Say" -Avril Lavigne
"Kurt Hummel."
Kurt looks up from his notebook, practically the entire lecture has their eyes trained on him. It is in that moment Kurt remembers he is in class and has spent the last twenty minutes of biology lecture sketching a picture of a guy who is presently sitting three rows away. Thankfully, he is not turned in his chair like so many others. Instead he appears to be focused on his notes.
Professor Hannigan taps his foot, "Mr. Hummel."
"Yes?" Kurt replies, his voice nothing but a small squeak. He clears his throat, "I'm sorry, yes sir?"
"Could you answer the question?"
No. He thinks. Simply because Kurt can't recall what the question was. He glances to the powerpoint hoping for some clue, but all he see is a diagram and a diagram of what he can't even say. His face starts to prickle with that familiar feeling of embarrassment.
"Could you...repeat the question?" He asks with a small voice.
Professor Hannigan sighs and shakes his head before making a note on his clipboard. He turns his attention to a young lady sitting closer to front who has had her hand raised this entire time. Kurt scowls a little and sinks into his seat.
He takes a moment to steal a glance over in the direction where his model is sitting. A spitting image of what Kurt has drawn in the corner of his notebook. Maybe the sketch isn't perfect, seeing as how Kurt had to guess on the eyes only having seen the boy a few times straight on. And when he did get a view of his face, Kurt had been too afraid to look the boy in the eyes. A few seconds pass and the boy turns and Kurt's head quickly whips back to front of the lecture hall and pretends to focus on the powerpoint. His face turning bright red but he tries to look as though he is busy taking notes or actually paying attention.
His stomach does a flip, but mostly Kurt feels as though he might die of embarrassment. He's had enough for one day, and all he can think about is getting out of this classroom. The boy in question is probably the cutest person Kurt has ever seen. Even though he has only seen him during class and maybe once or twice around campus. Kurt recalls the time the boy got up to announce a start of the semester bake sale being held in the union. Kurt can't remember the organization the boy was a part of, but he does remember stalking that table everyday that week. The boy was never around whenever Kurt casually made his way by.
They had been in this class a month so far and yet, Kurt was unable to draw on a name. He didn't speak up in class often enough, and because of the size of the lecture hall attendance was never taken. It was insane to have such a crush on a guy who was nameless. The little Kurt knew about the boy was he had dark hair that was gelled back just about 100% of the time. He always wore a bowtie and occasionally a sweater vest. It wasn't a look Kurt would choose for himself but on Mr. Bowtie, as Kurt decides in that moment he will refer to the boy as until a name can be placed, it works. Kurt is smitten and the two haven't even had a conversation yet. Kurt knows it's borderline pathetic but one day he'll get the courage to at least introduce himself to Mr. Bowtie.
Finally the clock hits 1:15 and the lecture hall begins to empty. Kurt scoops his books and notebook up into his arms not even bothering with putting them into his bag. All Kurt can think about is getting out of that hall with making as little eye contact with his classmates as possible. His eyes cast over to scan for Mr. Bowtie before he leaves and winds up bumping into a solid body. Kurt's books and papers from his notebook scatter to the ground.
A very angry six-foot-three man with short cut blonde hair turns and stares down at Kurt. "Watch where you're going asshole." He sneers and proceeds to kick one of Kurt's books. It goes flying across the hall and slams into the side of a trash can. Kurt stammers to apologize but there is suddenly a voice, not his own, that leaps to his aid.
"Maybe if you could walk and breathe at the same time, he wouldn't have bumped into you."
Kurt looks over to the person beside him, he is shorter by a few inches and it takes Kurt a moment to realize who it is. Mr. Bowtie.
He is staring hard at the other man who practically towers over his small size. The guy looks as though he is going to say something, his hand clenching into a fist, but the Professor walks swiftly past them, disregarding the books that litter the hallway outside the room. The blonde who had been so ready to crush Mr. Bowtie with his bare hands, at least that's how Kurt saw it, decides that the two are ultimately not worth it and turns and makes his exit.
"You..you didn't need to do that." Kurt says as he quickly bends down to collect his things. "I'm capable of taking care of myself."
"I know." Mr. Bowtie replies. "Sorry, I just hate people getting pushed around by guys like that. Here." Mr. Bowtie goes to the other side of the hallway and grabs Kurt's biology book. "No harm. To the book, at least. You okay?"
Kurt is standing up now with the rest of his things back in his arms. He smiles a little and takes the book from Mr. Bowtie. The second he makes eye contact with the other, Kurt finds that words are suddenly a difficult concept.
He clears his throat after a moment and nods. "Y-yes. I'm fine. I would be lying if I said that was the first time something like that has happened to me. Not saying I'm used to it, I don't think anyone gets used to something like that."
"Shame. Sorry it happened, or that it keeps happening to you. No one deserves that." Mr. Bowtie says. He smiles back, and Kurt can honestly feel himself swoon a little. There are so many things that Kurt wants and should say in this moment but it is somehow difficult to make his brain and mouth work at the same time. And speaking of time, Mr. Bowtie catches the clock on the wall behind Kurt and curses softly. "I gotta go, have to make it across campus for my next class. See you around!" He says and is gone before Kurt can even get a 'Thank you.' out of his mouth.
Kurt is angry that he failed to learn Mr. Bowties actual name. It was the perfect opportunity. It is all Kurt can think of as he makes his way to the middle of campus to the Student Union for lunch.
His options for lunch are slim. At least, for a healthier lunch. Most of it is full of saturated fats and cooked in so much grease Kurt is sure he could squeeze it into a jar and give it to his Dad to use in his tire shop.
College is supposed to be different than high school, he thinks bitterly while pushing through the crowd of people. Kurt has trouble seeing the difference yet. Except that you get to choose what classes you have to sit through, and it practically costs an arm and a leg just to attend.
After turning down two of the fast food chains in the union, and ultimately deciding pizza was not a viable option, Kurt lands on a rather questionable salad. He also grabs a small container of grapes and an iced tea. He prefers the food he has stored back in his room, but he is not willing to walk all the way back across campus when he has class in an hour. Maybe that's the difference. Mileage.
Kurt chooses one of the few open seats in the union and sets his tray down. It does not take Kurt long to push the salad aside and eat only the grapes. He'll have dinner later with Rachel after class, maybe they'll find another dining hall on campus that will be serving decent food.
His next class is just as boring as the first. He prefers his theater and music classes, hating that he is forced to take a certain amount of other courses for the first two years. While sociology can be interesting, the professor is anything but. Her voice is that of a drone and Kurt is more than happy to escape and meet Rachel for an early dinner.
The union is crowded again. He pulls out his phone to find a message from Rachel.
Rachel [4:06 pm]: Running late! I'm sorry I'm sorry!
Kurt sighs and takes a seat at an empty table. He glances around the union and decides that people watching will help pass the time. He resists the urge to roll his eyes as he watches a table of frat boys being loud and obnoxious, and as Kurt moves onto the next table a familiar face from the corner of his eye.
Mr. Bowtie has just sat down at a table a few away from his own. Alone. Kurt sits up straight, alert and his mind races. It is full of voices telling him to go over and say hello along with others that urge him to hide under the table so he isn't seen. It only takes Kurt a few seconds to listen to the voice that is screaming at him to go over. Kurt moves swiftly between tables and in no time is standing across from Mr. Bowtie, clearing his throat to garner his attention.
"Oh hey!" Mr. Bowtie says as he looks up, recognizing him within a moment or two of seeing Kurt.
"Hi." Kurt replies. "Sorry if this is weird but I didn't actually thank you earlier for helping me. I know you didn't have to, and I could have handled it myself but it was very nice of you. Not many people would have done that." He realizes he is practically rambling and stops himself.
"It's no problem." Mr. Bowtie says and flashes Kurt a smile that makes Kurt's heart skip a beat. "Sorry for running off earlier. You're Kurt, right?"
The fact that Mr. Bowtie knows Kurt's name is a total surprise to him and he isn't sure how to recover from the initial shock. Thankfully, Mr. Bowtie continues.
"The one Professor Hannigan had called on, today." He elaborates and Kurt's heart sinks just a tiny bit.
"Only the most embarrassing moment of my college career thus far." Kurt says and he hopes he isn't blushing.
"You shouldn't feel embarrassed. I mean, half the time I'm not paying attention. Just bad luck he happened to catch you. I'm Blaine, by the way."
Blaine. Kurt can't help but think how well the name suits him. And in that same moment Kurt thinks of how weird it is for him to think that.
"Blaine." Kurt says and likes the sound of his name as it rolls off his tongue. "It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise." Blaine says. "Hey, maybe next time in class we can sit next to each other and help the other out. Together I bet we can form one fully functioning student." He laughs, and Kurt loves the sound of it.
Kurt knows he is blushing this time around and he can't stop it. "That would be great. I mean, you wouldn't mind leaving your friends to come and sit with me?"
Blaine shakes his head and leans forward on the table. "None of my friends are in that class, just me. Well, and you now. Aren't you going to sit down?" He asks and cocks a brow.
Kurt realizes he's been standing this whole time. "Oh, sorry yeah I..I actually have to meet a friend for dinner but, maybe a rain check."
Blaine has yet to stop smiling at Kurt. "Okay, yeah another time I'll-"
That exact moment, a tall slender framed girl leans down from behind Blaine and kisses him on the cheek. It startles Blaine until he can get a better look at the girl. She has her bleach blonde hair tied up into a messy, I-totally-just-rolled-out-of-bed-looking-like-this-I-swear kind of bun.
When Blaine greets the girl with a smile, Kurt feels his stomach drop. He knows her and Kurt's gaze goes back and forth between the two of them. Kurt feels like a fool. He shouldn't jump to conclusions but what else is he supposed to make of this girl who is now sitting beside Blaine, pressed against his shoulder. Blaine isn't gay. He has a girlfriend. And she looks like Malibu Barbie.
"Penny, I wasn't expecting you here." Blaine says with a grin. "Not for two hours."
"Decided my next class wasn't worth my time." She says with a shrug, her voice is instantly irritating to Kurt's ears.. "Especially when I could be getting dinner with you."
Her gaze meets Kurt's, who is still standing. She stares at him a long moment her blue eyes cold and calculating. And Kurt stares back at her in the same fashion.
"Uh, Penny this is Kurt." Blaine says, breaking the silence. "We have biology together."
"Oh. How nice." Her tone is sickly sweet and fake. Kurt can spot it a mile away, he knew a girl like her in high school and it is eerie how much he is reminded of her. "And will Kurt, be joining us?"
Blaine is either obvious to the way Penny is now glaring at him or he does not care. Kurt's eyes narrow.
"No. Wish I could but I have dinner plans with a friend. I'll leave you two alone. I'll see you class." Kurt forces a smile to the both of them.
"Bye, Kurt." Blaine says and Kurt doesn't hear the note of disappointment in Blaine's tone as he turns to leave them.
It was painful obvious that Penny was instantly not a fan of his. They hardly spoke two sentences to each other and somehow Kurt was detested by the girl. There was nothing for her to be threatened by, her boyfriend was handsome but he wasn't interested in Kurt. Blaine was straight and it was presumptuous of Kurt to assume otherwise. She must have been one of those girls who liked to keep a short leash on her boyfriend regardless of who they spoke with. Penny didn't deserve Blaine. It is also presumptuous of Kurt to think that, he didn't know either of them. Still, it is all Kurt could think about. He cancels his dinner with Rachel in favor of heading back to his room to sulk. Maybe he can wait out the embarrassment there.