'I miss you too Blaine. I know, I'm stopping by later. Then we can get coffee? Yeah... Uh-huh okay. See you later!'
Kurt chirpily hung up the phone. That was his boyfriend, Blaine. His boyfriend. He'd never had a boyfriend before.
It was all new and exciting. Everytime Kurt looked at Blaine, he felt his heart pounding in his chest. But since transferring out of Dalton, he hardly got to see his boyfriend Blaine anymore. The pounding in his chest became more rare.
He walked down the corridor towards his locker, feeling mildly calm despite the previous horrors this school had offered him—Dalton's zero-tolerance bullying policy had kept him completely safe for the past few weeks. Now, all that stood between him and the rotten garbage in the dumpster was Santana and the Bullywhips.
Somehow this didn't quite give Kurt the confidence to relax.
Santana was a member of the Glee club too, but Karofsky and the rest of the Bullywhips were former bullies.
It seemed almost impossible to trust them.
As Kurt reached his locker, Santana charged towards him, sporting a red jacket and a beret.
'Santana, I'm sorry to inform you but berets went out of fashion years ago..' Kurt said half-heartedly, opening his locker.
'Yeah whatever,' She said. 'Now that you're back at McKinley, the Bullywhips and I will be happy enough to provide you with adequate security.'
Kurt thought for a minute. He looked up at the picture of Blaine he had hung on the inside of his locker door. Underneath it, an assortment of magazine cuttings read 'Courage'.
'As kind as your offer is, I'm afraid I'll have to decline.'
Santana pulled a face. 'Okay, but if you change your mind... See you at rehearsal.'
She turned and walked away. Kurt hummed happily as he thought about his coffee date with Blaine after school.
As he arranged the books in his locker, David Karofsky came around the corner. He sported the same red jacket and beret that Santana had. The jacket stretched tight over his large frame and he obviously wasn't pleased with the beret.
'Uh, hey.' He muttered, standing just a foot away from Kurt, who trembled slightly upon hearing his voice.
'Hello David.' He said, keeping his tone sharp but civil.
'Look,' Dave began. 'I'm really sorry for the things I did to you Kurt. Really, I am.'
His eyes pleaded some kind of sorrow with Kurt's.
'I believe you David—be that as it may, I still don't think I can forgive you.' Kurt replied.
David seemed frustrated. 'Look I said I'm sorry okay!'
'I-I know David. It's okay.' Kurt soothed. Was there something—or someone—on his case?
David seemed lost for a second. How could this boy, this innocent boy that he threatened to kill, how could he ever believe him?
His eyes filled with tears for a moment. 'Good. I'm just, I'm just sorry.'
With that, he walked briskly down the corridor and away from Kurt, who simply stood where he was.
Maybe things were going to get better now?
Lessons dragged by painfully slowly, until the bell rang out for lunch. As Kurt left his English classroom, Finn approached him.
'Good to have you back buddy. It hasn't been the same around here without you.' He grinned. Kurt blushed. 'I've missed you guys too, it's so good to be back!' Finn patted him on the shoulder and smiled, then walked in the direction of the canteen.
In his pocket, Kurt's phone rang.
'Incoming SMS - Blaine - How was your first day back? B. Xxx'
Kurt smiled, the same smile he gave whenever Blaine crossed his mind.
'It's been okay, lessons are definitely a lot less challenging, but it's too quiet round here without the Warblers. I miss you guys. K. Xxx'
He sent the message then locked his phone and put it back in his pocket. He watched the hustle and bustle of people heading to lunch, walking the opposite way to all of them.
He soon reached the school's main doors and pushed one of them open, stepping out into the warm spring sunlight.
There were a few benches and tables positioned on the grass by the car-park, and Kurt headed for his favourite bench under the old oak tree. The branches spread out above him, casting long shadows on the ground.
This tree had always held some comfort for Kurt. For reasons not quite sure to even him, he found the shade of the broad leaves safe and protecting.
He sat down on the bench and set his bag down at his feet. He sat facing the school. In his pocket, his phone rang.
'Incoming Call - Blaine'
He stood up—it had become impossible for him to talk on the phone whilst sitting, as recently he had adopted Blaine's habit of pacing.
Pressing 'Answer', he held the phone to his ear.
'Hey Blaine, what's up?' He chirped.
'Kurt, hey. Where are you?' Blaine asked.
Puzzled, Kurt replied slowly. 'Im outside school.. Why? Where are you?' Blaine paused for a second, then answered.
'Turn around.'
Kurt turned on his heels and looked towards the school car-park. His boyfriend strolled confidently through the maze of cars, face focused on Kurt's.
Kurt, who still had the phone pressed to his ear, breathed heavily, 'Oh, there you are.'
He hung up and walked a few feet towards Blaine, who was now only a few moments away. Stood in the shade of that old oak tree, his heart was beating away furiously.
Blaine wore his usual Dalton attire, complete with blazer, tie and shiny shoes. Kurt couldn't help but giggle as he saw Blaine's favourite pink sunglasses folded up in his breast pocket.
He couldn't resist him in those things.
Blaine reached Kurt and pulled him into a big hug. Kurt couldn't contain his excitement, and started bouncing around.
'Blaine! Wh-what are you doing here?' He squeaked.
Blaine laughed. 'Come on, let's sit down.'
Kurt led him back to the bench under the shade of the old oak tree.
Blaine sat down next to Kurt and smiled.
'So, what does it feel like to be home at last?'
Kurt shifted a little.
'As much as I love it here, I don't think it's really my home...'
Blaine took Kurt's hand in his own, and held onto it tightly.
'Where is home, Kurt?' Blaine asked.
Kurt sighed. 'Home is wherever you are. Wherever we are together.'
Blaine smiled and kissed his boyfriend.
A little robin chirped sweetly in the oak tree above them.
'Where's your home Blaine?' Kurt whispered.
'My home... Is wherever you are keeping my heart, Kurt. Wherever you and these delicious lips of your are.' He replied, and gently, Kurt kissed his boyfriend.
'Welcome home.' Kurt breathed.