Soundtrack: 'Casper's Lullaby' - James Horner, 'At Seventeen' - Janis Ian
Disclaimer: I own nothing
He had seen him around school dozens of times. He was probably one of the most talked about boys over at Dalton Academy for Boys, mainly because he was a Scholarship Student. It was very taboo there, where all the boys came from money, himself included. But he didn't look down on him for it. He admired him. He thought him brave for going to this school full of stuck-up snobs who had old family money. Not that he could say too much. He came from money, too, but he liked to think he didn't act like his peers or his boyfriend. He loved his boyfriend. At least…he had at one point. [But…] he smiled fondly to himself. That was before the summer. It was that summer that everything changed…
"We're through, Sebastian!" Kurt yelled. He hadn't meant to cause quite such a spectacle. He had simply wanted to see if his boyfriend wanted to join him for dinner in the Dalton dining hall when he'd walked in on his boyfriend screwing someone else. And not for the first time. He'd run from the room, back to his own dorm room, where his roommate Sam was, lounging on his bed, headphones in. He stormed into the room and slammed the door shut. Sam looked up from his studies, glasses perched on the tip of his nose. He tilted his head to the side, silently asking Kurt what was going on and pulled his headphones off. Kurt was about to answer when the door to their room burst open, a disheveled Sebastian entering.
"Don't be like that, babe," he said, trying to get close to Kurt. Kurt turned brusquely on him and shoved him away, towards the door.
"This isn't the first time I've walked in on you screwing someone else!" Kurt fumed. "And Thad of ALL people? What, you couldn't do better?" He sneered. Sebastian was about respond, but Kurt cut him off. "We're through, Sebastian! He yelled. "And this time, FOR GOOD!" Kurt pulled himself back inside and slammed the dorm door in Sebastian's face, this time making sure to lock it. He heard Sebastian banging on it, but he ignored it as he trudged over to his bed. He sank onto it and finally let the tears fall. He buried his head in his pillow and let them fall freely. A few minutes later, he felt the bed shift as another person sat on it. "Go away, Sam," he said. It was muffled by his pillow. He felt a the warmth of a hand over his back. It hesitated before the heat pressed down and starting rubbing up and down his back. Kurt turned his head towards Sam. Sam, whose expressive hazel eyes were locked onto his own icy blue orbs. Sam gave him a small smile, his lips vaguely twitching upwards. Kurt gave him a grimace.
"He didn't…" Sam paused as he tried to find the right words that wouldn't make him sound like a creeper. He sighed. "He didn't…deserve you, Kurt." He pulled his bottom lip in between his teeth, worrying it. Kurt looked at him with a curious expression. [Oh god] Sam thought. [I blew it.] Then Kurt smiled.
"Thank you, Sam." He replied. Sam let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding.
"Y-you're welcome," he stuttered. A light coloring spread across his cheeks. He quickly stood up and made his way back to his bed. He plopped down and put his glasses back on. He grabbed his previous study materials and put his headphones on again. With his music blasting in his ears and his attention elsewhere, he didn't notice the considering look Kurt gave him.
KSKSKSKSKS
The last notes of Michael Jackson's 'I Want You Back' rang out across the practice room. The Warblers stood behind Sebastian, throwing Kurt looks of encouragement (except Thad, who was sending him death glares, and Blaine, who was sitting next to Kurt.) Sebastian headed the group, sending Kurt a pleading look. Kurt, on the other hand, was absolutely, one hundred percent livid. He stood up and stalked over to Sebastian. He was going to explain to him as calmly as he could that they would NOT be getting back together, but then he smirked. Sebastian had the audacity to SMIRK at Kurt! It was like Sebastian thought he knew what Kurt was going to do and that just served to piss Kurt off even more. He stood fuming in front of Sebastian, having every intention of slapping that look off his damn face when he felt a tentative hand on his shoulder. He turned around, ready to glare at whoever was interrupting him, when he came face-to-face with Sam. His frown disappeared and a look of curiosity took over. "What are you doing here, Sam?" Kurt asked. Sam blushed, ducking his head slightly.
"Remember? Ms. Peters asked me to tutor you in math?" Sam prompted. Kurt's eyes bulged.
"I'm late, aren't I?" Kurt queried. It was his turn to flush as Sam nodded his head. "God, I'm so sorry, Sam! It won't happen again. I-" He felt someone tap his shoulder, the tap a little irritated.
He turned back around, putting his best bitch face on. "What?" He asked harshly. Sebastian didn't flinch.
"So do you forgive me, or not?" The taller boy countered.
"Go to hell, Sebastian. And you can take Thad with you," Kurt scoffed. He turned back to Sam, smiling sweetly at him. "Come on, Sam. You've gotta help me with my math." He grabbed Sam's hand and pulled him out of the choir room, leaving a distressed Sebastian in his wake.
He dragged his weathered hand down the old photographs. He couldn't believe how many years had passed by since those times. They seemed so long ago, but they were still so fresh in his own memory. It was like they happened yesterday. The two boys in the photo smiled up at him. One was dressed in the finest of clothes, the other was dressed in second-handers, bought in thrift shops. He felt a tear slid down his wrinkled cheek. He watched as it fell and splashed onto the protected photo. They were old men, now. Old, but not necessarily wizened, men who had had a lifetime of struggles, pain, and hardships, but those times could never compare nor overshadow the happy, joyous, loving days that they'd shared. "Are you ready to go, pop?" His daughter called up. He sniffled and shut the old photo album.
"I'll be right down," he replied, his voice aged and raspy. He placed the photo album gently on his – their – night table. He stood up from the edge of the bed, the springs creeking and his back cracking as he did. He grabbed his cane and shuffled to the door. He quietly turned the lights off and shut the door gently behind him, not wanting to disturb the resurrected memories.
Sam and Kurt became friends as the weeks went by. Sam was very good in math and would help Kurt, while Kurt would help him with English and French. It was hard, because Sam was dyslexic, but they managed. Kurt would come up with little tricks to help Sam and vice versa. On occasion, Blaine would pop by their room and help them both with history and science, his two best subjects, and Sam and Kurt would help him with math and English. They made a nice little trio, always hanging out when they could, save for when Sam had to work one of his jobs. Then Blaine and Kurt would hang out in Kurt and Sam's room and watch movies. More often than not, though, it would be Kurt and Sam. The rest of the Warblers turned against Kurt when he rejected Sebastian, but it was fine with Kurt. He'd never been particularly close with any of them, so it was no big loss on his part. Sebastian's promiscuousness reared its ugly head again and he would take a different boy to bed every night. Of course, that didn't stop him from leering at Kurt in the classes their shared together, or the dining hall, or Warblers practice. Kurt let it roll off his shoulders, though. Instead, he devoted his attentions to Sam. Sam, who was sweet and kind and funny and dorky. Who died his hair using lemon juice and spoke Na'vi. Who made Kurt smile, even when he was feeling his worst…
SKSKSKSKSK
"Are you dating the Plebeian now?" Sebastian asked him one day. It was in the middle of the dining hall as he and Sam were walking to their usual table. Kurt shook his head, attempting to clear any signs of blockage in his ears.
"What?" He asked again, sure he heard him wrong.
"Are you dating the Plebeian now?" He repeated. Nope, Kurt hadn't heard him wrong.
"Sam is not a Plebeian," Kurt replied, his voice agitated. Sebastian frowned.
"That's not an answer, Kurt." Sebastian said. Kurt narrowed his eyes.
"I don't have to answer to you, Sebastian. You're not my boyfriend or my friend, so what or who I do is really none of your concern anymore. Now, if you'll excuse us." Kurt pushed past Sebastian and stalked towards their table. Sam followed quietly behind. Kurt got to the table in time to hear Sebastian yell "YOU SON OF A BITCH!" He turned swiftly around and saw Sam get tackled to the ground by his crazy ex. His eyes bugged and ran over. He flung himself on top of Sebastian and started pounding on his back.
"GET OFF OF HIM!" He yelled. His fists did little to deter Sebastian, but they were annoying nonetheless. He brusquely flung Kurt off of him and returned to his pummeling of Sam. He only stopped momentarily to push Kurt off of himself. Sebastian's hesitance gave Sam all the time he needed to turn the fight around. He twisted on top of Sebastian and started wailing on him. Unlike Sebastian, however, when he felt Kurt's pull, he stopped and backed off. He stood up and stepped back, wiping some blood and sweat off his face. Sam's tie was askew, as was Sebastian's and both boys shirts were wrinkled and un-tucked. The Warblers crowded around Sebastian, forming a protective circle around him, glaring at Kurt. A teacher walked in at that point, led by a frightened looking student with mousy brown hair and head gear. Sebastian stood up quickly and wiped his face. The teacher walked over. She crossed her arms and stared sternly at the two boys who cowered slightly, despite the woman's five foot four height.
"Care to explain yourselves, Mr. Smythe and Mr. Evans?" She inquired. No one answered. She nodded her head and pressed her lips into a thin line. "Very well. Mr. Smythe, Mr. Evans, and Mr. Hummel, you will follow me to the Headmaster's office. He can deal with you." She commanded. She turned on her heel, expecting that the boys would be following her.
SKSKSKSKSK
"I hate to put a blemish on any records here," Headmaster Browne sympathized. "You all graduate this year and have been accepted to rather exceptional schools. I…" he froze. Truthfully, he should be putting a mark and Mr. Smythe's and Mr. Evans's records. Mr. Hummel tried to break up the fight, and so he was fine. Headmaster Browne rubbed his temple. "No one here will be receiving a mark on their record." He declared. The three boys heaved a collective sigh of relief. "However," he began. He noticed that all three boys stiffened. "I will have to make phone calls to your parents. Three young men should not be acting this way. Especially not three of our brightest future graduates." Headmaster Browne concluded. Sam cleared his throat. He turned towards him. "Yes, Mr. Evans?" Sam bowed his head and mumbled something. "I'm sorry, Mr. Evans?" Sam inhaled deeply and picked his head up.
"I…we just lost our phone service. We uh…we couldn't pay the bill." Sam said, embarrassment lacing his voice. Kurt reached out for Sam's hand and grasped it gently within his. He squeezed it but got no response. He gingerly went to release Sam's hand but felt a gentle squeeze back. He smiled a little to himself. When Headmaster Browne cleared his throat, Kurt tuned back in.
"Very well, Mr. Evans. I will hand you a note to give to your parents." He compromised. Sebastian snickered, earning himself an evil glare from Kurt. Sam nodded his head.
"Thank you Headmaster." Sam replied solemnly. Headmaster Browne nodded his head in reply. He then turned to face Kurt and Sebastian.
"I will call both your fathers once Mr. Evans leaves with his letter. You are dismissed," he said, waving them out. Kurt and Sebastian nodded then walked out. Once outside the office, Kurt rounded on Sebastian.
"YOU are an arrogant prick and I can't BELIEVE I ever dated you!" Kurt yelled as quietly as he could manage, not wanting Headmaster Browne to hear him. Sebastian threw his hands up in a gesture of surrender and sneered.
"Whatever, Kurt. Go on playing with your little toy. When you want a real man, you can come crawling back to me on your hands and knees." He leered, no doubt picturing the image in his mind. "Maybe then I'll forgive you for dumping me for the Plebeian." He said. Kurt was too distracted and angry to notice Sebastian slip by him.
It was one of his better days today. He recognized him at least, recognized that he was married to him for the last fifty eight years. Sometimes he didn't remember that, and on those days, he died a little more inside. He already knew that when his husband went, he wouldn't be far behind. Their visit was over for the day. Their daughter, Andrea, was taking him home now. He wanted to be alone. He wanted to be alone with his memories, with his husband, knowing that, tomorrow, his husband may very well not know who he is, or what they meant to each other. What he still means to him…
A/N: WOW! Long chapter there, huh? :D This is based off a prompt from tumblr (still taking them, if anyone's interested - just look for molodoo) Right. So, I hope you like it! I hope you enjoyed it! Also, drop me a review and PM me with any questions :) Thanks! Also, 'Memories' is just the working title. It may/may not change, I havent' decided...
