The voice in his dreams was fast-approaching, a wild cackle laced with malicious intentions. The leaves underfoot crackled, a fiery sound against the quiet of night settled around the woods. The laughing approached impossibly fast, a teasing sound driving him ever-closer to the edge. A few more steps, a few more…
The laughing monster attacked, leaping and striking home and drawing blood.
The boy collapsed onto the forest floor, the canopy of trees muffling his screams.
Kurt sat up abruptly in the uncomfortable plane seat, disoriented but very much alive. His breathing was heavier than usual, his heart pounding uncomfortably in his chest. He willed his body to calm, hearing the heavy drone of the engine. He remembered why he was on the plane.
Moving. From beautiful and sunny Los Angeles, the city of celebrities and fancy diets. His home. Elizabeth, his mother, had become sick and was hospitalized and didn't want her son to witness her suffering. She sent him to live with his father in dreary and dull Lima, Ohio, home of homophobia and the 53rd lowest test scores in northeastern America.
His new home.
It's not to say that he'd never been there before-that wasn't the case. He'd spent summers in Lima until he was ten, when he made the case that his friends in the city had included him in their plans. Internally, he would scoff about the statement. What friends? Prejudice knew no bounds- a gay high school boy was going to be ostracized. His only friend was the only other openly gay student- Janice- and that was by sheer coincidence. Janice's bitchiness appealed to someone with the same attitude.
Kurt texted her often, as she'd moved to San Francisco at the end of sophomore year. Kurt was a junior-it was halfway through the school year. An inconvenient time to transfer, but of course the occasion called for it.
The plane landed and he disembarked, meeting his father in the airport after picking up his bag. His father awkwardly gathered him into an embrace, patting him on the back and ruffling his perfectly coiffed hair. It took all Kurt's willpower not to death stare his father down- no one with half a brain touched his hair. But seeing as his father was the mayor, he thought better.
"Hello, dad."
Burt Hummel smiled at his son, a friendly grin easily recognized as the one displayed prominently on his campaign posters.
"Hi, son. It's been a while, kiddo."
Kurt grimaced at the ancient nickname, a remnant of childhood.
"No kiddo? Just Kurt then."
Kurt gratefully nodded.
"Thanks."
Burt led his son to his car, a reasonable midsize vehicle he'd had for the longest time.
"Dad, since I'll be living here I think I'll need a car. I mean, school and all."
Burt nodded.
"Already got that covered. Got you a nice Escalade- a welcome home present."
Kurt opened his mouth to protest, but Burt silenced him.
"Relax. It's a nice car and it's classy and all. Regarding your… uh…"
Kurt nodded.
"Yeah, dad. I hear you. Thanks, I guess."
The drive to Burt's house was silent. Both Hummel men were quiet and comfortable that way. It was just their nature.
When Kurt saw the car, he muffled a squeak. It was a sleek black sedan, one that looked quite similar to one he had his eye on back in California.
"Wow, dad. It's perfect. I love it, seriously."
Burt puffed out his chest and grinned sheepishly.
"Glad you like it, son. Let's get you inside, I'm sure the flight has you worn out."
The two went inside, the house still the exact same way that Kurt remembered it from years ago. The same condition applied to his bedroom, still painted navy blue and accented with oak furniture. Kurt internally nodded to his past self, glad he didn't pick anything too extravagant and childish at a younger age.
Kurt unpacked his bags, putting his clothes in the drawers and closet and his toiletries on his shelf in the bathroom. As he settled in, homesickness gripped him. The sky in Lima was grey and overcast, and Kurt could practically smell the incoming thunderstorms.
Dinner was, as usual, a simple affair- steak and baked potatoes. A 'simple staple of northern cooking' as Burt called it. Nevertheless, it was food, and Kurt eagerly scarfed it down. For a boy of smaller stature and build, he could eat with the best of them if he desired.
The impending threat of a new school and new people watching him was the only damper on a normal enough evening. When Kurt finally tucked into bed, he drifted quickly, dreams rapidly consuming his subconscious.
The sunlight broke through the stubborn cloud cover, giving way to a lush field of wildflowers. Kurt didn't know the place, but it somehow felt safe and comforting. Something foreign washed over him, causing his pulse to quicken pleasantly. The warm sun washing over his face reminded him of California and the perpetually hot climate.
Footsteps approached from behind Kurt, who lay in the grass with his eyes closed. The sun washed over his pale complexion and soothed him, and the footsteps were not unwelcome. He could sense it. If he could just open his eyes…
The harsh beep of his alarm clock pulled him from his dreams. He slammed his hand on the snooze button and sat up, looking out the window. He groaned.
Rain.
Cold, wet rain that promised to ruin his hair and his day.
He sighed, turning the alarm off and trudging halfheartedly to the bathroom. He breezed through the morning and drove to school, the rain significantly dampening his mood.
After picking up his schedule, Kurt's first classes flew by in a haze. He could hardly remember what happened in Algebra or History. His English class was straightforward, and gym was a nightmare.
Besides, gym for his entire career at McKinley high school was hell in itself.
At lunch, when he positioned himself alone in a corner, he saw them.
The cafeteria door opened to reveal five exquisitely beautiful people, almost too perfect to be human. The first two, a couple, were brunettes. The girl was dwarfed by her boyfriend, a tall boy wearing a varsity jacket. The next couple were blondes, a girl with icy features and a boy with larger-than-normal lips. It was the last boy that caught Kurt's eye.
He strolled in last, shaking drops of water away from the curls that had escaped the gel on his head. His leather jacket was also wet, and he shed it to reveal toned arms and pale tan skin. His hair was black, making him look like an Italian model. His eyes, however, were the perfect finish. Honey-amber colored orbs set beneath thick eyelashes that kissed his cheekbones when he blinked.
A girl sat by Kurt, amused by his staring.
"Interesting, aren't they?"
Kurt glanced over at the unusual presence.
"Who are you?"
"Mercedes Jones, at your service. I think the real question on your mind is who are they?"
Kurt nodded, his face flushing.
Mercedes merely smiled.
"The brunette couple are Finn Hudson and Rachel Berry. Finn's the most popular guy here, and for obvious reasons. Rachel's kind of a brat, but she has her moments. The blondies are Quinn Fabray and Sam Evans. Quinn's the head bitch, but she's cool. Sam's alright, I guess."
Mercedes blushed at the mention of Sam, but Kurt disregarded it.
"Lastly, Mr. Badass is Blaine Anderson. Totally hot and totally single. Not to mention gay, but keep that on the down-low. He's untouchable. Nobody's good enough for him."
Kurt looked up at Blaine, who happened to look up at him. Kurt's steely blue eyes met Blaine's amber, and Kurt shivered. His eyes really were beautiful.
The rest of the day passed in similar fashion, and when Kurt went to sleep all he could see were Blaine's beautiful topaz eyes staring at him from across the crowded cafeteria.
