A/N: Don't expect updates to come this quickly on a regular basis. I needed a break from studying for finals. And now finals will keep me from this story for the next week. So enjoy, and thank you to all who reviewed the first chapter!
2
Kurt sighed as he looked around his dorm room, double-checking that he hadn't missed anything in his packing frenzy.
Pavarotti had already been returned, two days before at Kurt's final Warblers meeting. The council had told him how much they'd miss his voice and presence during rehearsal.
Kurt had forced a smile. What voice? What presence? They'd robbed him of both.
"I'm going to miss you, you know."
The small, mousy-haired boy sitting on the bed next to Kurt's took a bite out of his apple and watched his roommate through thick round glasses.
Kurt smiled, and it was a real one this time.
James was a year younger than Kurt, and tiny. He had been welcoming from the start and Kurt had come to view him almost like a little brother.
"Yeah, but I bet it'll be nice to have your own room again!" Kurt said cheerfully.
James had been given his own room at the start of the year because his snoring was deafening. There had been actual complaints from neighbors. But there was little space available for Kurt when he arrived, and he accepted the living "challenge." After all, Finn was a notorious snorer as well.
James shrugged. "But you make things interesting."
Kurt laughed wryly as he carefully folded his fluffy blanket. "You should have seen me before I came to Dalton."
"Maybe I'll see you after you leave?"
Kurt turned, then, to see the younger boy looking at him hopefully. The truth was, James had never really seen the real Kurt Hummel, the boy Kurt had been before being chased into retreat by bullies, by things he couldn't tell anyone and fears no one else understood. And James still thought new-Kurt was great.
It gave him hope.
"Sure. We'll Skype. We won't be that far apart, anyway," he said nonchalantly. And maybe the old Kurt is still in here somewhere.
He hoped so.
:
"This is our last day to rehearse!" Mr. Schue reminded his students in exasperation as they stood around the auditorium stage, their performance having been interrupted yet again by their teacher. "I understand that it's a Saturday, but Kurt will be back in town later tonight and we need this ready by Monday."
"Chill, Mr. Schue. We've got it under control," Artie said confidently.
"Yeah, Kurt's going to be really impressed," Quinn grinned.
"I gotta leave in an hour," Finn piped up. "I'm going to Dalton with Burt and my mom."
Santana groaned. "And you tell us this now?"
"Oh, shut up, Santana," Rachel sniped.
"Excuse me?" Santana glowered. Uncertainly, Brittany took a step forward.
Will rubbed a hand down his face. "Guys, calm down. Let's take it from the top."
:
Kurt heard the knock on the door as he zipped up the last of his suitcases. He glanced at his watch; too early for his family.
"Come in!" he called.
The door opened; Kurt glanced over his shoulder and froze. Blaine was standing there in his uniform, looking uncomfortable.
Kurt forced himself to turn away and pretended to straighten his tie in the mirror.
"What can I do for you, Blaine?"
"I came to say goodbye," the older boy said quietly. He glanced around the room. "James isn't here?"
"Snowball fight," Kurt said briskly, finally turning to face the junior.
A flicker of a smile crossed Blaine's face, and he reached back and shut the door.
"Oh." His eyes ran up and down Kurt. "You look nice," he said softly.
If it had been Before, Kurt would have blushed. But it was After, so he didn't. As it was, he looked down at his outfit, one of his favorites from home. It felt freeing to be out of the boring Dalton attire.
"Thank you," he said.
An awkward silence followed. Blaine avoided Kurt's eyes, but Kurt watched him, waiting.
Blaine cleared his throat. "Look, I never meant to-"
Kurt cut him off. "I know, Blaine. It doesn't matter anymore. I never belonged at Dalton in the first place."
"But I feel like it's my fault!"
When Kurt did not refute this statement, Blaine did look up and meet the other boy's eyes. Kurt sighed and sat on his bed, patting the space next to him. Blaine sat down hesitantly.
"Don't take credit for things you didn't cause," Kurt said sternly. "I made this choice on my own. Sure, you might have had something to do with it, but I think this would have happened sooner or later."
"I'm sorry," Blaine said sincerely. "About…well, you remember."
Kurt did remember.
It was a snowy January evening, and he, Blaine, and a half dozen other boys were in the common room, bent laboriously over homework.
"How am I supposed to know the square root of ninety-six off the top of my head?" Blaine huffed, chewing on the end of his pencil.
Kurt looked up and grinned. Blaine was so cute when he was stressed.
"I think my history professor is obsessed with Charlemagne," he replied, eyes returning to his book. "We've been reading about him since before Christmas."
Blaine hummed a few bars of "Baby, It's Cold Outside," and Kurt blushed, glancing up again and locking eyes with his almost-boyfriend.
Though they weren't an official couple, there was definitely something going on between Kurt and Blaine. They relished torturing each other, sitting just close enough to be more than friends, leaning forward to whisper in the other's ear instead of kissing.
But this was only sometimes. There were other moments when Blaine could be downright cold to Kurt; he'd be distant and refuse offers of help with assignments or coffee during study breaks.
This both confused and hurt Kurt, but every time he tried to ask about it, Blaine would shut him out.
But Blaine looked so relaxed now…
Kurt reached across and put his hand on top of Blaine's. He was unpleasantly surprised when Blaine looked down and pulled his hand away.
"I think I'm going to turn in early tonight," he announced, closing his books and gathering them in his arms.
Kurt stood. "Blaine, wait-"
The other boy hurried away, leaving Kurt alone at the table. He waited to feel put-out like he always did, but unexpectedly he felt the beginnings of anger working their up into his chest. Snatching his things, he stalked out of the room in time to see Blaine turn the corner.
"Blaine!" He broke into a run and caught up quickly, grabbing hold of his friend's sleeve and wheeling him around. "What is your problem?"
Blaine tried to shrug him off. "Kurt, not now…"
"Why?" Kurt laughed bitterly. "Because there are people watching?" In fact, there were a few people in the corridor who had stopped or slowed to view the confrontation.
"Well-"
"I don't care who's watching," Kurt said angrily. "Why do you keep shutting me out? What did I do, huh? Just tell me."
Blaine's face was tinged pink. "You didn't do anything," he said quietly.
"Then why are you acting like this? We usually have a great time together, Blaine, but more often than not you have to go and ruin it, and I wanna know why!"
Blaine grabbed Kurt's arm and pulled him to a more secluded spot, halfway behind a pillar.
"I'm not like you, Kurt. I'm not as brave as you are."
Kurt gaped. "Is this because we're both gay? Because you're afraid of what people are saying?"
"No! And…yes." Blaine groaned in frustration. "Look, I'm used to blending in, being part of the crowd. And ever since you came—well, things have changed. You aren't like the rest of us. I worked hard to become what I am now, to be where I am now in the Warblers, and I just don't…"
"You don't want to lose your popularity because you're friends with the one person who stands out," Kurt finished, stepping back. "I get it."
Blaine reached forward. "Kurt-"
"Thanks for being honest. I won't bother you anymore." And Kurt had fled, and he and Blaine had barely spoken since.
"I'm not mad at you anymore," Kurt said now, patting Blaine on the arm. "Of course, I was disappointed. But at least you were honest. And you helped me realize why I don't belong at Dalton. Because I like standing out. Or I used to, before I let the bullies dictate my life. Well, no more. I'm going to face my fears."
Blaine looked at the floor. "See, you're so much braver than me..."
Kurt stood. "I don't know about that." His phone vibrated and he glanced at it, a smile appearing on his face. "My parents are here."
Blaine slid off the bed and made his way to the door. Without turning around, he spoke in a quiet voice.
"I was a different person before Dalton, too, Kurt. I wish you could have known that Blaine."
"Maybe someday I will," Kurt said gently. "Keep in touch?"
Blaine nodded, and then he was gone.
