Chapter 2- Strike Me Down


When up and coming football star Kevin Pearson walked through the doors of William McKinley High School with his arm slung firmly around Kurt Hummel's shoulders, people took notice and started to talk.

The first day of freshman year had dawned upon them quickly, neither of them getting enough sleep that night. Kurt had sneaked in a few hours after two while Kevin had joined him around three. From then, Kurt slept soundly until his ungodly alarm blaring at six thirty, blasting Kevin from an almost peaceful slumber. Kevin, as usual, had begged for just thirty more minutes, but it was not to be. Kurt turned on his Alanis album and wouldn't let him rest until he had gotten out of bed.

So Kevin had risen from his nest and stumbled over to his closet to find a shirt to throw on. After several closet jokes aimed at Kurt, who had insisted that Kevin take a shower before he be seen with Kurt in a public space, Kevin picked something to wear. It turned out that Kurt had organised Kevin's wardrobe with the hope that he would choose the thing directly in the middle without thinking about it. Kurt had manoeuvred it so that his favourite button down of Kevin's was precisely where he knew Kevin would select his outfit from. Kevin was none the wiser to Kurt's scheming; exactly the way it had always been.

"It's the first day," Kurt complained as they bumbled through the hallways, unsure of a real direction. "Why are they already whispering?"

"Just think of it like middle school, only with more people. Eventually, we'll drown them out. We're us: people are always going to talk."

Kurt shrugged. "This is their first impression of us, Kev. They might think we're..."

"Gay?" Kevin chuckled.

Kurt rolled his eyes. "They might get the wrong idea about us. I know that this is just our dynamic that comes from being friends for like eleven years. We know that. They don't."

"So they'll assume. Big deal."

Kurt sighed. "I'm sorry, I'm being overly pedantic again. I just want the best for you here."

Kevin shrugged. "You're the best for me here."

"Now saying things like that might make them think we're gay."

"Let them."

Kurt scoffed. "I wish I could be as lax as you are about things."

"If you were, who would remind me about homework deadlines?"

"I'm sure I can ask Aunt Rebecca."

Kevin was deathly silent.

"I just can't stop worrying about what high school might do to us. It's going to change us."

"Probably. We just have to see how it does and roll with it. And no matter what happens, we always have to be there for each other. Agreed?"

Kurt smiled. "Of course." He reached out his hand and Kevin grasped it. They performed their signature deal-making handshake, an intricate sequence of gestures that only they could understand and follow.

When the time came to separate, both were reluctant.

"I'll...see you at lunch?"

"How about we meet right here? So nobody gets lost and we can find a place to eat together?"

Kevin grinned. "You're adorable. But yeah, let's meet right here."


Kevin and Kurt had very separate mornings.

Kevin was finding out first hand just how fast things spread around high school, even for his first few hours as a freshman.

His friend, and object of Kurt's affections, Finn Hudson walked into his Math class and Kevin could not have been more thankful.

"Hey, what's up, man?" Kevin greeted, high-fiving Finn as the boy sat down.

Finn's eyes darted around the room. "Dude. People are talking."

Kevin frowned. "It's not even eleven yet. I've had two classes. What could people be talking about?"

"Did you make out with Kurt in the hallway?"

Kevin's eyes bulged. "What? No! Of course not. Is that what you heard?"

"Some really loud girl in my Bio class was talking about how great it was to have gay freshman so unafraid of being out of the closet."

Kevin rolled his eyes. "Did you tell her I wasn't?"

"Nah, man, she's intense. Plus, it's just a rumour, it'll die down eventually. Don't worry about it, nobody's gonna think you're gay."

Kevin's mouth tightened. "I'm not worried about me. I'm worried about Kurt. He didn't want to come out just yet to everyone and he's gonna be...he's gonna have a hard time with this."

The teacher walked in at that moment and began to summarise the curriculum for the coming semester, littered with vocabulary that Finn leaned in to mutter questions about. Kevin made a note to set up a more frequent study time with Kurt. He was going to need it.

Kevin was fairly smart, mostly because of the influence Kurt had on his education. Kurt's anxiety often transferred to Kevin not getting his homework done on time and would pester until Kevin sat down to do it.

Rebecca often thought and said that Kevin's only problem was his less than stellar work ethic. He knew the material when learned, but wouldn't be able to apply himself to his studies, which Kevin thought was just a polite way of calling him lazy. Jack would come right out and say that Kevin should put more effort in, but the boy was in a rebellious phase. Therefore he would only listen to the one person who wouldn't let him rebel.

Kurt liked it when Kevin was doing his best, so Kevin would do his best, often feeling like he owed his academic triumphs to Kurt's doggedness. Kevin was surprised it didn't annoy him, as it did when Randall did it.

Randall would simply stress the importance of homework and wonder how Kevin was going to learn anything if he didn't pay attention in class and didn't do the homework that was set for them each day. Now that was annoying. Randall never did it in the caring way that Kurt and Rebecca did, but more in the preachy manner that Kevin would never subscribe to. He knew that Randall would go the furthest academically out of all of the Pearson children, and even the adults, but Randall didn't seem to understand that academics were not, in fact, everything and that there were other options one could go down for after graduation. Kevin knew that Kate wanted to go into singing, at least at this moment in time, and Kevin was aiming to get a football scholarship and make a start towards the professional career he wanted, but Randall was the most unsure, even for the one with the most clear path.

Randall just wanted to get the best grades he could. He adored math and science, but didn't quite know what he wanted to do with them yet. Which was fine, Kevin thought, considering that they were freshman and were in no hurry to decide their futures, but he figured that Randall would preach less considering he had more thinking to do about his career.

Kevin knew that Kurt was a mixture of Kate and Randall. His grades were stellar and would challenge Randall for the top of their class when the time came. But he also adored performing arts and would want to make a career out of that. He definitely could. Kevin loved his singing voice and went to every one of his plays and ballet recitals. Kate had quit ballet very early on but Kurt had persisted, becoming one of the best in the class. Only one girl proved to be more proficient than he, something that bothered Kurt more than a little bit. He longed to be the best at something. Kevin rather thought nobody in the entire state could challenge him when it came to singing.

Kurt had a one in a million voice. He was a countertenor, or so Kurt had told him, which was apparently really rare or something. His range was better than Kevin had heard with most professional musicians. He and Rebecca would sit around the Hummels' piano and belt out jaunty show tunes whenever dinner was running a little late. Jack, Kevin and Burt would all stare at the duo with the same enchanted look in their eyes.

Kevin sighed as he thought about how hard high school was going to be for Kurt.

"Dude..." Finn nudged him. His eyes flickered over to the teacher, who was stood patiently, staring at him.

Kevin raised his hand for rollcall and stared down at the desk, flushing.

"What's going on with you? You're not still worrying about Kurt, are you? He's gonna be fine."


Kurt Hummel, as it stood, was not at all fine.

He supposed it was his own fault.

Throughout elementary school and middle school, Kurt had always had Kevin around. The teachers had noticed how inseparable they were and stuck them together to avoid running the risk of tantrums and distraction. They would stay together all day and then go home together most days and study or do whatever activity they had planned that day. Kurt had supposed that it wasn't the healthiest dynamic, but Kevin was his person, the one person who truly knew everything about him. That wasn't saying much considering Kurt didn't have a lot of people around him. His father was inattentive at best and Kurt didn't really have a wide circle of friends. The Pearsons were really his family, as hard as that was to admit to himself and his conscience.

He knew that Elizabeth's death had greatly affected his relationship with his father. And in the worst way possible. While Burt had detached himself from Kurt, who resembled Elizabeth massively in both physical appearance and personality, Kurt had done the same and enveloped himself in Kevin. Burt was the only one who would look at him like he was broken afterwards. Kevin knew how he grieved, Jack was never the type to bring it up and Rebecca followed his cue. Kate and Randall would sometimes check in, knowing that he would rather be talking to Kevin about it if he was going to talk to anyone.

Whenever he was at home, Kurt would usually navigate the house by himself. He didn't really need Burt for a lot of things, which should have clued him in to a couple of things that he hadn't quite learned yet.

So now he sat, without Kevin, wondering what he was supposed to do now.

Randall had been in his first class, English, but the teacher had been petty about seating and had assigned an alphabetical seating chart. Randall had looked just as dismayed as Kurt had about it. The two of them often worked well together, partner projects would have been ten times easier without the seating chart.

So Kurt had sat with a pretty blonde girl, who he had found out was called Quinn. She seemed smart and capable and they talked about their aspirations for high school.

Quinn was aiming to be head cheerleader someday. Kurt wanted to roll his eyes at the cliché that was radiating from her in waves, but stifled himself when he realised that Kevin was much of the same cliché just the opposite way around. Attractive, athletic with leadership abilities? Kevin and Quinn seemed to be cut from the same cloth. Although Kurt had found out that Quinn was much more straightforward about what she wanted and what she was willing to do to get it.

That both terrified and impressed him.

Kurt's own answer had been a feeble mumble about good grades and aspirations for New York someday. Quinn had shared his own love of the city, but was much more impressed by Los Angeles, somewhere she had been once on vacation and longed to go back ever since.

"So do you already have friends here?" Kurt wondered easily.

Quinn nodded. "I met some girls at cheerleading try-outs over the summer. They're nice enough, I guess. What about you?"

"I came here with my best friend from childhood and his brother and sister. It's made the whole transition a lot easier, I know that much."

"That's pretty lucky. Can I ask you something?"

Kurt frowned, wondering what she could possibly want to ask him with that solemn, serious tone she had adopted. "Sure...?"

"Are you...uh...gay?" She had mouthed that last part, eyes flickering to her classmates.

Kurt had blushed deeply. Now's your chance, Kurt. Decide who you want to be this year. The closet case who's afraid of what people think or the brave trendsetter who doesn't give a shit.

Kurt nodded.

Quinn shrugged. "I kind of figured. You're dressed way too nicely to be straight."

"Thanks, it's Calvin Klein."

"I know," Quinn smirked back at him.

Kurt gaped. This would be fun.

Unfortunately, that was where the fun stopped for Kurt's morning.

He longed for the day that he and Kevin could walk from class to class together, but Kevin's timetable had him on the other side of the building so they had to walk alone. Quinn had flitted off after English class and Kurt was forced to walk to his next class by himself.

But at least he was about to walk to meet Kevin for lunch.

"Hey gay kid!" A loud voice yelled through the hallway.

Kurt held his head high as bile rose in his throat. He turned, only to be met with an icy bath of liquid that coated his face.

His eyes stung as he dripped down his meticulously curated outfit. He squeezed them shut as his body was sent flying into somebody's locker.

He inched his eyes open and saw the retreating backs of his assailant.

From that moment on, he knew two things:

One: That high school was going to be hell on earth.

Two: That he couldn't show up to lunch covered in a slushy or else Kevin would freak out about it.

Kurt slipped into the bathroom nearby and prayed nobody was in there.

Bracing his hands on the sink, Kurt stared deeply into the mirror, his soaked reflection gazing back at him.

"You are Kurt Elizabeth Hummel. You're stronger than this," Kurt whispered as his bottom lip trembled. "You will not cry."


Kevin placed his foot against the wall behind him as he checked his watch. He pulled out his phone and sent off a quick 'Where are you?' to Kurt's phone. Maybe he was just running late.

After ten minutes, Kevin decided that Kurt wasn't coming. Something was off and he knew that he needed to and find Kurt.

Eventually, Kevin found him in the boys' bathroom, cleaning bits of blue slushy from his face and pristinely styled hair.

"Kurt!"

"Kev." Kurt eyes lit up as the boy entered the room, racing towards him. Kevin pulled Kurt into him and the smaller boy sank into the embrace.

"Ugh, I'm all wet."

"Who did this to you?" Kevin's face hardened angrily.

Kurt shrugged. "I don't know. Some jocks, I guess. They shouted 'gay kid' and then threw this at me and shoved me into the lockers. It's the first day, Kevin."

Kevin clenched a fist. "I'm going to find out who it was."

"Didn't you hear me? It's the first day. You can't go causing trouble, you'll be known for it."

Kevin shook his head. "I don't care about that. Nobody hurts you and gets away with it. Ever. You hear me? I'm going to try my best not to let this happen again, but if it does, you need to tell me exactly what happens. Got it?"

Kurt nodded shakily.

"Good. Are you going to be okay for the rest of the day? We have last period together so I'll see you then before your Glee audition."

Kurt bit his lip. "Oh, crap, the audition. I'm going to be covered in slushy."

Kevin took Kurt's face into his hands. "None of that is going to matter once they hear you sing. You're going to get in. And I'm going to make the football team and we're going to be alright."

"Why are you somehow always the voice of reason?"

"Because I'm the one who knows things are going to work out. Because what we have is stronger than anything else that can come our way. No matter what, we'll have each other."

Kurt nodded. "Always. And you're gonna make the team."

Kevin smirked. "So is Finn."

Kurt looked away notably. "And that's enough out of you."

Kevin nudged him. "Dude, he looks so hot today."

"You're the worst."


The end of the day came rather quickly. They had History last period, one of Kevin's stronger subjects. Kurt had managed to almost salvage his hair for the rest of the day but his clothes were damp and there was nothing he could have apart from let them dry off naturally throughout the afternoon.

"Is this weird?" Kevin whispered as they took notes on the Greeks.

Kurt frowned. "Is what weird?"

"This. Being in high school. I can't make my mind up about whether this is weird yet or not."

"It's certainly different," Kurt agreed quickly. "It's so much bigger than middle school. Everything's just so...big."

"And that's just my dick," Kevin chuckled.

Kurt slapped his arm. "You're disgusting. And also incorrect."

"Oh really?"

"Very much so. Just remember how much I truly know about you, Kev."

Kevin's eyes bulged slightly. "Okay, I'll be good. Promise."

As if taunting them, the bell rang after the longest day in recorded history. Or at least that's what Kurt commented about it. Kevin had groaned and asked the resident drama queen to take off her tiara for a few seconds. Kurt had simply slapped his shoulder and wished him luck at "football auditions" as he waited for Kate to show up.

She appeared in the doorway not a few minutes later.

"Kate! Hey, how was today?"

She smiled sheepishly. "It was...fine. Some girl was being rude to me at lunch but...what happened to you?"

Kurt scowled. "Slushy attack."

"Oh god, Kurt. I know how much you love that outfit. It'll dry clean, right?"

Kurt shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure, but I hope so. It doesn't matter, I'll just bring a spare outfit tomorrow just in case. You ready to do this?"

Kate nodded. "I think so. We've been singing this same song for four years, I think we're ready."

Kurt offered his arm and Kate linked it happily. "Let's show McKinley who its stars are."

Kurt led them out onto the stage of the auditorium as his name was called. "Hello, Mr Schuester, I'm Kurt Hummel and this is my very close friend Kate Pearson. We were hoping that we could audition together, we've already prepared a song."

Mr. Schuester nodded. "That's fine with me, guys. Whenever you're ready."

Kurt nodded with a smile to the man playing piano. The opening chords started and they took their place.

Kate stepped forward as was her cue. "I'm limited. Just look at me. I'm limited."

Kurt smiled as she turned to him.

"And just look at you, you can do all I couldn't do. Glinda. So now it's up to you. For both us! Now...it's up...to you."

Kurt stepped up alongside her, looking into the light above him. "I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn. And we are led to those who help us most to grow!"

Kurt slipped his hand into Kate's, beaming at the imaginary audience.

"If we let them and we help them in return. Well I don't know if I believe that's true. But I know I'm who I am today because I knew you!"

They continued the song with their original blocking from years ago, bouncing off each other effortlessly. Kurt's upper range soared into a risky harmony that only worked on occasion. Luck was with him today as his voice had never sounded clearer. Kate's sheer vocal power was amazing to behold every time, it almost knocked Kurt off balance. He regained his composure and they pulled a performance to be proud of. Rebecca would have been pleased with them.

Mr. Schuester clapped fiercely for them. "You two! That was...really, really great. Kate, your voice is so strong and I can't wait to train it with you in Glee Club."

Kate grinned and hugged Kurt tightly.

"Kurt, your range...wow. Your voice is so unique. There's definitely a place for both of you in Glee, I'm really excited about this."

Kurt shrieked happily and the two hugged once more, Mr. Schuester laughing in the background.

"Thank you, Mr. Schuester! When do we start?"

The man smiled. "I'll post a schedule on the bulletin board and then email a copy to each of you. Expect it sometime this week, though."

They exited the auditorium, marvelling at their acceptance into Glee Club, but also how quiet the large the school was after hours. No kids roaming the halls, nobody whispering at their lockers, just silence.

"I gotta go and get Randall from the library. Let me know how Kev gets on, yeah?"

Kurt nodded. "Do you guys need a ride home?"

"Mom said she'd come and get us. Thanks though. See you later, Kurt. And thank you for singing with me."

"It's always my pleasure, Kate."


Kurt tapped the steering wheel of his Navigator and squealed excitedly. He always got a post-performance rush that could never really be contained. With his excitement to tell Kevin about it looming, he almost missed the door opening and Kevin climbing in the passenger seat.

"Kev! Ew, you're all sweaty! Never mind. I don't care. Kate and I got into Glee!"

"Of course you did, I'm not surprised at all," Kevin smiled.

"Is everything okay? Did something happen at football?"

Kevin looked at him pointedly.

"Oh no. You...?"

"Didn't make it."

"Oh, Kev," Kurt muttered, reaching across and grabbing his hand. "I'm really sorry."

"It'll be okay. I just...football was the one thing that I had, the one thing that I knew I could do and do well. It just really sucks to not be on the team."

Kurt nodded understandingly. He knew that Kevin wouldn't want to hear any positives right now, he always preferred the realism. He knew that Rebecca could coddle and Jack would be encouraging, but only Kurt would give him the truth. "I know how badly you wanted it. But you're good, you'll make the team next year for sure. You just have to keep training and don't give up."

"You sound like my Dad."

Kurt shrugged. "I feel like you needed the Jack Pearson Speech of Encouragement right about now."

Kevin looked to him seriously. "Don't tell my parents. Don't bring it up. I don't want to take anything away from Kate."

"You're such a good brother," Kurt smiled. "Tell them eventually, though, yeah?"

Kevin nodded. "They'll ask. I'll just say they haven't decided yet."

Kurt started the engine.

"Finn made it, by the way."

For once, Kurt didn't blush. "That doesn't matter."

"He was really good."

"I'm sure you were too. You always are," Kurt pursed his lips as he pulled out of the parking lot.

"Not today. I was...off my game, I think."

"Did something happen?"

Kevin sighed. "I don't want to make excuses for why I didn't make the team."

"You're not, you're just explaining what happened."

"Some guy was all up in my face about us."

"Us? Me and you?" Kurt was confused.

"Yeah," Kevin sighed once more. "He was talking all this trash about how me playing football didn't take away from the fact that I was a big gay loser."

Kurt almost crashed the car. "Who said this?"

Kevin shrugged. "I don't know, some guy. I didn't catch his name. Nobody else said anything."

"Not even Finn?"

"He just stood there, looking guilty."

"Dick move," Kurt tutted. "Looks like we were both wronged today. This just means we have to be stronger and better tomorrow. Like you said, we just have to roll with it. We can't let them see us sweat." Kurt wrinkled his nose. "Even though my car now smells like the locker room."

"My bad," Kevin muttered. "I didn't feel like staying in there and showering after all the rejection. You know how Finn can be when he gets something good. He won't shut up about it and won't even realise he's being insensitive."

Kurt clucked. "Yeah, he can be a real dick sometimes."

"Thinking about Finn's dick again?"

"Shut up."