The first day Kurt came back to school, he made sure Blaine didn't accompany him on the way. It wasn't that they fought or that Kurt didn't enjoy his fiancé's company. It's just that going back after the break caused by the beating was important for Kurt. It felt like a victory and he didn't want it to be full of Blaine babbling about things Kurt found unimportant so he chose the day his fiancé started classes earlier and definitely didn't have time to come over and walk with Kurt to the campus. They were set up for lunch together, after his first class and for Kurt that was enough of Blaine's presence in the first day.
He sighed softly at the thought. Was that how being a couple was supposed to look? Shouldn't he be looking forward to seeing Blaine? To try and spend every minute with him? But it just didn't feel like this, not when a whole day of classes was ahead of Kurt and he just wanted to focus on his academic studies rather than whatever Blaine was currently hyped about.
Kurt entered the dance studio and put his bag by the window, smiling at the few classmates that were already there and saying hello to everyone who greeted him. It's been months since he realised his first impression of what people thought about him was simply inaccurate. Yes, there were some guys who hated him, probably because he actually managed to look fashionable on a daily basis without making fool out of himself, and there were some people who believed he didn't deserve to be there. Some folks were pissed he got to sing in the Winter Showcase when he wasn't even a student. But mostly people liked him. Especially once they actually made an effort to get to know him. Around finals he spent some time in the NYADA dorms, studying with people for the exams. He was accepted and he was liked, even being a member of Adam's Apples didn't change that. Sure, people asked him why he joined and sometimes rolled their eyes but no one thought any less of him just because of it.
For the first time Kurt felt accepted and happy about where he was and coming back to school already reminded him that there were people who cared. He chuckled and hugged Natalie, the petite girl who, just like him, should have been in a different dancing class, only she didn't pass her exam after the first term there and Kurt, well, wasn't even a student back then. He assured Natalie that he was fine before saying hi to a few more newcomers, some of them he didn't even really know but apparently they knew about him since the reason of his absence wasn't a mystery. Kurt took off his hoodie and started stretching, knowing well that once Ms. July arrived class was going to get intense. And the fact that he wasn't at his best wasn't a secret. He had spent a week in hospital and then another he mostly in bed, except for the Midwinter Critique evening. It definitely left him much weaker than he wished he was in this class.
Kurt sighed with a relief as Cassie finished the class. He went to his bag and grabbed the water bottle, downing half of it in one go before he turned around and started packing his things. That was why he didn't notice the teacher coming to him and jumped as she started talking.
"Hummel, after you get yourself together" she motioned at him, probably meaning his messy hair and sweat that positively soaked through his clothes. "I want to see you in my office."
Kurt sighed and nodded before gathering his stuff and going to the showers. What she wanted from him was obvious. He did terrible in class, he stumbled through the steps and fell twice during a routine he should have known in his sleep. But he /was/ still recovering and they were supposed to be easier on him at the beginning. Then again, who had seen Cassie being easy on anyone. Kurt sighed as he dried his body with a towel and slowly put on clothes.
Kurt entered Cassandra's office after knocking and looked at her unsurely.
"You wanted to see me?" he asked and went in as the teacher nodded.
"You're underperforming, Hummel. Greatly" July said without looking up at him once. Kurt opened his mouth to reply but she silenced him with a simple gesture. "And it's not because of the injury. You've been out of it for weeks. I let it slide and that was my mistake. Now I have to let it slide for a few more weeks and possibly months because of your injuries. But you won't pass my class if you don't start getting better. And that would be a shame" Cassandra looked up at him and raised her eyebrows. "You know, if I didn't know any better I'd say your engagement is getting to you in a bad way. This whole semester you're just not in the best shape and it's hard not to connect it to that" she motioned at the ring on his finger. "But I know for a fact that your fiancé wouldn't hurt a fly. And if he noticed something was going on with you two and he unintentionally caused it, he'd fix it. He's better at fixing everything than most people. So what's going on with you, Hummel? Are you sick? Like more than broken skull, bruised and almost chocked to death, sick?"
Kurt sighed and leaned on the chair. Of course she thought Blaine was perfect. Everyone thought Blaine was perfect. And it'd be ridiculous to blame Blaine for his failure in class, anyway. But the fact that everyone thought his fiancé was such a great person and so much better than him? It sucked, sometimes.
"I'm not at my best now, I suppose it's clear why. And before the accident I'd been doing as well as the past semester, I don't know what you're talking about" Kurt said in a calm voice. "I'm going to try my best and if I don't pass the class then I'll reattend it next year. There's nothing more I can do and I wouldn't be the only one."
Cassandra shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"You wouldn't be the only one but it'd be a shame. You came here with a disadvantage. You were stubborn and took the more intense class and you survived. You could have been with people from the third semester in fall, that's what I was planning for you. And now you're failing. You went from one of the best in class to one of the worst and I don't know why you let it happen, Hummel. I'm trying to find a reason but I see none. So fix it. Or you'll get into trouble" she gestured towards the door, letting Kurt know he was dismissed. He sighed and picked up his back before leaving the office. One more problem he needed to find a solution to.
The first fight after Kurt's release from the hospital was about his schedule. Again. Some time after Blaine moved out Kurt made sure to change his own schedule at NYADA so they weren't together all the time. Kurt needed his space, especially after the attack when he was healing, because someone's constant presence was distracting and, even though it was Blaine, it was tiring.
So now they were in the loft and Blaine was screaming at Kurt.
"Okay, enough!" Kurt looked at Blaine, finally and raised his hands. "I didn't pick you up from your apartment because I forgot. Because I had a stressful class and I just…I forgot about the date night and I'm sorry. You don't need to yell and you didn't have to go and fight with Elliott. I forgot, it's not his fault" Kurt sighed heavily. As soon as Kurt didn't show up on time Blaine became angry and that's how he ended up finding Kurt in Elliott's apartment discussing plans for the band. And that was why they were fighting in /Elliott's/ apartment after the owner himself hugged Kurt, said he'd give them some privacy and left.
Kurt sighed and sat on the couch, shaking his head. He was tired and now his head hurt from all the screaming. But Blaine was babbling something about them not spending enough time together and Kurt keeping him away and the boy sighed before looking up at his fiancé.
"I promise you, I'll work on making things better. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to push you away" Kurt smiled sadly and sighed with relief when Blaine pulled him into a hug. As long as they made up he could handle fights and being offended by Blaine daily. Just when the fight didn't end quickly Blaine sometimes got a little….scary.
Kurt shook his head and hugged his fiancé tighter. He was being stupid because of emotions.
Kurt started the combat class with stretching and as the teacher was getting late he started some lifting to kill time. Talking to anyone was just a waste of time when they had all of the equipment available for them and he told Blaine they'd talk later. Why Blaine thought it was a good idea to snack in class was beyond Kurt but he wasn't going to say anything. Blaine was trying to find his place in school and if he was stress eating, well that happened to Kurt too at the very beginning. He was doing it at home but it was not like Blaine could control it.
"Check out the gun show" Kurt looked up and chuckled at his classmate before mumbling something about hitting puberty. Finally.
He was not ashamed of his past but he definitely knew his own body better now and took advantage of it every day with new physical routine. It felt good and was helping with the healing process - the doctor said physical activity would prevent Kurt's body from getting weaker because of the recuperation he was going through. He chatted with the guys before the teacher finally arrived and started class. Kurt didn't notice Blaine's stares.