Hey again.

Sorry for the delay in this chapter - just as I started this a whole shit ton of work landed in my lap and I had to do it all! Darn real life. There will also be a little wait for the next chapter as I'm going to Spain for a week but I will try and get some of it done today.

Anyways - PLEASE tell all your friends about this fic - I want to spread the word of YDOYD as far as possible. Also some people may not know there is a sequel/it is out so let them know too :D

Thankies!

Liz xxx

Chapter 2 - Hello Dalton

I straightened my tie in the mirror. This one was bigger than in my last room – I could see all my body without my feet being cut off. It seemed strange to be somewhere different and to have something even better than my room before, but I guess now, at the top of the school, this was the furthest I could go. My new shoes shone in the light from the window and my trousers were pressed and completely crease free. Running my hands through my hair I checked my reflection one final time, searching for any imperfection that might make me a less desirable head boy to anyone I was about to meet. When I was finally satisfied I checked my watch, walked out of my room at the end of the corridor and shut the door behind me.

My steps felt ominous down the cold marble steps. Nobody else was in the building – I'd been the first to arrive. Dad had dropped me off with a tear in his eye, but I'd been happy to get here. It meant I could finally concentrate on my own life instead of my boyfriend's. Blaine had called me literally the second his plane had landed and it had been a glorious but heartbreaking conversation. He'd been nervous but we'd talked about what he needed to do and agreed he should have some time without contact with me to break out and make new friends. It was a hard decision to make but I knew it was the right one. He would be fine

As I stood outside the main doorway I glanced to my left at the 'Wilde House' sign, the picture of Oscar above it. It looked like it had been cleaned over the summer, like most of Dalton. Sighing deeply I checked my blazer yet again and waited for the first student to appear on the horizon. I remembered what it had felt like this time last year – stepping into an unfamiliar setting. Dalton had seemed so alien, so neat and pristine. I remembered I'd been so scared about stepping on the flowerbeds I'd kicked to pieces in a rage several months later. It was amazing how things changed when you got used to them. How I had changed.

Suddenly I spotted several figures making their way towards me. This boy looked like a freshman, and he seemed about ready to pass out. His father was lugging his suitcase behind him whilst his mother held his hand and navigated him around the flowerbeds. As they approached I took one final deep breath, smiled and held out my arms.

"Welcome to Wilde!"

The family looked up at me and I saw the mother smile – her husband still looking very red in the face. I went over to help them with their bags and he nodded in thanks.

"Hello." I said, trying to be as polite and courteous as possible. "I'm Kurt."

"Greetings Kurt." The woman said. I saw her drag her son forwards, his feet stumbling on the gravel so he almost tumbled into me and turned an even paler shade of white. "This is Peter."

"Hello Peter.' The boy was small, almost tiny, with brown hair that looked like someone had tried to tame it with gel, but instead was sticking up in random places. He glanced up at me with brown eyes and immediately they widened.

"H-h-hello." I smiled, partly to be friendly and partly because he was a little adorable. I couldn't be sure but thought I could hear an Irish accent.

"So you're a freshman right?" I asked the question to Peter but his mum replied, nodding her head and attempting to straighten his collar. "Ok, I'll show you around."

As I took the family around Wilde Peter seemed reluctant to really explore anything, but his parents guided him through the corridors and duly made conversation with me. It was so strange to be saying the same things Nathaniel had said to me last year – I could almost remember it word for word. When we got upstairs and stopped by the freshman rooms, a world away from my head boy room down the corridor, I pointed at the door and smiled.

"This is your room. You'll be sharing with…" I looked at the two nameplates. "Bryan Smith." I handed Peter the key and he stared at me, still looking like a deer in headlights.

"Go on." His mum said, pushing him gently forward again. "Go inside." We all watched him turn the key in the lock and slowly open the door. The freshman rooms were a lot smaller than the seniors, but he didn't seem to mind, stepping inside and looking around with a kind of smile.

"Eh hum, Kurt." Suddenly I heard the sound of a throat being cleared and turned to my left to see Peter's dad looking at me. "Shane McSeamus by the way." He held out his hand and I shook it, trying not to laugh at his hilariously stupid name, and how it most definitely did not contribute to his heavily Irish accent.

"Pleased to meet you."

"Now, Peter might need a little…help, from you." Mr McSeamus edged in closer and hushed the tone of his voice – he was half looking between me and his son and I saw Mrs McSeamus move towards us too.

"Er, ok… What kind of help?"

"He's gay." My eyes widened a little at Mrs McSeamus' statement. She'd pushed into the conversation but had still managed to keep her voice quiet.

"We just don't want him to get bullied, because at his old school they weren't very receptive." As I glanced over at Peter it was hard not to bring back memories of my own schooling – what had driven me to move. The thought that other people were still experiencing it was hard to take.

"No, that's fine. Here at Dalton there is a strict no bullying policy, so you will have nothing to worry about."

"Oh. Good." Mr McSeamus patted me on the shoulder and I nodded my head back.

"I'm gay too."

"Really?" Suddenly his wife looked very alert and interested. She looked me up and down and then glanced back at Peter. "Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Yes." I replied, trying not to laugh, I held up my hand to show the promise ring wrapped round my finger. "He's at college."

"Oh." Obviously disappointed Mrs McSeamus returned to her son, and I had to turn away to let out a little silent giggle. This was so much like my first meeting with Nathaniel – maybe Peter and I would turn out to be really great friends too.

Once Peter had unpacked and any final questions had been answered (there were lots) his parents set about saying their goodbyes. They were long and a little sickly so I didn't stay around to watch, looking at some of the pictures on the walls until the clip clop of heels on marble stairs had faded into the distance.

I was expecting Peter to come out once his parents had left but silence fell over the corridor. After a few minutes of waiting for him to surface I crept to his door and peered inside. He looked sad. His suitcase was still lying on his bed untouched and he was sitting cross-legged – staring down at his feet with a forlorn look on his face.

"Hey." I said quietly. Peter jumped, almost falling off the bed, and I had to stifle my laugh. "Can I come in?" He nodded and I walked over, sitting fairly close to him and nudging him on the shoulder with mine.

"This is scary isn't it?" The freshman looked at me with wide eyes, obviously not expecting to hear such words. "I was scared. Last year. This is only my second year at Dalton." And last. Peter didn't seem to be able to understand. I smiled and nudged him again.

"It all seems a bit daunting at first. But then everyone else arrives – you realise you're in exactly the same boat as them and you make friends. Pretty soon you'll forget you were ever nervous at all." Peter looked at me. He had really blue eyes – filled with innocence.

"Y-you really think so?" He replied, still stammering.

"I know so. Plus, if you ever need someone to talk to, as your Head Boy, I am always here." I grinned, placing my hand briefly over his and giving it a comforting squeeze. Peter stared at me again and then, suddenly, his expression changed.

Oh God.

What had I done.

I'd only meant to comfort him – show him it was going to be ok. Seemingly that had been taken as something else. Peter followed me around like a puppy for the rest of the day, copying my every move and staring at me with adoring eyes the whole time. I tried to fend him off with jobs, anything that would keep him busy for a couple of minutes, but he would simply complete them perfectly and return back to me, placing his wares down like prizes and then waiting for the next instruction. I suppose it did make me look like an extremely good Head Boy, and many parents gave me appreciative nods as Peter completed yet another task and was rewarded with a smile. I hated to think what Nathaniel would have thought.

Gradually throughout the day everyone returned. I greeted Wade and Connor with open arms, and Steven looked possibly ever more tanned than normal, having spent the whole summer back in his native Hawaii. Artem and Stefan arrived together, as one had visited the other in the few weeks beforehand, and to my surprise and delight Ashley was there to give my old room mate a long kiss goodbye. The person I was really waiting for however, was typically, late.

I was busy showing another family to their son's room when he arrived. I was notified by his presence not by the thundering sound of footsteps, or the warning by any of the other students in the surrounding area (thanks a lot guys), but by a ginormous weight crashing into my back and almost toppling me over.

"KUUUUURT!" Scott's voice bellowed out as he practically smothered me, wrapping his arms around my chest from the back so I staggered forward and almost knocked into the parent that was staring at me with open eyes. Once I had gathered up enough strength to stand up straight my best friend's arms crushed against my ribs and he dug his face into the back of my neck. Oh Lord. How I had missed this oaf.

"Scott." I said, trying to look professional to the parents but also wanting to hug him back just as much as he was. "Sorry." I directed my next words at the family but they were long gone believing anything, the shock having made them all freeze to watch the scene unfolding in front of them.

"I missed you buddy!" Finally my best friend let go, but it was only to turn me round and hug me again. Now that I couldn't see the people I was supposed to be showing round I was practically off duty, so smiled and dug my own face into his shoulder too. With the absence of Blaine, Scott was the closest thing I had to a soul mate left at Dalton – even his smell made me feel calmer.

"Me too." When we finally broke apart, both grinning wide grins that I thought would crack our faces open Scott looked back at the family and saluted.

"Welcome to Dalton!" He exclaimed, before shaking me vigorously in excitement one last time and then speeding off. I turned round to see possibly the most funny sight I would ever witness in the halls of Wilde.

"Um…yeah." There was no point explaining. He was just Scott.

An hour later and finally everything had died down. I walked into my room and shut the door slowly behind me, letting out a long groan and then stumbling forward to collapse face down on my bed. Ergh. I was exhausted. I thought about calling Blaine, but figured I wouldn't really have the energy to be fully enthusiastic about what he was doing right now. What was he doing? Maybe he was at a lecture, maybe he was getting coffee with his new friends. Or maybe he was face down on his bed too thinking about me. No Kurt – that was bad. Blaine was allowed to have as much fun as he wanted. You didn't matter.

Suddenly there was a knock at my door. I groaned again, figuring it must be Peter looking for another job to complete and another chance to gaze at me.

"I'm busy at the moment!"

"Kurt, it's me." Slowly I hauled myself up and then opened the door. Scott hit me with another hug that almost knocked me over again, but I kind of let my body fall into it, giving him my whole weight. When he realised and dragged me to my feet he grinned.

"Tired?" I nodded my head and without warning he slung me over his shoulder, carrying me fireman style to the bed and then throwing me down.

"Aaah! Scott!"

"Sorry dude." I couldn't help the laughter that spilt from my lips, and as my best friend laughed too I laid back on the bed and sighed.

"So, first day bro. Hard work?"

"You have no idea." Another chuckle escaped from Scott and he stretched his arms in the air.

"You wanna try being me – I actually have to do work this year." I gave him a shove, almost sending him off the bed and we laughed once more.

"Shut up." It was strange having Scott back in my life – obviously we'd spoken over the summer but distance and funds my end had meant we hadn't been able to see each other except over Skype. Having him here now it was like he had never left.

"You spoken to Blaine?" Now the laughter was gone.

"No. We made a pact to let each other be until we were both fully settled in."

"That doesn't seem like the Kurt and Blaine I know." I shifted my head to glance up at my friend and saw him looking sympathetically back. I suppose he knew all about the trials and tribulations of a long distance relationship.

"It's better this way. Easier." Who was I kidding. It only made me want to see him more.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. I jumped and Scott leapt to his feet, striding over and opening it with a flourish.

"Kurt Hummel's office!" The exclamation obviously wasn't met with enthusiasm as his hands fell to his sides and I noticed to my annoyance Peter standing in the doorway.

"Who are you?" He asked, the jealousy in his tone painfully obvious.

"I'm Scott – Kurt's best friend. Pleased to meet you." He held out his hand but the freshman ignored it, looking instead to me. He seemed a little relieved that Scott was a friend only.

"Do you need me to do anything?" He asked, his face suddenly lighting up at the thought of doing something I would approve of. I sighed.

"No, it's ok Peter. Go hang out with your friends." I tried a sympathetic smile but still felt a stab of pain inside me as his face fell, especially when Scott shrugged his shoulders and began to shut the door.

"See ya." I just had chance to catch his moping turn into glaring for a split second before the clicking of the lock filled the room and Scott turned round with a grin on his face.

"Groupies already?" I groaned, turning over to bury my face in my pillow, trying to block out the laughter.

"Shut up. It's not like that."

"Oh really? Seems like he's got a big fat crush on you!"

"It was an accident!" My best friend came over, jumping back onto the bed and poking me in the back chanting 'groupie' gleefully until suddenly there was another knock at the door. Oh God. Immediately the struggle to get up ensued – both of us pushing each other down and scrambling to our feet until finally I got my balance and shoved him away one final time, staggering to the door and wrenching it open just in time to hear

"Kurt doesn't want sex with you!" ring out and the person in front to-

"Oh." He was tall, older looking than a freshman, and had long curly golden hair that went down past his ears. He was definitely not Peter.

"Crap." I didn't really know what to say – the introduction already embarrassing enough, The boy stared back at me with wide eyes and then looked behind me to Scott, who was probably still lounging on the bed. He must be another new guy I'd forgotten about. I swear I'd checked them all off the list.

"Umm…did I interrupt something?" He spoke, a nice tone to his voice, but questioning. His eyebrows raised and as he motioned between the two of us I suddenly realised what he meant.

"Oh! No, I mean no, not at all, we are just friends, yeah."

"Best friends!" I glared back at my best friend, trying to get him to shut up, but he simply laughed and bounded to his feet.

"He's just an idiot." I replied as he came over, looking back at the boy, who seemed semi amused, but then seemed to falter as Scott approached and stood behind me.

"Scott Macleod." A hand appeared over my shoulder and I ducked out of the way. The boy stared back at it, a little dumbstruck, before taking it lightly and shaking it.

"Sorry about him – are you looking for me?" The boy turned his gaze back to me and seemed to flounder, his mouth moving but nothing coming out.

"I…I…Are you Andrew?"

"Andrew?" For a second my eyebrows furrowed.

"Andrew Lee." Oh.

"No. I'm Kurt Hummel. Are you looking for Darwin house?" The boy nodded his head.

"Yes. Yes." Phew. At least that had me in the clear. I was still a little confused by his reaction, especially to Scott, so grabbed hold of my blazer.

"Do you want me to take you to him?"

"Yes please." I put my blazer on, only bothering to do up one button, and turned to look at Scott briefly as I held the door.

"You can stay here if you like." He nodded, waving once more at the new boy and I ushered us both into the corridor.

Once there was enough clear space between us and my room I went to introduce myself properly.

"I'm sorry, what was your na-?"

"-Your friend is super hot." I stopped right where I was.

"Er, what?" The boy stared back as if this were nothing out of the ordinary.

"Your friend. He's really hot." I couldn't reply. My mouth moved open and closed like a fish. "Don't you think so?" Umm… Ok, so Scott wasn't ugly – far from it. But the ears, the permanent selection of cuts and bruises across his body, his general being. He wasn't exactly Adonis.

"Not really." It was hard for me to keep a straight face, especially when the boy looked surprised. Oh come on, this had to be a joke.

"Is he gay?"

"No. He has a girlfriend." Sadness spread across the new recruit's face and again I had to hold back laughter. "I'm guessing you are though."

"Yeah. Jed Collins." Finally I learnt his name. He held out a hand and I shook it, smiling.

"You're not a freshman are you?" I asked as we carried on walking, down the steps of Wilde and out into the cool evening air. Jed shook his head.

"Nah. My Dad got posted near here so we moved. I'm a senior."

"Oh, me too. Well I guess you could tell that." A blush of embarrassment spread across my face and he laughed, a nice laugh that was pleasant to listen to.

"Yeah. We got here late so there was no one there – some dude with a green tie told me to come here to find Andrew." I let out an exasperated sigh, causing Jed to frown but then see my look that made him realise he wouldn't understand. Dahl were already up to their old tricks.

"Well Darwin is on the other side of campus – right there." I pointed out into the distance at the furthest house, almost hidden in the darkness.

"Oh. Obviously shouldn't listen to those guys in future then."

"No. I would recommend staying as far away from any Dahl student as physically possible." We walked the last bit of the journey in relative silence, Jed glancing around him trying to take in the whole of the Dalton grounds just as I had a year ago. When we reached the entrance to Darwin I stopped, causing him to stop and move back a few paces.

"You ok from here?" I asked. Jed nodded, smiling gratefully at me before holding out his hand once again.

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Welcome to Dalton."