Title: Don't let fear lead the way

Author: The Quiet Jo

Pairing: Klaine, of course…!

Rating: T to M. But rated M to be on the safe side for what's to come in later chapters.

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or anything that has to do with it. Just a big fan like so many others.

Summary:

"You can't let fear stay in the way of us living our lives" Blaine said to me "We can't let them win anymore. We have to create our own happiness"

"You're right" I answered him and felt more alive than ever before "Let's do it"

Kurt and Blaine meet during their sophomore year (They are the same age). They start out with a friendship that could be growing into something more as they decided to keep it all a secret. But they want to live every moment in their life to the fullest and they might have the best idea to do so. KLAINE.

Chapter two

Kurt…

Three weeks into the semester and my life has not gotten any better. My day started out with the usual dumpster toss but I've managed to escape getting slushied so far. I have glee-club now but wish for it to end. I like glee-club but right now I just want to go home and drown my sorrow in lots of coffee and my new issue of vogue. I'm going to treat myself with a large take-away latte instead of drinking that disgusting coffee that you just mix in the cup which my dad always buys.

I look up at the clock and realize that it's only ten minutes left until the end of the day. Relief washes over me as I have once again manage to come out of another school day alive.

"Okay, so the solo will be given to Rachel for our performance during next week's school assembly" Mr. Shuster says and most of the group complains.

"We all know that it is for the best" Rachel stands up and says with a confident smile on her face. Someone should really pull that girl's feet back to the ground because she is up swaying among the clouds in the sky.

"Don't you think that we should all be given a chance at that solo" Quinn states "I didn't join to stay in the back and look pretty. I joined because I can sing and want to be given the opportunity" She couldn't hide the irritation in her voice but I understand it. I'm still not sure why she joined glee-club. Quinn Fabray is popular and a cheerleader and I can't figure out her angle. She hates people like us, who have a passion for the art. In the past she has had no trouble showing it. I can't help but wonder what her approach is along with the other two cheerleaders who joined, Brittany and Santana? But I guess people can change, even the hopeless cases. Maybe that leaves some hope for Rachel as well. I hide a giggle under my breath as I look over at Rachel standing in front of us all with her confident hitting us all in the face.

"Giving me the solo is best for the glee-club at this point because we all know that I have the most talent and experience and if we want to show the school how good we are then going with me is the best option"

"We should showcase the entire group's talent" Mercedes joins in "We aren't just one voice and we all want a taste of the spotlight" I can't help but get tired of this constant fighting. I want a solo as well but know that it is a dead end battle. Even though no one has my voice the songs that I like to sing isn't something that the judges at sectionals want to hear, at least not according to Mr. Shue and Rachel. Apparently boys should stick to singing boy-songs and girls should stick to singing girl-songs. But I'm not going to say anything. I really like being in glee-club and I am afraid that the longing for the spotlight will tear the group apart. Not that Mercedes isn't right.

"Well for this time we will go with Rachel and that's final" Mr. Shue made sure that the word had gotten out and that he didn't have any intention of bringing up the subject again. I could see Mercedes sitting with her arms crossed and a stern look upon her face. I hope that I can escape her and not having to listen to her yet again complaining about Rachel getting another solo. I agree with her and all, but I got enough on my plate as it is and don't want to hear her complain. Sometimes you just have to face the fact that life is unfair, just like I have.

The bell rang and the school day ended. I got up quickly and rushed to my locker before anyone had the chance to catch up with me. The hallway was a crowded place and I did my best to get to my locker untouched. I got my bag and books and hurried out of to school and to my car. Which I usually park as far away as possible, I don't want any idiotic football players trashing it.

I got into my car and headed over to the coffee shop down town. I turn up the radio so the music was blasting through the speakers and I was singing at the top of my lungs. This is the best way to forget everything and just clear your mind.

I drove up to the coffee shop and parked my car. I grabbed my bag from the passenger seat and walked over to the Lima Bean. The great thing about this place; no idiotic football players who harass you the first chance they get. The place was crowded and the line was long. I didn't have to look at the menu to know what to order and took my place in the line right away.

I took up my phone seeing if I had any new messages. I had one from Mercedes where she wanted me to call her because of what happened in glee-club. I sighed annoyed and put my phone back into my pocket as it was my turn to order.

On my way out with my large coffee in my right hand the phone rang. I took it up and answered before looking at the display to see who was calling.

"Kurt Hummel speaking"

"It's me Kurt. We have to talk about glee" Mercedes said on the other end. I took a sip of my coffee and walk out the door of the coffee shop. I didn't know what to say but I also didn't want to upset Mercedes either since I did agree with her.

"Sure" was all I could come up with.

"Okay, so we all want a chance at solos and it's time to show Mr. Shue that we won't stand for it anymore"

"What's the plan?"

"It's still being worked on, but are you in?" No, not really but I couldn't say that. I stopped for a second on the sidewalk leaning against the brick wall. I had no choice but to agree or else Mercedes and I would get into a fight and I rather avoid that.

"For you, of course" I began walking towards my car.

"Great, talk more about it tomorrow at school"

"Sure, see you tomorrow" I said and hung up and put my phone in my pocket with my coffee still in my hand fumbling a little but did my best so I wouldn't drop the phone.

I should have paid more attention to where I was walking though. With all of my focus on the coffee and my phone I didn't notice the person coming towards me before it was too late.

Blaine…

It was my third Warbler's practice and I was confused. I couldn't keep up with the dancing and the vocal parts were extremely difficult as well. I was trying my best to go by unnoticed in the background so everyone wouldn't see me screwing up.

"Okay take a break" Wes said with a huge sigh. "Seems like we need it" I hope that I wasn't the one who inspired the sigh and the break.

"Hope we get better until our first official performance" David said and came up behind me. "If this is how we're going to be at sectionals we have already lost"

"When is our first official performance?" I asked nervously, knowing that I needed all the time in the world to get ready.

"I think in a month at the mall" So I have one month to learn to dance and sing at the same time. It seemed like David could catch on my nervousness.

"Don't worry you'll get a hang of it before you know it" I gave a small smile and hoped he was right.

The break was over and it was back to dancing and singing or at least trying to. My mind kept working until I got a headache and my throat was dry from all the singing. But I kept doing my best for the next thirty minutes but was more than thankful when the practice was over.

"Well, until next time please go over your steps and make sure you know all the lyrics" Wes instructed us.

"You should be happy you are the new guy" David said. "Wes can be dictator but always take it easy with the newbies" I got my bag from the floor and tagged along David and another Warbler whose name I couldn't recall.

"He is known as a dictator?" I asked not wanting to offend someone. Maybe it was only okay for the people who knew Wes to call him that.

"Absolutely" the Warbler without a name answered "But it is what makes us great and we do have a legacy to uphold. Besides we all want it otherwise we wouldn't be here. We are all good in the Warblers but letting Wes push us is what makes us great"

"Sounds like we should be lucky to have Wes" I stated with a shy smile on my face. It made me happy to be a part of a group that have goals and a passion that brings us all together.

"Well see you around Blaine" The warbler said and took off so it was just David and I left as we were heading out to the parking lot.

"Hope the warbler practice didn't freak you out?" David asked and opened the door for me out of the school.

"No, it's just different" I'm kind of shy and really don't want to be a burden and therefore don't admit that the practice have me freak out, not completely but a little bit. How am I supposed to dance and sing in front of people? On stage? Just the thought of it make my legs tremble.

"You didn't have glee-club at your old school?"

"No, my old school wasn't anything at all like Dalton" So thank god for me being out of there.

"Well, we are all glad that you've chosen to attend Dalton" This made my heart go warm. I have never heard before that people actually wanted to be my friend. It was so surreal to me and something that only happened to others.

"So am I" I said earnestly.

"Can I give you a ride somewhere?" David asked as we stopped in front of his car.

"I'm cool" I said nodded towards my own car.

"Nice ride" David complemented.

"Got it for my sixteenth birthday" From my parents to cheer me up during the summer when I refused to leave my room. Hoping a nice car could bring some happiness into my life. It didn't work though, but it got me out of the house.

"See you tomorrow, bro" David said and stepped into his car. I gave him a light wave and then walked over to mine.

I glanced over at the clock as I got in and noticed that it was still early in the afternoon and I didn't feel like going home right away. After spending the entire summer locked up in my room from fear it was nice to see the sunlight again. To know that the world does go on and I can choose to go on with it.

I felt like experience the world again but was slightly afraid of doing it here in Westerville since all the people from my old school hang out here. But I have to start somewhere. My parents were out of town so they wouldn't be home waiting for me. For once I could appreciate that.

I sensed that life slowly coming back to me and I felt something that I haven't felt in a long time, the will to live. No to let what happen to me hold me back as I know I can fight it. I might not be strong enough to be who I am, but maybe I can be something.

…

After I've gotten into my car and out of Westerville I had no clue where to go. I was heading down the highway with no plans in my mind. I just let the road take me wherever it wanted me to go.

The only problem with driving is that I easily get tired of it. It is always fun in the beginning but after a while it is the same thing over and over again. So I tend to lose my focus which is not good at all. So when I saw the sign that said "Welcome to Lima" I figured it was best to turn around and head home. But before I could do that I needed something to keep me awake for the ride back.

When I look back at my life and I am older this will always be the moment that changed it. Maybe it is even faith, though I am not sure if I believe in God and faith?

Why did I end up going to Lima anyway? Was it because for the first time in my life I had something that could be of a resemblance to what some people refer to as friends and this made carefree for a moment? Maybe it had to do with the warbler's practice that didn't go too well for me but for the first time in my life I was part of something bigger than myself as I belonged to a group and wanted that feeling to last a little longer? It could be because if I went home no one would be there waiting for me and the happiness and bliss from the day would be gone and replaced by the feeling of dread and fears as my home reminds me too much of what has happened to me?

Whatever it was that made me drove to Lima that day I am grateful for it. Life works in mysterious ways sometimes and there is a tiny part of me that believes that somewhere there is someone who thinks that I have suffered enough. That it is time for me to be happy and experience the happiness the world has to offer.

Kurt…

It was with a loud bang that I walked into the person coming opposite me. I had no time to react and before I knew it my entire cup of coffee was all over my jacket.

"Shit" I said out loud and looked down at the jacket. It was drained with coffee and I knew that I would never get it out. It is too bad that my white Alexander McQueen jacket don't go with coffee stains.

"Are you okay?" the person I bumped into asked. It wasn't until then that realized that the crash had required another person. I looked up to be faced with a beautiful boy that I looked to be around my age. He had black hair with tons of gel in it and hazel eyes that matched his defined cheek bones and warm smile. He was dress in a blazer which appeared to be a school uniform that now was covered in stains of my coffee.

"I'm fine" I felt a little embarrassed since this was all my fault and it seemed as if I cared more about my jacket then the damage I might have caused to his uniform. "How about you?"

"Nothing that the washer can't fix" The boy smiled and it felt like he was taking my appearance in. This made me blush and I looked down on my shoes and the empty coffee cup now lying on the ground to try and hide my flushed face.

"I'm sorry about your coffee" The other boy said and I was forced to look up. His eyes met mine and my entire body responded. My knees got week and my stomach started a colony of butterflies as my mind completely blanked out. "I should pay more attention to where I am walking"

"Umm…" I wanted to say something clever that would impress this boy. But all I came up with was "It was my fault. Got too distracted by my phone"

"That can easily happen" We looked at each other once again and all I could repeat in my head was how gorgeous this boy was. He must be going to a private school hence the blazer but as far as I know there isn't one here in Lima. He could just be visiting someone too? Not that it matters I told myself.

"Yeah, it easily does" There was something about him that made me stay. I could have just said I was sorry for what happened made sure that no harm was done and then continue on. But for some reason I didn't, I stayed.

"So I guess we should both pay attention more next time. So we don't spill coffee on strangers" I laughed weekly and this appeared to make the boy smile.

"Lesson learned" I grabbed the empty cup from the ground to throw it in the nearby trash. I nodded to the boy and then was on my way the trashcan close to my car.

Before I managed to take more than a few steps the other boy spoke up

"Do you think I can replace your coffee? It doesn't seem to serve it's purpose on our clothes…" The boy looked at me waiting for an answerer. I wasn't sure if he was being serious or if this was some dirty trick and he was playing me. The boy didn't look mean and the 'bump in' had been an accident so it couldn't be any of the football players in my school trying to mess with me. Don't be so paranoid all the time Kurt, there is nice people in this world who mean no harm when they want to be nice to you, I told myself.

I was about to say yes, take a leap of faith and have coffee with this boy when reality set it in. He may mean no harm with the coffee but if someone saw us they could jump to conclusion and think that we are out on a date. That wouldn't be fair to this nice boy who just is trying to be polite.

The boy noticed my hesitation and looked a little hurt. He then slowly stretched out his hand and introduced himself and I could see him take a deep breath before he spoke.

"My name is Blaine" I couldn't be any lesser so I took his hand.

"I'm Kurt" Electricity shot through my body as our hands touched. A chill went down my spine and I was beginning to get dizzy. I knew at that moment that I couldn't say no. I had to find out more about this boy.

"Coffee sounds good"

Blaine gave me a huge smile and I was completely lost in his gaze.

Blaine…

I'm not sure what happened. One minute I was walking from my car and towards the coffee shop and the next I was drenched in coffee and this pretty boy was standing in front of me.

All I remembered was that I had to go back home eventually but decided to stop in Lima to get some coffee before the hour long drive back home. As I got out of my car and headed towards the coffee shop I was absorbing the small town. I have been in Lima before but it had been a long time ago. As I was taking in the surroundings suddenly there was a big crash and I felt something hot sipper down the front of my blazer.

I looked up to see a boy who was around my age worrying about his jacket. There was an empty coffee cup on the ground which explained the hot thing that my blazer now was covered in.

The boy was dressed in an extraordinary outfit existing of a pair skinny jeans, a white jacket and a black sweater along with a pair of shiny combat boots. He had light brown hair and skin resembled porcelain.

What happened between me and the boy was so surreal and I finally managed to speak up. As he looked at me I found myself starring into the most beautiful eyes I've seen in a long time. They were light blue and there was nothing but kindness looking back at me.

We slowly got talking and I couldn't help observing this boy. He seemed kind of nervous and so was I. My heart was beating out of my chest and I was sure that I could hear each beat as it tried to escape.

I wanted to know him. Talk to him. I couldn't believe I had the courage to ask him if he wanted to go and get coffee, especially with the spring at the top of my baggage. I hoped that he would say yes but could feel him hesitate. It was at that moment that I introduced myself and shook the hand of Kurt.

It wasn't any hand shake; it was the hand shake of the millennium. It felt like a connection had been made through it and that my body finally came alive. I didn't know I had been sleeping but something about Kurt had finally awoken me.

Kurt accepted my offered and I lead the way towards the coffee shop. Last year I came here once so I did know the place. I hadn't been here since then and it had me freaked out a little. I didn't want to relive any of those memories but thought that with Kurt it was a chance worth taking.

I open the door for him and he let out a "Thank you" under his breath and it made my entire body fill up with heat. His voice was so special and I had never heard anyone speak like that before.

We stood in line and no one had anything to say. It was a bit awkward but not as much as you would think. The silence continued until we got all the way to the cashier and I asked him what he wanted.

"A latte" he said with that sweet voice and I had to stop for a second to let the situation sink in. I took a deep breath and then placed my own coffee order.

We got our coffees and found a table in the corner. Kurt looked around a lot and seemed anxious. I hope he wasn't embarrassed to be seen with me. That's when I really started to take in his appearance and couldn't help but wonder if he were like me? If there was a chance that this beautiful boy was gay just like I am?

"So Kurt, you're from Lima?" I begin not knowing how to start a conversation but I was growing tired of the silence. Plus, I really wanted to hear this boy talk and find out more about him.

"Yes, from the very beginning" he said shyly but a tiny grinned escaped his lips. "How about you?"

"Westerville" I answered slowly and he nodded in a response.

"And the whole blazer thing?" he asked me and nodded towards my uniform.

"For my school" I explained. "I go to Dalton Academy" I hoped he didn't think I was a spoiled brat for attending private school.

"That explains it" We both took a sip of our coffee and it was back to silence but our eyes locked and it was magnetizing. This boy could make me feel so alive and it hadn't been more than fifteen minutes since I met him.

"I hope I'm not keeping you from somewhere?" Kurt asked me sincerely. He definitely wasn't, he was only giving me reason to stay but I couldn't tell him that so I only replied with a simple

"No"

"Oh, good" Then it was back to drinking our coffees.

This was continued for several minutes. The small questions along with sips of coffee and silence. But the more we got to talk the easier the conversation was getting and soon we are both full in talking about nothing and everything at the same time. I was so at ease around this boy that it was hard to forget that this was the first time that we met.

I found out a lot about Kurt during the next half hour that we spent together. He lived here in Lima with his father who owned a garage and was a mechanic. He attended McKinley High and had a great passion for fashion. He read vogue just like I do something that I didn't admit right away though. We talked about school and clothes and television. We didn't touch any deeper subjects but it still felt really good talking to him. I decided that I didn't want to tell him about the Warbler's in case he thought it was geeky and lame. I know that if there had been a glee-club at my last school those who were parts of it would be called losers.

"I should be going…" Kurt said after all of our talking.

"Yeah me too" I was a little sad to see this conversation and my time with him end. I wanted to ask for his number but I was afraid that he might get the wrong idea. He didn't know I was gay but if I asked for his number he could suspect it and get angry that I didn't say anything about it. But there is a small part of me that thinks that there is a slight chance that he might be into guys as well but I'm a too big of a coward to ask. And if I did ask that would mean that he would find out about me and I can't let that happen. No one at Dalton can know about me. It might screw everything up when things are finally going so well.

"So it was nice meeting you Kurt" I said sincerely.

"You too" We both walked towards the exit of the coffee shop and our time together was drawing towards an end. This was it. No more time with this beautiful boy.

The place was beginning to thin out and just as we were both walking out of the door I saw something flicker in Kurt's eyes. Something that looked like fear. The boy's posture changed and he slowly looked down to the ground.

"I forgot my scarf inside. But thanks for the coffee" He gave me weak smile and a small wave and then headed inside again. I was left speechless. As far as I remembered Kurt never wore a scarf and the fact that he seemed frighten made me a bit concerned. I didn't know if I should go after him or just let him be? I did the latter and left the coffee shop. I didn't know this boy after all and I didn't want to pry.

I left the coffee place with a bad feeling but I felt like there was nothing I could do about it. I walked towards my car and on the way I a passed two guys. They were both wearing varsity jackets and looked big and mean. They were laughing and had the attitude that the whole world was beneath them. I surely know that type. The one thing I appreciate about Dalton the most is that the school doesn't have a football team.

As I looked back at the two boys I could see the letters WMHS on the back of their jackets and figured that they most go to the same school as Kurt. Too bad for him. I shrugged the thought out of my head and got into my car. There was no idea in continuing worrying about Kurt since this was the first and last time I would meet him. Our paths were only destined to be crossed this one time. But it was a moment of time that I will keep close to my heart for a long time after this and a moment of time that has given me a reason to smile again.

MY body was warm and I drove away with the biggest grin on my face and only one word on my mind, KURT.

Kurt…

I can't believe that I got to have coffee with a guy that I just crashed into. Especially not with a guy as gorgeous and sweet as Blaine turned out to be. In the beginning I was very nervous and shy but eventually I eased into the conversation.

It all went great and I could relax around him even though I kept looking around for people who attended McKinley hoping no one would see us together.

During our entire time together I kept taking his appearance in or put it bluntly I was checking him out but trying to do so without him noticing. I think I was successful. The butterflies in my stomach kept increasing one by one after every moment we shared with each other. I wished that I could see him again after this and to find out more about him. He gave me these looks from time to time while we were talking and it gave me hope that maybe he was into boys and therefore he could be into me. Because I was definitely into him.

I wanted to see him again, if he wasn't into boys than I could use another friend, someone outside of McKinley who knew nothing about me. The idea was appealing. But I was too scared to ask if he wanted to see me again. He could just have asked me for coffee because he felt responsible for the crash; nonetheless it was completely my fault.

While we were walking out of the coffee place I looked over to the end of the parking lot and saw two familiar boys coming towards our direction. My body got stiff just by the sight of the figures, their red jackets and horrible laughs that could be heard all the way to us.

I couldn't let them see me, especially not with Blaine. What if they did something to him because of me? I couldn't have that on my consciousness? It was bad enough that his blazer now was stained with coffee due to my clumsiness. I couldn't be the reason he might he might come home with bruises and being called bad names. It was something that I wouldn't want to wish on anyone.

So I did the first thing that came into my mind. I lied. I told him that I left my scarf inside and walked away and knew that this was the last time I would see Blaine and I didn't even know his last name.

My heart was in the pit of my stomach as I left Blaine alone in the door. I didn't look back. Inside there was no scarf waiting for me but I was also too scared to go outside and face the two football players. One of them happened to be the worst of them all, Karofsky. I visited the restroom so I had the chance to get a locked door between us. I hoped that they wouldn't come in to the coffee shop that they would just continue down town.

I don't know how long I stayed in the restroom but knew that I couldn't stay in there forever. With a deep breath I opened the door and walked out and continued through the shop and out to the parking lot. As I walked I didn't look up one time. I just focused on the safety of my car and getting there in one piece. My heart was beating like a drum in my chest from the fear that I might run into the two boys.

I made it there unharmed and couldn't see Karofsky or anyone else around. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and let a tear stream down my face. I don't know how I can keep this up? The fear of what's waiting around every corner at school is bad enough but having to live with that fear outside of school is more than I can take. When will I ever feel safe?

…

Later that night as I was lying on my bed contemplating life it struck me just how great of a time Blaine and I had shared during the afternoon. If you see past the end of it and the Neanderthals at my school I had one of the best afternoons for as long as I can remember. It was something in the way that he talked to me that made me feel like he was actually paying attention to what I was saying. I'm so used to people either screaming bad things at me or feeling sorry for me because people scream bad things at me among other stuff. This was the first time that I could talk to someone who didn't know about my past or anything about me. It was truly refreshing.

Even my dad had noticed that something was different while we had dinner. He said something about me being unusually cheerful as we sat in front of the TV and eating our spaghetti as we so often do. It's become a tradition in the Hummel household to eat dinner in front of the TV. A habit we picked up after my mom passed away and silences became too unbearable for the two of us at the dinner table. The silence reminded us of the loss.

I turned over to my stomach and reached for the new issue of Vogue that I had been looking forward to read since glee-club. I turned up the volume of the CD player and began reading the first page. I made sure that I got a good look at every picture and that I didn't miss a word.

This didn't work for too long though as my thoughts floated away to one dark haired boy. I couldn't help but wonder if I'll ever get to see him again. Maybe I could look him up on facebook or something. Even if I did find him online I'm pretty sure that I would not have the courage to do something about it. He would just be one of those what if? But at least I have one of those now. I guess I am making some progress here in life.

I should just appreciate the wonderful afternoon Blaine and I got to share and be grateful for it. There was nothing more or less to it than that. Just to people having coffee together because there paths temporarily happened to cross with each other.

I was lost in my thoughts when the phone rang from my desk. It couldn't be Blaine calling, right? Because that would just be too good to be true. He wouldn't find my number online or even go looking for it, would he? No, of course he wouldn't. I reasoned with myself.

During my inner monolog the phone kept ringing. I looked at it and whished with all of my body and strength that it would be Blaine calling. Somehow he had found me.

I slowly took the phone to my ear without daring to look at the display to get a glimpse of who was calling.

"Hello…" My voice was about to crack from the excitement of who might be answering on the other end.