A/N: Hey everybody! Thanks for reading my story. Feel free to review – I love any feedback. I guess I'd better add a disclaimer – I do not own Glee. Or Kurt. Or Blaine. Wish I did though.

So enjoy!

Blaine's POV

Blaine was ready.

At least that was what he kept telling himself.

Just step through those doors, find the office and you'll be fine.

But taking that first step was harder than Blaine could have ever imagined. He wasn't sure whether it was because he was nervous, or whether he just wanted to prolong this whole thing as long as possible. Or both.

"Finnnnn" a loud whiny voice said from somewhere behind him.

Blaine realised then that this was it. He couldn't just stay planted in front of this door forever. In a few seconds whoever had spoken would arrive at the doors and he would look like a fool. And so with much caution, he slowly pushed the doors open and stepped inside.

A long, wide hallway greeted him, bearing numerous red and white posters with slogans like "Titans Rule" and "Have Titan Spirit" glaring down at him. Blaine wondered if this meant the football team was remotely good at McKinley. He hoped so, he like football.

Caught up in a daydream, Blaine almost didn't notice when a student – a short brunette tailed by a group of friends – stopped to introduce herself.

"Hi, I'm Rachel Berry. I guess you are new here. I remember my first day here and even though it was the first day of freshman year I fully sympathise-"

"Rachel, we don't need your life story," one of her friends interjected. Short, sharp, sarcastic.

"It's al-alright," Blaine managed to stammer out, too nervous to say anything else.

"Of course it is," said Rachel. The same friend rolled her eyes.

"Hi, I'm Finn." A tall boy stepped forward and held out his hand for Blaine to shake. It took Blaine a moment before he could respond – this boy was just so huge, he towered over Blaine by what he thought had to be at least a foot. How had he not noticed him immediately?

"I'm Blaine" he replied lamely. "It's nice to meet you". Blaine had been raised with proper manners, so however odd or out-of-place they felt now, he was not about to stop using them. He just didn't know how else to act.

"A boy with manners, now that's new".

Not at Dalton. Blaine mentally kicked himself. He was not at Dalton anymore. He had to stop imagining he was. Instead, Blaine just shrugged. "I guess…" he trailed off.

"Well, I'm Santana-" said the girl who had interrupted and rolled her eyes at Rachel earlier "-and this is Artie-"

Blaine looked to where she was pointing at a skinny boy with glasses in a wheelchair. Blaine had overlooked him too. How? He definitely needed to be more observant or it might cost him.

"-and this is Mike." She pointed to a slender Asian boy who smiled broadly at Blaine. So far, Blaine decided, he liked Mike best.

"Do you need any help?" Rachel again.

Blaine sighed in relief. He hadn't expected anyone to be nice to him, especially on his first day. As a general rule, people tended to stay clear of the new kid. Either that or they teased them relentlessly. Even at Dalton, where he had been welcomed in with open arms, it had taken months before he finally felt like he belonged. And so, to avoid drawing attention to himself or appearing weak - because he knew all too well what might happen to him if he did – he had decided not to ask for help. He could manage on his own.

But here they were offering it; and he would most certainly take it. And just maybe, if he played his cards right, he might not have to sit alone at lunch. For the first time in what seemed like days, a huge smile spread across his face. "Yeah, that would be great. Can you tell me where the office is?"

"I'll do you one better – I'll take you there." Mike. Blaine knew he had liked Mike for a reason.

"That'd…actually be so helpful. Thanks."

This day was turning out better than expected. As he and Mike walked together down the hall Blaine hoped it would last.

"So…which parent is Asian?"

Blaine just stared at Mike in…well, surprise. No one had ever asked him anything of the sort.

"My mother," Blaine replied eagerly. Now that Mike was…his friend (?), he wanted it to stay that way. "She's from the Philippines - hence my short stature."

Mike started laughing. "You're not that short…I mean, well…yeah, I guess you are. No offense."

Blaine laughed. A real, proper laugh. Not the hollow sound that came out every time his parent's expected him to find their jokes funny. "I'm used to it, believe me. Don't even worry about it. I appreciate you trying to tell me otherwise though."

"No problem. Hey, Kurt-" Mike reached out and grabbed onto a boy who was standing at his locker. "Meet the new kid."

Kurt's POV

Kurt spun around and came face to face with someone he had never seen before. The boy was quite short, with dark brown hair that was gelled within an inch of its life, but Kurt had a hunch that underneath all that gel there would be a full head of curls. He was wearing…a bowtie? And although his outfit was nowhere near Kurt's standard, it was not too shabby. Poor guy, thought Kurt. He looks scared.

"Hi. I'm Kurt. You're new?" he asked, showing more interest than he probably should.

"Yep," Mike cut in. "This here is my friend-" Blaine's heart fluttered at the use of that word "-Blaine. I managed to rescue him from Rachel."

Blaine extended his hand forward. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Oh god, thought Kurt. He has manners. And he's wearing a bowtie. Before he could stop himself he replied "You're so polite." He mentally kicked himself. Well that wasn't weird at all.

Blaine nervously laughed. "Is that bad? I'm beginning to think manners are a real rarity around here."

Kurt almost snorted. "That is the understatement of the century."

"Hey Kurt," Mike interrupted, "I've just remembered I have to go see Coach Bieste, would you mind showing Blaine the office?"

Kurt suddenly got butterflies. And he had no idea why. "Sure, see you around."

"Bye, Blaine. See you at lunch?" Mike asked as he started to walk away.

A huge smile spread across Blaine's face. "Sure!"

Kurt realised in that moment that Blaine looked absolutely beautiful when he smiled. His whole face lit up, his smile almost reaching his ears. He looked like an excited child, or an eager new puppy. Kurt vowed that from his moment on, although he knew literally nothing about Blaine, he would do everything to be his friend and try and keep him smiling like that. For Kurt understood all too well what it was like to not have many friends, to feel alone, and by the look on Blaine's face when Mike had called him his 'friend' – so did Blaine.

Blaine's POV

Kurt was...Kurt was different. Blaine thought. Polite, sophiscated and actually interested in what Blaine had to say. Having spent the last three months living at home with his parents, this was a huge change. He was very careful to not say too much – he didn't want to bore Kurt or scare him away. But after just a few minutes walking with Kurt, it was clear that Kurt wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"So your favourite colour is…?" Kurt asked, laughing at his clichéd question.

"That's a hard one," Blaine replied in all seriousness.

"Are you kidding me? It's my easiest question. They are only going to get harder from here." Kurt said as he shook his head. "Answer, please?" he pushed.

"Fine. But I wasn't lying - it really is a hard one." He paused. "It's sort of turquoise I guess, or jade, but greener. Like a cross between mint green and turquoise. I'll show you something that colour one day, then you'll know what I'm talking about. It's too hard to explain."

Kurt couldn't even reply. He was doubled over laughing. "I gu-guess you were right" he managed to get out between breaths. "Who knew you were so complicated?"

Blaine laughed at that. "You know nothing about me and already you're making assumptions?" he said, trying to fake hurt.

"Touché" was all Kurt said. He had stopped laughing and suddenly looked serious. This made Blaine wary.

"Blaine, can I…can I ask you a private question? I promise you don't have to answer if you don't want to. Though that might give it away, so… Sorry, I'm rambling. I do that when I'm nervous."

Ok, now Blaine was very scared. What could Kurt possibly want to know? But seeing as Kurt had made such an effort to be nice to him, he felt like he should return the favour. "What would you like to know?" he asked in a voice that he hoped sounded brave.

"I…well…are you gay?"

Blaine burst out laughing, feeling relieved. "You can't tell? I thought it was pretty obvious. I am wearing a bowtie. To public school."

Kurt let out a giggle. "Yes, yes you are. I had noticed that," he paused, "I am too. Gay, I mean."

Blaine just smiled.

"I guess it's pretty obvious, huh?" Kurt asked jokingly.

The first four lessons of the day dragged on and on. Kurt wasn't in any of his classes, well at least not the first four, and neither were any of the other kids he had met that morning. He was starting to realise that McKinley was quite a large school - much, much bigger than Dalton had been.

In each class Blaine was forced to introduce himself in front of everyone, which drew more attention than he cared for. But by the time the bell for lunch went, no one had said or done anything at all that remotely seemed to be bullying, so he relaxed.

Maybe this school wasn't going to be as bad as he had thought it would be.