[A/N] Okay, so please don't hurt me. I know I was all like, oh yeah totes gonna write all day on holiday, but then when I got there it was too hot to even think so all I did for my whole holiday was literally swim in the pool and read fluffy fanfiction. Yes, I'm terrible. Anyway, so I got back last week and after I'd settled back in I was like, yeah this is great I can write loads and loads now, and then I came to writing and just nothing. I've had the worst writers block ever like I just couldn't write so today I was like okay it's gone on long enough and forced myself to sit here and write a new chapter and I know it's not very long and it's probably not very good, but I figured it's better than nothing! You all have permission to murder me. Thank you!
Kurt didn't speak to Blaine again until Monday. It turned out they were in the same maths class, but Blaine sat at the front and had hurried off as soon as the bell rang, so Kurt didn't get to speak to him.
On Monday, as Kurt was walking into school, he found himself once again covered in sticky, coloured ice and cursing wearing his cream knee-length sweater. He expertly wiped the slush from his eyes and made his way to the bathroom, ignoring the jeers and shouts that followed him.
When he opened the bathroom door, he was surprised to see Blaine. Hunched over the sink with his eyes scrunched shut and scrubbing red ice off of his face. When he heard the door shut behind Kurt, he froze and turned, sighing with relief when he saw who it was.
"Hey, Kurt," Blaine greeted. "I see they got you too."
"Yep, and I'm kicking myself for wearing such a light colour. The blue never comes out," Kurt replied.
"It's too bad. That's a nice sweater as well," Blaine said, glancing down at Kurt's attire.
"Thanks. And I'm glad there's someone at this school who knows a nice sweater when they see one," Kurt chuckled as he joined Blaine at the sink and began carefully removing the slush from his hair. They continued to wash in silence, until Blaine broke it by stating "I noticed you're in my maths class."
"Sure am," Kurt replied with a faint smile.
"I don't suppose you're any good at maths are you? It's just that at my old school we were doing a completely different topic and I don't understand any of the stuff we were doing the other day."
"I can catch you up if you like," Kurt offered, finishing rinsing his hair and beginning to style it.
"That would be great. I warn you I'm a bit slow, though. It could take a while!" Blaine said.
"I'm patient. How about we start at lunch?" Kurt suggested.
"Awesome! Meet you under the bleachers?" Blaine asked. Kurt nodded an affirmative before running some product through his hair and giving himself a satisfied smile.
"Right, I'm gonna change my sweater and then head to French. Madame Cooke is nice and all but she's cruel when she's mad!" Kurt explained.
"I'd best not keep you then. I'll see you at lunch?" Blaine said.
"See you at lunch," Kurt confirmed.
After that, Kurt had something to actually look forward to at school. He'd not yet had lunch with anyone, even though it was only for tutoring. Because, if he were being honest with himself, he didn't know who would hang out with him just because they wanted to be his friend. When lunch time came around, Kurt sat under the bleachers and waited. He tapped his fingers on the blanket which he sat on and he glanced between the books spread before him as the minutes ticked by. Kurt started thinking maybe Blaine had changed his mind or was just kidding around with Kurt. He was just about to put his maths books away when Blaine jogged around the corner, breathing heavily.
"Sorry I'm - late my biology teacher - kept me for the time I - was late this - morning," Blaine panted.
"It's fine," Kurt said. "Wanna get started?"
They sat and Kurt explained the simpler equations for the rest of lunch, whilst mindlessly nibbling on the food they'd brought. As they worked, they had a laugh with each other. Blaine had a repertoire of maths puns which made Kurt snicker and lose focus on the actual maths. When the bell rang and Kurt and Blaine headed off to go to their different classes, which brought Kurt back into reality. He sat alone through science, ignoring the glares that a few of the jocks had started sending him. He made it through the rest of the day with thoughts of Blaine and tutoring him and the jokes they'd shared of the equations.
When Kurt got into his dad's car that day and his dad once again asked him how his day had been, he replied "Good." For once it wasn't a lie.
Things seemed to get better from then on. Sure, Kurt was still being shoved into lockers, thrown into dumpsters and called names, but at least he had Blaine to look forward to. At lunch times, they would sit under the bleachers and 'study'. However, studying ended up being more talking and laughing than actual work. Both Kurt and Blaine came out of their shells a little and soon they got to know each other well. Well enough, that they considered each other best friends.
After a month of meeting every lunch time, Blaine went to Kurt's house for dinner. Burt was enthusiastically happy about Kurt's new friend, talking the whole car ride home and offering to get take out, which Kurt was going to complain about until he remembered the quality of his father's cooking. Kurt gave Blaine the 'grand tour' of the house, ending with his own bedroom.
"Wow, it's so... you," Blaine said.
"So me? I only hope that's a compliment," Kurt chuckled.
"It sure is. I've seen how you dress; your clothes are like something straight out of Vogue. And your room is like something from those interior design magazines my mom reads," Blaine explained.
"Why, thank you," Kurt said, a slight blush on his cheeks from the compliments. He certainly wasn't used to compliments. "Make yourself at home. I'll find us some movies."
Blaine took a seat on Kurt's couch as Kurt went to find his box of DVDs. As soon as he found it, he panicked, realising the contents of the box. It was mostly musicals and rom-coms; nothing boyish like he was sure Blaine would prefer. He took the box to Blaine with a sigh and said, "I can find something of my dad's if you don't like any of these. I have a very unusual taste."
Blaine rummaged through the box and held up a DVD with a grin. "I love this movie."
"Hairspray?" Kurt asked. "Really?"
"Erm, yeah, my mom took me to see the stage play a few years back and it was amazing. Then we went to see the movie when it came out last year. It's one of my guilty pleasures, I guess," Blaine mumbled, blushing slightly.
"I love it too," Kurt assured him. Blaine looked up from under his lashes and smiled at him.
The next hour and a half was a new experience for Kurt. He hadn't watched a movie with any one but his dad for years, and even then his dad was sat in his armchair and he was sat on the sofa as they watched the movie in silence. Watching a movie with Blaine was different. They sat together, quite close together, and through the movie they'd make comments to one another about the scene or an actress and sing along to the songs, Blaine often using dramatic hand movements to emphasise the words. And wow, Blaine could sing! Watching a movie with Blaine was definitely something he enjoyed.
After the movie they had dinner with Burt. It was slightly awkward to begin with, but then Burt asked Blaine if he liked football and they hit it off. Kurt smiled as he watched his father and his new friend interact. He was suddenly very grateful he was thrown into the dumpster that day.
When it was time for Blaine to go home, Kurt was a little disappointed. He'd enjoyed having Blaine over more than anything. After dinner they'd gone back to Kurt's room and talked. He'd found out that Blaine really liked musicals and had seen a couple on Broadway, and that Blaine loved singing and performing. They gushed about music and actors and plays for hours, until Blaine's mother came to pick him up.
"I've had a good time, Kurt," Blaine said with a grin.
"Me too. We'll have to do this again," Kurt replied.
"Yeah. Maybe next time you can come to mine. I can show you my guitar!" Blaine suggested.
"That sounds great," said Kurt.
"I'll see you tomorrow at lunch?" asked Blaine.
"Under the bleachers as usual," confirmed Kurt.
And then Blaine wrapped his arms around Kurt and brought him in for a hug, squeezing gently at his waist. It took a moment for Kurt to respond and wrap his arms around Blaine's neck. It felt weird being hugged like this. His father wasn't the most affectionate person and so he'd rarely gotten such hugs since his mother had died. He reveled in the warmth and safety of it before Blaine pulled away.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Blaine said.
"Tomorrow," Kurt repeated, as he watched his best friend leave.