A/N: I am so sorry but I had forgotten to say before that I do no own Glee or any of it's characters. They remain the property of 20th Century Fox and Ryan Murphy Productions.
Independence
Chapter Two: Truth
Having gotten no sleep due to suffering from distressing dreams overnight, Kurt wasn't easily woken up as their flight flew into Port Columbus International Airport. "Come on Ladyface," Santana said, teasing him lightly as she shook him awake. "We're landing so time to rise and shine before I have to get the warm water..."
Wearily opening his eyes, Kurt yawned, stretching his arms upwards in an effort to wake up. He rubbed his eyes for a moment as he was handed a cup of water. Sipping it slightly, he began to prepare himself for what was coming in the day. Other than needing to check in on his father and Carole, he knew the main issue he would be facing would be one that could end badly for both parties. On one hand, he knew what he had come there to do was what they both needed to move on; otherwise their lives would be a continuous back and forth of "I hate you, We break up, You call me, I love you."
Walking through the airport terminal, the three McKinley alumni were showing different signs of awareness: Kurt was the living zombie craving coffee like his life depended on it, Santana showing alertness but still yawning every minute or so, and Rachel was so awake, she could be the mascot of a children's cupcake company. They quickly lined up at the car rental area after passing through customs. Rachel originally had asked Kurt why they were paying to drive someone else's car rather than calling Kurt's father or someone else that would be more than willing to give them a lift. Santana had swiftly cut her off with a reply of "Because, Perky Mc Squeak, if we did that, it would give everyone at McKinley a heads up that we came back. Besides, we all have our own reasons for wanting to come back other than kicking the Lollipop Guild reject to the kerb."
"Now Santana," Rachel argued, "We shouldn't be using insults at this time. We have to be supportive of Kurt in this emotional period he's going through." Rubbing his shoulder, Rachel finished her speech as Santana snatched the keys from the attendant. "It's hard enough breaking up with someone, but when that person is your high school sweetheart, it's very hard." Santana pulled a scowling face as she walked through the entrance to the airport. "I don't want anyone knowing that I'm here yet, let alone you guys." Kurt said quietly, just loud enough for his friends to hear. "If even my dad found out, it'd be spread around Lima so fast; they'd be rumours of my upcoming proposal to Blaine before I even enter the school car park. And we all know how bad rumours can be, remember our Fleetwood Mac week?"
The girls nodded in agreement and walked towards the waiting rental car. Santana unlocked the front door and entered the car, flinging her suitcase into the passenger seat. Rachel opened the back door and offered the seat for Kurt. The male diva entered in silence as she shut the door and moved around to enter on her side. Sitting down next to him, Kurt felt like she was about to do his seatbelt up for him. 'God I hope not…' he thought. Thankfully, she settled and did her own belt up, brushing her lap down whilst gripping her carry on carefully. Kurt fastened his in return and gripped his arms in a way to cope with the stress of what he was about to do.
The car started up in an instant, vibrating slightly. The sound of the radio starting up instantly shook everyone out of their own thoughts as Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" was blaring out of the speakers loudly. Santana hit the off button almost immediately in response. "Sorry Kurt." She said quietly. Kurt sighed as if to answer her. "It's okay," He said, "I'm going to have to get used to the song on its own eventually. It can't always be associated to him."
The rest of the journey passed in relative silence apart from a few instances where Rachel asked Kurt how he was coping, or when Santana kept running into bad drivers and shouting at them in Spanish. "¡Pedazo de estúpido conductor mierda! ¿Sabe usted quién soy yo?" She screamed out the window at the elderly lady driving past her. "Estoy López Santana. Soy de Lima Heights Adyacentes. El lado malo de las pistas. Te equivocas! Si alguna vez te vuelva a ver, vas a necesitar un trasplante de columna vertebral!" Rachel sighed at Santana's lack of restraint at the less abled driver, and turned to Kurt again. "Are you sure you're all right?"
Kurt turned to Rachel, sighing exhaustedly, "For the tenth time," He said, tired of repeating himself, "Yes Rachel, I'm all right. Now can we just finish the drive in silence please? I need to be prepared." Rachel nodded in agreement and glared at Santana as she fired off another insult at an unfortunate driver.
"Hold onto your ovaries ladies," Santana said smirking, "We pulling into the car park now." Kurt looked up from his lap and stared out of the window. The familiar sight of William McKinley High School tugged at his heart strings. Memories of his past experiences here flooded his mind. The time he won Prom Queen but defied the ridicule and danced the King and Queen dance, Winning Nationals… But when he thought of when he got his first boyfriend, his heart panged at the images entering his mind. While he wouldn't call them bad memories, the thought of them at this moment in time just made things worse. As Santana pulled into the nearest spare parking space, he sighed undoing his seatbelt early. Whatever was awaiting him in there was admittedly going to hurt possibly both of them but he knew the only thing getting him through the day was knowing that this was for the best for both of them. Opening the door, he climbed out of the vehicle carrying out his suitcase. Looking directly at the empty parking lot, he took a deep breath, waited for the car to be locked and began to walk towards the entrance with Rachel and Santana by his side.
