A/N: Okay, so I have introduced an OC up in here. He will reappear next chapter. Not sure of my plans beyond that… This chapter is 90% dialogue and is basically a filler, not really anything but to get the OC introduced and Kurt into his "I don't like Blaine, but I don't hate him" feelings so that "I'm madly in love with him and I'm intensely attracted to him" feelings can develop! Next chapter will be 100% background info on both Kurt and Blaine. There we will also explore Blaine's "I think I actually like him and I hate Daniel's guts." Daniel is the OC, just so ya know… LET'S BEGIN.
"Kurt, I have to say something to you."
Kurt gripped his bag tighter, not looking to the left where Blaine was walking next to him. "Not right now."
"No, just listen—"
"Alright, gentlemen! We have a guest speaker today." Ms. Warner smiled brightly as the boys shuffled into the room. Kurt noticed the man immediately. He looked like he was only a few years older and about two inches taller than Kurt. He had blonde hair and blue eyes and was wearing a button down, tie, and trousers. He. Was. Gorgeous. And he smiled and winked at Kurt.
Kurt froze slightly, flushing before dropping into his seat. Next to him, Flint nudged him. "What's up?"
"Nothing."
"You're pink."
"I'm fine."
"Hi, guys," the man said. "I'm Daniel—I'm 20 years old and I go to OSU in Columbus. So, uh, I came in today to talk to you guys about all of this. I went here, to Dalton, when I was 14." His eyes circled the group. "I had gotten involved in some pretty stupid things. Drugs, alcohol, breaking the law. I knew that if I didn't get out, I could end up in jail or dead or anything else. So, uh, I got clean. It took a really long time and a lot of relapses, but it happened.
"The thing is, I needed something that made me forget the things that had gotten me involved in those things to begin with. I didn't feel like people could hear me. I was invisible. I was bullied and harassed and I just needed an escape. So instead of drugs, I got into music. I learned to play guitar and piano and drums and violin and sax and I just went crazy." He laughed. "And basically, the most important thing to know is that who you are right now is not going to be the best you. High school sucks. People are evil. And life gets easier."
Kurt wrung his hands in his lap.
"I'm here to answer any questions you guys might have." He looked over at Kurt, smiling softly.
Jeff scratched the back of his neck. Nick gnawed on his lip. Trent and Flint were looking at each other. Wes and David were making faces at each other—they probably hadn't listened to anything the guy had said.
"Or if anyone just wants to talk, I'm staying in the second dorm building and I'm gonna be here for the next two weeks. I want to be a teacher so I'm observing a few classes."
"How good are you at guitar?" Flint asked.
Daniel smiled. "Fairly good."
"You should play with Kurt. On guitar. He's a singer."
Kurt elbowed him sharply, but Daniel was grinning now. "I think that's a great idea."
-0-
"So, what's the deal?" Thad asked at dinner that night. "Are you staying or what?"
Kurt sighed, moving his salad around with his fork. "Staying. They were pretty pissed about the bike. I get to complete my sixth months."
Thad nodded. "Don't tell the other guys I said this, but I actually like having you around. So…it sucks that you don't get to go home, but…y'know."
Kurt smirked. "Thanks, Thad."
"Sure thing, Porcelain. So are you going to meet up with that Daniel guy?"
Kurt shrugged. "I have no idea. He's three years older than me, you know."
"And he was flirting with you. In front of everybody."
"Oh, are we talking about that guy in group today?" Trent said, grinning, as he sat down with Flint, Wes, and David following. "Kurt, he was all over you. He wants to sing with you."
"I have stuff to do."
"For the next two weeks?"
Jeff, Nick, and Blaine dropped into their seats. "Hey, guys—what are we talking about?" Jeff asked.
"That guy that was flirting with Kurt today in group."
Blaine's jaw clenched. No one noticed.
"Kurt was making the feeble excuse that he was busy. Which is kind of ridiculous because the guy's going to be here for the next two weeks…"
"I think it's a great idea," Nick offered. "The dude was hot." He received confused glares. "Just sayin'."
"Anyway," Trent continued, "just at least sing with him! If there's no spark, then there's no spark. But you don't know until you try. Besides, I really want to hear you sing."
Kurt sighed. "He was only flirting with me because I'm the only one that screams 'gay'."
"Tell me, Wes," Trent said, smirking as he turned to his friend. "Do you flirt with every girl you meet, despite their appearance?"
"No."
"What about you, David? Thad? Flint?" There were resounding 'No's from the other three as well. "So there you have it. Logic has trumped your sad excuses," he said as Nick whispered something that sounded like Jeff, do we look gay? Trent's smile suddenly grew as he looked over Kurt's shoulder. "Now, Kurt, get your butt over to his table and talk to him, or we'll never let you sit with us again."
"Has this become like that movie 'Mean Girls'? I can't sit with you because I'm not wearing pink today, etc, etc?"
"Only if that's a metaphor for flirting with a guy that's into you," Flint said, grinning just as evilly as Trent. "Go."
Kurt glanced over at the man. He was sitting alone at a table at the other end of the dining hall. He bit his lip. "Ugh, fine."
Trent laughed triumphantly, watching as Kurt stood and gracefully made his way over to the table. Blaine couldn't help but notice the skinny jeans again. Damn.
Kurt bit his lip, clearing his throat slightly. Daniel looked up. "Oh," he said, grinning. "Hi."
"Hi." Kurt blushed. "I'm Kurt."
"Daniel."
"I know." He fidgeted. "Mind if I sit?"
"Not at all."
Kurt slid in across from him, resting his chin in his palm as he leaned on the table. "So…you said you play a lot. What kind of music do you like?"
Daniel smirked. "Um, it depends on what mood I'm in. I'm pretty…diverse when it comes to music. What about you? I mean, you sing, so…what's your favorite thing to sing?"
"Like you. Depends."
"So, Kurt, just…out of curiosity, how old are you?"
"17."
"I hope this isn't ridiculously forward of me, but…tomorrow, do you want to get some crappy cafeteria coffee with me? I meant it earlier, that I think having you sing with me would be a great idea. If your speaking voice is anything to go on, you must be a wonderful singer."
Kurt smiled softly. "Yeah, okay."
"So, what color are your eyes exactly? I need to know so that I can jot it down as my favorite."
-0-
"How's your jealousy going, Blaine?" Jeff asked casually as he did his homework in the study hall with a few others guys.
"What are you talking about?"
"Your obvious distain for this Daniel guy is getting pretty interesting. You couldn't stop glaring at him at dinner yesterday and you keep looking at your watch because Kurt was supposed to be back from his date with the guy about ten minutes ago."
"Buddy," Flint said, "we're not clueless. We know you two had a thing."
"Our only question is why you're not doing something about it, since you're obviously still interested in him."
"I'm not interested in Kurt," Blaine said softly, looking at his textbook like he was trying to set it on fire. "He can go out with whoever the hell he wants. I don't care."
Jeff shrugged, looking at Flint with a What are you gonna do? expression.
The boys went back to their homework but all Blaine could think about was Kurt. What if he was off in a darkened alcove making out with that Daniel guy? What if they were doing more than making out?
Well that wasn't fair, Blaine chastised himself. He'd done way more with others guys than he had with Kurt. He couldn't get mad at Kurt for wanting to go farther with somebody that could give him what he needed.
"Blaine?"
"What?"
"I know you think that you can't be a nice guy. But nobody's going to hate you if you suddenly decide to help a kid out or tell him how you feel. Even Thad's pleasant sometimes."
Ouch.
"And on the other side of the spectrum, if you decide to keep being a douche, don't hurt him."
-0-
"Good morning," Kurt said, smiling as he sat next down next to Jeff. "How are all of you today?"
Flint smirked. "Not at good as you. Good date?"
"It wasn't a date. We had some piss poor excuse for coffee and talked. He's a very talented guitarist."
"What about pianist?" Nick said, laughing, purposefully emphasizing the sound of the word before the final t sound.
Kurt rolled his eyes.
"It must have been good though," Flint continued, "because I was asleep when you got back."
"I was in by curfew. You're just a horrible teenager that can't stay up past ten thirty."
Blaine suddenly appeared next to Kurt. "I still need to talk to you."
"I'm having breakfast."
Blaine looked down at Kurt's tray, rolling his eyes. "Well take your yogurt for a walk with me."
"Why should I?"
"You're not being very nice, Kurt," Blaine teased, smirking.
Kurt's jaw clenched. "Fine." He stood, leaving his untouched yogurt. "Lead the way."
Blaine led him out of the dining hall and onto the grounds. Once they were outside, he slowed down, looking at Kurt as they walked slowly. "I'm a dick."
"I'm aware."
"But I have an excuse."
"Mommy didn't love you?"
Blaine knew that Kurt was hurt and was being spiteful and angry because of what had happened but…that made him flinch. Luckily, Kurt didn't notice. "I'm not good at talking about things, okay? I hate it. I can't talk about myself and I can't be vulnerable because I need to worry about myself." He looked at the ground. "If I don't let people in, I can't get hurt."
"If you don't let people in, you can't have relationships."
"I don't want a relationship." He looked up again, glaring angrily. "I don't want that stupid fairytale. Let's face the facts, Kurt. We're never going to be able to go on a date with the people we like—not in Ohio. For the rest of our lives, people are going to be evil. Why would I want a relationship when all that's in it is that hatred?"
And that's when a thought occurred to Kurt. He had been hurt, yes, but that didn't mean that some of things he'd said hadn't hurt Blaine too. "Let me be very clear before I say this." Kurt stopped walking, turning to face the other boy. "I'm done with you romantically. But that doesn't mean you can't trust me. And that doesn't mean you can't be my friend…as long as you're not a tool." Kurt put up a hand as Blaine opened his mouth. "When all you've experienced in your life is hatred, a relationship is exactly what you need. Because there's someone who doesn't hate you."
"Do you hate me?"
Kurt paused for two seconds, wondering. "No. But I certainly don't love you."
"If I had been interested," Blaine began, his eyes still not showing any emotion other than the normal frustration and anger, "that morning, and if I had said that I did like you…could you have fallen in love with me?"
"I don't see why it matters."
Blaine smirked. "That's a yes, Mr. Hummel." He began to walk away before pausing. "By the way, your ass is looking exceptionally phenomenal today." He winked before turning on his heel and heading towards the academics building.
Yeah, Kurt thought. He's fine. And still a tool.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed! On a personal note, I went to OC Fair yesterday and met Dominic Barnes, Luke Edgemon, Titus Makin Jr, Brock Baker, Curt Mega, Riker Lynch, and the rest of R5. It was fantabulous! Another shout-out to Cap'NCupcake for continuously spreading the love through messages and reviews! All of my love!
Don't forget to review—it seriously makes my day.
Love always,
E. M. Zeray
PS: This is a seriously awesome site. You guys should check it out:
Imnotsadtoday [dot] tumblr [dot] com