Author's Note: This one is early too, I know, but I actually have some bad news – this story is going on a short hiatus, NOT because I'm having writer's block or something awful like that, but because I'm going to New Mexico for two weeks to a place with no internet connection. Yeah. I'm gonna die. Sorry my lovely readers :'(
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I supposed I should've expected our time of endless happiness to come to an end at some point. I just never thought it would be because of something this bad.
When we left the principal's office I was literally shaking with fear. It was the end of the school day but Glee rehearsal was still in session, my feet automatically dragging me there.
"We'll talk when you get home," my dad said solemnly, patting my shoulder as he and Carole left. I nodded robotically and went into the choir room.
Everyone seemed so happy. They were all messing around, laughing and talking, Blaine among them looking resigned. His head turned at the sound of the door closing, eyes meeting mine, looking anxious.
"Kurt, what's wrong?" Mr. Shue asked. The class fell silent, everyone looking at me.
"Karofsky's coming back," I told them in a shaking voice. "His mom didn't think his expulsion was justified and she appealed to the school board."
"Wait, what? That's not fair!" Finn said incredulously.
"Well, there was no witness to him hurting me-"
"What about me?" Blaine fumed.
"Even if he didn't see it, Finn said your Connection was strong enough to feel something like that," Rachel added.
"His word isn't valid," I explained tiredly. "Soul mates are known to side with each other no matter what the circumstances."
"So…what're you gonna do?" Puck asked quietly, voicing my thoughts.
"I don't know," I muttered.
The car ride home with Finn and Blaine was awkwardly silent. Finn kept shooting me worried glances, which was concerning considering he was driving. Eventually I snapped at him to keep his eyes on the road and he obeyed immediately. Geez, you'd think I was going to drop dead at any moment or something.
Blaine was surprisingly calm. Worried, of course, but he was keeping his head, which I greatly appreciated.
When we got home, Carole and Dad were talking quietly at the dining room table. Finn went up to his room, muttering something about homework.
"Have a seat, boys," Carole said gently.
Blaine and I sat across from the two adults, Blaine's leg brushing mine comfortingly under the table.
"We have some things we need to discuss," my dad said. He leaned forward, elbows resting on the table and hands clasped, the posture he always held when he was about to have a serious talk. "We did some research and found an all-boys private school over in Westerville. They have a zero-tolerance for bullying policy and their own glee club."
"Dalton Academy?" I guessed, recalling Mr. Shue discussing our competition for Sectionals. Dad nodded.
"We want to use our honeymoon savings to send you there," Carole said.
My eyes widened and I was just about to protest, but she cut me off.
"Your safety is more important than a trip we can take any old time, sweetheart."
"But of course, we can only afford to send one of you," Dad said.
I froze. That would mean leaving Blaine behind at McKinley with a homophobic murderer, the very thought making me slightly sick. Not to mention that Dalton was a boarding school nearly two hours away. I would be away from my friends and family and oh god they probably had uniforms…
"We'll give you some time to think and talk it over," I heard my dad say. "Karofsky comes back on Monday, so you'll have the weekend to decide."
I nodded, biting my lip and wondering what the hell I was going to do.
~.~.~.~
"You're going to go, right?"
We were sitting side by side on the couch, snuggled under one blanket with my head resting on Blaine's shoulder and our feet touching on the ottoman they were propped up on. We had been watching Moulin Rouge, but I was far too stressed to actually pay attention.
I knew what Blaine was talking about as soon as he said it.
"Should I?" I muttered.
"Of course," he replied. "I mean, it's the only way for you to be safe. It only makes sense."
"But what about you? If you think I'm going to leave you at McKinley unprotected, you're insane."
"It's not me Karofsky threatened to kill," Blaine reminded me. "He only wants to get rid of you because he's scared you'll spill his secret. He doesn't even know we're Connected."
I groaned. "But I don't wanna go to Dalton," I whined, turning to press my face into Blaine's cardigan (which he had a strange affinity for now, his leather jacket hung up seemingly for good). I felt him laugh, his hand rubbing my back.
"I know," he murmured. "I'm gonna miss you, but it's like Carole said; your safety is more important than that."
"I'll miss you too," I sighed. "And Dad, Carole, Mercedes, Rachel, Finn, Mr. Shuester – hell, I'll even miss Puckerman."
We watched the movie for a few minutes, but neither of us was really taking it in anymore.
"I'm so tired of this," I whispered, closing my eyes. "I just want to be able to stop worrying all the time. Why can't they just leave us alone? When can we stop constantly looking over our shoulders to see who's going to attack next?"
Blaine said nothing but held me tighter; he was just as clueless as I was.
~.~.~.~
"I hate packing," I decided as I carefully put one of my new jackets in a suitcase. "It's just a big hassle. My clothes get wrinkled and I just know I'm forgetting something…"
"I'm not sure why you're bringing so many clothes," Blaine said from where he was sitting on my bed. "The school has uniforms, remember?"
"Ugh, don't remind me," I grumbled. "What on Earth made them think that navy, red, grey, and white looked good together, honestly? I'll look like an American flag."
"You'll look stunning, as always," he said with a devilish smile.
It really pissed me off that I had to leave Blaine. We'd come so far, not just in our relationship, but also in his life in general. After the wedding his piercings had never gone back in and his leather jacket sat gathering dust on the back of his desk chair. He and Finn were good friends and finally, finally he was building some of his confidence and self-worth back up again after his father spent ten years literally beating it out of him.
Not only that, but Blaine was doing such good things for me. He had changed my outlook on people, made me more grateful for the things I had, including him. I hated to leave right when we were both so happy.
Saying goodbye to the New Directions was a rather emotional affair. Mercedes made me promise to Skype her at least four times a week and text her everyday, Rachel telling me she'd already planned our next ladies' night. Mr. Shue clapped me on the back and gave me some cheesy, nonetheless encouraging advice, and all the football players vowed to keep Blaine safe.
"We'll form a perimeter around him like the Secret Service," Puck assured me.
Santana approached me next, looking like she was about to insult me rather than say goodbye.
"I guess I should say that I'm truly sorry Gay One and Gay Two have to be separated," she said grudgingly. "And I'm sorry I called you George Takei and Gaysee McGlitterpants before I knew your name…and after."
"Thank you Santana," I said with a smile.
"Don't mention it. Seriously. Never speak of it again."
Dad and Blaine drove me to Dalton. It was series of large brick buildings, sweeping lawns and well-rimmed bushes out front. On our way in to the office we were passed by several students, all clad in the hideous blazer and reminding me of robots. Blaine wrinkled his nose at the sight of them, and while I felt like doing the same I refrained; I would soon be one of them.
They gave us an introduction to the school, including a student handbook and map for me, and then we went to find my dorm. Thankfully it was a single, one of the perks of transferring in the middle of the year.
"I'll go get the rest of your stuff," Dad said, setting my bags down on the criminally small bed and leaving the room.
` "The second the door shut behind him, Blaine and I became attached at the mouth.
"It's gonna be so lonely…without you in the house," Blaine gasped between kisses.
"I'm sure you'll survive," I panted.
He whimpered in response, clutching me closer. I could feel a mixture of relief and sadness radiating from him and I kissed him deeper, letting our tongues thrust together as moans escaped both of our mouths.
We broke apart quickly as we heard my dad's heavy footsteps coming down the hall, straightening our clothes so we looked presentable in time for him to shoulder the door open, towing the last of my luggage. He didn't even bother heaving it onto the bed, plunking it down on the floor unceremoniously. As soon as he caught his breath again, it was time for goodbyes.
"We're gonna miss you, kiddo," Dad said warmly as he enveloped me in a bear hug. "But I think this transfer is good for you, you know?"
"Yeah Dad," I said with a tight smile as I pulled away; leaving Glee Club, and my newly formed family – including Blaine – didn't exactly seem good to me. "I love you."
"Call me after school tomorrow and let me know how your first day went, okay?" he said, clapping me on the shoulder. I nodded and turned to Blaine.
Blaine buried his face in my shoulder as I took him into my arms, gripping me tightly. I breathed deeply, taking in his scent and trying to avoid brushing my cheek against the curls he'd now taken to plastering down with gel. He smelled like home.
"Be safe, okay?" I whispered. "Stay out of trouble."
"I will, I will," he grumbled. I laughed and pulled back to look at him, reaching up to stroke his clean-shaven cheek. Boldly, Blaine pecked my lips in a chaste farewell.
When they left, the room seemed far too empty, despite the furniture tightly packed in the small space. I sighed heavily, actually able to feel my father and Blaine driving away as our Connection slowly faded with the distance.
Willing the tears of loneliness not to fill my eyes, I turned to the bed and began the long process of unpacking.
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I hate to leave you all hanging on that sad note. See you in a couple of weeks!