So this is where things start taking after the show more, I'm pretty much sticking to meaningful moments between the main characters, however. I love Glee, I really do, but the writers do not make it easy to write about it! The continuity problems in the show require many artistic liberties, so this story is nothing close to cannon, and I will be changing things at my discretion :) Also...Brittany is out of character, simply because my Brittany is quite different than the show's. Still the naive, sweet girl, though.
The first day of school arrived, and Kurt carefully picked out his outfit. He kept it simple, jeans and a red striped shirt with a jacket. He looked good, but there was no need to purposely attract attention on his first day. His dad picked up Brittany on their way to school, so she could walk in with the boys. Kurt was extremely thankful that Brittany was there, he wasn't sure he could do it without her.
Brittany chattered excitedly, but Kurt's mind wandered. He felt confident he could do this; he had to do this. He had overcome so much, and he wasn't going to let this tear him down. This was his chance at a fresh start. Burt pulled up in front of the school.
"Hey," Burt said, looking at Kurt. "You have any problems, call me and I'll come get you, OK?
Kurt nodded, and the three of them headed off, Brittany linked arms with Kurt and Finn walking on Kurt's other side. Brittany showed them where their lockers were (next to each other) and led them to their homeroom.
Kurt's morning went alright. For the most part nobody paid much attention to him, and he kept to himself; everyone was too excited about the first day of school he pretty much went unnoticed. He had one class with Finn in the morning, and two in the afternoon. There was an open period in the morning that was dedicated to band/orchestra for those students involved, and study hall for everyone else. In advanced math, the African American girl in front of the seat he took turned around and introduced herself. She was wearing a hideous leopard print shirt, but she seemed friendly enough so Kurt let it go.
"I'm Mercedes Jones," she said with a smile.
"Kurt Hummel," he responded.
"Are you new here? I don't recognize you," she asked.
"Yeah, my family just moved here from Columbus this summer," Kurt explained.
"Why on earth would you move to Lima from Columbus?" she asked, wrinkling her nose.
"My dad bought out Mr. Leery's garage. He's opening an expansion to his garage in Columbus," Kurt responded with practiced ease. It was the truth, even if it wasn't the whole truth. She accepted it though, and the bell rang. Lunch was next, and Mercedes invited Kurt to sit with her.
"Umm…well, my friend Brittany goes here, I knew her from Columbus, and she wants me to sit with her," he explained. "Why don't you join us?"
"Brittany who?" she asked.
"Pierce…"
"Uh, no thanks. I don't sit with cheerleaders," she answered. "See you later, Kurt."
And she was off. Kurt hoped he hadn't just messed up the possibility of his first friendship.
Brittany's friends were alright, they were the kinds of girls he usually steered clear of at Briggs, but he didn't want to hurt Brittany's feelings. Of course, they all already knew Finn from football over the summer; he was already well liked, but other than Brittany they ignored Kurt for the most part. Finn's girlfriend since early July, Quinn, who Kurt hadn't met before today, was all over Finn. Finn was eating it up….but there was something about Quinn that disturbed Kurt. She looked familiar, but he couldn't figure out why. And she kept shooting him awkward glances. Kurt tore his eyes from her and looked around for Mercedes. She was across the cafeteria, sitting with a couple of other kids.
"What's wrong, Kurtie?" Brittany asked.
"This girl I met in math, Mercedes Jones, she asked me to sit with her. I felt a little bad, but she didn't want to sit here. She seemed nice," he told his friend.
"Oh, Mercedes, yeah, I don't know her that well but she seems nice. Let's go sit with her," Brittany suggested.
"But, your friends," Kurt hesitated.
"You're my best friend, Kurt. Let's go sit with Mercedes." She stood up and made her way over, and Kurt hesitated but followed.
"Where are you going?" Santana asked, grabbing Brittany's arm.
"We're going to sit with Kurt's friend," Brittany said, leading Kurt away. Finn got up to follow him, leaving a scowling Quinn at the table. Kurt noticed Finn's hesitation and assured him that he wouldn't mind if Finn decided to stay with the girls.
Mercedes stared at him the entire way over.
"Can we sit here?" he asked as he approached the table. Mercedes nodded, and he and Brittany sat down. "This is my friend, Brittany. We went to school together until last year," Kurt explained.
"H..hi," Mercedes said.
"Hi, Mercedes. I really like you're hair," Brittany complimented.
"Thanks," Mercedes replied, touching her carefully perfected curls. Conversation flowed freely once it had started, and Kurt found that he actually really liked Mercedes. She was funny, sweet, and sassy. He could easily see her getting along well in his group back in Columbus, and she got along just as well with him as she did Brittany.
"I don't know why you hang out with them," Mercedes commented. "You're so nice, you're nothing like them."
"They're not so bad, they're just hard to get to know," Brittany assured her.
"Sure, when you look like you," Mercedes told her. "When you look like me, the only time they give you the time of day is when they're calling you names."
Brittany looked like she didn't really know what to say, so Kurt changed the subject. They talked about Marc Jacobs for a bit, until the lunch bell rang and they had to get to class.
"Thanks for sitting with me, Kurt," Mercedes said, walking with him to their next shared class, History. "I don't really have a lot of friends here."
XX
Finn had a pretty good first couple of classes. He hung out with the kids he'd met in football camp over the summer, including his girlfriend, Quinn. He'd gotten to know her, as well as the other football players and cheerleaders, over summer. She was super hot, and was convinced that she, the head cheerleader and captain of the celibacy club, and he, the quarterback, would be the 'it' couple at McKinley, and Finn had to admit, that sounded pretty cool. He had fun joking around and poking fun at other kids with Puck, but kept an eye on his brother. He got up to follow Kurt when he started walking away with Brittany, but Kurt assured him he was fine.
"What's with the homo?" Puck asked. Finn almost said something, but Quinn distracted him. He would have to watch out for his brother, but he had to admit, it would suck to have his reputation tarnished before it really began. Maybe he'd have to talk to Kurt about toning it down. Today wasn't bad, but some of his outfits were…interesting. And Finn couldn't protect him without screwing with what he'd worked hard to build over the last several months, especially if Kurt insisted on wearing what he liked to wear.
That night at home, Finn knocked on Kurt's door. Kurt was preparing his outfit for the next day, which included bright blue button down, one of Kurt's milder choices.
"Hey, Finn!" he said, enthusiastically.
"Hey, can we talk?" he asked.
"Come on in," Kurt invited. Finn sat at his desk chair.
"So I was hoping that…you know…Kurt, I want you to be safe at McKinley, I don't want to worry about you being bullied. I don't want to worry about what's going on when I can't see you. I think some of your clothing choices can be…a little…over the top," he explained boldly. Kurt's face had gone from happy, to confused, to guilty but understanding.
"I know they can, Finn. That's why I wore this today, and that's why I'm wearing this one tomorrow," Kurt explained. "I want to try to blend in. But I'm not sure I can keep this up forever. I'm not ashamed of who I am and I shouldn't have to hide," Kurt told his brother.
"That's the thing, Kurt. Even what you wore today, and that blue shirt…it draws attention to you. Maybe you should go for more…you know, t-shirts, sweat shirts, or even like, lighter colored button downs," Finn suggested.
"You want me to completely change the way I dress? The way I dress is part of who I am, Finn. I'm not about to change that," Kurt stated.
"I know…it's just that, Kurt, I can't always protect you. And the guys, they're really starting to accept me—"
"And you don't want me to ruin that for you," Kurt interrupted. "That's it, isn't it? You don't want to tarnish your precious reputation when your football buddies start bullying me, which is bound to happen. Well, Finn, don't worry. I don't expect you to protect me, or help me, or do anything for me. I don't expect you to talk to me at school, or even let anyone know we're brothers. Don't worry, I'll stay out of your hair. I wouldn't want to be a bother, but don't expect me to sit down and let others walk all over me, including you. I'll be who I am and be proud of it; that's something I learned from mom and dad and believe it or not, Finn, that's something you taught me," Kurt ranted, storming to the door and opening it for Finn.
"Kurt, that's not what I meant at all. I love you, you know that. But you're right, I do like my friends and I want to keep them. I think it's a little bit selfish that I'm always thinking about you, and you never think about me," Finn pointed out.
"Never think about you? Never think about you? Seriously? Is that what you think? Finn, I've never asked you for a single thing. You've always volunteered. I thought you did it because you cared about me. Why do you think I was so careful about what I wore, and what I did at school last year? I knew that whatever I did would come back to bite you because of your buddies on the football team. I'm so done, Finn. Get out."
Not having anything else to say, Finn walked out of the room. He felt guilty, he hadn't meant to hurt his brother, but he couldn't help but feel a little relief that Kurt had released him from the job of protecting him. Finn still would, of course. He wouldn't let anything happen to his brother, but maybe there was a way to do that and still be popular.
Kurt went to bed crying that night, but refused to tell his mom what it was about. He was just so hurt that one of the few people he was sure about in life had turned against him. But he didn't care anymore. He'd be who he was, world be damned. As soon as he was out of high school, he'd be out of here. He would wear what he wanted.
The next day, he entered the kitchen in a black turtleneck, a blue Marc Jacobs jacket, and black pants. He gave Finn a daring glance. Finn glared at him, but then went back to his cereal, ignoring him. Hurt, but trying not to show it, Kurt fixed himself a bowl of yogurt and fruit and sat on the other side of the table. Burt noticed the tension immediately upon entering the room.
"Alright, what's going on?" he asked, going to the counter to fix Emily her toast.
"Nothing," Kurt said.
"Nothing," Finn agreed.
Burt said nothing. If the boys wanted to be in a foul mood, that was fine. He was used to it; they were teenagers after all. 21 month old Emily chose that moment to come running into the room. Kurt picked her up with a smile.
"Hey Emmy! Are you ready for school?" he asked.
"Kurt!" Emily shouted, grabbing a piece of his fruit and stuffing it in her mouth.
"Hey, you little thief," he accused, setting a giggling Emily on the floor, who went to take her turn with Finn. Finn picked her up with enthusiasm, and shared a bit of his cereal with her before Burt put her in her chair with her toast.
Carole came rushing through in her scrubs.
"We're running late, you boys ready?" she asked. They nodded. She was going to drop them off on her way to work, but they would arrive a half hour early. They followed her out the door, not speaking a single word on the way to school. Finn immediately joined his friends, and Kurt started heading toward a picnic table on the other side of the parking lot, taking out a book to read. Ten minutes later, he headed into the school. He was stopped by the football guys on the way.
"Hey, it's the homo we saw yesterday! Hey Homo," the one with the Mohawk said. Kurt knew what was about to happen. He'd been through it at his old school; they were standing next to a dumpster, what else would be about to happen? A teacher walked by, but just said a few kind words to the football guys and kept walking. Kurt looked at Finn, who was carefully avoiding his eyes. Was he really going to allow this to happen? He'd been more furious then Kurt with the guys who did this last year! The kid with the Mohawk grabbed his arm.
For his part, Finn didn't know what to do. This wouldn't hurt Kurt physically, he knew. And Kurt had been really good about not panicking lately. He could either stop this, and be ridiculed for it, or allow it to happen, and have his brother angry with him. Now was his chance to make a choice that would determine how he would spend the remainder of his high school career.
In the midst of his deciding, Kurt yelled out "Wait! This is a Marc Jacobs latest edition!"
"Wait—" Finn interrupted, intending to stop it from happening. Instead, Kurt took off his jacket and handed it to Finn with a hateful glare. And Finn hated himself when he said "OK," and allowed his friends to throw his brother in the dumpster. He hung around after they left and helped Kurt out of the dumpster. Kurt put his hands on his knees and tried to catch his breath. This was not a good time for a panic attack; he didn't want to accept Finn's help but if he had a panic attack he'd have no choice. He couldn't get his breathing under control, and Finn had to help him sit down. He went in Kurt's bag for his anxiety pills and inhaler and grabbed Kurt's water bottle, opening it for his brother. Kurt huffed into the inhaler, took the pills and sipped the water, and was able to get himself under control fairly quickly. Finn helped him brush himself off, then handed him his jacket.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"Not sorry enough to do anything, huh? Sorry doesn't mean a whole lot, Finn," Kurt said, storming off. He met up with Mercedes at the front doors.
XX
"What's wrong?" Mercedes asked, looking at Kurt's furious face as he stormed up to the school.
"Dumb brothers," Kurt snapped. He was more pissed then sad or upset. He was furious at Finn. He kind of expected the bullying to happen, but he always expected Finn to be on his side. He never, ever expected Finn to actually participate.
"Don't I know it, white boy," Mercedes sassed. "I have two of them."
Kurt linked arms with her and tried to calm down. He glared back at Finn as he walked in the school, but he was kissing Quinn.
The rest of the school day went alright. Kurt kept to himself, talked only to Mercedes. At lunch, they saw sign-ups for glee club on the bulletin board.
"Do you sing?" he asked her.
"Are you kidding? I'm the next Whitney Houston," she said, signing her name on the line. Kurt followed suit, figuring Throat Explosion was pretty much his savior last year. He wanted to be involved in glee if the school had a club.
Kurt went straight to the other side of the cafeteria with Mercedes, not even bothering to try with Finn or the rest at the table. Five minutes later, Brittany joined them.
"You didn't look at me, Kurt, did I do something wrong?" she asked as she sat down.
"No, Brit, sorry, I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at my dumb brother," he said, giving her a small hug.
"What'd he do?" she asked. Kurt hesitated. He didn't want to rat his brother out, but it was impossible to lie to Brit. And he wasn't sure he wanted to talk about it in front of Mercedes.
"Nothing, Brit. It's just…you know, the stuff I got at Briggs," he said, trying to blow it off.
Brittany, as naive as she was, had spent many years with Kurt learning how to read them. And she knew when something was bothering her best friend.
"What did they do to you, Kurt?" she asked, looking at him seriously.
"Nothing…nothing I wasn't expecting. I just wasn't expecting Finn to be a part of it, you know?" he asked, feeling the tears build in his eyes. He quickly tried to wipe them discretely.
"Why would he do that?" she asked, looking back toward Finn, who was eyeing her.
"He's just…so worried about his reputation. And I don't exactly make things easy for him. He's tired of protecting me, and they are his friends," Kurt said, trying to protect him.
"Yeah, and you're his brother. You've been through too much crap in your life to take that from him," she said, angrily. "What did they do, Kurt?"
"Dumpster," Kurt said quietly. Brittany stood up. "Brit, where are you going?"
"To talk to your 'brother,'" she responded.
"Brittany, wait. Don't," he said, grabbing her arm and pulling her back down. "Just let it go, he doesn't want his reputation tarnished, and as angry as I am at him, I get that," Kurt told her. "I've ruined enough for him."
"Kurt I may not be super smart like you, but I know how to be a good friend. And I won't let anyone hurt you. And that includes your own brother," she told him seriously. Kurt had never seen his carefree, happy go lucky best friend so serious.
Mercedes was openly staring at the two of them, jaw slightly open.
"Brittany, you're an amazing friend and I couldn't ask for a better one," Kurt assured her. "But Finn has a right to pick his own friends, and find his own way. This is the path he's choosing," he insisted.
Brittany stayed in her seat, unhappy but accepting of Kurt's decision.
"I'm sticking with you in the mornings from now on, though. I won't let them do it, and they'll respect me," she declared. Kurt just nodded. He couldn't dissuade her from that, and he didn't really want to.
After lunch, Brittany had to go to her class, while Kurt and Mercedes turned in the other direction. Kurt was embarrassed by what Mercedes overheard, but he needn't have been.
"Brittany is awesome," Mercedes commented. "I never would have guessed it from a cheerleader, and I still think she shouldn't be friends with those bozos, but I like her. And I don't think I have to know who your brother is to dislike him. He seriously threw you in a dumpster?"
"No, he didn't. He just watched. And he's not a bad guy," Kurt promised her. "He's saved me more times than I can count. I guess he's just sick of it."
That night, Kurt and Finn had a blow out to end all blow outs.
"I expected it from them Finn," Kurt yelled down the hallway from his room. "I never expected you to help, even after the conversation last night, I still thought you were better than them, I won't make that mistake again!"
"Well Mr. Perfect, maybe if you didn't go around flaunting yourself in front of them, you wouldn't be such a target! I mean seriously Kurt, you just fall into their arms so they can throw you in a dumpster. Who even does that?" Finn yelled back.
"So what, I'm supposed to run so your little friends can follow me and make it worse? You know what though, Finn, I'm not even mad at them. I hate them, but I'm not mad at them, because I didn't expect any different from a big bunch of Neanderthals with brains the size of a teaspoon. But I'm ashamed of you, Finn. I never expected you to be like that, no matter if it was me or anybody else, I thought you knew what the consequences of that kind of bullying could be. I've overcome too much to let it bring me down, even if it comes from you. And I won't hide myself in the back corner at school just so you can be in the spotlight and have your popularity."
Finn, feeling ashamed and guilty until Kurt's last sentence, yelled back, "I can't help you if you flaunt yourself Kurt. I didn't help them, I helped you. I helped you with your panic attack, I saved your jacket, I pulled you out. I didn't do it! You expect me to stop it every time someone tries to touch you and that's not fair! I love you, you're my brother, but I have a right to my own life!"
"What is going on here?" Burt yelled, thundering up the stairs. Emily, who had been sleeping, was awake at this point and Carole pushed past them to get to her.
"Nothing dad, sorry we woke her," Kurt says turning to go back into his room.
"Not so fast. You were yelling so loudly I couldn't help but hear what you were saying. What did you do, Finn?" He asked, turning to his taller son. Kurt looked down guiltily. He was angry, he was pissed, but it had never been his intention to rat Finn out to his parents. Finn was right, he had a right to his own life, and Kurt didn't have to be happy about it, but he wasn't about to go running to his parents. He was usually smarter about what was said in front of them.
Finn was silent.
"Kurt?"
Silence.
"Well, I think I have a pretty good idea, from what I heard from all the shouting. I want both of you to go downstairs so we can let your sister get some sleep," he directed. He turned back down the stairs, and the boys followed suit.
"Did the bullying start up already, Kurt?" he asked, softly.
"It's…it's not that bad, dad. I'm fine, and it won't get like last time, I promise," he answered.
"That's not a promise you can make, Kurt. You don't have control over that," Burt told him. "Maybe public school was a mistake…"
No! Dad," Kurt interrupted, "I want to keep going there. If it gets bad I promise I'll let you know. This isn't anything I can't handle. And it's only been two days and I've already made a friend! And the Spanish teacher is starting up a glee club! I want to stay!" Kurt insisted.
"Under the condition that you promise to keep me honestly updated, Kurt, we will revisit this at a later date. But there's no hiding this this time. You need to be honest with me, got it?" he asked, sternly.
"Yes sir, I promise," Kurt responded. He knew it wasn't a promise he could technically keep, but he could find a way to tell his father the truth while avoiding the whole truth.
"And you," he said, turning to Finn. "Did I hear that correctly? Were you actually a part of the bullying today?"
"No!" Finn protested, "Not technically!"
"Well then, how? Tell me exactly what happened," Burt ordered.
"I…I…I wasn't actually a part of it. I just…didn't stop them. And I took Kurt's coat, and I helped him with his panic attack!" Finn stated.
"You had a panic attack?" Burt asked, glancing at Kurt.
"Not a real one! Just a minor one, dad, I promise, I got it under control quick," Kurt told his dad.
"Because I helped you," Finn added.
"No…you were part of the reason I had it in the first place, Finn. Don't pretend your some sort of hero!"
"What happened? What did they do?" Burt asked, pointedly.
"Dumpster toss," Finn said. "But I took his coat, so it didn't get dirty…I know how important that stuff is to him, and I didn't want it to get ruined. And Kurt, he totally just let them do it. Like, he didn't even care!"
"God Finn! Are you stupid or something? Of course I care, I just didn't want to make it worse…for me or for you. Protesting wouldn't have done any good," Kurt spat back.
"Dumpster toss? You mean, they tossed you in a dumpster?" Burt demanded. Kurt nodded.
"And you helped with this?" Burt demanded.
"No! I told you, I—"
"I don't care, Finn! You stood by and watched as your friends threw your brother in a dumpster!" Burt interrupted.
"Dad, it's really not as bad as that…I mean I don't like it but at Briggs they only did it when the dumpster was full, so I didn't hurt myself," Kurt explained.
"You have no idea what's in the garbage, Kurt…it's garbage! There could be broken glass or God knows what that they throw you on top of, but it's more than that. After what happened in April, you stood by and watched it start all over again. And they did it to your own brother, in front of you, what does that say about your friends?"
"Well, they don't actually know he's my brother," Finn stated.
"Enough with the excuses, Finn. What is going on in your head, honestly?"
Finn was silent.
"Kurt, why don't you go up to your room, I'll be up to talk to you in a bit," Burt prompted. Kurt nodded and headed upstairs.
"Now, talk to me, Finn."
"Honestly? I'm tired of it always being all about Kurt. I made friends with all of them over the summer. They're actually really good guys, aside from the whole bullying thing…"
"The whole bullying things make them not so great guys, Finn, but go on," Burt interrupted.
"Well…it's just that…I know it's not really his fault, he's had a rough life, and he's my brother, I love him…but it was tough, in 6th grade, always having to look out for him—"
"That didn't last long, he was pulled out pretty early in the year," Burt pointed out, "but go on…"
"Well yeah, but before that in 5th grade, too. I mean, there it wasn't so bad. Because nobody really teased him, and they all respected me so it was easier. But then after 6th grade he went to Bajar, and we were both happy, and we both got to kind of…live our own lives. And last year, it really sucked dad. I spent the entire year watching out for Kurt, making sure Kurt was safe, Kurt was happy, nobody was picking on Kurt. Everybody knew me as Kurt's brother, because that's what my job was. But McKinley was a new start for both of us…you know? I made a bunch of friends this summer at football camp, and I'm dating the head cheerleader and one of the most popular girls in school. I'm quarterback of the football team, dad, and Kurt doesn't care about that at all. Kurt doesn't care that him wearing those…outfits….he wears makes him a target for bullying, and he doesn't care that it puts me in a position of either giving up my status or helping him."
Burt was silent for a few moments after Finn's tirade before speaking again.
"I think I understand, Finn. But that doesn't make it OK. You chose your status over your brother. After everything that's happened to him, you just sent the message that it's OK if it happens all over again. Is that really what you think?"
Finn shook his head, eyes welling up with tears.
"I agree that sometimes Kurt's outfits make him a target, but Finn, look at it from his perspective. The way he dresses is one of the only things he has control over. It's part of what makes him who he is, and I can't tell him to dress in a way that makes your life easier, anymore then I can tell you that you have to quit the football team because it makes his life easier. You're asking him to give up something that means the world to him, and that's not OK. I can't say that you have to follow him around, protecting him…but Finn, to stand by and watch and give your permission for your friends to throw him in a dumpster, I can't even imagine you doing that. Your brother has always meant more to you then that."
"I didn't…I was going to stop them. I told them to wait. And then Kurt took off his jacket and handed it to me…and I just thought, whatever I choose now is how I'll spend high school, you know? It just came out."
"You chose your status over your brother," Burt agreed.
"No, dad, I…"
"I would never make you leave the football team because it made Kurt uncomfortable. But if there is one thing I won't have in my house, it's a bully Finn. You've seen the damage bullying does, and I won't have you turning into one. And if those boys affect your character and who you are as a person that drastically, if I hear about something like this happening again, there will be some serious consequences. Clear?"
Finn nodded.
"It's time for bed, Finn. Think about your choices tonight, and think about your brother. I'm going to make sure he's OK," Burt said, standing up. "I love you, Finn, more than anything. But I'm disappointed in your decision today." Burt clapped Finn on the back before making his way upstairs. Finn cried quietly for a few minutes, before making his way up to his room. He was a jerk, he knew he was. And he knew his actions were wrong, but he still hated that he had to choose between being popular and watching out for Kurt. He wasn't sure how he could have both.
XX
Kurt went up to his room when his father dismissed him. He changed into his pajamas, but didn't feel much like doing his skin care routine. He washed his face and did a quick lotion, then lay down on his bed and let the tears come. He got it. He knew why Finn had turned on him, he knew he didn't make Finn's life any easier, but he never expected it. He wondered if it was selfish to keep being so persistent on being who he wanted to be at school, without regard to Finn's feelings about it. But it felt just as wrong to hide himself so that Finn could have his popularity. Yet, he wondered if that's what he should do. Finn had, after all, given up so much for him. Was it his turn to give something up for his brother?
It wasn't long before he felt pressure on the bed, and looked up to see his mom gently rubbing his back. He curled into her and continued to cry. She didn't say anything, but she didn't need to. This was how Burt found them a few minutes later, once Kurt had pretty much cried himself out and had managed to calm himself down.
"You OK, bud?" he asked, sitting at the foot of his son's bed. Kurt nodded.
"I know why he did it," he said, once he was able to. "That's the problem. I know why he did it. And maybe he's right. Maybe I should change, he's done so much for me. Maybe it's time I make the selfless decision for once."
"Kurt, nobody in this family wants you to change," Burt said firmly. "And that includes Finn. Everything he's ever done for you, he's done out of his own free will, without pressure from me or mom. That's the person he is. He loves deeply, and he will fight hard for people he loves. And you know, Kurt, that if he thought you were in any real danger he'd be there in a second, without a thought to the consequences."
Kurt nodded. He did know that. He knew Finn would never let anything truly bad happen to him if he could help it, no matter how big of a jerk he was being.
"Finn's just…going through something right now. You both have to figure out how to do this high school thing, and while I want you two to have a good relationship as brothers, that doesn't necessarily mean that you have to be best friends at school. You do your glee club, let him do his football thing. That doesn't mean he ever gets to be a part of bullying you or anybody else, and I think he knows that. I think Finn is feeling pretty ashamed of his actions today, and I don't think it'll happen again. If it does, there will be some serious consequences, and he knows it. I don't expect him to follow you around all day, I want you to be safe but part of that involves you being honest with me. Part of the way you can make your brother's life easier is by telling me and mom what's going on, alright?"
Kurt agreed, and his parents tucked him in, bidding him goodnight.
The next morning, Finn was already gone by the time Kurt made it downstairs.
"He said he promised Quinn he'd walk with her," his mom explained. Kurt nodded, trying not to show how upset it made him. He missed his brother, though it had only been yesterday morning that they were talking to each other. Kurt wore an outfit that, he hoped, would blend in more, though wasn't completely out of character, a simple blue button down with dark wash jeans. His mom gave him a ride on her way to work. As he made his way past the corner of the school where the dumpsters lay, he was herded in by a few of the football guys. Not the entire flock, as there had been yesterday and, Kurt was sure to notice, Finn wasn't among them. He had just turned his satchel over to one of the guys so it wouldn't get dirty when someone stopped it.
"Hey!" She shouted, running over. Brittany grabbed Kurt's satchel out of the boy's hand, grabbed Kurt's arm and pulled him away from the boys, who were too shocked to stop her. She didn't say anything to them at all, just marched Kurt over to the other side of the parking lot, where Mercedes was waiting. Kurt just stared at her for a minute. He thought she was serious yesterday, but this…he'd never seen her this intense.
"Brit…what's gotten into you?" he asked.
"You're way too special to let anything happen to. You're a unicorn, and I'm never going to let them touch you," she responded.
Kurt didn't see much of Finn that day, and they didn't speak much in the few classes they shared. He sat with Mercedes and Brittany at lunch, and though he got some looks from the football players, they didn't say anything. He wondered if they'd let him get away with being saved today, or if they'd be planning something else.
That evening, Finn had football practice and Brittany had cheerleading, so Kurt invited Mercedes to his house to work on homework and their audition for Glee the next day. His parents weren't home when he got there, so he let them in and made the two of them a snack before they sat down to their math homework. Carole and Emily arrived home just before they finished.
"Hi honey!" she said, leaning over to kiss the top of his head, and plopping his sister on his lap. "You unload her while I unload the groceries, deal?" she asked. Kurt laughed, turning Emily around in his lap and kissing her on the nose. He helped her out of her little fall jacket and took her shoes off.
"Shoe, Kurt!" she said, holding up her pink sparkly shoe. The kid had about 15 pairs of shoes at the tender age of 21 months, and she loved every single one. Kurt may have had a small part to play in that.
"I see! Are these new?" He asked.
"Shoe sparkle! Mama buy!"
"Very pretty, Em," he said. "I love it."
"She picked them out herself," Carole told him. "You've created a monster, Kurt. I had to make a few returns before the grocery store, but as soon as we entered the store she started demanding shoes, and she wouldn't calm down until I let her pick a pair out. And you noticed she picked out the sparkliest pair? I think she knows how much her brother loves sparkles, all she said on the way to the counter was 'Kurt like,' and 'Sparkles!'"
Kurt laughed out loud. "She takes after big brother!" he cooed at her. "You picked out very nice shoes, Emily. I love them!" he told her, squeezing her tight. "Mercedes, meet my mom, Carole Hummel, and my little sister Emily."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mercedes!" Carole said, enthusiastically.
"Hi Mrs. Hummel. I hope it's not a problem I'm here…" she said.
"Oh please, you're welcome over any time," Carole responded. "Are you staying for dinner? It's pot roast," she offered.
"Oh, well I'll have to call my parents…"
"Well you do that, we'd love to have you," Carole insisted.
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