Kurt's Major Appliance
"I take it we have a lot of sweater trains to look forward to this season," Tina said with her typical, sweet smile whenever she talked about Kurt's clothes.
Kurt immediately relaxed, glad that the person he heard walking up from behind him wasn't Karofsky. He smiled his normal, proud smile at receiving a compliment on his clothes and continued walking with her. Before he could even comment on it, however, his whole center of gravity was thrown off and he was banging against the lockers next to him, just barely managing to get his hands up to stop his face from getting hit as well.
"You okay?" Tina asked. She expected him to yell after Karofsky, much like he did during the last school year when Karofsky had attacked them for dressing like Gaga.
But instead he watched Karofsky go and quietly whispered in a defeated voice, "Yeah…I'm fine." It took Tina a few moments to realize what emotion was actually on Kurt's face, something she hadn't seen on there before.
He was afraid.
—
Kurt hated the mash up challenge. Like, seriously, it was the worst challenge he could ever be given. Not only was it completely unoriginal, but without Noah there he felt completely unwelcome on the boys' team. The year before wasn't a success with the whole Vitamin D fiasco, but at least he had Noah to actually make him feel wanted, who actually listened to his ideas and made the others respect him. But now? Now none of them would listen to him since none of them were really his friend. Artie seemed to hate everyone ever since his break up with Tina; Mike was always friendly but he never talked enough for Kurt to actually feel a strong friendship; Sam was sweet and dopey, but ever since he said those words about Quinn as his duet partner, Kurt felt a slight stabbing pain whenever he saw him; and then there was Finn.
He had spent hours upon hours with that boy over the summer on "family" dates, dinners and lunches and even game nights. And while they always beat their parents at Trivial Pursuit (Finn's sports knowledge combined with Kurt's pop culture knowledge was nearly unbeatable) and Scene It! (Finn saved the day with an answer about the movie Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, something Kurt had never seen before), they never actually bonded. In fact, when they had cheered over winning that game of Scene It! where Finn answered the final question, they got near a hug and Finn had been awkward the rest of the night. The fact of the matter was that Finn still wasn't comfortable around Kurt so Kurt couldn't be comfortable around him; he couldn't be comfortable around a guy who was like a lesser version of Karofsky, afraid that the little freak was trying to touch his junk (when Kurt had barely even touched his own junk, let alone thought of touching anyone else's).
But as unwelcome as he was on the boys' team, he wasn't super comfortable on the girls', either, not that Mr. Schue cared either way. Quinn had seemed to forgotten about any friendship that she had with him (and with Mercedes for that matter) now that she had a Cheerios uniform and the hottest guy in school willing to do whatever she wanted. Brittany never hated him, of course, but she wasn't a close friend and hadn't been since they were both very young; now she was just kind of there, not inviting but not unwelcoming. Then there was Santana who had to look right at him when she made the gay joke earlier in the Glee club meeting, the girl who never failed to try to tear him apart for his sexuality. Of course he had Mercedes and Tina, but he felt himself drawing away from them two of them, and now that Tina had seen what he was going through he felt like pulling away even more.
So, there he was, a man with no real team. He wasn't man enough to be accepted by all the guys and he wasn't feminine enough to be allowed on the girls' team.
It was going to be one long ass week.
—
Getting shoved into a set of lockers once in a day was bad enough. But twice? That was enough to finally wake up the fire in one Kurt Hummel.
"What is your problem?" He yelled after Karofsky.
The larger boy immediately turned around, "You talkin' back to me?" He started coming back, adding, "You want a piece of The Fury?"
"The Fury?"
"That's what I named my fist."
"Well, with that level of creativity, you could easily become an assistant manager at a rendering plant," Kurt scoffed, knowing that his tormenter wouldn't realize what it meant.
"…I don't know what that is," Dave said, anger pulsing in every word while Kurt held back a smirk, "But if I find out that it's bad, The Fury's going to find you." With that he pushed Kurt back into the lockers and went on his way.
As Kurt caught his breath and looked up at the ceiling to stop any tears from forming, he didn't notice Mr. Schue walk up to him. "Hey," he said softly, resisting the urge to place a hand on Kurt's shoulder. Kurt looked up and Mr. Schue looked at him with concern. He knew that straight out comforting Kurt like he did with his other students wouldn't work; he had to be sneakier with him.
"Do you…do you want some water?"
Kurt raised a perfectly shaped brow at him, but he nodded and followed his teacher to his office. He sat down primly, his demeanor back into place as Mr. Schuester filled up a small paper cup with water.
"Is there anything that I can do?" Mr. Schue asked as he handed Kurt the cup.
Kurt sighed and took the glass. "No," he said, "This is my hill to climb alone." He raised the cup to his lips and sipped some water down silently.
"Do you know when Noah gets back?"
Kurt looked down at his cup. It wasn't a weird question since they had all heard him yell that he was going to be friends with Noah again, but he couldn't help but feel that Mr. Schue was just asking since he expected Kurt to use him for protection. "I don't know," he answered quietly. Then he looked up at his teacher, eyes narrowed, "But I'm not burdening him with this; it has nothing to do with him."
"Wouldn't he want to know that his best friend is struggling?" The teen merely shrugged in reply, refusing to acknowledge that with an answer. "Look, Kurt, I'm not going to pretend that I understand your relationship with Noah and I'm not going to pretend that I'm close to either of you," Kurt snorted and nodded his head, aggravating Mr. Schuester a bit but he continued on, "But as your friend, he deserves to know that you're hurting."
"I'm not hurting," Kurt immediately corrected. "I'm furious, but I'm not hurting. I'm not helpless, Mr. Schue, and I don't need someone bigger and stronger to take care of me. I'm not a little girl."
"I never said you were, Kurt, or that you needed protection; I just think that closing yourself off isn't going to help things," Mr. Schue explained. Kurt still looked doubtful, avoiding his teacher's eyes by looking at the cup in his hand, looking small (and helpless, though Mr. Schue would never tell him that) despite his superior attitude firmly attached.
Mr. Schue never expected to see Kurt like this but, then again, he never expected to see Kurt without Puck and that happened, too. It was just strange since Kurt, while catty a lot of the time, always had an air of happiness around him. Then they came back from summer break and Will was sure he had never seen someone his age seem so cold and distant. Then the mask broke while his father was in the hospital to reveal a very hurt and lonely human being. It was the first time Mr. Schue had been able to connect with Kurt since he was finally allowing himself to be vulnerable with someone besides Noah.
For a while after, his mask stayed off; he laughed, he smiled, he was happy, and Mr. Schue could only assume Kurt had made up with Puck. Then, all at once, Kurt was closed off again, giving attitude in class and avoiding his friends and shying from the spotlight he used to crave with every fiber of his body. And, finally, Will found out why Kurt was isolating himself, a wedge driving between him and his classmates in the form of a student terrorizing him.
He had never really noticed Kurt getting bullied before. It had taken months after the dumpster dives went out of style before Will realized that the boys surrounding Kurt by the trash weren't trying to be friends with Kurt. He had felt so stupid for not realizing it, but he figured there was nothing he could do at that point but be ready to stop any other bullying. But except for the incident Finn and Noah handled with Azimio and Karofsky, he hadn't noticed anything happen to Kurt.
The kids were good at being out of eyeshot. If they weren't doing such a horrible thing, Mr. Schue would have to commend them for hiding from teachers so well. And even though he knew Karofsky had done something to Kurt, he was walking away at that point and Will had no real proof. He couldn't report the kid if he had nothing to report, and he knew Kurt wouldn't turn him in, either.
"Can I be honest?" Mr. Schue finally asked. Kurt lifted his head and nodded, slightly interested in what Mr. Schue had to offer. "I think it's getting to you," he continued, Kurt frowning. "Lately you've been belligerent, angry, pushing people away—"
"Can I be honest with you?" Kurt asked. As soon as Mr. Schue started his nod, Kurt said, "You, just like everyone else at this school, are too quick to let homophobia slide." And just because he was angry enough to say it, he added, "And your lesson plans are boring and repetitive. Boys versus girls? That doesn't challenge any of us."
"You mean because I didn't let you join the girls like you wanted."
Kurt ignored that and stood up, gathering his messenger bag and heading towards the door, "To answer your question, yes, I am unhappy, and yes, being the only out gay kid at this school brings me down." He stood at the door to Mr. Schue's office and continued, "But, most of all, I'm not challenged in the least here."
Mr. Schue sighed and leaned back in his chair after Kurt left. Kurt was right about the not being challenged in school part; Will had to get the kids to fill out grade sheets and have it signed by their teachers once a month to make sure their grades were high enough to be in an extracurricular activity. Except for his math class, Kurt was in all honors and AP courses, acing every class available, and this was even when he was dealing with his father's hospitalization.
But as bad as he felt that Kurt wasn't challenged, he had no control over helping him get challenged in any of his classes; Kurt had even dropped Spanish to focus on just French, meaning Kurt only saw him in Glee club. But maybe, just maybe, he could make Glee club more enjoyable for the boy. But how?
Well, Kurt wanted to be on the girls' team, and while it made sense because he was closer to the girl than the boys who were in the club at the moment, song choice had to be a part of it, too. Kurt was definitely more of a "Halo" and "Walking on Sunshine" guy than a Bon Jovi and Usher guy. Kurt wanted to be on the girls' team because he could actually enjoy the music they did.
Mr. Schue knew just how to fix that.
—
Kurt was ecstatic at Mr. Schue's changes to the mash-up challenge. The songs they'd have to do would involve him having to sing lead, how could they not? And even if he wasn't with Noah, at least he was doing songs he liked.
He sat up the charts and started lecturing the boys on what they were going to do. "Now obviously for this melody to work I'll have to sing lead. And when you're singing Diana Ross, boas are a must," he said, nearing the end.
"Isn't this lesson about opposites? I mean you in sequin gown and a boa is exactly what you'd expect?" Artie asked.
"Okay who said anything about a gown?" Kurt asked back. Why did everyone assume that just because he had a kilt and just because he was gay that he wanted to dress like a girl? And while Artie and he weren't best friends, especially not since he was close to Tina and they were broken up, Kurt didn't expect him to say something vaguely homophobic and attacking of him.
"If we're supposed to do opposites, I think we should emphasize the male aspect, like, suits and lower voices singing, that's all," Artie shrugged.
"So…basically you don't think I can help at all this week," Kurt said hostily.
Artie really was trying to think logically, it wasn't like he was mad at Kurt or anything. "Kurt, I just want us to win the contest. We were so going to win last year until we got busted for Vitamin D. And, really, come to think of it, you were the one who told them about it."
"I-I was just trying to even the playing field," Kurt said. He felt embarrassed and hurt that none of the other guys were fighting back to help him, but he shouldn't have been so surprised. None of them seemed to notice how Karofsky had been treating him, either, so why notice any other forms of bullying?
"How about you level the playing fields for something bigger. For something like, say, Sectionals," Artie suggested as Sam started playing a game on his phone, oblivious to the whole scene. "You can check out Dalton and tell us what their show choir is like there. We need to know how good these guys actually are."
Kurt looked around the room. Finn and Mike stared in shock at Artie while Sam didn't seem to even know what was going on. Of course he shouldn't have expected support of any kind from them, they weren't really friends, but it still hurt. Maybe he should just try to leave and go to the supposed Gay School and just never come back. At least not until Noah was there to be his friend; he really missed his hugs.
"…Fine," Kurt finally said, grabbing his stuff and leaving.
Finn and Mike made shocked, confused eye contact with each other. Kurt had proved there was a lot of anger and strength underneath his cold mask, yet he had given up after barely putting up a fight. What the hell just happened?
—
"Detainee Noah Puckerman."
Puck stood up and walked over to the desk that had called him. At it sat a woman who introduced himself as his parole officer. "Parole officer?" Puck asked, all he could focus on, not even bothering to remember her name, "I'm getting out of here?"
"That's what we're here to discuss," she said, filing some papers. "Now I've talked with the lawyers and you've already been convicted, but we'll let you out early with parole." She looked up at him, "So you have to do some community service to make up for time lost. The easiest option and the one most men choose is to help clean up the highway."
"Like picking up trash?" Puck asked, frowning as she nodded. "Um, I had a skin cancer scare last year? I think my mom would freak out if I worked in the sun all day."
The woman frowned back. "Okay. Well, your grades aren't too bad, you might be able to tutor inner city kids."
Puck shook his head, "Kids kind of depress me." He stared back at her, sensing her growing frustration but not willing to tell her that it just reminded him of the daughter he had to give up.
"Fine," she sighed. "You can volunteer at a retirement community. Or at a library. Or help the disabled—"
"Wait, really? I didn't think that really counted," Puck said with a smile. "I know a guy in a wheelchair, I can totally help him out and stuff."
"Good," she replied, relieved to be done working through those ideas. "Here are your community service forms," she explained as she handed over some pieces of paper, "You get those signed by the head of the program you do it through and you'll be all set. Okay?"
"Yes, ma'am," Puck replied, smiling widely. He figured he could just get Artie to sign them.
"Now sign and date here and write down what you're doing for your service," she added, handing him a pen and a clipboard.
Puck took it and immediately did as she said, writing the description Hanging out with a crip. That counted, right? He handed the sheet back to her and stood up. "Thank you so much. I won't let you down, I promise."
"That's what I like to hear. You should be able to leave in a few hours."
Puck smiled again and left, going back to where the guards waited for him. Just a few more hours until he was free. He could shave his Mohawk back. He'd be able to see Kurt without a diving glass. He could hug him and see Burt and kiss Sara's forehead and get some freaking action. And all he had to do was help Artie, and he'd do it by getting him laid, too.
It was almost too easy.
—
"It shouldn't be this easy to sneak into a private school," Kurt muttered to himself as he followed the crowd of boys. They all seemed eager about something, but he had no idea what it was. It was too late in the day for lunch and it was too early to be getting out of school. He peered at them over his incognito sunglasses, all of them running much too fast for him to stop them, talking loudly to each other. Eventually he took off his glass and finally found a friendly face who was actually keeping to himself instead of jabbering with people. Perfect.
"Excuse me," Kurt said as the boy stepped off the stairs—was he looking at a pocket watch? "I have a question…I'm new here."
"My name's Blaine," the kid said right away, offering his hand.
Kurt was taken aback enough to smile. He was "new" but the guy just introduced himself instead of planning some way to humiliate him like they did at McKinley. It also helped that the guy was kind of cute, especially when he smiled. "I'm Kurt," he said after a moment, shaking Blaine's hand.
"So what exactly's going on?" Kurt asked.
"The Warblers! Every now and then they throw an impromptu performance in the senior commons; it tends to shut the school down for a while," Blaine explained.
That just confused Kurt more. "So wait…your Glee club here is cool?"
"The Warblers are like rock stars," Blaine said as if it was the most obvious fact in the world. At Kurt's disbelieving brows, Blaine grabbed his hand and said, "C'mon, I know a shortcut." Kurt didn't have time to say anything before he was yanked down a different hallway, no kids in sight.
The last hand Kurt had held was his dad's in the hospital. It was strange to realize that even though he had been seeing Noah, he hadn't been holding his hand or making any physical contact whatsoever. He hadn't held Noah's hand for half a year. And suddenly there was a cute guy holding his hand and smiling at him that cute smile and being nice to him even though he was a supposedly new student. Maybe Santana was right; maybe they were all gay at Dalton.
No. He wasn't going to think like that. Blaine was just being nice. It had nothing to do with his sexuality. Holding his hand was just a way to make it easier for him to lead Kurt, not a way to flirt with him.
It just felt nice. That was the best way to describe it: nice. There was another boy besides his best friend who held his hand, and, really, that had to be a sign of being gay, right? Why else would he hold it as he lead Kurt through a pretty open hallway he couldn't get lost in? No straight guys at McKinley would be willing to do that.
Maybe Dalton was just that accepting. Maybe the little butterflies he felt at another guy holding his hand needed to be stopped before they burst out of their cocoons. Maybe he was over thinking everything.
But before Kurt knew it, Blaine opened a door to a full room of students and Kurt realized just how bad his jacket choice was. "I stick out like a sore thumb," he mumbled.
"Well, next time, don't forget your jacket, new kid; you'll fit right in," Blaine said, fixing Kurt's collar and giving him a wink. Kurt was totally caught and all he could do was smile at Blaine's smile; it was really infectious. He put his bag down on a chair to the side and said, "Now if you'll excuse me…" with that he walked away to join the boys starting back up vocals.
"Before you met me, I was alright …" Blaine started to sing and it slowly dawned on Kurt that this Blaine guy was their lead singer (and, he realized, the guy wasn't really that tall; he was probably around how tall he was six months or so ago).
Of course Kurt recognized the song, but it was a completely different feel from the Katy Perry original. For one, it was sung by a guy and backed up by a chorus of men. For another, the audience was full of guys who loved the song and the performance; there was even a guy fist pumping in the corner. The guys at McKinley wouldn't be caught dead cheering on a performance of male singers performing Katy Perry. They wouldn't even cheer on the girls doing Katy Perry.
Then there was the fact that all the boys pointed at a guy at the chorus and no one cared. But Kurt couldn't focus on that because Blaine had pointed right at him. Blaine kept looking at him, making flirty and suggestive eye contact, and looking pointedly at him when he mentioned his skintight jeans. He had to be flirting, so that meant he had to be gay…right? Or maybe he was just being lulled into a false feeling of safety just so they could punish him for spying.
…But they wouldn't. No. Right? No.
His mind kept going through that cycle for the rest of the performance but he still couldn't stop smiling at the whole performance. When the song ended, Kurt clapped enthusiastically, feeling like a '90s preteen girl at an *NSYNC concert. He was totally won over by the guys and he was their competition. They were so screwed at Sectionals.
He pulled out his phone and started backing up, planning on leaving to report back before Blaine punished him for spying. But before he could get too far, Blaine called out, "Hey, Kurt the Spy, come back!"
Kurt froze. He could easily leave, but Blaine was doing that cute smile thing again and no jerk who was trying to humiliate him would smile like that. Probably. Maybe.
After a few moments of hesitation he walked back over to Blaine, two guys now flanking his side. "Wes? David?" Blaine said to the boys, "Let's take the 'new kid' out for coffee."
—
"Before we go off to practice for mash ups by ourselves, I'd like to point out that Puck is finally back with us," Mr. Schue said, leading the kids in a round of applause while Puck flexed proudly, his guitar by his chair. Then the girls headed off to a different room since the boys had the choir room that day to practice. Mr. Schue went to check on them and Puck turned to the guys.
"Where's Kurt?"
They all looked at each other until finally Finn spoke up. "Um, he went to spy on one of our competitor schools, Dalton Academy. All boys," he explained.
"Oh," Puck said, disappointed. He pulled his baseball cap down further. As per Kurt's instructions he had kept it long so he could touch it, but he didn't want anyone else seeing it that long. Totally wouldn't support the Bad Ass rep that he was going to support even more now that he was out of jail. No need for anyone but Kurt to know how Juvie really treated him.
"Can't you text him or something?" Mike asked.
He didn't want to admit his mom had taken his cell phone away as extra punishment which was why he hadn't been able to talk to Kurt to even tell him he was out. "I left it at home," he mumbled. Maybe he could convince her to take a picture on his phone and he could send it when he got it back so Kurt could see it one last time. He wasn't putting off shaving it into a 'hawk one more day. "So, what's this supposed catch for the mash up challenge this year?"
Puck listened as they explained the genderswap and nodded as they gave him a part to sing. Besides that, he didn't really pay much attention. Instead he just thought about what all he needed to do to keep his rep up. Part one was getting a hot chick on his arm, and he was sure he could work Santana with what he had overheard some guys talking about in the cell next to his. Second, he had to make Artie seem cool/bad ass so hanging out with him for community service would be okay. Obviously the easiest way to do that would be to get a girl for him, but who? Third, to get the girls to go on a date, he needed to get money, and how was he going to do that? Well, he did have his guitar with him…
As soon as practice ended, Puck grabbed his guitar and headed out. He looked around until he found where Artie was. He caught up to him and grabbed the handles to his chair.
Artie tensed immediately. Obviously Puck knew what he had said to Kurt and was going to beat his ass Juvie style. "If you're going to throw me down the stairs, can I suggest the back ones? I know it's not my place to say, but there are less people there so my humiliation would be lessened," he said nervously as Puck continued to push him.
"What?" Puck asked, confused. "Dude, I don't do that stuff, like, I put Jacob in the dumpster, but that's the most I do," Puck said, putting his guitar on Artie's lap. "Anyways, you're my bro now since I need to do community service to stay out of jail."
"…I'm your community service," Artie repeated in disbelief. He didn't realize hanging out with him would really count as community service, but he believed Puck.
"Yes. So, for my community service, I'm getting you a date so you can get laid and stop moping about Tina—"
"Actually, I lost my virgini—"
"Don't interrupt," Puck chastised, "That's just rude, bro. Anyways, so first we need money for this date." He kicked the wheelchair button by the door and watched as it opened the double doors to the outside part of the cafeteria. He nodded with a smirk and kept pushing Artie out.
When he reached the center of the cafeteria, right by the stairs, Puck stopped Artie and pulled his guitar off Artie's lap. He opened the case and left it open on the stairs so people could donate. "Follow my lead," Puck said after a quick tuning of his guitar, sure that Artie would know the song. Sure enough, as soon as he started the intro, Artie smiled in recognition.
"One love," Puck sang, "One heart, let's get together and feel alright."
"Hear the children crying," Artie chimed in, Puck echoing with "One love."
They kept going, dollar upon dollar getting put in Puck's guitar case. Puck couldn't help but realize that he and Artie sounded really good together. Obviously New Directions went the wrong route with the rap song earlier in the year (though Quinn and Santana and definitely Kurt looked really hot in their "gangster" gear, as much as Puck wouldn't admit it to any of their faces) because the guys were loving the Marley and the simple performance much more than they loved the rapping and dance sequence.
"Dude, there has to be, like, sixty bucks in here," Puck said with a laugh when they finished. He looked over to Artie only to see him staring at Santana and Brittany talking over by the other part of the stairs. No, wait, he was just watching Brittany.
Puck smirked, "You like Brittany, huh?"
Artie turned to him and sighed. "She was into me and she took my virginity. And then I messed it up."
While it amazed him that he had missed something that big while being in Juvie, Puck didn't show it. "Well…let's make her yours. Follow my lead…again," Puck said going up the steps.
"Um, Puck?" Artie called out.
Puck turned around and saw him at the bottom of the steps. "Oh, right, wheelchair…" He looked back up and saw Santana and Brittany walking away. "Let's just find them later."
—
Kurt was dragged to a coffee house that was actually inside of the school. He had no idea a school could be that rich, but he was starting to think that Dalton really was a Gay Mecca.
"Spy Kid, what do you want?" Wes asked.
"Um…" Kurt made a grab for his pocket to get his wallet but Blaine shook his head and said, "It's on me."
They were buying his last meal, it seemed. Kurt looked between them and finally said, "Nonfat mocha."
"Awesome. Wanna save us a table?" Blaine asked, nodding his head to the open area. Kurt nodded and sat down gingerly at a table as he admired the wood trim on the walls. At least he'd die in a beautiful place.
Minutes later a drink was handed to him and he commented, "It's very civilized to invite me out for coffee before you beat me up for spying"
"We're not going to beat you up," Wes said.
"You were such a terrible spy we found it sort of…endearing," David explained.
"Which made me think that spying on us wasn't the reason you came," Blaine finished for them.
Kurt looked between them, still confused about how they were treating them. "Can I ask you guys a question?" he asked, figuring it was the best time. After they nodded, he asked, "Are you guys all gay?" His question was meant with laughter and his face fell. Of course they weren't gay. He was so stupid to even consider that idea.
"Uh, no. I mean, I am, but these two have girlfriends," Blaine explained, much to Kurt's delight. Blaine had totally been flirting earlier.
"This is not a gay school; we just have a zero tolerance harassment policy."
"Everyone gets treated the same no matter what they are. It's pretty simple," Wes added.
That's what finally got Kurt. He felt tears prick at his eyes and he hated himself for getting emotional in front of people he didn't even know. What the hell was wrong with him? Hummel's were supposed to be tough and strong and there he was, about to cry like a baby in front of three complete strangers.
But it just wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that there was a school that was so perfect and amazing and Kurt was stuck at McKinley. It wasn't fair that he was without his best friend to tell him everything would be fine. It wasn't fair that he felt so completely and utterly alone when half a year earlier he felt like he had a whole group of friends.
"I take it you're having trouble at school," Blaine said quietly and Kurt looked up to find that Wes and David had left. That made it a bit easier, at least.
"I'm the only out person at my school," Kurt started slowly, his voice choked up with emotion and from tears that were so close to shedding, "And I've tried to stay strong about it, but there's this Neanderthal who's made it his life's mission to make my life a living hell. And it's just…" Kurt shook his head, no idea how to even explain anything.
"Don't you have anyone in your glee club to talk to?" Blaine asked softly.
Kurt shrugged, "We're all friends, I guess, but the guys in general feel uncomfortable around me, some of the girls are rude, and with this guy around, I've just felt so…detached from everyone. I don't want people to suffer because of me, we're low enough on the totem pole as it is."
He took a sip and continued explaining, "I have this friend, my best friend, this guy I've known my whole life. He's a big, tough guy and seems like a jerk so few people would mess with me past a few bits of bullying here or there, stuff I've gotten my whole life, like slushie facials, but I didn't really care.
"I found out last year Noah, my friend, gets a lot of crap for being my best friend, mainly just guys talking smack. And…and I was so upset. I don't want my life to ruin other people's lives. And then we got into this fight and we finally made up last month but," Kurt laughed again, "You're going to judge him, but he's in Juvie right now and I don't know when he's getting out. And I don't want to load him with my problems because it's not his fault and he has more things to work through right now."
Blaine, for his part, didn't even raise an eyebrow when Kurt talked about Noah being imprisoned. "Isn't that what friends are there for, though? You're not alone, Kurt, and you shouldn't make yourself alone."
"I don't want Noah to have all of this extra stress on his shoulders because of me. I just want to know how to deal with this jerk," Kurt sighed. "I'm just so frustrated since I don't know what to do."
"I know how you feel," Blaine responded. "I may not know all the details, but I know how you feel. I was taunted at my old school and it really pissed me off. So I came here. And I'd love to tell you to enroll, but Dalton is expensive, I know that, and you may not be able to afford it. But my advice would be, if you're so frustrated, is to not let it stand, Kurt. Fight back and educate him."
"How?"
"Confront him, call him out!" Blaine explained. "I ran, Kurt, I didn't stand up. I let bullies chase me away and it is something I really, really regret. And I think you'll feel better about yourself if you stand up for yourself."
Kurt looked up from his cup and nodded slowly, a crooked smile growing on his face. "Thanks, Blaine."
"Of course," Blaine replied before taking a sip of his drink. He looked at Kurt and narrowed his eyes, not in an unfriendly way, just in a thoughtful way. "Do you want my number? That way you can call me, beep me, if you want to reach me."
Kurt burst out with laughter, "You did not just quote the Kim Possible theme song!"
Blaine couldn't stop himself from smiling at Kurt's infectious laugh. And just a minute later the two had exchanged contact information and Kurt was smiling behind his coffee. Maybe things were finally going to look up for him.
—
Puck was, thankfully, not grounded from dating and driving, so he picked up Artie in his mom's minivan (the replacement for the Volvo he had totaled). Earlier that day he and Artie had asked Santana and Brittany out on a date using the whole treating them rude technique he heard about in Juvie. The girls agreed, calling them cool even, and Artie declared Puck was a genius, which Puck just shrugged at with a grin. So, after he got his mom to shave his 'hawk in, Puck left for his bad ass session.
They arrived at Breadstix to find the girls waiting for them (he drove them around the block a few times to arrive late). They kept talking about various things throughout the date when Puck finally told them a completely fictionalized account of his time in Juvie.
"So I turned around and flexed my left pec," Puck did so, "And my right pec," he did so, "And said…leggo my eggo. And you know what he does?" Brittany and Artie leaned in while Santana watched eagerly, spellbound. "He leggo's my eggo!" He chuckles while they all oo and ah, Santana even saying he should be the nation's president.
He felt that if he was actually out and about he should stop by Kurt's house, but he didn't want to risk running into Burt first and having to talk to him. He couldn't call Kurt and, well, he decided he wanted to surprise Kurt in class the next day. So he guiltily sipped at his water as they waited for their check. Artie was totally rocking his date with Brittany, at least, so he was doing some good in the world.
As the waitress left the check, Puck started to pull his money out while Santana raised an eyebrow. "You're really going to pay? I thought you were a complete bad boy now."
Brittany looked at him with her usual expressionless face, but Artie looked at him with wide eyes. Puck looked between the three of them and, after a moment's thought, just smirked and said, "Go ahead then, girls; we'll meet you out front."
After Artie maneuvered himself out of the way Brittany could leave, the two boys watched the girls leave. "Damn, always nice to watch a Cheerio skirt leave," Puck commented.
"You're not seriously going to dine and dash, are you?" Artie asked in a whisper.
"No!" Puck said immediately. "I'm not going to risk getting caught and going back," he whispered quickly.
Artie looked confused at how scared Puck looked. "But I thought you loved it there?"
"…I did," Puck lied. "I just can't get laid there." Artie nodded as Puck pulled out the cash they earned in the cafeteria. Artie added a reasonable tip and the two left.
"C'mon, let's go before they come after us," Puck said once they got outside, quickly loading them up as if they were in a hurry.
When they drove away, Santana put a hand on Puck's thigh, "Bad boys are so hot."
Brittany did the same to Artie, "Totally hot."
Puck and Artie made eye contact in his rear view mirror and smirked. They were so getting laid.
—
Kurt was smiling as he walked around McKinley the next day. He had a cute guy's phone number stored on his iPhone and he actually felt like he could make it through the bullying. But if he thought he was happy then, he had no idea what Glee club would hold for him.
When he entered the choir room, Kurt froze by the door, Mercedes stopping next to him. "Noah?" He exclaimed in a question to the figure standing with Sam by the chairs. Puck turned to him and his hands flew to his mouth with a squeak as Puck called back Kurt with a wide smile.
Without a second thought, Kurt took off his messenger bag and shoved it into Mercedes' hands and took off running. He literally attacked Puck with a hug as he laughed. Puck hugged almost painfully tight, lifting Kurt up in the air and turning him around for extra effect, Kurt giggling even more as he burrowed his head in the crook of Puck's shoulder. When he put Kurt down, still hugging him, he laughed, "Oh my God, you're crying, aren't you?"
"Shut up, you are, too," Kurt retorted.
As the two kept on hugging, Sam watched with his head tilted to the side. He had never seen them doing anything like that before he joined Glee, but maybe Glee was like their safe place or something? It seemed like Kurt was flirting with him during the whole duets project, but maybe Finn was just telling him to stay away so he wouldn't get hurt by Puck for flirting with his ex-girlfriend and his current boyfriend.
"Is Puck Kurt's boyfriend?" Sam asked rather loudly. Puck and Kurt didn't noticed, but a few people laughed loudly and Santana glared and went to Schue's office to change for the mash up the girls were performing in Glee that day.
"No," Mercedes sighed, walking up to where Puck, Kurt, and Sam were. "They've just been best friends since, like, ever. Kind of like Brittany and Santana but even more obnoxious," she explained which, for whatever reason beyond Sam's knowledge made Tina laugh so hard she had to run into Schue's office to join Santana. "They were in a fight earlier this school year or else you would've noticed them all up in each other's business. Seems like they've made up, so get used to it; everyone has." She turned to Kurt and thrust the bag he had shoved into her hands back to him. "Kurt, I need to go change. Take your bag back," Mercedes said.
The two finally pulled away and Kurt took the bag back, "Thanks, 'Cedes."
"No problem." She turned to look at Puck up and down and said, "Guess we're friends again. Welcome back."
Puck smiled brightly, "Thanks, 'Cedes." Mercedes finally cracked a smile before turning around and leaving.
"Now that the opening hugs are done with," Kurt started, reaching into his bag for something, "I have another thing to do now that I can touch you again." Puck tilted his head in confusion and Sam backed away, sure that Kurt was going to, like, strip him right then and there by how Puck had twirled him around like they were in a romantic movie. Kurt pulled out a folder and dropped the bag again and then started repeatedly hitting Puck on the arm.
"Ow! Ow! Kurt, what the hell?"
"Don't," hit, "you," hit, "ever," hit, "do," hit, "something," hit, "so stupid," hit, "ever again!"
"Ow! Shit, Kurt, I promise, I promise I won't...ow!" Puck said helplessly. Sam watched with wide eyes. He didn't know Puck that well, but he gave off this vibe of not being easily effected by or easily caring about what people did, but Kurt wasn't even hitting him that hard and he was bowing to his mercy.
"Good," Kurt said dropping the folder on his bag and hugging Puck again. "I'm glad you're back."
The two walked over to where the boys were going to watch the girls' performance and Sam kept watching with wide eyes. The other boys seemed very unaffected and Sam didn't understand how that was possible. These two guys were, like, all over each other and Finn didn't seem that okay with gay dudes before. But apparently they were just friends, that's what Mercedes had said, and everyone thought it was hilarious that he didn't know that. But, either way, Sam couldn't stop watching them.
"Why didn't you text me that you were back?" Kurt asked. "I can't believe no one told me, either. Or that you didn't come over yesterday."
"Well, um…" Puck looked around and, when he realized no one listening (Sam pretended to be very interested with his shoe laces), he explained, "Ma took my phone away; I can't call or text anyone until she says so. Not even on the house phone, unless someone calls first. And then I decided to surprise you today instead, so I didn't stop by yesterday. Plus I needed to start my community service so I had to take Artie on a date with Santana and Brittany."
"Mama Mae didn't ban you from dating?"
"I don't explain Ma's brain," Puck shrugged.
Kurt watched him carefully and then smiled, "Okay. You want to come over after school then? You have to brave my dad at some point after all."
Puck made a face, "Yeah, I guess I need to. But, definitely, I've missed your house. And you, of course."
"I'm sure," Kurt laughed, leaning his head on Puck's shoulder as Mr. Schue announced that the girls were ready.
During the performance, Kurt felt his phone vibrate. He pulled it out and saw a text message from Blaine that simply read courage. He looked over at Puck only to see him too busy staring at the girls in leather. He smiled even wider realizing that with his best friend back, he really felt like he could do what Blaine said. As long as Noah was there, he could, as cheesy as it sounded, do anything.
Kurt placed his phone back in his pocket and grabbed Puck's hand. Puck immediately laced their fingers together. Things were finally in the right order.
—
Kurt was frozen, his hand over his lips and his eyes wild with fear.
He did it, he had done what Blaine suggested and gave Karofsky a piece of his mind. He was articulate and driven by an anger that seemed to frighten Karofsky for a second. It was perfect.
And then he kissed him.
Kurt shivered at the memory. Karofsky pressed his lips against his, mashing them together as he held his face. He even tried going for a second one that he, thankfully, didn't take when Kurt pushed him away.
Of course it was all making sense. Karofsky had been hassling Kurt more and more because he was afraid of his own sexuality, maybe even how he felt about Kurt. But Kurt couldn't feel the joy he thought he'd feel over a guy liking him when his first kiss with a boy was yanked away from him like some sort of...sort of…sort of…
Damn it, he couldn't even think of a good analogy his mind was so rattled.
He heard the door to the locker room open but didn't move, still frozen to where he stood. Even though he was facing the door and could easily be seen by any jocks who wanted to bully him, he didn't move.
"Kurt?" Kurt finally focused in on what was right in front of him, unable to believe his luck. There was Noah in all of his glory, looking at him with confusion that quickly morphed into concern. He sat down next to Kurt and immediately asked, "Kurt, what's wrong?"
Kurt put the hand over his mouth to the side of his eyes real quick. Nope, no tears. But Noah was Noah, of course he knew something was wrong from just looking at him.
"He kissed me," Kurt said quietly.
Puck raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
"Karofsky," Kurt said in a small voice, sitting down. Saying it made it so real, like it actually happened and wasn't just his imagination. "I came in here, I yelled at him for how he was treating me, and he kissed me." Kurt looked back up towards Puck as he started sitting down next to him, confusion still clear on his face.
Then Kurt looked straight ahead of him and explained everything to Noah. He explained how the bullying increased over the school year, how Karofsky seemed more adamant about it than any of the other jocks, how he met this nice guy named Blaine who gave him advice to confront Karofsky and how when he followed it, Karofsky grabbed his face and forced a kiss on him.
"I shouldn't be so upset," Kurt said in a monotone voice, still showing little emotion. "It's just a kiss, I'm being stupid—"
"No you're not," Puck hissed and Kurt turned to look at him for the first time since he started explaining the past few months. Puck was seething, looking even more upset than he had looked when Finn complained about having to take care of Quinn or when he attacked Finn for calling Kurt that word last spring. "You are not stupid, Kurt, you are not stupid for being upset. This guy, this guy has made your life hell and all because he can't handle his sexuality? Not cool. I still don't understand mine but I'm not forcing kisses on random dudes!"
"It's just a kiss—"
"Bullshit, Kurt, I know you think it's more than that," Puck said, standing up and moving to stand right in front of Kurt. "I know how important your first kiss was to you, how you wanted it to be special and romantic, and some closet case comes in and steals it from you—you have a right to be upset, Kurt. You have a right to cry about that, and I'm going to kill that fucker for everything he's done—"
"No!" Kurt shouted as Puck turned around. Puck turned back and Kurt stood up. "Noah, if you touch him, your parole could be violated and I—if I have to deal with not having you in school again, I-I'll…" Kurt trailed off and attacked Puck with a hug, holding him tightly. "I had half a year without you, No, I can't do that again," Kurt whispered. "Please don't hurt him."
Puck hugged Kurt back and finally relented, "Okay. I promise."
After a few moments of just hugging in silence, relishing the contact they hadn't had for so long, Kurt whispered, "My biggest tormentor took my first kiss." Puck felt a small tear on his shoulder and held Kurt tighter, ready to brave whatever storm Kurt threw his way.
—
Eventually Kurt texted Blaine the situation and Blaine replied he'd meet him at McKinley the next day to help him confront Karofsky again. Kurt texted Blaine his gratitude and told all of that to Puck in his basement as his iPhone played a playlist, a smile on his face the whole time. While Puck was happy for Kurt, he wasn't sure how he felt about this Blaine guy. He had inadvertently made Kurt lose his first male kiss after all. Plus he was probably some smarmy douchebag like all the private school guys were.
"And the best part? He's actually gay," Kurt finished and Puck felt his stomach sink. Why did it do that? He should've been ecstatic his best friend had a real chance, but it just made him upset. Like he was already cast aside again.
"Oh…that's great!" Puck said, phoning in enthusiasm for Kurt. Kurt smiled and Puck added, "Seems like Santana's quite okay with riding the Puckerman Express again."
Kurt was a bit put off at that. "Oh…um, great? But are you sure you want to get in a relationship with her again? That didn't work so well the last time," Kurt said.
"Who said it was a relationship?" Puck snorted. "For once I actually have control and she's not wearing the pants. I got her where I want her. Who knew serving back all the sass she gives people would be the key to that? And Artie's with Brittany, and it's kind of cool hanging out with him every now and then. And wherever Britt goes, Santana goes, so seeing him is an upside."
"Well, I'm glad you have another friend to run around with. As long as you always come back to me. Even if Santana shows up wearing nothing and holding a condom, we're keeping our Friday Night Friend Date," Kurt teased, recalling words Puck had told him about Finn the year before as he crawled onto Puck's lap.
"You're such a goof," Puck laughed, picking up a pillow and hitting Kurt on the back of the head softly.
"Stop it, you brute!" Kurt cried out, squirming away from the pillow attack that was ruining his hair until he fell off the bed. But before Puck could whoop in victory, Kurt reached for his ticklish spot on his stomach and mercilessly moved his fingers against it until Puck was breathlessly laying across the floor. Kurt turned on his side as Puck started getting his breath back, turning to face Kurt.
"Wasn't too hard to get back in the swing of things, huh?"
Kurt smiled back, "Apparently not. Here's to that."
But although the tickling and falling off of furniture happened before, something was different about it. Puck's arms wrapped easily around Kurt's waist as per usual, but his hands rested in the little dip of Kurt's lower back above his ass. It was dangerous territory for a platonic touch, about as dangerous as how close their lips were as they laid down on the floor, the docile tones of Dusty Springfield, one of Kurt's favorite female artists of the '60s, played on through his iPhone's speakers.
Puck looked into Kurt's eyes. They always made him think of that stupid song that Moulin Rouge stole from Elton, about how the guy couldn't remember if the chick's eyes were green or blue. It seemed insulting to Puck; like, how was that romantic, the dude didn't know this chick's eye color, but Kurt always swooned at the idea. Puck wondered if it was because Kurt's eyes weren't quite green and weren't quite blue, but still definitely the sweetest eyes out there.
Then he heard a familiar song start on the speakers and he sat up immediately, Kurt forced up with him because of his hold. "Ow," Kurt griped, pushing Puck's hands away from his waist. "What the heck, Noah?"
"We had the best years of our lives, but you and I will never be the same," Puck sang along to the song, looking at Kurt with excited disbelief. "September took me by surprise and I was left to watch the seasons change."
Kurt's eyes widened as he realized just when he had bought that song and just what it had meant to him and how the guy he associated with the song actually knew it. "It's been so quiet since you've gone and everyday feels more like a year. Sometimes I wish I could move on, the memories would all just disappear," Kurt sang, taking over the Avril part. They stared at each other as the song went on before bursting into laughter. Unknowingly, the two had bought the same song to mourn their friendship.
Some things really didn't change.
—
Puck had asked Kurt over and over if he was sure he didn't want him there when he and Blaine talked to Karofsky. He could help if the guy got handsy again or tried to beat him up. Kurt insisted that he didn't want to risk Puck losing his temper and attacking him and going back to Juvie. Plus he had Blaine with him. Puck talked to the dude briefly before leaving as per Kurt's orders and, yeah, the guy seemed okay, but he couldn't take on Karofsky, but Puck just let it go.
When Puck went to sit outside during lunch, he wished he had come along anyways. Blaine and Kurt were sitting over by the tree he and Kurt used to eat lunch at the year before. That was the place where he and Kurt laughed and talked about their day and Kurt forced Puck to eat his vegetables, the place that was just their own until Kurt started befriending the Glee kids and they started sitting with them at lunch. But that spot remained theirs, the spot for Kurt and Puck.
But now their not-so-secret place held Kurt and Blaine—that wasn't a name, it was a major appliance or something!—and, to add even more insult to his injury or whatever, Puck could tell Kurt was really enjoying Blaine's company. He was laughing and smiling, his whole face glowing. It was like Blaine was the best thing to ever happen to him.
Puck wasn't upset that Kurt was having fun without him, really. He was just upset that he was by himself when he was supposed to be back to being friends with Kurt again. Kurt could've texted him to meet at their spot, he knew Puck was worried about how the confrontation would go. Or Kurt could've flirted with this stranger bitch at another place, too, but he had chosen instead to defile their spot.
One thing was clear as Puck threw away his barely touched lunch: that Blaine dude was trouble.
—
Puck was still in a miserable mood from seeing Kurt and Blaine together when he was called out of class. He walked into the principal's office with Mr. Schue and felt his stomach drop when he recognized his parole officer.
"I did everything I said I would," he said as soon as he sat down. "Just ask my bro, Artie, he has a girlfriend now all because of me, even with his wheelchair. He totally got laid the other night!"
"When you said you were working with a handicapped individual, I assumed you were doing a program through school or through a community group, not helping a friend get 'laid'," she said dryly.
"Look, there must be something we can work out," Schue said, "Puck's been a model student since he's been back."
"Two whole days, that's impressive," she said in that same sarcastic voice. "Look, if Mr. Puckerman doesn't do real community service we'll have to send him back to the correctional facility—"
"Screw that!" Puck yelled, standing back up, fear pooling in his stomach. What used to be his nipple hurt at just the thought of going back to that place. He couldn't stand the idea of going back, being behind bars and separated from Kurt as he got closer to Blaine. "I'm not going back there!"
"Cool it, Puckerman," Figgins warned.
"No, I'm not calming down and I'm not going back there."
"Puck," Schue started in that stupid soft voice of his, "We're just trying to look out for you."
"No you aren't! Since when have any of you cared about me?" Puck yelled. Figgins never helped him out and Schue didn't even punish Finn for beating his face in last year and that bitch of an officer wasn't really helping him, either. "None of you guys care about me," he went on, his mind's eye picturing Kurt and Blaine laughing together without him.
He turned to his parole officer and felt rage course through him as she just took notes as if she was better than all of them, better than him, just like Blaine apparently was. "What are you writing?" he asked loudly, "Stop writing!" He pushed her notebook out of her hands before repeating, "I'm not going back there," and storming out of the room, not noticing Artie was in the hallway watching him curiously.
—
"I didn't see you in Geometry today," Artie observed as he wheeled up to Puck's locker.
"Nice observation. There's no point in going, anyways. They're going to send me back if I don't start doing 'real' community service," Puck said hopelessly as he leaned against the cool metal.
"Just pick up some trash on the highway, then."
"Are you serious? That's so ghetto, man," Puck snorted, not wanting to admit he was worried about skin cancer and all that. "I ain't no garbage man. I'm not doing that…but I'm not going back to Juvie."
"I thought you loved it there, that you ruled the place," Artie said, confused.
Puck snorted, "I made that up to get laid. It's freakin' terrifying, dude. On the first day three gang members attacked me and before the guards could get them off of me they pulled out my nipple ring. I thought I was a Bad Ass? There are some hard dudes in there. Guys with no families, guys who look at you like a dog they can't wait to kick the crap out of…they kept taking my waffles." Artie would've laughed at Puck's childlike pout about his waffles if he wasn't so concerned. "And even if I do that, what does it matter? Kurt can help me catch up in every subject but math—don't tell him I said that, he doesn't like admitting he's bad at anything."
"So…you'll be my community service," Artie said brightly.
"…What?" Puck asked. He said it so brokenly as if he were surprised that anyone would help him. And Artie realized he was surprised that someone would help him. Who had ever shown him sympathy besides Kurt, after all? Artie had tried once and failed, but Puck seemed to have forgotten that in between having to give his daughter up and losing and then getting back his best friend.
"I owe you one; you got me a date with Brittany," Artie continued. "And you made me feel cool, which is not the easiest thing to do," he said with a smile that grew as Puck slowly smiled back. "I really like hanging out with you, so let me tutor you in Geometry while you pick up garbage by the highway. Kurt can even come with if he wants, if you want." Puck looked willing but still apprehensive, so Artie went on, "Geometry's easy, yo! I mean, I know that Kurt thinks that a prism is just something Sailor Moon uses to defeat villains, but there's no reason a guy as smart as you shouldn't get at least a B." Before Puck could give him a glare, Artie amended, "Like you said, Kurt's smart at other things, but he just doesn't understand math—he thought a box had four sides, Puck—so I know he can't help you there. Give me six weeks and if you don't pass, I'll buy you all the waffles you can eat. You and Kurt."
"I doubt Kurt would allow himself to eat all of that…but that's dope, dude," Puck finally agreed. "You got yourself a deal."
He was about to leave with Artie when he heard a loud slam against the metal of the lockers. Much to his anger, he looked up and saw Karofsky walking away as Kurt was collapsed onto the floor, bringing his knees into his chest. Puck gripped his fists as Artie wheeled over to Kurt. "You alright, Kurt?"
Puck was next to Kurt after a few strides and helped him up, Kurt standing shakily. Noah turned to Artie and gave him a significant look as he said, "Um, I'll see you later, dude?"
Artie got the hint and nodded back, "Yeah, see ya later," before rolling off, giving the two one last look before he turned the corner. Kurt was nodding as if he was telling Puck he was really okay and Puck held onto Kurt's shoulders, the students not even caring as they passed by; even if it had been months since they saw it, that was just Kurt and Puck for you.
Artie smiled to himself as he wheeled down the hallways of McKinley. Maybe he could also help pay back Puck getting him a date with Brittany by finally helping him and Kurt get together.
—
"So you talked to the officer and everything's set?" Kurt asked.
"Yup, all set," Puck said as Kurt's Navigator drove onto their destination.
"And you have the Geometry textbook, Artie?" Kurt asked, making eye contact through his rear view mirror.
"Yup," Artie chimed in. At first he was nervous riding with Kurt since he was sure he hated him because of what he said, but Kurt just said it was fine because it had introduced him to a very good friend. The mention of the friend, Blair or something, made Puck glare sourly so Artie avoided bringing it up again.
"And I have the sunscreen," Kurt said in a sing-song voice, turning down the radio and slowing down. "Here we are," he said with an enthusiastic smile, pouring sunscreen onto his hands and lathering himself up in what had to be his fifth coat since the three of them had breakfast at IHOP (Puck really wanted some waffles after a month without them). Then Kurt turned to Puck and started rubbing him with the white liquid, Puck groaning like a little kid but staying still as Kurt reminded him about sun cancer.
"You know, you don't look too bad in orange," Kurt commented, putting on a hat that matched the sunglasses he already had on for the drive.
"Yeah, yeah," Puck muttered as he got out of the car. He got Artie's chair out and then picked up Artie and put him on it. Then he grabbed the tools he had been given and, with a heavy sigh, started picking up trash along the highway.
"So," Artie started as Kurt tried to find shade, "Pythagorean Theorem states that A-squared plus B-squared equals C-squared…"
—
A/N: Ahhh sorry it's taken so long! I hope you guys like this chapter, I've just been so busy with first finals and then an injury and my puckurt big bang and my sister's graduation. Just so much stuff going on! I hope you guys review since I can't tell you how much each on means to me! It's an honor having you guys as readers.
Love,
xLessxThanx3x