Prom

"Will you go with me to prom Albus?"

Those were the first words that left Rachel's lips after she pulled Albus to the side after glee club. Albus was a little shocked by this, but after all the little hints that she gave him yesterday, he should have saw this coming soon.

Albus stood there, staring blankly for a few seconds, hesitating. Since he was now with Brittany, it wouldn't be right to go on a date to prom with her. But no one could know that so he had to think of another way to tell her that he couldn't go with her. He knew what he was going to say to her, he was just afraid of how she would react. Finally, words seemed to form at his mouth.

"Well…um…Rachel. I would like to go to prom, but I think I'll just go by myself," Albus carefully said as he watched Rachel bright smile fall suddenly. "I'm sorry it's just…well… I don't feel like going out with anyone right now."

Rachel simply just stared at him for a few seconds before finally, slowly nodding her head. "Oh well I-I wasn't asking you out. I was just wondering if you would be my companion fo…"

"No Rachel. You were. I'm not that dumb you know."

She shrugged. "Okay I was asking you out. But…"

"Look I think you're really nice Rachel and you've been a great friend since I've arrived here, but it's only been a few weeks. I'm not even sure if I'll go to prom."

"You're not going to prom?" a familiar voice from behind Albus spoke up. Albus glanced over his shoulder and saw Kurt walk up beside him.

"Well what's the point of going if I don't want to go with anyone?" Albus replied.

"Oh so you're not going with Rachel?" Kurt said raising his eyebrow and turning towards Rachel.

"No he's not. Albus said…" Rachel started.

"That I rather not go out with anyone right now. I'm still getting used to things around here and…"

Kurt waved his hand dismissively. "Excuses, excuses. You have to go to junior prom. Go by yourself! Tag along with Blaine and I! Or even Rachel or Brittany! But you must go."

Albus bit his lip. Was it really worth going? He had never been to a prom and the closest thing to a prom that he had been to was Yule Ball in his fourth year when the Triwizard Tournament came to his school.

But these were new people, harmless Muggles as a matter of fact. It was a fresh start for him and he didn't want to seem like an outcast or a loner if he didn't join them. He was already almost a loner back at Hogwarts and he didn't want to become one here, especially when he made actual friends who weren't related to him.

"Well I guess if everyone else is going I might as well tag along," Albus said carefully.

As soon as he said that Kurt and Rachel squealed simultaneously and Kurt clapped his hands together.

"Great! That's perfect. I can't wait. I think you'll love it," Kurt excitedly replied.

"But what am I going to wear? All my clothes are pretty casual." Albus asked.

Kurt's face fell for a split second and he turned to Rachel. "Wait did we not get him a suit when we went shopping?"

"I don't think so. Wait does that mean we get to go sho…" Rachel started

"Doesn't someone have a suit I could just borrow? You guys really don't need to spend any more on me." Albus interrupted as quickly as he could.

Kurt smiled again. "Sure! I bet Finn has an old spare suit that he doesn't wear anymore. Just come over to my place before prom and we will get you suited up."

The corners of his mouth turned up. "Thanks Kurt." He quickly glanced at a clock in the hall and saw he had a minute till his next class. "Listen, I'm going to head to my next class now. I'll see you guys later." He quickly waved at Kurt and Rachel before he turned around.

However as he turned around he swore he heard Rachel loudly whisper to Kurt, "I can't imagine how handsome he's going to look in his suit!" Albus grinned to himself and shook his head.

If only girls liked him as much back at Hogwarts

Kurt stood next to Blaine in the McKinley gymnasium, now decorated for junior prom. The two of them were lined up against the wall of the gym near the little table of snacks and punch. They were taking a break from dancing to the blaring music.

Kurt scanned the gymnasium to see where everyone was. He caught Rachel chatting excitedly to Jesse St. James, who she decided to ask out to prom after all, after being rejected by Albus. She seemed to be enjoying herself and Kurt was thankful that she was with him and not Albus. He didn't want to imagine how awkward and painful it would be for him to see her dancing with Albus.

Turning to his left, he saw Albus near the punch bowl, quietly getting some punch in a small paper cup. Kurt had to admit he looked very dashing and wonderful in his suit that was actually Finn's old suit. It seemed to fit Albus almost perfectly though Finn was a few inches taller than him.

'Clean thoughts, clean thoughts, Blaine's here, even though he can't read my mind but still…' Kurt thought to himself as he looked at Albus. He felt uncomfortable if he thought too much about Albus when he was around Blaine, and tonight he was going to do his best not to do that.

But one little conversation wouldn't hurt.

Kurt gestured to Blaine that he was heading to the table, and walked up to Albus and gently tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey. How's prom going?"

Albus smiled and answered, "Well it's different from what I expected."

"Different?" a voice behind Kurt answered. Kurt turned around and saw Blaine coming up right behind him. Kurt sucked in his breathe a little. Did he really have to follow him?

"Is it really that much different in England?" Blaine continued.

"Well you see we didn't really have a prom at my old school. We did have this thing we called a 'ball' but it only came to our school once every couple years," Albus explained vaguely.

As he said that, Kurt realized he never asked what school he went to in England. However just as he was about to ask him, Albus spoke up suddenly.

"Hey do you guys want some punch? It's really good," Albus asked them pointing to the bowl. Kurt's eye scanned the area for Puck, since he knew that every year he tried to spike the punch. However he was nowhere in sight yet, so Kurt assumed that it wasn't drenched in alcohol.

"Sure," Kurt said. "What's in it though?"

"Some fruity drink and I definitely taste Squirt in there too," Albus stated.

"Squirt?" Blaine piped up. "I love Squirt! It's my favourite drink!"

"Same! It's one of the few pop drinks I've had though. My parents bought it for us on special occasions and I loved it," Albus said. "Here Blaine," he said handing over the punch. "How about you Kurt?"

"Well if it has Squirt in it, I rather stay dehydrated," Kurt said unenthusiastically. "I'll get something else later."

The three of them stood near the table for a little longer making small talk and eating a few snacks. However after a few minutes, Blaine started to look a bit pale and queasy. Kurt noticed this immediately.

"Blaine, are you okay?" Kurt asked him concerned.

"No, it's nothing big. My stomach just feels a bit iffy, but I'm sure it will pass," Blaine told him grimacing a little.

Albus furrowed his brow. "You don't look okay."

"No I'm fine really," Blaine said brushing it off. "I just need to go to the washroom, I'll be right back." He quickly rushed towards the door after he spoke.

Albus immediately turned to Kurt. "You should check up on him. I'm 99% sure he's not okay."

Kurt grimaced. "Yeah I guess I should, after I'm his bo- I'm his best friend."

Albus gestured to the door. "Go now. I'll just talk to someone else, don't worry. I won't be alone."

"Okay, okay. But I'll be back."

As Kurt exited the gym, his mind was full of thoughts, and surprisingly they weren't about Blaine. Instead he was questioning why he automatically corrected himself when he was about to say that Blaine was his boyfriend. Was he afraid of what Albus would think? Or did he just want to pretend he was single around Albus because it felt wrong if he didn't.

What is wrong with me? I can't just keep my sexuality quiet around Albus forever. I have to tell him sometime, Kurt thought.

He wasn't sure when he would tell Albus that Blaine was his boyfriend, but he was surprised that he hadn't questioned yet. Why else would he go to prom with Blaine? Was Albus that naïve? Or did he actually know he was gay and just rather not acknowledge it.

As Kurt kept firing questions in his mind while speed walking through the hall to the nearest washroom, he was starting to feel guiltier by the second. Because deep down, Kurt would rather not tell him at all and just continue to cover the truth up. He rather just come out to him personally when the time was right. And that time would be when he asked him out and…

NO NO NO NO NO, Kurt shouted in his head. What are you thinking? You will never do that. He straight most likely, you have no chance. And you are dating the most perfect person ever who you are going to check upon to see if he's okay because you are a caring, wonderful boyfriend. You can't be thinking about Albus when you are with Blaine.

But he was, and he couldn't control it.

Kurt started to jog to the bathroom, so he could immediately forget about Albus and focus on helping Blaine. He came to the bathroom door and pushed it open with certain ferocity. As he opened the door he heard a sudden barfing noise and the splash of toilet water.

"Oh my God. Blaine is that you? Are you okay?" Kurt asked horrified.

"No-no-no I'm fine and…"Blaine's muffled words were suddenly cut off by another round of puking.

"Blaine, shut up. You are not 'fine'. Out here it sounds like you're dying of stomach flu."

"Okay, I'm not fine. I feel horrible," he replied back weakly. "I think I got food poisoning from something and—BLARRGHHHHH."

Kurt thumped his foot impatiently and threw up his hands in frustration. "You know what? I'm going to find some pepto bismol or something and a barf bag and you are going back home ASAP."

"But…"

"No buts. I'm driving you home right away. Once you're done puking of course."

After about another 15 minutes of waiting in the bathroom for Blaine to finish throwing up, Kurt gently held him on the arm and led him to his car. He looked even more pale and greenish than before, and Kurt felt sorry for him.

Kurt drove him home quickly, but not too quickly (the last thing he wanted was for Blaine to projectile vomit in his car) and walked him to his house, then to his bedroom. His parents were out for the night so Kurt had to take care of him for now. Blaine immediately collapsed onto his bed in exhaustion. Kurt nudged him gently and attempted to help tuck him into his bed as best as he could. Once Blaine was comfortable, Kurt decided to take more action.

"Blaine I'm going to get some Pepto, I'll be right back," Kurt told him. Blaine reply was a moan.

Kurt dashed to the cupboard where the Pepto Bismol was, then brought it back to his bedroom and forced 2 spoonfuls of it down Blaine's mouth.

"Thanks a lot Kurt," Blaine murmured once he took it.

"No problem. That's what I'm here for."

The two of the sat in silence for a bit. Kurt was unsure of whether to stay with him until his parents came back or go back to the prom. He knew he would feel guilty if he left because since Blaine wouldn't there with him, the only reason he would go back was to see Albus.

And I can't. I can't be more committed to being with Albus when my boyfriend is sick. Being a good boyfriend is more important than Albus, being a good boyfriend is more important, Kurt chanted in his head.

Suddenly, as if Blaine read his mind, he spoke up.

"I know you want to go back. You should go back. Back to the prom," he said quietly.

Kurt was slightly taking aback. "You-you want me to go back? Are you fine on your own? I can't just leave you."

"Kurt, I really don't want to ruin your night. I'm sorry I did already though. But you should go."

"But…"

"Go. Go have fun. Junior prom only happens once, am I right?"

Kurt simply just stared at him. He couldn't believe that Blaine just simply wanted him to go back. This day was meant for them to be together. He couldn't go back, he couldn't abandon him while he was sick.

"Please just go. I'm not going anywhere, unless it's to the washroom in case I still have stuff in my stomach to throw up," Blaine said smiling weakly. Kurt chuckled.

"The only thing I want for you is to be happy Kurt. And sitting at my bedside for the rest of the night while I fall asleep isn't going to make you happy."

Kurt smiled sadly. He was right. He was only here because he wanted to be a good boyfriend, and sitting in Blaine's room all night while he was sick would bore him. "Okay. I'll go back. Just for you. Only cause you insisted."

"Good. And trust me I'm fin…"

"No you're not fine Blaine. Or else you wouldn't be lying here," Kurt said as he rolled his eyes. He stood up from his bedside and kissed him softly on the forehead. "Goodnight then. You better get to sleep. I hope you feel better in the morning."

Blaine rolled over onto his side and quietly said, "Don't worry. You have no clue how physically exhausting vomiting a bazillion times is." Closing his eyes he continued in a loud whisper. "And I'll probably be feeling better than anyone who will be hung-over tomorrow."

Satisfied, Kurt headed towards the door. Just as he was going to open the door he heard a soft whisper behind him.

"I love you Kurt."

Kurt's stomach sank. Every step that he took away from Blaine, made him feel guiltier by the second. He was so good to him, and yet Kurt felt like he was mentally cheating on him. Here, Blaine wanted him to go back so he could be happy, and the reason he was going back was to he could chat with Albus.

Funny how one of the only things that could make Kurt happy was the one person who could make Blaine unhappy, if Kurt decided to go in that direction. But he couldn't. And he wouldn't.

Would he?

No. It mustn't happen. I must not do that.

Not if he wanted to end up feeling like the absolute guiltiest person in the world.

Kurt drove back to the school carefully. As soon as he entered the gymnasium, Albus seem to come out of nowhere and rushed up to him.

"Where have you been? It's been almost an hour and everyone was wondering where you and Blaine were."

"Well it turns out Blaine had food poisoning or a stomach flu, so I drove him back home and took care of him for a bit."

Albus frowned, "That's horrible. Do you think he'll be okay soon?"

"Probably. Those things only last a day or so. He'll be fine soon," Kurt assured him. "So what did I miss?"

"Well Blaine was supposed to perform a song so everyone was wondering where he was. And where you were as well. I told them you went to check on Blaine to see if he was okay. No one could fine you two so we just had to forget about the song."

"Oh wow I totally forgot about that," Kurt said shaking his head. "I still don't understand how he was allowed to perform at our prom when he doesn't even go here. Not that I have a problem with that."

Albus chuckled. "Well he is an amazing singer and did inspire me to join you guys."

"Yeah he is," Kurt said smiling briefly. And you are an amazing singer too but you just don't truly realize it. "Anything else?"

"Yeah your brother Finn and that guy Rachel invited got kicked out cause they got into a fight."

Kurt's eyes widened. He didn't think about Finn and Jesse going at each other when he decided to call Jesse so he could ask Rachel to prom. "Oh dear. Do you know why?"

"I have no clue at all. That scary coach threw them out."

"Well I'm just going to assume it was over Rachel. They both used to date her and well… they both don't like each other very much. Did Rachel tell you anything about her love history?"
"No I don't think so. Or if she did, I don't remember it cause half the time she talks to me, she just rambles on and on about who knows what, so I just ignore it. "

Kurt couldn't help but smile. How could someone not like Albus?

"Good," he replied. "You really don't want to know all the drama."

Suddenly, an announcement rung throughout the gymnasium.

"WE ARE NOW GOING TO ANNOUCE OUR PROM KING AND QUEEN OF JUNIOR PROM 2011. PLEASE FIND A SEAT."

"Prom King and Queen? Can you refresh me about this?" Albus questioned.

"Sure. Every year someone wins the Prom King's crown and Prom Queen's tiara and it's actually pretty pointless and usually rigged. But then for the rest of the year you basically get treated like royalty and everyone pretends to love you and kiss up to your ass because if you don't you'll be knocked down to the bottom by the king and queen. Does that make sense?"

Albus nodded. "I guess. It's just so strange and different from my old school."

Kurt, once again, was about to open his mouth to ask him about his old school but Albus spoke up once again.

"C'mon. Let's get a seat."

Kurt followed Albus and the two of them sat down next to Rachel who looked slightly depressed. However she perked up once Albus plopped down next to her.

"Hey, how are you finding prom so far?" Rachel asked Albus.

"Interesting. Strange. But fun. And the snacks were good," Albus replied back.

"That's great. At least someone is enjoying themselves," Rachel said. "And Kurt," she said turning to him, "where the heck have you been?"

"Blaine got sick. I drove him home and looked after him."

"So I guess this prom has kind of sucked for you too."

"Yeah. It…" Kurt started but was suddenly cut off by Principal Figgins speaking into the mike.

"And McKinley's 2011 Prom King is….David Karofsky."

Applause , cheers and wolf whistles followed as Karofsky walked up the stage, grinning like a mad man. Santana blew a kiss to him, feeling confident that she was going to be prom queen since she was his date. Kurt didn't even bother clapping.

Things quieted down again. Principal Figgins placed the mike to his mouth again. "And McKinley's 2011 Prom Queen is…"

Kurt scanned the nominees for prom queen on stage, and observed their face so he could watch their reactions. However after Figgins opened the envelope, there was a sudden silence, followed by 2 words that would change him forever.

"Kurt Hummel."

There was a deafening silence as a spotlight flashed into Kurt's face. Kurt didn't even blink because he was paralyzed by shock. His muscles were frozen in place, yet his mind was reeling in stupor.

How.

Why.

This can't be happening.

No.

NO.

Albus is next to me.

This can't be happening.

Everyone was looking at him now. Everyone. And to his greatest fear, Karofsky was glaring angrily at him.

He couldn't sit here anymore. He needed to get up. And leave. And never return.

If he stayed at Dalton none of this would have happened.

Kurt's brain finally told him to move. Slowly he got up and turned his head to his right where Albus was sitting. And in that moment, he saw the confusion and shock in his eyes. Kurt felt like he hurt him and let him down, even though he didn't do anything at all. Seeing Albus like that just tugged at his heart and made him feel guilty for no reason.

And that was enough to make him sprint out of the gymnasium, with a flood of tears in his eyes.