Chapter 25:

The next day Kurt went to school as usual, feeling lonely and empty. Before everything happened, he'd never even imagined he could one day feel lonely because of Puck's absence, but now, Puck was the only thing he could think about. Kurt was walking towards the cafeteria trying to imagine what Puck was doing right now. There was a big jet lag between Ohio and California. Puck was likely to be sleeping right now, if he managed to.

"Why didn't you come at the bleachers ?" Kurt turned around to see if the sentence was addressed to him. He found Karofsky staring at him with … Sadness in his eyes ?

"I beg your pardon ?"

"I sent you a text for you to meet at the bleachers and you didn't come." Kurt couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"First of all, I had no idea who the hell was sending this text to me, and second of all, I wouldn't have come if I had known it was you." Kurt answered, his chin higher than ever. Karofsky's sadness faded to turn into anger.

"Why the fuck wouldn't you have come ?

"Maybe because entering the lion's den on purpose to be beaten up is not something I usually do ?" Kurt answered sharply.

"I haven't fuckin' touched you since you came back !" The jock snapped back.

"So what ? You're proud of refraining yourself from bullying me ? What do you want a candy as reward ?"

"I just fuckin' wanted to talk to you ! Why are you such a bitch at me ?"

"Maybe because you've made my life a living hell for so long that I had to leave ? I don't know why I'm even talking to you now !" Kurt was really getting pissed by this conversation.

"But you stayed. I told you to stay and you did." Karofsky stated and Kurt could really not believe it.

"You really think I stayed because you told me to ? Unbelievable ! I only stayed because of my ill dad, I'd be gone long ago if it was only for you ordering me to stay !"

"I'd like to be your boyfriend Kurt." Karofsky almost whispered, but loud enough for Kurt to hear it, it made his stomach flip.

"Is this some kind of really bad joke ? Cause I'm not amused in the slightest." Kurt snapped.

"It's not a joke Kurt, I really like you, that's why I didn't want you to leave again." Karofsky explained. Kurt winced at the only idea of the jock getting near him.

"And cornering me with your dumb friends to order me to stay before insulting Noah and I is your way to woo me ?" Kurt was scandalized by Karofsky's behavior.

"I just wanted to... I didn't want you to leave again." Karofsky mumbled.

"You know what ? Drop it, I'll never be with you and I'll leave again so just keep on being the dumbest jock ever because feelings are really not made for you." Kurt couldn't stop himself from bitching at the jock.

"But you're alone too." Karofsky stated.

"If by alone you mean single, sorry but I'm not, now leave me alone for Christ's sake." Kurt told him before resuming his walk towards the cafeteria.

Everything was already getting worse since Puck had left, but that was the icing on the cake. Karofsky was just the guy that Kurt hated the most after Keith and he wanted to be his boyfriend ? What had Kurt done to attract all the worst jerks around ? He had spent like his entire life looking forward to meet someone attracted to him and all of sudden all the jerks around wanted him. But Kurt had Puck now, and he couldn't believe how lucky he was to have him, even though Puck was miles away from him. He wouldn't tell his boyfriend about it, it would only worry Puck and right now he needed to free his mind from all worries.

Kurt spent the rest of the day trying to avoid Karofsky, which was hard of a task since the jock seemed to be following him everywhere he went. Kurt found it creepy but didn't tell anyone about it since he had no one to tell. He closed himself a little more to the rest of the people in Lima. He tried not to show it, tried to talk to everyone like he did before learning for Karofsky.

"Hey buddy, are you okay ?" Burt asked when Kurt went back home.

"Yes dad I'm okay, why ?" Kurt answered genuinely.

"It's just... You look kinda … off." Burt explained.

"I'm just tired, it was a long day that's all."

"Okay, you should go rest in your room before dinner." Kurt nodded.

"You're right dad." He kissed his dad on the cheek and walked to his room.

The following days nothing remarkable happened. Kurt knew that Mercedes was worried about him but she didn't show it, she was far too happy that he chose to stay. Burt was doing better, and Kurt realized that no medication could cure him entirely. They had always had a psychological health in the family and as long as they had no stress, they were healthy.

When he reached school two weeks after Puck was gone, he found Karofsky waiting for him in the parking lot.

"There are no other gays in Lima, you lied to me." The jock told him as soon as Kurt had opened his door.

"I don't want to talk to you, and I don't want to be with you either so leave me alone."

"Why did you lie to me ?"

"I never lied to you Karofsky I have a boyfriend, and you're wrong, because I'm the only openly gay guy in this cow town, doesn't mean there are no closet cases, you're a living proof of that." Kurt was absolutely not afraid of talking bitchily to the jock, he had never been and was never going to be.

"Then who's he ?"

" I think I already told you that it's none of your business." Karofsky grabbed Kurt's arm tightly and shoved him against his car.

"As long as it concerns you it's my business." He said with a threatening tone.

"Says who ? You have serious possessive issues Karofsky !" Kurt told the jock sharply. He couldn't move since Karofsky kept a hold on him.

"You fuckin' tell me who your jerk of boyfriend is so that I can beat his ass !" The jock had lifted a threatening fist just in front of Kurt's face.

"You're going to punch me ? Seriously ? You really think that hitting me will make me love you ?"

"Don't you think I'm not gonna hit you, you don't want me, things will be worse than before you left with Puckerman !"

"It won't last long since I'm leaving again !" Without any warning Karofsky's fist landed on Kurt's cheek.

"You're not fuckin' goin' anywhere ! You're staying here with me !" Kurt couldn't help laughing.

"Even if I stayed here I'd never be with you so stop raising your hope and find another gay guy to harass !"

Kurt's phone rang, Kurt looked at Karofsky right in the eyes while grabbing his phone from his pocket and taking the call. The jock was looking at him with ball shaped eyes.

"Hi ?"

"Kurt ? How are you, I couldn't call you yesterday night I fell asleep very early for once." Puck said.

"It's nothing Noah, I'm glad you-" Karofsky took angrily the phone from Kurt's hand.

"Don't you fuckin' talk to Kurt again !" Karofsky shouted in the phone. Kurt struggled to take back his phone.

"What the hell is your problem ? You can hit me as much as you want I don't care but you give me my damn mobile back !" Kurt was shouting, angrier than ever, he wanted Puck to ignore what was going on with Karofsky and here he was, in the middle of a fight.

"Hey guys calm down !" Kurt hadn't noticed that their shouting had attracted a little crowd around them. Mr Schue pushed Karofsky off of Kurt and gave him back his cell phone. The jock ran away, leaving Kurt alone with twenty people looking at him. He lifted the phone to his ear.

"Noah, are you still here ?" He asked unsure.

"Kurt ! What the fuck was that ?" Puck asked scandalized. Kurt knew he'd have to tell a part of the story to his boyfriend so he went away from the crowd and gestured Mr Schue to not follow him.

"It's Karofsky, he's kind of... angry at me for some reason." Puck groaned at the other end of the line.

"You're lying Kurt. Everyday you tell me everything's alright and all of a sudden Karofsky's mad at you ? I don't believe you, tell me what's happening." Puck's tone was soft but severe at the same time.

"It's just Karofsky, you know him he hates me it's just as usual..." Kurt answered.

"And trying to forbid me from talking to you is as usual too ?"

"It's not … I really don't want to talk about it now Noah."

"But I do, you said he was hitting you Kurt ! I'm fuckin' not letting him hurt my boyfriend without doing anything !" Puck exploded.

"Okay, I'll tell you what's happening, but promise me not to be mad okay ?"

"I can't promise you that but go on." Kurt sighed.

"Karofsky's gay and he wants to... to be my boyfriend." There was silence for a few seconds.

"Is this some joke ?" Puck asked finally.

"That's exactly what I told him. And now he follows me but he never hit me before. I told him that I have a boyfriend but he doesn't believe me and he wants to know who is it. Since I refuse to tell him he gets angry I guess."

"Why don't you tell him you're with me ?" Puck asked, and just at hearing the sentence, Kurt could see Puck frowning.

"Because I'm not going to out you to the whole school Noah !" Kurt explained exasperated.

"Who cares ? I'm not in Lima anymore and I don't plan to come back, unless Karofsky beats you up again. Just tell him and he'll stop punching you." Kurt sighed again.

"Noah, your mother doesn't even know about it and you want to tell the whole school ?"

"Then tell my mother, she already suspects there's something between us." Puck said, and Kurt couldn't believe it.

"I'm not going to go to your house to inform your mother we're together ! Don't worry Noah I can handle it by myself. My dad's health is doing better, I think I'll join you in a week or two." Kurt just wanted to avoid the Karofsky conversation.

"There's no way I'm letting you handle this by yourself ! Karofsky's dangerous I'm not letting him hurt you again ! You tell him you're mine and he'll stop hitting on you !" Puck sounded quite angry.

"Telling him I'm yours, as you phrased it, won't stop him, I'll just stay away from him and it will be okay."

"Kurt, I don't want you to get hurt. I swear if I hear somewhere he has been hurting you I'll rip his fuckin' head off !" They both knew that he had no way to know if Karofsky hurt him but Kurt's heart felt warm when he heard his boyfriend's concern.

"Thanks Noah, I've got to go in class now. We'll talk later ?"

"Of course ! And Kurt, please ask Finn and the other guys if Karofsky messes with you again." Kurt sighed.

"I will don't worry."

"Bye Princess."

"Bye Noah." Kurt hang up and sighed. He was tired of talking to Puck only on phone. He was tired of facing the jocks everyday and most of all he was tired of Karofsky.

"Kurt can I talk to you ?" Kurt turned to find Mr Schue standing awkwardly behind him. He had heard all they had said.

"This was a private conversation, you had no rights to listen !" Kurt said outraged.

"I know and I'm sorry I needed to talk to you so please follow me to my office." Kurt sighed but followed his teacher.

Once they were both sitting in Mr Schue's office the teacher looked at Kurt with an exasperating concern.

"You wanted to talk ?" Kurt asked when the teacher didn't say anything. He knew he was being insolent but didn't care, Mr Schue had no rights to eavesdrop their conversation.

"I wanted to talk about Puck." Kurt couldn't believe it.

"So I get attacked by some dangerous jock and all you want to talk about is Noah ? Really ?" Mr Schue sighed.

"I heard your conversation Kurt, I didn't mean to but I did. I have to say that it surprised me but I think it suits Puck very well, he seemed to really care about you."

"of course he does, that's what boyfriends do." Kurt answered still exasperated.

"Look Kurt, I heard that you were planning to go back and rejoin Puck. I know what you live right now is not easy but is it really the best decision ?"

"Not easy ? Haven't you just seen what Karofsky was doing to me ? And I guess you heard when I told Noah why he acts like this." Mr Schue nodded. "He's a damn psycho he won't leave me alone. When you add it to the other slushie facials I get everyday by the other jocks and the looks I get in the streets, I think I can say that life here is just unbearable for me." Mr Schue could do nothing but nod at this.

"Don't you think you could ask Puck to come back here, and you'll live it together instead of being alone."

"Noah has ten times more reasons for not being able to live here anymore. I'll never ask him to come back, as I couldn't ask him to stay for me."

"You can't tell me what happened to him right ?" Kurt shook his head.

"All I can tell you is that we won't be away forever, we'll come back for the trial, I think you'll know, by this time, what it is about." Mr Schue nodded.

" I heard why you were staying here. I'm not telling you to leave right now. I'd never tell you that since I don't think it's the best solution. However, what you're doing is not a good thing Kurt. I know you want to be good by helping you dad to get better, but by doing this you're only making him dependent on you and he will be even sadder when you'll leave again." When the teacher's words penetrated Kurt's brain he realized what he was doing.

" I guess you're right." Mr Schue nodded slowly.

"For now, concerning Karofsky, I don't think we can do anything for what happened this morning but if he goes on harassing you sexually just tell me and I'll do anything to get him expelled."

"Okay, thanks Mr Schue." Kurt said before standing up. He was talking more about what the teacher had told him about his dad than about the Karofsky issue.

"And Kurt, please, think a lot before deciding to leave again. I didn't tell you that because I wanted to but because I had to for your dad's and your own sake. I absolutely don't want to be the one who will decide you to leave."

But you are. Kurt thought before leaving the Spanish teacher's office.