Hey guys, happy Tuesday!
I know it's been a while since I've posted on here, but I wanted to come on and get another chapter up for y'all. If you missed the previous chapter for whatever reason, Kurt ended up returning to Juilliard and finishing out the year. Gabe got a girlfriend, which means him and Kurt don't have as much time to hang out. Now that he's had time to move on with his life a little more, Kurt's beginning to experiment with the idea of dating someone new.
Hopefully that cleared things up a little bit! I hope you enjoy this week's belated chapter!
As always:
I do NOT own Glee or any of the characters
If you notice any grammatical errors don't hesitate to reach out!
I still have pages of this story saved, so let me know if you'd be interested in seeing more chapters in the future!
The rest of the school year seemed to fly by, and when summer finally came Kurt almost didn't want to leave Juilliard. He knew he'd miss it a lot- all of the people there were super nice, especially Gabe.
"I can't believe it's over." Kurt said with a sigh. "I'm going to miss this. And you."
Gabe smiled. "I'll miss you too. But hey, we have each other's numbers so it's not like we'll be completely out of touch. And I'm sure I'll see you next year."
"The juniors are in a whole other part of the building." Kurt whined. "You can't leave me behind like this."
"I don't want to, but it must be done. Keep practicing guitar over the summer, you're really good." Gabe gave his friend one final hug. "See ya around, Kurt." With that he turned and left, leaving his friend standing in the middle of the hallway.
"You were right, he does seem nice." Carole commented, picking up a box from the ground. "I guess we should start loading these up."
Kurt nodded slowly. "Yeah."
The ride home was short, almost too short in Kurt's opinion. He loved Ohio, but Juilliard was just so much more exciting.
Burt unlocked the front door, pulling it open just in time to see Finn jump away from his girlfriend.
Burt raised an eyebrow. "Finn, I thought we agreed that Rachel couldn't come over while your mother and I were gone."
Finn blushed. "Sorry, I just missed her so much."
"I missed you too." Rachel gazed lovingly into her boyfriend's eyes, kissing him gently on the cheek. "Nine months sure is a long time to go without seeing one another."
"Yes, well, you guys had a few hours to catch up." Carole set her purse on the table. "Finn, why don't you say hi to your brother?"
"Right! Hey Kurt, I missed you." Finn gave his stepbrother a hug, pausing when he saw what Kurt was holding. "Is that a guitar case?"
"Yeah, it is. I've been practicing for a few months and figured it was time to get my own." Kurt set the case on the couch, opening it to reveal the instrument. "Isn't the color gorgeous?"
Burt nodded. "It sure is something. Since when were you interested in guitar?"
"Gabe plays so I was kind of surrounded by his all year. Besides, it's a pretty instrument." Kurt avoided eye contact as he zipped the case back up, setting it down by the piano, ignoring the looks coming from his family. "So, are we getting takeout?"
"Yeah. What do you boys want?" Burt asked.
"Can we get Mexican?" Finn pleaded. "We haven't had it in forever."
Carole turned to Kurt, who was seated on the piano bench, face unreadable. "Kurt? Honey, does that sound okay?"
"That sounds good!" Kurt answered, perking up slightly.
Burt gave his son a look of confusion. "Okay then, Mexican it is. Rachel, why don't you stay and eat with us?"
"Oh, I'd love to! As long as there's no meat involved." Rachel exclaimed, linking her arm with Finn's.
"I'll ask for the vegetarian version of our typical order." Burt left the room, heading to the home line in the kitchen.
Finn stood, still holding hands with his girlfriend. "Rachel and I are going to head upstairs if that's okay. Let us know when dinner's ready."
Carole nodded slowly. "Alright, but no funny business!"
"I know!"
Finn and Rachel disappeared up the steps quickly, leaving only Kurt and Carole in the living room. Carole sat down next to her son, lifting his chin to look at her. "Kurt, are you okay? You've been acting strange ever since we got home, almost like you're distracted."
Kurt shrugged. "I'm fine. It's just weird being home, especially after what happened during winter break."
Carole smiled. "I get it. I just want to make sure you're happy, you only get summer break once a year." She paused, taking Kurt by the hand. "I was thinking that maybe we could go thrifting tomorrow, just you and me. You can buy whatever you want. Last time I was there I even saw a guitar case."
Kurt felt his heart flutter at these words. "I... I'd love to. Thanks Carole."
"You're welcome. Is there anything else you want to talk about?"
"Nope, I don't think so." Kurt tried to sound nonchalant, but he knew he was speaking quickly. "Just the breakup."
"Mhm..." Carole suggestively nudged her son. "I think I know what's going on."
"Nothing's going on." Kurt insisted.
"Please. We don't have to talk about him if you don't want to"
"Talk about who?" Kurt bit his lip anxiously, avoiding eye contact.
Carole lowered her voice to a whisper. "Gabe. You like him, don't you? I saw how you were looking at him earlier."
"No..." Kurt tried to sound convincing, but even he knew he was failing miserably. "Okay fine, maybe a tiny bit. But it doesn't matter, he's not interested in me."
"Have you asked him?" Carole crossed her legs. Kurt could tell she was loving this conversation. "Sometimes guys have trouble picking up on signals. That's how your father was." She joked.
Kurt smiled slightly at this comment. "I know. Gabe and I talk about feelings. A lot. And I would try to tell him about it, but he has a girlfriend."
Carole sighed. "Ugh, I'm sorry. Is that why you started playing guitar? To impress him?"
"Not completely. I also wanted to learn." Kurt shrugged his shoulders again. "I guess it's just hard. I haven't had feelings like this for someone since Blaine. It's not fair."
"I know. I wish there was something I could do to help, but unfortunately I can't change his sexuality." Carole offered a sad smile, patting Kurt's knee. "There will be other boys, I know there will. And I'm not just saying that because you're my kid."
Kurt gave a nod. "I know. Thanks for listening."
"I'm here for you, I tell you that all the time. Now why don't you come help me make a salad to go with dinner tonight? I'd love the company."
Kurt followed Carole to the kitchen and helped her chop up some vegetables. Soon Burt arrived home with the food, and they were all chatting and laughing around the table just like old times.
Kurt gave Carole a look of gratitude, subtly mouthing the words thank you. She responded with a small nod, and for the first time in a while Kurt felt content.
Just as everyone was finishing eating Kurt's phone went off. He took it from his pocket, quickly glancing down to see the caller ID. Unknown. That was weird.
"What happened to no phones at the dinner table?" Burt asked, giving his son a look.
Kurt's head snapped up. "Sorry dad, wrong number. What were we talking about?"
"Rachel was just telling us about the acting program she's taking this summer." Carole smiled at her son's girlfriend. "Where did you say it was?"
Rachel opened her mouth to speak just as Kurt's phone buzzed.
"Kurt, turn that thing off." Burt said, annoyed. When there was no reply his face changed. "Is everything okay?"
Kurt slowly shook his head, rereading the text message he'd just received.
"Are you sure you don't want me to go in with you?" Burt asked, a worried look on his face.
"I'm sure, dad. Thanks for the ride." Kurt practically leapt out of the car, running through the doors and stopping at the front desk.
"Can I help you?" The woman asked, adjusting her glasses on her nose.
"Pam." Kurt said breathlessly. "Pam Anderson."
"Room two hundred three, you'll want to take the elevator to the second floor and it should be on your right."
Kurt gave a quick nod. "Thanks." He followed the woman's directions, stopping in front of the door. He took a moment to breathe, a million thoughts going through his head. After about twenty seconds of stalling he knocked firmly on the door, stepping back.
It opened, and suddenly he was face to face with his ex boyfriend. Kurt drew in a breath, quickly snapping out of the initial shock. "You're here."
Blaine rocked nervously back and forth on his heels. "Yeah. Sorry for calling you on my mom's phone, I panicked and no one was answering..."
Kurt didn't know what to say. A part of him wanted to storm away dramatically like people did in the movies, but he couldn't bring himself to leave. Blaine looked miserable- his eyes were red and puffy, and there were dark circles under them. "I get it. Is she okay?"
"She's fine. The doctors think her blood sugar was low. They gave her some juice in the ambulance and are waiting for test results." Blaine ran a hand through his curls, which weren't gelled down for once.
"That's good." Kurt's whole body felt tense as he stood there. "I'm sorry you had to witness it."
"I'm sort of relieved that I did. I mean, it was just a mild seizure, but I'm glad she's okay." Blaine sighed, rubbing at his eyes. "I shouldn't have done this. I didn't think things would still be so... awkward."
Kurt nodded. "Yeah." He didn't know what else to say, there really weren't any words.
"You can go. If you want." Blaine shifted his weight from foot to foot. "She's asleep so I might go to bed anyway."
Kurt hesitated. Maybe he should leave. He opened his mouth to say this but was surprised by what came out instead. "It's okay, I'll stay."
"Are you sure?" Blaine seemed taken aback by this reaction. "Because I don't want you to just because you feel like you should."
Kurt forced a smile. "It's fine. I'll just text my dad really quick."
Blaine watched as Kurt sent a text, stepping aside so he could enter the room.
Kurt recognized the smell immediately- he'd been in too many hospitals to count between his dad's heart attack and his mother's cancer. For some reason they all smelled the same, like medicine and cleaning products. Blaine's mother was sitting up slightly in bed, eyes shut. She looked peaceful, a crumpled up juice box still in hand.
"She still hasn't woken up since we got here." Blaine said this calmly, but Kurt knew him well enough to sense the anxiety in his voice.
"She'll be okay. That's what the doctor said, right?" Kurt sat in one of the hard, plastic chairs against the wall, picking at a small crack in its base.
Blaine still stood in the doorway cautiously, unsure of what to say. It was weird- there was so much that needed to be said but at the same time there wasn't. "I hope so."
Their awkward conversation was interrupted by the sound of the scratchy sheets on the hospital bed crinkling. Both boys turned to see Pam slowly open her eyes, blinking as they adjusted to the light. "Where am I?"
Blaine immediately rushed to her side, kneeling next to her. "Mom, thank god you're awake. Don't your remember what happened?"
His mother shook her head. "No, I don't think so..." her hazel eyes landed on Kurt, face changing. "Kurt, what are you doing here? Are you two back together?"
Kurt shook his head. "No. You had a seizure and Blaine gave me a call. How are you feeling?"
"Kind of weird. I can't really feel my legs." Pam turned back to her son, eyes frantic. "Blaine, honey, what's wrong with me?"
"Your blood sugar was low. The doctors think it was just a fluke, but they're running some tests." Blaine gave his mother a hug, calming her down some. "You'll be okay though."
Kurt stood, suddenly awkward. "I think I'm gonna go get something to eat. Do you need anything?"
Blaine shook his head. "No thanks."
"I'd love some water if that's okay." Ms. Anderson said with a smile.
Kurt nodded. "Yeah, sure. I'll be right back." He left the room, heading towards the cafeteria. He knew this place like the back of his hand, and after about ten minutes he was heading back to the hospital room, a bottled water in one hand and a bag containing a vanilla frosted doughnut in the other. Just as he was about to turn the corner a sign caught his eye.
The surgical ward.
Kurt gulped, stomach flipping. All of a sudden it all came back to him- the sitting in the waiting room, the whispered conversations. The beeping machines, his sick mother. It was too much for him to handle.
Kurt frantically looked around, running as quickly as he could to the nearest restroom. Knees buckling, he knelt over the toilet. He stayed there for a while, dry heaving and shaking uncontrollably. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt like this, and was so panicky that he barely heard the door open.
"Kurt? Are you in here?"
Kurt froze at the sound of Blaine's voice. He could see the bottom of his shoes from where he sat.
Blaine took a few steps, pausing in front of the closed stall door. "Kurt, can I come in?"
"I'm... not here?" Kurt croaked, wiping his eyes on the sleeve of his shirt.
"I just wanted to make sure you're okay. You've been gone for almost half an hour."
Kurt sighed, unlocking the door against his better judgement. Blaine opened it, squeezing into the stall. The second he saw Kurt his face changed. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just don't feel well." Kurt crossed his arms, hugging his knees to his chest. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
Blaine sighed. "Can we talk? Please?"
Kurt shrugged. "I don't think there's much to talk about. I came here for your mom, not because of you."
Hurt flashed across Blaine's face for a quick second. He recovered quickly, clearing his throat. "Right. Of course. Thanks for being here, I know she appreciates it and so do I."
"I couldn't just ignore your text, it would make me a bitch." Kurt said this with a shrug, like it was obvious. "I would've done the same for anyone."
"Yeah, I know. That's just the kind of person you are." Blaine sat next to him, resting his head against the cool metal of the side of the stall. "I should've realized how hard it would be for you to come back here. That was kind of inconsiderate of me."
"It's whatever." Kurts stomach suddenly growled. He took the doughnut from the bag clenched in his fist, pausing. "Do you want some?"
"You don't have to share, you know. You have every right to be mad at me." Blaine turned away, guilt in his eyes.
Kurt sighed. "I know. But I'm done being mad. I've moved on."
Blaine raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "You... you're not upset?"
"I was for awhile. But being angry isn't going to fix anything, it'll only make me feel worse." Kurt held out a piece of doughnut. "Here. Take it."
Blaine slowly took the pastry from Kurt. "Thanks." He took a bite, deep in thought. "So what does this mean? For us?"
Kurt shrugged. "I'll talk to you when we run into each other. Be civil and all that."
Blaine's face changed, suddenly understanding. "Right... of course. Civil."
Kurt must've sensed the disappointment on his face because let out a sigh. "Blaine, I'm sorry. I just... I don't think I can be friends with you right now."
Blaine nodded. "I get it. I just wish there was some way to make things right again."
Kurt stood, taking his jacket from the hook on the stall door. "We should get back to your mom, she's probably lonely."
Blaine reluctantly followed, trying his best to mask the pain he was feeling.
Wow, that was a lot! What do you think, was it smart for Kurt to stay at the hospital? Will him and Blaine grow closer? Or will Kurt end up winning Gabe's heart? There's so much to consider... let me know your guesses in the comments!
Thanks for reading! Until next time :))