Happy Wednesday everyone! Here is your next chapter! Thank you again for following or favoriting our story! Also thank you to Dawofmorning and It'sNotEasyBeingQueen for your reviews! Y'all are the best! - A and K
Warnings: cursing
The day that everything went to hell started ordinarily enough.
Blaine got up, got dressed, and was just about to head down the hall to fetch Kurt when his phone rang. He dug it from his pocket and felt his stomach drop at who was calling him; His father.
"Okay, Blaine. Be cool. Be cool. Everything is fine. He's probably just calling because you got a C in Chemistry, but you know what? Chemistry is fucking hard. You don't get to do fun things with chemicals at all, it's just math in disguise. He will understand." He shook out his fingers and pressed answer.
"Hey, Daddio. 'Sup?"
"Don't you 'Sup me, young man! What did you do?" Paul Anderson's gravely voice made Blaine wince. He did not seem to be in an understanding mood.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean," Blaine replied as he straightened his already straight tie in the mirror. "But just so you know, I'm totally working on bringing my grade up! No fear!"
"You are-- What are you talking about? What grade?"
Blaine wished he had kept his mouth shut. "Nothing. Just kidding! Anyway, are you sure you didn't mean to call Cooper to yell at him? I have been good."
"We are circling back to the grade later," Paul said through gritted teeth. "But no, what I'm talking about is why I'm getting emails from disgruntled packs saying they aren't getting a fair shake at an alliance? What did you do to their sons?"
Oh. This was about his "business meetings" that he was supposed to be taking way more seriously than he actually was. He could barely remember the guy's names half the time and even then, he was definitely not turning on the flirt for them. He didn't care if they liked him or not. All he cared about was his Kurt. He had miscalculated how peeved his dad might be about that though, especially since he had neglected to tell his dad he was in love with a mere human who was the son of a mechanic in Lima, Ohio with no pedigree or political connections to speak of.
Blaine began pacing and chewed a nail. "I did exactly what I was supposed to! We went to places and talked! I can't help it if I didn't get a good vibe from them."
"I was told that you couldn't even remember their names or what pack they were from."
"You know I'm bad with names. I told you guys name tags would be so helpful, but no one listens to me!"
"Blaine," his father sighed, exasperated. "This is serious. You are picking the next leader of our pack. I thought being alpha meant something to you?"
That stung. Being alpha meant everything to Blaine and he tried so hard. "It does!" His lip wobbled and he swiped at a tear that tried to streak down his cheek. "I am taking this seriously, I just… I want it to be love, Dad. Like you and Mom." Blaine fiddled with his button, his voice very small.
His parents had an arranged marriage to unify two different packs, but they had been lucky to fall in love with each other. She was a great leader as well and Blaine missed her terribly since she had died when he was younger from cancer. It was one of the things he and Kurt had bonded over.
The problem was that he wanted to be alpha, but he didn't want to get married to a guy he wasn't in love with. So maybe he had been a little rude, but he didn't want to lead anyone on if there was no hope. The guy he wanted would not get approval.
Paul was quiet at the mention of his late wife, as he usually was when she was mentioned. Maybe it wasn't fair to bring her up, but Blaine didn't know how else to get through to his dad sometimes. He was all about duty and what was best for the pack, which made him a great leader, but not always the best dad. When Pam was alive, it was more balanced. She tempered how strict his dad could be, but lately it had been a little harder.
"Blaine, of course I want that for you too." His voice had softened and warmed. "But how are you going to fall in love if you don't even give them a chance?"
Blaine shrugged before remembering he was on the phone. Should he tell his dad about Kurt? What would he think? He worried his bottom lip, trying to decide.
"Just be a little more respectful of their time. Maybe spend more than an hour with them. You owe it to yourself and the pack to pick someone who is right for the position. Unfortunately for you, you don't have the luxury of just being with anyone."
Well, that answered that. His dad would probably not approve of Kurt. "I understand, dad."
Paul grunted in reply and he spoke to someone on his end. "Okay, I've got to go now, but remember what we talked about."
"Yes, Dad."
"You know I love you. I know this is hard for you… you're so much like her…" Blaine's felt tears come again at the reverence his dad's voice held. Sometimes he wondered if it hurt when his dad talked to him or looked at him and saw her. His dad cleared his throat and the gruffness was back in his voice. "Just remember your duty, Blaine. I'm counting on you. God knows your brother is a hopeless mess." He said it with fondness in his voice. Cooper had his own job to do.
"I won't disappoint you or the pack. I love you too."
The conversation stayed with him all day long, distracting him so much that he barely remembered any of his classes and then flubbed the lyrics to the new song they were working on in Warbler practice. Kurt had asked him several times if something was bothering him, but Blaine just blamed being tired. His friends tried to cheer him up, not knowing about the call with his dad either, but they understood Blaine was under a lot of pressure and sometimes had off days.
So that's probably why he missed the signs that something was happening with Kurt as well. He failed to notice the way Kurt stared at him with an unmatched determination or the way he kept smiling secretly to himself.
After Warbler practice, Kurt rushed off without explanation and Blaine walked back to his dorm slowly with his hands in his pockets. He tried to remember some of the specific boys he had met, but they paled in comparison to all the times he spent with Kurt.
Blaine threw himself down onto his bed after pulling off his tie and considered going for a wolf run, but just as he was about to drag himself up, someone knocked on his door.
"Kurt? Hey! What are you doing?"
The lithe brunet stood at his door dressed in his own clothes rather than their school uniform. As usual, he was in no less than three layers, but Blaine suspected there were more. He had a soft looking grey patterned button up under a crimson waistcoat with a matching jacket and a scarf that had little skulls across it. Over all that he had his coat with a tiny heart pin and his hair was swept up effortlessly underneath a black newsboy hat. Blaine stared in awe, his heart skipping a few beats. On anyone else, this ensemble would look ridiculous, but Kurt could pull it off like no one else.
"Hey," Kurt said softly, his hands clasped in front of him and his eyes on the ground. He must be cold because his cheeks were pink, although Blaine wasn't sure how he would be with all those layers. Kurt was always cold though. "I was wondering… would you go for a walk with me?"
"Sure!" Blaine perked up at the word walk. It was like Kurt could read his mind sometimes. He ducked back into his room for a jacket and then followed Kurt outside.
"Damnit! Seriously Blaine?" Nick grumbled as he and Jeff followed the two boys at a distance. "Why the hell is he leaving? I thought we had him down for the night and I had like five minutes left of this episode of Yuri On Ice and I'm pretty sure it's the one where they kiss."
They had gotten an alert that Blaine was leaving his room so they had to go after him. They tracked him on their phones until they Blaine with Kurt walking down the main path.
"Oh my god! Look at Kurt!" Jeff said grabbing Nick's arm.
"Well… He looks spiffy…"
"Do you have an idea what we are about to witness here, Nicky?" Jeff squeezed his arm tighter.
"Ow. No, but I feel like you're gonna tell me."
"This is a love confession!" Jeff bounced up and down.
"Wait, who's confessing to who?"
"Shhh!"
They ambled slowly down the path, neither saying much. Things had still been weird between them since the Day Blaine Skipped Breakfast, but this was like old times, just him and Kurt and a comfortable silence.
Blaine loved the outdoors and Dalton was especially beautiful even in winter with the grass dead and the trees bare. He sucked in a deep breath through his nose and closed his eyes at the exhilarating scent. Blaine glanced at Kurt out of the corner of his eye. He was walking leisurely next to him, hands in his coat pockets and a little smile tilting his mouth up. He looked a bit stiff, but Kurt always looked stiff, so Blaine didn't worry about it too much. Whatever he had done, maybe Kurt had forgiven him. He hadn't gotten a chance to really talk to his best friend, but the day after Kurt seemed to have gotten over whatever funk he was in. Maybe he was just having a bad day. Kurt was very private about some things and he may have been dealing with something else entirely.
Blaine looked at him again, longer this time, and caught his eye. And boy had that been a mistake. Kurt smiled wider at him and made his insides melt and his heart do a jig. He found himself smiling back and then he was staring at Kurt's lips. He jerked away. He was doing it again. Wanting what he couldn't have. Why couldn't some other boy make him feel this way? He would give anything to change his feelings, but he couldn't.
They rounded a corner and happened along a bench. This garden path was used pretty regularly by the students and teachers alike to get some exercise, but the cold weather meant most had opted to stay inside and be warm. Blaine didn't need to be inside to be warm, he sighed inwardly. He had Kurt.
"Can we sit?" Kurt's voice was small as he gestured at the bench. It was beautiful in the dying golden light, one of those evenings where pinks and golds collided across the sky and gave everything a fairytale-like light. It haloed Kurt, giving him a distinctly inhuman glow.
"Sure," Blaine agreed and they sat, side by side.
Maybe he should ask Kurt about what had been bothering him. Maybe it didn't have to do with him at all, but maybe his dad was sick again. God, Blaine would feel like the biggest jerk ever if something was wrong with his dad.
Just as he had decided on what to ask, Kurt spoke again, a little more confident than before.
"Can I say something? I need to say it, at least once…" Kurt turned to him, looking him right in the eye and that's when Blaine knew. It thrilled him and terrified him all at once. Kurt liked him back. Maybe it was the romantic walk or the seriousness in Kurt's voice, or maybe it was just delusional hope. Perhaps it was the way Kurt was looking at him that he recognized since it looked just like his own face when he thought about Kurt. But regardless he knew; Kurt returned his feelings, if only a little.
Kurt must have taken his silence as a cue to go on, because he did just that. He took Blaine's hands in his own and Blaine felt his mouth go dry. Everything in him ached to confess his own feeling before Kurt could, but a voice that sounded a lot like his father kept his mouth firmly shut.
"Blaine, there is a moment-"
"I have to go to the bathroom!"
The outburst stunned them both into silence, Kurt's mouth still open and now his brows furrowed in confusion.
"You have to go to the bathroom?"
"Yes."
"Right this second?"
"Absolutely."
Kurt blinked and Blaine could see his bravery draining away. "Can it wait for just a second? I really need to tell you-"
"Afraid not. I- I'm sorry, Kurt." He pulled his hands out of Kurt's even though doing so killed him. His heart tore a little when he looked up and saw the confused, hurt expression darkening Kurt's face.
And then, like the coward he was, he ran back to Dalton leaving Kurt alone on the bench.
"Oh my god, he did not…" Jeff hid behind a shrub, mouth agape as he stared at Blaine fleeing the scene. Although the future alpha could be silly and dramatic sometimes, this was quite unexpected since Jeff knew for a fact he felt the same way about Kurt. Kurt! The poor boy was sitting sad and alone on the bench, his head bowed as he stared at his empty hands.
Nick was scratching his head at the scene, slightly confused at what he missed. He wasn't always the most perceptive.
"Jeff, we need to follow Blaine back." Jeff felt his boyfriend tug at his sleeve.
Jeff nodded and cast one last look of pity towards Kurt. Maybe he could swing by Kurt's room later that evening. Until then, he would go knock some sense into Blaine's thick skull.
Kurt was numb. He wished it had been from the cold.
Blaine knew, the dawning realization on his face as assured Kurt that. He knew. And he didn't feel the same. It was a crushing blow. He couldn't do anything about it if Blaine didn't feel the same about him, of course, but now he was worried he might have lost his only real friend here.
Kurt let his head drop down and the tears came to his eyes, hot and stinging. He had no idea what to do now. Blaine didn't feel the same. He had tried and failed and now he would lose his best friend and have to watch him date other guys and fall in love with one right in front of him. Being his best friend, he would have to listen to him gush about guys and give him relationship advice. He didn't know if he could take that.
Standing and plodding back to his room, Kurt hugged himself. Once he was safely back in his dorm room, he allowed himself to fully break down. He didn't even make it to take off his coat or get to the bed, but slid down against his door and was racked with sobs. He had been so sure that Blaine liked him back, but he was aware this was a possibility. He just hoped Blaine wouldn't feel awkward around him now that he let him down… well, he could have been a little more gentle, but still. At least he didn't make fun of him or anything. He would just have to resign himself to being Blaine's best friend. It would hurt a lot in the long run, but he would eventually get over it. For now, he would let himself cry.
"Ow! What the hell, Jeff!"
Blaine rubbed the back of his head where Jeff had smacked it. The blond glared down at him, his hands on his hips. Blaine was sitting crossed legged on his bed, his blazer, coat, and shoes tossed off to the side in a messy heap.
"Why do you think I'm angry with you? Take a wild guess."
While Blaine and Jeff stared each other down, Nick just plopped himself down into the chair in the corner and pulled out his phone and ear buds. He knew this might take awhile.
"I don't know! You've been pissy with Wes for the last two days and now me! Maybe it's a you problem." Blaine crossed his arms and looked away.
"I'm talking about what you just did to Kurt, you dumbass!" At the mention of Kurt, Blaine jerked his head back to look at Jeff, his mouth open in surprise. "I've seen enough rom coms to know that he was about to confess his love for you! I told you he liked you back! Don't try to deny it! I can tell he has a thing for you!"
"I hear none of this," Nick muttered and turned up the volume on his phone.
"You can't hit me," Blaine deflected. "I'm the alpha!"
"Not yet you aren't." Jeff leaned over until he was in Blaine's face. "Now explain yourself!"
"I can't let him tell me he's in love with me!" Blaine shouted. His face was red and his fists clenched in his lap. He looked as if he would cry. "And of course I love him back, but I can't do anything about it because I'm under so much damn pressure to pick a suitor and it has to be just right and I don't love any of them and I don't want to be miserable for the rest of my life and I'm only seventeen!"
"La, la, la," Nick sang to himself as he pushed his fingers in his ears over his ear buds to claim deniability.
They both ignored him. Jeff dropped his shoulders and the hard lines of his face melted into something softer. He gingerly sat next to Blaine on the bed. Blaine was panting in frustration at his ungraceful blob of words.
"Blaine--"
"I want to be with him so badly and now that I'm sure of his feelings, it's everything I can do to sit here and not do anything about it." Blaine looked down at his hands. "It's not fair. I always have to make my decisions based on what I think everyone else is going to think. It's exhausting."
Jeff rested a hand on Blaine's shoulder. "Look, I feel for you bro. I know it sucks that you can't just be a normal teenager and date whoever you want, but you handled this like shit."
Blaine looked up at that.
"Kurt deserved more than that and you hurt his feelings."
"I didn't mean to. I panicked-"
"I know, but you didn't see his face when you ran away." Jeff rubbed his shoulder. "You need to fix this."
"I know," Blaine said as he pressed his finger to a fold in his pants. "I just need to think. I had hoped I would be able to figure out a way to present the idea to dad in a way that he wouldn't blow up."
Jeff sighed and stretched his arm over Blaine's shoulders, hugging him. "Maybe you will. But please think about how poor Kurt feels. He probably thinks you hate him."
Blaine leaned into Jeff's arms. "I could never hate him. This hurts, Jeff."
They stayed there for a long time, Jeff holding Blaine and Nick watching out for the both of them.
Kurt finished his tie and pulled his blazer on sullenly. He had spent the night tossing and turning fitfully and finally gave up trying to sleep around four am. He had cried himself out and told himself he was going to just act normal around Blaine. Pretend that yesterday never happened. Kurt sighed and sipped from his thermos. He was on his last one. He would have to try to make it last until his father could bring more.
What was he going to say to Blaine? When he looked at himself in the mirror, it was quite apparent he wasn't fine. What would Blaine say? Would he mention it and embarrass him or would he pretend nothing happened too? Kurt shook his head. He wasn't sure how they would get past this, but he couldn't lose Blaine, so he would try to stuff his feelings down until they choked out.
A knock came to his door and his stomach sank to his shoes. Blaine was here. Kurt stood up straighter and adjusted his satchel on his shoulder. He tried for a smile, but wasn't sure how successful he was when he opened the door.
"Good morning, Kurt!"
Kurt was confused when David's cheerful face was staring back at him instead of Blaine's.
"Uh, hi." He pulled at the strap of his bag and checked the hall. "Is Blaine running late again today?"
"No, he's busy this morning." David's grin widened and he gestured down the hall. "I'll be escorting you to breakfast today. Blaine wanted to make sure you weren't alone even though he couldn't be here."
Kurt nodded and wordlessly locked his door. This was weird. It's not that he didn't like David, but he was closer to Blaine and he had always been the one to walk with Kurt to breakfast. The only thing that had changed was Kurt's disastrous almost-confession yesterday. Kurt frowned and watched his feet as they made their way to the cafeteria. David hummed happily and tapped away on his tablet that Kurt was sure he had never seen the boy without. Maybe Blaine was avoiding him and the awkward situation they found themselves in.
Breakfast was quiet without Blaine's charismatic presence warm beside him. Jeff and Nick were absent too, which meant Kurt ate with Wes and David who were nice enough, but not very talkative. Kurt couldn't stop himself from casting hopeful glances around the room, looking for Blaine. When he never showed, Kurt tried to shove away the sadness and focus on class. He had a few with Blaine after all, and he could figure out where they stood then.
Except that Blaine decided not to show up to those particular classes. It was like a knife to the gut when it slowly dawned on him that the reason Blaine wasn't there was because of him. He had never felt so lonely, even at the worst times at McKinley because at least then he had his dad to go home to. Lunch went the same way as breakfast, with Wes and David chatting about things Kurt didn't understand while he poked at his food.
By the end of the day, Kurt made his way back to his room, gloomy and convinced he had screwed everything up. Now that he couldn't go to McKinley, he was stuck here at this school with no friends and a broken heart.
As he lay on his made bed and cried after a shower that evening, a thought occurred to the inconsolable vampire: Blaine was the one who was kind of being a jerk. He could have actually talked to Kurt and reassured the guy who was supposedly his best friend that they were still okay. He could have actually shown up and shown Kurt he wasn't weirded out or upset. But no, he had run away like a child. Kurt's tears dried and a scowl took the place of his pouting lip. Maybe he should turn the tables a bit and freeze Blaine out for a change. Maybe he should just refuse to see him or talk to him until he apologized for acting like such an ass.
Rage made Kurt's fists clench into his blanket. He could make Blaine's life miserable, just as his was now. He could destroy him.
Blaine's face flashed in Kurt's mind and all his anger bled away. There was no way he could do anything to hurt Blaine. He remembered all the times Blaine had been there for him and given him courage. How Blaine had gone out of his way to make sure Kurt felt comfortable at Dalton. No, he couldn't stay mad at Blaine. He loved him too much.
Kurt turned to his side and hugged his pillow to himself. He would be sad for awhile, but he would get over it. At least now he knew. Unless… Kurt sat bolt upright, dropping the pillow.
Could Blaine have actually had an emergency? Maybe he wasn't lying and he had no idea what Kurt was going to say? But then why had he been acting all weird? With a groan, Kurt flopped back down. His head hurt trying to figure Blaine out. He decided that tomorrow he would corner Blaine and have a very thorough conversation with him. It shouldn't be too hard since it was Saturday.
Kurt sighed and stood, then shuffled over to his desk. Might as well try to get some homework done to distract himself. He was a week ahead at this point, but why not go for two.
The next day dawned bright and clear. Kurt had finally been able to drift off to sleep at some point that night. He got showered and dressed with a fresh determination. Today he would get to the bottom of this. And do laundry, he added mentally as he noticed he was low on socks.
His phone buzzed, causing Kurt to set his comb down from where he was fixing his hair. Maybe it was Blaine saying he was an idiot and he wanted to be with him! Kurt scoffed at himself. Like that would happen.
He picked up his phone and his forehead scrunched up at the unknown number texting him.
Please meet me outside the Dalton gates. - Unknown
At first, Kurt panicked and wanted to hide under his covers. Who was this? Why were they asking him to come outside? What did they want? Kurt felt familiar fear seize his body and he couldn't stop himself from shaking. Could it be Karofsky coming back for revenge or what if it was the vampire that killed his mother coming to finish the job? Kurt was almost ready to start hyperventilating when he stopped at his mirror. Cold, pale skin. Fine tuned senses. Extremely sharp fangs. His terror eased and he stood a little taller in the mirror. Why the hell was he scared? He was a vampire.
"If anyone tries to bother me, I'll just eat them." He wouldn't really. Probably. He had promised his dad long ago he wouldn't ever attack anyone. Of course, he had broken that promise, but…
His phone buzzed again and he grabbed it before stepping into some boots. He was just buttoning his coat when he got down to the door of the dorm building and he jogged to the gates. Even though it was still early, the woods looked inviting rather than scary and he wasn't sure why he had panicked before. This was fine! Nothing could hurt him. Well, nothing except a certain curly-haired boy with a devastating smile. Kurt pushed down thoughts of Blaine. He didn't have time to wallow in his angst when he had a mystery to solve.
Kurt peeked around the gate curiously, seeing nothing but an empty sidewalk. He searched further, this time stepping into the very edge of the woods. He wondered if--
Except he didn't have much more time to wonder anything before a bag was thrust down over his face. He struggled, ready to bite and scratch his way out, but something the bag was made out of made him weak. His legs went out from underneath him and blackness swallowed up his vision.
