Chapter 6

Thank you to everyone who has left reviews! We appreciate when you take time out of your day to even just tell us you like our humble story. It's very encouraging! -A and K

Disclaimer: We do not own Glee or any songs used or mentioned. This is strictly a fun hobby for us!

Warnings: blink and you miss it violence, mild slurs. It's one scene and not that terrible, but I don't want to upset anyone.


"Alright, boys! Let's take it from the top!"

David's perky suggestion was met with moans and groans from the Warblers who had practiced their set about five times already.

"What? Wes said that when he got done with his shift, we had better have the routine down so well that we can do it in our sleep!" He sighed and gazed wistfully towards their bedroom. "A nap does sound nice though…"

Sebastian growled. "See, this is why Wes should have left me in charge instead of you! You get distracted easier than Blaine does around Kurt!"

Kurt and Blaine both flushed at that and avoided everyone's eyes. Kurt just kept on folding laundry from his spot on the couch where he was watching the boys do some last-minute tweaks to their setlist.

"Hush 'Bastian. I got this." David waved away the glare he received from Sebastian at the nickname and turned back to Blaine. "Okay, B. Get back into formation with Nick and me and we will go over it one more time. The rest of you can take five."

Blaine dropped his chin to his chest in annoyance, but got into position anyway between David and Nick. They immediately went back into the song while Trent, Sebastian, and Jeff grabbed cups of water and found seats. Jeff picked the empty seat on the couch where Kurt was and watched him matching socks.

"Hi Kurt," Jeff said quietly, his cheeks going a bit pink. He liked Kurt as a person and found him easy to talk to, but he still got a little shy around him. Some people were just easier for him to talk to than others. Kurt smiled over at him as he folded some of Trent's socks into a little bun shape.

"Hey, Jeff. You guys look great! Are you ready for the concert this afternoon?"

Jeff shrugged and scratched the back of his neck. "I guess so. These last minute practices always help."

Kurt nodded in agreement as he fished out another pair of socks. "Yeah, I bet."

They both watched David, Nick, and Blaine for a few moments before Kurt nudged Jeff's elbow with his own. "So tell me about Nick."

Jeff paled. "What about him?"

"Oh come on!" Kurt whispered and playfully swatted him with a sock. "I see the way you look at him. He's pretty cute…"

Jeff stared down into his glass and toyed with the rim. "I don't know what you mean…"

Kurt shrugged and tossed another sock-bun into the basket. "If you say so. But if you ask me, he likes you too."

"Nah. He's just really nice." Jeff replied. He still didn't look up. Kurt chuckled.

"Yeah, okay. I guess that's why he smiles all goofy at you and is always finding excuses to grab your hand or your arm."

Jeff bit his lip. "We're just friends..."

Pausing his folding, Kurt turned to stare at the blond. "Oh. Oh! I see. You don't like him that way. Forgive me, you just seemed as if you reciprocated and you-"

"What?" Jeff interrupted. Kurt laughed nervously as he tried to match another pair of socks, realized they didn't match, then threw the other sock back.

"I just thought you liked him back. My mistake."

The ice in Jeff's glass fell and clinked into the bottom of the glass before bobbing back up towards the surface. Jeff studied Kurt's face for a few moments before deciding to trust him with his feelings. He wasn't a very open person; he didn't trust many people. But there was something about Kurt that was so open and understanding, he felt like he could trust him.

"I do. I… like him." Jeff whispered it so faintly that Kurt almost didn't hear him. He turned to look in the boys big brown eyes, but Jeff was studying his glass of water again like it held all the secrets of the universe. Kurt stopped joining socks and lay a warm hand on Jeff's arm. He looked up quickly and gave Kurt a tight smile.

"I've tried to tell him. I've… hinted. But he never says anything other then he's my best friend and I figured…" He swallowed hard and eyed the boy they were discussing. He was laughing at something David had said and Blaine was scowling at, head tossed back and eyes crinkled shut. Jeff glanced at Trent and Sebastian who were squished together on the stained loveseat and sharing a comic book. Sebastian was not-so-patiently explaining it to the younger boy who was smiling up at him, blissfully unaware he was trying said patience. Good. No one could hear him besides Kurt. "I just figured that if he liked me… that way, he would have said something by now or kiss- Uh, yeah…" he finished lamely.

Kurt listened with a sympathetic tilt of his head and hands folded neatly in his lap. When Jeff finished, he pursed his lips thoughtfully and watched Nick dancing beside Blaine and David, their steps in perfect sync.

"I think he likes you. I could talk to him-"

"No!"

It was the loudest Kurt had ever heard him and he was a bit taken aback. Jeff blushed and skimmed a nail against the rim of his glass with a tiny clink.

"Sorry, I just… I don't want to mess up our friendship."

Kurt nodded in understanding and smiled warmly at the blond. "I get that, but maybe you should try being a little more… blunt? Maybe he's thinking the same thing as you and he doesn't know what to do."

"Oh no, I could never do that. I'm not very brave."

"I think you could be," Kurt encouraged. He stood, picking up his laundry basket and cocking his head towards Nick. "Would you rather never take a risk and live with regret for the rest of your life? Trust me, you never know when everything will change." He shrugged and trotted off to the bedroom. Jeff gnawed his lip and chanced another glimpse at Nick. The brunet caught the look and grinned brightly at him. Jeff's heart fluttered in his chest and he sighed internally.

Maybe Kurt was right…


David gulped his water down as Nick eyed Jeff and Kurt giggling on the couch together. Blaine was still practicing his steps. He had never done this badly at choreography, not even when he performed sick with the flu last winter. He was just going to have to put Kurt completely from his mind and focus entirely on the dancing.

"What do you think Jeff and Kurt are talking about?" Nick asked.

So much for not thinking about Kurt.

David glanced at Kurt and Jeff and his lips quirked into a lopsided grin. "Probably discussing how cute I am. Can't say I blame them either."

Nick snorted before sneezing into a tissue and Blaine rolled his eyes, ignoring David's inflated ego.

"I highly doubt that," Nick said, sniffing and wiping his nose. "Jeff has actual taste."

It was David's turn to roll his eyes. "Yeah, well maybe he's telling Kurt how he's going to ask out that cute girl at the Quick Mart who keeps slipping him her number."

Nick licked his lips nervously and darted his eyes between Jeff and David. "No way. She's not his type."

David shrugged. "It's been awhile since he dated a girl or anyone for that matter, so maybe his 'type' doesn't matter so much as you think."

Nick didn't respond to that, but kept his eyes on Jeff. Blaine finally gave up practicing and leaned against the kitchen counter next to David and Nick. He let his gaze slip over to Kurt as he sipped from his cup of water and he sighed internally. He was so pretty…

"Ooh, maybe Jeff is asking Kurt out." David teased. Blaine choked on his water and started coughing, eyes watering as Nick smacked him on the back.

"No he's not," Nick said. "Jeff is way too shy for that."

"Is Blaine okay?" Trent called from across the room. Everyone was looking at him. Blaine held a thumbs up in their direction and everyone went back to their conversations, even Kurt who was keeping a wary eye on Blaine.

David stretched and yawned obnoxiously. "Well, if we are finished practicing, I'm gonna go take a little nap."

They waved him away and Blaine coughed again. "So, you heard David. Jeff had options. When you going to make your move?"

Nick laughed quietly and rubbed his arm. "I've told you, man. It's not like that with us. Jeff doesn't like me that way."

"That's a lie," Blaine scoffed. "He likes you. But you said it yourself, he's probably too shy to say anything."

Nick watched Jeff smile at whatever Kurt was saying and flip his blond hair out of his face in an unconscious gesture. "I could ask you the same thing. Why don't you ask Kurt out?"

Nick was rewarded with a rapidly pinking Blaine. "He- well, I- that is, we aren't…" Blaine sputtered. "Listen, he needs a friend right now, not someone hitting on him."

Nodding, Nick jerked his chin towards Kurt and Jeff. "Jeff still has issues with his anxiety. He doesn't want me hitting on him. He seems content, so I'll wait as long as I have to." His brown eyes shone with a fiercely protective light. He turned back to Blaine who was smiling at him warmly. Nick was really a good guy. "Kurt won't be here forever though." Blaine frowned. "What will you do when his memories come back or his family comes to find him?"

Blaine scuffed his toe against the scratch in the floor that Trent had dropped an iron on and dented. They had no idea where he had gotten the iron. "I just… I guess I was kind of hoping he wouldn't? Maybe he could stay here and-"

Nick made a scoffing noise in the back of his throat. "B, you know that's not going to happen. Look at his hair and nails. Someone takes care of him."

"He's not a dog, Nick."

"I'm just saying, he's not like us. He has somebody. It's only a matter of time before they find him and he's going to be gone."

Blaine felt his heart squeeze and his eyes burn at that. He didn't want Kurt to leave. He wanted him to stay and be happy. With him. Blaine frowned. Would he be happy though? He knew Kurt wanted his memories back. It wasn't fair that they were all gone. He thought about how he would feel if he lost all his memories of his mother. God, that would kill him. They hurt, but at least Blaine had that left of her. Kurt deserved to have his memories and his family if he had one. Nick clasped Blaine's shoulder.

"Dude, I can see your brain going a hundred miles a minute. Just take my advice: tell Kurt how you feel. Maybe you can have some fun together before he leaves. And I don't mean that in a perverted way." Nick smiled at him as Blaine returned it. He knew his friend was just trying to help. He was very blunt, but he had a good heart.

Maybe at some point today, Blaine would just lay it all on the line and tell Kurt he liked him. He had trouble with words sometimes. He preferred showing people how much he liked them with small touches and doing things for them. Maybe he could show Kurt how much he liked him… He could just kiss him. The butterflies in Blaine's tummy did backflips at the thought. The park where they were going for the concert was lovely, the perfect setting for a magical first kiss. What would Kurt's lips feel like? Taste like? Blaine imagined it would be whatever heaven was like. He had never kissed a boy before. Just a girl once, to be sure he was one hundred percent gay. He was.

Blaine sighed. He had a lot to think about.


Mercedes sighed sadly as she smoothed over the piece of tape with her thumb. The flyer with her best friend's face on it fluttered in the breeze when she stepped back. It had been about three days since she last saw him and the worry was gnawing at her. While she was about ninety-nine percent certain Kurt hadn't run off recklessly with some random boy, she wasn't convinced someone hadn't kidnapped him. After all the bullying Kurt had been put through, it was a distinct possibility one of the less… open minded kids at McKinley had done something to him. Mercedes shivered at the thought. She just hoped that he would be found soon.

She thought about the last words she had said to him. He told her he was going to Cheerio practice and she had tossed a, "See ya!" at him as he left. She hadn't hugged him or even looked up from her phone. Her vision blurred. Mercedes knew that if she got the chance to see her best friend again, she was telling him how much he meant to her. No, not if, when. She had to think when. The alternative was too devastating to think about.

They had put flyers everywhere in Lima and she had even driven out to the large park between Lima and Westerville to put up the last few she had where the vigil would be held. That way, maybe people could see them and possibly get word out further to look for her friend. With a sad smile, she took once last look at Kurt's face before turning to walk back towards the parking lot. She heard a sound behind her and whirled around.

"What is Becky Jackson doing here?" she murmured to herself. The short Cheerio was stalking through the park, ducking her head under bushes and benches. She was muttering under her breath about a lost kitten or something. Mercedes waved to her.

"Hey, Becky. Did you lose your kitten?"

Becky looked startled, but recovered quickly. "None of your business, glee freak! In fact, forget you ever saw me here!"

Mercedes put her palms up in surrender and stepped back. Becky glared at her and marched away, continuing her search for the cat.

"Geez, what is her problem." She shrugged and started to return to her car when she noticed the flyer starting to fall from where she had just taped it. "Shoot." She fixed it back and walked away. She would check it once more this evening when they came to have their vigil.


"Okay, boys! This is it! We have a decent crowd and there is some kind of event later, so maybe we will have more people show up! Trent, buddy, do you need help?"

Wes paused his annoying pep talk to rescue the boy who was hopelessly tangled in his warbler tie… yet again. Sebastian suppressed the urge to growl. It wasn't conducive to their performance to lose his temper now. He reminded himself Trent was still young and had a propensity for clumsiness that rivaled a newborn giraffe. It wasn't his fault. He went over his steps. He breathed. He counted. He tried to be empathetic which wasn't generally in his nature. But he was sweating in his full uniform (that he had managed to put on all by himself, by the way) and there were no cute boys around to flirt with and Blaine was still ignoring him and he was still mad about his math test. Sebastian started to see his vision go red. He breathed. He counted.

While Wes was untangling the tie Trent had managed to somehow get into several knots, Sebastian let his gaze slip over to where Kurt was seated under a tree. He was ridiculously covered up with a floppy hat, sunglasses, a long sleeved shirt belonging to Blaine, some of Jeff's jeans, and copious amounts of sun screen. He had claimed he didn't want to get burnt when he got dressed and Sebastian had definitely not thought it was kind of cute. He had desperately tried to think of something sarcastic and rude to say, but all he managed was a mocking snort. He was going soft. He had to be. It was stupid to think that this… this… person could have him wrapped around his finger after only a few days like the rest of these idiots.

Speaking of idiots, he glanced over to Blaine. Unsurprisingly, he was staring at Kurt too, a dumb look of adoration on his face. Sebastian suppressed the urge to throw something at him. He wasn't in love with Blaine, far from it. He just couldn't stand being rejected over and over again. He knew Blaine wasn't trying to hurt him, but every time he ignored Sebastian's advances, it was like seeing his parents slam the door in his face over and over. Sebastian tightened his fist. He breathed. He counted.

Sebastian thought back to the previous night when Kurt had that flashback after he mentioned something about a gold star. It had been bugging him all night and day, like when you can't remember the name of a song or where you've seen an actor when you're watching a movie. No, this he would have to figure out on his own and he couldn't just click on his IMDB app and immediately access the information.

It had been a few months ago, one rainy afternoon when he had gotten into that online argument with the obnoxious girl. He was on the show choir blogs looking for "straight" boys to convert when he was attacked. All he had said was that Funny Girl wasn't as great as everyone said it was and she had gone OFF. It was actually kind of funny how pissed she got, writing paragraph after paragraph about how wrong he was and how Barbara was a genius and Funny Girl was iconic. He had trolled her a bit after that just to amuse himself before he sent her a rude meme and then blocked her before she could reply. The thought made him grin mischievously. His smile slid from his face when he tried to recall her name. It had something to do with gold stars and he could have sworn her name started with an R… He pursed his lips in concentration, trying to recall the information. He even had logged onto the site to try and find her, but apparently she had been banned for unsportsmanlike conduct. What that meant, he had no idea, but maybe this girl was more fun than he originally thought. So he was at a dead end. He wanted to bash his head into the nearest tree. Why did he care? Why was he trying so hard to help the twink and why was it bothering him so much that he couldn't?

Sebastian shook the thoughts he didn't want to entertain away from his head. It was useless getting attached to him. He would be gone soon. Everyone left eventually. He let his gaze rest back on Kurt. He hid a smile at the boy, sitting there beaming at them like a Dance Mom from his cocoon of shade. Damnit, he was growing on him.

"Seb to the Bas to the Tion! You ready for this? It looks like you're a million miles away." David was play punching his shoulder like an irritating brother and he bit back his smile again. He liked to pretend he hated the nicknames; they weren't particularly good. But part of his heart (he would never admit this out loud. Ever.) warmed considerably when David thought of a new one to pester him with. He had never had a nickname before. At least, not friendly ones.

The lanky teen fixed a superior look on his face and smoothed his blazer down. "That has to be your worst one yet."

"You know you love it," David laughed, his grin lopsided as usual. Sebastian hid his smile with a toss of his head and got into formation with the other boys.

"David, your lack of creativity is only eclipsed by your annoying personality. I would suggest working on that." There was no heat behind his words and David knew him well enough to know he was pleased. He chuckled at Sebastian and winked.

"Don't break my heart, Seb."

"Oh, shut up. You're not my type anyway."

"What, sensitive, good humored, sexy guys aren't your thing?"

Sebastian's lip quirked, just a little. "No. I would destroy you."

Wes clapped his hands and instructed the boys to get into their places. The crowd drew closer as they saw the show was starting and Kurt clapped enthusiastically.

David blew a kiss to Sebastian jokingly, but Sebastian ignored him. He wasn't joking when he said he would destroy someone like David, or Blaine for that matter. He was like a hurricane or an earthquake. Not something to be taken lightly, a natural force that couldn't stop itself from wreaking havoc.

Sebastian heard their cue and stopped his thoughts before they could overtake him and he put a fist through the nearest wall. He breathed. He counted. Then he sang. Singing was the best distraction.

He looked over to Kurt one more time before ignoring the pale boy. He didn't want Kurt to see him and get the wrong idea. He couldn't help wondering if maybe he had the key to solving the mystery of Kurt. As they all sang and danced in unison, Sebastian made a mental note to do some more digging once he was home.


After the concert was over and several encore songs had been done, Kurt helped his friends gather up their tips and other things.

"You guys were wonderful! I'm telling you, you had people eating out of your hands! Everything was just… wonderful!" Kurt went on and on about the performance excitedly as the boys began to trudge towards the van. Blaine was walking close beside him and soaking up the praise. He wanted to grab Kurt's hand or kiss him or both, but he was still too scared.

"Oh no! Trent, you didn't…" Wes moaned as he caught sight of the boy's lack of blazer. Trent dropped his head in shame.

"I just took it off for a minute, Wes. I was hot and I put it right beside me so I wouldn't forget it, but then those girls came up to me and asked if David and Blaine were single and I got caught up in that and… well, I forgot." He looked up at Wes with big, wet eyes. "You're not mad at me, are you?"

Wes sighed in exasperation and rested a hand on the young boy's shoulders. "Of course I'm not mad. Come on, let's go find your blazer." He looked back over his shoulder at the others. "Stay right here and we will be back. Then we can go to the store."

The rest of them nodded and found some shade to wait in until they returned. David dropped down on the grass to count all the numbers he had received like they were tips while Sebastian zeroed in on a group of cute boys. Blaine stepped a little closer to Kurt, who was watching Jeff closely.

"Did you manage to keep from getting sunburned?" he asked, playfully tapping the edge of the floppy hat. Kurt giggled and tilted it jauntily on his head so that it nearly covered his right eye. It covered the head bandage as well.

"Oh yes, definitely. And I managed to be high fashion at the same time."

"You always look good." Blaine blurted out. Kurt turned to look at him sharply, but Blaine didn't take it back. In fact, the way he was looking at him… Kurt swallowed hard and stared into Blaine's eyes. The shorter boy was staring right back at him, his gaze slipping down to Kurt's lips. He licked his own lips eagerly, and leaned in… Kurt felt faint again. Was he… was he going to kiss him? Kurt wasn't sure if this was his first kiss or not, but that didn't make him feel any less nervous. Then he remembered he was wearing that goofy hat and sunglasses. Did he want to look like this when he got his first kiss? The thought made him hesitate. Blaine noticed and seemed to second guess himself. Just as he was about to gather his courage to lean back in, David popped up next to them.

"Oh my god! It's happening!"

Kurt and Blaine stepped away from each other abruptly. Blaine was about to tell David to shut up and go away when he noticed David wasn't even looking at him, but down a little ways by the fountain. He followed his gaze until it fell upon Jeff and Nick standing close together, fingertips brushing lightly. They were smiling and- yup, they were kissing. David cackled.

"Agh! Blaine! Do you see? They are kissing!" David shook Blaine's shoulders. Kurt giggled into his hand.

"Yes, David. I see them. My eyes work fine." Blaine was happy for them, truly. They had been dancing around each other for so long, but he was having a moment with Kurt. A pretty big moment too. David pretended to wipe tears away.

"I feel like I'm watching the birth of an endangered animal! This is amazing!" David whooped and clapped loudly shouting, "Duval get some!" and "Yes, Jeffy! Give him all the tongue!"

It startled the kissing boys and they looked back sheepishly, Nick blushing furiously and Jeff hiding his face in Nick's neck. David whistled and Nick gave him the finger, but his grin nearly split his face in half. David sighed and draped an arm over Kurt and Blaine's shoulders. He pulled them close until they were nearly smothered in his firm grip. "Ah, young love. We raised them right, B. I'm gonna bake them a damn cake. The sexual tension was almost too much to handle at this point." He smacked their backs and skipped off in the direction Wes and Trent had gone, presumably to be the first to break the gossip.

Blaine shook his head at how excited he was and then turned back to Kurt. He knew whatever moment they were having was over now, but maybe he could still… Kurt wasn't looking at him. He was staring off in the distance and frowning.

"Everything okay?" Blaine asked gently. He didn't want to upset him if he was having a flash back. Kurt grasped his arm and Blaine's heart skipped a beat. He looked nervous.

"I don't think so. It looks like Sebastian is in trouble…" Without another word, he darted off towards Sebastian and Blaine hurried behind him. Sebastian had a proclivity towards trouble and didn't seem to care if he was the cause.

"Hey!" Kurt yelled sternly. He marched towards the group of boys, three of them facing Sebastian with angry scowls twisting up their faces. They looked aggressive. Sebastian looked bored. Of course he did. Blaine mentally rolled his eyes.

Approaching the group warily, Blaine noticed Kurt had no reservations. He charged into the clump of boys and stood protectively in front of Sebastian. Blaine did the math in his head. It was three to three, but all the other guys were bigger than him and Kurt. Sebastian was the same height as two of them, but one was built like a silverback. Blaine wondered if anyone would come if he screamed. Maybe Wes would be back soon and save them… Blaine wasn't a coward, but he had the crap beaten out of him before over just being himself and he wasn't eager to relive that. However, it was Sebastian who was a friend, almost a brother, and Kurt… who was just Kurt. He wasn't quite ready to decide what that was yet. At least not until he kissed Kurt. Blaine shook his head before his heart jumped from his sleeve and ran away with him.

Sebastian looked confused as to what Kurt was doing at first, but then he adopted a blank expression and tucked his hands in his pockets. Kurt put his hands on his hips and cocked them to the side a bit.

"What the hell is going on here?" Kurt asked firmly. One of the boys (the biggest one, Blaine noted) who was directly in front of Sebastian wrinkled his nose at Kurt.

"Oh my god, there's another one."

"Another one?" Kurt mocked. "What's that supposed to mean?"

The big guy took a step closer to Kurt. Blaine licked his dry lips. Sebastian watched a bird.

"It means that your butt buddy here keeps hitting on us and we aren't interested." Big Guy snarled. "And now we have to deal with you and for me that's too many homos."

Kurt didn't look intimidated at all. In fact, he looked like flames were about to shoot out of his eyes and he was going to punch Big Guy's face. "Oh, excuse me," he said, mock sweetness dripping from his voice. "I didn't realize that you had to be heterosexual and have a bad haircut to be in this park."

Sebastian snorted. Big Guy glared at Kurt and balled up a fist. Blaine prepared to spring into action. He knew it would hurt getting punched by the guy, but he would do it for Kurt.

"Awful big words coming from such a small guy. I could break you like a twig."

Kurt scoffed. "Yeah, I'm the homo yet you want to put your hands on me. I see how it is."

The two other guys exchanged looks and Big Guy seethed. Sebastian finally huffed and stepped around Kurt.

"Okay, that's enough flirting. I don't need anyone to fight my battles and you all are boring me now. Let's go find the others-"

He was stopped by Big Guy's hand to his chest. Sebastian frowned at it like it was a cockroach. Blaine decided to step in.

"Okay, fellas. I think we have all had a big misunderstanding here. We are just going to go find our friends-"

"Shut up, twerp." One of the other guys said. Kurt wheeled on him.

"Do not talk to him." Kurt yelled as he stepped in front of Blaine and got in Big Guy's face. "You bullies are all the same! You think just because you're bigger or stronger or straighter you can talk to people however you want! Well, you can't! You can't just go around shoving people or… or kissing people…" he trailed off and his arms went slack by his sides. Blaine and Sebastian both were gaping at his impassioned speech and the others were looking slightly confused.

"I don't want to kiss any of you, freaks."

"What's going on here?" Wes called as he strolled up, Trent in tow. The three guys ran off at the sight of an adult and reinforcements. Kurt was staring off into space and Blaine gently grabbed his arm. Sebastian was staring at Kurt like he was a strange and difficult puzzle.

"Anybody want to explain?" Wes asked as David, Nick, and Jeff (the latter two hand in hand) joined the others. Blaine watched Kurt carefully as Sebastian cleared his throat.

"Nothing. Just the usual. I made some friends."

"I think I'd like to go sit down now." Kurt said quietly. He didn't want to talk about the flashback this confrontation had brought back. Blaine and the others nodded in agreement and they headed back towards the van again. This time everyone had their blazers.

On the way, Blaine kept Kurt's hand in his. He squeezed it gently and Kurt smiled weakly, squeezing it back. He may not have gotten to kiss Kurt, but this was still wonderful. He would find the right moment.

Trent was buttoning up his blazer just to be certain he didn't lose it again when he inevitably stepped on a piece of trash. It got stuck to his shoe and crinkled up into a ball, causing him to trip a bit. He grumbled and yanked it off, not even bothering to look at it as he tossed it in the trash. It was really sorry how people were leaving trash out everywhere instead of throwing it away. Wes called out for him to hurry up and he did, not realizing that if he had checked the other side of the paper, he would have recognized a familiar face…


The skies had darkened considerably when Burt Hummel approached the makeshift stage they had set up for the vigil. He adjusted his tie and reached for his ball cap before remembering it wasn't there. He had dressed up for this. They had promised news coverage, so he thought if he looked nice more people would take notice. His son's friends were gathered behind the stage, all bearing unlit candles and somber faces. The Cheerios and Coach Sylvester also had candles and were off to the side in a cluster. There was a large crowd and he recognized some friendly faces such as Gina from the police department and the Spanish teacher/glee director Will Schuester with the school guidance counselor…Emily? No, it was Emma. He nodded gratefully at the people gathered together before ascending the stage. He saw the cameras and news crews snapping his picture as he cleared his throat.

"Hello everyone. Thank you for coming out today in support of my family. My name is Representative Burt Hummel of Lima, Ohio and we are gathered here today because my son went missing three days ago on Thursday afternoon. The police are doing a thorough search of the area and surrounding towns, but I'm here to implore you to please take a look at this picture and see if you recognize my son. He is five feet ten inches with brown hair, blue eyes, and sixteen years old. His name is Kurt and if you have any information, please call the number below which is the missing persons tip line. Please…" Burt swallowed thickly. He had done well so far, but the several days of worry and fear came crashing down all at once. Faced with all these people, their friends and neighbors, Burt was losing the battle with his emotions. He took a few calming breaths and blinked back the tears that burned his eyes.

"Please, if you know of Kurt's whereabouts or you know anything about his disappearance, call as soon as you can. Please." He stepped back from the microphone in silence. Coach Sylvester stepped up into the lights after patting Burt's arm in what he supposed she meant to be comforting, but came off a little fake.

"I would like to reiterate what Representative Hummel said and let you know the Cheerios have raised a reward for any information leading to the discovery of Por- er, I mean Kurt. As he said, we are eager to have him back, so please call. If you don't want to call the tip line, you can call me at McKinley High. I will pass on what I know to the police-"

"Or just call the police," Burt interrupted, giving Sue a sideways look. What was that about? And she was offering a reward? That was nice he figured, but strange she hadn't mentioned it before. "Just call the tip line or the police. They will take care of it."

Sue smiled, but it seemed forced as the cameras flashed. "Of course! Call them and please reunite us with our dear, sweet Kurt. Thank you!"

The people gathered lit their candles at the instruction of Mr. Schue. The New Directions stepped up on the stage and began to sing Michael Buble's Home. Burt took the moment to approach Sue as she was whispering ferociously to a short, blonde cheerleader. She immediately stopped talking and straightened up when he walked up, but he caught something about a lost kitten. This woman was definitely odd.

"Ah, Burt. I think we can call the night a success. Don't you agree?" She smiled that weird smile again, all teeth.

Burt nodded slowly. "I will call it a success when Kurt is home safe where he belongs. I really appreciate you helping out with this, but please make sure you direct people to the police. I wouldn't want to confuse anyone."

"Of course! Of course. I was just trying to help. Giving people options, you know?" Her eyes were shifting between him and the crowd. Burt felt uneasy. "Have you heard anything else about the investigation? Any new leads?"

Burt stared at her for a moment. She seemed eager. Funny, Kurt had never mentioned her being very close to him. In fact, he always seemed to think she hated him, especially after he beat her out for representative. Maybe his disappearance had changed her mind?

"I can't share anything the police have told me, but I know they are doing their best. Do you know something I don't?"

She laughed loudly. "Of course not. Why, did you hear something?"

"Of course not."

There was an awkward silence.

"Well, thank you again. The reward is nice too."

"It's the least we can do, Burt. As his coach, I feel responsible for the boy. As if I had him kidnapped myself and dumped out of town…" Then she laughed and patted his shoulder like they were old friends. That was weird. Someone called for him as the song was ending and people were taking flyers to put up around their neighborhoods. Burt glanced back at her over his shoulder as he walked away, feeling like he was missing something.


Songs used/mentioned:

Home- Michael Buble

*we do not own the music*