Chapter 48: I'll Try

Kurt made his way to the bathroom. He stepped inside, wrinkling his nose at the smell.

'Why can't the boys' washroom be half as decent as the girls' washroom?' He thought as he relieved himself. Kurt walked over to the sink and washed his hands.

'I hope Sam's not too upset I said "NO" again.' Kurt was thinking when the washroom door was pushed open sharply. Kurt glanced up and froze, his eyes making contact with Karofsky's in the mirror.

"Well, well, well. 'Sup, Lady-Boy?" Karofsky sneered.

"K-K-Karofsky..." Kurt stuttered, straightening up and turning around.

"I hope you heeded my warning on not to tell anyone anything." Karofsky said, advancing on Kurt.

"No, I haven't told anyone." Kurt said, trying to maneuver towards the door. "I don't particularly like the idea of being murdered."

"Good. Then you'll keep your mouth shut about this too." All of a sudden, Karofsky charged at Kurt, grabbing him and pinning him to the wall, his forearm against Kurt's throat.

"Karofsky, let go! P-please!" Kurt begging, clawing at the arm crushing his throat.

"Shut the fuck up!" Karofsky snarled. "You're the reason I'm like this!"

"I didn't turn you gay!" Kurt gasped.

"Yes, you did, Fag!" Karofsky applied more pressure, making Kurt choke. "If you hadn't been wearing those tight fucking clothes all the time, flaunting yourself like some kind of slut, this wouldn't be happening!"

Kurt's face was going red, his hand struggling to remove the arm crushing his windpipe.

"You're the reason I'm a HOMO!"

As Kurt's eyes began to get hazy, the pressure loosened on his throat.

"Oh, no, you're not blacking out on me yet, Hummel." Kurt heard Karofsky say.

Karofsky pressed his other hand to Kurt's chest, curling his hand into the fabric of Kurt's shirt.

"Does Evans touch you like this?" Karofsky asked. "I heard you could turn into an animal if you wanted to. Is it because of the way he touches you?"

Kurt hyperventilated when Karofsky trailed his hand downwards from Kurt's chest, and past his stomach to his abdomen.

"Do you like that, Hummel?" Karofsky asked, letting his hand linger.

"No, not from you." Kurt said, closing his eyes, and trying not to let tears fall.

"Come on, Fairy, is my touching you any different from Evans touching you?"

"Yes, because he loves me and he's gentle." Kurt said, struggling. "He's not a brute like you!"

"Oh, really?" Karofsky scoffed. "So he's never rough?"

Karofsky pulled his arm away from Kurt's neck. Kurt tried to shove him back, but Karofsky placed his hand on Kurt's throat.

"You don't like it rough?" Karofsky pushed his hand up so it was covering Kurt's entire throat. "You don't like it when I do that?"

Kurt struggled to find the words to say 'no', but couldn't.

Karofsky took the opportunity to squeeze Kurt's throat and lean in to kiss him.

Kurt managed to find the strength to shove Karofsky away from him.

"NO!" Kurt yelled, backing away.

Karofsky glared and went to advance.

"You little-"

Karofsky stopped when the washroom door opened and a senior student came in.

Kurt took the opportunity to run for the door and escape, leaving Karofsky standing in the washroom behind him, fuming.


Kurt managed to get back to the Auditorium without running into any other jocks.

"Kurt, good, you're back." Mr. Schue said, seeing Kurt. Sam turned his head and looked up at Kurt, before turning back around.

From the look on his face, Kurt could tell Sam wasn't happy. Kurt decided to take a seat one over from Sam, thinking his boyfriend might want space. Sam looked over as Kurt was about to sit down. He leaned over, and grabbed Kurt's wrist, pulling him into the seat next to his.

Sam wrapped his arm around Kurt's shoulder, pulling his body close, while at the same time being silent. Kurt went to speak, but Sam shook his head, looking straight ahead as Quinn took her place on the stage. Kurt shifted, and went to put his head on Sam's shoulder, but stopped.

'He may not want that...' Kurt thought, straightening again. He was surprised when Sam pushed his head onto his shoulder, resting his on top. Sam may have been unhappy about being turned down, but he was still showing affection to his boyfriend. The two watched as Quinn turned to the class to begin her song.

"Now that everyone is here, I'd like to start." She said, and the music started.

I am not a child now.

I can take care of myself.

I mustn't let them down now-

Mustn't let them see me cry.

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

I'm to tired to listen.

I'm too old to believe:

All these childish stories.

There is no such thing as faith,

And trust,

And pixie dust.

I try,

But it's to hard to believe.

I try,

But I can't see what you see.

I try.

I try.

I try.

My whole world is changing,

I don't know where to turn.

I can't leave you waiting,

But I can't stay and watch the city burn;

Watch it burn.

'Cause I try,

But it's so hard to believe!

I try,

But I can't see what you see.

I try.

I try.

I try and try,

To understand,

The distance in between:

The love I feel,

The things I fear,

And every single dream.

I can finally see it.

Now I have to believe:

All those precious stories.

All the world is made of faith,

And trust,

And pixie dust.

So I'll try,

'Cause I finally believe!

I'll try,

'Cause I can see what you see!

I'll try.

I'll try!

I will try!

I'll try-

To fly.

Quinn finished her song, and wiped tears from her eyes, as the class looked up at her in silence. Mike was the first to break that silence, standing and clapping for his partner. As the rest of the class joined in, Mike leapt up onto the stage and hugged Quinn, leaving Tina looking perturbed.

"Quinn, that seems to have been emotional for you. Can you tell us the movie and name of the song?" Mr. Schue asked.

"The movie is 'Peter Pan: Return to Neverland'." Quinn said. "The song is called 'I'll Try'. And yes, it is emotional for me."

"Could you tell us why?" Mr. Schue asked.

Kurt shifted in Sam's embrace.

As Quinn spoke, Sam leaned over to whisper in Kurt's ear.

"We need to talk later. Think you can come by my place tonight?"

"I guess so." Kurt said, his mind a bit occupied.

"Good. I have practice until five, five thirty, depending how long Beiste decides to keep us." Sam said.

"Thank you, Quinn." Mr. Schue said, cutting off the whispered conversation. "Kurt, I'd like to talk to you for a minute."

Sam unwrapped his arm from Kurt's shoulders and Kurt made his way down to his teacher and Rachel.

"Kurt, I wanted to talk to you about Sectionals." Mr. Schue said. "I was thinking of giving you a solo for i-"

"No. Thank you, Mr. Schue, but I think you should give it to Rachel instead." Kurt said, looking at the Jewish girl.

"Kurt, I picked this song especially for you." Mr. Schue said.

"And I appreciate it, I do." Kurt said. "But I don't want it."

"Well, how about just a solo for in class?" His teacher tried.

"No, thank you. But I really don't feel like having a solo." Kurt walked away before Mr. Schue could say anything else. Both Mr. Schue and Rachel looked at each other with worry. They both knew that Kurt never turned down an opportunity for a solo, even if he had to fight Rachel to get it. Kurt had just given it up willingly, no fight to be seen.

Rachel walked over to Tina.

"I need you to talk to Quinn and get her to come by the Choir room in study period. I'll get Brittany to come. No Santana. I'm calling an emergency Glee girls meeting. It's about Kurt."

"Is it about Karofsky bullying Kurt the way he has?" Tina asked.

"What do you mean?" Rachel said, looking up at Kurt, who was sitting beside Sam, who had his arm around Kurt, rubbing his shoulder.

"Karofsky's been bullying Kurt since the school year started. Ever since then, Kurt hasn't been his normal self." Tina explained.

"That would explain so much..." Rachel muttered.

"You talk to Quinn. I'll talk to Brittany." She told the Asian girl. "Study hall, the Choir room."