Chapter 69: The News
Sam sat in the Auditorium as Finn told everyone what he had planned for Kurt.
"Okay, it's a good plan." Mercedes said. "But how are we going to keep it from Kurt?"
"The best I can say is we take turns distracting him." Finn said. "Whoever isn't needed for it a certain day keeps Kurt busy while we work on it."
"That's not gonna be the easiest for me." Sam said. "He's gonna wonder why I'm so busy after school, especially on days we don't have football practice."
"We'll just have to tell him the Beiste has us practicing non-stop." Puck said, ignoring Santana glaring at him.
"And hope he'll believe it." Finn said.
"Finn, I'm warning you now. If this messes up my relationship with Kurt in any way, I'm blaming you." Sam said.
Finn made a face, before speaking.
"Alright, who's ready to get started?"
Meanwhile at the Hummel household, Kurt had his shower and started packing things in his room.
Kurt got so busy packing that he jumped when the house phone rang. Kurt knew it wasn't his Dad, because Burt would have just called Kurt's cell phone. Kurt made his way upstairs quickly and picked up the phone.
"Hello?" He said into the receiver.
"Hello, Porcelain." Kurt heard.
"Principle Sylvester." Kurt said. "What can I do for you?"
"If you'd be so kind to put your Father on the phone, Porcelain, I'll discuss this with him." Sue said.
"I'm sorry, but he's not here." Kurt said. "You can just tell me whatever it is."
"This might be a little too delicate for you to hear, Porcelain." Sue said. "It's not good news."
"Principal Sylvester, just tell me what it is." Kurt rolled his eye. "I'm sure I can handle it."
"Very well." Sue said before relaying her message to Kurt.
Kurt paled when he heard the news Sue gave him.
"I-I-I...thank you for calling, I'll be sure to tell my Dad. G-good day, Pr-Principal Sylvester." Kurt said, hanging up on Sue.
Kurt stood still for a moment before collapsing to his knees.
'This can't be happening. It's not real. It's just a dream.' Kurt said, pinching himself. 'Not a dream. It's real. It's not a dream, it's real.'
Sam tried to call Kurt for the rest of the weekend, but Kurt never answered. The calls went straight to voicemail, and Burt said Kurt wasn't up for calls either.
By Monday, Sam was really getting worried. He got to school early, and looked over the parking lot. He saw Kurt's car, but Kurt wasn't in it. Sam entered the school, ignoring the buzzing noises of the other students. He went to Kurt's locker, then his own, but Kurt wasn't at either.
Sam made his way to the Choir Room, but Kurt wasn't with everyone else.
"Have you guys seen Kurt?" Sam asked, stepping into the room. "His car's in the parking lot, but he's nowhere to be found."
"Oh, great, another search and rescue hunt?" Puck groaned. "If I find him, I am NOT sitting on him for you this time."
"Come on, this is serious!" Sam said when everyone laughed at Puck's statement. "What if something's happened to him?"
"Happened to who?" Mr. Schue said, entering the room.
"Kurt. His car is in the parking lot, but I can't find him anywhere." Sam said.
"Alright, everyone look in his usual spots." Mr. Schue said. "If you have to use your phones and call him, do so."
"If you're talking about me, I'm right here."
Everyone turned to see Kurt standing in the doorway, his arms holding his books to his chest.
"Kurt, where have you been?" Sam said, rushing over.
"I was in the Principal's office with Carole and my Dad." Kurt said quietly.
"Why?" Mercedes asked her best friend.
"I got some news this weekend." Kurt's voice was so soft, hardly anyone could hear him. "Karofsky's not expelled. He'll be back tomorrow."
"Wait, what?!" Finn said.
"We were in there talking to Principal Sylvester about it." Kurt went on.
Flashback Starts
Kurt sat between Carole and Burt in the Principal's office.
"This is absolutely unacceptable." Carole said, placing a comforting hand on Kurt's leg.
"I'm sorry, why are you here again?" Sue asked.
"I'm going to be his step-mother, I have a right to be here for him." Carole snapped.
"Okay." Sue nodded.
"This psycho...threatens my kid's life." Burt said, looking at Sue and getting back on topic. "And some school board, made up of a bunch of people I've never met, tells me there's nothing they can do about it."
"Oh, they could do something about it. They just decided not to." Sue said.
Carole looked away, getting mad as Sue went on.
"No one reported witnessing him being violent and there's no way to prove that he threatened you with violence." She said, looking at Kurt. "The school board has issued a verbal warning to Karofsky. And that's where we stand."
"I can't go back to being terrified all the time." Kurt spoke softly, trying not to cry. "I mean, I jump every time a locker slams shut, I-I flinch whenever I turn the corner. I don't feel safe at this school."
Sue looked at Kurt before responding.
"Kids who bully, for the most part, have been bullied themselves. And I, for one, don't flatter myself that that behaviour could change. Now, this kid Karofsky isn't gonna all of a sudden be nice to you." Sue said. "And I for one won't stand by unable to do anything about it. Effective noon tomorrow, Figgins is back in charge, as I've tenured my resignation as Principal, in protest."
Kurt looked in disbelief at Sue.
"I can't help you behind that desk." Sue continued. "But I can be an extra pair of eyes out in those hallways. Someone ought to have your back. Besides, I miss my office, this room smells weird. I can't shake the feeling that I'm inhaling a lot of dead skin."
Flashback Changes
Kurt talked to Carole and Burt in the hallway.
"Well, I guess I'll try to enjoy the rest of the day before the terror starts anew." He said. "I'll see you at home."
Kurt passed the engaged couple and started off down the hall.
Carole and Burt looked at each other as Kurt walked away, and Carole gave Burt a small nod of the head.
"Hey, Kurt." Burt called out to his son, as Carole moved closer to him. "Wait up a second."
Kurt stopped and turned around to face his Dad and future Step-Mom.
"There's something we want to talk to you about." Burt said, and Carole gave Kurt a small smile.
Flashback Ends
"What did my Mom and your Dad talk to you about?" Finn asked.
"Look, before I say anything else, I just wanted to say 'Thank you' to all of you for sticking up for me and defending me against Karofsky." Kurt said. "It really means a lot, and it's nice to know that I have great friends here. Which makes it hard for me to stay here and not leave."
The class was silent for a moment.
"What do you mean, 'leave'?" Quinn asked from the back row.
"My Dad and Finn's Mom wanted to use the money they have set aside for their Honeymoon for tuition and transfer me to Dalton Academy." Kurt said. "And although it sounded very appealing, I said 'no'."
"Kurt, we don't want you to leave anyways." Tina said from beside Mike.
"What the Hell, Dude?" Finn said, standing up and approaching Kurt. "How about you talk with me about this first next time?"
"Sorry, Finn, but there's nothing to talk about." Kurt said, holding back tears again. "Even though I don't feel safe with Karofsky coming back tomorrow, I'm staying at McKinley."
"Babe, we can protect you." Sam said, wrapping an arm around his boyfriend's waist and hip.
"Seriously, we can, like, form a perimeter around you." Puck said. "Like the Secret Service."
"Yeah," Finn agreed.
"The only thing that can really protect me is being in the safety of my own home." Kurt spoke. "Or going to Dalton, where they have a no tolerance for harassment policy. But I'm not running away. I'm staying here at McKinley. I can't show him I'm scared."
"Kurt, it's okay to be scared." Artie said. "We're here to help you with it. Through it."
"Yeah, Dude, we'll stick to you like glue." Finn said.
"We'll protect you at all costs." Mike added, and Tina nodded.
"We'll even use Wheels here to run him over if needed." Puck said, slapping a hand onto Artie's shoulder, and getting a glare in return.
Kurt looked at the floor, having trouble finding the words to speak.
"Kurt..." Mercedes said softly, standing up and walking over to her best friend.
Kurt looked up, a tear escaping down his cheek.
"Sorry." He said, extracting himself from Sam's arm. "I have to go to class, and I need to be alone."
Kurt turned and walked out the door, leaving his friends staring after him.
