A/N : Hey guys. Sorry about the long wait, life (school, really), has been hectic. But, the quarter is winding down, and spring break is here, and I am just like crying tears of joy (and then actual tears when I look at my WIP folder). Anyhow, here it is!
Blaine looked at the shapes and numbers in front of him, letting out a frustrated sigh that sounded more like a growl.
"Why do I have to do this when I'm not even going back to that stupid school?" Blaine asked as he picked his pencil back up, just as Leroy closed the book he had just been reading with a soft thump.
"Because, you're already behind by Daltons standards. I spoke to the headmaster, and he showed me the curriculum your Geometry class is going by. They're learning about how to find angles and sides for polygons as a whole, while you're still looking at triangles," Leroy reminded his son, and Blaine pouted. Leroy took one long look at him, before sighing and taking his schoolbooks and shoving them back into Blaine's backpack.
"Don't tell your papa, he was adamant on you crunching numbers all afternoon before Kurt swung by," Leroy told Blaine, who nodded.
"I spent all afternoon whining and bemoaning my Geometry homework while you watched," Blaine said, and Leroy smiled.
"Exactly," he said, before pausing. "Actually, we might not have to lie after all-"
"Blaine, you had better be presentable, Kurt's here," Rachel chimed as burst through the door like a hurricane. She immediately went to kiss her father on the cheek before dumping her school bag on the floor and practically attacking Blaine.
"Sweetie, I know you're excited to see him, but-" Leroy said cautiously, and Blaine was sure he was going to fall off the bed when a high, lithe voice spoke.
"Rachel, calm down, you're going to pull his stitches and make him stay here even longer," Kurt said as he stepped into the room, a grimace on his face. Kurt had hated hospitals since he had been a kid, but had insisted on visiting Blaine.
"You're welcome to join me," Rachel said brightly, beginning to settle down on the bed next to Blaine, who was near ready to push her off the bed. She turned to Blaine, about ready to say something, when she caught the obvious death glare he was sending her. With a sigh, she got off the bed, and began to mumble about 'unappreciative younger brothers' as she sat down in one of the visitor chairs next to the window.
Kurt greeted Leroy with a hug, before turning to Blaine. His lips turned up slightly, and he sat down next to Blaine on the bed. Rachel huffed as Blaine leaned on Kurt, and Leroy laughed.
"Come on Rachel, come get some coffee with me," Leroy said, and Rachel looked up with a grin.
"Really? But papa said I'm not allowed to have coffee re-" Rachel started to say, before Leroy sighed and put his index finger against her mouth.
"I can already tell Mercedes dad probably took you both to Starbucks this morning judging from how riled up you are," Leroy grinned, and Rachel blushed.
"I-well-what-and," Rachel stammered out, and Leroy laughed before placing an arm around her. He started to lead her and himself out, only pausing to look back at boys.
"Coffee?" He asked them, and Kurt nodded.
"Grande nonfat mocha please," He called out, and Blaine shook his head. Leroy nodded, and the last thing Kurt and Blaine heard was Rachel telling Leroy about somebody named Quinn, Kurt rolling his eyes at the name. The door closed swiftly behind them, leaving Kurt and Blaine alone.
"How you've been?" Kurt asked quietly as he crossed his legs together criss-cross apple sauce style, looking down at his lap as he spoke. Blaine sighed.
"Good. Everything is more or less back to normal. I have another six weeks until my fingers and rib are back to normal, but I get the stitches out tomorrow before I get discharged," Blaine said with a weak smile.
"That's good," Kurt mumbled as he started to draw patterns on the sheets of Blaine's bed. Blaine watched as he drew loops and lines and whirls, before softly grabbing Kurt's hand.
"Hey, look at me?" Blaine said, and Kurt sniffed as he looked up. Blaine remembered the feeling he had gotten the first he had seen Kurt's eyes- surprise and wonder at how eyes could even begin to look like that. At that moment though, Blaine was feeling dread and a pit quickly growing in his stomach.
Kurt's eyes were red, tears threatening to occur in a downpour at any given moment. His mouth was in a tight line, wobbling and shaking, strangled noises coming out quietly every time Kurt was forced to take a deep breath.
"B-Blaine, I was so, so worried w-when your d-dad came over and talked to my dad, and I-I-" Kurt whispered out, stumbling and stammering as he began to feel his chest constrict. He let his sentence die as he began to cry, and Blaine began to feel his own eyes prick and water up.
"Kurt, come here," Blaine mumbled as he pulled Kurt into a hug, ignoring the small yelp his rib made when Kurt latched on tightly. He felt Kurt shake into him, his breathing ragged and broken up.
"Blaine I am so, so sorry," Kurt whispered, and Blaine couldn't help but shake as he felt sobs of his own well up in him. He had done his fair share of crying when his father's had gone home when visiting hours were over (now that he wasn't in critical condition, regular visiting hours had been implemented), or when he was all alone and didn't have much to occupy himself with.
But, somehow, this made him just let out everything. He had cried. He had shed tears here and there. But had hadn't come close to sobbing the way he was at that moment. They stayed like that for what felt like hours to Blaine, but when he looked over at the clock as they pulled away from each other, had been mere minutes.
"I'm going to miss you," Kurt said as he sniffed and wiped his tears off his cheeks, and Blaine swore under his breath as he reached blindly for the tissue box on the nightstand.
"Rachel and her big mouth," Blaine mumbled to himself as he finally got purchase on the box, putting it in between him and Kurt. They both reached for a tissue at the same time, and they both giggled nervously.
"This sucks," Blaine said after they had both taken the time to calm themselves down. It was that moment that he fully came to appreciate how his eyes didn't get red when he cried, or afterwards. Kurt's eyes looked as if they had been on full display in front of scorching heat lamps for hours.
"Yeah, it does," Kurt sighed, before looking at Blaine with a sad smile.
"I guess Rachel will have to take your place in our grand plan for high school," Kurt said, and Blaine made a face.
"You mean she'll attempt to take my place," Blaine humphed, and Kurt nodded, placing a hand on his chest.
"I apologize for my mistake. She will attempt to take your place, but fail miserably," Kurt laughed out, and Blaine couldn't help but laugh along.
Soon enough, Blaine found himself laying down on his back next to Kurt, who was doing the same, staring up at the ceiling with the lights off. He had been placed in pediatrics as soon as he was ready to be wheeled out of the ICU, and had been amused to find that they had put glow in the dark stars up on the ceiling. As soon as he had told Kurt, he had insisted they star gaze.
"These aren't even accurate depictions of the stars," Kurt whined, and Blaine laughed.
"I have to admit, the big dipper does look pretty crooked, but come on Kurt. These guys majored in medicine and biology, not astronomy and interior design," Blaine nudged Kurt in the side, and Kurt rolled his eyes.
"It is simple to do some research and not pay attention to what you're doing Blaine," Kurt mumbled. "Of course you would stick up for who ever did this atrocious and very much inaccurate depiction of the night sky, Mr. White Paint."
"And to think I was willing to do all of our wild and insane plans," Blaine tutted, and Kurt snickered.
"You call cutting class to go to IHOP and then going to Columbus to shop wild and insane?" Kurt asked as he laughed, and Blaine looked at him, before cracking up himself.
"You know, you could always come visit me at Dalton. Columbus is less than a half hour drive from there, and we could always go shopping then," Blaine suggested after they both calmed down, wheezing slightly from what he could only guess was his rib finally taking revenge over it's rough afternoon. Kurt frowned at the sound, but knew it wasn't anything too alarming.
"We could," Kurt agreed, his voice soft.
Their hands had found each other while Kurt had been complaining over how the canis major was crooked and misshapen, and was a reminder of how just how close they were. They had been best friends for seven years, ever since Rachel had practically dragged Kurt away from Burt and the moving truck the first day he stepped foot in their neighborhood. And now here they were, Blaine going to a school an hour and a half away from home without Kurt by his side.
Squeezing his hand gently, Blaine somehow just knew that Kurt had been thinking the same thing when he felt him squeeze back. The constant pressure of Kurt holding his hand was reassuring and comforting. It reminded him of when they both were learning to ride bikes. When one of them fell, the other would hold their hand while whichever dad on duty would patch their scrape right up and tell them to get back up and try again. Blaine smiled lazily at the memory, before yawning.
"Ugh, being in the hospital has turned me into a five year old," Blaine complained as he stretched his legs out on the bed, and Kurt looked at him.
"You already were a five year old, I don't see what changed," Kurt teased, before yawning himself. "God, I don't even know why I'm so tired."
"You've been too worried about me and have laid in bed awake all night thinking of me."
"You've been watching too many soap operas."
"Excuse me, Days of our Lives is too classy of a show to be talked of with such a tone."
"Blaine do you hear yourself sometimes?"
"Sometimes."
Blaine shrugged. The only thing that played during the daytime that wasn't news or boring PBS specials were soap operas, and Days of Our Lives was the only thing that didn't make Blaine grit his teeth and pull his hair out. But, it was a hell of a lot better than doing the pointless huge mound of schoolwork his papa had smacked down onto the night table after visiting Lima Middle. Yawning again, Blaine wriggled under the covers, and held up the blankets.
"Nap time," He said, and Kurt rolled his eyes.
"Blaine, this is a hospital bed, not some kind of communal sleeping bag," Kurt complained as Blaine ignored him, tugging the blankets so they were both under them. When Kurt yawned again, this one louder and longer than the last, Blaine gave him a pointed look.
"Oh, fine," Kurt grumbled as he turned his body slightly, getting comfortable. "If we get yelled at, I'm blaming it all on you."
Blaine laughed, and just snuggled into Kurt's side like he did whenever they had sleepovers. Kurt glared at him, before sighing and relaxing into the warm body next to him.
"Blaming you," Kurt mumbled as he began to drift into sleep, with Blaine humming his approval.
"Bed. Brainwashed. And. Squirrels. And. Wow. G'night," He slurred back, already getting to the point where his thoughts were chopped up. Kurt smiled, having heard this type of gibberish before all too frequently from Blaine right before they really fell asleep for the night at sleepovers.
Kurt fell asleep, Leroy coming back in just minutes later, clutching a travel box of coffee in hand. Rachel poked her head in, and frowned.
"So I can't get on the bed, but Kurt can sleep in it?" Rachel whispered, and Leroy laughed softly.
"Oh Rachel," was all he could say, knowing she'd get in a year or two. Closing his eyes, he stepped out of the room, and Rachel crossed her arms.
"Let's let them get some rest. And be glad Blaine didn't get upset over you telling Kurt about Dalton," Leroy said, warning Rachel when she opened her mouth to protest. She sighed, and closed the door.
"It just slipped out!" She exclaimed, and Leroy could see just how much of Hiram there was in Rachel at that exact moment. Both had, for lack of a better phrase, big mouths. Ruffling her hair slightly, Leroy smiled.
"I know sweetie. Come on, let's go look at the gift shop. I remember you telling Papa you wanted to see it sometime," Leroy said, and Rachel brightened up a bit.
"I heard them playing Barbra the other day. How could I not visit an establishment with such high expectations for the music it plays?" Rachel rattled off as she began speed walking down the hallway, stopping only to give her dad a look. "Well? Come on, we haven't got all day daddy."
"Coming sweetie." Leroy watched his eldest child almost jog to the elevator, and shook his head with a smile as he watched her impatiently wait for the lift. Rachel stood there, hands on her hips, foot tapping, mumbling to herself about how 'slow the stupid thing' was taking. Definitely Hiram's daughter. No doubt about it.
"Where would this go?"
Blaine looked up from where he was busy packing his bow tie collection, to see Kurt holding up one of the few graphic tee's Blaine owned. Kurt watched him frown, before shaking his head.
"Leave them in the closet. I won't really have anywhere to wear them to while I'm at Dalton," Blaine said, closing the small cardboard box he had in hand. With a sigh, Kurt turned back towards the now nearly empty closet. He heard the packaging tape being pulled with a rrrip, and cringed at the sound of it.
He gently put the shirts on their hangers, back into the closet, before closing the double doors. Normally, when he went through Blaine's wardrobe, the closet would rustle against the clothes in protest, the closet ripping at the seam with clothes. But now, it just closed with a small thump as he closed it with more force than it really needed.
"I think that's... That's it," Blaine said quietly, and Kurt closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, before turning around and leaned against the closet.
"It," Kurt said quietly, looking around. "It looks like it is."
They both sat down wordlessly, scooting over to the window that faced Blaine's backyard. Kurt leaned on Blaine, remembering how they used to set up their blanket forts here during their sleepovers with Rachel when they were younger, looking out the window and at the moon. That was how Kurt had gotten inspiration to paint the night sky on the ceiling when the Anderson-Berry's had decided to remodel most of the rooms.
Kurt rested his jaw on top of Blaine's head, wondering just what the next couple of months would bring them. Already in school, he was being bullied. Sure, he had expected it after he heard last year's eighth graders gossip about it after their freshman orientation. He thought he could brave through it all, pay little or no mind to it. But that was back when he thought Blaine would be there with him after that one year. One year. That's what was standing between him and his best friend going through the toils of life together.
But now, things had gotten screwed up big time. He remembered how his heart dropped when his dad had come back in with a crying Rachel after he heard Hiram at the door, wondering what had happened. Truthfully, his first thought had been 'who died'. And then it had become 'who is about to die'. But before he could even get a word out, Rachel ran to the guest bedroom, locking herself in the connected bathroom.
Burt had sighed, took off his hat, and sat down on the couch before he looked Kurt in the eye. His own eyes were blood shot from crying, making Kurt's water up immediately.
"B-buddy, come here. Sit down," Burt said, patting the seat next to him. Kurt had hesitated at first, but when he heard a bang from the bathroom, he slowly sat down next to his dad.
"Now, buddy, Blaine's dad was just over," Burt began saying, his tone gentle and calm. He was speaking slowly, far too slowly for Kurt's liking. "There... There's been an accident. With Blaine."
Kurt stiffened, not even cringing like his father had when they heard another bang from the bathroom, this one sounding louder than the first.
"How bad?" Kurt immediately asked, and Burt rubbed the top of his head.
"I don't know kiddo. His papa just came by to tell Rachel and me, and then had to go to the hospital to meet up with his dad," Burt explained, and Kurt sank into the couch, drawing his knees up to chest.
"Is... Is he going to live?" Kurt whispered, and it was the expression of grief on Burt's face that Kurt had only seen a few times; and those few had been in regards to his mother before they gave up on treatment.
"I... I hope so, buddy," Burt said softly, wrapping an arm around Kurt's shoulders. "I really hope so."
He sighed as he remembered the blur of events after those few minutes that had changed so much. Rachel had stayed the night with them, choosing to camp out in the living room if her father's came back in the middle of the night with news. Kurt had chosen to camp out with her, after staying in bed until one and not being able to even shut his eyes for longer than a few seconds.
It wasn't until five in the morning that Rachel had gotten a text from her dad telling her Blaine was okay, but that he was hurt badly. Burt had come in to see both of them crying silently while Saturday cartoon's played in the background, sharing a tub of ice cream.
Kurt shut his eyes as he felt Blaine shift slightly. Sure, Rachel was his best friend too. He couldn't deny that she was bossy, had a big mouth that didn't know when to shut up, and she was a bit egocentric, but she was still his best friend. But, Blaine was... He was more than just a best friend. He was like a part of Kurt, and Kurt knew he was a part of Blaine. That's just how it always had been, since the first time they played dolls together in Rachel Berry's room.
"Kurt? Blaine? We're ready to start loading up if you guys are done packing!"
Leroy's voice sounded through the house, and Blaine buried his face deeper into Kurt's neck.
"I don't wanna go," Blaine mumbled into Kurt's shoulder, his voice muffled. Kurt sighed, rubbing Blaine's back.
"I know you don't, but come on. It's a hell of a lot better than McKinley. You even get your own room this year," Kurt said, trying to cheer Blaine up. It wasn't working.
"I already have that here," Blaine said blankly, and Kurt closed his eyes. He leaned in, his lips grazing Blaine's forehead.
"Come on, we need to help your dad's pack everything up," Kurt mumbled, getting up and making sure not to hit his head on the window sill like he had a lot back when they were just starting to build blanket forts there. He paused, looking at Blaine expectantly. When he didn't even move a bit, Kurt let out a frustrated sigh-growl.
"Blaine Everett Anderson, you are not going to make me break down crying today, because I swear, red splotchy skin and watery eyes do not go with this outfit," Kurt snapped, without any real venom in his voice. He let out his hand for Blaine to grab onto, and waited.
Right when he thought he'd have to pull Blaine up by himself, Blaine reached for his hand, jumping up and narrowly missing hitting his head.
"Come on, I'll take the suitcases, and you can take the gigantic pile of boxes," Kurt said with a weak smile, and Blaine nodded. Picking up two of the suitcases with ease (Blaine, of course, was quite possibly the only person in Lima with vintage square shaped suitcases), he started toward the door, before Blaine suddenly stopped him short, pulling him into a hug.
The suitcases dropped onto the floor, and Kurt was pulled aback from just how tightly Blaine was clinging on to him. He wrapped his arms around Blaine in response, his own embrace a bit cozier than normal.
He felt Blaine tremble under him, and could only choke back a small whimper when he realized Blaine was crying.
"S-stop crying Blaine," Kurt choked out, taking deep breaths to make sure he didn't cry. "Come on, we have the car ride, and weekends, and breaks-"
Blaine let out a small strangled noise, before whispering, "You're the bestest friend I've ever had, Kurt."
Oh, that is not fair, Kurt thought to himself as tears began to roll down his cheek. He swallowed down a sob, before clutching onto Blaine even tighter. "You're the bestest friend I've ever had, Blaine."
Blaine pulled away first, and began wiping at his eyes with a small laugh.
"Wow, I'm cheesy."
Kurt laughed too, wiping at his cheeks and gently brushing his fingertips against his bottom lashes.
"Hey, I say it first, and I am not cheesy."
Blaine rolled his eyes but smiled, sniffing and picking up the boxes he must have dropped when he had hugged Kurt. Kurt rolled his eyes back, picking up the suitcases from the floor.
"Guys? Come on, you can not still be packing!"
Kurt looked out the door frame, before laughing.
"Come on, your carriage awaits," He said, and Blaine smiled weakly.
"Wait till the guys on my floor realize how much of a Disney fanatic I am."
"Let's hope they don't," Kurt said blandly, cracking a smile when Blaine made a face that made him look like a hurt puppy. He could get through this; they could get through this.
They had to.
I know, it's a bit of a short chapter. But, the next chapter literally consists of snippets of the rest of the year and the summer, and then we get into s1 events from Glee. Yay, now I have to follow canonical story plots. Haha, we'll see how it works out. Thanks for reading~