The day passes quickly, the time until I get to see Sam approaching at a rapid pace. My heart pangs when it realises that I'm walking to the choir room. My eyes sting, probably preparing themselves to look at his exquisite form. I'm surprised that I'm walking properly until it's made rather apparent that I'm not. Something definitely solid blocks my path and a feeling of fear washes over me as I predict to see Karofsky or Azimio when I look up.
"In a rush, Kurt?" The unusually soothing voice of Noah Puckerman sounds in my ears. I can relax again. I'm surprised I didn't fall down to be honest. Puck's chest is really hard.
"Damn, I'm sorry, Noah. I wasn't looking."
"Nah, it's cool. I thought you were going to bounce like a basketball, but you're sturdier than you seem. Thinking about Evans?"
What? "What?" I verbalise.
"Oh, I totally saw that hug you two shared. There were so many vibes and so much sexual tension that even I was getting a little hot." Puck says unashamedly.
"There's nothing between me and Sam." I say honestly. The truth upsets me a little though.
"Not yet, maybe, but I definitely saw the way you looked at him in Glee. That was pure love in your eyes. It's the way that Santana looks at Britt." I'm glad somebody else has noticed that.
"Maybe I'm attracted to him a little, Noah, but I'm afraid I can't do this right now. I'm late to meet S…someone."
"Sam, you mean?" Puck chuckles. "It's cool. We'll talk about this later. You can't hide your feelings from me, Kurt." At least he's calling me Kurt now. He walks away and I think about how much he's grown from simply shoving me into lockers and throwing me into the trash. The whole 'Beth' debacle must have seriously done a number on him for it to result in a vasectomy and a personality change.
I walk into the choir room and see Sam tinkering with the delicate keys of the piano.
"Do you play?" My voice causes him to jump, rather frantically from the stool, causing it to clash to the floor.
"Kurt! God, make some noise when you walk!" He snaps, clearly agitated. Oh shit, I didn't mean to scare him.
"I'm sorry, Sam, really." I apologise, almost earnestly. He looks at me sadly and shakes his head.
"No, Kurt, no need to apologise. I'm just a little jumpy after what happened before. I'm half expecting Karofsky to hit me over the head with a hockey stick." He half-laughs, unsure as to whether it is a sensitive topic.
"They won't hurt you, Sam. They choose people like me who can't fight back physically. They can't understand my words so I'm literally useless. I don't know how I've managed to cope for this long actually."
He picks the stool back up and places it neatly where he found it and sits back on it, facing me and the door this time. God, he's beautiful. I almost forgot how much I admired his face and bone structure. Those cheekbones…Focus, Kurt.
"What have they done to you? I need to know what I'm up against."
"Sam, this isn't your fight. You have no idea how much I owe you for saving my ass back there, but getting yourself involved isn't a wise idea. This is my hill to climb alone. I'm not trying to be a martyr, it's just the way it is. You'll survive at McKinley if you keep your distance from it all."
"You mean from you." He guesses.
"No, I didn't mean that. It would probably better your chances, but I don't want that. I guess that's the selfish part of me. I want to stay friends with you, Sam. But not if it means you getting hurt."
"No offence, but this isn't really about you. I mean, it is right now but it won't be. As soon as I come out, they'll branch out and target me too. I can handle them and so can you. We'll do it together." He promises. Finally! He admits his sexuality. My mind does a little happy dance while I catch up to his words.
"With more targets, they won't know where to go. I'll be their more familiar, weaker line of attack, but you'll be the cool jock that betrayed their brotherhood by coming out. They'll be torn and confused. We can do this." I decipher, feeling hope fill my chest, probably a little prematurely. Would the torture die down a little or cease to exist if Sam came out? Would it inspire the school to become more accepting if a jock revealed himself? Who knows?
"This really gets you down, doesn't it?"
I just nod, not wanting to go right into it all in the choir room. Maybe some other time?
"I can imagine. Well I'm here for you, Kurt. Speaking of, we should get going and work on our duet." Sam suggests wisely. I guess I'm just stalling until the jocks all leave or enter the weight training room so they don't throw things at me.
"Thank you. And yes, we should. Did you drive here this morning?"
"No, my mom dropped me off. She had to fill out some forms and things like that so she thought it was best."
"Cool, you can come back with me then. And I'll drop you off later if you want." I offer, being adorably generous.
"That sounds good to me! After you, sir."
"Why thank you."
I lead the way to my car, praying to Gaga that my new air fresheners have kicked in. I purchased some lavender scented fixings for my baby just so that she would keep her authenticity and also to mask the stench of post-practice Finn Hudson from it. That was not my decision to let him in there, but my Dad rules over everything.
And what I see when I reach my Navigator shouldn't shock me, but it does.
Written in what I'm presuming is permanent blood-red spray paint makes my blood boil.
KURT HUMMEL = DIRTY FAGGOT
"Bastards," Sam utters from beside me. "I'll find them, Kurt and I'll make sure they get their comeuppance, I swear."
"No need, Sam. It's fine." I can't help but sound downcast. My car is the one thing that they've never touched, probably out of respect of it being one of the finer vehicles in the lot, but Karofsky probably got agitated about me evading him twice in one day and had enough. At least the tires aren't slashed.
"This is not fine. When I see Karofsky, I'm going to ruin him."
"Please don't do anything reckless on my account."
"It's nothing I wouldn't do for anybody else. Honestly, it sounds like they deserve it for two years of messing with you. This ends now."
"Thank you." I say in a quiet, timid voice.
Author's Note: I know these chapters are short, but I can update more frequently. If you guys prefer less updates but longer chapters, say so in a review or PM and I'll adapt my style. Review!