August 29th, 2011
Kurt threw himself down on his bed in frustration. He re-played the day's events over and over in his head, trying to figure out where it had all gone so wrong. Things had started out with so much promise. He'd had a wonderful date with Blaine and he'd been so sure that they'd been connecting on an emotional level. When had he messed up? Kurt was sure that he had because every time he pictured Blaine's face he could see the exact instant he had closed down, switching from puppy like enthusiasm to impenetrable fortress. What he couldn't see were his own expressions.
Kurt knew very well that he used his facade of superiority as a defense. Mercedes claimed that he had an 'I'm judging you' expression but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't duplicate it in the mirror. Had he really been judging Blaine? Maybe he had; he'd been so shocked and surprised by his crude behavior and language. Kurt didn't know which was worse - the fact that Blaine thought he was the kind of boy who put out on the first date or the fact that he probably would have if Blaine had been a little more patient and shown the slightest clue or hint of romance.
Then there was the matter of that sleaze Jesse St. James. Kurt had googled him and discovered that he'd been the lead singer of Vocal Adrenaline. Kurt knew he had no right to have expected Blaine to be chaste over the Summer but after spending hours reconnecting before Blaine had left for St, Louis, he'd hoped Blaine had spent the Summer thinking about him. He knew it was hopelessly romantic of him. After all, Blaine had dated a boy for eight months who had not only not loved him but had actually been completely in love with someone else. That had to have done some damage to his self esteem. Add a seriously dreamy older man offering a no strings attached Summer fling... Kurt knew very well from his experiences with Blaine-5 that Blaine had serious intimacy issues.
He wasn't one hundred percent sure but he was convinced that Blaine-6 had the same Sadie Hawkins dance experience as Blaine-5 and the same problems with accepting that it was safe to love a boy. Kurt was not going to give up. He'd make Blaine his and teach him that he could be loved. If only he'd been less judgmental, they'd already be on the way to that but all was not lost. Kurt would see Blaine at school everyday and he had the advantage of knowing Blaine better than Blaine knew Kurt.
Kurt dragged himself off of the bed and sat at his computer to browse for news. There was a long email from Thad detailing his move into his dorm. Kurt sent a quick reply that didn't reveal anything. There was an update to Nick's status with a link to a video so he clicked on it.
Nick and Jeff sat next to each other looking into the camera in a tight close up.
"So," started Nick, "since we won't be seeing you guys much, I though we'd start a vlog about our life here at Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Today was our first day and it was so totally awesome."
The video cut to footage of the campus grounds as Nick's voice continued. There were shots of elegant buildings and manicured landscaping with occasional smiling students waving to the camera.
"The school grounds are spectacular, the students are friendly, and Jeff and I get to live together. In addition to everything else that is so awesome about this school, I'm essentially going to get a year's head start on film making school and the best part is that is just a four hour drive to my dad's house."
The video cut back to Nick and Jeff.
"Well, that's the worst part for me," interrupted Jeff. "Being so far from my family but it's worth it. I'd be doing this next year for college any way so this is just a head start."
"Yeah, I'm going to miss your family too. And all of you Warblers.
Then there was a jump cut in the video.
"Tell them about us," prompted Jeff excitedly.
"What do you mean?" asked Nick causing Jeff to roll his eyes. "Oh, OK, so this happened," explained Nick pointing to Jeff then himself.
Jeff made an exasperated noise then grabbed Nick's face and pulled his boyfriend into a kiss. When he let go, he turned to the camera and winked.
"So this happened," Jeff explained with a grin.
"Yeah, we're together now in case you missed the very public announcement we made by changing our Facebook status," agreed blushing Nick.
"We are totally together," added Jeff. "Nick is my boyfriend now," he continued putting his arm possessively around Nick.
The video cut to a close up of just Nick as he finished the video with, "We're really going to miss all of our friends from Dalton but stay tuned for more updates as the year progresses!"
Well, that was interesting.
Kurt half halfheartedly browsed for updates from his other friends both from Dalton and McKinley before starting his night time moisturizing routine. His thoughts were still on Blaine as he drifted into a fitful slumber so it wasn't surprising that he dreamed of the boy. He dreamed that Blaine introduced himself on the stairs at Dalton, in the library after singing Teenage Dream, and at the first Warblers meeting when Kurt joined. The scenes raced through his head like memories from every universe where he'd met Blaine were bleeding through into his dream world. Blaine introduced himself over and over then the scenes began to flash by faster and without context. Blaine kissing Jeff. Kissing Jeremiah. Kissing Kurt. Kissing a boy that Kurt didn't know. Blaine kissing...himself? Blaine singing songs Kurt had never heard. Blaine dancing drunkenly somewhere Kurt couldn't place. Blaine with hair tamed in his dapper style, then unruly short curls, then longer wild frizzes... Give me sexy...I love you...I want to taste you... Blaine in a tux, in a preppy sweater, Blaine riding a motorcycle wearing a leather jacket.
August 30th, 2011
Kurt sat up in his bed trying to shake the confused images from his sleepy brain along with a non-specific dread in his gut. He had no idea which of those images if any had been real or if they'd all been generated by his over active imagination. He tried to regain his composure as he reached next to his bed and switched on the table lamp.
Oh fuck.
Kurt looked around the room with a mixture of panic and overwhelming horror. It was his worst nightmare and his first instinct was to believe it was a dream but he knew it wasn't. He wasn't in the same room that he'd fallen asleep in. Instead of his upstairs bedroom in the Hudmel's house, he was in his old basement room. In the house he'd grown up in - the one Burt had sold in the timelines where Burt and Carol had married in November. That meant that Kurt had leapt universes in his sleep and he had absolutely no idea how far.
He had to do what he always did - figure out what was going on in the universe that he'd landed in. He was in his old room but that wasn't surprising. Kurt looked around and took in the details. The decor was familiar in style but he hadn't seen this particular arrangement and color scheme before. He redecorated so often that was a common occurrence. A trip to the closet yielded the similar results. Everything had his style but none of the individual pieces were familiar. He didn't see his Dalton uniform in the closet which gave him a temporary ping of anxiety. Had he simply gotten rid of it or had he never gone to Dalton?
Kurt got dressed for school and headed upstairs to scope things out. There was no sign of Carol or Finn. Burt had left him a note on the refrigerator indicating that he'd gone to work already so Kurt took the opportunity to check out his father's room. No women's clothing in the closet. Bad news; he wasn't married to Carol. He made his father some breakfast and headed over to the shop on his way to school.
"What's this?" Burt asked looking at the bag Kurt handed him.
"An egg white sandwich with organic whole wheat toast."
"Where's my usual breakfast?" grumbled Burt.
"That's a heart healthy breakfast, Dad."
"Yeah? I'd rather have a McGriddle or at least something with some meat on it."
"Dad? Are you kidding me? Do you know what bacon does to your heart?"
Burt snorted.
"I'm as healthy as a horse. You're always trying to sell me on this health nut crap. There ain't no proof that any of that organic stuff made anyone healthy. And it tastes like saw dust. I'd rather live a little."
Burt noticed Kurt's shocked face and softened toward his son.
"Hey, kiddo, thanks for the breakfast. I know you mean well. It's OK, I'm sure this will tide me over until I can send someone out for donuts.
He hasn't had a heart attack. Yet. It could happen any minute.
Kurt fought the urge to throw his arms around his dad and beg him to see a doctor. He knew it wouldn't do any good.
"I'll see you later, Dad. I need to get to school."
Burt put his hands on Kurt's shoulders and looked at him proudly.
"When did you get to be so tall? You're practically a man now. You're a senior now so live a little, OK? Break a few hearts," Burt teased with a wink.
"Dad!"
Kurt couldn't believe what he was hearing. As accepting as his dad had always been, he wasn't really comfortable with the idea of Kurt having a boyfriend. He certainly never teased Kurt so casually.
"What? You're a free agent. A handsome boy like you - I bet you could have any girl at McKinley. In fact, if you went out for the football team like I keep telling you to, you might snag one of those Cheerios. Yeah? I remember what it was like to be eighteen."
Kurt's jaw dropped. He was used to things being different but he hadn't expected this. He was still in the closet?
"Oh come on, don't act so shocked. Of course, I remember your birthday is less than a month away. I got something big planned. Now get out of here or I'll be hearing from the principle that you're late."
Kurt pulled into the parking lot of McKinley High, noticing that it wasn't any different at least. He got out of his car as a boy on a motorcycle pulled into a spot not far from him. When he pulled of his helmet, Kurt recognized him instantly. Blaine? Blaine-7 was the boy from his dream. The last one he'd seen before he woke up. How was that possible? Kurt watched in fascination as Blaine poured product in his hands and started working his hair to perfection using one of his side mirrors. When he was done, he stood, took a deep breath and tugged his leather jacket before striding forth confidently. Kurt knew the gesture all too well. It was Blaine's pre-performance ritual and the confidence was all an act. But a leather jacket? A motorcycle? It was all too weird.
Kurt walked along the sidewalk absentmindedly until he saw Puck and several football players standing near a dumpster. Kurt waved and smiled. He should have known better but it had been a while and Puck was his friend now. Or so he thought until the mohawked punk and his compatriots grabbed him.
No, no, no. I am not going into the dumpster today!
Kurt saw a nearby line where he was standing just beyond the dumpster and Brett was in the hoodlums' clutches about to take a dive. He leaped and looked back at the hapless boy as he landed in the garbage.
Sorry Brett. Better you than me.
Kurt continued on warily. He saw Quinn Fabray sashaying down the halls in her Cherrios uniform with Santana and Brittany trailing dutifully behind. The head cheerleader didn't even spare a glance in his direction. He got to his locker and for a moment wondered if he had the right one but it opened for him when he used the combination that he always used. Something that wouldn't change in any line - his mother's birthday. He checked the schedule taped to the back of his locker and grabbed his book. When he turned around, he saw Mercedes.
"Mercedes," he called, surprised that she hadn't already stopped to say hi.
"Oh no. Hell no!" she spat. "You don't get to act all friendly like nothing happened, Kurt. You broke my heart and the Summer break was not long enough to make me forget that. I know I have to see you every day and sing in Glee Club with you but I do not have to interact with you."
"But Cedes, you're my best friend," Kurt squeaked.
"I thought so too. That's the worst part, Kurt. We were more than a couple. We were best friends. I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world to be in love with my best friend." Mercedes leaned in with a fierce expression that scared the living day lights out of Kurt. She hissed in a low voice, "You used me. You could have told me that you're gay but instead you used me. I'll never forgive you for that. Never." With that she turned and stormed off leaving a stunned Kurt.
"This is the worst line, ever," Kurt muttered under his breath.
He made it through his classes with no more shocking revelations. Finn ignored him too but that was far from shocking compared to the fact that he was still in the closet and had been using Mercedes as a beard. In Spanish class, he watched Blaine sitting across the room openly playing games on his phone.
"Mr. Anderson," called Mr. Shue in an annoyed voice. "Do you have a problem? Do I need to take that phone away from you?"
"God, I hope not. Between your muddy pronunciation, crappy grammar, and snore inducing lesson plan, this game is the only thing keeping me sane."
"To the principles office now!" exclaimed Mr. Schuester.
"Thank you!" answer Blaine sincerely. He practically skipped to the door then turned and bowed to the class before exiting.
Santana sniggered and whispered in Spanish to Brittany who was sitting next to her.
"Do you have something you'd like to share, Ms. Lopez?"
"Nope," smirked the Latina. She'd just told Brittany that Mr. Shue was the worst Spanish teacher in the history of the school and that including cutting him some slack for being so white.
Kurt walked into glee practice and sat to the side by himself. He glance over at Mercedes but he didn't dare speak to her again. He couldn't really blame her - apparently he was a douche in this time line. He looked around and saw Tina, Artie, and Rachel. When Mr Shue arrived, Rachel jumped up and began enthusiastically, "Mr. Shue. Mr. Shue, I have some ideas for solos that I'd like to run by you."
Mr Schuester sat on a stool and shrugged with apathetic resignation.
"Whatever you want to sing, Rachel. It doesn't matter any way. Unless we get more members in the club, we'll never get to compete."
"Well..." Rachel started when Blaine sauntered into the room.
"Is this the Glee Club?" he asked with a condescending smirk. "Or did I accidentally walk into the rejects from the losers anonymous meeting?"
"Yes, this is the Glee Club," snapped Mr Shue. "Blaine, isn't it? Please don't tell me you're here to join."
"OK, I won't tell you," Blaine laughed as he said next to Kurt. "Hi, I'm Blaine," he said holding out his hand.
"I know," replied Kurt.
"Oh course you do, doll. My reputation proceeds me."
"We have several classes together, Blaine," Kurt replied wryly.
"Let's hear what you can do," demanded Rachel. "I could really use a male lead to sing with."
"Hey," complained Artie.
"Rapping doesn't count."
"I'm a guy," insisted Kurt.
"Countertenor," snapped Rachel.
"OK, Blaine, go ahead and audition. Or not. I really don't care," interjected Mr. Shue.
"Wow, why are you even here?" asked Blaine.
"None of your business. Just sing if you're going to."
"Is it OK if I play the piano? I don't having any sheet music for this so it's easier if I play myself."
"Knock yourself out, kid."
Kurt have expected him to sing Katy Perry or some other top forty that he'd done with the Warblers. Or given his new bad boy act, some rock number. Blaine took off his jacket and handed it to Kurt.
"Hold this for me?"
Kurt just nodded not trusting his voice. Blaine was wearing a short sleeved white t-shirt underneath. Kurt just stared at his arms and his chest in awe. He'd seen Blaine-5 naked and appreciated his body but Blaine-7 was...oh god, his arms. He clearly worked out. Kurt gathered from his attire - the white t-shit, the faded jeans, the leather jacket - that he was trying to appear butch or tough. The affect was somewhat ruined by the fact that he obviously ironed both the t-shirt and the jeans.
Blaine sat down and started playing a tune Kurt didn't recognize. Blaine's voice and the sweet tone was so at odds with his previous swagger and devil may care attitude. But then Kurt already knew that was all an act.
I've been alone
Surrounded by darkness
I've seen how heartless
The world can be
I've seen you crying
You felt like it's hopeless
I'll always do my best
To make you see
Baby, you're not alone
Cause you're here with me
And nothing's ever gonna bring us down
Cause nothing can keep me from lovin' you
And you know it's true
It don't matter what'll come to be
Our love is all we need to make it through
Now I know it ain't easy
But it ain't hard trying
Every time I see you smiling
And I feel you so close to me
And you tell me
Baby, you're not alone
Cause you're here with me
And nothing's ever gonna bring us down
Cause nothing can keep me from lovin' you
And you know it's true
It don't matter what'll come to be
Our love is all we need to make it through
I still have trouble
I trip and stumble
Trying to make sense of things sometimes
I look for reasons
But I don't need 'em
All I need is to look in your eyes
And I realize
Baby I'm not alone
Cause you're here with me
And nothing's ever gonna take us down
Cause nothing can keep me from lovin' you
And you know it's true
It don't matter what'll come to be
Our love is all we need to make it through
Cause you're here with me
And nothing's ever gonna bring us down
Cause nothing, nothing, nothing can keep me from lovin' you
And you know it's true
It don't matter what'll come to be
You know our love is all we need
Our love is all we need to make it through
When he finished he turned at looked at his audience. They looked back in stunned silence. After a few seconds, Rachel spoke first.
"You're really good," she said with awe. She walked over and sat next to him. "Finally. A duet partner! Would you like to sing a duet?"
"I'd love to!"
"Alright, we could sing Time of my Life or Don't You Want Me or..."
"How eighties of you," Blaine laughed. "No, I meant I'd like to sing a duet with Kurt."
"Why?" asked Rachel.
"Why not? Kurt, do you want to sing with me?"
"I'd love to. What do you suggest?"
"You pick then we'll see if I know it. I have a pretty board musical knowledge so I'm guessing that I will."
"Do you know As Long As You're Mine?"
Blaine looked as if he were trying to place the song for a few seconds then burst out laughing.
"Just kidding, of course I do!"
They sang the song together and even though Kurt hadn't thought it was possible to find anything about this line that he could even like, he fell in love with Blaine-7. The sexual tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Kurt was sure he didn't imagine the glint in Blaine's eye or the flirty way that he kept touching Kurt.
After the duet, the rag tag group whiled away the rest of the hour singing random songs as one or another of them suggested one.
"So Mr. Shue, do you have a plan for getting enough members to compete?" asked Blaine as the group was milling around about to call it a day.
"Does this really look like a show choir to you?"
Mr. Shue looked the worst Kurt had ever seen him. He had a sort of glassy eyed air of defeat about him and any hint of his earlier optimism and love of song seemed to have been ground down to nothing.
Kurt decided to speak up.
"We should try to get some of the football players and the Cheerios to join," he suggested. "I'm pretty sure that Quinn and Santana can sing."
"F f f football players?" stuttered Tina. "They sl sl slushie us everyday."
"Maybe if they were in Glee that might stop," Kurt tried.
"Dream on," muttered Artie as Tina wheeled him out of the room. Soon, Kurt and Blaine were alone. Kurt pretended to be gathering his things as Blaine sat at the piano not even bothering to cover the fact that he was waiting for Kurt.
"So," Blaine started when Kurt stood next to him. Blaine still didn't make a move to get up and leave so Kurt sat down on the piano bench next to him. "I'm gay...just in case you were wondering."
"I noticed," smirked Kurt.
"Really? What gave me away? My fabulous fashion sense?"
"You call that fashion? You look like a Grease extra. No, I think it was the way you stared at my ass when we were dancing."
"You call that dancing? I thought you were trying to sex me up but I'm not that kind of guy. I expect dinner and a movie first."
"A romantic, are you?"
Blaine smiled and looked up through his lashes as Kurt.
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
"What makes you think I'm gay?" teased Kurt
"The way you're flirting with me. And the fact that no one wears jeans that tight unless they want guys to stare at their ass."
Kurt tried to think of a biting comeback to that but it was too true to deny.
"I don't have a boyfriend," Kurt admitted.
"That seems unlikely. Even in Lima," Blaine replied slyly.
"I didn't say I'd never had a boyfriend; I'm just single now."
"What happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"To your boyfriend. How is a seriously smoking gay boy like you single?"
"I've had two, actually. I made a huge mistake and lost my first boyfriend," Kurt admitted in a dangerously honest moment. He didn't care if what he was saying didn't match this timeline. There was something about this boy that made him want to open up. There was an electricity between them as they sat so close but not actually touching.
"But you want him back," observed Blaine sadly.
"It's not possible."
"And boyfriend number two?"
"He went to college."
"An older man, huh? What and you didn't romantically declare that you'd wait for him as long as it took? No smoopy phone calls each night with both of you saying no you hang up, no you hang up?"
"I'm not in love with him. I never was. I love him, but just as a friend," Kurt said with a rawness that startled Blaine out of his teasing mood.
"Because you're in love with the first guy?"
"It doesn't matter," Kurt insisted trying to correct his mistake. He couldn't be telling Blaine-7 about Blaine-5; that just couldn't be a good idea.
"If you love him, why don't you go get him back?" persisted Blaine.
"I would never be able to find him," admitted Kurt.
"You mean you literally lost him like a misplaced set of keys?"
"I mean he moved away and I don't have any contact information." Kurt tried to focus back on the task at hand. Blaine-7 was sitting right in front of him all hot and flirty. He wasn't going to ruin this opportunity by being sentimental.
"Do you want to go out with me?" asked Blaine.
"Well, I don't know. We just met," Kurt teased while giving Blaine what he hoped was his best flirty glance.
"Not true," insisted Blaine. "We 'met' yesterday; don't you remember?" Blaine used air quotes around met so Kurt assumed that they had some sort of encounter that hadn't led to an actual introduction.
"Nope," Kurt laughed. "I guess it just wasn't that memorable."
"Oh, you wound me," Blaine exclaimed dramatically with his hand over his heart. "I joined glee club just be closer to you," he continued in the same tone.
"Shouldn't you try for a little coolness? Play hard to get?"
"No, that's your role. I'm to pursue you relentlessly."
"Really? I think I like that." Kurt gave Blaine a genuine smile. "I think I like you." Blaine kept looking at Kurt's lips like he wanted to kiss the boy and Kurt prepared himself for the onslaught of sensation that came with Blaine's searing kisses. It didn't come. Blaine just continued to smile at Kurt shyly so Kurt took the initiative and kissed him.
The kiss was surprisingly soft and tender. Blaine tilted his head and moved his lips against Kurt, mouth slightly parted but he kept it slow and sweet. His hand rested tentatively on Kurt's cheek as if he wanted to draw the boy in closer but was afraid of spooking him. Kurt drew back and said, "I'll go out with you."
Blaine looked down and blushed a little.
"Hasn't anyone told you that it's dangerous to kiss a boy at school?" Blaine said seriously still not looking up.
"You can't let them win, Blaine," Kurt replied fiercely.
Blaine looked up at him with and smiled crookedly.
"They already have," he said softly. "You probably shouldn't hang out with me. I'm not as nice as I seem at the moment."
"Don't go all Edward Cullen on me, Blaine. You already asked me out and promised to pursue me relentlessly."
Blaine chucked.
"That I did, didn't I? Foolish of me but something about you makes me feel reckless." Blaine fished his phone out of his pocket and handed it to Kurt. "Give me your info and I'll pick you up at seven."
"Tonight? But it's a school night."
Blaine shrugged.
"I'm sure you could skip all of your classes and still graduate top of your class here. I doubt you need to spend the evening studying."
Kurt put his phone number and address in Blaine's phone then handed it back.
"Seven it is," said as he stood to go. Kurt walked to the door and turned to look back at Blaine. He was staring at his phone with a sad expression that made Kurt wonder if he'd be stood up.
When he got home, Kurt searched for clues about the timeline. He found no evidence that he'd ever gone to Dalton. No emails from Thad or any of the Warblers. Besides Mercedes, who was angry with him, this Kurt didn't seem to have many friends either.
Blaine showed up at seven as promised and Burt answered the door. Kurt managed to interrupt before Blaine said anything too revealing.
"Dad, Blaine and I are going to hang out tonight so don't wait up, OK?" Kurt said trying to keep his voice casual.
"Sure, you boys have a good time. No drinking, Kurt. If you come back drunk, I'll have to confiscate your baby. Understand me?"
"No drinking, I promise. We're just going to hang out. Nothing wild."
"OK."
The boys were nearly out the door when Burt caught up with them apparently having thought of one more fatherly gem to share.
"Do you boys have condoms?"
"Dad!"
Blaine just smirked.
"Kurt, remember what I told you when we had that talk? You got a bright future ahead of you and it can all go down the toilet if you knock some girl up. Use protection every time. Swear to me that you have condoms in your pocket or you're not leaving the house."
"Mr. Hummel, don't worry. I promise that if Kurt has sex with a girl tonight that I'll personally make sure he puts a condom on first. You have my word, sir. Your boy is safe from that sort of female entrapment with me." Blaine's face was dead serious but Kurt had to bury his face in his hands to keep from laughing. He just hoped his father mistook it for embarrassment.
As they walked outside Kurt took his keys out of his pocket.
"No, we'll take my bike," insisted Blaine as he reached the bike and handed Kurt the spare helmet. Kurt looked skeptical. "Live a little. You'll love it," promised Blaine.
"It'll mess up my hair," grumbled Kurt as he reluctantly put it on.
Blaine laughed as he put his on and swung onto the bike.
"How does your dad not know that you gay?"
"I have no idea," admitted Kurt and he climbed on the bike and wrapped his arms around Blaine.