This chapter is sort a beast, length and plot wise. I really hope you like it! It's quite heavy on developments.
GLEE
"Daddy! You forgot your lunch."
Burt looked up from under the hood of the car he was working on to see Kurt and Quinn walking to him, Quinn waving a brown paper bag.
"Thanks, sweetie," said Burt, grabbing the bag and looking inside. "Wait - what even is this?"
"It's a veggie wrap," said Kurt proudly. "I made us all one for lunch today. There's also an apple and a bottle of V8 in there."
"What am I going to eat for lunch? This is a snack, kid," grumbled Burt, setting the bag down on the table.
"I've told you that you have to start eating healthier," said Kurt with a frown. Burt continued to grumble back at him.
"Anyway," said Quinn, rolling her eyes. "Besides dropping off your lunch, Kurt and I wanted to tell you that we won't make dinner tonight. Rachel invited us with her dads to Columbus to see this Sing-Along Sound of Music thing. Kurt insists it's crazy I've never seen it before, and Rachel almost fainted when I told her the same. We should be back before midnight, of course," said Quinn.
"It's Friday," said Burt with a frown.
"Yes," said Quinn, blinking. "We wouldn't be going on a school night, of course…"
"It's Family Dinner Friday, Quinn," said Burt shortly. "We can't miss that."
"But dad."
"No, Quinn," said Burt, putting his foot down. "You kids are teenagers and I get that you want to spend time with your friends, but if we don't plan time together, we don't actually see each other. You two are always so busy with Glee and Cheerio practice, I'm lucky to see you guys passing through the house on week days - and then you're always out with friends on the weekends. Friday is family night, it has been since your mom and I took you home from the hospital."
"Dad, I'm an adult," said Quinn angrily, and Kurt watched the exchange with wide eyes. "I think I can decide if I want to go to Columbus or not. One Friday isn't going to matter."
"You are not an adult," said Burt tersely. "You aren't 18. Quinn, when you have a family and are a parent, you'll understand how precious time with your kids can be, and if something gets in the way of that -"
"I am a parent!" exploded Quinn. "I'm a mother! I've had a baby, incase you missed it! I think that makes me an adult."
Burt's steely stare was fixed on Quinn, who was breathing heavily from her outburst. "You might have had a baby, Lucy, but that doesn't make you a mother. Taking care of a child from the day it's born until the day you die makes you a mother. It certainly didn't make you any more mature or adult-like."
"Don't call me that!" whispered Quinn harshly.
Burt and Quinn were looked in an intense staring contest, neither saying a word.
"Burt, maybe we didn't go about this the right way," said Kurt with a sidelong glace at Quinn. "We should have asked permission, instead of assuming it…maybe we can bend the rules, this once? Quinn and I will promise to give this Saturday for family night or -"
"No, Kurt," said Burt firmly. "You're part of this family now and you know our Friday tradition. Yeah, maybe if you would have actually asked, I might've considered, but you didn't. You two can't go, end of discussion."
Quinn let out a frustrated scream and turned, stalking out of the garage. Kurt gave Burt a helpless glance.
"You might have been a little harsh on her," said Kurt quietly. "She beats herself up about Beth a lot, and how she can't be there for her. Maybe…I don't know."
"I wish her mother were here," said Burt suddenly. "She would know how to deal with her. God, kid, I don't know how to deal with a teenage girl. I'm a guy." Burt sighed heavily. "Sometimes I wish I had had a son…at least then I would have a level playing field sometimes."
"Unless he was gay, like me," Kurt tried to joke and Burt sighed. "I'll see you after school. Quinn will probably be at the silent treatment stage by then, but it should be better than the yelling."
"You'd think," said Burt. "Bye, kid."
Kurt walked out of the garage and around the corner to where they parked Quinn's car, almost running straight into Quinn. Her eyes were shining with tears.
"He wishes you were his son," said Quinn morosely. "Even with you being gay, he would rather have a son."
"That's not true, Quinn -"
"I heard him," said Quinn harshly.
"He doesn't mean it, Quinn," said Kurt, putting an arm around Quinn's shoulder and leading her to the car. "He just…is angry. You know how much he loves Friday nights. Your mother started it, right?"
"Yeah, but still, he's being completely unreasonable." Quinn pouted. Kurt sighed and held out his hand for the car keys; Quinn was much too emotional to drive right now. She handed them over without a sound and then stalked over to the passenger seat.
The ride to school was completely silent, besides the radio playing in the background quietly. Kurt parked in their parking spot and shut off the car. They sat there for a long moment.
"You're not going to tell anyone my name is Lucy, right?" said Quinn in a very quiet voice - scared, even.
Kurt sighed and looked at Quinn. "Of course not, although I don't know why you're ashamed of that name. It's pretty."
Quinn stared at him for a long moment and then turned away, opening the car door and quickly taking off for the school, the late bell already ringing. Kurt clenched his teeth and grabbed his bag, hurrying to his first class of the day.
Quinn was in her third class of the day and still stewing. She was trying to think of a way to go to this stupid Sound of Music thing. It didn't even matter she wasn't even looking forward to it that much in the first place. It was at least going to be some time out of Lima, where everyone didn't know her as the teenage mother, and some time with Rachel, too.
Everything she thought of was just…not working. She couldn't just go, though she wanted to. Sneaking out wouldn't be good, either, because she wouldn't make it to Columbus in time. Quinn sighed and looked down at her notebook in annoyance. She hadn't been taking any notes all period…
"I need to pull Quinn Hummel out of class," said a voice from the front of the class. Quinn looked up to see the guidance counselor, Ms. Pillsbery, standing next to her English teacher.
Quinn stood slowly and gathered her things, looking nervously at the older woman. She followed her out into the hallway and asked what was wrong.
"Let's continue to the office, Quinn," said Ms. Pillsberry nervously. "Will is going to bring Kurt there."
"Kurt?" asked Quinn sharply, stopping in place. "Why is he - what happened?"
"Come on, Quinn," insisted Mrs. Pillsberry and Quinn followed quickly.
Kurt was standing in Ms. Pillsberry's office next to Mr. Shuester, looking concerned. "What is it?" asked Kurt quickly. "Mr. Shue won't tell me."
"Quinn, Kurt," said Ms. Pillsberry in a small voice. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this but…Quinn, your father had a heart attack this morning."
Quinn stopped breathing. Kurt gasped softly and brought a hand to his mouth.
"Is he -"
"No. No, he's….he's at the hospital. They didn't tell me much," said Ms. Pillsberry softly.
"Take me to him," demanded Quinn.
"Quinn -"
"Take me to my dad!"
Mr. Shuester and Ms. Pillsberry exchanged a nervous glance, then nodded. "I'll tell Mr. Figgins that we're taking them to the hospital," she said. "And he'll stand in on your Spanish classes, I'm sure. Go to your car and I'll meet you all there."
Ten minutes later, they were on their way to the hospital. Kurt and Quinn were in the backseat, not speaking. No one in the car did. Mr. Shuester's grip on his steering wheel was enough to make his knuckles white and Quinn was clutching at her skirt with just as much force.
Kurt looked over and saw this, automatically sliding his hand over and placing it on top of Quinn's. At first, she refused to return the gesture, but then her other hand moved on top of Kurt's. No eye contact was exchanged and certainly no words.
Once at the hospital, there was a lot of waiting. They doctors didn't have any news for them, and for all they knew, Burt could be dead.
Kurt's eyes prickled uncomfortably at just the thought. He didn't want to sit down. He walked up and down the waiting room as Ms. Pillsberry and Mr. Shue sat on a couch and Quinn sat in a chair. Quinn looked the most uncomfortable. The last time she had been at a hospital, she had been in labor.
Over an hour later, a doctor emerged from a door and walked straight to him.
"Is he ok?" Kurt found the words tumbling from his mouth.
The doctor said something about stress on his heart and then lack of oxygen to his brain. How Burt was alive, but now comatose.
"I want to see him, now," said Quinn quietly.
"Me as well," said Kurt, stepping forward and putting an arm around Quinn.
"You're both his children, right?" asked the doctor.
"Yes," said Quinn quickly and Kurt spared one look and her and then nodded.
When they were lead into the small room and Kurt and Quinn saw Burt, they stopped short. He was pale and so, so frail looking in the hospital gown, laying against the stark white sheets. Quinn walked over and just stared down at him with wide eyes, tears already rolling down her face. Kurt kept his own at bay; he didn't like to cry in public much.
He remembered how his dad had told him, it must have been when Kurt was nine or ten, that boys don't cry. They are tough and strong, especially for their women. Women cry and men are the shoulder to cry on.
Kurt had just fallen off his bike. He had been bawling.
Since then, he made sure he was alone before crying.
Accept in the last year. Guards had been put down around the Hummel family, especially the night his mother had come over and basically washed her hands of him.
"I want some time alone," said Quinn, looking at Ms. Pillsberry and Mr. Shuester. "Please, leave," she said again when they hadn't moved.
Finally, it was just Kurt, Quinn and Burt. Quinn had sat down in a chair next to the hospital bed and was resting her head on Burt's chest, crying softly. She was muttering something and when Kurt got closer, he realized that she was repeating "I'm sorry" over and over.
Kurt walked to the other side of the bed and pulled up a chair. He just…stared for a long moment. Then he reached out tentatively and covered Burt's hand with his own. The tears that had been prickling his eyes for song long finally broke and he cried silently.
Please, he prayed. If there is a God, prove it now and bring Burt back. I can't lose a father again. Quinn can't lose her dad, not after all she's lost in her life.
Kurt's grip on Burt's hand tightened.
God, please.
Many, many hours later, Ms. Pillsberry drove Quinn's car to the hospital (after Mr. Shuester drove her back to the school) and then home. Carole was already waiting at the house when they got there. It was only a little surprising; Carole and Burt had been getting more serious lately.
When they walked inside, Carole pulled both of them into one of her hugs, and didn't say anything. Not an, "I'm sorry" or "It will be ok" because she knew there was nothing to be sorry for and she also knew that…she didn't know if it would be ok.
Kurt didn't want lies and thankfully Carole knew this.
Finn was there, too. He hugged Quinn tightly and squeezed Kurt's shoulder comfortingly, if a little awkwardly. He slept on the couch that night, which must have been horrible, considering how tall he is. Carole took Burt's room.
Sleep was not easy to come by. Halfway through the night, Kurt got out of bed and softly walked passed snoring Finn on the couch and to Quinn's room.
"You still awake?" he whispered into the darkness.
"Yes," came the immediate reply. Kurt knew she would be awake.
Kurt turned on the light. Quinn was sitting in her bed, knees pulled to her chest and face puffy. Kurt walked over and slide into bed next to her, pulling her close.
"I can't believe the last thing I said to him," said Quinn softly. "Was something horrible. Our last moments together were a fight." Quinn sniffled.
"Don't talk like that," muttered Kurt. "He's not dead. He can pull through. You just…you have to have faith." Even Kurt's own words sounded lame, even to himself. He wasn't sure what to believe right now.
First, God makes him gay. Then, he makes his family unable to accept him for being gay, along with most of his other followers. Then, the first time he has a family again, he's breaking it up again.
Maybe…maybe believing wasn't worth it.
Then, maybe it was the only think keeping him sane right now.
Kurt didn't know.
"I don't know if I can," cried Quinn.
"Me too," whispered Kurt. "But I'm gonna try."
"Ok," said Quinn softly.
After that, they fell into a restless sleep.
School was horrible.
While Glee club tried to be supportive, it didn't really work the way they planned. Everything people said hurt. They didn't understand what was happening right now; not completely. Even Mercedes promise to keep Burt in her prayers didn't help like Kurt thought it would.
Quinn was a complete mess. She was in the bathroom crying more often than not. Kurt ditched most of his classes to sit with her in the girl's restroom. Most girls walking in during class barely batted an eye at his presence.
"What am I suppose to do if he doesn't make it?" asked Quinn during the 5th period of the day.
"We go on living," said Kurt firmly. "I don't want him gone, either, but you know that I would do anything for you, Quinn. You and Burt have done so much…I'll make sure we're safe. Carole will, too." Kurt's eyes softened. "She loves Burt," he said in a matter of fact like tone.
"I know," said Quinn quietly. "He…he asked me last week how I would feel if…if he married her."
"Oh."
"Yeah." Quinn swallowed. "I think he asked me because…because of mom. I told him that he deserves to be happy."
"And he will be happy, once he wakes up and proposes to Carole." Kurt's grip on Quinn's hand tightened. "Burt can't leave us."
Us. How easy it was to say "us". More and more, it wasn't "the Hummels" it was Quinn, Burt and Kurt. All of them - one family.
Burt couldn't leave Kurt. He didn't need someone else leaving him. Not now.
The next week was tense. Quinn had red rimmed eyes all the time and Kurt was breaking down during school near the end, which he promised he would never do. It hurt to cry in front of anyone but Quinn - or Burt, but he wasn't exactly awake to see.
Despite how helpful Glee club thought they were being, they weren't. Kurt, especially, grew more and more cranky as the week progressed and his prayers remained unanswered. His famous Fabray temper finally sent him screaming at the Glee club on Friday morning, a week after Burt's heart attack and then storming out.
Quinn, of course, followed after him. They stood in an empty hallway, not talking. Just leaning against a wall, shoulders brushing against each other. After five minutes of silence, Kurt calmed down a bit and Quinn finally turned to him. "Do you want to ditch the rest of the day and go to the hospital?"
"Yes," Kurt answered immediately.
It wasn't hard to walk out of the school unnoticed. The hospital attendants didn't even say anything when they both signed in during the middle of the day on a school day.
"Hey, daddy," said Quinn quietly as she walked into the room, heading straight for his side, gripping his hand tightly.
"Burt," said Kurt, sitting next to him and slipping his own hand into his. "We decided that we should be together as a family," said Kurt, looking up at Quinn with downcast eyes. "Since it is Friday."
Quinn and Kurt were silent after that. They usually didn't talk that much when they were here, not even to Burt. It felt…wrong, somehow.
Many, many hours later, when Kurt couldn't take the silence anymore, he opened his mouth to speak, making Quinn jump from the sudden sound. "Burt, I really need you to wake up," he said, his eyes moistening rapidly. "Somehow, I still believe that God will do something to help you, I don't know." Kurt's voice broke. "But you have to fight for it, too. It can't just be left to faith right now. You need to pull out of this yourself, too." Kurt's grip tightened on Burt's hand and Quinn stared across from the bed at Kurt with wide, sparkling eyes.
"When I hold your hand, Burt, I'm home. When I hug Quinn, I'm home. More home than I have been in my entire life." Kurt closed his eyes as tears began to leak down his face. "But if you leave…it won't be like home ever again."
The silence in the room was deafening. Kurt sniffled and looked down at Burt. He was still motionless.
"Dad. Please, I need you," said Quinn in a tender tone. "I can't lose another parent. Not now. And neither can Kurt. I'm so, so sorry for what I said last week. I didn't mean it." Quinn sniffled. "I know I'm not an adult, yet. And I know I'm not a mother…."
Kurt looked up and saw Quinn's heartbroken face. She swallowed some of her tears. "I…I've been thinking about mom a lot this week. How she used to stay up with me at night when I was sick or scared of something in my room. How she picked out my clothes for me every morning and kissed me on the forehead when she was finished getting me ready. All the times she made dinner at night and slipped me an extra piece of cake sometimes. That…that's what made her a mother. All of it. Just…being there."
Quinn's face was drenched and her breath was coming out in short sounds. She swallowed again and tried to regain some composure. "I didn't know what you meant, how I wasn't really a mother. I mean, I am. I've had a child but…I won't be there for Beth. I won't dress her or cook her dinners or hold her when she's scared. That's what makes a mother….being there. I can't do that and I'm so, so sorry that I thought I was more than what I was."
Quinn reached up one of her hands and wiped her face roughly. Kurt reached into his bag and pulled out a hanky, passing it over without a word.
After Quinn had dried her face somewhat, she looked back at her dad, the hanky crumpled in her hand. "I don't know if I believe in God, daddy. I don't know if I can trust someone else to make you better…but I will believe in anything if it means you waking up and being with Kurt and I."
Quinn said nothing else, but continued to cry softly. Kurt watched the petite blonde with tired eyes. He sighed and looked down at Burt, getting lost in thought. What if nothing happened? It had been a week and no change…what if this was what their life would be like. And how much longer would they keep up like this, hoping and praying?
Suddenly, slight pressure roused Kurt from his thoughts. He looked down at Burt's hand, which Kurt held, daring not to believe….
There. He felt it again and - did his eyes deceive him - movement.
Quinn had stopped crying suddenly, her sniffles fading from the room. She had sat straight up in her chair, looking at her father's hand with an expression that Kurt's face was sure to match.
"Did you just -" said Quinn, her voice rough from crying.
"I did," said Kurt at once, not even letting her get the words out. He stood, still keeping a grip on Burt's hand and - another burst of pressure on Burt's end - called for the nurse frantically.
Kurt almost fell to the ground with relief when Burt finally opened his eyes.
It had been almost three weeks since Burt had woken up in the hospital after his heart attack. After many tests, he was allowed back home, but things had changed drastically around the Hummel home.
At first, Carole remained at the house the first two nights. Since she was a nurse, she helped Quinn and Kurt learn how to take care of anything Burt might need. After a few days, however, Kurt told her she should probably go back home at night and make sure that Finn (who had been staying on his own for a few days) hadn't burned down the house. She still came over once a day for Burt, though.
"I think they're the real thing," said Kurt quietly, as he and Quinn stood in the doorframe of the living room, watching Carole take Burt's blood pressure.
"I think so, too," whispered Quinn.
Kurt took to taking care of Burt with a gusto. He went through the kitchen the day before Burt came back from the hospital and removed all the junk food and high cholesterol food items from the pantries and refrigerator (though Quinn took all her favorite guilty pleasures down stairs to her room and saved them from the one way trip to the Hudsons' kitchen).
Kurt took over cooking duties, making sure to look up heart healthy recipes online. Burt complained a lot at first about the food, but was silenced with one look from Kurt and one big lecture that mostly summarized to: "If you don't start eating healthy right now, you're not going to be alive to see your daughter get married or play with your grandchildren. Now eat your soup and no, you can not have any salt on it."
Quinn, though, took to the nurse like duties that Carole showed her very quickly. She even told Kurt later that maybe being a nurse would be an interesting job. "I'm getting enough practice in my own home, now," she even joked.
Kurt thought that nursing fit Quinn. She was caring enough and could have a good bedside manner, he supposed.
Thankfully, Burt was regaining his strength quickly. He lost a lot of weight that needed to be lost and after three weeks went in for his stress test and passed it with flying colors, although they still warned him to not overwork himself, though he was ok to go back to work part time again.
Now that the stress of Burt being in a coma was off him, Kurt thought that things would be getting better. Burt had been growing healthier and things felt better, somehow.
Then, a few weeks after Burt's heart attack, school suddenly became a horrible place.
It started off slowly. Dave Karofsky, who was one of Kurt's regular bullies after he came out, suddenly escalated his hate, seemingly over night. He was suddenly pushing Kurt into lockers whenever he passed him in the hall and regularly slushing him. Slurs of all sorts were hissed at him by Karofsky as he was pushed and while Kurt usually ignored these acts, they were becoming so frequent, it was hard to do so.
Kurt continued to focus on getting Burt better, and not on the things with Karofsky. Quinn offered to do something - if both she and Kurt confronted Sue on the matter, he would probably be scared by the cheerleading Coach into obedience, but Kurt didn't want to do that. He honestly hated bringing adults into his bullying situation. He didn't want to worry anyone, and Quinn only noticed what was happening because she was usually with him in the hallways. Karofsky then started to push him around only when he was alone - and when he was with other people, he only acknowledged him with an angry sneer or glare.
He honestly didn't know what he did to the football player. It wasn't like he had just come out. It had been over a year and he never been this aggressive. What had Kurt done in the past month that caused Karofsky to react with so much…hate?
Kurt dealt with this problem the way he usually dealt with his problems: with silence. He hid this from most everyone, even Quinn, especially after she talked about going to Sue or even Mr. Figgins.
Besides everything going on with Burt and Karofsky, Glee club had just been sent a letter telling them who they would be up against at their Sectionals in a month and a half.
When they found out that they would be facing "The Hipsters", a bunch of old people getting their high school diplomas, and some private school glee club called "The Warblers", New Directions felt pretty confident - though they would never make the mistake of last year and be overly confident.
Then, in a move that almost made Kurt groan, Mr. Shuester announced the annual Boys vs. Girls competition. Kurt frowned and moved to where the boys had sat, giving Quinn and Mercedes a sad look. It wasn't that he hated the guys in Glee, it was just that he got along more with the girls. Even with Finn as…well, not an almost step brother, because Kurt wasn't even really related to the Hummels, he wasn't really close to any of them. They didn't have much in common, honestly.
Kurt stopped by Mr. Shuester's office later that day and suggested that maybe he should challenge the glee club a little bit more by making the girls do boys songs and boys to girls songs. "Because really, we all know that the boys are going to bring out some sort of 80's rock tune and the girls will pick something by either Beyonce or some bubble-gum pop girl group. That's barely a surprise or a challenge," Kurt scoffed.
Mr. Shuester looked thoughtful for a moment. "You might have a point there, Kurt…"
Kurt bit his lip and tried not to smile too much at these words.
The next day, Mr. Shuester announced the change and the boys groaned while the girls shrugged and took the news in stride.
After school that day, the boys planned to meet up and go over song choices, since their previous choices were useless now. On the way to Mr. Shuester's empty class room, that he was allowing them to use, Karofsky came out of nowhere and bumped Kurt into the locker painfully. Kurt had been mentally going over some Broadway songs that could be good for the competition and not paying attention.
When his back collided painfully with the metal lockers, Kurt suddenly saw red. The stupid, stupid Fabray temper abruptly flared and Kurt found himself turning and yelling at Karofsky's back. "Hey! Stop doing that, you idiot!"
Karofsky turned back and glared at Kurt, making a little bit of fear shoot through him. "Shut your face, homo, or I'll do it for you." Then he continued down the hallway at a faster pace.
Kurt stomped to Mr. Shuester's classroom and slammed his bag down on a desk, positively livid. He tried to push down his anger and began to pitch all his song choices to the rest of the glee guys - all of which were immediately vetoed or they hadn't even heard of, which really, was a travesty. Then they hated all his ideas for costuming - it wasn't like he was even suggesting anything that feminine! He just thought that since the theme was combining masculine and feminine, they could incorporate that into the costuming. Suits, of course, but in paler colors and smoother lines.
"Look, Fabray, we know that you probably have the most knowledge of chick songs," said Puck, who had his feet propped up on another desk. "But these suck. I could probably google something better. Why don't you like, leave this up to us and make yourself useful. Go spy on the Garglers or whatever."
"It's the Warblers, Puckerman," said Kurt, very, very irritated. It didn't help that his back was throbbing from being pushed into the locker earlier.
"Whatever," said Puck. "It's an all boys' school. I'm sure you'll be in heaven."
Kurt let out a small, frustrated scream and leaned down to grab his back and angrily slung it over his shoulder. "You're a pig, Puckerman."
"Why thank you, princess."
"Screw you," Kurt spat before storming out of the room.
Kurt was texting Quinn before he was even to the school parking lot.
Please get Mercedes or one of the other girls to drive you home. I have to take the car. The guys are being idiots.
A reply came just as he was starting the little red car.
You don't need to explain further. Sorry about that. 3 Talk to you at home.
Kurt pulled out of the parking lot, muttering darkly that he would go and see the Warblers and get so much dirt on them that then maybe the guys would see just how useful he was. He could find out their weakness or at least their style, something that could be helpful when planning a set list to beat them.
Eat that, Puckerman.
Kurt looked up directions to Dalton Academy on his iPhone and was quickly on his way.
It wasn't until he was pulling into the parking lot of the school that he realized how stupid and childish he was being.
How much had it hurt him and the rest of the club last year when Jesse St. James had spied on them for Vocal Adrenaline? How could Puck even suggest doing the same thing to another group that probably worked just as hard as New Directions - and how on earth could Kurt had listened to Puck's stupid suggestion?
Kurt could only blame it on his temper and his affinity for making snap judgments, because of that temper.
Kurt groaned and let his forehead fall on the steering wheel. He sat there, in the parking lot, for a few minutes and tried to clear his head. Then he looked up and looked around. The parking lot was mostly empty. It was after school hours, obviously. The Warblers were probably at practice…it would be too easy…
No.
Kurt drove the car out of the parking lot and back on the room. He was going back home, now.
Kurt was only about ten minutes away from the school when he spotted a coffee shop a block ahead. He was suddenly reminded of the stabbing in his stomach. It was a long ride to Westerville and Kurt really had to use the restroom. He also wouldn't mind drowning his sorrows in an afternoon mocha and maybe a muffin - since he didn't have anything like that around the house anymore.
So Kurt pulled into the coffee shop's parking lot and rushing inside, first stopping by the bathroom and then getting in line and ordering a non-fat mocha and a chocolate chip muffin that made his mouth water. Kurt brought his drink and muffin to a table near the back of the room and began to pick at his muffin slowly, trying to put off going home and facing Quinn, who would no doubt ask for details about how exactly the boys had been stupid earlier.
Kurt was halfway finished with his muffin and sipping at the frankly delicious mocha (he really needed to go out and get coffee more, since he wasn't allowing it in the house right now) when a voice began to speak across from him. Kurt looked up at a boy with slicked back hair, navy blazer jacket and crisp slacks.
"Hi there," the boy was saying and Kurt blinked up at him suddenly thinking: Huh, well he looks familiar.
"Sorry to bother you, but I noticed you from a few tables over…" said the boy with a small smile. "You look familiar. I was wondering if I know you from somewhere."
"Oh," said Kurt after a moment. "Well, you look familiar as well," he said. "I'm not sure from where, though."
"Nor am I," laughed the boy.
They didn't say anything for a long moment, then Kurt suddenly became flustered and motioned at the chair in front of him. "Why don't you sit. We can try and figure out how we know each other, I guess."
The boy grinned and nodded, pulling out a chair and setting his coffee on the table. "I'm Blaine Anderson, by the way," he said, holding out his hand to Kurt.
Kurt blinked once and then grabbed it with his, shaking it once. "I'm Kurt Fabray," he said shyly.
"See, that name isn't even familiar," laughed Blaine, dropping his hand and taking a sip of his coffee. "It's not common, either. I just…you face stands out. I know I know you."
Kurt's face grew hot. "Yes, well," he said, growing more flustered. "Blaine Anderson isn't familiar, either, I'm afraid." He offered the boy a smile that said, 'sorry'.
"Where do you go to school, then?" asked Blaine.
"Oh. I actually…I actually live in Lima," said Kurt. "So nowhere around here."
"What brings you all the way to Westerville?"
"Just…my friends being stupid. Well. Not my friends but. Yes, they were being stupid and I listened to them and drove here." Kurt sighed. "It's complicated."
Blaine chuckled. "Complicated," he repeated, grinning. Then his laugh was suddenly cut short. He leaned forward slightly. "Oh. Oh! I know where I know you now," he said.
Kurt's eyes widened. "Where?"
"It's just - it was at the beginning of the summer. I was at dinner with my family, at the place one block over, and I went to the restroom and…you were in the bathroom, crying." Blaine frowned and Kurt's heart leapt in his chest, because suddenly he remembered, too. The handsome boy who had asked him if he was alright. That was…that was they day that he officially became part of the Hummel family.
"Oh my god, I remember," breathed Kurt. He smiled. "You were sweet, to approach a crying boy in a public restroom."
"Yes, well, you looked so upset. But then…you were happy, too, which was strange. You said that 'it's complicated' and I guess that explained it," said Blaine. "At least explained it enough to a complete stranger."
Kurt nodded.
"You look…better," said Blaine. "I mean. You still look sort of sad, but at the same time, you seem happy. Or at least, content."
"I am content, I guess," said Kurt softly. "And sad…isn't the word. Angry, I guess. Temper runs in my family. My dad…yeah.""I know what you mean," said Blaine with a knowing grin. "You know, Kurt, I wondered for a while what made you cry, but what also made you so happy that night. It was…something you don't see in Westerville very often. I forgot about it after a few days, of course, but now I'm curious again." Blaine cocked his head and looked at Kurt with his wide, hazel eyes. "That is, if you feel comfortable…I mean, I guess I'm still a stranger."
Kurt really liked this guy. He was cute and he remembered Kurt from months ago. He seemed nice and was polite, but….Kurt couldn't.
"I'm sorry I…don't feel comfortable with that," said Kurt slowly and Blaine looked understanding. "Just yet," he added with a smile and Blaine got the meaning, because he smiled.
"I understand," said Blaine. "Maybe…maybe we can talk a bit? About other things?"
"I'd…I'd like that," said Kurt with a smile.
"So, what brings you to Westerville, exactly? Besides stupid sorta-friends?" asked Blaine.
"This stupid guy in my glee club told me to go spy on our competition," said Kurt with a frustrated sigh. "I got to the school before I realized how low that was - spying that is, especially since we were spied on last year - and was starting to drive back home when I decided to stop for coffee. I was having a bad day and just…wanted to prove him wrong."
"Oh," said Blaine. "Are you…this is going to sound strange, but are you from New Directions at McKinley High? That's in Lima, right?"
Kurt's heart jumped again. "Yes, actually."
"Oh."
"Wait. Oh my god," said Kurt, his eyes flickering down to the red crest of his jacket. It was a 'D'. For…Dalton Academy? "You're from the Warblers, aren't you?" he asked, wanting to bury his head in his hands in embarrassment.
"I am, actually," said Blaine with a smug grin. "I guess that means you are from New Directions."
"Yes," Kurt almost groaned.
"Don't feel bad," laughed Blaine. "I think the good thing is that you didn't actually spy on us today. You're honorable. That's good."
"I suppose," said Kurt. "But god, this is so embarrassing."
"I guess," laughed Blaine.
"You're not helping."
Blaine just laughed and took another sip of his coffee. "So. We're both in Glee club. That's funny. How long have you been in yours?"
"Since last year," sighed Kurt. "We're not exactly the most popular club in the school…actually, I think we might be the least popular, but it's not like I don't have an X drawn on my back already and Glee club is fun, although some of it's members can be infuriating."
"Really? The Warblers are like rockstars at Dalton," said Blaine absently and Kurt couldn't help but be surprised at that. The thought of a Glee club being popular? Weird. "What to you mean, an X on your back?"
Kurt's face burned and suddenly Kurt wondered if the conversation would meet its end. Obviously, Kurt was going to say he was gay and Blaine would act awkward and make an excuse to leave without being rude. Or he would skip all pretense, like the jocks at school, and just walk away.
"Oh. I'm gay," said Kurt hollowly. "I came out last year and…I'm the only one out at my school. It makes me…well, a target."
"A target?" echoed Blaine and - wow, he wasn't leaving yet.
"For bullying," elaborated Kurt.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Kurt," said Blaine with a frown. "I know how you feel. I was bullied at my old school. That's why I ended up going to Dalton, since they have a zero tolerance policy for that sort of thing."
"Why were you bullied?" asked Kurt in a soft voice because 'zero tolerance policy' was still echoing in his head.
Blaine gave him an odd look. "For being gay," he said after a moment and Kurt dropped the piece of muffin he was holding in his hand in surprise. "Yes, I'm gay too," said Blaine, the side of his mouth twisting up in a smirk.
"Oh! I just - you don't look - I mean, I'm not trying to be stereotypical and assume that everyone who's gay is - but I mean, I just -" Kurt made his mouth snap shut. "I've…never met another gay guy my age," he finally admitted.
"Really?" asked Blaine.
"Yes. I've met Rachel's dads - she's one of my friends and also in New Directions - but they're older and…I've never felt that close to them. They mean well and say they're open to talk to any time, but I just don't…want to? I don't know." Kurt sighed and went back to picking at his muffin.
"But you're being bullied?"
Kurt looked up. Blaine had a look of concern on his face.
"Yes," sighed Kurt. No use in denying it. Besides, he felt an odd sort of camaraderie with Blaine. They had been through the same things, in a way.
Though Kurt doubted that his family had kicked him out on the street the day he came out.
"Kurt…you shouldn't stand for that," said Blaine in all seriousness. "I know better than anyone that it's hard to make yourself stand up to the people that are always tearing you down but…you can refuse to be the victim."
Kurt let out the breath he was holding. "It doesn't seem that easy," said Kurt. "And lately, it's been this one guy that's been laying it on thick. Pushing me into lockers and calling me names. The other jocks only do that stuff once and a while. Mostly, the ignore me, or bully the glee club as a whole, not just me…but this guy, he's been bent on making my life hell."
Dang, Kurt's eyes were starting to water. He reached up and rubbed them. Blaine handed him a napkin and Kurt accepted it.
"I'm sorry. Despite the mess you saw in the restroom a few months ago, I don't usually cry in front of anyone but people I trust. I don't…I don't like to seem weak."
"Hey, no weakness here," said Blaine with a comforting smile. "Just know that you can really show this guy that what he's doing is wrong. Stand up and refuse to take it."
Kurt nodded and sighed. "Thanks," he said, almost shyly. "That's a lot for someone to unload. I've only just met you."
"Naw," said Blaine with a wide grin. "We've known each other since June, silly." Kurt laughed.
"Technically, I guess," he teased.
Blaine started to tell Kurt that he had been at Dalton for a year and a half and with the Warblers for just as long when Kurt's phone went off in his pocket. He pulled it out and apologized. It was a text from Burt.
Where r u? U usually text if ur gonna be late. School nite.
Kurt grimaced and looked at the time. It was after five.
"Who is it?" asked Blaine. "It's Burt. He's wondering where I am. It's later than I thought…" Kurt said absently.
"Burt?" asked Blaine with a raised eyebrow.
"He's, uh, my guardian," muttered Kurt.
"Oh."
"I should get going," said Kurt, standing awkwardly.
"Of course." Blaine stood and looked unsure of what to do next. "Can I have your number? I want to talk more, if you would be up for that. I'd be available if you have any more problems in school."
"That…that would be nice," said Kurt shyly. He handed over his phone and let Blaine put himself into his contacts, then he was given Blaine's phone and did the same.
"Text me if you need anything," said Blaine.
"Thank you," said Kurt. "It was…it was nice meeting you, Blaine."
"You mean, it was nice seeing me again," laughed Blaine.
Kurt laughed along and nodded. "Yes."
Kurt and Blaine parted and Kurt walked out to his car, feeling lighter, somehow.
TBC
Whoow. I covered all of Grilled Cheesus stuff and the (return) of Blaine! I didn't want to split it up too much and I thought it would be nice to have a long chapter.
Handling Grilled Cheesus stuff was different. Obviously, Kurt grew up religious, so I wanted a balance of him having faith, but also doubting (because that's what faith is, the days you believe and the days you doubt) especially during rough times. I hope you enjoyed it.
Feedback welcomed!