A/N: Last chapter wasn't that long. I hope this one will be better. Please enjoy and make SURE to review! : D

EDIT: Sorry I couldn't get the story out on the 10th, but I haven't been able to write any lately. It SHOULD be out by the 13th. If not.... I apologize again.

Next chapter: May 13th

I don't really have chapter titles, but this chapter would totally be named "Soar". : D

It has been a week since Mercedes visited him. Although he didn't want to tell her what happened, he did. She choked back tears the entire time. He was already in tears when he told her. At the end she gave him a huge hug and although he wanted to reject it in fear that maybe something would happen to him, he didn't. It was Mercedes after all. He loved her. He gave her a huge hug back as they sobbed in each others arms. It strangely made Kurt feel much better and when she left the sickeningly feeling of being alone crept up on him. He felt scared without company now that he had confided in his best friend. He called his father in and for the first time Burt Hummel visited his son. They talked as well and Kurt, as if he was a 5 year old, told his father to stay with him. He needed someone now. He had thought being alone was good, but now all he wanted was someone to stay and talk with him. Someone to hug.

He returned to school that next Monday. The glee kids greeted him with open arms and he felt accepted for the first time in what seemed like ages. Everywhere he went Mercedes had his hand in hers. He was truly happy to see that people cared and he...began to smile. It was gradual, but he did. Since he had joined the cheerios, he had become friends with a few other gay males, two of which in particular who were still a little uncomfortable with their sexuality that he got along with well.

He was becoming more and more involved in school after his wounds became less. This was all to keep his mind off of the terrifying details of that night. He was so engulfed with work that he barely had time to think of anything else. It made him energetic, happier. He smiled often now, but when he was alone and sleeping, he would have constant nightmares. The plot would be the same, but the scenery would change and the men who had beaten him and done so many more things to him morphed into evil demons with protruding horns and vicious fangs. He tossed and turned every night, screaming bloody murder. His father would have to come down stairs to check on his son and after awhile, he told Kurt to move upstairs to the guest bedroom where, if need be, Burt could visit him and comfort him back to sleep. Neither Kurt nor Burt ever got a peaceful night's sleep and it was taking a toll on the constantly busy Kurt Hummeland his father who became a little sloppy with his repairing of cars. It was soon decided that every weekend Kurt would stay at Mercedes house as a vacation so when he fell asleep next to the girl, he would have someone there which gave him a sense of security. Mercedes was one of the strongest people he knew and it was really nice being with her.

A lot of things had changed for Kurt, however, despite the nightmares and the work load. He never talked to Finn, ever. He had once been in love with the quarterback however now it was different because Kurt no longer trusted him. It might have led to his healing process, but he had sworn on Quinn's un-born baby. (Not actually his). Not just that, but Puck never laid a hand on Kurt unless he was thrown into the dumpster. Puck helped the boy out and Kurt would just nod and walk away, feeling a little violated from being so roughly touched. He knew that Puck was just trying to help, but it was scary being grabbed and pulled out of the dumpster. Kurt wasn't used to it yet because Puck was the one who did that so often. All of the glee members basically knew that Kurt was beaten, they just didn't know how badly and how his psyche was affected. They noticed how much he had aged. If a 16-year-old could grow gray hairs, Kurt would have. They noticed the slight differences in Kurt's dressing, how his hair wasn't as perfect as it had been and instead of wearing, say, Chanel dress shoes (patent leather, shined by a professional shoe shiner) he wore a pair of plain Reeboks, probably costing about 30 dollars compared to his 150 dollar ones. His clothing was still quite Kurt, just not as flamboyant. This worried most a little, but they thought nothing of it because he was acting more and more like the fabulous and fierce Kurt Hummel who was, above all, proud of who he was.

Anymore, he thought his sexuality was a nuisance because he saw what could happen if you profess yourself to be different. He looked at girls, really looked at them. Mercedes for instance. She was pretty, withchocolate skin, soft and smooth with bright teeth and a fashion sense to match. However much he looked at her, he couldn't see anything and then he got tired and moved on. He looked at Santana. And he thought.... She's not bad looking, but he couldn't see anything. Wasn't he supposed to? He was a guy afterall....

Then he looked at Finn. Despite the fact that he really had fallen out of love with him, he still noticed how totally adorable he was. Even Puck looked okay.

Sometimes when Kurt was alone, he would think about serious things like why it was he existed for, and why he couldn't be like everyone else. He wished it was simple for him and that he could be like everyone else because that's how he thought now. He didn't used to, but he did anymore. He would talk to Mercedes about it, but she would say the same old thing: "Be yourself 'cause there ain't anyone like you". Yes, but, he didn't like it anymore.... He wanted to be Kurt Hummel, Mr. Normal.

So he tried it one day.

He went to the mall and bought a pair of Abercrombie jeans and a plain T-shirt. (Even though he was going to try to be normal, he still had to go to the place that was considered somewhat high-class). He wore a pair of plain black Chuck Taylors he had already owned. He went to school without the normal powder-and-foundation regimen and without even considering to fix his messy bed-head.

Mercedes gaped at his appearance.

"Oh, my God, boy, what in God's precious name have you done to yourself?"

He looked down to his shoes.

"Nothing."

"You look...normal. Like a normal, everyday high school boy. You have obviously done somethin' and it ain't the Kurt I know to wear Abercrombie t-shirts."

He shrugged and walked away. People watched him as he walked, really and truly shocked that he looked so...normal. Not Kurt.

"Whoa fa- I mean, Kurt. What the hell have you done to yourself?" asked Puck. Kurt spun to look at him, giving him a neutral stare.

"Nothing. Why do people ask this?"

"Because you don't look like some weird mannequin." He had his eyebrow cocked in confusion. Kurt shrugged and walked away from Puck.

Glee was even worse because Mr. Schue gave him strange looks along with the rest. Was it really that drastic and strange? He didn't like the constant stares, but they would have to get used to it because this was the new Kurt.

The next day after glee, Mercedes stopped him before he tried to walk out of the room.

"Kurt, the glee club including Mr. Schue has a song for you." She smiled. Finn pulled up a chair for the boy. Kurt sat down hesitantly. The glee club has sang to people because they needed a little pick-me up and he wondered what they were going to sing to him. For Finn and Quinn it was "Lean on Me". For Mr. Schue it was "My Life Would Suck Without You". He was a little anxious...he wasn't sure.

Music began playing. He wasn't sure what it was until Mercedes began to sing.

When they push, when they pull
Tell me can you hold on
When they say you should change
Can you lift your head high and stay strong

Will you give up, give in
When your heart's crying out "that is wrong"
Will you love you for you at the end of it all

Kurt watched them do their movements as he listened intently on the song they were singing, hearing every word completely. They choir harmonized behind Mercedes as she sung this beautiful song by Christina Aguilera.

Now in life there's gonna be times
When you're feeling low
And in your mind insecurities seem to take control
We start to look outside ourselves
For acceptance and approval
We keep forgetting that the one thing we should know is

Don't be scared
To fly alone
Find a path that is your own
Love will open every door

The boy already felt the tears welling up. He sniffed them back as he pursed his lips. He scanned the room to see everyone smiling and moving with the music.

See in your hands the world is yours
Don't hold back and always know
All the answers you will unfold
What are you waiting for
Spread your wings and soar

The choir vocalized the next little bit. They must have met elsewhere or after Kurt left after Glee the previous day. The dancing wasn't too well rehearsed, but the song was really good. Some of the boys had to have the sheet music, but other than that it was amazing and seemed almost professional.

The boy who wonders, is he good enough for them
Keep trying to please them all
But he just never seems to fit in
Then there's the girl who thinks she'll never ever be
Good enough for him
He's trying to change and
That's a game she'll never win

Mercedes watched him when she sung that. That was how Kurt felt at the moment. He placed a hand over his mouth to keep the sobs in from making a sound because now his eyes were streaming with the tears.

In life there will be times when you're feeling low
And in your mind insecurities seem to take control
We start to look outside ourselves
For acceptance and approval
We keep forgetting that one thing we should know is

Don't be scared
To fly alone
Find a path that is your own
Love will open every door

See in your hands the world is yours
Don't hold back and always know
All the answers they will unfold
What are you waiting for
Spread your wings and soar

Spread your wins and soar!

Mercedes sung the last line of the song by herself, belting it like Aguilera herself. Kurt couldn't wait to runup to her and hug her. He did, around the next, and she squeezed him back. The others joined in with a massive group hug--even Matt and Mike--some crying like Mercedes and Tina.

Kurt realized something. He was being a fool. He was only himself and if that meant that others were going to disprove, so be it. He was still scared, but with this club by his side, he really could soar.

A/N: I really hoped you enjoyed that! : D It's out two days early.

MAKE SURE TO REVIEW. REVIEW IT UP BABEHS!: DDDD Good, bad, whatever. Just do it. : D