Chapter 26:

Kurt dropped his pen. He considered reading it again, but knew that, if he did, he would tear it up and throw it in the trash.

He had written a letter for his dad, knowing that he would leave very soon. At first he wanted to face his father while saying all that but he didn't have the strength to see his dad's reaction.

He had decided to leave Saturday morning, this way he would end the school week and say goodbye to everyone. Of course, he wouldn't tell them he was leaving, they would all try to prevent him from doing so and his dad would know for sure.

It was Thursday night, his bags were already packed and hidden inside of his closet for nobody to suspect anything. Mr Schue would feel awfully guilty, Kurt was certain of that, but he would write a word for him in the next letter.

Friday happened to be the longest day Kurt had ever lived. The knowing that he was going to see Puck the day after made it go slower every second. His friends had become used again to seeing him everyday and didn't suspect anything, for which he was glad. His first days at school after he came back were punctuated by gleeks talking to him into making him change his mind, it was quite annoying. The rumor of what happened when the jocks had attacked Puck and him had gone through each mouth the school counted and had generated different reactions. Mercedes had told him not to be sad, that obviously Puck had not changed as he thought he had and that he should just forget about this asshole. Santana was more certain that Puck was gay than ever and she informed as much people as she could.

Kurt didn't react to all of this, he had no idea what everyone knew and was aware of how true events could turn into fooleries after being modified by everyone. He tried to shut the rumor concerning Puck because, even though Puck didn't seem to care being outed to the whole Lima, Kurt knew that he would have to come back eventually and didn't want Puck to have to face everyone's stares while he would have to go through the trial.

He hadn't told Puck he was going back to San Francisco, he wanted to surprise him. He didn't manage to sleep that night, he was too eager to reach slumbers. He spent the night tossing and turning in his bed, thinking about the following day;

When Saturday morning appeared Kurt took the letter out of his desk drawer and dropped it on his bed. He then took his bag and went out of the house the same way Puck had two weeks and a half before. He walked to the bus station joyful, there was almost no one in the streets except for the early morning workers. Kurt had always loved to be up at dawn, everything looked beautiful and new for once. But in Lima everything was gray and cold.

When he reached the bus station it was too early for the bus to arrive so he sat there waiting.

"Goin' somewhere ?" Kurt turned his head to find Karofsky approaching him.

"What the hell are you doing here ? I don't want to see you !" Kurt told the jock coldly.

"I thought I had already been clear on the point that you weren't gonna leave."

"You've been clear enough for making me want to leave even more thank you." Kurt answered sharply.

"You're not leaving Kurt, you're staying here with me I've been waiting here since yesterday when I saw how you said goodbye to that black chick. See ? I know you very well."

"You're just a creepy psycho to me Karofsky, you can tell me whatever you want I'm leaving anyway so stop wasting your time and fuck off." Kurt was pissed off, he never swore, but really Karofsky didn't leave him much choice.

However, the jock didn't seem to be giving up this soon, he walked closer to Kurt until he was just in front of him.

" I don't wanna get angry at you once more but you're not making it easy, just stand up and come with me."

"I'd never go with you, if you don't want to get mad at me just leave me alone." Karofsky's face turned angry, he grabbed Kurt by the collar and lifted him so that he was standing up on his feet. "Take off me you freak !" Kurt shouted.

"You're rejoining Puckerman ain't you ?" Karofsky asked his free fist clenched.

"Yes I am and he wasn't lying when he said that he had turned crazy so you'd better not mess with me if you don't want him to punch you, he already beat up my ex boyfriend, it wasn't nice to see." Kurt made it up quickly, hopeful that Karofsky was afraid of Puck.

"So you don't have a boyfriend anymore ?" The question startled Kurt.

"I'll never be your damn boyfriend Karofsky so stop it ! And yes I do have a boyfriend."

"You're being pathetic ! Puckerman doesn't want you he made it clear but I do want you." That statement achieved to irritate Kurt.

"Yes Noah wants me and he's my boyfriend, now you know that you can go to hell and leave me alone because even if you were the last guy on earth I wouldn't touch you with a ten foot pole." Kurt instantly regretted telling that. He just outed Puck. He just admitted that he was his boyfriend.

Karofsky was now infuriated. He threw Kurt on the floor.

"You're lying ! He doesn't want you ! He thinks you're a freak ! He didn't even want to kiss you !" Karofsky kicked Kurt in the ribs, which appeared to be terribly painful. Yet Kurt wouldn't show it.

"Because you really think he would obey you ? He's far better of a man than you'll ever be !" Kurt managed to shout despite his sore ribs.

" I don't fuckin' believe you and anyway you're staying here far from this asshole !" Karofsky punched Kurt and kicked him again.

"Don't you insult him ! I'll be with him in a few hours and won't ever think of you !" Kurt shouted.

"Stop it now !" A man shouted at Karofsky. He pushed Karofsky off of Kurt and helped the boy to stand up.

Kurt hadn't noticed that the bus had arrived and it was the bus driver who was helping him.

"You need to go to the hospital young boy." Kurt shook his head.

"No, I'm okay, and I need to take this bus anyway."

"You ain't goin' anywhere ! You're staying ! You won't see him again !" Karofsky struggled to reach Kurt's arm.

"Shut the hell up and fuck off !" The bus driver shouted at Karofsky before helping Kurt to get in the bus. "Are you okay son ?" He asked looking concerned.

"Yes, thanks a lot, I didn't know how to get rid of him."

The ride was not pleasant at all, every time there were holes on the road Kurt felt his ribs aching. The bus driver managed to ride smoothly but it still hurt. The passengers had seen what had happened and some people helped Kurt to clean his face. There was nothing too do for his ribs though, so Kurt resolved to go to the hospital once in SF to get at least some painkillers.

Dad,

I'm gone again. I already told you I would but I hope I didn't let you hope I would stay by not leaving the same time as Noah.

I would have liked to tell it all to you but I couldn't face your disappointment so I write this letter. I was staying to make sure that you were going fine, you're not at the top of your health but I know that Carole will take good care of you.

I feel sorry for leaving you again but I needed to be with Noah. Now that you know where we stand you can understand that I couldn't stay away from him after what we lived together.

I know you won't be alone, you have a family to take care of now and you know that I can take care of myself.

You don't have to worry for me dad, I'll be at the same place as before and I couldn't feel safer than there. I know you were worried about my ex boyfriend but he doesn't live with us anymore and when he came to apologize, Noah told me that he punched him in the face so I don't think he will be back.

I love you. Take care of you dad.

Kurt.

There was a tear on the letter when Burt had found it. He knew it must have been hard for Kurt to write it but it was even harder to read it. His son was gone again he didn't know where.

At least, this time he knew there was someone to take care of him and to protect him. He had never trusted Puckerman in his life, but now, after seeing the two boys together, holding hands in hard times and being there for each other, Burt knew that neither of them would end up alone.