Thank you all so much for your LOVELY messages and comments. I do try and reply back to things if I can! Sorry for the delay in updating, I've had my professional legal term one finals so it's been a BUSY week BUT I am free for Christmas now and ready to spend some down time... :)

I hope you are enjoying it- this one has less Blaine and Kurt direct interaction but it's something I felt needed to happen. The next chapter is pretty much all them :D TRYING to right the catastrophic cockup that was "Special Education" ... I mean, Chris was flawless as usual and Kurt killed every scene AND the Warblers are as fascinating as ever AND Darren's wonderful BUT the GLARING inconsistencies were so irritating. It was such a random and bi polar episode and I pray to god Mr Murphy sorts it out and gets Blaine back on track. *having faith* SO, some of this is kinda to remedy that but it'll be touched upon later. PLEASE ENJOY xxx

A week later

Kurt felt the nerves churning his stomach as he pleased Burt by nibbling at a breakfast snack. It's apricot and mango but to Kurt it may as well be cyanide and rat poison... it made him feel sick. He couldn't concentrate, his hands wringing at every chance. He never let it show though.

"How are you feeling about your first day?" Burt asked, eyeing his son from the side to spot any tell-tale signs of worry.

"Good. First days are always weird," Kurt said, his voice perky to perfection.

"Well, I want every detail later," Burt said, grabbing a cookie, "and I bet you have a great day, that school's going to be good for you kiddo, I just know it."

Kurt smiled, leaning over to take the cookie out of Burt's hand in one swift movement. "Thanks dad, means a lot," he replied sweetly, "but doesn't mean you get a free pass to eat that. Here... this is much better for you."

Kurt handed him a fruit bar which Burt poked and prodded as if it was an ignition valve. "Why did I get a kid who knows so much?"

Kurt laughed, placing his brown leather satchel over his shoulder and positioning in place with his blazer. "Guess you're lucky, eh?" he sang as he passed Burt, only stopping momentarily to plant a quick kiss on his cheek.

...

Ready for your first day in the lion's den? ;) B

Kurt smiled, shaking his head, as he slowly pulled out of his driveway and started onto the road. His mind, tangled and stressed, still couldn't shake the wonderful knowledge of how comfortable they'd gotten with each other recently. After his stay over with Blaine and a week's worth of pretty much constant contact, Kurt felt as if he had a true friend, one who doesn't judge, one who even isn't afraid to walk with Kurt down the street even if Kurt decides to choose to wear tight purple jeans and a blazer, complete with a bow tie so pink it hurts. Blaine's easy going, it's his charm and Kurt, well he's entirely under its spell.

The one thing he has learned is about Blaine's sneaky sense of humour, the teasing, the sarcasm and the way he can sound so serious even when he's talking rubbish. It's an art Kurt is sure has taken a while to perfect but one which, over time, Kurt has decided he likes most about Blaine. Plus he's smart, the kind of smart that isn't taught, it's inherent. He's serious too, which Kurt admires, but there's something hidden there, something behind Blaine's eyes that makes Kurt desperate to crawl inside and read his mind.

"Oh look who it is?" comes a voice behind him as he walked down the path towards the entrance of Dalton Academy.

He turned to find Wes sauntering up behind him, blazer a little unkempt and tie cooly loose, all topped off with a trademark smirk.

"I could say the same about you," Kurt replied confidently with a smile. It works.

"Oh man we're gonna get on, I can tell," Wes laughed, slapping Kurt on the back, "I just knew after last weekend that you'd fit in just fine."

Kurt frowned dramatically at the spot where Wes has just slapped and then planted his accusing eyes on the perputrator. It's a moment so defining in their relationship that Kurt had to laugh. Plus, the way Wes said 'fit in' made Kurt's heart swell more than it would other normal people.

"So, who've you got first period?" Wes asked, falling into step beside Kurt.

Pulling a perfectly folded note from his pocket, Kurt read, "Mr Peterson. What's he like?"

Wes scowled. "Yea, pretty much the school bastard. Not a great start. Who next?"

"Mr Madison?"

"Oh what? I've been trying to get into his classes for the past two years. He's awesome. Wears bow ties that'd kick your little collection into submission," Wes teased with a wink as they enter the hallway.

"Bet his aren't courtesy of Paul Smith," Kurt muttered under his breath.

"Who?" Wes replied before he wandered to a table to the right of the hallway to sign in.

Kurt could barely take it all in. Dalton being both beautiful, imposing, enchanting and serious all at once. People were milling around, all in blazers and ties, all so smart but with an air of freedom. Kurt had to admit, he missed wearing whatever the hell he liked but there was something comforting in the fact that the blazers are equalisers, guaranteed to help him fit in. He smiled and turned, wondering where Wes had gone. He suddenly felt very alone and unsure even in the comforting setting.

"Looking for someone?"

Kurt turned quickly. Of course, he thought, there's that white knight syndrome again. He was almost speechless though as he takes in Blaine's appearance. He hadn't seen him in uniform for a long time and it messed with his ability to breathe instantly. Blaine's hair was neat and tidy, his blazer perfectly pressed and his tie so straight that it's almost infuriating how pristine he looked. Kurt's mind wandered to only a matter of days ago when he sat sipping hot drinks with Blaine in a cable knit sweater, navy lounge pants and unruly curls. Kurt wasn't sure how he felt about this version of Blaine but regardless, he struggled with basic coherence.

"Kurt?"

He blinked out of his daydream instantly. "Hi!"

"You ok?"

Kurt smiled. "Never better. Pretty sure I'm the poorest kid here though."

Blaine rolled his eyes. "No way, half of these guys just know how to blag it, plus I've seen your labels.

Kurt frowned playfully. "I'm starting to realise you've got an answer to everything."

"Just part of my charm," Blaine replied with a quick wink as he spotted Wes. "Hey Wes, you're ok to sit with Kurt in Peterson's right?"

"Yea, sure, you can help me work out my plan to staple things to his head. Always passes the time."

Kurt laughed, noticing Blaine's half smile. It was fun and lighthearted but Kurt couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed.

"Awesome. Well, I guess I'll see you at lunch then?" Blaine asked, his eyes focused expectantly on Kurt who offered a frantic nod in reply.

As Blaine disappeared down the hallway, Kurt wasn't all too sure how he felt. It's a rush of emotion so confusing that he barely listened in class, barely focused during break and found it intensely difficult to make a single decision when in the lunch line.

It's all so rigid and structured and Kurt felt like a tiny metal ball in a maze being sent one place then moved to another all without any real grasp of his own. He knew it was better than a life of fear at McKinley but his heart wasn't quite settled. Dalton felt very different now that it was a reality and not a dream.

"Earth to Kurt?"

Kurt blinked awake again, mentally noting that was is the fourth time that'd happened all day.

"Oh sorry, different world."

Wes could see the kid's confusion, it wa painted like a confession all over his face and he got it, he saw it in all of the new kids.

"So Kurt," he started, sitting at a table in the grand dining hall with a kick of the wooden stool, "what do you like to do in your spare time?"

Kurt felt the slight shock at being asked such a question. Not being wholly used to having an interest shown, he stumbled on his first words before answering, "I love to sing, I love to dance and um, I guess I like fashion, Broadway, interior design and anything that keeps me busy."

"Blaine invited you to sing for The Warblers?" Wes asked, stabbing a carrot with his fork and smiling as he chewed.

"Oh, no he hasn't said anything specific. To be honest, I don't think he really knows I can sing yet."

"You any good," Wes pushed, smirking with the straw of his soda in his mouth. Kurt was mesmerised by the sheer amount of food and liquids being consumed before his eyes by one small human.

"I am actually," Kurt stated cooly before remembering where he was, "um, well what I mean is that I adore singing. It makes me happy and keeps me going. I used to sing in my old school's Glee Club when a certain other girl wasn't taking my chance for solos."

Wes chuckled. "Competition?"

"Oh yea," Kurt replied, shaking his head, "she's the very definition of the word. I don't know, I think we have this connection though, we're pretty similar in a lot of ways which I think is why we clashed so much. I'll always want to shove my scarf in her mouth to shut her up but she's spectacular when she performs. They all are ... my, um, my friends at McKinley."

Kurt felt a sadness pinch in a way he didn't expect. He looked down at his food, then down to his blazer and tie then finally up into Wes' eyes and he knew he was giving everything away.

Wes' look was searching. He could see the conflict written all over Kurt's face but before he could ask anything, the chair beside Kurt was pulled back and occupied.

"So, new kid, how was your first morning?" Kurt physically jumped, the motion of the neighbouring chair snapping him instantly out of his own head. Blaine raised his eyebrows in feigned shock. "Hey, you ok?"

Kurt felt suddenly dizzy, his head reeling and a dull ache forming across his forehead. He could barely look into Blaine's eyes and avoided Wes' at all costs. "I'm fine. I'm sorry," he started, standing up and piling his tray to one side of the table, "I'm just going to go get some air for a moment. Sorry."

Blaine watched as Kurt all but ran out of the hall.

"He's going to struggle," Wes stated, throwing a grape into his mouth.

Blaine frowned and shook his head. "No, he's going to do exactly the same as I did."

"Yea exactly, struggle."

Blaine let a wry smile taint his lips. "We all know what a mess I was before I came here and it took a while but I got used to this place, the rules, the way you have to think before you act and always consider someone else instead of focusing all on yourself. I was all about me and only me because it was all I could do to survive. Kurt is the same. I see it and I know how it feels."

Wes frowned. "Blaine, dude, you know I love you right... like a brother of course," Blaine scoffed and shook his head with a smile, "but you can't be everyone's knight on a trusty steed come to save the day. You've got your own life and shit to deal with."

"I know and I've got it under control. There's one thing I do know and that's how small and insignificant Kurt feels right now. I can't and won't sit back and let it happen to him. You've got to spend time with him... he's not shy, he's not timid and he's got serious spirit but he's had it beaten and exhausted out of him."

Wes studied his best friend's face, realising what a rare moment it was to see beyond the great facade of Blaine Thornton.

"I wanted, well, we all wanted to make sure you were ok, that's all."

Blaine nodded, feeling a swell of affection for his fellow Warblers. "I know and it means a lot but I know what I'm doing. Kurt needs a friend and he needs someone there for him because what he's doing isn't easy. This isn't his life, this is ours. He doesn't have a place here yet and coming from a school where you are taunted and kicked into submission with a desperate need to be cared for and understood, to a school where it's expected that you become part of the system and team ... he's just..."

"Lonely?" Wes offered.

"Exactly."

Wes stacked his tray on top of Kurt's and rested his head on his hands with a knowing smirk. "Yea well, I guess it doesn't hurt that he's almost your type to the last detail does it?"

Blaine almost choked on his food. "You go there and I swear I'll revert to old fashioned boarding rules... you're going to have to sleep with one eye open."

Wes laughed loudly. "I'll put it on ice."

"Keep it that way," Blaine forced with a humour-filled glare, "I mean it. I know you and I know David and George and Tom and Jack and all of the rest of you who would just love to meddle in my life but here's your warning. Do it and you die."

"Oooo fighting talk Yoda," Wes teased with a playful punch to Blaine's shoulder, knocking his straw from his mouth, "the fun we could have knocking our resident front man off his game and watching the fall out... with popcorn."

"I hate you," Blaine groaned, "go bother David."

Wes stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder, and smiled. "You couldn't hate me if you tried oh wise one," he laughed out as he walked past Blaine, letting his hand offer an impromptu ruffle of Blaine's perfectly positioned hair.