Just a little note to let you all know...this chapter is going to tie in BIG time with both Wonderchild and the planned sequel (yes there are actually two of them) Wild Horses. So fair warning! Also..if you haven't read the hillarious Tasting the Rainbow and Aftertaste by Playing-Dead you sooo don't know what you are missing my Matt/Kurt lovers! Seriously hysterical stuff there! Thus ends my plug for awesome new Matt/Kurt fics!
"You ok man?" Mike asked, his voice laced with concern as he placed his hand on Matt's shoulder. "You look like you're going to puke."
"Good. Cause that's pretty much how I feel right now." Prior to this exact second, Matt had never really understood the kids who dreaded coming to school. Sure it wasn't his favorite way to spend the day but he was sure there were worse alternatives. But right now, Matt couldn't think of a single one. The doors of McKinley beckoned. And so did the prospect of the longest day of his life.
He wasn't an idiot. Despite Mike's assurances to the contrary, Matt knew that if people didn't know who he was last week, they sure as hell did now. Probably more than once the words "Oh that guy" were spoken as his face was finally found in the yearbook. He was well aware he had survived the social gauntlet that was McKinley because he was somewhat good in football and he kept a low, alright practically invisible, profile. And now that was gone.
As if to prove his point, a group of freshman girls passed them. The precise second they spotted him, what had been a loud conversation immediately became hushed whispers. Ten pairs of eyes stared, while trying to not be obvious about it. Mike rolled his eyes when Matt caught his glance. The girls were no more than two steps away when an exclaimed "Oh my God! That was so him!" carried over to them.
"Oh yeah, that's a good sign." Matt gulped nervously.
"Hey. They could totally have a crush on yours truly and were overwhelmed by being this close to greatness."
"Freshmen are nothing but annoying specs of humanity begging to be crushed. It's probably one of the only sane things Coach Sylvester ever said and it's true." Quinn announced calmly as she slid up to them.
"Quinn." Matt sighed happily. "Hey."
"Hey? That's all you have to say to me is hey?" Quinn huffed.
Matt rubbed the back of his neck, studying the cracked asphalt for the right words to say. Before he could even begin to formulate a thought, Quinn crashed into his side hugging him tight. She socked him lightly in the arm as he went to hug her back.
"If you ever make me worry about you like that again, I will kill you." She muffled against his chest. "I mean it. I'll kill you."
"I didn't think…"
"Tell me something not so blindingly obvious." Quinn cut him off with a smile. "Right now I'm just glad you're back. No guarantees this will last so don't push your luck."
"Yes Ma'am." Matt mock saluted her as she shoved him into moving towards the school doors. He didn't miss the wink Mike shot Quinn; he just chose to ignore it. Just like he was choosing to ignore the smirks they shot each other as his phone buzzed an incoming text message.
"What does Kurt have to say?" Quinn laughed as they made their way into the throngs of students. She held up a finger to stop the question she could see forming on his lips. "And of course it's Kurt. He and Mercedes are the only ones awake at this hour to text people."
"Well that and he's blushing." Mike teased.
"I am not." Matt retorted, flipping his phone closed. Ok it had been from Kurt but there was no sense in giving Mike and Quinn ammunition. He went to slip his phone back into his pocket but Mike snatched his phone out of his hand. After a brief dance where they almost took out a couple of gawking AV club members, Mike managed to pass the phone over to Quinn.
"Seriously give it back." Matt pleaded as Quinn flipped it open.
"Now Matt how can we be sure if this relationship is good enough for you? I mean you are new to this whole dating thing." Quinn teased as her eyes flitted over the screen. "Aww, he's wishing you luck. That's sweet."
"I asked Austin something you hated right? This is why you're torturing me?" Matt complained as he finally managed to grab the phone back from her.
"I'm not torturing you, you overgrown….."
Whatever comeback she was going to make died on Quinn's lips as they spotted Matt's locker. The crowd standing and pointing at it would normally be considered unusual but the word FAG spelled out on the door in bright red paint seemed to be a good reason for that reaction, Matt figured. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Mike clench his fist, almost waiting for someone to say a single syllable of that word. Quinn, bless her, seemed to snap into action first. Her spine stiffened and she fixed her best Ice Queen Bitch stare on to her features. "Oh big talent to read three letters." She announced loudly. "Although I bet it took four of you to figure that much out."
Seeing no one starting to move as the bell rang, she sneered at them. "Don't you actually need to be in class?"
It was either Quinn's insult, the barely concealed rage emanating from Mike, or maybe it was the fact all he could think to do was stand there and say nothing, but for some reason, apparently not getting a reaction out of the newest member of the gay brigade seemed to get the crowd moving. Matt shoved his thumb into his fist. Karofsky and Azimio. If it wasn't them, it was one of their cronies. Something this obvious had to come from a member of their pack. At least it wasn't a dumpster toss, but Matt had a feeling worse would be coming. No this was the opening act.
"We'll tell Figgins. Get the janitor to paint over it." Mike promised as Matt moved to twist the dial of his lock.
"And they'll do it tomorrow." Matt pointed out. "Or something else."
"Matt." Mr. Schue's voice cut through the crowd as their glee coach made their way towards them. If he actually saw the new graffiti, the teacher had the good grace to not mention it right now at least. And thankfully no one was stupid enough to continue to stare, point and whisper while a teacher was so close. Putting his hand on Matt's shoulder, Mr. Schue shot him a sympathetic smile. "Why don't you come with me? Ms. Pillsbury wants to talk with you."
At one point he had hoped to make it through his entire high school career without having to see Ms. Pillsbury. Not that he had anything against her personally, just nothing good had ever happened for a kid summoned to see her. Which was probably related to the whole glass wall thing. Really, Matt wondered not for the first time, whose brilliant idea was that? It really made her promise of confidentiality the most blatant lie on planet Earth.
"Matt." Ms. Pillsbury began, her soft voice trembling as it seemed to him it always did. She shot a look at Mr. Schue, who was seated in the chair next to him. "It's come to my attention that some changes have occurred in your personal circumstances."
Matt quirked an eyebrow upward. That was certainly one way to put it.
"And as such, as your guidance counselor I thought it was time we had a talk." She continued, grabbing at a brochure from the collection behind her; So You Came Out and Now You're Out: Gay and Homeless. Matt had to admit he was impressed as he held the heavy cardstock in his hand. There really was a brochure for everything.
"Thanks, Ms. Pillsbury but I'm ok. I've moved in with Mike Chang and everything will be ok" He protested, putting the brochure back on the desk.
Mr. Schue and Ms. Pillsbury exchanged another look between them. "Look Matt, I know this can't be easy on you" Mr. Schue began. "I can't imagine this is the way you imagined telling everyone."
"It's not but I'm ok. Really." Or at least he would be when he got out of here and back to class. He knew they meant well, he did, but this was not helping. This was just going to make things worse. The last thing he needed to have a big discussion on how this was so not anything he had been ready to deal with in an office where any slacker skipping class could walk by and see him.
"Maybe I can talk with your parents." Ms. Pillsbury offered. "We can do some family counseling sessions here. I'd be happy to meet them whenever it's convenient for them."
Oh yeah, that wouldn't just add fuel to the gossip mill. He shook his head vigorously. "Yeah, thanks for the thought but I don't think they would be willing to come. They're pretty set on counseling with our priest."
"If you want, I could come with you." Mr. Schue offered. "Or you could meet with Ms. Pillsbury one on one?"
"Or that." Ms. Pillsbury nodded her head quickly. "We can do that if you want."
"I'd rather not. No offense but I'm fine. I'll be fine." Matt protested.
"Matt, I know you have some very supportive friends and that's great. But you are going through a lot right now and I think you need someone a little older than a high school junior to talk to. So I'm going to schedule you to come in once a week to see me. At least until you have a more solid footing." Ms. Pillsbury took out her schedule book and began to write his name down on a square. "Will, you don't mind if I borrow him during your class do you?"
"Not at all." Mr. Schue shook his head before looking at Matt. "On the off chance we cover something you don't already know, I'm sure you'll have no trouble catching up."
Under normal circumstances, Matt would have smiled at the praise. Now all he did was shift in his seat. Could this just be over with already? He didn't need to be told yet again this was his parents' problem, not his. The words were meant to help, but they didn't. They really didn't. All they did was remind him that his parents had rejected him. What he needed to do was concentrate on getting a plan together and move forward. His immediate issue about where to live was solved thanks to the Changs. Now he just needed to formulate a school survival plan because a little locker decoration was just the tip of that iceberg. Looking back and wallowing in his feelings wasn't going to solve this at all. He needed to look forward. That was his only option right now.
The past was gone. History. He was in charge of his future, as some annoying inspirational poster he saw in a doctor's office once had reminded him. Matt could tell by the looks on the teachers' faces around him these counseling sessions weren't optional. Fine. He'd go. At least until he could argue he had a plan. But he wasn't going to like it.