A/N: Just a note to say that if words are bolded then that's sign language. If it not bolded with quotations then someone is just talking. Enjoy!
Kurt wakes up with a startle as he feels his bed shaking. His alarm is going off, signally a new beginning at a new school as he begins high school. Kurt isn't too excited though. He knows that nothing is going to change. The kids who bullied him throughout his life are going to be at the same school with him joining the other bullies who already attend McKinley High. To make matters worse, his dad has hired an interpreter to be present at each one of his classes to make things easier on him. Kurt is thankful, of course. It's a lot easier to learn the material as its being said to you rather than sitting aimlessly in class trying to follow the pre-made notes. Kurt can't shake the feeling, however, that now he's going to be even more of a target. Maybe for a little while he could leave people who don't know him with the impression that he was a just a quiet kid, but with an interpreter, they will know immediately.
Now, Kurt isn't ashamed of being deaf. He knows that this is just his life, and has learned to accept it. Acceptance doesn't necessarily mean that he doesn't miss hearing his father's voice, singing his favorite songs, or just hear the rain pounding on the windows. Kurt sometimes gets jealous of his classmates. It's easier to make friends when you know how to communicate. He sees his peers mouths move rapidly and sees the laughter from another student in the conversation. Kurt can't have that with anyone other than his dad. His dad is great and all, but he wants friends his own age. Kids find out he's deaf and immediately they stop trying altogether to get to know him. It's frustrating and lonely. Although Kurt does realize some of his loneliness is his doing. He stopped making an effort long ago to isolate himself away from the harm of others, and at the end of the day, escape into his music. He may not hear the music he produces, but he can feel it and it makes him feel at peace. No one can take away his music; it's the only thing aside from his dad that always brings him happiness. Kurt knows that he must participate in the real world and leave his music and his dad, but it doesn't mean he wants to. Although, knowing he has a good home to came back to after a rough day, gives Kurt the strength to get out of bed and prepare for his first day of high school. No matter how much he's dreading it, he's going to finish the day with his head held high…at least Kurt hopes he does.
Kurt changes into the new clothes he laid out the night before for his first day of school. He does his detailed skin regimen, coifs his hair and puts just enough product in it to keep every strand in place, but not overdoing it, so his hair looks natural and effortless. When he's content with his appearance, Kurt heads down to the kitchen to get a good breakfast in his stomach. Burt is in the kitchen dressed in his clothes for work at Hummel Tires and Lube, drinking a cup of coffee when Kurt enters.
"Hey Kurt! Ready for your first day of school?" Burt signs
Kurt puts on his best smile and signs back, "Ready as I can be."
"The first day can be scary Kurt, but I've already talked to your principle and the teachers. Everything will be alright. You're interpreter will meet you at your first class this morning. She has a copy of your schedule so she'll be at all of your classes, but won't walk with you to each class."
"Great. I don't need a babysitter. I can do everything by myself. I appreciate the interpreter, but I can do things on my own. I can read lips well enough."
"I know that Kurt, but try this out for a little bit. You may find an interpreter will make school easier on you."
"Fine Dad. I will. I'll be home right after school for my piano lesson."
"OK bud. Have a good day."
Kurt heads out to the bus stop and waits away from the other kids for the bus to arrive. There are new kids at the bus stop, but none of them try to talk to him. Kurt feels slightly relieved, when they ignore his presence.
The bus drops them at the front of the school. Kurt takes a slow, deep breath to calm him before heading into the halls of McKinley. As he enters, he removes his schedule he printed off online from his book bag to figure out where his home room is located. He loses his way a few times, but eventually makes it. To Kurt's surprise, no one has even bothered him. He definitely thought someone would be able to sense that he was a freshman, and would tease him for it. He's thankful though that he's being disregarded. He briefly thinks, "Maybe this year won't be that bad."
Unfortunately, his thoughts jinx him as he's tripped by another student as he makes his way to his seat. He recognizes this boy as Dave Karofsky who has teased him even before he lost his hearing. "Great," Kurt thinks, "more time spent with this Neanderthal." Dave's mouth is moving, so Kurt assumes he's saying something mean. It's times like these where he doesn't mind the quiet. He doesn't have to worry about Dave's words cutting through his self-esteem and lowering his self-worth. He has seen other kids after they've been a part of Karofsky's verbal abuse. He doesn't want the same for himself. Kurt already can't wait to be done with high school, and move out of Ohio. Kurt stands up, brushes off his clothes and lifts his head even higher, as if he isn't fazed at all by Karofsky's bullying. He tries locating his interpreter so he knows where to sit, but he doesn't see her, so he just takes the front seat on the opposite side of the room from Karofsky.
Kurt's interpreter finally arrives after the final bell rings, which Kurt knows from the flashing light by the bell. She signs an apology, and the home room teacher begins to speak, and hands out each students locker number and combination. Yet another place Kurt has to figure out the location to. Kurt looks around the room, taking in the faces of the kids. They're all familiar to him. They've been in the same classes since kindergarten, except for a few that moved to Lima during elementary school. Kurt again pays attention to his interpreter again so he can figure out what the teacher is saying. When the interpreters hand abruptly stop, Kurt looks confused. It was obvious the teacher was in the middle of a sentence. The teacher, the interpreter, and everyone else in the class are looking at the door, which Kurt assumes must have been opened loudly. He looks over at the door like everyone else, and sees a boy with short curly hair with just a little too much hair gel moving his mouth so fast Kurt can't read his lips at all and flailing his arms. He looks out of breath like he ran to the class. The teacher cuts the boy off telling him something and pointing to a chair to have a seat. Kurt notices the chair the teacher is pointing to is the one next to his. No one ever sits next to him, and Kurt quite enjoys it. The kid looks at the chair and then at Kurt and smiles slightly at him, his hazel eyes warm and happy. Kurt quickly turns his head away from the kid in favor of facing forward with his eyes towards the floor.
After a few minutes, Kurt feels a slight tap on his shoulder. He hesitantly lifts his eyes up from the floor and toward the person tapping is shoulder. All the other kids around him have turned toward the person next to them and are talking. Kurt realizes he must have missed some sort of class assignment from the teacher since he was ignoring his interpreter. The kid who stormed into class was trying to get his attention.
When Kurt looks at the kid, his mouth is moving a little too fast, but Kurt can understand the basics, "Hi, I'm Blaine. What's your name?" Kurt smiles uncomfortably, not really wanting to use his interpreter, but doesn't want this kid he's never seen before to know he's deaf. Who knows if this kid will torment him later for it? He figures he could just take out a paper and write to him, but most people find this long and annoying. Kurt looks into the kids eyes again, trying to gauge if he truly is a nice person. He certainly looks like it. This guy is gorgeous! His clothes fit him in just the right places showing off the prospects that this guy works out. He definitely has some fashion sense, which he can't say about the rest of the student body. He has beautiful, thick, curly hair. Kurt can just imagine putting his fingers through his hair… Kurt shakes his head. No, he can't have these thoughts. Who knows if this Blaine guy is gay? Kurt isn't even out to anyone, not even his dad. Although, he assumes people suspect. Kurt is pulled from is thoughts when the kid's mouth moves again. He sighs and just gives in. Kurt looks at his interpreter to let her know to pay attention to him, then lifts his hands and begins to sign.
"Sorry. Hi. My name is Kurt." Kurt notices Blaine's eyes widen just a little bit, not expecting for Kurt to be deaf. Blaine's eyes move over to the interpreter where she is telling him what Kurt said. Blaine opens his mouth again to speak, but doesn't look at Kurt. Instead, he begins talking to his interpreter.
"Oh, I didn't know he was deaf. Can you tell him it's nice to meet him?"
Kurt rolls his eyes as he reads Blaine's lips. Kurt gets annoyed when people think they can't talk to him. Yes, he understands that communication is difficult, but come on! Just because Kurt is deaf doesn't mean he doesn't have words of his own. His interpreter signs everything Blaine said exactly the way he said them. Kurt is happy his interpreter doesn't try to change what Blaine has said. It makes him believe that somehow she understands how he feels. Kurt rolls his eyes and begins to sign again, his interpreter speaking out what he's saying to Blaine.
"You know, if you want to talk to me you can say it to me, not my interpreter. I'm deaf, not stupid!"
Again Blaine turns to the interpreter saying, "Sorry, I don't think you're stupid. I'm just trying to talk to you."
Kurt doesn't even look over at his interpreter. He read Blaine's lips clearly. Kurt is fuming right now. Why is Blaine talking to his interpreter if he wants to talk to him? He just wants someone to talk to him!
"If you're talking to me then look at me, not her! I can read your lips! I understand what you're saying. If you want to talk to me, look at me!" As Kurt is signing, his signs become more emotional and angry.
Blaine's face drops and he just stares at Kurt. Kurt doesn't like this attention. He's angry at himself for yelling at Blaine. Kurt knows Blaine may not have experience communicating with someone who is deaf, but it's still frustrating and he can't get his emotions under control. Kurt stands up abruptly, making the whole class stare at him, and he runs out of the classroom leaving a dumbfounded Blaine behind.
Kurt runs until he sees the boy's bathroom. He slams open the door to the thankfully empty bathroom, finds a stall and locks the door. Kurt can't help but cry. He hasn't cried in school since the 6th grade. He's always refused to let the bullies get to him, but this is a situation Kurt wasn't familiar with. Blaine looked shocked and sad. Anyone could tell that Kurt was yelling at him by the way he was moving his arms and hands and facial expressions. He thought that Blaine could be a potential friend. He was the only person Kurt didn't know in the class, so he could have been a fresh start for Kurt. Blaine looked friendly, and caring, at least Kurt thought he did, unless Blaine's gorgeous looks got in the way of Kurt's good judgment. He was sure he just ruined his chances with Blaine, and his first day of school just started!
Kurt didn't even know he wanted a friend that badly. Sure, he said he wanted friends, but he kind of just accepted the fact that he was going to be without friends for a while. He's never cried about it. He always said, as long as he has his dad and his piano he would always be happy no matter what everyone else did to him. Maybe Kurt can be brave and apologize to Blaine without his interpreter. Maybe Blaine will forgive him, even though he doesn't know him. Kurt doesn't even know why he even cares. If it was anyone else in his class he would have been proud of himself and felt indifferent. Kurt has no idea why Blaine is different than anyone else. He will probably be just like every other stupid classmate he's ever had. Kurt doesn't want to care, but he does. Kurt decided, if he cares this much, then maybe his soul is telling him something. So, Kurt makes the decision, if he sees Blaine again, he will apologize properly and try to start over. That's all he can do. Who knows, maybe Blaine is just as nice as he looks. Kurt just hopes Blaine wants to start over.