The Scholarship
Episode 10: Going Down
I knew that Dalton would be different when I came here. That's the whole reason that I came. I wanted a safe school where I could be me, and no one would care…and I got that, but – I don't know – life here is just going differently to how I envisioned it would. I feel a little…I've got a lot of friends, kind of like the New Directions as far as variety goes, but I don't feel that close to anyone…except Keats, and that's the main problem. The closet friend I have doesn't get along with most of my other ones…and I find Vince, Stuart and Andy a bit…I don't know…The worst thing, apart from the fact that Sebastian is bugging the hell out of me, is that there's always a big event going on, like, now there's the Football game against Garfield…and I'm cheerleading then. That has the potential to go very badly, given the fact I'm struggling to do the extra practise…
"Why hello, Hummel, didn't see you there." Kurt straightened up, and glared at Sebastian who was grinning down at him, slyly. Kurt pushed himself off the floor, where he'd tumbled from Sebastian's light bump. He dusted himself off, and checked the clock, knowing what the time was already. Ever since Sebastian had found Kurt that morning, he made a point of coming down, and disturbing his routine. Normally, Kurt would be halfway through dancing and wouldn't notice the head boy sneaking up behind him. It also didn't take very much to send Kurt to the ground as he was so focused on getting the steps right. Kurt wasn't precisely sure why Sebastian felt the need to knock him over, but he'd learnt, over the past couple of days, that Sebastian's behaviour was weird and erratic when it came to him.
For one, another broom fight had erupted – it seemed to be the way to seek revenge if someone did something to you – when someone had stood on Drew's newly healed feet and Sebastian had pulled Kurt out before he could get concussed by Dominic, a Franklin Sophomore who was also a Warbler. He'd then thrust a broom into Kurt's hands and shoved him back into the melee before emitting a battle cry and knocking three people off their feet. The moment the fight had ended, though, he had snatched the broom from Kurt and snapped at him for chipping the handle.
Kurt had to admit that he was getting pretty sick of his behaviour, this school was meant to have a zero tolerance policy, and he had the feeling that Sebastian would be able to pull his head boy title if Kurt complained about anything. He threw the skipping rope into the sports bag he'd borrowed off Juri and stalked into the kitchen where Sebastian was making toast.
"What's your problem with me?" Sebastian turned around, frowning, and taking a long drink of coffee. When he'd set his cup down, and settled himself against the countertop, he answered with a smirk.
"I don't have a problem with you." Kurt arched his eyebrow, coming a little bit closer to Sebastian.
"Really, so you knocking me over every morning is just...what, exactly?" Sebastian sighed, his charming smile – oily and far more fake and considerably less attractive than Blaine's – appearing on his face.
"It seems we have a little case of sun-head." he said, more to himself than Kurt. Kurt raised his eyebrows higher.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Sun-head; an unfortunate mental illness where the patient thinks that the world revolves around them, and that everything is personal." It took all over Kurt's self control not to slap him right there and then. "You know, you can slap me, I won't tell, Dalton honour." He held up his hand like he was about to take a pledge, and Kurt gaped at him.
"I– what?" Sebastian smirked at him.
"You have this look about you, I've seen it on a lot of people's faces...mainly when I drop the g-bomb." Kurt stared at him, completely lost.
"The what-bomb?"
"The g-bomb, short for gay-bomb." Kurt continued to stare at him, still not sure how the topic of conversation had managed to end up on this track. "You have the 'I-really-want-to-slap-him-but-I'm-going-to-keep-decorum-and-not' look, I see it on a lot of girls faces' when I tell them I'm gay, after I've spent the past half hour making them think I like them."
And Blaine actually likes this guy?! He's a complete bastard! He lost my respect not very soon after he gained it. Good thing I never liked him because this would probably be one of those earth-shattering, betrayal of faith moments otherwise.
"You're..." Kurt struggled to find a word that wasn't completely uncouth, and Sebastian smirked.
"Yeah, I also get that a lot."
"Why on earth would Blaine fall for someone like you?" Kurt wasn't sure, but he could have sworn that Sebastian's face darkened, briefly, at that. Then he went back to looking smug.
"Well, some people have it and some people don't. For example; I have it and you don't." Kurt's expression crumbled at that, he tried to be not quite as hurt by those words as he was. Sebastian continued to look smug. "I'll tell you the important difference between the two of us. I know exactly who I am, but you don't know who you are, and for someone like Blaine – who is, in turn, insecure – they don't want to go out with someone else insecure, they want someone who knows who they are. That's why you like Keats." Kurt's mouth dropped open. He gaped at Sebastian.
That's why I what? I don't like Keats, at least not in the way I think he's implying. I should never have entered this conversation...I knew it wouldn't end well. I mean, what if he's right? What if Blaine just sees me as someone who's insecure...what if he looks down on me? Oh god, I am never having a conversation with Sebastian again.
"I don't like Keats!" he denied, eventually. "I lo–" he broke off before he could finish the sentence, not imagining the reaction he would get would be favourable. Sebastian smiled at him with that stupid condescending expression all over his face.
"I know how you feel about Blaine. You'd have to blind or Blaine not to." Kurt sighed in relief at that. He didn't want Blaine to know how he felt right now, not whilst Kurt was confused and still quite upset with him.
Kurt wasn't really sure where he stood with Blaine. He knew that Blaine saw him as a friend – he'd said it numerous times since Thursday – but Kurt knew that Blaine wasn't being honest with him, and Blaine just kept playing stupid. He'd look blank whenever Kurt brought up the topic of him and Keats, and often diverted the conversation onto the topic of the upcoming match. Admittedly, Kurt didn't spend that much time with him because he was still struggling his way through the catch up work, and killer Cheerios practise, but he felt awkward in Blaine's presence, constantly on edge, and he didn't like that feeling. He also did not like the fact that Sebastian knew.
"Is that– what are you going to do?" Sebastian raised his eyebrows.
"What am I going to do?" he said surprised. "Nothing, you're not a threat." Kurt raised his eyebrows, and Sebastian set down his piece of toast. "You correctly noticed, Kurt, that I've been treating differently. I was trying to see if you were threat to me...and you're not. Blaine doesn't see you like that, in fact I think you'd have to go and yell it in his face before he even considered it...and I get the impression that that's not really your cup of tea." Kurt stared, dumbly at Sebastian, wishing that the Senior didn't have the ability to successfully derail Kurt's ability to retort.
"I mean, yes, vocally you're good, but you're a counter-tenor which means I'm far more likely to sing with you then anything else, and, well, I can't see Luc swapping Blaine for you in a hurry...Blaine and I have chemistry, we just have...tension, and not the sexual kind so it just becomes awkward." Kurt continued to stare at him, mind furiously working for something intelligent to say.
"How do you know he won't drop you for Blaine?" Sebastian laughed.
"Yeah, maybe, after we crash out at Regionals, but tell me this, Kurt; how good a Jean Valjean was I?" Kurt blinked, rolling his eyes and sighing.
"You were good," he replied, grudgingly. Sebastian raised his eyebrows.
"Oh, come on." Kurt rolled his eyes again.
"Alright, fine, you were the best performer on stage." Sebastian smirked at him.
"I rest my case." Kurt snorted lightly, crossing his arms.
"Why are you so sure we're going to flop at Regionals?" Sebastian gave him a disbelieving look.
"Do you really think the Warblers stand a chance against Vocal Adrenaline? I got my arse kicked two years in a row by those robots led by Jesse – fuckin' – St James." he shook his head, and Kurt folded his arms.
"But Jesse's gone, so has Shelby, and I met Dustin whatever and he doesn't seem half as good." Sebastian shook his head.
"He's not important, 90% of that team are the same as the National winners last year, they'll tell him what to do. The big problem is "Little Miss Sunshine", we never thanked you for doing that." Kurt glowered back at Sebastian's sarcastic expression.
"I'll have you know that we came this close to banning Rachel from the New Directions for that." Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
"Well that makes perfect sense, ban your top singer for giving your enemy a better singer..." he nodded. "Yep, you guys are geniuses." Kurt gave him a cold glare.
"Rachel isn't our "top singer", you know."
"Oh, really? That completely explains why she has all the solos then."
"Rachel didn't sing solo this year."
"Yes, and they only drew...naturally, a lot of that is due to the fact that me and Blaine on stage together are unstoppable, but your other singers weren't as good as Rachel."
"That's not– how do you even know what Rachel sounds like?" Sebastian shrugged.
"Saw a little clip of your Don't Stop Believin', you were cute." Kurt narrowed his eyes. "Oh come on, you really didn't think you were going to win did you? Did you see their rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody?"
"No," said Kurt shortly. "only Rachel did. We were at the hospital." Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Quinn went into labour." he added, before Sebastian could make another scathing remark. "She was the one that sung I've Had the Time of My Life."
"Oh...interesting...distracting...why the hell did you have a nine month pregnant person dancing? Isn't that completely irresponsible?" Kurt shrugged.
"She said she was okay, and Beth was fine." Sebastian shrugged, looking completely passive again.
"Right, well, fascinating as this conversation has been, I have places that I need to be, and you need a shower." Kurt watched him swagger past before hesitantly sniffing himself. He wrinkled his nose in disgust at the powerful stench of sweat that he was emitting. He ground his teeth as, once again, he was forced to admit Sebastian Smythe had a point.
I'm going to have to admit, no matter how annoying he is to talk to, my conversations with Sebastian are certainly enlightening. He makes a good point about Sunshine and Vocal Adrenaline; they have a winning combination and winning players, why bother shaking it up? Also, he makes a good point about the solos…if they're into duets…well, I might be able to beat Blaine, but do I want to sing with Sebastian? Don't get me wrong, I know a solo is a solo, but still…I'd rather sing with Blaine.
"I don't understand the point you're making." Blaine was sitting in the back of his science class with David, Thad and Fred, and was seriously bamboozled by Fred's argument to give him a blowtorch. His confusion, however, was drowned out by David's raging.
"I will not! I repeat will not! Ask Wes to see if he can get you a blowtorch."
"But, David…" whined Fred, eyes turning round and pleading.
"Oh god!" exclaimed the Councillor, hiding behind his fellow. "It's the puppy dog eyes." Thad, who was the only person on the back row paying any attention to the lesson, turned to blink at David before returning to whatever sum he was doing on his calculator. Blaine turned to Fred.
"How does having your own blowtorch mean you're less likely to cause yourself injury, or blow something up, or set something on fire?" Fred sighed, dramatically, and adopted a look of false calm and patience.
"It means I get more practise."
"Yeah, at killing us all!" said David, having raised his head from behind Thad's back again when he realised the Warbler was completely ignoring him.
"Fred, look, I'm sorry, but there's nothing you can say that will convince anyone to buy you a blowtorch. You can't convince us, so what hope do you have of convincing Mr Kerr, he's still fuming over the door you blew up." Fred rolled his eyes.
"That was necessary."
"Yeah, and we're very grateful," interjected David, "but that doesn't mean he isn't fuming. That's the third door you've–"
"Boys!" the angry cry came from Mr Farrow and they all jumped. "Have you been listening at all?" there was an awkward pause. "Fred, I'm not happy with you after last week," Fred and the class winced at the memory of shattered test tubes and burnt fingers and hair. "Blaine and David you're both already in serious trouble, and Thad what on earth are you doing with your calculator?" the quiet boy shrugged. "This is a chemical equation!" he raged, brandishing his finger at the board. "Not a numerical one, and even then you ought not to be using your calculator."
"Unless you're using the formula," pointed out Fred in a chipper tone, "then you–" he quailed under his teacher's glare.
"Pay attention!" he roared at them, and the class winced as one. "And if your work isn't perfect, I'll have you all in exclusive detention for a week!"
"But, sir!" began the three Warblers, all completely alarmed at the prospect of potentially missing the concert.
"No, buts," he said firmly, "perfect work on my desk by tomorrow morning or don't take part in the game or the Warblers…and I think that would lead to missing the concert." There were thunderstruck expressions on every student in the classroom at that fearsome threat.
The concerts, and the match against Garfield Academy, were some of the most important events of the year, and not even an exclusive detention could prevent somebody performing…unless they were a Warbler, or missed their audition. If they missed too many Warblers rehearsals in the run-up to the big event they would temporarily suspended from warbling duties and would face a tribunal – headed by Luc and the council – to decide their future in the prestigious choir. No tribunal had been called in over fifty years, and never in the Warblers' and Datlon's long and colourful history had a council member been the subject of a tribunal, let alone two.
There was silence in the classroom as everyone contemplated the idea of three people – one lead and two councillors – being the subjects of the first Warbler tribunal of the 21st Century, and the latter half of the 20th. Fred looked at his friends with a mildly guilty expression on his face, having started the conversation in the first place, and, now, was being punished less than them.
"Sir," he said, putting his hand into the air. "this is my fault…I began a conversation with them…" he broke off, shaking his head and annoyed that he couldn't quite find the right words to say what he wanted to say. "I asked them if they thought I could get my own, personal, blowtorch." There were a raised eyebrows and sniggering from the class. Mr Farrow stared at him, mouth slightly agape in shock.
"What gave you the impression that anyone would allow you to own a blowtorch?" Fred shrugged at this other three gave him looks that said "see!" and "I-told-you-so".
"I don't know, sir, but I really need one." Mr Farrow shook his head again.
"You realise that there is not anyone I know that I would trust less with a blowtorch than you." Fred looked mildly offended.
"What about Juri?" The Russian scowled at Fred from his seat in the row in front.
"Juri has the sense to not walk around with a blowtorch." Juri gave Fred a sanctimonious nod, and Fred glared back at him. Mr Farrow looked at the other three boys who looked like they were trying hard not to laugh at the conversation that they had just heard. "Well, boys, I guess I almost owe you an apology…though that doesn't explain your need for a calculator, Thad." Thad just shrugged, suggesting that he wasn't sure, either, why he had needed his calculator.
"It's okay sir," said Blaine, charming smile in place, "we ought to know better than engage in that kind of conversation." Their teacher nodded.
"Yes, yes you should…but that doesn't mean that you do." There was a slight pause.
"Um, are we still under threat of exclusive detention?" asked David, cautiously. Mr Farrow shook his head.
"I can't blame you for wanting to preserve the safety Dalton…though I want that work on my desk tomorrow, or I'll give you inclusive detention." There were sighs of relief.
"Thank you, sir." Mr Farrow nodded, giving them warning looks with his eyes, as the bell went. They hurriedly threw their books into their bags, and fled the classroom, pulling Juri out of the path of the bin.
"Blaine, I've been thinking." Blaine frowned at David.
"What about?" David sighed, and ran a hand over his head.
"You and Keats." Blaine groaned, David shrugged and the other three looked up in interest. "No, I'm serious Blaine. You gotta tell Kurt what happened, now." Blaine sighed, running a hand along his bag strap and glancing around to make sure neither of the aforementioned boys were in the vicinity.
"I can't." he said, stress heavy in his voice. "He needs to feel safe, and telling him that isn't going to make him feel like that." David glanced at Thad, Juri and Fred. Fred twitched, hand moving to rub the back of his neck.
"I gotta go…" he dashed away in completely the opposite direction to his next classroom. Juri rolled his eyes.
"I agree vith David." he said, allowing Thad to yank him away from a chair as he met Blaine's eyes. "It's better zan ze fallout." Blaine sighed, biting his tongue.
"I dunno, but I get the impression he hasn't quite settled into Dalton yet, no thanks to me, and I don't want to freak him out until then…Besides, I spoke to Sebastian and he thinks he'll be okay."
"Does he think he's genuine, 'cause Wes-"
"No, he doesn't believe him, but at the same time…" he broke off shrugging, and David sighed heavily, worry creasing his normally cheerful features.
"Look, either way you should spend more time with him." Blaine nodded.
"I know, I know…it's just…we don't have any lessons together." he sighed. "and I've just been so distracted with Bastian and my dad…"
"I don't think Sebastian will mind if you spend less time with him because of this…after all, you're only involved because of him." Blaine waved the statement away, thinking that - regardless of his feelings - he probably would have still gotten caught in the crossfire.
"But, why do I need spend more time with him, not that I don't like him, but that's what everyone's said…?" David sighed, heavily.
"Because the more you avoid it, the more it looks like you have something to hide."
"I'm not hiding anything, I just-"
"Let me finished!" said David in a raised voice that made people turn to look at them. "As I was saying; if he thinks you're hiding something, he'll go to Keats, and what might Keats say… "oh, yeah, last year Blaine broke my nose" or whatever."
"But I broke his nose because he threw me into a bookcase!" David put his hands over his face in a despairing manner.
"You are so naïve! Keats isn't going to tell him that! He could spin it out, and Kurt could end up hating you!" Blaine looked alarmed by the prospect, and so missed the "really?" looks Juri and Thad were giving David, clearly wondering whether it was possible for Kurt to hate Blaine. Blaine sighed, looking stressed.
"But…if he pulls away?" David put a hand on his shoulder.
"Better to get him out now." There was a long pause in which Blaine sighed again. He shook his head as they filed into their next classroom, rather late, and thumped his bag down louder than was necessary.
"Alright, fine, I'll hang out with him more, god knows I've been meaning to anyway, but I don't want to tell him about this… Can I trust you not to talk about it with him?" David eyed him carefully, noting Fred rushing past the classroom and into Juri who was waiting for him.
"Okay, but if anything gets serious…if we think he might be in any danger…" Blaine rolled his eyes, looking a little annoyed at the fact that David had to ask that question.
"Of course!" he said, sounding frustrated as their French teacher swept in, dancing gracefully around the table. David nodded, looking mildly peeved, but not commentating further on the subject, clearly pleased with the omissions that he'd drew from Blaine.
"So, Thad, why do you need a calculator?" Thad shrugged, glancing at their French teacher who was talking about her date on the weekend with the other members of the class.
"Sssalairesss." he replied causing David to pull a baffled face, and turned to Blaine who just shrugged.
"Man, you're meant to be fluent." Blaine shrugged again as Thad took his calculator back out, clearly ignoring the lesson.
"I'm not fluent, especially as Thad knows weird words that I don't." David rolled his eyes again, and they shuffled their desks closer to their teacher, who was in full flow of what had happened on the dance floor.
"... et puis il m'a tiré près et j'étais comme eww!" "...and then he pulled me close and I was like eww!" most of the boys laughed at that, but David looked so close to banging his head against the table. Blaine leant in, taking pity of his friend's confused plight. How David ever managed to get into such an advanced French class Blaine had never worked out, because languages weren't his strong point at all.
"She's talking about how another guy thought that she was straight." David nodded, sitting up with a grin on his face.
"Avez-vous frappé?" "Did you hit him?"
"Non, mon garçon, j'ai séduit sa petite amie juste là devant lui! Je lui ai broyé lentement, puis…" "No, my boy, I seduced his girlfriend right there before him! I ground her slowly, and then…"
"Come again?" he muttered to Blaine. Blaine, on the other hand, had screwed up his face as she continued to talk in French. Thad put his calculator down, looking mildly queasy.
"You don't want to know." muttered Blaine in a low voice. "You really don't want to know." his gaze fell onto Herman who looked like he might puke at the amount of detail their teacher was giving them. "Five, four, three, two-" David had blinked, and then noticed where Blaine and Thad were staring. "One."
"Madame, je crois que je vais être malade!" "Madam, I think I'm going to be sick!"
"And he's gone." said Blaine, snickering. Madam Marchand blinked at the back of the fleeing boy's blazer.
"C'était grossier!" "That was rude!"
I don't know how I made it to lunch awake. I was terribly lose to falling asleep, and every fibre of my body aches! I almost fell asleep on Flint's shoulder, though he didn't seem to mind. He was more worried that Dr Booth was going to bite his head off for not completing his homework up to "the standard required and expected from Dalton boys".
"…and then Herman went dashing out, green in the face." the other boys laughed, and Kurt was trying to keep up with the conversation, but he didn't know who Herman was.
"You'd think she'd learn after teaching him for two years already." the other boys shook their heads at Flint.
"She can't learn to be different, she's stuck the way it is."
"I seriously think that Mr Ashburn is going to get her fired some day." Kurt groaned and rubbed his eyes.
"You need sugar." said Nick, voice unbearably cheerful, and Kurt glared at him. "Here, have my-" the slice of cake that was about to be offered to Kurt was roughly stuffed into his mouth by Jeff. Nick coughed and spluttered, glaring at Jeff in a manner that was meant to make him fear for his life and that was completely undermined by his choking.
"He's right, though, if not sugar - I'm guessing you're not the biggest fan going by the look on your face - you could at least get coffee." Kurt blinked at Blaine, one word registering with his brain.
"Coffee?" Blaine laughed at the look on his face.
"Yes coffee, the drink of the gods, delivered, blessed, from Heaven by a choir of angels singing hallelujah to the lips of boys who's brains have been fried by the demons of homework, and algebra." Kurt glared at Jeff, who was smirking at him.
"Yes, thank you for your poetic input, Jeff." Jeff bowed to Blaine, and Blaine rolled his eyes. "Come on," he said, tapping Kurt on the elbow and sending shivers all the way up his arm and it was carried all over his body thanks to his nervous system. "I'll show you." Kurt smiled, gratefully up at him, and got up onto his weak legs, and following Blaine over to one of the stands. "What's your coffee order?"
"Err, grande non-fat mocha." Blaine nodded.
"Right, never made that before."
"And Blaine is a coffee geek."
"He is worryingly obsessed with it."
"We thought he might bleed coffee." Blaine nearly dropped the water when Trinity snuck up behind them, and Kurt could feel his heart thudding uncomfortably fast.
"Trinity!" exclaimed Blaine, teeth gritted. "Don't sneak up on people!" Daniel yanked the water from between his fingers, and they set about making Kurt coffee. Kurt noticed that Blaine was glaring at the three boys, and tapped him on the shoulder slightly.
"Are you okay?" Blaine swallowed and nodded. He gave Kurt a charming smile that Kurt thought was a little forced, and put on for his own benefit.
"Yeah, course I'm fine." Kurt frowned at him, and Blaine swallowed. "I'm just thinking about the concert." Kurt frowned. "My dad's coming." expanded Blaine. "I'm wondering, now, whether I should have invited to Football, you know, it's more…manly." Kurt raised an eyebrow at him. Blaine blinked and then shook his head. "No, okay, that came out wrong…I do sport because I'm good at it and I like it…it just might have softened my dad up for coming to the concert." Kurt bit his lip, not really knowing what to say.
"Your family isn't…accepting then?" Blaine blinked and shook his head.
"What? No, my brother and I don't really talk about it - he's kind of always known - and my mum doesn't know…Emily's cool with it and Anna and Meg are too young to really get it. It's dad that's the problem."
"Who's Emily?" asked Kurt as they moved back to their table with the coffee, Trinity having vanished again.
"My step-mum. Anna and Meg are my half sisters." Kurt nodded, sliding into his seat again and gulping down the coffee, making a mental note to himself to thank Trinity later.
"So, are you doing a Warbler solo for the concert?" Blaine shrugged.
"Probably…I mean, Nick are you thinking of applying?" Nick shook his head.
"Oh, no way. I don't think anyone is challenging you." Blaine looked surprised.
"What? Really?" the other Juniors who were Warblers nodded.
"Yeah, I mean, Tyler might, but everyone else wants you to sing." Blaine sighed, looking relieved.
"Good, that's good." Kurt frowned, looking around at the Warblers.
"How do you apply for a solo?" there was a pause and then a sigh. Blaine laid down his fork.
"Well, you have to apply to Luc who passes it on to the council. Then, if you get the go ahead, you have sing against the current leads. Also, the council can nominate someone to audition if they think that they're good enough." Kurt nodded, the idea of applying looking tempting.
"Don't apply." said Nick, suddenly. Kurt blinked, and looking at him, confused. "Don't apply for lead or a solo." Kurt frowned.
"Why?" Nick sighed, glancing at the others.
"There's this unofficial rule," explained David. "that you have to have been presented your crest to perform a lead or solo." Kurt frowned.
"Your crest..? But I have that, it's on my cheerleading uniform." Heads were shaken by all the boys.
"This is your crest." explained Blaine, reaching inside his blazer and pulling out a red velvet box. He opened it up and revealed a polished shield bearing the Franklin emblem.
"How do I get it, then?" he asked as Blaine tucked it back into his blazer.
"You'll get it for performing at this concert. The Freshmen Warblers will have gotten theirs at Sectionals." Kurt nodded, looking mildly discouraged.
"Don't worry." said Blaine, bumping his shoulder against Kurt's. "You'll be able to apply next time, and if you don't you'll definitely be nominated." Kurt smiled back at him, feeling reassured.
"Right, thanks, do, um, do your parents have to get tickets?" there were nods.
"But don't worry, they get emails…or at least their secretary's PA does." Kurt noted the bitter tone in Flint's voice and decided not to inquire.
"It's always a good show." said David. "But you have to see the art they put in the foyer before hand. You know that piece of Chris' that got ruined?" Kurt nodded. "That was for the concert." Kurt nodded again.
"Cool."
"You won't believe this!" Wes had come dashing in, collided with a table, and then landed next to David. All the Juniors blinked at him as one.
"Hello to you, Wes. Oh, hello David. How's your day been? Oh, not bad, not bad…got emotionally scarred in French, but no big-" Wes clamped a hand over his mouth, rolling his eyes.
"You won't believe when Luc's scheduled the solo auditions?" the boys looked at each other, shrugging.
"When?" asked David, after he'd clawed the hand from his mouth.
"Friday!" he exclaimed.
"What this Friday?"
"No, Kurt, on the day of the concert." Kurt raised his eyebrows in surprise, taken aback by the sarcasm that had shot from Wes' mouth.
"Don't worry," muttered Blaine. "he's only like that when he get's tetchy."
"I don't know why you're so casual Blaine, you need the solo, and you'll get crucified if you miss again."
"I wasn't fully healed then." protested Blaine. "I told Cunningham not to play me." there were eye rolls.
"Yeah, yeah, but we all know from Thad you were dancing around your room that morning." Blaine glared at his roommate who did not react, being so engrossed in his phone that none of the rest of them seemed to exist. They all looked at him, waiting for him to notice he was being stared at. Nick tentatively reached across and waved a hand up and down in front of his face.
"Jeff!" exclaimed the dark haired boy in an excited manner. Jeff handed him a brightly coloured circle on a stick. Kurt blinked.
"Should I be worried?" he asked Blaine in an undertone, who just looked amused. Blaine shook his head.
"No, this happens a lot." Nick began to spin the wheel faster and faster in front of his face, and Thad just ignored it. Eventually the bell went, the rest of them had just ignored Nick too, and Thad looked up, blinking.
"What are you doing?" he demanded, removing the wheel from his face. Kurt blinked, taken aback by the lack of stutter, but, as he glanced at the others, he noticed that none of the others were.
"Your concentration." Thad just rolled his eyes, and picked his bag up, shaking his head and muttering about "not related to you". David groaned.
"No, History!" he groaned, and Kurt shared his sentiment. Whilst Kurt had finished the assignment he knew that it was too similar to Juri's, and that it would not be up to Mrs Daniels' high standards. Juri was grumbling in what Kurt presumed was Russian.
"Ignore him," said David as they walked to their History classroom. "he does that whenever something upsets him…or he finds American life unsatisfactory." Kurt raised an eyebrow. "You've not seen him in the Summer." he said by way of explanation. Kurt nodded, and glanced at Thad who was reading something. Kurt bit down onto his upper lip.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"About Thad...?" David stiffened a little bit, but nodded.
"Sure…but I may not answer." Kurt nodded in acceptance.
"Um, why doesn't he stutter all the time?" David paused, but his body seemed to loosen, and Kurt knew he would receive an answer of some sorts.
"I don't really know," said David in a low voice. "when we first met him, he was quiet but he didn't stutter. Then, somewhere in the Summer holidays, he got a stutter. No one knows why…well, Nick probably does, but he's not saying…he made it very clear that he wasn't talking about it. I mean, Jeff doesn't even know." Kurt nodded.
"Right."
"You get use to it…he's odd, but he's nice, you know…he took really good care of Blaine when he was still shaken up from his old school. I mean, if he'd roomed with anyone else, we'd have probably have sent him running from Dalton, screaming." Kurt snorted with laughter. David adjusted his shoulder strap on his bag. "It's…you know the solo- lead thing?" Kurt nodded.
"Yeah…what's the difference?" David blinked for a second, momentarily thrown by Kurt's question.
"Oh, what? Right, what we call a "lead" is getting a solo in the Warblers. A "solo" is, you know, singing or performing on your own."
"Right…"
"Anyway, it's not just about who's good." Kurt frowned.
"What do you mean?" David sighed.
"Just about everyone in the Warblers knows that Blaine's dad is coming…they want him to be accepted…" David shrugged. "They're willing to sacrifice the limelight for three minutes to help him gain his father's respect, or whatever." Kurt nodded.
It gets more comforting, each time I hear about things like that. It's not just that they're prepared to help each other with their family lives, it's that they're so behind homosexuals. I guess I can accept that Blaine definitely needs that lead. Besides, I do have a solo- lead, whatever, in the cheerleading performance…it's just a shame that dad can't come…
Okay, where did the rest of the week go? On Tuesday I was feeling pretty calm, but now…I am about to freak out. I don't know how I made it through lessons today, and now I'm sitting outside the hall and we're waiting for the auditions to happen. I'm all dressed up in my cheerleading uniform, and it's unnerving, especially as two people have run out crying.
"Oh my god!" exclaimed Nick, slumping into his chair. "What is taking them so long?"
"Come on, Nick, we know Luc…" said David, stretching and clicking his neck. Kurt rubbed his eyes and tried to ignore Trinity who were currently playing "shoeball" with Drew and kept bouncing up and down as they couldn't squeal. Chris had his nose buried in a book, and Thad was fast asleep. Jeff kept flicking his ear, but the other boy didn't react.
"What does that mean?" asked Kurt, tiredly, after Nick had groaned even louder. David smirked at him.
"It means he's auditioning the ones he doesn't think can meet the cut first, and then tearing them down." Kurt raised an eyebrow, feeling pity for the boys that were auditioning.
"Is it really that bad?"
"Worse." groaned Jeff, moving away from Thad. "I auditioned when I was a Freshman…biggest mistake of my life. I refused to sing for two weeks afterwards." Kurt opened his mouth to comment when the door opened, and Flint came charging out. The others winced.
"I thought you told him to go easy on him?" said Chris, mildly, not looking up as Nick hurried after Flint. David shrugged.
"Yeah, we asked…doesn't mean he listened." Wes dropped into Nick's vacated seat.
"How are things going in there?"
"Flint just came out." Wes looked around.
"Ah…awkward." the door opened again, and a small boy with dirty blonde hair entered the hallway. He had a grin on his face and he went dancing down the hallway, spinning round and round. Kurt blinked.
"Um…who was that?" Chris, who had peeked over the top of his book, sniggered.
"That was Braden, he's a Freshman, he just got a solo by the looks of things." Another boy came following him, of Mexican descent, and calling out at the top of his voice;
"¡Lo tengo! Queridos dioses que han tenido éxito!" "I got it! Dear gods I have been successful!" Kurt blinked, not possessing any knowledge of the Spanish language.
"Well, I think it's safe to say Pedro got a solo." The other boys snorted, and Kurt glanced at his phone, checking the time. Many of the New Directions had sent texts wishing him luck, and apologising for not being able to come because they had rehearsals.
"Oh good, this means Blaine'll be coming out soon." Kurt looked at the others.
"You think he's going to get a solo."
"Try know."
The others were right because the following five people who came out of the hall were jubilant. Kurt only recognised two of them, Warren and Francis who were Warblers, and, finally, Blaine came out. He was grinning, a little, and gratefully took his sports kit from Drew, quietly asking about Flint. Just over five minutes later, Sebastian came out with a smug grin on his face, followed by another Senior who was clutching a violin case, and muttering about people leaving their instruments behind.
Kurt shifted, again, knowing that they were waiting for Juri, as it seemed to be customary for his group of friends to sit outside the hall and get nervous on their behalf to show your support, and was annoyed that Wes and Sebastian, along with Liam and the other Senior, had left because Kurt was getting uncomfortable, and nervous for his own performance.
Juri left the hall accompanied with laughter. He was holding his horn case in his hand, and grinning from ear to ear. Kurt gave him a hug, and Chris clapped him on the shoulder. Fred came dashing down the hall, face dirty and laughed as he congratulated his friend. There were mainly rolled eyes from the boys, as if they were happy for him but already knew he was going to do well, and they made their way down to the bathroom to collect Blaine, Flint and Nick.
They came out of the bathroom, Blaine all dressed up in Football kit like Drew. Kurt couldn't help but admire him in it, thinking that it suited him well, but didn't stare too long because Flint's face was red and blotchy from tears. Jeff had sympathetically put his arms around him, and David began to console him as best he could with Trinity running rings around them all and blurting out whatever came to mind.
Kurt felt a strange sense, as they made their way to the back of the school to the Football pitch and stands, of belonging. The air was filled with laughter, Flint weakly chuckling as he began to cheer up. Blaine kept grinning at him, which just caused his heart to flip and flutter, and he grinned back, feeling woozy and having to remind himself, constantly, that Blaine didn't like him, and he had a boyfriend.
"Hey Kurt," Kurt smiled at Elise as he split from the others when they'd reached the sports field. Blaine and Drew had run to the rest of the team, and the others climbed up into the stands.
"Hey." he said, joining in with the warm-up, and pitying the girls who had to be freezing in their short skirts and sleeveless tops.
"Kurt!" a boy he didn't recognise with shaggy brown hair, grey eyes and a nasty scar across his face, came jogging over to him, dressed in a tracksuit. "Hey, Norman Hilliard." he said, shaking his hand.
"Hi…"
"Sorry to just drop in, Blaine sent me over." Kurt glanced at the boy who was busy warming up.
"Right."
"It's just a warning about Garfield." Kurt frowned, and Elise nodded grimly. "Some of the boys there are fine, others are…well, very homophobic…" Kurt raised an eyebrow.
"Thanks, but I think I can handle it." Norman shook his head, looking worried.
"No, listen…couple of years ago, when I was a Sophomore, we had a female-to-male student and they almost chased him off campus because they gave him hell, and then he reported it, it went through their headmaster and nothing happened. It took him nearly killing himself for us to find a teacher at Garfield that gave a damn." Kurt nodded, feeling slightly unsettled.
"Right, why are you telling me this?" Norman sighed.
"'Cause you're a guy cheerleader, we don't have a problem with that, but they might…look, Blaine's just worried about you." he sighed. "If anything happens you tell me, or Sebastian straight away, and we'll get it dealt with, understand?" Kurt nodded.
"Okay."
"Good." he nodded, a small smile appearing on his face. "Good luck with the performance, we're looking forward to it."
The Football game passed in a blur. The crowd screamed and roared, and Kurt leapt up and down in excitement, screaming the players on. Garfield scored two touchdowns relatively quickly, but failed to kick accurately. Still, they were five points ahead when the came went to halftime after Drew threw a perfect ball to someone else who barrelled his way into the end zone, and Blaine kept his nerve, not deterred by Kurt's high-pitched screaming, and converted it for an extra point.
"Okay," said Elise, glaring at the girls from St Emily's - Garfield's sister school - who were busy dancing and getting the visiting supporters on, "this is our moment to shine." Kurt could feel his heart thudding as hard as it had been when it had been up to him to win the game in Sophomore year. "We need to get the home crowd excited, and give our team a boost." Kurt nodded as the spotlight fell onto the pitch, and the other cheerleaders assembled themselves. Elise clapped him on the shoulder.
"You'll be fine, you look kind of hot so we have the girls and boys of any sexuality under our thumb." Kurt smirked back at her, and they slapped hands, wiggling their fingers.
Alright, Kurt Hummel, time to blow their minds and rock their worlds!
The music began to pump through the stadiums. The students looked up, beginning to clap to the catchy beat, and move along as Elise burst through the ranks.
I'm wearing all my favourite brands, brands, brands, brands
Give me some space for both my hands, hands, hands, hands
She strode through the cheerleaders that were moving effortlessly along with the beat, and David hid his face in his hands, groaning at the song whilst everyone else laughed at his expression.
Yeah, yeah
'Cause it's goes on and on and on
And it goes on and on and on
She twirled her hips, causing the pleats in the skirt to fan out, and encouraged all the boys to clap along. The hormone driven teenagers joined in enthusiastically, and David glared at the student body as they ogled his girlfriend.
I throw my hands up in the air sometimes
Kurt threw his hands upright, drawing attention to him, flicking his head back slightly, and strutting down. There were friendly whistles and whoops from most of the Dalton boys who recognised him.
Saying ayo
Gotta let go
I wanna celebrate and live my life
Saying ayo
Baby, let's go
Kurt felt completely exhilarated, just like when he'd performed with the cheerleaders before McKinley, as he danced and everyone cheered and encouraged him.
'Cause we gon' rock this club
Kurt and Elise joined their voices together, turning away, and striding down the side of the group of cheerleaders.
We gon' go all night
We gon' light it up
Like it's dynamite
The two of them performed a succession of handsprings back down to the front, finishing with a somersault whilst the cheerleaders threw two others up in a basket toss.
'Cause I told you once
Now I told you twice
We gon' light it up
Like it's dynamite
The Warblers, use to Kurt singing beautiful show-tune songs, looked dumbfounded. Blaine was dancing along, but his mouth was agape at how low Kurt's voice had become. Sebastian was clapping, eyes narrowed, and Wes kept blinking.
"I don't believe that's Kurt!" exclaimed Jeff, staring at the boy who was dancing down front. "This is epic!" Nick, who was leaping up and down wildly and waving his scarf around his head, nodded.
"I know! What happened to the show-tunes and sounding like a girl?!" Juri was hanging over the rail before them, eyes wide.
"Vow!" he kept muttering under his breath. "I had no idea…Vow!" Chris, who had a habit of reading through games, had put his book down and was watching Kurt with raised eyebrows.
"Well, someone's confident."
I'm gonna take it all likeI'm gonna be the last one standing
Elise began to pirouette, spinning around and around, hair a blonde blur and the skirt fanning out around her. She finished elegantly, arms in the air and head held high.
I drove around like
I'm gonna be the last one landing
He performed a cartwheel, a succession of back handsprings and a back flip, almost wobbling and loosing his balance.
Keats stared at the boy dancing away with Elise like he didn't have a care in the world, with complete fascination.
"I do not like the look on his face." muttered Vince to Stuart. Stuart glanced at his old friend, and groaned.
"This is not going to end well." he muttered. "I mean, look at Blaine." the four friends leant forward and spotted Blaine leaping up and down on the touchline.
"We're so screwed." came the comforting words from Parker.
'Cause we gon' rock this club
We gon' go all night
We gon' light it up
Like it's dynamite
The other cheerleaders were incredibly strong, and they lifted Kurt and Elise into the air, throwing them up so they flipped several times, Kurt reminded himself to tuck his head in, and braced his legs for impact.
'Cause I told you once
Now I told you twice
We gon' light it up
Like it's dynamite
Kurt and Elise finished at the front of the group, positioned so that they were angled towards each other, and the other cheerleaders on the floor, in positions Coach Met called "blown-up" positions; backs arched, arms thrown into the air and heads back. The crowd burst into applause, whistles and cheers, and Kurt caught sight of Blaine who was clapping his hands above his head and looking still a little bit surprised by the performance.
I actually can't believe I just did that! I'm running on adrenaline, and I feel so awake and exhilarated. Now, I remember why I joined. This feeling is amazing. It looks like Blaine enjoyed it, and the rest are just cheering me on. God, how I have missed performing. It's been too long.
So, on the plus side, everyone loved my performance, and I've been getting an excessive amount of high fives, on the downside, we lost. The football team got out to a great start and we got ahead, but they subbed on some giant and he just…well, kind of bulldozed everyone to the ground, and it was kind of all over. Blaine didn't miss any kick that he was asked to do, but he and Drew were still crying at the end. It was kind of awkward in the dressing room because they were sniffling and grumbling. I guess it's going to be a depressing weekend…
"Hello Kurt." Kurt turned around and saw a fair haired boy, who he recognised as a Warblers, proffering him his hand.
"Hello…"
"Charles, Charles Lancaster." Kurt smiled at him, slightly puzzled, accepting his hand and shaking it.
"It's nice to meet you, Charles."
"I thought your performance was stunning." Kurt smiled, more genuinely this time, revelling in the praise, and noticing his well cultured, British, accent.
"Thank you."
"Your vocal range is simply amazing, you should be our only lead." Kurt went pink.
"I don't know, Blaine and Sebastian are both very good." Charles rolled his eyes.
"Oh please, they're old news, you on the other hand…" he trailed off, smile - that was a little off to Kurt - firmly in place. Kurt smiled at him, beginning to feel uncomfortable about the situation he was in.
"Right, well, thank you, but I have to go and find…" he trailed off, trying to think of someone he needed to find, turning around when Charles caught his arm.
"No, wait, I'm sorry." Kurt turned around, acknowledging that the boy actually had quite firm, tight, grip on his bare forearm. His heart was beginning to pound faster.
I don't know why, but this boys is making me feel…I don't know. I'm not intimidated, but I don't feel comfortable. Unfortunately we're still in the changing room, and the people going past are all so distracted by other things. Oh god, where are Trinity when you need them?
"What do you want?" asked Kurt, bluntly, and felt worried by Charles pulling him closer.
"I'm gay, Kurt." he said softly. "I'm gay, so far my parents have been sceptical…" Kurt felt like he might throw his heart up, he felt so sick and it was beating so fast. "but I think you might just be what I need to convince them otherwise." his other hand was tracing up and down his bare arm, and Kurt couldn't breathe. He felt almost paralyzed by fear.
Oh my god! I do not…I can't breathe…I have bad memories as far as being alone with gay guys in locker rooms to start with, now this…I'm actually scared!
"What… what are you suggesting?"
"That you go out with me."
"No, no thanks." Kurt twisted his arm in his grasp, but Charles was clinging on harder. His brain was fighting for control, having been made sluggish by fear. Charles snorted.
"Don't waste your time on Blaine, he knows about your crush." Kurt looked at him, shocked. "Oh, he's playing you…stringing you along. He hates you, Kurt. He doesn't want to look after you, he thinks you're pathetic, but he's doing his duty, it makes him look good. You think Dalton is new, and different, but it's not, Kurt. It's the same. The same shallowness, the same selfishness, the same desire for recognition. It's all life is, Kurt. That's what you want, isn't it? Your name up in lights, everybody fawning over you." Kurt swallowed, unnerved by how accurate he was. "It won't happen." Kurt's heart was beating with such a ferocity that he thought he might pass out. "You won't make it big. You're not suited for anything. Unless you dress up in drag, pretend you're a woman, you'll never get onto Broadway."
"You- you don't know that."
"Oh, but I do, Kurt. You're nothing, so marry me." Kurt choked on something. Incredulity, fear and shock jumbling together, and rendering him speechless.
"What?"
"Marry me, come to England. I can set you up in a house with servants, and money, and, let's face it, you're not ever going to do better."
"What?"
"Your father owns a tyre shop or a garage or something in Lima, Ohio…you can't be anymore insignificant or pathetic than that!"
Crack!
Kurt slapped him across the face with his free hand. Charles stumbled, slightly, his grip slackening on Kurt's arm, and he wrenched it free. He made a dash for the door, escaping the horrifying reality of whatever it was that was happening the only thing on his mind. Charles caught him. He was surprisingly strong, and he thrust him backwards, sending Kurt crashing into a locker. Charles leapt towards him, his hand clamping back down onto it's previous place, and the other covering his mouth. Kurt couldn't think straight. He couldn't move. What was he going to-
His wild, racing, mind ground to a halt. The hand had removed itself from his mouth, but he couldn't scream because Charles' lips were on his. It was painful, uncomfortable, and he felt like being sick, but worse it was this and Karofsky, melding together. The roughness of lips against his, the anger, the fury, and the fear combining. He was trapped, he was alone, and he knew that Charles, unlike Karfosky, would not storm out.
I don't know what to do. I'm completely alone in here. No one's coming back for me. Oh god, please let someone come looking for me. Blaine, Keats, Juri, Trinity, anyone. Oh Lord, even Sebastian!
Kurt's fevered pleading brought some sense to him. There was no point praying to "God", because there was no one up there. No one watching over him. No one there for Kurt, but Kurt himself. He brought his knee upward, hitting Charles right between the legs. Charles squealed, recoiling, and Kurt took his chance. He flew through the dressing room, and out of the doors. He went sprinting away, through the crowds, the tears beginning to fall as he ran. He could hear his name being called, but he couldn't tell American from English, it was all the same.
"Kurt?" a figure came into his path, and it was the presence of a polo shirt assured him that it wasn't Charles. Two strong arms caught him, gently, holding him still. He bowed his head, tears streaming down his face. "Kurt?" a hand reached for his chin, lifting it, and Kurt had no strength to fight back. Hazel eyes met azure. "Kurt, what's happened?"
Blaine's voice was soft and gentle, filled with concern and hidden panic. Kurt could barely breathe, there was too much on his mind, too much in his chest.
"Don't waste your time on Blaine, he knows about your crush…"
"…Oh, he's playing you…stringing you along. He hates you, Kurt. He doesn't want to look after you, he thinks you're pathetic, but he's doing his duty, it makes him look good…"
"Kurt, tell me!" footsteps were coming to a halt around them. Whispers were filling the air.
Do they know? Are they judging me? What's Charles told them? Is he saying that I forced myself on him? Is he going to destroy me?
"Kurt?" Electric blue eyes were now boring into his. They were terrified. There was open panic, and concern flashing through them. Their voice wavered. "Kurt?" and if anyone didn't think he was pathetic or worthless, it was them. Kurt turned to them, reaching for it. His arms were released, and he fell into chest glad in a blazer. Two spindly arms wrapped around him, holding him with surprising strength. He broke down, chest heaving, and panic pouring out. He was lowered to the ground. The whispers were increasing.
"It's okay." a hand stroked his hair from behind.
I trust Juri. I don't know why, but I just do. He's talented, and sweet, and clumsy, and he's never seemed to have shut me out. He's just there. I can trust him to hold me, and not be mean, or take advantage.
"Get Hammonds." said Sebastian in a serious voice, his eyes were zoned in on the bruises on Kurt's arms, and he had noticed the red, swollen, look to his lips. Blaine looked at him with wide eyes, noting the dark look in his green eyes that he hadn't seen since Freshman year. "Liam, get Hammonds, now!" the blonde dashed off. Blaine was shaking, unnerved by the look in Kurt's eyes. The anger and hurt the last time he'd cried was understandable, but the confusion, and mistrust, and fear that had been in them this time scared him. Kurt was strong. He'd never seemed scared before. Juri was crying, silently. Chris was stroking his hair.
"Get everyone who's staring to clear off." said Wes in a low voice. They nodded, moving off, shooing people away from the little huddle of Franklin Juniors that was Kurt, Juri and Chris.
"Keats, leave." the brown haired boy opened his mouth to protest. "Now." Sebastian stared at him, not allowing him to say that Kurt was his friend.
"Come on." muttered Vince. "Let's go." the little group of friends moved off. Blaine was standing there scared and unsure.
"Sebastian, what happened?" Sebastian, for once, ignored him.
"Did anyone see what happened?" there were shaken heads. "Someone find Trinity." Drew and Fred dashed off without question. Sebastian crossed his arms, marching over to Hammonds who was striding after Liam.
"What is going on?" he said, eyes darting to the two crying boys. Sebastian beckoned for him to step away from the main crowd, but Hammonds refused to move. "What happened?"
"I don't know for sure, but I think someone forced themselves upon Kurt." Hammonds narrowed his eyes.
"Sebastian that is a serious accusation to make." Sebastian swallowed, and nodded.
"I know, but look." he gestured to the finger-shaped bruising on his left arm. Hammonds' eyes narrowed.
"Was this someone from Garfield?" he asked, anger emanating from his body as he drew himself up.
"I don't know, sir, I've sent someone to find Trinity. They have a tendency to be all seeing." Hammonds nodded.
"I should make sure they don't leave until we know what happened." Sebastian gave a curt nod of agreement. Blaine knelt down by Kurt's ear.
"Kurt," he whispered, as Hammonds pulled out his phone. "Kurt, it's Blaine…I don't know what he said to you, but I really care about you…" he nodded to himself, trying to think. "and I remember what you said to me…about Karofsky. I can't say I know how you feel, but I do know how it feels to be alone, and scared, and like no one cares, but they do. I promise you, they do." he leant his head against Kurt's soft hair, and ear. Hammonds put his phone away, appraising the scene.
"You wanted us?"
"You called upon us?"
"You required our-"
"Stop!" said Sebastian, sharply. Trinity fell silent, eyeing him carefully. Drew and Fred came to stand by Juri. "Did you see who hurt Kurt?"
"Hurt Kurt?"
"Kurt was hurt?"
"Why would they?"
"Just answer me! When did you last see him?" they glanced at each other.
"He was in the dressing room."
"Then everyone else came out."
"And Charles went in."
"Charles Lancaster?" They nodded as one. Wes looked crushed at the idea. Hammonds was silently furious.
"Get him to my office." he ordered, voice cold. Trinity looked frightened, and ran away in an instant. He turned to Juri and Blaine, who was still leaning into Kurt, trying to comfort him. "Take Kurt somewhere until he calms down, and then take him to my office. I want you - Sebastian - and the other Warbler councillors, and the prefects. Round them up, now, this is serious. I need to get in touch with the parents. Liam, send the Garfield students on their way." Liam nodded, and the boys dispersed.
"You guys, go." For once, everyone obeyed Sebastian's authority. "I'll call you two when they're all ready for Kurt." Juri nodded, wiping his eyes. "Blaine?" Sebastian leant a hand on Blaine's shoulder. Hazel eyes looked up, tear-filled and shocked. "If Charles did anything, we'll get him expelled. Okay?" Blaine nodded. "Good." he clapped him on the shoulder a couple of times, before he moved off.
Blaine sniffed and looked at Kurt. He had stopped crying, and was simply nestled into Juri's chest. Juri was wiping his eyes with alternate hands, and looked distressed by his friend's sorrow. Chris ruffled Kurt's hair once more and moved off with Drew and Fred, exchanging worried whispers. Wes had hurried away with Sebastian. David looked at Nick and Flint who were on either side of him. Then they moved away, Jeff and Thad on the furthest flanks. Blaine glanced at Juri.
"Kurt, can you stand?" Kurt didn't respond. "Kurt, please, answer me. Can you stand?" There was a long pause, before Kurt gave any response.
I don't know why, but Blaine's words, they comforted me. Feeling him so close, it made me feel safe. I guess this isn't such a stupid crush after all. It's always been about the comfort I get from him. That safety. He cares about me. He said so, and my mind is coming to it's senses as I stop crying…I know better than to trust someone like Charles over Blaine. Blaine is a good man, Charles is…I can stand, though, so I'm going to nod. I'm nodding. I have to stand, now. Standing in process. Complete.
"Kurt?" Kurt looked up into Blaine's eyes. "Kurt…come with me." he looped an arm around his shoulder, and Kurt felt himself shiver. "Juri?" Juri gently took Kurt's hand. Kurt shivered again. The two boys froze.
"Kurt…" said Juri, fear creeping into his voice. Kurt looked between them. He continued to shiver, his teeth chattered as he tried to find something to say. They sagged in relief.
"Here." said Blaine, shrugging off his blazer and draping it around Kurt's shoulders.
"I'm wearing short sleeves! It's Winter!" Blaine chuckled, and Juri just grinned. Blaine wrapped an arm around Kurt's shoulders again, pulling him against his chest to give him his body heat. Juri took his hand again.
"Come on." he said, beginning to lead the way. Kurt smiled up at him, feeling a little tearful again. "You know, you're very sturdy." he commended him as they walked at fast gait. "I would have begged for a long sleeved top." Kurt chuckled under his breath.
"It is not so cold." said Juri and Blaine rolled his eyes.
"Yes, but you're Russian!" Kurt looked and noted that, unlike Blaine, he was not wearing the blue cardigan or a scarf or hat or gloves.
"It is still not cold."
"Well, la di da!" said Blaine, rolling his eyes pointedly at Kurt. Kurt giggled, and Blaine pulled his hat off his head, and stuffed it over his hair. He then unwound his scarf and draped it around Kurt's neck. "Tough enough for you?" he asked, and Juri shook his head.
"Not even close." Blaine laughed, hooking his arm around Kurt, stumbling slightly and almost sending them tumbling to the ground. Juri pulled them upright, taking his eyes off his feet, and colliding with a bench. "Yow!" he exclaimed, uttering a string of words in Russian that Kurt presumed were curses.
"Here." said Blaine, sitting them down on the bench where Kurt had explained about what had happened to McKinley. Kurt frowned at Blaine. "We're just going to sit here, until Sebastian comes for us. You need some time to yourself…feel free to cry again."
I really do feel like crying again. They're being so nice to me. They're not judging me. They clearly think that Charles hurt me, as he did. I wouldn't expect them too, though, because they've known Charles for longer. I'm warming up, inside and out. Blaine is looking after me, he must care because he's starting to shiver himself. I tried to give the scarf back, but he just pushed the hat down over my eyes. God, do I love him…I didn't think he knew. I'll ask Trinity. They know everything…
Next Time- Time Out: Furious at the events after the Football match, Burt pulls Kurt out of Dalton Academy, worried about his safety, and Blaine and Keats agree set aside their differences in attempt to help him come back…