"Are you nervous, Sweetie?" Meg asked Blaine as she handed him his book bag and adjusted his bowtie. Blaine had turned eleven the previous month, and today was his first day of middle school.
"A little."
She smiled softly, placing a hand on his cheek. "You'll be fine."

Meg tried to be supportive and reassuring, but inside she knew that middle school was an entirely different experience than elementary. She knew that the kids would be more cruel, more competitive, and not as accepting of everyone as innocent elementary schoolers are.

"The bus is here, Blaine." She said. He nodded nervously. "Have a good day!" She called after him as he walked out the front door, and towards the bus. Meg prayed for Blaine's sake that he would be able to enjoy middle school, and make some good friends. He deserved it.
__________________________________________________________

Kurt

Kurt and Burt had been in a much better place since their first visit to Elizabeth's grave. Burt had spent the rest of the night holding Kurt as the young boy repeated 'I miss her' over and over again.

Throughout the next year, they had grown closer as father and son. They sat down often to talk about their days, and Kurt started confiding some of his thoughts and feelings in his father.

Kurt was now eleven, and far more mature than most kids his age. He began cooking meals for Burt and himself. He visited Burt in the garage on Saturdays, and Burt began teaching Kurt all of the inner workings of cars, even though that wasn't something that Kurt was particularly interested in learning.

He had quite a fashion sense for an eleven year old, and often asked an overwhelmed Burt which scarf matched his outfit better.

Today was Kurt's first day of sixth grade. Burt was surprised that his son didn't seem the least bit nervous. In fact, he looked rather excited. "Son?"
Kurt looked up. "Yes?"
"Are you going to be alright?"
Kurt looked momentarily confused as he thought about his dad's words. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Burt seemed to hesitate for a while, before he took Kurt's hands into his, and led the small boy to the sofa nearby. "Look, Kurt. I gotta tell you. Kids your age, well, some of them aren't nice. Some of them have hard lives at home so they…well, they tend to take it out on other kids. Especially some of the ones that are smaller than themselves." Burt paused, almost grimacing at how small and fragile Kurt seemed sitting right beside him.

"You mean bullies?" Kurt asked.

Burt sighed, nodding. "Bullies. Kurt, I just, wanted to tell you to be careful. And if anybody ever tried to hurt you, or do anything to you, please tell me right away. Got that, bud?"

Kurt didn't answer straight away. Instead, he seemed to be pondering something.
"Kurt?" Burt questioned. Kurt's head snapped up, and he finally sighed.
"Dad, I'm different. I know I am. I always have been different from other boys. I hate getting dirty, I like clothes instead of sports, and I know more about Broadway than most adults. I don't know why I'm this way, but I'm not going to change me. I don't care what anybody thinks or does to me. They can't take away who I am. And I won't let them."

When Kurt finished, he heard the bus approaching, and quickly made his way to the front door, Burt following closely behind. Kurt turned around to give his dad a short hug. "I'll be careful, Dad. I promise." And then he turned and strode a couple of houses down to where his school bus was waiting.

Burt stood in the doorway, marveling at how Kurt walked with his head held high, like nothing in the world could stop him. Elizabeth would have been proud.
__________________________________________________________

Blaine

Blaine stepped through the doors of South Westerville Middle School, nervous as hell. It didn't take him long to find his assigned locker, and begin unloading his book bag. He walked towards his first class, and realizing that he was one of the first students in the room, quickly took a seat at the very back of the classroom. As other students began to trickle in, Blaine concentrated on breathing in and out. He had noticed that some of his peers were considerably bigger than he was, and Blaine would be lying if he said that it didn't intimidate him.

The teacher decided to seat the students alphabetically, so Blaine was transferred to the very first desk at the front of the classroom. He mentally groaned, thinking that it would probably be the same way in all of his classes.

By the time the final bell rang at 2:30, Blaine breathed a sigh of relief. All things considered, his day could have gone much worse. Middle school didn't seem to be all that bad, apart from the abundance of homework he had received on the very first day.

Blaine boarded his school bus for the route home, being careful to avoid the seats in the back where a few particularly intimidating eighth graders sat.

Blaine got off the bus when it pulled up to his home, and he immediately received a big hug from his Aunt as soon as he walked through the door.

"How was your first day, Sweetie?" She asked curiously. Blaine smiled.
"It was…good. It was very good." And Blaine grinned to himself, because it was the first time he'd been able to honestly say that in quite a while.
__________________________________________________________

Kurt

Kurt walked down the halls of McKinley Middle for the first time, somewhat unsure of his environment. He hadn't come across anyone particularly unfriendly, though he knew it was only the beginning of the day.

Kurt stopped in front of his locker and, upon opening it, hung up a mirror on the door. He had to have a way to make sure that his already perfect hair stayed perfect in between classes. Kurt then took out his schedule, noticing that he had English for his first period. Kurt did a little inward cheer, because English had always been his favorite school subject. At least I'll have a good start to each day Kurt thought to himself.

He reviewed his schedule once more, grimacing when he saw that he started gym the following week. Unlike English, Kurt hated gym. He hated getting sweaty, and he was sure that he would appall the crowded boys' locker room.

Kurt's English teacher was decent. He was nice, but Kurt could tell that he could become strict if pushed.

The rest of Kurt's day went by, uneventfully. Kurt had boarded the school bus home with a smile on his face. A part of him knew that as this was only the first day, he shouldn't get his hopes up about not being bullied, but another part of him was excited. The new school year, as well as the possibility of meeting some new friends would be good for him. He just knew it.
__________________________________________________________

Blaine

The following day at school, Blaine was at his locker, gathering his books and an extra pencil for his next class. Suddenly, he felt himself being shoved up against his own locker, the cold metal scraping at his back.

The first thing that registered in Blaine's mind was fear. He should have known that the bullies were just waiting for the right moment to torture him. But, as he looked up, Blaine didn't expect the sight before him. His fear vanished when he saw an Asian boy, staring at him with a look that practically matched Blaine's.

"I'm so sorry about that!" The boy all but yelled. "I can be clumsy, sometimes. I tripped over my shoelace, and I'm sorry you were in the danger zone."
After staring at the boy for a few short moments, Blaine waved a hand in front of him. "It's no problem."
The boy, who was only slightly taller than Blaine, held out his hand. "I'm Wes." He said.
Blaine took Wes' hand and shook it quickly. "Blaine."
"Nice to meet you." Wes replied.

Blaine only nodded, turning back to his locker to retrieve the remaining books that he needed. When he turned back around, he was surprised to find that the boy was still standing behind him.

"I um…I still kind of feel bad. I want to make it up to you."
"Don't bother." Blaine replied. "It's no big deal." He began walking in the direction of his Science class.
"Wait!" Wes called behind him. Blaine turned and faced the boy curiously.
"My friend David and I…we usually eat lunch together at one of the booths. Do you, maybe want to join us? We like getting to know new people." He trailed off, though Blaine didn't miss the faint hopefulness in Wes' voice.
"Sure." Blaine answered, quietly. The other boy grinned.
"Awesome."
__________________________________________________________

Kurt

Kurt's first week had been, surprisingly, great. Nobody had been mean to him, his classes and teachers were going to be good, and he had even met a nice girl named Mercedes, whom he was sure he would be able to call a friend in no time.

Kurt spent the weekend doing his homework and working at the garage a little with Burt. Before he knew it, Monday had rolled around again.

Kurt attended his English, Math, and Science classes, before sitting down to lunch with Mercedes.
"So, we have to start gym today." She said, groaning.
Kurt cringed. "I know. If you ask me, gym is a waste of time. Sure, I understand the importance of physical exercise, but I can just as well do that at home. In my own clothes. With a shower nearby."
Mercedes nodded. "I hear you."

They continued to talk quietly about their days so far, before the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch time and the beginning of the day's remaining two periods.

Kurt's History class seemed to breeze by, and before he knew it, he was heading down to the boys' locker room, gym bag in hand.
He entered, and was immediately repulsed by the stench of sweat and dirty socks. Kurt found an empty spot on one of the benches, and took his gym clothes out of the drawstring bag. He looked around nervously, mentally wondering how he could avoid having to change in front of the other twenty or so boys. He spotted a lone bathroom stall, and, relieved, made his way over to it.

Standing next to the door of the stall was a rather large boy who smirked down at Kurt as he approached. "Too good to change in front of everybody else like the rest of us are you?"
Kurt, alarmed and slightly wary of the boy's tone, simply shook his head. "I'm just, uncomfortable with that. That's all." He answered quietly.
The larger boy barked out a laugh. "Scared we're going to make fun of your body or something?"
Kurt's face blushed red as he stuttered. "I—I no. I just, don't like changing around, um, other people." With that, Kurt hurried into the stall and closed the door before the bigger boy could taunt him some more.

He heard a few of the boys cackling outside. "Well, we have half a year of this stupid gym class. You're bound to have to show off that puny body of yours sometime. Just wait and see." The boy yelled from outside the stall, before he and several others retreated to the gym.

Kurt stood in the bathroom stall for a few minutes after they left, trying to process what had just happened. He felt a sudden urge to cry, but pushed the feelings back. It was just a joke…He told himself. They were just messing with you. He would not let this get to him.

Kurt quickly dressed, and exited the stall, completely ready for his day to be over.

Kurt walked through his front door, surprised to see his dad home early from work. He found Burt in the kitchen, putting the final ingredients on a homemade pizza, before popping it into the oven. "Hey Kiddo."

"Hey, Dad. What are you doing home? And making dinner this early?"
Burt was quiet for a minute, before he sighed. "Do you have a lot of homework today?"

Kurt, somewhat confused by the sudden question, shook his head. "I finished it all in class. Why do you want to know?"
"Well, I—" Burt started, but stopped, hesitating to say what he wanted so desperately to say. "I just…I'm missing your mom today. A lot. You know, some days I'm fine, but other days I just…just want to be near her again. I know we always go in March, but I want to go visit her. I know it's quite a drive, and you have school tomorrow, but—"
"Yes." Kurt cut off his father before he finished. The moment after Burt mentioned the idea, Kurt knew he wanted to go talk with his mom. After the day he had, it would be just what he needed. "I'd love that."

Burt cleared his throat, surprised that Kurt had made no objections. "Ok then. I guess we can eat, and then leave."
Kurt nodded, and headed upstairs to change.

Burt and Kurt ate in silence, and, after Burt had cleared and washed the dishes, he and Kurt hopped into his car, beginning the drive to Westerville.
__________________________________________________________

Blaine

"I'll see you tomorrow, guys!" Blaine called as he climbed out of Wes' mom's car. Mrs. Montgomery had volunteered to drive David and Blaine home, instead of them having to ride the bus.

"See you, Blaine!" David and Wes called back simultaneously.

Blaine chuckled to himself. In just a week, he had grown extremely fond of the two of them. The three ate lunch together every day, and had even once gotten together after school to compare their quiz notes.

Blaine was immensely grateful to have made not one, but two close friends so early in the school year.

He walked inside and found his Aunt sitting on the couch, flipping through an old photo album, a single tear track apparent on her face.

"Aunt Meg?" Blaine whispered, slowly tip-toeing up to her. She looked up at him and forced a timid smile.
"Hello Blaine."

Blaine was about to ask her the obvious question of what was wrong, when he noticed what she held in her hand. It was a picture of herself, Tony, and Blaine, all gathered around a small birthday cake. Blaine recognized the picture. It had been taken a few years ago, on his Uncle Tony's birthday. Realization then hit Blaine like a freight train. "Today was his birthday." He stated aloud.

Meg nodded, sliding over on the leather couch to make room for her nephew. Blaine sat and wrapped his arms around his Aunt in the most comforting way possible. He held her for a while, before a though occurred to him. "Why don't we go wish him a happy birthday?"

Meg looked up, looking hesitant. "I don't know, Blaine. You have school tomorrow, and—"
"It's only a few minutes drive. And we won't stay long. I promise." He insisted.
Meg sighed, pondering his request. "Alright."
Blaine offered her a hint of a smile. "Let's go."
__________________________________________________________

Kurt

Burt and Kurt arrived at the cemetery a little after six thirty, which meant that they still had plenty of daylight left before the sun went down. They walked over to Elizabeth's grave, Kurt gently placing the recently bought flowers he held on the ground in front of him. He blew a kiss at the headstone. "I love you, Mom."
Kurt watched as his father knelt down in front of him. "I miss you so much, Liz." Burt began.

Kurt, deciding not to intrude on his dad's moment, turned to walk back to Burt's car, intending to come back after his father was done. Kurt rounded the corner where the car was parked and felt himself collide with something.

"Ouch!" He heard someone say in front of him. Kurt, rubbing at his now sore elbow, looked up. To his surprise, his eyes caught the deep hazel ones of the same curly haired boy he saw every time he had visited his mother. Beside him stood the same woman the boy was always with. Kurt vaguely wondered what relation she had to the boy.

"Watch where you are going, Blaine." She said to her nephew, before turning to Kurt. "I'm terribly sorry about that."

Kurt shook his head. "It was my fault. I should have been watching where I was going." He said politely.
The woman faintly smiled at him, before taking the boy's (Blaine, apparently was his name) hand, leading him away from Kurt.

Blaine, however, looked back, waving slightly at Kurt before rounding the corner, into the cemetery.
Kurt waved back, but the boy was already out of sight.