After school Kurt drove home, still not sure what he should think of this day. He might had not actually enjoyed Mercedes' company, but somehow he felt better. Kurt wondered if the girl would sit every day next to him from now on and he had to admit he'd like that. He wouldn't have to worry about other people sitting next to him and maybe he'd even manage to shut out the other students as well. Mercedes was a great distraction. She now knew what was up with him and somehow she seemed to know what he needed to feel more at ease during the day.

He plopped down on his bedroom floor with his back leaning against his bed and turned on his laptop.

Kurt eyes landed on his bag and got his notebook, remembering Mercedes' request. It wouldn't hurt to draw something for her, and he'd take every opportunity to improve his skills.

He opens Skype and clicks on Diva007. It was the first time in years that he was about to start a conversation on his own.

Unicorn:Mercedes? I thought about the favor you asked for....

Unicorn:I think I could do that

Oh my god, what if she was joking after all?

What Kurt didn't know was that a young girl down the street made a little happy dance after recieving his message.

Diva007:OMG THANK YOU KURT

Diva007:I'm curious....do you have more desings? Maybe some you'd show me?

She really is interested, isn't she?

Unircon:ummm, yeah. But... I normally don't show them to anyone...

Diva007:You should. If they are all like the one I saw... damn boy, you've got talent!

Who was Kurt kidding? It felt nice to have someone praising his design. Mercedes only had seen one of his designs so far but maybe he'll put aside his reserves and show her more.

Unicorn:I'll bring them to school tomorrow?

Unicorn:Well, a few of them.

Diva007:can't wait!

Diva007:Do you want me to wait at the parking lot?

Kurt thought about that for a minute. What would be worse? Walking alone and facing possible anxiety attacks alone or meeting Mercedes and having her at his side. He still hated the thought of having someone beside him, even if he kind of knew her. But Kurt also knew that if he wanted to improve he needed to take this next step: let someone in and help him, to trust people. He was horrified and his hands started shaking just by the thought of it.

You never let people in, Kurt, people will leave, they will and you can't do anything about that.

Diva007:you know you don't have to answer right now, or at all if you don't want to.

He sighed, typed a few words and hit enter.

Unicorn:yes, I'd like that.

Diva007:Well, then, see ya tomorrow! And if you change your mind, just let me know okay?

Kurt didn't change his mind, but he certainly did not sleep well that night. He knew he had nothing to worry about. He could always tell Mercedes to stop slipping him notes, right?

But the girl had proven one more than one occasion that she was nice and maybe Kurt just needed to accept that people could be nice without having ulterior motives.

Kurt got up early, taking his time in the shower. Hot showers calmed him down, at least until the water run cold and he had to hurry to get the soap off. The outfit he was going to wear was already waiting on his chair since yesterday. A simple arrangement of black pants, white shirt and a black west. He hadn't decided on a brooch yet, but his mind was switching between the bronze hippo or the little silver bowtie.

After the anxious boy was dressed he sat down in front of his mirror and styled his hair. Kurt was quite proud of his hair, but he hated that he had to cut it so often - it grew like mad. Yes, Kurt Hummel cut his hair alone - too afraid to go to the hairdresser. He just didn't like sitting in front of a mirror, seeing all the flaws in his complexion when another person was around. Everything seemed worse, his skin too pale - if he wasn't blushing like mad -, his nose a little bit too pointed.

Okay, let's do this.

Kurt chose the hippo brooch, an old favorite. He even remembered to pack a few of his favorite designs in his bag.

He left the house five minutes later without breakfast. By the time he reached the parking lot he was a nervous wreck.

God, Hummel, get a grip on it. It's just a girl. You know her, nothing new.

Well, not new? Kurt Hummel's world was about to change, that much he knew, but to which extent he would never even dare to dream.

The day passed by in a blur. Mercedes and he passed notes during class, some of them even made him smile. She sat in all classes next to him, and Kurt was really glad they had the same time-table. They hung out in the diva's car at lunch break, neither of them talking. Mercedes flipped through his scetches and whistled, impressed with his skills. After school he recieved a last note with high praising words on it.

For the first time in years he drove home with a smile on his face,mentally patting himself on the shoulder.

Good work, there is still room for improvement, but I never expected it to actually get better in the first place..

Kurt, indeed, still had a long path in front of him until the bad feelings would be forgotten and he'd be able to spend a whole day without any anxiety attacks.

But this day? It was a like a light in an endless, dark tunnel.

The next week passed in the same pattern, Mercedes never stopped the notes from coming and Kurt actually giggled at some of them. She made him look up with a comment about some student's "horrible wardrobe" and he wondered if she did it on purpose. Kurt was still anxious to talk out loud, but he started to look around on his own and noticed that the new kid would sit next to Mercedes now and then. Some times he got bolder and even studied the boys clothes. He seemed to have a bowtie addiction, but it - somehow - worked for him. The product in his hair would be way too much for every other human being, but it suited him in a weird kind of way. Sometimes, when Kurt glanced up, he catched the bowtie guy's eyes as if he had been starring at Kurt. In this moments his anxiety hit him with full force, his face transformed into a tomato and his mind would tell him to run.

He's looking at me, why is he looking at me? Is there something on my face? Omg what if it's my hair? I need to go to the bathroom, or maybe I should just drive home and hide, why am I even here, I need to get out,...

Mercedes, though, seemed to sense his panic and would write a note instantly, a note which would guide his attention to some shoes or other fashionable disaster on display in the classroom. He didn't know how she did it, he tried to hide his panic and he was sure he didn't look different, otherwise other people or teachers would notice, too, wouldn't they? But no one ever asked him if he was okay. Which was a good thing, he hated people noticing him after all.

Kurt began to feel more at ease during the day, and he knew that he made some big steps in the right direction - thanks to his new friend.

It was just another day, Kurt and Mercedes were sitting in the back when he recieved a new note. He opened it silently - until now they hadn't been caught by a teacher - and inhaled sharply. He didn't know this handwriting.