Kurt was that stereotypical gay that you saw in movies and television shows, always followed with a laugh track. He didn’t exactly flick his hand or speak with a lisp, but he had a high voice, both at rest and singing, and soft more feminine looking features. It is because of this that Kurt didn’t even get the dignity of coming out of the closet - he was kicked out the second he entered high school.

It didn’t help his social life that being gay was the worst thing you could be at Powell High School.

He was also the only gay kid at the school.

Well, at least, who was out. No one who was gay and able to hide it would be stupid enough to actually come out until after they were out of high school.

So Kurt lead a lonely life throughout most of the first few months of high school. He didn’t have friends. He sat alone at lunch until he quickly learned that eating in an empty classroom saved him embarrassment and teasing. Mostly, Kurt looked forward to the day he graduated and got out of this town. Far, far away.

That all changed the day Blaine Anderson, a quiet freshman, came out.

Blaine didn’t look gay. Not like Kurt “looked” gay. In fact, the few times Kurt saw Blaine at freshman orientation and around school, he looked like any other freshman; abet, much shorter. He had messy, curly hair and bright hazel eyes. He was actually really, really cute.

Kurt saw Blaine shoved into lockers and teased in the hall the day he came out, wincing, because he knew what that was like. He had been the sole receiver of this torture for months now. A part of Kurt wanted to walk up to Blaine and do…something. Comfort him?

The other part of Kurt was a coward, especially in the presence of such a cute boy.

So Kurt went to his usual classroom for lunch, pulling out the sandwich he had mad himself that morning and picking at the crust slowly.

“Oh - sorry,” came a voice from the doorway. Kurt jumped and looked up, wondering how he would be able to get out of the room if the bully was blocking the door, then stuttered when he saw Blaine Anderson standing there, looking worse for wear.

“I just - I thought this would be empty,” he stammered. “I’ll just - be going.”

“Wait!” said Kurt and, wow, did he just say that? “Just…you’re trying to get away from them, right?” he asked, quieter. Blaine nodded slowly. “Well, they never look in here. I mean, it’s a science room. Most of those Neanderthals couldn’t find their way to this building.”

Blaine laughed, his smile reaching his eyes and crinkling his eyebrows in a cute way. Kurt’s heart jump as Blaine closed the door and walked over to the table he sat at, sitting down slowly. His hands rested on the table, tapping out a beat. Kurt just…stared.

“What?” asked Blaine.

“What?”

“You’re just…staring at me.”

“Oh. I’m sorry I just - I don’t…understand.”

“Understand what?” asked Blaine, turning his head to the side slightly. He resembled a confused puppy more than a high school freshman.

Kurt’s mouth went dry and he looked down at his sandwich. “Why would you come out?” he asked quietly. “If I could hide like you, I wouldn’t come out until the day after graduation, when I’m well on my way out of this town.”

“I was…tired of hiding,” said Blaine, and he did sound like it - tired. “It’s not all you think it is. If anything…I admired you more.”

“Me?”

“You take it, everyday. You stand tall and don’t deny who you are,” said Blaine softly. “You’re brave.”

“I didn’t choose it,” said Kurt. “I didn’t choose it, like you did. You’re the brave one.”

Blaine laughed, once, humorlessly. “If only.”

They paused for a moment.

“I guess I never introduced myself,” said Blaine weakly. “I’m Blaine Anderson.” He held out his hand for Kurt to shake. Kurt reached out hesitantly. His hand was nice. Warm.

“Kurt Hummel,” he returned. Kurt looked down at his sandwich, then back at Blaine, who had dropped his hand back to the table. He realized something. “They took your lunch, didn’t they?”

Blaine looked embarrassed for the first time. “They threw it in the trash can.”

Kurt grabbed once half of his sandwich and held it out to Blaine, who looked stunned at this. “Here. It’s turkey and cheese on wheat. I hope you don’t mind…”

“No - that’s wonderful.” He grabbed the sandwich, looking at Kurt with his wide, hazel eyes. “Thank you, Kurt.”

From that day on, Kurt had someone to eat lunch with. Even talk to, though they shyly did so.

Two weeks later, Kurt and Blaine were on their way to the Sadie Hawkins dance together. Kurt had, bumbling and nervously, asked Blaine to go with him a week prior.

“As friends,” he stressed quickly, at the uncertain look on Blaine’s face. “It might be fun.”

“Of course, Kurt,” said Blaine after a moment of thought. “I’d love to go.”

Kurt had dressed in a suit he’d just bought, a powder blue tie and shiny new dress shoes. Blaine looked handsome in his own suit, though it was a little baggy on his small frame.

Kurt really hated to admit to himself that he had a crush on Blaine, but he was the only other gay guy he had ever met - it was natural, right? Obviously he would attach some feelings to Blaine.

Right?

Kurt’s dad dropped them off at the dance, telling them that he would be back right after the dance to pick them up. Kurt and Blaine glanced at each other awkwardly before walking up to the dance, a safe distance between them.

The dance itself went as well as Kurt could have predicted. They received dirty looks. A few slurs were thrown at them. For the most part they stayed on the outskirts of the dance. They danced during fast songs, not slow ones, never touching.

Until the last song of the dance.

When the slower melody began, Kurt was ready to turn and sit back down at the table they had claimed at the beginning of the night, but he felt a hand grab his own.

“No, I think we should dance to this,” said Blaine.

“But…it’s slow.”

“So? I want to dance with you.”

Kurt blinked as Blaine stepped closer to him. “Uh. Who’s going to lead?” asked Kurt, his cheeks burning.

“You can. You’re taller.” Blaine smiled. Kurt nodded and stepped forward, grabbing one of Blaine’s hands. They felt just as warm and nice as the first day they introduced themselves; only two weeks ago, but what felt like years ago.

You have stolen my heart
You have stolen my heart

After the dance was over, Kurt and Blaine walked out of the school, shoulders brushing against each other.

“I’m so glad we went,” said Blaine quietly. “For a while…I was scared to go.”

“Me too,” said Kurt. He looked around the parking lot for his dad’s car, near the back of the school.

“And I’m glad I have you, in high school,” continued Blaine, looking at Kurt with a smile that made his heart stutter. “I can’t imagine going through all this alone. You make this easier…you’re a good friend.”

“You are, too,” said Kurt, quietly. He couldn’t even put into words how happy he was that he wasn’t alone anymore.

“Aww, isn’t this cute. Looks like the queers are about to suck face.”

The harsh voice broke the moment, suddenly and cruelly. Kurt looked over to see three upperclassman in letterman jackets.

Kurt really didn’t know how the next few minutes suddenly happened. One moment, the three bullies were walking over to them, and the next Kurt was being held back painfully by his arms by one of the bigger guys as the other to started punching and kicking Blaine violently.

“We know it’s your fault, Hummel,” sneered one of the boys. “You’re the one that made Anderson a fairy like you.”

No, Kurt wanted to scream. No. Stop.

But he watched as they hurt Blaine. Then, he was thrown to the ground and a sharp kick made him lose his breath. Kurt lost track of the pain. For a brief moment, he wondered if he would pass out.

Then, it suddenly stopped.

There was the sound of shoes running away quickly. Then Kurt just…slept.

When Kurt next awoke, he was in a stiff and uncomfortable bed. His eyes opened and the first thing he saw was his dad, sitting across the room, eyes out of focus as they stared in the direction of the television.

“Dad?” he said, his voice cracking.

His dad looked over at him, relief flooding his features. When Kurt had been given a glass of water and could speak clearer, he asked him what happened. His dad explained that he had been beaten up at the dance, and Kurt remembered. Remembered Blaine’s face as the grabbed him. Kicked him.

“Blaine…?”

“He’s ok. Just as beat up and bruised as you,” said his dad. “He’s in another room with his parents.”

“Can I see him?”

“Not now, sport. Later. I’ll talk to his parents.”

In the end, Kurt didn’t get to talk to Blaine. Kurt was released from the hospital a day later, only a few hours after Blaine, apparently. His dad dodged his questions when he asked if he could visit Blaine’s room. Kurt was pretty sure Blaine’s parents didn’t want him there. Blaine had mentioned their lukewarm reactions to his coming out.

When Kurt got home, he fully expected to text or call Blaine, but the meds he was given knocked him out the moment he fell into bed.

When Kurt finally got a chance to call Blaine, the line had been disconnected. Kurt stared at the phone in his hands, unfocused.
Kurt made his dad drive to Blaine’s house, but they found a for sale sign in the front yard and an empty house. Kurt looked at the house, his hope suddenly broken. His friend had just…left.

“I’m sorry, kid,” said his dad, patting his shoulder reassuringly.

When his dad brought up the subject of home school a week later, when his ribs and bruises were healing, Kurt didn’t fight it. What was the point in returning to school, anyway?