Chapter 8

The entire period the two talked nonstop, Blaine using his phone to respond when necessary. To Blaine's surprise he was able to keep the majority of the conversation about Kurt. Blaine found out some interesting facts. Kurt's favorite color was blue. His best friend was Rachel Berry. He had never had a boyfriend before, which wasn't a huge surprise because they lived in Lima but it was a relief because Blaine hadn't dated anyone before either. Although Blaine knew Kurt would never actually want to date him anyway. Kurt's favorite movie was Moulin Rouge. Kurt wanted to be on Broadway when he was older. He learned as many random facts about Kurt that he could in that short time span of gym class.

When the two got dressed again Blaine tried not to sneak glances at Kurt as he came out of the stall he was changing in. Blaine also tried not to be disappointed that Kurt had changed in a stall. It wasn't that he was a pervert. He was just really curious to see what Kurt looked like without a shirt... Okay, so maybe he was a bit of a pervert. But who could blame him when Kurt was just so damn perfect?

After gym the two headed out to Kurt's car as Blaine sent a quick text to his mom, telling him where he was. The ride so far had been silent. Kurt couldn't exactly read while driving. Eventually Kurt decided to turn the radio on. The song that was playing was Teenage Dream by Katy Perry. Blaine smiled. He remembered performing this song with the warblers before. Back before he actually knew he was sick. His joy was cut short when Kurt changed the radio channel. "I'm not really a fan of Katy Perry."

Blaine didn't care if it was rude or not, he reached forward and changed the channel back, playfully glaring at Kurt. Kurt looked amused and changed the channel again. The two when back and forth before Kurt finally decided it wasn't safe to be focusing on the radio while driving. "You're lucky you're sick." He teased.

Blaine's mood sunk. He knew Kurt didn't mean it the way it sounded. He was joking. He didn't know how sick Blaine really was. He couldn't know because Blaine had lied to him.

Kurt must have noticed the change because he asked in a soft voice, "Blaine... Are you okay?"

Blaine looked at Kurt and attempted to put on a smile and nodded.

Kurt didn't look convinced but he didn't ask again the entire ride to his house.

When they arrived Kurt showed them into his room. He said that Finn was probably with Puck or someone else and they wouldn't see him until later. Blaine took off his sneakers and took a seat on Kurt's bed, making himself comfortable as Kurt grabbed his laptop and sat across from him.

"So, what should we do this project on?" He asked, handing his phone to Blaine so that he could type his response and hand it back to Kurt.

You can choose. You're the one who has the computer.

Kurt rolled his eyes. "Who has the computer is irrelevant."

The Great Gatsby?

Kurt took the phone and nodded in approval. "I love that one."

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The two spent about an hour doing real work on the report before they got distracted by each other's presence. The two began to talk and laugh and Blaine hadn't felt like this around another person in a really long time.

Now the two were lying side by side on the bed playing truth or dare, Blaine still using the phone to type out any messages he needed to.

Kurt had chosen truth this turn.

What is your entire name?

Kurt looked at him like he was growing a third eye. "Kurt Hummel..." He said slowly.

Blaine shook his head and typed back, Do you not have a middle name?

Kurt laughed a little. "Kurt Elizabeth Hummel."

Now it was Blaine's turn to look at Kurt strangely.

Kurt sighed. "It was my mom's name."

Blaine froze for a second, not knowing how to respond but eventually settled with a small nod.

"It wasn't originally Elizabeth. My middle name I was born with was Christopher. My mom died when I was eight and when I got older I found that I could remember her less and less. When I turned fourteen I asked my dad if he would take me to legally get my name changed from Kurt Christopher Hummel to Kurt Elizabeth Hummel. He agreed. It's just something I did to help me remember my mom."

Blaine sat up and took Kurt's hand, trying his best to convey how sorry he was. The message must have been conveyed because Kurt smiled a little and sat up with him. That's when Blaine suddenly noticed how close they really were.

And he wasn't sure if he was imagining it or if Kurt was moving even closer to him. Or maybe he was leaning closer to Kurt. Either way, they were getting closer very slowly.

Kurt shut his eyes and Blaine knew for a fact that he wasn't imagining this. Kurt was trying to kiss him! And he was sure he would hate himself forever for his next move. He placed his hand over Kurt's mouth and moved away slightly.

Kurt's eyes opened and they were wider than Blaine had ever seen them. Obviously he didn't think he would be rejected like that.

"I-I'm sorry! I-I-I honestly don't know what came over me. I just-"

Blaine held his hand out and over Kurt's mouth again to single him to be quiet before taking the phone and typing out a message for Kurt.

I didn't stop you because I didn't want to kiss you. I stopped you because I can't just kiss you when I've lied to you so much.

Kurt read it and looked up at him confused. "You lied to me? About what?"

Blaine looked down and took a deep breath before typing again.

I'm not sick. At least, not the way I said I was.

Kurt shook his head in confusion. "I don't understand..."

I'm permanently mute. Blaine handed him the phone, expressionless. Ready for Kurt to scream at him and tell him what a horrible person he was for lying this entire time.

But Kurt still looked confused. "Is this a joke?"

Blaine simply shook his head and when Kurt didn't say anything he moved to grab the phone.

"Were you born like this?"

Blaine shook his head and typed a long explaining message onto the phone.

It started a few years ago when I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. At first it was expanding and I would just get these headaches that got worse and worse but eventually it landed on the part of my brain that controls my speech. I can read and write and understand words but I can't remember how to physically speak them. I haven't spoken for two years.

Kurt stared at the phone in clear disbelief before he looked up to Blaine. "So... you have a brain tumor? You have cancer?"

Blaine nodded again and continued his explanation.

Technically my condition is called Aphasia. There can be all different affects when you have it but my centers around the physical act of knowing how to speak. But as the tumor grows I'll eventually forget how to write, and read, and maybe eventually how to understand what people are saying. But the doctors don't think it will get that far and me still be alive.

Kurt read and shook his head, tears starting to form. "How am I supposed to believe this? It's-It's not fair. I really like you... and you're dying?"

Blaine held out his hand to Kurt after he typed out his next message, who readily took it, to his surprise.

There is a surgery to remove the tumor but my parents can't afford it. It's more money then we will probably ever have. Even if they did pay for the surgery somehow, there's only about a thirty percent chance that I'll survive, given the size and location of the tumor. And if I did, there is nothing that would guarantee the cancer wouldn't come back again. I am so sorry I didn't tell you. I should have and I know that. I just felt so normal around you and I really like you too. That's why I didn't want you to know what a fucking disaster I was.

Blaine was now crying himself as he watched Kurt read the message. Kurt plopped the phone onto the bed and took Blaine's face in his hands. "You're not a disaster. You're probably the strongest person I've ever met and we just met this week. I may not know everything there is to know about you but I want to find out. And since you've been like this for a year now..." Blaine was shocked when Kurt lowered his hands to sign out, 'I'm assuming and hoping you know how to sign.'

Blaine nodded in his own disbelief. Why would Kurt know sign language?

Kurt smiled at him, although he still looked extremely sad. "You can just sign to me then and we can give your thumbs a break."

Blaine nodded again before Kurt spoke. "Now, tell me everything I need to know. No more lies."