Kurt woke up slowly the next morning, blinking his eyes a few times to get used to the dim morning light coming through the gap in his curtains. As he became more aware of his room, he realized that he was wearing a t-shirt – he suddenly remembered his panic attack, and how Blaine took care of him, and changed his shirt for him, and stayed with him.

Just like he’d asked.

He felt something warm move against his stomach, and was immediately aware that his shirt had gotten bunched up during in the night, and turned a deep red –butterflies roaring to life inside– once he realized that Blaine’s hand was splayed across his exposed stomach. Once he felt his face return to a normal temperature, Kurt rolled over to face Blaine and found him starting to open his eyes. He watched as Blaine blinked a few times, bringing the room into focus, and Kurt couldn’t help but to stare at how his eyes were a deep amber, instead of the light honey color they were during the day.

Kurt barely heard Blaine say Good Morning and didn’t respond, lifting a hand instead and brushing the tips of his fingers against Blaine’s jaw.

“I don’t want you to leave.” Kurt said, speaking softly. “Is that selfish?”

He blushed at his own question, and looked away for only a moment as his fingers carefully went over Blaine’s bruise, which was just starting to fade.

Blaine leaned slightly into Kurt’s touch.

“No. I don’t want to leave either.”

Kurt didn’t say anything, moving his hand away from Blaine’s jaw to rest on his arm, which was still draped around Kurt’s waist. Blaine squirmed around a bit – until his head was tucked under a giggling Kurt’s chin, his forehead resting on Kurt’s chest.

“Can we just stay here?”

Blaine’s voice was muffled against Kurt’s shirt.

“We have to get up sometime.”

“I know, but for now?”

Kurt hugged Blaine tight to him.

“For now.”

Kurt rubbed Blaine’s back, putting him to sleep and listening to Blaine’s deep, even breaths until he dropped off too.

00

Blaine woke up first this time, snuggling deeper into his warm, firm pillow. He cracked one eye open and, oh yeah, he’d fallen asleep on Kurt, who was now laid out on his back with Blaine latched onto his side, his forehead resting against Kurt’s neck. He laid there for a while, unmoving, making sure not to wake Kurt. He focused on how solid and warm Kurt felt beneath him, and he couldn’t help but want to run a hand over Kurt’s stomach again.

Blaine moved his hand from Kurt’s chest and slowly brought it down to them hem of Kurt’s shirt, slipping his hand underneath the soft fabric. He felt Kurt’s muscles clench underneath his hand as he gently moved his thumb, feeling Kurt’s soft skin. He felt a shiver go through Kurt’s entire body, making a warm sensation go through his. He stilled his thumb when he felt Kurt start to stir. He closed his eyes and pretended to still be sleeping.

“Blaine?”

Kurt whispered, moving his shirt and resting a hand on top of Blaine’s, squeezing it.

“Blaine. We have to wake up now.”

Blaine lifted his head from Kurt’s neck to look at him.

“I don’t want to wake up.”

Kurt smiled.

“It’s a little late for that, don’t ya think?”

Blaine smiled and chuckled.

“No.”

He snuggled back down into Kurt’s neck, making Kurt laugh.

“Okay, we can lay here for a little bit, but we can’t avoid it forever.”

“Can’t we?”

“No.”

“I know.”

Blaine sighed.

Kurt liked the way his breath felt hot against his neck and how his hand felt warm and heavy on his stomach; Blaine was making him like being touched.

An hour later they got out of bed, not bothering to talk about Blaine going back to his parents, or the rapidly-approaching issue of going to a public school. They had simply laid there, Kurt petting at Blaine’s hair and Blaine rubbing Kurt’s stomach, enjoying the comfort the others presence provided.

It didn’t take long for them to pack up Blaine’s things, even with them dragging it out as long as they could; by one thirty, they were done and looking at the two bags, packed and waiting at the foot of Kurt’s bed. Blaine took Kurt’s hand but made no indication that he was going to move. Kurt squeezed back, and turned his head to look at him.

“Blaine?”

“Hmm?”

Kurt tugged gently on Blaine’s hand, making him meet his eyes.

“Yes, Kurt?”

“I’m not sure we can put it off much longer.”

Blaine sighed.

“I know.”

Blaine let go of Kurt’s hand and stepped forward, shouldering his backpack and picking up his suitcase. He turned around to look at Kurt, who had his head cocked to one side and was smiling at him with something like fondness.

Kurt walked over to the window and opened it, helping Blaine and his bags through and following after. Blaine opened his window without much difficulty and threw his bags inside and turned around.

“Can we stay out here for a little while?”

“Of course.”

Kurt sat crisscrossed and Blaine put his head in Kurt’s lap, looking up at him.

“Kurt, I’ve never been to a public school before. I don’t even know the name of the school. How am I supposed to do this?”

Blaine let his eyes fall closed when Kurt started running his fingers through his curls.

“It’s St. James and you’ll be okay. Have you really never been to a public school?”

“Never.”

“Wow. Well St. James is probably going to be a lot different. The work won’t be as difficult, the people are probably less civilized than what you’re used to.”

Blaine opened his eyes.

“Less civilized?”

“Remember how I told you that they aren’t the nicest?”

Blaine nodded his head as best as he could.

“Well I meant that. The other kids in our grade don’t really like me so I get picked on a lot.”

Blaine reached up, finding Kurt’s hands and taking them out of his hair to hold them, not caring about the wrong angles and just wanting to feel closer to Kurt.

“Don’t look like that.”

Blaine hadn’t realized his eyes had started to water, and quickly released a hand to wipe them.

“Why shouldn’t I? You’re amazing.”

Kurt blushed.

“Thank you, but I’m used to it. It’s normal for any number of people to make some kind of comment when they walk by. It’s nothing I can’t handle. You should know that though, that the people here don’t like what they think is different and if they think I’m different, they’re going to think the same about you, especially if you’re seen with me.”

Blaine looked perplexed that people would do something like that just because they thought somebody different. He thought to Dalton and the different private schools he’d gone to. Everyone was mostly cordial towards each other, even if they didn’t know you. Everyone behaved and did what they were told, it was orderly. Public school didn’t sound orderly at all.

“Anybody in particular I should watch out for?”

Kurt smiled down at him.

“You’re not scared to be seen with me?”

Blaine scoffed.

“I’m sure there are worse things I could do than be seen with my best friend.”

Kurt’s stomach flopped at best friend and he did his best to supress a blush.

“You should look out for Rachel Berry. She’s not one of the bullies, but she might just be worse.”

Blaine laughed.

“I’m serious – once you meet her, you’ll understand.”

“How do you know I’ll meet her?”

“She’s like a tracking dog – when she catches a scent, she’s unstoppable.”

Blaine looked borderline scared.

“That’s–that’s–”

Kurt huffed out a laugh.

“Yeah, I know.”

“Anybody else?”

“Yes, steer clear of the cheerleaders. All of them. They started practicing with the Cheerio’s – that’s the high school team- last year and they went from not so bad to downright vicious. Then there are the jocks, they are easy to spot, they all wear bright red letterman jackets, I steer clear of them whether they do anything or not.”

“Okay, so there’s Rachel Berry, cheerleaders and jocks.”

Kurt nodded his head.

“I think I can do that.”

“I think you can, too; I’m just nervous about the older kids and what they might do.”

Blaine hummed in agreement, closing his eyes and letting Kurt resume playing with his hair.

00

Five days before school starts, Elizabeth takes the boys to pick up their school schedules and lets them wander around, to try and find their way around their new school.

It takes two hours, many wrong turns and one balled up map, but eventually they get it right before getting lost trying to find the front of the school again.

The next few days are spent with Blaine patiently waiting on the edge of Kurt’s bed as he goes through every single item of clothing that he owns in an attempt to put together the perfect first day outfit.

Once Kurt has decided – a light blue button up with the sleeves rolled, and a pair of white skinny jeans with brown leather ankle boot – he sets his sights on Blaine’s wardrobe.

“No.”

“Please?”

“As much as I appreciate the offer, I’m not sure I can sit through another few days of clothes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“Well, I tried.”

They spend their last days of summer laid out on Kurt’s bed talking about what high school might be like, if it will be the best years of their lives like some people say they will be. Kurt had rolled onto his back.

“I really hope they aren’t.”

“I hope they aren’t either.”

For now, though, things seem pretty good.

00

Blaine woke up an hour earlier than he was planning to on the first day; it’s five thirty in the morning and he’s lying in bed, completely awake. Within a few minutes, he rolls out of bed and heads to the bathroom to shower.

Kurt has been awake since six. It’s now six thirty and he’s showered, dressed and fixing his hair when there’s a knock on his window. He goes to open it for Blaine. They’d made an agreement with his mother to drive them to school as long as Blaine got there by seven.

“Morning,” Kurt said, going back to the mirror and quickly putting the final touches on his hair.

“Please tell me you’re nervous. I’ve been awake since five thirty and I think I might throw up.”

Blaine wrung his hands and now that Kurt really looked at him, he looked kind of pale. He got up and wrapped Blaine in a hug.

“You’ll be okay. Come on, let’s get breakfast.”

Blaine took a deep breath and grabbed one of Kurt’s hands, letting him lead them to the kitchen where Elizabeth had two bowls and cereal set on the counter.

“Good morning, boys.”

“Morning, Mom!”

“Morning, Liz!”

They didn’t talk much until Elizabeth dropped them off at the front of the school, wishing them luck.

The day goes by in a blur.

The boys had English I together for their second period, but they were separated by assigned seating – Blaine scowled at the words – but the rest of the day they have different classes on different sides and levels of the school. The only other time they have together is lunch, which they are both thankful for.

They met in front of the vending machines in front of the cafeteria. Kurt got there first and awkwardly stood around, looking every few seconds down a different hallway for Blaine. When he arrived he looked really upset. Kurt didn’t say anything right away – he knew Blaine probably wouldn’t talk about whatever upset him in the middle of the crowded cafeteria area anyways.

“I found a nice place in the courtyard where we can sit. Follow me?”

Blaine held out his hand, waiting for Kurt to take it like they always did when following the other. Kurt didn’t grab it and gave Blaine an apologetic look.

“We can’t. Not in school.”

If possible, Blaine looked even more upset than before.

“Oh. Okay. Well, lead the way.” He said, his voice shaking slightly.

Kurt started walking, checking every now and then to make sure Blaine was still behind him. The area was packed with people walking and eating and talking until they got to the courtyard. It was quieter and fewer people were around, thanks to the lingering heat.

Kurt led them to a far table and sat down. He waited until Blaine was seated next to him before asking.

“Did something happen?”

Kurt pulled out the bag containing his lunch and watched Blaine slump in his seat.

“I got body-checked into a locker.”

Kurt sat up straight.

“What?! Who did it?”

He’d never gotten physically bullied before and with what happened with Blaine and his father, Kurt wanted nothing more than to leave school right now and take Blaine home.

“I-I don’t know – a big blonde kid wearing a letterman jacket.”

Kurt pulled him into a tight hug but quickly let go when Blaine let out a pained hiss.

“Sorry! Are you okay? I mean, of course you’re not okay. Where does it hurt?”

Blaine closed his eyes and took a deep breath to try and get rid of the pain quicker.

“Mostly my shoulder; I hit pretty hard.”

Kurt took Blaine’s hand, not caring if anybody saw now. His best friend had gotten hurt and it was the least he could do.

They didn’t talk about it any further, changing the subject to what classes they had left and where they would meet after school let out.

00

Kurt was taking a shortcut to get to his furthest class (5th hour) and was walking quickly outside towards the back of the school when he saw a group of three boys heading in his direction. Every instinct told him to turn and run but he couldn’t be late, it was his first day. He continued on and the boys didn’t even seem to consider him.

He thought he was in the clear until he heard them turn around.

Picking up his pace to a near run, he almost got to the doors he needed to go through when they caught up.

“Hey, homo!”

Kurt didn’t say anything.

Keep walking.

“I said hey!”

One of the guys put a hand on his shoulder, spinning him around to face them, knocking Kurt off balance and making him fall on the ground. They loomed over him and Kurt had no idea what was coming. He was too terrified to say anything or breathe.

When two of the boys bent over him and started to pick him up he started struggling as hard as he could but they were too strong for him and they tossed him straight into a nearby dumpster. Kurt was thankful that a dumpster was all he got and that the trash was securely in bags and not everywhere and raw. He still felt gross.

He waited for them to leave and hopped out, running to make his fifth hour, walking in the room just as the bell rang for class to begin.

00

Blaine waited for Kurt by the pillars in the front of the school, just like they’d agreed to.

To say his first day at public school was bad was a major understatement.

His classes were fine, for the most part – like Kurt said – and they didn’t seem like they would be much of a challenge. He’d already learned most of what was mapped out in each class’s syllabus.

The other students, though, were not fine, like Kurt said – they were mean, and he’d never been bullied by other kids until today. All he’d done was walk down the hallways to his classes. He didn’t talk to anybody or make eye contact with anybody but he still got hurtful words thrown his way.

Fag.

Nerd.

Homo.

Fairy.

It only seemed to happen when he was on his way to the few upper level classes he’d been able to get enrolled in. It was on the way to one of these classes that he’d gotten slammed into a row of lockers.

He’d been looking at the room number of a classroom he was passing when he was suddenly being thrown hard into the lockers he was closest to. He felt his shoulder throb instantly and he was barely able to see a tall blonde boy walking away, laughing and high fiving one of his friends as he looked back at Blaine crumpled on the floor.

Nobody looked twice or tried to help him. He stood and moved his shoulder but the pain was intense and he tried not to move it too much the rest of the day.

He came out of his thoughts when he saw Kurt walking quickly towards him. There was something different from the last time he’d seen him. He looked angry and maybe the smallest bit dirty. Blaine smiled at him when he caught Kurt’s eye but all he got was a tight smile in return.

Kurt was now next to him, leaning his head against the pillar.

“Are you okay?”

“Not really.”

“Want to talk about it?”

Kurt closed his eyes.

“Can we when we get home?”

Blaine looked at him with concern.

“Yeah, we can wait. I think your mom’s here anyways.”

Kurt pushed himself up and looked where Blaine was looking. It was his mom and he’d never been quite so happy to see her minivan. Blaine immediately felt better when Kurt started dragging Blaine by the strap of his backpack towards the van he’d been eyeing.

Elizabeth asked how their first day was and they rattled off generic answers of good and classes are fine. She says she’ll take them to get their supplies tomorrow and they fall into silence.

00

Soon after they get to Kurt’s, he’s insisting on showering and Blaine’s making sure his parents haven’t come back early. He’s waiting on his bed for Kurt and soon enough there’s a knock at his window and Blaine’s up and opening it, letting Kurt crawl in.

It’s the first time Kurt’s been inside Blaine’s room and he’s suddenly feeling self-conscious as Kurt looks around; there’s not much to see. Blaine has always kept his rooms pretty bare since he was always sent off for school. There’s a desk with a few books stacked on it, a bookcase mostly full of textbooks and CDs, a dresser, a bed and a nightstand with an alarm clock and a lamp. Everything was made from the same dark wood and nothing was on the walls.

Kurt doesn’t think the room looks like Blaine at all.

When he’s done looking around the room his eyes fall on Blaine who’s looking at the floor and has his hands shoved in his pants pockets.

Kurt walked over to Blaine and extracted a hand from a pocket and laced their fingers together, making Blaine feel instantly comforted. Blaine led Kurt to his bed, sitting across from each other, their hands in between them.

“Wanna talk now?”

Kurt looked down at their entwined hands.

“I got thrown in a dumpster.”

He felt Blaine’s hand tense against his.

“A dumpster?”

“Yeah, it was – mostly just really gross.”

“I can get why you wanted to shower.”

Kurt rubbed the part of Blaine’s hand he could reach with his thumb, causing butterflies to erupt in Blaine’s stomach. Kurt looked away from their hands and met Blaine’s eyes.

“Can I look at your shoulder?”

Blaine nodded.

“Shirt off, then.”

Blaine could see Kurt’s cheeks get a slight pink ting.

“Kurt Hummel, are you trying to get me naked?”

Blaine shot him a playful smile as Kurt turned bright red.

“No! Oh my god, Blaine, just do it.”

“Ooh, so forceful!”

“Blaine.”

Blaine laughed as he pulled his shirt over his head. He was wearing an undershirt but Kurt’s breath still hitched. Sure they’d seen each other in them before but they’d mostly been sleeping. Blaine turned around so Kurt could look at his back.

Kurt could immediately see where the bruise was. The white undershirt did little to hide the dark angry spot over his left shoulder blade.

“Oh my god, Blaine.”

He ghosted a hand over the spot.

“Is it that bad?”

“I guess it’s not as bad as it could be, but it’s still bad.”

Blaine’s shoulders slumped forward. Kurt wrapped his arms around Blaine’s waist and rested his head on the opposite shoulder. He felt Blaine relax against him and they stayed that way for a few minutes before Kurt pulled away and let Blaine put his shirt back on.

Blaine didn’t turn around so Kurt put a hand on his waist.

“Come on, mom’s making enough dinner for three. It’ll probably be done soon.”

00

Later that night they’re lying on Blaine’s bed, talking about what to do to maybe avoid dumpsters and lockers.

“Maybe we should get you padding.”

Blaine laughed.

“That might be a bit much.”

Kurt considered it.

“Yeah, probably.”

“It might not even happen again.”

Kurt gave him a disbelieving look.

“That’s not been my experience but your optimism is nice.”

Blaine chuckled.

“Thanks.”

Kurt groaned when he looked at the clock. It was already eleven.

“We should probably go to sleep.”

Blaine frowned.

“Probably.”

Kurt stood up from the bed and Blaine followed, going to his window and opening it for Kurt.

“See you in the morning?”

Kurt crawled through the window, leaning back inside, smiling.

“See you in the morning.”

Blaine leaned in towards Kurt until they could feel each other’s breath hot against their faces and laid a soft kiss against Kurt’s cheek. When Blaine pulled away they were both flushed red and smiling, their hearts beating rapidly.

“Goodnight Kurt.”

“Goodnight Blaine.”