“Hello.”
“Um Blaine. Hi. Um..”
“Kurt? Meet me at the Lima Bean, okay..Can you do that?”
“Uh..yeah.just..just..let me tell my dad.”
“See you in a bit.”
“Okay”

I don’t even try to get out of my uniform, I race out of my room, down the atrium and out of our building. I’m halfway through the campus lawn when I realize it would probably take Kurt some time to get there. Best not to arrive all sweaty. And why am I so worried? He called, he’s okay, but his voice was shaky. I realize that I have to look strong, we can’t both be vulnerable. Besides, I don’t want to freak him out.

�

I get there, order my usual and wait. The coffee does nothing for my nerves. I feel settled only when I see Kurt walk in and order his coffee. He walks over. His eyes look puffy, he cried. But I don’t see cuts, or bruises, or blood. He sits down.

�

“Hey.”

“Hey.” I say awkwardly. I want to ask questions,how do I?

“Sorry.” he starts. “I had no one else to call. No one else who knew.”

“Don’t say that, I gave you my number. I would’ve gone to McKinley if you said you couldn’t drive all the way here. Are you alright? What happened?”

“He..well...” he takes sip of his drink.

“It’s alright. Hey what are you guys planning for sectionals? I think it’s fair we at least get some scoop, you had a live preview, We’ve only watched videos.” I try to change the subject. It’s never easy to talk about. In fact. It still isn’t.

“Then I would like to invite you to watch us sing, just don’t wear you uniform. Let’s see if Rachel blows your mind.” he responds. “Who’s Rachel?” I ask. I have to keep the ball rolling, “Really? This isn’t a trap is it? Will I make it out alive?“ He smirks, “Rachel is our star, the brunette who can belt on the fly, knows what she’s capable of and sort of shoves it in your face. She’s sweet sometimes but it’s sort of hard to really like that personality.” “So, she’s your friend but you hate her at the same time?” I ask, he seems to have really strong opinions about their female lead. “Yeah, well.” He takes another sip. I rip a piece out of my blueberry muffin and look around the shop.

“I... I did what you said.” He said. Here it comes.

“He pushed me into the lockers again, right when I got your text.” I should not have sent it. Look at him now, he looks so sad.

“So I followed him, started screaming things I cannot remember, then he...” He did what? Put a knife on your throat? Strangled you til you couldn’t scream? Please God no.

“He uhm..kissed me. Karofsky kissed me. Even tried to do it the second time, but I pushed him.”Oh...huh.

“Forgive me Kurt, I’m looking for the right things to say here...He’s gay? That’s ironic right there.”

“I had no idea. I mean he’s huge, like Bigfoot, talks like Bigfoot. He’s on the football team.” Kurt continues.

“He’s confused, surrounded by guys he likes but can’t do anything about it. He may also be a little bit frustrated and is taking it out on you. The only person who, if ever had feelings for a guy, wouldn’t need to hide it...unless the guy was straight of course, then that’s different.”

His eyes dart to the side. “That’s what I was thinking. It makes me feel sorry for him a little.”

He feels sorry for the guy? Really?

“So, what do you plan to do about it? Out him?” I ask.

“Of course not, he needs help.”

“Yes he does.”

“Should I help him? �I could help him,”Kurt suggests.

Why are you so empathetic?

“We could help him.” I answer.

What? Blaine what did you just say. Take it back. Take it back.

“You would do that?” Kurt asks, looking at me with those hopeful blue eyes.

“I..umm.”

�

VUmmVUmmvumVUmmmmm.VUmmVUmmvumVUmmmmm.

�

“Sorry. That’s my phone, Oh..it’s Wes,excuse me for a moment.” I stand, walk out of the Lima Bean and take the call outside.

�

“I have never been more thankful to get a call from you.”

“Where are you man?”

“Lima Bean, talking to Kurt.”

“Well you move fast.”

“No no no, it’s not that..he called, wanted to talk”

“Alright...need me to make sure you get in past curfew?”

“No thanks, I’ll be back by then.”

“Okay..see you later.”

�

He’s gone. I stand outside, breathing in. What are you doing Blaine? What if he hits you so hard it does it this time? What if he kills you both? But Kurt wants to help him. You cannot let Kurt do this alone. You know how important it is to have someone fight your fights with you. This is not like the one you lost. He is not like the one you lost. �It’s new and different, the outcome will not be the same. I wipe the tears off my cheek and head back inside.

�

Kurt looks a bit more positive. He’s eating a mint chocolate cookie. “So, how do you propose we help Mr. Karofsky” I ask with a little enthusiasm. “Does Wes need you? Do you need to get home?” he asks. “He was just wondering where I ran off too..so Karofsky intervention...” I motion him to continue. “He needs to know it’s okay, he’s just confused, we all get confused at some point right?” Seems right. “Where can we talk to him, more importantly, how?” Kurt pauses for a while. “The campus would be best, a lot of people, he wouldn’t hurt anyone. It would be scary if it was just us, he could take us both without blinking.” Just how big is this guy? “Alright,” I answer. “So I go over to your school by lunch period and we try to talk to him and hope he gets the message instead of us receiving his right hook.”

�

�“Exactly.” He smiles. Does he really think it will work? Is he not afraid anymore? This is a bad idea.

�