“I’d like it to be mine too,” Kurt says quickly. Might as well get to the point. His dad has never been a fan of a person dancing around a topic.

Burt stares for a moment, like he’s waiting for the joke. “Kid, you know I love you, but I can’t pull money out of a hat. I’m sure it’s a nice school, but it’s not something that we can afford right now--”

“Dad, I know that. Of course I know that, and that’s why I’ve looked into it. It’s summertime, so we have the advantage of looking into tuition assistance and scholarships. Private school vouchers, too. I understand these things are a bit more difficult for mid-year transfers...”

“Like Blaine?”

“Like Blaine.”

Kurt chews his thumbnail, a nervous habit that creeps out at times like these. “Let me try. If it doesn’t work out, McKinley will be waiting for me in the fall.”

Burt nods. “Fair enough. But answer me this, I was starting to think you had some friends there. Was I wrong?”

“Nothing happened, Dad. They’re nice people, but they aren’t exactly going to be hard to leave. Dalton can offer me things that McKinley can’t.”

“Did something happen Kurt? Is there anything that you aren’t telling me?”

“No, but I keep wondering if this is going to be the year that someone decides to show me just how much of a problem they have with me.” Boys will be boys still rings in his ears. “I don’t feel safe there. The administration has never been on my side. Dalton would be good for me.”

“I just wish there was another option. A cheaper one.”

“McKinley,” Kurt points out. “McKinley is free. If this doesn’t work out, like I said. I’ll go back there this fall, Dad. I don’t want to, but I will.”

“I can’t help but feel like I’ve failed you when you put it that way,” Burt says.

“You haven’t, Dad.” Kurt crosses the kitchen to pull him into a one-armed hug. He hates that his Dad feels this way. “None of this is your fault.”

He knows Dalton might not be an option for him, but the fact that a place like this exists makes him feel a little more hopeful. At the very least, it is a place where the Blaines of the world have gotten a chance to flourish.

-

Kurt keeps having to make up excuses as to why he’s not available to meet up with Blaine over the next few weeks. There are meetings with academic advisors and financial advisors. McKinley is less than cooperative when it comes to making arrangements for his transfer .He has to meet Miss Pillsbury at a Kinkos to get his McKinley transcript printed up. It’s a headache and a giant game of phone tag, but by the last week of August, he has his acceptance.

Financing Dalton isn’t an easy task, and without his determination, it probably wouldn’t have happened. He receives a partial scholarship, a voucher, and the remainder is supplemented by the sale of his car. They could have dipped into his college savings, but Kurt still has his senior year to worry about.

He plans to board. The two hour drive is fine for things like visiting Blaine, but Kurt knows that doing it on a daily basis would start to wear on him. He will miss the freedom of having his car, but he wouldn’t trade it for what Dalton has to offer. Academic challenges, security.

Kurt is certain that if he was being forced into the transfer, he would be upset. He would mourn the loss of his wardrobe and the distance from home.

But this is his decision. A decision that wasn’t easy to make happen. Funds have been painstakingly gathered up in order to make the tuition requirements.

He has plans. Plans that involve a decent education and working hard to get into his dream school. These plans don’t involve fighting Rachel Berry over pointless solos in the choir room and dodging tormentors.

He hasn’t thought of a way to tell Blaine yet. Kurt knows that it’s good news, but it’s still news. Important news. News that should be delivered in a considerate manner.

-

“Do you think I would look good in a Dalton uniform?” Kurt blurts out one afternoon, a couple of days before they’re due back at school.

“You would look adorable,” Blaine smiles. “Wanna try on my tie?”

“I kind of have my own,” Kurt says. He tugs on his collar nervously.

“You.. what?”

“I’m transferring. I’ll start with you next week. Well, not with you. You’re a sophomore and I’m a junior so I doubt we’ll have any classes together, but yeah--”

“Hold up.” Blaine presses his palm to Kurt’s mouth to silence him. Kurt wants to lick it in retaliation. “You’re transferring to Dalton. To Dalton. Where I go to school?”

“No, the Dalton on Mars,” comes Kurt’s muffled reply.

Blaine removes his hand from Kurt’s mouth, looking a bit sheepish as he does so. “Kurt, it’s not that this isn’t amazing news. I mean, wow. Having my boyfriend at my school. And the Warblers! Please tell me you’re joining the Warblers, they’d love to have you.”

Kurt nods and then waits for him to continue.

“But before I continue freaking out over here, this is good news, right? Because I can adjust my behavior accordingly if it isn’t. I mean, you’ll be leaving your friends--”

“My friends are in the NYADA group. My best friend is you. I’m not leaving anyone, Blaine.” Kurt takes Blaine’s hand and brushes his lips against his knuckles. “This is my decision, and I’m really excited about it.”

Kurt is barely finished speaking before Blaine withdraws his hand and wraps him into a tight hug. “You’re going to Dalton. With me. My boyfriend is an upperclassman. This is awesome.”

“Reconsidering the dorky sophomore boyfriend...”

“Does it help if he’s the next lead soloist of the Dalton Academy Warblers?” Blaine asks shyly, ducking his head to look up at Kurt from underneath his eyelashes.

Kurt smacks him. “You didn’t tell me!”

“I was still deciding whether or not I was going to forfeit due to some mysterious illness or something. For an entire year.”

“You’re going to be great, baby.” Kurt smiles.

“Baby?”

“I’m trying it out,” he shrugs. “Yay or nay?”

“Yay,” Blaine grins. “Definitely yay.”