Part one

Kurt never did get along with his stepfather. Elizabeth remarried when he was just 6 years old and he always felt resentment from his step father Tom but his mother never seemed to notice. She always saw around it, saying Kurt was just being silly, or that he wasn't used to Tom yet. Tom made her happy and she once asked isn't that what they needed? A family? With a mum, dad and Kurt? Kurt couldn't deny his mother her happiness so he pretended to be happy himself even though he mostly wishes he never came into their life at all. Kurt now dreaded waking up and facing the day, his mother went to work and he went to school and after school Tom would pick him up in his flashy car. Tom would ask him about his day, he would tell him something and no matter what he said Tom always got upset with him.

At school the kids were cruel and for why he didn't understand. The older kids stole his lunch money, and whenever he did gain a friend they were both given wedges and they got punched in the stomach so Kurt just stayed away to stop anyone from getting hurt, in the end he just became a loner and kept to his books.

When his stepdad took them both home, he would tell Kurt to do his homework and stay in his room. If Kurt ever made a mess, he'd get a beaten, if he didn't get the answer right, he'd get a beaten, one time he accidentally spewed his guts because Tom had forced him to eat his sandwich after getting punched in the stomach and he threw it back up. Tom made him clean up his own mess and told his mother he wasn't feeling well and shouldn't eat dinner. Kurt had nodded in agreement because he knew if he hadn't his step dad would beat him when she went to work the next day. His mother never knew. Tom always hit him in places where it could easily be hidden and now that he was old enough he could run his own bath, and get dress himself so she never saw him naked anyway where there were bruises dark, and purple all over his abdomen.

He had a picture of his real father which he accidentally came across while he hid in his mother’s closet, and found it lying on the floor. On the back it read "Dear Elizabeth, never forget me. I love you,-yours always Burt"

It had to be his dad, Elizabeth had described him to Kurt once before, and he never forgot. The flannel shirt and baseball hat but friendly eyes and smile.

He eventually came out of the closet upon hearing his mother call out "boys I'm home!!" She saw him walk out of her bedroom and came up to him frowning "what were you doing in there sweetie?"

Tom found them standing in the doorway and glared at Kurt when his mother wasn't looking "We were playing hide and seek," Kurt lied as his mother beamed and looked at Tom "Really?"

"Yeah, the kid is hard to find when you lose sight of him," Tom ruffled Kurt's hair pretending to be affectionate and then Elizabeth declared she was going to make dinner. When she left, Tom grabbed a handful of Kurt's hair making him whimper "you ever pull a stunt like that again and I'll beat you so hard you'll wish you were never born, so next time I come to you, I expect you to cooperate, got it?"

Kurt could only nod as his eyes widened in fear.

"Boys come sit at the table!! Dinners ready,"

Tom gave him one last look that said "remember what I just told you" and went inside. Kurt followed with his heart pounding in his chest. He hated living here. He hated being hated. What did he do that was so wrong?

Why did Tom hate him so much?

Kurt slept with the picture of Burt under his pillow and always took it with him to school. It gave him strength. He always tried to imagine why his life would be like, had Burt still been around. His mother just said that they weren't good for each other anymore so they departed but she said Burt had been one of the kindest man she had ever met. So why did she leave him? He wondered as he drifted of to sleep.
...

Ever since Elizabeth left him, Burt Hummel had been working hard at his shop. He still couldn't understand why she had left. He missed her. It's been 6 years now since she announced she wanted a divorce.

He still remembered how hurt he had felt and how he begged her to explain why. She just said it wasn't his fault. Then why did she leave?

He eventually came to the conclusion she didn't love him anymore. Which made sense, because he was now particularly bald, fat and spent his days working and watching football. He wasn't the quarterback anymore. He wasn't the star that she met in highschool. He was nothing really. Just a man with a broken heart.

He remembered when they first became a couple in highschool and  he had asked her what she wanted in life.

 Elizabeth said she wanted 3 kids, she wanted a big house in the country and a wedding in Hawaii.

Well she got the wedding in Hawaii but the big house he couldn't afford at the time which she hadn't minded and the kids never came. Even though he promised he'd make enough money eventually to get that house. He didn't say much about the kids. He thought one would have been enough but he didn't want to upset her by saying he didn't really want 3... So he didn't say anything.

Maybe now she had found someone to have lots of kids with...

....
When his mother died
That was the end of all happiness for Kurt. Well at least that's what he thought.

She had been pregnant with her second child, she had been radiant and happy, loved having Kurt touching her tummy in wonder and fascination and watching tv with her when he came home from school. Even Tom had stopped beating him, focusing on spoiling Elizabeth with presents and attention

It had been wonderful... And then on the way to the hospital ... They got in a car crash. She died at the scene with the baby inside and his step dad had been on his way to meet her there when he found out. He had to pick up Kurt who had survived the crash and was badly shaken at having witnessed his mother dying in front of him. He had been in the back, and missed the other car.

Tom didn't say anything but "get in the car Kurt," He didn’t try console him, he didn’t yell at him, he just looked overcome by what was happening and little Kurt was still trying to process that his mother was dead.
The ambulance people had suggested he get taken to the hospital for a check up but Tom refused.

"I'll take him from here,"

Kurt was crying in the car finally letting out his emotions when at the traffic lights Tom looked at him and scolded him "you should have been the one that died, not your mother, not my baby,"

....
At home Tom got drunk and told Kurt to stay in his room. When he was drunk enough, he eventually pulled Kurt to his feet and hit him so hard that Kurt got knocked to the ground. "Get up," he demanded.

Kurt whimpered in pain from the car crash and from getting beaten.

"I said get up!"

Kurt struggled to his feet. Only to get hit again. Tom smacked his cheek, smacked his head... Swore at him... Punched him in the gut until Kurt pleaded for him to stop.

"What's that you bastard? You should have died!!! You should have died Kurt ..."

Kurt curled in on himself when eventually Tom stopped and fainted. Kurt crawled away..,he was too  in pain to walk properly. He reached the telephone and called the police.

He remembered his mother once told him to call the police if he ever felt afraid and hurt.

He was both those things.

"Please... Please help me.."

"What's your name, age and address son?"

"K...Kurt Hummel... 6 years old, Ohio 34 lily field Richmond st"

"And what happened Kurt?"

"I'm really hurt..."

"Who hurt you son?" The man sounded kind and like he actually cared. Kurt cradled the phone close.

"My step dad... He ... he beat me up because I'm a bad per-person,"

"Is there blood?"

"Y...yeah...on, on my head I think and he fell, he was drinking lots, please help me, please..."

"We're on our way kid, if don't feel safe, try wait for us outside, we won't be long,"
"Okay,"

Tom never even heard Kurt open the door terrified and shaken to the police who immediately took him under their wing.

Kurt and Tom moved to Westerville after that.  The only thing Kurt took with him was his father’s photo and his mother’s perfume. He wanted to remember what she smelt like. He’d never forget what she looked like. A ray of sunshine. He missed her. Tom was going to therapy, and was supposedly doing okay. He still said awful things to Kurt, he still hit him but not quite so hard so when the social worker came to check up on him, he didn’t look too bad.

He missed her so much his heart ached every day. He actually felt he deserved to be punished for still being alive without her, so he never complained anymore when Tom touched him, unless he had too much too drink. Then sometimes he thought he was going to die.

Before Highschool, Kurt had found going to school hard.

He couldn’t go the day without flinching every time a bully confronted him, because when someone came that close to you, it normally meant a beating. Although, he learnt it wasn’t quite as bad as home where Tom would yell, and constantly reminded him how he killed his mother, and how worthless he was, all they really did was come close and call him names…but one time he was so petrified at having been lifted when they said something about a toilet flushing that he screamed so loud and a girl grabbed a teacher and insisted that they stop them.

That girl, was Mercedes Jones.

His only friend. Mercedes was so bubbly, and outgoing and she seemed to understand that something wasn’t quite right with Kurt, so she didn’t over react around him, she never asked questions but she didn’t keep too much of a distance either. She seemed to like being around him.

Kurt and Mercedes kept to themselves. They ate in the library upstairs quietly and hid their lunches when the librarian came around and pretended to be doing homework to avoid the bullies.

Mercedes showed Kurt her vogue magazines because he didn’t talk much, but eventually she got him discussing what outfits he liked better, and she thought that was good progress because in class he never said a word to anyone. Then the inevitable happened. Mercedes had to transfer school because her mother got a new job in a different suburb. She hugged Kurt tightly on the day of her departure and held out a note to him.

“That’s my cellphone number, my family got it for me so I could still talk to my friends. If you ever need to talk to someone Kurt, don’t hesitate to call, I’ll miss you so much boo,”

“I’m going to miss you Mercedes, please don’t forget about me,” Kurt said and that was the most he ever spoken at which she cried and hugged him again. “Never, I have to go now,” She hugged him one last time, kissed him on the cheek and left with a sad wave. Kurt kept to himself after that. The bullies never confronted him again, because they never knew where he was when he wasn’t in class, and Kurt had nobody to talk too until he went to Highschool.

Because Tom was still in therapy, and Kurt was still suffering the loss of his mother. Kurt was sent to Dalton, because of it’s non-bullying policy, and they accepted students with special attention such as Kurt who had such a traumatised past, otherwise normally Dalton would cost a fortune. It required students to dress in uniforms, respect one another, dedicate themselves to work hard, and better yet for Kurt, it required they have their own dorms. Which meant Kurt didn’t have to see Tom again until Christmas break. It sounded like a dream come true for him.

He was afraid how the other students would treat him, but he’ll learn all about that on Monday.

Strangely though….on his last weekand at home with his step father, Tom didn’t touch him.

He forgot to even make dinner, he was just sitting at the kitchen table and staring into oblivion. When Kurt placed a piece of toast on a plate in front of him, he looked up dazed and confused as to why Kurt would even do such a thing.

He sighed “I miss her Kurt. I don’t even know why I hate you so much, but god I miss her,”

“I miss her too,” Kurt admitted feeling relieved to have told somebody even if it was the man that had given him so much bruises that he was still in agony over. “I miss more than anything,”

“She shouldn’t have died,” Tom said sadly and that was the most civil he had ever been to Kurt, and the most sincere. Kurt left him to his toast then, not feeling hungry himself and went to his room to do check out the pamphlet about his new school.

“You nervous?” Tom asked as he drove the car up to the front entrance and Kurt just shrugged. “I don’t know,” He answered honestly. It was surreal, living in a place that wasn’t with his mother or Tom.

“I’d be nervous,” Tom answered for him. Kurt got out of the car and Tom got his luggage for him. “Listen Kurt…I…I hope you do okay,” Kurt appreciated the fact that he was even trying to make conversation with him. Where had this man been his entire life?

“Thanks Tom,” He said sadly. They stood awkwardly at the entrance of Dalton Academy and then eventually Tom handed him his luggage. “Be good,” He said and when he got in the car he wounded down his window and looked at him with an odd expression “Bye Kid,”

“Bye,” He whispered and the car left with a roar.

A boy nearby was watching his departure with Tom and finally came up to him making him flinch as he had still be staring at the spot where Tom’s car was “That your dad?”

“Yeah,” Kurt said quietly, and slightly embarrassed at having jumped, but he was also not willing to explain the whole – my mother died, and I’m living with my step father who beats me up for no reason, oh and I hate myself thing.

“My name’s Blaine,” Blaine said smiling and Kurt looked him over.

He looked handsome. He had dark gelled down hair, bright hazel eyes, and a dashing smile that blew his socks off.

Kurt nodded, not used to being talked to by strangers.

“You’re not gonna tell me your name?” Blaine pouted then and Kurt shrugged. Why did he want to talk to him for? There were so many boys going into that building.

Blaine sighed and looked at his watch. “I have to go,” he looked like he regretted saying it “if we don’t book in early, you might end up sharing your dorm room, hope we get class together,” He said and left Kurt staring dumbfounded. Why would he want to have class with Kurt? Kurt rolled his suitcase into the building and stood in awe at his surroundings. He had never seen anything so extravagant as Dalton. The paintings, the décor…were those statues? What kind of school had statues!

He was surrounded by boys. Boys everywhere, and he was panicking. He didn’t like the feeling of people so close to him, he flinched at every accidental shoulder brush.

 “Hey…. take a deep breathe you’re alright, you’re having a panic attack, I need you to sit down for me alright,” Kurt was struggling to breathe. “Deep breathes” The voice instructed. Kurt did as he was told and the lady that had come up to him patted his back gently “That’s good, now can you tell me your name?”

“Kurt….Kurt Hummel,”

“Okay that’s good, do you know where you are Kurt?”

“Dalton,”

“Good job,”

“What’s going on?” Blaine came up to then noticing the small crowd that had taken place nearby and was staring at the boy who had started shivering violently and found it hard to breathe.

“There’s a kid named Kurt whose having a panic attack,” Wes whispered back to him.

“Don’t you boys have dorms to go to?” The woman snapped at them and they scattered immediately. When one of the boys left that hand been in Blaine’s view, it provided an opportunity for Blaine  to take a look at him. Blaine then noticed it was the boy he met in the front entrance and his eyes widened, but Wes was pulling him away saying they had to recruit people for The Warblers as Ms Jones kept insisting they get lost.

Blaine wanted to protest and check up on the boy named Kurt, but Ms Jones was already taking care of it. Blaine looked over his shoulder when Wes wasn’t looking and Kurt looked up noticing his stare. Blaine offered a small sad smile and gently waved at him. Kurt blinked, but delicately waved back.

Blaine thought that was progress.

Wes had successfully recruited 5 members. Blaine recruited 6 members for the Warblers, he was still planning to see if he could recruit the newbie he met earlier but first he had to find out if he could sing.

Blaine had already booked into his dorm half an hour ago but it turns out that they were struggling to find a dorm for Kurt. He could hear them knocking on doors and asking if they’d mind if they shared a room.

The person that Kurt and Ms Jones had been talking to said no sorry their parents paid too much money for a shared room, and Blaine poked his head out and saw Kurt staring at the floor looking ashamed at the request the lady had to do for him. Blaine called out to them then “Hey! Kurt can share my room, I honestly don’t mind,” Ms Jones looked to Blaine and then to Kurt who recognised Blaine’s face and offered a small smile that won Ms Jones over, she hadn’t seen Kurt smile all day and then she looked back at Blaine. “Really?”

“Yeah, I don’t smell, and I’m a neat guy so I don’t think he’d mind my company,” Ms Jones laughed and then helped Kurt with his luggage down the hallway to Blaine’s door. “Alright then, thank you Blaine, you okay with that Kurt?”

“Yeah,” Kurt answered softly.

“Alright, we’ll send up a bed for you shortly, for the meantime you and your new roommate can get acquainted, sound okay?”

“Yes Ms Jones, thank you for everything,”

“Not a problem Kurt, it was lovely to meet you, and thank you Blaine,” She said waving at them.

“My pleasure,” Blaine waved back and then insisted Kurt get inside the dorm.

“I already started filling the wardrobe, I’m sorry about that, I wasn’t expecting to be sharing a room, but I can make some space for you if you’d like,”

“Thank you,” Kurt said quietly and admired Blaine’s fencing photo plastered on what was obviously going to be his side of the room.

It was a picture of him and Wes in their uniforms holding who obviously took of the mask thing for the picture.

“That’s Wes, I’ve been best mates with him for 11 years,” Blaine explained when he noticed Kurt staring. “We’ve known each other since grade 4,”

Kurt nodded and then looked around and noticed there was only Blaine’s bed, the wardrobe and a small desk with one chair. There was a bathroom connected to the room which was a plus.

Kurt was used to sharing a bathroom with Tom.

“So what’s your dad like?” Blaine asked making conversation as Kurt unpacked his suitcase and started putting things in the space at which Blaine had provided him with.

Kurt didn’t have much anyway so he didn’t need a lot of room.

“Um, he likes beer…and food,” Kurt answered softly at which Blaine chuckled “Sounds like my dad….” Then Blaine looked sad and Kurt felt bad for not being nicer to the boy who hasn’t done anything to make him uncomfortable at all since he arrived.

“Do you get along with your dad?” Kurt asked boldly and Blaine didn’t even hesitate as he answered. “Not really no.. He hasn’t been okay with me since I came out,”

“Pardon?”

Kurt had never heard the turn ‘come out’ before.

“I’m gay Kurt,”

Kurt blinked. He still didn’t understand. “What does gay mean?” He was never explained these kind of things before. You couldn’t blame him really. He read them in the magazines he read at school, but he felt too stupid in asking Mercedes about it when she clearly knew what It meant but hadn’t found it a big deal.

Blaine stared at him for a good 10 seconds with his mouth agape. “You’re kidding right?” Kurt genuinely looked confused much to his own surprise.

Was Kurt playing with him? Blaine sat down on the bed clearly in shock, but then again…Kurt didn’t seem like your typical boy, if what happened on the ground floor earlier indicated anything.

“I like boys Kurt, the way I’m supposed to like girls, that’s what being gay is. You’ve never heard the word gay before?”

“I’ve heard it, but I never knew what it meant,” Kurt said and then added “I didn’t know you could like boys, how do you um…how do you…you know,” Kurt was forced to learn about the condom and the banana so of course he knew what sex was, and at the time he had been horrified.

“Have sex?” Blaine asked and Kurt blushed beetroot red.

Blaine gave a wicked grin as Kurt nodded bashfully.

“Well, I could show you one day if you’d like…,”

Kurt gaped at him and then shook his head immediately and furiously if Blaine was honest. Blaine laughed and then held out his hands “Hey – alright alright, calm down, I was only joking, very bad joke, sorry,”

Kurt opened his mouth then closed it, still mortified by Blaine’s suggestion.

“I’m sorry, that was not appropriate,” – “You okay Kurt?” He asked as Kurt nodded.

“It’s fine,” Kurt answered.

“Can I buy you dinner to make it up to you?” Blaine asked and Kurt looked at Blaine with wide eyes. “You pay for the food here?”

Blaine sighed “Don’t tell me you didn’t know that it cost money at our cafeteria? This isn’t like public schools Kurt…lot’s of rich kids, so they sort of expect them to be able to pay their own way,”

Kurt’s face said it all. He had no money.

“I don’t have money with me,” Kurt looked down embarrassed and Blaine stepped closer “Hey it’s okay…I’ll buy your food, I have enough for both of us,”

“The coffee and croissants in the study room on the other hand are actually free,” Blaine added and Kurt felt relieved. “It was a way to bride students into studying harder”

“They know how to win us over,” Kurt commented.

“They do indeed,” Blaine agreed.

They finished unpacking in a comfortable silence, and then since they had no classes for the first day. They were lying on the floor as Kurt’s bed still hadn’t arrived.

“You don’t mind me being gay do you Kurt? I can try find you another room-mate if you do,” Blaine asked looking across his right shoulder at the other boy who was staring at the ceiling but then looked back at Blaine. “No, why would I mind?”

“Most straight guys think it’s abnormal,” He stated like it was a fact Kurt should know. Maybe he should have, he never once thought of liking anybody. He only ever thought about whether or not Tom would hurt him, or why his mother had to leave.

“Blaine…I don’t even know what I am. I never thought about it,” Blaine looked at Kurt then with such an expression on his face that Kurt found himself looking away embarrassed. Blaine didn’t mention It again after that, he didn’t want to push it. Eventually Blaine started singing and Kurt let himself close his eyes and listen. “You still awake over there?” Blaine asked as he finished and Kurt opened his eyes and looked at Blaine in awe “What was that?”

“That was Katy Perry,” Blaine said amused.

Kurt smiled and Blaine looked like he won a medal.

“I like it,” Kurt said simply as Blaine laughed.

“I like it too,”

Blaine sang some more and Kurt found himself relaxing in  Blaine’s company. “You have a pretty voice,” He told Blaine after the 3rd Katy Perry song who stared in shock. “I know people like me singing…but never has anyone used the word –pretty,”

“Is that okay?” Kurt hesitated as Blaine rolled his eyes and gave him a soft look “It’s more than okay Kurt,” The bed arrived then so both boys were asked to wait outside while the mover placed Kurt’s bed on the room that was not already occupied. When it was ready they went back in and Kurt put his suitcase under the bed to make it more neat.

“Would you like a shower before dinner?” Blaine asked as Kurt when the guy left them alone again.

“Dinner?” Kurt asked as Blaine nodded looking at his watch “It’s 5pm, dinner starts at 6,”

“Oh- okay,” Kurt didn’t explain that he sometimes didn’t know if he’d even get dinner. “That’d be nice,”

“Alright, I’ll wait out here for you and we can go together,” Blaine replied as Kurt nodded and took his uniform with him. The boys were all required to where their Dalton blazer when walking around campus.

Which Kurt was thankful for because he didn’t really have fashionable clothes to begin with.

After Kurt was finished he almost forgot Blaine was there as he walked out in just his towel and wet hair. It wasn’t until Blaine gasped that he dropped the towel in shock and fell to the ground making himself as small as possible. For a minute, he thought it was Tom ready to kick him which was the usual reaction when he came out of a shower but then Blaine was near him and whispering in his ear “I’m so sorry, here Kurt…. I should have left the room,”

Blaine wrapped Kurt’s towel back around his naked body and Kurt knew Blaine had seen the bruises, but Blaine didn’t comment on them.

“Don’t be embarrassed, it was my fault for not having common sense, you’re probably not used to sharing a bathroom with a guy,” Kurt nodded in agreement and Blaine said he’d wait outside while he got dressed.

“You don’t have to- I’ll go back in the bathroom,” Kurt insisted as Blaine asked if he was sure. “I won’t be long,” Kurt said and quickly dashed back into the bathroom.

The  boys got dressed exactly by 6 and Blaine opened the door for Kurt with a charming smile “After you sir,”

Kurt’s face reddened and whispered “Thank you,”

At the cafeteria. Kurt could hear chatter all around him, and some excited boys greeted them both telling them their names and what dorm room they were in.

“Every one seems nice here,” Kurt said still not used to all this as Blaine nodded “It’s why I came here in the first place,”

They waited in line then and Blaine talked to Kurt while he had the chance. “Listen Kurt, I’m sorry about earlier really..”

“It’s okay Blaine, you just shocked me,”

“I know, that’s why I wanted to apologise,”

Blaine looked like a wounded puppy and Kurt actually let out a laugh which was like music to Blaine’s ears.

“That’s not the worst thing that’s ever happened to me you know,”

Blaine frowned then but it was there turn to get served.

“What would you like boys?” The lady asked as Blaine and Kurt looked at the food in front of them. Kurt’s mouth watered at the cheesecake. He vaguely remembered eating cheesecake when he was a kid and his mother hadn’t met Tom yet.

Blaine had watched as Kurt’s eyes widened at the sight of the cheesecake but hesitated and moved to the greens. He pointed to the chicken ceasar salad “Can I have a small bowl of that please?”

“2 chicken ceasar salads and 2 cheesecakes please,” Blaine answered when the lady said “Pardon?” because Kurt had been so quiet.

Kurt looked at Blaine when he paid and Blaine noticed the boy staring and shrugged “I figured we could use a bit of dessert on the first day, we can take it back to the room too, if you think it’s too crowded in here.

Which it was, Kurt had been moving closer and closer, almost attached to Blaine’s hip every time a boy walked by.

It was packed. He wasn’t used to so many people.

“Besides – I believe America’s next top model is on,”

The boys got their dinners in brown paper bags after Blaine paid which were allowed for those not eating in the cafeteria. Some boys liked to take theirs too their rooms, and some liked to take it to study.

 On their way out though Wes caught them and said hello “Hey Blaine! Kurt, not eating here?”

“Nah, were gonna watch some TV for a bit Wes,” Blaine answered for Kurt who was still shy.

“Too bad, I was hoping you might want to introduce Kurt too the Warblers,”

“What’s The Warblers?” Kurt asked quietly as Wes beamed upon the question and Blaine gave him a look that read – calm down, he’s not used to your crazy.

“It’s the school’s show choir! Every year, freshman prefect are asked to find a handful of boys who are willing to compete in singing competitions to represent the school, it also looks good on your resume, I may add,”

“Singing?” Kurt asked and then smiled as he looked to Blaine. “You should ask Blaine, he sings Katy Perry,”

Blaine looked embarrassed as Wes laughed hysterically “Oh we know, he’s already apart of the group Kurt,”

“I signed up when I arrived,” Blaine admitted. He loved any chance to look at Kurt, whose hair was perfectly combed and eyes were such an amazing combination, he couldn’t actually describe the colour. “The Warblers are like rock stars, they’re on YouTube, and people idolise them,” he explained as Kurt looked pensive.

“Well, I’ll leave you boys too your dinner, enjoy TV, think about it okay Kurt? We love new members,”

“Okay,” Kurt whispered and allowed Blaine to gently guide him through his back out of the busy room.

“Come on,” Blaine gestured for Kurt to follow him up the spiral staircase which was just past the lobby into their dorm rooms.

On the first floor was the classrooms and on the second floor was the dorms.

They were at room 308.

Kurt opened the door as Blaine was holding the food who had wanted to be a gentleman about it and they sat the food down on the desk. Blaine opened the bag and handed Kurt his chicken ceaser which was in a plastic bowl who was looking for the remote. Blaine then found the remote, handed Kurt a falk and sat down with Kurt on his bed which was closer to the TV so they could eat together.

“Thank you Blaine,” Kurt smiled as Blaine shrugged “It’s no problem, it’s nice having company, normally I have to eat with my brother at home who does nothing but make me miserable,” Blaine grinned as Kurt chuckled lightly.

“You have a brother,” Kurt seemed surprised as Blaine nodded again. He had thought Blaine was an only child like him.

“Yeah, he’s a pain in the ass,”

“Aren’t they meant to be?” Kurt said after taking a bite of chicken as Blaine laughed. Kurt loved the sound of Blaine’s laugh.  “Yeah I suppose that’s true,”

“What’s your family like?” Blaine asked and instantly regretted it as Kurt slowly fiddled with his food. “You don’t have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable,” Blaine added as he noticed Kurt wasn’t looking at him.

“My mum died when I was 6, she was really the only person I looked up to,” Kurt whispered and Blaine’s eyes widened as he explained how he was in the car crash with her. “Oh Kurt, I’m so sorry,”

“You didn’t know, it’s okay,”

“Kurt?”
Kurt looked up at him and Blaine looked kind of hesitant which made his heart speed up. “Would you mind so much if I hugged you?”

Kurt blinked. He was never offered a hug before, except by Mercedes but even then she just did it on impulse.

“I….I’d like that,”

Blaine put their food aside for a moment and moved closer wrapping his arms around Kurt.

“You’re so strong,” Blaine said softly as Kurt let out a sob “I’m anything but strong Blaine,”

“Well you’re strong to me,”

Kurt didn’t answer because Blaine would only object, so he focused on the comfortable feeling of Blaine’s strong arms around his and crooked his head in Blaine’s neck.

“Now it’s time for America’s NEXT TOP MODEL!”

The boys broke apart upon the TV announcement and Blaine smiled gently at Kurt before handing him back his food. Kurt’s eyes were still watery but they trained themselves onto the TV.

He was used to holding it in.

“Hey Kurt?” During the commercial Blaine tapped Kurt’s knee who looked at him waiting.

“I’m glad you survived the crash – ” Kurt looked at Blaine like he was a best friend he hadn’t seen for a long time. “You ready for some cheesecake?” Blaine asked when Kurt didn’t answer.

Kurt nodded.

Kurt listened as Blaine commented about the designs the models were wearing, and said that even Kurt could look better in one of those outfits than a particular model had.

Kurt had blushed profoundly and was reminded of his days with Mercedes. The cheesecake was the best thing Kurt had ever eaten and Blaine had watched in delight as Kurt demolished it, even picking up crumbs and insisted he was too full, could Kurt finish his off.

“I’d hate it to go to waste,” Blaine said and Kurt couldn’t say no to Blaine’s puppy dog eyes. “Please? I really don’t want to chuck it in the bin, there’s so many poor children in the world,”

Eventually Kurt started talking too about what he liked about the show and Blaine liked his opinions. Blaine could listen to Kurt all day. He was particularly licking the cheesecake container and Blaine was watching with an amused expression. “I take it, you really enjoyed the cheesecake?”

Kurt nodded in response and Blaine smiled making a mental note to get Kurt Cheesecake everyday. He was so tiny in the waist. Blaine had actually felt Kurt’s bones when he hugged him.

Blaine didn’t know, but that was all the food he ate all day.

After America’s next top model, there was nothing on that interested them, so Blaine offered Kurt the opportunity to listen to some music with him. Kurt knew what an Ipod was. The boys and girls in Lillyfield used to have them, so he nodded gratefully. He had always wanted to see what it was like using it. Tom never bought him anything like that, and the radio they did have was used to listen to the football. He didn’t even have a tv in his room. He was allowed to have books.

Blaine’s music was relaxing. There was every thing you could think of in the pop section. Kurt learned the names of Lady Gaga, Madonna, Britney Spears, Maroon 5, The Beatles – Kurt was particularly enjoying ‘Hey Jude’ right at that moment, and Blaine was watching him with curiosity. Kurt was staring at the ceiling with such amazement on his face. Blaine was shocked to actually see tears running down Kurt’s face.

“You’ve never heard much music have you?” He whispered when the song finished. He also knew Kurt didn’t have a mobile with him because he never seemed to be using it to text friends or even call back home which is what you mostly did on your first day at Dalton.

Kurt shook his head “My dad doesn’t buy me technology,” He admitted and Blaine squeezed his hand in sympathy when Kurt started to look sad again. “You can use mine whenever you want,” Blaine offered and Kurt looked down shyly.

“Why are you being so nice to me?”  Kurt asked finally as Blaine paused the Ipod for a moment to talk.

“Well, were going to be roommates for a long time for one…and for two, you can never have too many friends,”

“I’ve only ever had one best friend,” Kurt told and didn’t seem to understand. Blaine felt his heart go to the boy. “Why would you want to be friends with me?”

Blaine actually hadn’t thought of an answer for that. He took time to respond as Kurt stared at him in confusion, trying to work this strange boy out.

“Well, I’m not going to lie… I think you’re very handsome Kurt, I’d like to get to know you more and you seem nice, you don’t seem to mind my weird taste in tacky television and you appreciate my music already, need I go on?”

“I think you’re amazing,” Kurt admitted quietly after a good 10 minutes of silence when they returned to Blaine’s music which left Blaine dumbfounded. Kurt thought he couldn’t hear him with the music on, so he didn’t need to look at Blaine’s stunned expression.

Blaine for once was speechless.

Kurt woke up to the sound of Blaine’s alarm “OH OH, I WANT SOME MORE…OH OH…WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOOOOOOR TAKE A BITE OF MY HEART TONIGHT…..”

This was the point Kurt realised Blaine wasn’t a morning person.

“Please shut up,”

“Oh oh!! I WANT SOME MO- ”

“I SAID SHUT UP-“

Bang. CRASH

Kurt laughed as Blaine had rolled out of the bed trying to hit the alarm only to hit the floor and grunted in annoyance.

Kurt got up and hit the snooze button for him and then held out a hand for Blaine who looked at him gratefully.

“Sorry, clearly I’m not a morning person,” Blaine groaned and Kurt stared at the wild hair that was Blaine’s bed head.

Blaine had to wash the gel out of his hair at night because it was never good for your skin to be connected to dirty pillows. It produced acne.

Blaine looked confused as Kurt was still staring and then flushed in embarrassment when he remembered what he looked like when he first got up.

“Oh god, my hair…uum can you wait here while I go look more presentable,” Blaine fled to the bathroom and Kurt watched entertained by Blaine muttering under his breathe about looking so ridiculous. “Why did my mum have to have curls?”

It took Blaine half an hour to gel his hair and Kurt was actually getting worried until he heard Blaine call out “Sorry! I don’t mean to hog the bathroom, I won’t be long, I’m just getting dressed now,”

Great, now Kurt had a mental image of Blaine getting undressed. He felt himself going hard at the thought. Did that mean he was gay too? He never had that reaction to anybody before. It actually felt weird.

Blaine emerged looking as dashing as he had the first day they arrived. “Thank god for uniforms hey?” Blaine said and then caught Kurt staring and winked “Like what you see?”

Kurt’s cheeks changed colour and excused himself to get changed as well.

Damn teenage hormones.

When Kurt also came out, Blaine was looking at his timetable. “First class is with Mr Jones,”

“I have him as well,” Kurt had already looked at his while Blaine had been gelling his hair. Blaine grinned and clapped his hands like a 5 year old “Great! We can go there together,”

“I’ve never seen anyone look so excited about English before,” Kurt commented with laughter in his voice as Blaine grabbed his hand and insisted on dragging him down a shortcut.

He was still in awe over the décor of the school. It was so grand.

Mr Jones seemed to have a relationship with the chalkboard. He loved writing things down on there and Kurt was hurrying to keep up when Blaine nudged him in the shoulder and whispered “Don’t worry, everything he is writing is in the textbook, basically we’re just here for him to explain what the textbook means,”

“Oh…” Kurt put his pen down and then noticed another boy next to him was trying to get his attention. “Hey, my name’s Jeff,”

“Kurt,”

“Nice to meet you Kurt,”

“You too,” He whispered.

“You like the school so far Kurt?” Jeff asked as Kurt nodded “Yeah, every thing is great,”

“Would somebody that’s talking at the back like to come out here and explain what’s so important that they need to discuss it in my class?” Nobody said a word.

“No? Good okay, let’s turn to chapter 4…”

Jeff gave him an apologetic look and Kurt smiled back reassuringly that he was ok.

Blaine was looking at the front.

Kurt looked as well but then when he went to turn his book he noticed a notepad on his desk.

Would you be my partner for the assignment? – Blaine

Kurt grinned to himself as he took his pen to answer.

Like I’d choose anyone else Roomie– Kurt

He passed the note back when Mr Jones looked back at the board.

: ) – Blaine

After the class, Blaine had to go to Spanish with Ms Harrison, Kurt had French with Jeff in Mrs Moreau’s class.

Blaine and Kurt met at the study room at 11. Which is when Blaine found out Kurt didn’t have a mobile.

“I was going to text you to say meet me here if you could for coffee, but then I realised I didn’t have your number,” Blaine looked slightly nervous as though Kurt would turn him down.

Kurt was with Jeff who told him that’s where the boys normally went during their free periods.

They had 2 hours till their next class.

“I would have… only I don’t have a mobile,” Kurt admitted apologetically and Blaine looked gutted. “Well I’m getting you one as an early Christmas present, because that’s not acceptable,”

“Blaine,” Kurt whined and Blaine shook his head. “It’d make things easier Kurt, please let me, that way I can find you after class,” K

Kurt didn’t want to explain that he didn’t have money to pay for credit when it would run out, and he hated making Blaine sad so he didn’t say anything.  He also didn’t want to point out that they would see each other at night time anyway. “I got you a croissant when I got here,” Kurt said instead and handed him a coffee too at which Blaine took a sip. “You know my coffee order?” He looked impressed.

Kurt grinned as he looked to Jeff who winked back.

Blaine was too busy sipping his coffee with a happy blissful look to notice.  The three boys sat down at a study table with their coffees and croissants and Wes joined them at 11:30.

For once, Kurt actually felt like he found himself a place he belonged as they all worked quietly together.

The rest of the day Kurt was with Blaine again in classes.

They had English again and then physics. At which Blaine continued his note passings.

At 3:30pm, classes finished. Students were required to either study till dinner, or could leave campus so long as they were back by 10pm. 10pm the doors shut, and you got in massive trouble if you were caught.

He hadn’t worked so hard in school before, and wasn’t used to having such a routine. In the past he had been able to bludge and read his book, but not here. A student got picked on for reading his book in English class.

Mr Jones had sent the student to the principle to explain why he hadn’t been paying attention.

Blaine had exchanged a look with Kurt  - Poor bugger.

By the fourth day, Kurt was getting used to the routine, but tonight Blaine wasn’t going to join him for dinner. He had already warned him about late rehearsals with the Warblers on a Thursday night, but Kurt didn’t realise how much he’d miss him when he wasn’t around.

He was lying on the bed at 4pm while Blaine washed his hands saying they felt a little sweaty from writing so much. Kurt took of his blazer and hang it up until dinner.

“It really sucks that we can’t have dinner together, sorry Kurt,”  Blaine looked apologetic as he came out, but Kurt was still full from his croissant and coffee at lunch. Croissants every day felt like a dream come true. Most boys got sick of them eventually, and just took a biscuit but Kurt never did.

“What about you though?” Kurt asked as Blaine smiled at the concern “I’ll be fine Kurt, I don’t eat a lot anyway,”

“Neither do I,” Kurt said as Blaine frowned knowing that’d probably change in a couple of hours “You sure you don’t want me to get you something first?”

“Blaine- go to rehearsal,” Kurt scolded “You’ll be late,”

“Fine, fine…but if you get hungry there’s a $10 note on the notice board,”

“BLAINE,”

“Alright, I’m going, I’m going… see you when I get back, okay?”

Blaine was about to leave when Kurt called out “Wait!”

Blaine stopped and Kurt went up to him eyeing him to make sure it was okay, but when he didn’t pull away he tugged at his tie. “Your tie isn’t done properly,”

Kurt felt Blaine staring at him and his face heated up as Blaine rewarded him with a dashing smile. “Thanks gorgeous,”

……

Kurt felt himself getting bored by 6 even though it has only been an hour. The last three days he got used to Blaine being with him for dinner, that he forgot what it was like without him. He really didn’t feel like reading at the moment, and he didn’t want to use Blaine’s things without him being there.

Surely he’d be hungry by the time he got back.

Kurt felt bad for grabbing the 10 dollar note but decided he was going to get Blaine something as a reward for working late. He greeted some of his classmates who high fived him or said hello.

When he arrived in the cafeteria he was surprised to see Jeff who was lining up with Wes.

“Hey…what are you guys doing here, don’t you have Warblers practise?”

“Yeah it finished half an hour ago,” Wes said as Jeff explained they never made it more than 2 hours unless they needed an emergency meeting.

“Didn’t Blaine get back to his room yet?” Wes questioned as Kurt shook his head frowning. Where did he go? “How was it?” He asked. Kurt wanted to maintain their friendship, and the way he knew Mercedes did that was by talking.

He wanted them to like him not just because he was roommates with Blaine.

“It was good, Blaine nailed his song once again,” Wes rolled his eyes as Jeff’s comment “He always does though,”

“He’s the lead singer,” Wes added when seeing Kurt trying to figure out what they were saying. “And we’re the pips,” Jeff chuckled at his own joke as Kurt wondered how they felt about that.

“Do you hate being the pips?” He asked and Wes shook his head “Nah, it makes us feel like a team,”

“And in a team you always have a leader,” Jeff pointed out as Kurt understood then. “That makes sense,”

Wes then looked over his shoulder at Kurt after ordering his food.

“You haven’t thought about joining yet have you?”

Kurt hesitated and then on cue Blaine was almost jogging through the cafeteria to join them. “Hey guys!”  and then he smiled at Kurt who was holding his and Blaine’s dinner and grinned. “I see you took my advice,” Kurt looked ashamed and then Blaine rushed to say “Hey it’s okay, I wanted you to remember?”  He didn’t mention the money in front of the guys not sure how he felt about it. He thanked Kurt who handed him his bag and then apologised to the other boys “Do you mind if we go eat in our room guys, we’ll join you tomorrow night, there’s something I want to show Kurt,”

“Nah not at all,” Jeff commented and behind Kurt’s back he was making lovey dovey gestures to Blaine at his new crush that was so obvious to all The Warblers and probably the rest of the school.

“Yeah don’t mind us, but hey Blaine, can you talk to Kurt about his singing potential?” Wes asked as Blaine rolled his eyes “Sure, bye see you tomorrow, Kurt?”

Kurt followed Blaine then after saying goodbye as well.

“What do you want to show me?” Kurt asked but Blaine just encouraged him to follow him to their room.

On the bed when opening a door was a square box wrapped in happy birthday paper.

“Blaine…It’s not even my birthday yet,” Kurt’s eyes were beginning to water. He never got a present before, except from his mother.

“Well I didn’t know that did I… go on open it,”

Kurt walked over to the bed and delicately picked up the box. “Blaine, I won’t be able to get you anything in return – you really shouldn’t have got me anything,” Kurt looked sadly at the box.

“I think you should return whatever it is,”

“Kurt If you don’t open it, you’ll hurt my pride, please pretty please open it,” and at Blaine’s kicked puppy face expression Kurt sighed as he undid the ribbon and carefully opened the present.

It was a mobile.

“Happy Early Birthday! And please don’t worry about the cost, I actually bought the cheapest one they had, but it’s a pretty one, and it’s a flip flop too,” Blaine told and then Kurt couldn’t help it but throw his arms around the other boy. “This is the best thing anyone has ever gotten me,”

He surprised himself too when he kissed Blaine on the cheek like he had often seen his mother done when Tom bought her stuff for the baby they were supposed to have.

Blaine stared at Kurt with the happiest look he’s ever gotten from anyone in his life. He actually wanted to live just to see Blaine smile.

He hasn’t even known Blaine for a week, but there was one thing he knew. His heart pounded every time he saw Blaine Anderson.

…….