A/N: I have a lot to learn about deadlines. I’ll try to get this biweekly again, though.

Disclaimer: Only the plot belongs to me.

Chapter Sixteen: Home.

Kurt stood back and watched smugly as his dad and Finn’s mom started talking. This was going to work, he was sure of it. And then he’d be able to spend more time with Finn, and be able to win him over. They’d even be living in the same room, and how perfect was that?

Turning away to let the two talk, he smiled. “Oh, hi, Blaine.” It was good to see somebody his own age, among all the parents.

Blaine saw him, grimaced, and mouthed “I’m so sorry” at him. Kurt’s confusion at this lasted for about a second before a broad-shouldered man, dressed in a suit and wearing a frown to outdo Coach Sylvester, stepped forward. “I suppose you’re Kurt.” He pronounced his name almost like it was a disease, and looked Kurt up and down before scoffing.

Smile wavering, Kurt nodded in reply, before forcing himself to speak. “Um, yeah, that’s me.” This must be Blaine’s father, then. All the times he’d been over at Blaine’s house, he’d never met him. From this encounter, he suspected there was a good reason for that.

“Kurt, dear, how are you?” Mrs Anderson asked, stepping forward from where she’d been speaking to another teacher, to rescue him. Mr Anderson looked even more disapproving, and sent Blaine a stern look, which he shrank back from.

“I’m alright, thank you.” At least she was still friendly.

She nodded in reply.

“So, Kurt.” Blaine’s father said, still frowning. “I hear you’re the one who persuaded my son to join that... singing club.”

“Well, Blaine can make his own decisions, but I gave him a nudge in the right direction.” Kurt replied, the knowledge that Blaine’s mom was on his side, and that his dad was close by if he needed him, bolstering his courage.

Blaine’s dad took a step closer, towering over him, and he tried not to feel intimidated. “I’m not so sure it was the right direction.”

“Blaine is an excellent singer. His talents shouldn’t go to waste.” Blaine shot him a grateful smile. Kurt could tell he was embarrassed.

“He should be focussing on his school work.”

“It’s just a club.” Kurt said, despite knowing it wasn’t the ‘club’ part that had Mr Anderson so uptight. Though he’d guessed that Blaine’s mom wasn’t entirely comfortable with the more ‘flamboyant’ side of homosexuality, he’d never known just how much further his dad took it.

“And last time, it was just a school dance.” Mr Anderson shot back, eyes narrowed a little, and Kurt frowned, lost. Blaine went a shade paler and stared at the floor.

“Oh, he hasn’t told you about that? Maybe you should, Blaine. Then he’d understand what it means to be so... open about his sexuality.” He looked back at his son, probably to further drive his point home.

Mind blank of any witty comebacks, Kurt stared at him for a moment, gaze cutting to Blaine, who didn’t meet his eyes.

“Really, dear.” Mrs Anderson said timidly, stepping forward to put a hand on her husband’s arm. “We should be going.”

He stepped back, nodded sharply to Kurt, and turned on his heel to leave, the other two trotting meekly behind him. Blaine didn’t look back, and Kurt had no clue what to think. Blaine was always so quiet about what had happened to make him change schools. Well, now he knew it was something to do with a school dance.

What was he supposed to do with that information, though? Blaine had never reacted well to prying. The best thing to do was to carry on as he had before, and wait until Blaine was ready to tell him what had happened.

---

Blaine had been concerned that Kurt would act... different somehow now that he’d met his dad, that maybe he’d even be mad at Blaine. Come the next day, it seemed as though he needn’t have worried. All Kurt could do was talk about how his dad and Finn’s mom had “hit it right off” and look dreamy at the idea of getting to know Finn better. The only reference he made to it was to say, “So, you have to go to parent-teacher conferences too?”

Blaine nodded, and tried to push down the feelings of jealousy and hurt. Though he didn’t particularly want to talk about Sadie Hawkins, it still got to him that Kurt didn’t seem to care enough to ask, especially considering how curious he usually was.

It took a few weeks, but finally, unable to bear Kurt mooning over Finn and talking eagerly about how he was helping Carole look good, he ended up spending lunchtimes in the library again, claiming to be studying. Tina joined him, and didn’t offer her opinion, just her company, which he was thankful for.

It only took a few days of this for Kurt to notice what was going on. He may have been obsessed with Finn, but he was still a good friend.

“Are you avoiding me?” Kurt asked him straight-out, having tracked him down in the library. Tina muttered something about going to the bathroom and scampered. Traitor.

“Of course not.” Blaine said immediately, going for the route of denial. It seemed smartest.

“I’m not an idiot, Blaine.” Kurt scoffed, shaking his head a little. “Did I do something to upset you?” He asked, voice softer, and Blaine’s resolution crumpled.

“Well...” He hedged, and half-shrugged, avoiding Kurt’s eyes.

Kurt sighed a little and sat down, biting his lip. “What did I do?”

“It’s just... all you seem to do these days is talk about Finn, and I feel, I dunno, left out.” It was close enough to the truth that he didn’t feel about lying.

Maybe he should have lied, because Kurt’s face went all pinched and he pursed his lips. “I’m finally making progress with the guy I like. I thought you’d be happy for me.” Kurt hissed, jaw tense, and Blaine was pretty sure he’d be raising his voice at this point if it weren’t for the public setting.

Fighting the urge to laugh at the idea that Kurt was getting anywhere with Finn, Blaine continued to try and be supportive, even though he was completely against the whole idea. “I am happy for you, Kurt, but that doesn’t mean I want to talk about it all the time.”

“You don’t mind talking to Tina about Artie all the time. In fact, you’re the one always bringing it up.” Kurt pointed out, arms folded tightly, and Blaine had to admit he had a point.

“That’s different.”

“Why?”

Because I have a huge crush on you. “Because we talk about other things, too. All you talk about is Finn, and I don’t even remember the last time you asked me how I was.” Blaine told him, because sure, he’d been a bit withdrawn, but Kurt hadn’t exactly been the best friend ever the last month or so.

“How are you, Blaine?” Kurt asked, voice laced with sarcasm.

“Pretty pissed at the guy who’s supposed to be my best friend, actually.” Blaine spat, hating that they were arguing, but not wanting to back down. He was allowed to have feelings. Just because Kurt didn’t like the feelings didn’t make them any less valid.

Kurt got up from his seat, eyes narrowed. “Maybe you should find another one then, someone who’s willing to hear you talk about yourself all the time.” This was so unfair that Blaine just gaped at him.

Kurt hesitated for just a moment, making Blaine wonder if he was going to apologise, before turning and sweeping out.

Blaine slumped in his chair. Well, crap.

---

Kurt and Blaine hadn’t spoken for over a week. Kurt was aware that he’d been a lot nastier than he needed to be, but the lack of support from Blaine had driven him over the edge, and he’d never been very good at apologising. Blaine seemed to have taken his advice, though, hanging out with Tina. In return, Kurt spent his time with Mercedes, practising for the Cheerios and attempting to lose weight, as Coach Sylvester had commanded. Her comment about his hips being pear-shaped had really got to him, and he noticed Blaine watching him eating his low-calorie meals with a worried frown more than once, as well as watching him perform ‘A House is Not A Home’ with a weirdly emotional look. But he seemed to be waiting for Kurt to be the first to open communications.

It was only as he sulked his way through school the day after the Hummel’s dinner with the Hudsons and his following argument with Burt, feeling hurt and wishing Burt would talk about something he liked for once, that it hit him that this was how he’d made Blaine feel with all his talk about Finn.

The guilt ensured that he spent the entirety of Geography unable to concentrate, and when the bell finally went for lunch, he all but ran from the classroom, catching Blaine just before he entered the library. “Can we talk?” He asked, a little breathless.

Blaine looked startled, whether by his sudden appearance or by how he looked, Kurt wasn’t sure. “So we’re doing that now?” His tone was sullen, but he nodded nonetheless.

“Not here.” Kurt led him to the choir room, figuring it was the best place for them to talk uninterrupted. He took a seat and gestured for Blaine to do the same, earning a confused look and a moment’s hesitation before he obeyed.

It was always hard for Kurt to admit that he’d done wrong, but he’d had a week to consider how mean he’d been, and with his new insight into Blaine’s feelings... “I owe you an apology.” He tried not to feel insulted as Blaine’s eyes widened in what was probably shock. “I’ve been wrapped up in my master plan to get Finn, and... recently, I’ve found out what it’s like to feel left out. So, I’m sorry.”

Blaine nodded slowly, eyebrows still drawn together a little.

“You’re my best friend, Blaine, and the last thing I wanted to do was hurt you.” He studied Blaine’s face, not quite sure of what else to say.

“Did it really...” Blaine trailed off for a moment. “I mean, you had to actually... literally be put in my shoes to understand that I was hurt? Because if so, I don’t...”

Kurt frowned a little, thinking that over. “I was being stubborn. I hate admitting that I’m wrong, you know that. I guess I was telling myself that you were overreacting. But realising just how you felt... I never meant to make you feel like that.” He paused. “And I promise, if I’m talking about Finn too much, you can just tell me to shut up and I won’t take offence.” He tried a joking tone, tilting his head a little with a half-smile.

Blaine laughed weakly and nodded, taking in a deep breath and looking calmer than he had done since the parent-teacher conference. This thought led Kurt to the question that had been bugging him since then, and he couldn’t help but ask. “What- what did your dad mean, about the school dance?”

He regretted this question, as Blaine froze and stared down at his hands, no longer calm. There was silence, and Kurt wondered if Blaine was going to answer, or if he should just apologise and let Blaine tell him in his own time. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, “He... he meant the reason I moved here. You know I was bullied at my old school. It got really bad after everyone found out I was gay.” Blaine swallowed, shaking his head a little.

“There was a Sadie Hawkins dance, and I had just... come out.” The pause made Kurt think there was more to it than that, but he was still trying not to pry. Let him tell Kurt if he wanted. “So I asked a friend of mine, the only other gay guy in the school. While we were waiting for his dad to pick us up... these three guys, um, beat the living crap out of us.” He half-shrugged, as if he was trying to make it seem more casual than it was.

Kurt stared at him for a second, before leaning over to hug him, knowing that physical affection was what Blaine needed when he was upset. “I’m so, so sorry.” He said into his ear, and couldn’t stop tears from filling his eyes.

Sitting back, he tilted his head, curious about something else but not sure if he wanted to know the answer. “So you transferred to McKinley? I mean, this place isn’t exactly gay-friendly. It can’t be much of an improvement on your last school.”

“But it is.” Blaine said earnestly, looking at him with over-bright eyes. “I have Glee club, and you guys.”

Kurt smiled, glad he felt that way.

“You’re right, though. I wanted... I persuaded my dad to let me go to a school that was far away, because then I’d be sure nobody would know about me. It was on the local news, and teenagers talk, and I couldn’t bear the thought of turning up as some... victim.”

“You’re not a victim.” Kurt’s voice was firm. “You’re one of the strongest people I know.” Though he supposed Blaine’s old school had been kind of far away, he was surprised that ‘local news’ didn’t extend to Lima. “When did it happen?”

“Last April. I was recovering for the rest of the school year and most of the summer, and then we hadn’t figured out which school I was going to yet, and I wasn’t exactly eager to start school again, so I was just doing work that Westerville sent me for the first couple of weeks in September. I thought I was gonna have to repeat a year, but McKinley said my grades from before were good enough that I’d be okay, and gave me a couple of extra tests. If I’d gone to a better school...” Blaine trailed off, staring into the distance, and Kurt wondered which ‘better schools’ he’d hoped to go to. “That’s what my dad meant, anyway.”

“Nothing like that’s gonna happen this time.” Kurt promised, and Blaine ducked his head, with a bashful smile.

“You can’t know that.”

“I can. No-one’s going to hurt you, not while I’m around to have something to say about it.”

The look in Blaine’s eyes said ‘thank you’ more than any words could. Feeling a subject change might be in order, Kurt switched to something that had been bothering him. “Your dad seems a bit...”

“Domineering? Yeah. He’s not exactly supportive of my sexuality. His first words when I woke up after the dance were ‘I told you it was a bad idea to come out’. But he does love me, in his own way.” The bitter tone to his words didn’t exactly convince Kurt, though he was glad to know it was nothing worse than that.

Both boys’ phones went off, and they pulled them out. Blaine gasped. “Mercedes fainted?”

“Oh, crap.” Kurt muttered, staring at the text they’d both gotten from Tina. No doubt she’d eaten far too little, in an effort to shift those ten pounds. Why was it so hard for her to lose weight? It was meant to be easier to lose weight fast if you weighed more.

“This whole losing-weight thing is completely ridiculous.” Blaine sighed, getting up from his chair as the bell rang.

“We want to be popular and liked, Blaine, how is that ridiculous?” Kurt asked. If he’d been bullied, he had to know how good the idea of being popular seemed.

“It’s ridiculous when you’re hurting yourself to do it.” Blaine said quietly, fiddling with his bag strap for a moment before leaving the room.

Kurt stared at the door, no longer certain that Blaine was wrong.

---

Blaine sat on the floor of the hall with the other Glee kids, waiting for something to happen. Mercedes hadn’t appeared yet, and he peered around anxiously, hoping she hadn’t fainted again. When she walked out, he breathed a small sigh of relief, watching her as she spoke.

“Hey guys. I’m Mercedes Jones.” This seemed to be off-script, as Kurt was turning his head slightly, and when he glanced behind him, Coach Sylvester looked displeased. Though that wasn’t really out of the ordinary. As Mercedes talked, he smiled, glad she seemed to be realising how awful the ‘you need to be skinny’ attitude was. He raised his arm as she asked who didn’t feel like they weren’t worth very much, but couldn’t keep himself from smiling.

He found himself tearing up as she sang, leaning into Tina a little, and pulling her up to go sing along with the Cheerios, standing near to Mercedes and wrapping an arm around Tina, who was resting her hands on Artie’s shoulders.

Seeing Kurt and Mercedes hug after the song, he smiled even harder, happy that they made up, and that Kurt was, for the second time in as many days, admitting that he was wrong. Kurt turned to him next and gave him a hug. “You were right, too, and I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Blaine told him softly.

They began walking away from the pep rally. Blaine noticed Kurt looking over at Finn. “So, how’s it going with him?” He asked, figuring the best way to show he wasn’t mad anymore was to let Kurt talk about Finn all he wanted.

“We had a family dinner, the four of us. Dad and Finn were talking about football... and it made me feel left out.” Kurt said quietly, pace slowing a little. “Dad talked to me afterwards, and said that guy talk with Finn wasn’t going to change anything.”

“But you’re still jealous.” Blaine summarised, able to see that from his attitude.

“I think setting them up was a mistake.” Kurt murmured.

“You’re not going to try and break them up now, are you?” Blaine asked cautiously.

Kurt fidgeted a bit and didn’t meet his eyes, and Blaine groaned. “Oh god no, not more of your nefarious plans.” Kurt looked insulted and opened his mouth to speak, but Blaine kept talking. “I know you have good intentions, but then it all goes wrong, and I just can’t stand seeing you get hurt by your plans backfiring.”

He hadn’t meant for that to go the way it did.

The surprise on Kurt’s face made him nervous, and he sped up a little. “C’mon, we should get to class.”

---

Blaine frowned down at his English homework, wishing they were still working on the project so Kurt could be here to help him. Though, thinking about it, that’d involve Kurt being in the same house as his dad, and he really didn’t want to see that happen.

Hearing his cell phone going off, he grabbed it, smiling when he saw that Kurt was ringing. They hadn’t called each other in ages, due to all the avoidance, and it was nice to see that they were back to normal. “Hey, stranger.” He greeted cheerfully, but the smile slipped when he heard a sniff. “Kurt, what’s wrong?”

“Finn’s watching TV with dad.” Kurt said miserably, and Blaine’s heart constricted on hearing him sniffling. “I just... I feel so left out. I thought I’d be able to get closer to Finn, but all I’ve done is made this perfect little family of three, with me on the outside.”

“Kurt, don’t say that. You know your dad loves you. He watches musicals with you, doesn’t he? And Carole thinks you’re wonderful, you know she does.” Blaine reassured him, trying to work out exactly what to say about Finn, and wishing he could be there to comfort Kurt. But considering Kurt didn’t like to be touched when he was upset, that might not work out so well anyway.

“It just... it feels like nobody would miss me if I wasn’t there.” Kurt was crying softly.

Blaine sat up straight in his chair, the words ringing warning bells. “Of course they would. You brought them together, no matter what reason you did it for. They’re both happier than they have been for years, and that’s because of you. You’re always telling me about what new thing you’ve done to make Carole look good, and she appreciates that.

“You helped Finn with his ballad for his baby, you won the football game... you’re amazing, Kurt. And if Finn can’t see that, he’s an idiot.” Or just very heterosexual, he thought ruefully, sending an apology to the poor boy.

“You’re only just starting to become a family, so it’s not perfect right now, but it’s going to work out.”

Kurt’s crying had abated, and Blaine waited on tenterhooks, ready to drop everything and drive out to him if he needed it. “Thank you, Blaine.”

Relief washed over him and he relaxed again. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Sorry for complaining at you, yet again.” Kurt replied, with a half-laugh.

“Hey, no, it’s fine. I have nothing better to do, anyway.” Well, he could’ve phrased that better. “Y’know, since you’re my best friend, and I care about you.”

“How are you?” Kurt asked, smile evident in his voice, and Blaine wriggled around a little bit in celebration.

“I’m good. Hey, good news about the auditorium, right?” April had pulled them all into the choir room after school, and they were telling Mr Schuester tomorrow, along with a performance.

“Yeah, thank god we won’t be at that roller rink anymore.”

“You’re just jealous that I’m better than you.” Blaine teased, and he’d never been so happy to hear Kurt laugh. “But yeah, it really wasn’t working with half of us falling over every minute.”

“You’re telling me.” A slightly forlorn sigh followed. “I should go. I’ll see you in school.”

Blaine nodded, ignoring the snide voice in the back of his head pointing out that Kurt couldn’t see him. “Later, Kurt.”

---

Blaine huffed out a sigh as he reached for his phone, certain that the incoming message would be Tina gushing about Artie, or maybe Rachel gushing about Jesse. Valentine’s Day was his favourite holiday (well, after Christmas) and he wished he had the courage to tell Kurt about his feelings. It would be romantic, and perfect... right up until Kurt laughed in his face. Or not, since he was way nicer than that.

But nonetheless, there was no chance that Kurt liked Blaine. Mainly because he was so hung up on Finn.

The text, surprisingly, was from Kurt.

Wanna come over?

His heart leapt, and he took a moment to scold himself. An invite to spend Valentine’s Day together meant nothing, just that Mercedes was busy with her church and he was the next best option.

Better than Finn? He wondered, before texting back.

Sure. Girls driving you mad too?

Ugh. I have ice cream and The Notebook.

Perfect.

He spent half an hour deciding on an outfit, telling himself that he shouldn’t care so damn much. After all, Kurt probably didn’t.

The whole drive over, which was thankfully shorter now they’d moved house, he couldn’t stop thinking “what if?” They were both gay. Maybe he had a chance.

Except that he didn’t. They were just friends, Kurt didn’t think of him that way, and he had a crush on Finn. And anyway, so what if Kurt did like him? Kurt wanted, and more importantly, deserved, someone who was proud to be gay and with him. Not someone who was too scared to come out.

Pushing the thoughts away, since they were quickly becoming depressing, he pulled into Kurt’s driveway and got out with a smile, glad to be there. Kurt opened the door before he’d even had a chance to ring the doorbell. “Thank god you’re here. Rachel’s texting me every time she has a chance, and she’s so obnoxious.”

“Tina’s the same.” Blaine replied as he stepped inside, giving him a sympathetic smile.

If he’d thought he was annoyed, he had nothing on Kurt, who rolled his eyes as he checked his phone. “Apparently Jesse is completely perfect in every way.”

Blaine swiped his phone before Kurt could answer the text, and switched it off quickly, holding it out of Kurt’s reach. “Uh-uh, no more phones. C’mon, let’s go watch the Notebook and comfort eat.”

Kurt gave him an absurdly grateful smile, and relaxed a little as he went to get the ice cream.

Watching him for a moment, Blaine shook himself, removing his shoes and turning his own phone off, before going to find the DVD among Kurt’s extensive collection.

It was funny, the lesson this week had been all about home, and he’d never felt quite as home as he did here, and in Glee club. More specifically, he felt at home with Kurt.

Even if they never ended up together, he’d always have Kurt’s friendship, and that would be enough.