~*~ Chapter One ~*~

It's time to begin, isn't it?

(Imagine Dragons; It's time)

There was a new guy at the Dalton Academy.

This fact in itself would not have been anything out of the ordinary. As one of the few schools in Ohio maintaining a strict anti-bullying policy Dalton had become a safe heaven for harassed teenagers and had seen a steady increase in the number of their students every year. But being a midyear transfer, something even the Dalton headboard approved only on very few occasions, the new boy had been gossip-topic number one, since Miles Louis, a red-headed freshmen known for his love of exaggeration, had spied him on the parking lot right before first period.

At first Blaine felt nothing but curiosity and maybe the littlest bit of anticipation towards the new student, but after four periods surrounded by boys who created the most imaginative backgroundstories concerning the new boy – and bored boys could be very imaginative – Blaine could not help to feel annoyed.

"Hey B. Wanna' check out the new student before lunch?" asked Wes. His full name was Wesley Montgomery and in front of adults and during important meetings he came across as a very responsible and eloquent young men, who had a great career as a lawyer or maybe a doctor in front of him, often accompanied by his beautiful girlfriend. But at the moment one of his arms was slung loosely around Blaine's back while the other tried to push away his best friend David Thompson, who had tried to steal his history essay for at least two periods. David, normally also a very mature and educated student, stock his tongue out at him, before poking Blaine in the side and asking at his disgruntled face, "Come on, Blaine. Everyone is talking about him. Aren't you at least a bit curios?"

"There is a crucial difference between plain curiosity and searching the school grounds for a new student," Blaine replied unimpressed.

"Blaaine." Wes was stretching the syllables of his name in a worrying way. "All we are going to do is take a little walk around the school grounds and if we happen to come across our newbie, whose current location as my sources tell me is the library, then this will be nothing else but a lucky coincidence."

"Yeah, sure ..." murmured Blaine. But nevertheless he let himself be dragged past the cafeteria where he stopped for a few seconds with a longing look before being shoved away, across the yard and in front of the wooden doors of the Dalton library. There they were greeted with the sight of several Dalton students suspiciously unsuspicious loafing around the entrance while trying to catch a glimpse at the new boy.

David cleared his throat. "Gentlemen, what might be going on in here?"

The boys started mumbling all at once about book-loaning deadlines, important homework and research, shuffling on their feet, before slowly retreating. Blaine coughed, "Hypocrites."

David ignored him and moved on, pushing the doors gently open, before heading towards the librarian´s desk.

"Excuse me?" he announced in a loud, absolutely library inappropriate voice. "We, that includes my friends and I, who happen to be responsible straight A students, absolutely suitable to be imposed with extracurricular tasks, like let's say ... showing around new students, would like to borrow a book."

"Smooth," said Blaine, while the librarian simply raised a questioning eyebrow at them. He took a quick look around the library, but apart from a few seniors starring at them he was not able to make out anyone else between the shelves. Wes, who had been observing the scenery as well since David's noisy entrance, nudged him gently and pointed across the room at the back of a Shakespearean statue's head. And indeed, hidden into the figure's shadow, Blaine could trace the outlines of an uniform-clad body.

"That must be him," whispered Wes into his ear. Blaine nodded, before turning back to David to inform him about their newest revelation. The boy was still in the middle of a stare off with the librarian and only several not-so-subtly whispered 'David!'s, followed by nudges were able to get his attention. Once he seemed to have understood what was going on he declared in the same loud voice, "Nevermind, I think we just found what we were looking for!"

Blaine send the woman behind the desk an apologetic smile, silently excusing for his friend´s craziness and hoping that this encounter would not affect his future library researches.

The three boys made their way over to the shadow in the corner. While approaching Blaine realised that he had not the slightest idea what to say to the new boy - if the figure even was him – and how to explain their sudden interest in him without sounding like a creepy stalker. Well, hopefully Wes and David had some kind of plan in their back pocket. Or, after prolonged thinking, hopefully they had not, because their '100% secured, perfect, infallible'-plans always ended up hurting someone. This someone being Blaine most of the time.

"Excuse us?" They had arrived in front of a small boy who looked up sharply at Wes's word. He had to be around their age, sixteen at the most, his chestnut hair styled precisely up in the air, posture straight, but stiff. Crossing his arms defensively in front of his body, he looked expectantly, but a bit wary at them.

"What do you want?" he asked in the most high-pitched voice Blaine had ever heard coming from a boy.

Slightly taken aback from his hostile behaviour Wes looked questioningly at David, who in return looked just as questioningly back. Blaine chose this to be the right moment to interfere.

"Hello," he said, sending the boy his most charming smile, "We heard from a few of the other boys that you are new to Dalton and wanted to offer you our help in case you have any questions or need advise."

The boy narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Why?"

David seemed to have found his voice again as he opened his mouth to answer, before being beaten to it by Wes.

"Because 'The Dalton Academy trains and encourages their students to act public-spirited and pleasant in every possible situation even through greatest difficulties, to educate them to be responsible, tactful young gentlemen.'" He looked very proud of having learned this sentence, right from the Dalton-brochure, by heart and finally finding an opportunity to use it after memorizing it during a very boring chemistry lesson.

"Uh, show-off," murmured David.

"What my dear friend meant to say was 'Welcome to Dalton. I'm Blaine Anderson and these two gentlemen are Wes Montgomery and David Thompson. It's a pleasure to meet you."

The newbie still looked slightly suspicious, but a small smile was tugging at his lips as he shook his extended hand. "I'm Kurt, Kurt Hummel."

"Alright, Kurt, would you like to join us for lunch?" grinned Wes.

"Well, actually ..."

"Great, come on them. We will give you a quick tour passing the most important places and introducing you to the cool people. Well, of course you have already met the coolest of them all."

"Brilliant idea Wes-star. Don't worry, we will guide you through your day and be your bestest school-buddies! This is actually quite similar to how we met and befriended Blainey-boo, over here."

Ignoring Blaine's mouthed 'Run as fast as you can!', Kurt had barely time to grab his bag before being dragged along by the overly motivated boys.

"Oh, with you in our magic friendship-circle we will finally be four friends! The magic number!"

"Sweet! Just like the musketeers," added David, clapping his hands.

"Weren't that ... three?" asked Kurt who had been following the back and forth of the conversation with his eyes like he was watching the fastest ping-pong-match in history.

Wes gaped at him, stretching his eyes comically. "Three, four ... Do plain numbers really matter in sight of what is soon going to be the greatest and most epic friendship in history?"

"Besides even though the originally known musketeers consisted only of three people, with D'Artagnans arrival and nomination to a lieutenant their number extended to four," Blaine added.

Wes and David 'uhued' mockingly, causing Blaine to glare at them.

"See, that's what the Dalton-brochure is talking about," David said.

"Blaine's life-goal is to be printed on the brochures front page," alleged Wes.

Blaine raised an eyebrow. This apparent life-goal of himself had been unknown to him.

"Even though everybody knows that the cover hasn't been changed since 1998," added David

"Silly Blaine," Wes said and patted 'silly-Blaine's' head superiorly.

Blaine flinched and glared at his friend, but his expression quickly turned into a smug smile Wes had to wipe away a great amount of hair gel sticking to his palm.

"I hope you realise that not a word they just said is true," said Blaine, while connecting his eyes seriously to Kurt´s. "Mr. Beyer, our school psychologist designated them notorious liar in the desperate need of attention, but I happen to think that they are just plain bored. Furthermore you need to know that everything they might tell you about me, the teachers, the school-ghost, or their invented monster in the second floor bathroom, which they creatively enough called 'Shnessie', is an utter and complete lie." Still dead serious Blaine held Kurt's gaze.

Kurt looked a bit unsure for a moment starring at Blaine's grave expression, before bursting into a sudden quiet giggle, a sound that seemed to surprise himself just as much as his companions, because he quickly clapped a hand across his mouth. A faint blush started to spread across his cheeks and he glanced shyly, but with a small smile at Blaine.

Blaine could not help the self-satisfied smile that overtook his features and felt a swell of pride filling his chest for having put the boy a bit more at ease around them. Wes and David exchanged a knowing look, but thankfully let it slide for now.

"This year is gonna' be great!" declared Wes.

"Yes, way better than last year when all we had was boring Blaine," added David.

Blaine silently gaped at him. "Oh, now I'm boring?"

"Well, you did fine last year, but now that we have Kurtie here," started Wes, before extending a hand to pat said boy's head.

With a silent hiss Kurt jerked back, while holding up an arm defensively. His eyes had lowered dangerously, every muscle in his body on edge.

All four boys froze.

Wes grin fell instantly and he slowly retreated his hand, an so utter expression of shock on his face that it would have looked funny if it were not for the situation. Kurt's gaze dropped ashamed to the floor and he silently stepped a few feet back. A tense silence settled between them during which the three friends exchanged worried glances. In the end Blaine stepped carefully forward.

"Kurt, could I talk to you for a second?" he asked, searching the boy's eyes.

Kurt's head snapped up, his eyes widening panicky, but before he had a chance to answer David piped up, "Yeah, Wes and I need to get my biology textbook anyway, right Wes?"

Wes, who was still staring at his hand like it was some kind of alien looked perplex at his friend. "Sure ..." he said slowly. They nodded at each other. "Bye Kurt." "Catch you later, B."

Left alone, Blaine offered a timid smile to the other. "Would you like to go to the courtyard? It's quite cold out there, but the gardens are beautiful, even in winter." Still avoiding his gaze, Kurt just nodded.

The air between them was strained, loaded with the silence of two people that do not know each other well enough to walk together without talking.

Blaine's head was spinning with a thousand thoughts and while one part of his brain was busy wondering about the reasons for Kurt's reaction, the others constructed million possible word-construct he could tell the boy. Would he want to talk about it? Surely not. After all they hadn't known each for longer than a few minutes. But maybe he could at least offer some advice.

Finally they reached the outlines of the Dalton Academy gardens. Blaine nodded towards one of the marmoreal benches uttering a silent request to which Kurt complied. They sat.

"Kurt ..." Blaine began. "We don't know each other long or well enough that I would dare to ask you about your reaction, but I think I would like to make a few things about Dalton and its students clear. You don't have to listen to me and I don't expect anything from you afterwards, but I think it might help you, because someone said something quite similar to me when I started here and I still like to remember it.

First of all I can assure you that nobody here-and that includes faculty as well as students- means any harm to you. An anti-bullying-policy can be a very foreign concept to some people, believe me I know, and it is hard to comprehend at first, but with a little time you will get used to it, at least I hope so..." He chuckled quietly and was pleased to see the small smile playing around Kurt's lips. "Until then there is not much you, or I can do about it and I can't make you any promises, but if you think it would help and want that ... I could try to help you. By being your friend, or by just listening to you whenever you need to talk. Again, we don't know each other very well, or at all. At an afterthought I might not be the best person to talk to you about this and it would be very nice if you said something now, or interrupted me, because I think otherwise I'm going to ramble on, and on, and -"

"Blaine," Kurt interrupted him with a small smile. "I would really like to get to know you better."

"Oh. Oh, okay then." Slowly a big grin spread across his face. "Awesome! ... But I really think we should head back to class now. I'm sorry I stole your lunch break."

"That's quite all right. I actually wanted to tell you back in the library: I already ate lunch with the secretary, because after my talk with the headmaster, a quick school-tour and filling out all the paperwork it had already been the middle of third period."

Blaine laughed freely. "That just proves that Wes and David should listen at least sometimes to the things others have to say. I will be sure to pass the message on."

"Apropos Wes and David ..:" Kurt looked worried towards the Dalton building.

"Oh, don't worry about them. I'm sure Wes is feeling terribly guilty for putting you on the spot like that, while David is trying to soothe him."

If anything Kurt just looked more worried and guilty at that, so Blaine gently touched his arm, careful to hold eye contact the whole time and to keep his movements slow and followable.

"Hey, it's alright. What's your next class?" Kurt answered after a thorough look at his numerous plans that apparently he had to head to Biology, taught by Mrs. Sargton. Blaine, of course, insisted on escorting him to the science wing and assured him that at least Wes surely would be in his class and if he was not mistaken David as well. And indeed as they entered the building both Wes and David were already waiting in front of Kurt's classroom. They seemed to be deep in conversation, the topic of which became apparent as they immediately quietened down, once spotting Kurt and Blaine. While David awaited them only a little worried, Wes was still looking guilty and anxious, trying to keep eye contact. He was also still eyeing his hand like it would start shooting his classmates any second.

Blaine glanced at Kurt with an 'I told you so'-look, before gently nudging him forward. Reluctantly the boy stepped forward, facing Wes, who promptly started talking.

"I'm really sorry about earlier, Kurt. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Kurt offered him a slight smile, "Don't worry about it. I'm fine, now."

They shared an understanding look and a short silence settled between them that was suddenly interrupted by a handsome brunette pushing between them.

"Is it true that Mrs. Sargton is forcing us to write a test today?" he panted, looking frantically from Wes to David. The latter frowned confused. "Not that I would know of even though Jeff said yesterday ..."

Blaine used the upcoming -and very loud- discussion to silently bid Kurt goodbye, before excusing himself and slipping away to reach his class in time.

He did not see Kurt again until right after sixth period, when he spotted him across the parking lot as the boy carefully stowed his bag into his car, a dangerous looking grey navigator. He waved and was about to make his way over to him, but a quick glance at his clock reminded him that he had a meeting with Nick Duval, one of his history classmates and fellow Warbler, in five minutes.

So he send Kurt the biggest smile he could manage, waving once more, before turning around and hurrying back to the Dalton building.

Kurt Hummel sighed, grabbing his bag from the seat of his navigator and headed towards his house. School always was exhausting for people like him, but being the new kid and therefore feeling like he was constantly observed, he could not help but be on edge non-stop and flinching at every glance thrown his way.

His keys jingled as he pushed the front door open, the familiar scent surrounding him. "Dad, I'm home!"

"Hey bud, I'm in the kitchen."

"I really hope you aren't trying to cook, because I'm not sure I'm going to survive it this time." He sniffed suspicious, but even his nose could not make out anything worrisome and ss Kurt stepped into their cosy kitchen he was greeted with the affronted face of his father.

"I totally improved! My scrambled eggs this morning killed."

"Quite literally," Kurt mumbled, before adding slightly louder. "Besides it was me who cooked them. All you did was spicing them. With cinnamon."

"It was the nicest smelling one! But still, you don't have to worry, I ordered take-out." At Kurt's concerned face he quickly added, "No red meat, low fat and a salad for you. After all this is your 'Congratualtion-you-survived-your-first-day-at-school' – meal." Burt's smile was so proud that Kurt did not have the heart to tell him that in reality all he wanted to do was crawl into his bed and sleep forever. "I'm just going to get changed. I can practically feel how this uniform is slowly forcing my fashion sense into suicide."

His dad threw his head back and laughed, one hand scratching at the top of his Buckeyes cap. "Yeah sure, go ahead."

Kurt smiled at him, before hurrying down the stairs to his room. While unbuttoning his coat, he pushed the door open with his hip and stepped into the room. With a longing glance at his comfortable bed, he shrugged his blazer of, before straightening it and hanging it next to his coat. Then he moved in front of his bathroom mirror, hands tugging impatiently at the sides of his scalp. Finally with a silent 'click' the four barrettes hidden in his carefully styled hair opened and revealed round cat ears. Stiff from being held back all day they twitched restlessly, stretching and turning to relax. Gently Kurt placed the construction of hair clips, extensions and strings on the edge of his sink, sighing relieved at the cool breeze swirling around his freed ears. After sliding out of his uniform pants he bent down, carefully unleashing the leather strap, winding up his leg to keep his tail in place. As soon as it was free, Kurt curled his tail around his leg, while carefully stepping into a pair of lose sweatpants. The were wide enough that he could keep his tail hidden underneath the fabric, but after being trapped for so long his tail itched to swing free, so Kurt guided it through the small hole in the back of his pants. After he had completed his ensemble with a simple white shirt he could not postpone going upstairs any more.

Time to face his Dad and the catalogue of questions that he had surely created over the day.