CHAPTER 2

The friendship between Kurt and Blaine grew rapidly.They spent the whole day together, and at night, when they both were in their rooms, they looked outside their windows facing each other and kept talking until the fell asleep.

More often than not, however, Kurt remained at the window staring at the other boy who was on the computer, listening to music or dancing by himself in his room. And Kurt laughed, he laughed so hard he had to bring his hands to his mouth with his cheeks growing redder, his eyes his eyes shining brightly and his heart pounding louder and louder.They also began to have sleepovers, since staying together the whole day together was not enough. They usually took place at Kurt’s since there was only he and his father in the house, while at Blaine’s there was his brother who disturbed them.They had just one pyjama party at Blaine’s and his brother convinced  them to watch a Horror movie with him. The result was that Blaine stayed awake all night with Kurt because he was scared of the assassin from the movie.

Kurt repaired Blaine’s bike and Blaine waited for him outside his door every morning so they could go to school together.But it was the institute that Kurt was more worried about. Those stupid bullies who used to tease him at middle school wouldn’t let him go. But the worst thing was that they had targeted Blaine too.When it came time for lunch Kurt sat in the cafeteria and opened his bag with his salad inside, some fruit and a sandwich his father made for him. Both him and Blaine refused to eat the food of the cafeteria, they preferred bringing it from home.

When Kurt saw Blaine sitting next to him with nothing in his hands he began to worry.“Where’s your lunch?” he asked to Blaine, who looked sad but not depressed.

“They stole it” he answered shrugging his shoulder. Kurt stared at him in surprise. He didn’t look angry, furious or sorry. He was calm. Too calm.“Here” Kurt handed him his sandwich, “there’s turkey, I don’t know if you like it. I haven’t touched it, I swear.”Blaine took it. “Thank you, Kurt. You’re very kind” he said before biting it and then smiled. Kurt felt like he was melting in front of that smile. Those jerks treated Blaine like that because of him and he felt so guilty about it.

***

Everyday, after school, Kurt remained at Blaine’s house. Together they rearranged the room to their liking while listening to music and singing merrily.Sometimes they spent all the time in that room and asked Blaine’s mom to order pizza. Kurt loved those moments because they were alone, there was no one to tease them or steal their lunch.

He loved Blaine madly. Not just because he was really handsome for a 14 years old boy, but because he was so full of life: he was never sad, bursting energy from every pore, and he was very kind to him.Kurt couldn’t ask for more. Having a friend to talk to, even though he couldn’t confide his secrets. If Kurt had to tell him one of his secrets, he would surely have said that he had a crush on him.That’s how Burt defined it when one night, at dinner, Kurt started talking about Blaine. Actually, Kurt talked about little less.“…and then Blaine and I took the bike. I slipped, but he helped me. And… dad, Blaine taught me a card game, now I’m gonna show you.”Burt stared at his son who was enthusiastically trying to guess his dad’s card, but he wasn’t very good at that.“Damn it! I managed to guess all Blaine’s cards…” his son groaned and Burt thought that his friend was pretending just to see him smile.“Son, I think you got a huge crush on Blaine.” Burt said. Kurt froze at those words.Kurt was 14 and he knew what “having a crush” mean and they had already addressed the fact that he was gay.

He had never told anyone, but at school the boys, especially those who mocked him, they had their own intuition. He always asked himself if Blaine had a hunch. Telling him was out of the question, too embarrassing. But perhaps, Blaine had already realized it and was so kind to avoid the topic to prevent him from feeling uncomfortable.

One day at school, he almost burst into tears when he saw a boy take Blaine from his collar, throw him against the locker and shout at him “Give us your lunch, Hummel’s girlfriend!”.Kurt looked away from that scene and ran away. He locked himself in the bathroom: his shaking hands holding his shoulder belt. When he was able to recover he left the bathroom and found Blaine at his locker.“Let’s… let’s go to lunch?” Kurt asked without the courage of asking where his bag was. Surely he would have shared his lunch with him. He’d give him everything. Everything.Blaine hesitated a moment and then smiled at him “Oh, Kurt, I didn’t bring mine today because I’ve been having stomach pains all night, but I can still keep you company.”

Another blow to the heart, another pain. Blaine was lying not to make him feel uncomfortable; thing that actually made him feel so.

Moreover, every Thursday, when Kurt was having his piano lessons, Blaine waited for him on the school’s wall in the parking lot. He didn’t mind if it was raining or snowing, if it was hot or cold, Blaine was there, waiting for him.

 “Hey faggot, waiting for your princess?” asked a bully who was with his gaggle of friends. Blaine usually remained silent, but it pissed him off that they teased his friend.

“Do not make fun of Kurt, please.” Blaine told them, almost in a whisper.

“And what are we supposed to do then, uh?” asked one of them giggling.

“Isn’t teasing me not enough? I always give you my lunch, I might even give you money.” Proposed Blaine on the verge of braking down. The boys laughed at that.“Okay, deal. Starting now! Give me your money!” Blaine sighed and handed him the money his mom gave him. In fact he had asked his mother if she could give him his pocket money earlier than usual because he wanted to ask Kurt to get an ice-cream. The bullies left and Blaine, for the first time, felt tears forming in his eyes, but rejoiced as soon as he saw Kurt.“I’m sorry, I’m late” Kurt said and Blaine thanked his delay. “let’s catch the bus” suggested the boy leaving Blaine stunned. He gave all his money to those boys so he had nothing to pay the ticket with.“Why don’t we walk? So we have more time to talk and then buses smell.”Kurt thought about it for an instant and nodded.

***

The following day, during the time he was with Blaine, the bullies didn’t disturb him. Kurt was surprised: he was both relieved and worried. But, when he found himself alone, two boys did not think twice about picking him up and throwing him  into the dumpster.

“Your friend told us not to touch you, but tell him that his money and his lunch are not enough!”

It was in that moment that Kurt understood that his friend was trying to protect him. He snorted cleaning his clothes and sniffed: he didn’t want anybody to see him cry.

***

That Saturday they took their bikes and went to a park close to a lake.

“Kurt you are slow! Come on!” Blaine biked faster, then pulled up and stretched out in the fresh grass with the wind ruffling his curls and Shane licking his face.Kurt giggled at Blaine’s disgusted expression and joined him on the grass.“I found my best friend” said Blaine suddenly, sighing with his eyes shut. Kurt’s heart sank, he was worshipping Blaine more than he should. “I’d like to join the football team, what do you think?”

“Are you serious?” Kurt asked.

“Yeah, I mean, I’m short, but I could be a kicker. It’s a game I’ve always loved.”

“I don’t know Blaine…” Kurt answered with a note of doubt in his voice. The other boy turned to look at him in the eyes.

“I know. You’re worried about those jocks who bother us. But, if I join the team, they’ll stop disturb me and I’ll convince them to stop bothering you too” Blaine straightened his shirt sleeve and Kurt saw a bruise.

“What’s that?” Kurt asked taking Blaine’s arm in his hands.

“Nothing, I don’t even rememb-”

“Don’t lie to me, Blaine. You are my friend” Kurt said flatly.

Blaine snorted.

“It was them. They wanted my money, but I had nothing”

Kurt felt the tears in his eyes, “Why didn’t you have any?” he asked already knowing the answer.

“Because they’ve taken all my pocket money the day before and mom is gonna give it to me next Saturday.”

Kurt couldn’t stand it anymore and burst into tears shocking Blaine.

“Kurt, what’s up? Aren’t you feeling well?” he asked worried wrapping his friend’s shoulders.

“It isn’t fair! It’s all my fault!”

Blaine obviously understood what he meant and took Kurt’s face in his hands.

“It’s not your fault, Kurt! They pick on me because I won’t suggest during tests.”
“It’s not true!” shouted Kurt drying his eyes.“Please, Kurt, don’t cry.” Blaine pleaded him with a trembling voice and Kurt stopped. Blaine was already suffering too much because of him, he had to stop hurting him. Blaine held him tighter and smiled.

***

When Kurt went back home, he skipped his dinner and didn’t remain at the window to talk to Blaine, he laid on his bed thinking, instead.

Those guys were torturing him too much, the only friend he really loved and he couldn’t let anyone touch him.So Kurt, already in his pyjamas, went out and walked to Blaine’s door. He took a deep breath and knocked.

 “Kurt, honey, is everything alright?” Melanie asked, visibly worried by the vision of Kurt, pale and in his pyjamas.

“I should talk to Blaine.”

She didn’t smile but let him in. Kurt slowly climbed the stairs, as if he was heading to the gallows. He knocked at Blaine’s door and heard a noise from the inside. He instinctively smiled because he knew Blaine was tiding everything up and going undercover pretending to be asleep to fool his mom. Kurt knew it… He always watched him.

“Yes?” said the dark-haired boy faking a really bad sleepy voice. Kurt entered the room leaving that smile outside, reminding himself what he was going to do to Blaine.

“Hey Kurt, what happened?”

“I don’t wanna be your friend anymore.” Kurt said flatly. The smile vanished from Blaine’s face.

“W-what?”

“I do not want to be your friend anymore. Stop being my friend, stop waiting for me in the morning and stop having lunch with me. Stop following me with your bike and stop inviting me at your place. Stop talking to me.” Kurt tried to retain the knot in his throat and not to look at Blaine in the eyes. In Blaine’s wonderful eyes.

“Why are you sayin’ this to me?” asked Blaine confused, hoping that his friend was only joking and that maybe he wanted to have another slumber party. “Did I do something wrong? If so I’m sorry, I didn’t want to.”

“Blaine you didn’t do anything. I just don’t wanna be your friend, okay? Stay away from me.”

“If it’s because of the football team, it doesn’t matter. I won’t join it.”

Kurt grew nervous. Why did that boy have to make everything so difficult?

“I told you I don’t want to be your friend anymore! Why are you so stupid?”

Kurt hoped with all his heart that Blaine was hating him in that moment. It would make everything easier.

“Kurt, I don’t want to… I can’t.”