It's official.

Kurt hates McKinley.

"After—everything—" Kurt spits out, filling the empty hallway with loud thunks from his boots, "Everything those assholes put me through; they couldn't let me have one night?!" He spins and glares at Blaine, who leans against the lockers with his arms crossed. "One stupid night, and they still manage to make me the butt of an enormous, school-wide practical joke!" Really though, Prom Queen? What the hell does that even accomplish anyway? It's a stupid title for a stupid campaign meant to make girls feel bad about themselves and stab each other in the back and Kurt isn't supposed to be involved. "They couldn't even do it to my face!" Kurt balls his hands into fists, feeling the sharp pricks of his nails digging into his skin. The pain grounds him. "They did it behind my back. By secret ballot."

"They're dicks," Blaine says simply, though Kurt doesn't miss the way Blaine's hands clench into tight fists. If Kurt tells him to, Blaine will go back in the gym and beat the shit out of the ringleaders of the whole stupid joke. The tight vice in his chest loosens slightly at the look of pure fury on Blaine's face.

"I've never been so embarrassed in my whole life." Kurt admits, stopping his pacing and facing Blaine. He wraps his arms around his stomach, probably creasing the simple black tuxedo he'd dug out from his closet. "Least I didn't wear the stupid kilt," Kurt says bitterly, swallowing against the lump in his throat. He'd left it half-finished buried in the bottom of his closet. It's stupid, but Kurt's almost relieved that he's in a boring tuxedo instead of his real outfit. Another part of his hates that he's still letting other dictate who he is.

Blaine seems to consider Kurt for a long moment, but for once, doesn't move to comfort him. Kurt's grateful, a hug and pity-filled expression right now would send him over the edge. He really just needed to vent and breathe. Blaine understands.

"I would have liked the stupid kilt," Blaine says, smirking when Kurt glances up. "So, they secretly, like a bunch of cowardly rats, voted you Prom Queen. What's Kurt Hummel going to do about that?" He inclines his head towards the gym doors. "We can leave if you want, you know, I'm not gonna judge you. We can go home and watch stupid movies. And when I say watch movies, I don't actually mean watch movies." He winks with a lewd grin.

"I am not giving in to teenage clich�s, Blaine," Kurt says, but it's more of an automatic response than a real objection. "No sex on prom night." His mouth twitches. It's hard to be mad at Blaine when he tries to make Kurt smile by saying stupid shit.

"I'm just saying!" Blaine insists, but he doesn't push. Kurt knows Blaine was just trying to help in his own clumsy way, and Kurt probably shouldn't find that as endearing as he does. Blaine's phone vibrates in his hand and he glances down at the screen. "Plus, Sam's been blowing up my phone with plans to jump Azimio and his band of dicks after prom's over. He's the jackass that planned this." Blaine's fingers twitch like he's imagining them around Azimio's neck. "I can kick his ass and be home in time for ice cream." Blaine inclines his head towards the parking lot.

"No," Kurt says before he realizes it. Taking in a deep breath, a sudden calmness settles over Kurt, and he knows his decision. "This is your prom, too. We're—" Kurt juts his chin up proudly and he thinks he sees something flicker in Blaine's serene expression. "We're doing this for us." Kurt says firmly. "And I am not letting a bunch of cowardly bastards ruin this for me. They named me queen, so I'm going in there and I'm taking my crown. Because they can't touch me." By now, Blaine's moved in front of Kurt and Kurt grabs both Blaine's hands with determination. "They can't touch us." After a second, Blaine grins, wide and proud and something warm blossomed in Kurt's chest because he put that expression on Blaine.

"Damn right." Blaine agreed, squeezing Kurt's hands.

"Okay," Kurt breathes, but he doesn't move right away. Turns out that doing is a lot harder than talking and he only gets his legs to take a step after a long moment of silent coaching.

One foot in front of the other, Kurt repeats in his head like a mantra. He makes his way back down the empty hallway, back to them, and every time he thinks he might bolt, Blaine is there behind him to prod him forward.

Blaine ran, Kurt remembers. Years ago, Blaine ran from his troubles and while he should have, now is a second chance. For both of them. Kurt's hand lifts and brushes over the light pink carnation on his lapel Blaine had bought them as boutonnieres. It still stuns him, because Blaine of all people willingly walked into a flower shop and picked those flowers for him and his boyfriend. Because he loves Kurt. Kurt could totally get his stupid crown in return.

The gym doors seem huge and impassable when Kurt reaches them until Blaine leans forward and pushes them open. Every person in the gym turns to stare and Kurt almost runs but Blaine whispers courage and Kurt keeps his chin high because he will not break. Not today. Not for a bunch of petty high schoolers; not after everything he's been through.

He takes one impossible step forward, then another.

Because this is his night, not theirs.

The crown is flimsy and flamboyant and the scepter Principal Figgins hands him feels like just one more twist of the knife, but Kurt takes both as regally as he could. The principal smiles weakly at Kurt and Kurt gives him an icy glare in return. If only he hadn't read the name out loud, Kurt wouldn't have to be up onstage in front of his classmates wearing a sparkling crown and scepter. If only he wasn't an actually clueless.

Kurt steps up the lone microphone and looks at the crowd. The Glee club smiles encouragingly, though Santana and Blaine still look slightly murderous. Blaine is expected, but it's still gratifying that Santana is at least willing to make sure everyone knew she doesn't approve of McKinley's silent bullying (though Kurt's not positive if it's because Santana's insulted on Kurt's behalf or pissed that Kurt's wearing her crown). Aside from his friends, most of the school is a mix of embarrassed and sympathetic. Azimio and his cronies snicker in the back, and it's to them that Kurt directs his next words.

He breathes, and lifts his chin with a confidence only he knows is false. "Eat your heart out, Kate Middleton," Kurt says, and smiles because he is fabulous, even if McKinley hasn't recognized that yet. Rachel smiles broadly and claps hard, and the rest of the crowd joins in with less enthusiasm. Blaine winks at him and Kurt feels some of his nerves loosening.

Principal Figgins tries to get Stephens to dance with Kurt after that for the King and Queen's song. While Kurt knew it wasn't going to go well, he is still of the opinion that Stephens doesn't have to laugh quite that loudly. Or leave Kurt on the dance floor like an abandoned puppy until Blaine steps up and takes Kurt's hand. Blaine glares at the surrounding couples until they are replaced by the Glee Club and Kurt starts to relax and actually have fun dancing with his boyfriend in the middle of Homophobic High.

And if he turns a blind eye to Blaine and Sam plotting the rest of the night while the girls try to distract him with compliments on his crown, well. Kurt's never claimed to be a good person. He lets them all try the flimsy crown on anyway, though; he sees those looks of jealousy from Santana and Quinn.

The rest of Prom passes with a blur, but some moments stand out. Like when Santana dumps Stephens in the middle of the final dance, screaming at him in Spanish and slapping his face before storming out with Brittany. Kurt half-wishes Finn could have seen that if he hadn't been kicked out for fighting with Jesse, and Sam and Blaine disappear for two whole songs before reappearing with twin smirks and secret glances. Kurt's not even going to touch that, though he gets a strong idea after the prom ends and Azimio explodes at the sight of his new BMW with flat tires and SNEAK keyed into the hood. Blaine shrugs innocently when Kurt glares at him.

He does kiss Blaine later for that. Kurt's never said he was a good person, after all.

"It seems almost…anticlimactic, you know?" Kurt tells Dr. Englund a few weeks later. School's almost over and that's been a nightmare in itself, what with the whole Finn-Quinn-Jesse-Rachel thing rearing its ugly head and Mr. Schue deciding to try to be a real teacher for once and Sam getting ready to move to Kentucky in two months since his dad got a real job offer after months of searching. Kurt's going to miss that family. Stacey cries when she tells Kurt and Kurt barely holds himself together when she hugs him and hides her head in the crook of Kurt's neck. Blaine helps him.

Plus, New York and Nationals happened. And it was amazing, even if Finn and Rachel fucked it up with their dramatic onstage kiss.

But he got to see the city of his dreams with his boyfriend, and got to share a room with Blaine (and Puck and Sam, but who's counting them), and Blaine didn't even threaten anyone once.

Plus, no nightmares.

At all.

None.

In fact, for three blessed days, Karofsky doesn't cross Kurt's brain once and the second Kurt realizes that he started laughing so hard he almost cries. Blaine had been alarmed but certainly doesn't complain at the kiss Kurt springs on him in the middle of the flight home. The little kid next to them rolls his eyes, but whatever.

"What's anticlimactic?" Dr. Englund asks smoothly. Her legs are crossed and she leans back in her chair, waiting patiently as Kurt tries to figure out what to say. She's already cut their visits done to once a week and she always has this expression on her face, like she's proud of Kurt. He's only seen her truly angry since Karofsky's doctor called that one embarrassing night, and that was when Blaine told her about the Prom Queen thing. Then, she'd looked ready to personally tear Principal Figgins a new one, but Kurt talked her down from it and she did calm down, albeit reluctantly. It still meant a lot that she'd wanted to, though, and Kurt hadn't forgotten.

Shrugging, Kurt glances at the green wallpaper. It's still as calming as it was the first time Kurt came to her office. "It's just…everything's almost done," Kurt shrugs. "I have two more weeks of school. I haven't had a nightmare or flashbacks in almost a month. And Blaine and I…you know." Kurt blushes hard, remembering that amazing night that Mary Anderson had a date and Burt had let Kurt sleep over the Anderson's house. He'd told Dr. Englund because she deserved to know if her advice even worked (it did) and he had to tell someone about it.

After Karofsky, he wasn't sure he'd ever go through with sex and while they hadn't exactly done anything that required condoms, Kurt doesn't feel too virginal anymore. Plus it was with Blaine. And that was all that matters.

Dr. Englund chuckles and uncrosses her legs, leaning forward to catch Kurt's eyes. "I'm so proud of you, Kurt. You've really come a long way in a very short time."

"Blaine says that," Kurt says, still flushed. "He says that a lot. It's not true, I'm not brave, I just pretend to be…"

"Kurt, bravery is continuing on even when you're scared. You've got courage in spades, kiddo, and I'm sure Blaine sees that," Dr. Englund winks.

"Blaine says that too."

"Then Blaine's a wise kid. Though he could stand to lose some of the leather."

Kurt laughs at that. "I've tried, believe me, but he's still under the impression that it intimidates people. Even if he's secretly a cuddle whore."

Dr. Englund nods in agreement. "So, why do you feel…uncomfortable? Why are you so nervous?" Her voice is not demanding and her expression stays neutral and safe.

Kurt shrinks back into the couch and shrugs again. "I guess I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop," he says quietly. "Things have been good lately—really good—and I just don't…"

"Trust it?"

Sighing, Kurt nods. "Yeah," he says sadly. "It's going to go bad, and I don't want it to. I like where I am." Dr. Englund doesn't respond, only watches him as Kurt starts to fidget under her gaze. "What?" he finally asks.

"You're allowed to be happy, Kurt." She says firmly.

Kurt draws his knees to his chest and hugs them. "It's hard to believe that sometimes." he says.

The last day of school goes by calmly. Blaine manages to pass all of his classes with prodding from Kurt and the students of McKinley seem to give up on their quest to ruin Kurt's life after Prom. He's basically a nobody now, and it's relaxing. Freeing.

Rachel typically spends the day tearfully hugging everyone in Glee and promising pool parties at her house and double dates and Kurt agrees with her. He's surprised to find out that he means it when he tells her that they'll hang out. Last summer had been just like every summer before, working in the garage with his dad to hide the fact that he didn't have friends.

Now, though, he has the Glee Club. And, of course, Blaine.

Blaine slides his arm around Kurt's waist and tugs him to his side. "School's out for summer," he says, grinning. He's even happier than Kurt, it'll be his first real summer in a few years. they last few were spent in either summer school or juvie, and Kurt secretly suspects that Blaine's ready to give up being whatever he is and be himself. A kid with a boyfriend and real friends that don't sell him out to the cops.

"School's out forever," Kurt says, just to watch Blaine laugh at Kurt quoting Alice Cooper. Finn likes his classic rock, some of it was bound to rub off on Kurt.

"God, I love you," Blaine snorts, planting a kiss on Kurt's mouth and licking deeper when Kurt parts his lips.

"Love you too," Kurt says breathlessly when they break apart. "When do you have to go to your dad's?" He hates the dark expression that clouds Blaine's face at the mention of his father. The fact that Blaine's dad didn't have to spend a night in jail for abusing Blaine still pisses Kurt off.

Blaine leans against Kurt's car and scowls at the ground. "July. 1st to the 7th. At least I can keep an eye on Erica. Can't believe I forgot about Memorial Day, fuck…"

That had been a fun weekend, when Blaine realized he'd have to see his father a hell of a lot sooner than he'd thought. Thanksgiving was going to be spent in Ohio now, but Independence Day? That was California. At least this time Kurt knows he'll be able to handle Blaine's absence better. Xena will probably go through withdrawal though.

"Is she still dating your dad?" Kurt asks gently. Blaine was still worried about her, even though she hasn't hinted at any abuse. It doesn't stop Blaine from texting her every so often.

Blaine frowns. "Yeah," he says darkly. "Wish I could stop her. She deserves better."

"At least she has you. I have it on good authority that you're a fantastic white knight." Kurt smiles at Blaine's involuntary smirk. "Come on. We have the house to ourselves for a few hours." He winks and Blaine finds one of his hands and squeezes.

"I'm really proud of you," he says softly. "We got through this school year and there were times I didn't think we would. Either of us."

"Yeah," Kurt agrees in a whisper. A whoop echoes across the emptying parking lot and Kurt jumps, wiping his watering eyes with a small smile. "We made it, Blaine."

"We're going to make it." Blaine says stubbornly, pushing off from the car and wrapping his arms around Kurt. "We're going to be okay."

Summer stretches before them, endless days with no responsibilities except for the garage and a few appointments with the therapist, and then it will be senior year and they'll apply to colleges and graduate. And Blaine's begun to talk about music school like Julliard or NYADA or NYU because he knows Kurt wants to go to New York and he'll follow Kurt anyway. And even if they don't go to the same college or the same school, Blaine's so deeply ingrained in him that Kurt can't imagine a life without him. And even after college, they have the rest of their lives because Kurt's not letting him go again.

He's pretty sure Blaine won't him go, either, with the way Blaine clings to him in their high school parking lot.

Kurt pulls back enough to kiss Blaine, really kiss him, like he's never done in public and he smiles and the sight of Blaine's face so open and blissful makes him want to cry with happiness.

He believes Blaine.

They're going to make it.

Together.