Sept. 17, 2014, 7 p.m.
To Save a Life: Chapter 3
E - Words: 1,912 - Last Updated: Sep 17, 2014 Story: Complete - Chapters: 26/? - Created: Sep 16, 2014 - Updated: Apr 12, 2022 138 0 0 0 0
Week 2 Day 2
"Hey Dad! Im going to be back a little late tonight! Blaine told me he would take me out to ice cream after his shift ends!" Kurt yelled to his dad as he speedily ran out the door of Aunt Annies house at about 3 in the afternoon.
The day before had been a mess and he really needed to talk to Blaine. After Burt and Carole got home, Aunt Annie seemed back to her normal self. It was like Blaine had fixed her somehow. She was still forgetful, and the Alzheimers was still present, but it was like her last spell never happened.
And she could play again.
"Wait a second, Kurt, I just want to say goodbye," Burt called from the kitchen.
"Dad, what is it?" Kurt asked as he stood in between the doorframe of the front door, which was painted a light blue color, an obvious characteristic of Aunt Annies personality.
Burt appeared from around the corner. "Kurt, I thought the family was going to do some sight-seeing by Cape May. You know, the lighthouse and stuff."
Crap. Kurt had forgotten about that. "Its just, Blaine will be waiting for me, and he doesnt have a cell phone so…I guess I could just walk to the beach and tell him I cant hang out with him today."
"Is that all you boys do, you know, hangout?" Burt asked. Kurt could tell he was uncomfortable. Its not like they did anything but hangout, to Kurts dismay.
"Dad, its not like that. Blaine and I are just friends. I dont even know if hes gay," Kurt said defensively.
"Okay, okay. Wait, youve been with this guy 24/7 for a week and you dont even know if…" Burts voice dropped a few decibels, "If he plays for your team."
Kurt groaned. "Dad, after what happened with Finn and Sam I am done going after guys who arent gay. If he is then Ill find out when the time comes, but for now I am just glad that I have a friend around here. Im not going to do anything to mess things up this early" Kurt gave Burt a smile that wasnt extremely convincing.
"Well, I did leave the beach that day with intention of you guys becoming friends."
Kurt rolled his eyes. "So I was right. You left me on purpose."
"You know all Kurt." Burt smiled walked over and put his hand on Kurts shoulder. "And you need friends. I dont want to you to spend this summer like you had spent senior year."
Kurt quickly changed the subject. "Well Im just going to go down to the beach and tell Blaine I wont be able to hang out with him today. Be back in ten minutes." Kurt turned and started running down the few steps in front of the doorway.
Burt sighed and called to Kurt. "Wait!"
Kurt quickly turned around. "Yes, Dad?"
"You can go hang out with Blaine. Ill just tell Carole that we will have to go another day."
"You sure?" Kurt said with disbelief. He couldnt suppress the wide grin beginning to grow across his face.
"Go have fun." Burt said with a smile and motioned his hands for Kurt to leave.
"Thanks dad." Kurt said as he started running around the house and down towards the lifeguard stand. He never had to question how much his dad cared about him.
When Kurt arrived at the beach he was surprised that Blaine was not there. Instead, it was a young girl with light blonde hair pulled into a ponytail. She was sitting on top of her lifeguard post staring intently at the few families playing in the water.
Kurt walked up and tried to get the girls attention. "Excuse me?" He said forcefully over the sound of the wind and the waves.
"Do you need help?" The girl asked him, about to get off from on top of the stand.
"No, no. I was just wondering where the usual lifeguard is. Would you know?" He asked politely.
"Blaine?" Kurt nodded. "Oh. His grandmother called him in sick today so I am taking over for his shift. It seemed pretty bad," she said concerned.
"Do you know whats wrong with him?"
"Oh, just the usual I think."
Before Kurt could ask her what the usual was, the blonde haired teenager was blowing her whistle at the group of young boys in the water. "Too far!" she stood up and yelled, motioning them to come closer to the shore.
She sat back down and turned to Kurt. "Sorry," she said quickly. "You never know if one of them could get pulled out by the current."
"Its no problem." Kurt had lost his previous train of thought. "Umm…Do you know where he lives? So I could see if hes alright?"
"Yeah, but how do you know him? I havent seen you around here before," she said with a puzzled expression.
"Yeah, well…" What were they? Hadnt they only just met a week ago? Kurt felt like he had known Blaine forever. "Were friends," he answered simply.
"Oh, well he lives a few blocks down the street." She thought for a moment. "I think its 165 Baker Street. Yeah, that sounds right."
Kurt gave the girl a bright smile. "Thank you..."
"Jessica."
"Thank you, Jessica." He answered politely.
Before Kurt knew it he was standing right in front of 165 Baker Street. He had taken his bike and it wasnt that far away; only about 10 minutes down the street from where he was staying.
The house was small, and it without a doubt looked like somewhere an old grandmother would live. The house was led by a stone pathway with flowers in every empty spot around the house. It looked like Blaines grandmother liked to garden, or maybe Blaine liked to garden, but Kurt didnt think Blaine was one to plant flowers.
Kurt was about to chicken out, but worry soon overtook him. What if something was really wrong with Blaine? Maybe he should have brought some soup? He looked fine yesterday, right? He needed to go and knock on the door, just to make sure he was okay.
So with all of his courage, Kurt slowly walked up to the small screen door that matched the small, wooden house. He stood there, took a deep breath, and rang the doorbell twice.
"Coming!" yelled a womans voice from inside the house. She came and opened the wooden door, but not the screen door. She took one look at Kurt and said, "Sorry kid, we dont want any of what youre selling."
She was about to close the door when Kurt interjected, "Im here to see Blaine."
The woman opened the door back up and studied Kurt. She was a small woman, about the same size as Aunt Annie, but she was skinny and had short brown hair. From what Kurt could hear, she had a thin southern accent, but it didnt seem that noticeable.
"And why would you want to see Blaine? He doesnt have any friends around here," she said with a bewildered tone.
No friends? So Blaine wasnt exaggerating when he said that he probably had fewer friends than Kurt. Was Kurt his only friend?
"Well…Umm…Im his friend, and the other lifeguard, Jessica, told me he was sick," Kurt replied and looked down away from the elderly womans piercing eyes.
"Yes…very sick…"She said as her voice trailed off, still studying Kurt. Kurt instinctively wrapped his arms around himself. He felt like she was judging him.
Which she was, Kurt found out after the woman began to speak again, "Why is your voice so high son, did you inhale too much helium when you were younger?"
Kurt took a step back and became defensive. "No, thats just how its always been. Blaine never felt the need to ask me why my voice was so high."
"Well Blaine…Never mind. Im going to see if he is feeling well enough to talk. Your name is?"
"Kurt."
"Okay, Kurt, just one minute." And with that the old woman quickly scurried away. She left the door open behind her. The house was only one floor, so Blaines bedroom must have only been a few doors away. The walls were so thin that Kurt could hear the whole conversation between her and Blaine.
"Blaine, a boy is coming to ask if you are alright. Karl, or something like that."
"Kurt?" Blaine replied. Kurt could tell he was weak.
"Yeah, whatever. Should I tell him to go? I dont think you need to have any boys in your bedroom, he is obviously as gay as the Fourth of July. He might try to turn you or something." Kurt scoffed. Well that was rude, even if she didnt know he could hear her. Did she know he could hear her?
"Grandma, dont say that about Kurt, hes my friend."
"I dont think I can let someone like that in my house."
"Grandma, please tell Kurt Ill call him from our landline when I feel better."
"Have you told him yet?" Told him what?
"No…Hes only going to be here for the summer. I dont want him to know. He doesnt need to know."
"I dont think you should be friends with him Blaine, you know those little fa-"
"Just tell him I will call him later!" Blaine yelled, but Kurt had enough. The last thing he heard was Blaines weak voice saying, "You know grandma Im-" He quickly ran down the stone path and out to his bike. He didnt want to see the horrid woman ever again. What was Blaine keeping from him? It obviously wasnt the fact that he was gay.
Kurt felt awful the rest of the day. He ran into the beach house, up the stairs, and cried on his bed. He felt humiliated and betrayed, although he felt even worse for Blaine. How could someone live with such a horrible person every day?
Then, as he laid in bed, about to fall asleep, his phone rang. "Hello?" He answered groggily.
"Were you sleeping?" Asked the voice on the other line.
"About to. May I ask who this is?" Kurt answered, sitting up and turning on his bedroom light.
"Oh, sorry," the voice on the other end mumbled. "Its Blaine."
"Oh, hey Blaine." Kurt said cheerfully. Why was he so happy to hear his voice?
"Hey Kurt, Im sorry we couldnt meet today, I wasnt feeling well…"
"No, no its fine. I just hope youre feeling better." Kurt said with a smile, although he knew Blaine couldnt see it.
"Yeah…I think its because Im talking to you, though." Kurt started to blush and fell back onto his pillow.
"I cant be that much help…" Kurt said playfully, staring up at the ceiling.
"You know, you should start your own business: Kurt Hummels Voice Therapy. You could cure anyone with just the sound of your voice." Blaines voice sounded so dreamy. Kurt really wished he could see Blaines expression in front of him.
"Maybe its because Im so high pitched. As your grandmother says, I must have inhaled too much helium when I was younger…" He said emotionless.
Kurt could hear Blaine groan through the phone. "She really said that to you?"
"Yeah, its no big deal. I hear it all the time."
"No, she shouldnt have been rude to you, Kurt, she just isnt really that open-minded."
"Dont sweat it, Blaine. Ill be fine. Im just worried about you," Kurt said sincerely.
"Its just a cold. Ill be fine in just a few days. Then right back to lifeguard duties for me…"
"And Ill be right there to keep you company while you save lives…"
They continued for two hours that night, until Kurt assumed that Blaines grandmother disconnected the phone line.
Blaine made Kurt happy, and maybe, he just might not want this summer to ever end.