Chapter Eleven

"Kurt?" Blaine repeated again.

Kurt shook himself and after taking deep breath, he chanced a look up from the floor to where the scantily clad Blaine still stood dripping wet, with a look of both apprehension and confusion.

He faked an awkward smile and nodded, "Yes, I'm fine," before turning to walk out of the locker room.

"Kurt, Wait."

He froze but did not turn around.

"What were you doing in here?" Blaine's voice held a slightly accusatory tone.

Kurt closed his eyes and took another deep breath.

Well, I'm obviously not going to mention anything about my history book. We all know how well that went last time.

His hesitation led to Blaine clearing his throat, making him speed up his thought process and forcing out words he hadn't necessarily thought over.

"I was looking for you." He said as he slowly turned around. He noticed that Blaine had not moved from his spot. Still standing in the middle of the locker room. Still with water dripping down his toned body and still only covered by the tiny red towel.

Kurt gulped and carried on with his explanation. "I needed to apologize Blaine. What I did was really awful and… You have no idea how sorry I am."

Blaine said nothing. He had a hurt look in his eyes that made Kurt's stomach fall to the floor.

He looks like someone just kicked his puppy.

"Blaine, please." He begged, walking back towards the boy. "I've been looking for you for weeks. I was worried. Can we at least talk about it?"

This time it was Blaine who gulped. Kurt watched as his Adam's apple bobbed up and down. But still, he said nothing.

Defeated, Kurt released a loud sigh and just looked at the other boy. "I'm sorry." He whispered, his voice cracking. Then he turned to leave when Blaine's equally weak voice finally spoke up.

"Just… let me get dressed okay?"

Kurt closed his eyes and breathed an audible sigh of relief and turned back to the boy, nodding. "Okay." He said with a smile.

Blaine turned to his left towards the lockers and startled slightly when Kurt cried out a warning, "Watch out for that bar of soap on the floor Blaine!" He turned around and looked at the taller teen warily.

"Thanks." Blaine replied suspiciously.

"Wouldn't want you to slip." Kurt said with a giggle. Or would we?

Blaine couldn't quite understand what had been so amusing, but he noticed that Kurt had one eyebrow raised as though he was reminiscing about something genuinely entertaining.

Blaine turned to walk away once again and this time Kurt noticed several bruises speckling his ribcage and back. Bringing him quickly out of his musing, Kurt noted that the bruises were of several different colors of blues, greens and yellows and of different shapes and sizes.

"Blaine!" Kurt exclaimed, his hand immediately coming up and covering his mouth in revulsion.

Blaine once again startled and turned around, eyes wide in uncertainty.

"Y-your back!" Kurt stuttered, pointing a long delicate finger towards the other boy.

Blaine instantly looked horror-stricken. The color drained from his face and his eyes began to dart around the room, as if he was looking for a place to hide.

He knows. Oh my god. He knows.

"I-it's nothing…" He stammered.

"Blaine, let me see." Kurt demanded.

Blaine shook his head and plastered an obviously fake smile on his face. "Really Kurt, I'm fine. It's just from football."

He watched Kurt slowly, waiting to see if the other boy had believed his story.

"Bullshit, Blaine. Let me see."

Blaine shook his head again and started backing away from Kurt. "I have to get dressed."

"Blaine, please." Kurt pleaded again, becoming increasingly worried. "I just want to make sure that you're okay."

The shorter boy deliberated for a few moments before dropping his head and slowly turned around facing the opposite wall. He closed his eyes and waited for Kurt's reaction.

As expected, Kurt gasped as he took in the sight once again. He walked over towards Blaine and gently placed his fingers over a discolored patch on the back of his left shoulder.

Blaine winced at the sudden contact, drawing into himself.

Kurt's heart broke into a million pieces as he considered the cause of the bruises.

"Blaine," he said slowly, turning the other boy around to face him. "Did you see a doctor about these?"

Blaine barely managed to shake his head. He continued to look down to the floor in shame.

"Blaine, your ribs. They might be broken or something."

"I'm fine Kurt." He stated. "Can I please get dressed now?"

Kurt nodded slowly, then added. "Blaine we need to talk about this. Have you told anyone what happened?"

Blaine's eyes widened in horror and he shook his head quickly, causing several of the water droplets that still stuck to his dark curls to fly off and splatter against Kurt's chest.

"Kurt you can't say anything! Promise me you won't say anything!" Blaine's breaths had become quick and ragged.

"Blaine, it's okay. I just think you should get checked out."

Again, the shorter boy just shook his head. "No. I can't"

A confused Kurt just stared at the other boy.

"I'm fine Kurt. Honest."

"I'm so sorry Blaine." Kurt said. "I shouldn't have pushed you that hard. I can't believe that you're still bruised after all this time."

Realization hit Blaine like a ton of bricks.

He doesn't know.

He stood in his place, wavering, as his knees grew suddenly weak. He wasn't sure if he was relieved or saddened at this realization.

I thought he'd figured it out.

A nauseated feeling grew in his stomach and for a moment, Blaine thought he might be sick.

I thought he was going to help me.

"Blaine?"

Maybe I should just tell him.

"Blaine, are you okay?"

I should tell him it's not his fault. I should tell him the truth.

Kurt was beginning to get worried. Blaine had somehow drifted off and was staring off into the distance.

I can't tell him. I don't want anyone to know.

"Blaine? Please Blaine, you're scaring me."

Kurt placed a hand on Blaine's arm, a light touch, which seemed to bring the boy back to the present.

"Blaine?" Kurt asked slowly. "Are you alright?"

The boy nodded, considering his words. "It's okay. I-I know you didn't mean to hurt me. I just bruise really easy, that's all."

Kurt gulped, relief flooding his system. He nodded, "Okay, why don't you go get dressed and we'll talk."

Blaine turned and walked towards the lockers and gathered his clothes. As he slipped into his jeans and gingerly pulled on his letterman's jacket, a lonely tear streamed down his cheek.

I should have told him.

Blaine returned several minutes later, carrying his overstuffed McKinley Titans duffle bag. He walked out from behind the lockers and set the bag down on the bench and looked at Kurt.

"Do you want to ditch the rest of the day and go grab a coffee or something?" Kurt asked him shyly.

Blaine looked up from the floor and blinked a few times before answering, "S-sure. Sounds great." He was relived that Kurt had not continued the conversation. He'd decided that he wasn't ready for Kurt to know anything just yet.

Together the two boys snuck through the corridors of the school and out to the parking lot.

"Do you want meet me somewhere or…" Kurt asked, turning to the shorter boy as they walked across the pavement.

"I don't have a car." Blaine replied.

"Oh. Ok then, hop in. I'll drive." Kurt gestured towards the black Navigator. "I know a great place."

Blaine climbed into the passenger seat of the vehicle and buckled up his seatbelt. "Nice wheels."

Kurt smirked and patted the steering wheel. "She's my baby."

The two boys made somewhat-awkward small talk as Kurt drove towards the 'Lima Bean', the coffee shop located several blocks away from the school. They never broached the subject of Blaine's injuries, instead choosing to discuss music and movies.

Kurt giggled as the same familiar Katy Perry tune started pouring out of his speakers.

"What's so funny?" Blaine asked.

"Just a good song. That's all." Kurt replied with a mischievous grin.

They arrived at the coffee shop and Kurt stepped up to the counter and ordered his usual Grande nonfat mocha before turning to Blaine, "What would you like Blaine?"

Blaine flushed a furious shade of red and replied, "I'm okay, thanks." He looked completely ashamed when he added, "I didn't bring my wallet with me today."

"Don't be silly, I invited you! It's on me. Now – what can I get you?"

Blaine looked back up and smiled, the tiny sparkle returning to his honey brown eyes and replied, "A medium drip would be great. Thanks."

Kurt paid for the coffees and waited at the counter while Blaine went and found a table for them. The coffee shop was nearly empty, but he chose a table near the back of the café, away from any of the windows or curious onlookers.

The barista smiled and winked at Kurt, a regular customer of hers, as she handed him the two cups. "Enjoy sweetie."

Kurt looked pleasantly perplexed but thought nothing of it, as he tossed several coins into the tip jar and took the two coffees, before joining Blaine at the small two-person table.

He handed Blaine his drink and settled down into his chair, holding his mocha in both hands and taking a deep inhalation, the smell of chocolate and coffee filling his nose and comforting his soul.

"Thanks Kurt." Blaine said, after taking a tiny sip of his scalding beverage. "You didn't have to."

"It's the least I could do Blaine." Kurt replied, setting his drink down on the table. "After what I did, it really is the absolute least I could do."

A rush of guilt plagued Blaine and the same sorrow he had been feeling earlier rumbled in his stomach. He knitted his triangular eyebrows and looked up at Kurt with a look of sadness.

"Please stop apologizing Kurt. It really wasn't that bad."

"Blaine." Kurt said, cocking his head to the side, "You bruised like a peach. It was that bad."

Yeah, but it wasn't you who caused them.

"Let's just forget about it." Blaine offered. "The past is in the past. Let's move on."

"Deal." Kurt sighed but agreed, raising his paper cup and doing a mock toast with the other boy, complete with a tiny 'clink' noise, which made Blaine chuckle. Kurt decided that he really enjoyed it when the other boy smiled. When it was a genuine smile, there was this tiny spark that flashed in his eyes.

"So where have you been the past few weeks? It was like you dropped off the map or something." Kurt said, taking another sip of his steaming drink.

"I, uh, was on holidays with my family."

"Oh wow. Where did you guys go?"

The curly-haired boy said the first thing that came to his mind. "Canada."

Seriously? Canada? Damn it.

Kurt giggled. "Seriously? Why Canada? It's almost November, Blaine. Isn't it like, winter there?"

Blaine shrugged, "We have family up there."

Kurt nodded. "Interesting. Why go in October though?"

"We had an early Thanksgiving thing." It sounded plausible.

Kurt nodded again. "That's nice." He took another sip of coffee and then added; "I think it's just going to be me and dad again for Thanksgiving this year. Unless Carole and Finn are coming over. They seem to be at my house – all the time." He emphasized the last three words like they pained him to speak.

This time Blaine nodded. "How's that going anyways?"

"You mean me and Finn?" Kurt snorted. "It's not going at all. I think he hates me."

One side of Blaine's mouth crept up into a near-smile. "I doubt that Kurt."

"Well singing to him certainly didn't help." Kurt said with a horrified look as he recollected the memory. "That was just awful."

The two boys continued to chat about nothing important until long after their coffees had turned cold.

Both boys had lost track of time until Blaine suddenly looked at his watch and jumped up from the table. "Oh my gosh. Look what time it is! I have to go! I-I'm going to be late…" He looked up at Kurt and flushed again, before adding, "For work."

"Oh? Where do you work?"

"Abby's Bakery, down on 12th," he answered quickly, and then with an embarrassed look, he added, "I make the biscotti."

Kurt chuckled. "I love biscotti. You'll have to bring me one sometime."

"Will do. But I really have to go. I'll talk to you later ok?" Blaine replied, hastily grabbing for his duffle bag. "Thanks again for the coffee."

And before Kurt could reply, the curly-haired boy was gone.

Kurt didn't see Blaine again that week, which he thought was odd, but since things were so tense with Finn, he thought it best not to even bother asking him if Blaine had been to football practice.

The following week at school, Kurt and Tina were walking down the hallway towards the choir room for Glee when disaster struck.

The teens were both wearing their costumes for 'Theatricality Week', which featured a number from one of Kurt's many idols – Lady Gaga. Kurt was wearing a shiny silver dress, complete with pointed shoulders and silver leggings. He was also wearing tall, sparkly silver platform heels and a white pompadour wig. Tina donned a blonde wig, knee-high white boots and a dress, which looked as though it was covered in bubbles.

Kurt was proud of his costume. He'd spent the entire week working on it.

The pair had been walking down the hallway, minding their own business and casually discussing the opportunity for Tina to be able to express her "effervescent" side during the song when out of nowhere; strong hands shoved them both hard into the lockers.

Kurt picked himself up and shouted, "Excuse me? Were you dropped on your heads?"

The group of jocks stopped dead in their tracks, and David Karofsky turned around with a menacing glare, "What was that?"

Kurt glowered, "I think you heard me. I'm just saying, pick on me, that's fine, but don't throw around a girl."

Azimio stepped out from behind the group of jocks and spoke up, "Well lately, we haven't been able to tell the difference. We're not gaga for 'Gaga'." He looked at Karofsky and the two bullies chuckled.

Karofsky leaned back into Kurt, "You dress all 'freaky' and then you rub it in everybody's faces. I don't wanna look at it all day. It's weird. It makes my eyes tired."

Kurt was growing more agitated by the minute. "It's called being theatrical. We're showing off who we are. It's the same thing you do when you come to school with your football uniforms on." Kurt intentionally shot a glance over to Blaine, who was wearing his number sixteen jersey. The boy looked devastated. Kurt continued, looking directly at Blaine, "You're expressing yourself and we have every right to do the same."

Azimio, with a murderous look on his face, closed in on Kurt, "Well, you know what? The next time you feel like expressing yourself to look like a circus freak, don't be shocked when my fist feels like expressing itself against your chin!" He slammed his fist hard into the locker beside Kurt's head, making the teen visibly flinch. "Now I'm gonna knock that crazy fool crepe paper nonsense off you."

Blaine pushed his way to the front of the group and stood between the jocks and Kurt. "Guys, that's enough, let's go."

The two head jocks looked perplexed momentarily, but then Karofsky shook his head and snorted, "Yeah, whatever man. These two freaks aren't even worth it."

As the group of football players made their way past Kurt and Tina, each one gave them a look of disgust.

Blaine turned to look at Kurt for a brief second, with an apologetic look written on his face, but before he could say anything, Karofsky hollered from down the hall, "Come on Anderson, don't stand too close, you don't want to catch 'the gay'."

Blaine looked back at Kurt and was about to say something but Kurt intervened, "Just… go." He sighed, then he took Tina by the hand and left the boy standing alone, wondering what on earth he had to do to make his 'friends' leave Kurt alone.