Chapter Six

Blaine and Kurt spent the remainder of the evening together in the auditorium. The conversation flowed freely between the two. To Kurt, it felt like they were old friends. They talked about many things, most of which always led back to a discussion about a song or a new band. Kurt was beyond astonished to discover that Blaine actually had a pretty good knowledge of music. It surprised him even more when Blaine sat down at the piano and started playing a beautiful song that Kurt had never heard before.

"Wow Blaine, I had no idea…" Kurt said leaning over the piano, watching as the younger boy's fingers danced across the ivory keys.

Blaine was so immersed in his song that he had closed his eyes and was swaying gently with the soft music. "There is a lot about me that you don't know Kurt."

After the song was finished Blaine scooted over on the piano bench and indicated to Kurt that he was welcome to sit down. Kurt hesitated slightly then walked around the piano and slowly took a seat next to him, crossing his left leg over the right and leaning slightly away from the other boy.

"Do you play?" Blaine asked, his fingers once again finding the keys and creating another simple yet unfamiliar sound.

"I took a few lessons when I was younger. My mom taught me the basics then I mostly played around and figured the rest out myself." Kurt said, remembering back to the previous day that he'd spent in this very auditorium playing piano for Finn.

"It's a great escape mechanism." Blaine stated matter-of-factly, now with his eyes open, he looked over to Kurt and offered a small smile.

Kurt looked puzzled.

"I like to play piano when I need some alone time." Blaine said, that same red blush flowing up his neck and into his cheeks. "It's peaceful… and calming."

Blaine effortlessly melted his song into another one, this one familiar to Kurt who smiled upon recognition. "Ohhhh Blaine! I love this song!"

Kurt jumped up off the piano bench and began theatrically singing along with a tune from 'The Sound of Music". Blaine chuckled as he watched the other boy singing and dancing around the piano, obviously enjoying himself. When the song ended, Kurt unceremoniously plopped back down on the piano stool next to Blaine and laughed, out of breath, "Wow. I can't believe I just did that!"

Blaine smiled and held his head in his hand, unable to take his eyes off the other boy. "You have a great voice Kurt. You sounded amazing."

"Ha! That's a first, most people just laugh when they hear me sing for the first time. Actually most are shocked when they find out I'm not a girl…"

Blaine smiled and continued to gaze at Kurt. "I've always loved your voice Kurt. Your range is phenomenal."

Kurt's eyes widened and it was his turn to feel the warmth rise to his cheeks. No one ever complimented him like this.

"Th-thanks Blaine."

"I think singing with someone is a great way to show them that you care about them." Blaine said, looking up at Kurt with a sparkle in his golden brown eyes. "It's the most honest form of self-expression."

"Do you think I should sing to Finn?"

Blaine shook himself and his triangular eyebrows jumped up on his forehead in surprise. "Uhhh… I-I…" He stuttered. "Kurt…"

"Blaine! You're a genius! I'm going to sing him a song and let him know that I love him!"

Blaine did a double take. "Wh-what?"

"It's brilliant! He'll hear me expressing my love and he'll realize that I care for him and that we're meant to be together!"

Blaine was speechless. "Kurt… do you think that's wise?"

Kurt didn't seem to hear Blaine's warning. He was lost in his own mind, planning what song he would perform. He would have to choose a song from a musical. They were always the best for exclaiming one's love for someone else. Wicked? Or maybe one from Rent?

Kurt stared off into space as his mind flooded with ideas about song choice and choreography.

"Kurt?"

The taller teen seemed to snap out of his daydream and looked back over to Blaine with a huge grin. "Thank you Blaine. I'm sorry I said such hateful things. I guess I just assumed you were just like the other jocks." He exclaimed excitedly. "Thank you for listening to me rant and thank you for suggesting that I sing to Finn!"

Kurt was too excited to notice the shell-shocked look that was cemented on Blaine's face.

It was so strange. Twenty-four hours ago Kurt would have loved to have locked Blaine in a closet for the rest of his life to prevent him from interrupting any more of his conversations with Finn, but now – he couldn't really find any reason to hate him.

Maybe Blaine wasn't as bad as he'd made him out to be. Kurt had to admit that Blaine had never really initiated any of the bullying that the rest of the football guys had participated in. But he also hadn't done anything to prevent it either.

Kurt was conflicted. Should be hate Blaine or enjoy his company? Could he actually be friends with a straight guy? A football jock nevertheless! He almost laughed aloud when he thought about what it would look like for anyone to walk into the auditorium at that moment and see the only gay kid at the school sitting on a piano bench next to a jock wearing his Letterman's jacket.

The most two most unlikely of allies joining up and making beautiful music together.

"Kurt?" Blaine asked again quietly, "Are you okay? You've gone quiet. You're not having a stroke or something are you?"

Kurt snapped out of his reverie and looked at the other boy. "Why do the jocks hate me so much?"

Blaine's face fell. It was obvious that he was hoping to avoid this conversation.

He looked like he was about to say something then changed his mind. Then he finally gulped and looked over at the taller teen. "Kurt, they don't hate you. They just don't understand you."

Kurt scoffed. "So they choose to throw me into the dumpster because they don't understand me. Riiiight – cuz that makes perfect sense."

Blaine looked even more hurt. "Kurt, I'm sorry. I wish I could have done something to stop them."

Kurt shook his head and stood up from the piano bench. "You could have said something Blaine. If you're so hell bent on being my friend then maybe try standing up for me for once…"

Blaine stood up from the bench, now separated from Kurt by the shiny black piano. "Kurt, I want to… it's just that…I…" He hesitated and frowned when he couldn't come up with the words he was looking for.

"You're just like them! You are too afraid to be seen with me. I'm a freak and you don't want to ruin your all-American, boy-next-door, straight-guy, football-star reputation. I get it Blaine. I'm sorry I ever wasted my time believing that you might actually be worth my time." Kurt spun around and huffed out of the auditorium.

Blaine looked devastated. "Kurt, please." He cried, "I swear, I'm not like them." But he could only watch in defeat as the other boy strutted away from him and slammed the auditorium door behind him with a loud bang.

Kurt was gone before he had a chance to see the tears that had welled up in Blaine's eyes or hear Blaine's voice crack as he struggled with his last few spoken words.