“Where you off to is such a rush Matey?” laughed Finn. “Get it…Get it….”matey” as in First Mate…Ships….Pirates….Get it now?” he asked looking up at Kurt’s bitch face.

“You know Finn a joke really isn’t a joke if you have to explain it to the audience.”

Finn’s eyes narrowed and he started shoveling food into his mouth. Kurt sat down and found that he actually had an appetite. He had lost quite a bit of weight in the last few months and he hadn’t really had much of an appetite since he got home. Everyone just stared at him as he piled chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, and biscuits onto his plate. Carole raised her eyebrows but didn’t make any comments. Finn and Burt just watched him eat every single bite forgetting about their own food.

“Dude, I’ve never seen you eat so much - especially chicken. I think you even tried to suck the marrow out of that drumstick. You normally eat a tiny slice of the chicken breast and a salad not the whole damn chicken! You didn’t even leave enough for me to have seconds. I doubt you are going to fit into your skinny jeans if you keep eating like that,” grumbled Finn.

“Maybe,” said Kurt, “but I know my sweats will fit – HA!” he exclaimed taking Finn’s biscuit and jamming it into his mouth.

“Hey! That’s my biscuit,”

“Wxmghsoejne….I mean – it was your biscuit,” laughed Kurt leaning away from Finn’s arm as he tried to slug Kurt.

“Boys! That’s enough! Finn finish your dinner and Kurt try not to speak with your mouth full of food,” said Carole trying to keep a smile from ruining her reprimand.

Burt felt a warm feeling start at his feet and settle into his chest. He was so damn happy to hear Kurt laughing and joking with his brother that he had to struggle from breaking out into tears. He blinked a few times and felt Carole squeeze his arm gently. He wasn’t sure if his earlier talk with Kurt, the fact that Blaine had called, Kurt’s dream or just finally getting to visit Mr. Schue’s grave had made the difference in his demeanor. Whatever it was Burt was just happy to see his son starting to come back to the land of the living.

He took a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Kurt.

“What is this dad….Oh – thanks dad!” said Kurt blushing slightly while Burt just laughed teasingly.

“What’s that dude?” asked Finn.

“Blaine’s phone number.”

“Who’s Blaine?”

“You met him at Nationals Finn. He was the lead singer for the Warblers.”

“The little, hobbit looking kid with the gel helmet sitting on his head?” laughed Finn although one look at Kurt’s face stopped his laughter immediately. “Right, well ok then. I think I will just finish eating,” he said as he lowered his face and started eating.

“Dinner was delicious Carole. May I be excused?” asked Kurt looking at his parents.

“Only if you promise to tell me all about your conversation with Blaine,” teased Carole watching Kurt’s face turn a bright shade of pink.

“Umm, okay,” he said as he started running up the stairs. This time he did manage to miss the last step and fell down. He was so embarrassed and he tried to stand up in a dignified manner while listening to everyone howl with laughter at his expense. He was in such a hurry to call Blaine that he just stuck his tongue out at everyone and walked down the hallway to his bedroom.

As soon as he got to his bedroom he realized that he didn’t have a cell phone anymore. He remembered how attached he had been to his phone before and was never without it but now he had totally forgotten the phone had been a victim of May 13th as well. He would have to ask his dad if he could have another phone but for the meantime this meant that he would have to go back downstairs and use the phone in the living room.

“Hey dad, do you think we can go out tomorrow and get me a cell phone?” he asked as he walked down the stairs carefully this time.

“Sure. We can go after breakfast. Finn – did you hear that? Be dressed and ready by breakfast if you want a phone as well.”

“Awesome. Kurt, wake me up when you are done taking a shower,” said Finn as Kurt sat on the couch and picked up the phone.

Burt watched him as he just sat there staring at the phone and not dialing the number. “What’s wrong Kurt?”

“I just remembered that I don’t look the same,” running his hand lightly over the left side of his face. “I kinda look like a freaky pirate that lost his ship. I mean I’m no Johnny Depp,” his insecurities shining through were heartbreaking to see. “I just don’t want to get all excited about seeing him and then have him take one look at me and be repulsed by my face.”

“Blaine was there that day Kurt. He knows what happened. He probably doesn’t know the extent of the injuries you suffered but I’m sure you aren’t going to scare him off with your looks. He must have thought you were interesting enough to try and locate you. Why don’t you give him a chance?”

Kurt was torn – should he call or should he just forget about Blaine. He started dialing the number. A lyric ran through his head – he couldn’t quite remember the artist but “…..life’s too short to even care at all oh oh….” kept running through his head and he seriously knew that life was too short to care about certain things +as he kept dialing the number. He liked Blaine and screw it - he was done with worrying about what people might say or think about him so from now on he resolved to live life to the fullest.

He could hear the phone ringing and before he knew it was being answered, “Hello.”

Kurt felt like hanging up or throwing up as he stammered a response, “H-Hi is this Blaine?”

“Yes, who is this?”

“This is Kurt Hummel.”

“Kurt!!! Oh wow! I’m so glad you called!” exclaimed Blaine. “I wasn’t too sure your dad would give you my message but I’m glad to hear from you. How have you been?”

“I’m okay now. How have you been?” Kurt could hear people talking in the background and he heard Blaine mumble something he couldn’t quite catch.

“Kurt, I really am glad you called. My parents are having some sort of dinner thing and I am being summoned to make an appearance. Can we meet somewhere to talk tomorrow?”

“I can’t drive anywhere Blaine. I had surgery on my eye and I haven’t been cleared to drive yet.”

“That’s no problem. I could swing by to pick you up. We could go get coffee or something. Is this your cell number? Can you text me your address so I know where I am going?”

“This is my house phone. I don’t have a cell phone yet but you can call me tomorrow before you head out and I can give you my address,” said Kurt.

“I can’t wait to see you Kurt. Tomorrow around noon okay? I really have to go now. Thanks for calling.”

“I will see you tomorrow. Bye,” said Kurt hardly able to contain his excitement any longer as he hung up the phone and did a little victory dance around the sofa. He heard giggles and looked up to see Carole standing by the doorway to the kitchen.

“Everything ok?” she asked giggling softly.

“He asked me to go out for coffee tomorrow around noon so we could talk!” he exclaimed as he grabbed her hands and twirled her around the living room.

“Be careful with your feet Kurt. You don’t want to fall down and hurt yourself and not be able to go out tomorrow do you?” asked Burt enjoying the sight of the two dancing around the room. “Now get to bed. I’m sure you want to be well rested for your date tomorrow.”

“Date…who has a date?” asked Finn walking in from the kitchen.

At the word date – Kurt blanched and sat down on the couch….”Date…I have a date,” he mumbled. He slowly got up and started climbing the stairs to his room. “I have a date….,” he kept repeating as he got ready for bed.