Summer is finally here. Kurt thought as he packed the last of his things from his Dalton dorm room. Blaine had left the day before to go on a two-week cruise with his parents and Isabel. He had tried to invite Kurt but his parents wanted to have family time. Blaine then promised to call the day he came back.
Kurt loaded his things in his car and drove away from Dalton. On the way back, he thought of the past year. His father had a heart attack and then got married. Kurt got a new brother, had his first kiss, transferred to another school, and got his first boyfriend. All in all, it was an okay year. Je just hoped that next year would be less eventful.
….
“Oh I forgot to tell you the good news!” Isabel told Blaine.
They were in their room on the cruise ship, unpacking their suitcases. Blaine had changed out of his Dalton uniform and was wearing light wash jeans and a red T-shirt. Isabel had changed out of Easton uniform and was wearing a yellow sundress. Her hair was straightened and in a ponytail.
“What? You’ve decided to give me my hair gel back?” Blaine said.
Isabel had stolen his hair gel before they left and hid it somewhere. She refused to give it back until they got back from the cruise.
“No that’s at home. I’m transferring to McKinley.”
“What? Why?”
“Easton doesn’t want me to come back next year.”
“Why?”
“I may or may not have punched Ashley in the face.”
“What’d she do this time?”
“She saw a picture of me and Jeff and said that it wouldn’t last long because he hasn’t met her.”
“So you hit her?”
“No. Jeff called me and she answered my phone. Then she tried to flirt with him and she wouldn’t give me my phone back. So I punched her and got my phone back.”
“Did you break anything?”
“Yeah her nose.”
Blaine laughed. “So they kicked you out for that?”
“No, apparently I have a long record there. You know with my late night phone calls, skipping school for family emergencies, coming in late, kicking a therapist in the shins, and having boys in my dorm. The boys weren’t my fault though.”
“Ah, I see. So now you’re going to McKinley.”
“It’s the closest school to us.”
“Of course. I’m sure that’s why you’re going.”
“Why else would I be going?”
“I don’t know. You always have an ulterior motive.”
“I do not!”
“Do too!”
“Do not!”
“Do too!”
There was a knock on the door. “Kids are you almost done unpacking?” their mom asked through the door.
“Yes!” they both said at the same time.
“Well, meet us at the top deck. We need to talk to you.”
“Great,” Blaine said sarcastically, “I really wish they had let us bring someone with us.”
“There’s no way I would’ve stayed in the same room with you and Kurt for two weeks.”
“Well, you wouldn’t have to. You would’ve gotten another room for you and Leslie.”
“How do you know I would’ve brought Leslie?”
“You always bring Leslie.”
“Well, maybe I would bring Jeff this time.”
“No you wouldn’t”
“Yes I would.”
“No you wouldn’t.”
“Yes I would.”
There was a sharp knock at the door. “Kids are you done in there?” their father asked.
“We’re coming!” they yelled.
“So McKinley huh?” Blaine asked.
“Yep, McKinley.”
They walked out the door to the top deck. Their parents were sitting on deck chairs. Their dad had already ordered a drink for himself and their mom was on her second one. Blaine and Isabel sat on the two deck chairs their parents brought out for them.
“Would you like anything to drink?” a waiter came by to ask them.
“Uh, a diet coke,” Isabel said.
“Make that two.”
“Would you like another drink ma’am?” the waiter asked their mom.
“Uh, yes please.”
‘Hold on,” their father said. “We’re on a cruise, we’re suppose to have fun. It’s okay if you two order alcohol.”
“No thanks. I’d rather not,” Isabel said.
“Yeah, me neither,” Blaine said remembering the last time he got drunk.
“Fine, suit yourself. I’d like another scotch on the rocks.”
“Very well,” the waiter said before leaving.
“Why don’t you kids ever order a drink?” their father asked them.
“You know I don’t drink dad. I never have, I never will,” Isabel said.
“And I don’t want to drink again. Not after the third degree I got from Isabel when she found out.”
Blaine wasn’t talking about getting drunk. He was talking about how Isabel reacted when she found out about his argument with Kurt. He didn’t want to something stupid like that again. His arm hurt for a week.
“What did you want to talk about with us?” Isabel asked.
“Well I don’t know if you know Blaine but Isabel’s been kicked out of Easton.”
“Yes, Isabel just told me.”
“So I’m sure you know that she’s going to be going to McKinley now.”
“Yep, she told me.”
“Now I’ve talked to the principal at Dalton to see how you’re doing Blaine. I was shocked to find out about your record. I’m paying good money for you to go to this school to get a good education and I found out you’re throwing it away.”
“Yes you are. You’re going to this school to get a good education, so you can get a good job and marry a nice gal and have a family.”
“Richard-” their mom said but the damage had already been done.
“You sent me to Dalton to get away from the bullies. You don’t give a damn about my education. And in case you’ve forgotten Dad, I’m gay!” Blaine said getting up.
“Blaine sit down and stop making a scene,” their mom said.
‘No. I’m sick and tired of the way he acts. You make it seem like one day I’ll wake up and realize I’m straight. But it won’t ever happen. I’m in love with a boy Dad. It’s time you accepted that.” Blaine walked away.
Isabel got up and, without looking at her parents, went after Blaine.
“Blaine! Blaine!” she said running after him. “Come on Blaine!”
She grabbed his arm. He turned around and Isabel could see how angry he was.
“Blaine calm down.”
“No! It’s just so aggravating! Why can’t he see that-”
“You’re in love with Kurt?”
“Blaine looked at her. “How-Did I say that?”
“Yeah. You told him you’re in love with a boy.”
“Oh god really? I said that?”
Isabel nodded. “Do you mean it?”
“I-I think so.”
Isabel smiled and put her arm around Blaine. “Well I can tell you something.”
‘What?”
“I like Kurt better than Thomas.”
Blaine laughed. “Me, too.”
…
The next morning, Kurt walked downstairs to the kitchen. He saw Burt and Carole at the kitchen table. There were papers scattered everywhere. But and Carole had been talking silently until Kurt came in.
“Morning Dad. Morning Carole.”
“Kurt could you sit down? We need to talk.” Burt said.
Uh-oh. That didn’t sound too good. Kurt sat down at the table. Burt looked serious.
“What is it Dad?” Kurt said.
“We’ve been looking over our expenses and we won’t be able to afford sending you to Dalton next year,” Burt said.
“Are you saying I have to go back to McKinley?”
“We don’t want to send you back but there’s no way we can make ends meet.”
“What if I get a job?”
Kurt didn’t want to leave Dalton, to leave Blaine.
“It won’t be enough. Roger gave in his two weeks’ notice yesterday and I need to hire someone to take his place.”
“Oh.”
“I’m sorry Kurt. We don’t want you to go back but we don’t have a lot of money.”
“It’s okay. The New Directions said they’d protect me.”
“I’m sorry Kurt,” Carole said.
“Like I said, it’s okay. I’m just gonna go to my room.”
Kurt got up and went back to his room.
He collapsed onto his bed. He has to go back to McKinley, back to Karofsky. Right now, he wished he could talk to Blaine. It wasn’t that he didn’t miss New Directions but he didn’t feel safe at McKinley and he just got Blaine. They could maintain a relationship but the Warblers were going to compete again next year. That would put a strain on their relationship. Kurt didn’t want to transfer back to McKinley with Karofsky still looming. But he had to. There’s no way he could demand to stay cause he knew his dad would give in. He didn’t want them to be in debt, especially for him. So he would have to suck it up and go back. The New Directions would probably create a protective circle around him.
…
Two weeks later
Burt was having trouble finding someone to replace Roger. All those who had applied turned the job down because of the low pay and long hours. It wasn’t his fault. There wasn’t a lot of business here right now.
He was working on a car when he heard a knock. He looked up and saw a girl with long, curly black hair come in. She was wearing jeans and a green shirt. Her wrists were completely covered by wristbands. She looked a bit familiar. Burt couldn’t place where he’d seen her before though.
“Can I help you?” he asked, wiping his hands on a cloth.
“I saw the Help Wanted sign and I was wondering if you’re still hiring,” she said.
“Yes, I’m still hiring.”
“Well, then I was wondering if you had an application.”
“Well I could interview right now … uh…”
“Isabel.”
“Okay Isabel. I’d like for you to look at this car and tell me what’s wrong with it.”
He pointed to one of the cars that he hadn’t looked at yet.
She walked to the car and looked in. She stood for a few minutes looking at the engine. “The transmission’s shot and the band needs to be replaced.”
She said it very confidently. She wasn’t guessing.
Burt looked in and saw that she was right. “That was quick.”
“I’ve been fixing cars since I was like 13. I’ve fixed my own car multiple times.”
“Well then I guess you’re hired. Any questions?”
“Yeah, what are the hours?”
“10 to 10.”
“And the pay?”
“6.50 an hour.”
“Okay, I’ll take it.”
Burt was a bit shocked. Most people didn’t take the job when they found out the pay. “Really?”
“I need an excuse to get out of my house. It’s really tense right now.”
“Alright then. How soon can you start?”
“Uh, now?”
“Alright, well welcome to the Hummel lube and tire shop.”
…
Blaine rang the doorbell at the Hummel residence. He’d come back from the cruise the day before. His hair was still ungelled since Isabel still hadn’t given him his gel back. He was wearing jeans and a purple shirt. He didn’t want to be home right now. His parents were arguing again. They always argued but Blaine was never home when they did. So when they started arguing after breakfast, Isabel went out and Blaine decided to go visit Kurt. He had called before, so Kurt was expecting him.
The door opened and Blaine saw it was Carole who answered the door.
“Blaine, hi.”
“Hi, Carole. Did Kurt tell you I was coming?”
“Of course he did. Come in.”
Blaine walked in.
“Kurt, Blaine’s here,” Carole called up the stairs.
“Can you send him up?” Kurt asked from his room.
“Well, I guess you can go up. You know where his room is.”
Blaine walked up the stair and to Kurt’s room. His door was open. Kurt was rummaging in his desk, looking for something. Blaine knocked on the door to alert Kurt of his presence. He turned around, saw Blaine, and smiled. He then got up.
“Hey Kurt,” Blaine said walking over to Kurt and kissing him.
“Hey Blaine,” Kurt said when they broke apart. “How was the cruise?”
“Okay, I guess. I spent most of the time with Isabel.”
“By Isabel, you mean really hot guys who aren’t me?” Kurt asked jokingly.
“Of course,” Blaine joked back.
Kurt smiled knowing Blaine was kidding. How did he get so lucky? Then he remembered the transfer back.
“Blaine listen we have to talk,” Kurt said.
“What’s wrong?”
“I have to go back to McKinley.”
“What? Why?”
“We can’t afford it.”
“Oh, Kurt I’m sorry. But you won’t be alone.”
“Yeah, I know, the New Directions will be there.”
“No, Isabel’s going to McKinley next year. She got kicked out of Easton.”
“Really? What’d she do?”
“Punched Ashley in the face.”
“Oh my god, really?” Kurt laughed. “I’m sure she deserved it.
“Yep, she did.”
Kurt laughed again.
“So next year, you’ll have Isabel with you. She’ll definitely protect you,” Blaine said.
“You sure?”
“Yeah. She did the same for me.”
“Well, you’re her brother.”
“And you’re my boyfriend. She’ll protect you. Trust me.”
“Okay. But if she doesn’t, I’m holding you responsible.”
“Well we don’t have to worry about it yet. We still have three months of summer left. Besides, I’ve got something planned for today.”
“Let me guess, the beach?”
“No. We’re taking a trip.”
“You and me?”
“No, your stepbrother and me.”
Kurt smacked Blaine in the arm. “Very funny Blaine.”
“What? You’re the one who asked a stupid question.”
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“You won’t tell me?”
“Nope.”
“Well, how do you know my dad’ll be fine with this?”
“It’s a secret.”
“Are you serious?”
Blaine just smiled, not answering him. “Come on, let’s go.”
“But I’m not ready to go. I need to change.”
“No you don’t. You look fine.”
“No, I need to change.”
“Okay, I’ll wait outside. Don’t take too long okay? I have to bring you back by eleven.”
“You talked to my dad about this before didn’t you?”
Blaine just smiled and walked out of the room to let Kurt change.
Ten minutes later, Kurt was walking out of his house. He was wearing dark wash skinny jeans and a red and white striped T-shirt. He walked over to Blaine, who opened the passenger door of the car. Kurt climbed in and Blaine closed the door behind him. He then went to the other side and got in. He started the car and drove away from the house.
“So Isabel’s not coming with us?” Kurt asked.
“No, of course not. She’s doing… something,” Blaine answered.
“Why were you so anxious to get out of your house?”
“My parents are arguing again.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. They always argue after spending more than five days with each other. They don’t spend a lot of time together since their jobs send them on long trips away from each other.”
“So your home is the perfect place to have a party huh?”
“Yeah, well my parents would probably organize it and everything.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I think that’s why Isabel is a goody two shoes, she knows it irritates them.”
Kurt laughed. Isabel was acting like a typical teenager, rebelling against her parents, in a non rebelling way.
They fell into a comfortable silence. Blaine slid in a CD into the player. The music played and Kurt looked out the window. Blaine slid his hand into Kurt’s and squeezed it. Kurt squeezed it back. Blaine kept holding his hand.
Fifteen minutes later, Kurt didn’t recognize the scenery.
“Where are you taking me?” Kurt asked Blaine.
“It’s a secret.”
“You won’t tell me?”
Blaine shook his head.
“Am I allowed to guess?” Kurt asked.
“You can try but I won’t say anything.”
“Oh my god really? Why won’t you tell me?”
“I want it to be a surprise.”
“Well are we almost there?”
“Maybe, maybe not.”
“Blaine!”
“What?”
“Come on, just tell me.”
“Nope.”
“I’ll get Isabel to make you tell me.”
“It won’t work. She’s sworn to secrecy.”
Kurt gave a frustrated sigh. Blaine just smiled at him. Blaine was so aggravating sometimes, especially when he was being a great boyfriend.
“Fine, I give up,” Kurt said finally.
“I knew you’d give up. I know you can’t resist me.”
“You’re found out my weakness.”
“And I plan on using it against you every chance that I get.”
“You’re such a Slytherin.”
Blaine smiled even wider. “You know it.”
They fell into a comfortable silence again with the music softly playing in the background.
…
“I can’t believe you,” Kurt said in disbelief.
“What?”
“This is where you’re taking me?”
“Yeah. I though you’d like it. Do you now like it?”
“You thought I’d like it?”
Blaine got nervous. Did Kurt not like his surprise? “Was I wrong to think that?”
“No, I love it!”
It was a large mall thirty minutes away from Lima, the Lovas mall. It was two stories with over 500 hundred stores, 16 restaurants and a large food court. It was the largest mall Kurt had ever seen. It was also the most expensive.
Blaine smiled. Kurt loved the mall. He took Kurt’s hand in his and they started walking towards the entrance.
“So where do you want to go first?” Blaine asked Kurt when they entered.
“I don’t know, let’s walk around a little bit,” Kurt answered.
They walked around a while entering a few stores but not buying anything.
“Kurt if you want something just tell me, I’ll buy it for you,” Blaine told him.
“No, I don’t want-”
“I want to,” Blaine said facing Kurt. “Let me act like a boyfriend, Kurt.
“You already are. But I’d feel bad cause I’m not buying you anything.”
“You can buy me lunch. Deal?”
“Okay, deal.”
Blaine smiled and they continued to walk around.
They spent the whole day at the mall, with each fulfilling their promises.
At 10:50, Blaine pulled into Kurt’s driveway. They got out of the car and walked to the front door.
“Thanks for today. It was a lot of fun,” Kurt said.
“Thanks for coming along.”
“I’m taking you out next time, okay?”
“Okay.”
Blaine leaned in and kissed Kurt. Kurt stepped closer and wrapped his arms around Blaine’s neck. Blaine wrapped his arms around Kurt’s waist and pulled him closer. They could’ve stayed like that for hours if the front door hadn’t swung open. They sprung apart and saw Burt standing there. He didn’t look angry, just shocked. He hadn’t meant to stop them, he just needed to get something out of his car.
Kurt smiled. “Goodnight Blaine.”
“Goodnight Kurt. Mr. Hummel.”
Then they went their separate ways.