Chapter 13: True Story

"It has just occurred to me that you and I haven't been out on a proper date." Blaine whistled. His voice was a little too rehearsed to convince anyone that this insight was in fact new and not premeditated.

Kurt withheld the coin that he was about to put into the vending machine and turned around. Behind him was the famous and infamous lead singer of the Warblers. Today the junior's dark hair was perfectly gelled and his uniform was neatly pressed. Something about Blaine's straight posture and aura of confidence suggested that this was his normal presentation and character. The assurance in his innocent smile reflected equally in his innocent hazel eyes. For a moment Kurt forget about all his past encounters with his roommate's bother who could best be described as shy and socially awkward.

"Hey Blaine," Kurt shrugged off his unusual response to the other man and added the next coin into the machine. He didn't have time to eat breakfast in the morning and now his blood sugar was low and demanding food, or at least a snack until his next meal. It is surely a result of his lightheadedness and dizziness that was making Blaine look different. "What are you up to today?" The other man's observation vanished along without all unimportant pleasantries and greetings.

A bag of crackers and a chocolate bar fell from the machine after Kurt specified his snack preferences. The selection of food both surprised and confused Blaine. Kurt's willowy body and healthy diet didn't seem to have room for the occasional junk food.

"I just said we haven't been on a proper date before..."

The unspoken and indirect statement hidden within Blaine's observation amused Kurt. Unwilling to accept Blaine comment as anything more than a mere observation, Kurt added. "I've never been to Australia and I don't know how to ski."

It wasn't all that long ago when Blaine said this very statement to a politician's 'straight' son. The son immediately laughed and then asked Blaine out on a date. This observation and his winning charms has never faltered before, let alone receive a nonsensical response. "What?"

Kurt smiled and opened the bag of crackers. A faint tremble in his fingers went unnoticed. "Oh, I thought we were just sharing random facts. Did you want me to agree to something I already know to be true?"

"Well most boys do." Blaine's words rolled off his tongue too smoothly and swiftly to excuse this statement as being a humble joke.

The junior stepped forward and rested one of his palms against the machine to cage the fair skinned boy. The raise in Blaine's certainty was abnormal yet fitting. "How often do you remind guys you haven't dated them before. It must be an inconvenient burden when visiting new places."

Blaine surmounted the sexual frustrations within him into a heated and sultry stare. "Are you one of those boys who deflects nerves with humor?" Kurt smiled but kept silent. "We're known each other for a couple weeks - we've shared our misunderstanding and cute moments. In the mix of all that we have never left Dalton property and gone on a date. For all I know you're wearing an ankle monitoring for past crimes and if you leave campus, then the police will be alerted."

"Oh, you caught me; and here I thought I was being so clever." Kurt winked with a mischievous smile that conflicted with his attempt to be a mastermind criminal.

"And you're deflecting. So what will it be, would you like to go out on a date with me?"

A second and third bite into his snack enabled Kurt to think clearer. "Call me old fashion, but I don't want to shake the boat with you and Thad. That man can be scary when he wants to be."

Blaine stiffened his smirk and the sensual code in his eyes relaxed into irritation. When would Thad get the message and leave him alone. They fucked and then they stopped - end of story. Between the flicking of emotions, Kurt slid around Blaine's arms and began walking in the direction of the study nock he was originally occupying. "Hey, Thad and I aren't dating. It is a miss communication on Thad's part." Blaine scurried behind Kurt. For being clean and well-presented he was still off in his game, or Kurt was an anomaly? "Thad isn't used to people being nice to him, and he often misinterprets pure intentions with things more suggestive."

Simple stares from other students made little impact on Blaine's determination for a date - a real date this time, not a socially awkward match up with his brother in a dark park that Kurt presumed romantic.

"I'm surprised you're worried about a date when you have other issues that should be concerning you." Kurt pretended that he forgot about the questionable fungal cream he found in Blaine's room. "In case you need reminding... Billy Rivers. I'm glad to see that you still have all your teeth."

A light giggle from Kurt made little impact on Blaine or his feelings of rejection. "Nice try, but you already told me that that story is made up."

Afraid that too much talking would ban him from the library, Kurt quickly packed his books and notes into his favorite massager once they arrived at his nock. Blaine accepted the actions and politely kept quiet. Who would have known asking a guy out would require such patience and embarrassment. Most men found their way into his lap with little effort and no restraint, then again, Kurt would not be fun or worth a high price if he came easily.

"Of course I said that." Kurt answered once the duo departed from the library entrance and entered the common study area. The change in atmosphere was sudden and students of all ages were discussing the hot matters in their years. "It was two in the morning and you were crying. What was I supposed to do? The story of Billy Rivers is true." Blaine lightly paled at the words and tiny cracks manifested in his solid facade. "You saw the articles on the internet; and you have spoken with previous Warbler leaders. Do you honestly think I would have gone through all that trouble just to scare you? The closer the Warblers get to competition season, then the higher the likelihood that something supernatural will happen to you" Kurt placed his hand over his heart with sarcasm. "And I for one am worried about you."

"You see." Blaine stopped walking and pointed his index finger in his friend's direction. "When you say things like that I don't know if you're joking or telling the truth. It confusing and not a laughing matter. Is Billy...Rivers," Blaine fought his fears and succumbed to a worried whisper, "Is he real? Tell me the truth."

"At this point does it really matter? Once someone believes something to be true, then their mind plays tricks on them until they are free from their fear." Kurt took another bite of his snack. "If you believe in Billy's ghost, then there is only one way to get on his good side."

Kurt did not repeat the instruction he requested his friend in Connecticut to convey on her homemade website. The words may not have been spoken, but that did not stop Blaine from frowning with understanding.

The distant sight of Sebastian and Jeff motivated Blaine to walk in the opposite direction. He was not in the mood to talk with family and friends when he had more pressing matters in the supernatural. "I can't do that. It's embarrassing."

Happy that they were no longer standing and blocking traffic, Kurt followed Blaine towards the building's main exit. It was a beautiful day and staying inside felt like a waste of God's gift. True to Kurt's expectations cool and fresh air cleared his senses and relaxed his shoulders of tension he did not know he was carrying.

"I'm not saying you have to do it, but it is your only guaranteed way you will be free of a possible poltergeist who haunts the choir room and targets lead singers."

"There you go again confusing me." Kurt smirked at the childish distress. So much for Blaine looking self-asserted and confident. "One minute I have you figured out and the next I'm not sure. Is this all because I made up the story about the gardens?" The smile teasing Blaine grew like the Cheshire Cat's grin. "I wasn't trying to be cruel. I was trying to be romantic...this," The shorter boy waved his finger at Kurt, "This is just mean."

Kurt dismissed the accusation and cherished the pouty lips Blaine was displaying. "I'm not being cruel. You can either believe me or do the alternative."

"But that's the thing! I don't know what you're trying to tell me! Your words tell one story, and your expressions tell another."

Like the true makings of the Cheshire Cat, Kurt raised his chin and whispered before fading into the busy crowd. "If you need help later, call me."

...

Blaine did call. In fact he called at exactly nine in the evening when the stars were visible and the many lights of Dalton were bright and shinning. Other than a comment about his ass, Sebastian said very little when Kurt changed out of his sweat pants and sweater and into a new outfit. It was almost as if Sebastian was intentionally 'giving' Kurt to Blaine for the night. After his recent attack with a spider he was slightly confused with Kurt and the feelings he was having. A break from each other sounded inviting.

"Don't stay out too late. Curfew is at ten." Sebastian commented before Kurt zipped up his red jacket and left for the time being.

Other than a stray student here and there, Dalton grounds were calm and empty. Impatiently waiting for him underneath a lamp post by the seniors' library was the very man who called him. Per instructions from the Billy Rivers website, Blaine was dressed in his most humble attire - unflattering sweats and his fizzy hair was unkempt. The backpack around his body consisted of two flashlights and other necessary items.

"I can't believe you're making me do this." Blaine grumbled as if he had no say in the matter. "People are going to think I'm crazy."

"I'm not making you do anything. Next time don't make up stories and call them true - while you're at it, learn the difference between fact and fiction." The two walked passed the library and towards the tallest building on campus - a six story building consisting of admissions, classrooms and an astronomy observation deck on top. "This is no picnic for me either. I would much rather be in bed scaring Sebastian with mentions of spiders. Instead I'm dealing with you and ghosts."

A distant group of boys' motivated Blaine to lift his sweater hood and over his head. "You better be careful, you scared Sebastian with spiders and now me with ghosts, and once we figure out your fear then you're in serious trouble."

Nothing about Blaine's humor spark fear within Kurt. Blaine was harmless and far too gullible to be called a potent threat. "Unless of course my fear includes ghost spiders. How do you still believe in this ghost story?"

"It isn't right to monkey with the supernatural. For all I know you've stirred up a dormant presence."

The grand entrance to Dalton's oldest building stood with pride under the graceful moonlight. Thanks to the white light, Kurt was able to read the painted letters that spelt the name of the building - Swanson Lee. Beneath the painted letters and brick wall that comprised the building, fallen yellow tree leaves blew against their feet with the subtle winds.

"How do you suggest me get inside?" Blaine tried pulling on the metal handle, but the door remained firmly locked. "Should we sneak in from the back entrance, or climb up and tree and into a second floor window? I bet all the other old-fashion doors will be locked like this."

"It's locked?" Kurt shrugged his shoulders in simple defeat. "Oh well, it's the thought that counts. From now on consider yourself free from the pestering taunts that is Billy Rivers." The taller boy waved his hands in an extensive hand gesture that suggested a mockery to witchcraft. "Let's get inside, it's cold out here; and this joke has lost its humor about five minutes ago."

"Not so fast." Blaine outreached for his classmate's shoulders. "You're giving up already? Did you really make this all up for an ending like that? Either this story about Billy is true, or you have too much time on your hands."

Kurt crossed his arms and watched Blaine tug on the door for a second time. "I came here to help you, and now you insult me and how I keep myself amused." The smile that rarely left Kurt's face faulted as Blaine's efforts to open the door heightened. A shadow sprawled down Blaine's face highlighted a new level of determination that Kurt did not recognize from before. In the midst of his deep frown there was something the taller boy could not understand. "Seriously, what are you doing? The door is locked for a reason - we could get in trouble if we sneak in."

Blaine switched his hold on the door for Kurt's hand, and quickly tracked down the few stairs separating the building threshold to the leveled sidewalk. "Like I said before - I'm not sure if you're joking or trying to calm me down. Either way Dalton is an old school, who's to say it is not haunted and you pissed something off with this little game of yours." Despite the snooty, scared and worried tone in the shorter boy's voice, he kept his grip on his friend's hand with gentle pressure. "There's a back entrance that requires a code. You're in astronomy. I know your professor gave all his students access to the observation deck for the semester. You are getting us in."

"He gave us the code on the condition that we sign up in advance." Kurt pulled his hand from Blaine's grip. Without skipping a beat, Blaine connected their other hands together. "I'm not going to get in trouble for you or your silly fear. Dalton is not..."

Haunted. The word never crossed the taller boy's lips before a hand covered them. "Don't say it. Haven't you ever watched or read a ghost story before? It always begins this way. One person, typically the jerk..." Kurt was too caught off guard by Blaine's hand over his mouth to catch the sly insult. "...Makes a mockery of the supernatural and the victim, myself in this case, pays the price because ghosts feed off his fear; then right before things get really bad, the jerk and victim start fighting with each other - they separate and things get bad for everyone involved."

"No, I haven't seen those movies." Kurt pushed the hand off his face and accepted Blaine's pull towards the back entrance. "I being the good boy that I am, am reframing until I turn seventeen to see R-rated films. Plus, I don't like to be scared and don't want to see these kinds of movies."

"I'm not scared, I'm being precautious."

On the other side of the corner, Kurt looked upwards to the rows upon rows of symmetrical windows that signified the number of floors within the construction. Thick bushes of shrub and crawling vines catered to the classical design that belong to a different century. After the second corner in the far end, just like Blaine mentioned, there was a modern designed door next to a metal security box.

"Okay, let's get this show on the road. Snap-snap." Blaine instructed Kurt to enter the code that would unlock the door.

"I don't want to get in trouble." Kurt honestly spoke. He had too much to lose if they got caught and penalized - his scholarship, future letters of recommendation and not to mention his clean record including academic, local, state and federal. "Go in without me and get into trouble by yourself."

For the first time all day, it was Blaine's turn to smile and relish the petty fear coming from his attractive friend. "Let me get this straight. Sebastian's afraid of spiders, I the supernatural, and you're afraid of detention! Come on Kurt, I was expecting something better than that."

"Unlike you, mine actually has substance. You're afraid of a story I made up."

Blaine captured Kurt's wrist before the thinner boy could walk away. His hold on Kurt developed into a teasing grip on the hip with his spare hand. Neither boy was aware of the progression until Kurt was playfully pressed against the building. A broken lamp post above their heads shaded their bodies from possible bystanders - offering the boys privacy they did not need. "Earlier today you said that you made up that story to shut me up, then you backtracked it. How do I know if you're telling the truth or disturbing the supernatural within Dalton? In either case, I need to appease the ghost or ghosts you possibly angered."

Cold bricks against his back and hazel eyes in front of Kurt, sent an unusual rush with down his stomach and left his brain feeling dizzy. "You're joking, right? This game has gotten boring. I need to go before curfew." Kurt tried pushing away, but Blaine overpowered the effort by pressing his chest against his counterpart. "I need to be back in my dorm before curfew."

Blaine resistant his natural urge to cover Kurt's mouth with his own and take advantage of the intimate position they were sharing. The taller boy's breath against his skin was sending a dizzy ray of lust and want within his body. This is not how he imagined tonight going, but he was far from going to complain.

"How about instead of me being the only one who faces my fears, why don't you play with a little fire and break the rules?"

Blaine was not the only having trouble breathing right. "I-I don't want to get in trouble."

"Why don't we turn this into a game?" The shorter boy lovingly glazed his fingers over the slender neck that he suddenly yearned to kiss and suck. Simultaneously with his thumb sliding down Kurt's neck, two hands lightly grip his hips. Kurt's hands against his body did not demand for anything more than to control Blaine's ability of taking things too far. "You humor me and help me ease my fears. In return I keep you stay out of trouble." Before Kurt could say anything, Blaine added. "The only way you will get in trouble tonight is if someone catches you breaking curfew. However, come with me, then you'll stay out of trouble."

"Or I could home back to my dorm now."

"Not while I'm holding you."

For the first time since Kurt meet Blaine he could see similarities within the brothers - they were not afraid to show what they wanted. Subtle and slowly, Kurt leaned forward and motioned Blaine's hips in his direction. Before Kurt could question whether he himself was stepping over any lines, something warm latched onto his neck and Blaine quickly breathed in his sent.

Afraid, ashamed and five seconds too late for his original intentions, Kurt muster his voice and resisted the tempting callings Blaine was doing against his neck. "Billy's here!"

As if it was magic, Blaine release his captivity over his hostage and the tension in his pants relaxed before he could have embarrassed himself. "Where!" Behind him and all around him there was nothing more than vacant grounds of Dalton - in the far off distance there was a recognizable image of a statue silhouette. Otherwise the cost was clear. A familiar giggle changed the venue from scary to humiliating. "Oh hi, Dean Reilly's!"

In a rapid reverse of tables, Kurt sprung his body away from the brick wall and regrettably turned to the direction Blaine screamed the name. Similar to ghosts, the direction was empty besides a scenic view of campus. Flushed cheeks reddened with realization.

"Ha-ha, very funny. You got me, I got you. Now we're even."

They were not even, or at least not to a level that would satisfy the dark haired boy. "Seriously Kurt, I have my rituals - some people may call them superstitions, but in any case I need to clear myself of the bad vibes you've given me. I'm not going in this building by myself. Either you're coming in with me, or we will stay out here until we get caught together. It's your choice." The clock tower in the far off distance chimed the mid-hour and reminded everyone listening of approaching curfew. "I'm not afraid of getting caught out here in the shady corners with a pretty boy. It would be a pity however, if a psycho by the name of Thad discovered this. In case you didn't know, Thad is a class prefect and I don't see him being afraid to abuse his power on you." Blaine added the insignificant lie to strengthen his threat. "What will it be - detention with me or a walk on the wild side?"

Confident in his storytelling skills Blaine took a step back and offered Kurt the space to think. Much to his amusement Kurt succumbed to the inevitable. "What if this gets traced back to me? Not everyone has access to the observation deck."

"I have pull in this school. Help me, trust in me, and you won't get in trouble. I won't let that happen." Blaine surprised himself with his final words of encouragement. Kurt too took special understanding of the sentiment and quickly typed in the simple four digit code.

On cue with the final number, a red light flashed green and the sound of the door unlocking clicked. "Are you really going to do what I wrote on that website?" Kurt hissed while pulling the door outward. Nerves and adrenalin of breaking the rules unleashed a foreign feeling of excitement within him.

"Of course not. I did my own research on how to appease the supernatural. I had to visit some questionable websites before I found instructions dealing with the special situation we're facing. I messaged a girl in Connecticut and she gave me some advice."

If Blaine listened better than he spoke, then he would have remembered Kurt was from Connecticut and had a computer savvy friend who lived there. If Kurt thought Blaine would listen, then he would have confessed that he answered the message on behalf of his friend.

"Tell me," Kurt whispered - angry that the situation got out of hand like this. "What's the plan? We only have half an hour before I need to be back in my room."

The dark and drafty entrance chamber robbed the building of its elegantly design and craftsmanship. Without warm sunlight shining through the stain glass windows and the distant chatter of friends talking, the hallway felt longer and emptier. Shadows on the walls looked sinister and hanging lanterns appeared all too threatening. Apart of Kurt felt unnerved by a looming statue, but his fear was suffocated by Blaine's rapid breathing and tight grip on his hand. "Maybe I am cruel?" Kurt silently thought to himself.

"We need to find the highest floor of the tallest building on campus." For the case of Dalton, the very room Blaine described was the astronomy observation deck. "Once we are there, we have to entertain the ghosts. If we do that, then all ghosts will pardon us."

Before Blaine was given the opportunity to explain further detail, an unscripted jingle broke his concentration and the ability to form coherent words. The sound was not loud, but instead a distant pitter-patter noise that did not demand the complete attention Blaine was giving it. Then, as if the soft jingle could hear the beating in the shorter boy's scared heart, the sound slowly loudened in their direction.

Kurt said little and frowned his eyebrows together. It was too dark to see anything distinctive beyond the pool of light shining through the window of the door he unlocked moments ago.

Jingle-jingle...the sound echoed its way towards the standing boys without fear or sign of stopping. When Blaine was confident the haunting jingle could not get any closer to him, a solid pressure force brushed against his lower leg.

"W-WHAT!" Blaine began to say, but transitioned his lone word into a high pitch scream. "Something touched my leg! Something touched my leg!" Blaine's loud screams muffled the sound of fading jingles. "What was that?"

"It's okay," Kurt tried to console his friend with a pat on the back, but his hand was violently pushed aside when Blaine confused him for a ghost. "Blaine, let's go. I didn't mean to scare you this much. Let's sneak out before..."

"Oh, I'm not going anywhere." Kurt raised his eyebrows at Blaine's determination. "The ghosts of Dalton are teasing me. If I back out now, then they will ruin this and next year for me. Hurry, we need to make this quick. Stand here."

Blaine did not release his sweaty hold on Kurt's hands until his counterpart wrapped his arms around his neck. Blaine for one did not want to lose precious contact with the only other thing living within Swanson Lee. Confident that Kurt would not let go, Blaine unzipped his backpack and removed two flashlights - one for him and one for Kurt. Once both boys were satisfied with their new light, Kurt loosened his arms around Blaine, and Blaine grabbed Kurt's hand. Together they slowly tracked their way towards the staircases in a speed between standing and walking. Kurt would have liked to have walked faster, but Blaine resisted the motion every time he tried.

To the best of their abilities the boys kept their flashlights low and away from the frowning faces of past deans whose portraits decorated the stone walls. Improper lighting did not justify the faces, and it made everyone appear as sinister beings with long eyebrows. Every so often a respected artifact showcased on a marble pedestal motivated Blaine to press his body closer to Kurt and avoid contact with the displayed object - the most recent object being a glass vase imported from overseas.

Blaine kept his fear hidden behind closed lips and a tight grip on Kurt's hand. Kurt did not complain of the pressure, and accepted the unintentional pain was a good punishment for his prank that went bad.

Without complication or loose floorboards beneath them, the boys reached the first of many staircase. The journey between landings went smoothly, but before Blaine was able to shine the light of his flashlight on the next set of stairs to the fourth floor, a loud bang echoed from the second floor and up the stairwell. For the first time of the night, Kurt tightened his own grip on his friend.

"W-what was that?" Blaine quickly turned off his flashlight and Kurt followed. "You told me ghosts aren't real. You said you made it up. You said...!"

Kurt covered his hand over Blaine's mouth to stop the boy's panic from unwanted attention. "It must be campus security. We should..." Before the sentence could be completed, the heavy sound of weight shuffling up the lower flight of stairs silenced Kurt's ability to talk. The sound did not resonate like that of shoes or a long coat - it was a different noise that he could not identify. Blaine, on the other hand was convinced that he knew exactly what the sound belonged to.

"Oh no..." the shorter boy whimpered.

Guided by reflexes and Blaine's frantic pull, Kurt abandoned his position on the stairs and scurried down an adjacent hall on the third floor. The only form of light illuminating the hallway was a grand window on the far end of the walkway, a standard exit sign, and the green arrow above the elevator door. Unlike before, the wooden floors creaked at the added weight and left both boys feelings scared in their unique ways.

"I'm not riding the elevator." Kurt barked within his whisper, and then he did what he always annoyed him - he blamed somebody else for his own fault. "We'll get caught. You promised I wouldn't get in trouble."

Blaine took no insult of his friend's words. How could he? He was far too preoccupied with the threat of an angry poltergeist. "Are you crazy? Ghosts love elevators. Follow me."

As if Kurt had a say in the matter, he blindly followed his friend's pull into a tangent hallway that quickly branched into four different offices. Among the offices Kurt recognized his astronomy and literature professor's names on the doors. Fear and panic tested his ability to not laugh with nerviness when Blaine tried opening each door. Thanks to the happy stars above, the fourth door was unlocked and Blaine and Kurt took advantage of the added freedom. Quickly and quietly they slid into the room and gently closed the door behind them. The action was just in time to avoid another wave of fear as a second loud bang echoed down the hall - this time closer than before.

"Shh..." Kurt pulled Blaine away from the moonlight shining through the office window and into the shadow he was hiding in. Face to face, chest to chest, neither boy said anything but took comfort in the fact that they were not alone. If Blaine was in his full state of mind, then we could have enjoyed the erotic element of forbidden passion in a professor's office. Instead however, the element was tarnished with deep seeded fear of the unknown. Similarly, Kurt was too lost in his own fear of detention and embarrassment to notice that his hips were dipped into Blaine's.

"K-Kurt." Blaine morphed his body closer to Kurt's and manipulated his friend's arms to wrap around him. "Billy's coming after me. You have to protect me."

Frizzy hair teased beneath Kurt's nose and challenged the taller boy's ability not to sneeze. He could not sneeze without risking the chance of getting caught. What was the penalty of missing curfew and breaking into a locked building? Would Blaine be able to get him out of trouble? How did things spiral out of control like this?

"Come out - come out wherever you are." A voice lowly and nefariously sang in a children's voice. "I know you're here kiddies."

"It's Billy," Blaine clung onto Kurt and whimpered before the voice could sing again. "If we survive this, then you are in so much trouble. Did you set this up? This is not funny, I repeat not funny."

Kurt covered his hand over Blaine's mouth, and pressed both their bodies further into the shadow. "Shh...No, and it's not a ghost."

Floor boards continued to creek, but the absence of footsteps did not suggest added weight.

From the scarce light illuminating the office, Kurt forced his attention on the metal door knob and prayed for the sake of his clear detention record and Blaine's sanity that the door would not open. For a moment time stood still while the planets continued their motions. With the turns of Earth, beautiful white light from the sky unmasked the boys hiding in the shadows of darkness. In this grand unveiling, Kurt recognized bright hazel eyes speckled with wild ambitions paralyzed in the form of a timid lamb. It was not until Kurt lowered his gaze to Blaine's trembling lips and cheeks that he felt the maternal nature to comfort.

"Why are you hiding kiddies? Don't you like to play?" The same voice sang again with an eerie of dark whimsy.

The desire to comfort quickly transformed into the desire to be comforted. Who was that? Kurt never dismissed the possibility that ghosts were real, but this is Dalton and ghosts have never been reported within the campus. It was something that he made. The person calling was campus security - it had to be. The voice is not that scary, Kurt tried to reason, and it's just your imagination - similar to the fungus you were worrying about earlier.

Other than the sound of a whimper from shorter boy, silence fell. For the first time since it all began, a single footstep marked its presence on the other side of the hallway - a second and a third foot step followed, getting louder and louder with each approach. It was not until the fourth and fifth steps paused outside the office doors that the boys' concentration and sanity dwindled in the air. The lines of sanity felt forgotten and lost when the familiar sound of jingles returned to the night.

Jingle-jingle-AHHH!

The playful sound of jingles ended with a loud bang and a high pitch scream - the natural scream blended well with Blaine's uncontained cries. It was a short moment later before the scream transitioned into angry slur of curse words. Among the words Kurt recognize very little, and Blaine greeted the development by wiggling his scared body against Kurt.

As suddenly as the excitement of the night began, it lessened in folds as the sound of footsteps and jingles walked in the opposite direction.

"We need to go." Kurt relaxed his arms around Blaine and made the sudden order. It was a blessing they did not get caught, and now they needed to leave the building.

"Not until we appease the ghosts. Did you just see what happened? Billy is playing tricks on me now - did you hear him sing? Oh no, do I still have my teeth." Blaine licked his tongue over his teeth.

Kurt whined. "There aren't ghosts. I made that story up. We need to get out of here before the guard come back and get us expelled." The person singing had to be a guard nothing else made sense. Was it a ghost?

"No." Blaine pushed himself backed into Kurt's protective arms. "The only way to appease Billy's ghost is to put on a show. We need to go to the stop floor."

"What's wrong with you? I confess I made up that story; and now we have to leave before anyone hears us." Kurt silently added a few curses in his mind.

"That was not a guard." Blaine hissed as if the idea was absurd. "Didn't you hear it sing? Billy was a singer."

The taller boy barely stopped himself from spelling his intentions. "Yes I remember - I wrote the article you read."

Blaine continued with his own narrative unique from Kurt's warning. "We have to get to the observation deck and then light the fireworks - it's the only way to scare off Billy's ghost. That what the girl in Connecticut told me to do. Other websites said similar things."

"No." Kurt mimicked his friend. "I emailed Lauren, and she emailed you. The message did not mention fireworks." If Lauren changed the prank without him, then she was in big trouble. "You were supposed to tell me an embarrassing story. How did this prank go so bad?"

Blaine stepped away, every word Kurt just said fell deaf to his ears. "Here's the plan. I have three fireworks in my bag - they're not big and don't ask where I got them." Kurt felt something in his stomach drop. Blaine was serious and this could not be resolved smoothly. "Once we're on the observation deck we will light them. Jeff has a long standing dream to slide down the flag pole next Swanson Lee; he's never done it before, but he said it's doable. Once the fireworks are lit, we will run for our dear lives and slide down the pole. Once we're on the grass we'll casually sprint to my room and wait through all the excitement." Casually sprint?

The plan was idiotic and insane. It was wrong and horribly dangerous. "I can't let you do that. This could get us in big trouble - if not injured."

"Stop worrying about trouble. I can protect you from man-made detention. I cannot protect us from the supernatural. Say what you want, but Dalton is haunted. We just heard a ghost!" Blaine stepped back and pulled Kurt with him. "On come, we both win. I can sleep again at night. You can be a troubled outlaw, as a bonus you will earn my forgiveness for all this trouble you're putting me through."

"No. The answer is still no."

...

12 Hours Later

"It was insane," Jeff proudly stood on top of a picnic table amongst his group of friends. The sky was clear of clouds and the bright sunlight reflected off his blond hair. "So there I was minding my own business - trying to return Ms. Jingles the Cat to the project she started in the home studies classroom. It's not fair that the school board cancels home studies whenever a cat is found on the premises. If I didn't know any better, then I'd say the school didn't want to teach me know to make tasty pastries. In any case I did my good deed and snuck into Swanson Lee to help her find the home studies room."

Kurt kept his lips in a straight line and listen to another one of Jeff Sterling's adventures - the latest mission was titled "Ms. Jingles and the Fireworks."

After Blaine convinced Kurt to engage in his careless tomfoolery things turned into a hazy blur he cared not to relive. It was not until they ran back to Blaine's dorm with broken flashlights and disheveled hair, that Kurt began wondering what just happened. The leading question repeating in his mind was, what's going to happen now? In the past twelve hours little has developed. Shortly after the 'crime,' the student body stared out their windows and wished for additional fireworks, the fire department arrive as a precaution, and security footage was screened for possible culprits. Other than two black silhouette sliding down the flagpole like cartoon characters, there were no leads. Dean Reilly's later dismissed the investigation and gave a stern warning to his student.

"Somewhere along the way I lost Ms. Jingles, and I had to walk up the halls singing here kiddies-kiddies until I found her."

"Jeff," Kurt broke his scared silence. "The saying is here kitty-kitty, not kiddies-kiddies."

The blond shrugged his shoulders. "That's what I said. In any case, after Ms. Jingles and I were reunited I began leaving when I heard a loud BANG!" Jeff kicked over Wes' drink without knowledge or intention. "I want to meet the guys who did this prank. After I meet them I want to do two things. First, I would like to congratulate them for this outstanding stunt; then I would like to slap them for leaving me out of it. The flag pole was my idea!"

Morning class continued without excitement, but in every corner Kurt continued to hear whispers and rumors about the men who pulled the epic firework prank. Among all the talk Kurt never heard his or Blaine's name mention - thank goodness.

Shortly before lunch Blaine sent a quick message to Kurt - instructing Kurt to meet him 'where it all began.' As if it was nine o'clock at night, Kurt returned to the spot he met Blaine previously.

"There's something I want to show you." Blaine grabbed Kurt's hand and led the way. Neither boy mentioned the comfort the other's hand provided. "I have an interesting story for you." In the middle of the day, the distance between the seniors library to Swanson Lee was shorter and less intimidating than at night.

Next to the tall building with a glass observation desk on top, there was a tall and strong flag pole proudly waving the country's patriotism and respect. In a short distant from the base of the flag pole, there was a new small silver plaque hosted up by a short metal poll with unearthed soil around it.

The words on the plaque read. "Students are to refrain themselves from sliding down this and all flag poles on campus."

Kurt blushed and stayed silent.

Blaine smirked and read the plaque a second time. "There are a lot of fake stories about Dalton, but this one is true." The dark haired boy placed his hand over the message. "This sign was placed here because someone who thought they were funny wanted to play a prank on the less fortunate."

"Less fortunate, or did you mean simple of minded? I told you the truth beforehand."

Blaine laughed and licked his lower lip to hide his embarrassment. How long would it take to convince Kurt that he was only pretending to be scared? Something told the shorter man that he would be fooled again before he could demonstrate himself as a brave hero. It did not matter anyway, he did the firework show, whether the ghosts are real or not, he was now free of them. "In this prank four things happened - Dalton was forever freed from ghosts, my accomplice tested his wild side, we shared our first kissed...well I kissed your neck."

Kurt brushed harder and the faded mark Blaine left on his skin burned at the mention.

"And this is the place where a new love story began. Unlike the story from the gardens or the story of Billy, this story is completely true."

The pink shade of Kurt's face lighted into a cute smile. "It has just occurred to me that you and I haven't been out on a proper date." Blaine's words from the day before rang from taller boy's lips.

Blaine brushed his fingers over Kurt's hand and returned with a phrase scripted the day before. "That's an interesting thought. "How often do you remind guys you haven't dated them before. It must be an inconvenient burden when visiting new places."

Kurt did not return the volley and in good terms the two boys went their separate ways. The fair skinned boy was not out of sight before Blaine retrieved his cell phone. Out of habit and reflex Blaine composed a message to his brother. Without second thought or a chance to reread, it he sent the simple words that read, "Good luck with abstinence. Kurt is going to be begging for me soon."