Kurt walked happily to his first period class with his head held high. He still had a few minutes before the bell rang but he’d rather avoid the hallway to prevent anything else from happening.

He took his usual seat in home economics in the back row and smiled when Mercedes walked in and joined him.

“You’re in a good mood.” She stated.

“Yeah well.” Kurt said grinning from ear to ear.

“I’m so glad to see you smile Kurt. You’ve been miserable for days now and seeing you like this just reminds me of how happy you used to be. Whatever you’re doing, keep it up, I love seeing you like this.” She said cheerfully pulling him into a hug and kissing him on the cheek.

Kurt couldn’t help but laugh to himself at this. One he had been miserable for almost a year. And two if only she had a clue as to what he did that made him so happy, and what she had basically encouraged him to keep doing.

Kurt continued laughing to himself and smiling bubbly as the rest of the class came in along with their teacher.

The class past by quickly, Mercedes and him spent most of the time laughing at the idiots throwing flour at each other. It was a nice start to the morning.

Kurt looked over at Brittany who was currently face down in a pile of flour on the table the flour covering her face and under her nose as she breathed in deeply.

“Britt, you look like you’re snorting coke. What are you doing?” Kurt asked playfully as he lifted her face out of the pile of flour and into the palm of his hand.

“I was smelling the flowers! You should try it Kurt!” She replied in all seriousness in a way that only Brittany could.

“Oh Britt, you are adorable!” Kurt sighed brushing the flour out of her face with a laugh.

The bell rang and they were dismissed.

“Cedes wait up!” Kurt called after her as she left the room. He linked his arm through hers and began walking with her “Walk with me to Calculus?” He asked as he rested his head on her shoulder.

“Wow, you really are in a good mood? Can I get some of whatever you’re taking?” She teased.

The two of them walked in and took their seats and began working on the pop quiz that had been handed out.

Kurt answered the problems carefully, writing out the full equations, and double checking his work.

When he was happy with his answers he handed it in the teacher with a smile.

When she took the paper out of his hands her eyes immediately darted to the red gashes that plagued his arms.

She held her gaze for awhile before taking the paper and shooting him a look of worry.

Kurt’s heart stopped and he rushed back to his seat.

He had to be more careful.

The class ended without any other mishaps but as the bell rang the teacher asked to speak with Kurt after class.

“Kurt.” She said looking down at him with worried eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Kurt asked pretending he had no idea why she wanted to discuss, even though he knew exactly what and why. He kept up his façade though. “I am I in trouble?” He asked sincerely.

“Kurt, you don’t have to talk to me about this-” she said grabbing his arm. “-But I want you to go see Ms. Pillsbury during free today, I’ll talk to her before you go down to her office.”

Kurt’s mind was racing. Shit shit shit. “Oh I don’t have a free today.” He said casually.

“Then I think it’s very important that you go see her during lunch.” She said sadly.

“Mmkay” He mumbled, before leaving the room to get to his next class.

He glanced up at the clock before turning into the empty hallway. She held him too long after class and now he risked walking through the no longer crowded hallways.

He picked up his pace and walked faster towards his third period class.

His US History teacher wouldn’t mind him being late, but Kurt just couldn’t afford to be confronted by some jock when he was all alone in the hallway.

His fears became a reality when he turned the corner and saw Karofsky and Azimio standing by their lockers.

They looked up at him, looked over at each other, and then quickly approached him.

Kurt tried to back away but was forcefully shoved into a row of lockers and pinned there as fists began crushing his body.

He started to cough up blood, and he knew that wasn’t a good sign. He tried to move away as yet another fist slammed into his abdomen. He doubled over in pain grasping his stomach and another fist crashed into his jaw, producing a cracking noise and a high pitched whine from Kurt.

He closed his eyes as hot tears began to threaten to fall. He heard a familiar voice and the grip around him was loosened.

He was completely let go of and he slid down the row of lockers until he sat on the floor and pulled his knees to his chest and sat there like a frightened child.

“What the hell dudes!?! Leave him alone!” Finn yelled as he pushed Azimio away from Kurt.

“I’m outta here.” Azimio said as he walked away.

“And you!” Finn said pointing to Karofsky. “You’re such an asshole! Why do you always do this to him?” Finn screamed.

“Because he’s a fag!” Karofsky replied.

“Well so are you.” Finn shot back through gritted teeth.

“Finn.” Kurt warned still sitting on the ground his face buried in his knees.

“No Kurt. I know you don’t believe in outing people or whatever but this ends now. He keeps beating you up and his only excuse is because your gay, well so is he. So I just don’t get. I don’t get it Karofsky. You go from kissing him to beating him half to death. It doesn’t make sense.” Finn said angrily.

Karofsky leaned over to Kurt and pushed his head against the locker holding a tight grip around Kurt’s neck.

“You told him?!?” Karofsky yelled.

“Yeah he told me, and I’m going to tell everyone if you don’t stop hurting him.” Finn said sounding proud of himself for coming up with this idea.

“I’ll kill you for telling! I told you I would! And I’ll kill your faggy boyfriend! And now I guess I’ll kill stupid Hudson over there too!” Karofsky yelled tightening his grip on Kurt’s neck shaking his hand pounding it into the lockers.

“You’ll do no such thing. And I’ll tell the whole school that the resident jock David Karofsky is a fag.” Finn said coldly. “Oh sorry for my language Kurt” he added as an afterthought.

“Finn shut up!” Kurt said as he gasped for air. “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! You don’t know what he’s capable of?” Kurt said fighting to get out of Karofsky’s grip.

“You should listen to him Hudson. He’s right; you don’t know what I’m capable of.” Karofsky said coldly and slammed Kurt's head into the locker this time bashing it into the lock causing a gaping wound in the back of his head, before standing up and leaving.

“Don’t even think about telling anyone else.” Karofsky threatened as he pushed Finn out of his way.

“You okay Kurt?” Finn asked extremely concerned.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Kurt said choppily trying to catch his breath. “But I think you made things worse.” He added.

“I’m sorry.” Finn apologized looking down.

The bell rang, third period was over and it was time for lunch.

“Come on Kurt I’ll walk you to lunch.” Finn said offering his stepbrother a hand.

“Thanks Finn, but I’m not going to lunch today. I-I have a meeting with Ms. Pillsbury.” Kurt said taking his hand to stand up.

“Oh what for?” Finn asked dumbly.

“College stuff, you know.” Kurt lied. Hoping Finn wouldn’t pick up on the fact it was only the middle of their junior year and most students didn’t even start looking until the middle of senior year.

Luckily he didn’t pick up on it. “Oh that’s so cool! Have fun!” Finn said cheerfully.

“Yup, this is going to be buckets of fun.” Kurt said as he swallowed the lump in his throat.