After his phone call with Blaine ended he felt a little better. Not much, but a smidge better. He was still internally freaking out, but having talked to someone about it made him feel a slight bit relieved.

He still felt like he needed to cut, he missed the pain and comfort sharp objects could provide, but he thought it would be in everyone’s best interest if he did something else instead.

He kept mumbling some mantra about ‘Cutting is wrong. Don’t do it. Think about Blaine.’ And it seemed to work he had convinced himself that he wouldn’t cut. But he did however need to do something or take something that would shake him of the anxiety and depression he was feeling.

“Hey Holden, wanna go downstairs with me?” Kurt asked cheerfully.

“Why? What do you have in mind?” Holden asked very confused.

“I want to go for a run, but Blaine thinks I shouldn’t be alone right now. And I agree with him. But still do you want to come downstairs with me? We can talk.” Kurt explains.

“Um, sure. Sure why not? Let’s go.” Holden agrees.

Both boys go down to the physical rehabilitation center and enter the dark room. Since it’s become Kurt’s regular thing, to go for a run whenever he feels down, he’s been allowed access to the room, even after the hours it’s open. As long as he’s back before curfew. So they enter the empty room with no problem.

“Isn’t there typically a nurse on duty?” Holden asks as Kurt gets onto the treadmill and turns up the speed and incline.

“Yeah, but not after hours.” Kurt explains.

“Oh okay.” Holden says awkwardly. He pulls up one of those large exercise balls and uses it as a make-shift chair. “So what did you want to talk about?” He asks curiously. Desperate to find out more about whatever has Kurt so upset.

“It’s nothing. Plus I’m not really in the position to talk about it.” Kurt sighs. “I really just need to get my mind off things. So, how are things in the life of Holden?” Kurt asks politely.

“Everything is just amazing!” Holden says excitedly.

“I’m glad to hear that.” Kurt smiles.

“Yeah, I guess I’m really just so happy because of Dave. I’m really starting to like him. And I think he feels it too.” Holden gushes.

Kurt turns the speed up on the treadmill, as if he could just run away from everything. “Is that so?” Kurt asks nicely.

“Yeah. I mean I hope I’m not just misreading signals like I was with you. But still, he’s just so nice. And he’s funny and kind. I always did like football players.” Holden smiles.

Kurt’s having trouble keeping his cool. Karofsky was not nice, or funny, and certainly not kind.

“Yeah who wouldn’t want to date a football player?” Kurt responds turning up the speed on the treadmill once again. Ugh, Kurt couldn’t even imagine dating anyone of those jerks on McKinley’s football team. They were all such douche bags especially Karofsky.

Kurt tried to remain calm, he couldn’t let it slip that Karofsky was not in fact a nice person and that he was an awful, awful person who deserved to rot in jail. He had to keep his mouth shut. I mean, his life depended on it.

“So tell me if this is crazy? But I was thinking. I might I might askhimout!” Holden says happily.

Kurt cringes and shuts off the treadmill but hitting the emergency stop. “Yeah I don’t think that’s a good idea, Holden.” Kurt says quietly.

“Why not!?” Holden asks.

“I just don’t think it’s safe.” Kurt replies his voice full of concern.

“What just because he came from jail? You don’t even know why he was in jail! Why are you of all people so judgmental about this?” Holden demands.

“Look, I just don’t want to see you get hurt.” Kurt sighs.

“He’s not going to hurt me, Kurt! He’s nice! He’s not controlling and possessive like your boyfriend.” Holden remarks sassily.

“Leave Blaine out of this.” Kurt warns. “Holden, I’m just looking out for you. Don’t be mad with me. It’s just. It’s just.” Kurt starts.

“It’s just what, Kurt?!?” Holden interrupts.

“I can’t tell you.” Kurt cries, immediately feeling panic take over him.

“What is it!?” Holden demands. “What is it? What is wrong with you Kurt? I can’t have you! I can’t have him! Do you just want me to be miserable? Is that what the goal is?” Holden says angrily. “Do you want him all to yourself or something?” He adds his tone dripping with jealousy.

“I. Would. NEVER. Want. Him.” Kurt says viciously, an expression of sheer disgust plastering his face.

“Well I do!” Holden yells.

“Holden, please listen to me. I’m your friend and I’m only looking out for you. Don’t do it.” Kurt pleads.

“Some friend.” Holden scoffs and walks off.

Leaving a very upset Kurt behind.

Kurt cries for about an hour before heading back upstairs only to find the door locked.

The door was never locked; in fact Holden had never given Kurt his key back.

This was great.

Just great.

“Holden, please open up.” Kurt knocks on the door.

“Not yet, I’m too upset.” Holden responds.

“Please, can we just talk?” Kurt asks.

“Fine.” Holden sighs.

Holden unlocks the door and Kurt walks in and sits down on his bed, “Holden, I’m sorry. I can’t tell you why you shouldn’t date him. But you need to know that there is a legitimate reason, and I’m only looking out for you.” Kurt cried.

“Why can’t you just tell me?” Holden asks angrily.

“I can’t or he’ll kill me. Don’t you understand?” Kurt cries.

“Understand what? Kurt, who’s going to kill you?” Holden asks confused.

“Uh, um, uh, I think I’ve said too much. Just don’t date him. I’m just looking out for you.” Kurt pleads.

“I think I believe you when you say there's a reason. And you know him better than I do so I guess I’ll take your word for it. I won’t ask him out, but this whole situation is kind of weird. I just don’t understand.” Holden sighs.

“Oh thank god. And just please take my word for it. I’m not allowed to talk about it. Just know there is a reason.” Kurt says now a little calmer.

“Okay Kurt, okay.” Holden shrugs. “I’m going to go to bed now, I’m not too happy about the situation, but I’m no longer made at you.” Holden offers and lies down in his bed.

Kurt will take what he can get. He kisses the picture of Blaine like he normally does every night and he goes to sleep.

Kurt wakes up the next morning before Holden does and decides to give Blaine a call while he gets ready.

He sets the phone speakers and places it next to his cosmetics on the sink.

“Good morning love.” Blaine’s voice fills the room.

“Hi sweetheart, I hope I didn’t wake you.” Kurt smiles.

“You didn’t wake me sweetie, I was just about to grab a coffee.” Blaine smiles.

They did however wake Holden. And Holden decides to listen in. He didn’t feel like he was being creepy, he just wanted answers to why Kurt was acting that way. Answers he would surely get.

“So how was your evening?” Kurt asks.

“Eh, it was nice I guess. I wish you were there to make it better though.” Blaine smiles. “And what about yours?” Blaine asks.

“Not so nice. Holden and I had a fight.” Kurt sighs.

“About?” Blaine asks.

“He wanted to ask out Karofsky.” Kurt laughs.

Blaine laughs too, “Is he fucking high or something?” Blaine says barely able to contain his laughter. “Oh God, why would he do that?” Blaine laughs.

Listening in, Holden was very confused. Why were they laughing at him? That’s not very nice. So he moves closer to get a better listen.

“Don’t ask me. All I know is I told him he shouldn’t.” Kurt replies.

“Wait did you tell him everything?” Blaine asks.

“Maybe you’re the one that’s fucking high or something.” Kurt laughs. “Oh hell no, I’m not risking it. He said he’d kill me, Blaine.” Kurt replied sadly.

Who was it that was going to kill him? Holden kept wondering. And what did they mean by telling him everything?

“I don’t know I just thought you should give the guy a better answer than ‘you shouldn’t date him’” Blaine chuckles.

“And what do you want me to say, ‘Oh hey Holden, Karofsky? Yeah don’t date him. Why? Oh right, because he raped and attempted to murder me! and now he’s here and going to kill me if I tell anyone’ Yeah Blaine, that’d go over real well.” Kurt laughed.

Oh wow. Holden hadn’t seen that coming. Oh God, there was a good reason. He felt like such a dick for not listening to Kurt. And Kurt couldn’t say anything because Dave would kill him.

Dave.

Holden was going to go have a long talk with that boy.