Chapter Text
Kurt is on his best behavior after returning to New York because the last thing he wants is his dad pulling him out of school early. He needs to prove to his dad that he can be trusted and that letting him return to NYADA for his sophomore year isn’t a bad idea.
It isn’t always easy because he got used to being able to do whatever he wanted, going out with friends without telling his parents where he was going and what time he would return, because he could always crawl through the window if he came back to his dorm past his curfew.
The moment Santana realized he wasn’t much fun anymore – her words – she started calling him goody two-shoes and it annoyed him a lot because he was only being the perfect son because his future at NYADA was on the line.
Luckily, he is quite busy with schoolwork and rehearsals for the musical and VE after his return to school so he wouldn’t have much time to party even if his dad didn’t constantly check in with his teachers to make sure he and Blaine aren’t breaking any rules.
Ms. Carson is apparently taking her promise to his dad to heart because every day at eight someone checks that he and Blaine aren’t in a room together still and Jeff started to put pillows under his blankets so no one realized when he wasn’t back for curfew because of the room checks that are happing more often now because of his dad.
As it is, they only have a few weeks of school left and the opening night of the musical is only a week away after which they’re going compete for a national show choir title.
Tired after a day of rehearsals and a meeting with his classmates for one of his final presentations, Kurt digs his phone out of his messenger bag and dials his dad’s number.
“Hi dad,” he says after his dad picks up the phone. “Are you okay to talk right now?” “Sure, kiddo. Just got back from the shop,” his dad replies and Kurt settles on his bed, leaning back against the headboard.
“Great. So, I was calling to make sure you are still okay with going to dinner with Blaine’s family after opening night?” Kurt asks, playing with his pen to deal with his nerves. It’s going to be the first meeting of their families now that everyone knows that he and Blaine are dating and he is nervous about how that meeting will go, though he knows that Blaine’s dad likes him now and his dad and Blaine are on speaking terms again as well.
“Sure kiddo. I didn’t really talk to Blaine’s dad much when I picked you up that one time, but now I at least know why he was reluctant to speak to me.”
Kurt winces although his dad’s tone isn’t accusatory at all. “I’m sorry, but Blaine wanted to tell his dad to see how he would deal with him having a boyfriend. If it helps, he didn’t like me at all at first.”
His dad sighs. “If course that doesn’t make me happy and I’m glad he realized what a great person you are.”
As always when his dad compliments him, tears start appearing in his eyes and Kurt quickly wipes them away because he really needs to stop getting overemotional whenever his dad says stuff like that.
“But I take it this isn’t the only reason you called,” his dad continues. “Because you’ve asked me that question five times already.”
Kurt shakes his head before remembering that his dad can’t see him. “Blaine asked me out on a date for Friday night and I wanted to know if I could go?” he tells his dad. It sucks that he has to do this now but if it is the prize to pay for NYADA he’ll happily keep asking permission for everything until his dad eases up on him.
“Where are you going and what time will you be back?” his dad asks when Jeff walks into the room and flops down on his bed, clearly exhausted from dance rehearsal as well.
“Dinner and the new Hugh Jackman movie afterward. We’ll be back in time for my weekend curfew,” he informs his dad, scowling at Jeff when he smirks. His friends unfortunately find the situation he is in oh so funny.
“Alright. Give me a call when you are home and don’t be surprised if someone checks in with you.”
Kurt wants to argue that he doesn’t need a babysitter to check up on him, but he bites his tongue like always because he doesn’t want his dad to forbid him from seeing Blaine at all. The movies are the only place where they can really make out at them moment, because neither of them feels comfortable doing it in front of their roommates or the other students and so he can’t piss his dad off. Ever since he discovered how fun making out is he never wants to give it up again, and making out in the back row of a movie theater is such a quintessential teenage experience that Kurt’s actually fallen in love with it.
“Okay, dad,” he replies. “I gotta go now though. Lot’s of homework.” “Before you go. I don’t know if you’ve spoken to Mercedes yet, but I’ve talked to her parents and they are letting her come for the weekend.”
Kurt squeals because Mercedes’ parents said no at first because their opening night is right before McKinley’s final exams. “Rachel’s coming as well, and I know you don’t get along well, but please try to be civil. I really don’t want Finn moping around again because his brother and his girlfriend don’t get along,” his dad continues and Kurt sighs before he replies. “Sure dad.” Finn is getting better and better with the whole brother thing and if Rachel really means that much to him, he can at least try to get along with her as long as she doesn’t act like a bitch around him.
After he and his dad say goodbye, Kurt sends a quick text to Blaine to let him know their date is a-go, before he shakes Jeff awake so they can do their homework together. Math is still a bitch, but luckily Jeff is a lot better than him and always helps him out when Wes doesn’t have time.
By the time he is finished he is dead tired thinking that the only advantage McKinley has is that you don’t have to study much to get good grades – at least according to Mercedes.
A week later his family, Rachel and Mercedes arrive in New York for the second time and Kurt proudly holds on to Blaine’s hand while they are waiting for their visitors to arrive on campus.
They moved the family dinner to the night before the opening because Blaine’s dad can’t stay afterward, but at least the whole family’s going to meet for the first time. It isn’t like the most important meetings hasn’t happened already, but Kurt is still a bit nervous about it which Blaine finds adorable.
“Relax, you know my dad likes you and your dad’s okay with us being together. What could go wrong?” Blaine tries to calm him down while they are waiting and Kurt snorts.
“Don’t jinx it. After all, we have Rachel and Cooper in the same room again.” Blaine rolls his eyes and Kurt sighs. “I know, I know. I promised I’ll play nice for Finn’s sake but if she starts insulting me again, well I can’t be held accountable for what I might do.”
Before Blaine can reply they are interrupted by a squeal and Kurt lets go of Blaine’s hand and rushes over to hug Mercedes. Not too much time has gone by since they last saw one another but he is still extremely happy to have her here in New York with him again.
“Don’t I get a hug?” his dad mock huffs next to his best friend and Kurt lets go of her and lets his dad draw him into a tight embrace.
“Hey dad. Did you have a good trip?” Before his dad can answer Rachel butts in. “It was long. Why couldn’t we just fly out again?” His first thought is ‘no one forced you to come’ but he swallows his knee jerk response and gives her a big fake smile.
“Rachel, it’s nice that you joined my family again. I’m sorry if you don’t like trains but my parents thought it would be nice to see a bit of the country during the trip,” he tells her, because it is none of her business that plane tickets for the whole family are quite expensive, money his family doesn’t just have lying around.
Kurt catches Finn smiling from the corner of his eye and knows he said the right thing. Rachel apparently has been instructed to be civil as well, because she returns his fake smile before she turns to Blaine and starts discussing the musical with him. Kurt only catches a part of their discussion, when Rachel announces loudly that she is certain that the original Maureen is her biological mom and her dads are just lying to her about it for some reason.
Not having their moms in their lives is something they have in common and Kurt thinks they could have bonded over it and become friends if Rachel hadn’t taken the competition between them so damn seriously from the moment they met and had basically declared him her enemy.
His dad clearing his throat brings him back to the present and Kurt looks up to him.
“Why don’t you give Carole your room key so the ladies can freshen up while you introduce me to your friends. I should have insisted the last time I was here but that was before I knew what kind of influence they had on you.”
Kurt flushes because he really isn’t used to being the bad child in the family.
“Can I stay with you?” Finn asks clearly not wanting to join his mom and the girls and his dad nods before turning to Blaine. “See if your friends can come down as well. If I’m going to let Kurt go to the seniors’ graduation party I want to meet the people throwing it, especially after your last party.”
His boyfriend nods eagerly and quickly sends off a text to Wes and David and Kurt hopes he warns them as well about why they are meeting his dad. When his dad clears his throat again, he takes out his own phone and sends a quick text to Jeff, Nick and the girls, asking them to meet him in one of the common rooms if they have time.
Jeff immediately texts him back saying that he is out with his own family, but it doesn’t really matter because his dad met his roommate before and Jeff is never around enough to get Kurt into trouble. As long as he doesn’t tell his dad that he and Blaine have been in his room together when Jeff was out, they are good.
Quinn, Santana and Brittany show up a few minutes later, all three of them wearing short skirts and tight tops which makes Kurt groan because he told them who they are meeting.
He catches Finn pretty much drooling over Quinn and glares at his stepbrother who at least has the decency to look properly chastised. Britt and San have their pinkies linked and Kurt is grateful that Finn doesn’t say anything because Kurt found his lesbian porn once and is aware that a lot of straight guys think two girls are hot.
Kurt quickly introduces his friends to his dad and blushes when his dad’s brows shoot up when he points out Brittany, his alibi date for Chandler. He totally forgot to tell his dad that he never actually went out with the blond and he observes his dad’s expression closely because he needs to know his dad doesn’t prefer him to be with her.
Luckily Britt is her usual strange self, telling his dad stories about her cat Lord Tubbington, so it isn’t surprising when his dad later tells him that he doesn’t think it would have worked out between them even if Kurt was straight.
Santana for once is actually on her best behavior, which is definitely a sign that she cares about him and wants him back, because she could have embarrassed the hell out of him or made lewd remarks about him and Blaine in front of his dad.
He wasn’t worried about Quinn because Quinn’s public persona is always that of the nice girl next door, but he is still relieved when Carole, Rachel and Mercedes return and aunt Kate arrives, ready to head to the restaurant.
“So, what’s the verdict?” Kurt asks with some trepidation when they are waiting for a cab outside after his dad’s been introduced to Wes, Nick and David.
His dad pulls him to his side and wraps an arm around him. “I’m really happy you made so many friends this year. I know you’ve been quite lonely even after you and Mercedes became friends.”
Kurt isn’t surprised anymore that his dad cottoned on to more than he thought. He thought he was hiding what was happening in his life pretty well, but apparently that hadn’t been the case.
“So you know why you should let me stay here,” he tries, employing his best puppy dog eyes but his dad just shakes his head. “We’ll see, Kurt.”
It isn’t a definite no and Kurt decides to let it go for now because he knows pushing his dad to make a decision won’t work in his favor.
The cabs drops them off in front of a fancy restaurant that shouldn’t have surprised Burt because he’d seen the Anderson’s house in Columbus. It isn’t a place he would normally set foot in but Blaine’s father insisted that he take them out because they’d taken out Cooper the last time they all were in New York.
“Mr. Anderson, good to see you again,” Burt greets the man in the expensive suit and lightly greying hair. He is wearing his own Sunday bests but he still feels incredibly underdressed standing next to the older Anderson.
“Please call me Robert,” Blaine’s father tells him after putting his smart phone away and shaking his hand. “Burt,” Burt replies before introducing his wife, sister and his sons’ friends before they all follow a waiter to a large round table in the back.
He sits down next to Robert with Carole by his side, while Cooper sits down next to his father. To his surprise his sister immediately takes the seat next to Blaine’s older brother who has the audacity to check her out right in front of him. He bites his tongue though because Kate has always been a free spirit and at thirty she is definitely old enough to make her own decisions.
Kurt and Blaine sit down next to Kate, followed by Mercedes, Rachel and Finn, which completes their little circle. Once they are all seated, Robert orders a bottle of champagne and turns to face him.
“I don’t know how you do it in your family, but I let Blaine have a glass for special occasions.” He and Carole do the same thing with their boys so he nods before he turns to Mercedes and Rachel.
“Would your parents let you drink a glass of champagne?” he asks the two girls, hoping they won’t lie because he doesn’t want problems with their parents. Rachel immediately nods but Mercedes shakes her head, before she adds. “But that’s okay, I can drink something else. I had a sip once and didn’t like it much anyway.”
“Nine glasses, please,” Robert tells the waiter when he returns to the table with a bottle of champagne Burt doesn’t want to know the price of and he isn’t surprised when the waiter doesn’t even bat an eyelid even though most of the teenagers at their table are clearly underage. Discretion is apparently included in the prices he assumes.
Once everyone’s glass is filled, Robert raises his glass for a toast and Burt quickly follows suit even though he is really out of his element at the moment.
“To the first meeting of the Hummels and Andersons. If I know my son, I’m sure it probably won’t be the last time,” he says and Burt sees Blaine hide his face in his hands. Well, at least he isn’t the only one who occasionally embarrasses his kids.
“You’re welcome to join us for our annual forth of July party,” Burt offers in reply because while he can’t afford fancy restaurants he makes some killer burgers and steaks.
Fortunately dinner goes by without any big mishaps. Carole has to stop Finn a few times when he starts asking Blaine about being rich right in front of his dad and Kurt and Rachel only narrowly avoid an argument when she insinuates he isn’t good enough to get cast for a proper role, but otherwise they get through it without them doing anything too embarrassing. He knows his son isn’t a snob or ashamed of his upbringing, but he also knosw that Kurt wants Blaine’s dad to like him and accept him as Blaine’s boyfriend so he doesn’t want to ruin anything for his son, especially because he’s aware of how nervous Kurt has been about the dinner.
Later that night Carole jokes that Burt was behaving like they were meeting the future in-laws, but for all Burt knows they could have. He met his first wife young as well and he is at least sure that right now Kurt and Blaine think they are never going to break up. So until that happened he would make sure their families got along, especially because both boys are going to be back in Ohio in a few weeks.
Everything goes well with the musical thankfully and as soon as they’ve finished their last show, Alyson makes them rehearse even more for Nationals. He knows she wants to beat her little brother at least once and Kurt wants to do his best so that the outgoing seniors can leave with the title they’ve been trying to win for the past four years.
He didn’t expect to get a solo and therefore isn’t disappointed when the solos go to the graduates, Alyson, Sebastian, Wes and David, and some of the juniors, including Blaine, get a few lines in their big group number.
Blaine officially gets voted the new captain of Vocal Explosion during their last rehearsal before the competition and Kurt knows he’s going to have to work even harder next year if he ever wants a solo – if his dad lets him come back –so people won’t say Blaine is just handing them to him because they are dating.
Once all the other members have left the room and only he Blaine, Wes and David are left, the older boys pass another torch and hand Blaine the key to the back door.
“You’ll need it next year when Kurt’s on the second floor and can’t just climb windows anymore in case you’re staying out late.” Kurt shares a look with Blaine because they haven’t told Blaine’s friends that he might not return for his sophomore year and even if he does he’ll probably have to stick to his curfew until his dad lets up and calls back his guard dog. He’d have a later curfew anyway the next year but it is still nice to know they’d have a way in and out of the dorms in case they needed to at some point.
Afraid to get caught yet again they haven’t taken off their shirts again when they are making out and Kurt is sure that after a summer of seeing lots of Blaine’s skin – hopefully – he’ll want to see it if he returns to NYADA in the fall.
Nationals takes place the next day at the Lincoln Center and they walk over there together, followed by many students because their glee club is really popular at school.
Unfortunately Vocal Adrenaline beats them again but they come in third, which is the seniors’ best result in the past four years.
Once the ceremony is over Alyson introduces them all to her younger brother Jesse, lead singer of VA, and his cocky attitude immediately pisses Kurt off. He is like a male Rachel Berry and Kurt vows to do his best to help Blaine beat him the following year just to wipe that smug smile of his face.
He is really surprised by how down to earth and nice Alyson is with a brother like that and he is grateful that the other boy doesn’t go to school with them.
When they return to school they don’t throw a party because everyone is busy with final exams and final projects before the end of the school year and because the seniors are throwing a graduation party anyway for which he has permission to go to as long as he checks in with Ms. Carson before going to bed to prove he wasn’t drinking.
With all the things he has going on, he is actually glad neither he nor Blaine have been able to attend senior prom because one had to be either a senior or the date of a senior. He’ll get to go the following year when it is Blaine’s turn – he’s going to make sure of that regardless of which state he is actually living in at the time.
Time moves at a snail’s pace during his exams but as soon as they are over it speeds up and before he knows it it’s time for the graduation party Wes is throwing for the seniors. Kurt has permission to stay out till midnight and he has every intention of returning to campus on time so he can meet with Ms. Carson before bed.
Blaine has one job during the party – making sure no one gives Kurt any alcohol. Mr. Hummel definitely warmed up to him again over the past few weeks and he doesn’t want anything to happen that would jeopardize his relationship with Kurt.
So he keeps an eye on the usual suspects, Santana, Wes, David and Sebastian. Not that he thinks Kurt would accept a drink from the older boy anyway, but he wouldn’t put it past him to try to give Kurt or him a spiked drink.
For once he doesn’t drink either, only taking a sip form his glass when he, Wes and David toast to the end of an era. David is heading to Boston in the fall for Berklee School of Music while Wes fortunately is staying in the city after having secured a spot at Julliard.
His best friend is only moving a few blocks away but he knows it won’t be the same anymore come fall, because for one Wes and David would be separated and two, he won’t be able to just drop by their dorm room any time he needs them.
The worst thing is that he still doesn’t know if he at least will still have Kurt close by so he has no idea how he’s going to deal with his senior year if all the people he is closest to leave him behind.
He and Kurt haven’t really talked about the worst case scenario yet only agreeing that they’ll try to stay together, but the logistics and reality of a long distance relationship – when they are both still so young – have been avoided so far because neither of them really wants to think about it. He doesn’t know anyone in a successful long distance relationship – and he is certain Cooper has no intentions to develop a relationship with Kurt’s aunt beyond the occasional hook up when they are in the same town and both single – and so he is afraid he and Kurt won’t make it either if they are forced to live hundreds of miles apart and can only see one another during breaks.
“You don’t have to stay sober because of me,” Kurt interrupts his depressing thoughts and Blaine puts on his best show smile, hoping Kurt can’t tell it is fake in the semi-darkness.
“It’s okay. I’m just sad that Wes and David are leaving,” he replies and Kurt nods before wrapping his arms around him. “I get it, but you’ll still see them and you can talk to them all the time. Mercedes and I barely see each other as well and we are still best friends.”
Blaine nods because Kurt is right. He is lucky because his friends won’t be that far away and can visit any time they want whereas Kurt and Mercedes depend on their parents if they want to organize a meeting.
In the end he and Kurt have a lot of fun at the party because watching the behavior of drunk people when you are sober yourself is hilarious. Half an hour before midnight, he says good night to his friends before walking Kurt back to campus.
Ms. Carson is waiting for them in the lobby, clearly relieved they’ve come back early so she doesn’t have to wait up for them any longer. After she makes sure Kurt didn’t drink she tells Blaine he has a few minutes to say good night to Kurt and he walks his boyfriend back to his room.
“I’ll call us a cab for noon,” he tells Kurt after they kissed for a bit in front of Kurt’s room. Blaine decided to take the train back to Ohio with Kurt because his gig at Six Flags is starting soon and is going to cut into the time he’ll be able to spend with Kurt over the summer.
Kurt hums, more interested in kissing at the moment than the details of their return to their home state and Blaine lets him, because if things go wrong this might be the last time he gets to make out with Kurt in a NYADA hallway.
When someone clears their throat behind them, they jump apart, both blushing a bit.
“Breakfast at the Lima Been?” he asks Kurt when Ms. Carson points at her watch and Kurt nods before he quickly ducking into his room.
“Good night, Blaine,” Ms. Carson tells him pointedly when Blaine remains standing in front of Kurt’s door, staring after him – and most definitely not at his ass in the tight jeans Kurt is wearing.
“Uh, yeah. Sorry. I’m going,” he mumbles before he flees the hallway and treks upstairs to his own room. He is sure he can hear the teacher sniggering all the way to his room, but he can’t be mad at her, because without her, Kurt would have been gone weeks ago.
Kurt’s sixteenth birthday happens two weeks after his return to Lima. He hung out with Mercedes and her friend Tina a lot since he got back because Blaine is busy with his job and Kurt doesn’t have his license yet so he can’t just drive up to visit him.
He can’t wait to get it though, because things at home are a bit tense, since Finn is moping around a lot. From what Kurt got out of him, he got drunk at a party and enjoyed his spin the bottle kiss with a cheerleader a bit to much for Rachel’s taste and now she is on a war path, trying to give him a taste of his own medicine but kissing some jerk she met at theater camp. Kurt nearly choked on the piece of pineapple he was eating when Finn told him the name of the jerk, because it was none other than Jesse St. James.
Knowing Rachel, he was sure they could fix things if Finn just apologized but his step-brother was stubborn as well and thought she should apologize first because he hadn’t done anything wrong – it wasn’t his fault that girl had been seriously hot and totally into him. After hearing all that he is actually glad Blaine is surrounded my screaming teenage girls daily instead of attractive gay guys, but even if there were others he wouldn’t be worried because Blaine has enough options in New York for Kurt to know he isn’t just with him because there are no other available gay guys.
As it is, Kurt is in full on planning mode for his party though he is a bit sad that Santana, Quinn and Brittany can’t come because Sue Sylvester’s cheerleading camp that all three girls are going to attend isn’t starting till the middle of July and their parents don’t want to send them to Ohio twice.
Nick, Wes and David agreed to come however, the two older boys staying with Blaine for a few days so they can watch his show – the one Kurt hasn’t gotten a chance to see yet. His dad promised him though that they would drive up as soon as Kurt has his learners permit and Kurt can’t wait. For some reason his dad is making him wait till after his sixteenth birthday to get it but he stopped arguing with his dad when his dad promised that the wait would be worth it eventually.
By the time six o’clock rolls around the Hudmel backyard is filled with members of the McKinley glee club – no Rachel though because she and Finn still aren’t talking – and Kurt’s friends from New York. His dad is working the grill while Blaine is inside helping Carole make more dip for the chips and other snacks they bought for the party.
After everyone is fed it is time for presents and Kurt hugs Mercedes tightly when he unwraps a voucher for the only decent day spa in the county. Finn got him the sheet music to the ‘Sound of Music’ after Kurt dropped hints for a while, while Carole got him gift certificates for the Lima Mall.
Nothing makes him squeal however until he opens Blaine’s present and sees that his boyfriend got both of them tickets to a Lady Gaga concert in Cincinnati. Ignoring all the other people in his backyard he flings his arms around the old boy and kisses him soundly right in front of everyone, only separating when his dad clears his throat behind them.
“Sorry, dad,” Kurt mumbles, before he quickly looks around, but all his friends are smiling and so Kurt relaxes again.
David’s gift is to play tour guide and offer him and Blaine a place to sleep when they come to visit him in Boston and though Kurt thinks it’s a sweet idea, he knows it’s going to be hard and probably nearly impossible to convince his dad to let him visit a college campus with Blaine and stay the night.
Wes gets him a voucher for a backstage tour and meet and greet for a musical of his choice and after him only his dad is left.
“If you could all follow me around the house please,” his dad calls out and Kurt’s interest peaks. What is his dad hiding from him?
He gasps when he reaches the driveway because sitting there with a huge red bow wrapped around out it is a car. It isn’t really fancy and Kurt is sure it had at least one previous owner but it is the best thing ever.
“You got me a car, dad,” Kurt exclaims before he throws his arms around his dad.
“It’s not much of a looker right now, but it works and I thought we could work on it together when I’m not teaching you how to drive,” his dad explains once Kurt lets go of him and Kurt is tempted to hug him again, because his dad got him a freaking car.
When Kurt rounds the car again he spots something else on the windshield. Stuck underneath the wiper are four tickets for Six Flags.
“I thought we could all drive up next weekend so you can watch Blaine perform,” his dad continues and Kurt wraps his arms around his two favorite men again.
“Best birthday ever,” he exclaims before they all return to the backyard where they take turns on the karaoke machine Tina brought along until one of their neighbors shows up and tells them to take it inside.
The next morning, his dad drives him to the DMV for his learner’s permit and after Kurt proves he won’t be a menace to other people as they circle the parking lot a few times, his dad finally lest him drive out into the street. In that moment he doesn’t care that his car isn’t exactly fabulous like him and in dire need of a paint job, he just feels amazing.
It takes a few weeks until his dad decides he is ready to take his driving test and it coincides with Blaine’s last day of work for a few days so they make plans to meet at a coffee shop between Lima and Columbus after Kurt took his test. He has to promise his dad that he’s going to be extra careful on the road, but he can’t wait to drive himself to a date with Blaine.
He is done a lot faster than he thought and before he knows it he has a license with a horrible picture but his dad assures him that most people don’t look good on their driver’s licenses.
He still has some time to kill until he’s supposed to meet Blaine and because his dad has to go back to work he decides to visit the mall first because he still has some gift cards left over from his birthday.
His iPod plugged in and set to his favorite playlist he slowly backs out of the parking lot and drives toward the mall, Lady Gaga blasting through the speakers. He drives slowly and carefully but by the time he reaches the mall on the outskirts of Lima he still has one and a half hours left until he is set to meet Blaine.
Kurt doesn’t like taking his shirt off in public because he thinks he is too pale and turns into a lobster as soon as he exposes his skin to the sun, but Nick is throwing a pool party soon and Blaine begged him to come so he drags himself into a store that sells swim wear. Once he finally discovered a piece he can see himself wearing in public, he visits the small second hand store he discovered some pretty awesome pieces in before he moved to New York the previous summer.
Shopping makes him thirsty so he picks up a large banana smoothie at the food court but is quickly starting to regret it afterward because after three coffees, one red bull and the smoothie he definitely needs to pee.
He isn’t a fan of the mall bathroom but they sound better than having to stop at a gas station of the way to meet Blaine, so he concentrates on breathing through his mouth and quickly takes care of business.
After washing his hands, he checks his hair in the mirror to make sure he looks good for his date but Kurt freezes when the door opens behind him and he sees who entered the room.
His former bully looks surprised for a moment to see him there, before Kurt sees his eyes trail over his backside and Karofsky licks his lips suggestively.
“You’re definitely getting hotter with age,” he drawls and Kurt flinches, eyes darting frantically around the room to find a way out. Karofsky is blocking the door though and so Kurt slowly turns around and squares his shoulders.
“I don’t want you. And I don’t want you talking to me like that,” he says, cursing his voice for wavering.
“Is that so,” Karofsky challenges him and Kurt nods. “I do think you want me. A little birdy told me you are coming back to Lima for good. Couldn’t stay away from me, huh?”
Kurt shudders. This is like one of his worst nightmares but unfortunately he doesn’t wake up when he pinches himself.
“You know, I thought it would be a bad idea to have you at my school but when I look at you now, I can’t wait. And you are going to be a good boy and do what I say or I’m really going to make your life miserable,” he continues in a threatening voice and Kurt presses his back further into the sink behind him, praying that someone will come in and help him.
His phone is buried deep in his messenger bag and he is afraid of what Karofsky might do to him if he sees him take it out.
“In fact, why don’t we start now? Why don’t you give me a kiss – I haven’t gotten a proper greeting yet.” Karofsky takes a step forward and Kurt whimpers, eyeing the door behind the large boy again. Dance class made him stronger but he knows he still won’t be able to push the bully away from the door.
“Please, let me go,” he catches himself begging. “I don’t want you. I have a boyfriend.”
Karofsky frowns before he smirkes again. “Like he’s gonna wait around for you once he’s back at his fancy school and you are here with us,” he replies while he takes another step forward.
Just when Karofsky reaches out for him the door opens behind him and the bully yanks it back as if he got burned. Kurt doesn’t wait around to look at his savior. As soon as Karofsky pulls his hand back and steps aside, Kurt pushes past him and runs back out into the mall, his shopping bags forgotten.
The moment he reaches his car he unlocks it, gets inside and locks the door again, before he dissolves into tears. He knows he shouldn’t be driving, because he is shaking really badly, tears streaming down his face, but he is too scared to stay in the parking lot any moment longer.
All he knows is that he has to get home, to the safety of his bedroom, where he can lock himself away and Karofsky can’t reach him. He is still struggling to breath when he zooms out of the parking lot, causing another driver to honk his horn at him when Kurt cuts in in front of him, but Kurt doesn’t care.
He needs to get to a safe space and then he needs to stay there. He can’t go to McKinley in the fall, not now when he knows that Karofsky is still interested and still treats this like a game. He honestly doesn’t know what is wrong with the guy, because how psycho do you have to be to pretty much threaten someone with rape. This isn’t about a confused and questioning bully anymore. Karofsky knows exactly what he wants, and he apparently doesn’t intend to stop until he gets what he wants.
When he finally reaches the house he haphazardly parks the car in the driveway and runs inside, not stopping until he reaches his room and locks it. No one else is home and Kurt is glad because as much as he knows he has to tell his dad, he doesn’t know where to start, especially after he promised his dad that he wouldn’t tell lies anymore.
Sobs still shake his body when his phone starts ringing in his bag an hour later but Kurt makes no motion to move and retrieve it. For all he knows, Karofsky found out his number, like he found out about Kurt’s possible return to Lima, and he is too afraid to check that it isn’t him.
Instead he buries his head underneath his pillow and presses his hands against his ears, so he doesn’t have to hear his phone if it starts ringing again.
The thought that it could be Blaine calling him, doesn’t even cross his mind.
Blaine is running a bit late because his coworkers were having a small get together after one of the girls’ last show and by the time he reaches the coffee shop, after picking up flowers for Kurt to celebrate his driver’s license he is already fifteen minutes late.
To his surprise Kurt isn’t inside though and he can’t find his car in the parking lot either. He isn’t worried at first because it is Kurt’s first drive on his own and it makes sense that it takes him more time to get there than he planned. But when Kurt still hasn’t shown up another fifteen minutes later, he takes out his phone to see if he has any missed calls or texts. The screen is blank though.
That’s what’s really makes him nervous because Kurt always texts when he is going to be late to one of their dates.
When Kurt doesn’t pick up the phone after he tries three times he feels like he doesn’t have another option but call Mr. Hummel. Maybe he took Kurt out after his test and they just forgot he was supposed to meet him for coffee.
Mr. Hummel doesn’t know what happened to Kurt either after he left him in the DMV parking lot and Blaine starts coming up with all kinds of horror scenarios about what could have happened to Kurt. Because what if he lost control of his car on the way here and is now lying in ditch somewhere.
He has worked himself into a panic when Mr. Hummel calls him back ten minutes later. Kurt’s car is parked in the driveway and Mr. Hummel discovered that Kurt locked himself into his room.
“I don’t know what’s wrong. He won’t talk to me and he won’t open the door.” Kurt’s dad sounds panicked as well and Blaine feels incredibly helpless as he starts his car and drives out of the parking lot.
“Can you put me on speaker and put the phone next to the door,” he asks as he turns onto the road leading to Lima. “I’m on my way but it will take some time.”
He can hear some shuffling on the other end and then Mr. Hummel’s voice comes back from a distance. “I put the phone down.”
“Kurt, honey, are you okay?” he calls, praying that Kurt will answer him, but all he can hear is sniffling.
“Please Kurt. Tell me what’s wrong or let your dad in,” he pleads again, but he still gets no reaction from Kurt.
“I’m on my way over but please tell me you aren’t hurt. I can’t worry about that the whole way over,” he tries next hoping that Kurt’s concern for his safety will get him out of whatever stupor he is in.
“’m okay,” Kurt finally mumbles and Blaine lets out a sigh of relief. “What happened? You never showed up for coffee.” “Mall,” Kurt replies and Blaine can hear someone moving around until Kurt’s voice is suddenly a lot closer.
“Was early and went to the mall.”
Blaine can hear Mr. Hummel breathing as well, so he knows he is still listening as well.
“Did something happen at the mall?” he asks, dreading the answer because just because Kurt said he was unharmed didn’t mean he didn’t get hurt somehow.
“Karofsky,” finally comes the shaky reply and Blaine’s heart skips a beat. He never met the bully but Kurt told him enough about him to know that he was even worse than Chandler and that Kurt was genuinely afraid of him.
“Did he…? He didn’t touch you right?” Blaine forces out and he can hear Mr. Hummel make a noise before he asks a question as well.
“Kurt, did he hit you? Are you hurt?” Kurt doesn’t reply again and Blaine fears the worst.
“Kurt,” he calls out. “Blaine, please hurry,” Kurt finally answers and Blaine speeds up even more. He doesn’t care right now if gets a ticket for speeding or not. Kurt needs him and getting to him fast is the most important thing.
“Blaine, what’s going on?” Suddenly Mr. Hummel is back on the line and Blaine can tell he’s taken the phone off speaker. “I’ve never heard him like this before, not even after that boy put him into the hospital.”
Blaine sighs. He knows Kurt didn’t want to tell his dad but whatever happened must have been bad and he can’t keep Mr. Hummel in the dark any longer.
“We need to talk. I’ll tell you everything I know as soon as I get to your house.”
“Alright, what’s going on Blaine? I’m not dumb, I know how the kids treated Kurt in school here but I’ve never seen him like this before,” Burt tells Blaine once they are seated outside on the porch and Blaine managed to calm Kurt down enough so he was able to take a nap. Burt was beyond relieved when he saw that Kurt was physically unharmed but now he is dreading the conversation with Blaine.
“I promised I wouldn’t say anything because it wasn’t my story to tell and Kurt didn’t think it would be a problem anymore, but clearly he was wrong and I need to keep him safe,” Blaine starts and Burt fears the worst.
“Do you know about Dave Karofsky?” Blaine continues and Burt nods. He would have kicked that little shit’s ass after he put Kurt into the hospital but unfortunately his friends gave him an alibi and Burt couldn’t risk getting arrested instead.
“He hurt Kurt, repeatedly from what I know now,” he replies because he assumes none of that is news to Blaine.
“But there’s more,” his son’s boyfriend says and Burt feels like he got punched in the stomach because what else can there be.
“When Kurt was in seventh grade he tried to confront Karofsky about the bullying and instead of hitting him he forced a kiss on Kurt, and wouldn’t let go of him until someone else came into the room,” Blaine admits and Burt sees red.
“What the hell,” he yells, before remembering that Kurt is right upstairs. “Why did he not tell me or anyone else?” “I think he was scared. Karofsky threatened him to keep him quiet and he didn’t think anyone would believe him – he had no proof after all – and he didn’t believe in outing people, not even assholes like Karofsky, pardon my French,” Blaine explains, shooting nervous glances at him. Burt looks down and sees that his hands are clenched into fists.
“Go on,” he orders because he needs to know everything now.
“From what I know, Karofsky kept following him in the hallways, leering at him and making him scared of going to school because he was afraid it would happen again. When Karofsky started high school he went by Kurt’s school every now and then to make sure he kept quiet. Before he came to New York he threatened to kill Kurt if he told anyone when he went to McKinley as well and Kurt told him he would tell you. That’s when Karofsky put him in the hospital,” Blaine concludes and Burt was seething.
He wishes Kurt told him when all of that started because the thought that the boy who assaulted his son was getting away with it makes him sick. He agrees with Kurt that outing is bad but in this case the other boy lost his right to privacy.
“What happened this afternoon, Blaine?” he finally asks, his voice shaking a bit. “I don’t know. The only thing he would tell me is Karofsky, over and over again, so I think Kurt might have run into him this afternoon.”
Burt’s fist crashes down onto the porch and Blaine jumps next to him. “If he hurt Kurt, I’m going to kick his ass,” he growls, feeling helpless because unless they have proof it would just be Kurt’s word against Karofsky’s.
“Please, Mr. Hummel. Let Kurt come back to NYADA. He isn’t safe if he has to go to school with Karofsky because you can’t always keep an eye on him and neither can Finn. So, please, please don’t make him stay here where he can get hurt.” There are tears in Blaine’s eyes and Burt swallows hard as well.
“Why don’t you go upstairs and see if Kurt’s awake. I have a lot to talk about with my wife,” Burt says before getting up and walking around the house to where Carole is cutting the rose bushes in the front yard.
“It’s a lot worse than we thought,” he tells her when she looks up from her work and when she sees his expression she immediately drops the shears and wraps her arm around him.
“Whatever it is, we’re going to work it out, okay?” she whispers. Burt just hopes she’s right.
68 EXT. HUMMEL – HUDSON HOME – DAY
Establisher. Middle class home with spacey front porch. The front yard is well cared of.
69 INT. HUMMEL – HUDSON HOME – STUDY – DAY
A desk with an old computer on top. Less chaotic than BURT HUMMEL’s office in the shop, but still cluttered. Two forms are on the desk – one will remove KURT from NYADA, the other will keep him enrolled.
70 INT. HUMMEL – HUDSON HOME – LIVING ROOM – DAY
Burt observes Kurt and BLAINE as Blaine is comforting Kurt on the living room couch, while a Disney movie is playing in the background.
71 INT. HUMMEL – HUDSON HOME – STUDY - DAY
Close up of one of the papers being pushed into the envelope. The only thing that can be read is Burt Hummel’ signature.
72 EXT. SUBURBAN STREET – DAY
Burt walks up to the mail box and drops the envelop inside. Camera stays behind him and doesn’t show his face.