Chapter Text
Kurt layed on his bed, staring at the ceiling with a million thoughts running through his mind.
Today had been yet another awful day at school. He had been thrown into a dumbster and landed on something metallic, that tore a hole on his new Alexander McQueen inspired button up and left him with even more ugly, purple bruises.
His brother, Finn, had clapped him on the back while they passed each other on the stairs and questioned the involuntery hiss of pain the shorter boy had let out.
Kurt had played it off with a forced smile and blamed it on a bad sleeping position, a lie that Finn had easily bought. It was times like these when Kurt was glad his brother wasn't the smartest guy out there.
It wasn't like he enjoyed lying to his family. He just didn't see any other options. If he told Finn, he would probably try to help by going up againts the other jocks or something equally idiotic, which would just get him even more shunned. It was bad enough that Finn was part of the school's Glee club, the lowest of the low in the McKinley's food chain. He didn't need to sacrifice the last of his reputation by defending "the gay kid" who just happened to be his step-brother.
Kurt had been excited to join the New Directions as well, at first. He loved singing.
But after seeing the way the rest of the school treated the Glee kids, fear has won over and he pushed aside his dreams of performing. He was bullied enough as it was, he didn't need any more reasons to get slammed into lockers and soaked with slushie facials.
Despite this, on some particularly good days, Kurt would play Wicked from his iPod and dance around his room, forgetting the world that seemed to have everything against him, even if just for a moment.
The boy let out a tired sigh. Sometimes he wished he could be as confident outside these four walls as he felt when he "performed" to his own reflection, dreaming of a life in New York, imagining himself on Broadway with someone special by his side.
Someone special like Blaine Anderson.
Blaine had transferred to McKinley only a handful of months ago and had already made quick friends with the kids on Glee. He was bright, talented and kind hearted, not to mention incredibly good looking with his gelled dark hair and bowties.
Kurt was willing to admit that he had a major crush on the boy. The way his golden hazel eyes sparkled when he laughed at one of Sam Evans' silly impressions or Tina Cohen-Chang's hopeless romances.
The way he was never rude to Rachel Berry, even when the girl seemed to drive everyone else around her crazy.
The way he always listened to Brittany Pierce's stories about her cat Lord Tubbington with genuine interest and amusement dancing in his expression.
The way his optimism didn't seem to falter even when he got a face full of cherry flavoured ice and red food dye.
Yeah, Kurt was in deep. But he didn't dare let himself hope. For all he knew, Blaine was straight. And why would someone like him even know Kurt Hummel existed? Most likely he didn't. So, Kurt was willing to keep his emotions to himself and his gaze on the ground.
Boys like Blaine were made for big things and stage light lit futures. Boys like Kurt were meant to stay invisible.
~.~.~
Blaine made his way down the halls of McKinely High with a smile on his face.
He had been scared to death when he first came here, the scars of Sadie Hawkins still fresh and bleeding.
Just the mere sight of the large jocks in lettermanjackets had made his stomach twist.
Most of his fear seemed to melt away however, when a particular short, brown haired girl had stepped up to him, offered her hand and announced: "Hello, i'm Rachel Berry, a future Broadway star and lead of the New Directions."
Blaine had taken her hand and shook it politely. "I-i'm Blaine. Blaine Anderson."
"So, Blaine. Can you sing?"
And that's how he had been lead into the choir room with a variety of kids sitting on their seats, some of them already rolling their eyes when Rachel dragged a confused Blaine in front of them and urged him to perform.
And perform he did. When the first of his shock from the sudden events wore off, he put on his most charming smile and sang Katy Perry's Waking Up In Vegas.
He had been a member of the New Directions ever since and Blaine knew that joining had been one of the best decicions of his life. He had found close friends from the other Glee kids, closests ones being Sam and Tina. He found confidence in music, and his pure determination to never run away again helped him through the leering and teasing from the football players.
Blaine grabbed his chemistry book from his locker and was just about close it when he heard a yelp and someone falling over just behind him.
He whipped around and saw a boy frantically collecting his things into his messenger bag.
"Hey, are you alright?" He asked, picking up the scetch book that had slid to his feet.
The boy looked up and Blaine recognized him instantly. It was Kurt Hummel. There were no mistaking the neatly coiffed chestnut hair and fashionable clothes that had caught Blaine's attention since day one.
But it were his eyes that had captivated Blaine's heart from the second he saw him.
The glazs eyes that were somehow dull and sharp at the same time, like he was constantly on high alert. The eyes that would rarely meet his.
Now Kurt was staring at Blaine, face red and expression similiar to a deer in the headlights.
"Do you need help?" Blaine offered with a kind smile, hoping to finally have a proper converstation with this peculiar, beautiful boy.
But Kurt dropped his eyes to his lap and muttered a quick "I'm fine" before gathering the rest of his things and scurrying down the hall, disappearing into the sea of students before Blaine could say another word.
The boy looked down at the scetch book still in his hand, before snapping back to reality and hurrying after Kurt.
~.~.~
Stupid stupid stupid!
Why did he have to make such a fool out of himself like that, and in front of Blaine of all people?
Kurt felt embarrassed by his reaction to Blaine offering his help. He wanted to believe he did it to be kind but a part of him was convinced it was purely out of pity.
And he couldn't bare to see Blaine look at him like something pathetic.
He tried to make himself as small as possible as he walked past his peers towards French class. It was his best subject so he could easily use the time by wallowing in self-hatred.
"Kurt, wait up!"
Somehow just hearing Blaine say his name gave Kurt butterflies and suddenly he wanted to slap himself.
Blaine caught up to him, panting slightly and holding Kurt's scetchbook.
"You.. Forgot.. this." he explained, breathing heavily.
"Oh.. Thank you."
Kurt stuffed the scetchbook back to his bag and started walking away but a hand on his shoulder stopped him on his tracks.
Blaine moved to stand in front of him and offered his hand with a sheepish smile.
"I uh.. Don't know if you know me but.. My name's Blaine."
Of course Kurt knew who he was, but he wasn't going to point that out. Instead he replied simply: "Kurt."
They shook hands and Kurt felt his traitorous heart flutter in his chest.
"So um.. Would you maybe like to get coffee together during lunch?"
Kurt had to have heard that wrong. There was no way in hell this amazing boy was asking him out for coffee. And yet...
"I mean, you don't have to if you have better places to be, of course not-"
A part of himself knew he should just walk away, decline the offer and save himself from future pain. But another, less rational part of him, was ecstatic and ready to suffer for even just a moment with Blaine.
"Sure." he smiled, his first real smile in a while.
Blaine stopped rambling and stared at Kurt with a disbelieving grin.
"For real?"
"Yes, for real." Kurt laughed.
"Awesome! I'll uh.. See you then!"
Kurt watched as Blaine walked away, knowing he might have just made a big mistake, but in this moment, he couldn't care less.
~.~.~
Blaine met Kurt near the cafeteria after class and together they made their way to Kurt's Navigator.
The ride to Lima Bean was silent, both of the boys filled with nerves.
After ordering their drinks, ("A grande nonfat mocha, please" "And i'll have a medium drip, thank you.") they found a table and sat down, both still relatively quiet.
"So.. Why exactly did you invite me for coffee?" Kurt finally asked, a sceptical look in his eyes.
"Well, i wanted to get to know you better." Blaine explained, trying to ease the protective barriers the other boy seemed to up hold.
Kurt hid his smile behind his cup and nodded, clearly not sure how to reply.
"So Kurt. What do you like to do?"
"Well.. I'm actually a kind of a fashionista." He started before adding. "I actually design most of my clothes."
Blaine's eyes widened. "Oh wow, no wonder they look so good."
Kurt blushed madly and sipped at his coffee again before clearing his throat.
"Well what about you? You're part of the Glee club, right?"
Blaine grinned. "Oh yeah! It's awesome. I love music and performing on a stage, giving it all you have, singing your heart out... It's truly an amazing feeling."
Blaine noticed how Kurt's eyes turned wistful before he schooled his expression again to a timid half smile.
"My brother Finn is in the Glee club too."
"Wait, Finn Hudson is your brother?"
"Step-brother, actually." Kurt clarified.
"I had no idea!"
"Yeah.. Maybe he never just thought to mention."
Silence fell over their table again before Blaine spoke up.
"Do you like music?"
Kurt smiled, his blue eyes shining.
"Oh yes, especially musical theatre. I know the whole Wicked soundtrack by heart."
Blaine smiled aswell, happy to see the other boy coming out of his shell a bit. "Do you sing?" he asked.
"I.. Sometimes. But i'm really not that good at it." Kurt replied, not meeting Blaine's eyes.
"Have you considered joining Glee?"
Kurt tensed. "No. Like i said, i'm not good. And besides, i could never perform in front of people, too much pressure." he tried to brush it off but Blaine could see it bothered him. He decided to change the subject.
"What did you think about the latest issue of Vouge?"
Kurt paused, looking at Blaine with an unreadable expression.
"What? It's a good magazine."
Then Kurt smiled and they launched into a discussion about the latest fashion trends.
Blaine could only stare at Kurt as he talked, his posture more relaxed than Blaine had ever seen him and his melodic voice light like an angel's. It was that moment, in a small coffee shop in Ohio, that Blaine realized, he was falling in love.