Chapter Text
Kurt stood in front of his wardrobe and thought about what he should take with him and what not. He already had packed his bag twice but he wasn't sure if he had everything. He never was.
He didn't even know what to pack for a pyjama party and spent the entire day packing for it.
But this was different.
He would transfer to Dalton Academy today. It was the beginning of the new school year and he would never return to McKinley, that was for sure.
He would board there so he could only come home on the weekends but that was fine with him. He wouldn't want to be in Lima anyway.
Too many memories.
Anyway, it wouldn't really matter what clothes he would take with him. He would wear the school uniform during the day and nowadays, there were only big hoodies and wide pants in his wardrobe because he abandoned all of his old clothes and put them in the basement. He didn't really like his clothes now but it was comfortable and safe. And that was what mattered.
His thoughts were interrupted when his dad called him from downstairs.
"Kurt, are you ready? We really need to go now!"
Kurt sighed, closed his wardrobe and his bag and went downstairs where his father was waiting for him.
They drove in comfortable silence, Kurt thinking about what Dalton would be like and Burt hoping that the school would be good for Kurt.
When they arrived after about two hours, they went inside and some student they met in the hallway showed them the way to the principal's office.
Kurt was really nervous but he tried not to show it. He was grateful to be here and he knew what his father had to accomplish so that he could afford the money to sent him here.
When they went into the office, a tall, brown haired man, maybe in his late 40s, greeted them.
"Hello, you must be Kurt Hummel. I'm Dean Williams. It's nice to meet you."
He raised his hand for Kurt to shake but Kurt just stared at him nervously.
Instead, Burt took it and said "It's nice to meet you too. I'm Kurt's dad, Burt Hummel. I think we talked on the phone about the- circumstances."
Dean Williams nodded shortly. "Yes, I'm aware. And all your teachers are too so you can always talk to someone if you'd like to. My door is always open."
Kurt nodded shortly and said quietly "thanks. Do the students know?"
The principal looked at him empathically.
"No, it's completely your decision what you tell the others about yourself. You don't have to tell them anything if you don't want to. But sometimes, it can be good to talk to someone, you know. But I guess, you have to settle in first and get to know your classmates a little better. You have time." He smiled warmly at Kurt. Kurt wasn't able to smile back, the lump in his throat was too big.
"We put you in a dorm room with Blaine Anderson, he's in most of your classes. A very good student and very friendly to everyone. He's also the leadsinger of the Warblers, our acapella group here. My son Aiden's in it as well. Do you sing?" He asked.
"Not anymore" Kurt said quietly and looked down in his lap where he intertwined his fingers nervously.
"Well, it's your choice but maybe you change your mind when you hear them. It's a group of very polite and friendly boys."
He talked more about eating times and rules like curfew and also other things the school has to offer and Kurt listened interested because it all sounds like he's caught in a dream and he can't believe he's really here.
..."So, I guess I said everything I need to, do you have any questions for me?"
Neither Burt or Kurt had anything to ask, so the principal explained them the way to Kurt's new dorm room and excused himself for a phone call.
The two of them went back to the car first to grab Kurt's bag and then made their way to the dorm.
When Kurt opened the door to his room, he saw a tanned boy with many dark curls sitting at a desk. The boy looked up and Kurt looked into the prettiest hazel-brown eyes he's ever seen.
The boy stood up and went to greet them. "Hi, I'm Blaine Anderson. You must be Kurt. It's very nice to meet you" he smiles.
Kurt is stunned by the boys beauty and he can't speak for a moment.
He also didn't take the offered hand.
Behind him, Burt appeared with Kurt's bag and said "Hi Blaine, I'm Burt Hummel, Kurt's dad. It's very nice to meet you. Kurt's a little shy."
Blaine smiled. "Don't worry, that's okay. I can show you around and you can meet my friends if you want to. And I can help you unpack, but I don't want to impose or anything. You just have to say it if you need anything."
Kurt looked a little lost and overwhelmed, he didn't know what to do now.
Burt must have sensed that and he said "you can unpack your things kiddo, I need to drive back to Lima anyway. Call me, okay?"
Kurt nodded and hugged his father tightly.
He didn't want him to go. When he's with his dad, it's safe. He didn't want to be left alone here. But he had to. So he just hugged his father and whispered "thank you for everything. I love you so much" and Burt whispered back "I love you too. Take care and please don't shut him out. He seems like a nice guy. Just give it a try, okay?"
He felt that Kurt nodded against his shoulder and released him. Then, he said goodbye to Blaine and drove home.
When the two boys were alone in their room, Kurt quietly said "I would like your help with unpacking, if the offer still stands."
Blaine smiled happily. "Of course. What should I do?"
For the next 30 minutes, they unpacked Kurt's bag in comfortable silence besides Blaine's questions where to put certain things and Kurt's quiet and soft answers.
Blaine didn't really know what to think of Kurt. He seemed nice but reserved, as if he would hold himself back to talk too much.
But he said to himself that he would help Kurt to find friends and be comfortable in the school.
That's why he said to Kurt later that day "I can show you the school, if you want to. And maybe we can get to know each other a little bit, if you'd like."
Kurt wanted to decline but he remembered the words of his dad to not push Blaine away. So he forced himself to smile and said "that would be great, thank you."
Blaine smiled and they made their way out of their room and towards the class rooms and the Warbler rehearsal room where Blaine explained him a lot about the Warblers after he recognized that Kurt was interested in hearing about the show choir.
"We don't have a choir teacher, instead there is a council who decides on the songs or who gets the solos. Wes, David and Thad are in the council at the moment and they work very good together, even if Wes is a little bit of a control freak. We tease him about it but it's all in a funny way."
Blaine lead Kurt to a photography that showed the Warblers at Nationals last year and another one with the three council members.
"I can introduce them to you later if you want to, and also the other Warblers. They are all really great and we're all friends. They'll like you. Is that okay for you to meet them?"
Kurt hesutated but then nodded shortly. He wasn't really a fan of meeting new people and especially not so many at once, but he was at a new school, what did he think? He couldn't prevent that. So he just nodded.
Back to their tour around the school, Blaine shows him the small kitchen at the end of their floor.
"We have our own kitchen?" Kurt asked and seemed excited as far as Blaine could tell. Kurt hadn't exactly been an open book until now.
"Do you like to cook?" Blaine asked.
Kurt looked secretive at first but then he said "very much. I always cooked together with my mom. She taught me everything I know."
Blaine smiled. That was the first information he really got out of Kurt himself. And it was the longest sentence Kurt spoke since he arrived.
"She sounds wonderful. What does she do?"
Kurt looked at him with a pained expression and said "she died when I was 8. But she was wonderful, that's true."
"Oh god, I'm so sorry Kurt. I didn't want to make you sad."
Kurt smiled a little. "It's fine. It was long ago. And I still have my dad. He's really great."
"That's wonderful." Blaine smiled back. "He seemed to be very generous and kind."
Kurt nodded and smiled slightly.
"Okay so, every floor has their own kitchen for coffee, tea or baking or something like that. Everyone on the floor can use it but all meals still takes place in the dining hall with all students together. The kitchen is always open and you can cook or bake something whenever you like."
Blaine paused. "Now, there is just our common room and the garden left and it's nearly dinner time. I can show you the garden tomorrow and now, I would like to show you the common room and introduce you to everyone if that's okay?"
Kurt swallowed deeply but nodded. He could do this.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and flinched.
"I'm sorry" Blaine said right away. "I'm just a very touchy person, you know, I love hugs and stuff and it's really hard for me not to touch you. But if you don't like it, I won't do it, I promise."
Kurt breathed in heavily to calm himself down. He was safe. He was at Dalton. With Blaine. His roommate.
"No, it's okay, I guess. I was just surprised and I didn't see you. I'm sorry I flinched."
"Don't be sorry, it's okay. I can keep an eye on it that I only touch you when you can see it coming, would that be okay?"
Kurt nodded again. "I guess that would be okay. I'm just not used to it anymore. I mean, from other people than my dad or my step-mom."
"I'm glad that I can help you with it, then" Blaine smiled.
When they arrived in the common room, Blaine went over to two boys sitting on a couch. The blonde haired boy was drawing something on a sketch block and the brown haired boy had his head in the other boys lap and his eyes closed.
"Hey guys" Blaine said and the two boys looked up. "Let me introduce you to Kurt Hummel. Kurt, this is Nick Duval, my best friend, and his boyfriend Jeff Sterling."
Kurt was surprised that they showed affection so openly where everybody could see them but then he remembered that everything at Dalton was more open-minded. He smiled at them and greeted them quietly.
Jeff only smiled and waved in return but Nick got out of Jeff's lap and said "Hi Kurt! Nice to meet you. Are you rooming with Blainey boy? I have to warn you, he only tidies his room when you can't see the floor anymore. It's disgusting, you'll see."
"Thank you, Nick! And don't call me 'Blainey', it's embarrassing" Blaine said.
Then, he turned around to Kurt "I'm sorry, sometimes he just doesn't know when to stop talking. And he's very direct, you see. He always says what he thinks."
"And he stands right here and can hear what you say Blainey boy" Nick said with a grin. Blaine just rolled his eyes.
Kurt had to smile at their conversation and Blaine recognised it with a wide smile.
"Where are Wes and David? Or Hunter and Sebastian?" Blaine asked them.
"Wes and David were making a plan for Warbler rehearsals and Hunter and Sebastian... well, they are Hunter and Sebastian. I guess they are in their room and celebrate the start of the school year or something. Hunter went home to London for the summer so they hadn't had a chance to 'get together' since the end of the last school year". While Nick said that, he made a gesture with his hands but while Blaine laughed, Kurt looked confused.
Nick laughed as well. "I meant that they probably have sex right now."
Kurt flinched shortly at Nick's bluntness and Blaine must've sensed that he was uncomfortable because he said "okay then. We'll just go over there to Aiden and Tyler shortly, okay? Just to say hi."
Kurt nodded and Nick fell back into Jeff's lap closing his eyes again while Jeff continued drawing.
When they were alone again, Blaine turned to Kurt and said "I'm sorry about Nick. He's my best friend but he always says what he thinks without thinking about it before. It takes some time to get used to it. I didn't want him to make you uncomfortable."
"It's okay. I like him. And Jeff too. I was surprised that they were so.. open about their relationship, I guess. That wouldn't be possible in Lima."
"Well, you're here now and it's totally possible here. You can be who you are without people judging you. That's why they invented the tolerance policy. They wanted to create a safe place for young boys who had problems with their families or in school or what else."
Kurt said "Well, I think they did a great job."
Blaine laughed. "I think so too. Come on, I want you to meet Aiden and Tyler, they are together too." Blaine said and winked at Kurt which made the other boy blush slightly.
They made their way over to two boys talking quietly as the taller one sat on the couch and the other one leaned against him, holding his hand.
The smaller one was a boy with red hair, green eyes and thousands of freckles. His boyfriend reminded Kurt of a jock from McKinley. He was very tall, had brown hair and blue eyes and Kurt would think that he looked gorgeous if he wouldn't be so intimidated. But he could definitely be a model if he wanted.
Kurt didn't notice but he had stopped walking when he saw him.
Blaine noticed and said to him "everything okay? You don't have to worry about them, they are the most calm, friendly and optimistic people I know. They'll like you. Aiden's also the dean's son."
Kurt looked at Blaine as if he would try to figure out if Blaine's telling the truth but then he nodded carefully and they went over to them.
Blaine introduced them to Kurt and Kurt realised that Tyler is the one with the red hair and Aiden is the tall, intimidating guy.
Their conversation was short, also because Blaine noticed Kurt's discomfort and Tyler also looked concerned while he watched Kurt during their talk.
Blaine excused themselves after a few minutes and showed Kurt the way back to their dorm.
"Thank you for showing me everything today and introducing me to your friends. It was really nice of you" Kurt said when they were back in their room and smiled at Blaine slightly.
"No problem, I really enjoyed it. You're good company" he smiled while Kurt blushed.
Blaine thought about if he should ask or just leave it, but then he decided to go for it.
"Are you okay though? I noticed you were a little nervous while we talked with Aiden and Tyler" Blaine said.
Kurt looked uncomfortable but after a few seconds of silence, he said "he just reminded me of someone from my old school. It doesn't matter anymore. You're right, they seemed nice."
He tries to smile but it didn't reach his eyes.
"But I think it does matter if you're still afraid" Blaine said, trying to get through to Kurt.
"It doesn't! Okay? Just leave it" he snapped.
Blaine looked at him shocked and he apologized immediately. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm not used to people being- nice" he finished.
Blaine sensed he didn't want to talk about it anymore but he wouldn't forget this conversation. In that moment, a bell rang loudly in the hallway just outsude their room.
"That's the dinner bell" Blaine said and Kurt nodded in understanding. Before he could go out of the door, Blaine said "just so you know, you can always talk to me if something's bothering you. I'm a good listener."
"Thanks. But I'm fine" Kurt said while walking towards the dining hall for dinner.
"For now" Blaine said quietly to himself and quickly moved to follow Kurt to dinner.
Things would defininitely become interesting around here.