An Accident of Circumstance: Chapter 18
Chapter 18
A/N: This is another rough one. Why is it that we as authors must torture our characters so? Never fear, things will improve, hang in there!
Kurt frowned as he leafed through the business mail at the shop. Chris had gone back to school and he was trying to keep his mind off of everything. He was worried that somehow word of the accusations would get out and people would give Chris a hard time…Blaine arrest and suspension had already made the news, and though the alleged victim’s names had not been released, it was only a matter of time before someone put the pieces together.
But this letter. It was unmarked except for a familiar K scrawled across the front. No postage, no return address. But Kurt knew that it had to be from Blaine.
Technically, he shouldn’t open it. But his curiosity was piqued. Setting the bills and advertisements for pizza places aside, Kurt slipped his thumb under the edge of the envelope, ripping it open. He unfolded the plain piece of paper inside, taking in the few lines.
I’m sorry. What I said was uncalled for and hurtful. I never, ever meant to hurt you, though I know I have a number of times now. I understand if you don’t want to have anything to do with me ever again, but I needed to at least start with this tiny apology. I can’t ask for your forgiveness, I don’t deserve it. But I love you and I couldn’t let that fight be the last thing we shared.
The note was unsigned, for obvious reasons. Kurt shook his head. Blaine was always doing that, saying such self deprecating things. Sure he was in the wrong and owed Kurt an apology. But saying that he didn’t deserve forgiveness...
But I love you... He couldn’t help but start humming “Come What May”.
Kurt pulled out a sheet of paper of his own and hastily scribbled a few lines.
I know you are. I forgive you. I believe you. I’m sorry for doubting. You were right. Working on it.
*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
“We’d like you to take over Blaine’s duties until the investigation has been resolved.”
Kurt sat there, mouth hanging open slightly in shock as he sat in the principal’s office at Chris’s school. This was not the way he expected this meeting to go. “What?”
“We need to find someone who can teach his classes and advise the play. Naturally our first thought was you, since you’ve already been helping out and would at least somewhat know the ropes.”
“But I’m not a teacher,” Kurt protested. “I don’t have a degree.”
Mr. Jacobs shrugged. “It’s not nearly as important with substitutes. You have a bachelor degree, correct?”
Kurt nodded. “Yes, from New York Academy of Dramatic Arts.”
Mr. Jacobs smiled. “So you have a musical background. And I think I heard you were on Broadway.”
“For a little while, yes.”
“Then you should be fine. There are lesson plans you can look at to get a sense of where the classes are. This should only be a temporary replacement. If Blaine is cleared, he will resume his duties. If it turns out that we will need to replace him, we can find a more permanent substitute.”
Kurt shook his head, not knowing what to make of the situation. “But I have a job, I can’t just up and leave it.”
“We will pay you for your time and would be happy to speak to your boss to work something out. We really need you here, Kurt.”
He bit his lip. Sure, he never fancied himself a teacher, but the idea of covering for Blaine felt right. Like he could help him in some way. Plus, he’d be at the school all the time and could keep an eye on Chris... “Can I make a phone call?”
Mr. Jacobs nodded. “Certainly, take all the time you need.”
Kurt stood and slipped out of the office, quickly dialing his dad at the shop.
“Hummel Tire and Lube, how may I help you?” his father answered.
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Kurt, how did the meeting go? What was it about, anyways?”
Kurt took a deep, steadying breath. “They want me to take over for Blaine until this whole mess is sorted out. Like teach his classes and be in charge of the play and all that.”
“That’s great, kiddo!”
“But I can’t leave you hanging like that-”
“Don’t worry about it, Shawn has been bugging me to give him extra hours, his kid’s just starting college and they could use the extra cash. This is a great opportunity, Kurt, if your job at the shop is all that’s holding you back, don’t worry about it. Okay?”
“Dad-”
“Take the job or I’ll come down there and make you take it. You don’t belong in a tire shop in Ohio and we both know it.”
Kurt couldn’t help but smile. “I know.”
“We must be making some progress because that’s the first time in two years that you’ve admitted that.”
Kurt’s smile blossomed into a grin. “Yeah, yeah. Happy?”
“Very. Now go do this thing.”
*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Kurt wiggled a little his chair, no, Blaine’s chair as he got settled into his classroom. He had a class in about forty minutes, he needed to get settled and look over the lesson plan. He probably wouldn’t stick to it exactly, but it would be a good idea to know where they left off. Leaning down, Kurt slid open the big desk drawer where he figured Blaine kept everything. His heart skipped a beat when he saw himself looking up at him. Hands shaking slightly, he picked up the framed photograph, one of the only ones they had taken after getting back together.
He traced Blaine’s face softly with his finger, unable to suppress the smile that crept up on him. It didn’t matter how nervous he was about all of this. He was doing this for Blaine, just like Blaine had helped him.
God, Kurt loved him. It was funny, now was the last time he ever would have expected his feelings to become clear. He’d been hiding from them, too afraid of the possibilities they might unlock. But now that he was getting a little taste of what life without Blaine would be like again...he didn’t like it very much.
His mind flitted back to their fight, his stomach still clenching up uncomfortably at the memory of it. They had a lot to discuss. But they had to wait until Blaine was cleared. Which he would be, because he was innocent. Chris was okay, the doctors confirmed both physically and mentally.
Blaine would be okay. They would be okay.
*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Chris’s teeth pressed deep into his lip, almost enough to break the skin. He blinked rapidly, fighting off tears. If he had to hear one more comment from another lowlife about how awful Blaine was or how Chris deserved whatever Blaine was supposed to have done to him or that he probably liked it he would explode. Amy had tried to drive them away, but he had stopped talking to her, trying to keep his distance. It was the only way he could protect her from this mess he didn’t even really understand. Why did grownups always ruin everything?
“Christopher Hummel-Anderson, you’re not going to get rid of me that easily. The silent treatment? Really? Stop acting all noble and let me be your friend!” Amy huffed as they lined up to go to music. He wasn’t sure what the point was. Blaine wasn’t there, they would just have some useless sub who would just allow his classmates continue tormenting him.
He wanted to just ignore Amy, move to the back of the line or something. But he knew she’d just move back with him. And besides, he missed his best friend. He wasn’t really sure what noble meant, but that’s what people said Harry Potter was when he was being stupid, so maybe it wasn’t such a good thing.
“This isn’t your problem,” he muttered as the line began to move. They’d have to be careful, there was no talking in the hallways and their teacher was not above sending people back until they could do it quietly.
“You’re my friend, that makes this my problem.” Amy whispered as a class of second graders passed them noisily.
Chris stuck his hand out behind him and Amy quickly slid hers inside. He squeezed it gently, hoping the gesture could convey the feelings of gratitude he couldn’t quite express. They let go quickly, not wanting their teacher to notice or worse, their classmates. The last thing they needed was to be teased about the fact that they are ‘dating’. Because, like, that was something grown-ups did, not kids. He wasn’t dating Amy, she was his friend. But the other kids wouldn’t know that. What do they know, they think girls have cooties.
The proceeded down the hall in the regulated silence, each passing second heightening Chris's anxiety. He hadn't been in the music room since they took Blaine away. The look on his dad's face when he came back to get him that day...Chris didn't even remember him looking that scared when his Papa was sick.
Head down, Chris made his way over to a chair in the back of the room. When Blaine was there he had always started sitting up in the front, but he just wanted to be invisible today. He looked over at Amy, who slowly took the seat next to him, her eyebrows scrunched up in confusion.
"Um, Chris?"
"Yeah?"
"Why's your dad here?"
Chris's head snapped up, scanning the entire room for the first time since entering. Not only was his dad there, he was...writing on the board? His dad spun around, smiling warmly at the class. His eyes caught Chris's briefly, the look on his face softening into something just a bit more tender. "Hello everyone. My name is Mr. Hummel and I will be your substitute music teacher for the near future." A hand shot up in the front of the room. "Yes?"
"Are you Chris's dad." Chris felt the bottom drop out of his stomach.
His father nodded. "I certainly am. But while we're in here, I'm just Mr. Hummel, okay?" Without waiting for a reply, he turned to the board. "Can anybody tell me what this instrument is?"
Chris tried to pay attention, he really did. His dad was actually really good at this, but his brain was just too full of thoughts to learn about the difference between oboes and clarinets. Finally, the class was over and they lined up to go back to their classroom. His dad talked to the teacher quietly, who nodded in understanding. Chris wondered what was going on until his dad pulled him out of line. "Hey, buddy. Just wanted to check in."
Shaking his head in a vain attempt to clear it, Chris couldn't help but mutter, "Dad, what are you doing here?"
His dad frowned. "It's like I said, I'm the substitute teacher."
"Since when?" He knew he was being a little sassy, but he couldn't help himself. He was at the end of his rope.
"About 10 o'clock this morning. I would have talked to you about it first if I had known, but it was a last minute thing. They needed someone until Blaine gets cleared. I'm already helping with the play so they figured I'd be their best bet." A pause. "You're upset."
Chris shook his head. He wasn't upset, not really. Just drained. "They already hate me, now they are just gonna think I'm the teacher's pet. And I mean I kinda am."
His dad laughed, pulling him into a hug. "No, you're my kid, there’s a big difference. Look, I know it won't be easy, but hopefully with me here...maybe I can actually help. I promise, when we're at school, I'm Mr. Hummel first, Dad second."
Chris frowned. "But that's not your name."
His father sighed. "It used to be, bud. I just...I didn't want anything to remind anyone of Blaine, just to stay clear of the subject. Besides, Hummel-Anderson is kinda a mouthful for a bunch of kids, don't you think?"
Chris made a face. "Tell me about it."
His dad kissed his forehead where his scalp met skin. "Sorry, kid. Come on, let's get you back to class."
"Do I have to?" Chris half whined. He felt like his head was going to explode. He really didn't care about the times tables they would be working on.
His dad raised his eyebrows. "You didn't want me to go easy on you, remember?"
Half fake groaning, Chris stood, sighing dramatically. "I suppose."
"God you are so much like Rachel sometimes. Come on, let's go."
*#*#*#*#*#*#*
The acrid smell of the horrible teacher’s lounge coffee assaulted Kurt’s nose as he poured a cup. He figured he’d at least give it a shot, he really needed the caffeine. It had been a long but rewarding day. He was almost done, just one more class and then he could take Chris home and help him with his homework and maybe they could snuggle up on the couch and watch a movie together. The look on his son’s face haunted him. Clearly Chris hadn’t expected to see his father and didn’t hold back like he normally did. He knew that kids had given him a hard time before; he was sure awful rumors were starting now. That alone reaffirmed his decision to take on the job.
Wincing as he took a sip of the watery muck, Kurt turned to sit down for a few minutes when he nearly ran into someone. “Oh my gosh, I am so sorry, I didn’t see you there,” Kurt gushed in apology. Once he regained his footing, he realized that it was Chris’s teacher. While the man had been mildly disinterested when they spoke after Chris’s class, his eyes now bored through Kurt’s very essence, a sneer prominent on his features. “Can I help you?”
“When they got rid of Anderson, I was hoping I was done having to see people like that flaunting their private business in my face every day. But instead they go and hire an even bigger twink.” His voice was even but venomous, though soft enough not to attract the attention of the three other people in the room. Not that he had much to worry about; one was taking a power nap, one was listening to music and the other was loudly snacking on potato chips.
“Excuse me?” Kurt replied in an incredulous whisper. Placing his coffee mug down, he crossed his arms across his chest protectively.
“These kids don’t need the likes of you exposing them to your twisted morals.”
Kurt seriously questioned the morals of this man, but he didn’t voice the thought, trying so hard to take the higher road. “I don’t really know what you are talking about, but my son has grown up just fine under my roof.”
Mr. Wolman scoffed. “I beg to differ.”
Kurt sniffed haughtily, lips pressed into a thin line. “Then I guess our standards aren’t the same. Well, I would love to continue this wonderful conversation, but I have a class to teach.”
“You’re not even a real teacher.”
He had a point. “Never said I was. Now if you’ll excuse me...”
He was almost out the door when a voice stopped him in his tracks. “You’ll get what’s coming to you one day, I can guarantee that.”
Kurt thrust his shoulders back and held his head high. “A good happy life surrounded by people I love? That sounds lovely,” he replied, refusing to look back.
“Nah, you’re just going to burn in hell.”
Deep breath in, deep breath out. “Have a good day,” he replied as cheerily as possible, waving his hand absentmindedly as he made his way out the door. Once he had made it around the corner, Kurt leaned back against a wall, eyes slipping shut and his breathing heavy. It didn’t matter how many times he’d heard that, it still got to him. After a few seconds to compose himself, Kurt took a deep breath and walked back to his classroom to finish the day.
It was official. He was getting take out and comfort cheese cake and they were going to have a fun time eating their feelings.
*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Kurt had just finished clearing the table when the phone rang. Shoving the last of the paper plates in the garbage, he picked up the phone with the other hand. “Hello?”
“Kurt?”
“Shirley! It’s good to hear from you! What’s up?”
“I’m calling about Chris.” Her voice was strangely flat and somber. “We got a phone call today. They told us everything.”
Kurt frowned. “Who told you what?”
“The allegations against the teacher. Oh Kurt, I’m sorry I ever told you to pursue anything with him, if he hurt Chris...”
“He didn’t touch him, I swear.” Kurt felt an awkward feeling form in his stomach. He hadn’t meant to hide this from Mike’s parents, but in all the insanity of the past few days the thought just slipped his mind. Now he felt incredibly guilty for not getting in touch with them before they heard rumors, though how they had heard anything at all was beyond him. “Chris’s fine, I promise. He’s been checked out and the doctors have given the all clear. There is no evidence that anything happened. Who were you talking to anyway?”
“I don’t know, he didn’t give his name.” Kurt frowned, knowing that Officer Collins would have given them his name and up to date information. “Kurt, the man suggested that Chris come stay with us for a while until this all settles down, you know, get away from everything.”
It was like he had swallowed an iceberg. “You want to take my son away from me. You don’t think I am capable of keeping him safe?” His voice wavered, barely holding himself together. Sure, it might be nice for Chris to get away for a little while, but this didn’t feel right.
“Of course not, Kurt, I never meant it like that. But wouldn’t it be a good idea to keep Chris away from him?”
Kurt sighed, rubbing his face in aggravation. “There’s already a restraining order. But besides that, Blaine didn’t do anything. Like I said, the doctors-”
“The doctors could be wrong, Kurt. Would it hurt to be cautious?”
“Look, the investigating officer hasn’t found anything to indicate any wrongdoing. He thinks someone is trying to frame Blaine. Look, I’ll give you his number, you can talk to him yourself. I think you should anyway, this person you talked to might be involved.”
“Fine, I will. Just...be careful, Kurt. And know that Chris always has a home here with us. And so do you.”
“Thanks,” Kurt muttered, though he wasn’t quite sure how much he meant it.
“Dad!” Chris’s voice knocked him out of his thoughts. He felt a tug on the crook of his elbow. “Daaaaad. Can I talk to them? Please? You’ve been on for like hours...”
Kurt smiled down at his son tightly, thankful for the opportunity to get off the phone but annoyed at his childish actions. Then again, he was a child, and couldn’t really be blamed for not understanding how his world was just inches away from being torn to pieces. “Hold on,” he muttered, placing a hand over the receiver. “Someone wants to talk to his grandmother, do you have a minute?”
“Always. Put him on. And Kurt?”
“Yeah?”
“Try not to stress so much.”
Kurt shut his eyes tightly, trying to keep the emotions at bay. “I’ll keep that in mind. Here he is.” He blindly passed the phone to Chris who snatched it out of his hands and loudly padded over to the living room. Kurt sank to the floor, curling in on himself, unable to stop the warm tears splashing down his face. He just couldn’t do this anymore. It had been such a long and confusing day, especially after the confrontation in the teachers’ lounge. All his wanted was to call Blaine, ever just hear his voice. But he couldn’t and that made everything infinitely worse.
He felt warm arms suddenly wrap around him. It wasn’t his dad... “Carole?”
His stepmother hugged him tightly. “It’s going to be okay, sweetie. We’re going to get you through this.”
“How Carole? They think I’m a failure, if things don’t get cleared up soon they’ll probably try and take him away from me. I can’t lose him too...”
She pulled back slightly, tilting his chin upwards. Kurt blinked up at her blearily. “You are not going to lose him. If they try, we’ll fight it. You have done nothing but been an amazing father. No one thinks you’re a failure.”
He smiled at her sadly. “I think my in-laws would disagree.”
Carole shook her head determinedly. “No, they’re scared. They are thinking more about Chris than you. Chris’s tests came back clean, right?”
“She didn’t care, she said they could be wrong-”
“If he really is innocent-”
“He is,” Kurt interrupted earnestly.
“Then he’ll be cleared.”
Kurt shook his head. “You don’t know that. The judicial system doesn’t always get it right.”
“Yeah, but he has you. And you fight for what you believe in.”
Kurt leaned into her embrace, snuggling his head right under her chin. “I’m so glad I set you and Dad up. I mean...I’m glad that you’re in our lives. I don’t know what any of us would do without you.”
“Damn straight,” Burt agreed walking in, looking down at his son in concern. He held out his hand. “Come on, get up. We’re getting you ready for bed.”
Kurt shook his head. “But it’s like seven o’clock. And I have to put Chris-”
“I’ll take care of it tonight, okay? Just go and get some rest. You’ve got a lot eating at you. Rest and you’ll be better in the morning.”
Kurt took his head, dubious about how much he’d actually sleep. But a half hour later when he was in his pajamas and slipping under the covers, he passed out almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Next
A/N: This is another rough one. Why is it that we as authors must torture our characters so? Never fear, things will improve, hang in there!
Kurt frowned as he leafed through the business mail at the shop. Chris had gone back to school and he was trying to keep his mind off of everything. He was worried that somehow word of the accusations would get out and people would give Chris a hard time…Blaine arrest and suspension had already made the news, and though the alleged victim’s names had not been released, it was only a matter of time before someone put the pieces together.
But this letter. It was unmarked except for a familiar K scrawled across the front. No postage, no return address. But Kurt knew that it had to be from Blaine.
Technically, he shouldn’t open it. But his curiosity was piqued. Setting the bills and advertisements for pizza places aside, Kurt slipped his thumb under the edge of the envelope, ripping it open. He unfolded the plain piece of paper inside, taking in the few lines.
I’m sorry. What I said was uncalled for and hurtful. I never, ever meant to hurt you, though I know I have a number of times now. I understand if you don’t want to have anything to do with me ever again, but I needed to at least start with this tiny apology. I can’t ask for your forgiveness, I don’t deserve it. But I love you and I couldn’t let that fight be the last thing we shared.
The note was unsigned, for obvious reasons. Kurt shook his head. Blaine was always doing that, saying such self deprecating things. Sure he was in the wrong and owed Kurt an apology. But saying that he didn’t deserve forgiveness...
But I love you... He couldn’t help but start humming “Come What May”.
Kurt pulled out a sheet of paper of his own and hastily scribbled a few lines.
I know you are. I forgive you. I believe you. I’m sorry for doubting. You were right. Working on it.
*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
“We’d like you to take over Blaine’s duties until the investigation has been resolved.”
Kurt sat there, mouth hanging open slightly in shock as he sat in the principal’s office at Chris’s school. This was not the way he expected this meeting to go. “What?”
“We need to find someone who can teach his classes and advise the play. Naturally our first thought was you, since you’ve already been helping out and would at least somewhat know the ropes.”
“But I’m not a teacher,” Kurt protested. “I don’t have a degree.”
Mr. Jacobs shrugged. “It’s not nearly as important with substitutes. You have a bachelor degree, correct?”
Kurt nodded. “Yes, from New York Academy of Dramatic Arts.”
Mr. Jacobs smiled. “So you have a musical background. And I think I heard you were on Broadway.”
“For a little while, yes.”
“Then you should be fine. There are lesson plans you can look at to get a sense of where the classes are. This should only be a temporary replacement. If Blaine is cleared, he will resume his duties. If it turns out that we will need to replace him, we can find a more permanent substitute.”
Kurt shook his head, not knowing what to make of the situation. “But I have a job, I can’t just up and leave it.”
“We will pay you for your time and would be happy to speak to your boss to work something out. We really need you here, Kurt.”
He bit his lip. Sure, he never fancied himself a teacher, but the idea of covering for Blaine felt right. Like he could help him in some way. Plus, he’d be at the school all the time and could keep an eye on Chris... “Can I make a phone call?”
Mr. Jacobs nodded. “Certainly, take all the time you need.”
Kurt stood and slipped out of the office, quickly dialing his dad at the shop.
“Hummel Tire and Lube, how may I help you?” his father answered.
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Kurt, how did the meeting go? What was it about, anyways?”
Kurt took a deep, steadying breath. “They want me to take over for Blaine until this whole mess is sorted out. Like teach his classes and be in charge of the play and all that.”
“That’s great, kiddo!”
“But I can’t leave you hanging like that-”
“Don’t worry about it, Shawn has been bugging me to give him extra hours, his kid’s just starting college and they could use the extra cash. This is a great opportunity, Kurt, if your job at the shop is all that’s holding you back, don’t worry about it. Okay?”
“Dad-”
“Take the job or I’ll come down there and make you take it. You don’t belong in a tire shop in Ohio and we both know it.”
Kurt couldn’t help but smile. “I know.”
“We must be making some progress because that’s the first time in two years that you’ve admitted that.”
Kurt’s smile blossomed into a grin. “Yeah, yeah. Happy?”
“Very. Now go do this thing.”
*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Kurt wiggled a little his chair, no, Blaine’s chair as he got settled into his classroom. He had a class in about forty minutes, he needed to get settled and look over the lesson plan. He probably wouldn’t stick to it exactly, but it would be a good idea to know where they left off. Leaning down, Kurt slid open the big desk drawer where he figured Blaine kept everything. His heart skipped a beat when he saw himself looking up at him. Hands shaking slightly, he picked up the framed photograph, one of the only ones they had taken after getting back together.
He traced Blaine’s face softly with his finger, unable to suppress the smile that crept up on him. It didn’t matter how nervous he was about all of this. He was doing this for Blaine, just like Blaine had helped him.
God, Kurt loved him. It was funny, now was the last time he ever would have expected his feelings to become clear. He’d been hiding from them, too afraid of the possibilities they might unlock. But now that he was getting a little taste of what life without Blaine would be like again...he didn’t like it very much.
His mind flitted back to their fight, his stomach still clenching up uncomfortably at the memory of it. They had a lot to discuss. But they had to wait until Blaine was cleared. Which he would be, because he was innocent. Chris was okay, the doctors confirmed both physically and mentally.
Blaine would be okay. They would be okay.
*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Chris’s teeth pressed deep into his lip, almost enough to break the skin. He blinked rapidly, fighting off tears. If he had to hear one more comment from another lowlife about how awful Blaine was or how Chris deserved whatever Blaine was supposed to have done to him or that he probably liked it he would explode. Amy had tried to drive them away, but he had stopped talking to her, trying to keep his distance. It was the only way he could protect her from this mess he didn’t even really understand. Why did grownups always ruin everything?
“Christopher Hummel-Anderson, you’re not going to get rid of me that easily. The silent treatment? Really? Stop acting all noble and let me be your friend!” Amy huffed as they lined up to go to music. He wasn’t sure what the point was. Blaine wasn’t there, they would just have some useless sub who would just allow his classmates continue tormenting him.
He wanted to just ignore Amy, move to the back of the line or something. But he knew she’d just move back with him. And besides, he missed his best friend. He wasn’t really sure what noble meant, but that’s what people said Harry Potter was when he was being stupid, so maybe it wasn’t such a good thing.
“This isn’t your problem,” he muttered as the line began to move. They’d have to be careful, there was no talking in the hallways and their teacher was not above sending people back until they could do it quietly.
“You’re my friend, that makes this my problem.” Amy whispered as a class of second graders passed them noisily.
Chris stuck his hand out behind him and Amy quickly slid hers inside. He squeezed it gently, hoping the gesture could convey the feelings of gratitude he couldn’t quite express. They let go quickly, not wanting their teacher to notice or worse, their classmates. The last thing they needed was to be teased about the fact that they are ‘dating’. Because, like, that was something grown-ups did, not kids. He wasn’t dating Amy, she was his friend. But the other kids wouldn’t know that. What do they know, they think girls have cooties.
The proceeded down the hall in the regulated silence, each passing second heightening Chris's anxiety. He hadn't been in the music room since they took Blaine away. The look on his dad's face when he came back to get him that day...Chris didn't even remember him looking that scared when his Papa was sick.
Head down, Chris made his way over to a chair in the back of the room. When Blaine was there he had always started sitting up in the front, but he just wanted to be invisible today. He looked over at Amy, who slowly took the seat next to him, her eyebrows scrunched up in confusion.
"Um, Chris?"
"Yeah?"
"Why's your dad here?"
Chris's head snapped up, scanning the entire room for the first time since entering. Not only was his dad there, he was...writing on the board? His dad spun around, smiling warmly at the class. His eyes caught Chris's briefly, the look on his face softening into something just a bit more tender. "Hello everyone. My name is Mr. Hummel and I will be your substitute music teacher for the near future." A hand shot up in the front of the room. "Yes?"
"Are you Chris's dad." Chris felt the bottom drop out of his stomach.
His father nodded. "I certainly am. But while we're in here, I'm just Mr. Hummel, okay?" Without waiting for a reply, he turned to the board. "Can anybody tell me what this instrument is?"
Chris tried to pay attention, he really did. His dad was actually really good at this, but his brain was just too full of thoughts to learn about the difference between oboes and clarinets. Finally, the class was over and they lined up to go back to their classroom. His dad talked to the teacher quietly, who nodded in understanding. Chris wondered what was going on until his dad pulled him out of line. "Hey, buddy. Just wanted to check in."
Shaking his head in a vain attempt to clear it, Chris couldn't help but mutter, "Dad, what are you doing here?"
His dad frowned. "It's like I said, I'm the substitute teacher."
"Since when?" He knew he was being a little sassy, but he couldn't help himself. He was at the end of his rope.
"About 10 o'clock this morning. I would have talked to you about it first if I had known, but it was a last minute thing. They needed someone until Blaine gets cleared. I'm already helping with the play so they figured I'd be their best bet." A pause. "You're upset."
Chris shook his head. He wasn't upset, not really. Just drained. "They already hate me, now they are just gonna think I'm the teacher's pet. And I mean I kinda am."
His dad laughed, pulling him into a hug. "No, you're my kid, there’s a big difference. Look, I know it won't be easy, but hopefully with me here...maybe I can actually help. I promise, when we're at school, I'm Mr. Hummel first, Dad second."
Chris frowned. "But that's not your name."
His father sighed. "It used to be, bud. I just...I didn't want anything to remind anyone of Blaine, just to stay clear of the subject. Besides, Hummel-Anderson is kinda a mouthful for a bunch of kids, don't you think?"
Chris made a face. "Tell me about it."
His dad kissed his forehead where his scalp met skin. "Sorry, kid. Come on, let's get you back to class."
"Do I have to?" Chris half whined. He felt like his head was going to explode. He really didn't care about the times tables they would be working on.
His dad raised his eyebrows. "You didn't want me to go easy on you, remember?"
Half fake groaning, Chris stood, sighing dramatically. "I suppose."
"God you are so much like Rachel sometimes. Come on, let's go."
*#*#*#*#*#*#*
The acrid smell of the horrible teacher’s lounge coffee assaulted Kurt’s nose as he poured a cup. He figured he’d at least give it a shot, he really needed the caffeine. It had been a long but rewarding day. He was almost done, just one more class and then he could take Chris home and help him with his homework and maybe they could snuggle up on the couch and watch a movie together. The look on his son’s face haunted him. Clearly Chris hadn’t expected to see his father and didn’t hold back like he normally did. He knew that kids had given him a hard time before; he was sure awful rumors were starting now. That alone reaffirmed his decision to take on the job.
Wincing as he took a sip of the watery muck, Kurt turned to sit down for a few minutes when he nearly ran into someone. “Oh my gosh, I am so sorry, I didn’t see you there,” Kurt gushed in apology. Once he regained his footing, he realized that it was Chris’s teacher. While the man had been mildly disinterested when they spoke after Chris’s class, his eyes now bored through Kurt’s very essence, a sneer prominent on his features. “Can I help you?”
“When they got rid of Anderson, I was hoping I was done having to see people like that flaunting their private business in my face every day. But instead they go and hire an even bigger twink.” His voice was even but venomous, though soft enough not to attract the attention of the three other people in the room. Not that he had much to worry about; one was taking a power nap, one was listening to music and the other was loudly snacking on potato chips.
“Excuse me?” Kurt replied in an incredulous whisper. Placing his coffee mug down, he crossed his arms across his chest protectively.
“These kids don’t need the likes of you exposing them to your twisted morals.”
Kurt seriously questioned the morals of this man, but he didn’t voice the thought, trying so hard to take the higher road. “I don’t really know what you are talking about, but my son has grown up just fine under my roof.”
Mr. Wolman scoffed. “I beg to differ.”
Kurt sniffed haughtily, lips pressed into a thin line. “Then I guess our standards aren’t the same. Well, I would love to continue this wonderful conversation, but I have a class to teach.”
“You’re not even a real teacher.”
He had a point. “Never said I was. Now if you’ll excuse me...”
He was almost out the door when a voice stopped him in his tracks. “You’ll get what’s coming to you one day, I can guarantee that.”
Kurt thrust his shoulders back and held his head high. “A good happy life surrounded by people I love? That sounds lovely,” he replied, refusing to look back.
“Nah, you’re just going to burn in hell.”
Deep breath in, deep breath out. “Have a good day,” he replied as cheerily as possible, waving his hand absentmindedly as he made his way out the door. Once he had made it around the corner, Kurt leaned back against a wall, eyes slipping shut and his breathing heavy. It didn’t matter how many times he’d heard that, it still got to him. After a few seconds to compose himself, Kurt took a deep breath and walked back to his classroom to finish the day.
It was official. He was getting take out and comfort cheese cake and they were going to have a fun time eating their feelings.
*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Kurt had just finished clearing the table when the phone rang. Shoving the last of the paper plates in the garbage, he picked up the phone with the other hand. “Hello?”
“Kurt?”
“Shirley! It’s good to hear from you! What’s up?”
“I’m calling about Chris.” Her voice was strangely flat and somber. “We got a phone call today. They told us everything.”
Kurt frowned. “Who told you what?”
“The allegations against the teacher. Oh Kurt, I’m sorry I ever told you to pursue anything with him, if he hurt Chris...”
“He didn’t touch him, I swear.” Kurt felt an awkward feeling form in his stomach. He hadn’t meant to hide this from Mike’s parents, but in all the insanity of the past few days the thought just slipped his mind. Now he felt incredibly guilty for not getting in touch with them before they heard rumors, though how they had heard anything at all was beyond him. “Chris’s fine, I promise. He’s been checked out and the doctors have given the all clear. There is no evidence that anything happened. Who were you talking to anyway?”
“I don’t know, he didn’t give his name.” Kurt frowned, knowing that Officer Collins would have given them his name and up to date information. “Kurt, the man suggested that Chris come stay with us for a while until this all settles down, you know, get away from everything.”
It was like he had swallowed an iceberg. “You want to take my son away from me. You don’t think I am capable of keeping him safe?” His voice wavered, barely holding himself together. Sure, it might be nice for Chris to get away for a little while, but this didn’t feel right.
“Of course not, Kurt, I never meant it like that. But wouldn’t it be a good idea to keep Chris away from him?”
Kurt sighed, rubbing his face in aggravation. “There’s already a restraining order. But besides that, Blaine didn’t do anything. Like I said, the doctors-”
“The doctors could be wrong, Kurt. Would it hurt to be cautious?”
“Look, the investigating officer hasn’t found anything to indicate any wrongdoing. He thinks someone is trying to frame Blaine. Look, I’ll give you his number, you can talk to him yourself. I think you should anyway, this person you talked to might be involved.”
“Fine, I will. Just...be careful, Kurt. And know that Chris always has a home here with us. And so do you.”
“Thanks,” Kurt muttered, though he wasn’t quite sure how much he meant it.
“Dad!” Chris’s voice knocked him out of his thoughts. He felt a tug on the crook of his elbow. “Daaaaad. Can I talk to them? Please? You’ve been on for like hours...”
Kurt smiled down at his son tightly, thankful for the opportunity to get off the phone but annoyed at his childish actions. Then again, he was a child, and couldn’t really be blamed for not understanding how his world was just inches away from being torn to pieces. “Hold on,” he muttered, placing a hand over the receiver. “Someone wants to talk to his grandmother, do you have a minute?”
“Always. Put him on. And Kurt?”
“Yeah?”
“Try not to stress so much.”
Kurt shut his eyes tightly, trying to keep the emotions at bay. “I’ll keep that in mind. Here he is.” He blindly passed the phone to Chris who snatched it out of his hands and loudly padded over to the living room. Kurt sank to the floor, curling in on himself, unable to stop the warm tears splashing down his face. He just couldn’t do this anymore. It had been such a long and confusing day, especially after the confrontation in the teachers’ lounge. All his wanted was to call Blaine, ever just hear his voice. But he couldn’t and that made everything infinitely worse.
He felt warm arms suddenly wrap around him. It wasn’t his dad... “Carole?”
His stepmother hugged him tightly. “It’s going to be okay, sweetie. We’re going to get you through this.”
“How Carole? They think I’m a failure, if things don’t get cleared up soon they’ll probably try and take him away from me. I can’t lose him too...”
She pulled back slightly, tilting his chin upwards. Kurt blinked up at her blearily. “You are not going to lose him. If they try, we’ll fight it. You have done nothing but been an amazing father. No one thinks you’re a failure.”
He smiled at her sadly. “I think my in-laws would disagree.”
Carole shook her head determinedly. “No, they’re scared. They are thinking more about Chris than you. Chris’s tests came back clean, right?”
“She didn’t care, she said they could be wrong-”
“If he really is innocent-”
“He is,” Kurt interrupted earnestly.
“Then he’ll be cleared.”
Kurt shook his head. “You don’t know that. The judicial system doesn’t always get it right.”
“Yeah, but he has you. And you fight for what you believe in.”
Kurt leaned into her embrace, snuggling his head right under her chin. “I’m so glad I set you and Dad up. I mean...I’m glad that you’re in our lives. I don’t know what any of us would do without you.”
“Damn straight,” Burt agreed walking in, looking down at his son in concern. He held out his hand. “Come on, get up. We’re getting you ready for bed.”
Kurt shook his head. “But it’s like seven o’clock. And I have to put Chris-”
“I’ll take care of it tonight, okay? Just go and get some rest. You’ve got a lot eating at you. Rest and you’ll be better in the morning.”
Kurt took his head, dubious about how much he’d actually sleep. But a half hour later when he was in his pajamas and slipping under the covers, he passed out almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
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