Never Say Never 5/?
Pairing/s: Kurt/Sam friendship leading to eventual slash, any other canon couples may be mentioned.
Rating: PG still
Spoilers: Set after Never Been Kissed so anything up to there, will go on to cover events in the rest of the aired season 2 episodes.
Fic Summary: As the bullylng gets worse, Sam notices and an odd friendship is formed.
Chapter Note: This goes back to canon in that this chapter takes place in and around 2x07 The Substitute.
Previous chapters:
Chapter 4: http://community.livejournal.com/samkurt/141085.html
Chapter 3: http://community.livejournal.com/samkurt/137853.html
Chapter 2: http://community.livejournal.com/samkurt/134481.html#cutid1
Chapter 1: http://community.livejournal.com/samkurt/131098.html#cutid1
Author's Notes: Ok very sorry that this chapter is late, the holidays got really hectic so only now managing to post.
This chapter is one that I'm really not happy with but its kind of necessary to progress the story.
Chapter 5
The next couple of days Kurt was out of the Spanish classroom before Sam had time to blink. He only saw Kurt again part way through the day, feeling his blood boil as he noticed Kurt's outfit changes throughout the days.
On the third day as Spanish ended Kurt was just as quick out of his seat but this time Sam was ready for it. Quickly, he ran after Kurt, grabbing him by the shoulders (ignoring the other boys flinch) and pushing him into an empty classroom.
“What the hell Sam?!” Kurt asked angrily, spinning around.
“How long are you planning on keeping this up?!”
“As long as I have to!”
“You know of ALL the stubborn, obstinate, pig-headed, idiotic, martyring people I know you are the WORST. WHY is it so hard to let people help you?!”
“WHY are you so desperate to help?!” Kurt deflected.
“Because I was you!”
“Because you were bullied? That doesn’t make you like me, like we have a connection - newsflash Sam - lots of people are bullied in case you hadn’t noticed!!”
“Not because they’re bisexual!” Sam yelled back before realizing what he’d said and stopping dead.
Kurt just stood there with his mouth open for a few minutes. “You-what did you say?” he eventually got out.
“Do I have to repeat it?” Sam mumbled.
“No, no way” Kurt said shaking his head. “You’re straight, technically with Quinn-“
“That’s what BIsexual means Kurt” Sam pointed out.
“You-when exactly were you planning on telling people this?”
“When I had to. That’s still the case, you won’t say anything right? Other people can’t know-”
“Of course, can’t have you being lumped in the same boat as the resident fag right?” Kurt said bitterly.
“It’s not like that”
“Really? In what way is it not? Because from where I’m standing that’s exactly what it’s like”
“Kurt-“
“Save it. You know I actually thought you were different but...you’re just a coward Sam Evans” Kurt said coldly, before walking out of the room, leaving Sam standing there.
Kurt rushed down the corridor, wanting to put as much space between him and Sam has possible. He was walking so quickly that he didn’t notice Karofsky approaching until he felt himself slamming into the lockers, looking up he saw the bigger boy smirk at him before walking on. Sighing he drew his legs up to his chest as he sank to the floor. Sam WASN’T straight, right now half of his brain was doing an ‘i told you so’ dance and the other half was wondering how it was possible to be lonelier when he knew there were other non-straight people in the school than he was when he thought there were none.
Sam...Kurt liked him. That was the problem. It was a mystery to Kurt how anyone could hide who they were just to satisfy people, it was something he had never considered doing. He had just thought...Sam had been brilliant about everything the last week and he just thought that Sam would be braver than that, not someone who would hide like Karofsky.
But can you blame him? The annoying part of his brain piped up. It was right though Kurt guessed, Sam wasn’t stupid - he’s seen how I get treated, been told by Finn how he will be seen for being around me...why would any of that encourage him to come out?
“It doesn’t change anything” Kurt muttered under his breath. He had opened up, told Sam about Karofsky that he wouldn’t have told anyone else and Sam hadn’t even been honest with him about who he was "Because he's a coward" he muttered again. Getting up, he made his way outside to call Blaine, at least he knew where he stood with him.
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Sam noticed over the next few days that, despite avoiding him like the plague, Kurt had got into the habit of walking between some classes and lunch with Mercedes which cheered him up slightly. Not to mention the fact that, besides the evidence that the bullying was still continuing, Kurt was looking happier for once. Sam personally put it down to the combination of Ms Holliday in Glee and Coach Sylvester being temporary principal (though why that second one was a cause for celebration was beyond him).
As Sam had expected, Kurt hadn’t told anyone about the argument and subsequent revelation days earlier. Nor would he tell anyone. But knowing that didn’t make Sam feel any better. He knew he was a coward, but somehow Kurt thinking of him as one was much worse than thinking it himself. He wasn’t sure why - it was hardly like he was hiding himself here - he really liked Quinn, admired her bravery and so him also tending to like boys hadn’t come up (well apart from Quinn on their Breadstix date and saying he wasn’t gay wasn’t a lie, was it?)
Sam shook his head. It didn’t matter right now - Kurt would calm down and they would be able to talk and everything would be fine...
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It went on for another four days. Kurt wouldn’t answer texts, calls, emails, notes, any form of communication Sam could think of trying. He was thinking about this as he packed up his things at recess and headed down the hall, stopping short when he saw Kurt looking distraught by his locker. Without pausing to think Sam ran over.
“Kurt?” he asked worriedly.
Kurt blinked confusedly before remembering where he was and dragging Sam into the closest bathroom.
“Kurt? You’re worrying me” Sam said as Kurt checked the bathroom was empty. “What’s happened?”
“Nothing, I’m fine” Kurt said flippantly.
“Yeah you look like it”
“Whatever. Just, you haven’t told ANYONE what I told you, right?”
“Of course not, I promised Kurt”
“”Right, keep it that way” Kurt sighed, leaning back against the wall.
“You aren’t ok.” Sam stated. You’re awfully pale and shivering”
“In a stating the obvious competition are we? It’s fine; I just had a chat with Karofsky”
“A chat? What did he do?”
“Nothing, I’m over reacting, it’s just a figure of speech - it doesn’t matter” Kurt babbled.
“If it freaks you out this much it does. What did he say?”
“He wanted to make sure I had and would continue keeping my mouth shut”
“So he threatened you?”
Kurt nodded.
“How?”
Kurt wrapped his arms around himself as he thought; Sam could see him mentally weighing up the pros and cons of telling him and could tell that the younger boy was getting ready to put his shields up again.
“Hey don’t close yourself off again” Sam insisted. “You can trust me, remember?”
“He-he said he’d kill me if I told” Kurt confessed.
“That sick psycho!” Sam yelled. “I’m going to kill HIM”
“People will hear you-“
“I don’t care! I’m finding-“Sam stopped as he looked again at the clearly shaken up boy. “Actually screw that I’m taking you home first, you’re in no shape to be here”
“I’m fine”
“I swear Kurt if you claim you’re fine one more time-“
“What? You’ll kill me?” Kurt asked scathingly. “Can’t you closeted boys make any original threats these days?
“I’m not closeted because I’m not gay” Sam said levelly, trying to ignore how much it hurt to be lumped with Karofsky.
“Whatever you say”
“You know what, we need to talk but AFTER you’re home”
“I can drive myself”
“Like hell I’m going to let you-“
“LET me?!”
“Look, you can yell at me later - just let me make sure you get home ok first?”
“Fine” Kurt said curtly.
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Ten minutes later Sam nervously followed Kurt into his house, thanking God that Burt was at work because that guy might kill him for making Kurt this mad.
“So...”
“You’re a coward”
“You said that a week ago”
“It’s still a fact. God, do you have ANY idea how lonely I’ve been?! ANY idea how much of my life I’ve spent wishing for another gay kid to come out so I wouldn’t be the only one, that there would be someone else who would understand what it’s like and who I can relate to around?! Who I could talk to without constantly double checking what I’m saying and how I’m acting?! And then two of you come along and one hates himself so much that he makes my life a living hell and the other is too busy hiding with a trophy girlfriend!”
“I’m sorry for how lonely you’ve been. And you KNOW how I feel about Karofsky. But I’m not gay”
“You like boys” Kurt pointed out.
“AND girls” Sam countered.
“Right, bisexual. Convenient in this homophobic town”
“Of course, being bisexual is just a way to blend in; I couldn’t possibly just like both”
“So you really like Quinn? Not just because she’s the head cheerleader and so a massive boost to your popularity?” Kurt questioned sceptically.
“I like her. And even if I didn’t that wouldn’t make me gay anyway”
“If you really liked her you would have told her”
“I’ll tell her when I have to”
“Yeah, that’s not cowardly at all”
“Do you know how people will change towards me if they know? I’ll be kicked off the football team, beaten up-“
“In case you hadn’t noticed that’s my life.” Kurt replied calmly. “Why is being popular so important to you? Do you really think being popular but not being honest about who you are is going to make you happy?”
“Maybe? I mean, lying to everyone to get popular wouldn’t but...I like Quinn, I’m not lying I’m just not telling people everything”
“Same difference. I stupidly thought you were different”
“I am I just-“
“Scared? Yeah I get that, I’m scared constantly these days but some of us just have to live with it.” Kurt said flatly. “Anyway thanks for today” he added, wanting Sam out of there before he broke down.
Sam recognized Kurt’s goodbye. “Don’t mention it. I’ll go all Hulk on him if you want?”
“That’ll do wonders for your popularity, but still no”
“I’m still going to go after him if he gives me an excuse”
“Of course you are. I hope popularity makes you happy Sam, I really do.” Kurt said, forcing a smile onto his face that both he and Sam knew was a fake one but neither of them brought it up as Kurt saw Sam out.
Kurt collapsed against the door as he shut it behind Sam, wishing he could take back the last week so that this would all hurt less.
“I’m sorry” Sam murmured to the closed front door before turning and walking away.