Public school? As in, McKinley?" Layla said, her mouth, gaping open.
"Yeah, see here's the thing," Aunt Lynn started, hesitant, "your school is nearly forty minutes away and by the time we'd get there, I'd have to at work and Blaine has to drive the opposite way to Dalton. Plus, tuition is more then I can even dream of affording. Look, Layla, I discussed this with everyone and it's honestly whats best. That's why I took so long tonight. You're already registered in McKinley. It's all set honey, I'm sorry I couldn't ask you first, but it had to be done ASAP."
"I can't believe..." Layla started, but couldn't finish. She wasn't sure what she was feeling. In her old school, she wasn't very popular, she had only a few friends, so maybe a new school would be perfect. But everything had just changed for Layla in those few days, and she was scared. What would happen to her at McKinley? Who would be there? Would she make friends? But suddenly, a friendly voice peeped out from the doorframe of Blaine's room.
"Um, Layla, if it helps, you already have one friend at McKinley." Kurt's eyes grew wide and a small smile spread across his face as he spoke. He walked towards Layla, Aunt Lynn and Blaine.
"Who?" Layla's head piped up
"Me. I go to McKinley." Kurt said, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze. Layla's eyes widened and she grinned at him. Blaine looked up, his sparkly brown eyes almost teared up. He was so grateful of his boyfriend for helping his sister when he didn't even need to. But there was some look in Kurt's eyes, as if he really meant what he said. Kurt was so loving, he was willing to let a girl he just met lean on him in a time of weakness.
"Kurt," Blaine said, so touched. He couldn't say anything else because there was nothing else to say, he couldn't put his feelings into words.
"Really Kurt, you'll be my friend, even though I've had you held up by the police and thrown into this big crazy mess?" Layla asked, with a small laugh.
"Absolutely. You remind me a lot of your brother, and we get along just fine. I think we could easily be friends." Kurt beamed and wrapped an arm around Layla. This was one of the first times Blaine saw Layla look hopeful. She always had a glint of fear in her face, she was afraid they'd lose against their parents and afraid she'd be taken away, but now she had real hope. She a friend and thats exactly what she needed. But did Kurt know what he was getting into? Layla was complex, and Blaine knew it. She was sweet and funny but he could tell there was so much pent up pain and hurt from not only the death of her best friend and sister, but also from her parents failure. Was Kurt ready for that? Blaine knew one day all those feelings would come back up to her, and he was ready. He'd already lived through it, and someone had to there for Kurt after all that. Blaine knew what he had to do. It would kill him, but he knew what he had to do.
"Aunt Lynn, I want to go to McKinley, too." He blurted, trying to get the words out before he could regret it.
"Wait Blaine, what? You love Dalton! Why?" Aunt Lynn grabbed his arm and looked up at him confused.
"Look. Hold on," Blaine led Aunt Lynn to her room and closed the door, "It's wonderful that Layla has Kurt at McKinley to help her out, but you know how life has been for her the past few years and she's hidden it really well. I'm just afraid one day it'll all come back to her and maybe Kurt isn't ready for that. I've been there, so I know what to expect, but he doesn't. Plus, you know what life is like for Kurt at McKinley. It's gotten better, but still, I don't want Layla being in the wrong place at the wrong time with him and getting hurt. She needs someone there to protect her. I need to be there for her, and for Kurt too. The bullying hasn't fully stopped yet. They both need someone there, whether they realize it or not, and I have to be there."
"Blaine, is this really what you want? You have worked your ass off for the past three years to keep up that scholarship at Dalton and plus, Blaine, the Warblers are your life! You're basically the leader I mean what are you gonna do without them?" Aunt Lynn responded, absolutely shocked at Blaine's idea.
"I can just join the New Directions. I'm friends with all of them already. Plus, it'll be nice to spend more time with Kurt and Layla. It's gonna be really hard to leave Dalton and everyone, but I think this is something I have to do. Aunt Lynn, please, I have to."
"Honey, don't feel that you have to do anything. I know Layla will be fine with Kurt. I don't want you doing anything you don't want to, just because you feel like you have to. I'll make sure Layla is happy, you just keep yourself happy. I know Dalton has made you so happy and I don't want to ruin that. You deserve the best, and I don't want you to throw it all away for someone else's sake. Even if it is Layla and Kurt's sake."
"No, Aunt Lynn, I want to do this. Dalton and the Warblers are terrific, but I'd feel so much better with Kurt and Layla at McKinley. I won't be happy if I stayed at Dalton. I know that everyday, I'll be paranoid, wondering if they're both okay. I do that daily, you know, I worry about Kurt all day. Now it'll be twice as bad with Layla there. I want to go. Please Aunt Lynn!" By now, Blaine's face was worn out with begging. Aunt Lynn could see it in his whole expression. If she said no, it would haunt Blaine forever. He cared too much for his sister and his boyfriend. It would be borderline child abuse for her to say no.
"Okay, but Blaine this better be what you truly want, honey. I'll talk to the school tomorrow. But really Blaine, you're such Dalton boy. I just hope this is the right choice for you" Aunt Lynn didn't like this idea at all. She only wanted the best for her nephew. The best school, the best life, and sending him to public school, and a notoriously homophobic public school at that, was not anything good. She wanted to keep Layla in her private school, but that was deemed impossible. After she had found out that fact, she at least could pride herself on being able to keep one of them in a good school. Dalton was perfect for Blaine. It was safe and he was able to learn so much. Blaine had so many friends and was the lead vocalist in the Warblers. What more could either of them ask for? Finding Dalton was the single best thing Aunt Lynn could have done for her nephew, and now he wanted to give it all away, to go to a school where he most likely would be hated.
"I swear, this is exactly what I want!" Blaine threw his arms around Aunt Lynn, and whispered, "Thank you."
"Blaine, I'm so proud of you." Aunt Lynn whispered back.
The two appeared from her room, to find a beaming Layla and Kurt giggling and chatting on the couch.
"Blaine," Kurt started, as Blaine walked towards them.
"Layla, Kurt, I'm going to McKinley!" Blaine remarked, and Layla and Kurt cheered in return. They pulled each other into a big group hug and laughed. They were going to do this, and they were going to do it together.
