Ride

Chapter 1

1: Orientation

"Are we all set?"

Kurt nodded as he looked at the for sale sign on his lawn. He turned to face his father and gave a small smile, motioning that he was ready to go. Even if he wasn't ready, it wasn't like he had much of a choice. It was better to go into this positively than with a negative outlook.

His friends offered to skip class so that they could see him go. It was a few weeks before school ended and everyone hated that Kurt would be leaving McKinley before they could all finish the school year together-before prom, and before nationals in New York, and before they could officially finish as juniors. Kurt hated the idea too, but he and his father were moving to California. Burt had gotten the opportunity of a lifetime, and they couldn't really pass it up. New York would always be there, but the chance for his dad to run a chain of auto shops with his business partner wouldn't just lie idly by and wait.

"We better go, dad."

Burt took another look at his and Elizabeth's first home, sighing as he nodded to his son. This was the place where his son took his first steps and sang his first words. He literally sang them. But it was time to move on.

"Alright, kiddo. Let's get out of here."

....

The ride to the airport had been spent with Kurt responding to text messages, already organizing a day when he'd come back and visit. Burt had been going on and on about how beautiful the neighborhood would be in their new city of Long Beach, and how many things there were to do. Kurt wasn't fond of the beach so that was place number one to avoid. When Burt started talking about how he wouldn't be able to wear flannel anymore because of the warm weather, Kurt smiled. At least something good was coming out of this move.

So this is it. You really don't want to try and see where we go from here? -Chandler

Kurt frowned at the message as the taxi pulled up at the airport. Burt got out first and Kurt followed, going to help with the bags. Burt noticed his son's tense demeanor as he grabbed the last of their things, Kurt slamming the trunk door closed behind him.

"Thinking about Chandler, huh?"

Kurt smiled at him sadly, trying to take his mind off things. "He's not really happy with me right now."

Burt didn't want to hear that. He didn't know much about Kurt's boyfriend, or ex-boyfriend now, but he knew they liked one another. He couldn't help but feel a little guilty about the move, no matter how much it could benefit them in the future. "I'm sorry to rip you away from your relationships, Kurt. Your friends or him-"

"It happens, dad." Kurt led the way into the terminal, followed closely by his father. "Change happens, and I'm sure we'll be happy. I just wish it was a little easier."

....

For some reason, Kurt expected the first night in his new home to be hell. He spent the day unpacking boxes and trying to like his new room, which oddly enough actually happened. Sleep came pretty easy, probably because of the stress of the move. His father went out for pizzas around 6, despite Kurt telling him that he could easily whip up something a little less fattening, and they ate in the terribly plain looking dining room, discussing the trip and how much more there was to get done. Thankfully the new home came fully furnished, so there wasn't too much effort to go into it. At least not on Burt's behalf. Kurt hated the tacky furniture provided and intended to change everything. If he had to live here and be okay with it, he'd live there in style.

The next day, Kurt found himself hanging around the house while his father got situated with the shops. He'd never been so bored in his life, and while there were tons of times Kurt felt alone, this was definitely up there in the top 5. He knew no one in Long Beach; all his friends were in classes in a different state, probably rehearsing for Nationals, and here he was on a dull gray argyle sofa staring at a blank television. He couldn't even watch it until the cable company came two days later.