Sideways

Chapter 2

"For the entire school year?" Blaine exploded, gaining pitiful glances from some of the football players across the room.

He couldn't decide if he was pleased about the entire situation, or really, really nervous. Maybe both, he thought. He'd done it purposely, obviously. He couldn't pin point why, exactly, but he'd known what he'd been doing when he had hid out in that cubicle for twelve minutes.

Mrs Flynn had been Blaine's English teacher for the past two years and every year, she did the exact same thing: Paired the class up for projects with the person next to them and they remained partnered with that person until the school year ended. Blaine had known that there was little chance that anyone would have sat next to Kurt. He was the new kid and he was.. well. He was the way he was. It was like that at McKinley. If you got caught with the target of the footballers' fists, that automatically made you a joined force, thus having yourself placed under the target list also.

So, Blaine had come to class late, aware that there would be only one seat vacant and when he arrived at class, he was both joyful and anxious when he saw that things had gone as planned. Now he had to play the injured party, had to complain that he had to work with this kid, had to pretend it was the biggest travesty ever known to man, knowing that Mrs Flynn would not be moved.

"Yes, for the entire school year, Mr Anderson," Mrs Flynn said, tiredly. "As you are well aware."

Blaine could feel the kid shifting next to him, could sense how his body had gone rigid and how he was fidgeting with the corners of the pages on his book. He felt a pang of guilt as he spoke to his teacher.

"But he's—he's not really—I mean, he's sort of," Blaine paused, his head hurting a little. "We're not really compatible, are we?"

A few kids snickered at that and Blaine asked the Gods why he'd chosen that word out of all the words he could have used. Mrs Flynn simply shook her head.

"I'm not asking you to marry him, Blaine, just to work with him on some projects."

People were laughing now and Blaine felt the heat creeping up the back of his neck as he swung his head around to meet the eyes of the people who had laughed at him. He shot them an accusing glare and they bowed their heads and ignored his daggered looks.

"Alright, get talking to your partners, everyone and decide how you are going to complete this assignment," Mrs Flynn clapped her hands twice, before sitting down, the class now buzzing with voices, people discussing methods with their partners.

Blaine looked sideways at Kurt, who was avoiding his eyes at all costs. He had the urge to apologise to him, but wouldn't because that went against everything Blaine Anderson was about. Instead, he took a silent breath and turned to his new partner with a smile.

"Blaine Anderson," he beamed, confidently, extending a hand for the boy to take.

Kurt turned his head slowly, his eyes going straight to Blaine's outstretched hand. He eyed it for a few moments, then raised his eyes to meet Blaine's, his blue gaze locking with Blaine's golden syrup one. Finally, he lifted a slender hand and slipped it into Blaine's.

Blaine felt his skin tingling wildly the moment Kurt's hand touched his. His skin was baby soft, his hand warm and slow in movement, unsure, as he shook Blaine's hand weakly.

"Kurt Hummel," he told him, quietly.

"New?" Blaine asked, feigning ignorance.

Kurt's face twisted then, his expression clearly questioning Blaine's previous statement.

"Are you serious?" he asked, his voice breaking a little. "You don't remember the 'McKinley High Welcome' you gave me this morning? The one where you emptied a cup of coloured ice over my head?"