MAY, 1987, Aberdeen WA

          TIME DRAGGED SLUGGISHLY throughout Lindy's last two months of high school, but finally, finally the end of May had arrived and her graduation was a few short days away. She would be graduating in the top twenty students of her class, an achievement she had not told a soul about. Not even Kurt knew of her success.

In her final weeks of high school, Lindy's relationship with Kurt has blossomed into a truly dedicated relationship. Kurt had saved up enough money from work to purchase a used Datsun which he drove the both of them around in, blaring music with the windows rolled down.

Once she'd been freed from her house arrest for what Lee had called 'good behavior,' Lindy had spent her free time with the band, watching them practice and chewing on pen caps while she completed a load of end-of-semester homework. She wouldn't have had it any other way. Being around Kurt, especially when he was playing music, was a blessing.

Trae was still living out of Krist and Shelli's house as he had yet to be invited back into his own home. This worked fine for Lindy, who was so frequently present at Krist's house anyways with Kurt that she still saw her brother plenty. Her excuses that she doled out to Lee for being gone usually included studying at the library, volunteering for scholarship hours or working on projects with assigned partners.

Lee did not, and could not, know about Kurt.

On the evening that Lindy received her cap and gown, she decided to bring it over to Krist's house to try it on. Kurt was there, splayed out on the couch and absentmindedly picking the strings of a guitar. He watched Lindy with intensity as she adjusted her cap over her hair. 

"It's too tight," she complained, spinning around and trying to catch a glimpse over her shoulder in Shelli's full length mirror. Kurt glanced up, smiled at her briefly, and returned his attention to his guitar.

"This thing is atrocious. I look like I'm wearing a garbage bag," Lindy said in a huff, pulling at the cotton polyester billowing out at her midsection. 

"Go naked," Kurt suggested seriously. Lindy removed her cap and threw it at him.

"Nudity isn't an option. I'll have to blend in with the rest of the class of eight-seven."

"You don't blend in, you stand out in the best way possible," Kurt said automatically, never one to let his girlfriend beat up on herself. 

"You'll be there, right?" Lindy asked hopefully.

"Yeah, of course I will," Kurt said. He seemed uncomfortable despite his promise, like the thought of Lindy receiving her diploma was equivalent to her being shipped off to join the military.

"Linds, what are you going to do come August?" he finally asked, setting his guitar down.

"I don't know," Lindy admitted. Lee had still not shown any sign of budging in his stance on Lindy attending UW, and the day for her to secure her spot at the college was the following week. She was running out of time to make a decision.

"Probably just go to school down the road," she mumbled, referring to the local community college.

"But that's not what you want," Kurt pointed out sadly. 

Lindy sighed. "Not by any means."

"Lindy, why even go to college? It's not like you need it. If you don't go and my band becomes famous, we'll be able to go everywhere together," Kurt said, attempting to reason not only with his Lindy, but with himself. 

"I don't know, Kurt. I want to go, that's the thing. I want to be a nurse. You wanted to be in a band, I want to be a nurse. We're all different," Lindy shrugged, hoping not to offend him. School was a touchy subject for Kurt and she knew he hated to feel inferior to anyone, especially high-school graduates. 

"If you go to UW, I'm coming with you," Kurt promised.

"I'd like that," Lindy said gently, sliding her arms out of her robe and draping it over the arm of the couch. She sat down beside Kurt, who, as usual, laid his head in her lap in search of her warm comfort.

"We could brush up on your guitar playing. You could be in the band. Or you could be my manager," Kurt grasped, desperately seeking another option for Lindy besides college.

Lindy laughed, stroking back the hair that had fallen into his eyes. "I can't be in the band, Kurt. And I can't be your manager. I could be a one-woman medical team for the band, though."

"We don't need a medic," Kurt smiled. "If one of us passes out on stage, that's an automatic warrant to keep playing. Or potentially start a mosh pit, it goes both ways."

Lindy, unable not to laugh at Kurt's twisted humor, giggled as she sank back onto the couch.

"You guys are doing so great," she spectated, trailing her forefinger down Kurt's thin face. He closed his eyes at the feeling of her light touch. 

"We'd be doing better if we could actually book a non-party gig. I'm tired of going to people's houses."

"Hey, cheer up. You guys got air time on that college radio station a few weeks ago."

"That's not enough. We're better than that," Kurt insisted, propping himself up with his elbow. "If you move to Seattle, it's a win-win situation for me. I get to be with you, and I get to actually do something with this band instead of fucking around in Aberdeen."

"Then we have a plan," Lindy said with a smile, leaning down to touch her lips to Kurt's.

The kiss was interrupted by Trae, who clomped into the kitchen eating a stick of string-cheese. He mimicked vomiting into his hand when he saw the pair on the couch.

"Please, not in public areas, guys. Kurt, you can't forget that's my little sister. Who I practically raised," Trae griped.

Kurt moved away sharply from Lindy with a red face, but Lindy snorted.

"Trae, I watched you make out with Sarah Summers in the school parking lot inside your car for a whole twenty minutes. All I wanted to do was go home, but you had to stick your tongue down Sarah's throat."

Trae scowled. "I swear if you bring that up again, you're not getting your graduation present."

"No presents!" Lindy seethed, smacking her fist down on the couch. "I told you, no one is allowed to buy me anything when all of you guys are dirt poor."

"Lindy, do me a favor and shut up. You're getting your presents. Krist and Shelli are coming to the graduation with presents too, so you better be chill," Trae warned.

Lindy frowned, crossing her arms and flopping back onto the couch. She had tried to be as modest as possible, asking everyone to refrain from spoiling her on her graduation day, but it was evident that no one had listened to her.

"I'm going to work. Tell Krist and Shelli I'll be back at ten," Trae announced, opening the front door and strolling out.

"Hey, speaking of graduation presents," Kurt said, establishing the conversation once more.

"No! Tell me you didn't spend anything!" Lindy begged.

"I didn't," Kurt chuckled, standing up and going behind the couch where he had thrown his beaten up bag. "It's all handmade."

"Oh," Lindy said, folding her hands in her lap. Kurt was just as talented of an artist as he was a musician, and Lindy had relished all of his works. They were eclectic and strange, but beautiful in their individualist way. No one could create art like Kurt did.

"Here's the first part," he revealed, handing Lindy a small canvas covered in paint.

The painting was small for what it portrayed, but it was still enrapturing. It was a portrait of a girl's face, but the details were made entirely out of paint splotches, as if they had been haphazardly flung into the canvas with abandon. But yet the piece had clarity, and it was still beautiful.

"Wow," Lindy said softly, holding the painting carefully. She looked up at Kurt. "Who is it?"

"You, of course," he smiled, looking highly embarrassed.

Lindy's heart swelled. She pressed the painting to her chest and looked up at Kurt with sincere eyes.

"Kurt, this is beautiful. I've never gotten such a sweet gift before in my life."

"Wait, there's a part two," Kurt interrupted, holding up a finger to rummage through his bag again. He pulled out something so tiny that it fit in the palm of his hand, before offering it to Lindy.

It was a bracelet, linked by an intertwining of black and blue cords. The design was intricate, having clearly demanded great attention from its creator. Dangling from the cords was a tiny, weathered silver plate with a 'K' etched into it.

"I made it," Kurt confessed, awkwardly looking up at the ceiling.

"Oh my god," Lindy whispered, holding the bracelet close to her face to examine its delicate workmanship.

"I didn't make the K charm, if you were wondering. I found that at a junk store just lying around. Must have been apart of an old charm bracelet. But I figured you'd want it on there, so you could always think of me, even when we can't be together."

Lindy was doing her best not to allow tears to pool in her eyes, hoping she wouldn't embarrass Kurt more than he already was.

"They're beautiful, Kurt. I love them," she thanked him softly, standing up to envelop Kurt into her arms.

"I would have just written you a song, but that's too easy," he professed, holding Lindy close.

"No, don't ever write a song about me. Because if you do, all of the world will listen to it one day. And whatever you want to say to me, you don't have to put it in a song. It can just stay between us. Always just between us," Lindy vowed, tilting her forehead against his.

Kurt let out a small snicker, using his fingers to curl Lindy's hair around her ear.

"We'll see about that."