“Blaine? What’re you doing back so early?”

Blaine could stop himself from flinching. “Er, stuff didn’t work out as well as we thought it would.”

“Did you complete a painting?” His teacher asked hopefully. He was one of the few people that still saw potential in Blaine, even if he’d never seen a completed piece of work from the boy.

“Almost…” Blaine handed the taller man the rolled up New York skyline painting. He chewed on the inside of his lip nervously as his teacher unrolled it on the table.

“It’s… it’s breathtaking, Blaine. One of your best, I must say. The level of detail is just… outstanding. Why did you stop?”

“I started it when I was happy, giddy even, and I’m just… I’m not anymore.”

“Blaine, I’m sorry, but since it’s unfinished you’re only going to get a C on it. If it was finished… it would get an A for sure. Hell, if it was finished you could sell it.”

“S’all good Mr. Frantica,” Blaine replied. He was used to getting C’s at this point. “Would it be too much trouble to get the assignment for this week now? I’d like to start working on it.”

“You’re not coming to class, are you?” Mr. Frantica deadpanned. This was tradition for Blaine, after all. Only a handful of students had ever met the kid. Sure enough, Blaine shook his head. “Fine. We’re doing portraits this week. The goal is to capture someone’s personality in a sketch. No color.”

Blaine groaned audibly.

“Look, I know portraits are a problem for you, kid, but just… try drawing someone other than that boy.”

“I-I do! I’ve drawn other people!”

“But none with eyes, right?”

“I… I’ve always sucked at drawing eyes.” Blaine tried to lie.

“That’s not true. I’ve seen that picture from your wallet.” Blaine didn’t bother to question the man on how he’d managed that, he’d stopped trying to understand his teacher three years ago, and instead shook his head sadly. “Just… try and draw the picture, Blaine.”

“I will,” Blaine said with a nod before turning on his heal and heading for the door.

“Blaine?” Mr. Frantica called. Blaine stopped and looked over his shoulder, “Don’t you want the painting back?”

“No thanks, Mr. Frantica. It’s got too many memories attached to it.”

*~*~*~*~*

“Good job today, Mr. Hummel,” Kurt nodded numbly to his cast mates. It’d been three days since Blaine had—since the scenario. Kurt had continued to perform even after he’d been told to take a break. He just knew that if he was left to think for more than fifteen minutes he’d end up begging Blaine to come back, and he had too much pride for that.

“Hey, Kurt?” Tia asked as they walked towards their dressing rooms.

“Yeah?”

“I got asked out a week ago, and the date was supposed to be for tonight and I was just, well I know you don’t really want to be alone right now and—”

“Tia! You’re not cancelling because of me! I’ll be fine. You’ve been looking out for me for three days; you need some time to yourself.” She still looked doubtful, but nodded reluctantly and walked into her dressing room. Kurt took his time as he gently removed his stage makeup. Tonight would be his first night left alone since… well, in a while, and Kurt felt oddly nervous.

You’ve been living alone for five years; he tried to tell himself, why are you freaking out all of the sudden?

Once he was sure Tia was gone, Kurt left his own dressing room. He called for his limo and reluctantly got in.

“Straight home, Mr. Hummel?” Randy asked.

Kurt thought for a moment before answering. “Actually, Randy, could you drive me to the waterside?”

*~*~*~*~*

Blaine walked into his home and threw his bag on the couch. He walked over to his kitchen and opened the fridge to find it empty. As usual. He walked over to one of the few cupboards and grabbed a glass, filling it up with water.

When he sat down on one of the couches in his kitchen-living room, Blaine took out his sketchbook and began to attempt to draw a portrait. Before he even realized what he was doing, he had a half-finished picture of Kurt in front of him, without eyes as usual. Blaine thought for a moment about how those eyes used to gaze into his own as him and Kurt sat talking with Burt and Carol. Blaine thought back to the times where he would stare at Kurt’s profile as he studied and just imagined living with him in five years as they went to school. He remembered the playful glint in Kurt’s eye when he was caught staring and the glimpse of sheer love he’d see before they kissed goodbye.

Blaine remembered the sadness that filled those eyes when they said goodbye for the last time, and he imagined the hurt, the anger, that must’ve filled those oh so beautiful eyes when he awoke to find Blaine gone three days ago.

Blaine angrily ripped out the piece of paper, crumpling it and throwing it at the recycling bin in the corner of the room. He missed by a good foot and a half. With one last look at his sketchbook, Blaine got up and left the room.

When he entered the room, Blaine headed straight for the bed. All he wanted to do was curl up under his sheets and sleep for days. His plans changed, however, when he caught a glimpse of his guitar. Blaine had the sudden urge to play.

Once Blaine was seated on his bed, he closed his eyes as he tried to think of what to play. When he opened them again his fingers where already in place. Blaine quietly played the first few notes, getting louder as his confidence grew.