The moon was a perfect crescent; the kind of crescent little boys like to sit on when they fish. Above were light years of twinkling stars dancing in the unpolluted sky. Blaine felt in control and powerful and inspired. Nothing, he believed, could ever bring him down. Not even if his four legged copilot elected to take a leak in the car. The thought of how close he was, and that it was truly happening, made him euphoric for possibly the first time in his life.

But, all it took was an empty engine tank for him to lose. The car rolled towards the curb just in time for the engine to succumb to its lack of fuel. Although the gauge reported a tank more than half full, as it always has in the last few days, the tank was in fact empty. Of course Blaine had forgotten, foolishly trusting in the smashed gauge.

And now he was stuck. Unable to go to Canada. Unable to go to New York City or back home. Especially not back home. Maryland was a thing of the past for Blaine. Theres a bridge. One which, once crossed, can never be crossed again. Therefore, it must be burned and forgotten. No looking back now. It was a harsher reality to face than hed anticipated. After what happened, he figured leaving it all behind would be painless, therapeutic almost. Instead everything ached and all Blaine wanted to do was cry and mourn his old life.

Of course he couldnt. His choice had been made. So, he leashed the dog and climbed from his car. Hed landed somewhere in the New England region. His question was where. Everything was dark — stores, homes, lamp posts, public locations— but it was barely later than 11. When he used the GPS on his phone, he found no nearby gas stations. However, he did learn he was in Maine. Eason Ville, Maine.

Alone, Blaine and his dog wandered for maybe a half hour, before assuming he was simply walking in circles because all of the buildings started to look the same. He waited only a few minutes longer for the dog to pee, then they climbed into the back seat of his car. The dog curled up on Blaines jacket on the floor, while Blaine laid across the seats and grabbed his comic book from the floor.

The first thing he saw was the sun rising, warm and bright in his face. Groggily, he sat up to see two disapproving faces glowering down at him. The younger of the two rapped harshly on the window. The older lady, clad in a track suit, gestured for Blaine to lower his window.

Blaine, having no idea who the two were, shook his head and confirmed that his doors were in fact locked. She only knocked again. Blaine shook his head. She knocked. The older lady shouted angrily at the car, but Blaine could only hear general rage.

Once the yelling was over, they turned and left. Again, Blaine was able to relax in his car. He was getting out of this town and soon. All he needed was gas. Blaine decided to go out and face the strange town to find it. Hed mustered up his courage, put some gel in his hair and leashed the dog. But as soon as he got out of his car, he regretted it. Towering over him was the lady in the track suit, now holding a mega phone.

She raised her microphone up, "Youre coming with me, probably not super, far from a man, Clark Kent." Blaine opened his mouth to protest, but this lady had a very dictatorial, take no prisoners attitude. She allowed Blaine no time for protest. "Cuff him, Becky."

Suddenly Blaines wrists were being seized by the girl, Becky. "What are you doing!?" Blaine began to panic when he felt the cool metal clench around his wrists. "Take these damn cuffs off. I dont even know who you are!"

"I am one Sue Sylvester." She proclaimed, standing tall and looking down on all. "Now, Becky, you take the dog. Ill handle the perpetrator."Upon the exchange of Blaines cuffed hands, he tried to break free, but Sue only caught him in a tighter grip.

Desperately, Blaine glanced at his surroundings. There had to be someone who could help him or some magic way to free himself. Nothing. Too early supposedly. "Ill call the cops and tell them I was kidnapped by Sue Sylvester!" It was admittedly a lame threat, which clearly couldnt amount to much, considering Blaine was chained up and his phone had died. But he was scared and desperate and his horror only grew when Sue stopped walking. She turned to directly face Blaine, seeming to grow an extra foot to her already impressive stature.

"Thats mayor Sylvester to you, young man." She growled. Blaine went pale and still. Did he seriously threaten the mayor? He also ignored her and was currently resisting arrest, although he hadnt the foggiest idea as to what hed committed. "And I am arresting you for squatting and illegally parking. Our curbs are not cheap knock offs of the Hilton or the last available parking spot at a high school football game in Texas."

"I can explain." Fear had overrun Blaine. While he had no plans, getting arrested would never had made the to-do list.

"I dont want to hear it."

"But my car broke down, or well, I ran out of gas."

Becky, this time interjected. "She said she doesnt wanna hear it. So, talk to the hand." She sassed, shoving her palm towards Blaine.

"Ill pay for a parking ticket, thats fine. I just need some help with my car."

All too pleased, Becky seized the chance to get all up in Blaines face. "Too bad, because the hand isnt listening. Burn." Apparently Blaine had fallen right into her trap. That was something hed been doing a lot of lately.

"Now, Becky, Im starting to see this young, devilishly repulsive mans point. Why keep him here, if we dont want to and he doesnt want to?"

"What are you saying, mayor?"

"Im saying Ill take him to see Burt and let the old baboon man take care of him." Blaine had a bad feeling about that. For the first time in years, he wishes hed done as his mother had told him to do.

The building they walked to was a small shop with one door and two garages. Seeing "Hummels Tire and Lube" printed in red and white letters on the sign did give Blaine a little bit of comfort. At least he could get some gas, then maybe he could pay his ticket and Sue would let him leave.

"Closed." Sue grumbled. No, no it cant be. How would Blaine get out of here now? "Thats impossible. This is always the first place in town to open. This is blasphemy, Burt, blasphemy!" the mayor began shouting a lieu of threats and obscenities to the absent Burt, banging her fist on the door.

Whatever battle she seemed to be having with this man, Blaine hoped she won. So far, hes seen two people in this quiet town and they put him in handcuffs and practically kidnapped him. The hope still standing for him was Burt. Third times the charm, as they say, perhaps Burt will be able to help and finally send Blaine on his way. He just wants leave and get back on the road again. He could feel his passport heavy in his pocket.

"Burt!!" Sue shouted once more, when the man finally pulled up the thin blinds of the door. He stood behind the clear door, scowling.

"Three more minutes, Sue."

This enraged her. "You will open this door immediately." the man didnt budge. "Oh come on, dont make this about me. Its for him."

Burt softened at the sight of Blaine and his big sad eyes. The sight of him made clear how lost he was. Burt unlocked the door, opening just wide enough for himself to lean out. "What do you need, kid?"

"I just ran out of gas."

He sighed. "Come in." The door was opened for Blaine, while Burt tried to close it on Sue. "Not you, Sue."

Taken aback, Sue cleared her throat and adjusted her collar. "Well, alright then. Ill be going then. I have more important things to do." Taking orders wasnt something Sue quickly accepted. However, giving orders was second nature to Burt. The man called for someone in the back room to fetch some gas cans. "You can have a seat, my son will be out soon. He can help you."

A genuine smile slipped on to Blaines lips. "Thank you so much." Never before had Blaine felt more relieved. The road to Canada had been cleared and he was getting back on it all thanks to Burt. The old man was practically an angle in coveralls.

Then his son stepped out. Despite Burts wisened appearance, Blaine expected his son to be much, much younger than the man that he saw. The first thing Blaine noted were legs, an endless amount of legs. Then it was the way his coveralls were nicely tailored around his hips and his arms flexing from the weight of the two gas cans. And that face. His skin was a smooth, even alabaster, contrasting his full, bubblegum lips and vibrant blue eyes. The closer he got to Blaine, slowly as his legs bumped the cans on either side of him, the more Blaine could see. A streak of blonde in his hair. Nuances of violet ringing his irises. Elf-like points on the tips of his ears.

"Is this for your car?" Kurt asked, finally close enough. There were few freckles across his nose and his cheeks, although they were faint, very faint.

"Uhm yeah." Sitting now felt so inappropriate. Kurt stood with significant stature over Blaine, moving the shorter man to rise. "My name is Blaine." He extended his hand.

Awkwardly, Kurt weighed the gas cans in his hands. His gaze directed at Blaines open hand, but an open hand was exactly what he didnt have. "Im Kurt." He tried to speak overly mannered to make up for not taking his hand.

Blaine was now struggling for a subtle way to playoff Kurt leaving him hanging.

"Sorry, Id shake your hand, but..." Without saying it, they both understood the jugs were the problem.

That was stupid of Blaine. Go for a handshake from the guy with an arms load. "Right, of course. I can carry one of them, if youd like?" A casual way to play it off.

Kurt smiled at the offer. "Yes, please. Thank you." It was heavier than Blaine anticipated. "This helps so much."

"And now you have a free hand." Blaine replied jovially.

"Indeed, I do." In tandem, both boys extended their hands. They froze and giggled.

Blaine was the one to reassert his hand. "Blaine."

"Kurt." They boys recovered their own hands and Blaine slipped his into his pocket. "Why dont you lead the way?" Kurt offered, holding open the door.

"Oh sure, thank you." Now on the sidewalk, the town was barely starting to come to wake up. People were making their morning commute, by foot or car, all smiling and waving and greeting neighbors. Most greeted Kurt by name. Some spared Blaine an odd smile, but not much more. It felt to him like all eyes were on him, watching and judging. "So, you live here?" Kurt nodded. "Thats cool. I dont, Im just passing through."

"I know." Kurt answered simply.

"Oh...Kay."

"Its a pretty close knit community. We all know each other, but we dont know you, so..."

Blaine nodded, understanding. "Im the gray goose of the pond."

"Exactly."

When they reached Blaines car, Kurt knew without him saying a word. It was the car he hadnt seen around town before. An old green Mercedes.

"This is it." Blaine stated, even though it wasnt required.

"I know."

"Of course you do." Kurt simply smiled back at Blaine. As soon as Blaine had the gas cap off, Kurt set to work, leaving Blaine to watch. "Whats it like living here?"

Kurt glanced back at him, holding the gas can in the car. "Here like Eason Ville?"

"Yeah, or just small towns in general." More people began filtering out of homes and onto the streets. A couple passed, leading two squirmy children with backpacks by the hands. The entire family looked upon Blaine as a sort of stranger, or the new kid in class. Then they said hello to Kurt.

"Hey Finn. Morning Rachel. How are you all?"

"We are divine, and you?"

Kurt shrugged. "Same as always." He smiled and they smiled back. To Blaine, though, Kurt looked sad. There was a wistful tang in his eyes. Blaine felt somehow afflicted by what he saw. It made him upset that everyone else just smiled and nodded, just kept on walking. Didnt they notice he was unhappy?

"Why do you stay here?"

"Im sorry?" Blaine hadnt meant to blurt that out. Kurt looked so affronted and angry, just staring back at Blaine, as if the boy was out of his depth. Which, honestly, he was. Blaine knew nothing about Kurt or the town.

"I mean, whats the charm?"

That was obvious. "Its a charming little town, quaint and quiet. Everyone knows each other." Something Kurt had heard others say for years.

Blaine rolled his eyes, "I dont need a postcard. Honestly, whats your favorite part of living here?"

"Please Blaine, I dont even know you." Kurt denied, reaching for the gas cap. Despite his refusal, when he turned his back to twist on the cap, he answered. "Its just where I grew up. And the community here, kind of, lets you make your own identity. Im not just another person here. Im Kurt, people know me."

Making yourself. What a concept. That was the one luxury Blaine never had, individuality, life without zeal. "Okay, well Im done. You can keep the other tank for next time."

"What do I owe you?" Blaine asked, reaching for his wallet.

Kurt was already getting up and leaving. "Dont worry about it." He smiled his wistful smile.

Blaine had to get the dog back from Sue. He made the short walk to city hall, which was easy to find, considering it was the tallest building in town. It was mini replica of the white house, which Blaine found bit too eccentric for such a small town. The receptionist at the desk was, of course, Becky. She was sitting with the dog in her lap. Upon Blaines request, she called Sue to tell her the perpetrator was here to see her. Out of the kindness of their hearts, Blaine was allowed a brief moment to speak with the mayor. Blaine was unsurprised she had nothing better to do.

"Eyebrows, have a seat." A second slipped by while Blaine processed his new nickname.

The chair was faux leather and it squeaked noisily as he sat down. "Sue, Id like to move here."

Her icy gaze on Blaine tightened. "Why on earth would you do that?" Surprisingly, she wasnt angry or demanding. It was a leveled, apprehensive question. Clearly, Blaine wasnt welcomed here.

"I need the chance to make myself." Sue rolled her eyes. "And I can work in town and by paying for real estate, your towns income will increase."

She swatted away his words like a fly. "You think I dont know that?" Leaning back in her chair, she glared at Blaine. "Where would you work?"

"Well, in DC I taught music class in an elementary school. But Im sure someone is already doing that."

Sue chuckled, "Over my dead body." It was too soon for Blaine to understand Sues antiarts views. The lady rose from her rolling chair to retrieve a large book from a shelf. Opening, she flipped through the alphabetized pages. "Youll assist Tina at the library and only have one housing choice."

"Which is?"

"2100 ELM street." Sue handed him a key tagged with his new address.

"Okay. Thank you, Sue."

"Fill these out in the lobby." She handed Blaine copious amounts of paperwork and a pen.

"You wont regret this."

"I dont regret, eyebrows. I only retaliate." Such a proclamation from the mayor shouldve shaken Blaine, but he finally felt like he was where he was supposed to be.