Going through their scrapbook wasn't the brightest idea, Blaine realized. But his ideas and actions weren't the brightest the whole day so it was no surprise. Looking at the photos and thinking of memories that were connected with them was making him feel more and more guilty about how he snapped at Kurt. He shouldn't have done that. Kurt did nothing wrong and Blaine let himself take it all out on him without a valid reason. Had Kurt known, he would have done everything in his power to make Blaine feel better. Ever since Kurt had helped him with his troubles in combat class, Blaine knew his boyfriend would always have his back…

Blaine's sophomore year at NYADA was much better than his first year of college. He had Kurt and thanks to him he gained more friends. His social life was exceeding and his days weren't filled only with studying. He still did great. He was at the top of his class, a multitalent who worked hard but, admittedly, not as hard as the previous year.

When spring semester's midterms rolled out, he was pretty confident in passing them. He and Kurt limited the time they spent together for two weeks so they could focus on their exams. Everything went smoothly. Until it didn't.

Kurt developed a habit of texting Blaine every morning after he woke up and every evening before he went to sleep. Sometimes he sent just a kissy face or two words saying good morning or good night, but Blaine cherished and saved them all. While preparing for midterms, Blaine was receiving texts regularly throughout the day, be it an announcement of Kurt's frustration from studying or something sweet Kurt had just come up with and absolutely had to let Blaine know, Blaine's inbox was spammed with messages from his boyfriend.

When midterms were over, Kurt expected them to get back to their routine but Blaine was always rushing somewhere, not having time for him at all. Kurt still texted him several times a day, trying to be understanding and patient, but Blaine knew his boyfriend was not happy about it.

Blaine was considering whether to come clean to Kurt or not, but in the end he decided to keep his secret for himself before things were fixed. He did his best to avoid Kurt at school, which was easy since he knew Kurt's schedule by heart. He was aware that Kurt would find him sooner or later because he knew Blaine's schedule by heart as well, but a little time he could buy was still better than none.

Kurt's last midterm was on Friday and he called Blaine as soon as he got out of school to make plans for the evening and whole weekend. Blaine politely declined, claiming he was tired and in need of a good rest. He persuaded Kurt to go ahead and join his classmates on their trip to Atlantic City during weekend and even though Kurt didn't want to go, Blaine basically forced him to do it. Blaine's luck in keeping his distance from Kurt carried on from Monday to Wednesday the following week, but on Thursday he was so exhausted that he didn't pay enough attention to where he was going and ended up right in front of his boyfriend.

"Blaine!" Kurt grabbed him by his arm and dragged him into a secluded corner of the school, observing him intently. "What the hell is going on? You look awful!"

"Nice to see you, too, Kurt." Blaine snickered and looked around, already planning his escape. Kurt took in his appearance, circles under his eyes, bruises on his arms and a cut on his cheek.

"Blaine, what the fuck happened to you?"

"Nothing. I'm fine." Blaine said softly. "I need to go to the gym but I'll call you when I get home, okay?"

"No way!" Kurt exclaimed, earning a few glances from passers by. "We are leaving, now!" He pushed him into the direction of the exit and Blaine was so tired that he didn't even protest this time. Kurt was animatedly talking all the way to the subway station but Blaine didn't really pay any attention to him. His body was screaming at him from pain and tiredness, his mind hazy, but he knew Kurt was scolding him as he would a five year old.

They came to Kurt's apartment not thirty minutes later and Blaine fell down on the couch, not really hiding his weariness anymore. Kurt sat down next to him and put a hand on his shoulder while cupping his cheek with the other one to make him look at him.

"Baby, what's going on? I know you've been spending time in the gym for days now. Every time I came to your apartment in the last few days, Sam told me you weren't home. In the morning, during the day, in the evening. You're injured and you look like you haven't slept in days. And above all of that you are avoiding me. I don't understand what's going on with you, Blaine, but I really worry about you. Please, tell me what's wrong so we can fix it."

"I'll fix it, Kurt. Just few more days and it'll be over. I can fix it. And then everything will be like it used to. I promise."

"What are you fixing, Blaine? How can you fix something when you can barely stand on your own two feet?"

"Kurt, please, don't make me do this. It's bad enough for me as it is…"

"I just wanna help, Blaine. It's killing me to see you like this. It's killing me not to be with you. I miss you like crazy, baby. And apparently you're going through a rough time and you won't let me in. Why?" Kurt's eyes were digging holes right into his soul and there was no strength left in Blaine to resist.

"I didn't want you to see me like this...I didn't want you to see failure." Blaine whispered and Kurt gaped at him.

"What? You're not a fail-"

"I didn't pass my Stage Combat midterm." Blaine interrupted him.

"That's impossible! You were the best one in there! I saw you!"

"I didn't pass, along with like half of the others students in the class. I don't know what happened, Kurt. I knew every piece of choreography we did so far. I know how to use those weapons. I might not have put as much effort into school as I did last year but I was ready. This has never happened to me. I've never failed anything…"

"How come you didn't pass then?"

"I don't know! I showed him everything he wanted to see and then he flunked me without a reason. He told me I have one more try next Tuesday. If I don't pass, I'll have to drop the class."

"You can't drop Combat class, you are a theater major. Stage combat class is mandatory! You won't be able to graduate!"

"I can repeat it next year."

"But there are other classes that you can't take unless you have Stage Combat finished. It would keep you behind and you wouldn't be able to graduate on time!"

"I know, okay? I know that but what can I do? I didn't pass, Kurt!"

"There's something fishy about it."

"He offered to give me private lessons to get ready for the repeat…" Blaine admitted quietly.

"Are you kidding me?"

"I wish I was…"

"Blaine, you have to complain!"

"About what?"

"You know what this is about, Blaine! He does have the reputation as quite a perv! Shit! You should have signed for Liam's Combat class. This was a mistake."

"I can't just go and complain that my teacher hit on me. I have no proof. I just have to make sure I pass this time."

"It might be a problem. He didn't get what he wanted out of this, so he might be vindictive…We should tell Madame Tibideaux."

"No," Blaine shook his head. "No telling anyone, Kurt. I'll get through it on my own."

"But - "

"No! It won't help a thing! I'm not going to complain! I'm gonna keep perfecting the routines so he won't have any option but to let me pass!"

"You are exhausting yourself, Blaine! You have bruises and cuts! How is that helping?"

"I need to get it done, Kurt. I have to go back to NYADA's gym." Blaine stood up and stumbled but, fortunately, Kurt's arms were there to catch him.

"You're not going anywhere. We'll take the afternoon off and we are skipping tomorrow as well. You need to rest and I'm gonna personally supervise it. We can go to gym this weekend but you are not allowed to leave this apartment until I say so."

"Kurt - "

"Now, you're gonna take a bath. It'll help relax your muscles. I'll make you a bubble bath and you are not leaving the bathroom until the water is cold! Then we'll eat something and you'll lay down. We can watch TV or sleep but you're going to be in a horizontal position for the rest of the day!"

"Kurt - "

"I'm not finished! Next time don't even try to keep something like this from me. I'll find out one way or another, are we clear? No matter what you do, whether it is your fault or not, I'm always, ALWAYS, here for you. You will never be a failure to me. You don't have to be ashamed around me. All I need you to be is to be yourself and honest with me." Blaine nodded because it was all he could do. He finally gave up and let the tears fall down. He was so tired of everything. His teacher had been weird since the beginning of the semester and there were some inappropriate comments towards him now and then but Blaine never thought not acknowledging them would get him into trouble.

"Oh, baby," Kurt said soothingly and wrapped his arms securely around him. "Everything is gonna be alright. I promise we'll get you through that stupid class unharmed and next year you will take Liam's Stage Combat 2, okay? You're gonna pass this year even if it kills me."

"I'm sorry I've been distant lately…"

"It's okay. I'm not mad at you. Just promise you will talk to me about everything that's bothering you from now on."

"I promise." Blaine murmured into Kurt's shoulder, holding him for dear life. "I promise I will. I love you."

"I love you, too." Kurt kissed his temple and slowly unwind himself from his boyfriend. "Come on, lets take the bath."

"Together?"

"Well, if you're not opposed the idea."

"I'm not! I would love that!"

Blaine was supposed to take the exam Tuesday morning. Kurt was waiting for him in front of the building, pacing from one side of the sidewalk to another. When Blaine appeared, Kurt could see he was not happy.

"Well? How did it go?"

"What have you done, Kurt?" Blaine asked angrily.

"Nothing! What are you talking about?"

"Nothing? So why were Madam Tibideaux and Liam monitoring the whole thing?"

"I," Kurt gulped and it was all Blaine needed.

"I can't believe it! I asked you not to say a thing!"

"I haven't told anyone! I swear!"

"But you have done something! I can tell just by looking at you right now!" Kurt sighed heavily and took Blaine's hand.

"Let's go somewhere less NYADA and more private."

They walked silently into the park situated a few blocks away from school. It was relatively empty since it was morning but Kurt still led them into a bench between trees, far away from the main part of the park.

"I haven't told anyone anything, Blaine. You didn't want me to. I wouldn't break your trust that way."

"Carmen and Liam told us that there was a complaint from a student and that's why they would be supervising. You have nothing to do with that?"

"I might have helped encourage a student to complain…" Kurt conceded. "I went through NYADA unofficial blogs while you were sleeping on Thursday. I found out that Andrew didn't pass as well and we all know how suggestible he is. He thought James was unfair to him all semester and he sent a few innuendos at him too so I just put some ideas into his mind...I pointed out how James was already known as a teacher who doesn't hesitate in pursuing students and that if he thinks his behavior is inappropriate, he should tell someone. I also told him what a sweetheart Carmen is and how she always cares about the students' well being...I knew he would go to her. That bastard needs to be taken down, Blaine. I can't have you in his class!"

"Too bad because I am in his class!"

"You can ask Liam if he would take you. I know he would give anything to have you as a student. He's great. I love his classes. You will too."

"I know. He came to me after and offered me a spot for the rest of the semester but I declined."

"Why?!"

"I'm not a quitter. And if I was the only one who left the class, people would know I was the one complaining. I signed in for this class and I'm gonna finish it."

"If he tries anything on you, I swear - "

"He won't do anything, Kurt. He already has the faculty on his case. He'll be carefull and I'm pretty sure we'll pass the Combat class at the end of the year." Blaine put his head on Kurt's shoulder as Kurt laced their fingers together. "Thank you for going behind my back without actually going behind my back."

"I won't let anyone hurt you, Blaine. Not if I can do something about it."

"I love you."

"Love you, too, baby."