"Breathe, Rachel. Remember that you deserve this. Remember that you are worth it. You're going to win this competition." Rachel Berry stood before her mirror, giving herself a pep talk.

Kurt walked up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "You are totally worth it. You deserve this and NYADA."

Smiling at him through the mirror, she said, "you deserve NYADA too. We're going to get in that school."

He nodded, "I hope so. But before that, we need to get through tonight. If you're good enough to get into NYADA, you'll be good enough to sail us through Sectionals."

Eyes wide, Rachel got out of her seat and hugged him, "thank you." Peering around him, she exclaimed, "Finn! Over here!"

As soon as she ran off after him, Kurt turned to see Blaine fixing his bowtie in a mirror. Approaching Blaine, Kurt said, "red suits you well."

"You like?" Blaine asked, tugging on his red bowtie.

"Why wouldn't I?" Kurt smiled, placing a hand on Blaine's shoulder.

"Ugh. Get a room," Santana made a gagging noise, as she walked behind them.

Kurt blushed and Blaine buried his face in his hands. 

"OKay! New Directions! We're on in ten minutes!" Mr. Schuester came into the room. "Don't go too far, okay?"

Leaning over to whisper in Blaine's ear, Kurt said, "but that doesn't mean we can't go..." He grabbed Blaine's hand and dragged him frmo the room. He found an empty corridor. He pinned Blaine against the wall, cupped his hands over Blaine's face and kissed him. "The one time I listen to Santana Lopez," he said between kisses.

Turning his face from Kurt's, Blaine said, "She shouldn't have said that at all."

"Why?" he asked, confused. "Blaine, come on, this is santana we're talking about. She always voices her opinion."

Blaine sighed, "I'm just... worried that too many people are finding out about my... sexuality," he mumbled.

Stroking Blaine's skin with his thumb, Kurt quietly replied, "honey, you don't have to be afraid... I know it's scary, but, no matter what anyone thinks of you, I'm going to be by your side, just like you've been by my side."

Closing his eyes, Blaine leaned in to Kurt's touch and mumbled, "I know... I just..." he sighed. "I can't do this again. You don't know what it was like for me, and I know you've been through a lot, but I have too, Kurt."

Kurt didn't know where this was suddenly coming from, but he didn't want Blaine getting too worked up before their performance. "Blaine, sweetie, I know you have. I just don't think you should take Santana seriously. She says things, regardless of whether or not she knows the truth."

"It usually comes from some sort of truth though," Baine sighed.

He was hurting, and Kurt hated it. He just wanted to wrap Blaine in his arms and hold him, but he couldn't. Tina had popped her head around the corner and gave them a five minute warning. "We'll talk about it later, okay?" he said. "We'll head out to the warehouse after this and-"

"No," Blaine pushed Kurt's hands away. "I don't really feel like being at the warehouse tonight." He turned and walked away without another word.

"Blaine..." Kurt stared after him. He wasn't really sure what just happened.

What did that even mean? Why was Blaine suddenly so... upset? Was he upset? Or was it something else? Where did that even come from? Was Santana really the reason he was unhappy?

Or was it something else?

"We won! We won!" Hands beat down on his back in congratulations.

Blaine shrugged away from the people around him. Everyone was running to their families and celebrating, while Blaine walked away from the group with no where to go. Of course his mother hadn't been there. She had never made it to a competition his entire life, just like his father. It was nothing new.

He sat on a bench across the entrance hall of the building and watched Kurt talking quickly to his famiy. He had a huge smile on his face and Blaine could tell he was happy about their victory.

"You could go over there and join him. I'm pretty sure your boyfriend wouldn't mind you being around his family," a voice came from beside him.

He jumped. Santana sat down next to him and he scooted away from her, "he's not my boyfriend."

She rolled her eyes, "oh, please. Britt and I had a whole conversation about this on the bus earlier. I see the way you look at him like you could just get in his pants right now."

"Hey!" Blaine felt his cheeks burn. "Santana, what I think is not your business."

"I'm just saying, you so want to get your mac on right now. Are you and Lady Hummel getting a hotel room later?" she winked.

The words Lady Hummel registered something for him, because it's what Karofsky had always called Kurt. Was she messing with him purposely here?

Blaine stood up and said, "you know, Santana, you're really rude and selfish, and I'd really appreciate it if you just stayed the hell out of my business... Really, you should learn to stay the hell out of everyone's busienss."

With that, he got up and pushed his way out of the building. He passed the school bus and made his way out of the parking lot. The last thing Blaine wanted to do was ride home on the bus, listening to Rachel sing show tunes the entire way home. He didn't want questions from Kurt, who was bound to be worried, on why he was so angry. He didn't want anyone bothering him. He would rather walk home.

But before he did that, he made his way into a bar down the road. If he was going to be miserable the entire walk home, he might as well forget his misery in the morning.

Taking a seat at the bar, a tall blonde girl walked over to him and asked what he wanted. Showing her his fake ID, he ordered a drink and made himself comfortable. 

Where the hell are you, Blaine?

We're waiting for you to leave. Where did you go? 

Blaine Devon Anderson answer me right now!

After a couple more minutes, Blaine finally replied, found my own way home... Go ahead and leave.

Making his way to the front of the bus, Kurt tapped on Mr. Shuester's shoulder, "um, Mr. Schue. Blaine said he found his own way home, so I guess we don't have to wait any more."

Mr. Schuester studied his face for a second before he said, "are you sure?"

He only nodded, before heading back to his empty seat at the back of the bus. He passed Mercedes on his way, who grabbed his arm and asked if he was okay, but he just shrugged out of her grasp and sat down.

He wasn't okay. He was worried about Blaine. Whatever Blaine said, Kurt knew there was more to the story. THe New Directions always rode back to Lima together, and Blaine had been talking for a couple weeks about sitting on the bus together. He had been upset about something, and then just disappeared after the competition. Why did he disappear? where did he go? Who would he even get a ride with?

The bus pulled out of the parking lot, as Santana sat on the seat across from him, "so Hummel, where's your rude little boyfriend?"

"Excuse me?" he raised a thin eyebrow at her.

"You know, that little greasy shithead that told me I need to stay out of people's business," Santana brushed a piece of hair out of her face.

He sat forward in his seat, glancing at her. "What did you do, Santana?"

"I didn't do anything," she said. "I was just trying to talk to him and he got all offended and left."

"But what did you say to him?" Kurt pressed.

She sighed, "nothing. Just that he looked like he wanted to make out with you, and  asked if you were gonna get it on later."

Kurt's jaw dropped. "Santana, you can't just say stuff like that to people." Nothing was said to this. Santana simply shrugged and he continued, "wait, what do you mean he left?"

Santana rolled her eyes, "I mean, he left. He told me I was selfish and rude and left. I don't know where he went. He hasn't been seen since. Not that I care at this point." With that, she got up and moved back to her seat by Brittany, who placed her head on Santana's shoulder.

So Blaine had gotten angry with Santana and walked out. Did he really have someone there to take him home? Had they just left him behind? Where was he and what was he going to do?

Kurt dialed Blaine's number, but it was sent to voicemail. He text Blaine again, asking him if he was okay, but Blaine didn't respond. And although the entire glee club joined Rachel ni her show tunes sing along, Kurt sat in the back by himself, with his head against the window, worrying about Blaine.

When they stepped off the bus, Noah Puckerman offered a late night celebration at his place, Kurt declined and drove over to Blaine's house. IF Blaine had gotten a ride home, he should be there by now. If he wasn't going to answer his phone, he was going to have to deal with Kurt face-to-face.

Banging on the door, he waited a minute before it swung open, "don't you know how late it is?" Brenda Anderson swung the door open. Her hair was a mess and she was in a nightgown.

"I'm really sorrry, Mrs. Anderson. I just... needed to know if Blaine was here," he said.

"No," she barked. "He had some... school competition tonight. I don't know. I doubt he'll be back any time soon."

Kurt hesitated. He wanted to tell her that Blaine should be back by now, but he knew that Blaine hated worrying his mother, so he changed his mind and said, "right... okay. I'm sorry to bother you."

"Uh-huh, good night," she shut the door in his face.

Turning to go, Kurt ran to his car and called Blaine again. Blaine didn't answer, and his heart began to beat quickly in his cheat. What happened? Where was Blaine?

If Blaine was upset, he obviously wasn't going to go home. Maybe he went back to the warehouse? It was the one place he liked being when he wanted to be alone.

He threw the car into drive and went to the warehouse. As soon as he climbed the ladder, and found the rooftop empty, he let out an exasperated cry. He just didn't know what to do and he had to know that Blaine was okay.

Making up his mind, Kurt decided he would wait there until Blaine called him or showed up.

And Kurt didn't hear anything until the sun started rising, but he didn't hear from Blaine directly.

As soon as he saw his father's name on his phone screen, he mumbled, "shit," and answered it. Naturally, Burt would be worried, since he didn't ceme home, and once again, he didn't call. "Dad, I'm so sorry I didn't - "

"Kurt, it's okay," his father's shaky voice came through the phone. "I just... where are you? Are you okay?"

He hesitated, not wanting to give away Blaine's secret hideout, "dad, I'm fine. I'm sorry, I just... Blaine didn't come home with us last night, and I wanted to know if he was okay, so I've just been - "

"Kurt," his father's voice was more firm this time. "Kurt, Carole went into work early this morning at the hospital, because she got a call from the hospital... Blaine's there."

Heart sinking to his tomach, Kurt stammered, "he...but...what? How? Wh-why? And why did they call Carole?"

"I don't know, son. I just panicked, because I went into your room to tell you, and you were gone, and I thought... maybe you had been with Blaine, and something happened to you."

Tears forming in his eyes, Kurt said, "dad, I'm okay. I'm so sorry."

"Do you want me to meet you down at the hospital?" Burt asked, his voice calm and sympathetic.

Kurt simply nodded. Then he remembered that his dad couldn't see him and said, "yeah."

"I'll be there as soon as I can," Burt told him. "I love you, Kurt."

"Love you too," Kurt hung up and buried his face in his hands. 

What had happended to Blaine? Was he okay? Would he be okay? Kurt didn't want to imagine something horrible happening to Blaine, he couldn't live with that. He couldn't face that.

All he could do was hope that Blaine would be okay.

Slowly opening his eyes, Blaine shut them again, because of the blinding light. His head was pounding and the last thing he wanted to do was look into a light.

"Blaine?" a gentle voice came beside him. A hand squeezed his and he squeezed it back. "Blaine?" the voice sounded so weak, so helpless.

Forcing his eyes open again, he turned his head to the left slowly to see Kurt's dark eyes watching him. They were almost grey and tears slowly fell from them. "Hey," he croaked. He tried to smile at Kurt, but it hurt to smile.

The corners of Kurt's mouth twitched, "hey yourself... How are you feeling?" he asked. His thumb rubbed circles on the back of Blaine's hand.

"Like shit," Blaine mumbled. "what happened?"

Kurt sighed heavily, "apparently, you tried walking home, and some idiots found you and decided to beat the life out of you." More tears formed in his eyes and he hiccuped.

Flashbacks from the previous night came back to him: Leaving the bar, those three guys pulling their car to the side of the road and ganging up on him...

Stumbing down the road, drunk and tired, he saw headlights coming toward him. He squinted at the bright light, and the car started slowing down. 

Blaine quickened his pace and the car screeched to a stop. The driver door opened and a tall, balding man stepped toward Blaine. His arms were covered in tattoos and he wore a grin on his face, "well, well, well... look what we have here."

"Fresh meat," the man in the backseat crawled out of the car. "What's a little midget like you doin' out so late, huh?" 

"Leave me alone!" Blaine tried running back the other way, but a third man appeared and tripped him. He hit the pavement hard. He tried to stand again and failed. Blaine curled himself into a ball, and threw his arms over his head.

"He's not even gonna try to run!" one of them called. He sounded so close now that Blaine could feel his heart beat quicken in his chest.

"Shall we teach him a lesson about wondering by yourself at night?" one asked.

WHAM. Someone struck and Blaine doubled over, clutching his side.

Blow after blow, insult after inslut came hurling his way until the police sirens screamed through the cold night. Blaine had barely been conscious by then... He could hardly remember what happened after that...

"Yeah, I remember that now," he said, feeling Kurt's gaze on him.

"Blaine... why would you even think about walking home? You said you found a way home," Kurt replied.

Blaine raised his eyebrows, "I did... I found that walking was a decent way to get home."

"But why?"

He sighed, "because I didn't want to ride on the same bus as Santana? because I knew you'd be worried and didn't feel like dealing with your questions? I don't know."

"Worried?" His voice cracked. "Blaine, I was worried out of my mind. I went to your house, I stayed at the warehouse all night waiting for you. I didn't know where - "

"You went to my house?" Blaine tried sitting up and pain shot through his torso. His hand shot up to his side and he leaned back, groaning. That could only mean one thing: his mother knew something was wrong.

Looking compleely uncomfortable, Kurt said, "well, it's not like I told your mom anything. She sort of just kicked me out, said you were at a school competition, so of course you weren't home. I just... had to check, Blaine. I was worried."

"So she doesn't know?" he asked.

He hesitated. "Well, she... does. The hospital called her this morning, and she... had them call Carole. said she was too hungover to come see you. I don't know how she knew Carole or anything, but Carole came in to be here for you."

Of course she had been too hungover to see him. She couldn't care enough to see her son in a bad state, because of the same mistakes she made. If there was one thing he hated about himself, it was that he took the same habits as his mother.

Refusing to bring that into the conversation, he said, "I've told her that your steep-mom works here... I've told her a lot about you, actually. She must have remembered your last name or something, and they put it together. Gosh, I can't believe Carole actually came in for me." he felt a sense of happiness that Kurt's family cared for him, was even there for him more than his own mother was.

The door swung open at that moment and aCrole appeared in the doorway, "well, believe it, because I did. How are you, sweetie?"

"Fine," Blaine breathed, still favoriting his left side..

"I can't stay long. I'm working. I just wanted to check up on you," she smiled sweetly.

"I just want to get out of here," Blaine told her.

Carole shook her head, "I think they're talking about keeping you overnight. You've got a couple broken ribs and your wrist is fractured, but you're mostly just bruised pretty good. You'll live, if that's what you're worried about."

Blaine gave her a weak smile, "well, I'm definitely happy to hear that." 

Turning to leave, Carole said, "Kurt, Finn said he'd drop by in a few minutes, and Burt wants to take you both out to lunch."

Nodding, he said, "I'll wrap it up here." She vanished and he bent over Blaine, whispering, "but I'll be back. I don't want to leave your side. Ever." He kissed Blaine's cheek and stood up.

"You're just afraid I'll sneak off again, aren't you?"

Kurt smiled, "you are never allowed to pull something like that again, Anderson." He kissed Blaine's lips softly and said. "I don't like being scared, and if you ever scare me like that again, I'll give you a reason to be scared."

Blaine smiled, "that actually sounds kind of hot."

Hands on his hips, Kurt said, "you are impossible."

"But you love me," Blaine replied.

Kurt's eyes widened, and he leaned in for another slow kiss, "I'm not saying I don't, but I still think you're impossible, Blaine Anderson." He backed up toward the door and said "I'll see you after lunch. Don't go anywhere."

"You can count on that," he said, his mouth feeling dry.

Now that he was left to think about his thoughts, he started wondering if Kurt meant what he said. "I'm not saying I don't." Had he intentionally just admitted to loving Blaine? Did he actually mean that, or was it more of a reaction to Blaine's comment, and he hadn't really thought about it? Did he regret saying it now?

Would Kurt ever actually admit to loving Blaine, since he wouldn't admit that Blaine was basically his boyfriend? He didn't care about labels, but would he care enough about Blaine to show how he really felt? He had obviously been worried about Blaine, so he had to care, didn't he?

But how much did he care?

"Just take it easy for a few days, alright?" Carole said to Blaine, just before he shut the car door.

"I will, thanks Carole," he gave her a weak smile, before Kurt put an arm around his waist and led him toward the house.

He moved slowly. It was easy for Kurt to tell that he was in pain, and alll he wanted to do was take that pain away from him. "Do you need anything?" he asked, situating Blaine on the couch.

"I'm okay," Blaine mumbled. he patted the seat next to him, "I just want you."

Blushing, Kurt sat down next to Blaine and took his uninjured hand, "this is the second time I have brought you to this couch injured. What am I going to do with you?"

Gently squeezing his hand, Blaine said, "stay with me. Always."

Leaning his head on Blaine's shoulder, Kurt whispered, "always." They sat there in silence for quite some time, before Blaine's voice broke thrugh it, "hey, Kurt?" 

Kurt propped himself up, gazing into Blaine's eyes, "hmm?" 

He hesitated, "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

Blaine took a deep sigh and said, "remember when you said... that you didn't need a title to know that you can hold my hand when you wanted or kiss me when you wanted?"

He nodded, wondering where this was going. "I still stand by that, Blaine. I like what we have."

Shaking his head, Blaine said, 'I know you do. I like it too, I really do. I just... wonder how far that goes, because I..." He turned to face Kurt and winced. His hand flew up to his side and he sucked in a big breath of air. "Ooh... sorry." Once he settled into the couch again, he said, "I really care about you, Kurt." He hesitated, "I started thinking yesterday, before you went out to lunch with your family, you, sort of, without actually saying it, said you..." Blaine stopped.

"That i...?"

Glancing down at their entwined fingers, Blaine said, "Kurt, how far are we willing to take this? I mean, if we're just friends, am I not allowed to... like you even though I'm kissing you and constantly with you?" 

This came as a surprise to Kurt. Whatever he thought Blaine was going to say, this wasn't it. He thought Blaine had been happy with the way things were going. "Of course you're allowed to like me, sweetie. I really care about you too, Blaine, and I want to continue to get close to you."

"But where does that leave us, Kurt?" Blaine sounded a little strained. "I mean, if some guy comes along and asks me out, what am I supposed to tell him? 'I can't go out with you, because I have a friend that I like and kiss and stuff, no we're not together, but it's sort of like we are. He's just not my boyfriend.'" 

How was he supposed to react to that? "Blaine... I don't want to ruin things with you. I've never been anyone's boyfriend before. I was just... hoping we could take this slow, you know?"

"Neither have I!" Blaine said hotly. "I don't know what I'm doing anymore than you, but this..." he held up their linked hands, "this is no different than if I called you my boyfriend, and i think we're doing okay. How are we supposed to know if we'll ruin things or not, if we never try?"

Was Blaine really that upset about this? Had he really thought that much into it, when Kurt hadn't thought of it at all? He had thought things were great between them. How long had Blaine been thinking like this? "I'm just..." he paused.

"Scared?" Blaine finished. "I am, and I can believe that you are too.

Their hands broke and Kurt folded his arms over his chest, "Blaine, I just... don't know if I can give myself to you like that. I'm not ready to be that... into someone else."

"is it because you don't trust me? Are you afraid I'm going to hurt you? Because Kurt, I swear I would never hurt you," Blaine's voice still sounded quite strained, and it only made Kurt feel worse about this conversation. His eyes looked full of sorrow, "I just don't see why it makes a difference. Kurt, I'm not asking you to... give yourself to me. I just want to kiss you and know that you're mine, and I don't have to worry that you're, like, out with your other friends too."

"Blaine, I don't have other friends... not like you. You're special," Kurt tried to reassure him. The look on Blaine's face was enough for Kurt to know it wasn't working.

Narrow eyes went through him like daggers, "because i'm just your toy? I'm your boy friend that's not actually allowed to have the title of boyfriend."

"Then what? Do you want me to walk down the hall at school tomorrow and hold your hand? I thought you were in the closet, and I thought you knew that the jocks still hate me and they'd be after me," Kurt felt anger growing insdie him. He hated that Blaine was acting like this.

Blaine tipped his head back and sighed heavily, "this isn't about anyone else. It's about me and you, Kurt."

Kurt let out an exapserated sigh, "what do you want then, Blaine? because I didn't realize you were looking for so much from this friendship."

Glancing away from Kurt's eyes, Blaine said coldly, "I guess... if you just want to be my friend, then you neeed to stop playing with my feelings and treating me like a boyfriend. No more kssing, no more hand holding. We're friends, and friends don't do that, right?"

"I don't want to stop being close to you," Kurt said weakly. He loved their friendship, and he loved holding Blaine. Kurt couldn't just let that go.

Still avoiding his eyes, Blaine said, "we don't have to stop being close. I just don't want to fall completely in love with you and have my heart broken because you don't look at me that way."

"I would never want to break your heart," Kurt said.

Biting his lip, Blaine looked like he was holding back a retort. he sat there in silence for a minute, before he said, "You should go. Carole's waiting to take you home."

Kurt rose from the couch and bent over to kiss Blaine's cheek. Blaine turned away and Kurt said, "so you're really going to be like this?"

"I have to," Blaine said shortly.

Sighing, Kurt turned to face the door and said, "um... feel better, Blaine. He felt tears prickle his eyes, but he wasn't going to cry in front of Blaine.

The moment he slammed the car door shut, Carole asked, "are you okay, honey?"

"Let's just go home, please."

No one ever bothered asking Finn were Kurt was on the days he was absent, because most kids in the school were so used to his random disappearances. So when he didn't show the next two days, it hadn't even been mentioned. 

The omly person who noticed his absence was Blaine.

He also noticed when Kurt came back on wednesday. Blaine was standing at his locker that morning, and when he saw Kurt walk down the hall, he dropped his history book on the floor. Quickly bending down to pick it up, it gave him time to avoid Kurt's gaze. He could feel his gaze burning through his back and wondered how much he had hurt Kurt.

Probably not as much as Kurt had hurt him.

Blaine absolutely hated not talking to him, but it seemed like Kurt was going to ignore him altogether. He didn't sit near Blaine at the New Directions table during lunch, like he always did. His usual seat in history was empty, and Kurt was found sittting next to Tina Cohen-Chang across the room, whispering to each other. It wasn't until glee club that Kurt sat in his usual seat between Rachel and Blaine's seat. The moment Blaine entered the room and saw his seat waiting for him, his heart skipped a beat, and he found himself climbing into the back row beside Sam Evans.

Thursday and Friday followed the same routine, until after school on Friday.

Blaine sat in the library, working on a piece of homework for his science class, when someone tapped on his shoulder. He turned around to see Kurt and froze. "Yes?" he asked.

Clutching a stack of books to his chest, Kurt said, "friends are allowed to talk, aren't they?"

Sitting up straight, Blaine said, "you ignored me, just as much as I ignored you this week."

With a thud, Kurt's books hit the table, and the librarian gave him a dirty look. he whispered, "that's not what I meant, Anderson. Friends don't have to talk every single day, youi know? I thought you wanted to be treated like everyone else."

This was torture. The anger behind Kurt's piercing blue eyes made Blaine long to kiss him, but he knew he couldn't. Setting his pencil down on the table, he sighed, "alright. What do you want?"

Raising a thin eyebrow, Kurt said, "i had a question about your friendship rules."

"My rules? Kurt, this isn't third gra-"

"I wanted to know," he cut across Blaine, "if that included our little coffee dates. I can see that you've been stressed this week, and wanted to know if I could buy you a drink."

It took time to think that through. Should he let this go and forget that he stillll had a huge possibility of getting hurt? Should he guard his heart, because he knew the possibility of getting hurt was strong? 

Finally looking into Kurt's eyes, Blaine said, "no, i think I'll pass on that, thanks." He picked his pencil back up offf the table and started writing again.

With as little sound as possible, Kurt had turned on his heel and stormed out of the library. He was so silent, Blane hadn't even noticed, until he looked up to see the door slowly shut behind him.

So much for promising not to hurt him.