Daily conversations between them were light and airy, full of crush conversations and moaning about workload. They compared song choices for performances they were to give or assignments planned and written together. They discovered a mutual love of Disney as well as musical theatre, hence their college courses, and Blaine found himself looking forward to his daily time chatting with Kurt online. It wasnt unusual for Blaine to reblog Kurts posts or vice versa: pictures or gifs of artistic places or images, Vogue spreads and famous crushes and although it was nothing strange for Blaine to talk to people online, Kurt was the only one he chatted with regularly. Until one day it stopped.

There was only one time during the day that Blaine would remove his glasses apart from bedtime: singing class. He would sing whatever had been rehearsed with the group then when asked to prepare solos he would stand, see the hazy shapes of the people before him and sing for all he was worth. It didnt matter what their expressions were, it didnt matter what they did, he would sing like there was no tomorrow.

So he sang, glasses off, sat by the piano and played without noticing how his small audience reacted.

They clapped as soon as he was finished, his glasses back on. They looked a little awe-struck but one or two looked at him with suspicion as if he might be the competition to beat. He smiled sweetly and took his seat to wait for the next performance.

He hadnt heard from Kurt for nearly two weeks, had seen no comments on his blog and he hadnt posted anything. Blaine had left it, not tried too hard for contact but he wondered if he was ok, if Blaine had said anything to offend him or if he needed some kind of help. Blaine knew he was more likely to be overworked but Kurt had always made time for Blaine in the evening, knowing how important online friendship was to him and never wanting to disappoint.

He logged on that evening and found that Kurt had reblogged his collection of gifs of rain that he had posted a couple of days ago. Kurt had left a simple comment:

These are beautiful. I think unfortunately I feel the rain, Im not just wet.

Blaine immediately recognised the Bob Marley quote and went to online chat.

Hi Kurt, hope youre ok?

Hi Blaine, Ive been better but thanks for asking.

Whats wrong? Anything I can help you with?

Not really, I lost someone really important to me a couple of weeks ago and not sure how Im going to live without them. They were blood but not blood.

Finn?

Did you hear?

No but I guessed when you said about blood but not blood.

He died and I dont really know how life goes on. It does of course and Im back to classes and singing and dancing but its all a bit grey and meaningless.

Im so sorry Kurt, I really am. I know thats empty…

No its not empty, I appreciate it.

Rachel, my roommate, has found it hardest. She was his girlfriend and nothing can bring him back. I feel so useless.

Sometimes just being there for a person can help, just listening, just holding tight.

Yeah, I know youre right but I wish I could take away all the pain. My high school music teacher is holding a memorial next week, so Ill be going home again.

Will you sing for him?

I dont know if I can but Ill sing with the others. Music has a strange way of uniting people and helping you to feel and express yourself when there are no words.

Rain is like that too.

I like your gifs of the rain. It really is beautiful – rain, I mean.

Yeah I like just standing in it, letting it wash over me, make me so wet that I start to shiver but then standing under a hot shower afterwards makes it all better. Cups of tea and autumn leaves are perfect too.

Where have you been all my life Blaine?!

In a small town in Ohio, then New York?

Yes thats where youve been… I think I need to sleep. I havent slept in so long.

You can try to sleep now?

Yeah Im in bed already, such an old man in my pyjamas!

Same here! College is tiring!

Whats your day been like?

The usual. I sang in class and had to act out a traumatic experience.

What did you sing? Id like to hear you sing.

Well you can if you like *shrugs*

Dont *shrug* at me Blaine! How could I hear you sing?

I have a webcam but I could turn the camera part away so you just hear the sound?

You dont want me to see your face?

No its not that, its just a bit weird now. I hardly know you.

I know I keep forgetting that... The webcam idea sounds good though.

Ok let me set it up…

Right all ready… Ill just sing what I sang earlier, hope its ok…

Im sure it will be, you got into NYADA after all.

Hard to know, maybe if Id skim the stone,

Walk a different way back home, it would all make sense.

Or shut my eyes, could lose myself in teenage lies.

If I fell in love a thousand times, would it all make sense?

Cause Ive been feeling pretty small,

Sometimes feel like Im slipping down walls

And every line I ever get a hold it seems to break.

Called you up and I could tell you just how much,

No, maybe Ill just get drunk and it will all make sense.

Or if I werent so nice, Id convince my friends that you arent right

I could promise you my heart dont cry, but would it all make sense?

Cause I, Ive been feeling pretty small,

Sometimes feel like Im slipping down walls

And every line I ever get a hold it seems to break.

Oh I, Ive been feeling pretty small,

Sometimes feel like Im slipping down walls

And every line I ever get a hold it seems tobreak.

Kurt?

That was beautiful

Thank you

You sang that in class?

Yeah, today. Its my favourite class and its the only time I can really feel alive. I love that song and today just felt like that kind of song.

I know what you mean. It reminds me of rain.

Me too.

I feel sleepy now, thanks Blaine.

Youre welcome Kurt. Speak soon?

Yeah… speak soon x