In this world of mine

I will keep you til the very end

And at the end

At the end of time

I will hold you in my arms again

Modern man has a heart of stone

In an age we are so ordinary

Lets pretend, lets pretend were old

But I sense that we are already there

You are the loneliest star

You are the loneliest star

The Loneliest Star acoustic version by Thirteen Senses

Blaine was always up early. He would normally finish at a bar about one oclock in the morning but song ideas, or just the thought of a new day, would ensure he was up by eight oclock. Sometimes he would go for a run in a park or just potter around his apartment, tinkling on his old piano but he would often stay in his pyjamas until about midday and write. He often got gigs helping musician friends who needed someone to play piano whilst they sang. He could play nearly any common instrument and he thrived on knowing his craft so well that any of his friends could rely on him to pick up a song quickly when asked to help. Today was wide open though and he was up with a skip in his step even before he had his morning coffee.

It was another matter for Kurt who rolled out of bed with a groan and he wondered why it felt like hed aged twenty years in the space of a single night. He wore only pyjama bottoms and padded slowly to the kitchen to turn on the coffee machine. One quick glance around the apartment told Kurt that James hadnt appeared yet and although it had happened once or twice before, Kurt was a little surprised that on their first night in their new apartment, James hadnt come home.

Home. Such a loaded word, a word that made Kurt instantly think of his dad in Lima. New York was Kurts place, somewhere he truly belonged but home, a place he could relax and just be, he hadnt found just yet and he briefly wondered if this place would ever feel like home. He swallowed the disappointment and sipped his coffee in his bedroom, tucked back in his bed and wondered if James would return at all before another performance that night.

Whilst sipping he glanced through his window to the apartment opposite and noticed the curtains were already open and revealed the same guy from yesterday, his hair completely devoid of any gel, causing his dark springy curls to be completely free. Kurt briefly wondered what it might feel like to run his hands through such curls and he shook his head at himself and the unbidden thoughts. James never allowed him to touch his hair during sex, too afraid of ruining his perfect style. Kurt always thought it was such a pity.

The guy in the apartment opposite clearly didnt realise he had an audience and Kurt watched openly as the guy walked about in his navy blue pyjamas, almost a skip in his step. He appeared to be whistling to himself as he walked to his piano, carrying a steaming mug of coffee and sitting down. Kurt realised his own bedroom was slightly smaller than the guy opposite who seemed to be able to pack everything into his room, including an old piano. Blaine tinkled, completely oblivious to being watched and Kurt saw him occasionally scribble down something on paper as he sang and played. Kurt wanted to hear what he was playing but knew he would draw attention to himself if he got up and opened the window. So he watched until the guy with the dark hair seemed to finish the song and started to play on his phone. It clearly started to buzz and upon seeing the caller ID, his face lit up.

"Whas uuuuuuup?" Tessa sang down the phone and Blaine laughed once more.

"I love that youre just as chirpy as me this early," Blaine said happily, "What can I do for you this fine morning?"

"You can meet me later at the corner of 44th street and 7th Avenue; by the park," she said excitedly, "Sam is singing at the Kings Hotel tonight and needs someone to help with piano playing if youre up for it?"

"Yeah thatll be great," Blaine said happily, "Why isnt he calling though?"

"I think hes trying to borrow a guitar, his one has a few broken strings after a drunken escapade last week. He cant afford to have it fixed."

"Has he tried Ed? He might have one."

"I dont know, I said Id call him back," she said, "See you at the park at 6 for an early supper?"

"Sure thing," he said happily, "An early supper?"

"Blame Ruby," she said and then Blaine presumed she was talking to said Ruby as whispered mutterings were heard on the other end. "Who cant wait to meet you apparently," Tessa continued sounding confused.

"Erm…"

"Dont worry," Tess said, "Ill fill her in." She giggled and hung up, leaving Blaine imagining the conversation that Tessa was having right now. Blaine stood, his eyes flitting to the apartment opposite where the guy from yesterday was finishing getting changed. He briefly noticed his defined torso before the guy put on his shirt and did it up super quickly, clearly worried about his lack of curtains. Blaine secretly hoped, with the view ahead of him, that the guy would never get curtains.

Blaine looked through the window for a while as the guy flitted in and out of the bathroom and bedroom, wondering what the guy did for a living if he was still in his apartment at 10 oclock in the morning. Blaine was just considering getting another coffee and changing into actual clothes when someone must have entered the apartment opposite because the demeanour of the guy immediately changed. His back seemed to stiffen and his jaw set as if he was expecting an argument. Another guy entered wearing tight black jeans, a screwed up green T and his hair a mess. Blaine wasnt close enough but he could definitely tell this guy had been out all night. The guy with chestnut coiffed hair and nice blue eyes was clearly not impressed.

"Where have you been?" Kurt shouted, "I was worried about you. You never answered my text messages."

"Just leave it Kurt," James said clearly pained at the volume Kurt was using. He struggled to the bed, head in hands as if it was just an effort to hold it all together. He was pale, his hair a mix of flattened patches and stuck up parts and his eyes were sunken with tiredness. He reeked.

Kurt pulled a face. "Where have you been all night?" he said, "You smell like a brewery."

"Things got a little out of hand," James said weakly, his head still bowed. "The drinks kept coming."

"Where did you stay?" Kurt asked, "You didnt think to call to let me know you were safe?"

"I dont have to answer to you," James said angrily, still avoiding Kurts gaze.

Kurt seethed. "Thats it with you, isnt it?" he spat. "You have fun, drink yourself to oblivion and dont care about me waiting for you here. You dont even think of me, do you? And on our first night together in our new place." Kurt couldnt say home; it already would seem like a lie.

"I asked you to drop it," James said, his voice clipped as he desperately tried to keep the anger in. Kurt didnt notice and kept going.

"If you want out of this relationship James, just let me know," Kurt continued, his body now hovering over James in his determination to be heard. "If you dont want a grown up relationship thats fine with me, nothings final, we can go our separate ways, I dont mind."

"Just stop Kurt," James said his neck tense with the pressure to keep it together, "Just shut up!" He shouted, his hands coming out forcibly in fists on his own knees.

"What did you just say to me?" Kurt said quietly and James stood up despite the dizziness and the rising need to be sick.

"I asked you to drop it," James said, "I asked you to stop and I asked you to SHUT UP!"

There was a pause as Kurt digested what had been said to him and he looked shaken but now that James had the floor he continued.

"No wonder I dont want to come home to you," James said sneering, "Youre such a nag! If I wanted to be with a middle aged woman I would be straight!"

Blaine was shocked at what he was witnessing but at the same time he couldnt tear his eyes away. He instinctively wanted to grab the guy he had been admiring through the window earlier and take him away somewhere safe, away from this angry guy who had disturbed the peace. The guys boyfriend, Blaine presumed, shouted some more and Blaine thought he could almost see the steam come out of his ears. The angry guy stormed off to the en suite and chestnut-haired guy obviously tried to placate him, pull the situation back together again, anything to keep the peace. He gently touched angry guys elbow as he prepared to enter the bathroom but it was just too much for the guy who must have seen it as another form of control. He flinched from the touch as if blue-eyed guys fingers could burn and he threw his hand away, finally pushing him so there was now over a foot between them.

Blaine went forward nearer the window on instinct, determined to help the guy in some way but not knowing how when panes of glass and brick were between them. The guy opposite took an extra step back, his eyes wide, his hand instinctively rubbing the bruise that was forming on his upper arm. Angry guy slammed the bathroom door and left the other guy in the bedroom.

He seemed to freeze for a moment and as Blaine wondered if there was someway of passing on a message, maybe help him somehow, the blue-eyed guy turned round slowly, almost as if he guessed he might have had an audience the entire time. The guys eyes were sad as soon as he saw Blaine, as if he wanted to apologise for letting him witness such an argument. There was a moment where nothing was said, faces were frozen in sadness, until Blaine gestured with his hands: are you ok?

Kurt understood and considered just nodding with fake happiness, try to cover the embarrassment and make out it was nothing serious but something stopped him. He shook his head slowly and Blaines heart broke a little at the sight. He looked so perfect in his sadness, so innocent, that Blaine immediately wanted to grab angry guy by the neck for making someone beautiful, so sad. Blaine tried to gesture if he could help but Kurt just looked confused so he madly glanced around the room until he obviously saw what he needed. Kurt saw him pick up the paper on top of the piano and scribble furiously. He held it up to the window, a smile on his face.

Hello, my name is Blaine.

Kurt smiled and found some paper of his own.

Hello Blaine. My name is Kurt.

Blaine scribbled again, this time holding it up with trepidation.

Boyfriend?

Kurt nodded, sadly brought back to the situation Blaine must have witnessed. He wrote on the card again and held it up for Blaine to read.

Yes, James. Sorry about that, he isnt normally like that.

Blaine shrugged slightly, trying to give the impression that he wasnt there to judge or pass comment. Kurt hated the awkwardness. This stranger already knew far more about Kurts life than his family and his closest friends. He glanced at his watch and gestured at the door. He had to be at rehearsal and he could leave early, anything to be far away from James when he left the shower. Blaine nodded in understanding and waved sadly, already giving Kurt the impression that he wanted to say so much more. Kurt quickly grabbed his jacket and left the apartment and Blaine continued planning his day, gazing every so often into the apartment opposite.