The cold bit through flesh, turning lips blue and noses rosy red. But the boy didn't care for he had the warmth of his mother's hand curled around his. Upon his head was a small knitted bobble hat and around his neck wound a matching scarf. His coat was padded out and made it hard for him to bend his arms. Upon his clumsy feet gripped a pair of wellington boots, perfect for crunching about in the snow. Mittens on a string enveloped his hands that connected them to his mothers own gloved one. His eyes followed the lines of her trench coat and saw her long shiny brown hair; her smile painted on bright pink. He talked for ages with her about anything and everything a curious mind to a world so new.

The woman stopped in front of a wooden bench. Snow had piled up around its legs and a tree hung over one side its branches blanketed in white. The woman crouched down in front of the small boy who looked at her adoringly.

"Now then," She began her voice soft and light. "You're going to be a good boy aren't you?" the small boy found it hard to concentrate on her face, it looked blurred and her words seemed to echo.

"Mommy?" The boy asked thinking something was wrong.

"I want you to stay here ok? I'll be right back don't worry." She smiled reassuringly.

"Mommy are you ok?" The boy questioned.

"Of course I am darling."

"Why are you crying then Mommy? I thought people only cry when they are sad." The small boy looked confused.

The woman just smiled weakly wiping her cheeks with the side of her hand. She embraced the small boy in a hug that never wanted to let go.

"Im fine, just stay here for Mommy and I'll be back in a minute alright sweetie?" The woman let go of her son and stared into his eyes as if for the last time.

"Don't worry Mommy I'll wait."

"You're a good boy." The woman leant forward and tenderly kissed the small boy on his forehead. She then stood up and began to walk in the direction she had just come. She refused to look over her shoulder otherwise instinct would pull her back.

The small boy watched her leave, believing she would return. He clambered onto the bench, his feet not even reaching the edge of the seat. And there he stayed amongst the snowflakes that began to flutter down from the sky, and there he still sat as the day became dark...

"Kurt, hey, are you in there? Hellooooo." Jeff waved his hand in front of Kurt's face. Kurt blinked, the world coming back into focus. He was in his form room sat on the far side with three of his friends. They were all occupying a set of two tables which they had pushed together.

The classroom was filled with the talk of students enjoying their lunch before the next lesson started. A watery autumn sun cast light into the room creating a happy atmosphere.

"Yeah," Kurt said slowly scratching the back of his head. "We're talking about err..."

"Nuts!" Jeff declared slamming a magazine down on the table. "Nuts Kurt, Nuts!"

"You what!" Kurt exclaimed.

"You know." David looked around then leant forward his hand against his face as he whispered. "The magazine with girls."

"And their boobs!" Nick declared loudly.

Jeff whacked Nick around the head as hard as he could. "Shhh moron! We're in school do you want to get in trouble? Sir is just there." He hissed indicating the teacher at the front of the room trying to get the projector to work.

"That hurt! And who cares? Their girls." Nick protested.

"So anyone else get the new issue?" Jeff continued ignoring Nick. "Or is it just me? You know I got mine on subscription, gets sent to my dad's work so mum don't know about it." He grinned proudly.

"Lucky! There's no way I can keep one in the house, it's like 80% girl, what with my three sisters." David complained. He'd never really been good at maths.

"Hey the only collection I have belongs to my bro and he'd kill me if I touch them. I can't buy them neither coz mum insists on inspecting my room. She won't even let me look at girl magazines!" Nick sulked. "It's not like it is at Kurt's where it's just him and his dad."

"Yeah but I still don't read them." Kurt shrugged. "For obvious reasons."

"Oh yeah, sorry Kurt we forgot." David said, looking sheepish.

"I guess I could let you guys have a look at mine." Jeff sighed sarcastically. "But it comes at a price."

Suddenly a large ancient looking book came crashing down onto the two tables making everybody jump. They all looked up to see a short brunette glaring at them.

"Don't corrupt Kurt, he's part of the select few who remain innocent and I expect him to stay that way." Rachel frowned.

"Clueless is more like it. Why are you on the man side of the room anyway?" Jeff protested.

"Man side? Really? All I see are a bunch of clowns gawking over," Rachel picked up the magazine between finger and thumb and held it at arm's length. "A vulgar piece of literature. Need some help with alone time then boys?"

"Of course not! We are all perfectly capable without any help. But if you're offering." Nick smiled.

Rachel wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Come on Kurt, leave these losers to their fun and let's go get lunch." She grabbed Kurt by the arm and pulled him out of his seat. Kurt began to protest and turned to his friends for help who just wished him good luck and mimed themselves being hanged.

"Hey, while you're gone make me a sandwich!" Nick shouted.

"Make me a car first. Then we'll talk!" Rachel shouted back.

Rachel let go of Kurt's arm as soon as they had left the classroom.

"I wanted you to be the first to know." Rachel began as they walked down the corridor that led to the canteen. Other students pushed past, most of them from the younger years.

Kurt got himself ready for the 'I'll comfort you hug' for the tone Rachel had used was one that said 'my hamster died' or 'I've fallen out with one of my friends'.

"It's my dead beat boyfriend. Alas he has returned." Rachel made a dramatic gesture tilting her head back slightly with her hand to her forehead.

"You mean from his tour?" Kurt asked.

"If you call a few small towns a tour." Rachel scoffed.

Finn, Rachel's boyfriend, was in an indie style band. They had been doing well at local gigs and thought it a good idea to try some other places to get them more publicity. Kurt had been to see them once with his friends at one of the local gigs. He remembered rather enjoying the experience until everything went a bit crazy and he got caught up in a random mosh pit, why they'd have one at an indie concert Kurt didn't know. Rachel had refused to go, saying that being flattened wasn't her idea of fun. She also said she preferred a more peppy style of music. Kurt had to admit, he was more show tunes himself, but the experience had been fun.

"He's doing well though isn't he?" Kurt grinned.

"I believe they have a record deal now. And Finn's managed to get himself an apartment." Rachel said this in a way that made it seem like it was nothing special.

"Do I sense a bit of jealousy?" Kurt smirked.

"So? He's only just left school and already has a place of his own! I have to get married before I'll ever get to move out!" Rachel exclaimed. "Anyway, are you free after school? I need you to come with me to the station to meet up with Finn." Rachel rolled her eyes.

"I don't know, my Dad's working late and..."

"Good, meet me outside the school gates when the bell goes." Rachel smiled and skipped off down the corridor leaving Kurt to get his lunch on his own.

"OMG! IT'S COMING OUT ALREADY!" A girl squealed. She was standing with a group of her friends around a poster of the latest Blaine Anderson movie. Blaine was the actor everyone talked about, the latest American teen sensation.

"He is so hot!" another of the girls cried enthusiastically.

"You hear the rumours though?"

"Who cares?"

Rachel had a look so scary Kurt was becoming slightly frightened of her. They were both standing outside the train station waiting for Finn to turn up. Rachel was becoming increasingly annoyed at the group of giggly girls who were melting over a guy they would probably never meet.

"What do they see in him anyway? He's probably like all the other shallow arrogant teen stars out there. You know what they're like, you become famous at a young age and suddenly it's all fame and good looking girls." Rachel crossed her arms sulkily.

"I'd say you're jealous. I can see why they like him though." Kurt stared at the poster of the young actor with his curly, chocolate brown hair, mesmerising hazel eyes and intense look clutching a broad sword in his hands with an explosion going off in the background.

"Jealous? Jealous about what? What's so good about a photo shopped teenager with his cute sounding voice and stunning good looks? Who cares if guy's like that only go for stick thin, air headed gorgeous looking girls with pretty hair and... and." Rachel trailed off.

"Well people who only go for girls like that don't deserve someone like you." Kurt grinned reassuringly.

"Are you sure you're a guy?" Suddenly Rachel's phone began to ring; it was an 8 byt version of one of Finn's songs. Kurt raised an eyebrow and Rachel blushed.

"So maybe I like his songs. Big deal err heya, Rachel speaking." There was a pause in which Rachel was probably listening to whoever was on the other side of the phone. "No, I don't know where that is... I have to take the train? Do you know how busy it is at this time you moron!... Well no I'd rather not... Yes I think you're an arse! Fine but Kurt's with me... Alright but you owe me and Kurt a meal out somewhere seeing as you're rich now. Good. Bye." Rachel pressed the hang up button. "Finn's now told me I have to meet him at the recording studio. We have to take the east bound train and change at least five times. Stupid boys, the trains may be empty now but the further we get to the town centre the more packed it'll be. This is so troublesome."

"Do you think I can stay here because..." Kurt began.

"You are coming. I'm even prepared to drag you all the way there." Rachel dug her nails into Kurt's arm an evil grin spreading across her face.

"Y..Y...Yes ma'am." Kurt squeaked.

Both Rachel and Kurt were relieved when they managed to get out of the stuffy train and past the hoards of people commuting through town. Kurt had never been so glad to see sunshine again.

"Come on, it gets dark around five and we still need to get to the recording studio before then." Rachel stormed out of the station and almost into the path of a bus if Kurt hadn't dragged her back. Usually Kurt would have avoided Rachel in a bad mood but he thought that leaving her on her own would be dangerous.

They made their way through the bustling groups of people, across roads and down streets. They had to ask several people for directions on finding the studio because Finn believed giving Rachel details as to where to find him wasn't important from the point after she got off the final train. As they got further Rachel's mood got fouler and Kurt got even more scared. Things got worse when they found themselves in the middle of a huge crowd. Everyone was shouting and screaming, cramming themselves together all trying to get a good look at something Kurt couldn't see.

Rachel grabbed hold of Kurt's wrist as she forced her way grumpily through the crowd, cursing as she went. Kurt caught a glimpse of several camera crews and flashing lights which only meant photographs were being taken and a lady was talking to someone, a microphone in her hand. Rachel gave up and whipped her phone out her pocket dialling Finn's number.

"Hear this you waste of space!" She shouted down the phone. "What is it? It's a sea of people blocking my path is what it is! Try telling me where the fucking studio is next time! Me and Kurt are completely trapped!... Yes it is your entire fault you lazy bum, don't you laugh at me!" Rachel cried.

Kurt turned his attention to the front of the crowd allowing Rachel to fade out.

The lady with the microphone had a serious expression on her face. She had a pair of glasses perched on her nose and long sleek black hair.

"Are all the rumours true?" She addressed the person in front of her who Kurt could not yet see.

"Rumours?" an anonymous voice replied, pretending he didn't understand what the reporter was going on about.

"There have been reported sightings of you and your supposed love interest. We believe your fans have a right to know." The lady continued un-phased.

Rachel and Kurt had finally reached the front, only to discover they were surrounded by a group of screaming girls.

"I believe the media has it all wrong." Blaine Anderson smiled. He caught Kurt's eye who blinked in surprise and blushed without really meaning to. Blaine nodded at him turning his attention back to the press. "I would like to say that actually I have a girlfriend."

"Do you? Or are you just trying to cover up the facts." The lady insisted.

"Why would I lie when she's right here?" Blaine Anderson then walked up to the crowd and took hold of Rachel who dropped her phone in surprise.

"Just play along ok?" Blaine whispered into Rachel's ear as the crowd and paparazzi surged forward in an uproar.

"Play along?" Rachel squeaked, struggling under Blaine Anderson's arm.

"Quick, what's your name?" He asked flashing her one of his stunningly white smile.

"Rachel." She said without meaning to. Damn him and his good looks.

"I was planning to keep this secret." Blaine began addressing the woman again. "But it seems the time is right. This is Rachel; we've been going out for a few months already, although it was hard seeing as I've been filming over in Europe."

The press surged forward asking question upon question. Some devoted fan girls burst out crying, and others screamed in delight. Blaine Anderson had an ordinary, non famous girl friend, no way! Then everyone started to shout complaints when a curly haired man with a sweater vest marched through the crowd followed by several large guys dressed in black and wearing sunglasses.

"Blaine, you idiot! See what happens when you run off on your own!" The curly haired guy shouted.

"And who might you be?" The press woman turned to the glasses guy.

"I'm Will Schuester. Blaine's manager, if you have any more questions then you can address them to Blaine's publicist." Will Schuester snapped.

"Do you know anything about Blaine's girl friend?" The woman grilled.

"Girl friend?" Will frowned, turning to Blaine who subtlety indicated Rachel who was trying to escape his grip. "Oh yes, girl friend. Don't you think it would be wise to leave them alone? They haven't seen each other for such a long time and their special meeting moment has been rudely interrupted." Will ad-libbed, making his way stealthily towards Blaine, the bodyguards following blocking out the paparazzi and onslaught of fans.

"What's going on? Let me go!" Rachel demanded as Will came over.

"I'm really sorry miss, but can you just keep going along with this. It'll be a real big help and we can drop you off later." Will begged.

Rachel pouted for a bit then looked at Blaine who made a puppy dog face. "Fine, but my friend's still stuck in the crowd and I'm not going anywhere without him."

"What does he look like?" Will asked.

"Tall, pale, blue eyes and coiffed brown hair." Rachel answered. There was no way she was going anywhere without Kurt.

Will nodded to a large African guy who towered over the rest of them. He barged his way into the crowd, bent down and straightened up with a very confused looking Kurt draped over his shoulder then made his way back and placed Kurt next to Rachel. Kurt looked at her, his eyes wide with shock.

"Hey. These guys have just offered us a lift to the recording studio." Rachel said.

Kurt turned and looked at the very tall scary looking men behind him and swallowed. "Right."

Kurt and Rachel were sat in a shiny black saloon car with Blaine Anderson and his manager. Rachel had a face on her that could turn milk sour and Kurt kept twiddling his thumbs nervously and looking over at Rachel every so often, feeling rather out of place.

"Champagne anyone?" Blaine asked enthusiastically.

"We're under age." Rachel growled although she'd never passed up a drink offer before. "And so are you may I add."

"And your point is?" Blaine asked.

There was about five minutes of awkward silence in which Rachel pouted and Kurt sunk lower in his seat. They were with the Blaine Anderson! How can Rachel be acting so coldly. Kurt thought.

"Well urm, I'm really sorry that Blaine dragged you into all this, he's really a very nice guy." Will offered.

"Nice guy! You call being nice randomly grabbing a defenceless girl and lying about being their boyfriend in front of the entire world! I might already have a boy friend, you think of that?" Rachel exploded.

"Do you?" Blaine tilted his head to one side.

"Yes in fact I do!" Rachel snapped.

"Then if he really loves you he'd understand once you've explained everything to him." Blaine smiled leaning back into his seat.

"That's beside the point! Why did you choose me anyway, there were plenty of other screaming fans to choose from!"

"That's why I chose you. You weren't screaming. Well you were just at the other person on your phone. Your friend there also looked a bit out of place too, so I just figured you guys were there by accident." Blaine shrugged. "Were you?"

"Yeah. My idiot boyfriend is crap with giving directions. Anyway, why do you needa girl friend?"

"I'm not going to tell you that." Blaine looked away.

"I think I have the right to know! Like I'd say anything, I'm not even a dedicated fan I'll have you know!"

Will coughed at this point. "Blaine, we're going to have to use her again eventually so we might as well. I'll get her and her friend to sign a contract of secrecy later."

There was sometime before Blaine answered. "Fine."

"Right you see miss." Will began leaning forward slightly. "I'm sure you're aware of the rumours going round."

"No. I'm not, like I said before, I don't follow what Blaine Anderson does." Rachel shot the teen actor a death glare.

"Well the press caught Blaine err..." Will turned to Blaine.

"They think I'm Gay." Blaine got straight to the point. "So I need an alibi to say I'm not. You were just a spur of the moment choice."

Rachel stared, her mouth open. "A-are you?"

"I'm not going to say."

"Blaine!" Will snapped.

"Alright, I don't know ok?"

"What? Why don't you just tell them that? There's no shame in not err knowing!" Rachel cried.

"Shhh, I'm not ready for it! I'm a teen sensation, if the paparazzi find out then; well you know what they're like. They say things that aren't true and I lose my fans. Not to mention the hell I'll get back home! You have to be careful about these things! Besides, not knowing what you are is hard for other people to come to terms with. They think you're a player you know?"

"But..."

"It's his choice. You don't know how people are going to react especially when they expect something else of you. And sometimes you're confused and it could turn out you aren't what you thought you were and then people end up thinking bad things about you, they'll avoid you and then pick on you. You get slammed into lockers and death threats and..." Kurt trailed off, looking down at his hands again. It was the first time he had spoken up since being in the crowd and now everyone was staring at him. "I err saw it in a movie..."

"You're a very surprising guy, you know that?" Blaine raised an eyebrow.

"Anyway, you're going to have to come out with it at some point." Rachel carried on.

"When I'm older and can take the pressure a little better I will. Being famous is hard you know."

"I won't say anything, don't worry. Kurt's not much of a gossiper either."

Will riffled through a briefcase he had pulled out from under his seat. He removed a cluster of papers and handed them over to Rachel and Kurt who looked at them quizzically.

"These are the contracts that say you vow not to say anything." Will explained.

"And what if we break our vow of silence?" Rachel inquired.

"We sue you." Will shrugged.

"You Actors, suing everybody. I'll sign, but only because it'll make you feel better." Rachel snatched up the pen Will was waving in her face and wrote down her signature on the page. Kurt did the same

The saloon car began to slow to a halt and the driver got out to open the door for Kurt and Rachel to get out.

"It was nice meeting you both." Blaine smiled. "Oh and can I have your number Rachel?"

"Why?"

"You're my girl friend remember?"