They’d had another fight, Blaine and his father. It was a horrible one, worse than usual. It was over college and Kurt and Blaine being gay — one of their standard fights, but for some reason this fight meant so much more. Blaine had told his father he wanted to do community college for one year to get used to college life before going off to Yale. He didn’t mind the idea of transferring to Yale after a year or two.

But his father did.

Blaine had held off telling anyone about his acceptance to Yale, but with his father’s connections, he found out rather quickly. When he did find out, he was pissed because of Blaine’s ‘hemming and hawing about wanting to go to a community college sing no real big schools wanted him.

When his father found out he roared at Blaine. “You are going! No exceptions, and I want you to tell that boyfriend of yours too so he doesn’t get any illusions about you staying here another year.”

Blaine tried to plead the “I want to get used to college life” argument but his father would hear nothing of it. So, Blaine told Kurt about Yale and tried to be excited about it so that Kurt would be excited too and it would hurt less when he went. He tried not to let Kurt know how unhappy he was.

Blaine did a good job of hiding it until a few weeks before school ended and they were on a long holiday from school. He couldn’t hold it in anymore; he was sad and he was going to miss Kurt more than anything and he was desperate for them to stay together. His father caught him moping around the house and yelled at him and Blaine snapped and began yelling back.

The fight lasted for hours, most of which Blaine didn’t remember afterwards, until Blaine stormed from the house and drove the multiple hours to Kurt’s home-arriving long after midnight. Burt answered the door and saw Blaine’s tear-stained state and called for Kurt. In a flash, Kurt was down from his room and had his arms around Blaine’s neck, pressing a fervent kiss to Blaine’s cheek as he led him to the living room couch.

“What happened?” Kurt prompted, his father and Carole hovering in the door with Finn looming right behind.

“My dad and I fought about-” Blaine couldn’t bring himself to say Yale, “me being gay and so many other things. I can’t remember. I have the worst headache.” Carole immediately ran to get him some medicine.

Kurt wrapped his arms tightly around Blaine and cooed nonsense words at him, kissing his tears. Carole brought medicine and a washcloth for Blaine’s face and Kurt wiped away the tears until Blaine calmed down, then Burt stepped forward. “Blaine, you’re staying here tonight. I have Finn putting the rollaway in Kurt’s room, but I want that door open,” he warned. “I’ll call your father in the morning and straighten things out.”

Both boys stared up at him gratefully and trudged upstairs to Kurt’s room. Blaine made a beeline to the rollaway but Kurt grabbed his arm. “He’s not going to care, stay with me.” Blaine was too tired and upset to argue and crawled into bed with Kurt.

When he woke up in the morning, he was still wrapped tightly in Kurt’s embrace and slowly slid away to go downstairs where he found Burt sitting at the kitchen table. Burt looked up when he entered. “I talked to your dad about everything. I suggested you stay another night and he agreed. You can borrow some of Kurt’s or Finn’s clothing.”

Blaine sighed and nodded in understanding. Burt knew about Blaine not wanting to leave Kurt and thankfully he wasn’t forcing him to go back to his home. For that he was eternally grateful. “Thank you sir,” Blaine mumbled politely.

Burt’s expression softened. “Burt’s fine, kid. Why don’t you go and wake up Kurt, he was making noises yesterday about preparing low-fat pancakes today. Maybe you can use some of your boyfriend magic and convince him to make them with real sugar.” Blaine laughed that day for what felt like the first time in years and sprinted up the stairs to jump on Kurt’s bed and wake him up with a good morning kiss.

Blaine snapped back to attention, his head throbbing slightly, and took the lift up to Carrie’s apartment and knocked hurriedly, feeling tears burning his eyes.

Moments later the door opened and Chance blinked at him from the opposite side of the door. “Blaine? What’s wrong?” Chance’s voice was filled with concern.

“Is Carrie here?” Blaine whispered. Right now he wanted nothing more than to have Carrie to cling to.

Chance opened the door wider and ushered Blaine in. “No, she’s actually at the gallery still. They’re getting ready to start delivering some of the paintings and she wanted to be there to supervise. What’s wrong?” he repeated.

Blaine went straight to one of the couches in the open living room and flopped down into the cushions. “It’s Kurt,” Blaine started, trying to figure out how to continue. Almost immediately Chance was at his side, hand resting on the space right at the base of Blaine’s neck.

“What about Kurt? Is he okay?”

Blaine sighed and nodded. “Yes, he’s fine. We just fought.” Blaine didn’t even know if that was the correct way to put it.

Chance moved closer, wrapping his arm around Blaine’s shoulder. “What did you fight about?”

Blaine shook his head violently. “I really would like to talk to Carrie.”

Chance sighed. “She won’t be back for hours, and if you don’t talk to someone right now I’m pretty sure you’re going to explode. Talk to me, Blaine, pretend I’m Carrie.” He squeezed Blaine’s shoulder and Blaine loosened up a little.

“We had a date this evening. It was going… well,” Blaine started, taking his face away from his hands so he could speak clearly. “We ate and chatted and I thought that we were fine until at the end Kurt tried to kiss me, saying that it wasn’t a big deal, a gateway to more things. I couldn’t do it and pulled away and we got into a fight, bringing up old wounds and—God, I don’t even know anymore.”

Chance squeezed Blaine’s shoulder, his mouth uncomfortably close to Blaine’s ear. Blaine twitched his head to the side, not really liking how close Chance’s lips were. “Why don’t you want to kiss him?”

Blaine sighed and stood up edgily, moving away to stand near the large window spanning the north wall of the apartment. It felt better to put some distance between him and Chance, normally Chance wasn’t this touchy. Usually he kept a distance from Blaine, especially when Carrie was around. “I do want to kiss him. That’s the thing. But for me, a kiss with him is like a promise that I’m willing to try again and step into the whirlwind of life that is Kurt. I loved him in high school and the way we broke up was the hardest thing I’d had to deal with then. I don’t think I ever stopped loving him.”

“Well, that may be so,” Chance said from his place at the couch as he watched Blaine wrap his arms around himself. “But don’t you think that maybe, just maybe, your hesitance to be with him is something saying that it’s best you just step away and get him out of your life?” Chance stood and moved towards Blaine but didn’t touch him just yet.

“You were so healthy before you ran into him. Now look at you! You’re a mess of emotions, always swinging from unsure to angry to happy and back again. You’re almost like you were with your last breakup or when your parents died,” Chance continued. “Maybe it’s best if you move on and try spending time with someone else. Kurt is too much drama. Look at the rumors that circulate about him and all his models. And then there’s those stalker notes he’s been receiving lately. What you need is someone who really likes you and wants to see you happy, who has always been there for you.”

Blaine sighed. “Yeah? And who would that be?” Chance stood right before Blaine, watching him sadly. He settled his hands on Blaine’s shoulders to get his attention. Blaine slowly looked up to Chance and a moment later Chance’s lips were on his, probing and pressing against Blaine and stealing him of his breath.

When Chance pulled away his hands tightened on Blaine’s shoulders. “You’re right Blaine, a kiss is a promise. A promise to take care of and love you. True, it is a gateway to something more, but a kiss means so much.”

Blaine was too shocked to move. “Chance—what?”

Chance’s grip tightened. “Kurt doesn’t know what he had going for him. He probably could have kept you forever if he’d just waited but then he had to go and be petty and break you. When I found out what he did I could never forgive him. You’re the most amazing man anyone could have ever wished for and he let you go because of distance.”

Blaine wrenched himself away from Chance, his hand raised to his mouth. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he whispered, his words trembling in the air. “What about Carrie?”
Chance straightened, running his hands through his hair to get his bearings. “Carrie is special to me. When I started dating her, I had myself convinced that she could be the one. Then she introduced me to you and I realized that you were what I really wanted. But there was a catch. Your relationship to Carrie. You were so close to her that I knew if I broke up with her or did anything to anger her and make her break up with me I would never have a chance with you. So, I settled for the next best thing, being with her just so I could stay by your side as a friend.”

Blaine’s eyes widened immensely. “Chance, what the hell are you talking about?”

Chance didn’t seem to hear Blaine; he’d gone off the deep end into his own world. His eyes were wide and wild. “When I heard you were going to be coming to live in New York I was thrilled. That meant you’d be close by and I could spend as much time as I wanted. So I went to work to find you the perfect place, and then I did. The only drawback? Kurt lived there too. The bane of my existence, the only man that you would always remember as your first love.

“I swear when I found out Kurt lived in the same building as you, I was sure the fates were laughing at me. It terrified me that he was back because I was sure that I was going to lose you. He was going to drag you away from me and I couldn’t handle that!” Chance moaned, his hands shaking.

Blaine stared at him for a few long moments, his mind going a hundred miles a minute. Suddenly, something clicked and Blaine took a step forward. “I never told you about Kurt’s stalker notes.”

Chance laughed hollowly. “You didn’t have to. I already knew.”

“What do you mean?” Blaine demanded, a chill running through his body.

Chance’s eyes centered in on Blaine. “I already knew because I’m the one who sicced him on Kurt.” The words hung heavily between them before Chance went on, sounding suddenly scarily calm. “It’s amazing how full the internet is of those crazy fans, the ones willing to do just about anything to get to meet and know their favorite celebrity. I just spent a little time trying to find the most overzealous and once I did I spent a little time getting to know him. When he found out that I knew where Kurt Hummel lived, he was elated and promised to do anything to get to meet him. So, I had him write up a few notes to Kurt and then told him where to deliver them. He wanted Kurt to fall in love with him and hated when he found out that you were hanging around.”

Chance turned to look out the window, sounding very much like the lawyer he was. “I told him to ignore you and focus on Kurt, talk to him when you were out of the way. He loved the idea, so he’s been hanging around Kurt’s place lately, trying to find the right time. I’m sure tonight’s going to be the night that he’s going to make himself known.”

Blaine stared at Chance, aghast. His jaw moved but no sound came out and his feet felt like they’d been cemented to the floor. Chance whirled around suddenly, eyes wild once more. “Now that you know, Blaine, we can be together like I’ve always wanted us to be!” He reached for Blaine’s hands but Blaine wrenched them away. Chance narrowed his eyes. “What is it Blaine? Don’t you realize how good this is for us? Now we just have to find a way to break the news to Carrie, I know she’ll be upset for a while, but once she sees how happy we are, she’ll understand!”

Blaine finally found his voice as he backed up. “You’re nuts Chance! Everything about this is nuts! I’ve never loved you like that, ever!”

Chance stared at Blaine, wounded. “You mean, you don’t share my feelings?”

“No! Chance, you’ve always been my best friend’s boyfriend! I don’t know where you’re getting any of these crazy ideas.” He took another step away from Chance, about to turn and run out of the building. He needed to get away and call Carrie and, oh God! He needed to get a hold of Kurt and tell him! What if Kurt was still in the apartment building with the stalker?

Blaine turned to sprint out of the building when Chance grabbed his arm. “Blaine, you have to listen to me!”

Blaine tried to shake him off. “I’ll only listen once you’ve calmed down and you’re in your right mind!” He pushed Chance off him and didn’t look back as he sprinted out of the complex. Thankfully, a lady was leaving a taxi as he arrived and he literally dove into the back, rambling off the location of his apartment. As the taxi sped off down the crowded New York streets Blaine called Carrie. She answered and almost immediately he began to babble off what had just happened.

“He kissed me and started talking about how he was using you to be around me and I am so sorry Carrie! I never expected him to do anything like this,” Blaine whimpered. “He started talking about how he set the stalker on Kurt and how he’s basically free to do what he wants to now.”

Carrie was silent on the other end, which scared Blaine. He couldn’t see her face to try and decipher what she was thinking. “Are you going back to Kurt’s apartment now?” She asked, her voice even.

“Yes,” Blaine whispered hesitantly.

“Good. I’ll head back to the apartment to sort out Chance.” There was silence on the other end.
Blaine took a breath before murmuring. “I’m sorry, Carrie.”

He heard her sigh. “Me too. Don’t worry Blaine, I’ll be fine. Go and find Kurt,”

“Thank you, Carrie. I love you.” He sighed.

“I love you too, sweetie.” She hung up then and Blaine straightened to stare out the window as the buildings flew by. Next, he attempted to call Kurt, listening to it ring over and over again until it rolled over to voice mail. He hung up and tried again and still got the same result.
When he arrived at the apartment, he sprinted to the elevator, pressing the up button frantically. By the time it arrived, Blaine was in a full blown panic. He continued to try and reach Kurt as he rode the elevator up to Kurt’s floor. When the door barely opened enough for Blaine to get through, he slipped up and sprinted to the door.

Blaine knocked rapidly, desperate for Kurt to answer. He called out Kurt’s name but didn’t receive any response. Out of desperation he tried the door handle and it opened. The door swung forward and Blaine took a step back. None of the lights were on in the apartment and Blaine took a tentative step forward. He groped for the lights, flicking them on. “Kurt?” Blaine called tentatively, turning on the lights for the main living room.

The sight that met him caused him to gasp and stumble back against a wall.

The apartment was a wreck. A lamp was smashed against a wall, a chair overturned, rugs thrown helter-skelter. Once Blaine found his bearings, he moved forward, farther into the apartment, not really thinking about what a horrible idea that was. Carefully, Blaine checked every room but found no sign of Kurt or anyone else. Moving back to the living room, a flash of silver caught Blaine’s eye and he moved to pick it up.

It was Kurt’s bracelet, the one that Blaine had given him. Clutching it in his fist he slumped down in a chair that hadn’t been upturned and tried calling Kurt once more. Tiredly he listened to it ring and ring, finally. “Hello?”

“Kurt?” The voice on the other end was frantic as Sadie picked up Kurt’s phone.

“No, Sadie,” she said, glancing to Kurt who was settled in a chair across from her, nursing some sort of drink he’d whipped up upon arriving at her flat. “Listen Blaine, I think it would be good if you’d give him a little space right now.”

“But, wait, Sadie!” She hung up before he could get another word out.

From his spot on the recliner, Kurt sighed. “Thank you.”

She turned to arch an eyebrow for at him. “For what?”

“Not telling me I told you so, and hanging up on Blaine.” Kurt sighed. “After tonight, I realize how ridiculous I was to think he still liked me, after all these years.”

Sadie moved to squeeze onto the chair with him, wrapping her arms around his shoulder. “Blaine’s a nice guy, but maybe you two were never really meant to be together. Maybe you’re meant to be friends or just acquaintances?”

Kurt sighed tiredly and dropped his head to rest against her cheek. “I don’t think I could be in Blaine’s life without being in his life.”

Sadie petted his hair, lightly. “Well, maybe you were meant to be like Meg Ryan and that one guy in ‘When Harry Met Sally’, you know? Before they got together? They were just friends, willing to see the other happy.” Tears suddenly formed at the corner of Kurt’s eyes. “What’s wrong?” She asked but he shook his head furiously.

His phone went off and with a groan Sadie got up to answer it. “Blaine, you really need to give Kurt some tim-“

Blaine’s voice was strained and almost frantic on the other end. “Sadie! Please, don’t hang up! I need to make sure that Kurt’s okay!”

Sadie paused, looking at Kurt cautiously. “What do you mean, okay?” Kurt opened his eyes and watched her curiously.

“Please, just let me talk to him. For a moment!” Blaine begged.

She was about to hang up once more, but something in his voice stopped her and she sighed. “Fine, but you had better not say anything to make him cry again. I don’t think I could take any more of that tonight.” She was half tempted to go and make herself a drink.

“I promise I won’t,” Blaine sighed and Sadie handed the phone over to Kurt who stared at her wide-eyed, looking betrayed.

Sadie gritted her teeth and covered the receiver. “Just talk to him, he literally sounds frantic. Maybe he realized what a git he’s being and wants to apologize?”

“Weren’t you saying a little while ago that I shouldn’t deal with him?” Kurt hissed. Sadie shrugged her shoulders.

“Yeah, well, I think he still deserves a chance to redeem himself. Or at least humiliate himself by groveling at your feet.” She shoved the phone into his hands and stormed off to the kitchen to find some more alcohol.

Kurt sighed and lifted the phone to his ear. “Yes, Blaine?” he asked simply, trying to keep his tone civil.

Blaine answered immediately, his voice breathy and rushed. “Thank God you’re okay!”
Kurt sat up a little. “Blaine? What’s wrong?”

Blaine huffed and a second later his words started to spill through the earpiece in a rush. “It’s a long story but right now I’m sitting in the middle of your apartment and it’s trashed. I went to talk to Chance and he told me about how he told your stalker where to find you and I rushed back here and the door was unlocked and I came in and it’s a mess but I think whoever did this is gone because I checked all the rooms.”

Kurt shook his head, trying to make sense of what Blaine was telling him. He sat in silence until finally he said. “Blaine, stay there. I’ll be back to the apartment in ten minutes. Call the front desk and have him call the police, okay?”

Blaine made a ‘mm-hmm’ sound and Kurt hung up, immediately standing to grab his coat. Sadie poked her head out of the kitchen to squint at him. “What’s up?”

“Blaine’s at my apartment and apparently when he arrived it was open and someone had ransacked it. He thinks it has something to do with the person that’s been sending me those letters.” Sadie immediately frowned, looking worried.

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No, I think I’ll be fine. I told Blaine to call the manager and have him contact the police. I’ll call you later once all this is sorted out.” He hurried to her side to kiss her cheek and left the apartment, rushing out to the street to arrive at his home ten minutes later.
He hurried to the elevators and took them up, wondering if the police would be there when he arrived. When he got to his apartment the door was still unlocked. He pushed open the door to a very quiet apartment. “Blaine?” he called.

The apartment was a mess and he slipped in, shutting the door carefully behind him. “Blaine, are you here?”

“Kurt?” He heard a voice call from the bedroom. Immediately Kurt rushed in that direction and stopped dead in the doorway. Blaine was sitting at the foot of the bed, knocked out, and there was someone behind him. “Hello, Kurt, I have been waiting for so long to meet you!”