Blaine wanted to be anywhere else except in his small, cramped desk in the last row of the English room. Normally, Blaine didnt mind English. It was one of the few classes that he didnt have to stare at Kurt from a doorway, risking getting seen by someone and then made fun of for stalking Kurt.

Today, though, Blaine had a lot to complain about.

Trapped in the seat that was exactly one foot away from Karofsky, Blaine slumped over and slid his phone out of his pocket, checking for any messages or calls from Kurt. Rachel had wanted to talk to Kurt about something, and the two had gone shopping to accessorize their homecoming dresses.

Not having Kurt with him bothered him that he couldnt gaze at his pretty, blue eyes. He had absolutely no idea what to do with his right hand since he always held Kurts during class, so he stuck it in his pocket instead. He was forced to focus on Karofsky, who wouldnt do anything to him because they were in public, but Blaine couldnt stop his sharp breaths every time he saw Karofsky twitch from the corner of his eye.

To his relief, his phone buzzed with a message, so he clicked on it and read Kurts excitement, Rachel found Louis Vuitton gloves! Were going to Chanel but I should be back in time to go out to lunch with you. Love you!

Blaine smirked at Kurts enthusiasm, replying to him when something kicked the back of his chair. He twisted around and hissed, then calmed down when he saw Finn staring at his phone. "Dude," he muttered lowly, "if thats Kurt tell him to ask Rachel if she wants to do pictures at her house or mine. I forgot my phone at home."

Blaine started to nod, typing in what Finn wanted him to say, but was interrupted by Karofsky coughing beside of him. "Faggot." He barked, and Blaines head snapped up. Karofsky had never made a scene in public before, and hed been convinced that he was over him after he told him that he hated him, but Karofsky looked at Blaine and frowned, cocking his head, "Does that hurt... cocksucker?" He stuck his tongue in his cheek, then turned away with a snort.

Blaine was startled by how much that still bothered him, and he jabbed his tongue at the inside of his cheek. "Im not a fag-" he argued, but Finn put his hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"Dont." Finn warned, his narrow eyes on Karofsky, who was looking at them again. "He just wants to upset you. Back off him, Karofsky. Damn." He tightened his hand on Blaines shoulder, and even though his hard grip hurt, Blaine felt somehow safe with him. It was something he wasnt used to feeling. He leaned back into Finn, which made the corners of Karofskys mouth turn up in a horrid sneer.

"What the fuck is this?" Karofsky cackled, making a few people around them glance at them. "I knew you were banging Hummel, but Hudson, too? I didnt know you had it in you. Whos a better kisser? I bet its Hummel with his lady lips."

Finns brows furrowed, "What?" Shaking his head, Finn pulled Blaine to the edge of his seat, away from Karofsky. "Stop it, Karofsky. Blaines not like you anymore."

Blaine flicked his eyes to Finn, wondering what he meant by that, but before he could tell him that he wasnt like him, either, Karofsky reached over and grabbed his arm. "Queer. You cant even stand up for yourself. Or can you not talk because you strained your throat on Hummels cock?" Holding his fist up to his mouth, Karofsky grinned at him.

Finn suddenly slapped his hand off of Blaine, "I said back off! What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Karofskys face turned bright red and he raised his fist at Finn, "Dont touch me, faggot! Youll get your fairy dust on me! I dont want to end up like Anderson after that fairy Hummel turned him into one-"

Blaine stood up from his chair so quickly that he didnt even realize he was on his feet, and he knotted Karofskys collar around his fist. "Kurts not a faggot, you asshole!" He yelled, curling his hand and whacking the left side of Karofskys face.

"Blaine!" Someone shouted from the front of the room, "Get out of my classroom now!"

Blaine whipped around and stared at Lumbly, then at his classmates who were all wide eyed. His jaw tightened and he wrapped his arms around himself, staggering out of the room. He wanted to sit in his car until Kurt got back from the mall, probably cry a little. He was tired and wanted to curl up in Kurts arms, feel his soft, gentle fingers thread through his hair and stroke him. In his daze, he didnt realize anyone was nearby until he bumped into someone.

"Blaine," the person sounded surprised, and Blaine looked at Schuester. He held his hand out and grabbed Blaines shoulder to steady him. "Blaine, are you alright? You look pale."

Blaine didnt want to talk to anyone about his issues, so he jerked away, "Im just going to the locker room."

Schuester kept a firm grip on him, "Hey... stop. Im not going to bite you. Do you want to sit down in my room for a little while? I can get you some water." Putting his hand between Blaines shoulders, Schuester pushed him in the direction of the choir room. "Itll be okay, whatevers wrong."

"Nothings wrong-" Blaine snapped, weakly trying to escape again. Part of him wanted to walk away, but the other was so exhausted that sitting down and drinking a cup of water didnt sound that bad.

"You might not show that many emotions, Blaine, but I can tell when youre upset." Schuester warned him, which bothered Blaine. He didnt want anyone figuring him out. It hurt too much when he was betrayed.

Kurt slipped out of the curtain to the dressing room and showed Rachel his shoes, a pair of high heels that matched his eyes. "Do you like these?" He chirped, wiggling his foot. He did a little spin to show how well he could walk in them. "I think Blaine will think theyre so pretty. He wants us to wear outfits with the color of my eyes... thats so sweet, isnt it? But Im choosing his eye color when we go to prom. He has beautiful eyes... dark gold..." He shivered just thinking about them, and he realized he missed Blaine very much.

Rachel was stuck on one of Kurts statements. "How do you know youll go to prom with him? You know, a lot of people are betting that Blaine will play a mean prank on you at homecoming. No one thinks that he could actually like you. I told you, Kurt, Blaine isnt nice-"

Kurt gasped and turned away from a mirror to face her, his face pink and lips trembling, "You promised you wouldnt say anything mean about Blaine if I went shopping with you!"

"Im trying to help you." Rachel insisted, sitting down on a bench and crossing her legs. "You dont know how awful he is."

Kurts eyes filled with tears, "Youre hurting my feelings." He put his hands on his cheeks, squishing them and puckering his pink lips. He looked like a little doll. "You broke a promise and youre being very mean to Blaine. Hes nice, Rachel... a gentleman. He respects me and hes not mean. No one understands him."

"I understand him!" Rachel almost yelled, quieting her voice when one of the employees glanced at them. "Youre the one who thinks everything is happy and nothing bad can happen." At that, tears slipped down Kurts cheeks and he pressed his hand to his mouth, and she started to regret it but kept going. "But I get Blaine. You think hes good but hes not, and nothing can make him better. You know, Karofsky told him to punch a kid just because he was gay... and he did it. He punched him so hard that the kid stopped coming to school and transferred. I dont know why Blaine hasnt punched you yet."

Kurt shook his head, poking his fingers into his ears. "Thats not Blaine. I know he regrets it. He would never hurt me." Crying into his hand, Kurt turned around and wrapped his arms around himself. "I want to go back to Blaine. Please... just take me back to the school."

When Kurt started walking out of the store, Rachel hurried after him, "Kurt, I just dont want Blaine to break your heart."

"He wont break my heart." Tears dripped off the tip of Kurts nose, and he rubbed it until it was pink. He kept walking, knowing that Blaine loved him and wouldnt ever hurt him.

Blaine walked into the choir room with Schuester on his heels, glaring at the empty seats and the silent piano. It all seemed so different without Kurt there, singing in the middle of the room, swaying his hips to the beat of a song. Blaine wondered if he hated it or loved it, but he felt emotionless. Schuester took a few steps in front of him and sat down at the piano, pulling up a chair beside of the bench. Blaine stared at it for a few seconds, knowing what Schuester wanted him to do. Pushing his hair off his face, Blaine lowered onto the edge of the chair and crossed his arms.

Schuester sighed heavily at Blaines defensive pose, and he rubbed his nape, "Its gotten worse, hasnt it?"

Blaine flicked his eyes to Schuester, then stared at the tips of his shoes again. Schuester hesitated before continuing, "I mean with Karofsky. Youre hurting because of it, and you use moments when Kurt isnt around to lash out... because you dont want him to see you like that. People are talking, Blaine. You used to have everything put together. Sure, you were a bully, but you seemed... on top of things. Now that Kurts here, youre missing class, youre always on edge, you dont talk much to others. You get stressed every time youre not with Kurt, and you withdraw from people. Im not saying Kurts a bad influence. Believe me, I think Kurts the best thing thats ever happened to you. Its just... I see you struggling. You obviously love Kurt very much and you make it very clear that you do, but when youre alone its like... youre defensive because youre just waiting for the next attack."

"Im fine." He hated saying that because he knew he wasnt, but he didnt want to let Schuester in. "You dont know me. Im always... like this."

"No, I dont know you, Blaine." Schuester quietly agreed. "No one really knows you, do they? Ive seen you around, though, and thats enough. Like I said, its very obvious when youre unhappy. Ever since Karofsky took you in, youve been frustrated and bitter towards everyone. Youve slept with girls who you fight with now, like what happened on the bus with Rachel. Kurt got you away from all of that anger that Karofsky has... and I know that Kurts a very perky person, so it has to be different for you." He paused to smile at that, and even though Blaine privately agreed, he didnt smile back. "Ive seen you around Kurt. You act like youve just realized what love feels like. And I know Kurt is at his strongest when hes with you. He loves you, Blaine... more than I think any of us will ever realize. He wants you to be happy."

Blaine didnt want to say anything, not because he was afraid of revealing too much, but because he didnt know what to say. Biting the inside of his cheek, Blaine tucked a loose strand behind his ear and shifted his weight.

Schuester sighed and leaned forward, touching Blaines knee. "Alright, I know that pamphlets dont help, so I was thinking that we could talk as two guys. Blaine... without telling me that youre not gay, because I think youre pretty doubtful of that, will you tell me what the difference is between what youre going through now and what you would go through if you came out? Youre just preventing yourself from everything that Kurt wants to give you. Youre getting all the homophobic insults and pressure from your peers now that you would if you came out. If you came out, youd still have all of that, but... youd be able to hold hands with the person you love, and kiss Kurt, and-"

"Im not gay."

Groaning, Schuester covered his face with his hands as he realized he wasnt breaking a single crack into Blaines hardened heart. "Why, Blaine? Why arent you gay? Why dont you tell me those reasons?"

"Because I know Im straight."

He realized he was probably pushing Blaine, but he wanted to know. Blaine was so hard to figure out. "Who convinced you of that, Karofsky?"

Blaines jaw tightened, and he raised his head slightly, "Is there a point to coming out? Id come out and be with Kurt for, what, another eight and a half months, then hed leave for Paris and Id be stuck here alone, dealing with the insults and sneers and Id have no one because Kurt is the only-" Blaine stopped talking, realizing that if he told Schuester that he doubted that there was anyone else for him hed practically be coming out right then and there. He quickly blurted, "He told me hed stay with me if I came out, but I cant do that to him. I wont hold him back from Broadway. He deserves so much more than me and if he stays with me... Ill make him miserable and Id rather him leave loving me than stay and hate me."

Schuester reached out to touch Blaine, but stopped himself when Blaine scooted away, "You dont have to be away from him. You could go with him. I know you feel like you have to stay here, but for you to reject Kurt-"

"Im not rejecting him," Blaine bit out, peeling his lips back. "Im refusing to hold him back. Why dont you get into Quinns business this way? Or Pucks? Why does it have to be mine when Ive done everything I can to make it clear that I want to be left alone?"

Schuester stared blankly at Blaine for several minutes, but Blaine, rather than feel intimidated, didnt look away from him. Finally, Schuester held up his hands and nodded, "Alright, Blaine. I get it. Someone has done something so bad to you that you cant even talk to someone who wants to care about you. I can understand you keeping this from Kurt. He doesnt need to hear about stress with Karofsky. But, dont... dont keep it inside. Its tearing away at you. I know people have let you down, Blaine, but youre letting yourself down by forcing yourself to suffer through this alone."

"Theres no one I can talk to." Blaine whispered, returning his gaze to the floor. "All teachers do is hand me pamphlets about gay sex then call my parents with their concerns. My parents are homophobes, I have no friends, and Kurt is just... I cant put this on him. It hurts him to see me... dealing with stuff. Id rather keep him out of this."

Schuesters jaw tightened, then he reached for a folder sitting on the piano. He slipped a plain piece of sheet paper out and handed it to Blaine. "Youre really good at music, Blaine." He muttered, getting to his feet. "You can write a song about the way you feel... you can keep it to yourself if you dont want me to know. Or you can give it to me and we can try talking again... I could even give you extra credit for it. Or you could give it to Kurt and talk to him about it. Its good that you trust him... I can tell that he never wants to hurt you."

He waited until Schuester walked away and closed the door behind himself to breathe, staying in the chair with his arms crossed and his head low. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and rubbed his face, feeling his stubble scratch his hands. He lifted his lashes again and stared at the piece of paper in his hands, thinking about crumpling it up and throwing it away. How could he ever write a song if he didnt know his own feelings? Turning his head, he stared at the piano for what felt like a long time, remembering when he used to play in secret. Hed been young, needy for something to hang onto, and then hed heard the song Ben. Hed learned to play it on the piano, just because he felt like it was the perfect song for him, but he stopped playing when he got older. Karofsky had told him that playing the piano was for faggots, and Blaine had never looked at a piano since.

Hesitantly scooting onto the bench, Blaine touched the piano keys and felt them tremble under his strong fingers. He pressed down on one and was shocked when it made a noise, then he pushed another. He heard the notes chime out of the piano, but he didnt believe that he was the one making the music. He was so captivated by the music that he hardly noticed the door swinging open and a high pitched voice politely murmuring, "Thank you for coming with me today, Rachel."

Rachel said nothing, and when Blaine turned his head, he found her staring at him from the doorway. She looked very uncomfortable, then she turned around and left. Kurt, waving after her, shut the door and turned around. He smiled at Blaine, who raised a brow, "Youre back early. Howd you know Id be in here?"

Kurt bounced over to Blaine and kept his hands behind his back, his pink lips curved and his bottom lip caught between his teeth. "I saw Mr. Schuester in the hallway. He told me you were here so I thought Id visit you. Are you happy to see me?"

Holding his arms out, Blaine nodded for him to come closer. "Yes. Come here... let me hold you. Your hands are pink from the cold... Ill warm you up."

Kurt squirmed as he approached Blaine, his cheeks brightening to an almost cherry shade. "I brought you a present from the mall. Its more for me because hes so soft and cuddly..." he showed Blaine a stuffed dog with big eyes, then he squished him to Blaines cheek. "But I want you to have him. Isnt he cute?"

Smirking at Kurt, Blaine took the dog from him, then wrapped his arm around his hips and tugged him to his lap. "Youre so sweet." He muttered, kissing the tip of Kurts nose. "Thank you."

Curling into Blaine, Kurt tucked his head under his chin and whispered, "Why do you look so upset? Im sorry I left you like that... I wanted to go shopping with you but I want you to be surprised when you see my dress."

Blaine shook his head, kissing Kurts ear, "No... Ill be fine, baby. You dont have to worry about me. Was shopping okay?"

"Mm hm." Kurt nodded and sighed against Blaines neck, making his skin very warm. "I bought shoes... theyre very cute. And a few necklaces... I love jewelry." Looking at the ring on his finger, Kurt smiled and held it up to Blaines face. Blaine kissed the gum wrapper ring, happy that Kurt was still wearing it. "But I was very sad without you. I just wanted to go back to you."

Blaine grinned at that, closing his eyes and kissing the top of Kurts head, "I really missed you, baby. Never leave me like that again."

"Never," Kurt agreed softly, his eyes sparkling. He looked down at the piano and stroked the keys, "I heard you playing when I walked in. It was a pretty song. What was it called?"

"Uh..." Blaine frowned at the piano. "Ben. Its about a boy who has no one except his best friend and they love each other. I relied on it a lot when I was younger... you know, before high school started and I began acting like... what I used to be. I didnt have many friends and this was just sort of my reminder that one day someone will be there, probably singing this song with me."

Kurt looked at the piano with a soft expression, and he lifted Blaines hand and placed it on the keys. "Please, play it again. For me? It was lovely."

Blaine hesitantly pressed down on the keys, and Kurt watched his fingers skim over the notes. He wondered if Kurt was imagining his fingers sliding over his body that way. Catching the rhythm of the song, Kurt assumed the perfect singing posture and he hummed with Blaines tune. Blaine smiled as Kurt closed his eyes and chirped with the music.

Blaine jumped in on the second stanza and watched Kurts eyes pop open in surprise. He almost laughed at his startled expression but kept with the music, singing lyric to lyric with Kurt. Reaching the third stanza, Blaine tried to slow the song down, not wanting it to end. He could have spent all day singing it with Kurt. Smiling and snuggling into Blaines side, Kurt sighed happily. Kurt sang higher than he had for the entire song, and Blaine peeled his fingers away from the piano.

In his four years at McKinley High, Blaine had never thought he would go in the choir room, let alone duet with the most beautiful boy he had ever seen to a love song he had never shared with anyone before.

Suddenly feeling someones eyes on his back, Blaine glimpsed over his shoulder and saw Karofsky pressed up against the glass with a grimace of not disgust but what looked like pain or anguish or... heartbreak... on his face. Karofsky abruptly jerked away and ran down the hall. Noticing Blaines tension, Kurt lifted his blond lashes and glanced up at Blaines hard face. He stroked his jaw, "Blaine... whats wrong?"

Tearing his eyes away from the door, Blaine chose to deal with Karofsky and what that face could have meant later, because he wanted nothing to ruin this moment. As everyone was saying, his time with Kurt was coming to an end. If that was the case, he wanted to spend every second with him. Blinking at Kurts small, furrowed face, Blaine soothed him with a swift kiss. "Nothing, sweetheart. I was just... thinking. You want to go home, baby? Ill take you home."

Kurt squeaked and stared at Blaine with very big eyes, "But youll stay, wont you? You wont leave me."

"Not until you want me to." Blaine promised Kurt, stroking his thumb over Kurts soft cheek. He almost felt dangerous, touching Kurt even lightly. Kurt was so fragile that he felt like he could shatter him with one wrong touch.

Kurt shook his head, his eyes still huge with worry. "Ill never want that, Blaine. Ill always want you."

Slipping his fingers through Kurts, he lifted his hand to his lips, rubbing back and forth. "Good. Staying with you is the best thing that could ever happen to me."

Kurts happy expression finally changed, "Dont you mean will? Well stay together, wont we?"

Blaine didnt answer Kurt, not because he didnt have an answer, but because he knew the answer and didnt want to say it. Kurt would just have to find out for himself that he wasnt good for him. Distracting Kurt from his heartbreaking question, Blaine tied him in his arms and lifted him onto the piano, laying him down. Climbing above Kurts needy body, Blaine straddled him, nuzzling his mouth onto his. Brushing his long hair back to keep from tickling Kurts nose, Blaine closed his eyes.

And every worry disappeared.