Blaine was nearing the meadow, and still couldn’t get Kurt on his phone. This was so frustrating! What the hell could have happened? Blaine had gone to a function with his Mom. His aunt was getting a humanitarian award, (WHOO, GO AUNT BELLA!); he didn’t expect to get back this early. Therefore Kurt didn’t expect him to be back this early. He was thinking he could give Kurt a surprise. Call him up and see if he could stop by and maybe play the grand piano that was in Kurt’s living room with him again. That day was spectacular.However he had been calling Kurt non-stop on the drive back and the phone just rang until the voicemail kicked in every time.

Blaine arrived at the meadow… And there’s nobody there. Well shit. He was sure Kurt would be here. He tried Kurt’s cell phone yet again. As the phone rings in his ear, he heard something vibrating on the ground to his left. Kurt’s iphone. With a picture of him and Kurt relaxing against the log bench in this same meadow flashing on the screen. Kurt never left his phone anywhere. Blaine was now officially losing his shit.

What if he was hurt?

Or taken?

Or worse?

This was Lima. By no means was he naïve to the fact that it was dangerous to be gay and living in Lima. Hell, it was dangerous to be gay and living anywhere. He just needs Kurt to be okay. God please let him be okay.

Kurt drew his knees up to rest his chin on them. How was he going to handle this? What the hell was he going to do? He couldn’t even protect himself. Sure Merry will have at least one person with her almost all the time, one of the girls probably. He knows if Davy had his way he’d be with her all the time. But Mercedes was with him throughout last year… And he still got shoved into the lockers. He closed his tired eyes.

Just then he heard the leaves below him rustle. Kurt looked down surprised. Blaine was in the middle of the meadow looking distraught. What was he doing back so soon?

“Blaine?” Kurt made the name a question, not because he didn’t know who it was, how could he not, but because he wasn’t expecting to see him. At least not for a couple hours.

Blaine looked up and Kurt was perched in a tree. What the fuck was he doing in a tree? But Blaine felt relief more than anything. He had been imagining the worst possible situations.

“Oh there you are, I’ve been looking for you forever! Seriously, you do not wanna see the amount of missed calls on your cell.” He let the stress ebb out of his body. “Why are you in a tree?” He questioned.

“I felt like climbing today, I haven’t in a while.” Kurt replied softly.

“And you leave your cell on the ground?” Asked Blaine, a puzzled look on his face.

“Well the last time I had a cell phone with me up here it fell and splintered into a lot of pieces. I don’t think I could convince Dad to get me a new one again.” Kurt chuckled. “What are you doing back so early?” Not that he was complaining.

“We were planning to go with Aunt Bella to a get together after the ceremony, but she didn’t want to go. She came back with us, staying for the week, since Cooper is coming and we all haven’t seen him in a while you know.” Blaine explained.

“When did you say Cooper was coming?”

“Tomorrow. Umm. Kurt, why don’t you come down?”

“Why don’t you come up? There’s plenty of space.” Kurt smirked. And he was right. The limb he sat on was broad and a little flattened.

“I don’t know if that’s such a great idea. The last time I climbed a tree I was 11 years old Kurt.”

“It’s fine, I’ll help you. The only way you’d be in danger is if you were a cell phone.”

Blaine chuckled at his statement. But then he crossed his arms and said, “Well I don’t know about leaving my phone down here, someone might ring and I’m not able to answer. And you just know they’ll think something crazy like I got kidnapped or worse, cause what could possibly go wrong in Lima right?”

Blaine meant his rant to be joke, but a lot of truth ended up in there, he was really scared for Kurt.

“Okay, I see your point. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you’d be back this early, so I didn’t think to tell you that I won’t have my phone on me.” Kurt breathed. He knew Blaine was a tad bit shaken by this, and he wanted to soothe his fears as much as he could.

“It’s fine. I didn’t know I was coming home early either. I just… I…”

“I know.” Kurt said. “You’re just looking out for me. Now would you come up? Pretty please for me?”

Blaine chuckled, put his phone in his pocket and made his way to the base of the tree. Kurt watched Blaine walk to the tree and smiled. He had found out that whenever he pleads with Blaine and uses the words ‘For Me’ he practically gets whatever he wants. It was glorious.

“Okay put your foot on that branch, right there, and reach your hand up to me.” Kurt pulled Blaine up on the thick limb. “See, it’s fine. You’re perfectly safe. Isn’t the view great up here?”

“Beautiful.” Blaine said. But he wasn’t looking at the scenery.

Kurt surveyed the landscape like he’s been doing for the greater part of an hour. The worries that became subdued in light of Blaine arriving came back with full force. Blaine knows Kurt’s face so completely now that he picks up the slightest shift.

“Hey. What’s wrong?” Kurt didn’t want to worry Blaine. But he knew Blaine would want to know. After all he will be facing the same circumstances. And it wouldn’t matter if Blaine had a letterman jacket (Which is a given. The boy can run. The Track team would be crazy to turn him down) or not. He was going to hang out with the gay kid at school; he was going to try out for Glee club. Which all translates to; He was going to get locker checked like he ordered them with his credit card and he was going to get slushied into oblivion. Blaine knew all of this. Kurt told him about everything. Of course Blaine didn’t give a shit, but Kurt does. He doesn’t want anyone getting hurt because they were associated with him. Hence why he is scared for Merry…

“I’m scared for her Blaine. I know she’s tough. But she’s my baby sister and I can’t help it. We won’t even see each other til lunch. And I know she’s trying out for Glee too… She’ll have a hard time. I don’t know if I can watch her go through that. There’ll be slushies and shoves and harsh words and slurs. And if she comes home with bruises like I had I might just have to set that fucking school on fire. I’m… I’m supposed to protect her Blaine. I don’t know how to do that now.”

Blaine shifts a little closer to Kurt and turns on the limb so that he’s straddling it. Then he turns Kurt so that he is doing the same and effectively made a space in which Kurt could lean back into him. Which is what Kurt does. Blaine’s amazed at how attuned they are to one another. Blaine starts using his fingertips to trail up and down Kurt’s arm. He has to relax him. What he’s about to say might not be easy to hear. Kurt’s reaction is immediate. The stress of a minute ago eases out of his body, though the worry remains in his face.

“Kurt, I need you to hear me out ok? You can’t protect Sky forever. Ah ah ah, let me finish.” Blaine said, because Kurt looked fully prepared to interrupt.

Blaine continued. “You can’t protect her forever, from everything. I’m not saying I’m all right with her experiencing all these horrible things, I’m saying that you cannot prevent these things from happening. Unless the administration changes, it will happen. This is the world, and we can’t shield her from it. But we can prepare her the best we know how. We can teach how to persevere and how to fight back without even getting physical. We can give her all the tools she needs to survive. We are living examples that you can survive in spite of it all. Even if we are barely surviving, we are surviving none-the-less. Wanting to be there every second she’s in trouble is an instinct for you. You’re her big brother. You love her. I expect nothing less. But it is not feasible to be there every second she’s in trouble. She’s growing up Kurt, let her. Just do all you can to be there for her when you can. And you know she’s never alone anyway. Davy won’t leave her alone for a minute.”

Kurt chuckled at the last statement. “You’re right. She has Sare, and Becks and Sue too. They should be back by now. They never leave each other unless it’s mandatory… I know all this. Trust me I do. It doesn’t stop the worrying though.” Kurt sighed.

“Actually, I’d be thoroughly surprised if it did.” Blaine chuckled. “That’s who you are Kurt. You love with everything, feel with everything, and yes, worry with everything. It’s one of the many things I lo-like about you.” Blaine looked at Kurt to see if he registered the mishap.

Kurt showed no sign that he did, but looks are deceiving. His insides were doing the Irish jig. Did Blaine just almost say…? It doesn’t matter, probably doesn’t mean anything anyway. I mean you can love something about a person and it doesn’t necessarily mean you want something romantic with them. Kurt internally sighed. He’d take anything he can get with Blaine. He’s too addicted now.

“To tell you the truth I’m worried too. But I know we’ll make it through somehow, I don’t know how, but we have to.” Blaine said. “So, why don’t we head back to your place? I was actually thinking about playing the piano again with you til you decided to go missing and climb a tree!” Blaine laughed out loud.

“Well you are in the tree WITH me mister, what does that say about you?” Kurt retorted. Blaine pretended to think for a minute.

“I think it says ‘Me Tarzan, You Jane!’ or is it ‘You Tarzan, Me Jane’?”

Kurt turned to look Blaine right in the face for two seconds before letting out a loud peel of laughter and nearly falling out of the tree.

“You sir. (Laughs) Are such. (Laughs harder) A goober!!!” Kurt chokes out.

“Oh but you love me!” Blaine laughs.

“I do!” Kurt laughs hard.

Both of them stopped abruptly as they realized what they just said.

Kurt’s mind began to race. It’s the perfect opportunity to say how I feel. To say what I’ve been feeling since the day I met him. But what if he rejects me? Will I be able to handle that? What if he rejects me and then stops being my friend because he thinks it might be weird? What if he stops talking to me altogether? I can’t risk that. I can’t lose him. I don’t ever want to lose him.

Blaine’s mind is firing. Did that just happen? Did he mean it? Is this what I think it is? Should I just say something? Say that I do love him? And even though I’ve known him for a month, it’s the best one of my existence? Do I tell him I’m serious, and it would be an honor to be with him? Would he want me? What if he doesn’t? I don’t want to lose him. I can’t lose him.

Kurt shifted his hand to steady himself on the limb but misses it, Blaine automatically reached out to hold him. This move effectively brought both their faces so near that they were breathing each other’s air. Blaine’s eyes immediately dropped to Kurt’s lips. Just one more nanometer and he’d be kissing Kurt. And that would completely erase all doubt in his mind. Before he could think about it anymore, his phone slid out of his pocket and fell crashing to the ground. The sound snapped them out of their trance and both boys looked down.

“Hmm, well I’m not gonna say ‘I told you so.’” Kurt said.

“Fuck!” Blaine swore.

“I’m sorry Blaine, will you be able to get a new one?”

“Oh Kurt, stop apologizing. I’ll ask mom. Don’t worry about it. You did tell me to leave it on the ground. Explaining this one will be a doozy! I should listen to you more often.”

“Well you’re right about that!” Kurt chuckled. “Okay, were you not just trying to entice me out of the tree with piano goods?” He asked, trying desperately to move the mood from the dangerous territory it was in. He and Blaine almost kissed and he didn’t know how to navigate that minefield.

“Piano goods? Really? Piano goods??? What would that even look like?” Blaine questioned. He puts his split emotions of both relief and disappointment on the back burner for the moment. Part of him really wanted to discuss what almost happened and part of him really didn’t, in case it was not what he thought.

“Piano goods are songs Blaine. Songs.” Kurt said as though he’s explaining to a 5yr old. Which most times, he swear Blaine is.

“Okay, okay!” Blaine chuckles. “I get that. Now let’s get down before we fall out and break something other than my phone."

Davy settled in his favorite chair and stared at his phone. He’s dreading Sare’s call because she is gonna kick him in the ass like only Sara can.

After the girls came over the other day, he was expecting something. Sare gave him that ‘I’m gonna kick your goddamn ass’ look. Then he got a text this morning.

To. Davy, Fr. Sare

Be by your phone at 2pm.

Seriously D, I’ll hunt you down if you miss this call.

!Muy importante!

So yeah, he’s 99% sure it’s coming. He thinks he should just be grateful that it’s over the phone. But the thing is, with Sare, it doesn’t make it any less of an ass kicking. He also knows that he wouldn’t be getting one if he didn’t need one. So he’ll just take his punishment, present his case and hopes it’s valid enough. His phone rung shrilly and attempted to vibrate off of the table. Here goes nothing.

“Hey Sare!”

“You fucking dumbass!”

That’s Sara for you. Never beats around the bush. She sees no reason to. Davy sighed. He never takes this to heart. Sara calls everyone dumbass. Especially when they are acting like dumbasses. Was he acting like one?

“I know.”

“You love her Davy!!! It’s so painfully obvious that I’m not entirely sure how she doesn’t see it! I’m dealing with two dumbasses!!!”

“I do. I love her very much. I love her so much it aches. But-”

“ But nothing D! What do you mean but!? You love her. That should be it. You should be together making each other happy. THERE IS NO BUT!”

“Sare, I don’t wanna ruin us. Relationships are messy. What if it doesn’t work out and we’re not really a fit that way? I CANNOT LOSE HER. I prefer to have her as a friend than to have her avoid me because we tried the ‘more than friends’ thing and it didn’t work. And I wouldn’t even know where the hell to start anyway if I were to make a move. What the fuck do I say to her that wouldn’t make me look like a complete and total dork?"

“D. You can’t live your life on ‘what ifs’. If so you’ll never get anywhere. Life is about chances. And I know you don’t want to take any chances with Sky, but you have to, you need to. You guys don’t see yourselves when you are around each other, so let me tell you how it is; You guys are like an extension of each other, you have silent conversations, you know what the other one needs without any of you acknowledging it, you can hide from the world when something is up with either one of you but somehow you cannot hide it from each other. I could go on and on. You guys are essentially living the life of a well-attuned couple without most of the standard couple stuff! Would you rather not know how awesome it would be to have everything with the person you love? Do you know how many people would kill, literally kill to have what you have, and you squander it because you don’t wanna look like a dork? Sky would still love you if you were the dorkiest of dorks, the dork overlord, the all dorkyful God of the dorks!!!”

Davy wants to laugh at that line, but he can’t. He’s not sure about it. It’s all good and dandy when your friend is a dork. But what happens when your boyfriend is one?

Sara sighed down the phone line. “Davanne, we had to call a war circle about you guys. Yes, it came to that. We decided that we’d just try and persuade you to do something about this, since you are the less stubborn of the two of you.

Davy actually chuckled at that one, because it’s completely true.

“You know it’s true. You need to do this. Trust me when I say she loves you too. Just as fervently as you love her. If anyone can make it as a couple it’s you two."

See. She’s usually right. Davy can feel himself giving in…

“Ugh! Fine. But-”

“Again with the buts! Are you sure you’re straight?”

Davy lets out a hearty laugh at that.

“What I wanna say is that, I want this to be transitory. I already don’t know what the fuck I am doing. I just know I want this. I don’t wanna rush and then everything falls to shit because of that. There can be no fucking up. This is Sky…”

“That’s fine. As long as we have the understanding that you’ll try. And not wait forever. Someone might come along to pick up the slack and there are no guarantees that I will like this person. Hell, it took me a while to start liking you for her and you knew her before me!!!”

They both laugh at her statement.

“Thanks Sare. I really needed this. You’re all kinds of awesome.”

“Don’t even worry about it, I’m just your friendly neighborhood Sara here to kick you in the ass when you need it!”

Davy chuckled. “I love you, you nut job!”

“Well, love you too dumbass! NOW GET ON IT!!!” 

“Ok will do. Later Sare.”

“Good luck D, bye!”

“Bye.”

Sara got him thinking, which seemed to be her aim. Thinking about Sky and all they’ve been through, what she means to him. He took his guitar off his its stand and grabed his writing pad and a pen. He had words and melodies floating around his head, waiting to get out. He strummed out a few chords and wrote them down. The lyrics came after running through the progression without a flaw only once.

There was a time in my life,

When I didn't know up from down,

I was just existing.

Then you were there,

And the morning came

And I had a reason for living...