“I didn’t get in. I didn’t get in.” Kurt’s voice was quiet; Finn and Rachel could barely hear him. The quiet, devastated statement shattered everything at Kurt’s feet, his dreams, his life, his future. A million things ran through his mind. What would he say to Burt, to Blaine, to Carole? Where will he go? What happens now? Kurt barely felt Finn’s arm go around his shoulders, offering him comfort in his despair.

Over the next few days everyone noticed Kurt curling inwards. His usual happy, bright and flamboyant demeanour giving way to sadness and hopelessness. They all tried to help, spending time with him to keep his spirits up, singing with him, letting him cry when he needed it and making every reason he had to be happy known. Out of them all though, Blaine probably did the most, and their hearts went out to the dark-haired teen. In his most selfish dreams he’d wished for more time with Kurt, or to be able to somehow have Kurt there for the next year and graduate together but he’d never wish for this.

Kurt was broken, and no-one knew how to fix him; least of all Kurt.

Kurt sat in his room. They’d gotten back from seeing Rachel off to New York hours ago and Kurt hadn’t moved. He’d sent Blaine away telling him he’d see him tomorrow, the confused look on the younger teen’s face heart-breaking but he needed to be alone. He’d had dinner with his dad, Finn and Carole in silence and then gone upstairs.

Kurt felt his life falling apart. The college he’d wanted to go to didn’t want him, he’d only applied there, putting his all into applying to the famous college. Rachel, who’d flubbed her audition and then stalked Ms Tibideaux until she’d come to Nationals, was by now in New York, ready to start college in a few weeks. Finn was joining the army. All of his friends were off on their own ways to stardom. He was stuck in Lima. Sure he had Blaine but he’d wanted New York, he deserved New York. How long would they last with Kurt’s desire for New York and Blaine’s resentment for his desire to go?

On the spur of the moment Kurt grabbed a bag and stuffed everything he could think of into it, his plainest clothes, a picture of him and Blaine, his wallet, his phone, the smallest amount of hair and face care products; he could buy more and one of the monogrammed towels Blaine bought for him and quietly, quickly ran downstairs, and out of the front door, making sure he wasn’t seen; never noticing the frame hidden between the towels sliding off the second abandoned towel and crashing to the floor, shattering across the carpet.

The next day Blaine arrived at the Hummel-Hudson house bright and early, ready to get on with making his boyfriend happy and discuss Kurt’s plan from now on, maybe make out and decide on where his glasz-eyed love would go to college.

Burt opened the door, smiling at Blaine bouncing on the balls of his feet. “Hi Blaine, go on up, Kurt hasn’t appeared yet but I’ve left him to rest.”

Blaine grinned at the older man. He’d never get tired of seeing Burt smile at him. One thing he missed about his dad since he’d come out. While Max Anderson treated Blaine with contempt and wanted nothing to do with him Burt Hummel had given him friendship, warmth and trust since they’d met. “Okay. I’ve got a list of colleges we can all go over once I drag Kurt out of bed.”

Burt chuckled and walked towards the kitchen, throwing back over his shoulder as he walked. “Just don’t climb in with him. Door open.”

Blaine laughed, calling out Kurt’s name as he opened the door. Burt knew they were as far along as most teens, it was natural with how long they’d been together but they’d long promised never to do anything other than make out when anyone else was home. He understood, he’d be the same if Kurt and he ever adopted and when their kid grew into teen years.

Blaine looked around the door, expecting to see Kurt sprawled out on the bed or in front of his vanity but the bedroom was empty. His brows knitted together, looking around and behind into the hall he could see Finn’s empty bedroom and the empty bathroom. Where was Kurt?

Blaine stepped in, calling Kurt’s name again and noticed the picture of him Kurt kept on his vanity was gone. There was a crunch under his foot and Blaine stepped back. Glass. The hazel-eyed teen’s heart sped up, panicking he rounded the bed; the floor was empty except for a frame and picture shattered on the floor. On the bed there was one of the monogrammed towels he’d bought for Kurt, a joke to hide the real present. “Burt?” He yelled, almost hyperventilating.

“Blaine? What’s all the shouting about?” Burt shouted back, his heavy footsteps came up the stairs, followed by Finn’s. Both men stopped in their tracks as they looked at the teen knelt on the floor, the remains of a broken picture frame and a ripped picture in his hand.

Blaine looked up, tears in his eyes. “Where’s Kurt?”

Finn rushed past Burt, ripping open Kurt’s wardrobe and drawers before knocking over everything in his brother’s vanity, looking for anything missing. He turned around as Burt knelt next to Blaine, keeping out of the way of the glass; the older man wrapped his arm around Blaine’s shoulders and looked at the picture. It was of Blaine and Kurt at school, one of their friends had taken the picture evidently before they all went their separate ways; the two boys were hand in hand, Kurt’s other hand over Blaine’s heart and grinning at the camera, Blaine was staring happily at Kurt.

“His stuff’s gone. Some pants and like, normal tops, none of his fashionable stuff and his face stuff is gone and his sprays and his backpack.” Finn spoke up, panicking himself. He knew Kurt had been devastated when he’d been rejected by NYADA, he’d been the same about The Actor’s Studio but Kurt seemed to have taken stuff and run.

Burt stood up, looking at the two boys. His worst nightmare had finally happened. Things had gotten too much for his emotional son and he’d fled. “Downstairs. Now.” He grated out and watched as the teens raced past him and ran downstairs.

Burt looked around, now wasn’t the time for him to break down. Kurt could have gone over to one of his other friend’s houses for comfort; he ignored the voice in his head that told him he’d have gone to Blaine for that.

They called everyone they could think of and Carole at work to check he hadn’t gone to visit her or had been brought in as an accident. No-one had heard from him and Burt had succeeded to bring both Carole and Blaine to tears with his worry, it had taken Finn 10 minutes to calm the overwrought teen down. He was still clutching the picture, devoid of its frame in his hand.

Finally at lunch time Burt phoned Carole and told her to come home before calling the police.

Lieutenant Fitch, one of their friends and who knew Kurt and his personality and situation well, arrived just after Carole did. Burt called them into the living room where Blaine and Finn were sat, Blaine with his head in his hands and Finn with his arm around his shoulders, both looking terrified.

“What’s going on? Burt? Finn? Blaine? Where’s Kurt?” Carole asked, worry building inside of her as the three men looked at her, panic and pain in their eyes. She sat down and wrapped her arms around Blaine as she asked where Kurt was seemed to make the young man burst out in tears.

Burt sighed and faced Lieutenant Fitch who was standing in the entrance to the living room, wondering what he’d been called to. He’d known Kurt since he was born; he’d been a friend of Burt’s since high school and watched Kurt grow up into a sweet, intelligent young man with a strong definition of right and wrong, especially when it came to his rights. “Mick, I never thought I’d have to say this but I need to report Kurt as missing.”