The next day, Blaine woke up later than usual. He rolled out of bed feeling groggy and gross, quickly gathering his things before taking a long shower. When he was dressed and about to work on his summer reading list, he heard his father call him from downstairs.

Quickly walking down the stairs and finding his father sitting behind his desk in the den. Blaine sat across from him, leaning forward in his seat.

His father continued working, ignoring Blaine’s presence until he looked up and cleared his throat. “Blaine, we’re having company over for dinner. The Schultz’s are bringing their daughter –she’s your age. We want you to get to know her.” He said; it was just business to him. He’d done this to Blaine before to help secure a promotion or gain an important client.

Blaine’s eyes widened, his vision blurring because he had plans with Kurt and he didn’t want to meet another stuck up girl and be forced to talk to her all night. Why did this have to be tonight of all nights?

“I- Oh, uh, okay. What time are they coming?” he finally stuttered out.

His father looked back down, continuing his paperwork.

“Six, and try to look presentable.” His father glanced up, scowling at Blaine’s curls.

Blaine hurried back upstairs, his head hung. Not only did he feel guilty having to tell Kurt he couldn’t come over; he’d spent most of the night tossing and turning in anticipation of being inside his house, at seeing where Kurt had grown up.

Blaine had spent at least two of those sleepless hours having an internal crisis after having to deal with the erection he’d gotten when he’d thought more about how flexible Kurt probably is. He’d known he was gay for a while but now there seemed to be no way to stamp down what he was feeling. He couldn’t stop thinking about Kurt; the way his eyes almost close when he laughs, how sincere he was in his concern, how easy it felt to be around him… everything.

He made Blaine feel like he’d never felt before, so when Blaine was told that he was going to have to get to know some girl, he’d felt sick to his stomach.

Throwing himself face-first onto his bed, he buried his head in a pillow. He couldn’t fight the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach that was quickly growing to full blown nausea. He wished he could have a sliver of hope that his parents would continue to associate with him in any capacity once he came out. Blaine knew he wasn’t immediately ready to come out –maybe in a few years, when he was older and wouldn’t have the long wait until college and ultimately, his freedom.

Blaine had never been religious, but out of loneliness he’d developed the habit of talking to God, any God, as long as they would listen, and today as he was curled around a tear dampened pillow, he’d never needed God to answer more in his life, “You’ll still love me even if they don’t, right? That’s how it’s supposed to work, isn’t it? I just need somebody to love me. Please still love me.”

00

Kurt had woken early, too excited about the coming night to sleep in like he usually would, managing to catch his mom before she left for work.

“Is it okay if I have a friend over for dinner?”

His mom looked up from the salad container she was packing, the corner of her mouth twitching up.

“Of course, sweetheart. Who is it?”

Kurt could tell she was a bit surprised; he never had friends over. He never really had friends to have over.

“The neighbor kid; Blaine –as it turns out, we do have neighbors behind us and much like yourself, fourteen years ago they procreated.”

Elizabeth laughed, “He sounds lovely. I can’t wait to meet him.”

She finished packing her lunch and stopped in front of Kurt before leaving the kitchen.

“I’ll be back at four today. Love you.”

She kissed his forehead and left the house.

Kurt’s face was engulfed by his smile as he made himself some breakfast, lost in thoughts of the coming night. He ended up spending most of the day daydreaming about what could happen – Kurt burning the food and Blaine having to eat Chinese take-out, what he hoped would happen –� Blaine becoming his best friend, and the inevitable worst case scenario – Blaine never wanting to see Kurt again.

His mom noted his good mood when she arrived home; he was lying upside down on the couch, reading a worn copy of Pride and Prejudice, which he vowed to read only when he was feeling truly happy.

“Mom, I was thinking maybe baked mac n’ cheese for dinner?”

He rolled off the couch and hovered on his mom’s heels as she moved around the kitchen.

“I think that sounds wonderful. Let me change and we’ll get started, okay?” she smiled sweetly as Kurt clapped his hands in excitement, all but herding her out of the kitchen to hurry up!

An hour later, Kurt was setting the table as his mom took the casserole dish out of the oven. It was nearing five o’clock, and if Kurt had been excited before he was nothing short of ecstatic now.

“Out of the kitchen! Sit down and be calm.”

His mother scolded him for the fifth time as he hovered impatiently at her side and at the door and in the living room.

“Fine.” He huffed out, ungracefully taking a seat at the kitchen table. “I’ll wait here.”

And Kurt waited, wringing his hands for what seemed like an eternity until his mom reached across the table and placed her hand atop his.

“It’s almost six, honey. I don’t think he’s coming.”

“I know, I know.” Kurt said, “I’m just worried is all. I guess we can eat now.”

They ate in silence, Kurt going over every possibility that could make Blaine stand him up.

00

Blaine sat through most the dinner in tense silence. The girl was just as bad as he thought she’d be; shallow, vapid and barely picking at her plate – just like her mother and his. Blaine was also trying not to touch his gelled down hair. It felt unnatural to be glued to his scalp and he knew he’d have a hell of a time washing it out later. The mothers kept asking leading questions, trying to get Blaine to talk to –what was it? …Christy? He wasn’t positive what her name was anymore. He’d never hear the end of it after the Schultz’s left but it would be better than having to sit through a mind numbing conversation with the girl.

As Blaine had predicted his father was less than pleased with his lack of socializing during and after dinner. What he hadn’t predicted was a full blown fight.

“I DON'T WANT TO GET TO KNOW HER.” Blaine screamed for the hundredth time.

“You will do as I say Blaine.” His father’s tone was deadly low and that should have served as a warning but Blaine didn’t care right now.

“NO. You can’t make me! I don’t like her!”

His father looked livid. Blaine had never openly talked back to him before.

“BLAINE EVERETT ANDERS-“

Blaine cut him off, not meaning to say what came next.

“YOU CAN’T MAKE ME, OKAY? I’m gay, G-A-Y, GAY.”

His eyes went wide and his jaw snapped shut. He wanted to run, to shove those stupid words back in his mouth. He wasn’t ready.

His mother had her hands over her mouth in shock and his father looked even angrier than before.

“I- I-“

Blaine started but was cut off by his father’s hand connecting with his face so hard that he stumbled backwards into arm of the couch. His face stung badly and he was rooted to the spot.

“I will not have a faggot living under my roof. Get your things and get out.”

His father waited for him to move and his mother said nothing.

Blaine held in his tears and moved from the room, breaking into a run once he hit the staircase. His heart was pounding in his ears as he closed his door and sunk to the floor, finally letting out a ripping sob. Blaine could feel his world falling to pieces around him; it felt like Cooper had died all over again.

After a few minutes he pulled himself up and grabbed his backpack and a suitcase, shoving everything for school and most of his clothes in the two.

Blaine was still in shock, his hands shaking a little as he packed as quickly as he could. He didn’t know where he was going to go; he could call Wes, but he was still in Europe with his family. Scanning his room for anything he might have missed, his gaze landed on his window, the curtains drawn tight.

The sight made him feel angry and he marched to them and ripped them open, stilling when he saw the dim glow of light coming from across the way – Kurt. His hands dropped from where they gripped the heavy fabric and crossed his room to collect his bags, hauling them through his window and on to the awning, following after them with about as much grace.

Now that he was out here with his things, he hesitated. Kurt’s curtains were closed, and though it wasn’t the first time Blaine had seem them closed, it made him feel even worse. Kurt was probably mad at him, probably didn’t want to see him or talk to him and Blaine couldn’t say he blamed Kurt –he’d be mad at himself too.

Blaine took a steadying breath and walked across the space, raising a hand to knock on the window when he heard Kurt talking to somebody.

“I promise I’m okay. Go to bed, I know you have to work early.”

“Alright sweetie, I love you. Goodnight.”

“I love you too mom.”

Blaine felt his heart drop. Kurt didn’t sound like he was okay; he sounded sad and it was Blaine’s fault he felt that way.

00

Kurt had been sitting on his bed looking through a few old Vogues, having just sent his mom to bed after she had checked on him for the seventh time since dinner, when a knock at his window interrupted him. It could only be Blaine, and even though by this point he didn’t want to even look at him, he got up and stood in front of his curtains.

Sighing, Kurt opened them to see Blaine, red faced and crying. Mind flashing back through the worst of the worst case scenarios he’d imagined throughout dinner, he yanked open the window. Before he could do or say anything, Blaine was talking and mumbling through explanations and apologies, serving to only confuse and concern Kurt more as he started to sniffle and crack into small sobs between words.

Kurt, now on the verge of tears himself, came to his senses and threw his arms out to help, just as much as force, Blaine to come inside.

“Kurt, I’m so sorry I didn’t come over.”

His voice was thick and choked up and Kurt’s heart broke a little.

“Shh, it’s okay. What’s wrong?” Kurt asked, spotting the bags over Blaine’s shoulder.

He returned his gaze to Blaine’s face, taking in the red mark on his cheek and growing angrier the more he looked at it.

“I- I got kicked out.”

Blaine barely got that out before breaking into fresh sobs, covering his face with his hands.

“Blaine”

He dropped his hands and looked up at Kurt’s tone.

“Get your bags and come back inside. I’m gonna go get my mom.”

Blaine’s eyes widened in fear when Kurt said mom; he hadn’t thought about parents.

“Hey, it’ll be okay. She’s really nice.”

Blaine nodded his head, turning to grab his bag. Kurt left him to it as he walked to his mother’s room across the hall.

He climbed up next to her, staring until she looked up from her book.

“Is everything alright? Do I have something on my face?”

Kurt laughed shortly before continuing.

“…No, I have to ask you something.”

He was nervous; he’d never asked for something even close to this before.

“It’s important.” He added.

His mother’s expression changed from playful to concerned.

“What is it, sweetheart?”

Kurt hesitated before taking a deep breath and speaking.

“You know how I told you about Blaine?”

He continued at his mother’s nod.

“Well, he didn’t come tonight because he got kicked out and I think one of his parents hit him.”

He looked down at his hands.

“How do you know that, Kurt?”

Elizabeth put a finger under his chin and lifted his head to look at him.

“He’s in my room and he has this big red spot on his face and there’s no way it’s not gonna bruise… m-mom, I don’t know what t-to do.” He felt his eyes watering again, and his mom moved her hand from under his chin to cup his cheek, firmly reassuring him that everything was fine, and yes, Blaine could stay.

An hour later, his mother had finished talking to Blaine.

Kurt rolled out a sleeping bag onto his floor and gave Blaine a light blanket and two of his pillows. They had been silent at they set up Blaine’s makeshift bed, and when Kurt was picking out pajamas Blaine shuffled around awkwardly before whispering so quietly Kurt could barely hear him.

“Kurt, I- I don’t think I grabbed any of my pajamas.”

Kurt turned away from his dresser with a forced smile – Blaine sounded so broken – and grabbed the boy’s hand, dragging him over to the open drawer.

“I’m going to go get changed; just pick out whatever looks comfy, okay? And if you want to wash out that glue you’ve got in your hair you’re welcome to use whatever’s in the bathroom.” Kurt blushed as he looked down and realized he was still holding Blaine’s hand, dropping it quickly and making a swift exit to the bathroom.

When he returned, Blaine was wearing an old ratty t-shirt and a pair of flannel bottoms that Kurt hadn’t seen in years. He was lying on his back on top of the sleeping bag, the blanket only covering part of his legs and feet. Kurt shut off the overhead light and crawled into his bed.

“Goodnight, Blaine.” He said quietly. “Sweet dreams.”

“Goodnight, Kurt.”

Blaine, however, did not have sweet dreams.

Kurt woke to his pitch black room and at first he couldn’t figure out why. His clock glowed a bright, neon green 3:25 a.m. – but he never woke up in the middle of the night. Then he head a small whimper come from the floor.

“Blaine?”

A series of sniffles followed his question.

“I’m s-sorry I woke you up. I’ll t-try to be quieter.”

Kurt felt his heart squeeze painfully at the resignation in Blaine’s voice. Apparently, there was a lot more wrong with his new friend than he knew.

“Don’t apologize. Are you alright? Do you want to come up here and talk?” he offered.

He wasn’t entirely comfortable at the thought of somebody else –even Blaine- being in his bed, but he could make the exception if it would help Blaine feel better.

Blaine went quiet, and as Kurt started to panic, he spoke.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to keep you up.”

Kurt frowned into the darkness.

“Blaine, get up here.”

His tone left no room for argument. Kurt’s eyes had adjusted to the dark by this point, and he watched the shadowy outline of Blaine get up and walked over to his bed. Kurt moved over to allow Blaine to have more room, even though his bed was queen-sized and could easily accommodate the two small boys. The bed dipped as Blaine crawled under the blanket.

Blaine didn’t say anything, and Kurt was trying not to blurt out the only question that had been on his mind since Blaine had shown up. However, when Blaine continued his silence, Kurt felt brave enough to ask him.

“Blaine, why- why were you kicked out?”

The air between them suddenly felt thicker and Kurt wanted nothing more than to shove the words back into his stupid, big mouth.

“You don’t have to answer that, I’m being stupid. Don’t listen to me.” He quickly amended. “You don’t have to tell me, that’s really person-“

He was interrupted by Blaine chuckling; a small, warm sound that broke through his pattern of sniffles and sobs.

“It’s okay, Kurt. You’re stupid. I’d be curious too.”

“I –I’d tell you.”

Kurt heard him take an audible breath.

“I just don’t want you to hate me.”

“Why would I hate you? You’re the only friend I’ve got.” Kurt confessed.

He felt Blaine shift under the covers.

“I got kicked out because I told my parents that I… that I’m –“

Blaine took another loud breath.

“I’m gay.”

Kurt felt the breath be sucked from his body.

Oh.

Oh.

“Oh.”

He felt Blaine shrink away, curling in on himself.

“I’ll go back to the floor. You probably don’t want a… a faggot in your bed.”

Blaine sounded disgusted, and Kurt was confused.

“Blaine, don’t call yourself that. You don’t have to go back to the floor.”

Kurt took the risk to reach out a hand and find Blaine’s.

“I’ve got something to tell you Blaine…-I’ve been thinking a lot about it for a long time.”

He paused.

“I think I’m gay too.”

Blaine lifted his head to better look at Kurt, even though most of the room was cast in shadows.

“Really?”

It had to be too good to be true. He couldn’t be lucky enough to find a friend who was just like him.

“…yeah.”

Blaine broke into his first real smile since that afternoon.

“I’m so glad you’re my friend, Kurt.”

“I’m glad you’re my friend too.”

The next morning, Elizabeth came in to wake the boys up for breakfast. Seeing both boys in Kurt’s bed fast asleep, facing each other, hands twined together, she smiled and quietly shut the door, letting them sleep in.