Riley and I barely spoke the next day at school; the only thing we talked about was her party on Thursday night at the Berry house because I wanted to make sure she was still up for it.  She was.

Not talking to her was a lot harder than I thought it would be but I had Kurt and party planning to help distract me.  Tuesday's glee rehearsal only taught me two things; 1) Finn was horrible at dancing and 2) I was horrible at dancing.  He found comfort that he wasn't alone in the bad dancer category and I found a new motivation to practice.

After rehearsal was over Kurt and I went home and immediately got to planning the party.

"Okay, so I have talked to Mr. Berry and he said I can use his kitchen to cook. What is Riley's favorite food?"

"Chicken strips." I was very confident in my answer and Kurt looked at me with a funny expression.

"Chicken strips?"  He was trying to not to start laughing.

I smiled at him and wrapped my arms around his waist while I looked for the right words to explain the simplicity.

"Do you remember when you were little and you got to go out to eat? And it was so exciting because it was just something that was different?"  Kurt smiled and nodded silently.  "Well, for us when we were little we liked going out to eat because it was a guaranteed time that our parents couldn't yell."  I'm sure Kurt expected me to start to break down because he wrapped his arms around my neck but the truth is that things like that were just a part of Riley and my childhood, there was nothing to be sad about. "Riley would always get chicken strips.  As we got older the times we got to go out became lesser and lesser. It's kind of a thing we have, chicken strips."

"You guys have a lot of things, don't you?  Like just little sayings and looks between you and Riley."

"When you grow up in a house like we did you don't have a choice."

I got up on my tiptoes to give Kurt a kiss.   I felt his arms tighten around my neck.

"We should back to planning this party." 

"Oh no," I snuck my words in between kisses, "You're not getting off that easy."

I pulled him over to the couch and forced myself onto his lap.  My hands ran wildly through his hair grabbing at every strand I could reach.  His hands slid down my sides and around my back and he was pulled me closer to him.  Being with Kurt made my head spin.  I could feel all the problems in my life disappear, even if it is only for a moment.  Because when you're with someone you love everything that you encounter in life is worthwhile, even if it is bad, because you know that at the end of the day you have someone who is going to be there for you.

But all too soon Kurt's hands pushed me away and our lips parted.

"Seriously Blaine, I don't want to have to tell your sister that we couldn't plan her party because we were too busy making out." His lips were pink and his hair was a mess. Oops.

"Fine," I gave my biggest attempt at a pouty face, "Let's go." And I pulled him off the couch giving him one last kiss before we went back to the kitchen.

The next two days passed slowly and I tried to stay concentrated on my school work but between Kurt, Riley, and planning this party that just seemed impossible.  I was really worried that Riley was going to have a rough time having a birthday not only away from home but also so close to everything in our lives changing that she would have a horrible day but Rachel didn't let that happen.

She lent her a beautiful outfit to wear to school and that day in glee we sang whatever songs she wanted.  Everything was going perfectly.

Seven o'clock rolled around and we gave the okay to go down to the basement and get Riley for her party.  Everybody was there to be with her on her special day.  I was afraid that it would be awkward because she was only turning fourteen and she was so young compared to the rest of the group, but they were all her friends now, even after only four days of knowing them. 

I heard a scream from downstairs and panic struck me but it was immediately followed by laughter.  Puck and Finn thought that Riley should have a grand entrance to her birthday party so they decided to lift her up between them and they carried her up the stairs.  She was laughing so hard there were tears streaming down her face.

I felt Kurt's arm wrap around my waste and he pulled me close to his side.

"See? Look at that, it is just beginning of the party and she is already having the time of her life."  He kissed my cheek and left to go join the rest of the group in the living room while the food was in the oven.

We started by playing Apples to Apples which is Riley's favorite game.  I never knew that hanging out with friends could actually be fun when I didn't have to worry about Riley at home alone with Dad.  I kept my eyes on her the whole night though, out of habit, but all I saw was that spark of happiness in her eyes that I always tried to give to her. 

I pulled myself out of a few rounds of the game because I needed a moment to collect my thoughts.  I sat on the big green chair and watched as my sister interacted with my boyfriend and the rest of our friends.  I knew in that moment with the two people I love in this world together, that somehow everything was going to be okay.  Nothing could hurt us now.

Soon dinner was ready and we all sat down around the table.  Kurt announced we were having chicken strips and Riley looked over to catch my eye. "Thank you" she mouthed and I knew that she understood my gesture.

"Hey, everybody?"  Riley was standing up at the head of the table, "I know that we don't know each other very well and I'm sure most of you, much like me, were nervous for tonight and didn't know what to expect but I just wanted to thank you all for coming.  Blaine and I, we've been in this sticky situation for a while and all we have ever had is each other and after he transferred to Dalton I thought I had even less than that.  I wasn't very good at making friends at my other school because I was too afraid of what would happen.  You all have really shown me what it means to be somebody's friend no matter what and have helped me overcome the things that I have been through."  Tears began to fill her eyes, "I am so lucky to have you all here. Thank you."

I looked around the table and there was not one face there that wasn't smiling.  They all loved my sister, even if they were just getting to know her, they knew how much she could change their lives.  Riley wiped away a tear from her cheek and started laughing.

"Oh, and one more thing; I'm usually not a crier so you won't have to get used to this. I'm just a wreck right now."  She put her hand up to her mouth like she was whispering a secret to us all, "I blame the medicine."  And a smile crossed her face.

"Happy birthday, Riley."  It was Rachel who stood up this time to start the round of cheers.

For once in our lives Riley and I didn't have to worry about what was going to happen during birthday dinner or the argument that would come from the presents.  We were allowed to sit back and laugh and join the conversation without having to be prepared for what happened next.  Kurt's homemade chicken strips were to die for; I made a mental note to give him a special thank you when we got home.  All too soon though the food was gone and conversation began to slow down and that's when I noticed Kurt and Burt whispering to each other.

I walked over there as sneakily as possible because if something had gone wrong I didn't want Riley to know.  This is her day and I wasn't going to let anything ruin it.

"Hey, is everything okay?" I looked Burt straight in the eye.

"Are you kidding? Everything is great. Just listen to this."  Burt turned to face the rest of the table and cleared his throat to get their attention.

"Hey. Sorry to crash your party Riley, but I couldn't wait any longer to give you your present." Riley began to put her hand up in protest but Burt just started talking right over what she was about to say.  "I just got off the phone with social services office and they said they will arrange something for you on Saturday to be able to go home and collect all your belongings that you have been missing."

I'm pretty sure my jaw literally hit the floor because I felt Kurt's hand reach over to close my mouth.  I looked at Riley who was just as shocked as me.  She didn't say anything and her eyes just wandered back and forth as if she were physically looking for the right words to say.

"Burt," there was a long pause, "I don't know what to say.  I couldn't ask for anything better.  Thank you so much."  She got up from her seat and ran over to Burt pulling him into one of her classic Riley hugs.  He had a proud papa smile on his face because he loved her even though she wasn't his child.

Riley ran over to me next and pulled me into a similar hug.  She whispered in my ear.

"You are the best big brother anybody could ask for.  I'm glad you'll be there with me when we go."  Then she pulled away and stepped over to Kurt.  I don't think I was supposed to be able to hear her thank you to him, but she didn't exactly move further away from me.

"Kurt, thank you so much for being a part of not only my brother's life but also mine.  I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you.  I wouldn't want my brother with anyone else cause I know one day you're going to be my brother too."

This time it was Kurt who had tears in his eyes, "Hey, what are big brothers for?" And he pulled her into one last quick hug and kissed the top of her head before she went back to her seat at the table.

The chatter around the table began to pick up again and if I wasn't paying attention I probably wouldn't have noticed when Riley's phone began ringing.  And even worse, the panicked look on her face when she saw the caller's name popped up.

I was at her side in two seconds, thankfully nobody else noticed but Kurt. CALL FROM: HOME.  I pulled Riley into the living room and Kurt took over as a distraction before anyone could realize that we were missing.

"Put it on speakerphone."  As she opened her phone she hit the speaker button and laid it on the floor between us.

"Hello?"

"Hello."  My mother's voice filled the air between us and Riley grabbed my hand.  "So, you didn't think we would forget your birthday, did you?"  Riley looked at me in a panic because she didn't know what to say, so I took over.

"No, of course not, Mom.  We have been waiting by the phone all day."

"Oh, Blaine honey, you're there too?"

"Of course.  I couldn't leave Riley to celebrate on her own."  I immediately wanted to take back my words because I felt guilty.  It wasn't my mother's fault that she simply wasn't as strong as my Dad and that's why she wouldn't get involved.

"I know, sweetie.  That's why I called too.  How is everything going, Riley? Any problems?"

"Nope."  I could see Riley gulp and I began to wonder what she was so afraid of.  At least it wasn't Dad who was calling.  "Everything is good.  Blaine and I joined the glee club and we are celebrating with them tonight."

"Oh. That's nice.  I just wanted to let you know something; I wouldn't bother coming over here Saturday.  I just got the call from social services but your father has already gotten rid of everything.  You would just come home to find empty bedrooms. He said that you guys deserved it for leaving him."  Tears silently began to roll down Riley's cheeks and she turned and ran down to the basement.  I didn't understand what was going on; how could my mother let my Dad do that?  She knew how important a lot of that stuff was to us.

"Thanks for letting us know, but I gotta go. Bye."  I quickly hung up the phone and got up to go talk to Riley.

Finn was standing behind me watching really closely.

"How much of that did you hear?" is all I was able to choke out.

"Enough to know that Riley's Saturday is suddenly free."  I expected the usual ‘I'm so sorry this is happening to you' speech to follow but I was beginning to learn that Finn was full of a lot of surprises.  "I'll go get everybody to leave and tell Burt what is going on, man.  You go take care of Riley."

"Thanks."  And with that short little exchange Finn was gone.

I ran down the stairs as quickly as possible to find Riley crumbled to pieces on the floor.  I walked over and sat down next to her trying to find the right words.

"Get out! I can't look at you right now! Just get out, Blaine!"

I couldn't move.

"Did you not hear me? Am I not speaking clearly enough for you?" Riley was still yelling.  She dropped her head and looked out the top of her eyes. "I. Said. Get. Out."  Riley began to smack me.  I tried to wrap my arms around her in a hug but I was too confused and she was too furious.

"No, Riley! I'm not just going to leave you. We're in this together, remember?"  Before I knew it I was yelling too grabbing at my sister's wrists trying to stop the tears from flooding down my cheeks, but I couldn't.

"Do you really believe that, Blaine? We haven't been in this together for a long time.  You spend all your precious time with Kurt and just leave me here to be secondhand friends with Rachel.  GET OUT!"

In a blur of anger I saw Finn grab Riley and pull her away from me and a set of strong arms were carrying me too. 

I was led upstairs were I was greeted with a bunch of wide eyed confused faces.  Puck had been the one leading me away from Riley.  I dropped my head in shame.

"You heard her, please, just go home everyone."

They all left in silence until it was Kurt, Burt, Carole, and myself left.  Rachel and her dads went downstairs to help Finn handle Riley.

Kurt came over to give me a hug but I pushed him away.

"Not right now, Kurt. I need to be alone.  I will just walk home.  Don't worry about me."

And as I shut the door behind me I shut the door on the two people I loved.