Kurt walks in, bright and overly enthusiastic, and when Wes shoots down his suggestions, his demeanor changes. I wish I could tell Wes not to be so harsh, I can see this is not how they do it in McKinley. He takes a seat next to me and stays quiet the rest of the meeting. Everyone starts to leave the room after Wes pounds his gavel, the meeting is over - auditions for the Sectionals solo will happen the end of this month and we have a few performances to rehearse for school activities.

I see Kurt whistling to Pavarotti as I catch up to him.

"Hey, you're staying at the dorms, right? Need a hand unpacking?" I ask.

"That would be nice. I will apparently live next to some weird, anti-social boy who has never had a room mate and in fact pays extra so no one would bunk with him. I expect him to be very angry when I make a lot of noise organizing tonight, though an extra set of hands would make the job quicker and more enjoyable, thanks." he quips, by way of an answer

"Well, you're in on the loop quickly." I say, quite amused by how fast rumors travel.

"I dropped my room keys and the guy who picked it up saw my room number and told me. So where's your canary?"

"Oh, each canary is passed down to a freshman or in this case, every new member. You better not get too attached to Pavarotti."

"Too late. He's adorable." He continues to whistle a beautiful melody, Pavarotti whistles back.

We reach the end of the hallway and enter Kurt's room, and just like every room on this side of the building, it has two windows facing north with a pair of desks under them, both beds positioned at the opposite ends of the room and a closet right across each bed. A pantry and his bathroom is located at the far left corner. Just like mine, Kurt's room has a balcony. He has three suitcases and two boxes to unpack.

"This room needs some decorating, I have to go shopping this weekend..." I laugh. "What? Don't tell me your room looks the same, it's kinda depressing Blaine, even for you."�Believe me, it's not the room that gets me down.�"So, which one first?" I ask.

He carefully places Pavarotti's little cage onto a desk, we both take off our blazers and start to move things around. We go over the boxes first. The ones I've opened are filled with Kurt's drawing materials, some pieces of cloth, loose paper, cds, dvds and stacks of fashion magazines. I arrange them neatly on his desk. He takes out his Ipod, hooks the speakers in and presses play. We don't talk much, I just ask him where to place the stuff I take out of the boxes, and let the music fill the air. A few hours later we find ourselves halfway done. The only thing left was Kurt's closet, I help him by folding and handing him the pieces he needs as he sorts them out by, color, fabric or preference, or something, I'm not exactly sure.

We were singing to 'I Just Can't Wait to be King' when a knock on the door interrupts Kurt's impression of Zazu.

"Hey boys, we brought food." Andrew announces. "Hi Kurt, we didn't see you both at dinner so we thought you could use some. I see you're almost done." Wes adds.

"Thanks, guys... Wait, I'll be right back, I have some refreshments in my fridge." I say.

I half-run on my way back to Kurt's room and almost bump straight into Wes.

"You're not staying?" I ask. "No, you two look�busy." Andrew teases.

"We need to finish some homework and I think Kurt's still a bit disappointed about our earlier." Wes states.

"He's just not used to it yet. But i think he gets it."

The two proceed to the seniors' hall and I get back to Kurt's room, he's placing the last pile of folded shirts into his cabinet. And sets a blanket on the floor.

"They left." He says. "They had homework to do, which reminds me, I have homework, my first day here!"

"You'll get the hang of it soon." I say as I sit across him.

We eat silently while�For Good�fills the air.�Why is this so awkward? Why is he not talking? What else can I say? All I can think about are comforting words, to say them would be weird and smothering and I don't want that. Sitting silently with anyone sure gives you time to look at a person. Kurt's skin is flawless, his hair looks soft to touch. His eyes look tired, or sad, maybe both.

"Blaine," he speaks. I startle and almost choke on my salad. I take a sip of soda to calm my throat. "Yeah?"

"Does it get easier, being here, away from everything?"

"Well,"

I'd love to tell you it does, that some of the hurt subsides, so much pain will be left and we're kept here to fix ourselves, to put ourselves back together, in the end you could feel like you're whole then you realize, you're just numbed because of the seclusion. But maybe that's just me.

"It gets better, you'll feel very homesick - sometimes alone -but that's what I'm here for. And on weekends you can drive to Lima to see your friends, we could go to the Lima Bean or that place we had lunch at. Rehearsals are always fun, the Warblers are really a cool bunch of people to hang out with - as you found out today at lunch and there are a few school activities you may like. Did I mention the campus is really beautiful? I have a feeling you will get a lot of designing done here... This is the start of a lot of new and positive things Kurt." I smile.

"Thanks, Blaine... I guess I've been avoiding feeling homesick the whole day, I should call my dad in a bit." he says as he tosses his food with his fork, his chin pressed onto his knee.

"Definitely, being here doesn't mean you're hiding or running away, Kurt."�But I am.

Kurt smiles, gives out a sigh and says,"I've never asked you, about your story.I mean, I know you left New York to come here, but there must've been different schools you could have transferred to, why Westerville?"

"It's not the same thing. It's a bit complicated and tedious to tell, maybe tomorrow..." I say too fast. "Okaaaay." Kurt replies. "Sorry, I just meant that my story is not something you should think about now, we can talk about it some other day, when you feel more settled here." I defend myself.

"It's alright if you don't want to talk about it. I don't mean to pry." he says apologetically.

"It's not that, I promise."�I feel like I want to tell you everything, you're the only person who could understand.

We take the last few bites of pasta and he stands up to start clearing the floor. He throws all the plastic plates and food containers into a garbage bag while I fold the blanket and hang it on a chair. I grab my bag, blazer and tie, and we walk out of his room to the hallway.

"Thanks, for helping me unpack, I owe you lunch, tomorrow meet me by the fountains, my treat." he offers. "You don't have to, but I'd love that." I reply. "Where's your room, I'll walk you to your door." He goes out into the hallway as well.

"First thing you need to know," I start as I take a few steps away from Kurt with a sly grin on my face. "I did pay a little extra so I don't have a roommate, but that was last year and I have in fact, ended that. I wouldn't have minded if�you�were my roommate. Nor would I have minded if you made noise, because judging by your playlist and the dvds you brought with you, I would have asked if I could join in on the party." He's smiling now. " I don't have a lot of friends apart from the boys in the club and they're all mostly seniors. Obviously, people love to talk around here, that does not necessarily mean the talk is all true. I promise you, I'm not that weird, I prefer to call my weirdness 'little quirks'." I'm leaning against my bedroom door, across the hallway from Kurt's. He's beaming again, just like he was after 'Teenage Dream'. "Next thing you need to know is, if you ever need anything, if you feel like talking or hanging out, or if you need any help, as always, I'm right here, all you have to do is knock. I hope you have a good night's rest Kurt. Welcome to Dalton." I open my door, still facing Kurt. "Thanks Blaine. Goodnight."

"Night" I close my door behind me, drop my bag and tie. Tonight I can't deny, that it feels good to have Kurt around, someone who is my friend, not just because we are part of a brotherhood of singers, but because of what we've been through. Someone who I can finally tell everything to without feeling scared or embarrassed. Someone who might understand. Tonight I don't feel so alone.

The days go by, Kurt and I fall into some sort of routine. I wait for him for breakfast, we see each other at lunch, Nick and Jeff are also in his class, so we meet either at Warbler practice or the study hall, then we all have dinner. He never asked to hear my story again,and I never mentioned it. There are nights when he asks us to hangout in his room. He loves hosting them; preparing snacks, we sing and joke around and be silly. Those are the nights I love the most, those are the nights I feel happy and I get the feeling Kurt may be happy here too.

The past weekend he drove over to Lima to be with friends, so tomorrow, Rachel, Finn and Mercedes are coming down to visit. I promised to help him move around some furniture tonight. He showed me various swatch boards of his ideas until he finally decided to go for a modern Victorian interior for his dorm room.�The Sound of Music�keeps us company while we figure out how to make the other undecorated half of this room blend in. I suggest we just change the sheets on the second bed and we could use that as a sofa sort of thing. We move a few details around, add a few pillows. We finish when he places one of these old looking stand lamps next to the bed and plops onto it. I sit on the floor and look around his room, it's beautiful.

"You always zone out." he says, interrupting my appreciation of his designing skills.

"What?" I whisper.

"I've noticed it, during Warbler practice, at lunch, it's like you're too far away, to deep into your thoughts."

"Well, I.." I take a deep breath and rest my head on my arms.

I've never told anyone what happened a year ago and how much it's been plaguing me. I did not plan on sharing tonight. But Kurt will listen, he wants to know, he would understand, we went through the same thing, sort of. He needs to know, he deserves to learn from my past no matter how painful.

I lift my head, he's lying on the bed face down, his eyes staring right into mine as though he could see the incident happen, flashing through my eyes just like they are in my thoughts.

A knock on the door startles the both of us. "Who is it?" Kurt asks, frustrated.

"Hey Kurt, it's Nick and Jeff."

"Oh yeah, I totally forgot we had to finish a paper tonight 'cause they're not gonna be here for the weekend." Kurt says as he shuffles out of the bed.

I stand up and let out a deep sigh, I feel like lying down. Nick and Jeff walk in and set some books on Kurt's desk, I excuse myself and Kurt gives me a sorry, disappointed look.

"You had fun tonight?"

"Of course."

"You're happy"

"Yes"

"Run, Blaine. Get off me, Let go of him!"

"Justin, Justin!"

"What you gonna do homo?"

"Let go of us please, please."

"Don't you dare touch him."

"Well you're a tough one maybe you should go first. What do you think boys, we should take the feisty one down. You know you both have some nerve going to my dance together. "

"It's not your dance, it's a school dance, we're students, did that pea sized brain of yours not get that?"

"That does it. C'mere pretty boy."

Crack! Bang!

Thud!

Ouch. Sweat drips onto my face and falls into my carpet. I turn over, trying to catch my breath. It's barely midnight. I've never seen it so vividly in my nightmares before. I touch my ribcage, nothing is broken. Blood is not dripping from my head. I can feel my legs. I lay on the floor and take my legs closer to my chest.

It's 9am when I decide to go out of my room to check if Kurt is up for breakfast before his friends get here. I knock about 4 times before my phone rings. It's a text from Kurt.

At fountains, they're here. Planning on showing them around. You awake, sleepyhead?

On my way there.�I reply.

I walk sluggishly to where they are. Probably not the best shape to go hangout with Kurt's friends. What if they hate me? I mean, they're still our competition after all.

"Finally, I was beginning to think you were hibernating or something!" Kurt exclaims as I walk closer to the four of them. I try to plant a smile on my face.

"Sorry." I say shyly as the brunette who I'm sure is Rachel stands up to extend a handshake.

"Hi! I'm Rachel Berry, the New Directions' female lead vocalist." I shake her hand. she seems really excited to be here, here eyes are terrifyingly wide.

"Really Rachel? Really? You are just too much sometimes. Hello Blaine, I'm Mercedes, Kurt has told us many, many things about you."

"Oh gosh, I hope he hasn't said anything embarrassing." I say playfully, Mercedes seems nice.

"This sandwich is amazing! Kurt why do you never bring these home? You have to bring home one every week man." says the guy sitting down on the edge of the fountain, scarfing down that sandwich like there's no tomorrow. He must be Finn. "Because it's the kind of sandwich my dad cannot resist eating, now say hi to Blaine." He stands up, towering over me and speaks with his mouth half full, "Hey man, nice to meet you."

"So, Blaine Warbler, what do you guys do around here?" Rachel cuts our conversation before it even starts. "Well, Rachel," I say as I offer my arm for her to hold onto, "it's the weekend so there's usually less students around campus, I can show you around if you'd like." Kurt looks at us worriedly and I smile at him desperate to ask,�Is this okay? Am I doing okay? I hope your friends like me.�Rachel pulls me along and we start to walk. Finn bought three more sandwiches and eats them on the way, while Kurt and Mercedes are also arm in arm next to me.

We take them from the fountains, to the aviary and the lawns. The Archery Club was training at their spot that weekend and Wes and David are members, so they got them to try shooting some arrows.

I look at Kurt who is beaming, laughing like I've never heard him before. Mercedes is really playful and they have a lot of inside jokes together. Finn can't seem to place the arrows right enough to even aim, while Rachel keeps stealing glances at his struggle.

I look at them and can't help but feel weird, out of place and jealous.

There was one weekend I remember that looks just like this. When I probably looked just like Kurt. Justin, Seth and I went so Staten Island just for kicks. We walked into a record store where some musicians were jamming and they pushed me to join in. It was the first time I actually played one of my own songs on what would be considered a stage. I feel my throat tighten and my hands shake.�I cannot have that again.�I take few steps away from Kurt and Wes, pretend to walk around as I fight tears falling from my eyes.

Stop it. Not now, not today.

It takes me a few minutes to compose myself. I walk back to find out Finn almost launched one, Rachel got close to hitting the Bull's eye and Mercedes and David exchanged phone numbers.

Kurt has been talking to Wes about Sectionals arrangements.

"I think the council should invite Kurt to audition, he's got a lot of new ideas. Are you okay? Your eyes are a bit red." Wes whispers to me as he and David prepare to leave.

"That's perfect. I'm fine, some dust got blown my way a while ago." I say.

"What was that about?" Kurt asks. I look into his eyes and feel the heat on my head as I try to remove Justin and Seth's image from my mind. "Blaine...hello?"

"Oh, nothing... it was nothing..so lunch anyone?" I call out to the others.

We grab lunch at the lounge and proceed to Kurt's room.

Finn gets comfortable on the extra bed as Kurt reminds him to take of his shoes. Rachel and Mercedes look around, repeatedly praising Kurt's taste. I go over to Pavarotti just sitting in his cage and decide to take him out to the balcony to get some fresh air. He starts to whistle a familiar tune, he's mastered the whistle Kurt's been teaching him since they first met. I try to whistle back the melody, when I feel a tap on my shoulder.

"Hi Blaine."

"Hey Mercedes, hope you're having fun. Kurt's been really excited for today." I say.

"I'm great, this place looks great, about Kurt, how's he been lately? I mean, he says things are fine. But he also said he was fine when his back was getting slammed into lockers everyday. We worry about him so much, or at least I do." she says sheepishly, Mercedes is nothing like Rachel.

I take her hand and say, "He's okay here, misses you guys everyday, misses his dad too, but he's the strongest person I know and he's very lucky to have friends like you." At my words i feel like lying down and curling. Instead, I extend my arms to hug Mercedes to find Kurt looking at us, probably wondering what we're talking about. We both let go and Rachel summons Mercedes to checkout Kurt's closet. I look out into the north lawn.

My friends.

I could feel my chest tighten again. I try to breathe deeply. In and out. In and out.

"Hey there, Blaine Warbler." Kurt teases as he whistles to Pavarotti.

"Please don't let that catch on." I plead playfully.

"Too late, Rachel's branded you. Its how she'll call you from now on and how she'll talk about you back at McKinley. So we were thinking of going to the mall, would you like to join us, or have we taken your Saturday completely and would prefer to stay here and.."

"Sure." I say before he finishes his sentence "I wouldn't want you to drive back alone."

He smiles and I take Pavarotti inside, they're still both whistling.

We go around the mall, or rather Kurt, Mercedes and Rachel look around and buy stuff while Finn and I talk about the game that was on yesterday. About two hours in, Finn starts whining and asks if we could sit down. I offer to sit with him while the others continue to shop.

We find a bench right across the GAP store and from afar, I could easily spot that curly mop of blonde hair and was sure who it was. Jeremiah is working today.

�