Kurt watched Laura from a distance, his eyes suspicious. He couldn't work out what her plan was, from what he had heard beneath the window she wanted to scare him off and get her and Blaine to do more than what they'd done thus far. He wondered why she hadn't told Mr Anderson about the two of them in the library, that had certainly been more than kissing, and why did Blaine's dad care so much anyway? His head was swimming with an innumerable amount questions, but very few answers. He sighed, opening his locker and exchanging some of his books, he wished Blaine would just talk to him. None of his story added up, he'd been doing fine for popularity before he started acting as if he hated Kurt, so what had changed? He'd gotten a bitch of a girlfriend who'd had a conversation with Blaine's dad about getting rid of –. Kurt gasped. That was it. The way his father had converged around him when the man had walked past, why he wouldn't let him go visit Blaine after he broke his nose, why Mr Anderson was asking Blaine's girlfriend to deter him, or as the man had put it Blaine's 'little homo stalker'. He was a massive homophobe who didn't want his son to be best friends with a gay boy. He nearly hit himself in the head it was so obvious.

Why didn't Blaine tell him? Just call him up and say “my dad says we can't be friends”. A little voice in the back of his head answered him. Because you'd never let it go, you'd fight for him. If he acted as if he hated you then you'd let him go, because it would be what he wanted. Kurt huffed, it made sense. He looked up seeing Blaine walking by himself, he looked broken, his hand was playing with something on his wrist. He was still wearing the bracelet and yet now Kurt only felt relief rather than the confusion that had surrounded him before. Kurt's lips twitched in annoyance as he watched Laura join Blaine, her fingers laced into his, lifting his hand into plain view and raising her eyebrow delicately.

“What's this?” she asked, her voice deadly sweet, her other hand clenching in obvious distaste.

“Nothing,” Blaine said, averting his eyes slightly. She lifted his hand towards her face and read the inscription.

“Blaine Anderson, what's it for, in case you forget your name?” she laughed, venom in her voice. Blaine's eyes grew clouded and his expression stony, Laura flipped it over and her nails dug slightly into his skin. “My Best Friend,” she read, putting on a childish voice. Blaine ripped his hand from her grip and stalked off, Laura turned, furious and glared at Kurt, before her expression turned to a smirk and she followed her boyfriend.

Kurt attempted to avoid everyone for the rest of the day, resorting to spending his lunch in the English classroom with Mr Knightly. The man raised his eyebrows at Kurt, as the two of them sat there in silence, but the boy still said nothing. He wasn't sure that he wouldn't open his mouth and not be able to shut it, he wanted to tell someone of his revelations, yell them to the school. He wanted to run and hug Blaine, tell him that he didn't care if his Dad didn't like him, that the man would just have to deal with it. Or even that they should continue to be friends, just in secret.

“Kurt, if you're not going to talk to me, why are you here?” asked Mr Knightly curiously, a touch of humor in his voice. Kurt looked up at him, his blue eyes sad and just shrugged. Adam's face grew somber, there was something going on that the boy wasn't telling him, if he wasn't in here to talk to him, then...

“Who are you hiding from?” Kurt's head turned so quickly, that his teacher could hear his neck crick, his eyes were alarmed, but not yet defensive. “Kurt, I care about you, you know I do. Who is it?”

“There's nothing you can do,” he answered, but Adam could see the deliberation in his face.

“Maybe not, but It's better than keeping it to yourself.” The boy nodded, awkwardly and visibly started to muster up enough courage to say it.

“Laura.” Mr Knightly shrugged, he had been expecting it to be some jock or other, but he could understand why Kurt would want to avoid the girl.

“Any particular reason?”

“I think you know why,” the boy snapped and his teacher raised an eyebrow. “Sorry.”

“It's okay, I get it...but it's just Friday, right?” he asked, sensing a missing piece.

“Just,” muttered Kurt, scathingly.

“I didn't mean it like that and you know it, Kurt I'm trying to help you, don't shut me out.”

“I know, alright?” he huffed, exasperatedly. “And I'm...I'm sorry.”

Kurt was done, all the holding it in was gone and his teacher just watched him crumple, it made him feel so helpless, this boy's life was falling apart and all he could do was stand and stare. He stood up, pushing the desks out of the way and lifting the boy into a hug, Kurt clasped at him desperately, his body shaking – his legs gave out and Adam was left supporting the two of them entirely. He picked the boy up and took him over to his chair, seating him there, but Kurt wasn't letting go, everything was moving and he was holding onto one of the few things that had been constant. His chest ached from the crying and yet he couldn't stop, Mr Knightly shushed him, patting his back reassuringly.

Kurt sniffed, pulling back and wiping his eyes, avoiding his teacher's face, embarrassed by his own outburst and Adam just laughed, smiling fondly. “I'm so...”

“Don't be, you shouldn't be apologetic for expressing your feelings, too many people bottle up how they feel and it destroys them, corrupts them,” he interrupted, sincerely.

“Deep,” Kurt joked, giving a watery smile.

“What can I say, I'm an English teacher,” he grinned. “I spend my life reading over the top inspirational words, what else am I supposed to say?” Their laughter dissolved into quiet and Mr Knightly quirked an eyebrow, curiously. “So...?”

“So, what?” the boy teased, laughing when his teacher rolled his eyes. “I don't think Blaine hates me,” he said, thoughtfully.

“Neither do I,” shrugged Mr Knightly, gesturing for Kurt to continue.

“There's just little things, like when you dropped me home on Friday, I could see him in his bedroom and he was wearing the pajamas I left there when we had a sleepover and just this morning he was wearing this bracelet that I gave him a while back,” he glanced conspiratorially towards the door and his teacher chuckled a little. “I heard his Dad talking to Laura...well that's not all her mouth was doing.”

“You mean she..” he pulled a face and Kurt nodded, shuddering slightly at the memory, his teacher looked as if he wanted to throw up.

“But before that, he said something, he told her that she should try and get Blaine's 'creepy homo stalker' to leave him alone,” Mr Knightly nodded, cautiously. “The two things together, I thought that maybe...”

“You thought that Blaine's dad might have banned him from talking to you because you're gay and he's an asshole,” he finished and Kurt giggled.

“Something like that,” he shrugged and his teacher paused, considering it.

“Well, it would seem to make sense,” and the boy grinned happily. “But, Kurt, you can't pin your hopes on this, if it's not true then it's going to crush you.” Kurt nodded, trying to hide his smile.

Kurt left the classroom about five minutes after the bell, he had Glee practice and Mr Schue wouldn't mind. Mr Knightly watched him walk away and sighed, one day everything would be better for Kurt, he was just going to have to go through hell first.

Kurt sighed, walking slowly through the deserted halls and smiling slightly at the ground. The first thing he heard were foot steps behind him, then something pushed him face first to the floor. He didn't have time to stick out his hands, so he just turned his head, his cheekbone colliding painfully with the floor. There was a quick intake of breath, before his head was grasped and he was pulled to his feet. “Sorry, lady,” said a voice in his ear and the laughter echoed behind, they dragged him along, throwing him roughly into the locker rooms. Kurt tried to scream, but his throat was dry and no sound came out. One hand held him against the wall, another drew some kind of gel on his eyes, his eyes fluttered against the pressure. The hands supporting him dropped and he crashed to the floor, uncomfortably, feeling his ankle twist from the awkward landing.

Breath was heavy on his neck and for a moment he was paralyzed by terror, before his senses came to life. He tried to stand, but his incapacitated leg landed him flat on his face. Laughter echoed behind him, as he tried to drag away, before their rough hands pulled him up and pushed him into the cold lockers – knocking the wind out of him. For the first time he got a full on view of his attackers, there were two of them and they were both wearing the WMHS sports kit, with hoods pulled over their heads, the taller of the two took out a yellow-brown rag and shoved it in Kurt's mouth. The locker door was shut on him and his eyes attempted to adjust to the dark. There was no space to turn in his cage, it wasn't wide and it's depth was reminiscent of a frying pan; a little light filtered through the grates and a fractured image of the room. He tried to close his eyes and panicked – he couldn't. His arms were constrained to his sides and his leg throbbed painfully, everything was stuck and he was starting to think it was a little more literal for his eye lids. He thought of the gel they'd put on his face and sighed into the gag. He thanked everything he had that he wasn't claustrophobic, because the constricted space was already testing him.

Kurt tried to scream through the gag, but it was impossible, he just inhaled a lot of dust and cloth. His arms lay trapped behind his back, the hook at the top pressed painfully in between his shoulder blades. The boy's leg was achy and throbbing, he tried to sit down, but he found that it was yet another thing that his confines would not allow.

Blaine sat at his desk, frowning slightly at his math substitute as she scratched out algebra on to the board, his eyes flicked to the empty seat in front of the teacher's desk. He dragged his eyes back from where Kurt should have been sitting, feeling the boy's absence pulling at his chest. He missed his best friend, not just because he loved him, but he simply missed having someone who knew how he really was, someone he didn't have to pretend in front of. It was exhausting being around Laura, pretending that he was into her and acting as if he didn't like watching romantic comedies and flicking through vogue. He had to kiss her, had to surrender everything he wanted to share with Kurt, for her to trample over. Blaine sighed, ruffling his hair up slightly, as he considered the clock. He counted down the minutes until the bell rang, his mind on Kurt the whole time, he left the class, his head down and thoughts engaged and started to head towards his next class. He felt two hands grasp his waist from behind and turned to see Laura, her eyes screaming sensual. She entwined her fingers into his and started to pull him away, her eyes fixated on the door ahead a smirk fixed on her face.

Kurt had given up on anyone coming into help him, it felt like he'd been in there for days, but he knew that in reality it had probably been there for just an hour or two. The locker was no longer cold – it was stifling. He thought he might pass out soon due to the humidity and was grateful for his proximity to the grates, although what with the gag, it made very little difference. At least he had some light. He felt the sweat slip down his forehead and wished he could just reach up and wipe it away, but instead he just had to feel it slide slowly across his skin – now he thought could understand how horrific Chinese water torture must be. He was trying to avoid thinking about his eyes, thinking about them just made them sting that bit more. His cheeks were stained in tear tracks, but his tear ducts seemed to have run dry for the moment, although his vision was still slightly blurred over.

The door slammed open and a light in Kurt's head flicked on, he tried desperately to make some kind of noise – but it was hopeless, he would just have to hope that whoever they were, they weren't going to make the situation worse. He heard a giggle and a confused grunt, before the two people that he least wanted to walk into the room were standing in front of his captive locker.

“Laura, you can't be in here...I shouldn't be in here..” Blaine said, uncomfortably, as he turned to look at the door as if he wished someone would just barge through it. Laura giggled, pulling him closer to her and throwing her arms around his neck. Real tears formed in Kurt's eyes, as he watched Blaine flinch at her touch, repulsion filling his honey eyes.

“Shh, you think too much. Relax, no one's gonna find us,” she captured his bottom lip in her teeth, pushing him down onto the bench, as he halfheartedly returned the kiss.

“Laura, no...not here,” he protested and Kurt wanted to throw up, as she kept going, ignoring Blaine's wishes.

Kurt turned his head as far as he could, trying desperately to close his eyes, but knowing it was hopeless. Blaine continued to protest and Kurt wished he could close his ears. He felt so helpless, he tried hitting his head against the locker door, but there was not enough space for it to make a decent sound, the muffled sounds that were made were hidden by the converse.

“Blaine, don't worry, baby,” she said sweetly, her hands caressing him slowly, her hands grasped his belt pulling it open and unzipping his flies, pressing her lips to his stomach. He looked at her, his expression conflicted. This was a line he was not willing to cross, but was it worth destroying the pretense, everything that he had worked for?

“Yes,” he answered out loud and she paused, looking up at him hope in her eyes.

“I knew you'd...”

“No,” he said, quickly, before she could start again. “I don't want to..”

“You...you what?” her face was furious, but she didn't move.

“Get off,” he said, his voice low and controlled.

“Blaine?” she hadn't moved.

“I said get off.”

Kurt's breathing became yet shallower. He continued to hit his head against the locker, hoping that in the gap between the two of them talking, he might be heard.

“GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME,” Blaine yelled, losing it completely. “I don't want this and I don't want you. Laura. I'm not ready, so just let me be.” Laura didn't move, she seemed frozen in place a look of disbelief and horror frozen on her face. The silence hung heavy and Kurt redoubled his effort, convinced he was going to give himself brain damage if he kept at it. Blaine's head tilted, confusion alighting in his eyes.

“What's that?” he asked, his voice back to a normal volume, but the anger remained behind.

“I don't know what you're talking about,” inside the locker Kurt's heart lifted and he kept going, trying to make some kind of noise through his gag. “I don't hear any–”

“DON'T LIE TO ME,” he shouted, getting up, doing up the front of his pants and his belt, before looking desperately around the room.

“Hello? Is someone in there?” he asked, his eyebrows creasing into a line.

“Blaine, stop being ridiculous...” she tried to reach out to him, but he pushed her away.

“Who is it?” he asked, but she just shook her head. “Where are they?” before she could stop herself he eyes traveled toward Kurt's locker and Blaine followed her gaze, crossing the room and flicking the catch. Kurt fell into Blaine, his body crumpling and going limp. Blaine picked the other boy up, taking him to the bench and removing the gag, watching in horror as Kurt coughed hideously.

“Kurt?” he whispered, pushing the boy's hair back and feeling the burn of his forehead. “Are you okay?”

“Fantastic,” said Kurt sarcastically, through his coughing fits, and Blaine chuckled. “You?” He just shrugged, then realized that he was stroking Kurt's head and lowered his hand, coughing a little himself.

“I missed you,” Kurt said, quietly, glancing up at the honey colored eyes.

“I missed you, too,” Blaine replied, blushing gently. Laura scoffed and the two of the turned, having almost forgotten her presence.

“I knew it,” she said, venom on her tongue.

“Get out,” Blaine said, his voice fairly level.

“You're disgusting.”

“Me? I'm disgusting?” Blaine yelled, incredulously. “You knew, didn't you?” she said nothing. “Huh, you disgust me..” he stood, anger pulsing through his veins.

“Blaine, no!” Kurt grabbed Blaine's arm in restraint and the boy calmed visibly under his touch. “Go Laura, just go.” The girl looked at the two of them, spat on the floor and left, slamming the door behind her. Blaine tried not to think of what the rest of the school would say, never mind his father.