Four years ago:

The music drew him in. The familiar sound of Single Ladies drifted across the street to where Blaine was standing.

He and his family had been out the entire day going from school to school. His parents were determined to find a new place for him soon. The restaurant across from the stadium was their last stop of the day. He sat there as long as he could before he just couldn’t take one more second. He was sick of it. His mother asking if he felt all right every ten seconds. Cooper going to jokingly punch his arm as he had since his birth. Only to stop with a sharp intake of breath from his mother, or the sound of his father slamming his fork down on his plate. Blaine couldn’t help but feel that the scowl on his father’s face was accusatory. Kind of a, ‘see how you’ve changed everything’, look. Finally, he got up from the table an announced that he needed some air. His mother tried to send Cooper with him. With a pleading look from Blaine, Coop sat down and distracted their parents with his latest Hollywood tale.

Single Ladies in the middle of a football game? He crossed the street and went up to the fence surrounding the stadium. When he saw what was going on he laughed so hard he had to grab on to his still taped ribs. The only evidence of his broken nose were slight shadows under each eye. But it was still sore. With the size of the smile now on his face he was very aware of that fact. But, he didn’t care. It had been so long since he smiled his lips felt rusty and out of practice.

The entire offensive line was doing the single ladies dance. After they scored, he glanced at the scoreboard. The game was tied with no time left. The entire stadium went completely silent as the kicker took the field. Blaine pressed his face right up against the chain link when he saw him. He didn’t want to feed into any stereotype, but they way number three ran on the field? He believed that he and the kicker might have something in common. The music started and the kicker’s Single Ladies moves seemed much more practiced than the rest of the team. He danced his way to the tee and let fly. As the ball flew between the goal posts, he pulled off his helmet. Blaine couldn’t see his face only the back of his head. The rest of the team hoisted the hero kicker up in the air. He laughed at the boy because it looked like he was blowing kisses up into the stands. Not your typical jock behavior. Definitely on my team, Blaine thought.

Maybe he should transfer here. If this boy could be treated like a star then maybe Blaine could find a place here as well. Maybe they could be friends. Blaine lost himself in the fantasy for a moment. The idea of having a friend like him. A friend to hang out and be himself with, maybe go to a movie or a dance… His grip tightened around the chain link. The wire cut into his skin. His squeezed his eyes shut trying to block the memories that came in to assault his mind.

No, it would be better if Blaine stayed away from that kid. They would both be safer that way. He would just stick to the plan. He would go to Dalton with their no bullying policy. He would try to find a way to fit in somehow. He looked over at the kicker once more. He is amazing, Blaine thought. A star. Brave enough to be himself in a school where he could probably get the crap beaten out himself for it. He started to turn away but took one last look at the boy on the field. “It would have been nice to have a friend like you.” Blaine gave a little wave that no one could see, and walked back across the street.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kurt was a star. There was no denying it, Blaine could see that from his hiding place in his car. He watched as Kurt walked across the parking lot toward the school. Some kids would run up to him just to get a hug. Others would do a spin for him to garner approval on their outfit. Blaine’s eyes narrowed when a few guys didn’t walk in front of Kurt but chose instead to walk behind him. “What the hell are they doing? Oh…” One of the young men must have said something because Kurt turned and gave the boys a little wave. Now Blaine understood. Those jeans were so tight they would probably be illegal in ten states. If he were over there he would probably be walking behind him as well.

It was the end of the day so the parking lot was mostly cleared by now. He had avoided this place for as long as he could but the closer the time grew to glee practice the antsier he became. He needed to see Kurt. It was strange because it appeared that he had just arrived as well. Blaine had no intention of going into McKinley. He just wanted to see Kurt one last time. One last time before everything changed. One last time before he told him the truth. He wanted one look at that face filled with joy and affection before he knew who Blaine really was and it filled with something else. God! Why hadn’t he kissed him when he had the opportunity? He may never have that chance now. Blaine let his head rest on the steering wheel. He didn’t close his eyes, because when he did he knew the image of Kurt hovering over him with that beautiful wet mouth moving close to his, would haunt him.

Blaine sat up, put his hand on the key in the ignition and looked out his windshield. The scene before him turned his blood to ice. A big guy in a letterman jacket had come up from behind Kurt and grabbed him around the waist. The bully appeared to be walking toward the dumpster next to the school.

“Kurt!” Blaine fumbled with the handle trying to get out of the car. Finally, he threw the door open and started running. “Get the hell away from him! Don’t touch him!”

The jock turned with Kurt still clutched in his arms. Blaine skidded to a stop when he saw Kurt’s face. Instead of the terror he expected, there was a smile.

“Damn it Finn, put me down!”

The tall man, the really, really tall man put Kurt down and offered a hand to Blaine. “Hey, I’m Kurt’s stepbrother, Finn. You must be Blaine. I can tell by the hair, Kurt described it for like twenty minutes last night. ”

“Oh my God Finn, shut up!” Kurt covered his face with his hands.

Before Blaine had a chance to react to that bit of information, Kurt uncovered his face and narrowed his eyes at his brother. “Finn what are you doing here?”

“Oh, I took Rachel over to see Burt and Mom. Your dad said you forgot something before you,” Finn brought his hands up and made quote marks in the air, “skipped off to school. So I brought it to you. Hang on.” Finn ran around to the side of the dumpster and picked something up off of the ground. “Here.”

Blaine looked from the lunch box to Kurt’s face then back again. “Power Rangers Kurt? Really?” Blaine had to laugh at the wide-eyed death stare he was leveling at his stepbrother.

“Wait. Finn did you say Rachel was with you? Where is she now?”

Blaine watched as Finn winced slightly and rubbed the back of his neck. “She mentioned something about the choir room. Sorry dude.”

“Crap!” Kurt took off at a run and Finn followed.

Blaine found himself following not too far behind the pair. Every time his foot met the pavement a cadence of, ‘What are you doing? You weren’t coming back here!’, beat a pattern in his brain. Nevertheless, here he was going through the doors of McKinley one more time. It seemed that Kurt was his pied piper.

He entered the choir room in time to see Kurt and Finn pull a short brunette away from the white board. It appeared that she had started today’s lesson without them. Once they had placed the enthusiastic girl into a chair and everyone else was settled, all eyes turned to him. Guilt washed over him as he gazed at the eager faces. They were here to learn and to dream. They were here to make music. Why was he here? To get a date? It certainly wasn’t to teach. He had to end this charade. These kids deserved a real teacher, one that was not lusting after a student. He just needed to get through one more day. He would tell Kurt after class.

“Okay. Should we get started? I thought we might discuss a solo for sectionals.”

“Mr. Anderson!”

There was a commotion as both Kurt and his brother leapt forward and pulled the over enthusiastic girl back into her seat.

“Rachel is it? Did you have a suggestion?”

“No, no she didn’t.” Kurt answered.

“Oh, okay. So does anyone else have a suggestion? Maybe…” His phone buzzing in his pocket interrupted him. He looked at the text while the students talked among themselves.

‘From Jeff: Come out into the hallway.’

Blaine’s heart dropped into his stomach. Jeff was the only person who knew where he would be today. He was the only one who knew the truth, and he wouldn’t be here if it weren’t… bad. He ignored Kurt’s questioning look and slipped out the door. His roommate and friend was waiting just outside the room.

“What the hell are you doing here Jeff?”

“Sorry Blaine. Your dad came to campus and cornered me. He wanted to know why you haven’t been showing up for dinner. And I’m pretty sure he knows you haven’t been going to classes.”

Blaine was right. It was bad. “What did you tell him?”

“I’m sorry Blaine. Your dad is intimidating as hell! I may have let it slip that you have been hanging out here. Don’t worry! I didn’t tell him why.” He ran a hand through his blond hair. “I don’t think he would have believed me anyway. I came as soon as could, to warn you.”

“Why didn’t you just text me Jeff! Why did you come here?”

“Oh, well I thought since your dad is probably going to drag your ass out of here in about an hour, this would be my last chance to see the famous Mr. Anderson in action.” He grinned as he dodged Blaine’s hand and walked toward the choir room door. “Besides I have to get a look at the reason why you’re in this mess.” He said as he went inside.

Blaine stood in the hallway for, he didn’t know how long. When he went back in the room Kurt looked up clearly concerned. Jeff was sitting behind Kurt and giving Blaine thumbs up. Blaine tried, he really did. He only lasted about ten minutes before he dismissed the class stating a forgotten meeting as the reason for ending early. Jeff caught Blaine’s eye and tapped his watch before he walked out. As Kurt and Finn said goodbye Rachel wandered over to Blaine.

She stood next to him watching the brother’s laugh and hug. “He belongs in New York you know.”

“Pardon me?”

“Kurt. I see the way you look at him and I just think you should know that he can’t stay in this town forever, even if it is with you. He belongs in New York.”

He tore his gaze away from Kurt long enough to look her in the eye. “I know.”

The room was finally empty save for Kurt and Blaine. They stood on either end of the room staring at one another.

“Why did you end the class early Blaine? I missed seeing you teach. You are incredibly sexy when you talk about music.” A shy smile touched his lips. “This look of wonderment comes over your face. Like a kid talking about their favorite toy.” He walked forward only stopping when he was close enough to touch. “So tell me why I didn’t get to see that today. What‘s going on?”

Now was his chance. This was the opening for him to reveal the whole story to Kurt.

If only he wasn’t standing so close, and smelling so good. And looking so beautiful. Looking so, Kurt. “It isn’t the music that makes me like that. It’s you. You make me feel like I’m sixteen again. When I am with you, everything around me feels fresh and new. Hopeful. And a little reckless.” His pulse had quickened just at the nearness of this young man.

“Kiss me.“

“Kurt.“ He whispered.

“Blaine, please don’t say no this time. Let’s pretend that we are both sixteen again. Come steal a kiss. Steal as many as you can before we’re caught, because it could happen at any moment!”

Kurt did not know just how right he was. Blaine took a step forward and clutched at Kurt’s shoulders. He walked him backwards until he was up against the wall and pushed his body into Kurt’s. They were so close, when he licked his lips his tongue brushed Kurt’s mouth. He slid his hands from his shoulders up to his face. He tilted his head slightly and moved in closer. “Kurt.” He whispered against his soft lips.

“Blaine!”

He and Kurt flew apart at the sound of the voice.

“Jeff? What are you doing back here?”

Jeff stood frozen staring at the pair. He kind of shook his head and seemed to come out of some deep thought. “Blaine I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt”, he waved his hand in the general direction of his and Kurt’s crotch, “whatever that was. But your dad is coming. I saw him in the parking lot as I was leaving.”

“Oh God. Can you stall him for a second? Please?”

He looked from Blaine to Kurt then back again. “I can do that. Just hurry and do want you need to Blaine.” He ran out the door.

“Blaine? What’s going on?”

“I promise I will tell you everything Kurt, but we need to get out of here, now.” He walked to the door, turned and held out his hand. “Come with me?”

Without a word, Kurt walked to him and took his waiting hand. The left the choir room and ran down the hallway and out the door. Blaine could hear the sound of Jeff’s very boisterous, “Why hello Mr. Anderson!” They didn’t stop running until they reached Kurt’s car.

They got in the front seat and before he lost his nerve or Kurt started asking questions he started talking. “I’m nineteen!”

“What?”

“Let me say all of this at once before I lose my nerve, okay?”

Blaine stared straight ahead while he talked. Partly to watch out for his father and partly because he was afraid to see the look on Kurt’s face. He barely paused for breath while told his tale. His tale of a beautiful boy on a staircase. Of misunderstandings and a rediscovery of his youth. Youth that he was way to young to have lost in the first place. He finally paused and turned to look at Kurt.

“So that’s the story, and now here is the truth. That whole comedy of errors? That isn’t why I haven’t spoken up till now.”

Blaine reached out placed his hand lightly on Kurt’s cheek. “Kurt you are on the verge of an amazing life! Anyone that looks at you can see it. Talent and potential just emanate from you. I don’t want you to hold yourself back because of me. There was a time when I was the kind of person who deserved you. Full of fight and passion. But I’m not that guy anymore. Maybe if I had known you when I was sixteen I would have been. When I sang for you, and it was definitely for you, in the choir room the other day? That was the first time I had performed in public in a year. I knew you for five minutes and it was as if you brought music back into my life. You need to take that out into the world. Go to New York! You will do amazing things and meet fabulous people and… men.”

“Blaine stop! I… I need to tell you…”

“Kurt, don’t try to change my mind. If you ask me to, I will. I don’t ever want to be something you regret or someone you resent.” He leaned forward and placed a quick gentle kiss on Kurt’s forehead before getting out of the car.

“Where are you going? Blaine!”

The cry in Kurt’s voice was too much for his heart to take. So he started running.