Blaine waited nervously at his front door. This was his first high school dance, and he had no idea what to expect. He glanced at his watch just about every five seconds as he waited for Colin's dad to pick him up. There was a chuckle from across the room. He glanced up at his father. "That's not going to make him come any quicker."

Blaine sighed, tensing. He never knew what to expect from his father. "I know."

His father took a few steps forward, closing the distance between them. He placed a hand on his shoulder. "Blaine...have fun tonight."

That was unexpected. He had expected his father to go postal when he found out that Blaine was attending this dance with another boy. Yet he seemed calm, almost as if he approved. He wondered for a moment who this man was and what he had done with his father. "Thanks, I will."

His father smiled at him. "I...I'm proud of you son." That was even more unexpected. "I might not understand....everything, but...I know that this tonight can't be easy for you." He shook his head. "I'm not very good at this."

Blaine smiled softly, those few words enough. "It's okay. And thank you."

His father smiled sheepishly. "Come, give your old man a hug." Blaine complied, completely confused. His father had never been the hugging type, even less so recently. But he couldn't complain. He seemed sincere, and Blaine would take any affection from him that he could get. A horn honked outside. "You'd better get going."

"Okay, bye Dad,"

"Call if you're going to be late."

"I will, Dad,"

"Bye," Blaine called back before ducking out the door, stumbling towards Colin's car, not knowing what to do with his emotions. It was going to be a long night.

*#*#*#*#*#*#*

Kurt grinned as he watched Blaine dance like a lunatic. It didn't matter; the three of them were off in a corner surrounded by a ten foot radius of nobody, so any unusual dancing was not a target for harassment. It was like they weren't even there for most of the school. Kurt didn't mind that one bit. Blaine clearly was having a good time. Kurt had never seen him look so...carefree. He sighed as he twirled Colin around. He wasn't quite sure why the sight of the two dancing bothered him so much, but it did.

The dance was quickly entering the phase where everyone is exhausted and cranky and wants to go home. Colin turned to Blaine. "Wanna wait for my dad outside?"

Blaine shrugged. "Sure. Kurt, you coming?"

Before he could answer, Colin cut him off. "I was hoping maybe we could get a little privacy before calling it a night?

Blaine looked between him and Kurt nervously. "Oh, um..."

Kurt put on what he hoped was his best smile considering his heart was inexplicably shattering. "Go on, I'll see you Monday."

Blaine frowned. "You sure? You'll be okay by yourself?"

Kurt nodded. "My dad will be here soon, go."

"Fine," Blaine sighed, though he put on a smile when he turned to Colin. "Night, Kurt,"

"Night," Kurt called to their retreating form. Sighing, he turned to the refreshment table, which thankfully still had a few Hershey bars left, which he purchased without a second thought. It was turning into a three bar kind of night.

*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*

Blaine had a feeling he knew what Colin wanted, and he wondered if there was something wrong with himself. He was about to be kissed, his first kiss, why wasn't he more excited? Because he's not Kurt. He banished the thought from his head. He wasn't allowed to think about Kurt like that, even if he had suspicions that Kurt might like him too.

"So..." he muttered as they walked along the sidewalk, sort of away from the front entrance which was currently clogged with cars picking up their children. 

Colin smiled at him, tugging on his hand. "I had fun tonight.

His mind flashed to Kurt laughing at his ridiculous moves. "Yeah, me too."

Colin leaned closer. "Want to have some more fun?"

Before Blaine could respond, a loud voice shouted, "Ew, gross!" He shut his eyes, knowing what was going to happen. "Why don't you take that faggy crap somewhere else."

Blaine whipped around, facing his attackers. "I have just about had enough of you and your stupid insults. You know an offensive word, la-di-da, I'm so not impressed. Just stop already."

The ringleader glared at him, stepping forward intimidatingly. "Oh yeah? You gonna make me?" His cronies laughed mercilessly. "I think we need to teach these two freaks some manners."

"Blaine, come on, let's get out of here," Colin muttered quietly, gripping his arm in an attempt to steer him away. 

The ringleader blocked their path. "I think the fun's just starting. Wouldn't want to miss the show, now would you boys?"

"What kind of show is that?" Blaine asked, his voice sounding braver than he felt.

"The one where we beat the living shit out of you."

Blind terror washed over Blaine, panic rising up and threatening to spill as bile. He started to run, but one of the thugs stuck out a leg and tripped him. He fell to the ground, barely catching himself with his hands when the blows began to fall. I'm going to die, he realized in horror. I'm going to die.

He let out a bloodcurdling scream, praying that someone would come and help.