Blaine sighed as he settled into his bed, finally home from the hospital. It was nice to be home, but he still ached everywhere. He knew he was lucky, but he didn't feel very lucky. It had been a week since the attack, and it felt like his life was falling apart. One of his old friends, Max, had come by the hospital, offering a bumbling apology. He seemed to be sincere, the attack really hitting a nerve. Blaine ignored his spiteful side and managed to at least partially forgive him.

But the one person he wanted to see desperately hadn't come. Kurt. Yes, they hadn't been friends long, but he was different than any friend he'd ever had before. Kurt got him in a way he couldn't quite understand and he just felt good hanging out with him. But it had been a whole week. A whole week with nothing. A week from hell when he needed his best friend the most.

There was a knock on his door. "Sweetie?" his mother called, opening the door a crack and poking her head in. "You have a visitor."

Blaine shut his eyes, grumbling as he buried his head the best he could. "I don't want to see anyone."

"It's Kurt."

"I don't want to see him." That was a blatant lie.

"Blaine?" He breathed deeply. That was Kurt's voice.

"Fine," he sighed, too drained to argue any more.

The door opened all the way and Kurt stood there holding a gorgeous arrangement of flowers, looking nervous. His eyes met Blaine's, and they were inexplicably terrified. "Hi," he muttered softly, his voice sounding strange.

"Are you going to come in or not?" Blaine demanded, still angry with Kurt as much as he wanted to see him.

Kurt nodded, walking inside slowly. "Here," he muttered, offering the flowers to Blaine. "These are for you."

Blaine held up his plastered arm. "There's a table right there," he mumbled, gesturing wildly with his cast. Kurt winced at his tone but complied, pulling a chair over to sit next to the bed.

Kurt fidgeted, clearly not knowing what to do. "So...how are you?"

There was no answer to that. Blaine felt like his head was spinning. "Where have you been?"

"What?"

"Where have you been? Why are you only just coming to see how I am doing. Why do you care how I am, you haven't cared this whole week when I could have used my best friend!" It was as if he had slashed Kurt's heart open with a knife, that much was clearly written on the other boy's face. Kurt shut his eyes firmly.

"I couldn't, Blaine,"

"You couldn't? And why not? Too busy?"

Kurt shook his head, and Blaine hated himself for making him look that miserable, but all of the pent up anger he hadn't been dealing with since the attack was just pouring out. He wanted to stop, but it was like an out of control train. "Of course not. I haven't been able to think about anything else."

"Then where were you?"

Kurt rubbed his face with both hands. "At first, my dad wouldn't let me go to the hospital. I got hysterical that night, he was worried I'd have a panic attack or get in the way. But then...I just couldn't. Every time I tried to go, all I could see was you lying in your own blood and I just couldn't...." He sniffed loudly. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He wiped his nose on his sleeve, and that was when Blaine knew something was wrong. Kurt would never do that in his right mind. "I just keep flashing back to that night..." He shuddered visibly. "Seeing you like that...so broken, I just...never wanted to see you like that again. And I guess I was worried that you'd still be broken."

Blaine smiled wryly, his anger ebbing away. He held up his arm, only wincing a little. "I still am."

Kurt shook his head. "I know, it wasn't that though. I guess I was worried you wouldn't be you anymore."

"Still me." Blaine replied with a tired smile. He frowned, Kurt's words just hitting him. "Wait, you saw me?"

Kurt nodded, fidgeting his hands. "Yeah, I um, was waiting for my dad and I saw them. And you. So I ran back to get help from the police-"

"You're the one who got help?"

"Yeah," Kurt replied softly.

A lump formed in Blaine's throat and tears prickled at his eyes. "Kurt," he choked out. "You...you saved my life."

Kurt blushed. "I couldn't stop them. I wanted to, but they were so big..."

"Hey," Blaine cut him off, reaching over with his good hand and gripping Kurt's. "You did stop them, okay?" He patted on the bed with his other arm. "Come here," Kurt gave him a confused look. "I want to give you a hug, but I'm, uh, sort of immobilized at the moment."

"Oh," Kurt mumbled, looking at the bed hesitantly. "I just don't want to hurt you."

Blaine patted the bed again. "It's fine, trust me. You won't hurt me, I promise. I'll tell you if I need you to move, okay?"

"Okay," Kurt sat down gingerly next to him before laying parallel, gently wrapping his arms around Blaine's body. It wasn't exactly comfortable, but it didn't cause him pain, so Blaine kept his mouth shut and moved his good arm around Kurt. He felt Kurt shaking next to him, taking steadying breaths as he fought back his emotions. "This was another reason I didn't come see you. I should be trying to make you feel better, not the other way around."

Blaine tightened his grip on Kurt as much as he dared. "It's okay. Hey, I'm sorry I gave you a hard time before, it was just..."

"I never meant to make you feel like I abandoned you, Blaine."

"I know. You were dealing with your own stuff."

"I still should have checked in-"

"Enough. I forgive you, okay? You're here now, and I kinda sorta need my best friend."

Kurt blushed, looking up at him. Blaine's heart did a fluttery little dance. "Am I really your best friend?"

"Of course you are," Blaine responded as if the answer was obvious.

Kurt rested his cheek next to Blaine's on the pillow. "You're mine too, you know." He shook his head. "What were you two doing over there anyway?"

Blaine shifted uncomfortably, not able to look Kurt in the eyes. "What do you mean?"

"At the dance. Why did you and Colin go so far away?"

Blaine shrugged slightly, Kurt's head bobbing with the movement.

"I dunno," Blaine muttered.

"Blaine," Kurt said sharply, a strange thrill running through his skin at the sound. "You kissed him, didn't you," he added, his voice softer and a little sad.

Blaine shook his head, wincing as the healing cuts on his head throbbed. "No, I didn't. I mean, that's why we were going over there, I'm pretty sure. But we didn't get a chance. I didn't kiss him, Kurt." Blaine wasn't entirely sure why it was important to convince Kurt of this, but something deep down told him it was.

Kurt's hand traced up his chest and Blaine had to suppress a shiver. He played with the collar of Blaine's pajamas. Oh my god, I'm lying in bed with Kurt in my pajamas. "But you would have, if you weren't interrupted, wouldn't you."

Sighing, Blaine rubbed his good hand over Kurt's back soothingly. "Kurt-"

The boy in his arms shook his head ever so slightly. "Blaine, it's fine. It's great, even. I mean, why wouldn't you have kissed him?"

"Because he wasn't you."

He froze, the words slipping out before he had a chance for him to register them. Kurt stilled his body, only moving to stare up at Blaine, who couldn't look away this time. His bright blue gorgeous eyes were wide with shock. "Blaine," he whispered.

"I'm so sorry, Kurt I didn't mean-"

"Blaine,"

"I know you're not, and you've been such a great friend and I just-"

"Blaine."

"Yeah?"

"Shut up." Blaine complied, gazing down at Kurt who looked like he was biting back a smile. They sat in silence for several minutes, Kurt's fingers tracing circles onto Blaine's chest. If he wasn't so suddenly nervous, Blaine probably would have drifted off to sleep. "Oh my god," Kurt muttered after a while. "That could have been me."

"Kurt..."

"If I had gotten to you before Colin, that could have been us in that parking lot." He shuddered instinctively. "How is Colin, by the way?"

"Pretty bad," Blaine sighed. "He's still in the hospital, but they think he'll be released in a day or two."

"That's good, I mean, considering."

"Yeah."

There was a long, protracted silence. Kurt buried his head in Blaine's chest, sighing as Blaine brought a hand to his head and started to stroke his hair soothingly.

"Blaine?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I tell you something?" Kurt's voice wavered ever so slightly. Blaine tightened his grip.

"Of course."

The boy in his arms took a deep breath. "Remember when we first met? And I told you I thought you were brave?"

"Yeah..." he replied, not really sure where this was going.

"Well, part of the reason I thought that was because you found the courage to do what I was too terrified to do. Blaine..." Kurt looked directly into his eyes, taking a steadying breath. "Blaine, I'm gay." He exhaled shakily. "Oh my god, I can't believe I just did that," he muttered.

Blaine leaned forward, nestling his head next to Kurt's comfortingly, hoping it could make up for the fact he couldn't give him a better hug. His heart was pounding with excitement and relief and practically every other emotion in the book. "It's gonna be okay, Kurt," he whispered into his friend's ear.

"I've never told anyone." Kurt muttered, his voice muffled by Blaine's shirt. His warm breath tickled a little in a most pleasant way.

"I'm glad you told me, Kurt." Blaine murmured, trying to stay focused, a task which proved exceedingly difficult because, oh, did Kurt always smell this good?

He felt Kurt stiffen. "I have to tell my dad." Kurt wiggled so they were looking at each other again, terror in his eyes. "I have no idea how he'll take it."

Blaine nodded, knowing the feeling intimately. "Look, I don't know your dad well, but I have a feeling he'll be okay. I feel like he's a bit more of an understanding person than my dad, and even he's starting to come around." He brushed a stray lock of hair out of Kurt's face. "And no matter what, you've got me."

"Thanks," Kurt mumbled, the smallest hint of a smile creeping onto his face. "Just...don't say anything, okay? I don't know if I'm ready yet."

"Of course." Blaine leaned down and kissed the top of Kurt's head before he realized what he was doing. Kurt didn't say anything, so he decided to let it pass. "So all that stuff at school was just an act."

Kurt slumped against him and Blaine instantly regretted his words. He should have known better. "They already have enough reasons to hate me. I didn't want them to know I was weak."

Blaine shook his head, cupping Kurt's cheek in his hand. "You are not weak, Kurt. You're one of the strongest people I know. Don't listen to them. Being gay is nothing to be ashamed of, okay? It's just a part of who you are. If they can't deal with it, screw 'em."

Kurt's face twisted into a grin. "I'd prefer not to. Not really my type," he quipped. Blaine looked down at him in disbelief before bursting out in laughter.

"You're just full of surprises, aren't you?" he muttered softly.

"All good, I hope."

Blaine grinned. "The best." He stroked Kurt's cheek with his thumb. "Well, then. What is your type?"

Kurt smiled softly before leaning up, pressing his lips gently against Blaine's. It took Blaine by surprise and suddenly he was awash with emotions he didn't even know he had. He pushed up slightly, wanting to be as close to Kurt as possible. Way too soon, Kurt pulled back, smiling down at him shyly. "Was that okay?"

Blaine chuckled. "That was way more than okay, Kurt."

His friend smiled up at him dumbly, settling back to his original position at his side. "I've never kissed anyone before," he informed Blaine in a quite awe.

Blaine shot him what had to be his dopiest grin. "Me neither."

Kurt looked suddenly scared and Blaine just wanted to make it go away. "So, what does this mean? For us? Are we dating? I don't know if I'm ready for that...I'm sorry," he mumbled in unnecessary apology.

"Hey, you've got nothing to be sorry for. And as far as I'm concerned, we're still just friends. A kiss doesn't mean you're dating, Kurt."

Kurt sighed. "Yeah, I know." He played with Blaine's collar again. "Would you?" he asked.

"Would I what?"

"Date me? If...if things were different?"

Blaine bit his lip. "Yeah, I would."

Kurt laughed bitterly. "I wish I could make things different."

Blaine rubbed his back again. "How about we just try to focus on here and now, okay? We have all the time in the world to figure all the rest out, okay?"

Kurt nodded. "Okay." They laid there in silence for several minutes. "Do you have any idea how long you'll be out of school?"

All of the bubbles that had invaded Blaine's stomach in the past few minutes popped suddenly. He had been dreading this. "Kurt...I'm not going back to school. Not that one, anyways."

His friend nodded, his lips thin. "I figured as much."

"Kurt, I'm sorry, I don't mean to leave you there all alone. It's just...I can't go back."

Kurt smiled up at him sadly. "I know, Blaine." He sighed. "It's okay, though. I'm not going back there either."

Blaine pulled back, startled. "What do you mean?"

"I'm transferring."

Blaine let out a low whistle. "How did you manage to pull that off?"

Kurt shrugged. "That night, it sort of came out that people had been giving me problems. My dad was pissed, obviously, and made a stink about it and the administration agreed it would be best for me to leave. Figured I'd just be a liability for the next time they couldn't keep their animals in check," he finished derisively.

"Where are you going?" Blaine asked, hope stirring in his chest for the slightest of moments.

"McKinley High. It's not much different than our old school, but nobody knows me there. Maybe it can be a fresh start."

Blaine felt like his heart was shattering. "Maybe."

"What about you?"

"Dalton Academy," Blaine muttered, suddenly feeling self conscious about the fact that he could afford a safer place. Kurt was stuck going to what could possibly be another hell hole while he got a second chance. It wasn't fair. "They have a zero tolerance bullying policy."

Kurt nodded. "That'll be good for you."

Blaine sighed miserably. "I wish I could take you with me."

Kurt shrugged in what was supposed to be a non-committal manner. "At least we can still see each other after school, right?"

Blaine shook his head. "Dalton's about two hours away. I'm probably going to board there. I'll be home most weekends, though."

"Oh." He hated the disappointment in Kurt's voice and hated that he was the one who put it there. "When do you start?"

"Probably not until January. I need some time to heal up a bit." He screwed up his face. "They aren't accepting any credit for first semester, since I only completed like a month of it. I'll be so far behind. It's gonna suck." Mostly because you won't be there.

Kurt smiled up at him, clearly putting on a brave face. "You'll be fine. I just hope we are."

Blaine kissed him on the forehead, not quite sure if he was allowed to do this but thankful that Kurt let him. "We'll be okay."

Nodding, Kurt inched his way further up the bed. "I can come over everyday after school, at least until you go off and leave me," he teased.

Blaine smiled at him warmly, wishing he knew how to put into words what the offer meant. "That sounds fantastic," he muttered, hugging Kurt again.

I love you, he thought, his heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time.