For the first time in Kurt's life, Blaine wasn't answering the phone. He went to climb the stairs that his father had rebuilt two years before. He knocked repeatedly on Blaine's window.

"Blaine? Blaine!" He shouted his best friend's name when he opened the window.

"Sorry, we were saying goodbye to my brother."

"I was just worried," Kurt took Blaine's hand as he pulled him into the room. "What's that, Blaine?" He gestured towards the pamphlet on Blaine's bed.

"Oh, that's something Cooper left here." He threw it in the nightstand and stand on the bed. "What's up?"

"Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"I know you guys weren't the closest, but with your brother leaving and all I just thought maybe..."

"I'm fine," Blaine looked away. His face was reddening and his eyes were filling up with tears. As Kurt said these things, the fact that his brother was going to be gone for a very long time was just hitting him.

"Blaine," Kurt walked over and sat next to him on the bed, "You're not fine. Come here, let me hold you."

"I can't make you do that, Kurt. That's my job."

"I don't care," Kurt lifted Blaine's chin, "Come here."

Blaine reluctantly crawled over and snuggled into Kurt. He laid his head in Kurt's lap and Kurt brushed his curls.

Kurt chuckled. "Did your brother leave his hair gel?"

"Yeah," Blaine laughed. "He told me I should use it when..."

"When what, Blaine?"

"When we move."

"What?!" Kurt jumped.

"Kurt, I was going to tell you tonight when I came over."

"You can't move. Mercedes is great, but she's not you. We're starting 8th grade this year, you can't move."

"I have to move, Kurt. I really don't have much of a choice."

"Where are you moving?"

"Boston. Dad got a job transfer."

"Why doesn't your- Never mind, I shouldn't say something like that."

"What?"

"Why doesn't your mom leave your dad, Blaine?"

"Why would you say something like that?"

"Does he still hurt you?"

"Kurt-"

"Blaine, seriously. Does he still hurt you?"

Blaine wouldn't answer and Kurt sat him up. He took Blaine's shirt off and looked at his back. Among the scars from that night two years ago, which was the worst out of all the beatings, there were fresh purple bruises.

"Oh, Blaine..." Kurt moaned.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I... when he told me we were moving... he had this awful smirk on his face. I ran in my room and slammed the door."

"Is this what that noise was? It wasn't your mom dropping pans in the kitchen?"

"No, it wasn't."

"Put your shirt back on."

"It's fine, I don't want to. Are you angry with me?"

"No, Blaine."

"Kurt?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm gay, too."

"What? You've always stayed so active in your faith... I thought you ignored my being gay because... you had changed your mind about what it meant."

"We're taught so many things, Kurt. So many things that I don't know if they're right or wrong. But it doesn't matter because I'm here now and I love you more than anyone in this world."

"I knew, by the way."

"You did?"

"Yeah, of course," Kurt smiled as Blaine sat up. "You're my best friend, I know everything about you. The only person you made a valentine for in 6th grade was me. And, I know what that pamphlet said," He added with a wink. Blaine threw himself into Kurt's arms and Kurt hugged back, gently rubbing the areas he knew the bruises didn't cover.

"You made me a valentine, too."

"Yes, but you knew I was gay."

"True."

"Blaine, why the pamphlet? We're so young."

"Oh, that?" Blaine chuckled. "Cooper insisted on giving me the talk when I told him earlier. He said he was prepared." He pulled open the desk drawer and gestured at the brown bag.

"Are those..."

"Yeah," Blaine closed the drawer and both boys exploded into awkward giggles.

"Your brother has always been a little insane."

"I know. Remember that time we made him try our easy bake cake?"

"We didn't use the right light bulb so the middle was still soggy."

"He still ate it."

"Yeah, he's a good brother, isn't he?"

"He's a great brother," Blaine smiled at the picture of young Blaine piggy back riding on his brother's neck.

"You're gonna miss him."

"I am, but I'm going to be okay," Blaine assured Kurt. "Hey, cheer up? We should talk about stuff that happened while we were kids."

"Okay, like what?"

"That time when your mom left the house and... Oh, I shouldn't talk about your mom, I'm sorry."

"Blaine, it's been five years, it's okay. This isn't that Friday night dinner when Dad undercooked that chicken all over again."

"Well... anyways, that time when your mom left and we took what we thought was her perfume and sprayed it on our arms... Then we realized it was glitter body spray and..."

"Didn't we put it in our hair?"

"Yeah," Blaine chuckled. "I got in so much trouble with Dad for that, but it was soo worth it!"

"Remember we went to the store and returned all of the toy trucks you got for Christmas for a gift card and bought toy costumes?"

"Oh god, yes. Your dad yelled at us so much for leaving the house."

"What were we? Nine?"

"If that," Blaine laughed.

"I'm going to miss you so much, Blaine."

"I'm going to miss you, too, Kurt."

"I hope you don't get bullied anymore wherever you go to school."

"It's a big city so maybe there will be more diversity."

"I hope so. I want you to be happy."

"Kurt, you should be happy too."

"I know."

As if it was scripted, they kissed at that moment. Neither one of them initiated it, it just happened. Kurt and Blaine had seen more, now. They knew what to do a bit more. Blaine gently slid is tongue into Kurt's mouth and started experimenting. Kurt pulled away and covered his mouth.

"God, Kurt. I'm sorry."

"It's fine, Blaine. I just don't know if I'm ready."

"For what?"

"Anything more than... simple kissing. I don't even know if I'm ready for that. I'm sorry."

"It's fine, I shouldn't have tried anything like that."

"Can I stay over tonight?"

"Sure. My dad's already at the new house in Boston... We're leaving tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

Kurt sobbed into Blaine's chest. "Shh, baby, it's okay. We can webcam and my mom is getting us cell phones. There's always email, too."

"Cell phones?"

"Yeah, your dad's cool with it. I actually think my mom just got home. Is it okay if she comes in, Kurt?"

"Sure."

"Mom?"

"Yes, honey?"

"Can we give Kurt his cell phone?"

"Yes, here it is." His mother handed Blaine the box and rubbed Kurt's hair. "Are you okay, honey?"

"Why do you have to leave?"

"I don't know, Kurt. Blaine's father got a new job... But, you guys can keep in touch, okay? Blaine's got his phone and you both have each other's number, along with mine and Burt's."

"Thank you, Mrs. Anderson."

"Keep going to church, okay Kurt? I know your dad isn't that faithful, but keep trying to get there. Faith will be important for you and Blaine during these hard times. Keep praying."

"Okay, thanks Mrs. Anderson."

"Can Kurt stay over tonight?" Blaine didn't want Kurt getting in a religious debate with his mother just yet.

"Of course he can, honey."

"Thanks, Mom."

As the sun went down, Kurt helped Blaine and Emily pack the house up. It was very sad for the three of them seeing all the boxes being piled into the moving van. Burt laughed when his son used his cell phone to tell him he was staying over because he was already downstairs to get his pajamas.

"Kurt?" Blaine wanted to ask his best friend a question, but he didn't want to wake him.

"I'm not sleeping."

"You're not gonna forget me, right?"

"I'll never say goodbye to you, Blaine."

"Me either."

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

"Can you hold me?"

"Of course, Kurt, I'll always hold you."

"Not for long."

"Shh," Blaine cooed, "We don't have to think about that right now. This night is ours."

They fell asleep in each other's arms.

-

The next morning, goodbyes were short. The moving van had to be gone by six and all Kurt and Blaine could get out were a simple hug and tears. They had held each other through everything and missed the touch when they were gone.

 Kurt and Blaine both promised to always wear their best friend necklaces, the one that Blaine had put in the secret envelope when they were 10. Even though one day the necklaces would probably choke them, they would never stop wearing them. They had promised.

-

"Dad?"

"Yeah, Kurt?"

"Can you help me work my webcam?"

"I'm not sure if Blaine is settled  yet, it's only been two-"

"Please, he promised he'd set it up as soon as he got to Boston!"

"Okay, okay. I'm going."

Kurt's dad set up the webcam and its account. They found Blaine's account, too, and sent a contact request. Within twenty minutes, the computer was beeping with an accepted request and a video call. Kurt quickly clicked the ‘accept' button.

"Hi, Kurt!" Blaine's face slowly moved across the screen with delay.

"How're you?"

"I'm alright. I miss you, though. Sorry I didn't call yesterday, we were busy."

"Is that your house?"

"Yeah, it's a two story!"

"That's awesome!"

"I wish you lived below me, though."

"Me too."

"Has anyone moved in upstairs?"

"Yes, a little girl took your old bedroom yesterday. I'm preeeetty sure she painted it pink with Minnie Mouse on the wall."

Blaine laughed. "Hey, that's fine with me! Minnie wears a bow!"

"I'd rather you lived upstairs."

"I know, Kurt. I know. Your desktop is old. Is it slowing down?"

"Yeah, it is."

"Can you get another if it breaks?"

"I don't think we can afford that, Blaine. Once it breaks down, we'll have to talk on the phone and over letters."

"I sent you a letter today! But I don't care how we have to talk, we'll talk."

"Good," Kurt smiled.

"Is it 9 pm there?"

"Yeah."

"Sweet. Same time zone."

"I have to go, though, Blaine. I have school tomorrow. It's the first day."

"I'm going to miss you at my school, tomorrow's my first day, too."

"I love you, Blaine."

"I love you too, Kurt."

They waved and Blaine ended the call. Kurt just stared at the monitor, at the last face Blaine had made before the call ended, and broke down. As Kurt was staring at the screen, a blue screen came across his monitor. He ran and got his dad.

"Dad! My computer!"

"Sorry, bud. There's no fixing that. It's an old computer and it wasn't a very good one, just a starter. I'm sorry, but we can't afford another."

Kurt cried into his pillow and punched it. Burt rubbed his back.

-

The next day, Blaine was repeatedly calling Kurt's webcam. It never worked, so he called Kurt's cell. There was no answer, so he sent his first text.

You okay, Kurt?

I'm fine.

Why aren't you answering anything?

I'm really, really sorry. My computer died last night and my phone can't make calls.

Oh, it's okay...

You can call my house.

Not too often, it racks up phone bills.

That sucks.

Yeah.

Maybe we shouldn't keep this up.

Kurt, it's been two days.

The universe doesn't seem to want us together.

Why?

My computer, my phone, the inability to call my house, it seems to mean something.

Maybe you're right.

You're still my best friend.

Me too.

I gotta go, Blaine.

I'll text you later, I love you.

I love you, too.

Kurt didn't respond to any messages after that. He couldn't see his friendship with Blaine lasting for much longer.

For two years, Blaine text and called Kurt's house phone. One day, a new family answered the house phone and said that they were going to call the police if he didn't stop calling, that the Hummels had disposed of their cell phone because of Burt's business. After many text messages, Kurt deactivated his phone. He didn't think losing Blaine would be so hard.

The day Blaine got a text back from Kurt, he nearly screamed with joy. He clicked the button and his heart sunk as he read this:

This number has been deactivated.

Neither boy took off their necklace, though. Blaine, even though he didn't gain height, gained muscle. His necklace began to cut into his thick neck, so he took the charm off and put it on a bracelet. Kurt, however, kept more of a feminine neck shape and was able to wear the necklace.

-

On Blaine's 15th birthday, he was a sophomore in high school. He decided to come out to his parents on that day. He wanted to go to a dance with his friend, Gabe, who had just come out as well.

"Mom? Dad? Can I talk to you?"

"Of course, honey."

"Son, what's going on?" Kevin was more firm than Emily.

"Mom, I understand that you are very religious and I have always been too. But, you have to understand something, I'm not sure exactly what my religion is right now. Dad, what I'm about to say is going to kill you, too. But, Cooper knows and I don't want to hide it anymore. I'm gay."

"Blaine..." Emily began, but Kevin cut her off by shoving Blaine into a wall and forcing him to look him in the eye.

"You are not and will not be gay," he growled.

"Kevin, let's sit down and talk about this, okay?"

"Okay, Emily," Kevin reluctantly sat down.

"So, Blaine, how long have you known this?" She was careful with her words.

"Since I was really little. I don't know, seven, maybe? I wasn't sure of it, though, until I was about 11."

"Who knows about this?" Kevin was being forceful about the questions.

"Well, not many people. Just Cooper and Kurt..." He let his voice trail off at the name of his old best friend. They hadn't talked in three years. What was Kurt doing at that moment?

"I knew that Kurt kid was a bad influence."

"Dad, I told Kurt the day we left; we stopped talking a few days after that."

"You and Kurt don't talk anymore?" Emily took her son's hand.

"No, he didn't want to."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not!" Kevin interrupted the touching moment, "I told you two that Kurt was not welcome around us anymore. I'm glad you've finally come to your senses." He pushed his son to the floor before climbing the stairs and slamming the door to his room.

"I knew you were, Blaine, from the moment I looked into your little eyes. I'm sorry I told you that you could change it when you were starting kindergarten." She patted her son's shoulder. "You should find Kurt."

Blaine held his shoulder as his mom walked upstairs.

"Thanks, Mom."