Blaine Anderson's life changed in a matter of moments, seconds even. He never thought that someone, two people in fact, could be taken from his life in an instant, but they were. Trying to never hold a grudge against it, but sometimes it just eats away at his insides until he feels himself start to breakdown. That's when he stops himself though, he can't breakdown. Blaine Anderson can not show weakness.

Blaine turns seventeen as soon as the clock strikes midnight. He has the suitcases stowed away and some of their personal items hidden in the trunk of the car already. Sitting on his bed and looking at the clock by his bed every few seconds hoping the closer it gets to his timed plan to leave.

Kicking the blankets off of his body and swinging his legs over the side of his bed he ran a hand through his hair. He stood up and started pacing around his room; well it wasn't really his, even though he had been living in it for the past two and half years.

Blaine wanted to move out when he was sixteen, but he couldn't because he didn't have any money and needed to save up. Now that he had enough he was ready. He had an apartment set up a couple of towns away and started looking for a new job that was closer to the apartment.

After hours of trying to sleep, he couldn't. Trying to lie down in his bed again, but it wasn't any use. He stood up and changed out of the pajamas he had on. He grabbed his wallet, keys, and cell phone that was on his night stand, putting them in his pockets. After he shoved the pajamas in the backpack that was next to his bed, he grabbed it and opened the door quietly. He tiptoed over to the room next to his and opened the door.

Blaine watched the little girl sleeping in the bed, he knew what he had to do; he had to do it for her. He bent down next to her bed, "Cassidy," he whispered and shaking her gently.

The little girl turned over and opened her eyes, "Blaine? What's wrong?" she asked.

Blaine smiled, "Come on," he said, "Remember when I promised you that I would do anything for you?" Cassidy gave him a sleepy nod. "Well we're leaving."

"Now?" Cassidy asked, "But I'm tired Blainey," she said tucking her head in his chest.

"I know baby girl, but you can sleep on the ride," Blaine said, "Here you just have to walk to the car, then you can sleep alright."

"Okay," Cassidy said getting out of her bed, "Can I take Biddy?"

Blaine gave a small laugh, "Of course you can," he said picking up her school backpack, "Put him in here," he said holding out the backpack.

Cassidy put her stuffed animal in the backpack sleepily not yet fully awake and then her eyes snapped open, "Wait, today is your birthday! Sit down and wait here" she said and then ran into her closet. Blaine sat down as she asked and waited for her. She brought back a small wrapped present with a paper roll taped to it, "Happy Birthday Blaine."

Blaine's heart didn't know if he could take it, "Thank you Cassidy." He noticed the Christmas wrapping paper on it, but took off the paper and unrolled it. It had a picture of him on it and it said Happy Birthday Blaine. "It's beautiful," he said towards his sister and kissing her head, "Now what could this be?" he asked giving it a small shake.

"Just open it silly," Cassidy said leaning on him.

Blaine smiled and opened the present, inside the small box was a ring. He stared at it, "Where did you get this?" he asked.

"Remember how I saved up all those cereal box tops?" Cassidy said, "You said how you wished you could have a ring like that one. So I got it for you. I wanted to give it to you for Christmas, but it came too late."

Blaine hugged his sister, "Thank you Sissy, it's wonderful."

"Put it on," she said excitedly.

Blaine slipped the ring on his pinky finger, "How does it look?"

"Great," Cassidy said with a smile.

"Now we really have to go," Blaine said standing up.

Cassidy nodded and put a few more stuffed animals in her backpack, "Are we going to tell Uncle Jack we're leaving?" she said quietly.

Blaine shook his head, "No."

"Okay," she said taking Blaine's hand.

Blaine knew how afraid Cassidy was of their Uncle Jack and he didn't like the man either. Before they were forced to move in with him he was just the Uncle that came to visit for the holidays. Yet, they had no other choice but to stay in Ohio, so they moved in with him.

Blaine knew it was a mistake within the first day.

After Blaine shut off the light off in Cassidy's room, he turned towards her, "Now we have to be extremely quiet okay?"

"Okay," Cassidy squeaked out.

Blaine opened the door and all the lights were out in the house. They walked as quietly as they could past there Uncle's room, both holding there breath as they crossed. Blaine let out his breath and heard his sister do the same once were passed his door. He tugged her hand as they made there way towards the front door.

Blaine had purposely parked in the road tonight instead of in the garage. He set down his house key he had on the table by the door and opened it slowly. Pushing his sister out in front of him and shutting the door shut quietly. "Let's go," he said taking his car keys out of his pocket and using the key to unlock the doors afraid of making to much noise.

Cassidy crawled in the backseat of the small car and buckled up. She was already drifting off to sleep by the time Blaine sat in the car and shut his door. He looked at her through the rearview mirror, "Here we go baby girl to our new life. I promise."

"Blaine!" Cassidy yelled running out of her room.

"What is it?" Blaine asked while he was making some macaroni and cheese on the stove.

"Do I have to go to school tomorrow?" she asked.

Blaine sighed and kneeled down in front of his sister, "Cassidy we talked about this, we both have to finish school and if I go to school you have to go to school."

"Okay," Cassidy looked down at the floor.

"Hey," Blaine said picking her up and putting her on the counter, "How about we play a game?"

"Okay, but I get to win," Cassidy teased.

Blaine laughed, "We'll see." They had moved into there apartment about a month ago. He had found a job at a local coffee shop called the Lima Bean and on some weekends he would sing and play piano for a local cafe.

The apartment they had moved in to has a variety of neighbors. There was an older man who was nice enough, although they tried to avoid him if they could. The elderly couple, Eugene and Irene, that lived right below them was always giving them food and offering to watch Cassidy when Blaine had to work. Then there was the woman, Katherine, who ran a day care on the first floor that was nice to them and would watch Cassidy. Blaine couldn't believe how he got so lucky.

The only neighbors they didn't get along with at all were the small family that lived a few doors down from them. It was a mother, father, and a teenage boy. Blaine tried to be nice to him, but the boy practically hissed at him the one time Blaine tried to strike up a conversation with him. Blaine brushed it off and hoped he wouldn't see him at school that often, if they attended the same school that is.

"How do you make such good macaroni and cheese?" Cassidy asked taking a bite.

Blaine laughed, "I don't know Sissy I thought maybe you would." He paused and set his fork down, "Are you nervous for school tomorrow?"

Cassidy shrugged her small shoulders, "I guess so."

"You know I'm nervous for school too," Blaine said.

"You are?" Cassidy asked with her eyes widening.

"Yep," Blaine explained, "And I know that first grade is a big deal, so I when you walk into school tomorrow can you do me a favor?" Cassidy nodded her head at her brother. "When you walk in, just take a deep breathe in through your nose and out your mouth. Leave all your worries at the door."

Cassidy giggled, "That's silly."

"Hey, it's what I plan on doing," Blaine said with a smile.

"Okay, I'll try it," Cassidy said and took another bite of her, "Will you be able to drop me off tomorrow?"

Blaine gave her a smile, "Of course I will, but only tomorrow you're school starts later than mine, so I have to miss my first class."

Cassidy bounced in her seat, "Yay!"

"Finish your dinner and then you have to take a bath," Blaine said standing up and putting his bowl in the sink. Cassidy groaned, "Hey you don't want to be the stinky kid in class," Blaine tickled Cassidy's side.

Cassidy giggled, "I don't want to be the stinky kid either." She tried pushing Blaine's hands away, "Stop it Blainey."

Blaine swiftly picked up his sister and tossed her over his shoulder, "To the bathroom, ho!" Cassidy laughed as Blaine ran into the bathroom. Cassidy undressed while Blaine filled the bathtub and she stepped in. Blaine rolled his sleeves up and helped his sister with her bath. "Can you sing to me?" she asked.

Blaine smiled, "Sure," he said taking some shampoo and starting to rub in her hair.

Hakuna Matata!
What a wonderful phrase
Hakuna Matata!
Ain't no passing craze

He tilted her head back and dumped the cup of water to rinse the shampoo out of her hair.

It means no worries
For the rest of your days
It's our problem-free philosophy
Hakuna Matata!

Cassidy giggling, "I love when you sing."

Blaine tapped her nose, "Only for you Sissy. Now how about we dry you off so you can read for a little bit."

"Okay," Cassidy said and she stood up for her brother to pick her up. He wrapped a towel around her, "That tickles," she said laughing.

"It's not supposed to," Blaine said as he dried off his sister. He grabbed her pajamas, "Step into these please," he said holding out her underwear. She stepped in them and then put on her nightgown she loved with fishes on it. She started twirling, "Cassidy you're going to hurt yourself," he warned, "I'm going to come back and you should be brushing your teeth by the time I get back."

"Okay," she said dragging her step stool over to the sink.

Blaine walked out of the bathroom and put the dirty towel and clothes in the basket. It was getting full, "Have to go the laundry mat this weekend I suppose," he said looking at the basket. He walked back into the bathroom, "I hope your brushing your teeth," he said opening the door.

Cassidy had her toothbrush in her mouth, "Uf corsh."

Blaine laughed, "Good girl," he said patting her head. Cassidy finished and they went into her bedroom. She crawled into her bed and Blaine laid the sheets on top of her, "What do you want to read tonight?" he asked.

Cassidy looked at her shelf and pointed, "I want to read the book about the sea like the Little Mermaid."

Blaine let out a laugh, "I think I show you too many Disney movies," he grabbed the book and handed it to his sister. "I'll be back in a while to say good night okay?"

"Alright," Cassidy said opening her book and beginning to read.

Blaine smiled and walked out of the room. He went into the kitchen and started washing the dishes from dinner. He sighed as he leaned back on the counter and spied the pile of bills he had to pay. He knew he had school tomorrow and then work after that, so he would sit down this weekend to figure them out.

He went to the couch and turned on the television, what he told Cassidy was true he was extremely nervous about school. He didn't feel upset about leaving his old school; no one really liked him there anyways. He was invisible there. The only friend he made there stopped talking to him and that just made him feel more alone. There was the bullying too, he was glad to get away from that, from that house and at school.

About a half hour later Blaine walked into his sister's room and she was asleep with the book her lap. He walked over and took the book from her hands, putting a bookmark where she left off and set it on the table next to her bed. He laid her down and tucked her in. Kissing her on the top of head, "Good night Sissy," and he flicked the light off leaving the room.

Blaine yawned and stretched as he walked back into the living room. "Geez," he said as he walked over to the couch and took the cushions off. He pulled the bed out from the couch and shifted the sheets. He walked into the bathroom and got ready for bed himself.

Walking back into the living room and grabbing his phone to set the alarm for the morning. He groaned as he lay down in the bed, he couldn't afford a two bedroom apartment, so he was thankful to have a couch with a pull out bed. Although he would never complain about it, he couldn't.

Blaine woke up the next morning to his sister bouncing on top of him. "Oof," he said, "Cassidy, what are you doing?"

"I woke up," Cassidy said, "And looked the clock said it was after five, so I got up."

Blaine let out a laugh as he pushed himself up on his elbows, "Okay, that's fine," he rubbed his eyes, "How about you eat some breakfast while I shower."

"Alright," Cassidy said getting off of Blaine and the bed.

"You need help with the milk?" he asked getting out of bed.

"Nope," she said getting out her cereal and the milk, "I'll turn on the coffee too."

Blaine folded the bed back in the couch and placed the cushions back on the couch. He grabbed the clothes he had picked out the night before and ran through the shower quickly. He then styled his hair and walked out of the bathroom, "Cassidy are you done eating?"

"Almost," she said from the kitchen.

Blaine walked into the kitchen and found her putting her dishes in the sink. He walked over to the coffee maker and poured himself a cup. "That's good, you're a wonderful coffee maker darling."

Cassidy smiled, "It's like all you have to do is push a button."

Blaine laughed at his sister sometimes she seemed a bit too quick witted for her age. After he finished his cup he turned towards his sister, "Let's get you changed now," he said taking her hand and spinning her.

Cassidy let out a giggle, "Come on," she said dragging him into her room, "I picked out the perfect outfit yesterday," she said showing Blaine. She had picked out a blue skirt, with white tights, a red shirt and yellow vest.

"You will positively be one of the most colorful students in class," Blaine said with a smile, "Let's do this."

Cassidy got dressed and then held out two pairs of shoes, "I just don't know which shoes to wear though?"

Blaine put his hand on his chin, "Hmmm, let's see," he leaned down and stuck his tongue out of the side of his mouth, "Those ones definitely," he said pointing to the pair of converse he had picked up for her for the school year.

"I was thinking those too," Cassidy said sitting on her bed and slipping the shoes on. "What do you think?" she asked giving a twirl.

Blaine picked her up, "You look absolutely wonderful, ready to go?"

"Yes," Cassidy said as Blaine set her down and she grabbed her backpack full of the supplies she needed.

Blaine walked out into the living room grabbing his keys, phone, wallet, and own backpack, "Away to school!" he said running to the door.

Cassidy followed and giggled, "You are so silly Blainey."

Blaine laughed, "I'm supposed to be silly I'm your older brother," he said opening the door and locking it as they left.

They walked down the stairs and stopped when someone called there name, "Blaine and Cassidy dears," Irene said waving at them.

"Hello Irene," Blaine said with a smile.

Cassidy smiled, "Hi Irene, those are pretty flowers."

"Thank you dear," Irene said, "Where are you two off to this morning?"

Blaine put his hand on Cassidy's head, "Off to our first day of school."

"Oh that's wonderful," Irene said, "I hope you both have a wonderful day."

"Thanks Irene, we'll see you later," Blaine said taking Cassidy's hand and they walked to his car.

"Irene is so funny sometimes," Cassidy said, "She always so nice."

"Yes she is," he said opening the car door for her, "But we like that's she is nice, so is Eugene."

"I know," Cassidy said buckling up as Blaine shut her door and opened his own.

"What would you like to serenade me with this morning?" Blaine asked turning to face her. He had always asked his sister this; he would always let her pick the music they played in the car.

Cassidy thought for a moment, "Put in the Lion King soundtrack please," she said with a clap.

Blaine laughed as he grabbed the soundtrack and placed it in the CD player. They sang all the way to Cassidy's school.

Blaine pulled into a parking spot and got out of the car. He helped Cassidy out and with putting her backpack on. "I'll walk you to the door," he said looking into her eyes. Cassidy just nodded her head as Blaine took her hand leading her to the door.

"I got it from here," she said stopping a few feet from the door.

Blaine leaned down, "Remember what I told you last night."

Cassidy nodded, "Take a deep breath and then let it out leaving our worries behind."

Blaine smiled, "And what did I tell you when we moved?"

"That I can do anything because I'm Cassidy Anderson and only I can decide what I want to do," Cassidy said proudly.

Blaine tapped her nose, "That's correct." He leaned his forehead on hers, "Have a good day Sissy," he gave her a kiss on the cheek and she did the same. Then she pulled him in for a hug. "You have to let go Cassidy," he said when she finally nodded into his neck.

Cassidy let go and started walking towards the door, she looked over her shoulder and waved before walking into the school. "That was so sweet," someone said.

Blaine turned around and saw a woman wearing a professional looking pant suit, standing there. "Oh," he said scratching the back of his neck, "Well I just…you know."

"I'm Mrs. Carver," the woman said, "I'm the principal," she said holding her hand out.

Blaine shook her hand, "Well it's nice to meet you I'm Blaine Anderson, Cassidy's older brother."

"I heard about you two," Mrs. Carver said.

Blaine shifted on his feet, "Oh, well I can tell you that she is in the best care."

Mrs. Carver gave him a smile, "She seems like an exceptionally intelligent child from her records."

Blaine let out a laugh, "She is," he paused, "Oh but I'm not just saying that, she really is. I mean sometimes she even surprises me."

Mrs. Carver let out a laugh, "Those children are always the most interesting aren't they. Now don't you have somewhere to be?"

Blaine looked at his watch, "Oh right, it was wonderful meeting you," he said as he ran back to his car.

Blaine was sitting in the office waiting for his schedule because he had told them he was coming to the school, but he couldn't make it for the schedule pick up day due to him working and watching Cassidy.

"Here we are Mr. Anderson," the secretary said handing him a packet, "You're schedule and locker information is inside here. You will need to have your parents fill out the emergency card and bring it back to us as soon as possible."

Blaine just nodded his head through it all, "Sure," he said and then once he was finished he fished his locker information and schedule from the packet. He had about ten minutes until the bell rang for the next class, so he went in search for his locker.

After five minutes he had finally found the locker and tried opening it. It took him two times, but he finally got the thing open. The bell rang and students started piling out of the classes. Blaine breathed in through his nose and out his mouth. He closed his locker and went in search for his class.

Looking down at his schedule instead of watching where he was going, Blaine crashed into someone, "Oh my gosh, I'm sorry," the person said.

"No it was my fault," Blaine said leaning down to grab the papers the person had dropped. It was sheet music, he picked up as much as he could, "Here you go," he said and froze. The most gorgeous boy was standing in front of him. His styled chestnut hair was amazingly intact, his outfit was perfect and clung in all the right places, and his eyes were a beautiful mixture of blue and green. Blaine shook his head, "Sorry," he said swallowing the air in his mouth.

"No, I did it," the boy said, "I was to busy looking at my phone because Rachel text me and I thought it would be important, but it wasn't. It was just something about how Brittany did something this summer. I mean come on it is Brittany what else do we expect from her right?"

Blaine stood there awkwardly, "Actually it's my first day here. I don't know who Brittany is."

"Right, sorry, I knew you didn't look familiar," the boy said, "I'm Kurt Hummel, I'm a senior," he tried to move his hands so he could shake Blaine's, "I'm shaking your hand in my mind."

Blaine smiled, "I'm Blaine Anderson and lost. Do you know where room 104 is?"

"Sure, it's down the hall and to the right," Kurt said tossing his head, "I would stay longer but I need to put these in the choir room."

"Oh yeah," Blaine said, "I'll see you later Kurt."

"I'd like that Blaine," Kurt said with a smile and walked away.

Blaine smiled to himself as he walked towards his classroom. He didn't really have anymore problems until lunch. He bought his lunch and then looked around the cafeteria. He didn't know where to sit. It seemed that at every table there was a certain group of people. He finally spotted an empty table and headed for it. Taking out the book he brought with him, he opened it, reading while he ate.

He sat reading for a few minutes and then looked up watching the teenagers in the room. He spied Kurt whom he met early eating with a group of people, he smiled to himself. Looking back down at his book he went back to reading.

Someone set there lunch tray down across from him and sat down, "No one should alone at lunch."

Blaine looked up and saw Kurt sitting across from him, "I used to sit alone all the time at my old school."

Kurt lifted an eyebrow as he stabbed his fork into his salad, "Well that's going to change now, so Blaine where did you move from?"

Blaine let out a small laugh and set down his book, "I moved from Westerville, it's about two hours away."

"Oh, our Glee club competed with a school from there last year," Kurt said, "Our Glee club that is. I think it was Dalton Academy?"

"The all boy's private school," Blaine said, "Yeah, I knew a few boys from there. They seemed nice enough, not like you would think of them."

"Yeah, I sort of confided in them and went to the school for a few months," Kurt said, "But that's all in the past because I'm back here."

"Why did you leave here?" Blaine asked.

Kurt gave a shrug, "I was getting bullied and had enough, but I knew I couldn't hide forever. I guess I'm just lucky I had my friends otherwise I don't think I could have gotten through it. Why did you move?"

"We had to get away," Blaine said looking down and shifting the substance around in the cup.

"I see," Kurt said watching him, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Blaine shook his head, "Maybe later, right now I'm just enjoying where I'm at."

"That sounds like a wonderful plan actually," Kurt said taking a drink.

"Why do you say that?" Blaine questioned.

Kurt smiled, "It means you'll talk to me again. You may not have noticed but I'm not exactly number one at this school. I mean I'm in the Glee club."

Blaine let out a laugh, "Have you taken a look at me? I don't think I'm number one material."

Kurt looked at Blaine, "You look oddly familiar, I mean not in a weird way, but I was thinking about it in my second hour. I swear I've seen you somewhere before but I just can't place it."

"Well I work over at the Lima Bean," Blaine said.

Kurt snapped his finger, "Right, that's where I saw you. You didn't take my order or anything, but I saw you hanging out. Do you still work there?"

Blaine nodded his head, "Yeah, I work there after school tonight."

Kurt smiled, "Great, you'll probably see my friends and me there a few times. We go there more than we should, it's partially due to my unhealthy addiction to the stuff, but what are you going to do," he waved his hand as he talked.

Blaine let out a laugh, "Well I will be happy to serve you if you happen to come when I'm there. I have more hours after school though now that school has started."

"You seem sort of upset about that?" Kurt asked.

Blaine gave a shrug, "I still have my side job on the weekends."

"What's that?" Kurt asked taking a drink from his water bottle.

"I sing at a café," Blaine said quietly. Kurt choked on his water, "Are you okay?" he asked him.

Kurt nodded his head, "Yeah, fine," he finally choked out. "I'm just sort of surprised to hear that…you know sing for a job."

Blaine looked at Kurt, "Oh, well they don't give me many hours, but its money I suppose," he said thinking he should get a check from them soon.

"That's cool though," Kurt said, "Maybe one weekend I can bring my friends and check it out."

Blaine smiled, "That would be awesome."

"So do you play any instruments?" Kurt asked.

"Piano and a little guitar, I also played violin was I was younger but that didn't go over well when I got older. I can also play a mean triangle if I'm in the mood," Blaine teased.

Kurt let out a laugh, "Well…"

"Kurt!" someone shouted and walked over to the table, "Kurt you have to help me Santana won't stop talking about trying to break Finn's hand. And I don't know why for some reason she listens to you."

"Rachel calm down," Kurt said and then turned back towards Blaine, "I guess I have to go, I'll talk to you later," he stood up and walked back to the table he was sitting at before.

Blaine wrinkled his nose as he thought about his conversation with Kurt, he didn't realize it but he started flirting with him. He didn't usually flirt with a guy he only knew for such a short amount of time. He knew he was gay, but was afraid to actually tell anyone. When he told his parents they accepted him, so he was proud, but after the way his uncle treated him, he held back.

He thought about telling Cassidy how he is gay, but he could never think of a good conversation starter. It wasn't really a sit down and talk type a thing you want to have with your kid sister.

The bell rung and Blaine stood up dumping his lunch in the trash while he put the tray in the pile with the others.