“Mr. Anderson. There is something that I need to discuss with you that has been weighing heavily on my mind all afternoon.” He removed his glasses and tucked them away into the inner pocket of his blazer. “Sometimes my impulses get the best of me and I jump to conclusions and I am afraid I have done that with you.” Callahan had turned his body towards Blaine as he spoke and stared at him intensely.

Blaine chewed on his bottom lip.

“Blaine, it is normally hard for me to admit that I am wrong but in this case I feel it is necessary. I should not have reacted in the way that I did and I am sorry.”

“Thank you Professor.”

“You know, I have seen such growth in you since the first day you walked into my class.” Callahan put his hand on Blaine’s knee. “You are becoming a wonderful designer and truly care about your craft. Your instincts show that you are going to make something great of yourself. Not only that, you care deeply about your client and that is a quality that one can not teach.”

“That means a lot to me Professor, thank you. I really appreciate the opportunity that you have given me to work on this show and to grow as a designer. I should be thanking you because I have already learned so much in this short period time.”

He rubbed Blaine’s knee with his thumb. “Thank you Blaine but I can not take all of the credit for that. You are a true talent that I have rarely come across in my many years of teaching.”

Blaine looked down at Callahan’s hand on his knee.

“Your enthusiasm toward your work is better than most of my staff and I hope that one day, you and I can work more closely.”

Blaine turned to look at Callahan as he finished his statement just in time to see Callahan moving in closer to him.

Callahan crashed his mouth against Blaine’s, kissing him eagerly. Placing a hand on the back of his neck to hold him there.

Blaine pulled back away from him and slapped him hard across the face. He moved backwards, away from the desk staring at Callahan, trying to process what had just happened.

Callahan held his throbbing cheek gingerly.

There was movement from the hall and Blaine looked up to see Vaughn standing there with his mouth hanging open.

Callahan slowly began to laugh which brought Blaine’s attention back to him. “That is not a very smart move Mr. Anderson.” He said in a low, sultry voice.

“Why did you give me this internship Professor?” He began to pant and move further away from the desk.

“I saw something in you Blaine. Something special. Something I needed. Something I wanted.” Callahan licked his lips as he stared at him.

Blaine continued to move away from him. “Did you pick me because I was talented or because you wanted something more with me?”

Callahan got off the table and approached him. “A little bit of both. I wanted to take you under my wing and mold you into the next top designer.”

“I am sorry professor but I decline.”

Callahan smirked. “I can make you big Blaine....bigger than you could even dream. I just ask for a little something called payment.” Callahan’s eyes traveled down Blaine’s body as if he was sizing up his dinner before devouring it.

“I am sorry....I just can not do that. I will not sleep with you to get ahead.”

Callahan dropped his hand from his face, his expression becoming stern and upset. “It was nice working with you Mr. Anderson but I think it is time for you to leave and not come back.”

Blaine had walked backwards to the point that he had run into his own workstation. He reached down and gathered his belongings and rushed out the door. Vaughn stood there in shock even as Blaine nearly missed him as he exited the room. “Blaine....wait!” He called after him but Blaine just quickened his pace. His chest tightened and tears swelled up in his eyes. He broke into a run in the direction of his dorm room, letting the tears fall freely onto his cheeks.

“I am such a fool.”

Blaine could barely see as tears continued to fill his eyes. Luckily he memorized the route to his dorm so he turned on auto pilot.

“I think I can pack up my whole room tonight and I can be on a flight home by morning.” He thought. “I’ll go home to Ohio, I can start all over there. Somewhere where I do not have to compromise my morals and rebuild what is left of my dignity.”

Blaine slowly climbed the stairs, feeling out each stair with his foot since his vision was now compromised.

“I can go home and show them how good I am at this, show them that this was not a joke. That I am not a joke.”

Blaine missed a step and he clung onto the barrister to catch himself from falling.

“I need to go back to Westerville, back to the Warblers and act like New York never happened. That this never happened. I can enroll in a school over there, use my time here as experience. Something to fluff up my resume.”

He regained his composure and wiped his tears with the heels of his palms. Breathing was a completely different challenge as it took a few minutes to try to regulate his breathing back down to a normal speed.

”Yeah, that is fine with me. I just need to get far away from here as soon as possible.”

He continued his journey to his dorm.

“I need to get out of here.”

He reached the landing and opened the heavy door that led to his floor.

“I need to leave.”

He turned the corner onto his hall.

“I need to.....”

Kurt was leaning against the door of his dorm room. By the look on his face, he had not noticed him yet. His head was tilted toward the ceiling with a big smile on his face and he appeared to be humming.

“Fuck.” Blaine did not mean to say it out loud.

Kurt turned toward him, his smiled fading when his eyes fell upon him.

“Blaine?”

Blaine took a deep breath. “Thank you for all of the help you have given me over the past few months and thank you for being my friend. You really showed me that I could accomplish anything and opened me up to a whole new world.”

Kurt tilted his head to the side. “Where is this coming from?”

“You made me believe that I could actually do this.” Blaine could feel his tears forming again. “Actually be a designer.”

“Blaine, what’s wrong?”

“Maybe next time you are in Ohio to visit your Dad, you can visit Westerville. I will be only be a text message away.”

“Blaine you are worrying me. Why are you leaving?”

“I am sorry but I can not stay here anymore. You can tell everyone that I said goodbye and good luck on the show.”

“You are not really leaving are you?”

Blaine put on a weak smile. “I wish I could repay you for everything that you have done for me. You turned the boy who had no idea what a simple pattern was into one of the top students in the class. I thought I was going to drown in that class honestly, but I thrived because of you.” He put his hand on Kurt’s shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.

“What are you talking about? Blaine, I helped you in the beginning but lately it has been all you. You are meant to do this.”

Blaine hugged Kurt. “You were the best thing about this place.”

Kurt stiffened at that statement, “Blaine, you are the best thing about this place.”

Blaine pulled back from the hug and stared into Kurt’s eyes.

“Blaine....there is something I need to say to you.”

He shook his head. “No, me first. I am leaving. I am going home because Callahan just hit on me.”

Kurt looked taken aback. “Wait....what?” He grabbed Blaine’s forearms.

“He kissed me and then fired me. I am going to catch a plane back to Ohio because I don’t have a reason to stay anymore.”

“This can not be true.”

“It is.”

“You can not go.”

“I don’t belong here.”

“That’s the thing... you do. He is wrong.”

Blaine shook his head. “That is sweet, you are sweet but it is all over now.” He stepped away from Kurt and opened the door to his dorm.

“We can fight this Blaine. I won’t let him get away with this...he can not do this to you.”

Blaine turned back to him. “Please...let it go. It is all over for me.”

Kurt stood frozen, letting Blaine slip away from him.

Blaine stuck his head out of the door. “I am going to miss you Kurt. Thank you again for everything.”

With that, Blaine closed the door and locked it. He turned around and leaned against it, releasing the tears that he had been holding back.

Kurt remained on the other end.

“Blaine...Blaine... BLAINE!” The volume of his voice rising each time he said it.

He slammed his hands against the door, making as much noise against it as possible.

Blaine did not budge he shut his eyes tight and listened to Kurt on the other side of the door.

“Blaine, you can not leave. You can not go. Don’t give up. We need to fix this. Callahan can not get away with what he did to you.”

Kurt felt his own tears stinging the corner of his eyes, threatening to fall.

“Please Blaine, don’t leave....don’t go. Not now.”

Blaine did not respond.

“Blaine you can’t leave.” Kurt pressed his forehead against the door and splayed his hands against it. “You can not leave Blaine because I love you.”

Blaine heard every word and covered his mouth. His slid against the door toward the floor.

“I love you and I have been too afraid to tell you until now.” Now Kurt was crying, pressing the side of his face against the door.

Blaine was crying into his hands on the other side, now sitting on the floor with his back pressed against the door.

“This is really shitty timing but I need you to know how much I care about you...maybe if you knew you would not have to leave.”

“No, I have to go.” Blaine whispered. “I can not stay here anymore.”

“Blaine...please don’t go. I need you.” Kurt hiccuped.

“No Kurt, I am going back. I am going to go back to the person I was before I moved here.”

Kurt picked his head up after finally hearing Blaine’s voice. “Please just open the door.”

“I can go to community college, become whatever my father wants me to be. He did not want me here in the first place.”

“No, you are worth so much more than that.”

“I don’t want to fight him anymore Kurt. It is not worth it. I couldn’t make it as a designer, I am just not good enough.”

“We both know that isn’t true.”

“I was never meant to get what I wanted.”

Kurt was taken aback. “Blaine....”

Blaine cried into the palms of his hands.

“Blaine if you can hear me, I want you to know that you can get whatever you want. You are meant for so much more. That is why I want you to stay, you are not finished here. Not yet.”

“That is no longer up to me. Please, let me be. I want to be alone right now.”

“No....not like this.”

“KURT PLEASE.”

“I need you to reconsider.”

“Please...Kurt. I have to leave.”

Kurt wiped his tears on the back of his hand. “I love you Blaine.” He said in a stronger and more firm voice. Pressing two fingers against his lips, he kissed them and then let them touch the door. He lingered outside for a few minutes before leaving for his own dorm.

It took Blaine an hour before he could get himself off the floor.
-----

The next morning was the last meeting with Brock before the show. Kurt clung to his disposable coffee cup, not making eye contact with anyone. Vaughn sat awkwardly in his seat biting his nails down to the skin and ignoring Warner’s flirty touches. Warner was growing annoyed with his fiance and resorted to clicking his pen furiously. Enid sat their dazed and unaffected by her surroundings.

Kurt was unaware of what was more excruciating, his current company or the fact that Blaine was not here. He clicked the home button on his phone to check for any missed calls or unread text messages from Blaine, there were none to be found. Defeat overtook him and his heart dropped in his chest.

Brock and Sam entered the room, late again but they did not expect anything else from their client.

“Hey guys.” Brock smiled as he scanned the room. “Wait...where is Blaine?”

“Not coming.” Kurt answered shortly.

Brock looked at Sam and then back at Kurt. “Why, may I ask?”

“He is leaving and going back to Ohio.” Kurt sighed. “He has decided to not continue on with the show and is leaving the school.”

“Maybe if he wasn’t a giant slut.” Warner laughed.

“Shut up Warner.” Vaughn glared at him.

Warner shrugged. “I am sorry but obviously Blaine was only here because he was getting cozy with Callahan.”

Kurt slammed his hands on the table. “You are wrong Warner! Blaine did no such thing! Callahan advanced on Blaine not the other way around.”

Warner leaned back in his chair with an unwavering expression upon his face.

“You don’t know what you are talking about Warner. I know, I was there.” Vaughn replied in a low voice.

Kurt instantly turned to Vaughn. “Wait...you were there?”

Vaughn raised his eyes to meet Kurt’s, they were glassy and wide. “I went back because I left my iPod at my station and I saw the two of them talking. Callahan then leaned over and kissed him. Blaine instantly slapped him and backed away. Callahan even had the nerve to insinuate that if Blaine really wanted to get ahead, he would give in to his advances. He was so upset.”

“Correct me if I am wrong, Callahan kissed Blaine and now Blaine has left because of it.” Brock gripped the edge of the table so tightly, his knuckles had turned white.

Kurt nodded, a lump of emotion caught in his throat. “Blaine has left because of it.” Rang in his ears.

“Blaine did not want it, Warner. Not at all. You suggesting that he did is just disgusting.” Vaughn responded harshly before getting up and storming out the door.

Kurt watched him leave and then turned back to Brock and Sam. “Now that that is out of the way, we can show you our pieces and you can tell us if there is any last minute changes that you would like us to make.”

Brock nodded, still jarred by the previous conversation. He searched for words but they never arrived. Instead he looked at Sam.

Sam put one hand on top of his and then looked at the group. “We would love to see them.”
-----

Blaine entered the coffee shop, it had a gloomy feel to it as if it knew it was going to be his last visit. Santana was working the register and was currently speaking to a customer in a very rushed and upset tone. He smiled to himself because he knew he would miss that side of her after he leaves..

He became sentimental as he entered the line to get his drink.

“Blaine, you know you don’t have to wait in line anymore. It is not like you ever change your drink order.”

“Well, I wanted to go through the whole experience since this is going to be my last time coming here.”

Santana’s eyes got smaller as she focused in on him. “Excuse me, what the hell are you talking about? Have you found a new coffee shop or something?”

Blaine softened his stature and his bottom lip quivered as he tried to form the words.

“What is going on Anderson?”

“I am leaving, Santana. I am going back to Ohio.”

“...Blaine. Why? What happened?” She reached over the counter to grab his arm.

Blaine shook his head. “No, please Santana.” The tears were harder to hold back then he thought they would be.

Santana eyed a awkward boy that was arranging their new shipment of coffee mugs. “Marcus, switch with me. I am going on lunch.”

The boy nodded and came around the counter. Santana rushed around it and then wrapped her arms around Blaine.

He broke down in her arms and cried into her neck. She made calming noises while stroking the back of his head.

“Let’s go to the employee break room, it is quiet in there so we can talk.”

Blaine nodded and allowed her to lead him by hand to the back of the store. Once in the break room she closed the door behind them and pushed him into a larger chair that had the upholstery picking up along the back rest. It was obviously older and well loved and Blaine curled his whole body up in to it and rested his head on one of the arm rests. Santana sat across from him in a wooden chair. She leaned forward and rested her chin in her hands. They were both quiet for a long moment before Santana broke the silence.

“What is going on Blaine? Why are you leaving?”

“Callahan, my Professor. He kissed me last night.”

Santana’s eyes looked like they were going to pop out of her head. “He what?”

“Kissed me and then fired me. I lost Warner, I lost the internship....I really don’t have a reason to stay.” Blaine wiped his nose with the back of his hand. “I should of never come to New York.”

“Don’t say that, you belong here.”

Blaine looked up at her. “I don’t feel like it.”

“Yeah...not right now. You deserve to be here just as much as the next guy. You need to fight this. Isn’t there a dean or school president we can talk to?”

“I don’t know....I just.....I just feel so....”

“Defeated?” Santana suggested.

Blaine blinked a few times. “Yeah.”

“Part of life hobbit. We don’t always get our way. Here is the thing though.” Santana leaned forward even more. “You need to stand up for yourself. What he did was wrong and you need to fight him on it.”

Blaine did not respond. He had already made up his mind. He was leaving.

“Blaine...”

“I am so done Santana. There is only so much a person can take...” He sat up in his chair. “I am sorry but I can’t go back.”

“What about Kurt?”

His name cut into him like a knife. Memories of the night before flooded back, he said he loved him. Kurt loved him. Blaine said nothing back to him. He was supposed to love Warner. The guy he came to this school to follow in the first place. Same person who is engaged and being a complete ass to him. Yet, there was Kurt. The person that made him feel better about himself. Better than he had on his own in years. Kurt... the person who made him feel lightheaded and as if there were butterflies in his stomach. The very same person that cried outside his door last night as he confessed his love for him.

Blaine stood up and walked towards the door. The walls felt like they were collapsing in on him and he could not breathe. He needed to get out of here and get as far away from this place as he could.

“Blaine...”

He turned the knob and exited the room without saying another word.

“BLAINE!” Santana scrambled after him, almost tripping over a chair in the process. She caught up to him in the store front.

“STOP!”

Blaine stopped but did not turn around.

“I never took you to be a quitter Anderson.” She marched over and stood in front of him.

“I am sorry Santana. I made my decision. You have been a great friend and I hope we can keep in touch.” Blaine leaned in for a hug.

She pushed his arms away. “No...Blaine..”

Blaine kissed her cheek instead. “I will visit.”

“Fight Blaine.”

“You should fight Blaine.” A deeper voice said from a distance.

Blaine looked up to see Vaughn standing to the side of him. “What do you want?” He asked dryly.

“I saw everything Blaine, what he did to you.”

Blaine crossed his arms. “So.”

Vaughn stepped closer to him. “It was so wrong! Callahan was out of line.”

Blaine shrugged. “Why do you care? I thought you would be happy that I was leaving.”

Vaughn’s eyes grew soft. “I know we have not been on the best of terms and yes, I used to pray that you would leave. Drop out, switch classes, whatever it took to get you away from Warner. I thought you did not fit in here and that you were not a good enough designer to compete. But I have to admit that I was wrong.”

Blaine scrunched his nose in confusion.

“I was wrong about you Blaine. You are in fact a great designer and I am not going to let you give that up. You need to go back to show, prove to everyone why you deserve to be here. I have seen your garment and it needs to walk. Everyone will see how great you are.”

“I can’t go back if I have been fired.”

“Callahan may have fired you from the internship but Mr. Taylor did not fire you from the show.”

Blaine had not thought about that. He felt his heart swell.

“We told him, Brock that is, this morning at our meeting. He is livid.” Vaughn chuckled. “I would not be surprised if he went after Callahan himself.” He shook his head back to reality. “You need to go back with me.”

“I-I-I” Blaine started.

“I am not a fool Blaine. I do not want to hear some concocted story about not going back in there or some sorry excuse because honestly you do not have anything good enough to convince me otherwise.”

He shut his mouth.

“I would never admit it before but you are an amazing designer, I am threatened by you. You took me by complete surprise with your prom dress. I honestly did not know you had it in you.”

Santana nudged him at the prom dress comment.

Vaughn ran his fingers through his hair. “I guess I just want to tell you to go back and stick it to Callahan and show how you do not need him to be a top designer. You can do that on your own.”

“Thank you....ehhh.” Santana looked Vaughn up and down. “Carson Kressley. That is what I have wanted to tell him all along.”

Blaine looked between the two of them. Vaughn of all people is being nice to him for once, practically begging him to come back. He was currently giving Santana a huffy look for the reference she had just made which made her break into hysterics.

“I am so not anything like him!”

“You are right.” Blaine said in a low voice.

“You agree with her?” Vaughn responded in a squeaky voice that indicated how offended he was.

“No, not with that. I should go back. I worked too damn hard to give up now.”

Santana grinned.

“I am back in the game. Thank you for convincing me Vaughn.” Blaine held out his hand to shake his.

Vaughn took it. “I am glad. Now let’s go back before Kurt bites Warner’s head off. The two of them have been going back and forth all morning.”

Oh right....going back meant facing Kurt. Facing everything that had been said the night before. Unleashing these confused feelings out in the open, feelings he has for Kurt. Feelings that he discovered were a lot stronger then he originally thought they would be.

His heart beat rapidly against his rib cage as soon as Vaughn mentioned it. Suddenly he was flooded with feelings for this boy that he had bottled up and hide away.

Blaine took a deep breath and let it back out slowly.

He could not avoid it any longer.

He was in love with Kurt.