He reluctantly took the blanket from his shoulders as the nurse examined the burn on his arm. It wasn't too bad, not anything worse than the injuries he had sustained in the past. The nurse bandaged the burn and returned the blanket to his shoulders as a woman clutching a young teen approached him.

"Thank you so much." She said tearfully as her son shook his hand and muttered a quiet thank you. When the fire broke out, a group of freshmen touring the school had gotten separated from the exits, Blaine had heard their screams and pleas for help so, he and the student guide risked their lives to create a pathway of sorts to get the boys out. A beam from the ceiling had fallen and grazed Blaine's arm leaving him with a minor burn. However, the beam had sealed off the exit for the boys and three boys were left in the burning ruins of the school. Blaine was escorted out by the firefighters but, the building became weaker and they could not save the boys.

Blaine sat crying silently with his friends David and Wesley in the cool November air blaming himself for the lost lives and wondering what would happen from here.
_______

A few days later, Blaine was called by the principal at his grandfather's home. Blaine's parents were over in France on business and, they didn't want Blaine to have to live on his own for the majority of the year.

His grandfather-Charlie-was an understanding man. He had been there for Blaine when his father didn't accept his coming out. Charlie loved Blaine and, he'd do anything to keep him safe and happy.

"Blaine Anderson?"

"Yes, that's me" He replied to the man on the phone.

"I would like to discuss your schooling options for the remainder of the year."

"Ah yes, of course, sir." Blaine replied.

"At the moment, it looks like your only option is to return to your old school North Clemens-"

"Sir, please. I can't go back there. Please, no." Blaine cut him off, almost whimpering at the thought of returning to his prior school. The school where he'd been beaten up and cussed at on a daily basis.

"let me finish Mr. Anderson." The principal defended."or, you could attend William McKinley High School in Lima."

Blaine paused. "How would I be able to attend that school sir? I'm out of the district."

"Dalton will find you an accepting, welcoming family to house you for the school year."

"Sir, may I call you back? I need to discuss this with my grandfather."

"Of course." The man left his number and hung up. Blaine walked downstairs to talk to his grandfather.

"Papa? I have to ask you something." He called out.

"Of course m'boy! What can I do you for?" The white-haired man asked, smiling at him.

"That was the principal of Dalton on the phone just now. He gave me two options for schooling for the rest of the year. Option one: Return to North Clemens..."

"Absolutely not! I will not have you return to that hell hole of a school! Not over my dead body."

"Papa, there was another option. The other option was that I could be placed in a family's home for the rest of the year so I'd be in the district for McKinley."

"Of course that's the option you'll take." Charlie stated.

"Are you sure Papa? I'd only be able to see you on weekends." Blaine muttered sadly.

"Weekends are plenty good m'boy! I need you at a safe place where you won't end up in the hospital on a weekly basis. Call the principal back and let him know that I am okay with you getting housing placement."

"Okay, thank you Papa." Blaine hugged his grandfather. "Love you."

"Love you too Blaine, now go and let's get this figured out."

Blaine went back upstairs to call the principal back and start his registration at McKinley High.