‘I didn’t think you were going to show.’ Blaine said, as Kurt sat down in the seat opposite him, letting his books slam on the table as he dropped them.

‘I thought about it,’ Kurt said, glancing up at Blaine, ‘but I need a good grade if I’m going to be able to stay on the team.’

Blaine laughed lightly, and nodded, before grabbing one of his textbooks and opening it.

‘What’s so funny?’ Kurt asked, his brow furrowed.

‘It’s just,’ Blaine replied, looking up, ‘that I never thought you would turn into one of them.’

‘What did you say?’ Kurt retorted, astounded, ‘Who do you think you are?’

‘Well I used to be your best friend, before you started ignoring me.’ Blaine whispered, conscious of the librarians disapproving gaze, ‘We used to laugh at them Kurt, at how stupid they all were, and how we would always be better than them’

‘Just because I’m a Cheerio, it doesn’t mean I’m not a nice person.’

‘No, because everyone stops talking to their best friend when they start high school.’

‘You think you know all about what it was like for me, Blaine Anderson, but you don’t!’

Blaine froze for a moment, before his expression softened.

‘When I came to McKinley, I had no one, since you were at Dalton. The bullying we used ti have, it got worse. They started throwing slushies at me, and saying the most horrible things. I went to the Glee Club for a while, but then I got bullied even more. So I decided that things needed to change. I joined the Cheerios, quit Glee Club, and went out with Brittany. The bullying began to stop. There were no more slushies, no more ‘careful, don’t catch the gay’. And now, here I am, one of the most popular people in school.’

Blaine opened his mouth to say something, but stopped and closed it.

‘Why did you stop talking to me? Didn’t you want to be my friend?’ Blaine asked softly.

Kurt looked around, making sure no one was too close to hear what he was about to say.

‘Of course I did, Blaine. You were my only friend.....but when I came to McKinley, and made a fresh start, I couldn’t keep talking to you.’ Kurt whispered, ‘I would never be able to fully become accepted if I was the same person I used to be, the person who was friends with you.’

Blaine nodded, and pushed his glasses further up his nose, looking down at the table.

‘So we’ll never be able to be friends again?’ Blaine asked softly, his voice wavering slightly.

‘Blaine, I....I want to be. In some ways, I miss you....but I can’t.’

Blaine nodded slowly. He stood up, collecting his belongings, and began to walk out. He stopped, and turned to Kurt.

‘I can’t do this now, but I’ll see you later.’ He said, and walked out.

Kurt sighed, and buried his head in his hands.

“

Kurt sat slightly out of the chatting, laughing circle of cheerleaders and footballers, occasionally letting a weak chuckle escape his lips when everyone else roared with laughter. He wasn’t paying attention, too busy staring at the picture in his hands.

When Blaine had left the library, his wallet had fallen out of his pocket. Inside, Kurt found the usual: credit cards, bank notes, coins, a Costa card. However, Kurt also found a small photograph: a picture of Blaine and him when they were young, about 9. They had just finished their school play, and were dressed up in elaborate costumes and terrible makeup, but they had loved it. In the picture, both of them are posing for the camera, clearly enjoying themselves.

Kurt remembered that day well

‘Kurt, we did it! Wasn’t it amazing?!’

‘Uh-huh! That was the best thing ever!’

Burt chuckled at the two boys.

‘Alright guys, time for a photo! Let me just go get my camera...’

Burt wandered over to the car, to search for his camera.

‘Kurt?’ Blaine said, nervously

‘Yeah?’ Kurt replied, smiling at him.

‘I thought you were really good tonight. And I think you should have got the lead part’ Kurt wasn’t sure, but in the darkness of the night he thought he could see a pink tinge to Blaine’s cheeks.

‘Really...You think so?’

Blaine nodded emphatically.

‘You’re the best singer I’ve ever seen Kurt.’

Kurt smiled shyly.

‘I think you’re really good too. You’re like that funny dancing man in the film about the rain, but even better.’

Kurt keened over, and softy kissed Blaine’s cheek, before leaning back, looking guilty.

‘Are boys supposed to kiss boys?’ he said, worriedly.

‘I don’t know. But it felt nice.’ Blaine said, smiling slightly.

Kurt smiled back, and nodded.

‘Then I guess it’s okay, if it was nice.’ Blaine stated.

‘Alright, time for a photo.’ Burt said, walking up to the boys.

They both smiled, striking dramatic poses, before seeing the flash of bright light.

Kurt sighed thoughtfully, and looked over at Blaine, who was sitting by himself in the corner of the room, reading a book.

All of a sudden, Kurt found himself walking over to Blaine, clutching the wallet and the photo.

‘I...You dropped these. Earlier.’ Kurt said, holding the items out.

Blaine looked up, slightly puzzled, slightly confused, slightly something else, and reached out, taking his things.

‘Thanks...’ he murmered.

The photograph fell to the floor, and Blaine stooped to pick it up.

‘Did you...?’ Blaine asked, as Kurt nodded.

‘I remember it...’ Kurt said, ‘It was a good day.’

‘Yeah well, you shouldn’t be going through my stuff’ Blaine said, stuffing the picture into his wallet, as he felt his cheeks burning.

Kurt sighed, his eyebrows knotted, and he walked back over to his original place.

‘That your friend Kurt?’ Karofsky asked, jokingly.

Kurt shook his head.

‘No. An old one.’