There were whispers in the corridor the next day, laughs and taunts, mocking ‘that loser Blaine’s’ black eye.

The black eye that only Kurt knew hadn’t come from a school bully.

So when Kurt sat down at their usual table in the school library that lunchtime, to find Blaine was nowhere to be seen, he started to worry.

He knew he shouldn’t, but Blaine was his tutor after all, and if he wanted to graduate then he needed his help.

So Kurt went looking for Blaine. And he found him in the first place he looked: the boy’s bathroom.

When he walked in, he heard a sniff, and the sound of someone shuffling around in one of the cubicles, and he knew it was Blaine. There was no one else in the room, and so Kurt stepped forward, whispering softly.

“Blaine?”

Silence.

“Blaine, I know it’s you in here.”

He heard Blaine sniff again.

“Kurt?” he said, his voice breaking slightly, “What are you doing in here?”

I was looking for you

“Well, it’s not really the most private place. It’s a toilet Blaine.”

“Yeah,” Blaine murmured, “I suppose”

Kurt heard a click, and the door to Blaine’s cubicle swung open, revealing the boy.

One of his eyes was covered by a patch of darkness that could only be a bruise, while the other eye was red and raw, and was still slightly wet from tears.

“I...” Blaine said, cheeks tinged pink, “I fell last night. Right into my bookcase.’

He gave a weak laugh.

“I’m just a waste of space.” He said, forcing a smile.

“No you’re not.”

Blaine looked up

“What?”

“I.....You’re not a waste of space. You’re really smart, and kind, and funny, and you always stick your tongue out whenever you’re doing a really hard problem, and you always put a smiley face on my work when you check it, and you tie your shoes in a double knot and you’re favourite type of sandwich is peanut butter and banana because you always have it at lunch, and you wear a different coloured bowtie every day and you mess everything up and I missed you and...”

Kurt suddenly realised what he was saying and clasped his hand over his mouth, but he couldn’t stop the tears from forming in his eyes. He could hear his own voice in his head:

I assure you, nothing will happen between us.

“Kurt, what are you-“

And Kurt found himself wrapping his arms around Blaine, his head buried in his neck, sobs wracking his body.

‘I missed you Blaine’ he managed, grasping onto Blaine’s jumper, because was real and here and Kurt didn’t have to miss him anymore.

Kurt didn’t have to be alone anymore.

“Kurt.” Blaine simply said, bringing his own arms up around Kurt, rubbing circles on his back. When Kurt finally broke away, he sniffed, wiping tears from his eyes, and smiled softly.

“I must look a mess.” He said, turning his head towards the mirror on the wall. Blaine shook his head.

“You look.....You look perfect.” Blaine said, his eyes never leaving Kurt’s face. The boy in question turned to look at Blaine, who smiled at him.

“We need to talk.” Kurt said.

Blaine nodded.

“I know the perfect place.

*

Fifteen minutes later they were sat underneath the bleachers, far away from any other McKinley students’ eyes and ears.

“Why did you leave me?” Blaine asked. Kurt looked up from the ground which he had seemingly been fascinated with, and sighed.

“I just...You were at Dalton, and I was at McKinley , where the bullying was still going on, only I had to face it alone. And I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t take it all. A couple of times, I thought.... I thought: what’s the point in living, if I have to live with this?” Kurt’s voice wavered slightly, and he looked down.

“Oh Kurt.” Blaine said, and Kurt could hear the pain in his voice.

“I...I didn’t have anyone. My dad....I couldn’t tell my dad. Not about the bullying. I couldn’t hurt him. And so I figured that the only way I was going to have a life is if I became a Cheerio, got a girlfriend and left my old life behind. And to do that, I needed to forget about....about you. Because if I didn’t I would never have been able to become one of them.”

Silence for a moment.

“You’re not one of them, Kurt.” Blaine said, and Kurt looked up to meet his gaze, “I know you, and you could never become one of them. You’re too good for them.”

Kurt’s eyebrows faltered, and he felt his defences rise.

“How would you know?” he said sternly, and Blaine jumped, puzzled.

“I’m one of, if not the, most popular person in this school. Who are you? Just some loser who....who nobody cares about.”

Kurt stood up and ran. Ran until he lost his breath and the tears threatened to fall.

What had he done?

*

Kurt didn’t see Blaine for the rest of the day. He would usually catch a glimpse of him walking past him in the hallway, or heading into a classroom, but there was no sign of him.

And it made him feel a pain that was almost unbearable.

Kurt knew he had to make a decision. A decision between Blaine, and therefore total social suicide, or being a Cheerio, and spending high school as alpha student.

It was only logical to go for the second option. But then there was Blaine. Blaine, who had broken down the walls he had taken so long to build up in a matter of days. Blaine, who he caught himself  staring at when no one was looking. Blaine, who used to be his best friend.

Who was his best friend.

And with that thought Kurt raised his hand, asked to be excused, and ran to the boys bathroom, making it in there just in time before the sobs escaped. He sank to the floor, burying his head in his hands, as the pain coursed through his body, making him cry harder.

Blaine.

*

That day, after school, Kurt rushed to Blaine’s house, parking his car on the side of the road. As he jogged up to the door, he noticed that there was no car, meaning that Blaine’s father was probably out. Kurt rang the doorbell, waiting anxiously, and hoping with all of his might that someone would-

The door opened, revealing a woman slightly shorter than Kurt, with long dark brown hair and eyes that smiled yet hid something dark.

“Hello, can I...”

She stopped and gasped, holding her hand over her mouth, before bringing it down and smiling.

“Kurt, honey? Is that you?” she said, and Kurt nodded, smiling softly.

“Oh Kurt, it’s so lovely to see you, come in.” She said, opening the door wider, and Kurt stepped inside.

“I suppose you’re here to see Blaine?” she said, frowning slightly, “It’s so nice, seeing as Blaine doesn’t have many friends round.”

Kurt felt the pain in his chest grow.

“Please Mrs. Anderson, where is he?” Kurt asked, his voice urgent.

“He seemed quite upset...” she said, eyes looking down, “but I.....I’m sure you can make him happy Kurt. Just...be quick.”

Kurt nodded, before sprinting upstairs. He looked round, before his eyes landed on a sign saying ‘Blaine’ that hung on one of the doors to his left. He walked over, tentatively knocking.

“Go away” he said, and Kurt’s heart broke at the sound of the voice laced with pain that broke on the second word.

“Blaine. It.....it’s me. Please let me in.”

The door opened slowly, revealing the boy that, for the second time today, had been crying.

“What...What are you doing here?” Blaine said, his voice hoarse.

“I wanted to... I need to talk to you.”

Blaine thought for a moment, before nodding tentatively, and walking into his room, with Kurt following.

It was just like Kurt remembered. Of course, it was in a different house, but most of the objects that were scattered around were as familiar to Kurt as if they were his own: A toy aeroplane; A bookcase full to the brim; Stars glued to the ceiling, The stars were his favourite.

“What do you want?” Blaine said, and at his voice Kurt turned to him. Blaine sat down on the bed, and nodded for Kurt to follow.

“I.....I wanted to say that...I’m sorry Blaine. For what I said. And for everything else. I know it’s not enough but.....I mean it. Today, after you left school, I......I couldn’t bear it. I felt so bad and.....I just, I know what I need.”

Blaine had sat, taking this all in, and at this final phrase he had looked up at Kurt, his expression showing that he knew the worst was coming,

“I need you.”

Blaine’s eyes widened, and his mouth opened.

“Kurt, what-“

“You’re my best friend Blaine, and that’s all that matters. I don’t care about them anymore, because now I won’t be alone. I’ve got you....If you still want to be my friend.”

Kurt looked down at the ground, braced for rejection, but there was nothing, until he felt a warmth on his shoulder. He looked up to see Blaine smiling at him.

“I always was.” He said, and with that Kurt smiled, embracing him tightly.

“I missed you Blaine.” Kurt whispered.

“I missed you too Kurt.” Blaine whispered back, smiling and clutching Kurt tighter.