The next day, Blaine was having a test run with a girl named Andrea. It was already off to a bad start since she was late. Blaine didn't worry too much, knowing it was New York and that just happened sometimes. After an hour though, he was already pretty sure she would not be getting hired. If she was late on days when Blaine had classes, that just would not work out. He needed someone that would be reliable. Like Kurt.

By the time she got to Blaine's, with many apologies, Blaine decided he would still give her a chance. The first thing he noticed, she was LOUD. Even Ali looked at her funny at first. He started explaining things to her, like how Ali likes certain foods, when she napped, things of that nature. Every time Blaine handed something to Andrea, she would immediately drop whatever it was. He would not let her hold Ali unless she was sitting on the ground.

This was all a disaster, and Blaine made up some fake doctor's appointment after Andrea only being there for two hours. He could not spend the entire day with her. It was then that he found out she never really graduated from the childcare program, but actually dropped out after one semester. Blaine told her he'd keep in touch to let her know if she got the job, which she of course did not. He couldn't believe someone would lie like that. He would never trust his Ali with someone like her.

After Andrea left, Blaine wanted to immediately call Kurt and beg him to take the job. He also maybe just wanted to hear Kurt's voice again, but nobody needed to know that. Well, he decided he might as well let Kurt know since there was nobody else for the job. Grinning like a fool, he grabbed his phone and found Kurt in his contacts. He pressed call and waited anxiously to hear Kurt's voice.

"Hello?"

The voice that answered was definitely not Kurt's. It was much deeper and angrier sounding. Blaine glanced at his phone to make sure he called the right person.

"Um. I'm trying to get a hold of Kurt Hummel?"

"And who the hell is this?"

"Uh, my name is Blaine Anderson. Kurt had an interview with me yesterday. I was calling to talk to him about it."

"Well he's busy."

"Oh...kay. Can I leave a message for him to call me back?"

"Whatever."

"Right. So. Just tell him Blaine called. May I ask who I'm speaking to?"

"Lawrence. Kurt's boyfriend."

Blaine froze, nearly dropping the phone. Kurt's boyfriend. The words were ringing in his head. Lawrence. Kurt's boyfriend.

"You still there?"

"What? Oh. Right. Yeah. Just. Tell Kurt I called please."

"Whatever."

"Thank y-" The call disconnected and Blaine stood with the phone still held to his ear. Kurt had a boyfriend. Of course Kurt had a boyfriend. Someone as perfect as Kurt was bound to have a boyfriend. Blaine was such an idiot to think he even stood a chance with him.

He didn't know why it was such a big blow, but he suddenly felt like everything was crashing around him. Kurt made him forget how sad he was about Cooper and Amelia. Kurt made him feel like he could be happy again when he didn't believe that was possible.

Now more than ever he wished Cooper was still here. He was the only person Blaine could have talked to about this. The only one that would know exactly what to do to make Blaine calm down. He would have to do that for himself now. He knew he could call Wes, but he needed the song Cooper always sang to him when he was upset. Blaine picked Ali up from where she was playing and hugged her to his chest. He spun in slow circles, almost dancing, and sung quietly into Ali's hair.

"Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around. Nothing's gonna harm you, no sir, not while I'm around."

He remembered the first time Cooper sang that song to him. He was about seven, Cooper was sixteen. Their parents were out of town and Blaine insisted on watching The Wizard of Oz on a constant loop. Finally, Cooper got tired of having to play Toto to Blaine's Dorothy and asked if Blaine wanted to watch his favorite musical. He put on Sweeny Todd while Blaine cuddled into his side.

After the movie was over, Blaine was terrified and vowed never to get his hair cut ever again. When he went to bed that night, he started having nightmares about a scary man trying to bake him into a pie. He remembers creeping down to Cooper's room and sliding into bed with him. Cooper chuckled and put his arm under Blaine's head. Even with the comfort of his brother near, he still couldn't sleep. That was when Cooper started singing 'Not While I'm Around' and Blaine instantly calmed, soon falling asleep.

Ever since that night, Cooper sang that song to Blaine every time he was scared or sad. No matter where they were or if Cooper's friends were around. It was their thing. The last time Cooper sang that was two years ago. Blaine had just broken up with his boyfriend and told Cooper he would never find anyone to love. He may have been a bit over dramatic at the time, but Cooper started singing and Blaine instantly shut up.

He smiled at that memory as he continued to sing quietly. The only time Blaine ever sang this song was at Cooper's wedding, right before they were set to walk down the aisle. Cooper was nervous, so Blaine gave it a try. They both laughed afterwards, Cooper ruffling Blaine's hair and saying "No stealing my song bro!"

Blaine wasn't going to let that tradition go. He would sing it for Ali every time she was sad, or scared. Once she was older, he would tell her about her father singing it to him. It would be their thing now.

Once he finished the song, he didn't feel much better. He really was bummed about Kurt, and now he was thinking about Cooper on top of all that. He sat Ali back down on the ground and plopped face first onto the couch. He was more confused than anything. Why didn't Kurt tell him? Kurt had flirted a lot with him, right? Or maybe Blaine had just made the entire thing up in his head.

That had to be it. He was feeling lonely after losing his brother so once he had met another gay man, he just created this flirtation in his head. He knew he was attracted to Kurt, there was no doubt about that. He was foolish to think someone as beautiful as Kurt would ever be attracted to someone like Blaine. Kurt was probably just being nice so he could get the job. That was it.

Blaine felt like a zombie going through the rest of the day. He fed Ali, changed her, put her down for naps, and tried to play with her. He didn't eat, and when she napped, he just sat staring at the wall. At around seven that night, Blaine's phone started ringing and he answered without even looking at who was calling.

"Hello?"

"Um. Hi Blaine. I-It's Kurt."

Blaine sat up a little straighter, still comforted by the sound of Kurt's voice and hating himself a little for it. "Oh. Hi Kurt."

"Blaine? Is-is everything okay?"

"Hmm? Oh. Yeah. Umm. Been a long day." Well that certainly wasn't a lie.

"Oh. So. Um. I saw that you had called earlier. Did you talk to...anyone?"

"Yeah. Talked to your boyfriend." It hurt even more to say it out loud. He knew how detatched his voice sounded, but he really didn't care right now.

"Oh."

"Yeah. I take it he didn't give you my message?"

"Uh, no. Sorry. What did you need?"

"I was calling to tell you how horrible my other interview test run went to day and was going to offer you the job to watch Ali, if you wanted it."

"Really?"

Blaine couldn't help but let the little that smile twitched at the corner of his mouth when he heard how surprised Kurt was. "Really. There's really nobody else for the job."

"Are you being serious right now?"

"Of course I am."

He nearly dropped the phone when Kurt squealed excitedly, and found himself smiling even wider when Kurt started rambling.

"Oh thank you thank you thank you Blaine! You have no idea how much I needed this! Plus Ali is awesome. I can't wait to take care of her. I won't let you down. I promise. I'll be the best Ali-watcher ever. And I'm totally re-arranging your living room. It's much needed and you can thank me later."

Blaine hated that it was so easy for him to keep falling for Kurt. "I have complete faith in you. And you don't need to do that. I know it looks terrible, but most of that stuff was in Ali's room before she moved in. I just haven't had time to do it."

"No! You have to let me. I thrive on being able to design something."

Blaine actually manage a small chuckle. "Fine fine. Whatever makes you happy." There was a sudden silence on the other end and Blaine checked his screen to make sure the call was still going. It was. "Kurt? You there?"

Kurt's response was a bit breathy, but still sounding extremely happy. "Yeah. I'm- Yeah I'm here. Um. When did you need me to start? Or do you need me to come hang out with you guys again?"

Blaine knew he should have just told Kurt to start the day Blaine's classes started, but he was selfish and wanted to spend more time with Kurt, even if he couldn't have him. "If you don't mind hanging out with us a few more time. It'll put my mind at rest more when I'm in class."

"Yeah I don't mind. When did yo- Oh hang on a sec." There was some scuffling, as if Kurt was putting his hand over the phone, but Blaine could still hear him it was just muffled. "I'm on the phone... with Blaine...Yes him...Just give me a minute!" The line when clear again and Kurt came back, sounding a bit annoyed. "Sorry about that. Do you think I could maybe talk to you more tomorrow? I gotta go."

"Yeah sure. Call me whenever." Blaine was suddenly sad again. Obviously it was Kurt's boyfriend.

"Cool. I will. Thank you so much Blaine! I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Bye Kurt. Have a good night."

"Thanks you t- HEY!" The line went dead and Blaine let his head fall to the table with a loud smack. Stupid Lawrence.

Kurt glared at Lawrence who had just cut his conversation off with Blaine. "Lawrence! That was my boss. You can't just do that!"

"I'll do whatever I want. You shouldn't be talking to other guys that excitedly anyways."

"I was excited because he offered me the job! And how come you didn't tell me he called earlier?" Lawrence just shrugged and walked away. Kurt sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a few calming breaths so his voice didn't come out sounding annoyed.

"Listen babe, I'm gonna be working now. So I'm not gonna be home all day. I put a copy of Blaine's schedule on the table next to the couch. That's when I'll be gone, so you're- I mean, we will have to figure everything out okay?"

"Whatever. I'm taking a shower. Make something for us to eat."

Lawrence slammed the door to the bathroom and Kurt let out another sigh. He went to the kitchen and started hunting for something to make that would take his mind off how much of an ass Lawrence could be. He thought back to his conversation with Blaine. Kurt thought Blaine sounded more than just tired. He sounded really upset. He hoped Lawrence hadn't said anything too harsh when they talked.

Or maybe Blaine was upset because he found out Kurt had a boyfriend. No that couldn't be it. Blaine probably doesn't even like Kurt like that. But then Blaine had said "whatever makes you happy" and he sounded so sincere it made Kurt's heart ache. Nobody had ever said that to him and actually sounded like they cared about Kurt's happiness.

He already knew Blaine was better than most guys he's ever met. He was always so sweet, and he smiled at everything like it was the best thing he's ever seen. Or maybe he just smiled at Kurt like that. No. No, he wouldn't let himself think that. He was making things up in his head, just like he used to do all the time. Just because someone was nice and smiled, doesn't mean they want you.

Kurt would stop making these stupid little fantasies in his head. He would work for Blaine, but keep him at a distance. He wouldn't let himself get close for the inevitable day that Blaine would leave him. This was why Lawrence was good for him. He could leave Kurt at anytime and he wouldn't be hurt. He had all the mean words Lawrence ever said to him locked up so if that day came, it would be easy to hate him. But if he ever got too close to someone as nice as Blaine, then had to loose him. Well, Kurt wasn't sure he could handle something like that.