Blaine stared at the men in surprise.

“Hi” He replied “What are you doing here I-I thought you had left?”

“I would always come back to see my boy” Joel said with a huge grin on his face.

Joel reached down and offered a hand to pull Blaine up. Blaine took the hand and the two boys pulled each other into a manly hug. They pulled away and gave each other a fist bump.

“So where have you been? I thought you were locked up?”

“Yeah I was but it was only breaking and entering so I didn’t have long inside. Then they let me out early for good behaviour.”

“I’m so glad your back, life hasn’t been as good with you not around. I still haven’t found a job and it was always you who got the food and stuff, and I never really learned how to do that so…”

“Wait so your telling me you been living on the streets by yourself and haven’t eaten properly since I left?”

“Well not exactly I got some money from busking on the streets and I’ve been staying out of the city when I sleep so I’m not going to get hurt.” Blaine said a little nervously.

Blaine looked at the young man in front of him. He looked so healthy and happy, obviously they fed you well in prison. His curly, Blondish hair had grown since last time Blaine had saw him and now hung around his shoulders. It was messy as usual. He had some stubble growing above his upper lip and round his jaw, showing off his pointed chin and bored jaw line. His bright blue eyes looked out of place on his slightly dirty looking tanned skin. In his right ear he had a small hoop earring in that Blaine could never remember him having.

“I’m sorry I got caught stealing, Blaine, I know I was the only person you had round here.”

“What- oh um yeah it wasn’t as easy without you but I got by” Blaine said in a hurry after realising he had been staring at Joel a little too long. “So where are you staying now you’re out?”

“Well that’s why I came to find you. I’m staying with a friend and I thought you might like to stay with us.”

“Yeah that would be great” Blaine replied with a huge grin growing on his face. He was finally going to get off the streets. “Wait, how did you find me?” Blaine asked confused.

“Oh, well I looked around the city a bit and on all the park benches. Then I remembered I showed you this place once so I came back and there you were.”

“I’m glad you found me. I missed you.”

“I missed you too buddy”.

Blaine smiled him and gave him another hug.

“So where does this friend of yours live?”

“Oh, not far. Come on I’ll show you.”

Joel stared to walk away and Blaine followed. They left the bridge and moved towards the city centre. Blaine wondered where they would be staying. Who they would be staying with?

----------------------

Kurt had accepted the fact that Blaine wasn’t going to call. It still made him angry that Blaine had run away from him again.

He had tried not to let Blaine distract him. He had busied himself with more work and even putting himself though coffee with Rachel every day before work. It worked but whenever he was alone his thoughts always travelled back to Blaine and there was nothing he could do about it. Kurt missed Blaine and he didn’t even know why.

----------------------------

Joel stopped outside of a tall brick building. It looked old and run down like someone had maybe set fire to it once. Joel walked towards a small door at the side and pulled out a key. Looking around sheepishly he quickly unlocked the door and took a step inside. He held the door and gestured for Blaine to come. Blaine walked in the building and Joel quickly shut the door behind him.

Blaine looked around not really sure what to expect. There was a big staircase with a fancy looking banister. The walls were a dark green shade and looked like they hadn’t been painted centauries ago.

“Come on were on the 4th floor” Joel wisped.

Blaine wondered what was with the hushed voices and the creeping around but didn’t question it. Instead he followed Joel up the flights of stairs until they reached the 4th floor.

They stopped outside of a red wooden door which had the number 42 on it. Joel knocked on it three times and then stood back waiting for an answer.

“Who is it” Came a voice from behind the door.

“It’s Joel and I have Blaine with me.”

The door opened to reveal a young man in his 20s, standing there in his boxers. He had dark skin and had a menacing look on his face.

“Blaine this is Benjamin, Benjamin this is Blaine.” Joel said in a cheery voice

“Nice to meet you Blaine” said Benjamin as he stuck out a hand for Blaine to shake.

Blaine accepted the greeting. Giving his hand a firm squeeze. “Nice you meet you too”

“Well I hope you two get on very well.”

“I’m sure we will. Sorry about the lack of clothes Blaine. I was asleep and Joel didn’t tell me what time he would be back. But anyway come on in you look cold out there” Benjamin stood back a bit to allow space to let the others in.

When the boys were inside Benjamin stuck his head out, looked both ways and shut the door quickly.

“Welcome to home sweet home” Joel said in a cheesy high pitched voice. “Well I’m not too sure about sweet or about it being much of a home but it’s a roof over our heads I guess”

“It’s great” Blaine replied. He wasn’t even lying, sure his house back in Ohio was way better than some stinky old flat but after living on the streets for so long even a cardboard box would seem comforting.

“Well I’m glad you like it” Joel said cheerfully. “I’ll show you to your room”

“Wow I get my own room?” Blaine asked in surprise.

“Well not exactly. You’ll share my room if that’s ok. I have a spare bed and everything.”

“Oh yeah that’s fine by me.”

“Great, follow me.” Joel said as he started to walk towards an old brown door. Joel grabbed a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. He then put a hand round the handle and twisted it until the door flung open.

“Your beds over there” Joel said pointing to a small bed by the window. It had a light brown, wooden head board and a white cotton duvet cover on top. It reminded Blaine of a similar bed he had had when he was younger. 

“Ok so no boyfriends allowed in here unless you tell me first ok?” Joel said in a stern voice.

“God, you sound like my farther, but the boyfriend thing won’t really be a problem I don’t think.”

“Not found that special someone yet?” Joel teased.

“No I just don’t really want a boyfriend that’s all.”

“You’re not turning straight on me Anderson, are you?” Joel said in mock disgust.

“No, No I’m just as gay as ever don’t worry. It’s just I think it would be hard to ever explain to a guy why I had lived on the streets for so long. They would never understand why I left my family.”

“Well girls don’t think I’m a tramp or anything for living on the streets. Anyway you don’t have to tell them just say you lived here ever since you moved to New York.”

“I suppose so, just I don’t really like the idea of lying to someone.”

“I see your point. I’m sure you’ll find someone who will understand and when you do I’ll let you have the bedroom for as long as you want.” Joel said with a huge grin on his face.

“Well I appreciate your offer but I’ve never been with anyone like that and I don’t think I will anytime soon.”

“Hey, I’m sure everything’s gonna be ok. Any way I’ll let you unpack and settle in.”

“Well I don’t have that much to unpack but thanks.” Blaine said as Joel turned on his heal and opened the door.

Blaine went and sat on his small bed. He looked around the room. It wasn’t very big it just had space for the two single beds that were in it. There was no wardrobe, no vanity table. No furniture apart from the beds. The room was simple it had peach coloured paint on the walls and had a simple shutter blind over the window.

Blaine pulled up his rucksack and his guitar which he had put on the floor. He looked around the room for a suitable place to leave his guitar. He didn’t want him or Joel to trip over it and he didn’t want it to get damaged in any way. He spotted a little space in the corner in the gap between the two beds. He climbed to the end of his bed and slid the guitar into the tight space. It fitted perfectly. Blaine hoped he would never loose or break his guitar it was the only thing he had of any value, the only thing he had left to remember his family, not that he wanted to much.

Blaine climbed back to the head of his bed. He picked up the soft pillow that lay there and hugged it close to his chest. Wishing he had someone to hold right now. He wished he had someone to love him. Had Joel been right about finding the right person someday? Blaine Hoped he was.

After sitting like that for a few minutes Blaine finally decided that it was time to move and go and introduce himself properly to Benjamin. He moved over to the door. He could hear shouting coming from outside. Blaine stood there listening. It wasn’t Joel’s voice he could hear. But Benjamin was arguing with someone and Blaine didn’t know who. The men sounded angry. He tried to hear what they were arguing about but before he had a chance to put his ear against the wood he hear the loud bang of the front door.

Blaine was in shock. Who would come to their apartment and just start shouting. He pulled the door open and walked out to find Joel. He found him and Benjamin hovering by the door looking nervous.

“What’s wrong? Who was that at the door” Blaine asked in a hurry.

“What, oh, No one important” Joel said in a shaky voice. Joel walked towards Blaine grabbing his arm and dragging him towards the living room. “Look Blaine, If you ever open the door to someone you don’t know, don’t talk to them, don’t tell them we live here. Just shut the door and tell one of us ok?”

“Ok, but why?”

“Just do as I say and you won’t need to know why. Just try and stay out of trouble ok?”

“Don’t treat me like a child Joel. I’m only two years younger than you. Just tell me what’s going on and who was that man at the door?”

“Blaine none of this concerns you. Just stay out of it and you’ll be fine.”

“But Jo-“

“No, no more questions. It took a lot of convincing Benjamin to let you stay here and if you’re going to try and interfere then you can go back to you home under the bridge.” Joel almost shouted.

“I’m sorry I didn’t realise you did so much to get me here. If it’s going to be annoying, me staying here then I’ll go back.”

“No, no I didn’t mean that you should go. I want you to stay here. I worry about you on your own. You’re not really much safer here but at least I can keep an eye on you.”

“What do you mean I’m not safer here? Joel is there something you’re not telling me?” Blaine said in a panic.

“No more questions ok, just live here haply while you can.” Joel said giving Blaine a weak smile. “come on I’ll make you some dinner, I bet your hungry.”