It had been two days since Kurt had seen Rachel. Their friendship was crushed.  Kurt had called Rachel, tried to talk her round, apologized to her but she wouldn’t listen to him, just hung up every time. They hadn’t been for coffee since they fought and Kurt didn’t have anyone to speak to, he felt alone and stressed. He never realised how much he actually enjoyed Rachel’s company until it was gone.

But it was too late to think about that now. Sure he didn’t have any other friends in the city, but he would just have to make some. Right now all Kurt should be thinking about was getting to work as he was very late.

He was rushing down a side ally when he heard it. There weren’t many people who knew about this short cut and Kurt never saw anyone else when he went down here. But today was different, there was someone singing and softly strumming on a guitar. It was the first proper music he had heard in months. The voice was beautiful, soft but strong, somehow familiar. Kurt turned the corner of the ally and saw the person singing. He had black messy hair and thick stubble. He wore a dirty red jacket. For a moment Kurt didn’t recognise the boy, but as he moved closer, pulling a dollar out of his jacket pocket, he could see under all the grime and stubble was Blaine. Kurt stood in front of the boy and dropped his money into the empty guitar case.

 “Hi” Kurt said, giving Blaine a small smile.

Blaine looked up from his guitar, his body tense. His eyes flashed with confusion then relaxed when he realised it was Kurt.

“Hi” Replied Blaine, a smile growing on his face.

“Why exactly are you sitting in a deserted ally way singing?”

The smile disappeared on Blaine’s face when he heard Kurt’s question. Why was it that whenever anyone saw Blaine that was always there first question?

“Can we not start our meeting with a question, please Kurt, it’s been ages since I’ve seen you and I don’t know why, but I really missed you.” Blaine sighed.

“I wonder whose fault it is that we haven’t spoken.” Kurt asked, raising his perfect eyebrow and squatting down besides Blaine.

“I’m sorry, Kurt, I wanted to but I had already thrown away your number.” Blaine whispered, ducking his head away from Kurt.

“Hey Blaine, look at me. Yeah, sure I’m annoyed that you didn’t call, but that’s in the past now. Let’s just be friends again and not have you run away from me.”

“You shouldn’t sit there you know, I’m pretty sure people pee there.” Blaine said gesturing to the place Kurt was sitting.

“Well I suppose you would know.” Kurt joked.

Blaine gave a small simile and bowed his head away from Kurt again.

“Blaine, how do you know that people pee here?”

Blaine didn’t reply, just ignored Kurt’s question.

“Blaine. Blaine, look at me please.  Blaine, are you ok?”

“Can’t you just shut up for one minuet?”

“I’m sorry, I’m just worried about you.”

“Don’t be worried about me, worry about yourself. I’m not worth your breath.”

“Blaine, you’re always worth my time.” Kurt said scooting closer to Blaine and facing him.

Blaine didn’t replay, just gave Kurt a heart broken look. They sat there looking into each other’s eyes, remembering all those years ago when they were best friends and could tell each other anything. Where had those years gone?

“Kurt I have to tell you something.” Blaine whispered, turning his face away from Kurt’s.

“What is it?” Kurt worried.

“I haven’t been completely honest, I mean, like, I haven’t lied really, well actually I kinnda did bu-“

“Blaine spit it out and stop rambling.”

“I’m sorry. Anyway well you know when I said I was in Phantom of the opera?”

“Yeah, and you weren’t actually in it?”

“Wait, What? How do you know I wasn’t in it? Who told you? Was it Rachel?”

“What no I’m not stupid Blaine, I Googled it and found out it wasn’t real, it doesn’t take a genius to do that. But anyway what’s this thing about Rachel? Have you seen her or something?”

“Um yeah I saw Rachel the other week, well she sort of found me really, but you weren’t supposed to know about it, she promised she wouldn’t tell you.”

“How did she FIND you Blaine?”

“Ahh, well that’s sort of the bit where I lied to you.” Blaine mumbled, giving Kurt a sheepish look. “I was sleeping outside of her apartment and she found me when she was putting out her rubbish.” Blaine looked at Kurt waiting for the things he had said to sink in and for Kurt to give his answer. “Well?” Blaine prompted, after Kurt had been quiet for so long.

“I… Wha- how? Blaine why were you outside Rachel’s apartment? Why weren’t you at home?” As soon as Kurt had asked the question he already knew the answer. “Blaine are you living on the streets?” Kurt whispered, not wanting his thoughts to be true.

Blaine didn’t look up, just simply nodded. He could hear the gasp and feel the arms fall tightly around him, but they didn’t mean anything anymore. Blaine had failed in life, and now he had to take the humiliation of telling people and being judged.

“Blaine, why didn’t you just tell me? I would have understood.”

“I don’t know, I thought maybe you would think me a failure or pathetic.”

“Blaine I would never think that of you. I know we didn’t see each other for five years but I still love you and want to be your friend no matter what.”

“You really mean that?”

“Of course I do, we were so close in high school, we knew each other so well, you can’t just get rid of that.”

Blaine stayed silent, not knowing quite what to say. He could feel the tears threatening to spill, no one had been that nice to him for years. Now were the times that he really regretted leaving Kurt and leaving home.

“Come with me, we can go get some coffee and talk about this in the warm.”

Kurt stood up and held out his hand to pull Blaine up.  Blaine stood up, pulling his bag onto his back, picking up his guitar and following Kurt off towards the café.

They walked to the coffee shop where Blaine had first seen Kurt in New York. Kurt ordered the drinks while Blaine found a table and sat down. They sat there sipping their coffee waiting for someone to speak first.

“Blaine?” asked Kurt, breaking the silence.

“Yes?”

“You know how you don’t have anywhere to stay?” Kurt almost whispered.

“Yes, I’m aware that I don’t have anywhere to sleep apart from the streets, rub it in why don’t you.” Blaine said, annoyance growing in his voice.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean that, I was just wondering if you would like to come and stay in my apartment for a while.”

There was a long pause before Blaine answered. “I don’t know Kurt, I couldn’t do that to you, I couldn’t take up your space like that…”

“Honestly its no trouble, I’m always lonely at home anyway”

“No, I’m fine where I am.”

“No you’re not, you live on the streets Blaine, It’s not fine.”

“Just leave it, I’ve survived five years, I can survive a little longer.”

“You’ve survived, yes, but you haven’t lived, you haven’t seen how amazing life could be. Come and live with me and get back on your feet and you can really live your life.”

“Kurt, I can get a job and do all of that stuff. I don’t need your charity to do it.”

“It’s not charity, it’s a friend helping out another friend.”

“I don’t need your help.” They were shouting full out now and had got the whole cafes attention.

“Yes you do Blaine, you’re just too scared to admit it.”

“I’m not listening to this.” Blaine mumbled, standing up and grabbing his bags.

“Blaine. Please don’t go, I’m sorry alright I was just trying to help.” Kurt whined, grabbing Blaine’s hand and trying to pull him back down.

“Well you’re not helping, just making me want to be away from you.”  He said, shaking his hand free from Kurt’s grip. “Bye Kurt, have a nice life.” He shouted back to Kurt as he walked out of the café.

As he walked out the café, everyone eyes were on him. He didn’t care, they could stare all they wanted, he’d already humiliated himself enough in front of Kurt.

He regretted walking out on Kurt again but he couldn’t stay, he couldn’t let himself be persuaded to go and stay with Kurt. Everything that Blaine got himself into always ended badly and he really didn’t want to hurt Kurt. He could never let Kurt get hurt because of him. It would kill him, make him hate life more than he already did.