Blaine felt like his world had been shaken. After getting home from his evening out with Kurt, he didn't even try to go to sleep. He felt tossed back and forth like the leaves on a tree during a storm.

One moment he's humming and singing, making up songs and jumping up on furniture to dance. He has never in his whole life felt this way, this happy. The next moment he'll slump down in a chair and cradle his head in his hands. What was wrong with the world? How could everything be so wrong and no one even know or care? It scares him, this new knowledge that life should be so much more than it is.

Then, he thinks of Kurt, and he smiles. He may not know what to do with this new outlook on life, but one thing he knows for sure, is that he is glad. So very glad, to have Kurt as a friend. Blaine grimaced at the word 'friend'. Trent is his friend, Mercedes is his friend. Kurt is... Kurt is... It frustrates Blaine that there doesn't seem to be a word for what Kurt is, and if there is one he doesn't know it.

Mercedes had called Sam her "special friend" that didn't seem right either, but the look in her eyes when she talked about him, that felt right. The way her voice softened when she said he name, that was a feeling Blaine understood. And maybe Blaine didn't have a word for the way his stomach flip-flopped at the thought of Kurt, or the way Kurt's voice sounded like music, or how Blaine could fall asleep picturing Kurt's face and feel like everything was right in the world. No, he didn't know the word, but he felt it and that was enough for now.

Blaine finally pulled on some pajamas, and rolled into bed. He still had to be up at 6:00am, and he couldn't afford to get off routine.

The next morning Blaine was out of bed and ready for work in record time. He may not have been working with a full night of sleep, but he felt energized down to his toes. He just wanted to get to work, get through the morning, then have lunch with Kurt. He wanted the work day to go fast, so that maybe, just maybe, he could go out that evening and spend more time with Kurt. He just hoped Kurt wanted that too.

In the hallway he gave Mercedes a hug and swung her around.

"What in the world boy?!" She asked laughing.

"I'm happy Mercedes."

"I can see that." She said with a smile. "Between you and me I like it, but be careful when you get out there." She said nodding towards the stairs. "Just... be careful understand?"

"I will." Blaine answered. "I understand." He gave her another quick hug, and then skipped down the stairs. When he got outside, he tried to collect himself. Walk steady. Don't hum. Don't smile too much. Be in time with other people.

At the shuttle stop Blaine greeted Trent. "Good morning Trent. How are you?"

Trent looked him up and down, like he saw something Blaine didn't, before he replied. "I am well. And yourself?"

"I am well." Blaine smiled back.

"You're bouncing." Trent said.

Blaine realized he was bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet. He stopped. "Oh. Right." Blaine said.

Trent moved closer, whispering to him. "Your secret... detour... in the Yellow Shuttle is safe with me, but please Blaine, this has to stop. You could get in so much trouble. You know security in Principle City increases the closer we get to Founder's Day and the annual speech from the leaders. This isn't the time to be testing boundaries."

Blaine raised his eyebrows, he was always amazed at how much Trent could say when he really wanted too. "I know Trent, but I am happy. I can't just go back to the way things were."

Trent looked him squarely in the eyes, then his face turned hard and he stepped away, "Well don't bring anyone else down with you then." Trent said, moving to the other side of the shuttle stop. He didn't talk to Blaine, stand near him, or even look in his direction the whole way to World Government Central.

Trent's displeasure was a surprise to Blaine and made him feel uneasy. He got through the morning of work and made himself walk at a normal pace to the cafeteria. When he got there he looked for Kurt at their regular table. When he found him he was tucked into the corner, his head down, just pushing the food around on his plate. Blaine sat down across from him.

"Hello Kurt." He said cheerfully.

Kurt looked up at him, but didn't smile. "Hello Blaine."

Blaine fidgeted in his chair, not understanding Kurt's mood. "I... I had an amazing time last night." He said.

Kurt didn't look at him and just kept playing with his food. "I'm glad Blaine. Really."

Blaine sat quietly for a moment before asking, "Did you not have a good time?"

Kurt finally lifted his eyes and put a forced looking smile on his face. "Of course I did. I really enjoyed spending time with you. I just don't..." Kurt stopped before putting his fork down, straightening his back and looking directly at Blaine. "I don't know that it was a good idea. I think we should... we should stop having lunch together. You should go back to your old table."

Blaine felt like someone had hit him. He sat dumbstruck, mouth open, not knowing what to say.

"I think it would help both of us with our routines." Kurt added.

"Kurt. I don't understand. I am fine with my routine. Are you having trouble with yours?"

"I just think it would be best. Please Blaine."

"But Kurt..."

"Blaine, I've made up my mind."

Blaine looked at Kurt's eyes trying to read something there, but his expression was blank. Blaine grabbed his tray of food and got up from the table. "If you change your mind..." he said. Kurt just looked back down at his plate.

Blaine turned and walked slowly back to the table he use to share with Trent and some others, his stomach sinking. They easily let him back in without asking any questions while they continued their lunch as normal.

Blaine didn't understand what had happened. He thought Kurt wanted to spend time with him the same way Blaine wanted to spend time with Kurt. Was Kurt really having trouble with his routine? Or did he not feel the same way that Blaine felt?

Blaine was distracted the rest of the day, that evening at the Shuttle stop Kurt showed up right before the Yellow Shuttle pulled up and got on board without even glancing at Blaine. Blaine felt cold and hugged his arms around himself.

The next few days went the same, everything was back to its old routine. Work. Lunch. Work. Home. No Kurt. While Trent seemed more chipper than normal, Blaine felt terrible. Like a part of him was missing. How could he have so much invested in Kurt, when he had known him so short a time? Blaine felt angry at himself, at Kurt and the stupid routine that was keeping them apart.

Every day he'd sit at lunch trying to make eye-contact with Kurt. Kurt acted like he wasn't even there.

Announcements from the Leaders became frequent as he rode the shuttle to and from work. Founder's Day was coming and more people would be in Principle City than any other time. They wanted to make sure order and routine was paramount, even on the Holiday. Blaine, who usually loved Founder's Day, didn't even pay any attention.

Blaine was growing restless and worried. He needed to talk to Kurt, at least to understand why he was acting this way. He watched him get on the shuttle after work one day, noticing that Kurt looked tired and frustrated. Blaine watched as Kurt's shuttle pulled away, deciding he had to do something. He looked around and tried to think of what he knew of the city.

This was his shuttle stop, but there was another one a block over. He noticed it when he had been assigned a learning course over a year ago. Blaine glanced at Trent, then at the Blue Shuttle that was pulling up, he made a decision. He sprung up from the bench and quickly walked passed the Blue Shuttle.

"Blaine?" He heard Trent call, but ignored him, walking away as quickly as he thought he could without drawing too much attention. He passed a few gray buildings afraid he was going the wrong direction, when he saw the shuttle stop he was looking for. He stopped at it, ignoring the curious glances from the people already there. He waited. First a Green Shuttle came by and then a Red. Blaine only hoped a Yellow came to the stop as well. It was just him and one other person left at the stop when a Yellow Shuttle pulled up.

Blaine sighed in relief and climb aboard. He felt twitchy and nervous, but tried to look clam as the monitors on the shuttle showed announcements about Founder's Days and it's normal admonishment to keep on routine "for the good of all".

Blaine grew more nervous as they passed the stop he and Kurt had gotten off on to see the sunset. Kurt had said then that he lived one stop down, so one stop down Blaine got off the shuttle. He looked around. This neighborhood looked like every other neighborhood Blaine had seen his whole life, and he had no idea how to find Kurt. This was such a bad idea. His fingers twitched nervously and he walked forward, deciding he wasn't going to give up.

Blaine walked to the first gray apartment building near him. He went inside, knocking at the first door he came too. At first there was no answer. Finally, the door creaked open just an inch. "Yes? What do you want?" a voice came from inside the apartment.

"Sorry to interrupt your routine, but I am looking for someone who may live here? He's a recent transfer to Principle City. His name is Kurt?" Blaine asked, hoping that the added detail that he was a transfer might spark a memory.

"No. I do not know anyone by that name."

"Are there any transfers in this building?" Blaine asked hopefully.

"No. Now please, I don't have time for this." The person said.

"Sorry. Thank you for your time." Blaine said as the door shut in his face. If he was going to find Kurt he couldn't just knock on every door, so he'd just have to take the stranger's word that there were no transfers in this building. After all they didn't have a reason to lie about it.

Blaine went to the next building, and the next, getting similar responses in each. Blaine was feeling antsy and discouraged as he knocked on the first door of another building. Again the door opened only part of the way as someone peered out at him through the slit.

"Sorry to interrupt your routine, but I am looking for someone who may live here?" Blaine repeated. "A recent transfer to Principle City? His name is Kurt?"

The door opened a little more, and a young woman stood there looking at him. She was small and had big expressive eyes, with long brunette hair. "A transfer?" she asked. "Yes. We have a transfer here."

"You do?" Blaine asked, as he tried not to sound too excited.

"A young man. Thin. Brown hair." The girl said.

"Yes! Please. Do you know which apartment is his?"

The woman tilted her head, and put her hands on her hips, looking very fierce for someone her size. "You aren't with the Authorities are you? If you are, you should be in your green, so that everyone knows. Otherwise it is not fair."

"No. I'm not with the Authorities. I'm... I'm just looking for a co-worker of mine."

The woman stared at him for a moment longer and then crossed her arms. "Upstairs. Forth apartment on the right." She said.

"Thank you. Thank you very much."

"It's rude to interrupt someone's routine like this." She said and flipped her long hair behind her shoulder. "Luckily for you, I am amazing with my routine, and it won't make me fall behind. You should be careful though, not everyone does as well as I do."

Blaine tried to suppress his smile, "I know. You're right. I'm terribly sorry. I hope you have a good evening."

The woman just nodded curtly and closed her door.

Blaine immediately went upstairs and counted four doors down on the right. He lifted his hand to knock on the door, but it opened before he got a chance. Kurt. Kurt was standing there in the doorway a shocked look on his face.

"Kurt." Blaine said. "I found you." He looked down at Kurt, he was wearing a long dark jacket, the likes of which Blaine had never seen before.

"What are you doing here?" Kurt hissed as he grabbed Blaine's arm pulling him into the apartment.

"I needed to talk to you."

"And it couldn't wait until work tomorrow?" Kurt asked.

"You don't talk to me at work anymore."

Kurt sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I know... I. Blaine, it is for your own good."

"What is for my own good Kurt? And shouldn't I get a say in that? And what are you wearing?"

Kurt let out a small laugh. "You caught me right as I was about to go out."

"Got out where?"

Before Kurt could answer there was a knock on Kurt's door. Kurt's eyes grew wide. "Blaine. I need you to... to... I don't know. Go. Hide. Or something. I don't know who is at the door, and you shouldn't be here."

Blaine nodded and then went to the kitchen out of sight. He could hear Kurt answer the door from where he was.

"Hello?" He said.

A voice Blaine didn't know answered. "Good evening citizen of Principle City."

Blaine's stomach dropped. That was one of The Authorities.

"We have had reports of a man wondering this neighborhood and disturbing good citizens and their routines. Has anyone come by your home?"

"No." Blaine heard Kurt answer. "My routine was fine up until now. I was just heading to bed."

Blaine wondered how they didn't see the long black coat he was wearing, maybe he only partially opened the door like many of the people Blaine had talked to that evening. Oh no, what if the girl from downstairs sent them here? Would they come inside and look around?

"You are sure about this?"

"I think I would notice a change in my routine." Kurt said.

"Of course. If you do see or hear from anyone please contact The Authorities immediately. We will be patrolling this area heavily in the meantime."

"I will do that." Kurt replied. "Thank you."

"Thank you citizen." The man replied and Blaine heard Kurt close the door.

Kurt came into the kitchen looking a little pale. "Oh my god Blaine."

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to cause any trouble."

"Blaine you are... you are so..." Kurt just shook his head and smiled a little.

"I'll just go." Blaine said feeling awful. He started walking to the door and Kurt grabbed his arm.

"What? No. You can't." He said his eyes wide. "They are patrolling the area!"

Blaine glance again at Kurt's dark coat. "I've messed up your plans for the evening haven't I?"

Kurt sighed and looked like he was deep in thought. "I happen to be really good at getting past patrols." He said with a smirk. "Do you trust me Blaine?"

"Absolutely." Blaine answered without hesitation. Kurt lifted an eyebrow, but Blaine wasn't surprised at his own response. He trusted Kurt completely.

"Okay then... I want to take you somewhere with me, but it is really risky. You can say no."

"I'll go." Blaine said feeling nervous at Kurt's serious look, but also feeling relieved because he got to be with Kurt again.

"Blaine..." Kurt said slowly. "There are a lot of things you don't know about me."

"I figured as much." Blaine said with a smile and added. "Kurt, I trust you. Where are we going?"

Kurt smiled brightly, grabbing Blaine's hand. "You are going to meet some of my friends." He said. "They're throwing a party tonight."

Blaine looked down at their intertwined hands with a smile. He would follow Kurt anywhere.