It came to the end
It seems you had heard.
As we walked the city streets,
You never said a word.

When we finally sat down
Your eyes were full of spite.
I was desperate, I was weak
I could not put up a fight.

Kurt turned back to the Trice and Samantha "That," he pointed to Blaine "is my ex-boyfriend whom I haven't seen in five years, since he broke my heart."

They both gaped at him. "So that's your type – he's hot" Trice said nudging his side.

"Trice!" Samantha exclaimed "Did you not hear the part when Kurt said 'broke my heart?'" She turned back to Kurt, "Come on honey lets pay our tab and get out of here. Do you want to talk about it? You know it may be good to get it off your chest."

Kurt chuckled cynically – as if he'd ever be able to get over Blaine. It's been FIVE years and you still think of that man as if it had been yesterday, he thought. But Samantha was right. If he couldn't talk about this with his best friends, who could he talk to about it? "You're right" he conceded "lets just get out of here and I'll tell you the whole story".

He got Victors attention so he could pay his tab. Victor tried one last attempt to get his number but if Kurt wasn't interested before, seeing Blaine made him even less likely to give the man his number. He thanked him for the drinks and met the girls at the door. As he tugged on his jacket and wrapped his scarf around his neck he turned back to the stage. There Blaine stood singing and strumming his guitar, looking out into the crowd. Kurt took one last look at him, missing the way Blaine made him feel complete, loved, passionate and hoping he'd never have to look at him again because it was too hard to remember what might have been. He walked out the door into the bitter cold as the wind whipped around him.

Two hours later Kurt, Trice, and Samantha sat a dinner in Manhattan sharing a piece of cheesecake as Kurt finished recounting his relationship with Blaine—how they became friends, when the fell in love, all the memories. In the years they knew him he'd never shared any of this with him. Kurt talked about how difficult it was to be apart and how his life started to change in New York while Blaine was still in High School back in Ohio. Kurt had known they were having problems but he never suspected the words Blaine uttered as they walked through city that night. "I was with someone". He barely remembered what happened after that, but when they eventually made it back to the loft and sat down on his bed he couldn't even look at Blaine. He knows he started yelling spitefully at Blaine – he wanted to hurt him, to make him feel as terribly as he did – as if his heart was frozen in his chest and broken into a thousand pieces. Blaine didn't say a word, a look of defeat in his eyes. He just sat there and cried weakly while Kurt exploded, no will to fight back left in him. In the morning Blaine left without saying another word to Kurt.

"That was five year ago" Kurt told Trice and Samantha. "I haven't seen him since then. I've actively avoided seeing him again - until tonight. I heard he'd moved to New York, some of my high school friends were sure to mention it to me, but in a city of 8 million people I thought the odds of seeing him were so slim." He exhaled, not even realizing he was holding his breath.

"But," Samantha searched for the right thing to say, "you were friends once too weren't you".

"Yes. He was my best friend. He helped me when I was being bullied, he helped me be confident in who I am, even encouraged me to come in New York when I didn't get into NYADA the first time." Kurt responded.

"So maybe you were supposed to find each other again? Maybe now you can be friends again Kurt. It seems to me in a city of 8 million when you find someone who knows you – knows your past, helped you find your future – you can't ignore them. You've got to let people in even if it hurts."

"Maybe" Kurt said, staring out the window into the night "but even if I wanted to he's gone now and who knows if I'll ever run into him again. I hope I don't. Maybe now this is a sign that I need to move on."

-----

Blaine strummed out the last notes as he finished his set. He loved everything about being on stage: the heat of the spot light, the familiar feel of the strings beneath fingers, the way the crowd sang along to a tune they loved. He had missed performing. When it came time for college, Blaine decided not to come to New York and instead spent his four years at Ohio State University studying Music Education where he learned to put performing to the side to empower children to take the spotlight. He didn't regret his decision but he couldn't help but wonder what his life would have been like had he moved to New York and pursued the performing arts. He knew why he chose a different path, even if he didn't admit it to his friends. Oh course now that he was here everything in New York made him think of Kurt. He'd thought about finding a way to get in touch with him when he moved here in June but after all these years he still felt weak from their breakup. There had been other men in his life, but come graduation it was just easier to go his own way and leave all those memories back in Ohio.

Blaine always opened his set with the same song, Where Are You Now. Every time he heard it, it reminded him of Kurt and he couldn't help but hope that maybe one day they'd run into each other again and it would all be okay again. He knew it was silly but he believed in fate and he wasn't convinced yet that Kurt wasn't tied to his. Which is why tonight he could have swore he saw Kurt in the crowd. Maybe his mind was playing tricks on him? Maybe he'd gone crazy. Surely if Kurt was there he would have stayed and talked to Blaine – he couldn't still be avoiding him all these years later could he? He knew Kurt was. Though it was hard to see on stage, he was pretty sure he saw Kurt talking to one of the bartenders. As he walked up to the bar he really had hoped this guy wasn't his boyfriend – he was so fake and trying way to hard to look attractive.

"Great set tonight, can I buy you drink" he winked. God he really hoped they weren't dating.

"Um, no thanks. Actually I have a question for you. There was a man over here talking to you, about 24, tall, chestnut hair, blue eyes – do you know him?"

"I'd like to get to know you better – I'm Victor by the way".

Blaine smiled a fake smile back at him "Never mind" and he turned to leave the bar.

"Wait" Victor gave in "yes I know him, well I'm friends with his friend Trice. But look if you're into him he's not very easy. Wouldn't give me the time of day, let alone his number".

Blaine smiled, that sounded like Kurt. "Do you know his name?"

"Why do you want to know? I just told you I don't know how to get in touch with him and he's not a regular here. I've never seen him before"

"He's an old... friend" Blaine stated hesitantly. They were friends, best friends at one point.

Victor looked at him skeptically, "A friend huh? Alright, his name is Kurt but like I said he wouldn't give me his number".

Blaine deflated a little. It was Kurt – but how in the hell would he get in touch with him now? "Thanks anyways Victor" Victor could see the hurt in his eyes and he turned to walk away.

"Wait – I could give you Trice's number. That's Kurt's friend – I think they work together. But I've got to tell you Trice is one tough chick, don't fuck with her or her friends okay?"

Blaine didn't know what to make of that "Okay?". Victor scribbled down Trice's number from his phone. "I hope you find your... friend again and if you don't my number there too – just in case".

Blaine smiled and laughed as he walked away—he couldn't blame the guy for trying and he was certainly indebted to him.

As he made his way back to his apartment in SoHo he kept a tight grip on the piece of paper in his pocket. He didn't have to call the number – he could just hold onto for security. A little something to remind him that Kurt really was still out there. But he'd come this far, wasn't this the fate he'd been dreaming about? A way to reconnect with Kurt and maybe just rekindle their friendship if nothing else. He didn't have many friends in New York and a familiar face would be nice to have around, especially Kurt's. He picked up his phone and typed out a text message.

11:58pm: Hi, Victor at Cunningham's Bar gave me this number. I know this may seem strange but are you friends with Kurt Hummel? I thought I saw him with you tonight and we're old friends and I'm hoping to get back in touch with him.

Blaine let out a deep breath as he pressed send. This was silly, this person was going to think he was crazy and who messaged strang... his thought we interrupted by a text message

12:02am: Ya I know Hummel, who wants to know?

12:03am: I'm Blaine. We went to high school together back in Ohio.

12:05am: I don't know. From what I heard about you tonight I'm not sure I want you around my friend.

Oh this wasn't going to be easy. Victor wasn't lying when he said don't fuck with Trice. But that also meant Kurt HAD seen him

12:07am: Can you meet me tomorrow at 11am, Gregory's Coffee West 44th?

12:08am: Done!

Blaine smiled as he put down his phone, perhaps he would get to see Kurt again.