“You’re welcome,” said the girl helping him out.

As Blaine washed his face in the sink, he tried to figure out who she was, he’d heard her voice before but for the life of him he couldn’t remember where.

“Could you pass me the spare shirt and my glasses? They are in my bag… These contacts are no good anymore,” said Blaine as he removed the ruined contacts. They were his last pair… Hopefully he could afford a new set, maybe if he picked up a few more shifts at Breadstix… He’d call Sally later.

“Sure,” said the girl as she walked over to Blaine's bag to get the items requested.

Blaine heard a small stifled giggle. He’d forgotten that his notebook had Mr Blaine Hummel doodled all over it…

“Don’t, please don’t… I don’t stand a chance, he loves Chandler… Like he’d go for me anyway… Little shy bushy haired Blaine… Just pass me my glasses please…” said Blaine, wondering who had just found out about his crush. He slipped on his glasses pushing them slowly up his numb nose and looked at the person who had been helping him.

“Shit… R-R-Rachel Berry,” Blaine said supressing the urge to bow or something; she was one of the most popular kids in school and Kurt’s best friend.

“D-don’t tell him… or anyone,” he managed to stutter nervously.

“Shush, don’t worry - your secret is safe with me…” said Rachel sweetly, ‘ha, like I can keep a secret like that from Kurt,’ Rachel thought to herself.

Blaine relaxed slightly as Rachel started to gently wash the slushie out of his curls.

“You know I think it’s kinda cute you have a crush on Kurt…”

“Really? You don’t think it’s odd… I’ve only been here since September… He’ll never notice me anyway; I’m too far down the social ladder.”

“Never say never, Blaine…” said Rachel mischievously.

“What that face for?” asked Blaine, he was surprised at how well he was getting on with Rachel Berry.

“Oh, nothing, nothing… it’s nothing, “ Rachel laughed.

“What?! My hair’s gone purple, hasn’t it?”

This made Rachel laugh harder.

“No, Blaine, your hair is fine.”

“Then what is it?!” snapped Blaine, he was starting to get annoyed…

“It’s nothing, honestly,” said Rachel. “Come on, change your shirt, if we hurry we can make it for the last 15 minutes of English.”

There was something Rachel wasn’t telling him, he just knew it. He stalked off in to stall to change.

“You know you could have gone to English, you didn’t have to wait for me…” said Blaine, why was she being so nice to him? She was popular, and popular people like her didn’t talk to people like Blaine.

“Well, I thought you’d like someone to walk to English with,” said Rachel smiling.

“Oh… err thanks, Rachel. Thanks for helping me, sometimes it’s really hard being out here, sometimes I consider going back to Dalton,” Blaine admitted as they left.

All the hurtful comments, slushie facials and the dumpster tosses, it just brought Blaine down… sure he was gay, yes, he really excelled in all his classes and yes, he was in the lower reaches of the status quo but none of that made him less of a person. He had feelings.

“Is it really that bad? I had no idea…” said Rachel patting Blaine's shoulder.

“Yeah, it just breaks your spirit, you know… makes you feel like… like you’re not worth anything. Sorry, I’m just sort of dumping all this on you.”

“Don’t be, Blaine. What would you if I try to help you out with the bullies? Maybe you could hang around with us today… If you want to, I mean.”

A huge grin spread over Blaine’s face… spend a whole day hanging around with Kurt Hummel, the guy he’s completely in love with…

“Of course I would, that would be amazing… but the others won’t mind, will they?”

“Not if I explain to Kurt about the slushies and being bullied…” Rachel smiled.

“Thank you, Rachel,” said Blaine as he threw his arms around her in a tight hug.

“You’re welcome,” said Rachel pealing his arms from around her neck.

“Err… sorry,” said Blaine, but he was so happy with the prospect of spending a day in Kurt’s presence, he’d actually be able to talk to him, in all the excitement he’d forgotten about his lunch ‘date’ with Jermaine. He’d understand, right?