The days get shorter and the nights get cooler as the summer fades away and the crisp autumn chill sweeps across the county, not too long now and September will be here. And once September comes it is back to school for the students and back to the chalkboards for the teachers; leaving countless papers to grade and too many reports to write. It is nine continuous months of work and assessments, months of proving yourself and testing others. It breaks old friendships and sparks new loves. You'll always remember the slow dances shared and the mixed tapes made. The raggers you went to and the kickbacks you enjoyed. The year you didn't go to homecoming, and the year you danced the night away. It is high school and it starts in September relying solely on what you make of it. But you know, they say if you make one friend on your first day, you're doing good.

For some the years can't go by quick enough, and for others each passing second is a memory they'll cherish for life. No matter what social group you're in, what clubs you join, what sports you make, or what your grades look like you'll still be there. And whether you're a background character in someone else's story or the protagonist in your own it's all up to you. Many chose to sever the ties of the four years spent in their alma mater immediately after graduation, but some chose to wade their way back into the waters of their past flooding their memories and staying in touch through alumni meetings, but even fewer chose to relive it again year after year in different waves of people by doing something many a student would never dream of: becoming a teacher.

Yes, some brave souls chose to recycle their years of experience and jump back into the high school tides, becoming an educator and just trying to pass down the lessons they wish they didn't have to learn the hard way when they were that age. It's hard to understand why some people become teachers, maybe it's because they've given up, 'because those who can't do, teach' maybe it's because they saw no other career path for themselves, maybe it's because they're bitter, maybe because they genuinely like children, or maybe it's because they feel tied to the past in some way, forcing themselves to relive each day in search of what they missed out on the first time. Like old souls wandering the house they used to dwell in, searching each day for something that could be foreseeably unachievable.

Out of all these explanations, the last was probably the reason Blaine Anderson; age 30 was writing "Mr. Anderson" on the same board he used to stare at blankly when he was the same age as most of the kids entering his class now.

The bell for first period sounded and Blaine straightened his bow tie and used his index finger to align his boxy glasses. September was here and another year had just begun with the sound of that bell; a single ring that symbolized a purpose for the next year. Although right now most of them were just hoping to make it to the weekend.

"Good morning class, my name is Mr. Anderson and I will be you're advanced English teacher this year. In a few minutes I'll pass out the course syllabus and talk to you a little bit about the novels we will be observing, but first I'd like to take the opportunity to get to know you all."

"Gay." A muscular boy with a Mohawk and air of 'swag' called out and the class began to laugh.

"Yes I am. Now that you know a little about me why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself? There are two things I don't tolerate in my class, that's calling out of terms, and hostility. Oh actually there's a third, I don't appreciate tools so either you lose the attitude and drop the-" Blaine started to lecture until the mohawked boy continued to defy him further.

"Last thing my mom told me before I was shipped off to juvy was not to drop the soap. Sorry bowties I know you've gotta be lusting over my sweet Puckerman ass." He said gathering yet another laugh from the group of freshman.

"I was going to say drop the whole 'I'm better than you' getup but I guess you got a little ahead of yourself there. The say the most homophobic people are the ones suppressing their homosexual desires the most. Is there something else you would like to say to the class? And if you do plan on coming out please raise your hand because like I said I don't tolerate calling out of terms. And you know I was going to give you detention but I really don't feel like filling out a detention slip this early in the year, so I'll tell you what. I moderate the Gay Straight Alliance after school on Mondays so why don't you stop on by and become and Ally against bullying and I'll let it go." Blaine said calmly and the room simmered down.

"Now would anyone like to go first on sharing something about themselves?" He asked and a brunette in the first row raised their hand immediately.

"Hi my name is Rachel Berry, I'm an aspiring actress, singer, song writer, dancer, and hopefully soon to be Broadway superstar. As you could've probably guessed me being a brilliant young jew my inspiration is the one and only Barbra and like her I plan on following dreams regardless of how you guys feel about me. I may not be popular yet but I'm going to make it. That I'm certain of. One thing about me is I place gold stars everywhere as they are symbolic of me, because I am after all a star. Hmm what else? There are just so many interesting characteristics about me." Rachel spoke on highly of herself earning bored expressions from her classmates.

"Thank you very much Rachel." Blaine said trying to end another egotistic rant when his eyes fell on a tall boy with a slender frame with piercing green eyes and a crooked smile.

"My name is Sebastian," green eyes spoke arrogantly but sultry all the same. "I'm rich and very very available. I don't do monogamy and I love a challenge." He said with a wink directly at Blaine.

"Okay I'm just going to pretend that wasn't sexual harassment." Blaine laughed awkwardly.

"It's not harassment if you enjoy it babe. And I know you want the D" He said suggestively toying at the embroidered D of his Dalton blazer before sliding his hands down his body in a most sensual manner.

"Okay way out of line, for you I will write out a detention slip." Blaine said moving behind his small desk and tearing off a clean detention sheet. "Anyone else want to share?"

The rest of the introductions went easier and luckily with a little less awkwardness. Adding up to twenty-three students. There was Rachel and Sebastian, four cheerleaders: Quinn, Santana, Brittany, and Kitty, a diva named Mercedes, an appropriately stereotypical Asian couple Mike and Tina, a boy in a wheelchair named Artie, a sweet quiet girl named Marley, a shy boy named Wade, two wannabe rock stars Wes and David, a redheaded stoner named Bret and a shitload of football players, Finn, Sam, Ryder, Matthew, Dave, Azimio, Noah Puckerman and his half-brother Jake.

Blaine handed out the syllabus and started listing off the top of his head a few of the books he planned on having the students read throughout the year. All and all for Blaine the first day went well. Well as well as any first day could go. There was the Puckerman setback and the Sebastian awkwardness during first period but progressively the day got better. He had quite a few of his first period students in his other classes but some new faces too. Out of the eight periods Dalton had scheduled each day Blaine only taught for four of them. First period Advanced English, second AP English Language and Composition, fourth survey of music, and eighth period his ultimate favorite, glee club.

The day passed by and the final bell rang marking the first day finished with. Noah Puckerman actually did show for the GSA meeting and quite a few of his new students did as well including Rachel who went on and on about her two gay dads.

"Hey guys welcome to GSA, I know a lot of you upperclassman but there are a few newbies here as well so I'll introduce myself. My name is Blaine Anderson, feel free to call me Blaine, I don't mind. I feel like we're equals here. Plus not having to call me Mr. could make you guys realize you can trust me and I'm not just some adult. Although hopefully there are many adults here and in your life you feel comfortable talking to and trust. Anyway here in the Gay Straight Alliance we have a few rules, one is show respect, anyone in here could be having a bad day and it's part of our responsibility to not judge them and to comfort them, also I need you guys to be mature because some of the topics we talk about are serious, thirdly just acceptance. I don't tolerate prejudice; this is a LGBT friendly zone. Another rule is just what is said here stays here, it adds an element of trust, and it makes it feel more open like you can really talk about anything." Blaine explained and asked if there were any questions.

When there weren't any questions he began discussing the agenda for the upcoming year.

"Okay so we have a bullying awareness assembly in October, LGBT prom in May, a day of silence somewhere in between and countless rainbow ribbons to hand out as we recruit Allies to take the pledge to stop discrimination and hate. So can a senior member help Mr. Puckerman sign up so he can be on his way, I don't need the football coach after my ass." Blaine said and continued onward as Puck looked at the rainbow ribbon placed in his hand as if it burned his skin to touch.

"We also have a long term project we're working on this year. As we've discussed before there are many people out there who are bullied, who are bullied so badly that they have difficulty seeing a way out, things get dark and heavy for them, and as a way to show that we care we will be writing them letters of support. You see each member of GSA will be given the information of a student nearby who just needs a little encouragement. We'll be writing back and forth with them and just letting them know that it gets better. At the end of the year hopefully they'll be in a better place and if you want you can remain friends and hey who knows they could even help you. It's a new program but I think it's really neat." Blaine explained the program and began placing names in a paper bag for the students to draw from and as each student picked out a name Blaine gave them the corresponding address to which they should send their first letter.

"Mr. Anderson, I mean Blaine. Mr. Blaine I have a question." Rachel said and Blaine looked at her puzzled.

"Yes Rachel?" He asked.

"What happens to the name that wasn't chosen?" She asked and when Blaine looked into the bag surely enough there was one slip of paper that had not yet been selected. But Blaine double checked everyone had received one, but yet here there was an unaccounted leftover.

"I don't know Rach." Blaine shrugged not seeing as how the paper was affecting her so.

"What? That's awful. Oh god what if they kill themselves. I can't handle that guilt. Someone needs to write to them. They can't just be left in the bag. That's not fair." Rachel started crying and Blaine realized the problem.

"Oh Rachel, I think they'll be okay. We only have so many GSA members here, I mean if someone wants to double up they can but other than that there's not that much we can do. All the names in here are people who have been admitted to intensive care after a particularly bad incident, there someone who's seeing a therapist and probably takes medicine and stuff. I'm sure whoever it is will be fine. So don't worry about it." Blaine tried to soothe Rachel's worries the best he could.

"It's still not fair, this poor person, they probably signed up for this whole pen pal project and when no one ever writes them what if they give up?" Rachel asked worried. "Can't you write to them? You could do the project with us." Rachel suggested and Blaine shrugged.

"I guess I could do just that. Okay I will. Who knows maybe it could be fun." Blaine said unfolding the name to read it aloud to Rachel, "Kurt Hummel"

The bell rang and Blaine dismissed the students telling them to go ahead home and to remember to start their letters. He packed his papers into his satchel and grabbed his now cold thermos of coffee, throwing his jacket over his shoulder and leaving the building. Day one: done.

Later that night as Blaine sat comfortably in his one bedroom apartment he wondered whether he should make up a quiz for his students to take tomorrow to assess what they already knew about English, and then he thought maybe he could come up with a lesson plan for glee club, but ultimately he decided to write his letter for GSA.

Hello Kurt,

My name is Blaine, I teach at Dalton Academy and the Gay Straight Alliance I moderate is writing letters to recovering patients from the Lima Mental Stability Psychiatric Hospital to offer support and friendship. So I'm totally here for you Kurt, whatever you need, I promise you I can be a positive helping hand in your process of recovery. Okay enough about that, and a little about me. I'm thirty years old and I've been teaching for nearly ten, I'm addicted to coffee, and I love singing. I can't wait to hear about yourself and to learn the things you like to do. Remember Kurt, recovery is an uphill battle but as long as you have a walking stick and an awesome tour guide (me) it's just another friendly hike. Okay that was really corny and I would cross it out but I'm actually proud of my handwriting here and to restart would require getting another sheet of paper. Okay wow I'm a teacher and I don't have paper. Next time a student comes into class without paper rather than asking why they're unprepared I'll just give them a hug or a cookie or something because now I understand the struggle. Okey dokey that was kind of gay. Shit I hope you weren't offended by that, I mean I myself am a gay male, but I don't know how you feel about me using that word oh god and I cussed, I'm a horrible support person. Sorry. This is a fail of a letter and I'm a fail of a person. Well actually I'm just pretty awkward. But hey maybe you'll find my awkwardness endearing and write me back. Anyway Kurt I look forward to getting to know you. And remember: COURAGE.

Sincerely,

Blaine Anderson :)

Blaine folded up the letter and placed it into a crisp white letter deciding to take it to the post office the next morning on his way to school.

The second day of school was even less eventful than the first and Blaine found himself sitting in adlibbing a lesson in last period glee club as Rachel immediately took the bait and found her own topic to cover.

"So I was thinking everyone could do a song to express themselves?" Blaine said to the class, hating the infliction in his voice that made it sound like a question.

"I have the perfect song!" Rachel began and made her way to the front of the room and cueing up her music for the number before beginning a soliloquy about her life story.

Blaine didn't care though, glee was a place to express yourself, and Rachel had been the only one to take initiative of the make shift lesson.

Much like she did for the rest of the week. Before Blaine knew it the first week had passed and it was Friday afternoon, glee club had just wrapped up and he was more than ready to go home.

As he walked into the apartment building he stopped to grab the mail and was more than excited when he saw an address he didn't recognize and the name Kurt Hummel in the return address section. He nearly forgot his electric bill and monthly vogue subscription on the way up to his apartment.

He plopped down on the sofa, propping his feet up, and carefully unsealing the envelope.

Dear friend,

As you already know my name is Kurt. I think what you're club is doing is really neat. You sound like a really nice person Blaine. Okay about me, I'm sixteen and a freshman at McKinley High shcool. I should be a junior but I spent a year in a mental hospital after seventh grade so I went into eighth late, and then the middle of my freshman year I tried to kill myself and that landed me in a totally different hospital, where I stayed until doctors could release me. I had to repeat freshman year but I guess I'm doing better now. Okay enough with the depression shit. I'm gay too, and I don't mind that you cuss or say that. I get enough abuse for being gay anyway, you seem like a genuinely nice person and I can tell you didn't mean any harm from it. I love coffee to. Have you ever been to the Lima Bean? It's the best, I promise. I love singing as well, I even joined the glee club at my school. My therapist tells me I need to learn to participate more so I guess joining clubs helps. As for your metaphor I love hiking, well I used to at least. I loved running and hiking and all kinds of activities, but ever since I was released from the hospital after my eating disorder I haven't been allowed to do any of that stuff. But I guess it'd be nice to actually enjoy a hike, not just worrying about the calories I'd burn off. Anyway thanks for writing to me, it's kind of nice to know that someone cares. Sorry I didn't respond sooner I didn't have any stamps. If you want you could text me or email me instead? I'll leave my contact info at the bottom of the page, I don't know if that's weird or not. I guess I'd just like to get to know you and it'd be easier than waiting on letters each week. If you're not cool with that it's okay, just thank you so much for caring. I know you're a complete stranger but it just makes me feel cared for to know someone out there could be so nice to just listen to all my problems and stuff, someone who won't judge and someone who I can easily relate to. Just thank you Blaine.

Love always,

Kurt Hummel

After reading the letter Blaine honestly felt sad for Kurt, a boy he didn't even know. It just sucked to think that there are people out there who have it so rough, Blaine didn't even know Kurt's full story he only gathered glimpses like suicide and an eating disorder, but from what it sounded like there had to be a lot more going on and this was only the superficial tale of Kurt's story. Blaine decided from then on he'd do anything he could to make sure Kurt was okay. So he reached for his phone and texted the number at the bottom of the page.

Hey Kurt :) This is Blaine Anderson, I just got your letter. It was nice hearing back from you. I hope you're doing well, and remember COURAGE. – B

Oh hi Blaine! I'm so glad you texted, I'm doing well I guess. The first week of school has been horrid but hearing from you made it bearable. How have you been? You said you taught? What grade? - K

Well you know they say if you make at least one friend on your first day you're doing good, glad I could help ;) I do teach, I have a freshmen advanced English, a junior AP Lang and composition, then I also teach survey of music and glee club. What's your favorite subject? - B

Haha well thanks :) and oh wow that's awesome, English is actually my favorite subject. I really want to be a writer, I feel like writing is the only way I can express myself sometimes you know? - K

Oh my god I know exactly what you're talking about! When I was your age I had just come out at my school and the bullying was horrendous but I started writing and it made me feel like someone was listening. - B

Like someone cared. – K

Exactly!!! – B

So anyway tell me more about yourself :) – K

Hmm well okey dokey. I still watch Disney movies even though I'm probably way too old for them, I just love the idea of my prince charming coming in and rescuing me from my dreary life. Oh well a person can dream. – B

Oh my god you're so silly, I love Disney movies! What's your favorite?! – K

I have to say Peter Pan, but only because I refuse to grow up, and it'd be fucking awesome to be able to fly. Yours? – B

Dork ;) haha I love the Little Mermaid, the original story is pretty sad cause she dies and all but Prince Eric has always just been a favorite of mine. But I like how it has a deeper meaning, like all the things we desire come at much too high a cost and even when we get them they're never exactly what we want. Like she got her legs finally, but then she could never talk and singing was like her thing. – K

Oh and I'm the dork, someone has put way to much thought into this ;) – B

I'm not a dork! Okay besides Disney what other movies do you like? – K

HARRY POTTER!!!!!!!! – B

I never thought anyone besides me liked those movies, I'm a totally Harry Potter junkie. Sometimes I just stay up all night and watch all the movies in a row, it's just my favorite thing. – K

Oh god I believe in Harry Potter more than any deity out there, like seriously some crazy shits going down. Why are people sad? DEMENTORS. Why do bad things happen? *whispers quietly* Voldemort. Why do people fall in love? POTIONS AND CHARMS AND SHIT. Seriously everything we can't explain is probably magic. Okay I may be a bit of a weirdo and a dork. – B

Oh my god we are the same exact person. After my mother died when I was a kid my dad asked me if I was depressed and I just like deadpanned like "no a dementor got to me before I could conjure up my patronus." He just looked at me funny. – K

Dude! Last year I was giving my English class a lecture and this kid would not stop clicking his pen so I was like "Expillarmus!" and ran over and threw his pen across the room. No one laughed. No one laughed at all. :( - B

Hahaha oh god I would have laughed my ass off if I witnessed that! – K

Well I wish YOU were in my class. – B

You know I was going to go to Dalton, I looked into it and everything. My stepbrother goes there actually. My parents couldn't afford to send us both and with me being in and out of therapy I was like he can go since he'll enjoy himself more. – K

What grades your brother in? – B

He's a freshman, do you know Finn Hudson? Overly tall and awkward, quarterback on the football team. Not really the sharpest light bulb in the crayon drawer.– K

Finn!! I have him first period. Although I'm a little surprised he's in my advanced English class. – B

He "accidently" sent my transcripts with his name when he found out I wasn't going. – K

Haha no wonder, I called on him to read yesterday and he pronounced extraordinary extra-ordinary. There like complete opposites! – B

Oh god he can't read at all. Like an hour ago he came in my room and was like "I'm supposed to have this book read by Monday and I don't even know how to pronounce the title." – K

We're reading the Great Gatsby! – B

Yeah and he didn't know what a Gatsby was... he's a good person though, just a little slow. What about his friend Puckerman? Is he in your class? – K

Oh god that mohawked punk made fun of me on the first day, and then told me he knew I was "lusting over his sweet Puckerman ass" I didn't even know how to respond. – B

I am scarred please please please tell me he did not say that. I went to middle school with that tool. He threw me in the dumpster so many times they named it after him. – K

They named the dumpster after him? Shouldn't they have named it after you? – B

That's what I said! – K

Well if he messes with you any more I'll flunk him so he can't play football ;) – B

Oh how chivalrous of you to protect my honor ;) – K

Who knows maybe I'm your prince charming <3 – B

There should be a gay Disney prince! – K

Yes! I'm on board let's write this shit! – B

Okay I'll go first: Once upon a time... - K

Wow Kurt, excellent start. Okay once upon a time there was a boy named Blaine. – B

Clever, I like where this is going. Blaine wasn't an ordinary boy, he didn't like the things normal boys liked, and he didn't do the things normal boys did. – K

He liked playing with things that were generically classified as girly, and he liked having tea parties rather than making mud pies. "It's all food" he told his mom. – B

One day some of the other boys from the village came over for a party his parents had thrown him, he wasn't good at the games they wanted to play, and he wasn't that big on the rough housing that was going on. – K

In fact he enjoyed the company of their sisters more than any of the boys his age. – B

He liked when they played dress up because once he put on his first pink ball gown he finally felt beautiful. – K

He went outside to show everyone how he looked so they could all see the beauty he felt inside, but sadly they all laughed and his father told him to take it off. – B

After he changed out of his dress he sat in his room and cried, but soon he felt two small arms wrap around him and he leaned into the embrace. "I thought you looked really beautiful prince Blaine" a young boy his age whispered to him and kissed his forehead. – K

This young boys name was Kurt and ever since that day they became best of friends. They played dress up together and even took turns hosting tea parties. And as the boys grew older the closer they got. – B

When Prince Blaine turned eighteen his father sat him down and told him he needed to marry in order to inherit the kingdom one day, and Blaine knew what he had to do. – K

So Blaine rode on his white horse to the place where his best friend Kurt lived, he swept Kurt off his feet and sang a breathtaking song, and kissed the fuck outta him before getting down on one knee and asking the man of his dreams to marry him. – B

Of course Kurt said yes and the lived happily ever after. The kingdom however had a problem with their relationship but Blaine told his family that he loved Kurt and there was nothing they could do to stop there love. It took the king quite a while to realize this but on his dying day he grabbed both Blaine and Kurt's hands and told them he approved of them, and he embraced his sons. Both of them. And Kurt felt like he finally belonged somewhere, his prince had come and he was getting his happy ending. – K

Blaine baffled by how that character death escalade so quickly in a children's story looked past that and threw a ball for his beautiful husband and they lived happily ever after. The end. – B

Haha oh god we're such dorks ;) – K

Hey Prince Blaine romanced the shit outta Kurt. – B

I think kids need these kind of stories, it teaches them not to hate and to be accepting and that anyone can get there happy endings. – K

Totally! Can you imagine what our childhoods would have been like if we had those kind of movies to teach us that it was okay to accept ourselves? – B

I know, I lived off Disney it was my go to for life lessons for like ever. – K

Tell me about it. One summer my dad tried to get me to build a car with him and he told me he was going to make a man outta me. Can you guess what I did? – B

If you say you sung the song from Mulan I will honestly love you. – K

Well I love you too because yes I did, and needless to say he was not amused. – B

My dad owns an auto shop and I have a job there, he's usually pretty accepting but if the opportunity ever presents itself I'm singing it. You have inspired me. – K

Glad I can be of service ;) – B

Well Prince Blaine it's getting late and I'm going to go to sleep soon, so goodnight :) – K

Fuck it's almost 2 am I didn't even realize it I was just having fun talking to you. Text me when you wake up :) goodnight prince Kurt.

Monday morning Blaine was going to have to thank Rachel for telling him to write Kurt, because even though Kurt's been through a lot he is an awesome friend to talk to. Well Blaine didn't know exactly if he could call someone he hasn't even met his friend, but Kurt totally was. He was super sweet and super funny and they shared all the same interests. Blaine couldn't remember the last time he had a friend like that. And the saddest part was it was probably never. That night Blaine went to bed with a smile on his face. He might have been the one helping Kurt, but in a way Kurt was helping too. Well a stranger that's almost half his age that he's texting about Disney princes is probably not the most normal thing, but hey Blaine's seen weirder.

Needless to say, the weekend was spent with countless texts and witty banter as the two got to know each other better.

Blaine told Kurt about what it was like to teach, about the places he's seen and the people he's met, he told him about his bow tie addiction and about his brother who's an actor. And Blaine got to know more and more about Kurt's personal life.

Kurt had it rough early on in life, his mother died when he was eight. Everyone thought he was just a bit dramatic but the truth was he was depressed, no one had known him like his mother did and he'd never made a friend like her since, now with the exception of Blaine. He was outed in fifth grade and he didn't even know what it meant to be gay, he just knew he had a hug crush on a boy named Darren and gave him a flower for Valentine 's Day. "A yellow rose, because yellow meant friendship so it seemed like an okay thing to do" Kurt explained. Darren and the rest of the kids didn't take it so well and he's been bullied ever since. During the summer between sixth and seventh grade he began cutting himself, anywhere and everywhere. He was having and awful, awful time coping with the fact that he was gay. Hey felt like it was a disease and he was wrong and he hated himself more and more each day. When he started going through puberty and had a particularly detailed dream about a boy in his math class he tried to hang himself. He knew he couldn't control his dreams but he figured if he mind was that fucked up he might as well off himself, no one else liked him anyway so he felt like he wouldn't be missed. His father found him and cut the rope down and Kurt lived, but he wasn't taken to the hospital after he pleaded with his dad that it was an accident and that he hadn't meant to try and hang himself. His dad let the incident slide but it never left Kurt's mind for even a second. He hated himself more and more and the cutting and depression got worse and worse. He tried to kill himself two more times that year. After one particularly deep cut he stitched up himself with his sewing kit and went to school with an ace bandage around the damage. One of the most popular kids in school very loudly asked him if he had sprained his wrist masturbating to gay porn and that was the night Kurt really tried to kill himself.

All the other attempts were halfhearted and the cutting was just to punish his body for being gay. But that night it was for real. He swallowed all the pills he could find in the house, including most of his father's heart medicine and some of his mother's old pain killers and sleeping pills. He figured if he took enough he'd never have to wake up. And he was almost right. He woke up a month later in a hospital and that's where he would spend the rest of his year.

When he recovered he went back to the same school, no one really taking the suicide attempt seriously after he lied to everyone saying he had a headache and mistook it for a handful of Tylenol. That wasn't the last time he ever lied to a doctor. The rest of the year he had to see a therapist and he constantly told her he was getting better. They only check your wrists, no one would ever notices the gashes on his stomach and legs and thighs and hips. The longer it got the easier it was to hide. And so he hid. Never making friends, never participating. He stood back and watched, some called him a wallflower because he saw things and understood without saying anything. But others called him a weirdo. After all who goes half a year in high school barely saying two words. He was a very smart student and everything, he just didn't like to be heard. After he had tried to hang himself and proceeded to not get help his throat never healed and his vocal cords had to have been damaged. His voice never changed with puberty and when he breathed too hard it would feel like his throat was closing on him. He ignored it though, considering it just another way to punish himself. So you like boys? Let's go sprint a mile and watch you struggle to breathe. It was a vicious cycle of self-hate and when that wasn't enough he stopped eating, watching his body deteriorate and the pounds shed off. It started as punishment but lead to a disorder. Soon he began driven to lose weight, he took laxatives and purged in addition to flat out starvation and ridiculous amounts of exercise. Less body fat made his cuts hurt worse and he enjoyed it more. One day he cut far too deep and he watched as the main artery in his leg along with all the ligaments and tendons and shit tore and bled at the piercing sting of the razor. The blood was gushing and he soon passed out. Whether from lack of food or lack of blood doctors couldn't tell. He was gone. Or so they thought.

Kurt will swear on this till his dying day but he knows what he saw. As he laid there presumably dead he saw his mother, she was crying. She basically told him to get his shit together and that it was okay to be gay, that she loved him anyway and that she always knew he was gay and it was time for him to accept himself the way she accepted him. They both cried and she kissed his forehead waking him from his almost eternal slumber.

From that day he was changed. He became less dependent on cutting, he started regaining weight "I'm at 95 pounds, if I can get to 120 I can start exercising again, but I'm not gonna abuse it." Kurt explained proudly and Blaine wondered how much he could've weighed at his worse condition. Anyway Kurt slowly got better. He talked out his problems and went back to school with the notion of participating more. He signed up for a supportive pen pal at the hospital he used to stay at and that's how he met Blaine, he even auditioned for glee club and has a solo coming up at their very first competition. He's doing much better and hasn't relapsed since the start of the school year. "It's only been a week but for me that's huge." He explained and Blaine told him he was proud.

I feel like I've shared so much with you Blaine, I'm so happy you came into my life. – K

I'm happy too. And I'm so proud of you Kurt. You know that if you ever feel things getting bad again to call me right? – B

Of course silly ;) – K

Awesome. So how's preparation for glee coming? I hear my glee clubs competing against yours at sectionals this year and I at least want it to be a little far when we destroy you ;) – B

Oh practice is going just fine thanks for asking, because you're totally not spying on the enemy or anything ;p – K

Hey you freaking live with my male lead I think that's a tad bit unfair for you to have an advantage of hearing him rehearse and me not even being able to ask how your practice is going :p – B

Finn's your male lead? Oh boy are you going down! I can't wait to crush him and Ms. Rachel Berry. – K

You know Rachel too? – B

Know her? Ugh she used to go to school with Finn and I. She's so fucking annoying. But she did introduce me to her gay dads and they had a really good talk with me so I guess I owe her that much. – K

You introduced me to you so I owe her that too then :) – B

How'd she introduce us? – K

On the first day of school at GSA I folded up all the pen pal names and put them in a bag and she was freaking out because there was one who didn't get picked and she was all like "Oh Mr. Anderson you have to write to this poor kid what if they kill themselves, oh please you're the only one who can save him" and I was like "well I guess but he better be cool." ;p – B

So am I? – K

Are you what? – B

Cool? – K

The coolest :)!!!! – B

Awesome, well I just got called down for dinner but I'll text you before I go to bed. Love you! Bye :) – K

Love you too!!!! Be a good boy and eat all your food and dessert :) – B

Dork ;) – K

You love me! – B

I know, bye Blaine <3 – K

<3 – B

Over the next month school passed by as a blur for both Kurt and Blaine. They'd text during class and when they got home they'd call each other and spend hours on the phone never wanting to say goodbye. Blaine would help Kurt with homework and Kurt would help Blaine with creating lesson plans. They were insanely close, well as close as too people who had never met could be. Blaine would find himself laughing at a joke or drinking a coffee and thinking "Kurt would have found that funny" or "Kurt would have liked this" and pretty soon it became increasingly noticeable that their friendship was becoming more than just that. From the very beginning they'd said I love you every time they said goodbye, at first it provided Kurt with a security of knowing someone cared but now he was starting to wonder if it could possibly mean more. And each time Blaine said it his heart beat faster and he wondered how long he could keep typing it without it conveying the meaning he was starting to feel. Kurt was getting better and the quarter was almost over and before they knew it sectionals for both their glee clubs was that Saturday evening at Dalton Academy.

Blaine was nervous about meeting Kurt, he feared that if Kurt saw him and thought he was weird or foolish he'd stop talking to him and that meant two things. The obvious one that the pen pal thing had failed and he'd no longer be there to support Kurt, and two that Blaine would loss his best and only friend. Blaine told Kurt everything, from his hatred of socks to his love of redvines to the embarrassing fact that he'd never been kissed, never had a boyfriend, never lost his virginity. Kurt knew the subject was dense for Blaine so he lightly joked that even Peter Pan had his first kiss even though he chose not to grow up. Blaine appreciated the humor and then he started to wonder how far Kurt had been and for an irrationally long split second he genuinely felt jealous, not that Kurt may have experienced more than him, but that someone other than him might have been able to experience it with Kurt. It was insane that he thought these things. But the sense of relief that washed over him when he found out Kurt had been as inexperienced as he was made him feel better, and then worse at the same time. He was fourteen years older than Kurt for Harry Potter sake! Kurt was the same age as the kids he taught. Yet somehow he wasn't that, he wasn't a kid. Mentally he had been through so much he seemed so much older than he really was, or maybe Blaine just seemed younger than he really was. Either way Blaine was nervous about meeting Kurt.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to this year's show choir sectionals competition hosted at Dalton Academy for Boys and Girls, and please welcome to the stage our first competitors the Dalton Academy warblers!" The announcer spoke clearly as Blaine watched the glee club he had coached take center stage.

"I, I wish you could swim. Like the dolphins, like dolphins can swim." Rachel sang powerfully as she stepped forward on the stage, the other students singing acapella in the background.

"Though nothing, nothing will keep us together, we can beat them, forever and ever. Oh we can be heroes just for one day." She sang dancing gracefully around the stage as she made room for Finn to step into the spot light and share the stage with her. He pulled her close and spun her around taking the next line.

"I, I will be King. And you, you will be Queen. Though nothing will drive them away. We can be heroes just for one day. We can be us just for one day." He sang to her bringing her close to his body and dipping her gently before bringing her back to an upright position for her to sing the next line.

"I' I can remember. Standing by the wall, and the guns, shot above our heads. And we kissed, as though nothing could fall." She sang and the kids behind her echoed her voice stepping closer towards the front of the stage and joining the dance.

"And the shame, was on the other side. Oh, we can beat them, forever and ever, then we could be heroes just for one day." Finn and Rachel sang together as they danced.

"We can be heroes. We can be heroes. We can be heroes just for one day. We can be heroes." The entire ensemble sang together as the danced into their position for the next number.

"I was just a young kid with time to waste. Living out of my car, those were the days. We were all the wild ones, the wasted youth, other than a dream, had nothing to lose." Brittany sang showing off her exemplary dance skills in a way that only complimented the song.

"Ain't it funny how time flies? Fades into gold. Now I wanna do a drive-by but I can't find the road." Quinn sang smoothly allowing Santana to take over the chorus.

"Back to wonderland. Where it all began. Everything was so simple then. Living life like our last weekend. Wish I could find my way back to wonderland." Santana sang as she danced with Brittany.

"Carrie's in the valley, she's got a kid. Julie's still a waitress living on tips. Sometimes we get together and shoot the shit." Kitty sang stepping forward.

"But it's not the same now, no, nothing is." Marley sang as she swayed softly to the music.

"Feels like it was a movie that plays in my mind. Shadow of a past life, wish I could rewind." Brittany sang spinning Santana in a circle as she said rewind.

"Back to wonderland. Where it all began. Everything was so simple then. Living life like our last weekend. Wish I could find my way back to wonderland." Santana sang again and the girls joined together for the next few lines as they spread out and began dancing amongst the boys.

"Didn't have a clue what we were doing or where we would end up. Living off of nickels and dimes and our young reckless love. We didn't ever think that time would ever come to an end. Now if I could, you know I'd run." The sang, reached being dipped in unison by their partners before pulling away to 'run'

"Back to wonderland. Where it all began. Everything was so simple then. Living life like our last weekend. Wish I could find my way back to wonderland." Mercedes sang closing the number beautifully.

Their performance was over and they gracefully bowed and took their seats in the audience and Blaine couldn't have been more proud with their showing. They had all practiced so hard and it turned out wonderfully.

"Next from William McKinley in Lima please welcome the New Directions." The announcer said and a tall slender boy with porcelain skin and sad blue eyes stepped onto the stage.

"YEAH KURT!!!" Finn yelled loudly and the brunette on stage blushed and Blaine realized that this was Kurt. And he was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. Even under the harsh stage lights he looked like an angel.

Softly music began to play and Kurt stepped forward and when he began to sing it was like everything pure and beautiful was cascading from his plush lips.

"She's like cold coffee in the morning, I'm drunk off last night's whisky and coke. She'll make me shiver without warning and make me laugh as if I'm in on the joke." Kurt sang beautifully and Blaine was petrified with awe.

"And you can stay with me forever, or you could stay with me for now." Kurt sang as he danced, his long legs moving elegantly in his slim fitting suit. And as he moved Blaine could see how thin he truly was. He remembered how Kurt only weighed 95 pounds, yet he was so tall and moved his body with such grace. He didn't look emaciated and he wasn't deathly pale. He was beautiful and glowing porcelain. And if Blaine could he would definitely be staying forever.

"Tell me if I'm wrong, tell me if I'm right. Tell me if you need a loving hand to help you fall asleep tonight. Tell me if I know. Tell me if you do. Tell me how to fall in love the way you want me to." He sang his voice impeccably pure and Blaine and probably all the ladies in the audience felt themselves swoon over the tender vocals and sweet rhythm Kurt was providing.

"I'll wake with coffee in the morning, but she prefers two lumps of sugar and tea. Outside the day is up and calling, but I don't have to be so, please go back to sleep." Kurt sang wrapping his arms around his torso in what looked like the most cozy place to be.

"Stay with me forever, or you could stay with me for now. Tell me if I'm wrong. Tell me if I'm right. Tell me if you need a loving hand to help you fall asleep tonight. Tell me if I know. Tell me if I do. Tell me how to fall in love the way you want me to. 'Cause I love the way you make me up. For goodness sake will my love not be enough?" Kurt sang and Blaine continued to melt.

"Tell me if I'm wrong, tell me if I'm right. Tell me if you need a loving hand to help you fall asleep tonight. Tell me if I know, tell me if I do. Tell me how to fall in love the way you want me to. Tell me if I'm wrong, tell me if I'm right. Tell me if you need a loving hand to help you fall asleep tonight." Kurt sang holding his hand out towards the audience and boy would Blaine like have that loving hand to help him fall asleep.

Of course Kurt received a standing ovation and Blaine's pretty sure he started it, and when his eye's met Kurt's on stage he knew that this was real. This was love.

Neither Kurt nor Blaine paid attention to what else happened that concert. McKinley preformed one more group number although they weren't nearly as comparable as Kurt's solo. Blaine didn't even remember the name of the other school they competed against, the only thing on his brain was Kurt, and when they tied he was more than happy to share, especially when it meant shaking hands with Kurt. And Blaine swears he felt electricity shoot through his veins as the palm of his hang came in contact with Kurt's soft skin and their fingers brushed. Both boys blushed and smiled deciding to take the opportunity to talk in person while all the show choirs were mingling in the lobby and they snuck off to a quiet room.

"So you're the famous Blaine I know so much about. You're way cuter than I imagined, and Finn said you couldn't pull off the bow tie, you so can." Kurt teased friendly straightening the older man's tie.

"Fuck the tie, god Kurt your performance was remarkable. You're so talented and beautiful and perfect." Blaine said and Kurt smiled brightly, the most beautiful smile Blaine had ever seen.

"You think I'm beautiful?" Kurt asked skeptically.

"Kurt you are stunning, the most beautiful and sexy and sweetest man I've ever met. You are so perfect and I love you." Blaine gushed and pulled Kurt tighter.

"Even with all my flaws?" Kurt asked looking down nervously.

"Kurt in my eyes you are flawless, it's scars that remind us the past is real. You've had such a hard life, people have been cruel, but I promise you I'm going to make everything okay. My number one priority right now is making you see how amazing you truly are." Blaine smiled and Kurt let a tear roll down his lightly freckled cheek.

"Can we sing a song together? You have the most beautiful voice." Blaine spoke softly and Kurt began to sing.

"Settle down with me, cover me up, and cuddle me in. Lie down with me and hold me in your arms." Kurt sang even more beautifully up close and personal and Blaine found himself wrapping his arms around Kurt's tiny waist as he sung lightly in Kurt's ear.

"And your heart's against my chest, your lips pressed to my neck and I'm falling for your eyes, but they don't know me yet. And with a feeling I'll forget, I'm in love now." Blaine sang looking up to meet Kurt's lovely blue gray eyes.

"Kiss me like you wanna be loved. You wanna be loved, you wanna be loved. This feels like falling in love, we're falling in love." Kurt sang pressing his body closer to Blaine's and resting his forehead on his.

"Settle down with me and I'll be your safety, you'll be my lady. I was made to keep your body warm, but I'm cold as the wind blows so hold me in your arms." Blaine sang.

"Oh no, my heart's against your chest, your lips pressed to my neck. I'm falling for your eyes, but they don't know me yet. And with this feeling I'll forget, I'm in love now." Kurt sang.

"Kiss me like you wanna be loved, you wanna be loved, you wanna be loved. This feels like falling in love, falling in love. We're falling in love." They sang harmoniously together, and with that they kissed.

It was perfect and soft and full of wanting and giving and love and understanding. It was enough and not enough all at once. Blaine found himself pushing closer enveloping the younger boy in his strong arms as the taller wrapped his arms around Blaine's neck pulling him even closer until two could practically become one. Kurt traced his tongue across the seam of Blaine's lips and was immediately granted entrance as their mouths melded together. It was passionate and wanted and anything either could desire for their first kiss. Eventually Kurt pulled away but not before whispering an I love you against Blaine now reddened lips.

"I have to go celebrate with the New Directions, call me when you get home?" Kurt said giving Blaine once last peck as Blaine speechlessly agreed.

Blaine did call Kurt when he got home, and they talked nearly all night. Feelings were expressed and promises made. And at the end of the conversation Blaine had the first boyfriend he had always wanted and Kurt had his prince charming.

They were happy too. It wasn't the normal relationship that either of them would have ever dreamt of, but in a way it was perfect. They made each other complete and that was all that mattered. There was the whole age gap thing but they did their best to keep the relationship a secret from those who would judge. Kurt was seventeen now, practically legal. And it was love, who can stop love. They went on dates when they could and talked over the phone every night like they had gotten accustom to doing. Most weekends the spent the day at Blaine's apartment and he would fix them pancakes and they would slow dance in socks on the hardwood floors, and they'd sing to each other and watch movies. It was perfect and neither would ever change a thing.

On one particularly lazy Sunday morning they were cuddling on the sofa as the radio played softly in the background as they traded soft kisses and nice touches.

"I like this song, will you dance with me?" Blaine asked extending a hand and guiding Kurt to the hallway that had become their ballroom.

"Your hand fits in mine like it's made just for me." Blaine sang as he place Kurt's hand on his waist.

"But bear this in mind it was meant to be." Kurt smiled as he sang, a smile Blaine had become infatuated with seeing ever since the first time they'd met.

"And I'm joining up the dots with the freckles on your cheeks and it all makes sense to me." Blaine sang pecking a few of Kurt's freckles with light kisses.

"I know you've never loved the crinkles by your eyes when you smile." Kurt sang tracing Blaine's smile with the pad of his thumb.

"You've never loved your stomach or your thighs." Blaine sang tickling Kurt's side and sliding a leg between Kurt's legs as the danced together.

"The dimples in your back at the bottom of your spine." Kurt sang toying with the dimples in Blaine's back.

"But I'll love them endlessly." They sang together, Kurt backing them down the hall into the room he had known to be Blaine's bedroom, a room he had yet to be in.

"Blaine I love you endlessly and I want you. No one's ever loved me the way you do and I'm ready for you." Kurt said continuing to move towards the bed until Blaine's knees hit the back on the bed and he gently laid them down side by side.

"Kurt I love you, and I want nothing more than to show you how much I love you and to shower you in my love, are you sure?" Blaine asked and Kurt nodded excitedly before initiating the first kiss.

They kissed slowly at first as each of them fumbled with one another's buttons as each layer of clothing fell slowly to the floor.

Blaine laid Kurt on his back taking time to kiss each and every one of Kurt's scars, as he did so Kurt began to tear up. But not in a sad way, he felt loved and he had never felt to perfect, so wanted, so so.

"I feel infinite." Kurt whispered and Blaine smiled, kissing the younger boys lips.

That day they had sex, it was loving and Blaine made sure to take care of Kurt, both of them climaxing together as each others names spilled from their lips.

"I love you Kurt."

"I love you Blaine."

If they weren't inseprtitable before, after there first time together they became increasingly closer, hardly ever parting. Whether it was going for coffee before or after each others respective schools, or meeting for dinner, or spending the weekends in bed, they were always together. And it was almost spring time. The New Directions ended up winning regionals and were going on to Nationals in New York but Kurt wasn't allowed to go. The school had none of his situation and lawsuit wise refused to take someone so "unstable" on a weeklong trip. Kurt was devastated, but Blaine was there for him, promising to take him there over the summer.

Although Blaine and Kurt were inseparable Blaine felt Kurt slipping away. Kurt said everything at school was okay, but every now and then Blaine would discover a new cut somewhere on Kurt's body when they were being intimate. When Blaine confronted Kurt, Kurt cried and Blaine could do nothing but hold him in his arms and tell him he loved him.

Kurt never did say what was happening but Blaine knew something was going on.

One day Kurt came over and they had sex, but it felt different somehow. It felt like a goodbye. It was so much passion and so much need, a reason to hold on longer, and a fear of letting go. When both boys climaxed Kurt held Blaine in his arms and respectively whispered that he loved him and all Blaine could do was tell him he loved him too.

When Kurt left that evening he hugged Blaine tighter and kissed him longer before giving him a letter.

"Don't read it until tomorrow." Kurt said softly slipping the note into Blaine's pocket.

"Kurt you know that I love you right?" Blaine asked and Kurt teared up.

"And I love you. And I always always will." Kurt said kissing his boyfriend goodbye and steeping out into the April evening.

The next morning Blaine texted Kurt as per usual but he received no response. After fixing his coffee and still receiving no new messages he located the note Kurt had given him and opened it carefully.

Dear friend,

I want you to know that I am both happy and sad at the same time, I haven't figured out yet how that works but all I know is that I love you and always will. Things at school are bad Blaine. The bullying is getter worse and it's all too much to take. You were there for me when I needed you and for that I am forever grateful, what we have is pure magic and I can happily say that I will never experience that love with someone else. And that is what makes me sad, you see tonight I plan on killing myself. I can't take the pain anymore and I don't want to hurt you. I know killing myself will hurt you, but maybe knowing the reason will make it hurt less. A boy at school has been sexually harassing me and he threatened to kill me, when I told a friend this they said it didn't matter and that I deserved to die. I couldn't tell you this because he said if I told anyone they'd kill them too. I couldn't stand for that, so I'm doing the only thing I know I can do. I asked you to open this in the morning so that you wouldn't be able to stop me and because I know you so well I know you respected my wishes and waited to open this. Thank you for that. I love you Blaine. When the world seemed dark you were here for me. You saved me from the dementors and you fought the dark lord. You are incredible. But sometimes in life magic isn't enough, sometimes the hero dies, and sometimes we do have to grow up. I'm really sorry to have put you through all this. But promise me you'll never change. Always watch Disney, cheer on Harry as he saves the school time and time again. Dance to your favorite songs in the hallway. Go to the Lima Bean and sit in our spot and drink your Medium Drip. Go to New York over the summer. Do everything you've ever dreamt of, do everything we've ever dreamt of. Tell my dad and Finn and Carole that I loved them. And tell the police they can find me at the bottom of the lake near Dalton, next to the woods where we shared our second kiss and our first date. It looks so pretty in the spring Blaine. Promise me you'll go on a picnic there sometime. Tell my dad I'm sorry for stealing a cinder block from the garage and tell Finn he was right when he said I needed to work out. That thing was fucking heavy to lug all around town. I'm gonna miss you Blaine. But I will always love you. Don't forget me Blaine, and mostly don't regret me. I'm sorry. And I always will be. Because I've never loved anyone more than I've loved you.

Love always,

Kurt

Tears were streaming down Blaine's face and his body was shaking as he gripped the letter tightly. He called 911 and ran all the way to the lake. He knew exactly where Kurt meant and the tears never stopped flowing as the dive team lifted his lifeless body from the bottom of the lake.

Blaine ended up explaining to the Hummel-Hudson family exactly what was going on between he and Kurt and even shared with them the letter. They all cried and at Kurt's funeral Carole put an arm around Blaine and called him her son and just like in their fairytale Blaine finally felt like he belonged somewhere.

The school year ended, but for Blaine it was never the same. He walked to the lake and cried every day. One day finding something he had missed the first time, an envelope in a low hanging branch of the tree they had picnicked under. He opened the letter and cried when he saw it was Kurt's handwriting.

Dear friend,

If you're reading this it must be some time after I've been gone. Trust me when I say I miss you like crazy. I hope you haven't forgotten about me already. I know I could never forget about you. You're like a horcrux that attached to my heart and now you're a part of me, and I hope I'm still a part of you. I love you Blaine. Have a nice summer, and I do hope you continue teaching, you're an excellent teacher. When the school year starts I want you to remember what a very wise man told me, if you make at least on friend on your first day you're doing good. And Blaine do remember, COURAGE. I love you.

Love always,

Kurt