Hey y'all! I'm really excited about this story! This is my WIP. If you know me, you know I am very nervous about WIPs, but full disclosure, I'm just sorta...okay with 'Friends or Lovers?' (my other new story that is being uploaded tonight as well), so I wanted to publish something I LOVE at the same time. That being said, don't shy away from FOL?, it's a good story, I'm just over the moon excited about this one. :) If you're returning, WELCOME BACK! If you're new, WELCOME! Usually I post my full formatting at the beginning of the story, but it's pretty straight forward so I'm leaving it out for now. If y'all have questions let me know via review or PM and I'll post my formatting in the A/N for Chapter 2. :) (the only one I feel the need to say is the 'grey line' is a perspective change between Kurt and Blaine and the four bolded 'X' is a time jump within perspective). Enjoy!

Kurt was lost in the honey-hazel gaze of the boy seated next to him. They were in a staring contest that even blinking couldn't end. Kurt startled back at the loud banging of Wes' gavel at the head of the meeting.

"Kurt, Blaine, would you lovebirds care to mentally join us as well? We are discussing song choices for our final performance of the year at the Seniors' graduation. Though you both are only Freshmen, surely by the time you're Seniors you will appreciate this wonderful tradition." We said in his 'I have the gavel now' tone.

"Like you'd even know, Wes. You're only a Sophomore!" Nick countered from Blaine's other side.

Everyone in the Warblers laughed at the comment, except for Wes who simply slammed his gavel while calling for order.

"That may be so, but I'm still on the council and I know how important this is to our Seniors. Let's show them some respect," Wes said, glaring at Nick, "Now. It seems like we're all finished focusing for the day. I guess we'll have to have an extended rehearsal tomorrow to make up for our lack of focus today. Good day, gentlemen."

Everyone groaned, but packed up and ran out quickly before Wes could change his mind.

"Remind me to transfer before Wes actually becomes head of the council." Jeff said as he reached for Nick's hand.

"Definitely, that's a sight I'd really hate to see," Blaine laughed as he wound his arm around Kurt's waist.

Kurt couldn't help the involuntary smile that crept across his face as he leaned into his boyfriend's embrace.

The quartet made their way to the dorms and split up, Kurt and Blaine going to Kurt's room while Nick and Jeff headed to Nick's.

Once they had removed their blazers, ties and shoes, the duo sat shoulder to shoulder on Kurt's bed, laying out their textbooks. They chatted quietly as they studied for over an hour before Kurt's phone rang, making them both jump.

Kurt smiled when he read his father's name on the caller ID.

"Hey dad!" Kurt said enthusiastically.

"Hey, kiddo. Is this a bad time?"

Kurt couldn't help the confusion that spread through him at his father's serious tone.

"Um, no, I guess. Blaine's over and we are studying, but I can talk. What's going on?"

Burt sighed into the phone, "Tell Blaine I said hi, could you step somewhere where we can talk alone?"

"Yeah, one second." Kurt replied, even more confused than before, he turned to Blaine, "Dad says hi; I'm going to step on the balcony for a minute."

"Oh, hi Burt. Okay, I'll be right here when you're done." Blaine replied, followed by mouthing 'is everything okay?'

Kurt shrugged before opening the glass door that led to his room's balcony.

While he waited for Kurt to reenter the room, Blaine sat, leaning against Kurt's headboard with a smile on his face as he flipped through the photos on his phone.

He and Kurt had met on Kurt's first day at Dalton. He had been a midyear transfer after the bullying at his old school had escalated to a dangerous level. Blaine knew upon meeting Kurt on that staircase that he never wanted to spend a second apart from the boy. He was fascinating, and Blaine was beyond happy that Kurt had seen something in him as well. They began slowly, building a friendship over the first month until Blaine couldn't handle it anymore and asked Kurt out properly. They had been inseparable ever since. Blaine's mother had spoke with him about not getting too involved because he was "only fifteen, after all", but Blaine couldn't help how he felt. Kurt was amazing and he never wanted to let him go.

Just as Blaine was flipping through the photos from the previous weekend, where they had taken the bus to the local mall to see the newest romance film that Kurt had really wanted to see, Kurt came bursting back into the room. Blaine looked up abruptly and opened his arms just in time to have Kurt fall into his embrace, sobbing.

"Shh, shh, Kurt, it's okay. I'm here. It's okay." Blaine said into Kurt's hair as he rubbed his back in slow circles. Once Kurt's sobs slowed a little, Blaine kissed his forehead before speaking, "What happened on the phone?"

Kurt sniffled and buried his head deeper into Blaine's neck, "I-I'm not coming back to D-Dalton next year."

Blaine's heart broke into a million pieces, "What?"

Kurt took several deep breaths, attempting to calm down, "My dad can't afford the tuition. I have to go back to Mckinley. I can't go back there, Blaine. I CAN'T!"

Kurt fell into sobs once again; Blaine's own hot tears escaped his eyes. He cried for Kurt having to go back to the place that sent him to Dalton in the first place; he cried for the realization that he and Kurt would be two hours apart the following year; he cried because his heart hurt knowing Kurt was hurting.

XXXX

The following week passed in a blur. Blaine stayed by Kurt's side as much as possible. He helped Kurt study for finals and breezed through his own tests with ease. As the last day of school approached, Blaine's heart felt heavier and heavier. He had known the summer was going to be difficult with them living two hours apart and Kurt needing to help out in his dad's garage doing filing (because he was too young to actually do anything else, according to Burt). That knowledge had held a silver lining; they would be back at Dalton without borders in three months' time. That silver lining had vanished and Blaine had no idea how to find a new one to hold onto.

XXXX

The morning of the Seniors' graduation, Blaine helped Burt and Kurt pack up Kurt's belongings into the pickup truck that Burt drove. It had been a quiet affair, everyone realizing things were about to be much harder.

Their performance was flawless. Kurt and Blaine were given a duet, Blaine suspected it was out of pity for Kurt having to leave, but they made the most of it anyway.

Once their performance was over, Blaine and Kurt walked, hand-in-hand, out to the parking lot where Burt was waiting. Blaine could feel the tightness in his chest and the stinging in his eyes. He didn't even bother to fight the tears as the slid down his cheeks. They reached the curb just behind the pickup and turned to face one another.

"I'm going to miss this place," Kurt said, glancing around, his own tears sliding down his cheeks.

"It's going to miss you too. I'm going to miss you." Blaine said biting his lower lip, trying to get his emotions under control.

Kurt met Blaine's gaze again, "I'm going to miss you too, but we'll visit as much as we can and we'll talk and stuff, right?"

Blaine nodded, "I've figured out the bus route to Lima. We'll be okay."

He offered Kurt a smile, of which Kurt weakly returned. Blaine leaned forward and kissed Kurt as passionately as he dared with Burt sitting in the truck next to them. After a few moments, Kurt broke away as a sob escaped his throat.

"I have to go." He whispered and Blaine felt his heart breaking while simultaneously trying to beat out of his chest.

"I love you, Kurt."

Kurt wrapped Blaine tightly into his embrace and kissed his cheek, "I love you too, Blaine."

Blaine felt as though his whole world came crashing down as Kurt stepped away, meeting his gaze one last time before opening the truck's passenger door and sliding in.

"Bye, Blaine! Don't be a stranger!" Burt hollered as he started up the engine.

Blaine could only muster a weak wave as he watched the truck pull away, carrying his world with it.

As they drove towards Lima, Kurt couldn't stop the tears that cascaded down his cheeks. He had curled up into the fetal position as best he could in the seat the second Blaine went out of view. Burt had tried to comfort him with a hand on his shoulder and words about him and Blaine visiting each other, but Kurt knew better. He knew that he and Blaine would try and keep their relationship the same and stay together, but he also knew the reality of living two hours away. That reality alone would be tough for anyone, but they didn't even have driver's licenses and they both would be sick of the bus all too soon. Things would not be okay. He would fight though. For Blaine, he would fight.

XXXX

The first week was hard on Kurt. He had settled his things back into his old room and tried to stay as positive as he could around his dad. Kurt knew Burt would have done anything to have kept him at Dalton; it wasn't his fault that business wasn't paying out enough to pay the tuition any longer.

Kurt and Blaine talked every day for several hours on and off. Kurt had filed papers at the garage during the week days, starting only two days after returning home. He called Blaine during his lunch break rather than catching up with his father's old friends that Kurt had known his entire life.

Friday came and Kurt tried calling Blaine at his lunch break, he was surprised and a little upset when Blaine didn't pick up. They had never missed a lunchtime call. They had missed others but had called back immediately, but lunchtime was an always call for them, their own special time in the day. It had only been a four day thing, but in their minds it was their thing.

"Hi you've reached Blaine Anderson. Leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can."

'Beep'.

"Hey, Blaine. I'm just calling on my lunch break. I guess I'll talk to you tonight. I miss you. Love you. Call me back if you get this before my lunch is over. Okay."

Kurt hung up and began munching on his salad, trying to ignore the ache in his chest. 'Come on, it's one call. Everything will be fine.'

The rest of the day dragged slowly for Kurt. Just as he was finishing up his filing for the day with five minutes before closing, the front door swung open, the 'ding' sounding loud in the room that only Kurt occupied.

"One second, I'll grab my father for you. You won't be able to get your car back until tomorrow since we're about to close, but he'd be happy to give you an estimate." Kurt said without turning around as he searched for the proper spot to alphabetically put 'Johnson, Samuel' in the 'Completed Paperwork' tab.

"Ah, well, I don't have a car so that's not really a problem."

Kurt spun around, forgetting the paper as it flitted out of his hand and towards the floor. He flew a hand to his mouth, choking back a sob as he met Blaine's gaze.

"Blaine." Kurt gasped before running around the desk and into Blaine's arms.

Just as quickly as Kurt had entered Blaine's embrace, he exited it, looking to the woman sitting in the waiting lounge for her oil change to be completed. He looked to Blaine apologetically but Blaine simply nodded his understanding. They were no longer in the safe confines of Dalton.

"How long are you here? Can you stay the night?" Kurt asked, quickly wiping at his tears of excitement of having Blaine standing in front of him.

Blaine's smile warmed Kurt's heart, "If that's okay with Burt, then yeah. My mom is waiting outside for the answer with my overnight bag."

"Oh my god, okay. Let me go ask really quickly." Kurt turned and ran without waiting for confirmation from Blaine, he found his dad leaning over an engine with a wrench in hand.

"Hey kiddo, is someone here for an estimate?" Burt said without looking up from his work.

"Uh, no. Blaine is here and wants to know if he can stay the night? His mom drove him down and is waiting outside."

Burt looked up, a look of sadness crossing his features before he put a smile on his face, "Sure, kiddo. He can stay in the guest room."

Kurt squealed and clapped his hands, "Thanks dad!" and Kurt was off and running again back to the front office. "He said yes!" Kurt said and it was Blaine's turn to clap his hands.

"Awesome, let me talk to my mom and get my bag, I'll be right back." Blaine said and walked to the door, but paused before he exited, turning to face Kurt once again, "Unless you want to come say hi? She wanted to see you again, but if you have to finish working it's okay."

Kurt smiled, "I have one paper to file, but I can lock up once she's gone. Go on, I'll be out in a second."

Blaine exited and Kurt squealed once again before returning to the filing cabinet to pick up the forgotten paper. He shut the drawer and turned to exit. He looked in the waiting lounge and saw the woman looking at him with disgust on her face. He swallowed and put on his best smile.

"Your car should be done in a few moments, ma'am. I saw Frank finishing up the paperwork in my visit to the floor."

She simply hummed her confirmation of hearing his statement; he shook his head and exited the building.

"KURT!" Mrs. Anderson shouted from the driver's seat of her convertable Ferrari, or her 'summertime car' as Blaine had once said with a roll of his eyes.

A wide smile crossed Kurt's features, "Hi Mrs. Anderson! It's so good to see you!" He said, his smile widening as Blaine leaned into him slightly, just enough to touch, but not enough to draw attention of passersby.

"You too, honey! Is your dad really okay with Blaine staying with you tonight?"

"Of course, he said Blaine was welcome to use our guest room." Kurt said with a nod.

"What a kind man he is. Well, I'll come back down to get Blaine tomorrow before dinner if that works for you boys?"

"Don't be silly, you drove him down here, we can drive him back. What time do you want Blaine home, Sheila?" Burt's voice sounded from the doorway behind the boys.

"Oh, hello Burt!" Mrs. Anderson called, "Whenever you want; he has a one a.m. curfew on weekends, so whenever you're ready to bring him back is okay with me."

Kurt met Blaine's gaze with a wide smile.

"Don't get your hopes up, Kurt." Burt said with a laugh, "We'll bring him back after dinner, then." He said to Mrs. Anderson.

She nodded, "Okay, you boys have fun."

"Bye mom." Blaine said with a wave.

"Bye, Mrs. Anderson, thanks for bringing him down." Kurt said, still giddy.

"Of course, hon." She said with a wink before putting on her sunglasses and zooming away.

Kurt and Blaine turned to walk into the shop again, the backs of their hands grazing as they walked.

"I can't believe you're here." Kurt said as he reached to open the door.

"I'm glad your dad's letting me stay. Sorry I didn't pick up my phone at lunchtime, I was convincing my mom to drive me here." Blaine said, his eyes brimming with happy tears.

Kurt smiled and his heart ached to wrap Blaine in his embrace and kiss him. 'There'll be plenty of time for that at home.' Kurt thought as they walked past the counter where the woman was paying Frank for her oil change.

"It's okay. This is worth a missed call." Kurt said with a wink as he grabbed the keys to the shop to begin locking up.