There was a prologue, but every time I read it I was—meh. I didn't like it. So don't worry if you feel a bit lost at this point, as there will be flashbacks and such later to explain everything. Finally—I still can't figure out whom I want to find out Blaine's secret first. It can really be anyone—Finn, Puck, Quinn, Cedes, Sam… anyone. It just can't be Kurt yet because I have another plan for him finding all this out so leave me who and why and I'll mull it over some more. Onward!

CHAPTER ONE

Caught

Most everyone was already buzzed from several beers each. Everyone was, for the most part, in the pool wearing as little as they all could without being naked; everyone was except Blaine. He was wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts. Kurt thought this was odd because on this particularly hot Ohio day he expected his Warbler friend to have wanted nothing more than to shed his blazer for a pair of swim trunks. He expected his friend to be lounging inside the pool of cool water instead of lounging on a plastic lawn chair.

"Aren't you getting in?" Kurt asked with his hands precariously placed on his hips. Blaine smiled softly and shook his head from side to side; his hair wasn't gelled so his dark, but still short curls swayed with the slight movement. "But it's hot out here. You should be half naked in the cold water."

"You just want to see him half naked," Puck laughed from behind Kurt. Uncharacteristically, Kurt shoved Puck's shoulder and the taller boy fell backwards into the pool.

Blaine laughed, "Really, Kurt, it's okay. I'd rather just lay here and soak in the sun."

"Fine," Kurt huffed, but smiled at his friend good-naturedly. "Good luck with your farmer's tan."

Blaine watched the rest of New Directions. He loved Dalton and the Warblers, but as he watched New Directions interact with each other he realized what a family they really were. No matter what they did to each other they knew they always had each other's backs.

"Come on, Blaine," Finn leaned against the wall of the pool, resting his arms along the concrete edge. "You can't sit out all day."

"Yeah, dude, we will get you in here eventually," Puck quickly forgot his words as a wave of water splashed him in the face. Once he wiped the water away from his eyes he turned to see Quinn giggling from the other side of the pool as she quickly made her getaway. Finn went to pull Rachel into the deep end and Blaine at the side of the pool was quickly forgotten.

Artie rolled to a stop at the side of his chair and asked him for a hand in grabbing some extra drinks for the cooler. When the two had returned he noticed Finn and Puck standing by the cooler, suspiciously huddled together and whispering. Blaine dropped the cans of beer off into the cooler and slowly made his way back to his chair. Two pairs of hands grabbed him by both arms before he made it, and it took a few seconds for him to realize that Finn and Puck were dragging him towards the pool.

"Guys. Guys, seriously, stop. Don't do thi—" Puck and Finn stopped at the edge of the pool and Blaine, for a single moment, thought they had reconsidered at the sound of his terrified voice. But instead he found himself sputtering a mouthful of water everywhere only seconds later. He didn't look angry, Kurt noticed, but he looked terrified. The white t-shirt clung to his chest as he pulled himself from the pool.

Finn saw how angry Kurt looked at he and Puck and immediately offered his dry shirt to the shorter boy, "Shit, dude, here. Here. Go change into this."

Blaine mumbled a quick thank you. Several pairs of eyes were on him as he retreated into the house, but two pairs of eyes watched him closely.

"I should probably check on him," Kurt started to walk towards the house, but a voice called out from behind him.

"No, let me."

Blaine stepped into the bathroom. Despite being soaked to the bone he wasn't angry; he was, however, in pain. He stripped his wet t-shirt off, threw it on the bathroom floor, and turned to the side inspecting the bruises on his upper torso in the mirror. He hissed sharply as he ran a hand over his ribs.

"Oh my god."

Blaine turned towards the voice and winced in pain, but his eyes were wide from shock.