Introduction

It was a year ago when it happened. He had only been a freshman, over confident and over comfortable in who he was – that was what they thought anyway. Sadie Hawkins; the dance where the girls ask the guys. In Blaine's school, there were only two guys brave (or maybe naïve) enough to come out, one of them being Blaine himself. He was pretty sure no girl would ask him out, he wasn't bad looking but that school was not the most gay-friendly school in Ohio so any girl with him was bound to get ridiculed. He and the other guy decided to go together, trying to make some kind of statement about how they would not be beaten.

When he took Jamie to the dance, they received a lot of jeers, many people asking who was the girl and asked the other to the dance. It was a joint decision, both guys wanted to go even if they didn't like each other in that way. They had joined forces because no one else would want to be there with them. They had been so stubborn, ignoring the advice of their loved ones, warning them of what was bound to happen. The benefit of hindsight was, he knew they were right for what they said because that night ended up being the worst night of his life at least.

It took him months to recover enough that he didn't have to visit the hospital periodically. He was mentally shaken, still, and his parents had to think hard about how they were going to help their son. It was during his recovery that they decided to send him to Dalton, they had enough savings for the tuition and it would be too hard to keep up the payments if they took a few extra hours at work. Dalton had a strict zero tolerance on bullying, exactly the security Blaine needed to become the boy he had been before that night. Blaine wasn't aware of anything at this point, he was spending most of his time closed off in his bedroom.

At first, he just lay in the dark with music playing to fill the silence. He thought of Jamie, no one would tell him how Jamie was… did that mean? He was only fourteen years old and his parents were trying to keep him focussed on his recovery and they knew Blaine had yet to gain a true grasp of the world. People had teased him relentlessly beforehand, but they had just been words that he had easily shrugged off and ignored but that night… he could have died just for being who he was.

He didn't eat anything that first week; truth was he wasn't sure if his body worked properly anymore, he felt like everything was broken, he wasn't even sure he had truly survived the attack. Looking back, it must have been serious because his brother, Cooper, had travelled home from California to spend time with him and not once did he ridicule anything – then again there was no way Blaine was going to perform in that state. Cooper ended up lifting him out of bed and showering him and dressing him. Blaine had been so limp in his hands as Cooper buttoned up his shirt and blazer then tied his tie. Cooper escorted him to the school and around it. He made Blaine feel a bit safer, reassuring him when guys approached they were greeting him, not coming to hurt him. In the end, it doesn't like long to see that the Dalton boys were genuine and caring.

He's happier at school, happiest when in he was with the Warblers singing, his mind completely off the attack. He hates when he goes home. Nine times out of ten the house is empty and quiet. There's usually a post it note stuck to the fridge, telling him where to find the food and how to cook it. With a sigh he pulls it off, crumpling it in his hand and just leaves the kitchen. As he goes up the stairs to his room, he loosens his tie.

When he reaches his bedroom, he closes and locks his door. He pulls across the curtain and opens his cupboard, revealing a full length mirror. First, he steps out of his trousers then shrugs off the blazer. He unbuttons his shirt and lets it fall to the floor. Then he stares. He notices the scars, the bruising from the attack. His eyes go over his thin arms and then his hands go over his stomach which has no shape or form.

You disgust me

The thought takes over him like a virus and he feels physically sick. No wonder those guys picked on him. But it will be okay, he will be stronger, fitter, better. He just had to work hard. It wasn't much different to his life already. Cooper had already pushed him to improve himself and now he had to move from his performing to his body. It can't be much more work than he was already doing.

Ever since that night, Blaine has kept to a strict schedule, adding and taking when more and more was expected of him.

5am – 6am

Wake up, go for a jog until 5.45 then shower till 6.

6 am – 7am

Dry hair, pick out clothes and dress, gel hair

7 am - 8 am

Breakfast Practise Scales, Arpeggios whilst packing books for school

8 am – 9am

Go to school

9 - 12

Morning Classes

12-1

Lunchtime Rehearsal with Nick and Jeff

1-3

Afternoon classes

3-5

Rehearsal with the Warblers.

5-6

Boxing Practise

6-8

Homework

8-9

Dinner, TV, bed.