Disclaimer: I don't own Glee, if I did, Klaine would have ended no later than season 4... preferably 2.

This is actually the first fic I've ever written, but I've been reading them for 13-14 years. Just a fair warning, this is going to be filled to the brim with every cliché that I love about Kurtbastian. This story is also very loosely based on the relationships I had with my brother's friends. I know from first hand experience that even the toughest, most popular guys need someone safe to cry to. My only beta has been my amazing husband who has put up with me for the past month while I wrote this, so there will be errors, please forgive them. Let me know if we missed something big!

The story starts during Season 3 Episode 20, Props. I tried to keep the timeline straight, but I took some liberties. It will be mostly canon, in past and future, but with obvious 'fixes'. I am not a Klaine fan. I liked Blaine, but not with Kurt and in the later seasons he just got very whiny. I've already finished writing, I waited to post until I was done, in case I didn't finish it. There are too many stories I've loved that remain incomplete and that annoys me greatly. So, I'll post the rest in the next few days. It's uh... over 100k. Sorry, lol.

[Kurt]

Kurt is bored. And tired. And a little annoyed. It's bad enough that he has to come with his dad to these stupid political functions, smile and nod, and talk to people he knows would strip him of most of his human rights just because he's gay, but on top of it all, tonight he's stuck listening to Rachel go on and on about her NYADA audition. She's 'happy for him, of course!' but she's still so upset about her own audition that she's now all but stalking the poor Ms. Carmen Tibideaux. His sympathy only goes so far, and that limit was passed 45 minutes and three convoluted rants ago.

Now, as unfair as it probably is, he stands and sips his drink, blaming Sam for everything. If it wasn't one of his family weekends he could be here, buffering him from the hot mess that is Rachel Berry. But no, thanks to Sam and the state of Kentucky, he is buffer free and the only break he gets from dealing with her obsessive plans are to shake hands and small talk with people who wouldn't piss on him to put out a fire. Granted, Sam should be home by now, but that's not helpful since he was gone when we left.

He could walk back over to his father, and try to join the friendly conversation he's been having with Carole and some tall man with black hair that he doesn't know, but sadly Rachel would just follow him. Damn Finn and his bathroom breaks. You're not fooling anyone Finn Hudson. You're the one that wants to marry the harpy, the least you could do is not hide in the bathroom and stick me with her.

Seeing his dad be joined by yet another, probably more interesting than Rachel, person, Kurt is about to finally lose it on the clueless diva when he's waved over by Carole and has a reasonable excuse to escape the conversation. Unfortunately, he's only about half way over when the new man turns and Kurt recognizes the bastard he's about to be introduced to. Already having been spotted by the group, he has no choice but to swallow his annoyance and continue, still being chattered to. Does the girl never take a breath?

Her verbal vomit finally ceases as they approach Burt but that's really a small consolation prize for having to see that smirk again.

"Kurt, Rachel, this is Stephan Smythe, and his son Sebastian. Stephan, this is my son Kurt and my step-son's fiancé, Rachel Berry."

"We've met actually." Sebastian can't even be bothered to drop the smarmy smirk as he says this. "I go to Dalton, so we all met through Blaine."

Despite his father's worried glance, the name barely causes a clench in Kurt's stomach, hardly the breath-stealing punch it was before.

"Ah, well good. I'm glad you guys already know each other. Your dad has been very helpful to me in getting used to all the political stuff. I definitely needed a crash course." Burt replies, smiling widely at Sebastian. Thankfully, before he can form a response, Finn finally rejoins the group.

"Hey! What'd I miss?"

"At least 25 minutes of plotting and planning from your crazy wife-to-be, which I'll be thanking you for later, and the introduction of Stephan Smythe. I'm sure you remember Sebastian." Kurt manages to get all of this out without breaking his glare at Finn or raising his voice, a new personal best for the night.

"Right! Sebastian! How're the warblers?"

"They're fine." Sebastian says tersely.

"Oh yeah! You guys didn't make it to nationals, are you still having practices? Even if there's no competition you guys still meet up right?"

Kurt can't decide if he should laugh at Finn's obliviousness or smirk at Sebastian's impotent rage. Kurt's guessing it's not often that Sebastian has to censor himself, but standing next to his father at a high class dinner seems one of those rare times. Apparently knowing his son fairly well, Stephan takes that opportunity to excuse themselves and walk away, before there can be bloodshed.

Rachel opens her mouth, no doubt about to continue with her plan for the domination of New York, and Kurt jumps in to ask,

"So, can we blow this popsicle stand yet? It is actually a school night for those of us that are still chained to such institutions."

"Good point, I guess we've done all the damage we can here, lets make our way out." Burt seems almost as relieved as Kurt to finally be leaving. Trying to change things for the better is one thing, strapping on a three-piece-suit and eating rubber chicken while watching your son make faces like he's having bamboo shoots stuck under his nails is another.

They all pile into Kurt's Navigator, the only car any of them own that can comfortably fit everyone, and Kurt visibly twitches at having to let anyone else, even his father, drive his baby.

After dropping Rachel off at home, the Hudmels finally arrive home. Shutting himself in his room to take off his overly formal attire, Kurt hears the shower going in the shared bathroom. Knowing he doesn't have long, he hurries to gather his toiletries, hoping to beat Finn after Sam steps out. Sharing a bathroom with two other teenage boys is a bit like Game of Thrones, nothing is safe and after a night like tonight he's willing to sacrifice his first born son to get in there before Finn.

Hearing his door unlock before theirs, Kurt smirks at having Sam on his side, already opening the door before Sam manages to escape back into their room. Finn pouts as Kurt shuts the door in his face, locking it just to be sure, because like Game of Thrones, assuming family won't betray you is a rookie mistake.

After speeding through his shower, because he's not that heartless, Kurt retreats back into his room to start his nightly skin care routine. Finally, after picking out tomorrow's outfit, he grabs his phone off the vanity and crawls into bed. As he's plugging in his phone and setting it to charge, his heart clenches at the notification, '1 missed call from Blaine'. Knowing it's too late to call back and that he wouldn't even if it wasn't, he flops back in bed and glares at the ceiling, hoping sleep comes soon.

Kurt knows, in some part of his brain, that this isn't really happening. Can't be happening, not again. He's standing in the choir room, surrounded by friends that are watching him carefully, expecting some form of apology through song. Meanwhile Blaine is still sitting there, in the back row of chairs, glaring at the floor with his arms crossed. After his heart to heart with his dad, Kurt had decided to sing 'You Were Loved' for his glee assignment this week. Instead of a simple loving apology like 'I am Nothing', he decided to sing a song about dreams for the future and looking back on a relationship that was everything you needed it to be.

If he hit the part about trusting someone a bit too hard, well that was understandable, he was still pretty upset at being called a cheater just because he didn't actively stop Chandler from saying inappropriate things via text. Considering the things he'd heard Sebastian say to Blaine's face without Blaine ever telling him to stop, he's more outraged at the hypocrisy than guilty about the "cheating". It's only as he's singing the end of the song that he realizes the path he's singing about not walking alone doesn't necessarily have to be walked by the two of them. By the end they are both in tears.

Suddenly, they are sitting in Miss Pillsbury's office for their "couples counseling". When Blaine admits "Okay. Well, uh, first, Kurt has been texting this guy, and I got really upset. Although, a while back, I was sort of doing the same thing." Kurt finds himself unable to hold back,

"So, you do admit that what you did was the same! In fact, I think it's worse! Sebastian would come on to you to your face and you never once told him to stop, or agree to stop talking to him. You told him you had a boyfriend, and he told you he didn't care! And sure, when you told me all these things, you were trying to act offended but I'm not stupid Blaine, I could tell how flattered you were. So yeah, when I met Chandler and he was nice to me, and complimented me, I was flattered. I never get positive feedback on my clothes, which is fine, we live in Ohio, but I have to admit, it was a feeling I don't get from you! The only times you comment on what I'm wearing are times like prom last year when you tell me to tone it down. I get that your trying to look out for me, and make me fit in a bit more, and maybe that's the blazers of Dalton rearing their atrocious heads, but we're not in Dalton anymore! I like the way I dress and I don't like being made to feel like how I dress is wrong, especially from my boyfriend!"

A few seconds of shocked silence follow, Kurt breathing heavily and unsure about what else to say, or if he should even bother. Finally Blaine recovers enough to say,

"I'm sorry that you didn't feel like you were getting the support from me that you needed. I really didn't mean to make you feel like I don't approve of the way you dress! That's not it at all, I love your clothes, I just worry about what will happen if the wrong caveman in this town sees you in one of your more out there looks."

"Okay, I get it. I can understand how that might make you nervous, but I'm not going to change the way I dress or act because of unevolved neanderthals. It would be nice to hear something positive every now and then."

"I can work on that."

Kurt smiles tentatively, "Okay, so since we're supposed to be brutally honest, do you have a complaint?"

Blaine looks hesitant but eventually speaks up, "It seems like the only thing we talk about is New York. I get that you're excited, but all we talk about is what song you're gonna sing for NYADA, what outfit to wear on your callback, and how amazing New York is going to be. It's like you can't wait to get out of here... how is that supposed to make me feel? In a few months, you're gonna be gone. With this brand-new life, these brand-new friends, brand-new everything, and I'm gonna be right here. By myself. You're right. I have been distant. And I'm sorry. But I'm just trying to practice what life is going to be like without you."

Kurt sits up a little straighter and turns slightly toward Blaine. Searching his face for a few seconds, Kurt finally manages to organize his thoughts.

"I've been dreaming of New York for a long time. I want to be somewhere I fit in, that I won't feel like I'm an outsider. I can't picture my life staying here... I'd die here. I know you don't actually want me to stick around here just for you, even at your most diva, you would never expect that. And I'm sorry if I've made you feel like I won't be just as torn up about being apart from you. Even if I go to a new school and make new friends, they're never going to mean to me what my friends now do. The relationships I have now, especially with you, are irreplaceable.

"I know that you're used to being the center of attention, ever since Blaine and the Pips, you've been the focus, and I'm sorry that things are changing now, but none of this makes up for what you did in glee. It wasn't right, or okay. You called me a cheater, and told me to pack my bags and leave, in front of all our friends, and our teacher for crying out loud! Then you tell me the reason you did it was because you were worried about me leaving? That doesn't even make sense Blaine! It was embarrassing and hurtful! And then you turn around and admit that you did the same thing! With the boy that almost blinded you! And while I'm glad that you've realized that it wasn't fair, it's private! Unlike most of the idiots I call friends, I don't want to drag my problems out in song, in front of everyone. I don't want my relationship problems aired just for the sake of getting a chance to bob my head around and make hand gestures! So now, everyone thinks I cheated on you, and will continue to think so, because instead of singing another fracking song about it, I just want to put it behind us, but none of that makes what you did okay!"

Once again breathing heavily, Kurt stands up. "I'm sorry, I need to take a break, I can't really handle this at the moment, I'm going to say something I don't want to say, so I'm just going to go. We can talk about this later." Kurt gets up and walks stiffly from the room, not looking back.

Kurt shoots up in bed, running a hand through his hair and sighing heavily. Groaning slightly, Kurt gets up and goes downstairs to make himself warm milk. He'd hoped the dreams would stop if enough time had passed. Clearly he still wasn't over it. Thinking back on the days that followed his performance of 'You Were Loved', Kurt still can't find it in himself to regret his choices, but that doesn't make it any easier not having Blaine in his life at the moment. Two days after their fight in Miss Pillsbury's office, Kurt had met Blaine at the Lima Bean, hoping to get their talk over with before a certain meerkat with stalking tendencies could show up.

When Blaine finally did come in, after talking about all of the things they were feeling in the aftermath of their fight, they agreed to break up. Kurt was convinced that having that many problems before he'd even left, meant there wasn't enough trust to make it through a lengthy long distance romance. Kurt had pointed out that he didn't want to be standing in Central Park six months later, hearing about how alone Blaine felt, how Kurt wasn't there for him, because he literally couldn't be there. Kurt had decided to end it before their relationship became so toxic the friendship couldn't be saved. Knowing that he made the right decision and not regretting that the choice had to be made doesn't make it any easier. It doesn't stop him from wishing he and Blaine could skip the awkward 'just friends now' period that follows after a break up. He really just wants one of his closest friends back, he misses him.

Finishing his milk, Kurt rinses his cup and heads back to bed, hoping for a few more hours of sleep before he has to wake up and deal with the daily migraine that is high school. One more month. One more and he'll finally be able to put the red and white decorated halls behind him, and start preparing for his new life in New York.

Kurt wakes up again before the sun is even up. Checking the alarm clock tells him it's not quite five in the morning. Despite his best attempts at rolling over and hiding under his pillow, Kurt just can't fall back asleep. Finally admitting defeat, he gets up and starts his morning routine. After dressing and fixing his hair, he heads downstairs. As he enters the kitchen though, he realizes that the one upside to being up this early is that he has plenty of time to go to the Lima Bean for his favored mocha, instead of settling for the coffee at home. Running back upstairs to grab his keys and school bag, he makes a quick trip into Finn's room to leave a note telling him and Sam to be ready to go as usual, and that he'll grab them each a drink while he's out.

As he's ordering their coffees, Kurt gets a sudden inspiration and asks for a job application. Hey, maybe I can manage to turn this break up into a good thing. I'll have plenty of free time after nationals, with no boyfriend and no glee, might as well start saving up for New York. He's luckily just managed to tuck away the application when he sees Sebastian walk in. Closing his eyes and blowing out a breath slowly, Kurt prepares for the onslaught that is about to happen. Sebastian may have decided to play at nice to Blaine and Dave but Kurt knows very well that no such changes have been made in his own interactions with the smirking asshole currently strutting toward him.

"Hey Kurt! We've just got to stop meeting like this. It seems you're everywhere lately!"

"Well, we probably wouldn't run into each other so often if you didn't have that cot set up in the alley behind the dumpsters, it's the only explanation for why you're always here. Seriously, don't the owners mind the stench of cheap wine and desperation when they take out the trash?" Kurt tosses at him, glaring at the barista, urging her silently to Please hurry the fuck up!

"Now that's hardly friendly Kurt. I didn't even make any disparaging comments about your clothes today. And I went to so much effort to hold back!" Ignoring the eye roll and glare aimed at him, Sebastian continues, "I was actually just on my way back to Dalton. So, if you're here, where's Blaine? You could have at least brought him with you to give people a distraction from the assault your wardrobe is to the eyes. With him around, no one's looking at you, no matter how stupid you look."

"What lovely sentiments, I'll be sure to pass them along. Sadly, I'm only here for morning coffee. I need the caffeine to help recover from the tedious conversations I endured last night."

"Oh, I don't know, those people weren't that bad. No one interesting enough to meet in the bathroom of course, but seeing you there would have killed the mood instantly anyway."

Kurt scoffs, clearly unimpressed, "So you have no problem making small talk and smiling prettily while talking to people that have absolutely no respect for you as a person and who judge you for who you choose to sleep with?"

"I'm doing it right now aren't I?" Sebastian gives Kurt a very pointed look.

"Ugh, that's hardly the same. I have no respect for you because of who you sleep with. Clearly I have no problem with gay people, self-hating homophobia just confuses me. It's the whorish nature of actively trying to steal boyfriends that I have a problem with. You want to go around sleeping with as many people as you can to hide from feelings, that's your business, and it'd be a bit hypocritical of me to judge you for it. It's the whole, 'I'm going to sleep with your man and send you cell phone pictures' attitude I have a problem with." Kurt finally hears his order called up and without waiting for Sebastian's response, grabs the tray of drinks and heads for the door. As he's stepping through it, he hears a snarky,

"Lovely to see you, as always Kurt!"

Pulling up in front of the house, Kurt sends Finn a text that he's outside. While he's waiting for them to grab their stuff, he sends off another text,

To David: So, I ran into Sebby dearest at TLB, had a wonderful chat, made me think of you.

He doesn't expect a response so quickly, but within two minutes he hears the chime,

From David: shit, that's not good news, whatd he say?

To David: Something I said actually, abt self-hating homophobes, made me remember the good ol' days.

From David: Ur the most fuct up person I know Fancy.

To David: Oh come on, that can't be true. You're quasi-friends with Sebastian Smythe, surely he's got more issues than I do?

From David: It's closer than u think.

He's snorting to himself and composing a response as Sam opens the car door, getting there first earning him the front seat. Finn comes out shortly after, opening the door just as Kurt hears the chime again,

To David: I'm highly offended that you think I'm as bad as Sebastian. Sadly we're off to school now, have a good day, don't do anything I wouldn't do.

From David: holy shit, there's something u wouldn't do?! =O have fun Fancy

Putting his phone away, he waits for Sam to pass back Finn's coffee before pulling away. Kurt taps the steering wheel as he drives, waiting for the inevitable freak out from Finn, wondering how long it will take him to remember he's mad at him, good coffee be damned. Instead of turning on the radio like Kurt expects, Sam turns to Kurt,

"So, who were you texting?"

"Oh, Dave. I ran into Sebastian when I was getting the coffees and felt the need to point out Dave's appalling taste in friends again. I still don't see how they get along without tearing each other to shreds. Smythe and I can't share a building without wanting to go for the jugular."

"Well, Dave is less bitchy than you, which doesn't take much. Sure, he's a jerk but he's mellowed a lot in the passed year or so. How's he doing now anyway?" Sam asks, curious as ever about his former teammate. While none of the other New Directions actually befriended David Karofsky after his suicide attempt a few months ago, no one blames Kurt for keeping in close contact with him either, and they are almost stupidly polite in regards to the former bully.

"He's doing good, he's finishing his homebound classes next week, which means in a couple weeks he'll be hanging around McKinley a bit, to take his exams so he can get the credits he'll need to graduate."

"I still find it strange that after everything he's gone through he'll end up graduating with you guys anyway, he didn't even go to our school this year. Not that I can blame him for not going back to that hell hole he was in before."

"Yeah, if there's anyone they should be bending the rules for, it's definitely him. Did you know his old school did nothing about the idiots that were taunting him? Not even a slap on the wrist. They said they had no proof, same shit they pulled when it was me accusing David," Kurt says in disgust.

After David got out of the hospital back in February he talked his doctors into getting him put into a homebound program at McKinley. Homebound being very similar to home-school, but was supposed to be only temporary, and usually only for students so sick they couldn't get to school everyday. He met with his teacher twice a week, did mostly self-study, and tests on Fridays. Luckily he had most of his credits already, so his work load wasn't heavy, he spent most of his days playing video games, texting, and reading. Lucky bastard. Well, except for the whole, attempted suicide thing. And the parents divorcing thing... but hey, he's better off this way. If his mom was never going to accept him it's better to get it all out of the way now, so he knows not to look forward to her being part of his life.

Suddenly Finn seems to snap awake, "Hey! Dude, what the hell with the post-it this morning? I don't even know how you got it to stick to my face like that but seriously, I woke up and freaked the hell out!"

"Truth. He actually fell out of bed when it tickled his face, the screaming and the thump is what woke me up this morning." Sam was not even trying to hide his amusement, laughing openly at Finn.

"It's not funny you assholes, I hit my head when I fell!"

Smiling widely, Kurt manages to not laugh outright, "Sorry Finn, probably should have realized you would do something stupid. I just didn't know where else to put it where I knew you'd see it." Finn starts grumbling to himself, drinking more of his coffee and throwing out death-glares. Sam does eventually concede,

"It was pretty stupid though Kurt. If he'd fallen on the other side, I'd have been crushed under him and he'd have probably broken the... slidey bed thing."

"It's called a trundle, Sam. I doubt he'd have broken it, Gaga only knows the amount of rough-housing it's had to withstand since you moved in. And I'm sure Noah wasn't doing it any favors even before that." Kurt barely manages to finish his coffee before pulling in the school parking lot. As he climbs out of his navigator he grabs his messenger bag and glances up, half expecting Blaine to be standing there waiting for him before he remembers again.

I really need to talk to Blaine about all this. Even if we aren't together, we should be able to be friends by now, it's been a month. And it's not like the relationship was perfect anyway. We were scheduling make out sessions for fuck's sake. Nothing says passion like being penciled in.