WARNING: Potential ED triggers.

As Kurt hugged Blaine goodnight, he couldn't help but notice how small the older boy was. Granted, they'd only hugged a few times and it was hard to tell a person's body shape under the Dalton blazer, but this was a very distinct kind of thin. Frankly, a Cheerios kind of thin.

His hand hovered over his phone, debating if he should text Blaine and ask about it. 'No. We eat together all the time,' he reminded himself. 'We just had dinner…. He ate a plate of pasta!'

Kurt felt a small smile pull at his mouth as he remembered the first time they had gone to lunch together.

The warm hand rubbing circles on his back soothed him, almost to the point of forgetting his embarrassing confession to a boy he had only just met. Almost. The sound of the other's voice broke him from his reverie. "C'mon. I'll buy you lunch." He patted Kurt's back as he stood. He waited for the slightly taller boy to stand before heading down the stairs to the cafeteria.

Kurt gripped the strap of his messenger bag, eyes roaming the other boy's back appreciatively. A blush crept up his neck and he quickly took a few large steps to lead the way to the cafeteria. "Sorry he shoved you like that." he mumbled. "I can get you an icepack? It'll be less likely to swell if you alternate ice and heat for a while."

Blaine pressed a warm hand on his shoulder. "No worries."

"I just don't want the Warblers after me for letting their lead get hurt." The countertenor managed a weak smile.

The other stopped and grabbed hold of his shoulder to swing him around. Blaine's face was set into a soft, but firm smile. "Kurt, don't worry about it. I knew that there was a possibility of getting hurt when I agreed to come." He gave Kurt's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Now stop worrying about it, okay?" His head tilted forward in askance, causing his eyes to catch the light and flash.

Kurt felt himself nodding. He looked down to his feet, suppressing a grin. "Thank you again fro coming. Would you like me to get you an icepack?" he offered again?

The darker boy's eyes crinkled as he let out a gentle chuckle. "No, I'm alright." They had started walking again. Both reached for the door to the cafeteria at the same time. Kurt hesitated which gave Blaine the chance to dip ahead and hold the door open for the younger boy. "Too bad you have class right after lunch, otherwise I'd have taken you somewhere better." He gave one of his dazzling smiles that made Kurt's heart go weak. Blaine would have taken him somewhere? "But it wouldn't do to have us both skip school."

As Blaine hurried to get trays for both of them, the full effect of the situation hit Kurt. Blaine had skipped school and driven two hours to confront Kurt's bully. To help a pathetic boy who he'd only met a few days ago, who had cried in front of him after knowing him for a few hours. He jumped when a tray was gently pressed into his hands. "Thanks," he mumbled.

They made their way through the food line, Blaine getting grilled chicken and a roll, Kurt getting fruit salad and some chicken noodle soup. Both got diet sodas. Kurt reached for his wallet to pay for his food, but a warm hand closed around his elbow. "I'm buying you lunch, remember?" Blaine reminded with a lopsided smile. Before Kurt could protest, he'd handed the cahier a few bills. "Care to pick a table?" Kurt nodded and made a beeline for a small tabled tucked away near the doors. As he was sitting down, he watched Blaine trade the bottle of diet coke for a large bottle of water in his bag. At the strange look the younger gave him, he answered" The cokes' for the ride back."

"Oh," Kurt laughed. The two ate in silence. Kurt felt himself watching how Blaine ate. He would cut off a piece of chicken, chew it thoroughly, then swallow it with the aid of a gulp of water. After he had repeated this process enough to finish off the chicken and roll, he methodically and evenly drank the rest of the water. He quickly tore his eyes away from Blaine's mouth and finished off his soup and fruit. There was still twenty minutes till classes resumed.

"What time is Warblers today?" Kurt's voice surprised himself.

Blaine dropped his gaze. "At four. I'll be back in plenty of time."

"You didn't have to skip school just to help me," the brunet spoke more to the fruit syrup floating in his cup than to the boy across him.

Blaine chuckled. "I got Wes to cover for m. Say that I woke up with a migraine and was going to sleep it off. As far as the faculty knows, come practice, I'll have gotten some rest and food and be good as new." He winked and leaned forward to cover Kurt's hand with his own. "I'm glad to have helped." His face faltered, eyes turning dark and dropping to their hands. "Well, trying. " He withdrew his hand.

"You were better than I'd have been!" Kurt assured quickly. The older boy offered a condescending smile which made Kurt nervous. "What?"

""If I recall, you are the one who pushed him away from me. You're braver and stronger than you give yourself credit for."

Kurt furiously tried to fight down the blush that the praise brought on. "I don't think I'd drive two hours to help someone face a bully though," he offered with a coy smile.

Blaine looked back to his hands. "I told you before, Kurt. I ran. I'm not as strong as you think." Kurt opened his mouth to protest. "No. It's easy to act brave at Dalton. It's a bubble where no one can hurt you. But that's not the real world. This?" he gestured around the cafeteria where everyone was split into cliques, where the girls weren't eating, the hockey team was buying slushies, where everyone was on either the giving or receiving end of some kind of look – lust, jealousy, hate. "This is the real world. You have to fight here, just to survive." Blaine smirked. "You're much braver."

Kurt looked down to his hands, feeling heat rush to his face and not even trying to fight it. A darker hand crept over his again, and he let the warm fingers encircle his own, a smile tugging at his lips. "I think there's a difference between bravery and stubbornness," he quipped. At that, Blaine let out a … was that a giggle?

"True," the tenor conceded. "But you stood up to that meat-head when he shoved me. You just need to realize that you are worth fighting for." He flashed a smile.

They sat in silence for a while, Kurt marveling that Blaine could make him smile despite the proceedings of the day. He let his eyes trail over the older boy's hands and arms, taking in the pale olive tone of his skin and the way his shoulders filled the blazer, before shyly meeting his gaze. Blaine watched him, eyes soft but guarded. He opened his mouth to speak again, but was cut off by the bell signaling the end of lunch. After the trilling stopped, Blaine dropped his gaze. "I… should get going."

"Yeah, okay." They stood, Blaine stacking their trays.

"He hesitated after tossing the trash and putting the trays in the return stack. "Would you mind telling me where the restroom is before you go?"

"Yeah, they're right outside that door," he pointed to the far corner of the cafeteria. "They boy's is on the left." He paused, expecting the other boy to look up, but he deliberately avoided Kurt's gaze. "Well… my class is the other way." Kurt gripped the strap of his messenger bag, eyebrows drawing together. "Thank you, again, for everything today."

"Like I said, I'm glad I could help," he finally met Kurt's gaze. "Please, never hesitate to call me. You're not alone. I'm here whenever you need me." They held each other's gaze, Kurt completely oblivious to the other students around them rushing to classes. Blaine cleared his throat, dropping his eyes again as he spoke. "You should hurry so you aren't late."

"Oh … right," Kurt breathed, shaking his head a little. "Hopefully, I'll see you soon, under better circumstances."

"Maybe a movie? Or at least a better lunch."

Kurt grinned. "Sounds good. Text me?" Blaine nodded without looking up. Kurt offered a weak wave then turned to join the throng of late students. When he reached the door, he glanced back at the older boy to find him chugging the diet coke he'd shoved into his bag as he headed toward the bathroom.

Kurt chewed his bottom lip as he remembered. He hadn't thought about the little details of that first lunch in a while, but now he thought about it, Blaine had acted strange. He'd learned over time that Blaine always ate like that – a bite of food followed by a swig of water, steadily drink a second glass of water, down a bottle of diet coke, got to the bathroom. If anyone commented on his eating habits, or if he had to ask where the restroom was, he would draw in on himself and avoid looking anyone in the face.

It was strange, but everyone had their quirks. Maybe it had something to do with his past? Or maybe he's bulimic. The thought surprised him. Blaine – dapper, charming, perfect Blaine – couldn't possibly be bulimic!

….

Could he?

Kurt glanced at his computer. Maybe a quick google search?

He pulled up Chrome and tapped his fingers on the keys, wondering how to word his query. After a few minutes, he gave up, closed his computer, and headed out the door. He would just ask Blaine, and undoubtedly be laughed at for worrying over nothing, maybe told that yes Blaine wanted to and was losing weight but was doing so in a perfectly safe and healthy way. Then, maybe, he could flirt a bit, telling Blaine he had a good body and didn't need to lose a pound.

A small smirk settled on his face as he raised his hand to knock on his friend's door – but he stopped with his knuckles mere centimeters from the polished oak. He could hear Blaine in the bathroom. Wretching. For several minutes, Kurt stood there, frozen, listening until the toilet flushed and the taps were twisted on.

A/N: Once again www . recoveryourlife . com If you're struggling with an ED or with SI, or really anything, go to their forums.

Thank you for all the favorites/alerts and for the reviews! They encouraged me to write more.

Also: This is ultimately a recovery fic.

There will be a happy ending. It'll just take some time. :)