Three Steps to Recovery - Part One

By the time Kurt had returned the movie had ended but he couldn't find it in himself to care. If he hadn't seen the signs, or heard the proof a few minutes before he never would have expected that Sebastian had a problem. The boy was laughing and joking around with his friends, even singing a little, his voice having a rough quality that would have been a bit arousing for Kurt if he hadn't known what put it there.

He joined the group, sitting closer to the Warblers but not paying them any attention. He spent the rest of the time on his phone. Searching for as much information on bulimia he could find. By the time the others were leaving, Kurt thought he had enough information to at least start helping. He hung back, telling Blaine to go on home and that Tina and Mercedes wanted to do a little shopping so he'd meet them at the mall in a bit.

When he was the only one left he approached Sebastian. The boy was sitting on his couch, either unaware that he wasn't alone, or expecting Kurt to confront him. Slowly, Kurt sat next to him. He waited, hoping maybe the boy would speak first, but when he didn't, he took a breath.

"What did you try?" he asked, hoping the question was less invasive than 'why.'

Sebastian didn't look at him, but he did speak to the floor. "Diets. They actually helped for a little while, but after about a week and a half I realized I was doing it again. Then I tried fasting. Not completely, I knew I wouldn't last a day at Dalton without food. But I stopped eating breakfast and dinner. That fell through when the Warblers went to an all you can eat buffet."

Kurt didn't realize that Sebastian was crying until he wiped a tear away. Reaching out he put a hand on the boy's arm. "Will you let me help?" Kurt asked. "Because I don't like seeing anybody like this."

That was when Sebastian looked up, clearly trying to hold back the tears. "I want to, but I don't think you can help."

Smirking a little, Kurt held up his phone. "I've been researching for the past two hours. I think I know where we can start to try."

Sniffling, Sebastian nodded. "Okay," he whispered.

Pulling him close, Kurt let the boy cry into his chest. It was a while before he calmed down, but Kurt knew he had to work slow or risk making things worse. "You need to talk to me," he said. "That's the first step. But we don't have to do it right now."

Just then Kurt's phone rang and he answered, seeing it was his Dad. He tried to argue that he was busy at the moment, but apparently Blaine had called and mentioned Kurt going shopping. He considered telling his dad about Sebastian, but after a glance at the boy in question he decided to wait.

When he hung up Sebastian just shrugged. "It's okay. I'm not exactly ready to talk right now."

"Okay," replied Kurt, standing up. "We can meet when you are. Or you can just call me. I'll try to answer if I can."

The call didn't come until three nights later. Kurt was just turning out his light close to one o'clock when the phone rang and he quickly picked it up, not wanting his dad to hear. "Hello?" he whispered.

"I'm in love," came Sebastian's voice, rough once again, followed quickly by the flush of a toilet.

"Sebastian? Are you okay?" whispered Kurt, sitting up and wondering if he'd have to sneak out and pick the boy up from some bar.

The sniffle he heard told him the boy was distraught not drunk. So he relaxed.

"I'm in love with Blaine," Sebastian continued, ignoring Kurt's question. "But he's in love with you. I need to be more like you if I want to be with him."

Kurt tried to interject, but was interrupted as Sebastian continued with a twenty minute explanation. Kurt listened through it all, just wishing he could help. It was late by the time Sebastian finished, and both agreed to meet the next day at the Lima Bean.

As soon as Kurt sat down across from the boy, Sebastian asked, "And the next step?"

Kurt had thought about it, and it pained him to say it. "You need to avoid any triggers."

"But Blaine is my trigger."

"I know."