AN: Chapter 1 was originally inspired by the performance of "Dark Side" and the episodes around that. However in the last months I have struggled to continue the story in a manner that would fit canon and therefore contemplated leaving it as a one-shot. For all intends and purposes that still stands and if you dislike non-canon, feel free to NOT read on and just take it as a one-shot. Nevertheless, after months I have some inspiration to continue this for a little while and I will because I can. It is massively non-canon compliant, but oh well. You may like it or you won't, I have fun writing it.

Chapter 2

Finn had gone home straight after Sebastian had left, too confused to continue on any lesson planning anyway. At home he had headed straight for his room and searched for the song. 'Kelly Clarkson', he thought, 'really?'. However, if Sebastian was being honest, than it must have a deeper meaning, but Finn wasn't convinced yet that the other boy wasn't just messing with his head. Then again, he had seemed sincere and he was right. Something was wrong with Blaine and as much as he felt obliged to hate Blaine on Kurt's behalf, the younger boy looked way to miserable every single day in school to be upset with him.

'Right, Dark Side.' Finn refocused internally, but couldn't make much of it either way. 'Why would his best friend pick a song that talked about being dark, when Blaine was Mr. Nice Guy himself?'

"Oh,…" Apparently the penny had dropped in Finn's internal monologue as he connected the lyrics with Sebastian's earlier words. The Warbler had called Blaine's nice guy image a façade, or at least part of it. Of course, he had secrets, dark secrets of being bullied, beaten and rejected by his parents. Things he didn't want anyone to know about, because he believed people wouldn't like him if they did. Which was ridiculous, of course, Finn thought. He decided to confront Blaine the next day, talk some sense into him and hopefully get to the bottom of this.

Finn had asked Blaine to join him in the choir room half an hour early and as he entered now, Finn found the younger boy already sitting at the piano. Cutting right to the chase he asked:

"So, went to Dalton yesterday?"

For a second there was an expression of shock in Blaine's eyes. As it disappeared his face fell back into a carefree attitude and he answered with a shrug: "Just went to see about our trophy. Not quite successful though."

"So singing with them was part of the plan?" Finn asked provocatively.

"What? How do you know? Are you spying on me know or what?" Blaine asked angrily before taking a deep breath and falling back into his practiced mask once more.

"No, not spying. Why would I do that? Sebastian came by yesterday and told me. He also told me they want you to transfer back and you were quite interested. I guess I just wanted to see how big of a lie he was telling."

"Huh?" Blaine now looked at him confused and Finn inwardly congratulated himself on how well he handled this.

"Well you'd never leave us, so that was obviously a lie. I'd be honest with you, I think going there on your own without consulting any of us wasn't okay, but after all there are your friends so you probably know best." Finn rambled a bit only to be interrupted by Blaine who was nervously biting his lip.

"Actually Finn, I do think about a transfer. You have to understand, I didn't mean to end up singing with them. I went to get the trophy and set them straight, but it just happened and I can't deny that it felt good, felt like I belong."

"Blaine, you belong here with us. We're your friends. We were here when they turned their heads." Finn countered angrily losing his grip on the prepared route of his speech and provoking an equally loud answer from Blaine.

"They're my friends and maybe you don't understand, but every day in this school hurts. Every day here reminds me of Kurt and yes it is all my fault, but I can't stand it anymore, I just can't."

With those words the teenager got up from the piano where had been fidgeting with the keys for the entire talk and stormed out of the room upset. There would be no Glee practice for Blaine today.

Surprised Finn stared at the door, where Blaine had flet through just moments ago.