On his way back from his last class of the day Kurt saw Blaine talking to Alex in the hallway. He still didn't know anything about this guy but he had seen enough to now that Blaine never seemed happy after a conversation with him and that was all that mattered. Indeed, Blaine didn't look happy right now so Kurt walked straight up to them and grabbed Blaine's hand smiling. The smile slid off of his face at Alex's comment.

"Is he yours Blaine?"

"He's my boyfriend."

"Oh wow, I never thought you'd have got someone who would want to stick with you." Blaine, so usually good at hiding emotions couldn't hide the fact that that comment had gotten to him.

Kurt snapped. "What is your problem?"

"No problem. Just surprised is all."

"Well don't be. Blaine's my boyfriend and I wouldn't touch you if I had to chose between that and being alone my entire life."

"I wouldn't want you to. Fag."

Kurt bristled. He would barely have flinched back at McKinley where that word was thrown around constantly, but here at Dalton it caught him off guard.

"Come on Blaine, let's go to the Dean."

Alex's laugh cut straight through Kurt.

"Tell him what? You have no proof I called you a bad word. Report me all you want but zero tolerance or not they'll still need proof otherwise anyone would be able to get anybody they wanted expelled just by making up some story involving a bit of name calling. If you think this is a reportable bullying offence you are in for a rude awakening when you get to the real world."

Blaine finally spoke. "Just fuck off."

Alex saluted. "Good day boys."

Kurt was fuming, he grabbed Blaine's arm and forcibly tugged him up to his and Jeff's room which was thankfully empty.

"Blaine you're just going to have to tell me whatever it is you're hiding because you just stood there and let him walk all over you."

"I'm not hiding anything."

"Bollocks. We need to go and report him Blaine!"

"Kurt he's right, they can't punish him without proof."

"So we should just not say anything? It's bullying and it's exactly what I moved here to avoid. What you moved here to avoid."

"It's not."

"Yes. It is."

"It doesn't mean everyone has to be friends though Kurt – you're safe here, of course you are, but don't be so naïve."

"You shouldn't let him push you around."

Blaine was sat completely rigid staring at Kurt. "Why were you so worried when you came here when you knew it was zero tolerance?"

Kurt's stomach sank, because whatever this was, he had just lost but he answered the question anyway, never being one to back down and too far gone to realise he might be damaging the credibility of his own argument. "In case no one liked me."

"Exactly. You'd know if people didn't like you despite the policy because we're all teenage boys and we can't all play nice all the time, you're not telling me you like everyone you've met here."

"I don't understand why you're sticking up for him. He was wrong and you know it."

"Yes and if someone had overheard him calling us fags then that counts but its us against him."

"How does he know you? You didn't know him so who the fuck is he to come here and act like this towards you?" Silence. "Who is his cousin that you knew?"

Blaine showed the first sign of emotion of the entire conversation. He closed his eyes and screwed them shut and Kurt knew he was missing something but he didn't know what.

"Blaine, come on sweetheart look at me." Kurt knelt on the floor, ignoring any normal worries about dirtying his uniform, he rested his elbows gently on his boyfriends knees and looked straight at those gorgeous hazel eyes as they focused on Kurt. "Please tell me what's wrong."

He left.

xxxxx

The next morning Kurt all but barrelled down to the dining hall for breakfast pleased to see that everyone was there apart from Blaine.

Kurt wasted no time, aware of the fact that Blaine could turn up at any time.

"Do you guys know who that Alex is? How he knows Blaine? How Blaine knows whoever-the-hell his cousin is?"

Wes, David, Jeff and Thad all gave him their utmost attention and Wes shook his head. "No sorry. He's never mentioned anyone called Alex before."

"Something is wrong with him though, he's acting weird. I know that we discussed this last week at the pizza place, but if anything he's gotten worse."

Kurt instantly turned all his attention to Thad, he was Blaine's roommate so he might have noticed something Kurt hadn't.

"How so?"

"He was up at stupid 'o clock this morning, went for a run, and he still wasn't back when I left."

"What?" This information completely blind sighted Kurt, he didn't know that Blaine ran.

"He used to run loads when he first got to Dalton, but then he stopped doing it. Guess he's started again. Crazy bastard."

"Kurt…I don't like the idea of something being wrong with Blaine as much as you but what can you do about it if he isn't telling you anything? Maybe there genuinely isn't anything to talk about." Kurt shot David a glare.

"I would much prefer him to tell me what's wrong himself but he won't and I know my boyfriend, there is something wrong."

Wes nodded, "he is kind of…off the mark at the moment. We're all worried about him."

"I'm convinced it has to do with this Alex guy. I know that he was acting funny before that guy moved here but have any of you seen them together? There's something between them. I'm worried."

The conversation had prove much less helpful than Kurt had hoped but the arrival of Blaine himself cut it short. He looked very pale and still have a light sheen of sweat over him despite the fact that he would have showered after his run.

"Hi guys." Kurt smiled as he laced their hands together before sitting down and dumping his bag under the table.

Thad was glaring at him only half mockingly. "Well look who it is."

"Sorry I woke you Thad. Though I think I'm going to start running again…"

The sound of Thad's head smacking onto the table made Kurt smirk.

"How come?"

"I could use the exercise."

Kurt frowned and stroked his arm, "I don't think you do. Plus I don't want you to be able to run off from me."

Wes snorted. "Maybe you should put him on a leash Kurt."

A smile lined Kurt's lips, "you know he would look good in a collar…"

Blaine let out a laugh that ironically sounded more like a bark and all the other guys wore looks that clearly stated Kurt had just shared far too much information.

"If you've been for a long run you need to eat, here. You stay and I'll fetch your food."

"Thanks."

Blaine ate everything from the large portion of food Kurt had given him and Kurt smiled, maybe his run had been to clear his head. Maybe it had worked if Blaine had his appetite back.

Kurt wanted to try and talk to him again, maybe with a full stomach and after a run – sports were supposed to relieve stress right? – he would be willing to talk.

He wasn't, he went straight away after he had finished eating despite Kurt being in his first period English class with him to which Blaine was five minutes late.

xxxxx

As ever, thank you for reading!

The end of next chapter you will know what's wrong with Blaine. I've toyed with the idea of prolonging it, but what you find out is only half the story and it was never my intention to have this reveal later on anyway.