A/N Hello! So, I nearly went crazy getting this chapter finished - my computer died before I could save some of it and then I had problems in uploading, but here it is! My longest chapter yet! I had no idea how addictive reviews are, so please, if you have time they would be lovely!
Also, a big thank you to my amazing beta, who is just...well...amazing!
I hope you enjoy it :)
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing in this fic except the characters of Alan, Peter and Megan. All other characters are the properties of Ryan Murphy. I do not endorse any of the brands mentioned, nor do I own the song that is used.
Blaine sat opposite his parents at the dining room table. They both looked puzzled and concerned as to why their son had called a family meeting.
"If this is an intervention about those brown loafers I've been wearing, I'm sorry but nothing can keep me from their comfort!" Peter joked, clearly uncomfortable, still eyeing Blaine warily.
"I know." Blaine stated, obviously not in response to Peter's awkward attempt at humour.
Peter and Megan's brows furrowed in unison. Blaine would have found it cute was he not so hurt.
"You left the letter on the table, Peter." Blaine raised his eyebrows expectantly, and sure Peter's face drained of all colour.
"Blaine, you have to understand that –"
"Peter, Mom, why didn't you guys just tell me? I can go out and get a job too; contribute to the household-"
"Blaine, school needs to be your main focus-"
"Mom, Pete, how can you expect me to concentrate at school when I don't know how you're going to pay for it anymore. I know we were struggling enough as it was; Dalton's a good education, sure, but there are other places I can learn the same things."
Megan looked at her son's face. There was something he wasn't telling them.
"Sweetie, what's on your mind?"
Blaine sighed heavily. They weren't going to accept it as a valid option, and would just roll their eyes. He glanced up at them - the worst that could happen is them saying no.
"Peter lost his job."
Kurt's jaw dropped, "What do you mean? I thought he was one of their best employees?"
"Everyone lost their jobs – Mr Schiller just couldn't cope with the economic issues we're having at the moment. He went bankrupt actually, it's really sad."
Kurt sighed, was Blaine's family evergoing to get a break?
"So what is going to happen with Dalton?" Kurt asked softly, knowing how much the school meant to Blaine.
"I honestly don't know; I've told my parents I'd be happy to move – I know how expensive the tuition is, and other than a few of my teachers and the Warblers, I honestly have no reason to stay."
"That's not true Blaine, you love it there." Kurt murmured, looking his boyfriend directly in the eyes.
"Well, I can't let myself get in the way. I don't want Mom to have to do any more extra shifts at work, she's losing sleep and it's really unhealthy" Blaine stated, resting his forehead in his hands before continuing, "Peter's looking for another job, but nobody's hiring. Dalton is really just... it's a good school, but it's no longer practical."
"Have you tried applying for scholarships? You're smart, and talented, surely there's something like that on offer."
Blaine shook his head, "I'm really not that great when you look at the other guys at school; besides, scholarships wouldn't come up until next year, and there's still a semester of this year to be paid for – I'd need a scholarship now."
Kurt sighed, taking one of Blaine's hands in both of his.
"Blaine, your parents love you, and they want you to get the best out of life. You're amazing. There is no doubt in my mind that you are going to get into an Ivy League college and make it big." Kurt paused, grinning at the blush that was spreading across his boyfriend's cheeks.
"Dalton's not the only way to get to an Ivy League college. Besides," Blaine paused, not sure how Kurt was going to take his news, "I've got an appointment at a new school tomorrow."
Kurt's eyes went wide, "Really? That was... well, quick" He smiled slightly; "Westerville State?"
"No, it's on the other side of town."
Kurt looked confused. Westerville State had a pretty good reputation as far as public high schools went.
"I think you might have heard of it." Blaine smirked and Kurt nearly jumped out of his chair.
"Blaine! Oh! What? Oh Blaine, I don't even know what to say, I just - "
Kurt was positively bouncing in his chair and Blaine was trying, rather unsuccessfully to restrain his laughter.
"Kurt, as much as I would love to say I am definitely coming to McKinley, the decision is ultimately that of Mom and Peter."
Kurt nodded solemnly, his eyes still alight. Blaine hadn't seen him this excited since he'd found out he'd won that Brown Brothers limited edition bowtie on eBay.
"Kurt, I just don't want to get my hopes up" Blaine admitted, brushing his fringe out of his eyes. He really did need to get it cut – it was beyond a joke.
Kurt nodded again in response, pausing as he tried to work out how best to respond.
"Blaine, going to the same school as you would be a dream come true. Granted, McKinley doesn't offer the same academic opportunities, but a few students have managed to get into Ivy League in the pa-"
"I don't care about Ivy League college, Kurt, as long as I'm with you."
Blaine's hazel eyes locked onto Kurt's wide-eyed expression; caught off guard. Although the pair would never admit it to each other at this point in their relationship, they could only ever see themselves with each other. It was the first time Blaine had ever made some kind of direct statement that he only wanted Kurt in his life. Kurt wasn't worried of commitment; far from it, he remembered how lonely he used to get. Blaine was just... well... intense, and it made him feel like a deer in the headlights at times.
"I'm sorry Mr and Mrs Anderson, but we simply do not have enough room in our classes to accept your son considering he is not from the immediate surrounding region" Principal Figgins looked upon Blaine Anderson's parents with sincere regret. The couple nodded, thanked the principal for his time, and pulled a very disheartened Blaine from his chair.
He didn't speak the whole way home.
Blaine sat at his desk, guitar perched on his lap whilst he jotted down lyrics on an old pad. It had been a long day, and he was sure as Hell tired, but sleep just wasn't going to seize him until he'd found some way to let out these emotions that were building up inside of him.
He ran his fingers through his hair, an action that he had taken to repeating whenever he felt distressed. His phone buzzed and he glanced at the screen. Kurt. Damn.
Blaine gingerly placed his guitar against his desk and picked up his phone. He really didn't feel like talking to Kurt yet – not about McKinley anyhow, he didn't want to give his boyfriend that news over the phone. He sighed, it wasn't like he could leave his boyfriend waiting on the other end of the phone though.
"Hey Kurt" Blaine yawned, only now looking at his watch. 12.06 am. He frowned, "You've never rung this late before."
He heard Kurt exhale sharply, no doubt deliberating what he had to say.
"How was your interview?"
Blaine grimaced sadly, the silence filling the telephone line louder than any conversation.
Kurt sighed sadly, "That good huh?"
Blaine rubbed his eyes tiredly, "I'm sorry Kurt, I wanted to tell you in person" Blaine's mood was sinking again with the memory of Figgins' office.
"Blaine, the only way that would have happened was if I had been waiting outside the office for you to tell me – you forget how quickly news spreads at McKinley"
Blaine laughed dryly "That's true. So who'd you hear about it from? Santana?"
"No, actually, I believe that Lauren Zizes heard it from someone. She told Puck who passed it on to Mike who then went and told Tina who told Artie and Brittany who told Mercedes. Then I found out. So, essentially most of New Directions knows; as well as the rest of McKinley.
"I'm so sorry" Blaine said sadly, "I wanted nothing more than to finish this year together."
"Hey, we both understood that it would come down to whatever your parents said. Unfortunately it's beyond their control too. It doesn't change anything, we'll still see each other the same amount as before."
Blaine could hear the sadly wistful tone in Kurt's voice and it made him feel bad. What are you waiting for? He's gonna find out eventually. Blaine shook his head at himself; now was not the right time.
Instead, he agreed with Kurt, "You're right, I'm being silly. Maybe it's just because I'm tired" He added, lamely.
Kurt's face fell at the other end; Blaine really needed to start looking after himself.
"Well, you should go to bed then – I have to finish my moisturizing routine anyhow."
Blaine chuckled softly "Okay, well you should get some rest too, you get cranky when you're tired"
Kurt began to protest his boyfriend's comments good naturedly, stopping only when Blaine smiled and murmured, "Goodnight Kurt, I love you."
His boyfriend smiled, breathlessly chiming in with an "I love you too".
The pair hung up, and Blaine cast a glance around his room. It had changed drastically over the course of the afternoon – clothes hung out of their drawers and wire hangers were strewn across the floor.
It had certainly been an interesting turn of events, Blaine thought to himself sadly.
Blaine pulled up at the Hummel-Hudson household and rested his head on the steering wheel for a brief moment, mulling everything over in his head. Courage, dammit. He opened his car door warily, and stepped out, basking in the last of the afternoon sun.
He made his way up the stairs to the door, knocking quietly. When there was no response he placed his ear against the door only to hear Finn screaming at the television. Blaine laughed and slammed his fist against the door, much louder. The TV went quiet – super quick.
"Shit Kurt, Burt's home!"
Heavy footsteps stopped at the door, and a panting Finn opened it; looking up to where he thought Burt's face was going to be. He looked down, confused, his eyes landing on Blaine's with a soft "Oh".
"May I come in? Or are you just going to keep staring at me making me feel like a dwarf?" Blaine joked, and Finn smirked, gesturing for Blaine to come inside.
"KURT! It wasn't Burt, it was your boyfriend!" Finn yelled up the stairs at his step-brother, walking over to turn the television up again, settling down in a comfy chair.
Kurt pattered softly down the stairs, smiling broadly at Blaine.
"Wasn't expecting to see you here this afternoon" he said, a little breathless.
Blaine tried to smile, but the corners of his lips did not obey and his face contorted into one of the weirdest expressions Kurt had ever seen.
"Blaine, is everything okay?"
Blaine just stared glumly at Kurt, who tugged him gently up the stairs.
"So do you wanna tell me why you look the way I did when Bambi's mother died?"
Kurt was staring at his boyfriend as they both sat cross legged opposite each other on Kurt's queen bed.
Blaine just sat, rigid, looking down at his hands. He mumbled something inaudible and Kurt merely raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow in response.
"I'm sorry, what was that?" He smiled, used to Blaine's pretend sulking at something ridiculous.
"I have to go to California for two weeks."
Kurt dropped the sarcastic facial expression.
"What? Why? What's he done now?" Kurt fumed, cursing inwardly at Alan for messing with Blaine so much.
"No; it's not Alan, it was a family decision."
Kurt's face fell. Anger and hurt rippled through him.
"When do you leave?"
"Day after tomorrow" Blaine looked up at Kurt sadly. "I wanted to tell you sooner, but it all happened so fast – I didn't even know for definite until yesterday."
"Okay, whatever, that aside, why are you going now? I thought you were going in the summer?"
"Alan has contacts in an elite Californian high school. Mom phoned him as a last resort – trust me, she hates this idea as much as anyone else, but her and Peter want me to get a "proper" education. I can't go to McKinley because there are too many students as it is, and I'm not from Lima. This two weeks is just to look at the school – Peter's going to try and get over, but it's going to cost money that we don't have"
Kurt sighed and looked at Blaine, deep in thought.
"So, if your parents like the school?"
"I'll be attending, for the rest of the year anyway." Blaine leant his head against Kurt's wall, sighing regretfully.
"Blaine! That's nearly four months!" Kurt exclaimed, his voice quivering.
As pathetic as Kurt knew it probably sounded, Blaine was his rock. When things at McKinley were bad, Blaine was that one person he could turn to – his best friend above anything else. That long a time without seeing him would send Kurt crazy. He thought back to his days at Dalton; seeing Blaine every day had been a dream come true. Returning to McKinley had been nice at the start – seeing his old friends every day, but there was no comparing to seeing the boy he loved walking down the corridor towards him. He had been looking forward to it again at McKinley, but it appeared fate had stepped in.
"Kurt, I know. I don't really want to do this – I love you, and I love Dalton – but this is bigger than me; it's bigger than us", he sighed resignedly, "And it's either California or Dalton, and since Alan isn't prepared to pay my tuition at Dalton, California is the only way to go."
Kurt crawled over the bed to nestle in with his boyfriend.
"Can you stay over tonight?"
There was nothing sexual about it; Kurt still wasn't ready for that aspect of the relationship – he just wanted this time for him and Blaine before Blaine was on the other side of the country.
Blaine nodded gently, and Kurt felt his boyfriend's torso shuddering. Blaine was crying?
"Blaine, shhh, it's all going to be alright – I'm sorry for getting cranky before, I guess you were right; I do get upset when I'm tired."
Blaine's tears subsided for the moment "Kurt, it's not that, I just... I'm scared."
Kurt frowned, "Blaine, if this Californian school is elite as you've made it sound, I'm sure there's going to be a zero tolerance bullying policy there too."
"It's not that, it's Alan. I'm going to be living with a damn stranger!"
Kurt sighed and ran his fingers absent-mindedly across Blaine's back, squeezing his shoulder gently.
"Blaine, he's going to see you, and realise just how much he's missed out these last however many years."
"Twelve years. Twelve damn years, and now he wants to see me" Blaine hissed, his anger bubbling up again.
Kurt kissed him softly, "Blaine, give him a chance. You've always been one for second chances, so just give it a try okay?"
Blaine sighed before whispering, "He still hasn't found out I'm gay."
"How is that important? It's not like you're going to have a boyfriend over there. Right?" He added, mocking suspicion and punching Blaine playfully on the arm.
"Of course not," Blaine mumbled, pecking Kurt on the cheek, "I'm hopelessly devoted to you."
Kurt gasped in mock disgust "Grease Blaine? Really? Of all the musicals you could have chosen, you went all Olivia Newton-John on me?"
Blaine grinned sheepishly, planting a kiss on Kurt's cheek, "Yeah, I guess so."
The tables turned after dinner.
Blaine had been restored to his usual cheery disposition by the friendly banter of Kurt's family. Kurt, however, was used to his Dad and Carole's witty banter and Finn's stupid remarks. Dinner had given him time to brood.
Once the dishes had been done, he sloped upstairs, casting a glance at Blaine who was talking to Finn aboutfootball. As usual.
Kurt sat down softly on his bed, allowing the tears to flow freely now that he was in private. He knew it was stupid, and selfish, and completely contradicted everything he had told Blaine before. Kurt was scared too.
Scared of who he would talk to now – there were things he had never told anyone else. Blaine had been there when his life was made Hell by Karofsky. Kurt shuddered at the memory of being slammed against those lockers every day. That kiss that had screwed up his sense of personal space - making him hesitant of any advances made towards him from then on.
It was all so messed up – he and Blaine were finally happy after everything that had happened, from Karofsky to the dramas of prom; and for the damn economy of all things to mess it up. Kurt flopped backwards lying down on his bed, rubbing his eyes tiredly. It had been a long week.
Blaine crept up the stairs; eager to burst in on Kurt with whatever he was doing – his moisturizing routine no doubt. He was surprised then, to find a red eyed, unconscious Kurt splayed on his bed. Blaine sighed, and perched next to him, brushing his hair out of his eyes.
"Kurt?" He whispered, lying down next to his boyfriend.
Kurt burbled something incomprehensible in response and Blaine smiled; he was so adorable, especially when asleep. However Blaine wanted to talk to Kurt, as this was likely their last chance before he had to leave.
"Kurt? Can you wake up love? I have to talk to you"
"Mmm, don't wanna" Kurt mumbled, opening one eye lazily to peer up at Blaine, before rolling over to his side.
Blaine snuggled up next to him, "Fine, I guess I'll just have to sing to you here then."
Kurt rolled over, completely alert, "What?"
Blaine snickered, "Just kidding, but I do want to talk to you about these next two weeks."
"If we don't talk about them, they aren't going to happen" Kurt pouted, rolling back away from Blaine, but snuggling in closer.
Blaine sighed, and began to sing quietly under his breath, gently stroking Kurt's arm as his breaths slowed; falling back to sleep.
Didn't they always say we were the lucky ones
I guess that we were once, babe, we were once
But luck will leave you 'cause it is a faithless friend
And in the end when love has got you down
You've got someone here you can wrap your arms around
Kurt sighed, content in his boyfriend's arms, "I'm gonna miss you" he mumbled sadly, voice thick with sleep.
Blaine took Kurt's hand and squeezed it gently, "I know, I'll miss you more. I'm going to be stuck in a house with some guy I've never met. I'll Skype you though okay?"
"Every night?" Kurt asked, in a childish voice.
Blaine smiled, "Every night."
He looked at Kurt's peaceful figure sadly, he would miss this if he had to move away for four months. Hell, he'd miss it when he left the next morning. But for now he allowed himself to be caught up in the moment, and just treasured the fact that he had someone so special in his life.
So hold on to me tonight
We are stronger here together than we could ever be alone
So hold on to me, don't you ever let me go
A/N: the song I used at the end is called Hold On by Michael Buble. It's seriously a lovely song, and my favourite at the moment. Look it up on youtube if you want!
