Thank you to anyone that is still reading this story even though I sometimes take very long breaks in between updating. I hope you are still enjoying the story and I would love to hear your feedback.

Chapter 4

The next morning Blaine could hardly pay attention in his classes. He was worried that Hunter was going to do something stupid. It was walking between his math and history class that Blaine saw Hunter walking toward his dorm, even though Blaine knew the boy was supposed to be in class.

"I'll see you in there," Blaine muttered to Jeff. "I have something to take care of."

"Okay," Jeff said confused, but decided to keep his mouth shut upon seeing Blaine's serious expression.

Blaine ran after Hunter, catching up with him as he walked by the enormous gymnasium.

"Hunter, where are you going?" Blaine asked, grabbing on to his friend's arm and pulling him to a stop.

"What the hell are you doing?" Hunter asked after his temporary shock subsided. "Leave me alone."

"Why are you skipping class?" Blaine asked, letting go of Hunter's arm and folding his own across his chest.

"You know, I think you are becoming more and more like your Uncle each and every day," Hunter shot back.

"I'm not your enemy," Blaine argued, running his hands through his hair in his frustration.

"Well you're certainly not acting like my friend right now," Hunter replied. "My friend would support me and see that I'm suffocating here."

"I do support you," Blaine said, trying to keep the hurt from Hunter's words off of his face. "But going back to your father isn't the solution. There has to be another way."

"I'm not like you, Blaine," Hunter said after a couple moments of silence. "I'm not making friends here the way you do. These people are of no interest to me."

"You aren't trying," Blaine shot back in reply.

"How would you even know?" Hunter said, folding his arms across his chest. "You are too busy running around with your little boy band."

Blaine had about reached his limit and was ready to tell Hunter exactly what he felt about how his friend was acting, but unfortunately that was the moment that Headmaster Steinhardt walked up behind them.

"Well what do we have here?" Headmaster Steinhardt asked. "Shouldn't the two of you be in class?"

Both Blaine and Hunter stared at the ground in front of them, knowing that Headmaster Steinhardt was well aware of the answer.

"Peter warned me that the two of you tended to get each other in trouble, but I had hoped that he was overreacting," Steinhardt continued. "I see I may have misjudged the situation."

Blaine had to grit his teeth to hold back from snapping that it was only skipping class, not like the two were out robbing a museum.

"Sorry sir, I just wanted to talk with Hunter and I lost track of the time," Blaine said in reply. "It won't happen again, and we will head straight to class."

"That won't be necessary," Headmaster Steinhardt replied, confusing both boys. "I was actually coming to pull the both of you out of class to speak with you."

"What for?" Hunter asked.

"Let's head to my office and we will discuss that," Steinhardt said, gesturing toward the main hall where his office was located.

Steinhardt led the way and the two boys followed. Blaine almost sighed in relief that they weren't in trouble for missing class, but then the Headmaster spoke again.

"For being over fifteen minutes late for class," Steinhardt said. "Even though I have some doubts as to whether you ever intended to make it there, you will serve detention this afternoon."

Blaine held back a groan at that.

"Yes, sir," both Blaine and Hunter replied with a sigh.

The three of them walked the rest of the way to the office in silence. It was fairly short walk, since the office was located next to the gym with just a large pathway in between the two. Once inside they were greeted by a surprise sitting in the Headmaster's office.

"Uncle Peter!" Blaine exclaimed. "I didn't think you'd make it out here this quick."

"The bureau wanted me to fly out here this morning," Peter replied, pulling his nephew into a hug.

Hunter looked back and forth between the two for a moment, before instantly realizing what was happening.

"You fucking told him!" Hunter exclaimed. "I thought I knew you. We used to have each other's back, and now you run to your uncle the moment things don't go the way you want them to."

"Hunter I told you I don't want you to end up in juvie," Blaine replied. "You may be very unhappy here, but I would much rather you unhappy here than unhappy behind bars."

"It's my life," Hunter snapped in reply. "It's my choice."

"You're 16," Headmaster Steinhardt butted into the conversation. "It's still the place of adults to help you out."

"I don't want your help," Hunter replied.

"You may not want it, but you're going to get it and hopefully later in life you realize that it was all worth it in the end," Peter replied, turning to face Hunter. "Now please have a seat."

Hunter fought the urge to turn around and run right out the front doors. He wouldn't get anywhere, though. He would have to stay on campus. Even if he could get off campus, his stupid tracking anklet would tell them exactly where to find him. After a few moments he obeyed, sitting down in the seat closest to the wall. Headmaster Steinhardt sat on his side of the desk, and his three guest sat on the other. Hunter closest to the wall, Blaine in the middle and Peter on the end.

"So first things first," Peter said. "I need the cell phone that your father gave you."

Hunter looked like he was going to refuse, but then clearly thought better of it and handed it over to Peter.

"This feels like an odd sense of déjà vu," Hunter couldn't help but quip.

"Do you know if your father is in the area?" Peter asked, ignoring what Hunter had said in favor of hopefully getting answers.

"I honestly don't know," Hunter replied. "He was light on the details in case something like this happened. He said that he wouldn't tell me everything until the plan was fully in place and about to occur."

"Did it sound like it was going to occur soon?" Peter asked.

"I think he planned it within the next month," Hunter replied. "He was indicating that he had something time sensitive that he needed me to take care of."

Peter nodded at that and got lost in his thoughts for a few moments.

"And you've had absolutely no contact?" Peter asked, turning his attention toward his nephew now.

"No, I've already told you I haven't," Blaine replied. "I'm done with Mr. Clarington."

"Blaine has been doing very well here," Headmaster Steinhardt came to Blaine's defense. "He seems to have made himself a good group of friends and together they almost won the Showcase."

"Showcase?" Peter asked, quirking his right eyebrow. "Blaine hasn't mentioned anything about a Showcase."

"I didn't think it was that important," Blaine shrugged. "Some friends and I put together a little makeshift band and played a song at the showcase. It's what I chose to do instead of picking a sport for my required extracurricular activity."

"Makeshift band," Hunter scoffed. "I meant it when I said you guys were good and should have won."

Blaine blushed at that, joyed by the praise from Hunter even though he was currently very frustrated with his best friend.

"They were very good," Steinhardt agreed. "They work well together, and I think it's really helped to change the focus of the four boys from what they use to enjoy. Other than today, Blaine hasn't had a hiccup."

"Other than today?" Peter asked, his tone turning serious.

Of course that would be what Peter caught on to instead of all the other high praise that the headmaster had given him.

"I was late for class and got detention with Hunter," Blaine admitted.

"You skipped class?" Peter asked.

"I did plan on going," Blaine explained. "I just saw Hunter skipping and went to confront him about it."

Peter sighed and nodded. He wanted to tell Blaine that he should have left it up to the faculty to deal with Hunter, but he knew just yesterday he told Blaine he needed to look after his friend. He couldn't really fault him for this one.

"Okay well I think you can head back to class now," Peter said.

Both Hunter and Blaine moved to stand.

"Just Blaine," Peter added, his voice reaching his stern full-FBI mode. "I still need to talk further with you Hunter."

Blaine felt bad for Hunter. He knew firsthand how awful it was to deal with his Uncle in his interrogation mode. The man would not stop digging until he got all the answers that he wanted. Blaine was just very happy that it wasn't himself in that position right now. If he could make it without hearing another Special Agent Peter Burke lecture he would die a happy man.

"I will see you later, Blaine," Peter added. "I'm going to take you out to dinner tonight to catch up."

Blaine nodded and then quickly headed out of the Headmaster's office. It was now time for his next period class and so he hurriedly made his way there, walking through the door just in time.

"Where were you man?" Jeff asked when Blaine sat down next to him. "You are going to get in so much trouble for skipping class."

"Don't worry," Blaine replied. "I already got detention tonight."

"Just one night?" Jeff asked aghast. "Nick skipped once and they gave him three days!"

"I was only technically late," Blaine replied, confusing Jeff further. "The Headmaster came by and got Hunter and I and we talked in the office with my Uncle who is here."

Jeff didn't have a chance to quiz Blaine any further on what had happened, since at that moment the class began. Blaine didn't see Hunter for the rest of the day, not having any more classes with him. The next time that Blaine saw Hunter was decidedly extremely unexpected.

Jeff, Blaine, Nick and Avery walked into the music classroom. Since the Showcase had been the day before they were all meeting together for Mr. Fitzgerald to discuss their performances and reflect on how they thought it went. This was the time for any changes in instrument, grouping, or new members etc. Blaine thought they might gain a new member of two, but was floored when he walked in to see Hunter sitting on one of the chairs. He immediately headed over to sit next to him.

"What are you doing here?" Blaine asked before he even fully sat down.

"Hey, thanks. Nice to see you too, traitor," Hunter replied rolling his eyes. "Because of you, your uncle and the Headmaster thought that I might flourish in the music program like you did. They forced me to switch from archery with my friends to this."

"You said you weren't making friends," Blaine pointed out.

"Eh—acquaintances, same difference," Hunter said with a shrug.

Blaine wanted to argue that there was a world of difference between the two, but chose to pick his battles.

"The jokes on your uncle, though," Hunter said with a humorless laugh. "I'm pretty sure I'm the only new member of this program, so it looks like I will be going solo."

"We need a keyboardist," Jeff said, walking from the seat he had taken behind them. Avery had snatched a seat to his left and Nick to his right. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I couldn't help but overhear. Do you play?"

"Yes he does!" Blaine exclaimed before Hunter could even get the words out.

"Perfect!" Jeff exclaimed clapping his hand together like an over-excited child.

Hunter held back a groan at having to deal with someone with so much enthusiasm. He didn't say no though, because the look on Blaine's face was too hopeful to crush. If Blaine really wanted him on the straight and narrow this badly, then maybe he'd try again for his sake…for now.

Well there you have it, Hunter's on the straight and narrow...or is he?