Life isn't a storybook. It isn't a romantic comedy. It isn't an action flick or a horror movie either. Life is more like one of those weird, awkward indie films they show at Sundance, you know, the ones that you watch once, slightly confused, always waiting for the punch line, for the big plot, for the happy ending, none of which ever come. So you watch it again, convinced you must have missed something. And again. And again. Until it finally makes sense to you. You finally see what the story line is. You finally understand the point the writer and director were trying to make. That life is not, in fact, a movie. There isn't always a grand gesture of love and a big happy ending. There isn't always buildings blowing up and an unsung hero rushing in to save the day. There isn't always a point to life like there is to movies and books. Sometimes, life is just one, long, inane, and at times boring, indie flick. And sometimes you will love that indie flick. Wake up in the morning, and watch it instantly, so excited to see it again. Other days, you will want nothing more than to scratch the back of that DVD until it's unrecognizable and unwatchable. Because you're so frustrated with it. You're so fed up with there never being a point. With there never being any rhyme or reason. With never getting that happy ending you so desperately desire.

"Where is everyone?" Rachel asked, annoyed that five people were late to rehearsal, one of them being the coach.

Everyone shrugged, but looked up expectantly as Finn walked into the room. "Mr. Schue canceled glee today. He said to tell you all that he's sorry for the late notice, but something else came up," He announced.

"What? Why? If we want to win nationals this year, then we can't afford to risk missing any rehearsals. We need all the practice we can get to become the best. I will not lose a second time!" Rachel's voice got higher as she got herself more and more worked up.

"Schue, Kurt, Puck and Santana had something more important to take care of," Finn said uncomfortably. He hated lying to Rachel, but his parents, and all four missing members of New Directions had already warned him it wasn't his place to say where they were or what was going on.

"More important than winning nationals?" Rachel practically screeched.

Finn winced, and mumbled an incoherent yes.

Rachel looked set to go off, but noticed everyone else had already left and it was just her and Finn now. Then she noticed the look on her boyfriend's face. "Is everything okay?" She asked, instantly softening.

"I'm sorry, Rach. I'm not really supposed to say anything, it's not my place. Just please trust me that they have a good reason, all right?"

Rachel frowned, she hated not knowing everything. But she decided not to push Finn since he looked torn already, so she gave a relenting nod and let the subject drop. For now at least.

Kurt sat in the uncomfortable, tacky chair in the waiting room, forcing himself to be still and patient, and pretend that this was not at an extremely awkward group of people waiting together to see someone who quite possibly may never permit them to see him.

He studied the small group he was with. Mr. Schuester, who sat rigidly in the chair next to Kurt, his face showing signs of worry and fatigue that caused him to look older than he was. Santana, sitting across from Kurt, who was filing her nails, and would look to any passerby to be completely bored, but yet Kurt could still tell she was merely trying to distract herself. And then Noah. The oddest member, because Kurt had never much gotten the impression that he really cared for Blaine, or vice versa. But the look on his face now, made Kurt wonder what exactly was going on between him and Blaine that he didn't know, because Noah looked absolutely murderous. He couldn't remember ever seeing Noah look so pissed, and somehow, Kurt knew that he wasn't mad because he was stuck sitting in a waiting room.

A terrified holler broke through Kurt's thoughts, and all four people sitting together looked up in alarm, trying to figure out where it had come from. A strangled cry of "No!" resonated around the room, and Kurt had no doubt in his mind that it had been Blaine's voice. Not really caring at the moment that he wasn't allowed in Blaine's room, Kurt jumped up and rushed in, only to find Blaine thrashing violently on the bed, a look of absolute terror on his face, eyes squeezed shut.

"Blaine," Kurt said shakily, before gathering his inner strength and strolling over to the bed. He gripped one of Blaine's fists in his hand, and used his other to snap in front of his friend's face. "Blaine!" He yelled, more sure of himself this time.

Blaine jerked awake, immediately yanking his hand from Kurt's grasp, his breathing shallow and ragged, his eyes wide and wild and unseeing. He laid there, shaken, trying to focus his attention on the boy in front of him before he remembered where he was. "Kurt," He croaked out.

"I'm sorry, I know I'm not supposed to be in here, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I'll leave you alone now," Kurt turned to leave, but stilled when he felt a cautious hand lightly grip his fingers.

"You can stay," Blaine said softly, sounding nothing like the overly confident and cocky boy that Kurt had come to know in the past year. He sounded instead like a scared child who'd just awoken from a nightmare, only to remember that the monsters under his bed were real.

"Okay," Kurt said just as quietly. "If you're sure."

Blaine nodded, and Kurt didn't comment on the way he winced in pain at the slight movement. He sat in the seat closest to Blaine's bed, and waited silently, not wanting to push Blaine and get kicked out again.

Blaine watched the younger boy and couldn't help but feel guilty at how hesitant he seemed. Blaine wasn't used to seeing Kurt not speaking his mind, or acting so tentative, and he knew it was his fault. He knew he needed to apologize, but he didn't have the words right then. Imagine that, Blaine Anderson, at a loss for words. He always had a witty comeback or a proper response to everything, but not today.

"Shouldn't you be in school?" Blaine finally asked.

"I skipped out. I couldn't stay there knowing that you were here, all alone," Kurt shrugged like it was no big deal.

"But I was a complete dick to you," Blaine said, looking confused.

"Yes. You were. But I know it wasn't me you were mad at, and that's what friends do, Blaine. They are occasionally, as you so eloquently put it, 'dicks' to each other. But you make your amends, put the past behind you, forgive and forget and move on. That's kind of what being a friend is about," Kurt grinned at Blaine.

Blaine knew he had no way around it now. He had to apologize. "If it helps, I am sorry," He said sincerely, looking at Kurt with those puppy dog eyes that the other boy just couldn't resist.

Kurt's smile got wider. "I know."

Blaine nodded, resting his head back down, feeling completely drained.

"Any chance you'd be up to saying hi to just a few more people?" Kurt asked, looking so hopeful that Blaine couldn't find it in his heart to say no. Plus, he knew he owed Will an apology as well, not to mention a thank you for trying to help. Same for Puck and Santana. He didn't want to do it, but he knew he had to.

"Okay. But just for a few minutes."

Kurt jumped up clapping his hands, and Blaine couldn't help but chuckle lightly at the obvious elation in his friend. He just hoped Kurt understood when he told him later that they couldn't remain friends. This was one thing Blaine was unwavering on. Friends were bad news in his life. Even ones as genuine and well meaning as Kurt. Especially ones as genuine and well meaning as Kurt.

Kurt practically skipped out the door, only to reappear a few seconds later with the three people who had seen Blaine at his worst the night before last. Blaine immediately regretted letting Kurt bring them in, but he was still trying to reconstruct his mask, and this was a good way to begin because this was the polite thing to do.

Will felt a slight bit of disappointment as he took in the sight of the boy lying in the hospital bed. Despite all the injuries and bandages, despite the fact that his secret he'd tried so hard to keep was out, it was obvious that Blaine had reverted right back into his old disguise. He had a charming grin on his face, as he tried to hide the obvious pain it caused, and he was overly polite. If he hadn't been so beaten up, Will might have just grabbed the teen by the shoulders and tried to shake some sense into him.

After a few minutes of polite, strained small talk, Blaine looked up at the three people who he knew had saved him, thinking they were doing right by him, not realizing he hadn't wanted to be saved.

"Thank you," He said quietly but sincerely.

"Anytime, man," Puck attempted his easy grin, but it was too strained to look authentic.

Santana just nodded, not knowing what to say. And that was beginning to annoy her. She always had something to say, even if it wasn't usually nice, but around Blaine she kept finding herself tongue tied and uncertain.

Will gave him a nod and a smile, telling him they'd do whatever they could to help him. Blaine pretended to be ignorant as to what the teacher was really saying.

Dr. Weiss chose that moment to poke his head in the door. "Sorry to do this to you guys, but I need to check over how Blaine's healing to make sure he still looks good enough to go home tomorrow."

They all told Blaine they'd see him later, and filed out, except for Will, who Blaine asked to wait a second.

"Can I just have a minute alone with Mr. Schuester?" He asked Dr. Weiss, who nodded.

"But only a few minutes, then I'm going to check you over and I want you to get some more rest. I'll be back in five."

Will turned to Blaine, wondering what this was about, daring just a little to hope that Blaine was going to ask for help.

Instead Blaine wanted to apologize. "I'm sorry for the things I said to you yesterday and the way I treated you the past couple days. It wasn't fair to you, you were only doing what you thought was best. But I need you to understand, it's not as bad as it looks. It's not like this is a normal occurrence. It was my fault really, I talked back, embarrassed him in front of his friends. He'd had a long day and a little too much to drink. He said it'll never happen again, so don't worry. I'll be fine going home. Promise," Blaine finished his speech of lies and gave Will his most dazzling smile.

"This was not your fault, Blaine. How could you possibly think that? And just how stupid do I look to you? Look at all the old scars on you! You're trying to tell me this is the first time your dad's gotten out of hand? The first time he's hit you?" Will could feel himself getting angrier by the second. At Blaine's dad mainly, but also a little bit at Blaine. He was a bright kid. He had to know it wasn't his fault. And is his dad really had promised it wouldn't happen again, than he also knew Blaine was too damn smart to believe that for one second.

Blaine's smile faltered, but he kept himself as composed as he could. "I just wanted to apologize for my unnecessary and bratty behavior. Have a nice night, Mr. Schuester," Blaine said determinedly as the doctor came back in.

"Blaine-," Will began in a strangled voice.

"Bye, Mr. Schuester."

Will knew it was futile. The boy had dismissed him and nothing he said now would get Blaine to change his mind. "Bye Blaine," He said sadly, joining the kids in the waiting room. Dejectedly, he shook his head slightly at their hopeful expressions, knowing they had been thinking Blaine was going to ask for help as well.

With the all clear single from the doctor to leave the next day, Blaine felt his stress levels begin to rise. He considered asking Dr. Weiss to allow him to stay another week or so, but then he decided he'd rather just get it done and over with. He had no idea how he was going to get home from the hospital, hell, he wasn't even sure where his car was right now. He assumed it had been towed and put in the impound lot after being abandoned for more than twenty four hours, so that would be another fun task, playing hide and go seek with a Benz.

He heard a knock on his door, and assumed it was a nurse or doctor, and he knew they'd just barge in anyway, so he didn't bother responding. Then there was another knock, and Blaine got irritated. "What?" He yelled.

"Blaine? It's Brittany. Can I come in?"

It took Blaine a good minute to figure out who the hell Brittany was, and when he finally placed her as one of Kurt's friends from New Directions, the one who never seemed all that bright, he considered telling her no. But then his curiosity got the best of him, because he had no idea what the hell she'd be doing here or how she'd even know he was here in the first place.

"Sure," He said after contemplating which was stronger; his desire to be left the hell alone or his inquisitiveness at his unusual visitor.

She opened the door and came in slowly, staying close to it, and fidgeting with a bag in her hands.

"You can come all the way in. Have a seat," Blaine told her, always the gentleman.

Seemingly nervous, Brittany did as suggested. But then she didn't say anything. At all. After five minutes of complete silence, Blaine felt himself getting annoyed.

"How did you know I was here?" He asked.

"Santana. I came to wait with her yesterday. But don't worry, she didn't tell anyone else, I don't think. We just don't really keep much from each other, and she didn't want to lie to me about where she'd been."

"Okay," Blaine felt a little relieved at knowing that all of Kurt's glee friends didn't know he was here, but he still had no idea what Brittany was doing here.

"Brittany? It's, uh, nice of you to visit and everything, I really do appreciate it, but we've never even exchanged one sentence to each other. So, can I ask why you're here?"

Brittany looked surprised, like she herself wasn't even sure why she'd come. "Oh. Well, when I was eleven I was in a car accident, and had to stay in the hospital for a few days. I remember being really lonely and sad. I thought you might be lonely and sad as well. So I decided to give you company and try to cheer you up!" She finished brightly, smiling.

Blaine couldn't help the small smile that played at his lips. She seemed so proud of herself, and so sure that he must want visitors, and he realized he just didn't have the heart to tell her that he'd honestly rather be by himself. "That's sweet. Thank you," He told her.

"I also brought you this," Brittany reached in the bag she held and pulled out a fuzzy white teddy bear. Then she pressed a marker on his paw and it started to light up, slowly making its way through the rainbow. "My daddy brought me one exactly like this when I was in the hospital, and it made me feel a lot better. So I got one for you, so you'd feel better," She said, looking a little shy, and holding it out towards Blaine. He didn't take it right away, and was giving her an odd look so she pulled it back slightly, mumbling, "Wow, I guess it seems stupid to bring a light up teddy bear to a seventeen year old boy, huh? Sorry, I can take it back."

Blaine felt bad when he saw that Brittany looked embarrassed, so he wiped the surprised look off his face, and smiled at her again. "No, actually it's, it's really sweet of you," He took the bear and sat it next to him on the bed. "See? Now he can chill with me on the bed and watch Sports Center with me tonight." Blaine had an idea, and hoped he wouldn't be imposing or asking too much of someone. "Brittany, do you have anything planned after school tomorrow?"

Brittany looked thrown off, and Blaine realized it probably looked like he was trying to ask her out and hit one her from his hospital bed.

"It's just, I'm supposed to be released tomorrow, and I have no idea where my car is and I could kinda use a ride home."

"Oh! Well, I have Cheerios and then Glee, but I should be done around five. Is that too late? I could be here by five thirty."

"That'd be great if you don't mind. Just, uh, could you not mention it to anyone? I know you and Santana don't keep secrets, but could you maybe just wait until after you've taken me home to tell her? That wouldn't be keeping something from her, just holding off on telling her for a bit," Blaine flashed her his winning smile, hoping for a yes.

"That would be okay I guess," She answered, after thinking for a minute.

"Thanks Brittany," Blaine replied, feeling a little better now that at least one of his problems had been solved.