A/N: To start another amazing thank you to my wonderful Charmedmich, I always hope you enjoy each and every chapter and I'm so glad you comment every chapter ! Yay! and IamAnabelle, sorry if it's weird. Michelle just really hated seeing her little Blainers get bullied because Coop got bullied a little when he was in middle school. Things got better for Cooper when he was in high school and became popular because he was sporty and all the girls likes him, but Blaine didn't have that and she kinda blames Kurt for starting it all off as before that Blaine had never been bullied by anyone. Sorry if that's a spoiler too, I just kinda wanted to justify Michelle cause I love her so :D there are so many fics where Blaine and his parents really don't get on and I wanted to swap it round a little. Anyway, on with chapter 12!

Chapter 12

"Come with me," Santana smiled, her eyes telling Blaine she had something up her sleeve and knowing Santana, he wasn't sure it was a good idea to follow. But, after Santana and he had talked the night before, Blaine had gone to the hospital for his appointment and had had his cast taken off and been given a new padded support boot thing. Blaine hadn't paid attention to what it was called, but was simply glad it meant he didn't need the crutches anymore and could now walk around putting pressure on his foot. The support boot took most of this weight and spread the rest of it to parts of his foot that weren't injured, therefore meaning he could walk and even run if he really tried. But what he was most excited about was that it meant he could dance a little next week for sectionals.

So with a sigh and a roll of his eyes, Blaine let Santana drag him down a corridor by the hand. She let him directly to her locker and stopped there, opening the combination and revealing the inside of her door.

"Santana," Blaine said touched.

"D'you like it?" she asked as Blaine reached out a hand to trace his fingertips over the photo. It was of him, concentrating hard on the piano he was playing in the choir room, his clothing telling him the photo was taken on Tuesday as he performed Against All Odds.

"You didn't have to," he said quietly.

"Well, I just wanted to put up a picture of my amazing, crazy inspirational boyfriend in my locker." Santana smirked proudly. Blaine shot her an amused smile in return and she let out a short laugh.
"The things you told me last night... I don't think I know of anyone who's been through anything like what you have. You're the strongest person I know Blaine. Apart from maybe Puck who can nearly lift me with one hand,"

"Thank you," Blaine smiled, his eyes shining.

"I think it's been too long since someone thought about you first," Santana said, a knowing look in her eyes.

"I'm glad it was you who did," Blaine said, pulling her into a hug.

"I'm glad too. I'm actually starting to feel like a better person," she admitted quietly into his ear.

"Oh well that definitely deserves a hug," Blaine teased, lifting Santana off her feet by leaning backwards, his arms strong around her waist as she kicked her feet up in surprise, giggling as she returned to the floor.

"You're such a dork still though. I'll still give you that," she laughed, earning a similar laugh off Blaine.

"A title I'm proud of," he said, lifting his head high theatrically just as the bell rang above their heads.

"Come on dork-face," she laughed. "Time for Glee."

"Lead the way." He smiled, an arm resting happily around her waist as they walked together to the choir room.

"Yo Blaine! You're outta your cast," Artie called happily as they entered the room together.

"Sure am," Blaine beamed, high-fiving him and slipping into the chair beside him. "Now I can actually dance for sectionals."

"Awesome man" Artie beamed. "We're totally gonna rock sectionals. I got a sneak peak at Mr. Shue's shortlist of songs he's considering we do for sectionals and there's a 3OH!3 track in there! It's going to be freaking awesome,"

"No way? Mr. Shue's listened to 3OH!3 before? I thought all he listened to was Journey?" Blaine laughed.

"So did I," Artie laughed. "Oh shoot here he comes,"

"Good morning class," Mr. Shue smiled as he walked in. The rest of the class quickly filed in right before the bell rang out again for the beginning of the lesson. Mr. Shue then quickly started the lesson, inviting any of the remaining duets to perform. Sam and Quinn happily hopped up to the front each giving each other lingering sideways glances and shy smiles as their music began.

They sang Without Love from Hairspray together, their voices pretty perfectly matched as Sam twirled Quinn around a bit, taking her hand as they danced. Their duet was perfect, their voices harmonising better than Rachel and Finn's and when they finished their song they slid happily back to their seats, sitting together and slipping their hands into one another's. Blaine looked over and caught Quinn's gaze. She smiled at him and he gave her a patented 'I told you so' look that she resisted a laugh at.

"Okay. You were right. Shut up," she mouthed at him as he held back his own laugh, returning his attention to Mr. Shue who was now talking about their sectionals setlist and how they were going to structure it. It sounded like a very elaborate plan, the way he was dividing up the solo sections in just the first song was mindboggling but Blaine was happy to find he had two definite parts. It was just a matter of practice to see if he'd pull it off and sing the right lines. Blaine sighed as the period ended, setting himself up for the weekend. He had plans; another meet up with Mal, visiting Casey. He wanted to go visit Jessica though, preferably some time when he wan't likely to see anyone too. By the end of the class he'd decided he would go tonight, he had no real plans for tonight anyway apart from going home and working out. So as the day ended, he sloped off towards his car - Sugar taking her own today because she had shopping plans with Tina - and sank into his driver's seat.

"You would like it; being in Glee. You'd fit right in with Quinn I think. She's so much like you. She has your hair, your defiance. She's strong like you... You were always the strongest of us..." Blaine said, his eyes finally spilling over with tears. He usually managed to last out longer than this; usually he's there half an hour or more before he starts crying but not today. Today he's too busy wishing she were still here to keep his dry eyes. Too busy wishing she could be in the audience. Too busy thinking of the first time they performed together and how she'd hugged him tight and told him to break a leg before she all but pushed him onto the stage to take his starting position.

He sat back, wiping his eyes on his sleeve and adjusting his jeans that had bunched up, coming un-tucked from the stupid foot brace that just reminds him constantly of how breakable he is and yet how he should've been in her place. She was always there and then she wasn't. And Blaine had seen her go.

He tilted his head back, staring up at the pale indigo sky where the clouds had parted. It was getting late, he knew it was but he'd spent so long on the phone to his mom to explain he was going to be back late and then talking to Rachel who'd rung him up and suggested they practice at some point over the weekend their lines for the opening song for Sectionals because their lines ran onto each other. So it had been over an hour after school had finished by the time he'd finally pushed open his car's door and walked the too familiar route through the cemetery. So now it was getting late, and he was starting to wish he had a coat.

And I have another jacket as well. But it's in the trunk of my stupid car. Urgh, suck it up Blaine. Just deal with it.

"I sung a song for you in Glee this week," he said sadly. "Against All Odds... you always liked British music like Phil Collins. And I kinda hoped that... against all odds... this might all be a dream. That I might wake up in hospital and you'd still be alive. You'd still be there, slapping me around the head for being so defeatist all the time. Or that we'd still be busy getting dolled up for the dance and this is all just some terrible nightmare daydream I'm having. But it isn't... and you aren't."

He rubbed tiredly at his eyes, wiping away the tears he'd not even had the choice but to let them fall.

"I miss you," he whispered, his voice hoarse and thick from crying now. "I miss you all. Pete and Annie, and Jo and Rob. But I miss you most. God I miss you most."

He sighed and checked his watch and, finding it was gone half six he stood awkwardly and brushed the mud and dust off his pants. He leant back down and grabbed the wilting flowers from his last visit and rearranged the new ones he'd brought.

"I'm still sorry. I'm always sorry, Jess. I wish you were still here," he said, reaching out his hand to touch her tombstone, running a thumb gently over the smooth marble before taking a deep breath and turning around. He walked slowly through the graves, never paying attention to the names on them. He ran his fingers over the crumpling petals of the tulips in his hands, the once bright yellow now dull and lifeless. He reached the exit of the cemetery and entrance to the parking lot quickly, throwing the lifeless flowers into the trash before he his mind could create a metaphor for them.

"Blaine?" a voice called out when he was halfway towards his car.

"Yes?" Blaine asked, still with tears in his eyes as he turned and spotted the figure of Kurt standing by his Navigator. He wasn't in his uniform anymore. Instead he was wearing a set of plain dark jeans - that are a lot looser than the skinny jeans he always used to wear to school before he became a Cheerio a voice in Blaine's head decided to add - a simple grey button up and a thick dark grey cardigan. It was tasteful yet practical, warm enough to protect from the cool evening breeze whilst still looking fashionable.

Kurt stumbled for words as he took in the look on Blaine's face, his mouth opening and shutting but no words forming. Then he closed his eyes and took a deep steadying breath before finally managing to say something.

"Are you okay?" he asked, causing Blaine to let out a joyless bark of laughter.

"Clearly," he replied sarcastically, shaking his head, wiping his eyes and continuing towards his car.

"Blaine, wait," Kurt tried, starting after Blaine.

"Don't bother Kurt." Blaine said, sighing. "Tell her I say hi,"

"Tell who?" Kurt asked, confused.

"Lizzie obviously. Who else would you be here to see?" Blaine said.

"You... you still remember my mom," Kurt asked, brought up short at the mention of her and at the direct mention of her first name.

"Of course I do." Blaine said offhandedly. "No matter how hard you try to forget the past it never really works,"

"Blaine I..."

"It's fine." Blaine waved away. "I have to go,"

And with that, he unlocked his car and jumped in, shoving his keys in the ignition and pulling out of his parking space, not looking at Kurt except to see that he didn't run him over as he left. He didn't need to see the look on Kurt's face to know it was pitiful.

He just knew.

Kurt tried. He did. He looked for an opportunity but it never presented itself. He knew he had to talk to Blaine alone about this because in front of anyone else would involve explaining the whole story. And Kurt wasn't even sure he deserved their attention long enough to hear him out. He was wrong, he knew he had been from almost the moment it was over. But then it was too late. He's thrown everything he had with Blaine away that day.

He knew that even now it would be something he'd never do. But the fact he did it back then...

Blaine was right to hate him. He was right to, just as Kurt hated himself for it.

He just wanted to go back in time to stop himself from doing it. Then he'd still have his best friend. He'd still have someone who understood everything because they talked to each other. They didn't keep secrets; that just wasn't them. They stood up for each other and Kurt knew that without him in his side that day, Blaine had had no one. Kurt had betrayed him, and Kurt still kicked himself every time he saw Blaine's eyes grow distant during their frenzied Sectionals practice sessions that week. Every time he spotted Santana squeezing his hand and Blaine shooting her a small smile back. Because now she knew him better than he did. And he wanted it all back.

He wanted back his old Blaine.

The Blaine with crazy curly hair.
The Blaine with a 'The Little Mermaid' lunchbox.
The Blaine who always stuck up for him and never wanted a 'thank you'.
The Blaine who would brush off every 'thank you' with 'that's what best friends are for' and a smile.

The Blaine who wasn't broken inside.

The old Blaine.

The eleven-year-old Blaine.