Hello, thank you to those who have read this far, commented, and/or followed the story! So, as I mentioned in the first chapter, this story was based off another I cannot find any longer. Since the source material is gone, (and I have the memory of a squirrel), I am making this up a little as I go.

Don't worry, I'm totally on the Klaine boat, so that's definitely where this ship is sailing (I think I'm punny ;))

I don't really write Glee stuff ever so this is my first attempt so thank you to all of you who like it, and feel free to let me know what you think!

P.S. I'm so extremely confused by the exact timeline Glee has so I'm kinda just making up times to separate events and competitions. Hope that's okay with y'all.

Alright! Enjoy!

Unwelcome

2009

Kurt had driven to Dalton two days after his father had arranged a useless meeting at his school. The school was just as he remembered when he walked inside, though it was less busy.

The Warblers are preparing for regional... they don't have time to give performances. Kurt understood.

He almost felt like an intruder. No, he did feel like and intruder, and a creep, sneaking through the prep-school hallways in search of one of their sophomores. He could remember Blaines class schedule with a fair level of ease so he just needed to time their accidental encounter without being caught by the hall monitors or administration who would surely demand he leave.

Since he hadn't participated in sectionals with the New Directions the first time, he had avoided it due to an illness he faked involving-.-he claimed-.-projectile vomiting and a sore throat so terrible that he lost his voice. The other members of the club, especially some of the more diva-ish members, decided they wanted him no where near them or he might wreck their performance. This meant he'd lost on an opportunity to see Blaine there, and he was only now realizing that, if they couldn't meet as they originally had on the staircase, it would have been the next best thing.

Kurt vaguely considered the possibility that he could just follow Blaine down the stairs and try to recreate their meeting exactly, but he knew the routes Blaine preferred to take to his classes and he didn't have the patience to wait for him to get to the stairs.

His heart sputtered when the bell rang and for a moment he feared he wouldn't be able to breathe when it was time to meet Blaine. He'd hardly been nervous about meeting Blaine on the stairs, only worried that he might know he was an imposer, and when letting himself hope that Blaine might like him back he'd been worried and hopeful but the stakes had not been that high; he'd expected rejection, he was so used to being alone that he was just happy to have Blaine as a friend. That was not the case anymore. This meeting could be everything to him. Kurt knew exactly what he had to lose if he made even the slightest error, and it could cost him his entire world.

Blaine loved me, Kurt told himself, he didn't know it but he did. He loved me before and he will do it again. Nothing to be worried about. Still, he was anxious to get his soul mate back.

The halls began filling with boys wearing Dalton suits. The sight made his heart race a little more, especially when he saw the one belonging to his beautiful fiance.

Blaine left the class with two boys, one Kurt knew instantly from his time at Dalton and the other who did look vaguely familiar but didn't matter enough for Kurt to care much about.

Kurt immediately began cutting through the chattering halls until he was only a step behind Blaine.

Oh, how I have missed that beautiful hair and that beautiful head and soon I will hear his beautiful voice once more. He put a hand on Blaines shoulder to turn him, as he would usually, before quickly turning it into a small tap when he remembered they weren't currently that close.

"Excuse me," Kurt said with a slight smile on his face as he tried desperately to seem casual and the right level of nervous. Blaine had always said he thought it had been cute and endearing. As Blaine, then the other two turned Kurt continued, "Hi, I'm new here and-"

He was cut off by the boy he only somewhat recognized grabbing Blaine by the arm and dragging him back into the crowd off people saying, "Come on, Grandel will kill us if we're late for our presentation."

Kurt watched with a face painted in shock and tortured disappointment as Blaines confused face, and a shocked "Ugh" from being suddenly dragged, was hidden once more by the crowds. The boy, Kurt thought his name might be Taylor or Tyler or something, who remained smiled friendly enough, just as Blaine had when they'd first met. But Kurt had no interest in recreating any memories with anyone but Blaine.

The interest left Kurts face instantly and he looked up at Taylor-Tyler-whatever his name was and said from memory of the class and location, "I'm new. Looking for Mrs. Adams class. Room 207."

"Oh, that's just down the hall that way. I can take you if you..." He offered with a smile but Kurt shook his head, thanked him as pleasantly as he could manage and marched into the direction the boy had pointed.

Maybe I should just poke him on Facebook... that seemed to work for Eli. C. Kurt thought mopping, then realized as he sat on one of the hallway benches that maybe he wasn't being smart enough about this. He knew Blaine. He knew what he liked and what he looked for, and what he'd thought he wanted before meeting Kurt. He knew where he liked to spend his free time and where to shop. He was even fairly certain he knew where he would be on Valentines day. Perhaps he could run into Blaine at the Gap. But that had already passed, and Kurt had no idea whether or not Blaine had followed through without Kurt foolishly misunderstanding Blaines intentions and encouraging him.

Or he could start spending every free minute he had at the Lima Bean until he ran into Blaine "accidentally." Maybe he should start befriend someone at Dalton so he had a way in. But he was already struggling to befriend someone at Dalton. That Tyler guy seemed pretty friendly and he clearly had a preexisting relationship with Blaine.

No, Kurt thought, I won't exploit someone, no matter how much I think it may be worth it. Although he did miss a few of his Dalton friends and the support they gave him, Blaine was his priority.

It was only five more minutes before a teacher caught him and he was asked to leave. But he needed air anyway. His efforts to keep himself calm and rational all seemed meaningless since his body was starting to panic.

What if I never get Blaine back? What if I am never able to get him alone or he starts dating someone else, or he isn't interested in getting to know me if it isn't in the context of Dalton and being bullied, and how do I get him to notice me or love me again. What if I've lost him forever, this isn't what I wanted, I didn't even ask for this, I want to go back to New York where I have my friends, and school, and Blaine.

Finn entered his mind then. He'd been so happy to spend so much more time with Finn, time he never thought he'd have again. He thought it was fairly obvious that Finn misunderstood the attention but he wasn't going to repeat the same mistake that had gotten him kicked out last time. Kurt didn't want to make Finn feel uncomfortable but he also couldn't just explain to him why he was so happy to be near him.

Kurt felt a twinge of pain and guilt in his stomach. He'd prioritized using this as a vacation and reconnecting with Finn rather than finding Blaine like he was supposed to. And now finding Blaine seemed somehow so much harder. And he was getting desperate. I could just corner him at his house. Kurt thought, Or I could pretend that I was a singing gram sent from his brother. He wouldn't doubt it, Kurt knew. Who else would know Cooper Anderson was his brother, or how they talked to one another, or the problems in the relationship that Kurt could help fix a little earlier by letting Blaine know how much his brother loved him, even if he didn't always show it.

That would allow Kurt to see Blaine, but how would he befriend him from that point? Blaine wouldn't be rude or send him away by force, but he also wasn't sure he was able to stomach the awkward, are you leaving yet looks Blaine would undoubtedly give him after the excitement of his job was over.

Kurt got in his car and drove back to McKinnley, worrying relentlessly that he might not be able to reconnect with Blaine as they once had.

He could remember Blaine clearly, that was his only comfort. It wasn't as if Korofsky had stopped harassing him, or that he'd somehow gained more acceptance at school. In fact, he was fairly certain that the glee club's acknowledgment of his importance only came after he'd left, meaning he and his problems were still invisible to them. And now he had nothing but the confidence created from the friendship of a boy he couldn't even meet. Eventually Blaines influence would run out and where would that leave Kurt then?

No, Kurt then told himself as he parked in the school student parking lot, you are an adult, not a teenager or a child. You've matured more than this and you will use that. Blaine will love you. You will get him back. Stalking him all over town will only get you noticed and push him away. Patience.

.

It was only a few more days after that they were on their way to regionals. Kurt had noticed that for some reason the set list had changed, and fought desperately to have it returned to the songs they'd chosen the first time around so they would once again win. The rest of the club had been hesitant but agreed on the idea of original songs, all of which seemed to be inspired and assigned by Kurt.

Kurt was hesitant to preform again at regionals because he didn't want to screw things up any further, but he knew he had to. The Warblers had followed Kurts suggestion and lost. Although Kurt still felt he had been correct in suggesting that Blaine's solo's were becoming expected and tedious, a small part of him feared that was why they'd lost. Without Kurt there to make Blaine think about it, he never would have demanded a duet and the Warblers would be preforming as usual. Kurt did not doubt Blaines ability to win the competition.

He didn't want the Warblers to win. Mostly because he wanted to be on the winning team always, but also because he wanted to repair his mistakes to the timeline and if that didn't work, at least with less to worry about, Blaine might have more time to meet Kurt.

He felt his feet growing heavier and heavier as he got off the bus and walked towards the building regionals would be held in. He was dressed in the black suit he'd never warn and attempted to listen to Mercedes excitement but it was a challenge for him. He'd screwed up. He'd worked so hard to have Blaine love him. By now they should be together, preparing to go on stage and sing together in the most exhilarating and romantic moment of Kurts life up until that point.

When they got to their greenroom, Kurt immediately dismissed himself. He couldn't feel comfortable. He felt sick to his stomach. Nothing felt right about the room, or his situation, or his life. He needed air or he was sure he'd pass out. He didn't get far through the hall, though, before falling against a wall and fighting to remain standing. He lost that fight as his knees buckled and he fell to the floor hugging his knees and pressing his face into them in a hope that this was all just some awful nightmare and he would wake up in Blaines arms and be kissed and forget all about this awful time without him.

"Are you okay?" Kurt felt himself freeze at the voice that seemed to radiate through his bones. He looked up slowly, trying desperately to compose his face to look natural. Blaine stood a foot away from him, with perfectly gelled hair and his hands in his Warbler pockets as he looked down at Kurt carefully. "Are you okay?"

"I..." Kurt blinked at him momentarily trying to determine whether or not he was real. "I... um, yeah. Yes, I am, thank you."

Kurt started to stand and paused for a moment as Blaine offered him a hand to help him up. He thought he might have lost the ability to breathe when he took Blaines hand and felt his skin for the first time in weeks, months even. He was not in a rush to let go of his hand when he was standing again, and to his own relief, Blaine didn't instantly pull his hand away from him.

"You're nervous." Blaine assumed with a small suggestively mischievous smile crossing his face. Kurt always loved that smile but he also loved everything about Blaine. He'd thought there were some, more needy, qualities about him he could do without but after so much time of living without him and the fear that Blaine might not even know he existed, those clingy character traits were looking mighty comforting.

"I guess that might be what it is." Kurt had to bite the inside of his cheeks to keep from smiling and beaming with excitement at the chance to talk to Blaine again.

"I know it can be scary sometimes." Blaine acknowledged with a supportive smile before slowly pulling his hand away and presenting it in a greeting sort of way to shake Kurts hand. "I remember how it felt my first time on stage. I'm Blaine."

"Kurt." Kurt smiled a little wider and accepted Blaines hand once more, only this time the contact only lasted a few seconds before Blaine pulled away. It was a little strange, Kurt thought, looking into Blaines eyes because he'd gotten so used to being taller than him and suddenly they were back to being the same size.

"Kurt." Blaine repeated. He continued to look and speak to Kurt with friendliness but watched him with amused skepticism, "weren't you are Dalton the other day? I swear I saw you there."

"Oh, uh, yeah, I was, I was just..."

"But now you're from New Directions."

"Well, yes..." Kurt was going to explain more but Blaine cut him off, playing with the collar of his jacket for a quick moment.

"Spying would be easier if you knew where you were going, just so you know." Blaine smirked releasing Kurts collar. "Our choir room is downstairs."

"I wasn't spying actually." Kurt blurted out and after a short moment of awkwardness, he was thankful because it kept the conversation with Blaine alive. "I'm gay."

He wasn't sure what Blaines exact response was to his tiny outburst because multiple expressions seemed to cross his face from confusion, to curiosity, to interest, to irritation, to a stern but intrigued look through narrowed eyes that Kurt knew from experience was an invitation to explain.

"I'm gay." Kurt repeated. "And that's not exactly okay at my school." Understanding and sympathy instantly crossed Blaines face then. "Not for everyone, at least. I'm the only kid who is out of the closet, and I can't imagine anyone understands, or even really cares, and I get bullied relentlessly for it. I thought I'd gotten over it, but I don't think it's possible, and this one neanderthal of a bully won't stop harassing me, but I'm also fairly certain he thinks he's in love with me and,"

Blaine put up his hands as if asking Kurt to take a break and pause, or slow down making Kurt instantly feel guilty and almost insecure. Please don't say I scared him away. Please tell me you haven't scared away the love of your life by talking. But Kurt shook his head slightly and understood his rambling, although partly due to awkwardness, was his need to talk to someone and his absolute comfort with Blaine. He wouldn't judge someone for being upset about bullying. He's not that sort of person.

"Wow, I'm really sorry that all of that is happening to you, Kurt." He said in a serious but caring tone. "And I totally get it, actually, I'm gay too, if you could even believe it, my father doesn't."

Kurt shot out a laugh in part because he thought the comment was funny but also because he was so nervous to be talking again to Blaine.

Blaine smiled with a little pride seeing that he'd made Kurt laugh, and continued almost bashfully. "I used to get teased and bullied at my old school about it, too. I totally get it. But you do know that Dalton is not actually a gay school, right?"

"Yes, I do." Kurt said working on creating a completely controlled smile to offer Blaine in response. "And I am sorry for spying, I suppose. I just know that Dalton has a zero tolerance policy on bullying and... I'm just so tired of feeling like this."

"Well, I am glad that you are considering Dalton as an option. It definitely beats many alternatives. And if you do come, I am sure the Warblers would be happy to have you." Blaine smiled. His smile was pulled away suddenly and he started looking very serious and flustered as he searched his pockets for his phone. "And here. I will give you my number so if you ever want to talk to someone, you can call or text me."

"Really?" Kurt asked with hopeful excitement. How could this really be happening? Was he really getting a second chance?

"Of course." He handed Kurt his phone to put his number into his phone. "I have to go back to my room now. We are going to be up soon. I came over because I thought I recognized you from Dalton, then you started looking a little off and I wanted to make sure you were alright."

"I am, now, thank you."

"Good." Blaine smiled a little bashfully. "I'm really glad I decided to come over then. I don't usually talk to strangers." He bit his lip then as if he was worried that he'd said the wrong thing which to Kurt was insane. But he understood that the boy had no way of knowing that Kurt was already so deeply in love with him that he could say just about anything and Kurt would remain just as devoted to him.

Kurt glanced back down at the phone then, and returned it to the home screen only to feel himself tense with an emotion that curled his stomach into knots and tightened his body into what felt like knots. He wasn't going to let such a little thing like a picture make him think anything that didn't exist. Kurt and Mercedes were on each others home screens. But the jealous, long forgotten anger that Kurt felt was undeniable and unavoidable.

"Oh, that's my boyfriend." Blaine said noticing Kurts eyes on the photo. Kurt thought those words should cause him more pain but nothing more could be added beyond the anger he already felt towards the meerkat in the photo next to his fiance. "His name is Sebastian."