There are mentions of sexual abuse in this chapter and they're in italics if you don't want to read them and if any of you are suffering from any kind of abuse please contact the police or someone you love immediately. It is not your fault and you're not alone.

Kurt peered over his knees fearfully, salty tears dripping down his face and onto his shirt. A boy stood there, frozen at the sight of him. Of course he froze, Kurt didn't blame him after all, who wouldn't? He was just another broken soul, another filthy gay, a playtoy for bullies worldwide. Kurt rested his head back on his legs, returning to the fetal position and silently begging the other teenager to leave and let him drown in his self hatred.

His body shaking and his mind overcome with emotion, Kurt didn't hear the curly haired boy approach him and bend down by his side until he was right next to him. Kurt was starting to struggle for air and he suddenly began to panic, unable to breathe. He saw Blaine out of the corner of his eye and instantly flinched away from him, expecting a beating at any moment.

"Kurt? You are Kurt, right? My name's Blaine, your new roommate? I'm not going to hurt you but I need you to calm down." Yeah right, that's what he had said, he would be alright. It wouldn't hurt a bit. He deserved it.

"Kurt? Please, I need you to calm down." Blaine's shouts were getting further away as Kurt struggled with the fight to breathe. He was going to die, he knew it but he didn't want to. Even after all that had happened to him he needed to remain strong for his dad. Of course, Kurt had thought about suicide but never really considered it as an option for him, his mother wouldn't have wanted it and his dad would have another heart attack and Kurt couldn't be the reason his dad died. He just couldn't. And so Kurt didn't want to die, he had to stay alive for his family. "Deep breaths, Kurt, please." Kurt took his last, panicking look at the hazel eyes which were locked on his before he fell unconscious and was pulled into a flashback.

It was two weeks before it had happened and the bullying Kurt was facing was getting worse. The locker slams had turned into vicious punches, the slushies into mouldy, soft fruit. Kurt was walking down the corridor on his way to glee club, gingerly searching for the jocks before he turned to walk down the empty corridor. Suddenly Kurt felt a himself being grasped from behind and his breath hitched, preparing to scream for help. Out of nowhere, a sweaty, beefy hand planted itself on the small boy's mouth and he found himself being dragged into a small closet, the burly jock blocking the door.

"K-Karofsky?"

"Hello slut."

"What are you doing, let me go!" Kurt began to shout for help maniacally, all to used to being beaten up by him and trying to desperately push past the thickset bully. Karofsky quickly stopped him, sharply grabbing his hair and shoving him hard against the chemically stained wall. "Dave, please-" The skinny boy was cut off as a pair of rough lips attacked his, making Kurt gag at the foul taste from the older boy's mouth. Karofsky used this to his advantage, his tongue intruding Kurt's mouth as he struggled for air.

"Don't worry," Dave mumbled, his mouth still pressed against the other teenager's, "you'll be fine as long as you don't tell anyone, it'll be our little secret." Karofsky suddenly released his tight hold on the boy who promptly fell to the floor in shock. The jock looked at him for a moment before kicking him in the ribs for good measure. "Good boy!" He praised cruelly, "maybe now you'll man up and stop being so gay. Don't forget, you deserve this, Hummel. All your singing, the dancing, flouncing around in your tight jeans," Dave was stopped for a second as a moan escaped his mouth at the thought, making Kurt feel even more disgusted. "Yeah, you were asking for it."

The bully left and Kurt was left reeling. What had just happened? Kurt felt a wave of nausea as he rolled to his side and threw up, just laying there. He never wanted to move from that spot, to have to get up and carry on as if nothing happened- that was the first day Kurt Hummel ever thought about death.

"Kurt? Kurt!" Blaine shouted at the boy, trying to sound and remain calm he'd be no use if he started panicking- but in was no use. The younger boy had already passed out and Blaine quickly took his pulse, afraid he had died. Of course, Blaine knew it was silly and what was happening. Kurt had just had a panic attack, like Blaine had often had before after- nope he must'nt think about that now, he had to focus on Kurt. He leant over the boy, laying the fragile boy down on the bed and carefully levitating his feet so the blood flow would go to his head. He wasn't too sure if this would help the gorgeous boy but he had often woke up after a panic attack with his legs raised so he thought it would be worth a try. Blaine's heart wrenched when he looked back down at the small boy whose face was scrunched up showing a faint look of disgust, hate and, was that pity? The dark haired boy didn't have anymore time to check if it was for at that moment, his future roomie started to stir and Blaine moved back to his side in a flash, ready to comfort or assure the boy if needs be.

Kurt slowly opened his eyes, adjusting them to the evening light and trying to figure out where exactly he was. His eyes picked out his suitcase at the end of his bed, oh right, Dalton. The next thing Kurt spotted was the gelled haired boy at his bedside- Blaine, Kurt remembered the other boy's name to be as the memory of what had just happened flooded back to him and Kurt felt himself start to cry again and mentally cursed. If all he did around this person was cry, they would surely soon spread the message and he would once again be the target of many cruel jokes and attacks. He closed his eyes, expecting Blaine to run away and escape, instead of this though, Kurt felt warm arms being wrapped around him and he couldn't help but relax into them. They weren't tight and constricting like Karofsky's were, they were gentle and loose, allowing him to break the hug if he wanted to. But he didn't, preferring to melt into the hold because although they had just met, Kurt couldn't help but be comforted by the shorter boy. He'd avoided hugs with his family and friends for too long and welcomed it, even if it was from an almost complete stranger. But Kurt didn't feel he didn't know the other boy, Blaine had stayed with him all through his panic attack even when he woke up, sticking by his side and actually caring, in short, Kurt trusted him, even if it was only a very tiny bit.

"Would you like me to get you a doctor?" The other boy asked, scrutinizing Kurt for any more signs of panic or if he was feeling sick or dizzy. Kurt shook his head in return, he didn't want to have to meet more people than necessary and besides, if he called a doctor, his dad was bound to find out and Kurt didn't want to risk his heart anymore. " Well, I'm Blaine if you don't remember from before. I'm sorry if I scared you when I came in, I've gotten used to living on my own." Oh God, this boy did hate him.

"Wait, no, I didn't mean it like that," said Blaine quickly, reading Kurt's expression, "I've been looking forward to getting a new roommate, I get rather lonely on my own." Blaine flashed Kurt a reassuring smile which Kurt timidly returned. "I mean, seriously, Disney and Wicked are great but they don't quite make up for a friend who could be sitting with me and talking."

Kurt drew away from Blaine when he said that although he couldn't help thinking the boy was all bad if he liked Disney, and the shorter boy looked at him confused, thinking back to what he last said. Of course, sitting with him and talking. Ah.

"Crap, Kurt please forgive me, I didn't mean it like that, I think it's nice your quiet. No, that came out wrong too, I just mean my friends are usually really talkative, not that I don't want to be your friend because I do. I just mean-" Blaine was stopped from his rambling as Kurt held up his hands, using the universal sign for stop and accompanying it with a small smile to let Blaine know he was forgiven. Blaine smiled back at him and checked his watch for the time, ok, more for a distraction to hide his blushing cheeks but who could blame him? Kurt was breathtaking. "Oh my gosh, it's quarter to seven, we only have fifteen minutes to get dinner! Come on, I'll show you the way."

The others boy tensed, unliking the thought and shaking his well cleansed head at the eager boy, petrified of being in a huge mess hall with hundreds of other boys and longing to be alone once more. Well ok, maybe not hundreds, but still quite a few other kids. Blaine looked at him, questioningly, "you can't skip dinner, it's a really important meal." The porcelain skinned teenager nodded his head in reply, disagreeing although secretly he was starving.

"Ok, you need to eat, what about if I was to get some food and bring it up here for you to eat? I don't want to leave you alone, I've done that and trust me, it's not very nice to be with just your thoughts, especially after an attack." Blaine said, cottoning on to the fact that Kurt may not want to be around the other boys just yet. Kurt deliberated this in his head for a minute, if he allowed Blaine to do this, he was opening up a perfect opportunity for an awkward silence and intruding questions, but if he didn't, Blaine may continue to try and drag him down to dinner with everyone else; he seemed strong enough despite his height. In the end, it was Kurt's stomach which decided for him, growling loudly as Blaine laughed, Kurt flinching warily at the noise. "Well, I guess that's the decision made, I'll be right back, please don't hurt yourself when I'm gone," he smiled kindly, leaving the room.

It was only when Blaine had shut the door Kurt realised what he had really meant by that.