Okay, here it is... I love you all too much to keep it away for any longer! Chapter 6! I hope you enjoy it! So, I have the next four chapters planned out, so hopefully they'll be up within the next few weeks, and then Blaine will be at Dalton, and we have some all new adventures to experience! :D Hope to see you all sticking around :) xxx

Six

The house was silent and empty when Blaine slid his key into the lock, opening the heavy door with only the slightest creak. The corridor was dark, and he flicked the light switch, motioning for Kathryn to enter behind him. She had never been in his house before, and her eyes roved the rather expensive decor appreciatively.

'Nice,' she breathed.

'I wish it wasn't so fancy,' he replied. 'Do you want anything to eat?'

Kathryn shook her head quickly and he nodded, instead motioning for her to head up the stairs towards him room. She climbed the first stair and turned to face him, holding out her hand.

She'd tried this before, never forcing, but prompting him to hold her hand. Normally, he ignored it, just continuing on his own path, but this time, something was different. He couldn't place it, but they were in his house, and she was wanting to take his hand as they walked up the stairs to his bedroom. He lifted his palm slowly, letting Kathryn make the move to securely latch them together. She smiled, although it was considerably less bright than normal, and together they made their way up the stairs.

As soon as they entered Blaine's room, he regretted not tidying up that morning. His sheets were thrown lazily back from the bed, his clothes were a matted knot next to the washing basket, and his schoolwork was piled haphazardly upon the desk.

But that wasn't what caught Kathryn's attention. 'Nice photos,' she commented, pointing to one of him and Chaz from when they were younger. It was framed and resting on a hook against his wall, beside other photos of Blaine, or Blaine and his family. They seemed happy in the photos. He wondered when that stopped being the case.

'Yeah,' he muttered noncommittally, shrugging his shoulders. Kathryn only explored further, running her fingers lightly over every inch of his room.

'It's so-' she whispered to herself after a while. 'So Blaine.'

'What do you expect?' he almost laughed. 'It is my room.'

'It's just...' she said slowly. 'I can see you in every bit of this room. I don't think my bedroom is like that.'

'Why not?' he asked, but she was shaking her head and settling herself down on his bed. She patted the mattress next to her and Blaine sat down, smoothing the sheets beneath him. 'What's going on at home?' he pressed and she turned to him, placing her hand on his thigh.

'Blaine, can I ask you something?' He knew how this was going to go. Whenever she asked for permission before asking a question, she knew she ran a risk of offending him. She was covering her bases, making sure she wasn't pushing too many boundaries. He wondered what boundary she thought she was pushing this time.

'Yes.'

'Why don't you just tell everyone? They treat you like crap anyway, how much worse can it get? And you could be proud, and walk with your head held high. You could be so much happier, just because you don't have to hide yourself away from the world. Why don't you just tell them, and let them think what they want?'

He knew it was a valid argument. He knew it. But she didn't see the way they looked at him. The way they took every opportunity to hit him, or push him into lockers, or just call him names. It wasn't his fault, no. But he wouldn't declare his sexual orientation to the whole school so that they would only have an excuse to hit him harder.

All he said, however, was, 'I don't want to give them reason to attack.'

'But maybe there's other kids at Westerville just like you, who are hiding in the closet because they're scared of the treatment they might get. Maybe if you stood up and declared yourself, other people would be inspired to do the same. And maybe there's someone that would surprise you, and you might be able to, I don't know, start something.'

'I've been there, Kathryn,' he whispered. 'I let myself get caught up in a guy, and it didn't end well. I am never doing that again.'

'He was a jerk!'

'I know you think the world is full of nice people, but it's not. Most, if not all, of the male school population are jerks. Just as most of the female population are bitches.'

She scowled, but leaned against the headboard, prodding him lightly in the hip with her toe. 'But wouldn't you like to fall in love someday? Meet someone magical and have a dream romance?'

'Sure,' he agreed through gritted teeth. 'But it's not gonna happen at Westerville High.'

She shrugged as if to say "your loss" and reached for her bag, just as her cell rang. She glanced at the caller ID for only a second before pressing it to her ear. 'Mom?' There was muffled talking on the other end of the line, but all Blaine could notice was the way her face paled instantly, all colour draining from it. Her eyes darkened perceptibly and her fingers shook.

'Are you okay?' he mouthed, reaching out to grab her hand, but she shook him off.

'What did he say?' she asked into thep hone. There was more muffled speech and then she hung up. 'I better go,' she said quickly to Blaine.

'Why? What's happened?'

Instead of answering, she stood up, picking up her bag and swinging it over her shoulder.

'Tell me.'

'I'll see you at school tomorrow, Blaine.'

'Kathryn?'

'Bye.'

And she left his bedroom and left his house. It had been a short visit, but it had left Blaine full of questions. What news did her mother give her? Why was she so shocked? And why wouldn't she answer his questions?

The next day at school however, she was back to normal, talking animatedly with everyone she came into contact with, including Blaine. She didn't bring up the phone call and neither did he, but it dwelled in the back of his mind, growing like a tumour. Something was wrong, and he wanted to know what.

It was curious, and not for the first time, Blaine found himself wondering why Kathryn Bournam was who she was.