Wow, three chapters in less than 24 hours! You should be so proud of me :) This chapter is on the verge of making me cry... There's the beautifully tense moment and then... well you'll see :P I hope you enjoy it though :D And the next chapter is definitely going to make me cry, so be prepared for that :) I'm gonna bawl my eyes out! See you soon! And please review, tell me what you think! I love your feedback!

Seven

It was almost three weeks later when Kathryn passed Blaine a note during French. It was written on a loose piece of note paper that she'd been doodling on, and it was now decorated with flowers and swirly patterns. He unfolded it gingerly and read the words.

There's a park down near my place… Come play on the swings on the weekend? Not fun without someone else crazy to join and no one else ever wants to come to a park with me.

He glanced up at her smiling face and nodded once, folding the paper again and placing it inside his pencil case.

It was late morning when Blaine arrived at the park she'd mentioned. She was already hanging from the swings, clinging to the upper bar with her hands and trying to haul herself up.

'Hey,' he called out, and she let go, landing daintily on her feet.

'Hey, yourself. Like the park?' She motioned around herself with her hands, grinning broadly as he approached her. There was an energy about her that had been missing recently, a kind of buzz that diffused across the air and onto Blaine's skin. He felt excited at the prospect of running like a young child through this park, and it was an unfamiliar feeling to him.

'Yes,' he whispered gently as his eyes roved the landscape. 'Very much.'

'Good.' There was a grin in her voice and she held out a hand for him to take. 'I thought you might.' He grasped it quickly and held it tight against his side.

'So, what are we planning on doing here?' he asked. He hadn't been at a park since he was eight, when it was still cool to spend hours on the swing just trying to get as high as you can. When it was still cool to try to climb the slide and hang upside down from the monkey bars until all the blood rushed to your head and you nearly fainted.

'I thought,' she said slowly, 'that you'd appreciate the beauty of a childhood place as much as I do.' She gave him a sideward glance. 'And, of course, no one can ever pass up an opportunity to run around and be crazy, especially not someone as crazy as me.'

He grinned and she returned it. Never was she false, but in this moment, Blaine felt as if he was seeing the absolutely real Kathryn. And if he admitted it to himself, he kind of loved her.

Not in the romantic way, of course, but there was something about her that drew him in closer, wanting to know as much about her as possible. He enjoyed spending time with her, and when she smiled, he felt as if he could smile too. He wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not.

Suddenly, she tugged his hand, pulling him towards the slide, only releasing it to drag him up the steps. Her feet hit the plastic and she slid down standing up, squealing as she stumbled over the end. Blaine followed her, wrapping his arms around her waist to stop from toppling her.

And like that they were laughing loudly, leaning against each other for support. Blaine couldn't remember laughing like that in a long time.

'Come on,' Kathryn said finally between bursts of laughter. 'I want to sit on top of the monkey bars! I haven't done that since I was in elementary school.' Her feet kicked up bark as she sped to the platform, climbing it swiftly. Blaine followed suit and soon they were sitting facing each other, looking out onto the park.

'Blaine,' she whispered slowly, and her hand reached out for his. He let her take it without flinching. 'Do you believe in true love?'

He blinked, thinking it over. 'Yes,' he said after a small pause. 'Yes, I do.' He didn't know what made him say it, but he knew immediately that it was true. He believed in people being made for each other, that two people were meant to have each other in their lives. But it was something more than that. 'But it doesn't have to be romantic,' he said. 'And you can have more than one true love. I think it means that two people are so suited to each other and they complement each other so perfectly that their relationship will be able to surpass everything.' He squeezed her hand lightly. 'But that doesn't mean they have to be in love with each other sexually.'

Kathryn raised an eyebrow, studying Blaine, but he only let a small laugh escape his lips. 'Like if you didn't keep trying to convince me to come out, I'd say you're one of my true loves. I love you, Kathryn. Even if you're a pain in the ass.' He grinned, and she returned it. 'But I definitely don't want to kiss you.'

It was the first time he'd ever spoken positively of his friendship with Kathryn. But it was true, and he realised it now. He enjoyed spending time with her, worried about her when she fell quiet, and took his time out to make her laugh. He loved her.

'I think that's a good way to think about it,' she whispered softly. And then she reached across the void between them, tugging his shoulders towards her to hug him.

For Blaine, the contact was unexpected, but he relaxed into it. It felt right, Kathryn hugging him. It was real and there.

And then it wasn't.

Her grasp loosened and she slid from the bar, her head hitting the metal with a loud clang as she fell. Her shoulders hit the ground first, and Blaine was screaming, but there was nothing he could do. He only grabbed his phone from his pocket, dialled 911, and climbed down quickly to hold her hand, check her pulse, and wait.