Finally, it's here! Aren't you proud of me :) Hopefully the next chapter won't be too far in the works... And then we'll be moving onto the... funner part of the story :p So let me know what you think :)

Nine

Kathryn Bournam died that night, not long after midnight. The doctors said it was expected, that with her condition, she'd been lucky just to survive the earliest parts of her childhood. She was a miracle case for the disease, but now it was her time.

The funeral was set for the next week, but no one told Blaine. Her body was to be cremated, but no one told Blaine. The only notification he received of her passing was a call from her parents the next morning before school, thanking him for getting her to the hospital, but unfortunately she didn't make it.

It was like she wasn't his only friend, that he wasn't her closest. It was like he had just happened to be at the right place at the right time, that she hadn't made him promise, that she hadn't promised him…

Blaine tried to shut himself in his room. He curled up on his bed and cried, but as his mother left for work, she pulled him by the arm and dressed him, and dropped him off at school. He was angry, and he felt like yelling and screaming until the buildings collapsed, but his mother only squeezed his hand tightly between both of hers and whispered, 'Do you think she wanted to see you like this?'

It was enough for Blaine, and he trudged late into French, plastering a look of indifference upon his face while inside he felt like crying. Her seat was irrevocably empty, and the teacher shot him an apologetic look. He wished she wouldn't. He didn't want her apologies. He wanted Kathryn.

After class, he approached his locker, turning his combination with shaky fingers. He pushed his glasses back up his nose and he realised: he hadn't taken them off before going to class. He hadn't hid them in his glove box. He hadn't even brought his own car to school.

'Hey, fag!'

The body slammed into him, pressing him tight against the hard metal of the locker. The half open lock cut into his shoulder. The weight didn't alleviate, and he kicked out at the body, aiming for the shins. There was a hiss from his attacker, but he didn't step away. He only ground his shoulder harder, pushing the air from Blaine's lungs.

'Let go of me,' he breathed, and the weight pulled away.

'What did you say?'

'I said "Let go of me".'

'Are you talking back to me, fag?'

Blaine stood his ground, smoothing down his shirt a little and looking up into the eyes of his attacker. Behind the strong façade, there was a hint of fear. 'Yeah, I am. And it's spelt G. A. Y. And I'm proud to be it. Better than being you who can't even lift his own knuckles higher than his knees.'

'What did you say?' The bully's voice was hard, but it was starting to waver. For Blaine it felt like an injection of adrenalin, of strength, of courage.

'Oh, deaf too, are you?' he said, turning his back on the bully to open his locker and pull out his lunch bag. 'Because most people are at least able to hear when I insult them.'

He didn't know what was coming into him. There was no reason to be fighting back. He'd never fought back in his life. It was easier to let them think what they want, be a silent pillar of bravery and not give them the pleasure of seeing you lose. But now, all he wanted to do was snap back and stand up for himself.

He'd promised Kathryn he would come out to the whole school. Well, he was going to.

'Did you say you actually are gay?'

'Yeah,' he said, raising his voice so people turned to stare. 'I'm gay. I like boys. I don't find women in the least attractive and I once had a crush on Mark Lyons. You think I do now?' He laughed, shutting his locker behind him and lifting his bag higher onto his shoulder. 'No. Freaking. Way.'

And he stepped past the footballer, holding his head high against the staring faces. He was almost at the door when he heard a cheer and a hand was patting his back.

'Hey, good job.'

'Those assholes need someone to stand up to them once in a while.'

'You've got guts, kid.'

The voices were whispered, hushed, and Blaine wasn't quite sure who they belonged to. He was sure this was on purpose. Anonymity was your best defence against the jocks.

'Thanks,' he whispered in return.

He was halfway towards the library, just past the quad, when a hand reached out and stopped him. The boy on the end of it was tall, with short cropped blonde hair, and he was wearing bright purple gloves in contrast with his black leather trench coat. 'Hi,' he said, shooting Blaine a smile. His teeth were bright and white. 'My name's Henry. Henry Bales.' He shook Blaine's hand without permission and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, leading him towards the library.

'Hi.'

'How are you doing? I just heard you declared your sexuality to all of C corridor because Jensen Carroll pushed you into a locker. Wow, I'd never be able to do that. I told my sociology class I was gay when they decided that all homosexuals should be culled.' He frowned to himself but carried on hardly taking a breath. 'I used to have some sway in that classroom.' He dropped his shoulder bag in the library foyer and motioned for Blaine to do the same before continuing. 'You know what? You and I should go the Sadie Hawkins dance together.'

And just like that, all Blaine's adrenalin slipped from his body and he felt on the verge of tears again. He sniffed once before replying. 'I'm not going.'

'Why not? It's the Sadie Hawkins! Girls ask guys, so I'll take the role of the girl and ask you. Come with me to the dance.'

Blaine shrugged, trying to remove Henry Bales from around his shoulders. 'I've been asked already, but I can't make it that night.'

'Is it because you were asked by a girl? Because I guess that would be rude if you turned down a girl and made an excuse and then turned up with a guy. I can see why you wouldn't do that.'

Blaine scowled. 'No. I could go when she asked me. I just can't go now.'

'Why not?'

In some ways, Henry Bales' persistent nature reminded Blaine of Kathryn. But it wasn't affectionate. It was overwhelming and overbearing, and slightly intimidating.

'I can't go because the girl I was supposed to go with died last night? Okay!'

'Whoa.' Henry Bales held up both palms, halting Blaine in his tracks. 'Okay, that's a good excuse.'

'I thought so.' It was a snappy reply, but he felt snappy, and especially now, especially after telling the whole of C corridor that he was gay, he wasn't prepared to hold anything in. He didn't think he could.

'Okay,' Henry whispered, leaning closer to Blaine, holding him to the spot he was now desperately trying to vacate. His hands gripped the young boy's shoulders, securing him. 'Okay, we won't worry about the dance. I just thought- I just thought it would be a way to show the student body that it doesn't mean anything if you're gay. We'd just be like any straight couple going to the dance as friends.' He frowned slightly. 'I mean, if you only want to go as friends, that is.'

Blaine pursed his lips, rocking on his heel slightly. The adrenalin still pulsed through his veins, burning hot and red. 'I-' He bit his lip. 'Maybe as friends?'

Henry only released his arms and smiled. 'I'll pick you up.'

'Isn't that the guy's role?'

The boy grinned wider as he picked up his bag and stepped off towards his own destination. 'I'm a guy too, remember!'