"Why do you hang out with that fag, Hummel?" Kurt could hear Puck sneer from where he was standing around the corner. It was nothing he hadn't heard before. The word "fag" had followed and labeled him ever since he came out a year ago. He had grown immune to it. But, something about Blaine actually liking and hanging out with the people who said it, made it just that much more worse.
"Yeah, he's always prancing around here. I don't see why you have some sort of friendshipwith him," Karofsky laughed, adding a mocking tone to the word "friendship."
"He's not that bad," Kurt hears Blaine say next.
"Yeah, well I'm sick of him. And I'm sick of you actually talking to him. Nobody's supposed to talk to him. I mean, I guess it was cool and all when we were younger, but now it's just gone too far. Grow up, Anderson. Be a man. And get some from Fabray while you're at it. Anybody would be lucky to have her." Puck's words rang in Kurt's brain, "Nobody's supposed to talk to him." Was Kurt nothing more than a walking target for bullies to get out their hurtful words because they were too self conscious about themselves?
"Yeah, I mean, his faggy germs are probably going to rub off on you. I'm sure he has like a massive gay crush on you. Do you really want to be hanging you with that?" Karofsky questioned.
"Well, I mean the sun wasn't the only thing that rose the other morning, if you're catching my drift. On his side, I mean. It's probably like his gay hormones working in overdrive," Blaine pointed out as the three of them erupted into obnoxious laughter. Kurt could hear Blaine's warm laughter over the three, and he could tell his heart wasn't really into it. His heart never seemed to be into it when he was with them.
"Wow, man. You have got to hang with us more often. That is just plain ol' nasty."

Kurt was still stunned when he plopped himself down on his bed later that night. "Gay hormones? Really, Blaine?" he choked out in between the tears that were now streaming down his face. It was sure to be added to the list of insults that were thrown his way everyday. The worst part was, Blaine had stooped to their homophobic level. Kurt thought he knew Blaine a lot better than that.
Just then, Kurt felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. "Incoming Call: Blaine(:" it read. "Hah, fat chance, buddy." Kurt said aloud. Within the next hour, Blaine called back three more times. "What if he's in serious danger?" Kurt thought. "What if his dad found him? What if he's dying in a ditch or something?" The thought of Blaine being in serious danger was the only reason that Kurt answered the phone. Otherwise, he had a feeling his phone would break from all the incoming calls.
"What?" Kurt's tone was expressionless and hollow.
"Hey, Kurt? I was just calling to ask if you were alright. You seemed a little off today. What's up?" Blaine asked, and he sounded sincerely concerned.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Hah, why do you think anything would be wrong? I'm perfectly fine," Kurt rambled on, his finger hovering over the "End Call" button.
"Kurt, I know you."
"Yeah, I thought I knew you too. But, we all make mistakes, don't we?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Sorry, it must be my gay hormones working up again? Woops, my bad!"
There was silence on the other end of the line, and when Blaine finally spoke back up he sounded scared and quiet. "Y-you heard that?"
"Yeah, I heard that. As well as "the sun wasn't the only thing that rose the other morning"," Kurt snapped, making air quotes with his fingers.
"Listen Kurt, I'm really so-"
"Just save it Blaine. Just save your breath," Kurt cut in. He could feel tears pooling in his eyes again. "I wouldn't want you to waste any more time talking to me."
"Kurt, it's not like that."
"Yes, it's exactly like that Blaine. It's always like that. There's no way around it. If I heard that, who knows what else you say behind my back. So, I'll just let you go so you can go back to talking to all your homophobic idiotic goon friends who take out their own insecurity on other people. Ohhh waiit, I forgot. You are one of them now, Blaine. You are. I don't know what happened to you. We used to be the best friends. You used to pretend you were a princess and that I was a prince, remember that? I sure do. I remember how happy it made me feel. And if pretending to be a princess isn't gay, I don't know what is.
What happened to "I love you, Kurt. I'll never leave you." What about that? Does that mean nothing to you? Apparently not. I was so dumb. I was so dumb to trust you. I was so dumb to actually think that you cared about me. I was stupid to think that anybody would care about someone as useless as me. Have fun with Puck and Karofsky and whoever you share my personal stuff with. I'm sure you'll have a Hell of a lot more fun than you've ever had with me." And with that, Kurt hung up the phone, and collapsed onto his bed in a fit of sobs.

"Mom, can I take Blaine with me to the store, to go get some bananas?" Cooper asks, grabbing his keys from the bowl.
"Sure, just don't be too long. It's a school night," Maria says from the couch where she was wrapped up in an episode of Law and Order.
"Yeah, yeah. Come on B!" Cooper called up to Blaine in his room.
Blaine came down the stairs, his eyes red from tears and his hair ungelled from him almost ripping it all out. He didn't know why he had agreed to go to the store to get bananas. He had a feeling that Cooper had other ideas, that he didn't want to know. He just needed something to do to get his mind off of everything.
"You okay?" Cooper asks as Blaine gets in his car.
"Do I look okay? I'm a MESS Cooper! He'll never be my friend again, and it's all my fault," he says, banging his head on the glove compartment.
"Well, this isn't helping your boyfriend plan, is it? Yeah, I read your diary." Cooper smirks.
"What boyfriend plan?" Blaine asks, looking up at Cooper with big eyes.
"You know, the one in your diary. That I read. Don't play dumb, Blaine." Cooper tells him, smiling as they pull up to Kurt's house. "Go tell him."
"It's a journal. And I don't know what you're smoking, but I don't have a boyfriend plan. I'm straight."
"They always say that. Now, I'll be right back once I get the bananas, I'll text you when I'm almost here so that Burt doesn't have a heart attack."
"I'm staying with you. I'm not going in there."
"I'm not leaving until you get out of the car."
"Cooper."
"Fine, I'll go. You wait here."
"You aren't." Blaine says as Cooper gets out of the car, and climbs the wall that leads to Kurt's window.
"What are you doing here, Cooper?" Kurt asks, wearing sweatpants and a white undershirt, "I didn't call you at all, so don't come whoring yourself around here."
"You called for my favors. If you know what I mean," Cooper smirks, still holding onto the edge of Kurt's window. "I know you can't resist the Andersons."
"I don't want to talk to you or your brother. Now, leave," Kurt threatens to shut the window on Cooper's hands.
"Fine, but there's someone else here to see you."
"Tell him to go away."
"The Andersons don't give up until they get what they want. That can be interpreted in many ways. And I know what Blaine wants. I do have a room next to him," Cooper dropped down to the ground below Kurt's window.
"Bye Cooper," Kurt closed the window, huffing in anger.
"There, your turn," Cooper climbed back into the car.
"But what if he's changing?" Blaine asked, noticing Kurt's door to his bathroom closing.
"If we're lucky," Cooper winked as Blaine slammed the door.
Blaine watched Cooper drive out of the driveway, waving out the window. "I. Am. Going. To. Murder. Him.," Blaine steamed with anger, walking underneath Kurt's window. He had been here many times before and he remembered that once him and Kurt had climbed into the window pretending they were robbers when they were younger. He heaved himself up the wall, using the tree nearby for support.

Once he got to the top, he successfully climbed into the window, as quietly as possible. He sat down on Kurt's bed, breathing in the familiar scent that was so, Kurt. A few minutes later, Kurt came out from the bathroom, and gasped. "What are you doing here Blaine Xavier Anderson?"

"I wanted to apologize. And Cooper made me." Blaine explains, getting up from the bed. "I.. I'm a wreck without you Kurt. You mean the world to me."

Kurt scoffed, and opened up his window, "Just leave, please. If you really wanted me to stay, you wouldn't have said those things behind my back."

Blaine walked towards Kurt, trying to hold back tears. "But.. I wasn't thinking. I'm sure you've said things behind my back. I won't talk to them anymore, if that means I can still have you in my life. I broke up with Quinn for you, what else can I do?"

"You can give me time. And one last hug." Kurt tells Blaine, wrapping his arms around him. "You can cry you know, I mean, it's my fault for being so gay."

Blaine wraps his arms around Kurt tighter, "You're not that gay, it's just your sexual preference. I miss you."

"I love you." Kurt chokes out, inbetween tears.

"I love you too, Kurt." Blaine tells him, not being able to let go.

"It's time to go, Blaine."
"Promise me you'll never say goodbye?"
"I'll never say goodbye."

"Blaine, it'll be okay." Cooper tells Blaine, who was sobbing in his bed with his head in Cooper's lap.
"No, it WON'T be okay. Nothing's ever going to be okay. It's all my fault Coop. I just want to die, DIE."
"Blaine. Stop it, because I'm seriously worried about you. And even though mom doesn't know what's going on, it's worrying her too." Cooper says, running his fingers through Blaine's hair.
"What if I killed myself tonight? What if I did?"
Cooper lets his tears drop for the first time that night, "Then I'd try my hardest to save you. I'd take you to the hospital to save you."
"But what if no one was home, Cooper? What if it was just me, home, alone?" Blaine says monotonously.
"I'll stay home with you for now on."
"What if I already took the pills?" Blaine asks, sitting up.
"Did you? Blaine, did you take them?" Cooper shakes Blaine's shoulders, awaiting an answer.
"Yes. They were the rest of mom's sleeping pills." Blaine wraps his arms around Cooper, "I'll miss you, big brother."
Cooper quickly picks Blaine up, bringing him to the hospital down the street. Not caring that he was speeding, and just holding Blaine's hand, hoping for him to be safe.
The hospital was a blur, the only things Cooper remembers hearing was, "Wait here, we need you to fill out these forms", "We're going to have to pump his stomach.", and "He's on 72 hours, but you can come see him if you like."

Blaine wasn't at school for a whole week, and Kurt felt as if it was his fault. Everyday he'd wait by Blaine's locker until the first bell went off. The next Monday, Blaine arrived at school, and Kurt was waiting by his locker with flowers and a stuffed dog. "I'm sorry for everything that happened, Blaine. Here, these are for you, I know it's dumb but, I was really worried. Cooper told me you were sick."
Yeah, sick in the head. Blaine thinks, but doesn't say. "It's fine. Thanks." Blaine puts the vase of flowers in his locker, along with the little stuffed animal. "So are we friends again?"
Kurt smiles, "Yeah. Friends. I gotta admit, I loved the hug you gave me. It was warm and something I've missed."
Blaine sighs as he closes his locker, "When I said I loved you I meant it, you know." Like, really, seriously meant it.
Kurt starts to walk down the hall, Blaine following. "I figured, since your eyes were red and puffy and your hair was a mess."
"Why is that why you think I meant it?" Blaine asks in the classroom, sitting next to Kurt.
"Because I haven't seen you like that outside of your house for years."
Blaine looks at Kurt, and his eyes sparkle. "It's because you're my best friend. I'd do anything for you."
"I feel the same, do you want to study, later?" Kurt asks, jotting down the notes on the board.
"Sure, your house?"

"Kurt, can I tell you something?" Blaine asks, sitting on Kurt's bed, trying to study for their huge history test that was coming up.
"Yeah, what is it? I could use a break from this stupid as all hell history book." Kurt sits facing Blaine, his eyes looking tired, and hair disheveled.
Blaine swallows the lump in his throat, and looks to the pictures Kurt had on his nightstand. Him and Kurt. That's all he could see in every picture. "I, I shouldn't.."
Kurt takes Blaine's hand into his, and slowly caresses it with his thumb. "You're my best friend Blaine, you can tell me anything. Please tell me, I won't judge."
"I.. You know when I wasn't a school for a week,?" Kurt nods, not saying a word. "I was in the hospital." Before Kurt can open his mouth, Blaine continues. "I tried to kill myself, Kurt. My brother had some sleeping pills lying around on the counter. Since the whole blow out with you, and breaking up with Quinn, and just school in general, I've been so depressed. I guess, well, I did it because I fell in love. With someone, who I shouldn't have." Blaine rests his head in his hands, and starts to let his tears fall. "Coop brought me to the hospital, I chickened out and told him. They had to pump my stomach, and keep me for 72 hours suicide watch."
Kurt's stunned, Cooper said he was sick. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't anyone tell me! I should've been told Blaine, you are my best friend you know." He didn't mean for it to come out in that tone, it just did.
"Because I'm ashamed Kurt. Only you, my mother, and Coop know. Happy? You're one of the two fucking people who know. You should be PLEASED with that. And I'll have you know, that the person I love, well it's you. It's always been you. Always. But you are too in love with that fucking Finn Hudson kid and can't see a damn thing." Blaine stands up, collecting his two books that were sprawled out on Kurt's bed, and puts them in his bag.
"Do you mean that Blaine?" What Kurt wanted to come out was, I love you. I love you too. Stay. Just stay in my bed tonight, and keep me warm.
"No, I just like to play cruel jokes like that for fun. Of course I meant it. Now, I'll leave you alone, so you can jerk off to your fantasies of Finn Hudson, the star quarterback of McKinley High. You know, he calls you a queer in the locker room. If I was him, and knew you had a crush on me, I'd go right for it. I'd date you, and hold your hand in the halls and maybe even kiss you before I have to get to my classes. But we all kn-"
Kurt's lips are pressing against Blaine's, a fierce kiss. Kurt grapples at the back of Blaine's neck, holding him tighter. At first, Blaine is shocked, but then replies with just as much passion. They break away when absolutely necessary to breathe. "I love you too."

Blaine looks into Kurt's beautiful glasz eyes that are a shade of light green today. "Oh my God. W-what about Finn?"

Kurt moves closer to Blaine, wrapping his arms around him, smiling down at him. "Blaine, Finn means nothing to me. Nothing at all. I don't have any feelings for him," Kurt admits.

"R-really?"

"No feelings at all. The only reason I pretended to was so that you wouldn't get weirded

out and think that I had feelings for you. Which I did. Which I do. Which I have for as long as I can remember. I feel awful about you trying to commit suicide. I'll never be able to forgive myself. If I was smart, I would've told you and you wouldn't have done that. I'm such an idiot. I'm so so so sorry, Blaine," Kurt pushed a few stray curls out of Blaine's face, looking away from the beautiful boy in his arms for just a minute.

"Hey, Kurt. It's not your fault. Not at all," Blaine pauses. "I wish that was my first kiss."

"I'm happy it was mine, Blaine. That was perfect." Kurt lies down on his bed, "I can't believe I became that 14 year old who makes out with people."

Blaine lays next to Kurt on the bed. "At least you didn't reach your hand down my pants like Quinn did."

Kurt laughs, turning around to face Blaine, "I can't believe.. are we dating now?"

"I guess, yeah. If you want to, I mean." Blaine smiles, pressing his nose against Kurt's.

"Yeah, yeah I would love that," Kurt smiles too.

"Good. I mean, I'm still trying to figure out who I am, but I do know that I'm in love with you. I mean, I know that I'm probably too young to say that, but yeah."

"Cuddle with me?"

"Mmm, of course." Blaine snuggles close to Kurt, resting his head on Kurt's chest, closing his eyes.

Kurt and Blaine had fallen asleep, and Burt was home. He was curious as to why Kurt's door was closed, and why he wasn't opening it when he knocked. Kid's such a deep sleeper. Burt thinks.

When Burt opens the door to Kurt's room, the last thing he was expecting was Kurt and Blaine cuddled up, asleep. He shook his head, Kurt knew better than to be with a boy in his room, especially with the door closed.

"Kurt. Wake up." Burt shakes Kurt awake, causing Blaine to wake up as well.

"Oh, I'm sorry , I.. I should go." Blaine moves to get up, but as soon as he reaches the door, Burt stops him.

"No, stay for dinner. There's more than enough anyway." Burt turns to Kurt, who looked absolutely terrified about his dad walking in. "Something wrong, Kurt?"

Kurt shook his head, getting up. "I'm hungry."

"Well, let's eat then." Burt announces, causing Blaine to run down the stairs, and Burt and Kurt to stay upstairs for a minute.

"What's up Kurt? Why are you, why do you look terrified because I walked in on you two?" Burt questions his son.

Kurt twiddles his thumbs, not wanting to tell him. "It's nothing.. just. I just thought I'd get in trouble for having a boy in my bed. Even though it's only Blaine."

Burt gives a big belly laugh, "Kurt, you really had me thinking that you and Blaine had something going on there! It's Blaine and Blaine's straight. There's nothing to worry about."

"Blaine and I do have something going on though. We're.. don't freak out, okay? But Blaine and I are sort of going out." Kurt smiles at his dad, waiting for a simple response or look back.

"You know the rules Kurt, no closed doors if another boy is in your room. Just remember, you matter." Burt claps his hand down on his shoulder, and walks with Kurt downstairs.

***
"I told my dad. He knows. I think he's mad. I don't know." Kurt whispers to Blaine as they were driving him home. "I'm sorry."
Blaine laughs. "It's fine, I'm telling Cooper tonight. And my mom, if she's home. I bet Cooper will be happy." Blaine reaches for Kurt's hand, which was laying palm up between their bodies. "Is this okay?" He intwines his fingers between Kurt's and squeezes their hands.
"It's fine. Call me tonight, okay?" Kurt squeezes back.
"Of course." Blaine notices that Burt's pulling up to his house, and lets go of Kurt's hand.
"See you later, Blaine." Burt says, unlocking the doors in the car.
"Thanks for dropping me off ." Blaine gets out of the car, waving goodbye to Kurt before heading inside.
"He's a nice guy, Dad." Kurt tells Burt, looking into his eyes.
"I don't like the idea of you two dating. Because one, Blaine's straight, and two, you're going to ruin things between you and Blaine." Burt replys, driving back to their house.
"Dad. Maybe Blaine's.. gay. He used to pretend to be a princess at our tea parties, he wears those dumb fashionable cardigans all the time, and have you seen the jeans he wears? Shouldn't you want me to be happy, Dad? Because I don't think you do."
Burt sighs, leaning his head back against the seat. "I don't like it, Kurt."
"Well maybe I don't like you." He mumbles underneath his breath, getting out of the car once they reach the house. "And, if you really cared about Blaine, like you did all those years ago when mother was still here, then you'd actually be proud of us to even say we're dating, and you'd be supportive." Kurt slams the front door of the house, running up to his room, and slamming that door too.

"Hey." Blaine answers the phone, his voice sounding tired.

"Hi."

"Are you in trouble for having the door closed?"

"No. What'd Cooper and your Mom say?"

"I think Cooper yelled get some, and my mom said she'd continue to support my decisions in life, even if she doesn't like them."

"That's good. I miss you. My dad hates you."

"I miss you too. Cooper says hi."

"Tell him to back off of me," Kurt scoffs, "I'm a taken man."

"Hell yeah. You're my man." Blaine smiles, "I have to go. I'll see you at school tomorrow?"

"See you at school." Kurt hangs up, not hearing the simple, 'I love you.' Blaine said at the end.

Kurt and Blaine were talking by Blaine's locker, and Blaine was hanging up a few pictures of Kurt.

"Hey fags. Seems that Hummel has sprinkled his little faggy fairy dust all over you. Are

you two dating now? Should've known, the longer you hang out with one of them, the quicker you become one of them." Karofsky sneers, shoving Blaine against the lockers.

"Karofsky, you need to stop. Hit me all you want, but leave Blaine alone. I'm the one that 'turned him into a fag', correct?" Kurt speaks up, trying to shove Karofsky away from Blaine.

"Ooh, looks like your little boyfriend offered himself to get beat up, might as well take him up on that offer. Not today though, obviously. One day." Karofsky lets go of Blaine and walks away, giving them looks of disgust once more.

"Are you okay, Blaine?" Kurt asks, pushing back Blaine's curls.

"Yes, I'm fine," Blaine said, re-adjusting the bag on his shoulder. Suddenly, he took Kurt's

hand, looking into his piercing blue-green eyes. "If they ever lay a finger on you, I want you to tell me. Okay?"
"Of course," Kurt nodded, fear not even crossing his face.
"They better not."