“Kurt, I promise, this one will be different. Please, you have to come with me.” Rachel sent a pleading look at her best friend. She didn’t want to miss the party but she also didn’t want to go there alone. However, Kurt was reluctant. After five years in New York, he’d been her date on countless occasions and he had enjoyed less than a quarter of them. You know, actors and actresses could be really self-centered and Kurt didn’t like to be looked down on which happened a lot amongst Rachel’s colleagues.

“Rach, Adam dragged me to a party two days ago. I still haven’t recovered from that. All those snobbish people who were acting as I’m not worth anything to them because I don’t have a Broadway background...I don’t think I can handle it tonight.”

“But this is a private party. I need to go. We’ve just started rehearsals and those guys have an advantage because they already know each other. I need to blend in. Please, please, please. Pretty, pretty please.” She pouted and Kurt rolled his eyes.

“One inappropriate comment towards me and I’m out of there.” He stated, standing up from the chair and heading to his room to find an outfit. He might not be a Broadway star...or any kind of star for that matter but he sure as hell knew how to dress himself much better than most of those closed-mind jerks Rachel and Adam had to work with.

When Kurt had been rejected from NYADA, he had to find another plan for his future. Drama or musical theatre programs at other schools weren’t an option for him. He wanted to be the best of the best and only NYADA could give him that. Reapplying didn’t suit him at all. They said once he wasn’t going to cut it, he had no intention of making a fool of himself again. Clearly, he wasn’t what they were looking for. He decided to go for NYU where he successfully majored in journalism and minored in business studies. Currently he was working as a freelance journalist and although sometimes it was really hard to force himself into working when there was no boss to check on him, he loved the freedom and independence that came with the position. Of course, it was nothing in comparison to the success Rachel managed to gain. Several lead roles on Broadway within four years and two Tony nominations were much better than regular columns in a few newspapers and occasional article in some magazine or online journals. But he was proud of himself. He was able to pay bills and live comfortably and he even saved some money monthly so he thought he was doing well. And then there was an idea of his own magazine he was playing with in his mind. He just didn’t tell anyone yet.

“Taxi or subway?” Kurt asked Rachel when he came out of his room in a perfect outfit that was surely going to make some of the guests at the party jealous.

“It’s two blocks from here. We can walk there, what do you say?”

“You owe me, Rachel Berry. And I haven’t requested your previous debts yet so you should be aware I’m going to do it soon.”

“Yeah, I know. I know. But I swear you’ll like this one.” Kurt just scoffed. The party of the most talented actor of the decade, Tony award winner with several number one hits and thousands of copies of his debut album sold was exactly what Kurt would like. Another douchebag with an ego so big that the universe was too small for it - not that he knew the guy. His presumption came from prior experiences and he was always right. They were about to go to the party where an old group of friends from high school would be having fun and acting like they were doing a big favor to those who were allowed to come. Well, Kurt Hummel didn’t give a shit. He also didn’t promise to be cheerful so Rachel would have to deal with his mood, like it or not.

“Penthouse? The guy lives in a penthouse? He is having a party in his house?!”

“Well, I told you this isn’t a formal party. It’s a friendly gathering. All the actors in the play and several staff members were invited. They’re nice, Kurt. I know you don’t like the world behind my profession but these people are different. You’ll see. Now, smile and use your Hummel charm. But not too much of it because men tend to flirt with you then and I know it makes you uncomfortable. Especially when Adam is not around and you can’t use him as an excuse.”

“Use him as an excuse? He’s my boyfriend, Rachel. He is not an excuse!”

“I know. I’m sorry. I should have probably worded it differently…”

“Probably.” Kurt murmured and waited for the elevator door to open. He didn’t have a chance to take a deep breath to prepare himself for the night when two figures ran at them.

“Rachel, honey, you came!” Two over excited men hugged her and squeezed her as if she was the only one they were waiting for.

“Nick, Jeff, let me go. You’re suffocating me.” She laughed.

“Sorry, lady. And who is your friend?” The blond one drew his attention to Kurt.

“This is Kurt. My best friend in the whole world.”

“He is gorgeous.” The brown haired one said and the blond guy nodded.

“Kurt, this is Jeff.” Blondie outstretched his hand and Kurt shook it, offering a polite smile.

“And this is Nick.” Nick gave him a half-hug and patted his shoulder. “Nice to meet you, man. Gosh, who do you work for? Jesus, the designer who has you as a model is one lucky man…or woman…”

“Rachel, you didn’t tell us you would bring someone so handsome.”

“Well, if I didn’t know you two are actually straight, I would definitely think you want to get into his pants.”

“Being straight doesn’t mean that we can’t appreciate beauty.” Jeff winked at her and grabbed her hand.

“So what designer do you work for, Kurt?” Nick asked the question that had been omitted.

“I don’t work for any designer. I am a journalist.”

“Oh my god! That’s so awesome!” Jeff jumped a little in excitement and Kurt wondered whether they were always like this or if they had taken something previously.

“What newspapers do you write for?” Nick seemed to be genuinely interested in Kurt and it was weird for him. He couldn’t recall the last time he had had a conversation with someone from the Broadway universe that had lasted more than two sentences. Except Rachel and Adam, of course, but they didn’t count.

“I am a freelance journalist. I write for several newspapers and magazines.” Kurt answered and waited for Nick’s reaction. Generally, this was the information that got him out of the conversation. Until he was the editor of the New York Times no one cared about him.

“Wow. I can barely handle one job at the time…It’s so refreshing to speak to someone who works out of the theatre setting. How does it work? Do you get topics for your articles fromthe editor or do you come up with your own ideas?” Kurt looked at Rachel, not believing someone wanted to talk to him. She just smiled.

“Rachel, I’m so glad you could make it.” A smooth voice spoke up behind them. They all turned around and Kurt knew the evening was most likely going to be ruined.

“Blaine.” Rachel said and hugged him little too tight.

“Blaine, this is Kurt.” Jeff announced with a grin. “He’s a journalist. Cool, right?”

“Nice to meet you, Kurt.” Blaine shook his hand, his features remaining soft and welcoming, and a spark in his eyes surprising Kurt.

“Nice to meet you, too.” Kurt responded, observing the guy. He wasn’t stilted. He seemed happy to see them and that was odd.

“There are drinks at the bar. We have a good selection of alcoholic liquor but if you don’t want to get wasted there are a lot of non-alcoholic beverages as well. Snacks are all over the place and there’ll be a huge delivery of pizzas in an hour so…I hope you’ll enjoy yourself.”

“Oh, don’t you worry, Blainey. We’re going to enjoy ourselves.” Nick smirked. “Now, if you excuse us, I’d like to talk to Kurt about his job. Why didn’t I become a journalist?”

“Because you aren’t able to write a one sentence note that makes sense.” Jeff remarked.

“True. Don’t you hate it when your best friend is right, too? I can’t stand how superior mine gets sometimes because of that.”

“Well, considering that in my friendship with Rachel it’s me who is always right, you should question her about it.”

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that, Kurt.” Rachel folded her arms and disapprovingly shook her head. “I guess you’ll be good on your own, won’t you?”

“Sure.”

“Okay. Blaine, I thought we could discuss the core of the relationship between our characters, what do you say? I have some suggestion about…” Rachel’s voice got lost in the crowd and Kurt stayed glued to the spot between Nick and Jeff. This was going to be an interesting night.

Two hours later Kurt was still engaged in conversation with Nick and Jeff who hadn’t left his side since the beginning. They were alternating between who would bring them drinks when their glasses were empty and although Kurt would never say it out loud, he was having a great time.

“Nick, Jeff, I saw those twins you were ogling at the theatre by the bar…” Blaine appeared all of a sudden next to them and Nick with Jeff were on their feet in an instant.

“Sorry, Kurt. We gotta go. See you later.” And they were gone.

“Are you having fun?” Blaine sat down and once again it amused Kurt with how nice he was being.

“Yeah, thanks. It’s a great party.”

“Thank you.” Blaine smiled shyly. “I don’t like parties. I mean…there are so many of them every month and sometimes it is hard to get along with people there. I like throwing a party for friends though. You’re lucky you don’t have to attend most of them.”

“I wouldn’t say so. With two members of the Broadway community in my life I have to go to the most of them…”

“That sucks.” Blaine stated and Kurt snickered.

“Yes, it does.”

“So, Kurt. Tell me about your worst experience from those parties. I bet you won’t beat mine…” Blaine nudged him teasingly and the two of them spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing about everything and nothing until Rachel came and dragged Kurt home.

“Did you get his number?” Blaine was pulled out of his thoughts by his loving but annoying friends.

“What?”

“Did you ask for his number?” Jeff repeated.

“No.”

“Why the hell not?! He is perfect! He is out of our business, he is charming and intelligent, and he is also beautiful. What is wrong with you?!”

“Nick, you know I’m not looking for anybody right now. First of all, my track record is really bad when it comes to relationships and I need a break. Not to mention I don’t even know if he is gay or if he is with someone. The guy like him can’t be single.”

“All we have to do is ask Rachel.” Jeff suggested.

“Don’t you dare, or I’m going to kill you. If I’m lucky enough, he’ll come to the next party and I at least will have someone to talk to. Ruin it for me and we are no longer friends.” Blaine threatened them and left.

“Kurt made an impression on our ice queen…” Nick stated with a big smile on his face.

“Yes, he did. We just have to get the ice queen’s head out of his ass.”

“Challenge accepted.”

“Nick?”

“Yeah?”

“What if Kurt has a boyfriend?”