The plane ride back to New York was much more relaxed than the one to Lima had been. Rachel and Kurt talked, each having achieved some form of closure, Rachel by cutting things off with Finn, and Kurt by officially dumping Blaine and telling him how awful he'd made Kurt feel. The two chatted happily, each well on the way to moving on from the past and accepting the future.

Rachel sighed as she leaned onto Kurt's shoulder, looking out at the city far below them. They were almost at JFK airport, almost home. "I'm happy we went." She said quietly, voicing their mutual feelings on the trip to Lima. "I feel like now I can finally concentrate on NYADA. No more guys, no more drama. Just me, singing, dancing, and acting."

"You're not upset about Brody, then?" Kurt inquired, turning his head to look at his friend.

"Nope." Rachel responded with a half smile "He was a nice guy and an okay friend, but we haven't known each other for that long, and honestly, I couldn't see myself in a serious relationship with him. I hope he and Cassandra are happy. Maybe now she won't be so uptight. Maybe me and him can still be friends."

Kurt could tell from her facial expression that she spoke the truth. How far they'd come, he and her, from the people they'd been at McKinley. High School Rachel would never have forgiven Brody this easily, and High School Kurt would probably still be crying about Blaine. Instead, here they were, going back home to the most amazing city on earth. Her, to the best preforming arts school in the country, and He, to a fantastic internship at one of the most sought-after fashion names in the world. No, he decided, there was absolutely nothing wrong with their lives. They simply had to accept that the past was the past, and move on with their future. And, Kurt decided, he couldn't wait to see what the future had in store.

Kurt smiled at Isabelle as he walked to his desk at the office, handing her the coffee she'd asked for on the way. This really was the best job in the world, he thought to himself. Preforming arts were great, and they were still his dream, but right now, Vogue was a hell of a great reality. More reachable than NYADA had ever been, Kurt saw that if he decided to, he could rule the fashion world someday. He'd decided to stick with Vogue and do his best to advance in the next year, and audition for NYADA again in the spring. If he got in, well, he would decide then what to do. And if he didn't? Well, that was alright too. He had an excellent future ahead of him in fashion.

He spent the morning taking care of Isabelle's emails and phone calls, organizing her schedule for her, and then going for another meeting with her in the afternoon. They were becoming friends as well as colleagues, he and Isabelle, and they stayed late at work together to brainstorm new ideas, Kurt still in awe that she took the time to listen to him.

On the way to the subway, Kurt stopped at a sandwich stand to get dinner for himself and Rachel. Riding the subway home, he gave up his seat with a smile to an elderly woman, and she thanked him for his kindness. He walked into his building and took the elevator up to his and Rachel's floor, and unlocked their apartment with one hand, balancing the sandwiches with another. He opened the door and saw Rachel practicing a dance routine in the open space, and set his satchel down on the couch before sitting on the floor across from his friend to enjoy dinner. And it wasn't until his head hit the pillow that he realized he hadn't thought about Blaine all day.

"So, Kurt." Rachel walks into their kitchen the next morning as Kurt is brewing coffee

"Hmm?" He turns around and hands her a cup, throwing her a questioning look.

"There's this guy in my dance class, his name's Peter. Um, he's gay, so I, um, I figured since I couldn't date him, maybe you'd want to?" Rachel rushes through her words, blush heating her cheeks, avoiding Kurt's eyes as she talks. "He seems really nice, and I think you'd really like him, and I told him about you and he seems interested and-"

"Sure." Kurt sticks a spoon into his mug, stirring the brown liquid before adding some milk.

"Really?" Rachel's eyes look hopeful as she gazes at her friend.

"Yeah. I said I was done with Blaine, and I meant it. It could be nice to get back out into the dating world." Kurt smiles at her over the brim of his cup as he takes a long sip. He means what he says. Blaine was amazing, Kurt's first love. But Kurt wasn't a child anymore. Maybe what he had with Blaine wasn't as special as he thought it was. It's not like he had much basis for comparison, after all. Maybe it could be found again, with someone else. Hell, maybe he could find something even better.

"I'll set something up and let you know. This is going to be great, Kurt" Rachel reaches over and squeezes his hand, her face lighting up with happiness that her friend was taking her advice and moving on. Kurt and Blaine were done, of that she was sure. Maybe it was time for Kurt to find someone new to share his life with. Certainly no one deserved a romantic relationship more than sweet, loving Kurt.

Kurt waited outside the restaurant Rachel had told him to go to that Friday night, glancing at his watch. 7:15. He'd been supposed to meet Peter here at 7:00. A frown of distaste tainted his face as he considered the kind of guy who would show up late to a first date. Blaine would never have behaved like that. He would have been here ten minutes early, ready to open the door and pull out a chair, the perfect gentleman.

A figure dressed in a dark green trenchcoat approached Kurt, coming to stand in front of him.

"Kurt?" The other man spoke first.

"Yeah, that's me," Kurt responded. "Peter, right"

"Yup," he said, "let's go in, then." He made an 'after you' gesture and Kurt got up and opened the door, holding it open for Peter, who strode in without a thank you. Blaine would never have behaved like that. He would have thanked me for opening the door and apologized for being late.

As the dinner progressed, it became more and more clear to Kurt that Peter was not the kind of man he wanted to associate with. He interrupted Kurt frequently, and spoke with his mouth full. He even wiped his hands on the tablecloth, completely ignoring the cloth napkin set on the table for him. Kurt eyed him in distaste when he wasn't looking, and couldn't help but compare him to Blaine. Of the two, the latter was an infinitely better choice in Kurt's mind. Peter was rude, and obnoxious and... Annoying. It didn't take Kurt long to decide that there would be no second date. When they finished their main courses and Peter offered to share a Sundae for dessert, Kurt accepted, not wanting to be rude, and thinking that perhaps the date could still be revived. Alas, that was not the case, for when it arrived, Peter dug into the ice cream with gusto, imploring no manners what so ever, and putting Kurt off what little appetite he had left. When the bill finally arrived, they split it, and Kurt was glad that the nightmarish evening was coming to a close, but when they stepped out of the restaurant, Peter turned to Kurt.

"I had a lot of fun tonight," he said with a smile. Kurt decided against telling him about the large piece of spinach stuck between his teeth. "Would you like to take a walk through Central Park before going home? It's gorgeous this time of night." Once again, Kurt agreed out of courtesy. The other man led him through the well lit pathways paving the park, before turning into a secluded alcove concealed from the view of the paths by some bushes. "Sit down with me," he said, sitting on the grass and patting the area next to him. "The city is beautiful, isn't it?" He asked, looking up at the bright lights above them, a smile touching his features. Kurt sat next to him and leaned back to look as well.

He sighed. It really was beautiful, he decided in his mind. Kurt leaned back on his arms, closing his eyes for a moment, intending to cement the image of the city at night into his brain as a wonderful memory, but suddenly, Peter rolled on top of him, leaning down and pressing his lips to Kurt's.

"Wha-" Kurt yelped in surprise as Peter kept kissing him passionately, nearly choking him in his enthusiasm to get his tongue down Kurt's throat. He ran his hands down Kurt's sides, and Kurt shivered slightly in revulsion, causing Peter, who obviously though Kurt's shiver was that or arousal, to smile. He reached his hand down to Kurt's zipper, fumbling to get it open, but Kurt ripped his lips away from Peter's, escaping the prison of his mouth.

"No." He said firmly. "Get off me, I'm not interested." Kurt's eyes were angry, daring Peter to argue, which he did.

"Oh, c'mon, baby," Peter looked at Kurt, obviously confused at his lack of enthusiasm.

"I said get off me." Kurt pushed Peter off his body and stood up, glowering at the other man as Peter did the same.

"Tease." Peter spat the word in Kurt's face before pacing off into the night, leaving Kurt standing in the clearing.

Kurt knew that he shouldn't be walking in Central Park alone at night, but continued doing so despite his better judgement. He walked slowly down the deserted path, a blank look on his face, reliving what had happened with Peter. He couldn't stop thinking about what had almost happened, what the other man had tried to do. How awful would it have been, if Kurt had allowed Peter to touch him... there? Only one other person had ever had their hand down Kurt's pants, and it had been someone he loved unconditionally. What sort of respect would he be paying himself if he let some stranger take away his... His purity, just for the sake of getting off? Of course, Blaine hadn't paid himself or Kurt that respect, but then, look where it'd gotten him. No, Kurt decided, that area of his body was reserved exclusively for himself and those he was truly in love with. He wasn't some cheap whore.

He looked ahead of himself, squinting in the moonlight, expresion steeled with his new decision. Out of nowhere, a sob ripped through the night. Kurt's ears pricked forward at the sound, and he looked around for the source, before spotting it-a man sitting on a bench not three yards away. Before he knew what he was doing, Kurt walked over to the other man, and placed a hand on his shoulder, causing him to look up in confusion, tear filled eyes looking into Kurt's. The familiar blue eyes and blond hair made Kurt gasp in sudden recognition.

"Kurt?" The man asked tentatively.

"Chandler?" Kurt responded in disbelief.