The room was already full of people when Kurt arrived - a consequence of having to take the subway to get to the school. It was only five hours ago that Kurt's plane arrived at JFK and in order to not miss his big audition Kurt made his way directly from the airport, with his suitcase still in hand.

A wise call because as it turned out using the subway on you first day in in the city (and without any further help or guidelines) is more complicated than thought: After 30 minutes spend searching for the right connection and finally managing to buy his ticket - Kurt had to learn that NYC-Subways often delay. So after having pushed his way through several not so friendly strangers on the crowded sidewalks of the city, Kurt finally arrived at Juilliard with only 45 minutes to spare before his audition - which was just barely enough time for changing and stretching his still pretty stiff muscles from the two-hour-flight - never mind going through his routine one last time before the performance of his lifetime.

After seeing him practically run into the preparation room - not even changed - most of the other contenders shook their heads at his antics, some even smirked (thinking they had already overthrown him just by showing up earlier or maybe that he was as careless with his dancing as he seemingly was with looking up the time of is appointments).

Kurt however didn't mind them at all. He could've been totally alone in the room and it wouldn't have changed anything because in only 30 short minutes he'll be standing in front of the six most famous ballet instructors of the world. He will have to show them that he has what it takes, that he's special. And convince them to let him continue doing what he loves and enable him later be able to do for other what they did for him.

But before that he would have to show them all of him without any of the barriers he constantly puts up, now, simply to protect himself from anymore hurt. Kurt has to make himself vulnerable again in order to reach his dream. And that's what scared him most of all: The knowledge that he would be laying his fate into the hands of complete strangers and they would decide if he was worth their efforts...

Needless to say he was practically dying inside and shivering with anticipation all at once: He had never danced in front of anybody who wasn't his mom or dad or an old camcorder he used for self-corrections, this would tell him if he was truly as good as he sees himself, as good as his mother always said.

And being Kurt Hummel he naturally wouldn't beg down from a challenge: He might have lost his parents and the only home known to him but he wouldn't give them his last resort, too. Not without a fight first...

Just as he had finished his warm-up and his thoughts began to become frantic (again), a woman appeared in the doorway calling out his name.

This was it. In just a few short moments his future will be set for him. After one short demonstration of his abilities it will be decided if he will get in with the needed scholarship or will have to look for a job to survive in the city while figuring how to proceed further. The next five minutes will decide if Kurt spend the last 14 years of his life chasing after what was only wishful thinking, and will be roughly woken up by reality hitting him.

He stepped into the room breathing harshly and feeling his heart practically beating right out of his chest, stopping in front of a vintage looking wooden desk where his idols (and possible executioners) sat. After the formal introduction and a few neutral instructions, soft music notes began to trickle from the surround-sound-system.

Kurt had debated a very long time over his audition piece because he wanted it to be perfect. Of course he loved to dance to the classic instrumentals, but that was just a too safe choice for him (too boring, frankly). After thinking trough all his options and seeing that he only had this ONE chance he decided he might as well go all in...

So he didn't use any of the traditional routines, but chose to create his very own from scratch. Even going as far as to not use the original song but recording himself singing in his high and clear voice, and putting even more of himself out there.

As the first notes of "Think of Me" filled the air Kurt found himself relax and just going where the music told him to...

His audience watched enraptured and seemingly unable to pull their eyes away from the dancing boy while he perfectly managed several consecutive Pirouettes on Dedans, followed by a Capriole in a Grande Allegro section and even going as far as doing a Split-Jump before finally finishing in a Grande Plié.

The room went silent after the music stopped and everybody seemed too scared to even let out a breath, which was unnerving to Kurt since it was not their future on the line here.

No matter what their decision would be he couldn't bring himself regret spending all his time training and perfecting his ballet steps. After all it was what connected him to his mother. And basically the only thing keeping him sane after losing not only her but also his father. No he would never regret even for a second...

How could he, really? He probably would be dead by now if he hadn't had an outlet for all the grief he was feeling. When he danced he finally felt free from all the pain and suffering because he put all the emotion he had, all of his soul into it - and that's also what it made so magical for everybody else.

Just as Kurt was about to decide that he must've been so terrible they didn't even have to courtesy to tell him and leave to room to at least save some of his dignity. His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden sound of clapping in the silent room.

It startled him at first, he had never heard about anything like this happening before (like ever) but suddenly all six luminaries were out of their seats and applauding to him. He couldn't believe it: He'd done it - they liked him and he would get his chance to learn and perform. His hopes weren't crushed. He would live his dream and maybe finally find some happiness along the way.

They didn't understand it, but everybody felt drawn to Kurt after seeing him dance: His pure soul had made a connection with his audience and lifted them up with itself until he stopped and they dropped down again, but they could never get enough and always felt the need to see him again - that's what made Kurt such a good performer, but it's also what would make him so very lonely...