"Can I have one of those?"

Kurt instantly smiled at the warm breath against his ear, hearing the voice of his boyfriend right next to him instead of through a phone was more satisfying than he ever expected. Especially now they weren't overruled by the party noises from last night. He felt a poke in his side and Kurt reached out to grab the croissants Cooper was begging for.

He knew he had to ask things last night, to let Cooper tell about his audition and Hollywood in general, but somehow Kurt had thrown himself onto the older man and for most of the remaining night they were making out on the couch. Eventually the party had worn him out badly and with their lips practically still attached, Kurt had fallen asleep on top of Cooper.

In the morning he had woken up alone. Jetlags were apparently a thing Cooper was immune for, because he was already up and running - in search of his baby brother.

It was until Cooper had mentioned Blaine, Kurt recalled the intoxicated heap of boy that had been lying against him for the most part of the night. If he put all the moments from the party together - Kurt could say he had been sandwiched by the Anderson brothers. Even though not at once.

"You should go though, before Blaine -"

"I bet my shoes he's currently passed out on the backseat." Cooper assured but Kurt wasn't convinced. Blaine had looked horrible when he stumbled in at the Motta Mansion, not to mention the aggravated looks on his face while driving. Kurt was extremely worried and had a million questions to ask him - what girl forced you into bed? Can you remember anything from last night? And also mainly a thank you for making the first part of the night tolerable.

Kurt scooted his chair a bit backwards, eyes searching under the table and Cooper shot him an odd glance.

"What are you doing?"

"Checking if your shoes are worth betting for."

Cooper scoffed with a piece of croissant still in his mouth, arms suddenly wrapped around Kurt and before he could squeak, he was squished into a hug. Kurt could see his Adam's apple bob while Cooper was still chewing. In sudden impulse he pressed a quick kiss on his neck before nuzzling it.

A throat cleared loudly and both of them looked up to see Kurt's dad had returned. Feeling embarrassed, Kurt scooted back to sit fully on his own seat.

Not twenty minutes ago his dad suddenly got up while Cooper was still talking about Los Angeles and Hollywood - and how amazing it was, and with the excuse that he needed to check some things with his truck - he was gone.

New Year's Day breakfast was tradition and his father had never excused himself from it because he needed to check some things.

Although his departure did cause Cooper to discontinue his story - under the guise of that he could talk about it when they were heading back to New York - and Kurt was strangely thankful he stopped talking.

Mainly because Cooper wasn't telling things Kurt wanted to hear. If Kurt was truly, truly, honest with himself - he wanted to hear that it was awful. That the climate was ridiculous, the people weren't nice and kind - and that the movie wasn't worth going there ever again. If he got the part. And his audition was a topic Cooper was carefully avoiding - another thing that drove Kurt mad and made him wander off while he was talking.

It was until his dad got up that Kurt fully returned to the one-sided conversation and now he was back - bringing an awkward silence to the table.

"So, Cooper," Burt started,

"Yes, sir?" Cooper perked up, straightening his back in the seat.

"Shouldn't you head back to Westerville? See your family?" His dad was barely making eye contact.

"Dad." Kurt said with a warning tone. Burt looked up to see his son, innocence all over his face. Kurt was maybe supporting Cooper to take Blaine home, but he didn't want his own father  to shoo him out the house.

"I'm sure his family would like to see him, -"

He was about to say another thing, but Cooper placed an hand on his arm so he remained quiet.

"No, no, you're absolutely right, sir. I need to take my brother home -"

"Brother?" Burt cocked an eyebrow. "I didn't know you had a brother."

"Yes, he was at the party too," Kurt interfered quickly.

"He fell asleep in the car, I should really take him home." Cooper's chair scraped over the wooden floor, his croissant still half eaten on the plate.

"I'll walk you out." Kurt shot one glare at his father before getting up too, following Cooper to the door and sighing deeply.

"There I was thinking I warmed up to him." Cooper muttered, leaning in to kiss his forehead.

"I know, I have no idea what happened. I'll - talk to him," Kurt rubbed his eyes.

"You okay, though?"

He looked up at the worried tone coming from Cooper.

"Yes, I'm - perfect." he lied, smiling to make it seem a bit convincing.

"It's just, you were staring into the void of the milk jug." Cooper added with a teasing huff.

Kurt's mouth fell open, eyes searching for a lie and went for the one Cooper would definitely fall for: "Just, thinking about my audition."

His boyfriend nodded understanding. "Now mine's over, we can focus completely on yours." he said with a small voice, eyes on the floor. Kurt wanted to ask him so bad how his went, but too afraid of the outcome. Eventually they kissed goodbye and Cooper ran off to the car, turning around one last time to say that Blaine was sleeping and he could keep his shoes.

Kurt laughed. But it didn't feel real.

With a temper tantrum heating up his face he stormed back into the kitchen, crossing his arms like a parent while the actual father was finishing his breakfast.

"No pancakes this time?" Burt said without looking up.

"Dad." Kurt felt the tension drip away from his body. "I thought we passed this."

Finally his dad looked up and Kurt walked toward him, scooting a chair closely next to his and sat down.

"You know," his father started to explain, "when you told me Cooper was going to L.A. and not here, I was prepared for everything. I remember Finn when his millionth girlfriend was gone for only a weekend and, well - you remember the tears."

"You expected -?"

"You moping around! Looking like a kicked puppy or something, missing him -" He put down his cutlery with force.

"I did miss him -" Kurt squeaked.

"You were looking more sad when that one designer left Project Runway than you did this entire holiday." His dad looked at him sympathetically. "And then this morning," he continued, "I saw that look Kurt, while he was talking. That's why I went outside - I couldn't bear it, needed to step outside a bit. Kurt, it was the look I was expecting entire week, but instead you were just happily skipping along with Christmas and everything - doesn't that," he hesitated for a second, "say anything?"

Kurt's mouth was dry. "I - was distracted -" by Blaine. His new friend - maybe even best friend.

"I try not to dig in too deep into your business, but you're still my son." Burt grabbed his arm to pull him closer as Kurt remained frozen, sucking in everything that was just said. "And I want you to be happy."

"I - am, I th-think." He found himself wrapped up in a hug, squished between his father's bear arms.

"You can tell me anything." Burt assured. And it was all Kurt needed.

"I'm scared." Kurt blurted out. "He - he makes me - he's a part of my life now, but all this talk about Hollywood scares me, dad."

"Figured." his dad muttered.

"And - what if? What if he gets to go? Does he want me to wait? Will he wait? Does he want me to come with him - or worse, what if - what if -" he doesn't?

He was being shushed and rocked gently side to side. "How long have you been hogging that up?"

Too long. And with this opportunity to pour everything out, he just let himself. They stayed in this position until Carole was back from her emergency call - something happened with fireworks involved - and Finn came back around noon, head pounding with the hangover he tried to hide from Burt.

Kurt had tried to pull himself back together, texting Cooper and Blaine as well. Cooper responded almost immediately with his usual funny quirk, but Blaine was silent and it was strangely aching Kurt.

"Blaine?" Cooper's voice chimed through his door but Blaine was tuning it out. Another knock, followed by a doorknob shriek and again Cooper spoke: "Blaine? Are you doing the nasty? You usually never lock your door!" His brother seemed quite frustrated by it, nonetheless - Blaine didn't care.

There were papers everywhere, scattered all across the floor of his room. His violin was lying carelessly on his bed, ready to be picked up when necessary. His Music Theory book was open wide on the floor, in hand reach of Blaine as he was lying on top of some of the papers.

Sitting behind the desk composing didn't feel right.

Lying on the bed wasn't much better.

But the floor - the floor was perfect.

"Blaine? Please make some kind of noise so I know you're still breathing?" The knocking turned more frantic and Blaine snapped out of his doze. He blinked his vision clear, realizing it was already dark outside - he had been in his room since this morning. He hadn't even eaten anything. "Blaine!"

"Y-yeah!" He found his voice.

"What are you doing?" Cooper demanded to know.

"Nothing. I fell - asleep?" He winced at the lie.

"Right." Cooper sighed. "Come, dinner's ready and mom and dad were bickering again."

"They always bicker." Blaine said under his breath, gathering few of the papers - sorting them. He yelled that he was coming and when he realized nobody was going to come in his room anyway, he let the papers for what they were.

What he didn't expect was his brother still standing in the doorway, waiting for Blaine.

Cooper's tanned face scrunched at seeing the mess tornado that went across his room.

"What are you doing?" he mumbled.

"School project." Blaine said quickly - and in fact it was a school project, just not McKinley school.

"A school project that required you to pick up your violin every fifteen minutes at noon?" Cooper arched an eyebrow.

"Glee club." he made up quickly without even blinking. Lying to his brother wasn't a first.

"Sure, bro." Cooper didn't seem convinced, but threw his arm around the smaller boy to drag him downstairs - no escape possible. "You look a little pale," he suddenly commented. Blaine didn't reply. "You should come to L.A. with Spring Break."

That did make Blaine pay attention. "What?" They stopped on top of the stairs, staring at each other as Blaine seemed appalled and Cooper excited. "You got - you the part?"

Cooper was smirking now. "Not officially yet, but they were insanely excited about me - I think it's really a go." He beamed up and down on his feet.

"Did - did you tell Kurt yet?" Blaine asked shocked.

His brother stopped rocking on his feet, avoiding eye contact immediately. "No." he admitted. "I get official report in February, then I'll talk with him."

"But if you're certain -"

"Nothing is certain, Blaine." he said harsh, "I thought Broadway would be certain and look where that ended up. College was a waste of time. So is theatre." He shrugged and went downstairs. Blaine remained frozen upstairs, hands grasping thin air and mouth open wide.

"But -" he started, knowing damn well Cooper wasn't there anymore. He breathed uneven, wondering if he could skip dinner as he wasn't hungry anymore. "-what about Kurt?"

January was not going good.

At least that was what Kurt convinced himself. He saw the littlest setbacks as a bad omen for his audition - the lights in his dorm-room flickered; he forgot his wallet once while getting his coffee and he completely lost his ability to walk across a hallway without bumping into at least three people.

Kurt was having a mental breakdown.

And the most awful part was - he had no one to speak his mind to. Nancy was as caught up in her own audition as it was and was experiencing her own version of the stress road Kurt was taking, and Cooper was just - impossible.

Every time Kurt tried to avoid his red marked-date in his diary, Cooper brought it up to avoid his very own dreaded topic - his Hollywood audition. He had said little about his callback, telling Kurt it was bad luck to over think it and let it pass until they had the final decision. But it only caused Kurt to precisely over think. He wanted clearance and because of his own busy school schedule; they barely had good and normal conversations. Conversations that lasted longer than three sentences and not involved kisses.

Kurt sighed deeply and loud, leaving his private vocal lesson to head to the cafeteria to find some food - until he realized there was someone who he could talk to. He checked his watch to see whether it was his lunchtime as well and before he could process the time, he reached for his cell to make the call.

"I think I'm going crazy," he said before giving the other line even a chance to respond.

"Well, hello to you too." the smooth voice of Blaine Anderson said through the phone - he really had a good telephone voice. Then again; his voice was overall good.

"I'm going crazy." Kurt complained again.

"Is that what I am now? Your crazy call?" Blaine chuckled and Kurt couldn't be happier to hear him sounding relaxed for once. In Ohio they had met one last time before he headed back to New York and Blaine was hiding something. He had jumped at every little motion, spoken word and slipped more often on the ice than usual. He was definitely not telling something and Kurt's biggest fear was that Blaine knew something about Cooper's future that he didn't know.

"Oh God no, don't think that." Kurt said. "It's just - everybody is running and racing and I'm losing my mind."

"And I come in because -?"

"Because you're sane, now you're still in High School - because you will get the crazy disease when you're Juilliard bound."

"Kurt!" Blaine always got flustered when he brought up Juilliard - like he was the only one that knew Blaine's future plans. "I've only sent in my piece last week, it's probably on one big pile of talent that overrules me -"

"Bla bla, why do all my conversations end up talking about the a-word."

"A-word?" Blaine asked confused.

"Audition." Kurt whispered back. "I need like pills to calm down, what if - what if I choke?"

Blaine made an obscene scoffing noise. "You won't."

Kurt stopped walking immediately, getting some annoyed grunts from passing students. Everybody whom he talked to about his first audition since NYADA told him that everything was going to be just fine and he shouldn't fuss - but nobody bluntly told him he wouldn't repeat his biggest fear. Everybody was just soothing - Blaine was telling.

"Thank you -" Kurt started, but someone yanked the phone out of his hand. He protested at the thief, finding out it was Nancy. She didn't even look at the caller ID before talking.

"Hey there Cooper, I'm sure you know about the policy - Kurt needs Nancy-time, so he'll munch on your lips later - ciao!" And she hung up.

Kurt stared at her in horror before bursting. "I can't believe you just did that!" He snatched his phone back. "That was not Cooper! Oh my God." Quickly he texted Blaine to apologize.

Nancy stared at him with wide eyes. "Oh shit." she squeaked. "Who was it? Not someone important right? Not like a major theatre company begging you to shake your booty for money, right?"

"No! It's a - friend." he said angrily, waiting for Blaine's response.

"A friend?" Nancy shifted her weight to the other leg, hand sassy in her side. "Are you seeing people behind my back? Is this our break up moment, because I am ready! I am like trained for break up scenes, can I punch you? Please?" Eventually she broke character but it didn't loosen Kurt up. "Sorry." she added with a small voice and Kurt looked up, smiling softly.

"It's okay, just next time - don't assume."

"Noted." she said with a salute. "So, who is this ‘friend'?" An arm linked with his own and together they continued toward the cafeteria.

Kurt laughed at her curiosity. "It's Cooper's little brother actually, well - little, he's eighteen or - seventeen."

"Ooh!" Nancy drew him closer. "Is he single?"

"As far as I know - yes." he replied, leaving out the most important information.

"Is he cute?"

Kurt pretended to think deeply. "Yes, he's like an adorable puppy with arms to die for."

"Objectifying your brother in law, how classy." Nancy smirked. "You think he can handle the Nancy?"

"As much as I would love to be some sort of family with you," Kurt sighed, "I'm afraid you are not his type."

"What?" Nancy said astounded. "But - I'm hot."

"Yes, but I'm afraid he's not into those kind of hot features."

"Oh come on!" She stared him in honest shock as the penny dropped. "You're not saying - what? Him too?"

"Yep."

"Well damn, any other siblings?"

"Nope." Kurt gave her a smile, secretly enjoying her despair. "Unless they keep their crazed sister the basement."

"Well," she sighed, "There goes my final chance of dating an Anderson."

"I can ask for cousins?"

"Nope, too much DNA distance to what is perfection. I am lost. I'm giving up all hope." She dramatically laid a hand on her forehead. "Oh what has become, world? What are you doing?"

"There there." Kurt said before they burst out into giggles, reaching the crowded cafeteria at last. And even though his conversation with Blaine was cut off - it had strangely calmed him.

Blaine was close to freaking out.

Every day he went through the mail - both digital and paper, waiting for an envelope with the Juilliard logo perking on top. He had no idea how long it took for the board to go through applications, no idea how many people got through the first round - but from what he learned from forums; the intake interviews were always end January. There was also somewhere stated that getting through the first round of musical composing was an accomplishment on its own, so at least he had that.

But he wanted more.

He didn't want to go to OSU or whatever his parents had decided - if Cooper could do whatever he pleased by doing Musical Theatre (and to throw it away by going into movies), Blaine could continue with his passion.

And for doing that he needed that one releasing message that he was invited to come to New York.

The last thing he had added to the piece - the very long, and perfect piece - was the title. And it had taken a long time before he hit the correct tone with it.

With the waiting, thoughts that he shouldn't be thinking crept into his mind. He wondered if Kurt wanted to show him around New York if he was there, checking out all his hotspots together and talking about next year. Somehow he couldn't make his mind stop from letting the thoughts in.

It was Saturday the 12th the burning question were to be answered. In the middle of the table, right after he got home from his day at the tire shop where he now worked as a mechanic assistant, was the white envelope with the blue logo. Carelessly it was thrown on the table by his mother, who never bothered looking at the mail not destined to her - thank God.

Blaine's urges to rip it open just like the first letter didn't come. He was frozen on the spot, knowing he should move to his room before one of his parents caught him. Something was missing, and the feeling was strange - because he felt like he shouldn't be opening it alone. With trembling fingers he took out his mobile phone, slowly walking to the stairs while dialing - breath hitching and heaving and he waited for the only one he trusted on this to pick up.

---

Kurt was just about to leave for dinner when his phone buzzed. He had just turned it back on - no distractions while rehearsing, and with an eyebrow raised he saw who was calling.

"Hey Blaine." He strapped his bag across his shoulder and chest, securing it.

"It's here." Blaine said practically inaudible.

"What's there?" Kurt said worried, unsure what Blaine meant and opened the door of his room to leave.

"My - my Juilliard letter."

"Oh my God." he exclaimed, turning around immediately and shutting the door again. "What'd it say? You got in? You -"

"I haven't opened it yet." The confession was said softly. "I know this may sound stupid, but I kind of don't want to do it alone -"

"That is completely understandable, I opened all my letters with my dad somehow near me." Kurt quickly said - at least the letters with a positive outcome. "Are you in a room that makes you - feel good?"

"What?"

"Is the room you're in giving you a good vibe?"

"I had no idea the room was important?" Blaine actually sounded amused.

"Well it is," Kurt teased back, "where are you?"

"In my room, I think the vibe is good?"

"Blaine, this letter has your eternal dream. This moment will stay with you your entire life, the story you will tell your grandkids - how grandpa got into the school of his - dreams." Kurt's voice faltered at that, remembering his important letter from NYADA. He cleared his throat before continuing. "So, is that room worthy of that memory?"

"Yes," Blaine said eventually, "Yes, I wrote most of the composition here."

"Oh, the amazing composition I will never hear? That one?"

"The very same." He was still nervous, Kurt knew, but he seemed at least a tad relaxed.

"Okay Blaine," Kurt smiled, "this is it. I'm right here, yes? Right here in the city you'll come to study one day - doesn't matter what school. You can do it." He sat down on his bed, prepared for whatever news would come out. He would cheer with him or cry with him - because he knew what both felt like.

Blaine swallowed inhumanly loud over the phone. "Okay." he breathed, "I'm going to put you down to open the envelope and then -"

"Yes, Blaine, go, put pick me up before you read it."

He breathed one last time into the phone before the phone hit whatever Blaine put it on. Kurt heard the vague rustles of paper ripping and with violent noises and Blaine's breathing returned.

"Okay, oh my God." he said, panting almost. More paper sounds came, this time unfolding and Blaine's voice returned: "Dear mister Anderson,"

Kurt held his hand against his heart, hearing Blaine mutter various words from the letter but not completing one sentence. He wanted to scream at Blaine to tell him what it said, but he knew this was Blaine's own little moment and he was there for him.

"Oh -" Blaine gasped, "my God." An obscenely loud screech followed and Kurt was forced to hold his phone from a distance. When the ‘Oh my Gods' returned at a more pleasant volume, Kurt jerked the device back.

"What did it say?" he urged. "What -?"

"I'm invited." Blaine squeaks. "They invited me to come to New York to have the one on one interview with people from the board, Kurt - oh my word, this - this is good."

"Is it?" Kurt's heart just lost three pounds.

"Yes, it means -" Blaine was stumbling over words, "it means that got through another round, it means I'm interesting enough to talk to them, oh my God."

"Blaine!" Kurt squeaked. "When - when are you coming? When is your interview?"

"Uhm," Blaine searched through the letter, "Friday 25th. At ten in the morning. Holy shit, that's like in two weeks."

"I'm free on Fridays!" Kurt interrupted. "We can like totally meet afterwards, I'll show you everything there is to see! You're probably crashing at Cooper's right?"

"Most probably yeah, oh my - you really want to use your weekend to show me around?"

"What? Of course I do! You do too, right?"

"Yes, yes, most definitely, it's all I ever wanted."

"Great! Now - your interview outfit."

Blaine laughed loudly, still in his victory haze. "Really?"

"New York winters are cold, Blaine. This way you know what to expect." Kurt babbled on, ignoring Blaine's chuckles - he was halfway talking scarves when Blaine cut in.

"Thank you, Kurt."

"For what? My advice isn't complete yet."

"For that too, but - thank you for being there for me. With all this."

Kurt's face cracked into a smile. "Any time, Blaine." he assured. "Any time."

That night Blaine was gathering all his guts to ask his parents' permission to go to New York in two weeks. He was getting quite close to opening his mouth until his mother spoke before him.

"I think Blaine should visit Cooper." she said, reaching for her glass of wine and sipped it.

Blaine's eyes sneaked from her to his father, hopefully not as jumpy as his brain currently was. Mr. Anderson had his eyebrows raised, staring at his wife in utter confusion - not that Blaine could blame him.

"Why?" he asked.

His mother didn't reply immediately. She simply continued sipping her wine and eating before saying: "Because they barely had some time together over winter break. And if Cooper is going to do that movie, he will move to Los Angeles - now I believe tickets to New York are less pricy." She didn't even give her husband  chance to talk. "And soon Blaine will go into the graduation circus and we should be lucky if we get to see him at all -" The silence that followed was perfectly timed. As if his mother had been planning this ‘proposal' for a few hours.

"So, Bee -" she turned to Blaine, "how the weekend of the 26th? Your father and I have that important party anyway, so why should you be alone when you can be in New York?"

Blaine was stunned and quite certain this was not a coincidence, but if the opportunity was being thrown at him - only a fool would turn it down.

"I -" he started, but his father was already agreeing by suggesting airlines .

"Just don't let Cooper show you around campuses, alright? We're expecting college applications back soon. And don't wander off by yourself."

Was this real life? Blaine returned his look to his mother, but her poker face was worthy of a few awards. Dinner passed without any notable subjects discussed and Mrs. Anderson was the first to leave the table.

Later he found her in her study, quickly scribbling down a note.

"Hey Bee," she said while looking up, "so your flight leaves Friday morning, really early - because that was cheaper and you'll arrive in New York by seven. You think you have enough time then?"

"Mom -"

"I have a note for your principal so you can skip school without a hassle, are you missing anything important?"

"What? No, but -"

"Good, good."

"Mom." he said a bit sharper. She loosened her shoulders, slumping a bit as if she was busted and sighed. Blaine broke eye contact and whispered: "How'd you find out?"

"Your scream of joy wasn't really subtle, Bee." she answered with a bit of a smirk. "I saw the letter and I already had a bit of a hunch. You hadn't composed so much since you transferred to Dalton and I thought - maybe I can help?"

Her smiles turned guilty, but it was still the most sincere one Blaine had ever seen on his mother.

"You were eavesdropping?" accused Blaine amusingly.

She shrugged. "I was curious."

Blaine couldn't stop smiling. Never in his teenage years he'd thought his mother would offer him a chance to pursuit his dreams and the feeling was intoxicating.

"But -" she then popped his bubble, holding up the hand with the slip for principal Figgins - pointing dangerously, "know that I'm giving you this opportunity because Juilliard is extremely prestigious and not even your father will blink to consider a no if you get in." And his mother was back - always on his father's side. She dropped her hand at his expression. "You know what we talked about Blaine."

"I do." he whispered, hearing his parents' conversation of two years ago again. It was in the hospital, three days after his Sadie Hawkins Dance disaster. Blaine had overheard his parents discuss his future without any of his consent. Which High School he was going to attend now, how to manage to keep him safe - and that included his college-dreams.

"We want you close, sweetheart." his mother said softly, "so does your father. We both have the best interest in you - so call every two hours, or text, in New York."

"I'm turning eighteen, mom."

"And stay with your brother, or Kurt - you two seemed cozy on the phone." She smiled again. "And if you don't get in, that is it - you understand?"

"I understand." Blaine answered truthfully. "I - thank you, mom."

"Good luck." she said before he disappeared completely and only nodded in return, still processing the fact he was going to New York for his Juilliard audition and he didn't have to dig into his carefully saved money from working at Hummel Tires and Lube - which, he realized, needed to ask his day of work off.