Their date didn't happen until end September. Cooper had warned him through text that the first weeks of Tisch courses were going to become a pain in the ass - the teachers would use it to separate the wheat from the chaff and he revealed that the first impressions would land you either the lead-parts or villager number five in the background-parts.

Kurt blessed the cow that landed him in every class with Nancy, because as crazy and crude she could be - she was actually the most normal-shaped marble in the sack.

There was Jack with his weird mechanic noises while warming up ("It's like hearing Optimus Prime masturbate." Nancy had commented.), the British girl who had been in Les Misérables both Broadway and West End as Cosette (Kurt almost texted Rachel that, but then he remembered they were on non-speaking terms) and other people who all seemed to have way more experience than Kurt would ever get.

Nancy and he paired up for every assignment. Their first ‘act-off' was acting out an improvised argument. Without even a minute of discussing their topic, Nancy had slapped him across the face and claimed that she saw him first. Apparently she was channeling her inner anger that Cooper had ‘chosen' him and Kurt gladly took the subject of matter.

After the professor finally yelled cut, him and Nancy burst out in laughter. It had been hilarious seeing Nancy being jealous and they were praised for their obvious chemistry.

Kurt sat down against the mirror to watch his classmates do their act-off. He reached for his bag and took out his cell phone to find a text message from Cooper.

To: Kurt               From: Cooper   (02:27 PM)
Well hello there, what have you been up to?

To: Cooper         From: Kurt          (02:50 PM)
Being slapped by girls, the usual - no biggie

To: Kurt               From: Cooper   (02:52 PM)
Now THAT'S a story I would love to hear.

To: Cooper         From: Kurt          (02:53 PM)
I bet you do.

To: Kurt               From: Cooper   (02:55 PM)
So how about you do? Tell me? Tonight over dinner, maybe see a show?

Kurt's breath hitched. A familiar shoe poked his thigh and he looked up to see Nancy giving him a questionable look. He turned the phone toward her. Her eyes moved at the reading of the text, before her face opened up into excitement and she nodded frantically.

"Go get him, Kurt!" she whispered and the professor announced they were dismissed.

As they scrambled their stuff together Kurt quickly texted confirmation, shortly replied with:

To: Kurt               From: Cooper   (03:02 PM)
Yes! Meet me at the entrance of Tisch Hall, it's easy to walk from there, at six - can't wait. Xx

And Kurt tried not to interpret those ‘xx's' as a promise for tonight, but failed miserably.

Kurt had been fantasizing about dating for the mere three years now. Imagining some handsome, courteous man would sweep him of his feet and drag him across all the romantic spots of whatever city they were.

Holding hands, stealing kisses as their relationship would grow. But never in his teenage dreams the guy he'd been fantasizing about would look like someone like Cooper.

Funny Cooper, who had been texting him with warnings about certain teachers (Professor Gaffrey had a serious problem.). Sweet Cooper, wishing him luck when he had another assignment due. They weren't even officially dating yet, but Kurt felt abnormally comfortable with the sweet texts and phonecalls.

It was perfect that there were a few weeks between their first and second meeting - mainly because of one reason: Kurt hadn't gone over the fact yet that Cooper was too handsome to be real.

Kurt had to remind himself that Cooper was also the guy who had sent him puppy-pictures after his first encounter with his dance-instructor (Nancy had actually gotten defensive about her comment on Kurt's stiffness, telling Ms. Shannen that Kurt was more flexible than her husband would ever be).

He mentally said ‘puppy-pictures' as a mantra when Cooper appeared in his eyesight that night. Unfortunately puppy-pictures turned mushy and all Kurt saw was the face of world's most gorgeous man.

"H-hi." Kurt stuttered as Cooper came close to greet him. The shock grew even more when Cooper slung his arms around him and pulled him into a hug. Kurt had never gotten used to physical affection with someone other than his girls - especially not with guys. His goodbye with Finn had gone into the records of most awkward moments ever, mostly because Rachel was standing a few feet from them and Kurt had refused to talk to her.

"Hi, hi yourself." Cooper mumbled as he leaned back. They gave each other a moment to gaze at the other. Cooper didn't let his smile falter once. He checked Kurt's outfit, face and hair and shook his head in wonder. "Still as fabulous as day one, seriously - after my first month I looked like a strangled deer."

"How lovely." Kurt snickered, blushing at the compliment. "You're not looking so shabby yourself tonight." He gave an appreciating look at the overall stylish - yet clean - look.

Cooper looked down to his denim coat. "Well, yeah. I couldn't outshine you even if I wanted to on that area." Puppy-pictures, puppy-pictures. "Ready to go?"

"Absolutely." Now what? Do they hold hands? Arms? Awkwardly walking next to each other with the sexual tension lurking in between them? Woah, Kurt - you just thought sexual without hesitating.

Cooper pulled him out of his daydreams by slinging his arm around Kurt's waist. Kurt couldn't help but blush at the heated feeling of Cooper's hand on his side just above the hip. He was definitely more experienced than Kurt on these kind of areas. Well of course he was - they had an age-difference, but Cooper had the intend to act younger than he really was.

And Kurt couldn't help but wonder: is it always supposed to be this easy?

Kurt's wondering grew as Cooper was proving that it really was easy. They chatted casually while walking to the little restaurant Cooper picked.

Inside everything seemed so - so right. It wasn't too fancy, but not slob either. The atmosphere made Kurt relax even though it was his first date ever.

"So," Cooper started as they took seat at their table in a corner, "tell me about wonderful Lima, Ohio."

"What makes you think it was wonderful?" Kurt smiled and ordered a water. Cooper did the same before answering.

"Well, mostly because you lived there -"

It had to be the oldest pick up line the book. It had to be. Then why did it work? Kurt could just feel the redness creep down his throat - thank the world for awful restaurant lightning.

"W-Well, I uh, I lived with my dad -" Kurt started to tell his story about his father and stepmother. Even Finn entered briefly before Cooper interrupted.

"Cool, so you have a stepbrother." He was looking way too comfortable, Kurt stated. "I have a little brother myself, still in High School."

"How sweet." Kurt commented, imaging a younger Cooper running down school-halls.

"Yeah, little talented bastard." Cooper grinned. "So, how is Tisch so far?"

It was incredible how uncomplicated Kurt could talk with Cooper. It was until Cooper asked about his Tisch audition when he turned silent. Cooper sensed the sensitive topic and immediately started to talk about his own, hilarious, audition.

"- and so this woman was completely in trance. She had this whole heart eyes thing going on -"

"Oh, God."

"And I don't even know if she heard my lines, but afterwards she was drooling."

"I can't believe you let this poor woman believe you liked her."

"Hey!" Cooper gave him a friendly slap on the arm. "I was auditioning for an acting education, so why not start at the very beginning with acting?"

"Did you ever see her again?" Kurt had seen the people who where there with his audition plenty of times the past month.

"Yeah," Cooper started to laugh again, "trust me when I say it wasn't pretty." He raised his arm to check the time. "We should be going, a friend of mine has left us tickets. One of the big plusses of knowing other actors, they're always playing some part somewhere!"

Cooper paid for the lovely dinner. Kurt had always thought this part was going to be awkward (because, who pays?), but Cooper didn't even questioned it - and Kurt was also convinced he flirted off at least twenty dollars of their bill. Somehow he didn't mind that.

They ended up seeing a play Kurt hadn't heard off.

"New York is full of secrets like these," Cooper mumbled as they got their tickets, "Luckily there's an underground newspaper who tells about these."

"I should subscribe to it."

"I'll sign you up." Cooper grinned and took his jacket together with Kurt's to give to wardrobe. For a second Kurt was standing alone in the dingy theatre. A dinner and a show - a perfect Hummel date, Kurt decided. An arm was slung over his shoulder again and with a shy smile Kurt looked up to the other half of the perfect date: Cooper.

Cooper took the lead by piloting them to a sitting area. He talked about the show and how it was going to have a cast-change in a few weeks. "I'm thinking about auditioning, so it's nice to know what the show looks like for full character research."

"Remind me when the audition is so I can wish you luck." Kurt said and for the first time that night Cooper let his smile down, turning his face into a soft expression - emotional even.

"Thanks," he mumbled, "I will."

The soft sound of doors opening told them they could take their seats. Kurt stood up and waited for Cooper to follow, but Cooper took his hand (oh my God) and guided him inside. This was just turning better and better.

In the end the show wasn't the best play Kurt had ever seen. It lacked of dept and the whole idea didn't work, but it was fine - because Cooper couldn't stop talking afterwards.

"I think it was the missing chemistry, so I need to focus on that -" he chatted, arm around Kurt's shoulder, keeping him close. "I really think I'll have a shot - you know?"

"I completely agree."

Cooper looked down at him as they walked to Kurt's dorm in the surprisingly quiet night of New York.

"You are so amazing." Cooper whispered and leaned in closer than he had been that evening. Kurt didn't know what to do, he never had gotten this far - heck this was his first date ever. He wanted a kiss, of course he wanted a kiss - but what if Cooper didn't just want a kiss, he was older - mature (scratch that) - but still, older.

"C-cooper," Kurt squealed and regretted it because Cooper pulled back again, "I - uhm. I've never done something like this, ever, before."

"You - never... dated?" Cooper's face was a whirlpool of confusion. "I barely believe that."

"Well, it's true." Kurt was biting his lip in frustration, why was he ruining this? "And, uh, I don't know your - expectations. B-but, I like to take things... slow."

After a short silence, Cooper nodded.

"Okay." he answered. "I can take things slow, of course," Kurt felt him acting off a little bit of disappointment. "I understand, completely and I really don't want to screw things up, so - yeah, okay."

"Really?" Kurt whispered and Cooper came back closer, his breath caressing Kurt's skin.

"Really." and he pecked a kiss on his cheek. The heat of it spread from that particular spot all the way through his body.

"Th-thank you, really. I mean it."

"It's alright, Kurt." Cooper mumbled and pulled back. "But I'm afraid I need to leave you then." He gestured to the building behind them: Kurt's dormitory.

"Y-yes, thank you. I mean: yes, I should. So - uhm, I'll see you... again?" Kurt's tone didn't lack of hope.

Cooper smiled broadly, touched Kurt's cheek and hair. "You bet you will."

"O-okay." Kurt's body drowned in relaxation and adrenaline. "Text me when you get home."

After a small promise he would, Cooper let go of him and let him enter the building. "Bye, Kurt." he said before Kurt could be gone completely.

"See you, Cooper." and away he was.

Inside the building Kurt was floating on clouds. His insides were dancing a foxtrot and never had he felt this happy or lucky. He ran through the corridors, too hyper to walk normally and was going through words in his head to text Nancy about his perfect date. She would probably reply with questions about hidden tattoos and whether he filled his pants or not - but he didn't care: Kurt was over the moon.

He basked through the door of his single dorm-room and started to free himself from his clothing. One month in New York, one month, and he had a perfect date. Screw High School sweethearts, college was Kurt's place to find love.

After a shower, where he promptly annoyed his neighbor by singing, and his skincare regime, he checked his phone to see if Cooper texted yet - only to find three texts from an unknown number.

From: Unknown  To: Kurt            (9:30 PM)
Wow, Kurt - good job! *

From: Unknown  To: Kurt            (9:46 PM)
I hope this is still your number - otherwise it's weird. But really Kurt, if that's the standard of men at Tisch. Wow! *

From: Unknown  To: Kurt            (9:57 PM)
Hey Kurt, can we maybe get coffee? Together? For old times' sake? txt me

Kurt flipped his phone so the screen faced his nightstand. Apparently just deleting her number wasn't enough - the little star at the end of the texts would always indicate that Rachel was there somewhere. And apparently she was in the same theatre at the same time as him and Cooper. Kurt couldn't be happier that Rachel toned down in her personality otherwise she would have probably jumped Cooper and questioned his gayness.

"No." he said to himself and jumped on his bed. He wasn't ready to face Rachel yet. He frustrated himself by letting this ruin his perfect night, but luckily for him he managed to fall asleep with Cooper's smile as the last thing he saw.

"I hate you." It was the seventh time Nancy had told Kurt that the following days. This time during their walk from theatre history to improv. "Stop smiling like that, gosh - I hate you."

"Be happy we're not in High School, if we were, I would probably be singing some mash up of two hideous love songs that would make everybody feel awkward." Kurt snickered.

"Yes, thank God for that, but I can see in your very annoying face that you really want to sing a stupid love song."

"Can't argue with that." Kurt muttered.

"And why is that?" Nancy sighed as they reached their destination.

"Because all love songs suddenly make sense." Kurt did a little skip before entering the room. Nancy growled.

"See! This is why I don't befriend people who are in love."

This startled Kurt, giving her an odd look before sitting down. "What do you mean? I thought you wanted me to ‘get him'?" Nancy made a face that was somewhere between ‘I know' and ‘Forget it'.

"I was hoping you would interpret it as getting naked, do the dirty, and add a new experience to your resume." She licked her lips in hesitation. "I'm sorry," she finally says, "I'm happy for you, it's just - somehow always people around me tend to fall in love and I end up being, I don't know - Nancy, I guess."

"Hey." Kurt took her hand and ignored the weird looks they were getting from fellow classmates. "It - it was one date. We didn't even kiss and it was just to get to know each other. To be honest I have no idea what to do, I mean he asked me the first time, is it my turn now?"

Nancy barked out a laugh. "You really are hopeless."

"And that's why I need you." Kurt squeezed her hand. "To knock some sense into me."

If it wasn't for Nancy, Kurt would have probably turned deranged and anti-social. She was his boulder.

"Yes, you definitely need some sense -" With her free hand she gave him a little slap on the head.

"Ow, what is with you and slapping me?" Kurt let go of her hand to reach for the sore spot.

"That was for not kissing him, I would have stuck my tongue into that beautiful mouth within seconds." There was his Nancy.

"Class, please -" The teacher said in order to calm everyone down. Which is a hard thing to do when your class  includes only dramatic art-students, but Kurt gave the man a rest and turned quiet. He gave Nancy one last look, happy she was smiling back, and focused on the course - debating what to do with Cooper next.

"Just, just try it again." Kurt was lying on his back on his bed, back in his room. Not ten minutes ago Nancy had frantically almost smashed a hole in his door by knocking and ran in, raging over her private vocal lessons with Mr. Bardem.

Somehow Nancy had convinced Kurt that he would be the perfect person to help her improve her vocal abilities and after a heated discussion they agreed upon that Kurt would help her with her singing if she would let him do a make-over. ("I need my crack.")

"I don't know, Kurt." Nancy sighed after her seventh time trying to do the challenging vocal ladder. "Singing isn't my key point. I'm no triple threat like Piper with her awesome baked scones which she refused to share by the way - bitch."

"Piper is a triple threat because her parents sent her to some magical drama arts Hogwarts when she was two or something, try it again."

She started again and halfway through Kurt got up. Like a true vocal teacher he walked around her while he gestured her to continue. All of a sudden Kurt placed his thumb and index finger on Nancy's nose and squeezed her nose shut.

The noise coming out of Nancy's throat suddenly stopped. Her eyes turned wide and she slapped away Kurt's hand after the power it had to stop her singing.

"There's your problem, you sing with your nose - and your nose only, talk to Mr. Bardem about that."

"I do not sing through my nose!"

"Hate to break it, but you do." Kurt smiled and randomly reorganized some things in his cupboard. "Now when are we going to do your make-over?"

"Someday my prince will come. Someday we'll meet again. And away to his castle we'll go. To be happy forever I know..."

"There's a Disney movie going off in your pants." Nancy rolled her eyes at predicting who that could be. She turned around to face Kurt's wall of pictures and Kurt spotted an appreciating look at the picture of the New Directions, his former Glee-club, and she traced the figure that looked like Noah Puckerman with her finger. Kurt snickered a little before picking up.

"Hello?"

"Oh hey, you sound like you were having fun. How are you?" Cooper's voice sparked a fire in Kurt's stomach.

"I'm fine, thank you, trying to tell Nancy that she's singing through her nose."

"I do NOT."

"Haha, tell her that it's not that bad." Cooper's laugh turned the fire into a bonfire that in ancient times people used to sacrifice things and virgins. "Anyway, considering you're already helping one person with things, or so it would seem - I was wondering if you could help me... run some lines?"

"Uh, uhm sure - is it for your audition?"

"Maybe. Perhaps. Sort of, but would you like to help me? I mean, I like my mirror reflection and all, but he sucks at saying his own lines."

"Oh dear, your poor mirror reflection. I can't imagine your wrath on him when he misses his cues." Kurt smacked Nancy's hands away as she was poking him.

"Hey now, I try to be mad, but then he gets al mega charming and winks."

"Oh, those deadly winks. They turn your brain mushy." They did with Kurt anyway.

Cooper laughed again. "I'll keep that in mind, so - five-ish?" Cooper explained the way to his apartment again even though Kurt already had it written down on several papers, using codewords in case Nancy would find them and stalk Cooper.

With Nancy still strutting ladders, Kurt changed a total of five times before he found the perfect mix of fabulous and casual.

"I bet he's gonna let you recite a love scene." Nancy said and threw herself onto his bed with a random magazine. "You mark my words."

Kurt gave her a look, but didn't respond. Because Kurt was hoping too much that Cooper would actually let him say lines from a romantic scene - just to know what it feels like.

"You are aware that you need to leave my room when I do."

"Nhaw!" Nancy whined. "Pretend that I'm your cat, you can leave your cat alone in your room - I might scratch your closet, but that's it."

"Pets aren't allowed."

"Fine, I know when I'm unwanted." She hoisted herself up with a series of muttering and threw the magazine back on the bed. Kurt watched her straightening her outfit with an amused look. Finally she looked up. "I'll go hangout with my other bestie, then, Chandler is -"

Kurt started laughing. "Chandler is on vitamin D, I haven't seen anyone that hyper since my sophomore year." Thinking about the tiny elf kicking and jumping through dancing rehearsals.

"Oh, God, you're right. Dammit, I was hoping to make you jealous." Nancy fake snapped her failure. Before she completely disappeared through the door she turned around: "Thanks, Kurt."

"For vocal torture?" He raised his eyebrow with a cocky smile.

"That, and just - for being here." She left with a small smile before Kurt could respond. A shudder spread through his veins. It had been a long time since a friend was so appreciative of him, and it felt amazing. Quickly he sent Cooper a text that he was on his way.

"Come on up!" the speaker box downstairs the building cracked and a buzzing noise indicated that the door was open.

Cooper didn't live that far from Tisch and the dormitories. It was one subway and a short walk away, giving Kurt enough time to calm his nerves. He was going to be alone with Cooper - not in public, but in his apartment. The place where Cooper slept, changed his clothes - probably had a basket where he dumped dirty underwear (Kurt, - the hell! Why are you thinking about his underwear?), where he took his showers (naked) and where he annoyed his neighbors with singing (Oh God, I hope he does that too).

The door of apartment D22 already opened before Kurt could knock properly, being greeted by a broad smiling Cooper, who was wearing way too comfortable clothing (worn-out jeans with a blue shirt that clinged on all the right positions).

"Hey, Kurt." Cooper seemed energetic, maybe even hyperactive. It surprised Kurt that some older people could actually act so young. But maybe that was just another think Kurt liked about Cooper. Not only that he was so handsome, also because he was real, sweet and funny.

Maybe they could make each other happy.

Kurt followed Cooper into the small two-room apartment, well - it was quite big for a New York apartment. Compared to his own dorm-room, this was a palace. It didn't seem well-lived, though. There was still a spark of new to it, as if it was still a house and not a home. But maybe it was home to Cooper. The walls were stylish white and the overall theme was minimalism - Kurt liked it very much.

"You want something to drink?" Cooper asked to break the silence.

"A glass of water would be nice."

For a short moment they chitchatted on Cooper's dark brown sofa. Kurt tried not to notice it, but Cooper was getting closer every thirty seconds, nervously shifting his weight.

"I- I think we should practice, let me just get you -" He stood up from the couch to retrieve a little script book. After flipping a few pages he held it out to Kurt. "I already know my lines, they're the highlighted ones, so if you could just - okay."

Kurt nodded, feeling the crisp book in his hands and watched Cooper cross his legs on the sofa. His icy eyes were completely focused on Kurt. He was waiting for the first line and Kurt quickly stuttered the first one:

"S-seems like we keep on meeting like this." a character named ‘Jan' was supposed to say. Kurt switched his attention from the script book to Cooper.

"Well, it's not like I can do something about it." Cooper whispered, completely in character (if that's what the character ‘Joel' was). Kurt returned to his line.

"I thought we agreed on not taking this road. On you not taking this road."

They continued like that, evenly trade lines and it was turning into a quite heated scene as Cooper became louder and closer, and back soft - still closer and closer.

Kurt started to splutter his lines, unable to say them properly because of the handsome, manly smell of Cooper taking over his senses. Cooper himself maintained saying his lines with a gorgeous diction, reaching his hand up and eventually cupped Kurt's cheek.

"Look at me." he whispered. Kurt was still staring down the script, reading that that wasn't a line Cooper was supposed to say. He was about to look up and correct him when two hard lips were pressed down his.

Kurt let out a huffing noise as the reality that he was having his first real, counting kiss was not kicking in.

"Gah, I've been wanting to that." Cooper mumbled against his lips as he kissed again. Kurt still wasn't responding and Cooper pulled back with a questioning face. "Shit. Too fast? It's just you - you look so amazing-hmpf." Kurt rushed down his lips back on Cooper in an instant. Nancy was so right: he should've stuck in his tongue into that beautiful mouth way earlier.

"How long." Kurt gasped between kisses.

"Mhwat?"

"How long have you been wanting to do this?" Kurt pulled back, breathing happy. Cooper's weight was pleasant on top of him. It was new - definitely - but very pleasant.

"Oh, goh, Kurt - since I saw you in that damned hall at Tisch." Cooper's face was also incredibly pleasant to Kurt. Cheeks flushed, lips swollen - Kurt couldn't believe he was responsible for that. "And then that stupid master class, I was tricked into doing that - you know. But I really need to send Will a thank you note for tricking me. Gosh, and I was begging heavens for the group to be uneven - I don't care who would have been left alone, although I was hoping it was you in the first place, but I was just hoping my authority was tolerated enough to switch you. Not just to feel you up," Cooper grinned, "I mean - that was nice." Wink. "But, I just wanted to talk to you. Get to know you."

Kurt couldn't help but smile. This was surreal, amazing - magical.

"I like you, Kurt." Cooper breathed. "I like you very, very, much."

"I think I like you too." Kurt answered.

"You think?" Cooper raised his eyebrows, but not in despair - more in amusement.

"Okay, okay - I like you very, very much too." They shared a laugh, a kiss and Kurt opened his mouth to let in Cooper's tongue. Arms slung around his waist to pull him onto the warm body that was Cooper's. Hands tracing the familiar path it had felt before. They parted again to breathe. Kurt didn't know what to do from here.

"So-"

"So..." Cooper copied with a lazy smile across his face.

"Now what?"

"S'many questions." He muttered as he pulled Kurt back into kissing. Which was nice, of course - Kurt definitely liked kissing, especially kissing Cooper, but Kurt couldn't help to be distracted by the major elephant in the room: what were they?

"Cooper?" Kurt's voice sounded like it had never sounded before - sexy. Cooper groaned at hearing it saying his name, shifting above him. "Cooper? I don't really know the policy, but -"

"Hm?"

"But - uh, boyfriends?" Kurt felt the embarrassment fight the arousal of the moment. Cooper just lifted one eyebrow before his face crept into the confident grin it never seemed to lose.

"Absolutely."

And they kissed again.