Of course the car ride to Burt's house was an awkward silence. Neither him or Burt felt the need to fill the void with words. The man had told him he would drive him back to McKinley so he could drive home by himself, but he actually turned reluctant to that when Blaine told him he lived in Westerville.

"That's a long drive alone." he had muttered. "And dangerous with that cut -"

"I'll be fine, mister -?"

"Just call me Burt." he grumbled. "I'm being too much sir-ed and mister-ed at congress already." Blaine missed that last part, because he was still too much enthralled how much Burt rhymed with Kurt.

Burt pulled over at a normal yet quite impressive house. It wasn't as big as his own home, but it was still fairly striking.

Blaine stumbled out of the car, still scoffing himself for simply going to a stranger's home because his wife is a nurse. He felt like he was throwing every child-protection lesson his parents took out of the window.

He was led through the front door and was struck by his reflection in the mirror in the hallway. The white gauze took up a part of his face where the cut seemed to be. He really hoped he could switch to a smaller bandage so nobody would stare at him as if he was the Phantom of the Opera. At least they had the composing-part in common.

"Carole's on her way, we can wait in the living room. You want something to drink, Blaine - was it?"

"Yes, it's Blaine and no thank you, I'm good." Blaine answered and watched Burt disappear into the kitchen to probably get something for himself. With the moment of loneliness, Blaine let his curiosity loose and walked around the hall and entered the living room.

His breath choked when he was faced with the beautiful piano displayed against the wall. It was gorgeous, old and glossy. If he could trade the one at the Anderson home for this one, he would - unconditionally.

"You play?" a voice grumbled out of the doorway to another room. Blaine snapped up and didn't realize he had approached the gorgeous instrument until he felt the lacquer under his fingers. He pulled his hand back as if he had burned himself, ashamed of being so forward of touching it. "It's okay," Burt assured, "my son used to play. Never missed a single piano lesson. Before that it was his mother's."

Blaine could simply nod, eyes transfixed on the piano again. "It's beautiful."

"So I can assume you play?" Burt smirked and walked across the room. Blaine nodded again. They stood in front of the instrument for a little while not exchanging words.

"Sir? You said your sons went to McKinley?" Blaine broke the silence.

"Enough with the sir, I told you to call me Burt, and yes." Burt turned around and gestured Blaine to follow him. "They graduated last year." Burt guided him to a wall filled with picture frames of various people and events. "That's my boy, right there -" He pointed to the picture of a graduation picture and Blaine gasped and swallowed at the same time.

Oh shit.

He wasn't in the home of some ordinary Ohioan man; he was in the house of Burt Hummel, Ohio congress man and - oh shit even more: Kurt's dad. Why hadn't he connected the dots? This was bad. He needed to get out of here, like now.

The picture of Kurt in a graduation gown was forever imprinted in his mind. He had a huge smile while hugging his dad, holding up his diploma with pride.

"You weren't in McKinley last year, were you?" Burt asked, eyeing the boy who was captivated by all the pictures of his son.

"Hm-? No, no I transferred this year."

The man backed away to the couch and sat down.

"May I, for the love of God, ask why? Was your other school even worse?"

Blaine followed suit to the couch with a confused expression on his face. He remained standing behind it than rather to sit on it.

"No, Dalton was fine - what do you mean worse?"

Burt's face fell. "You got a cut on your head because someone pushed you into your locker, you're telling me you're okay with that?"

Blaine wanted to say several things to answer that. No, he wasn't okay with that - especially because he didn't do something back to scar Scott. Especially now his cut had made him come home with his brother's father in law - and he was extremely jealous of the gorgeous piano that was still in his eyesight. Damn, he had never wanted to play this bad.

But he didn't get to answer because the front door was slammed open, followed by a voice.

"Burt! Honey!"

"In the living room!" Burt yelled back. "That's my wife, she'll fix you up." he said to Blaine.

Shortly after a short woman with a loveable face appeared in the doorway. Her eyes went from Burt to Blaine and Blaine could imagine the weird display of a teenage boy with a bandage on his face, standing awkwardly in their living room.

"Oh, hello." she said, giving Blaine a curious look. "Who's this?" She turned to Burt whom gotten up himself.

"This his Blaine," he introduced, "he had a little - incident involving a locker and his forehead." Blaine rolled his eyes, but thanked the man for not throwing his bully story into his wife's face. "Nurse couldn't do much more and Schuester wanted to make sure he was alright, we live closer than the hospital -"

"Of course, of course -" the woman interrupted, "come to the kitchen, Blaine, I'll get the aid kit."

"Thank you, ma'am." Blaine breathed. He was overwhelmed by the kindness this family was showing, not even knowing him until a few hours ago.

"Oh, it's Carole dear." she smiled and took his arm to get him to the kitchen.

"He's a polite one, he kept on calling me mister and sir." Burt snorted.

"Well you made your son's boyfriend call you mister for the entire evening, I don't want to hear it." Carole gave him a warning look. It took a moment for Blaine to realize that Cooper had to call him mister and Blaine was already calling him Burt - or at least attempted to.

Carole turned back to Blaine with wide eyes. Blaine stared at her questioning and she stuttered: "I- I'm sorry, I hope you're okay -" Okay? He was fine - apart from the cut on his head. What did she mean? "He's -" She stared at her husband for help.

"It's fine." Burt assured and Blaine still didn't get it. "My wife hopes you're alright with the fact that my son has a boyfriend, but with what I heard you're more than okay with it." Well, to be honest Blaine wasn't okay with Kurt having a boyfriend that happened to be his brother - but Carole was afraid he was one of those closed minded douchebags.

"Oh, oh!" Blaine caught up. "I am absolutely fine with that, really ma'am." He gave her his most convincing look.

Carole started to breathe again. "I'm sorry, it's an automatic reflex. I was afraid I was going to throw you out of the door without taking a look at your cut. Come along, and it's Carole."

Before he could say anything more, he was sitting on a chair in the kitchen. It strangely took him back to the nurse's office with Carole running around him with first aid kits, scissors and gloves. Finally she stopped in front of him and started to undo the gauze.

"So, Blaine - are you a senior?"

"I am." he answered, hissing at the stickiness on his skin.

"Sorry dear," she apologized, "so - do you have a girlfriend?" She smirked a bit in curiosity. "My son always talked about the couples in glee club, I miss those conversations."

"Uhm, no." Blaine answered awkwardly. "I'm single."

"Oh, well, you're a handsome boy." She smiled even wider when he blushed under her fingers. "Any cute girls you have your eyes on?" No, just your stepson who is dating my brother.

 She cleaned the wound once again, complaining the school nurse did a terrible job at it. "So any interests?"

"Not really, not in girls any way -" He watched Carole step away a bit. "I'm gay." he whispered and added a little smile. He wheedled himself in the fact that her face wasn't shocked or revolted - it was pure and clean surprise.

"Oh," she whispered. Blaine could almost hear the gears in her head grind, placing all the puzzle pieces of the wound and Burt mentioning locker in order. "Oh dear." She stared at him in pity, placing a hand on one of his cheeks and pinched gently. "Don't let them bring you down." was the last thing she said before she returned to the wound.

Blaine's eyelids trembled. His breathe turned deeper and slower, with a hitch now and then. He was actually trying to hold back tears with this show of love and acceptance. And this was coming from his brother's family in law. Burt was willing to take a random kid with a cut on his head home so his wife could clean it up. So not only did his brother have the perfect boyfriend - he also had the perfect family. It was barely enough to take and the jealous venom spread through his veins.

A clean bandage, smaller than the brutal gauze, was placed on his head.

"It's not that deep, so we don't need stitches, just make sure the bandage is tight, okay?" Carole said and smiled as Blaine nodded. "You're a good kid." And promptly placed a kiss on a part of his forehead that wasn't bandaged. Blaine swallowed loudly and Carole backed again. She eyed him with that weird curiosity again before she bluntly asked: "Would you like to stay for dinner?"

Blaine's heart filled with an overload of love, but he felt like he already took enough time of their hands. He shyly shook no.

"I don't want to impose."

"It's fine dear, I'm still used on cooking for four." Carole tried hopeful, but Blaine couldn't let himself say yes.

"I should really head home, my mother isn't so keen on a simple text and I'm sure she wants to see how my head looks herself." Blaine wasn't sure how much of a lie it was, it was merely that his mother wanted to see if she needed to call plastic surgery.

Carole's smile turned watery. "Of course, will Burt drive you?"

"Yes, he will drop me off at my car." Blaine gripped his own arm a little tighter. He felt a combination of pure acceptance and uncomfortable all at the same time. "Thank you so much for checking my cut, really I can't thank you enough."

"It's fine, sweetie. It's okay." Suddenly they were wrapped into a unexpected hug, neither of them knew who started it and why it was feeling so right. "You're brave." she whispered in his ear. After she pulled back she mumbled something that involved Kurt's name, but Blaine didn't want to admit he actually knew their son by asking what she said.

"I, uhm," Carole started and she headed to the living room, "I'm going to see where Burt is. Make yourself comfortable, sweetie."

Blaine was still coming over the fact he went from ‘dear' to ‘sweetie' in a few minutes when she returned.

"He's on the phone with someone from the shop and I need to start dinner, you can wait in the living room if you don't mind. Or watch me cook." The watery smile returned.

"Can I -" Blaine bit his tongue. He couldn't ask that. Not after everything they had done for him.

"Can you what?" Carole pushed.

"Can I play the piano?" he asked with a small voice. If Carole hadn't been staring at him with admiration before, she definitely was now and she nodded vividly. Blaine got up immediately, not wanting to waste any moment and straddled himself on the stool. With a greedy grin he opened the lid to reveal the wonderful keyboard.

The notes he started to play came on pure feeling and improvisation. It was bubbly, happy and warm. He hummed along the tune, content with feeling so right.

He woke up from his glow by a small applause. Upon turning around he found both Burt and Carole clapping for him.

"I knew you'd play, kid." Burt grinned. "Does it have a name?"

Yes, "No." Hummel's Hymn. He shook himself awake from that thought. Burt nodded sturdy.

"Alright. Anyway, Carole wants to try to convince you to stay for dinner one last time."

Blaine's heart fluttered, but again he declined.

"Okay." Carole gave in. "Maybe some other time, maybe when our boys are home." she suggested and Blaine couldn't stop the blush from coming. He almost forgot that he was in Kurt's old house.

"Shall I take you back to school? Or do you want me to drive you to Westerville?" Burt asked.

"Just to McKinley is fine, the pretty nurse said I'd live." He grinned cheekily to Carole whom laughed. She walked across the living room as Blaine rose from the stool. They shared a short goodbye hug.

"Don't let them get you down." she repeated before guiding him to the front door. Burt was holding it open, waiting for Blaine. "Bye sweetie!"

Blaine gave a little goodbye wave and stepped into the familiar car. Burt entered on the other side, started the car and backed out.

"So, kid."

"Yes, si- Burt?"

Burt smiled.

"Do you need a Saturday job?"

Kurt had completely returned into his college rhythm. The classes pumped him up as usual and unlike the other people in his class - the ones still full with turkey and too lazy to actually move a muscle - Kurt had never been so motivated as he was now.

Confident he strolled through the hall to the library, ready to catch up on some essay work. Right before entering the huge study hall his phone beeped a new text message. He sighed, took a step backwards - knowing that he'll be skinned if the librarian saw him openly gawk at his phone and retrieved the phone out of his back pocket.

A smiled appeared as he read it was a text from Cooper.

To: Kurt From: Cooper (01:03 PM)
Does this qualify as cheating? [attached file]

He froze in the middle of the doorway. His heart was pounding his throat as he reread the text message again. Cheating? A push from an annoyed student woke him up from his still frame and he took his numb body to the wall to lean against it. With shaky fingers he opened the file - scared of what it could be.

With a loud snort he burst out in laughing at seeing the picture. A few people turned around to give him an odd glance, but he didn't care.

The photo Cooper had sent him included the ever handsome man making sweet love to a slice of cheesecake by stuffing it into his mouth.

Kurt took no measures and dialed his boyfriend's number immediately. He didn't even let Cooper pick up properly before the accusing started.

"Cooper Anderson, are you having an affair?"

"Mbwaybe." Cooper answered muffled, probably still indulging on the cheese cake.

Kurt bit his lip not to laugh. "Oh mister, you are so much in trouble." He tried his best threatening voice. "Although I can't blame you, that's one hot piece of pie you had there."

"Hm," Cooper loudly swallowed on the phone, "it definitely was. There's more you know." he added teasingly. "So how about you come over tonight and I'll show you and the pie a good time?"

"Oh,  I don't know -" Kurt chuffed. "You seemed to be pretty close to that cake, I don't want to be the other man."

"Never!" Cooper exclaimed. "Hm, serious sweet cheeks, can you come over tonight? Not for the good time - wait, no, shit - I mean, it'll be a good time, just not - good good time. Unless you want to, I can't object, I'm a man and weak and all - but, uh I'll make dinner."

"Cooper, you can't cook." Kurt reminded him. The nervousness in Cooper's voice made him antsy.

"You're right, no more poisoning the boyfriend -" Both Cooper and Kurt thought back at one of their first dates where Cooper said it would be romantic to make Kurt dinner -  and it really was romantic until the chicken turned out to be undercooked and simply raw. "I'll get fancy take-out?"

"Oh, fancy take-out and cheesecake - tempting." Kurt took a deep breath. "And you'll be there too, how can I resist?"

"Ha! That was the answer I was waiting for, so around seven? I got some big news."

"You do?" The surprise was notable in his voice.

"Hmhm, I'll see you tonight." Cooper added a smacking sound which indicated he was making out with his phone.

"Oh you and your physical affection for objects and food." Kurt chuckled.

"You know it." He could feel Cooper wink. "See you, Kurt." And he hung up.

For a moment he kept his cell in his hand, fingers going over the picture Cooper had sent. Cheesecake was quite celebratory, right? Or was it more apologizing? He ranted himself for thinking too deep and halfway the rant he was shaken up by a voice screeching his name.

"Kurt!" Nancy yelled again, running toward him. Her cheeks were red in aspiration and the smile on her face was kind of terrifying. "Kurt! There you are, I've been searching all over the place!" she gasped, grasping her friend's arms in order to make sure he was there.

"Woah, what's going on?" Kurt took Nancy's hands to loosen her grip.

"The - the musical," She tugged his arm again and started to drag him away from the library. "They're revealing it earlier. It's on the board and - and audition lists too."

"What?!" Kurt squealed two octaves higher and instead of Nancy dragging him it was the other way around. "Did you see it already?"

"No!" Nancy replied. "There was a rumor spread in the Freshmen corridors and I went looking for you straight away, I need to see your face when I sign up for the lead." She added an evil bark.

"But why are they revealing it earlier?" Kurt took a left.

"Do I look like I know? Or care?" She fastened her step to match Kurt's when they entered the hall with messages boards. There was indeed a whirlwind of freshmen students gathering around their board, squealing, clapping and overall excited.

With practiced ease from years of sale-shopping Kurt launched himself through the mass of fellow students. His hand was still grasped in Nancy's so they wouldn't lose each other. A final elbow pushed his last obstacle out of the way and Kurt stared at the Tisch freshmen musical poster.

THE WI(TCH)ARD OF OZ

He pulled Nancy next to him, still frowning at the poster.

"There's a Z missing." someone observed, but Kurt didn't notice who.

"I don't get why they released this earlier." Nancy muttered, equally confused. "The Wizard of Oz is like musical world's most known story."

"That's because they're doing a twist!"

Kurt rolled his eyes at hearing the voice. The dose of volume and jumpiness obviously told it was Chandler. Instead of lingering any longer in the mass of students, Kurt led Nancy out of the crowd to catch some air.

"We'll go find a teacher to explain it." he proposed, but Chandler had already followed them out to tell them all about the wonders of the Witchard of Oz. Chandler was an okay kid, bit loud now and then, but the trouble was - he could barely take a hint that Kurt was taken. Nancy didn't like him much either, but any information was better than no information.

"Okay cannonball, spill." Nancy ordered.

Chandler bounced up and down. "It's open gender." He added a little clap. "Open script, open gender - you can audition for any part. I overheard the board talking and they want to be more initiative to overrule the general musical departments - including other schools, like NYADA and stuff - so they are willing to adjust the script to any little change. So there could be a Dorothy, if the perfect Dorothy is amongst them - but there could also be a Dorian." Chandler's eyes were positively beaming at the news. "It's exhilarating, I'm already planning audition songs."

"So I can presume you're going for Dorian?" Nancy asked uninterested.

"Oh God no, too much pressure." Chandler answered. "I mean, it's bound breaking, I can't deal with that kind of expectations. No I'm going for the Wicked Witch of the East. Or should I say Wizard."

Kurt pursed his lips. "Doesn't she like die in the first part and all we see are the shoes?"

"Oh yes, totally. But the general background is so amazing, I mean Wicked - hello." He flailed his hands. "Plus it'll avoid me of being a munchkin, because I'm sick of all the short jokes."

Nancy covered a snort with a cough; she had been the queen of the jokes.

"Anyway." Chandler ignored the girl. "You on the other hand," he pointed at Kurt, "should totally go for Dorian. I mean it'll be like a-ma-zing."

"I - don't know." Kurt said in all honesty.

"What?" Nancy gasped before taking his hand once more to guide him to a more private spot. Her glare to Chandler that he shouldn't follow came across and soon they were standing alone in a quiet hall.

"What do you mean you don't know? Kurt!" Nancy's eyes were wide in shock. "You'll be perfect as Dorian."

"Says the girl who threatened to burn my Vogue collection if I went for the lead part."

"That was a joke, besides - I'm no Dorothy material, look at me." She started to pick off some invisible dust of Kurt's waistcoat. "I'll probably go for either the Tin Woman or Scarecrow, but you - I need you to be my Dorothy to that."

Kurt swallowed. "I don't know. Like Chandler said it's a lot of pressure -"

"Are you insane? Never listen to Chandler - be happy the jumping monkey isn't auditioning. Now you pushed me through a few weeks ago and you told me that we're family and we push each other through, well this is me kicking your ass if you don't audition for Dorian." She poked him threatening. "Now let's go find out when the auditions are, come on!"

Kurt let himself being dragged away back to the message boards, still unsure whether he was up to lead his first musical in college.

The New York chill made Kurt's scarf wave behind him, clinging to his neck. He still couldn't believe he signed his name on the Dorian-sheet, or rather Nancy kept him in the hall until he did. Afterwards he went to the library, but only to pick audition songs.

With his hands deep in his pockets he reached Cooper's building. He buzzed himself up, happy to hear Cooper's voice - even though it was automated. His nervousness about the ‘big news' had returned in the elevator. He needed to stop digging deep with his thoughts. Luckily all the assumptions disappeared when Cooper opened the door with a bright smile. He was wearing a gray shirt, again fitting perfectly at the toned body.

"Hello." he said sultry, pulling Kurt in by his arms. The door closed and Kurt found himself hugging his boyfriend tightly. "Missed you." He smiled in the fabric of Cooper's shirt. His boyfriend pressed a kiss on his temple. "Come, before it gets cold."

Kurt sank down on the couch as usual. Cooper didn't have a dining table and the breakfast bar in the kitchen was socially hopeless, so they settled on eating on the couch and Kurt was okay with it. After eating Cooper had the quirk slipping his feet on the couch and snuggle as close to Kurt as possible.

The conversation was easy while eating their fancy take-out. It always was, but Cooper seemed - off. He was too invested into everything Kurt had to say, barely talking about his own activities past week and definitely too eager to get the cheese cake out.

He piled up the dishes messily, tripping on his way to the kitchen and dumped them down in the sink without giving it another glance. With a charming smile he handed Kurt his very own slice of strawberry cheese cake and Kurt took his gratefully.

He was down his first bite when he couldn't handle it anymore.

"Okay, tell me the news."

Cooper stared at him wide-eyed. His own piece of cake was on the coffee table - untouched.

"Just tell me." Kurt said, keeping his tone of voice as calm as possible. "Is it something - bad?"

"What? What, no!" Cooper reached forward immediately, shushing Kurt and repeating that it wasn't bad news. "It's very, very exciting."

"Okay." Kurt carefully placed his plate next to Cooper's, not feeling like the deliciousness anymore. "Then what is it?"

Cooper sat himself up straight. He was still close to Kurt, grabbing his hand and squeezing it gently. His eyes flickered from the cheese cake, to the TV, to Kurt and back to the coffee table and his lips were forming words, like he was deciding which ones could fit best.

"Right, yes - okay." He squeezed Kurt's hand again, taking a deep breath and: "I got a callback." A big smile broke across his face and Kurt couldn't help but copy it.

"What?" Kurt breathed happily.

"A callback, for an audition. Completely unexpected -"

"What? What play? Or show?" Kurt was bouncing on the couch, gripping Cooper's hand even firmer, but Cooper tensed under his words.

"Uhm, it's -" Cooper swallowed. "It's not a play, or show."

Kurt frowned confused.

"It's a movie." Cooper finally said. His shoulders were locked and his hand was clenched around Kurt's.

"A - a movie?" Kurt was even more confused. "In New York? That's odd -"

"That's another thing." Cooper leaned in closer and made sure Kurt would look him in the eyes while he said his words. "It's in L.A."

Kurt couldn't control his eyebrows. They rose on their own. His lips formed a perfect ‘o'.

"L.A." he repeated, trying the word on his tongue. "Wow."

"Yeah," Cooper said, a bit more excited now, "I sent them a video audition like weeks ago and I got a callback, they want me to come in around December so I can audition live. In person."

"December?" Kurt could only repeat the words, because they weren't sticking in his brain. He could only feel the numbness slip in his veins. Cooper. Movie. L.A. December. "W-when?"

Cooper licked his lips uncomfortably. "Right after Christmas, they offered me to come before so I can be fully rested and not jetlagged-"

"But." Kurt stopped him. "What about - Christmas? Ohio?"

Cooper's eyes started to dwell away to the TV and coffee table again. "It's a - a big big opportunity, sweetheart." he settled with. Kurt's breath hitched when the piercing blue eyes returned to him. "I'll try to get back by New Year's Eve. They usually don't do auditions so close to the holidays, but they're desperate and if I decline I'll never get it."

"And-" Kurt tried to control his voice, "What if? What if you get it?"

Cooper's lips formed an opening word, but he bit his lip in order to swallow it.

"Let's not think about that." He raised his free hand and traced Kurt's cheek with his fingers. "Let's be happy." He pulled Kurt closer. "Aren't you happy for me?"

"Wha-?" Kurt huffed. "I -" But he was shut off by a soft kiss on his cheek. Cooper had pulled him against his body and he couldn't escape.

"Be happy for me." Another kiss on his cheek. "Be happy." He kissed the corner of his mouth. "Happy." And pressed his lips fully on Kurt's lips. "For me?" he whispered after he pulled back. Their noses were still touching and Cooper let go of his hand, letting it trace across Kurt's back and eventually rested on the small of his back. "Please?" was his last plead before he captured Kurt's lips in a deep and sensual kiss.

Kurt couldn't react. He was too captivated by the intense kiss, opening his mouth to let in Cooper's tongue and Cooper groaned in satisfaction. The warm hand on Kurt's back rubbed across the hem of his shirt, tracing it upwards and Kurt squeaked into Cooper's mouth when he felt the hand on his bare skin.

In his response he threw his arms around Cooper's neck. Playfully he let his fingers curl into the soft locks of his hair. Cooper let go of his cheek and tipped Kurt onto his back by pulling his thigh.

Kurt let out a sound of surprise, but Cooper was too busy settling himself on top of Kurt to notice and Kurt melted into the touch of Cooper's hand on his skin - now on his side, squeezing gently. He freed himself from Kurt's lips to whisper: "Can't believe I went behind your back with cake while I can have you."

"Silly you." Kurt breathed and cupped Cooper's cheeks. His eyes were sparkling and blown with lust, but Kurt knew they had to stop.

"I really care about you, Kurt." He leaned forward but not to claim another kiss. They shared an Eskimo kiss, simple and sweet. "And I would love it if you'd be happy for me."

"I am." Kurt didn't feel completely happy with the idea, but he needed to support his boyfriend's dreams. "I really am."

Cooper nodded. Slowly he lowered his head to rest on Kurt's chest. Both of them still left halfway the arousal. The moment was still there, the attempts could still be made - but neither of them went for it. Instead Kurt let his fingers trace through Cooper's hair and enjoyed the heavy breathing on his chest. He knew Cooper was letting him adjust to the idea of Cooper's big news. And maybe that was for the better.

Blaine made a face after licking the envelope. He tried to find one that was already sticky, but he didn't want to sneak into his father's office to steal one. And he was pretty sure Juilliard wouldn't appreciate the big Anderson Inc. logo when his piece came in.

For hours he had been picking snippets of the notes he had been hearing. He had a pretty good feeling everything was written down in his notebook, but several intermissions and interludes were missing. Thank God he only needed a small part for the first round.

Carefully he closed the envelope. The school's conductor had let him use his special ‘note-typing' program on his laptop and the results were professional - like he wanted them to be.

This was it. Let's hope it's enough.

He walked across his room to stuff the envelope holding his future in his bag. The plan was to drop it off in the mailbox on his way to Lima. It was his first day at Hummel Tires and Lube. Burt had talked him through what he needed for the shop - and what he needed was someone to inventory everything by New Year's Eve. Perhaps even after that he could continue working there. The job came as a gift because if Blaine were to be invited for an interview at Juilliard, he couldn't ask his parents to pay for the trip. His father would grumble and refuse to let him travel to New York for such nonsense while there are perfectly amiable colleges in the near area. His mother also preferred him close. Like he couldn't live by himself like his brother.

With a sigh he wrapped his shoulder-bag around him. The results for the first round were planned to be send out before winter break so the applicants could prepare their final piece.

"Here goes nothing." he whispered to encourage himself and headed downstairs.

His foot was practically out of the door when the sound of his mother's voice made him turn around.

"What do you mean you're not coming for Christmas?" she screeched and Blaine carefully shut the door again to eavesdrop. She had to be on the phone because there was no one else in the house. "I had this whole thing planned, Cooper Anthony Anderson!" Woah, full names - this was going to be good.

Blaine set a few more steps toward to kitchen to overhear it even better.

"So your career is now more important than your family? And why even Los Angeles? What happened to Broadway is everything?"

Los Angeles? Blaine pardoned his curiosity and made a few mental notes.

His mother sighed deeply.

"Fine. Yes, fine - no I am not- Cooper. Yes, fine. Yes I'm disappointed you're not coming. I was really looking forward to it, young man."

A beep coming from his phone reminded Blaine that he really needed to leave if he didn't want to be late on his very first day. Cooper wasn't coming to Ohio over Winter Break. Something that automatically meant Kurt wouldn't come to entertain his brother.

This was good. He wouldn't be faced with his eternal crush and could enjoy his break in peace without the fear of running into Cooper eating Kurt's face.

Then why did he have this disgruntled feeling of sadness?

January 16th. The date of his audition for Dorian.

Kurt swallowed away a clump in his throat and reread the e-mail. Everyone got the same e-mail except with different times and dates. He was simply waiting for Nancy to text him (or barge through the door as she always did gracefully) and to wave around her audition date.

As far as he knew Piper was his only big contender for the leading role. A few days ago she had mingled herself with faked friendliness into Kurt and Nancy's lunch date.

"So I heard you think you can be a male Dorothy?" she had asked sweetly, but her accent had thrown off the kindness. "That's an awfully big dream for someone who has been in the middle bracket for so long, don't you think?"

"Excuse me?" Kurt cocked an eyebrow.

"I mean, if I were you - I would settle for something far less challenging." she continued, ignoring both baffled faces. "I'm pretty sure not most of the teachers even know your full name. You're hardly worth remembering -"

"What have you been smoking?" Nancy huffed, but Kurt raised his hand to make sure she remained quiet.

"So, not to be discouraging -" Now Kurt was the one that huffed. "But I wouldn't want your spirit to be crushed because you wouldn't get through. That's all." Piper was making installments to leave, but Kurt called her back with the same faked sweetness.

"There, there, Piper. I'm not much of a threat, so why even bother coming by? No, no -" he said when Piper's mouth opened again. "Now you remind me of a girl that thought she was better than anyone and crushed everything that was in her way - and while I gave her my entire heart and sacrificed her a big deal of my life. I don't plan on let that happening again. So for your information, I'm not willing to let anyone get into my way anymore." He suddenly continued in a spot on Kansas accent. "And as much as I would like to continue this lovely chat, you should be going to fix that horrid accent to make it sound even a bit convincing." He returned to his normal voice. "That's all."

Piper was fuming and Nancy's head was partly hidden behind her arms as if she was holding back the biggest laugh. As soon as the British girl had ran off, calling him things that included the word ‘arse', Nancy exploded into a burst of giggles and snorts.

"Oh boy." she said and wiped away tears. "God. Oh, you-"

Kurt shared a chuckle. For the first time he was happy he followed BBC's Somewhere of the Rainbow; the search for Dorothy some years ago and stumbled upon the episode where the British aspiring Dorothys were faced with the Kansas accent - and the horror of it.

And now he was noting the date of his audition in his diary. January 16th; the day he would succeed.

The weeks had never been passing this fast for Blaine Anderson. One moment he had posted his envelope, the next day he was staring at one he received. A crisp white envelope with the Juilliard logo prestigiously stamped on it.

He had been waiting for this, but he had also been dreading this. This tiny envelope could either crush his future dreams or let him take further step into his lifelong goal.

Blaine wasn't good with holding back. He was a blurter, a blusher and highly impatient. As soon as he had seen the envelope hiding between the ordinary mail, he had snatched it away and ran upstairs to his room.

The ripping noises went straight through his mind. A tiny voice reminded him it could be bad news. His piece wasn't that good. It was short, lacked of a title and he was sure he couldn't explain his feelings toward the admission board of Juilliard.

But he tried to suppress the voice. He tried to create a bigger voice telling him this was everything he had been working toward. If he could get into the school of his dreams, he would accept the feelings he had used to create his audition piece.

Finally he turned around the short letter with even fewer sentences. He read it through, stumbling on a few words - interpreting them wrong and reread the entire letter five times before crushing it against his chest.

He got through.

One step closer.

"Here's my check point." Cooper mumbled and stopped his suitcase from strolling. They were in a terminal at JFK, surrounded by families going on holidays. Kurt felt Cooper squeeze his hand in hint that they needed to say goodbye, but Kurt didn't want to. "Come here." Before he could protest, Cooper had pulled him into a big hug - letting him practically disappear against him and his boyfriend's arms tight around his body. "It's only two weeks and I will do everything in my power to come to Ohio before New Year's Eve."

"But what if -"

"I will do everything to try." he assured. Kurt sniffed into the fabric of Cooper's winter coat - the one he actually picked out for him. Not that he would need it in sunny L.A. where all the guys will be broad, blonde and tanned. Instead of the vague complex Kurt had. "Now, the sooner I go, the sooner I'll be back."

"Okay." Kurt backed slowly, still stretching the moment.

"You go have fun with your friends, and practice -" Cooper stared at him intensely, "for your audition." He added a poke on the tip of Kurt's nose. "Everything's going to be fine." His breath was warm on his cheek as he lowered to kiss it. He trailed down to Kurt's lips and for a short time they kissed goodbye.

Cooper was the one to break out of the embrace. For weeks Kurt had witnessed the excitement for his audition. Together they had switched between practicing lines for both of their auditions, and Cooper as the Scarecrow had been hilarious.

"Two weeks." Cooper repeated. "I'll call you when I land."

With a final kiss on his forehead, Kurt watched his boyfriend walk away to be checked in. Right before going through security, Cooper turned around and blew a kiss.

Everything was going to be just fine. At least, Kurt hoped so.

The cotton blankets were tangled around his legs, shoved around multiple times because Kurt couldn't get comfortable. He had been locked up in his own dorm room for five hours now.

Waving off Cooper at the airport had been hard. Kurt couldn't help but admit to himself that he got used to the fact that his boyfriend was always close. They met up three times a week, spent complete days together and now he was going to L.A. for two weeks. There was a chance Cooper wasn't going to make New Year's Eve and as sappy as it sounded - Kurt had been looking forward for getting his first kiss to herald the new year. Now he was going to be in Ohio alone, avoiding everyone because he didn't want to risk running into Rachel.

A sharp knock on the door made Kurt jump up from his bed. There was no one left in the dorms, even Nancy had left this morning and his own train didn't leave until tomorrow.

The knock turned more violent.

"Coming!" he yelled groggily. So maybe he had been crying.

He readjusted his shirt, trying to look as presentable as possible to whomever was in front of the door and took five big steps to the door.

Realizing he still had bed hair and scoffed himself for forgetting, he opened the door. He gulped loudly in surprise and slapped his cheek to make sure he was okay.

"Oh my dear God." he whispered.

"What up, lady lips!" Santana Lopez said loudly and dumped her duffel bag on Kurt's feet. The grin on her face was wide and she was obviously enjoying Kurt's biased expression. "You need a ride to Lima?"

Kurt was too stunned to reply and Santana took it as an invitation to barge into his room.

"Is that a yes?" she added while taking a good look around the small room.

"I, uh,"

"Oh my God, sentimental much?" Santana remarked, staring at the old Glee club photo on the wall. Kurt was still registering the fact that one of his old classmates was in his room - in New York. Now he had to admit that he and Santana hadn't really switched information on future plans - but New York was the last place he would find the snappy girl.

She moved to different pictures and Kurt took a moment to take in the girl he hadn't seen for months. Her long hair was gone. Instead she had a sharp bobline and her boobs looked even bigger than the last time he had seen her.

"Woah!" she said, making Kurt snap out of his thoughts. She grabbed one of the frames on the wall and ripped it loose. "Who is that?" The frame was turned around and Kurt stared at the photo of him and Cooper. It had been taken during their date to see Ghost the musical. As adventurous and badass as they were: they had taken a picture inside the theatre while it was prohibited. Cooper had made a funny face and Kurt had been laughing uncontrollably.

"Santana?" Kurt had finally found his voice. "What are you doing here?"

Santana was still staring at the picture, holding it even close to trace Photoshop marks.

"Like I said a minute ago, baby cakes - I'm riding back to Lima and I wondered if you needed a ride. Seriously, who is that?" She practically pushed the frame into Kurt's face and Kurt snatched it out of her hands.

"That is my - boyfriend." He blushed and avoided the look the Latino girl was giving him.

"Oh my God, get some Hummel! Let me see your ass-" Her arms were trying to grab his waist to spin him around, but Kurt slapped them away.

"You keep your claws away from my ass." he managed to say without stuttering. Santana stared at him in surprise.

"Gjee, you should've gotten a boyfriend way earlier. I like this dirty sass, prmeow." She added a cat-claw gesture. "But seriously - I'm kind of on a time schedule and Berry-bitch bailed on me-"

"Wait, you asked Rachel first?" Kurt's voice raised.

"Well, yeah - I kind of thought you cut yourself off of everyone. You didn't even come to our lil' Thanksgiving reunion."

"I was, uh, busy."

"Busy sanctifying your ass, that's for sure - not that I can blame you, although I prefer this girl." She took down another frame consisting a picture of Nancy at Halloween. Kurt smiled.

"You two should meet. But, why did Rachel bail?"

Santana shrugged. "Didn't feel like celebrating Hanukah in Ohio, so her dads are coming to New York instead. So I broke a few jaws to get your address and tah-dah."

"Wait, so Rachel isn't going to be in Lima?"

"Wow, getting laid did ruin your brain, didn't it rainbow pie?" Santana eyed the suitcases for his trip back to Ohio. "And I can see you're not spending it here - so," she turned back to Kurt, "you want to join me? I got a car."

Kurt blinked a few times, taking in all the information. No Rachel. No Rachel.

"I, uh, I already got a train ticket." He actually felt bad for turning her down. Especially when Santana's face fell at hearing the words.

"Oh. Damn." She nodded slow. "Well shit, baby born, do you know anyone else interested on going to Ohio?"

"Why?" Kurt asked. "Are you that much against at travelling alone?"

"Ha, I wouldn't care who was in my car." Santana scoffed. "I need the dineros for gas."

Kurt frowned.

"I can't afford driving alone." she said quietly. "I'm renting out my apartment for December and January, been living in my car for two weeks now. I would've gone back sooner if I knew strawberry shortcake would drop out, now it's too late."

She let herself fall onto his bed like Nancy usually did. They had never been real friends. Most of the time back in High School they just tolerated each other, but looking at the girl now made Kurt feel guilty that he estranged himself so much from his old friends.

He turned around to his desk where his laptop was in sleep mode.

"Let me check if it's refundable." he said loud enough for Santana to hear and the bed made protesting sounds as the girl jumped up, took big steps across the room and attacked Kurt from behind.

"Thank you." she whispered while pressing her boobs against his back. Somehow he knew the drive might be a disaster, but at least he helped someone out. He sighed and typed in the public transport site. Without Rachel, this winter break might be interesting after all.