When Kurt entered the kitchen, it was to find a very disgruntled Tash listlessly staring at her cereals.

"What are you doing up and about this early?" Kurt asked. Tash was not much of a morning person, he'd learned that the hard way. At least not before her first few cups of coffee.

"Campus tour," she murmured into her mug, taking a large sip of the black liquid. Kurt was just the tiniest bit sympathetic to her.

"When do you need to be there?"

"Nine."

"I repeat: Why are you already up? Your school isn't that far away. You could have slept for another hour."

Tash just shot him a death glare and returned to her coffee. "Because it takes me forever to really wake up and I don't want to drag myself across campus like a zombie. And I could ask you the same since I'm pretty sure Parsons doesn't have tours at eight in the morning during orientation week."

"It doesn't. I just wanted to be prepared. It's not every day that you walk the halls Marc Jacob studied in," Kurt responded, hand going up to his hair once more to make sure it was really perfect enough for the occasion.

His roommate rolled her eyes at the unnecessary gesture and slapped his hand away. "Stop it, Hummel. Your hair is ridiculously perfect and it just makes me nervous when you fumble with it all the time. Now get yourself something to eat before lover boy panics." She indicated Kurt's phone that had buzzed twice since he'd entered the kitchen.

With a smile, Kurt returned his attention to the screen to open Blaine's texts.

(07:12)

Are you eating anything yet? Love you. Oh, and Carole wants to see a photo of your outfit.

(07:13)

I think Finn's finally coming alive in his room. Carole's made pancakes so I better dig in before there's nothing left! Love you <3

(07:16)

You better! He can and will eat the whole plate within five minutes otherwise. Photo's coming! Love you too!

It took a bit - okay, a lot - of nudging but Tash finally agreed to take the photo for Kurt, handing back his phone a little more forcefully than was strictly necessary. Kurt decided then and there to never ask anything of her ever again before her coffee had kicked in.

He didn't have to wait long for a reply.

(07:25)

You look fantastic :) Good luck fighting off all the guys and girls that will be all over you. Carole agrees with me, so you can't tell me I'm biased. Love you more :)

(07:28)

Thanks, honey. You're the only one getting to be all over me ;) And Carole is biased, too. She's my stepmother and most of her wardrobe consists of select choices by moi. Love you the most!

(07:30)

I'd hope so ;) But I thought we were having that conversation tonight? So what if we're biased? We still get to call you gorgeous :) Really, Kurt? Remember, you started it. Love you the mostest <3 <3

(07:32)

We will :) You can call me gorgeous all you want, you won't hear me complain ;) And yes, really. Bring it on. Love you the utmostest!

"Okay, I'm all for happiness and being madly in love and all that but I'm on my first cup of coffee and it's not even eight and if you don't stop grinning like that I will guarantee for nothing, Hummel," Tash grumbled in his direction, looking dead serious.

Kurt quickly put his phone into his pocket after one last quick text, just to stay on the safe side.

(07:34)

Actually, bring it on a bit later. If class should get too boring. I have a very grumpy roommate sitting opposite me and she just threatened me for smiling too much. Love you!

Tash theatrically heaved a sigh at the absence of Kurt's phone at the table and returned to her coffee and cereals. Kurt decided to be the better person and not say anything when her phone buzzed a mere ten minutes later.

XxxxxxxxX

Kurt and Tash left the house together a few minutes after eight, separating at the very last minute to get to their respective schools. The minute he was by himself and had to wait at another traffic light, he had his phone out and was texting Blaine.

(08:23)

On my way to campus. How is Chemistry? Love you.

He didn't have to wait long before he got a reply.

(08:25)

Yay! Tell me when you're there? I'm so bored you wouldn't believe it. I've covered that in Dalton already and Miss Rogers just announced the stuff for this year and I already know all of it. Sigh. Love you too <3

(08:30)

Aww. Don't despair over being too clever for McKinley xD That'll be a problem for your whole senior year. I'm almost there now. Love you so much!

By the time Kurt arrived at the starting point, the area was practically deserted. There was only one other person already standing there, a tall girl with artfully arranged short blond curls that reminded him a bit of Marilyn Monroe. Her outfit was undoubtedly fashionable. That was one of the many ups of his course of study: the likeliness of having to encounter badly dressed people on a daily basis wasn't very high.

Kurt came to stand next to her, leaning against the wall and getting out his phone to text Blaine while he waited for a few familiar faces to appear. It wasn't too long until the Marilyn-girl started to talk to him.

"Hey. This is the meeting point for the campus tour, right?" she asked, gesturing to their fellow students' remarkable absence. Kurt lifted his gaze from his phone to offer her a shy smile.

"It is. Or at least it's supposed to be," he answered, looking around them only to realize that they were still alone. It was almost quarter to nine by now.

"Well, it doesn't look like anyone else is going to show up soon... I hope you don't mind a little small talk because I'm bored to death and I can't think of anyone to text with right now." Marilyn-girl grinned at him. Kurt grinned back and she offered him her hand to shake.

"My name's Ella."

"Kurt."

"Sound of Music?"

"Cinderella?"

"Duh, you got me there," Ella laughed. "My Mom was obsessed with the story and when she found out I was going to be a girl... well, you see what happened."

Kurt chuckled along with her, rolling his eyes. "I've seen The Sound of Music so many times I could quote the whole film. What are you studying?"

"Fashion design. You?"

They then proceeded to discuss their favorite Vogue covers (Ella wholeheartedly agreed with Kurt and Blaine's opinion) and outfits they really wanted to try now that they were in New York - it turned out Ella was originally from Denver. They were about to leave and get a cup of coffee at the closest Starbucks when finally, almost ten minutes after they'd been supposed to start the tour, the others started to drop by.

The minute Kurt caught sight of a familiar face, he linked arms with Ella and dragged her over.

"Percival! Hey! Do you know why everyone's so late?" he inquired, impatiently bouncing on his feet to see if anyone else he recognized had arrived.

"Hey Kurt! I don't know about the others but I've been on a tour through the dorms and it only ended a few minutes ago. I came here as fast as I could," Percival shrugged, looking around for people he'd seen at the dorm tour.

They chatted for another ten minutes before their guide finally showed up, apologizing incessantly. He introduced himself as a former Parsons student who'd been teaching there for a little less than a year and seemed to be rather disorganized. They smiled at him until he finally stopped apologizing long enough to start the tour.

(09:35)

I can't believe we haven't even started yet... God, I'm so excited! In a few short minutes I'll step into the room some of the best designers of our age have worked in!! I love you and I wish you could be here so badly

(09:40)

I'm so excited for you! You've got to tell me everything! Breathe :) I love you too and I want to be there with you too

(09:50)

Oh my God I've just been in the room Marc Jacobs worked in. MARC JACOBS Blaine. I think I'm going to hyperventilate now

(09:54)

Baby? Are you okay? Please tell me you didn't really start to hyperventilate. Love you <3

(09:56)

kjhgdgnk

(10:00)

Kurt?

(10:05)

Baby?

(10:15)

Oh my God, you really started hyperventilating and now you're unconscious and someone please tell me you're okay

(10:33)

Hey Blaine, this is Ella. I'm a fellow student of Kurt's and he's fine now. We dragged him to the closest coffee shop and he's sipping his nonfat mocha right now. I think his hands shake a little less. He'll get back at you once he's fully recovered from walking the hallowed halls. Ella <3

(10:36)

Ella again. Just thought I'd tell you that you're really adorable. Based on your texts and the billion photos on Kurt's phone (he allowed me to look at them). I'd totally tap you too! Kisses, Ella ;)