After arriving at the Columbus airport at 4 AM, flying from there to Chicago, a 3 hour layover, and another flight crammed up against a smelly old man, Blaine Anderson had finally arrived at LaGuardia Airport.  He was finally in New York!

“Yeah mom, just landed….No, I mean, yeah, I can see the sign for AirTran up ahead and that’s supposed to lead me to where I can get on the subway…I want to spend my money on other things, and it’s not like I have a lot of luggage, I’ll be fine!  Seriously mom, if you really want me to make it here, you’ve gotta trust that I can manage to get on the subway…I know, I love you too, and I’m always safe….Yeah, I’ll call you when I get to the hotel…Ok, getting on the elevator to the train. Bye mom….”

Blaine loved his mom, he really, really did, but really, why did she have to worry so much?  Yes, he was on his first trip by himself, and in one of the largest cities in the world no less, but he was 17 years old! He’s not some baby! For goodness sake, he was here for a college audition…and he had enough worry for the both of them because of it!

Blaine hopped on the AirTran and looked to make sure he was headed in the right direction.  HopStop said take AirTran to Jamaica Station, then the “F” to 23rd Street station, and then a couple of blocks to 19th Street, home of the New York Academy for the Dramatic Arts.  He sat there looking at all the other people on the train with their luggage in tow.  He wondered if they lived in New York, or were they just passing through like he was.  Then he thought, “But next time, maybe I’ll be coming home too…”

 “Hey, I’m Blaine Anderson, and I’m here to check in.”

The guy behind the desk at the dorm looked like he could care less.  His glasses were huge and an odd shape, but he must be one of those hipster guys that Blaine had kept hearing about.  Oh well, to each his own.  Not very many people went for the bowtie look either, but it was his signature piece, and he wasn’t giving that up anytime soon.

“Yeah kid, we’ve got you on the 3rd floor.  You’ll be staying with Brody Weston.  Room 304.”

“Ok, awesome, thanks!”

“Whatever…” the desk guy said, grabbing his copy of Moby Dick and reading again.  Seriously, who reads that crap?

Blaine couldn’t get over the fact that this place didn’t have an elevator.  He was forced to carry his bag up the stairs for the 5th time that day.  All those stupid subway stops, you’d think they’d make them more accessible, but the stairs just kept coming.  He really hoped this Brody guy had a nice couch, or extra bed, or something, ‘cause he was just tired.

“Oh, hey! You must be one of the guys here to audition!  Names Chandler…freshman, single, ready to mingle!”

Wow, this guy is obnoxious, Blaine thought.  So, either they didn’t care he was there, or they were extremely excited.

“Who ya staying with?”

Blaine looked down at the slip the guy at the desk had given him again, “Brody Weston…you know him?”

“God, EVERYONE knows Brody!  He’s a junior, and he even TA’s for Ms. July, our lead dance teacher.  Oh, and he’s hella hot.  He’s straight though, so don’t like, try anything.”

“Thanks for the heads up, I guess.” Blaine rattled.  How did this guy know he was gay?  Was it that obvious?

“Hope to see you around!” Chandler said as he continued down the stairs. Was anyone actually normal in this place?

“Oh, hey, you must be Blaine. Brody Weston.  Glad you could crash with me for the week.”  Brody stuck out his arm, anticipating Blaine to shake his hand.  He gladly obliged, mostly because shaking his hand meant watching his biceps flex.  And wow, just wow, that Chandler guy wasn’t exaggerating.

“Yeah, so, I’ve got the futon over there, which makes out into a bed.  It’s actually larger than mine, so you’ll have lots of room.  Make yourself comfortable.  There’s communal showers down the hall, but be prepared, it’s co-ed.  So like, dicks and tits alike, but you’re welcome to freshen up.  I think most of us are going to “Callbacks” tonight…it’s this karaoke-like place that NYADA students have basically adopted, and I’m pretty sure most of the finalist are going too.  I assume you wanna go, right?”

A night out?  Of course they’d go out at night.  This was New York!  Blaine hadn’t even thought about that.  He knew he should have slept on the plane, but he was too excited.  Now, he was ridiculously tired, but he couldn’t rightly turn down an invitation to sing, now could he?

“Sure, who doesn’t love karaoke?  But just so I’m prepared, is this like show tunes karaoke, or would people be highly offended if I sang a little Katy Perry?”  Blaine loved Broadway as much as anyone else, but surely that’s not ALL these kids did, right?

“Dude, relax, it’s for fun.  Me and this girl I’ve been talking to sang a freakin’ Demi Lovato song last week.  I’m sure no one will bat an eye if you break out a little “California Girls.”  I figure all you newbies will give it a run.  Look at it as a way to scope out your competition.”

“Haha, yeah, ok…sounds like fun.”

“Just don’t wear a bikini and daisy duke, okay?”

“Aww, now it doesn’t sound nearly as fun!”

“I like you, man, you’re a cool guy.  I think you’re really gonna fit in well.”

Blaine wasn’t used to having to compete with others.  He’d been the lead of his glee club since sophomore year.  Everyone at Dalton was good, amazing actually, but they just kinda paled in comparison with him when it came to vocals.  So naturally, he’d become their lead singer.  He’d never thought about what it must be like to want to be the best, and have someone that much better ahead of you.  And just then, Blaine had a strong urge to get ready for “Callbacks.”  He had to know what he was up against.