Thank goodness Port Columbus had a Starbucks inside. Blaine was certain that if he didn't get some coffee in his system, he would fall asleep and miss his 5:15 early morning flight. After all, he had been up all night anxiously anticipating his trip.

"Thanks for taking me, Coop. I hate to leave the state while you're still visiting, but I just can't wait another day to go see Kurt."

"No problem, little bro," Cooper replied, "I can manage a couple days alone with the 'rents. You know I did live the only child life for quite a few years before you came along."

Blaine answered with a polite chuckle, but Cooper, despite his usual obliviousness, could tell that something was troubling his baby brother.

"Blaine, are you alright?" the elder Anderson asked.

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine," Blaine said, eyes sinking down to the small carry-on he clutched in his left hand, "I guess I'm just a little nervous for the flight."

Cooper seemed to believe this. "Now Blainers, I know that you're a little more accustomed to flying by the family's own means, but Father can't just charter a jet and have it ready to go within eight hours of you deciding on a whim to go to the city. Besides, commercial airlines really aren't that bad. They're a perfect place to practice different improve situations and the captive audience..."

"Yeah, Coop, you're right," Blaine interrupted, not wanting to be subjected to yet another Cooper Anderson acting class "It won't be too bad I guess."

Blaine was not about to tell Cooper the real reason for his anxiety. After his disastrous failed proposal attempt, Kurt had graciously agreed that it would be best not to tell anyone. Blaine told Sam and Tina that he would hold onto the ring until after graduation, and Cooper had been none the wiser. What Kurt did not agree to, however, was Blaine's plan to just be boyfriends again instead. Kurt said they would make better friends at this point, even though the look in his eyes told Blaine that he wanted to say yes. Kurt has to work way too hard to defend himself from the world. I wish I hadn't just added another problem to his life. I really should have listened to Burt when he said to wait.

The bottom line was that Blaine was worrying himself to death about his standing with Kurt. The older boy had distanced himself lately, and Blaine was sure that he had scared him away. If this trip didn't go perfectly, Blaine wasn't sure that he'd have another chance with Kurt.

Cooper placed both hands on Blaine's face and shook him, maybe a little too dramatically, out of his thoughts. "Whoa there, Squirt. Are you sure you're fit to fly?" he asked. Before Blaine could respond, Cooper was whipping a small plastic baggie out of his own satchel. "I'll tell you what, bro. I want you to take these anxiety pills as soon as you are seated on the plane. You really need to calm your nerves a little."

"Um thanks, Coop," Blaine responded as he nervously took the medication from his brother's outstretched hand. Are you sure I need two? I'm kind of tiny."

"Don't worry about it. Now I should probably go. I'm expecting an important call from KRAFT. Can you imagine me in one of those ultra sexy 'zesty' commercials?" Cooper asked, obviously losing his concern for Blaine as he looked off into the distance.

"I love those commercials. And eww, no, you would effectively ruin them for me"

"Ugh I have told him a hundred times Blaine just because we're brothers doesn't mean you can't admit that I'm hot. At least your precious Kurtsie seems to think so."

And before Blaine had the chance to voice his disgust at the idea, Cooper quickly hugged him and began to walk off, shouting "see you at your graduation" as he walked away.

I hope Kurt has the same idea.

~~~

Blaine finally made his way through security and into the Starbucks that was conveniently located only a few gates down from his own. Unfortunately, the line was huge, and he was already running late because his hair gel was above the acceptable amount of liquids that one is allowed to carry aboard a plane. Of course Blaine just had to mumble something about his being much more dangerous to the public when seen without his hair products, so the security guards decided to go through his bag, probably out of spite. When the fat, bald fifty-year-old guard looked a little hesitant to pat Blaine down through his tight purple jeans, the boy realized that, yes, he was probably dealing with a homophobe, and this is exactly why I needed to get out of Ohio for a few days. And ohmygod he totally saw that not-so-family-friendly photo of Kurt and me. I hope he liked the view.

Blaine decided that he would be better off skipping the coffee shop in favor of making his flight. He made it onto the plane just a few minutes before they had finished boarding, and he made his way into one of the few remaining seats available on the small aircraft. He looked out the window to the tarmac, watching as a few burly men carelessly tossed cargo into the belly of another plane. Suddenly, he felt someone tapping on his shoulder.

"Hey there, Blaine," said the small, blonde teenaged girl.

Blaine, though a bit taken aback, was never one to drop his dapper persona. "Hello, madam," he replied with a polite smile, "have we met before?"

"It's Celeste. I go to McKinley," the girl said, perhaps a little hurt that Blaine didn't recognize her, "how don't you remember me? We're on the cheerios together. You know, the team that you are the captain of?"

"Celeste...Celeste...I'm truly sorry but I'm kind of drawing a blank."

The frustrated blonde stood up and reached to grab something from the overhead compartment. Well this is going to be awkward if I have to sit next to her for the whole flight. Cooper's pills are sounding like a better idea every minute. When the girl sat back down with a foamy brace strapped around her neck, everything clicked for Blaine.

"OH, Celeste! I'm so sorry! I just don't think I've ever seen you without your brace," he exclaimed.

"It happens all the time. I'm actually going to New York to see a special physical therapist about it. The Ohio doctors say I can go without the brace for a few hours a day, but no one a school recognizes me without it," She explained. "Anyway, Blaine, what brings you to the city? Maybe if you have a little extra time we could meet up, see a show, grab some coffee? You know I've always found you cute, but I heard that you and Tina aren't together anymore so..."

"Actually, Celeste, I'm going to see my boyfriend. Or ex-boyfriend, I guess. I probably won't have much time to spare, though I appreciate the offer."

Both teens were visibly comfortable. But seriously, with all that creeping she did around the glee club, how could she not know that I was gay. I give up, Blaine thought. He then proceeded to politely nod at Celeste, place his headphones over his ears, and swallow both of Cooper's pills in an attempt to escape from the girl whose stare became creepier and creepier by the minute.

Celeste, meanwhile, was confused. Tina told me at practice that she and Blaine weren't a thing anymore. Why would he make up a boyfriend instead of just saying he isn't over her? Oh well, he is still cute. He will come around.

Blaine quickly decided to listen to his most comforting playlist, "Now That's What I Call Disney." It was no secret that the boy was a devoted fan, and this was the music that calmed him down the most. Though he would never admit it, Cooper was right. He actually was a little scared of flying on a commercial airplane, which was much larger than his father's jet and, in his opinion, too big to stay up in the air. He was not about to look to the cheerio for comfort, though. After a decently smooth takeoff, he switched to one of his, and Kurt's, favorite Disney songs.

Cats and rabbits

Would reside in fancy little houses

And be dressed in shoes and hats and trousers

In a world of my own

All the flowers

Would have very extra special powers

They would sit and talk to me for hours

When I'm lonely in a world of my own

There'd be new birds

Lots of nice and friendly howdy-do birds

Everyone would have a dozen bluebirds

Within that world of my own

I could listen to a babbling brook

And hear a song that I could understand

I keep wishing it could be that way

Because my world would be a wonderland

And much like Alice, Blaine drifted into his own little world, listening to the music in a dreamlike state, barely escaping Celeste's Cheshire grin.

~~~

Blaine woke up as the Flight attendant announced that they had landed safely in New York. The dark haired boy had no trouble exiting the airport, and he felt a hundred times better than he had just a couple hours ago with Cooper in Columbus. As he stepped outside, his view of the city was absolutely breathtaking and full of vivid color. I guess any place where Kurt lives automatically becomes more beautiful by association. Now Blaine just needed to make his way to the famous HummelBerry (and Lopez) loft.

As Blaine marched on, still lost in his thoughts, he walked right into a large man who had stopped suddenly on the sidewalk. Blaine took in the man's dark clothes, Mohawk, and steel toed boots, and immediately assumed he was in for a fight until the man turned around, revealing himself as none other than-

"Puck!"

"Blaine! What are you doing here?"

"Visiting Kurt. What are YOU doing here? I thought you went to U of Lima!"

"I'm a New York man, now, Blaine. I've always had fantastic street smarts, after all. Actually, maybe you could help me out. You see that hot dog vendor over there? He is absolutely checking you out. Could you flirt it up a little and grab me a meal? I'd do it myself, but he is probably still pissed that I never used that phone number he gave me last time."

Blaine looked a little hesitant, but he quickly decided to cause a little mischief with his old friend. After all, what were the chances that he'd run into someone from back home as soon as he made it to the city? "So I take it you don't keep kosher?" he asked his friend with a smirk.

"Just get the damn food, Anderson," Puck replied, laughing at the younger boy.

~~~

Blaine was successful in obtaining a hot dog as well as an invitation to a sketchy bar, which he politely declined. He took a bite before sharing with Noah. As Puck ate most of the hot dog in a couple bites, Blaine pouted. "Hey wait, you're not being fair."

"Fairs are for tourists, kid," Puck responded. "Just kidding, that would be a totally dickish thing to say. You can have the rest. But wait, not everyone here is going to be as nice as me. Let me give you a little lesson in New York street savoire faire."

Blaine could barely comprehend what was going on when Puck began to belt out a Billy Joel classic from Oliver and Company.

One minute I'm in Central Park

Then I'm down on Delancey Street

From the Bow'ry to St Marks

There's a syncopated beat

Blaine rushed to follow Puck as he dramatically parkoured around the city.

Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo

I'm streetwise

I can improvise

Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo

I'm streetsmart

I've got New York City heart

Why should I worry?

Why should I care?

I may not have a dime

But I got street savoire faire

Why should I worry?

Why should I care?

It's just bebopulation

And I got street saviore faire

The rhythm of the city

But once you get it down

Then you can own this town

You can wear the crown

How is that piano being lifted by just a flimsy little rope? This is too weird.

Why should I worry?

Why should I care?

I may not have a dime

But I got street savoire faire

Why should I worry?

Why should I care?

It's just bebopulation

And I got street saviore faire

Ev'rything goes

Ev'rything fits

They love me at the Chelsea

They adore me at the Ritz

Why should I worry?

Why should I care?

And even when I cross that line

I got street savoire faire

After what was perhaps the strangest display Blaine had ever seen outside the halls of McKinley High, Puck turned to him, casually, as if he hadn't just danced atop a moving cement mixer. "Come on, Blaine, let's get you to Kurt's."

~~~

Celeste looked over to a sleeping Blaine as the flight attendant served the in-flight meal. "I guess he won't be having any," she smiled to the elder woman. This is strange, she thought, I've never heard of hot dogs as airline food before.

~~~