"I'm getting' outta here Frida.", Kurt stated.

"What d'you mean by that?", Frida was pretty sure she knew.

"As soon as David gives me my check, I'm gone."

As soon as that was said, David walked in from his back room.

"I need my check for this month David.", Kurt said.

"It ain't the end of the month yet."

"David you still haven't payed us for last month! I need my money, Frida's got a kid to feed and-"

"If you have a problem with management, put a note in the suggestion box." , David said with a smug look.

"I mean it David, I'm quitting!"

David gave him a knowing look, "I'll be back for the dinner shift."

Once David was out the door, Kurt muttered, "I sure as hell won't be..." and popped open the cash drawer and started taking bills out.

"What're you doing?", Frida asked.

"I'm only taking what he owes me, not a penny more," Kurt said. He grabbed a few bills and put them in Frida's hand. "This should pay for that bike you've been wanting to get Charlie. Who you're late to pick up from school. Go on. I have everything down here."

Frida put the bills back in Kurt's apron pocket. "The bike can wait. Take what he owes you and get going.", Frida said it with a small, sad smile on her face. She would be sad to see Kurt leave, but he needed to go on and reach his dreams.

Kurt flipped the 'open' sign to 'closed'. He started grabbing things to pack. He put a couple coins in the juke box and jumped on stage.

Oooooohhhhh, sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah

I get a feeling that I never, never, never, never had before, no no
And I just gotta tell you right now that I
I believe, I really do believe that

Something's got a hold on me, yeah
Oohoh, something's got a hold on me right now, child

He was finally getting out of here. He started taking his clothes out and putting them in a suitcase.

Let me tell you now
I got a feeling, I feel so strange
Everything about me seems to have changed
Step by step, I got a brand new walk
I even sound sweeter when I talk

He kept day dreaming of what L.A. would be like.

I said, oh, oh, oh, oh
I said baby
Oh, it must be love

Let me tell you know
Something's got a hold on me, yeah
Oohoh, something's got a hold on me right now, child

He was closing up the tavern for the last time. It was a bittersweet goodbye, but it would be so worth it in the end.

Let me tell you now
I never felt like this before
Something's got a hold on me that won't let go
I believe I'd die if I only could
I sure feel strange, but it sure feels good

He wondered what the city would bring him. Would he even make it? Would he have his fifteen minutes of fame and then fizzle? Or would he go in small and rise up to be a huge star?

I said, oh, oh, oh, oh
I said baby
Oh, it must be love

All of these questions were making him start to feel more nervous about leaving. Was it worth leaving his old life behind? If he didn't make it, could he come back and pick up where he left off? Should he even go?

Let me tell you know
My heart feels heavy, my feet feel light
I shake all over, but I feel alright
I never felt like this before
Something's got a hold on me that won't let go
I never thought it could happen to me
Got me heavy without the misery
I never thought it could be this way
Love's sure gonna put a hurting on me

Yes, he was going. He couldn't stay here and be held down anymore. It was his destiny. And he would make it.

I said, oh, oh, oh, oh
I said baby
Oh, it must be love

Yeah, he walks like love
He talks like love
Makes me feel alright
In the middle of the night

He finally grabbed the photo of him and his mom when he was eight. Then he turned out the lights, and he was gone.

He walked down the street just reveling in knowing he would never be coming back here. People were staring, he could feel their eyes. He pretended they were just jealous that he was getting out and they weren't. He'd never have to see that dirty old tavern again. He'd never have to see any of it again. He went to the closest bus station and walked up to the counter.

"One ticket for Los Angeles please."

"One way or round trip?"

"You're kidding, right?"

He got his ticket and boarded the bus. This was it. He was going to LA.

Na na la la
Na na la la
Ooh yeah yeah
Yeah ooh yeah oh

Hey, yeah yeah yeah, ah

He stepped off the bus into LA. He found a low rent apartment and rented it out. It wasn't much, just a one room apartment. He went to work unpacking, hiding some money in case of a break in, and making the place more like home. He would be staying here for a while after all.

He had gotten a postcard to send back home with a picture of the apartment building he was in. He circled his window and wrote "This is where I am" and flipped the card over. He took his pen to the paper, but quickly realized he had no one to write to.

His mom had died when he was young, no one knew where his dad was, and he hadn't really had friends in Iowa. He ripped the post card into tiny pieces and threw the out of the window. It was pretty much a huge 'screw you' to his hometown. He was here now. None of that mattered.

He went into the city and got a newspaper. He went to the classified and searched under 'Union/Musical' in the job section. There were many listings and he started with the first one.

He was rejected many times that day. Every job said he would be perfect for it, except he had no experience. He was about ready to give up.

He decided to get dinner and explore some. After he finished eating, he walked for about ten minutes until he saw it. A quaint little bar by the looks of it. The name on the sign said 'Burlesque'.

He looked around it and his eyes stopped on an exceptionally beautiful girl in stage clothes. He was gay, but he could appreciate beauty when he saw it. He caught her eye and they made eye contact for about six seconds until a middle aged man came out and started ushering her back inside the door.

"Mercedes? Come on 'Cedes, you're on.", the man said quickly while steering her inside. The girl threw him one last glance and walked back inside with the man who came out. Well now he was more interested in this little club.

Kurt threw away his cup from dinner and walked up to the building. He looked at the movie-like poster on the wall and gazed at it. It said a few other things but mostly he noticed the side. It said:

"FEATURING:

RACHEL

SANTANA

BRITTANY

QUINN

SUGAR

MERCEDES"

He assumed this place had something to do with performing. He really hoped they did and that they would hire him. He had talent, that was for sure. He hoped they hired him. The had to. He needed this. It would assure him that he could make it. He needed that comfort more than anything right now. After being rejected so many times today, he needed that comfort.

He took deep breath. It was time. He went in.