“Well, it’s not The Lima Bean,” Kurt commented as he looked around at the small coffee shop’s burgundy walls, wooden accents, and dimly lit ceiling lights. Although it was definitely edgier than any coffee shop found in Ohio, it lacked The Lima Bean’s sense of warm hospitality. “But it’ll do.”

“I think it’s perfect,” Blaine chimed in, smiling at the smell of freshly brewed coffee as it drifted past his nose. “It’s halfway between our apartment and school.”

Rachel nodded in agreement as she stepped into the line. “We can stop here on our way to classes.”

Kurt flashed his friends a smirk, skeptical. “The true test will be the coffee itself.”

The line moved quickly and the three teenagers found themselves staring into the chestnut eyes of the young barista before they knew it. Kurt and Blaine ordered their usual drinks and Rachel requested a green tea. She began to reach into her purse for money until Blaine politely stopped her, offering to pay for the both of them.

“Coffee good enough for you, your highness?” Blaine teased as Kurt sipped daintily at his cup. The three friends took a seat by the window so they could watch the bustling crowds of strange, urban New Yorkers pass by them.

Kurt shrugged. “It’s acceptable.”

Rachel giggled and blew steam away from her tea. “You better get used to it. We’re New Yorkers now!”

“It’s much more promising than Ohio,” Kurt agreed. “Although I will miss my dad and Carole. Even Finn—“

Rachel winced, nearly dropping her cup of hot tea.

“Do not mention that name,” Rachel hissed. Kurt shot a knowing look at Blaine.

“I take it you two spoke about…college,” Kurt guessed, choosing his words carefully. Rachel was on the verge of an outburst and Kurt didn’t want their first day in New York to involve any unnecessary bans from coffee shops due to disturbing the peace.

Rachel gently took a sip from her cup. “We did, in fact.”

“I can’t believe he didn’t tell me,” Kurt mumbled more to himself, making a mental reminder to call that boy and give him a piece of his mind for daring to leave his stepbrother out of the drama.

Blaine stirred the coffee in his cup aimlessly, glancing up through his thick lashes at Rachel. “Are you okay?”

“Oh, I’m fine,” Rachel replied hotly. The boys didn’t believe her for a moment. “He should be the one who’s not fine. Even though I could care less about Finn Hudson’s well being. It’s clear that he doesn’t care about me otherwise he’d face his childish fears of being homesick and expand his horizons to bigger and better places—like New York!”

There was silence at their table.

“Yes. You’re just fine, Rachel,” Kurt said.

The small brunette stared down at the wooden table, eyes wide with hurt. “I just don’t understand…if I was really important to him—if he really loved me—he would’ve come with me.”

Kurt sighed melodramatically. “Honey, Finn is…” He struggled for words. “Well, he’s Finn. Of course that sad little country boy didn’t tag along. Have you seen his wardrobe? There’s your answer right there.”

“Rachel, have you and Finn ever considered a long-distance relationship?” Blaine asked gently. Rachel looked up, blinking. “When I was still at Dalton and Kurt transferred back to McKinley, we made it work.”

Kurt glared sassily at his boyfriend. “The distance from New York to Ohio is a bit longer than the trip from Westerville to Lima, Blaine.”

“It was just a suggestion—“

“We have considered it,” Rachel cut in, still gazing downward a bit miserably. “Well, I have. Finn doesn’t want to deal with being so far away from each other. He’s convinced that’s the key to dooming a relationship.”

Kurt scoffed. “What a simpleton.”

“But, really, I don’t care,” Rachel assured them, putting on a brave face. “I’m through with Finn and already have my sights set on things much higher—like college and my career on Broadway.”

Blaine smiled. “That’s the spirit.”

“Speaking of sights that are set high,” Kurt leaned in with uncontained excitement. “I’ve arranged to send in my resume for an internship with Vogue magazine.”

Blaine’s mouth dropped open gracelessly. “Are you serious?”

“Yes!” Kurt practically squeaked from joy. “I’ve already researched the position they’re hoping to fill—a sort of fashion observer who goes to all the designer premieres and fashion shows to collect ideas and trends for upcoming issues. They get exclusive access to the classiest stores and even get to pull pieces that they think would work for photo shoots.”

Rachel beamed at her friend. “Wow, Kurt, that sounds incredible.”

“Doesn’t it?” He swooned. “It’s my dream job and getting this internship would almost guarantee me that position.”

“I’m really thrilled for you, Kurt, but,” Blaine began sensibly. “What about school?”

Kurt shrugged and took a quick sip of his coffee. “I’d go to class in the morning and work in the evening. It’s a busy schedule, but at least I’d be getting paid.”

“That’s fantastic,” Blaine placed his hand over his boyfriend’s and squeezed gently.

Rachel blew on her tea again. “What kind of things do you need on your resume?”

“I’ve got that covered,” Kurt stated proudly as he reached into his messenger bag. He removed a pristine sheet of paper and offered it to Rachel. The small brunette began scanning it over and Blaine leaned over to do the same. “They can’t say no to that resume.”

Blaine’s eyebrows came together quizzically. “Um, Kurt? You weren’t president of the Fashion Club at McKinley,” He turned to Rachel for confirmation. “Did McKinley even have a Fashion Club?”

“Speaking as someone who was a member of nearly every club at McKinley, I can safely say there is no Fashion Club,” Rachel answered snidely. She and Blaine continued to study the resume.

“And you never helped develop organic straw fedoras for underprivileged children in Africa,” Blaine added. Kurt snatched the piece of paper back huffily.

“Everyone lies on their resume,” Kurt defended. Blaine and Rachel stared skeptically, prompting a defeated sigh from the slender brunette. His posture visibly shrank. “How else am I supposed to get an internship from the chicest magazine in fashion history without any experience?”

“Just be yourself,” Blaine assured him with a grin. He took his boyfriend’s hand and lifted it to his lips, giving the back of his palm a soft and romantic peck. “There’s no way they won’t adore you.”

Kurt groaned and took a large gulp of coffee in his mouth, swallowing heavily. “That’s so…common.”

“It’s also honest,” Rachel reminded him dutifully. Kurt gave a dry, humorless laugh.

“You’re one to talk about honesty, Miss ‘I-get-teachers-fired-because-they-didn’t-give-me-a-solo-that-I-may-or-may-not-have-deserved’ or ‘I-send-poor-innocent-Filipino-girls-to-crack-houses-because-I’m-threatened-by-their-obscene-talent’.”

Rachel narrowed her eyes at Kurt while Blaine chuckled lightly. “You’ve made your point.”

The three returned home that evening to their empty apartment and began to unpack a few essential items. Rachel started to organize her toiletries in her bathroom while Kurt hung up some of his more expensive pieces of clothing in his closet. Blaine removed his laptop, lay across the living room floor and began searching Craigslist for affordable furniture pieces. Rachel and Kurt grabbed water bottles from the fridge and joined him on the floor, piping up whenever they saw a particular futon they either absolutely adored or despised.

“That one looks like it was used in the original Brady Bunch television show,” Kurt complained.

“I think it has a certain charm to it,” Rachel countered.

“I refuse to consider the design opinion of a girl who wears animal sweaters,”

Their bickering continued until Blaine decided it was time to go to bed. He shut off his laptop before either one of them could get in another word in edgewise. The dark haired boy stood, stretched, and extended a hand toward Kurt with a pleasant smile. “Join me?”

Kurt could feel his cheeks grow warmer, but he mustered a responding grin that he hoped came across as remotely coy. “I’d love to.”

“Good night, boys,” Rachel called out as she marched her slipper-clad feet into her room.

Kurt and Blaine walked hand in hand into their room where a plain queen sized mattress waited for them in the middle of the vacant area. Kurt winced at the sight, but thought it better not to complain. Blaine was right—one night of roughing it wouldn’t hurt him.

“That looks…lovely,” Kurt couldn’t help it. The words poured out of his mouth before he had the opportunity to stop them. For what it was worth, Kurt had originally intended for his statement to come out much more sincere than it actually sounded.

Blaine rolled his eyes and lay himself down on one side of the mattress. It gave an unreliable squeak. “Come here, you.”

Hesitantly, Kurt lowered himself down to the mattress and felt the entirety of its lumpiness. Urging himself not to groan with displeasure, Kurt cuddled closer toward Blaine who wrapped an arm around his waist and sighed contentedly. “It’s not so bad, is it?”

“Only because you’re here,” Kurt muttered into Blaine’s t-shirt, inhaling deeply. He loved the way Blaine smelled—a mixture of body wash and cinnamon. “I still blame the mattress, though.”

Blaine chuckled lightly and Kurt could feel the convulsions of his boyfriend’s chest that he had buried his face into. The two fell silent as sleep overtook them and their chests began to rise and fall in a similar steady rhythm. The apartment still had little lighting fixtures and the sun had set long ago. Darkness had completely engulfed the small area except for the dim screens of their cell phones charging in the corner of the room. Kurt still lay motionless in the dark, listening to the soft city sounds from outside that penetrated through their walls. Cars were honking, people were yelling, and alley cats were climbing over garbage cans. It truly is the city that never sleeps.

“Blaine?” Kurt whispered. He felt his boyfriend slightly shift positions from beside him on the lumpy mattress.

“Hmm?” Came his muffled and tired reply.

Kurt swallowed hard and quickly debated whether or not to express his concerns to Blaine at all. His apprehension vanished, however, when he remembered whom it was he was talking to. Kurt could confide in Blaine with anything—no matter how insignificant. He swallowed again and continued. “It sounds different.”

Blaine shifted again so that his face was lying mere inches away from Kurt’s. His voice was still plagued with sleep. “What sounds different?”

“The city. It’s so noisy,” Kurt explained, feeling more and more foolish as he spoke. “Back home you can’t hear anything at night—just crickets chirping.”

Blaine paused. “I thought you loved it here. Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted?”

“Yes…more than anything,” Kurt responded immediately. He released a breath and stared straight into Blaine’s fatigued hazel eyes. “But it’s not home.”

“I’m sure you expected New York to be different from Ohio when you decided to live here,” Blaine chuckled lightly at his boyfriend’s bewildered expression.

Kurt blinked. “Of course I did. But I also expected to be a little homesick.”

Blaine stared into Kurt’s ocean eyes for a moment before flopping over onto his back. He appeared as if he were forcing the words out of his mouth. “Do you think it’s strange that I don’t miss my family?”

“At all?” Kurt wondered a bit incredulously. Kurt was well aware that Blaine didn’t have the best relationship with his parents, but he assumed there was some sort of attachment to the people who raised him.

“No more than usual,” Blaine stared at the ceiling. “I feel like I’ve always been missing my family…I’ve never been that close to my mom and dad—even though I wish I were.”

Kurt could feel tears stinging the corners of his eyes. “Why don’t you ever try getting closer to them?”

“I have,” Blaine said softly. “But they don’t want to be close to me because I’m…”

Blaine didn’t need to finish his sentence for Kurt to know exactly what he was referring to. Blaine’s parents had been completely blindsided when Blaine told them he was gay about three years ago. They had such high expectations for their only son and being gay, of course, was not part of their elaborate plan. Kurt was positive they loved Blaine, but, from what he’s heard, their relationship was more than a little strained.

“My parents told me they’d be sending us monthly checks in the mail,” Blaine explained a bit distantly. “Just to keep us financially solid until we have some sort of an income on our own.”

Kurt nudged Blaine with his shoulder and scooted a bit closer toward his warm body. “That’s great. That’s very nice of them.”

“I guess it is,” Blaine shrugged and spoke very slowly. “To me it just feels very…impersonal—almost formal. Like ‘here’s your money, now leave us alone’.”

Kurt frowned while Blaine continued. “Your parents asked you to call them once a week and keep them updated with your life...mine just wished me luck, sent me on my way, and agreed to send us money.”

“Let’s go explore the city tomorrow,” Kurt suggested in a brighter tone. “That’ll cheer you up.”

Blaine couldn’t help but smile as he turned back on his side and pressed his chest against Kurt’s back, wrapping his arms around his slender waist once again. “Maybe we could incorporate some shopping as well—I know you’re probably itching to visit some stores.”

Kurt squirmed happily and nestled closer against Blaine’s body, loving the way it felt to be immersed in his boyfriend’s warmth. “You know me too well, Blaine Anderson.”