Back to life.
Back to reality.

That was what the Monday after Thanksgiving felt like for Kurt. More than reality, it was closer to hell, because, due to the lateness of Thanksgiving, the so-called 'Dead Week' came right afterwards. He had three papers of his own to write, several more papers to help Brittany with, plus studying for finals, working a few extra shifts at The Tispy Bean since one of the regular evening shifts just came down with a wicked case of the flu, and he had to also make sure he called his father and the bank to make sure he had everything settled for validation for the spring semester. Plus, he still had to bring his car into a local shop and see what could be done for the disparaging paint job it currently had.

You've got this, Kurt, he told himself as he left his last class of the day. Technically he still had a meeting with Quinn, but that wasn't for another forty-five minutes, so he had time for a quick lunch and to make sure that Rachel had not poisoned Brittany and Sunny with her offer of lunch that day. As he left the hall where his political science class was held, he shifted his books in his arms, and forced a smile, trying to force a better attitude as well.

His smile, as well as his books, fell when he ran into a brick wall.

Well, maybe not a wall, he thought as he looked up at a boy with messy dark hair and an apologetic look on his face.

"Oh, dude, wow, I'm so sorry. Let me help you with that."

It was so funny it was almost sad; Kurt was already so tired, he felt like his long weekend had not been long at all, that he didn't even have the energy to complain as he watched the boy bend over and gather the textbooks that had dropped to the walkway. The pile he made was neat, as he wiped the light dusting of snow that had fallen through the night off each text and added them to the pile, with the largest books on the bottom and the smallest on top. The orderliness almost made Kurt smile, despite all, and so his thanks was genuine as he accepted the stack from the boy.

"Thank you."

"No worries," the boy responded. "That was totally me. I have issues with watching where I'm going," he laughed, and Kurt couldn't stop the smile now as the boy held out a hand. "I'm Jake."

He shifted the books to one side and held out his right hand to shake.

"Kurt."

The boy's dark eyes sharpened, and he asked slowly, "You wouldn't happen to be Blaine's Kurt, would you?"

His eyes widened in surprise even as he blushed, and started to shake his head.

"I, um, we're just friends. We don't--"

"Dude, it's so awesome to finally meet you," he grinned widely, and to Kurt's great surprise, bent down to give him a rib-crushing hug.

Kurt almost lost his books again, and was gasping when Jake released him.

"I take it you're the roommate he mentioned?" he managed after a moment, and the wide grin on the boy's face made him wonder how it didn't split him open.

"Jake Trevik, at your service." He tipped an imaginary hat before adding, "Blaine has been talking about you a lot."

"Is that so?" He wasn't sure if that was flattering or just plain embarrassing, and he stood awkwardly a moment before shifting his books in his arms once more and smiling faintly. "Well, it was nice to meet you. I should probably--"

"You going back to the dorms? I'll walk with you."

The pause was small before he looked back at the hall behind them and frowned.

"Weren't you heading in...?"

"Eh," he shrugged, and started walking backwards down the pathway, a brave feat considering the icy state, and Kurt followed slowly as he continued, "It's just a review session. I know my textbook forwards and backwards. I can afford to miss this."

"I see."

If he was being honest with himself, Kurt might admit that he wasn't really sure he wanted to make a new friend, at least not today, but if the boy was determined to walk with him, he couldn't really stop him, and it would be foolish to go anywhere else when all he really wanted was to get some lunch.

"So I heard you make a mean Thanksgiving dinner."

"Uh, yes, I do?"

It was surprisingly easy to talk to the other boy and by the time they reached his room --he had thought Jake would turn off when they entered the enclosure, recalling how Blaine lived that direction, but he had only paused a second before following and continuing his monologue on sociology versus anthropology-- Kurt was genuinely smiling, and found himself glad that the other boy had run into him a few minutes ago.

"And it's just weird, how so many people think they're interchangeable, but really--"

They both stopped in surprise as they reached Kurt's door and heard the screaming coming from inside.

"What is your problem? You never wanted me to go on Broadway anyway!"

There was no mistaking Rachel's high-pitched shrieking, and he had a bad feeling about who she was screaming at.

"Um," he began, looking up at Jake, his expression both embarrassed and apologetic, "I would invite you in, but..."

"I'll take a rain check," he nodded, dark eyes casting a worried glance to the door before he held out his hand. "It was great to meet you, Kurt. And sorry about running into you before."

"No problem," he smiled faintly, shaking his hand briefly and then watching as he turned and walked away. From the few things Blaine had said about him, he had kind of expected the kid to be a little on the dumb side. He was completely the opposite, though, and Kurt had a feeling they would become good friends. The smile that was forming dropped as he heard Rachel continue.

"I am my own person, Finn Hudson. You have no say over what I do or--"

He opened the door slowly to see Rachel pacing back and forth in the living room, her hair wild as if she'd run her fingers through it, her color high, and her expression could probably kill something if she tried. She looked absolutely terrifying, and if Kurt didn't know any better, he would back out the door and leave her alone. He had seen her on a rampage several times throughout their high school career, and he had always been surprised when they didn't end in bloodshed. But right now, beneath that fury that she wore so well, he could also see the pain, and the fear in her eyes, and so he locked the door behind him and took a tentative step closer to her.

"No, I'm not coming back to New York. I told you, I can't--"

She inhaled sharply, and her expression turned to ice.

"You can go to Hell, Finn Hudson."

And with that, she turned off her phone and threw it on the sofa. He had seen her break a few phones by throwing them to the ground, so Kurt applauded her self-control. But he knew, though he had only heard bits and pieces of the end of her conversation with his brother, that she was on the edge, and as he watched her breathe slowly in and out, he felt his heart break a little.

"Rachel?"

She went still before slowly turning to face him, and he pulled her into his arms before the first tears even had the chance to fall, and just rocked her slowly back and forth as she sobbed into his shoulder.