Kurt couldn't believe the magnitude of the place. It was the most palatial, sophisticated building he'd ever been in. And he had the chance to go to college here. Dalton Academy was a private men's college who had a very slim acceptance rate. He'd already been pre-accepted and this tour was merely a formality before he began his freshman year. The sun was shining down through the domed skylight and he couldn't help staring up as he tried to maneuver the stairs beneath him. The sight was breathtaking, but finally he looked down as he realized he couldn't hear the annoying tour leader anymore.

"Shit," he muttered. Figures that he would get lost before he'd even started.

Just then a young man came barreling down the stairs beside him, knocking him into the banister.

"Excuse me, can I ask you a question?" Kurt asked politely, stumbling and catching himself.

When the young man turned around, Kurt's breath caught in his chest. The man was breathtaking. His black curly hair framed his face perfectly without overwhelming him. His mouth, dear god, his mouth was the kind of thing Kurt only dreamed about. His top lip had a deep dimple in it that made Kurt's mouth water thinking of kissing it. But it was his eyes that caught Kurt's attention the most. His eyes were the most spectacular shade of gold. He supposed they were probably considered hazel, but right now they were a deep golden color and Kurt was lost. The young man was a tad shorter than him but had broad shoulders that hinted at a muscular physique.

"Jesus, you done staring at me, princess?" the man said, his tone scathing.

Kurt blushed to the roots of his hair. "I, I, I'm sorry. Um, please forgive me. I can't seem to find my tour party, I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of the library," Kurt stuttered, barely able to remember the tour's itinerary.

"What's your name?" he asked abruptly.

"K, K, Kurt," he finally got out.

"Well, k, k, Kurt, do I look like a fucking directory to you?" He glared at him for a minute and Kurt wondered if was actually waiting for an answer. "Stupid, fucking newbies," he finally muttered, making his way down the rest of the steps and disappearing down a hall.

Kurt's mouth hung open at the rudeness of the man. What the hell had crawled up his ass? He cursed himself for not popping back with a snappy comeback, but as was his luck, he ended up thinking of several choice phrases minutes after the incident. Why did such a gorgeous guy have to be a dick? Well, Kurt guessed it was good anyway. He wasn't here for romance or relationships, he was here to learn and learn from the best. This was what he'd worked toward all those hellish years in high school. The opportunity to escape Lima and travel to New York to attend school. It may not be NYADA, but it was a top school in New York and he'd earned a scholarship that gave him a full ride.

Hearing a high pitched, irritated voice, he realized he'd found his group and rushed to catch up. They finished the tour and Kurt signed on the dotted line to become an official member of the Dalton alumni. The very next week he was moving into his new dorm room, anxious about meeting his roommate. Those who didn't have people they wanted to bunk with were assigned to a room with an upper classman who would be nice enough to help out with adjustment and questions.

Knocking hesitantly on the door, he twisted the handle and peered inside. There was a tall man sitting at a desk looking like he was putting together a model car. He looked up and smiled at Kurt.

"You must be Kurt Hummel," he said, rising up and up from his chair and holding out his hand. "I'm Jason McClure."

"Yes, I am and it's nice to meet you," Kurt said, relieved to see the welcoming expression on his face. They shook hands and Kurt took a quick look around the room. Jason had picked the right side of the room which he saw was nearest the bathroom they would share. Kurt had the entire left side of the room which included a bed, desk, wardrobe, and a window. He had no problem getting the window side, he loved staring outdoors anyway, so maybe he'd move the desk right up to it.

"I hope you don't mind that I already picked a side," Jason said apologetically. He had warm brown eyes and medium brown hair and was very tall. Kurt figured he had to be around six foot five inches. He had a beautiful dimple that peeked when he smiled.

"I don't mind at all. I was just nervous to meet you and hoped we'd get along," Kurt said honestly.

"I hear you," Jason replied. "I'm pretty easygoing, so if you are too, we'll get on just fine."

Kurt grimaced. "I'm not always easygoing, but I'll try," he said with a hopeful smile.

Jason laughed, making his dimple reappear. "Why aren't you easygoing?"

"I'm a bit of a diva. I like things a certain way. But since it's mostly my belongings that I'm anal about, I'm sure you won't hate me right away," Kurt said, grinning.

"No problem. You're cute so I'm sure that will buy you some leeway," he said with a saucy wink.

Kurt's mouth fell open. Was this guy gay? "Uh, are you?" Kurt managed.

"Gay? No, I just appreciate beauty when I see it," Jason laughed. "I don't care about that kind of crap. There's more important things in life than worrying about who people love."

Kurt sighed in relief. This guy really was going to be the perfect roommate. "I'm gay," he announced, just to test his roommates resolve.

"I know," Jason snorted. "And you're beautiful, so there, all of it's out there. Do you need any help unpacking?" At Kurt's sideways look. "Oh right, diva. Okay, well if you need anything I'll be over there," Jason said with another grin.

Looking more closely at the model car he was carefully piecing together, Kurt smiled. "Is that a 1967 Impala?"

It was Jason's turn to gape at him. "You know cars?"

Kurt sniffed delicately and put his nose in the air. "I may be a diva, but I do have other interests," he said haughtily then grinned to take the sting out of his words.

Cracking up, Jason pointed at him. "I like you, Diva. And yeah, it's a '67 Impala. Love this car. I wish I had one. But alas, all I get is the model. How did you get into cars?"

Kurt's face abruptly shut down. "My dad." He pointed at the door on the right side of the room. "Is that the bathroom?"

Jason nodded, his expression curious.

Kurt grabbed his bathroom bag and left the room. The bathroom had two sinks with two sets of shelving and mirrors. Kurt was grateful as he started setting out his products. He truly needed a bathroom all to himself, but if he had to share, at least he got his own individual space. Pausing to look at his reflection, he sighed deeply. He could do this. He had to do this.

Several minutes later, he emerged from the bathroom and saw they had company. A good looking guy with olive skin and a well kept mohawk was talking with Jason. Jason introduced him to Noah Puckerman or Puck as he preferred to be called.

"I gotta head out soon. Warbler practice is already starting," Puck said, checking his watch.

"Warbler's? Isn't that your glee club slash choir?" Kurt asked excitedly. This was part of what he'd been looking forward to. He already knew all about the Warbler's. They were known as one of the best college choirs in the country.

"Yeah, do you sing?" At Kurt's nod, Puck grinned. "Dude, you should come and try out today. It's the perfect time to get in there since this is the first meeting of the year."

"That would be great," Kurt said, his grin wide. "How do I look?" He asked, turning to Jason.

"Divine, dahling," Jason drawled.

"Like you have any real clue," Kurt joked.

"True," Jason admitted. "Hey good luck. They'd be lucky to have you."

"You don't even know if I sing well," Kurt said, though he was grateful for the encouragement.

"I'm sure you sing just fine," Jason said and smiled as Kurt left the room with Puck.

They traded pleasantries as they walked. Puck was a sophomore and had been with the Warbler's since the second semester of his freshman year.

"It took me a while to get the guts to try out. It can be pretty intimidating," he said, then noticed Kurt's face turn pale. "Oh shit. Sorry, dude. I'm sure it'll be fine. Just picture them all in their underwear. That's what I do."

"Uh huh," Kurt said, swallowing hard.

"Do you know what you're going to sing?" Puck asked, hoping the change of topic would cover his slip up.

"Yeah. 'Defying Gravity' from Wicked," Kurt said. He'd had this audition piece picked out and practiced to perfection for over a year. It showed his range from the lows to the highest highs. If this didn't get him in the Warbler's, nothing would.

"Oh okay. I think I've heard that one," Puck said. "What range do you sing?"

"I'm a counter tenor," Kurt said, unable to keep the pride from his voice. He knew his voice was unique and he hoped that would bode well during the audition.

"Damn," Puck said with a low whistle. "The Warbler's haven't had a true counter tenor in years."

Kurt already knew this as well, but he just nodded and said that was interesting.

"Well, Kurt, I'm pulling for you, so just relax and do your best," Puck said as they approached the choir room.

Walking in, Kurt was again staggered by the architecture. The deep dark wood covering every surface, the red leather couches, the marble floor; it was spectacular.

Puck introduced Kurt to Wes, the captain of the team. Wes shook his hand warmly and gave a delighted cry when Puck told him Kurt was a counter tenor.

"Well, we'll have some opening words and then we'll have you and any other newbies audition. Sound good?"

Kurt nodded and smiled. He sat next to Puck and watched as the room began to fill up. When the last of the stragglers had come in, Wes introduced himself and David, the co-captain. He asked the official members of the group to come forward and introduced each of them. Kurt looked around and saw that besides him there were three other guys waiting to audition. He was happy to note that he felt a lot less nervous than some of them looked. One looked like he might vomit, his shaggy blonde hair falling over his face.

After the last member had been introduced, the large doors suddenly flung open. With a haughty grin, the gorgeous man who wouldn't give Kurt directions came into the room, singing.

Oh yeah

Oh yeah

So scared of breaking it that you won't let it bend

And I wrote two hundred letters I will never send

Sometimes these cuts are so much deeper then they seem

You'd rather cover up, I'd rather let them be

So let me be, and I'll set you free

The rest of the men's choir joined in and Kurt was stunned by the power of their voices mixed together. He wanted to jump up and down he was so excited to join. Even if it meant he had to spend time around the asshole. He had a beautiful voice which Kurt knew would only make him more conceited. But maybe he just needed another chance. If they were teammates, maybe he'd be nicer to Kurt. Kurt admitted to himself that he'd love to get to know him better, those eyes could melt his Doc Marten's right off his feet.

I am in misery

There ain't nobody who can comfort me

Why won't you answer me?

The silence is slowly killing me

Girl you really got me bad, you really got me bad

I'm gonna get you back, gonna get you back

Your salty skin and how it mixes in with mine

The way it feels to be completely intertwined

It's not that I didn't care, it's that I didn't know

It's not what I didn't feel, it's what I didn't show

So let me be, and I'll set you free

I am in misery

There ain't nobody who can comfort me

Why won't you answer me?

The silence is slowly killing me

Girl you really got me bad, you really got me bad

I'm gonna get you back, gonna get you back

Say your faith is shaken, you may be mistaken

You keep me wide awake and waiting for the sun

I'm desperate and confused, so far away from you

I'm getting here, don't care where I have to go

Why do you do what you do to me, yeah

Why won't you answer me, answer me yeah

Why do you do what you do to me yeah

Why won't you answer me, answer me yeah

I am in misery

There ain't nobody who can comfort me

Why won't you answer me?

The silence is slowly killing me

Girl you really got me bad, you really got me bad

I'm gonna get you back, gonna get you back

At the end of the song, the small group stood and applauded as the Warbler's high-fived each other.

Wes pulled the gorgeous man forward and had him face them. "This is our main soloist, Blaine Anderson. Blaine, these are our potential new teammates."

"Fan-fucking-tastic," Blaine sneered. "I didn't know we let girls into Dalton," he said, glaring at Kurt.

Kurt felt his face go red.

"Blaine, give him a chance, just like we gave you one," David warned, something implied in his words that Kurt didn't understand.

"Alright, princess, let's see what you can do," Blaine retorted and the Warbler's resumed their seats. Kurt got up and gave the CD for his accompaniment to the Warbler nearest the stereo. Kurt thought his name might be Trent, but he wouldn't lay money on it.

"Your name, range, and title of your audition piece, please," Wes said.

"I'm Kurt Hummel, I'm a counter tenor and I'll be singing 'Defying Gravity'," he said over the murmurs that erupted when he announced his range. He crossed everything he had on him and nodded to the guy at the stereo. Hearing the familiar strains of the Broadway classic, he closed his eyes and lost himself in the song.

Something has changed within me

Something is not the same

I'm through with playing by the rules

Of someone else's game

Too late for second-guessing

Too late to go back to sleep

It's time to trust my instincts

Close my eyes... and leap!

It's time to try

Defying gravity

I think I'll try

Defying gravity

Kiss me goodbye

I am defying gravity

And you won't bring me down!

I'm through accepting limits

'cause someone says they're so

Some things I cannot change

But till I try, I'll never know!

Too long I've been afraid of

Losing love I guess I've lost

Well, if that's love

It comes at much too high a cost!

I'd sooner buy

Defying gravity

Kiss me goodbye

I'm defying gravity

I think I'll try

Defying gravity

And you won't bring me down!

I'd sooner buy

Defying gravity

Kiss me goodbye

I'm defying gravity

I think I'll try

Defying gravity

And you won't bring me down!

bring me down!

ohh ohhh ohhhh!

Kurt filled his lungs to capacity for the final notes, singing them flawlessly, the high F causing him no problem at all.

When he finished, he opened his eyes and looked around. The room was silent and his stomach sank.

"Holy shit," Puck said, his eyes wide.

"What he said," David muttered.

"Welcome aboard, princess," Blaine said, admiration plain on his face.

Kurt clapped his hands, unable to contain his joy. The Warbler's gathered around him and shook his hand, slapping him on the back.

Blaine stood back, his eyes glued to the porcelain face colored with pleasure at the attention. The voice that had come out of him had hit Blaine like a brick straight to his stomach. The purity and beauty of it had opened something in him and he knew one thing. He had to have Kurt. And soon.