A/N: This is a sequel to "Then I Found You" If you have not read it yet, you may want to do so. :) With that in mind, returning readers please enjoy! As with the previous story, each chapter is the title of a song that I feel either fits with the tone of chapter or a situation.
"Time" -Chantal Kreviazuk
"Kurt? Kurt, are you evening listening to me, man?"
Kurt snapped out of his thoughts. He turned to see Sam Evans, his high school friend and now New York roommate. Sam was leaning against the door frame of Kurt's room. Kurt smiled apologetically at Sam, he truly hadn't heard him.
"Sorry, I was studying." Kurt replied. A lie and he knew it.
Sam walked further into the room and peered at the notebook open on the desk. In the corner, away from the notes about the history of music, there was a pencil drawing. It was detailed and good enough to impress Sam. He smirked a little.
"That's pretty good. Who is that?" Sam pointed at the drawing.
Kurt's face flushed red and he quickly shut the notebook. It had taken Kurt about two hours to get the drawing just right, to get the eyes just right the way he remembered them. Kurt clenched his jaw and avoided Sam's gaze. Sam didn't need to hear the answer to know who it was. He took a step back feeling like an insensitive idiot.
"Sorry. I didn't-" Sam cleared his throat. "I was asking if you just wanted to do pizza tonight. Since you're busy studying."
Kurt sighed and nodded. "Sure. That's fine."
Sam left to go order the pizza leaving Kurt alone with his thoughts again. Kurt hated pretending that it didn't hurt when he thought about Blaine. It had been about four months since he last saw Blaine. Four months since Blaine broke up with him in the airport. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Kurt made attempts to contact Blaine but he never answered or returned calls. Blaine obviously didn't have any intention of being his friend anymore either. Kurt could handle not being Blaine's boyfriend but cutting all ties and communication was torture. It hurt worse than the breakup itself.
The first week of classes at NYADA were already tough. It was a bit of a shock to Kurt's system. Dance was tiring, vocal classes left Kurt with a sore throat and drinking mass amounts of soothing hot tea, and musical theory had Kurt's brain swimming. The instructors were hard, but they knew exactly what they were talking about and Kurt did not question them.
On the topic of living with Sam Evans, Kurt was finding it oddly similar to living with Finn. Sometimes things were left untouched or discarded and after a week or two began to emit a strange smell. Kurt did most of the cleaning throughout the apartment especially in the bathroom but allowed Sam to keep his room however he wanted. Sam was extremely kind to let Kurt stay with him after Sam's old roommate went kind of crazy and was caught with coke in the apartment. That was a mess Sam had to deal with a month before Kurt arrived. Sam was attending a small art school in New York and worked at the pizzeria down the street so they often got free pizza for dinner. Kurt needed to find a job in order to pay for his half of the rent. Over the summer he worked at a little diner but they didn't exactly like it when Kurt said he was going to have classes. They fired him. Kurt was kind of glad they did, they never let him wear a scarf or a hat to dress up his bland uniform.
Kurt stood up from his desk and went over to his bed plopping back onto it and staring at the ceiling. The noise of the city outside his window never stopped. It was a little hard to get used to and after four months of hearing it. He took out his phone and found himself scrolling through the contacts, coming across Blaine's name. A smiling picture of him as the ID. Kurt smiled back sadly at it. He missed seeing that smile in person. It was hard to away from his family and friends but it was worse when it came to Blaine. He tapped on the name and hit dial. Slowly, Kurt drew the to his ear and listened while the other end rang, his heart pounding.
Hey, you've reached Blaine. I can't answer the phone right now but leave a message and I'll call you back.
"No you won't." Kurt grumbled softly. At the beep, Kurt took a deep breath. "Hey, it's me. Again. I don't even know if you're listening to these or not but I'll leave one anyway. Um, my first week at NYADA went well. I already have a lot of homework, my professors gave me a lot of notes on my voice and my dancing. Mostly my dancing." Kurt laughed a little, taking a moment to pause and collect himself. He voice started to break at the second part. "I miss you. I miss talking with you. So call me back. Or don't it's okay, I bet you're busy. Good luck with your classes, Blaine. I lo-" Kurt cut himself off. "Bye."
Kurt set the phone on his side table and rolled onto his side. His eyes shut and he slid his hand under his pillow, fingers closing around a tiny object. His heart raced just touching it. Kurt pulled out a small silver band. Opening his eyes, Kurt stared at it. It was hard to look at it let a lone touch it. He read the words, "Then I Found You" over and over again in his head still hearing the promises Blaine had made along with it. Tears pushed on the back of Kurt's eyes threatening to spill over. Quickly he shoved the ring back under the pillow.
The weekend was greatly welcomed. Kurt still had to get through one more class before it could actually begin though, he had to perform in front of his class. This wouldn't have been so difficult if it wasn't for their instructor choosing the song on the spot. Kurt just prayed that he knew whatever song was thrown at him. He sat toward the front his leg crossed over the other patiently watching the other students ahead of him. His eyes slightly wide whenever one of the students broke down crying.
The instructor, Hannah Sage was tough. She was beautifully talented in late 30's and aging to near perfection. One of those people who age but never seem to get older, they just become more beautiful. It was cruel and unfair to the rest of society.
"Kurt Hummel." She called off. Kurt took a deep breath and stepped up to the front of the room an eager yet nervous smile spreading across his face. Hannah sat back in her chair and returned the smile but looked at Kurt as if he were a piece of meat, a sheep lead to the slaughter. Her severe green eyes scanning over Kurt. She twirled her pen in her fingers. "Ready?" She asked.
"Yes Miss Sage."
"Just Hannah." She corrected with an amused smirk. "Defying Gravity, Wicked." Hannah smirked believing she had just trumped Kurt.
Kurt took a deep breath and nodded trying not to let on how much he was ready for this. Everyone else in class smirked and snickered.
"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..."
Kurt launched into the song with full confidence. He had sung this before, he had been in this musical before. Not to mention is was probably his favorite musical. Once he finished and hit the note at the end Kurt smiled proudly at Hannah. She looked less than impressed. Everyone in the room looked like they wanted to clap, thoroughly blown away by Kurt's performance but Hannah made no movement to applaud him and they followed her example.
"You think you're so damn special don't you?" Hannah said.
Kurt blinked not expecting that kind of reaction. "Excuse me?"
"You fail this assignment. You're cocky and your holier than thou attitude needs to be dropped." "I-I'm sorry I don't-"
Hannah sat forward in her chair, "Your attitude needs to be checked. You stand up and think you're the best thing that ever graced my presence all because you can hit each note? Let me tell-"
"You're gonna fail me because I was good and I was confident?" Kurt scoffed.
"I'm gonna fail you for interrupting me if you don't button your lip cupcake. Your voice isn't that special. Is it good? It's decent, needs work. Your attitude needs a serious adjustment. You are no better than the rest of the people in this room. I won't take cocky students." Hannah tilted her chin up looking at Kurt as if to challenge him to say something else. He was fuming and felt highly embarrassed. No one in the class spoke up on his behalf. He clenched his jaw trying to keep his eyes from watering.
Hannah noticed this, she was probably an expert when it came to breaking someone. "There's no crying in musical theater."
Kurt stared at her and the irony of her statement. He couldn't form a proper response to that but did his best to keep the judgmental look off his face.
"Now, leave this class and come back once you've had an attitude adjustment. Kayla Jackson get up there you're next."
Kurt rushed out of the classroom and off campus as fast as he could before he let the tears start to run down his face. He didn't want anyone near that place see him cry. He wandered down the street toward the sub station. Kurt dried his eyes half paying attention to those in front of him. He collided with someone, stumbling back and almost falling over. The young man he had run into reached out and caught him.
"Sorry, let me help you!" The man said. He sounded familiar. "Oh my God, Kurt!"
Kurt looked up and saw a young man with glasses, blonde hair peeking out from a knitted cap. He had met this person before and it only took a few seconds to remember his name and even less than that to remember that he had kissed this guy.
"Chandler." Kurt exclaimed. "Oh my. Wow."
Chandler was a big ball of energy. He beamed at Kurt, bouncing on his feet. "This is crazy what are you doing here? Don't tell tell me. You got into NYADA didn't you? Oh my God, I knew you could do it!" He laughed and pulled Kurt in for a hug.
The last time Kurt had seen Chandler was Spring Break, and he abandoned him by the campfire after they shared a kiss. A kiss that felt entirely wrong because Kurt knew he belonged with Blaine. So much for that.
"Yeah, I go to NYADA now." Kurt said with a small smile. "I completely forgot that you went to NYU. I can't believe we just ran into each other."
"Quite literally, too." Chandler chuckled. "Sorry again, I didn't mean to almost kill you."
"No harm done."
Chandler frowned finally noticing that Kurt's eyes were puffy. "Are you sure about that? You look like you've been crying."
Kurt flushed. "It's not because of you, I promise. It's-"
Chandler pursed his lips. "Hey, I won't press you for information just so long as I'm not the culprit. Um, would you be interested in going to get coffee with me? I mean, just cause I'd love to know how New York is treating you and maybe I could cheer you up."
Kurt's brow furrowed. He wasn't exactly doing anything but heading home. He didn't really have many friends besides Sam in the city. It was a relief to know someone else. "Sure. I'm not doing anything."
Chandler beamed, "Great. I was just getting out of an interview for this record store around the corner. They sell only vinyl records and sheet music. I'm in heaven!" Chandler's nose scrunched when he laughed. It was cute. Kurt liked Chandler he always had a positive energy flowing off of him and it was kind of infectious to be around. Kurt smiled.
"I hope you get the job. Do you live near by?"
Chandler pointed his arms straight in front of him. "Three blocks down that way. Second light to the right and straight onto morning." He beamed, his smile falling just a little. "I mean it, there is a street called Morning. It's down that street and is off on the corner."
Kurt chuckled. "I'm about twelve blocks in the opposite direction. I'm living with a friend of mine. It's pretty far from campus but it's a place to live."
Chandler nodded and started to lead Kurt toward a Starbucks around the corner. "I know what you mean. Last year I had an apartment right across campus of NYU. I didn't want to do the whole dorm living situation. But then things fell through and now I have to walk like five blocks to get to school. Story of my life."
They got to the Starbucks, coffee sounded amazing. Kurt needed a little pick me up. The line wasn't horribly long and Chandler helped to pass the time by explaining his studio apartment and how he was looking to try and change the color scheme of it all. It was still too drab and gloomy. Kurt nodded along, and suggested trying warmer colors if he was even allowed to paint the walls. They ordered their coffee and took a seat at a small cafe table near the windows.
"How are classes at NYADA going so far?" Chandler asked taking a sip of his venti chai latte.
Kurt took a long sip of his non fat mocha before answering. "Tough. Um, more so than I imagined. It's kind of a shock coming from a small Ohio college to a prestigious New York arts academy where they focus solely on trying to break your dreams before they even begin."
Chandler frowned again. It always looked so sad when he wasn't smiling. It wasn't right. "I'm sorry to hear that Kurt. I mean, I only got into NYU which means you have to be outstanding to get into NYADA. I bet you're fantastic. Just be confident in yourself."
Kurt snorted and rolled his eyes. "I tried that today and I failed the first assignment because of it." His voice started to quiver a little.
Chandler tilted his head to the side. "I'm sorry. Some people are just snobs. I mean, I don't know how NYADA works but I think they were being too hard on you. Don 't let them get to you, Kurt. Once you do they'll never forget it and they'll know what they can do to break you."
Kurt smiled at this. "Yeah. I should just move on to the next."
Chandler winked, "I know you can do it."
They sat silently for a minute paying more attention to their drinks than each other. Kurt felt guilty for spring break and he knew there was unspoken tension between the two of them regarding this matter. He glanced up at Chandler.
"I'm sorry. About spring break and the whole-"
Chandler smirked, "Kurt. Don't worry about it. It's water under the bridge. I didn't mean to push you to anything."
"I-...it's just I had a boyfriend, well we were broken up at the time but I still loved him. We got back together after spring break..." Kurt rambled. One look at Chandler told him to just stop talking. "Sorry."
"I told it's fine. I hope you and your boyfriend are doing fine now." Chandler averted his eyes to the table. Kurt bit his lip. He really did have a nasty habit of rambling from time to time.
"Yeah, about that. He uhh, he broke up with me before coming to NYADA. So we're not..." Kurt dropped off. This was all so awkward. He could feel his face burning up.
Chandler looked up a little hopeful. "Hey, why don't we just start over from the beginning forget that spring break ever happened and just pretend this was our first meeting okay? Hi, I'm Chandler." He held out his hand across the table to Kurt.
Kurt reached out and took Chandler's hand. "Nice to meet you Chandler. I'm Kurt."
They shook for a moment but kept a hold of one another's hand for a few seconds longer. Kurt pulled his hand away gently and folded them on the table. Chandler smiled pleasantly at him.
"Is it possible I could get your number? I mean, I'd like to hang out with you in the future if that is okay. You can never have too many friends." Chandler said.
Kurt's cheeks turned a light shade of pink. He took a hold of his coffee and gave a nod. "That's true, and since I really only have one friend in New York it'd be great to add another to that list."
Chandler bounced up in his seat, "Fantastic!" His voice rose to match his excitement. "What about hanging out tomorrow? It's Saturday, and I figured maybe we could do some kind of shopping or-"
"That'd be great. I can never get Sam to go out shopping with me. Not even window shopping. Oh, Sam's my roommate." Kurt explained at the perplexed look on Chandler's face.
"Well. Now you have a shopping buddy." Chandler said.
They exchanged numbers and sat there well after they had both finished their drinks. They talked mostly about musicals and the shows Chandler insisted Kurt see while he was living in New York if he hadn't seen them yet. Kurt found himself smiling and laughing, and for once Kurt was distracted enough that he didn't think of Blaine once while he was talking with Chandler.