Blaine was so pumped about using the new app that he jumped into one of the workouts as soon as he got home, which resulted in Mercedes knocking on his door, asking if he really was going to be making all that noise jumping around much longer because she had to wake up early and it was kind of annoying.

"Sorry Mercedes, I'm just trying to get a little evening workout in before—"

Mercedes held up a hand, uninterested. She had barely stayed awake on the train ride home. "Just keep it down, okay? Or take it into the living room downstairs. It's the middle of the night, Blaine, what's wrong with you?"

Blaine nodded a meek assent and closed the door. He didn't like having Mercedes annoyed with him. She'd been so nice to give him and Sam such a great deal on the apartment, and after all the roommate woes with Kurt he wanted to be extra careful in all aspects of making his new living situation smooth. So far things had been going well and he didn't want to ruin it. When he'd first moved in Kurt had pulled him aside amid unpacking boxes to say that he'd be checking in with Mercedes and that he wasn't above punishing him for any unacceptable behaviors she reported. Blaine didn't really think it was likely he'd be punished for something like this, but he knew Kurt was very loyal to Mercedes. If she had any legitimate complaints he'd likely face a scolding at least.

The next day he was eager to use his new app again to record his healthy breakfast of fruit and granola. He then packed his lunch of a turkey sandwich, an apple, and some carrots and hummus, managing to avoid the temptation to stop for cronuts on the way in to school. But having dance class followed by mime took a lot out of him that morning though, and he ended up snacking on most of that between classes before it was even lunchtime. Starved by noon, he stopped by the food cart outside NYADA's student center and got a hot dog.

"Cheating on your diet are we?" Rachel teased from behind him.

Blaine stiffened but relaxed when he saw it was only Rachel behind him. "Not on a diet," he countered. "Just trying to eat a little healthier. But honestly," he admitted, "this was the lowest calorie option here. I really should start packing emergency snacks."

Rachel nodded. "Kurt won't let me near the food trucks anymore, I just came to get another water," she said holding it up. "Accidentally forgot my water bottle in the dishwasher today and felt like I had to sneak around to get hydrated when I'm not even doing anything wrong."

Blaine smiled. "He's keeping you on your toes, I guess."

Rachel nodded. "Where is he?"
"Study group for his Shakespeare class. They have a big test at the end of the week, so I'm guessing he'll be spending his lunch outside the library."
"Wow, I thought you two would be joined at the hip at NYADA."

"Heh. Well, we still have plenty of classes together. But I think he's making a conscious effort to give me more space at school and help me explore New York more, make more friends. When I first got here I was kind of suffocating him," Blaine admitted, "I'm trying not to push getting lunch together all the time like before."

Rachel nodded. "Everyone feels lonely when they first start college I think. I did."

"Really?"
"Sure. I had a terrible roommate situation when I first got here. Thank

goodness Kurt rescued me from dorm life. I know I complain about him sometimes, but I don't know what I'd do without my best friend here."

Blaine smiled, thinking of Sam. Having a best friend in the city really is everything sometimes. He was relieved that it didn't seem like Sam was going to be jet-setting to Paris anytime soon, but he knew it was always possible Sam would finally give up on modeling and go back to Ohio. He didn't like to admit how much that idea kind of terrified him. For awhile there in the loft he told himself that Sam needed him and that he was helping Sam get more comfortable in the city—but the reality was often that Sam was the one who made Blaine feel grounded outside of Kurt.

Blaine texted Sam. Wanna skip video games tonight? Let's have a bro-night and catch some music somewhere or something.

A few moments later he got a text back. Sure!

Blaine had a spring in his step the rest of the afternoon, planning his evening out in great detail. First we'll hit that bar Kurt took me to the first week I moved out here, then we'll go to Mercury Lounge for some music, then hit the diner around the corner…

If his teachers were annoyed by his daydreaming that afternoon, they didn't say so. "You're in a good mood today," was Kurt's only comment as he left his last class.

Blaine shrugged. "Lookin forward to relaxin with Sam tonight.."

Kurt smiled. "I'm glad you two are rooming together. Unfortunately I'm going to be knee-deep in studying tonight myself."

Blaine kissed his cheek. "Don't work too hard."

On the subway later, Blaine got a text from Sam. Bro, I'm sorry can we try tomorrow? The agency wants me to go in for an audition tonight and Mercedes wants me to meet her for late dinner.

Blaine frowned, annoyed. He got that Sam had it bad for Mercedes these days but it was annoying that she trumped him when it came to Sam's priorities. But he felt it'd be childish to make an issue of it. He texted Sam back.

Sure Sam. We can touch base tomorrow.

He tried texting Artie and got a succinct response indicating that Artie had plans pursuing some girl from film school that evening and definitely would not be available. He sulked his way home, not wanting to spend money going out if Sam wasn't even going to be there. Most of the people he knew at NYADA had been Kurt's friends first—it was a hazard of talking his way into so many of Kurt's classes for the semester. He liked most of them but he didn't feel like he was on terms to be just calling out of the blue to go out with anyone by himself. He sighed. He was so used to being a half of a couple it felt like he didn't quite know how to make new friends anymore. I really never would have guessed how lonely I'd be here.

He made himself a sandwich and then flipped on a Gilmore Girls rerun on the television, laying out on the couch. After several minutes, his phone dinged and he jumped at it, hoping maybe Sam's audition had somehow been postponed or something, but it was only a notification from his workout app, telling him to do his 10 minutes of crunches and core exercises. He played the video, watching the workout passively as he finished his sandwich. He just couldn't get excited about sit ups right now. I'll make up for it tomorrow, he thought to himself, hitting the "completed" button after the workout played and turning his attention back to the TV.