Hey guys and a very Happy Spring to you all! Also, I know it was last week, but Happy Klaine Anniversary! I know Blaine doesn't really play a part in my story, but I'm a Klainer from way back… Come on, who isn't? :D

In this chapter, Kurt learns if he has made it into the Howlin' Bulldogs! The trip to New York with Sebastian was certainly a great diversion, but now that Kurt's back to waiting, will he even be able to face what's waiting for him on the door of Woolsey Hall?

As always, I thank you for following my story! See you next chapter!

The rest of the week following the epic New York excursion went smoothly, with Kurt not even thinking twice about the auditions until the Thursday morning when the list was due to be posted on the front door of Woolsey Hall. He didn't start to feel a case of the jitters until halfway through his breakfast of whole wheat toast and scrambled eggs when he received a text from Sebastian:

"It's up… I think you'd better come see this…"

Kurt's heart immediately started pounding so fast he could hear it in his ears. He thought he'd be better prepared for this moment but realized that he was just as emotionally unstable as he originally imagined he would be. He scarfed down the remains of his breakfast, tossed his backpack over his shoulder and hurried out the door, hoping and praying that he'd make it over to Woolsey Hall without collapsing from all that stress.

The trip to the southern tip of campus felt like the trek through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. In his nervousness and paranoia, Kurt felt as if all eyes were on him as he went to meet his fate.

He rounded another corner and his heart nearly stopped when he saw Woolsey Hall and the School of Music come into view. There was already a short line of people, other young men that Kurt recognized from the initial auditions, swarming around a sheet of paper that had been taped to the building's front doors.

It was then that he decided that he just couldn't look at the list. He decided that he'd ask Sebastian about it later, maybe make up an excuse that he hadn't had time to go check.

He was just about to turn away when he saw Sebastian run toward him. Kurt's heart nearly broke through his breastplate, it was beating so fast.

"Hey," he said with a stoic face.

"Hi," Kurt replied, turning pale. He audibly gulped. "Well, what does it say?"

Sebastian's expression looked grave. "I think it best if you just get it over and done with, Kurt," he said softly. "I'm right here for you if you need me."

Kurt once again gulped, only to find that he was having trouble swallowing. Clutching his chest and fearing the worst, he slowly trudged over to the door.

Impervious to all and everything around him, he hadn't realized that Brian Fox, the lanky bespectacled boy from the auditions was standing to his left, also gazing up at the sheet. "Hey," he said as he fixed his glasses. "Kurt Hummel, right?"

Kurt, startled, turned and immediately grinned when he recognized the young man carrying his guitar case. "Hey, Brian! You heard about the list too, huh?"

"Yeah, I got the voicemail from David Feldman this morning. The awesome part is that I got in!"

Kurt smiled. He was genuinely happy for him. "That's wonderful! I'm so happy for you!"

"And that's not all," Brian said with a smirk. "Maybe you ought to take a look for yourself."

Kurt could feel the color drain from his face and his heart pounded in his chest. The moment of truth, he thought to himself. He turned. The paper came into focus as he inched closer to it and soon he saw about five or six black lines printed on its face. Certain he was going to have a heart attack right then and there, the names on the sheet appeared in his direct line of vision:

Congratulations to our new members! We're looking forward to singing with you!

Harry du Mont

Tom Edgewood

Brian Fox

Kurt Hummel

Oscar Yamada

Thank you to all who auditioned and we look forward to singing with you! Please remember that there is a quick meeting this evening at 6:00 pm sharp in the Whitney Auditorium. See you there!

Kurt could barely breathe. He could immediately feel the hot tears of joy streaming down his cheeks. He threw his arms up into the air. "I made it!" He turned toward Brian and gave the boy a hug. "We made it! We're in!"

Brian laughed. "This is going to be so amazing, buddy! I can't wait to work with you!" He disengaged from the embrace. "I have to head to class, but I'll see you tonight, Kurt!"

Kurt waved, unable to hide his overwhelming giddiness. I'm a Howlin' Bulldog! He liked the sound of that.

Sebastian stepped forward through the melee. He clapped. "Congratulations, Kurt!" A smirk suddenly replaced the warm smile. "And the Academy Award for Best Performance goes to…" He gestured to himself.

Kurt's face fell as if it were made of wax and had been sitting out in the hot sun. "You knew…" The realization suddenly hit him.

He smacked Sebastian, quite hard, on the upper right arm. "Ouch!" Sebastian rubbed the sore spot. "How come you hugged Brian and you're beating up on me?"

"Because you tortured me by making me think that I didn't make the list, you bastard!" Kurt was furious. "You made it sound like I didn't get in but you knew all along!" He whacked him a couple more times just to be sure. "I could have had a heart attack!"

"Kurt!" Sebastian held his hands up in defense, pleading. "If you stop hitting me, I promise I'll never leave you in suspense ever again as long as I live!"

Kurt stopped, huffing and puffing. "Deal," he replied with a gasp. "Don't you ever do that again!" He suddenly brightened up. It was a complete 360 from a moment before. "I got in! I'm a Howlin' Bulldog!"

He made to give Sebastian a hug, but the young man, not wanting to suffer anymore bodily harm, swiftly backed away with a grin on his face.

"Please give our new recruits a big, warm welcome!"

Lucas Worthington, the tall, handsome brunette who acted as the Howlin' Bulldogs' director, stood behind the piano on the Whitney Auditorium stage as he motioned for the five new boys to rise. He wore a powder-blue, short-sleeve dress shirt and beige khakis. Kurt, who was sitting between Sebastian and Brian, bashfully smiled as everyone applauded enthusiastically and politely.

After the cheers and clapping subsided, the jovial expression on Lucas' face was replaced by one that was far more serious. "As grateful as I'm sure we all are to have some new singers, it's important that we start turning our attention to the Northeast Regional Collegiate Glee Club and Choral Competition in February."

There was some chatter and talk amongst the group after this statement. Kurt turned toward Sebastian. "Where are regionals being held?"

"New York," Sebastian said with a smile. "Carnegie Hall, to be exact."

Kurt's eyes widened and he sat back in his seat with a wistful gaze. "Carnegie Hall," he repeated, transfixed and fired by even the thought of performing on its fabled stage.

"I realize that it is still early," Lucas continued. "But I think it's for the best if we start entertaining ideas for possible group numbers for the competition. We need to do something that will showcase our many great vocal talents with the intent of wowing the judges and bringing the house down. Please take some time to consider these ideas over the course of the next few days and we will hear them out at our next meeting. Adjourned!" He slapped his hand on the piano's shiny black surface and the sound of seats squeaking echoed throughout the auditorium as the Howlin' Bulldogs gathered their things together to leave.

Kurt hefted his backpack over his shoulder and was about to exit into one of the aisles when Lucas called out to him. "Oh, Kurt Hummel? Would you mind staying back for a few minutes? There's something I'd like to discuss with you."

Puzzled, Kurt placed his backpack down in one of the seats and made a beeline for the stage. He passed Sebastian on the way back and his new friend smiled. "Welcome aboard," he said, clapping Kurt on the shoulder. "I'll call you later, okay?"

Kurt grinned, nodded, and proceeded toward the stage. Once there, he walked across with his hands in his pockets. "You wanted to see me, Mr. Worthington?"

Lucas chuckled as if the title amused him. "Please, Kurt. I'm not much older than you. We're perfectly fine on a first-name basis."

Kurt could feel his cheeks flush in embarrassment. "You're right," he said. "I'm sorry. I was just brought up that way."

Lucas smiled and regarded the new boy with his coffee-brown eyes. "No, don't apologize. It's actually quite refreshing. Manners and gentility are all but extinct these days, wouldn't you say? Besides, I liked the fact that you called me 'mister.' It's cute."

There was absolutely no way Kurt could overlook the obvious flirtation in Lucas' last comment. He looked into the young director's eyes and tried his best not to let his shock, surprise, and nervousness show. He cleared his throat. "You wanted to see me?"

It was Lucas' turn to nod. "Yes, I have something to discuss with you." He shuffled through some sheet music. "First of all, I'd personally like to congratulate and welcome you to this glee club. I guarantee that you're most definitely a welcome addition to the group."

"Oh," Kurt said, feeling bashful. "Thank you."

"From the moment you started to sing at your audition, I knew that you were the perfect fit for us. I mean, to have a countertenor in the mix? Your voice is breathtaking! It's truly a gift and yet you make it look so effortless."

The bashful young man gazed at the tops of his shoes as he could feel himself blushing once more.

"The decision to accept you into the Howlin' Bulldogs between David, Eric, and I was unanimous. With you in the mix, it's only fitting that your vocal talents and abilities be showcased." Lucas produced a few pages of sheet music from the massive pile on top of the piano and handed it to Kurt. "That's why I'd like for you to take the lead solo performance at the regional competition."

Kurt's eyes widened as he took the sheet music from Lucas' outstretched hand. "Defying Gravity" was printed along the top part of the page. "Me?"

Lucas smiled warmly. "Your voice is a gift, Kurt," he said softly. "It needs to be heard. Don't stress yourself out too much, but I know you can do this. You'd be terrific."

Kurt shook his head. "Look, Lucas, I really appreciate this opportunity. Truly, I do, but don't you think it's fairer if everyone is given an equal shot at that honor?"

"They'll have their chances," the director replied. "I just want to give you yours first."

The young man gathered the sheet music together and exited the stage. "Thanksgiving Break is coming up, and our last meeting before then is next week. I don't want to rush you or force you to do something that you aren't comfortable doing. But please, think it over." Kurt gazed over the sheet music as Lucas made to leave.

"Oh, and by the way," he continued. "Is it okay if we just kept this between us until after Thanksgiving Break? I plan to announce it the first meeting after the short holidays."

Kurt felt this to be an odd request, but nonetheless, he nodded in compliance. "Sure. I won't say a word."

Lucas smiled. "That's a good lad," he said before he exited the auditorium, leaving the new recruit alone in the cavernous performance space.

"Defying Gravity" had been his go-to song in high school for whenever he felt down and out and just couldn't handle the tedium and pressure of being an out gay student at McKinley High or Lima, Ohio. In fact, he had even had the chance to sing the song once in a "diva-off" with Rachel Berry while they were in the New Directions. Wicked was his favorite Broadway musical of all time and it was almost as if Lucas had consciously known all of that when he gave him the solo.

He wasn't exactly certain why Lucas wanted him to be sworn to secrecy, though. Maybe the young director thought it would seem like favoritism if he simply chose Kurt for the first solo. He wished he could have spoken to somebody about it because it certainly seemed strange that he was singled out before anyone else even had the chance at the prized solo spot.

Just then, Kurt's phone buzzed to life. "I just got back to my dorm." It was from Sebastian. "What did Lucas want to see you about? Did something scandalous come up from your past that puts your Howlin' Bulldog status in jeopardy?"

Kurt giggled and replied, "As if…" He paused, staring blankly at the blinking cursor on his smartphone screen, uncertain if he should break his promise to Lucas just once by telling his close friend. However, he decided against it and simply sent the message as it was. He gazed at the sheet music in his hand as he hoisted his backpack over his shoulder and walked to the exit.

I can do this, he thought to himself. I know I can.

To be continued…