While the first part of his Plan is easy to fix-really, he just has to psyche himself up for Pittsburgh and accept his admission-it's the second part that's not-at-all surprisingly difficult.

Kurt has to say goodbye.

He knew that saying goodbye to his father wasn't going to be easy. He knew that saying goodbye to some of his friends would be hard. But now there's this whole other group of people that he has to separate from, people that he thought he'd be moving to New York with.

He has to say goodbye to Artie, which isn't very hard at all. But then he also has to say goodbye to Sam, who actually cries. (Kurt thinks it has more to do with the fact that it makes Sam realize that he's saying goodbye to a steady home, a roof over his head, and the promise of food, all so he can move to a foreign city and try and make it as a model.) He has to break it to Rachel that their New York dream is being postponed a few years. Then he has to deal with her five stages of grief, which actually helps psych him up more for Pittsburgh because it means four whole years with having to deal with her hysterics up close and person. And god, was she always that dramatic?!

Then, of course, he has to say goodbye to Blaine. And that's the hardest thing Kurt has ever had to do. Their relationship was winding down, though, and they promise to be each other's best friends and fuck buddies (bros helping bros, Kurt jokes). It went unsaid between them, even when their plan was to move to New York, that maybe they'd separate for a bit anyway.

Blaine's still a senior, and Kurt didn't know how he felt about going away to college tied down. Not that he likens Blaine to an anchor. But it's nice knowing that if he makes out with a guy or goes on a few dates that he won't be filled with guilt. He wants Blaine to have opportunities to: to go on dates, to meet new people, have someone to bring to Prom.

Plus, the upside of going to school in Pittsburgh is that Blaine is only four and a half hours away, which makes it great for weekend trips, which Blaine promises to frequently make after Kurt insists that Blaine come experience freshman year with him.

So other than the new wave of goodbyes and farewells, this whole Going to School in Pittsburgh thing actually fits in really well with Kurt's Plan.

What doesn't?

The person he runs into his sophomore year at a party in Oakland. That definitely doesn't fit in with Kurt's Plan, nor any of his back up plans. As a matter of fact, this situation was never even on Kurt's radar.

It really throws a wrench in his new and improved Plan.

Kurt loves Carnegie Mellon. Like, he really feels as if he lucked out. The classes are challenging and fun, and he's surrounded by so many talented peers, many of whom have had real life work experience in theatre or film. His classes are small and intimate, the Professors are demanding yet caring. Kurt has learned so much. And even though he isn't allowed to be in a main stage production-you have to be a senior to have that privilege-Kurt's given so many opportunities to shine and hone his skills that he really feels like he's preparing himself for New York City and a career in theatre.

Also, he's secretly thankful to have Pittsburgh as a stepping stone. He can't imagine the culture shock of going from a small pond to a huge ocean, so being able to spend four years in a big lake is a nice way to get accustomed.

Pittsburgh is...magical. It's so much more diverse than he ever expected, and a lot cleaner, too. It's nothing like the old pictures in history books show. It doesn't look like a mining town or a coal town. It's hip and chic; well, at least parts of it are. But that's sort of what Kurt loves about it. Like every city, not every part is perfect. Not every part is safe or clean or fun or exciting. It's diverse, and Kurt gets to experience it all.

It's also apparently, as he finds out when he gets there, a budding film hub. He gets to work on several movie sets because apparently it's really cheap to film in Pittsburgh, and the city's various settings make for good sets. Parts of Pittsburgh feel like a booming city, others feel like a disparate, empty, dangerous city neighborhood. Drive a few minutes outside of the city proper and you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere (well, that's because once you leave Pittsburgh you literally are in the middle of nowhere). And because of Kurt's connections through his school, he's able to frequently check out film and TV sets and talk to some behind the scenes people.

Kurt becomes protective of the city, of his university. He tells Blaine every opportunity he gets how amazing CMU and Pittsburgh is, and while it's enough to convince Blaine to apply, it isn't enough to get him to actually come to school there. Unfortunately Blaine isn't accepted to CMU. But he ends up at Marymount Manhattan, which is a dream school of his anyway, and he's incredibly happy there.

But back to that wrench. That thing that throws Kurt's plan off kilter. The thing makes him feel like he's off roading.

"You have got to be kidding me."

Kurt wishes he said it first. He wishes he saw him first. But no, that didn't happen. Instead Sebastian Smythe-the smarmy bastard-has to be the one to see Kurt first.

"Oh dear god no," Kurt replies when he turns around and sees Sebastian's rodent-like face not ten inches away from his own.

"What are you doing in my city?" Sebastian asks, stunned.

"Your city?!" Kurt nearly cries out. Because Kurt is very protective of Pittsburgh-his newly adopted city-he does not take kindly to Sebastian claiming it as his own.

"Yes, my city. What are you doing here?"

Sebastian's holding a beer in his hand. PBR, Kurt notes, which means that he either didn't bring anything of his own, ran out, or isn't close with the people who live here. Or maybe he just likes drinking piss water. But that's where Kurt definitely comes in on top. His good friend lives in this house, is over the age of twenty-one, and therefore supplied Kurt with copious amounts of decent beer.

"I'm at a party at my friend's house," Kurt replies haughtily, eyes narrowing. "What are you doing here?"

His life feels a bit like a soap opera, and he's acting the part. He's a bit drunk, but he thinks that his performance isn't half bad.

"Wait, do you even go here?" Sebastian asks, eyebrows furrowing.

"I go to CMU," Kurt says with confidence.

"Oh thank god," Sebastian sighs, his shoulders relaxing. Immediately he seems more open and less intimidating.

"What?" Kurt asks, confused.

"I go to Pitt. So we're good. Whew, that was scary."

"I thought you wanted to move to France?" Kurt asks, feeling completely thrown off his game. He's been unceremoniously pulled out of the soap opera and dropped into real life. It's jarring.

Sebastian looks at him like he has three heads. "Who the fuck said I ever wanted to move to France?"

"I don't know," Kurt whines, throwing his arms out plaintively. "I just thought...No?"

Sebastian shakes his head. "No. God no. I could never live there. University there is much different."

"I can't believe you go to Pitt," Kurt says, not even paying attention to what Sebastian's saying.

"This is weird," Sebastian replies.

"Yeah," Kurt agrees. "We should just...pretend we never saw each other."

"We can't do that," Sebastian replies sadly. "What if I run into you again at this party?"

"Ignore me?" Kurt responds.

"That's a good idea," Sebastian says, nodding his head. He's very clearly had a few more to drink than Kurt. "Well, Kurt, goodbye."

Sebastian turns around immediately and dances away. Doesn't walk away, doesn't skip away, dances away. Kurt sees him a few more times that night-talking with people in the backyard, dancing in the basement, smiling with a group of friends in the kitchen-but never approaches him. Instead he sends his best friend Blaine a text.

you will never bleve who i run into tonite. NEVER.

Kurt enjoys the rest of the party and keeps Sebastian out of mind. But two days later when his phone dings in class with a Facebook message, he's more shocked than not to see that it's from Sebastian.

Just want to make sure I wasn't hallucinating, but you do live in Pittsburgh and I did see you at a party on Parkview last weekend right?

Kurt considers responding. Thankfully he's just in a Gen Ed class right now sitting in a large auditorium, so he's able to put his phone on his desk and not get caught by a teacher.

You weren't hallucinating. Unless I was too.

So weird

Kurt's not sure how to respond, but he feels like not replying isn't an option. Mainly because it's not nice to just ignore someone so outrightly. Also he's bored. Introduction to Psychology was not a part of the Plan, so this distraction is a luxury.

Yeah. He says, because it's simple enough.

You going back this Saturday?

Kurt's not so sure why Sebastian's asking. Perhaps he wants to know so that he can find himself another party to go to, one where Kurt won't be at. Maybe he's just making small talk. Maybe Sebastian is actually interested.

Yeah right.

I'm not sure. I haven't thought about this weekend yet.

Okay.

And that's the end of their conversation. Kurt shakes his head, hoping to rid himself of the memory of that conversation. Then he goes back to paying attention to his Professor, who's waxing poetic about some study or other. Something about a prison.

Kurt should really have printed the notes out before coming to class. He really hates Psychology.