Author's notes: oh my god I'm so sorry honestly I can't even explain how sorry I am to make you wait so long for this chapter! I just went through a period of time where I couldn't bring myself to write, but now I actually have time and I really wanna finish this story so even though I can't promise you regular updates I'm planning to write as much as I can before summer is over. If you're still reading this fic, thank you so much for your patience. And if you feel like reviewing this chapter, I'd appreciate it even more. Sorry again!

Kurt couldn't exactly pinpoint the reason why he was so worried about what Blaine thought of him and why just getting an answer from him made him so happy. After all he didn't even really know the guy. However, he opened the email and focused on reading, telling himself he could always think about it later.

The more he read, the more he could feel a connection to Blaine, too. Even if the message wasn't that long, he could tell how similar they were, even if once again, he didn't understand the exact reason. It was like they had to become friends somehow, and he also had a feeling that sooner or later it would have happened, with or without Rachel's help.

He wasted no time to answer him, even if the last part of the email made it a bit difficult. He couldn't really explain why he gave up on his dream to be on Broadway. It had just sort of happened: one day he had been determined to get into NYADA or at least Tisch and to become a musical theatre star, the next he had got a call from Isabelle Wright (THE Isabelle Wright!), who told me she had come across his fashion blog and she wanted him to be an intern at Vogue. In that moment he had known he'd have to make an important decision about his future, and Isabelle's proposal was just too good to be refused. He hadn't even graduated from high school when he started working as an intern for her, a job which later helped him being accepted into the fashion design program at NYU, and now he was on his way to become one of the youngest fashion journalists Vogue had ever had. Actually he hoped to become a fashion designer someday, but there was still a lot of time for that.

Kurt loved working in the fashion industry, really, and had he gone back in time he would have made the same choices, but it was hard to say there was nothing he regretted. Sometimes hemissed musical theatre a lot, missed the feeling of being on stage, of losing himself in the music, the sound of applauses... Music was what saved him from Lima and his bullies, after all, and his high school teachers had been surprised when he decided to set it aside to focus on fashion. But the truth was that music lately made him sad and nostalgic, because it reminded me of his family, his friends, all the people he loved and cared about. He didn't even sing so often anymore.

He tried to explain everything to Blaine as best as he could, and then proceeded to ask him a couple of harmless questions about his favourite artists, his favourite movies, his favourite musicals, and so on. When he clicked on "send", he felt quite relieved, like a huge weight had been taken off his shoulders: being as reserved as he were, he didn't really get the chance to talk about what he felt to a lot of people. Sure, he had friends in New York, but he still didn't feel as close to them as he was to the ones he left in Lima. He really hoped this pen pal thing with Blaine would work out well.

Sunday afternoon found Blaine at the mall with Rachel and Tina, who had basically dragged him there insisting that they needed a male opinion and he was the only one patient enough to accompany them. He was waiting for both of them to finish getting changed when his phone buzzed with a new incoming text.

Hey there Blainey, my favourite cousin! I'm coming to Lima tonight. I should probably have warned you before, but it was kindo f a last minute decision. Is it okay if I stay at yours for a couple of days? – Kitty

Blaine couldn't help but smile at that, even though she liked using the nickname he hated as much as his brother. Kitty was definitely his favourite cousin, and even though she was one year younger than him, she was a free spirit and way more indipendent than he was. She was defenitely the kind of girl who could decide to just take a break from school for a while just to go visit him and his family. He wasn't sure her parents even knew where she was, but in the end she always came back, so they let her be. Blaine wished he could have had the same kind of relationship with his parents.

When Kitty and her family still lived in Ohio, their house was Blaine's safe place whenever his parents started arguing about him. He couldn't even stay in his room, because no matter how hard he tried to block them out, he could still hear them and not even his fantasies could make him feel better. It didn't happen so often, fortunately, but he was so glad he had someone else to rely on. Kitty had always been a frank and direct person, and wasn't exactly a girl of kind manners, but she really cared about him, and that was all that mattered. She was the closest thing to a friend he had ever had before joining Glee club. He had been devastated to see her move away when her dad's company had transferred him in Pennsylvania, so he was always really happy whenever she showed up at his door (and she actually just did that). He called his parents right away, letting them know she was on their way, and they didn't object.

Hey Kitty Cat! He wrote back, smirking: she couldn't stand that nickname, either.

I just called home and of course mum and dad said they're totally fine with you staying with us. J

She replied in less than a minute:

Are you telling me you're not home? I'm shocked.

Blaine rolled his eyes.

Very funny. See you soon!

And then he had to put his phone away because Tina and Rachel had finally come out of the dressing rooms and were claiming his attention .

"I think you both look wonderful, girls." He said, hoping that was enough.

"You said the same thing about the last 13 dresses!" Rachel pouted. "But I actually like this one, so I think we can go now."

"I think I'll buy the third one I tried on. Let's go pay and then we can defenitely go home." stated Tina.

"Finally." murmured Blaine, earning a friendly slap on his arm from Rachel.

He couldn't wait to go home and read the email that somehow he knew was waiting for him.