Disclaimer: I do not own Glee and its characters. I only own the other characters other than Glee's.

NYADA summer school program was intense; all classes were taught by NYADA faculty who taught the same courses to NYADA undergraduates during the academic year, in most classes admitted high school students (mostly juniors and some seniors) attended alongside NYADA freshmen/sophomores and could earn college credit, and there were so many activities like free concerts/plays/events (like after parties), volunteer opportunities, college preparatory activities which gave the admitted high school students a great opportunity to meet professionals in the music/entertainment industry.

Other than those, NYADA undergraduates hosted dorm parties, house parties or parties in some bars in the city (supposedly no booze), and short trips around NY, which most admitted high school students more eagerly wanted to go to.

There was no comparison between high school life and college life. How could college students manage to do all those things? They had heavy assignments!

"Rachel, there's no harm in going to one party. You should learn how to let your hair down sometimes." Kurt pleaded. "Blaine's visiting next weekend and we'll be busy. I really want to go to this party."

Rachel sighed. If making a lot of friends was Rachel's main purpose to attend NYADA SSP, she would have gone to the parties hosted by NYADA undergraduates. She decided that all school activities/events should precede all others. Was she too square? Well, dorm/house parties or ones in a bar were not her scene in the first place. She could go to those kinds of parties after she became a real college student, right? Besides, what was she supposed to wear?

"Jason is going to the party, too." Kurt added, trying to hide his grin.

Rachel groaned.

Jason and she went to go on a coffee date two weeks ago. To be honest, it went well and was fun. She admitted. She thought that he might be another Jesse at first because the way he asked her out was a bit forceful. He said that he just went for it when he found a girl attractive since he didn't know what would happen to him in near future, which came from his experience.

He wasn't talkative than she had imagined. He seemed to be hanging on her every word. He was nice. No sarcasm, no ego (compared to Jesse). She found his spirit to live at the moment attractive. And he laughed a lot. The way he laughed with gusto was… well, charming.

Nevertheless, she turned him down when Jason asked her on a second date. Kurt threw his best are-you-kidding-me look at her as she told him about it. He asked persistently what her problem was. She shrugged saying she would be busy with her classes, assignments and the school activities.

That was true. She really had been occupied with those of things, and so had Jason (at least she thought). NYADA summer school was seven weeks program (classes would meet for six weeks with a final exam during the seventh week). Now they were halfway to the exams.

Jason seemed to want more than a friendship from her. But after SSP finished, every admitted student would return to each home town. So, what was the point of dating with him? What if she would fall for him? What if he would break up with her when SSP finished and she would get hurt? And was she ready for a new relationship?

"Don't you think you're getting ahead of yourself?" Kurt narrowed his eyes. "Just so you know, he lives in Cincinnati, Rachel, in the same state as we live. A couple of hours drive from Lima." He pointed out. "Besides, when he asked you out, you said 'as a friend' and he agreed with you. I would keep casual." Kurt criticized, frantically looking for some dress which would suit a party situation in her closet.

"Alright. I'll make a compromise with this. Here, go change." Kurt held out a peach orange sleeveless dress with white polka dots and a thin gold belt to her.

Rachel reluctantly grabbed them and headed to the bathroom.

The script that Kurt sent to the NYADA admission office seemed to be talked a lot about by NYADA faculties and undergraduates. When people at the party approaching to greet him got to know that his name was Kurt Hummel, they beckoned other people to join them. And of course, Hannah came over to them smelling something good for her.

"You didn't tell me your friend is a wonder boy." Hannah put her hand on Rachel's shoulder as if she was one of her close friends. "Why don't you introduce me to him?" Then she turned her head toward Kurt.

Rachel made a face and mouthed "what?" to Kurt before she cleared her throat and began to speak. "Um, Kurt, this is Hannah, Hannah Simmons, my roommate. Hannah, this is Kurt Hummel, my best friend."

Kurt widened his eyes as Hannah pretentiously held out her back of a hand before his nose. He blinked a several times before he took it to give a kiss. "How do you do mademoiselle?"

Satisfied, Hannah grinned. "How do you do Mr. Hummel?" She looked over the people gathering at the place.

Since Hannah joined the place, she'd been the only one to speak (mostly to Kurt). Like she didn't read his script but how she could be Mrs. Lovett (she didn't know there was no Mrs. Lovett and Kurt somehow never pointed out), or what was missing in the Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd.

"Could I borrow him for a while?" She said and wrapped her arm around Kurt's after she talked for some time. "I'd like to introduce him to my people. So, if you'll excuse us." With that she dragged him into another circle of people before they opened their mouth to say something.

Once Hannah left the place, the people gradually and scatteredly disbanded.

Rachel, who was left behind alone at the place, fetched a deep sigh. She knew that Hannah had been on some amateur TV shows and played some theater productions in LA and got a lot of pull with people related to the theater industry in NY too. Considering that, it was good for Kurt to make an acquaintance with her.

Rachel started thinking that she should try to get to know Hannah and have a thick skin like her if she wanted to be a star as Jason made his way over to her.

"I like you in a ponytail."

Rachel turned her head toward the voice and looked up at him. "Hello Jason."

"That was a quite a show." He chucked, pointed at the direction where Hannah and 'her people' were standing. "She's very interesting."

Rachel raised her eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

"Yeah, I know people working in the music industry in LA, and some of them are exactly like her. I assume that the circumstance around her formed her character, but I don't think nothing's bad about it." Jason sipped his drink and looked at Rachel. "It needs sometimes, you know, to survive. And…" He chuckled again. "It's funny and entertaining to watch people acting like that in a way."

Rachel frowned. Did he know her? And why did he know people in the music industry in LA? "I didn't know you and Hannah are friends."

"She came on to me the other day." Jason stated nonchalantly.

"Oh." Rachel's face fell.

Jason noticed her expression changed. "Rachel, why don't you take chance on me?" He asked softly. He observed her face for a while. Rachel bit her lower lips, her eyes casting down. He sighed. "Will you want to tell me what's bothering you?"

Rachel took a deep breath before she looked at Jason. "I don't want to be hurt and I don't want you to be hurt."

"You're thinking how it ends before it begins?" Jason frowned.

Rachel closed her eyes and sighed. "I don't want you to think I attempt to fill a hole. It's wrong. It hurts. I know it because I've been there."

Jason sighed. "Rachel, it's the same thing. Why do you have to think how it ends before it begins? You never know how it goes until you try." He waited for her answer but she just looked down on the ground. He gently pushed a small pile of her bang aside from her forehead. "Rachel."

Rachel had butterflies in her stomach as he touched her forehead. She bit her lower lip before she managed to deliver her final decision. "Okay." She whispered.

"Okay?"

Rachel looked up at him, smiling shyly. "Yeah, okay. I'd love to go on a date with you."

"Good." Jason grinned. "Now, can I walk you home?"

Rachel nodded. Jason held his hand out to her before she took it hesitantly. Then they walked out of the party hand in hand, looking at each other.

Any thoughts?