Season Five, Starring Cory Monteith Chapter 17: 5x14: New New York, a glee fanfic

Hi everyone! I apologize again for the hiatus - life is incredibly busy, and honestly, I had writers block for the longest time. We are finally back with the first edition of the New York saga! I know most of you probably miss Finn, but he will be back soon, no worries. This episode sets up a lot of plots for the remaining half of the season, so pay close attention, and enjoy! Don't forget to leave a review!

Episode 5x14: New New York

Synopsis: It's been four months since graduation - it's time for college! With new faces in New York, everyone takes some time to adjust to their new lives. Artie struggles when he is robbed in the subway, while Blaine helps Sam get his confidence back. Kurt begins to feel smothered in his own home, and Tina worries for her relationship with Sam when Mercedes arrives in New York to record her upcoming album!

Absent: Naya Rivera as Santana Lopez

"Ladies and gentleman, I present to you the William McKinley High graduating class of 2013!"

Four months had passed since graduation, and Principal Figgins's words still rang through Rachel's ears. She wasn't even one of the graduates! Regardless, some of her best friends had joined her in New York. Blaine, Artie, Sam, and Tina all moved into their tiny little apartment in Bushwick shortly after graduation in late May, and here we were in September, and they were still there.

If you had seen their Bushwick apartment, you knew it was far too small for seven people. It was a miracle they could fit in three people before!

What was everyone else up to? Most people who visited for the last week of glee club just went back to their lives; Quinn returned to Yale, maintaining her long distance relationship with Puck, who remained in Lima. Mike Chang returned to Joffrey in Chicago, and Mercedes had gone back out to L.A. to continue working on her music.

Upon their graduation, Sugar Motta became a Paris Hilton-esque celebrity heiress, waiting to take over her father Al's business when he passed, and Joe Hart dove headfirst into the church, quickly becoming the leader of his church's choir. Brittany followed Mike out to Chicago to continue her passion for dance. Although she was not enrolled at Joffrey, she wanted to go somewhere new, and why not work on her craft? As she put it, she wanted to put math behind her and become a better dancer than "those brats on Dance Moms."

As for the remaining students at McKinley (Jake, Marley, Ryder, Bree, Kitty and Unique), Rachel assumed they would continue their studies and try to remain close, even without a glee club. Their junior year wouldn't be full of excitement like they imagined it would be. Instead of singing and dancing all semester with Mr. Schue or Finn, they would have to avoid Sue Sylvester like the plague.

Mr. Schue had taken the job over at Carmel High. It was weird to think that he was the coach of Vocal Adrenaline now, but with no glee club at McKinley, he had to find some kind of way to continue his work in the arts.

And of course, Finn. Rachel barely talked to him since she saw him during the last week of glee club; maybe once every few weeks to check in, or if he spoke with Kurt. She assumed he was finishing up his summer school classes and was ready to begin his second semester at the University of Lima. She kept a healthy distance from Finn, mainly because of the whole Penny situation, but she herself was busy. Regardless, she hoped Finn was doing okay.

Rachel was not letting the fall of the New Directions, or the closed Finchel door, distract her, however. With the opening of Funny Girl only about a month and a half away, she was too busy drowning in rehearsals to be concerned about anything going on in Lima. She walked out of the Saint James Theatre, arms locked with the lead of the musical, Miriam Reign. Rachel was so concerned that she was going to become her next Cassandra July, but they talked out their differences at a late rehearsal, and since then had become inseparable. Miriam took Rachel under her wing and taught her everything there was to know about the "show biz."

"So, lunch at Sardi's?" Miriam asked with a grin.

"I actually can't," Rachel pouted. "I'm supposed to meet my friends."

"Oh, no worries!" Miriam smiled. As Rachel began to call for a taxi, she grabbed her arm and yanked her back a bit, shaking her head. "No, no, no, my mini Fanny. That won't be necessary."

"What do you mean?"

She motioned to a limo in the street, with a driver stationed next to it. "This is Dmitri. He was my 24/7, on-call driver... but he's yours now."

"For me?" Rachel grabbed onto Miriam's arm. She could barely stand, she was so shocked. Miriam giggled and nodded. "But, why?" Rachel asked.

"I got a new, more handsome driver!" She chuckled. "No offense, Dmitri." She gave Rachel a hug. "You've been excellent in rehearsal, and it's been a pleasure working with you. I told you, you remind me of... me! So consider this a thank you, for all your hard work, and for being a friend. No more crowded subways for my mini Fanny."

Rachel squealed and hugged Miriam tight, as Dmitri walked over to the back left door of the limo and opened the door. She jumped into the car as Dmitri took his spot in the drivers seat. "Where would Ms. Berry like to go?" He asked in his Greek accent.

She smiled and rolled down the window as he began to cruise through the busy New York streets.

{The song begins as Rachel is driven through New York to meet up with her friends}

[Rachel]

When you're alone and life is making you lonely

You can always go

Downtown

When you've got worries all the noise and the hurry

Seems to help I know

Downtown

[Kurt]

Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city

Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty

How can you lose?

[Kurt and Sam]

The light's so much brighter there

You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares

[The Group] (Rachel)

So go downtown

(Things will be great when you're)

Downtown

(No finer place for sure)

Downtown

(Everything's waiting for you)

Downtown, downtown

[Blaine]

Don't hang around and let your problems surround you

There are movie shows

Downtown

[Tina]

Maybe you know some little places to go to

Where they never close

Downtown

[Artie]

Just listen to the rhythm of a gentle bossa nova

You'll be dancing with 'em too before the night is over

Happy again

[Artie and Sam]

The light's so much brighter there

You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares

[The Group] (Rachel)

So go downtown

(Where all the lights are bright)

Downtown

(Waiting for you tonight)

Downtown

(You're gonna be alright now)

Downtown

[Blaine]

And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you

[Rachel]

Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand

To guide them along

[Rachel with Kurt and Artie]

So maybe I'll see you there

We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares

[The Group] (Rachel)

So go downtown

(Things will be great when you're)

Downtown

(Don't wait a minute more)

Downtown

Everything's waiting for you (downtown, downtown)

Downtown

Rachel jumped out of the limo and rushed up to her friends, smiling happily and hugging them tightly. Needless to say, they were surprised to see her arriving in a limo. "This is new!" Tina exclaimed.

Rachel nodded. "I can call him any time of day. He's amazing. It's like living in a high end coffee commercial everyday!"

Kurt shook his head as he took a sip of his coffee. "Unbelievable."

Artie changed the subject. "So, where are we going for lunch?"

Sam stood next to him, clapping his hands back and forth. "Someplace cheap... or free?" He hadn't exactly been getting a lot of modeling work since moving out to New York, so money was tight. Tina hit his arm. "Ow!"

Rachel giggled at him. "It is my treat, and my ride!" She skipped over to the limo, clutching onto Blaine's arm. "Come on, we're going to The Odeon. Everyone from Broadway goes, and it's so cool!"

The gang made their way to the limo when Rachel realized that they needed somewhere to put Artie's wheelchair. "Can we pop the trunk?"

Dmitri shook his head. "Trunk is full."

"Can I sit in the front, then?"

"Full, too."

She turned back and looked at her friends, realizing there were a few too many of them to fit into the car. "Well..."

"It's okay, Sam and I can just meet you there!" Artie volunteered, motioning back to Sam, who was pushing his wheelchair. "Right, Sam?"

"I guess?" Sam said with a hint of annoyance, as he watched Rachel, Kurt, Blaine and Tina squeeze into the back of the limo.

The window rolled down as Kurt flashed a quick smile. "We'll order an appetizer!"

The limo drove off as Artie and Sam stood on the side of the road, watching them go. Sam was pissed, but all Artie felt was... bad. Bad about himself. He knew being in a wheelchair in one of the biggest, most busiest cities in the world would be difficult, but he didn't realize Rachel was going to just speed away without him. Sure, she had been here longer than him, but you'd think she'd support him like they had always supported her! Whatever, he thought. He had to adapt back in Lima, so he would have to adapt here in New York too.

The next day Kurt woke up to the smell of of delicious pancakes. His favorite. He groggily stumbled out into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes, as he saw Blaine cooking away, focused. "What?" Kurt asked confusedly, with a yawn.

"No!" Blaine sighed. "I can't serve you breakfast in bed if you're not in bed."

"It's been months! You don't have to keep doing- oh, that does smell good." On second thought, a prepared meal didn't sound too bad.

"Lemon-blueberry pancakes. And the Sunday Chronicle." Blaine motioned to the kitchen table.

"It's not even Sunday!"

"They put the Arts and Leisure section, and Style section, on Wednesday."

"You know me so well," Kurt sighed, taking a seat. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"You can check if the coffee is steeped enough to press?"

As Kurt kept an eye on the coffee Blaine brought their meal to the kitchen table, placing it down gently. He looked at Kurt and smiled, his heart full of emotion. "I still can't believe it. We're really doing it. Living together, building a future together..." They had been engaged for a few months, and ever since he moved out to the Big Apple, reality had truly settled in. Blaine was so happy to be with Kurt, fully, and continue to explore their lives together.

"Bushwick! You ever imagine that?"

"It's actually way, way better!" He smiled. "Every morning I get to wake up next to you, I get to walk you to the subway... most days, I get to have lunch with you..." Luckily for him, NYU's campus was pretty close to NYADA. "Even after all this amazingness, I get to come home to you! I get to crawl up with you, get under the covers..."

"Meanwhile, the Shahs of Sunset are playing in the background..." Kurt said, playing along into the idea of their fantasy. He stopped preparing his meal, and looked at Blaine with confusion. "Wait, are we turning each other into an old married couple?"

"On the contrary."

{Blaine and Kurt begin to sing as they go through their everyday routine, such as grocery shopping, getting dressed, making their bed, etc..}

[Blaine]

You make me feel so young

You make me feel like spring has sprung

Every time I see you grin

I'm such a happy individual

The moment that you speak

I want to run and play hide-and-seek

I want to go and bounce the moon

Just like a toy balloon

[Blaine and Kurt]

You and I, we're just like a couple of tots

Running around a meadow

Picking up all those forget-me-nots

[Blaine]

You make me feel so young

[Kurt]

You make me feel there are songs to be sung

[Blaine and Kurt]

Bells to be rung and a wonderful fling to be flung

[Blaine] (Kurt)

And even when I'm old and gray (When I'm old and gray)

[Blaine and Kurt]

I'm gonna feel the way I do today

Because

You make me feel so young

[Blaine] (Kurt)

You make me young (You make me young)

You make me feel there are songs to be sung

[Blaine and Kurt]

Lots of bells to be rung

And a wonderful fling to be flung

And even when I'm old and gray

I'm gonna feel the way I do today

Because you make me feel so

Man, I just feel so

You make feel so young

So young

The always sweet and tender Klaine moment was interrupted by Sam. As the two were about to kiss, he bursted back into the apartment, out of breath. "Dudes! I just made it all the way to the original Nathan's at Coney Island. Now I kind of stink, so I'm gonna shower." He sifted through their grocery bags until he found something he liked. "Ooh, ice cream! Good job!"

Kurt whipped his head towards Blaine with an annoyed look on his face. "Okay, I know Sam is your bestie, but he said he'd only be couch surfing with us for a few weeks. It's been months." Four, to be exact.

"I know."

"This apartment has too many people in it. You've got to talk to him." Kurt was right; what started as a three-bedroom for he, Rachel and Santana had morphed into an orphanage for kids from Lima, Ohio. Three people were already pushing it, but to have SEVEN? Something had to give. At least Blaine and Artie were going to school, and Tina had pursued an internship with Vogue alongside Kurt. Sam was not receiving steady work with modeling, and thus did a lot of... well, nothing. Something had to give, and for Kurt, something finally gave. And now, it was Blaine's responsibility.

{The scene cuts to Artie zooming in his wheelchair down the city's busy streets}

Voiceover: Artie

New York, new Artie. It was scary at first; no space, no ramp van, no cutouts on the curbs. The city's alive, always moving, and I didn't know if I'd be able to keep up. Then I realized that I'm in the city where everybody walks, which actually, puts me at an advantage! As a bonus, my biceps aren't looking so bad. Thank you very much!

{Artie is shown wheeling off the subway}

All of the cab drivers in New York are required to take wheelchairs, and all of the buses have lifts... but real New Yorkers take the subway. There's romanticism about the city beneath the city! There's music, there's people, there's life...

{Voiceover ends as Artie feels tugging at his backpack}

Artie, as he wheeled his way through the subway and towards the elevator, felt a weight leave his back. He turned to see what was happening - maybe his backpack was slipping off of his shoulders? He was right, but not in the way he imagined. A man on crutches had snatched his backpack from him, and was beginning to hobble away!

"HEY!" Artie shouted as he weaved through the foot traffic. "HEY!"

"I know, man, I'm sorry!" The thief called back, with little remorse, as he began to hop towards the stairs.

"My laptop is in there! It's the only copy of my script!" A desperate Artie cried through the halls as he helplessly watched him struggle to climb up the stairs to the New York city streets. He smacked his leg in frustration. The semester had just began, and everything that he had been working on for the Brooklyn Film Academy was gone within seconds.

Sure, there was life in the subway, but there was death, too.

Blaine and Tina returned to the apartment after a long day of classes and work, mid-conversation, to find Sam, posted up on the couch and gaming away. Without breaking away from the TV he spoke, "Guys, I just completed Aqua Park and Millennium Mines. Now I'm ruling Karts and Coasters." He finally gave them the respect to give them a look, acknowleding their confusion. "Roller Coaster Tycoon," he explained. "It's amazing."

Blaine looked at his watch. "Sam, you've been sitting there since we've left this morning... you've basically been in that exact same spot for months."

"Well, Kurt's fancy chairs hurt my back, so this thing is the only thing that's comfortable," Sam turned his attention back to the game.

Blaine took a deep breath, but before he could say anything, Tina marched in front of the TV and turned it off.

"Hey!" Sam cried.

"Pay attention," she barked in a motherly tone.

Blaine scratched the back of his head as he took a seat next to Sam. He was nervous for how this part was going to go down. "Kurt and I were talking, and..."

"You want me to move out." No response from Blaine. "I knew it," Sam whined. "You know, Santana got to stay here, and-"

"Santana works," Tina chimed in, twisting the knife further.

"We don't want you to move , per se, although that isn't the worst idea I've ever heard..." Blaine began. "We're just worried about you, man." He turned to Tina. "Right, Tina?"

Tina teared up, walking over and taking a seat next to Sam. "I'm sorry for being so aggressive, babe. We know that work has been slow..."

"Try nonexistent," Sam spoke, getting irritated. "I've had zero modeling auditions. Zero. I can't even get my agent on the phone! I just get her lazy assistant, Pam. She thinks I should cut my hair, because I look like a dirty hippie."

"Maybe you should..." Tina pursed her lips, folding her legs and looking down.

"But I like it!" Sam turned to Blaine. "Besides, Mr. Schue said that we shouldn't care what other people think. We should just be ourselves!" He scoffed. "What a load of crap."

"Well... Mr. Schue also said we should face our fears. Remember that one?" He was trying to level with Sam, but nothing seemed to work. "I know this is frustrating..."

"Maybe I shouldn't be here!" Sam snapped. "I hate New York. It's crowded, it's loud, it smells like garbage, and everybody here is basically paid to be rude to you! Sometimes it's just easier to stay inside."

Blaine looked at Tina, then back at Sam, and came to a conclusion. "Come on, get up." He stood up, tapping his leg. "We don't want to watch you waste away in here when there is so much to do out there." He pointed out to the window before motioning to Sam's girlfriend. "Tina came here with no plan, and now look at her!"

Tina nodded. She was working directly with Isabelle Wright as she hoped to get into NYADA the following semester, similar to Kurt's situation. "Sam, you need to put on a clean shirt. The one you're wearing has, like, five different kinds of stains on it."

"We're going outside. Come on!" Blaine called as he and Tina ran out of the apartment. Sam, with an eyeroll, reluctantly stood up to join them.

{The scene cuts to Blaine, Sam and Tina walking around Times Square and exploring the city}

[Blaine, Sam and Tina]

Oh, ooh-oh-oh-oh, oh

[Blaine] (Sam)

I had a dream so big and loud

I jumped so high, I touched the clouds

Wo-oah-oah-oah-oah-oh-oh

(Wo-oah-oah-oah-oah-oah-oh-oh)

[Tina] (Sam)

I stretched my hands out to the sky

We danced with monsters through the night

Wo-oah-oah-oah-oah-oh-oh

(Wo-oah-oah-oah-oah-oah-oh-oh)

[Sam] (Blaine and Tina)

I'm never gonna look back (Woah)

I'm never gonna give it up (No)

Just don't wake me now

[Blaine, Sam and Tina]

This is gonna be the best day of my life

My li-i-i-i-i-ii-fe

This is gonna be the best day of my life

My li-i-i-i-i-ii-fe

[Blaine and Sam] (Tina)

I hear it calling outside my window

I feel it in my soul (Soul)

[Sam and Tina] (Blaine)

The stars were burning so bright

The sun was out 'til midnight

I say we lose control (Control)

[Blaine] (Sam and Tina)

This is gonna be, this is gonna be, this is gonna be

(The best day of my life)

(My li-i-i-i-i-ii-ife) Everything is looking up, everybody up now

[Blaine, Sam and Tina]

This is gonna be the best day of my life

My li-i-i-i-i-ii-fe

The Beat Club Crew, who had danced around as the trio sang, cheered for Sam. Tina leaned up and pecked him on the cheek as Blaine patted him on the back. "If you can sing in the middle of Times Square, you can pretty much do anything. I think it's time that you conquered this city."

Sam smiled, wrapping his arms around his two friends as they continued walking. "I don't know why they call it Times Square. I don't see any clocks."

"That computer costed over a thousand bucks!"

A panicked Artie sat in the living room of the Bushwick apartment, with an equally frantic Kurt pacing back and forth next to him. After he returned home and informed Kurt about the robbery that took place that morning, he instantly called the police. He continued to rattle off details of the incident. "My credit card was in that bag, my phone..."

"Tell them he was on crutches," Kurt suggested.

"And he was-" Before Artie could add any additional details, he was cut off by the person on the other end. "Yeah. Thanks so much for your help," he said sarcastically as he hung up.

"That's it? Any leads?"

Artie was cut off again, this time within their own home, as Blaine was hard at work using their SodaStream he recently purchased at the As Seen On TV store. The loud noise silenced Artie and Kurt's conversation, the latter instantly screaming at his fiancée. "Do you have to use the SodaStream right now? Artie is in a very fragile state."

"Sorry."

"I'm sorry about him, Artie. He just needs his bubbles." Kurt rolled his eyes. He was upset for Artie, sure, but he was starting to feel a bit claustrophobic in his own home. Living with Rachel and Santana was crazy enough, but throwing four people into the mix, who had no clue what New York City was about, was a lot to handle. Sam's video games, having to help Artie around... even Blaine was getting on Kurt's nerves. The only person who wasn't irritating Kurt was Tina, and with her constant questioning of his every move at Vogue, she was next on the list. He figured that if Artie, Tina and Sam moved out that things would become more bearable, however. Hopefully he wouldn't have to bite Blaine's head off, too.

"Hi guys!" Rachel walked in, her shoes loudly announcing her presence.

"Hey, Rachel! Do you want a homemade, sparkling, sugar-free soda?" Blaine poured her a glass of his orange SodaStream creation, walking it over to and offering it to her. Kurt couldn't help but obnoxiously roll his eyes.

"No thanks," Rachel said politely. "The carbonation is bad for my vocal cords, so..." She cleared her throat. "You know what I will take? Just some hot water with, like, a little lemon? Thank you so much."

Back to the subject at hand. "Rachel, you missed it. Artie was mugged in the subway," Kurt said, quickly trying to shift focus back to what really mattered. "It's like an episode of SVU over here."

"What?"

"Except for not at all," Artie grumpily corrected Kurt. "I wasn't touched, I was robbed."

"Oh my God, are you okay?" Rachel leaned down next to him.

"No, not really. I don't know what I'm gonna do about replacing that computer, I need a new school ID, and to be honest, I don't know if I'm gonna feel safe in the subway anymore!" Artie cried. "I just felt so vulnerable, and... I-I don't know, alone."

A hiss from the SodaStream cried across the apartment once again. Kurt looked like his eyes were going to pop out of its sockets. "Blaine, I'm gonna throw that machine out of the window!"

Rachel put her hand in Artie's. "I am so sorry, but I know exactly how you feel, okay? When I first moved to New York, I gave this homeless person $10 when I just meant to give him one. I asked for it back, everyone hissed, and they booed at me, and I just felt so violated and vulnerable!"

Artie couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Wait, so you were out $9?"

She ignored that comment. "But look. The next day, I just got right back on that subway. Overcoming experiences like that is what makes you a real New Yorker!" She smiled and stood up to find Blaine standing there next to her, waiting.

"Your beverage, m'lady?" He offered her the tea she requested.

"Are those Meyer lemons?" She smiled at Blaine sweetly. "No, I can't have that," she said in a rather pompous tone before walking away.

Tensions were high at the moment, and per usual, Artie was the one who had something to say. "You know what, Rachel?" He spoke with some sass. "Don't lecture me about being a real New Yorker with your lemon water and your chauffeured limousine."

"It's a town car, not a limousine!"

"You're not even a real person anymore!" He spat, unlocking his wheels. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go figure out how to put my life back together." He turned and wheeled out of the apartment. In that moment Kurt honestly wished he could go with him, as Rachel began to complain about Artie's comments. Her complaints sounded wonderful together with Blaine, once again, using the SodaStream loudly. And look, another text from Tina, critiquing his choice of fashion at work!

God, I know we don't talk much and that I don't believe in you, but get these people out of my apartment, Kurt thought to himself, rubbing his aching head.

{The scene cuts to Sam walking into a hair salon}

Voiceover: Sam

It's that time. Time for change, reinvention, rebirth. That's what NYC is all about.

Okay, maybe that's a little dramatic, but don't kid yourself. Getting a haircut is a big deal! Normally I wouldn't take style advice from helmet-haired, bowtie loving Blaine, or even Mrs. "I Still Wear Clothes From Our School's Production Of Grease" Tina, but they really helped me see the light. Or, in this case, the scissors; yeah, I'll miss rocking the bronytail, but you know, I needed to jumpstart this modeling operation. Shake things up.

{Sam is seen getting his haircut}

Time for new headshots, new portfolio, new attitude. If there's one thing I've learned, you can't just sit around waiting for the good things in life to come to you. You need to kick down some doors and make them happen. This is Sam Evans like we've never seen before.

{Sam is shown admiring his new haircut}

Here I come, New York City.

{The voiceover ends as Sam speaks to himself in the mirror}

"I'm so close to owning this town, I can almost taste it."

"Ms. Berry, no worries about the garment bags in the back. I make sure they lie flat."

"O-okay, great, thank you."

Rachel sat in the backseat of the town car, Dmitri driving her around the streets. She didn't really have any clue what he was talking about; she never really did. She stared out the window as she realized, she didn't even know where in New York they were.

Voiceover: Rachel

Look at me. I'm sealed up in this mini popemobile, glassed off from the masses. I feel nothing in here! The only air I breathe smells like pine tree air freshener and Mennen Speed Stick. The only danger and risk in here is a paper cut on the trades in my seat-back pocket! Artie's right; I am isolated. Rapunzel-ed away and barely out of my teens! Fanny Brice's bartender was a bartender down here on the Bowery, and I still haven't schlepped to an opening at the New Museum!

{Voiceover ends as Rachel leans forward in her seat}

"Dmitri, where are we right now?"

"We're now crossing into Chinatown," he responded, looking in the rearview mirror at her.

Voiceover: Rachel

What am I doing? Who am I turning into? I'm losing my authenticity. How am I gonna be one of the great Broadway actors, which was my lifelong dream, if I don't have any real-life experiences to pull from?

{Voiceover ends as Rachel leans forward once again}

"Stop the car."

She knew Miriam Reign meant well, as they had became close, but Rachel was sheltered. Her parents sheltered her. Mr. Schue and the glee club sheltered her. Finn sheltered her, to an extent. Miriam Reign was going to be a fantastic Fanny, but if Rachel had the opportunity to play the lead in Funny Girl for just a few nights, she needed to toughen up her skin. Get some dirt under her nails! She had to explore the city, be the city.

"Sorry, I'm just gonna get out right here," Rachel said gently as Dmitri pulled to the side of the road. "I'm gonna get a cup of really strong black tea, and then maybe stop at that herbalist and get some stuff that the kids in Ohio had never tasted before."

Dmitri didn't really care; he got paid regardless. He unlocked the car and let Rachel out, as she began to walk the streets of Chinatown uninterrupted. She had a lot of living to do.

"So, you really designed every costume for every one of your glee club's competitions?"

Tina Cohen-Chang sat in Isabelle Wright's office, interviewing for a position at Vogue. She came to New York with zero plan, and after earning enough money from some part-time shifts at the Spotlight Diner, she knew she wanted to take her first big career step. Kurt always spoke very highly of Isabelle, and of Vogue, and she knew Isabelle encouraged him to follow his passion for performing. She figured it would be a shoe-in.

She nodded. "Ever since freshman year! I had some help from a friend of mine in the beginning, Mercedes Jones, but starting sophomore year I sort of took the wheel."

Isabelle tapped her finger against her face, as if she was trying to recall something. "Why does that name sound so familiar?"

Tina felt her face get red. "I-I don't know!"

"She's that gal that sings Hell To The No, isn't she?" Isabelle clapped with a joyous laugh. "I think that girl is so talented. I truly hope her music career takes off."

If steam came out of your ears when you got mad, like in the cartoons, they would've came out of Tina's. She loved Mercedes, don't her her wrong, but she always had an underlying feeling of jealousy when it came to her. Mercedes did help her design the costumes in the beginning of the glee club, yes, but she was better at it. She always got more chances to shine as a singer, too. Don't even get her started on the Sam of it all. It seemed like somehow, probably subconsciously, Tina was comparing herself to Mercedes. She felt it at the end of junior year when she compared herself to Rachel, and she definitely felt it throughout senior year whenever Santana came to visit, but the feeling of competing against Mercedes always sort of lingered, especially when she started dating Sam. It pissed her off when Isabelle began to praise her.

But, she put on a smile, as she usually did. "Me too!" She wanted Mercedes to succeed, she really did, but this was her time to shine.

Isabelle smiled back. "So, Tina, you remind me of a very successful colleague of mine. Small town, venturing out into the big city, yearning for more. Fashion-oriented with a taste for the arts."

"Who is that?"

"Kurt Hummel!" Isabelle winked. "His recommendation of you really set yourself apart from the other applicants. I want to see you thrive here, in the same way I've seen him thrive."

"Thank you very much." Again, she was appreciative of Kurt letting her crash at his apartment, getting her this job, but this was her time. She spoke up, "I've got a lot of great ideas! I think I can bring some new modeling talent on board to execute them."

"And I can't wait to hear all about it!" Isabella smiled. "You start tomorrow. Welcome to New York, sweetheart."

Tina smiled so bright, she probably could've blinded Isabelle. She had just taken her first step into adulthood. Not bad for someone who showed up to New York without a plan! She was going to do great things; and she was just getting started.

{Tina sings as she exits the Vogue building and explores the city as she makes her way back to the Bushwick apartment}

Walkin' through a crowd, the village is aglow

Kaleidoscope of loud heartbeats under coats

Everybody here wanted somethin' more

Searchin' for a sound we hadn't heard before

And it said