"Hey, Rachel," Kurt greeted cheerfully.

"Hey, Kurt," Rachel said cheerfully. Well, Rachel sounded as if she was in a good mood. Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as Kurt had initially thought.

"So, how is everything with NYADA?" Kurt asked politely. He wasn't sure how Rachel would respond. Knowing her, though, she would respond one of two ways. The first involved Rachel barely saying anything because she was still upset and jealous. The other involved Rachel talking about what she was doing and trying to make Kurt jealous. Regardless of which way Rachel responded, neither would be particularly pleasant.

"It is going phenomenally!" Rachel started. Obviously, Rachel was choosing to respond the second way. "We've been touring the campus and meeting with the professors. And all of the professors are just amazing. And then I've gotten in contact with some of the other freshmen at NYADA. Then I've met some of the upperclassmen who have told me stories about things they've done and the opportunities they've gotten. It's just amazing and perfect!"

Kurt smiled. "That's great Rachel! It sounds like you are really enjoying everything." It was looking like Rachel had possibly gotten over Kurt doing better at the audition, which was definitely a good sign.

"I definitely am. It's just been so phenomenal."

"I'll bet. So, um, what's your plan with the living situation?" Kurt asked. Yes, he had already told Shirley Winters that he had intended to live alone, but if this relationship with Rachel could be salvaged, he would still like someone to live with. Sure, it would be nice to have his own space, but he would be completely alone in a new city.

"Well, obviously NYADA doesn't have dorms. I mean, they only admit 20 students every year. But like I said, I've been talking with some of the other freshmen and we've made plans about getting an apartment together."

"Oh," Kurt said. Well that certainly through a wrench in the plans. "So, have you met these people yet or have you just been talking online and stuff?"

"Mostly just online, but we've talked enough to know that Sean, Nick, Tiffany, and I are going to move in to an apartment."

"Sounds fun. I think," Kurt said. "When are you all moving in?"

"I'm moving in next week with Tiffany. Sean and Nick are coming in July."

"Fun. So what are you doing in the mean time?" Kurt asked.

"Auditioning," Rachel said without missing a beat.

Kurt looked confused. "Auditioning for what? I thought NYADA didn't start until August?"

"It doesn't, but that's not going to stop me from auditioning for other shows on Broadway," Rachel said confidently.

"Wait, you're auditioning for Broadway?" Kurt asked. Kurt was shocked. Rachel was the one who had been trying to convince him that he needed to go to school and learn from the best. Now, she was just going in and blindly auditioning for shows?

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, it's just you were the one telling me that I should wait and focus on school?"

"Kurt, you aren't waiting. I'm just as talented as you, if not more. Why can't I audition?"

"I'm not saying you can't audition. I can't make decisions for you, but I can give you advice as a friend. If I was in your situation, I would go to school. Yes, I'm in meetings all the week to try and get on Broadway, but I actually wish I was going to NYADA, or at least some school. They are going to be able to teach you so much, Rachel. Raw talent can get you far, but at NYADA they are going to teach you about everything. Broadway is a whole lot different than Lima and I don't really know anything about how it works here. I'm completely winging it and going off luck."

"But, Kurt –" Rachel said.

"Rachel, just listen. I wish I could go to school. But they didn't take me at NYADA, and I didn't apply anywhere else, meaning I don't have that option unless I want to wait a year, which is not going to happen. Just be thankful for what you have and take the time to learn from people who've been there and are willing to give you advice and watch you succeed."

"Kurt, that's great and everything, but I just can't wait for things to happen. You are out there auditioning. I don't want to be left behind."

"Rachel, you're not going to be left behind. You are going to learn and go really far. You are so talented, Rachel, but sometimes your head and thought process doesn't make sense."

"Of course it makes sense."

"For you, but not for everyone else. We all care about you, Rachel. I can't speak for anyone else, but I think you should really just focus on school."

"I appreciate the advice, but I can make my own decisions," Rachel said, "And I'm pretty sure I know what is best for me."

Kurt just sat there. There was a lot he wanted to say, but he couldn't bring himself to actually say it. Kurt took a deep breath. "I can't tell you how to live your life, but I can give you my advice even if you don't take it."

Rachel just nodded. Kurt looked at his phone and sighed. "Rachel, I hoped we would have had more time to talk, but I really have to go. I have a meeting a 2:15 and its across the city."

"That's fine."

Kurt stood up and went to give Rachel a hug, but she didn't return the hug.

"Bye, Kurt."

"Goodbye, Rachel. I'll talk to you soon."

With that Kurt went over to Burt, Hiram, and Leroy. Burt said goodbye to Rachel's parents. Kurt and Burt left the coffee shop and went across the city for Kurt's next meeting.

The meeting with James White went similar to the first three. Although, Kurt didn't feel as confident leaving as he did with the others. Kurt's head just wasn't there like it should have been. It was still at the coffee shop with Rachel. Kurt knew he probably should have tried to focus more, but he couldn't.

Burt met up with Kurt after his meeting and they walked back to the hotel to meet Blaine. They got up to the room and found Blaine already there.

"Hey, Kurt. How did meeting with Rachel go?" Blaine asked as he got up to give Kurt a hug.

"It could have gone better. But, it's Rachel," Kurt said.

"And your other meeting?"

"It could have gone better, but my mind just wasn't there, thanks to Rachel," Kurt responded. "How was Cooper?"

"Cooper was Cooper. He kept telling me that I should convince you to come to Hollywood with him."

"I hope you told him that I am not interested."

"Oh, I did. I think my exact words were something along the lines of "Kurt doesn't need your help" and "What do you even know about Broadway?" and a few other things that I probably shouldn't repeat," Blaine said.

Kurt laughed. "I can't believe you actually said that. I would have loved to have seen Cooper's face when you said that."

"Yeah, he was a little shocked, but that didn't completely stop him from talking about it. He just tried to present his case in a different way, but I eventually got him to drop it."

"How did you manage that?" Kurt asked with raised eyebrows.

"I can't disclose that information," Blaine said.

"But –" Kurt began.

"Nope. Now, I want more details about the meeting with Rachel." Blaine said.

"Well, I asked her about what she was doing as far as NYADA goes and she's doing well."

"That's good, but knowing Rachel, there is something more," Blaine said.

"Obviously," Kurt said. "Remember how when I went to tell her about the letter I got from Carmen and she told me that I should stay in school and study?"

"Yeah, why?"

"She's auditioning for Broadway."

"Wait. She's auditioning for Broadway after she gave you a lecture about going to school?"

"It would appear so."

"Oh my God. I really can't believe her."

"Join the club. And you haven't known her for as long as I have. But it's Rachel so things like this shouldn't really surprise me by this point."

"Well, I guess she can do what she wants," Blaine said.

"Rachel will always do what she wants, completely regardless of what other people say. There's this and then let's not forget the whole marriage thing," Kurt said.

"Oh God. Let's not relive the marriage things again, please," Burt said.

"Didn't like the idea of your stepson getting married while in high school?" Kurt asked.

"Partially. And that Finn and Rachel have a very interesting relationship and definitely aren't ready for marriage. They are broken up or fighting as much as they are together, it seems."

"Well, that's true," Kurt said as he laughed. "What did Rachel's dads say? I never asked."

"Pretty much that they support whatever Rachel is doing, even if they don't agree with it. It's like the marriage thing all over. They are going along with it, even though they would rather have her focus on school," Burt said.

"And what did they say about me?" Kurt asked a little hesitantly. He wasn't quite sure he wanted to know the answer to that. For all Kurt knew, Hiram and Leroy were on Rachel's side and would have rather seen Rachel do better than Kurt and because that didn't happen, they wouldn't support him.

"Well, they told me to tell you congratulations, and they wish you and Rachel could be friends again."

"I think a lot of people wish that," Kurt sighed.

"You just have to wait for Rachel to get over her jealousy," Blaine said.

"That's never going to happen. She may come to terms with me doing better than her, but she'll never actually get over it."

"Which just sucks for you," Blaine said.

Kurt sighed, "Yup. But unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about it."

The week went by too fast for Kurt's liking. Before he knew it, Kurt's final meeting with Donna Gray was over.

Burt, Blaine, and Kurt headed back to the hotel after Kurt's final meeting, packed up and took a cab to the airport. They got their bags checked, went through security, and went to wait in the terminal. While they were waiting, Burt asked, "So, now that you've met with all five people, if you had the choice, who would you work with?"

"If I could choose?" Kurt asked. Burt nodded. "I'd probably choose Catherine Wright, the first person I met with."

"Why?" Blaine asked.

"I don't really know why, but she stood out most in my mind. I mean, she was really nice and really easy to talk to. And then I didn't feel like I connected as much with the other people."

"That makes sense," Burt said. "You should be comfortable seeing as you really have to trust this person. "

"I know and I feel like I would trust her," Kurt said. "It just felt right. Although, I'll be happy as long as someone gives me a call. At this point, I don't think I can really be too picky. I mean I was lucky enough to be given these chances."

"That's true, but what if more than one calls you back?" Burt asked.

"I'll cross that bridge when I get there. For now, I'm just hoping that someone will call so I can move out and start my life in New York," Kurt said.

Before they could talk about the subject any more, they had to board the plane. Two hours later, they landed back in Ohio.