Easton Town Center in Columbus was the only retail entity in the Midwest that came even remotely close to Kurt Hummel's high standards for shopping establishments.

His dad was none to thrilled when Kurt insisted on driving there as often as he could because gas was expensive and it's about a two hour drive each way. "Burberry, Dad. There is a BURBERRY. And Tiffany's. And an Apple Store. You said I should get a backup charger for my phone..." However, Burt loved his only son and allowed him to go when he wanted, so long as his homework was done and he was not needed in the shop.

On that particular day, Kurt told his dad he was picking up Mercedes and they were going to head to Easton to find her a dress for her cousin's wedding and maybe catch a matinee or something. Burt nodded and handed over his credit card. His knew his kid didn't have a lot of friends, so he liked to treat for movies when Kurt did get to socialize. Kurt tucked the card into his pants pocket and launched himself at his dad, embracing him in a big hug. "Thanks, Dad!"

Burt beamed and patted his son on the back, "You're welcome, kid. Now go have some fun, okay?"

Meanwhile, miles away, near Columbus, another boy the same age as Kurt was reluctant to be headed to Easton that day.

"It is cruel and unusual punishment to be making me work at mom's kiosk on a Saturday. On a sunny Saturday, no less. I was supposed to go hiking with Derrek ," he quickly tried to backtrack but it was too late, "Er, I mean a friend. My friend. A friend." Blaine let out a heavy sigh in defeat. He muttered under his breath, "Shit."

Ethan Anderson shook his head. He didn't care that his son just swore in front of him, or that he was supposed to be out with another boy. (It may have taken some adjustment, but Ethan did completely accept his son's sexuality.) No, Ethan was disappointed that his youngest son was trying to get out of helping his own mother. "Blaine, we're not making you do this so you can't spend time with Derrek." Hearing the other boy's name drop so easily from his father's mouth genuinely surprised Blaine who just stood there and gawked while his dad kept talking. "But this is the grand opening of your mother's hard work and she can't be there because her own mother is in the hospital. Do the right thing, son, and help your mother out."

He was right. Blaine knew he was right and instantly felt bad for trying to get out of it. Family first – always family first. Plus, he could see Derrek tomorrow. It's not like they were dating, though Blaine was hoping that's where their friendship (relationship?) was heading. He gave his dad an apologetic smile, "You're right. I'm sorry. I'll go get ready." It was Ethan's turn to sigh as he watched his son sprint up the stairs to change clothes and hopefully comb his hair.

...

After two hours of trying on dresses and not quite finding the perfect one, Mercedes persuaded Kurt that they needed a food break. He caved, but only because she promised that after they ate, he could pick the movie.

As they walked in the door to the indoor section of the enclosed section of the shopping center by the Build-a-Bear, something caught Kurt's attention. Or rather, something familiar was missing and something new was in its place. He kept looking back over his shoulder as they walked toward Auntie Annie's.

"Hey Mercedes..."

"Yeah, Boo?"

"Didn't there used to be a scarf kiosk there, in front of the movie theater?"

"Uh huh."

"Weird. I swear it was just there a couple weeks ago."

His confused look turned to surprise as Mercedes grabbed his arm and dragged him the rest of the way to the pretzel place. "Hey!"

Though Kurt and Mercedes were already past the Oakley store by now, Kurt's exclamation was loud enough to catch Blaine's attention. Something about that voice... He had to know whom it belonged to. He craned his neck so far that he almost fell off his stool.

Blaine steadied himself back on his perch next to his mom's new kiosk - Designs by Vanessa. It featured racks of necklaces and bracelets designed by his mom. There were some purses and brooches... certainly not anything that he would use or wear, but he was proud of his mom. Her designs were beautiful.

Face red with embarrassment, he looked around, hoping no one saw his near disaster.

Mercedes got her change back from the Auntie Annie's associate (she insisted on treating for the pretzels to thank Kurt for his fashion advice) and the two of them started walking around the inside of the mall, window shopping as they munched their pre-movie snacks.

...

Blaine was bored. A lot of people would eyeball his mom's pieces, but would keep on walking without stopping. Since he was stuck on that stool for another few hours, he tried to listen in on the conversations of the people around him, hoping to figure out who was the source of that mysterious voice from earlier.

After a few minutes of no luck, he thought he heard it again.

He snapped his head around in the direction of the voice and saw him. Blaine's jaw dropped.

Kurt was doubled over, laughing at something Mercedes said. "Stop it, Cedes!" She did a pretentious hair flip, causing Kurt to lose it again. His smile was so wide and in that moment, he was just really happy and having fun.

Blaine just stared. He didn't know who this boy and his friend (Girlfriend? He hoped not.) were, but he wanted to know. They looked like they were having such a good time with each other. Part of Blaine was intrigued. The other part was really jealous.

It was Mercedes who saw Blaine first. "Kurt, shh! People are staring at us!"

Kurt looked around and saw no one paying them any attention. He was used to that. His laughing subsided, but he still couldn't see whom, if anyone, Mercedes was talking about. "Who?"

Mercedes leaned in toward Kurt and through her teeth said, "That white boy with the fro at the new kiosk." She nodded over toward the new mystery kiosk in front of the movie theater.

Still getting out the last of his chuckles, Kurt turned to face the direction Mercedes had indicated. Whoever it was, he turned around so quickly as soon as Kurt looked over at him that he knocked over a rack of bracelets. Kurt couldn't make out his face, but he let out a little laugh out of secondhand embarrassment for whoever that clumsy kid was at the kiosk.

"Come on, Cedes, let's get to our movie." Kurt held out his arm and Mercedes looped hers in his and they strode to the theater.

Blaine was still picking up bracelets and muttering to himself as Kurt and Mercedes walked past. He glanced up at the same time that Kurt turned to look to see who it was at the kiosk. Hazel eyes locked tight to blue and both their jaws dropped a bit. Kurt quickly whipped his head back around to look in front of him. There was no way that kid at the kiosk was looking at him like that. He kept walking, reluctantly willing himself back to reality.

All Blaine could do was stare after the boy.

"Excuse me, how much is this?" An elderly woman was trying to ask Blaine about a necklace, but his attention was focused on the boy who just waked into the movie theater. "I said, how much is this?"

Blaine shook his head and snapped himself back to his present situation. "Oh, that's, um, $30." The woman frowned a bit, put the necklace down and walked away. "Have a nice day," Blaine said to no one in particular.

Inside the movie theater, Kurt and Mercedes settled into their seats and waited for the previews.

Time passed extra slowly for Blaine. He answered some questions and managed to sell a purse and a few broaches, but he was too preoccupied with thinking about the boy with the voice. He wondered what movie he and his friend were at and hoped he'd get the chance to see them again before his dad picked him up at 5:00.

Kurt was so into Magic Mike that he forgot about the kiosk boy until he and Mercedes were walking out of the theater. Mercedes was asking him if he wanted to grab dinner as he checked the time on his phone. 4:46. As he lifted his head to suggest that maybe they first try another store for her dress, his eyes once again made contact with those of the boy at the kiosk. This time Kurt knew it wasn't a coincidence, but it was such a new experience for him, he didn't quite know what to do. People didn't just stare at Kurt Hummel, especially cute boys that appear to be in his age range.

Mercedes noticed both boys staring at each other. She grabbed Kurt's arm and announced loudly, "Come on, KURT." This sparked Kurt's attention and he started to sputter out a retort as she dragged him toward the exit. His face flushed red as he turned to get another look at the boy at the kiosk. The boy at the kiosk whose eyes were still following Kurt as he and Mercedes left the mall…

"Okay, are you in or are you out?" Mercedes asked Kurt. He looked at her with a thoroughly confused look. "Look, we can go back in there and you can get your flirt on with Sideshow Bob, or we can go dress shopping."

"Get my flirt on? Cedes, what are you – he wasn't – there's no way – I…" Kurt's face was still red as he looked toward the ground and shook his head, mostly at himself for his epic lack of courage at the moment. "No. No flirting. I can't." He sniffled, but then held his head high even though tears were threatening to well up. "Let's find you that dress, okay?" He put on as big a smile as he could.

Mercedes was visibly disappointed, but was not going to force Kurt to do anything that was going to make him even more uncomfortable. "Okay." She gave him a hug, which he reciprocated, and they held hands as they walked toward Lane Bryant.

Meanwhile, Blaine was still staring out the door that the boy and his friend walked out of, silently trying to will them to come back in. (Kurt. She said his name was Kurt.) After a few minutes, he resigned himself to the truth that he would never see that boy again. That was probably for the better. Blaine sighed and tried to think happy thoughts to get him through the end of his shift. At least he'd get to hang out with Derrek tomorrow.