A week later, Burt called his son into the kitchen and held out his credit card. Kurt looked confused. For once, he wasn't planning on going out because the weather was crappy and he just felt like spending the day in his room reading.

"I need ya to do me a favor, kid. Carole's birthday is next week and I have no idea what to get her." Kurt could see a look of panic in his father's eyes. He sighed and took the credit card, nodding he understood what was being asked. "You're a lifesaver, Kurt."

Since he was being forced to go out, Kurt decided to take advantage of the situation and drive to Easton by himself. He liked shopping with Mercedes, but sometimes she just couldn't match Kurt's enthusiasm for the finer things in life. Before he left, Kurt got dressed in his favorite pair of skinny jeans, some black knee-high books and a blue shirt that matched his eyes perfectly. He grabbed a scarf on the way out the door and hopped into his car.

...

For the second week in a row, Blaine filled in for his mom at her kiosk. Her mother had taken a turn for the worse and Blaine offered his services before his dad even had the chance to ask. He didn't like being stuck on that stool all day, but he knew that it meant a lot to his parents, so he sucked it up and did his part.

He might actually have liked the job if what he was sitting on was slightly more comfortable. He sighed when he had to climb up onto the stool, wishing he'd miraculously hit a growth spurt so his feet would at least touch the ground. But no, his legs dangled as he looked around from his perch. He wondered if he'd see anyone interesting today.

Blaine found that sitting alone among a sea of people was one of the strangest feelings in the world. It was as if everyone had a purpose except for him. Well, unless you counted his purpose as being the one to answer questions from the handfuls of people that meandered over throughout the day. He secretly hoped business was better during the week. He hated to see his mom's work not being bought, or at least appreciated.

"Oh my god, this is beautiful!" Blaine's ear perked up. Someone was on the other side of his kiosk… but why did that voice sound familiar? He slid off his stool, thankful for the opportunity to stretch his legs, and wandered over to help his customer. He rounded the corner to find himself almost colliding into Kurt, who was holding one of his mom's necklaces.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I –," the words caught in Blaine's throat as he could do nothing but blink at Kurt. Each boy thought to himself that the other boy's eyes were so beautiful, and then both their faces blushed pink as they smiled awkwardly at each other. Clearly they both remembered each other from the week before and were surprised to be seeing the other boy so soon, let alone again.

Kurt quickly cleared his throat, closed his eyes and raised his eyebrows before he opened his eyes again and found some guts to talk to this other boy. "Um, hi." He gave a nervous smile. "I was just saying how this necklace is really beautiful."

Blaine's face involuntarily broke out into a crooked grin. "Thanks!"

Kurt cocked his head and looked up at the name on the kiosk then back at the boy in front of him.

"Um, are you… Vanessa?"

Blaine's eyes got wide, and then he looked up at the kiosk's sign and then back at Kurt. "What? No. Um, no. My mom made that necklace. Vanessa's my mom. She, uh, she made all this stuff. Or at least designed all this stuff. I think one of her friends sewed the purses." Blaine knew he was rambling, but he couldn't stop himself. "Sorry, I'm rambling. Sorry." His ears turned red as he looked at the floor and ran a hand through his already messy hair. Kurt was pretty sure this boy was the most adorable person he had ever seen despite the fact that he was wearing cargo shorts, a t-shirt promoting a marathon that occurred several years prior and sandals.

"Well, your mom has exquisite taste," Kurt admitted, causing Blaine to look up and give an earnest smile. "I'd like to get this necklace, if that's all right with you?"

Blaine nodded, "Of course!" He turned to walk back toward his stool because that's where the cash register was, and then stopped when he saw that the other boy's attention was drawn to one of the displays. He saw the boy run his index finger over a Hippopotamus broach and watched as the corners of his mouth twisted into a small smile. Blaine was taken aback by the reverence this boy showed for that piece and couldn't help but smile to himself.

Kurt looked up and saw the other boy looking at him, "Sorry! I couldn't help it – that broach is genius. I know I already said this, but your mom is seriously talented."

"No, it's fine I'm sure she'll be really grateful to know that people appreciate her work. Seriously," Blaine said with complete sincerity.

The boys walked the short distance to the cash register. Blaine opted to stand so he didn't make a fool out of himself trying to climb up on the chair in front of Kurt.

"Um, that's going to be $32.13, including tax. Did you want to pay with cash, or –"

"- Credit card, please." Kurt handed over his dad's credit card.

Blaine took the card and covertly looked at the name before he swiped it. Burt Hummel. Burt? He wasn't 100% sure, but he thought that girl said his name was Kurt. Maybe he heard wrong… "Um, here you go, Burt."

Kurt looked at Blaine oddly as Blaine returned his credit card. Blaine nodded toward the card and Kurt's eyebrows raised in realization. "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh, yeah, no. Burt's my dad. I'm Kurt. Um, Kurt Hummel." His cheeks flushed pink again and he brought his hand up to fix his hair, which was not even one iota out of place.

So Blaine had remembered correctly. "Kurt." He repeated the name, liking the way it rolled off his tongue. Kurt pursed his lips and nodded. Blaine realized he never introduced himself. "Well, I'm Blaine. Blaine Anderson." Kurt smiled, grateful to now have a name to go with that face.

That face.

The closer he stood, the more entranced he fell with the kind eyes and animated, yet completely sincere, features of this boy. This Blaine.

After the transaction was complete, Blaine offered to box and wrap the necklace for Kurt who said that would be great. There were a couple minutes of awkward silence while Blaine grabbed materials and wrapped the necklace in tissue paper. Kurt didn't know what he was supposed to do (or say), so he just kind of stood there and watched Blaine work. He noticed Blaine was extra careful handling the necklace and wrapped it gently, as if it were made of glass instead of twisted pieces of metal. He watched Blaine bite his lip as he tucked every corner of tissue paper into the waiting box, just so. Kurt couldn't help but smile as he watched Blaine's curls bounce every time he moved his head. Just as he began to wonder what it would feel like to run his fingers through Blaine's hair, Blaine turned to him with a smile. "There! All set!"

Kurt blushed and smiled back. "Thank you, it looks great. Carole will love this, though she'll know my dad had nothing to do with presentation."

Blaine's smile dropped – maybe he did too much. "Oh, I'm sorry. I can make it less, I don't know, less snazzy?"

Kurt shook his head, "No, no, no, it's perfect. I promise! She was going to know regardless that my dad didn't pick it out. He's got horrible taste in everything, but I still love him." Blaine smiled at Kurt's honesty.

They stared each other for a few seconds, neither one knowing what to say next. They were really good at awkward silences. Then, all of a sudden, a beeping sound came from one of Blaine's shorts' pockets. He fumbled for his phone and saw it was from Derrek "Hey. U busy?" For a fraction of a second, Blaine thought he should text back, but quickly decided to shove the phone back where it came from.

"I should go," Kurt finally said. Blaine was about to protest when a couple customers wandered up to the kiosk. "You're busy and I have taken up way too much of your time. It was nice to meet you, Blaine. Thank you for, um," Kurt held up the Designs by Vanessa bag with the wrapped necklace in it.

Blaine smiled and nodded. "It was nice to meet you too, Kurt. Um, see ya!"

Kurt smiled and turned around, then quickly walked out the door and to his car. He flung open the door and talked to himself as he hopped in and buckled his seatbelt. "See ya. He said see ya. Does that mean something? No… he was probably just saying it to say it. Right? Right…. Blaine." He smiled to himself.

Blaine finished out his shift by answering questions and sitting on his stool, staring into space and thinking about Kurt. His phone beeped again and he absentmindedly shoved his hand in his pocket to retrieve it. It was Derrek again. "I 4got ur at work. Wanna hang 2morrow?" Blaine sighed, smiled to himself and texted back "Sure. See ya."