Kurt picked out his outfit for his first meeting with Callahan and their client. Before today, he never had put too much effort into his outfits but Kurt was slowly changing his mind to that fact. He even took him shopping for new outfits. Blaine had to admit that there was something really special about a nice outfit. He walked into the room that morning with his medium drip from Santana and Kurt at his side. Blaine did not know if it was the outfit he was wearing or the scathing look that Warner gave him that morning, but he felt untouchable. They all took their spots at the round table and waited for their client to arrive.

Vaughn caught Blaine’s eyes and wrapped himself around Warner’s arms protectively. Blaine felt the heat of his eyes, burrowing into the side of his head so he looked over. He rolled his eyes so hard in disgust, he worried that they might fall out. Kurt laughed into the palm of his hand as he watched the two of them. Enid, the fourth intern was staring off into space, unaware of anything going on around her.

The door creaked open and in walked Professor Callahan. The interns all sat up stiffly and waited for him to sit down. Callahan dropped his briefcase into an empty chair and then settled into the one next to it. “Our client is running a little late, so I thought I would catch you up on the details.” Callahan clasped his hands together on the desk and stared at them intently. “Brock Taylor is our client, he runs a fitness company where he produces videos and other merchandise.”

Blaine leaned into Kurt. “Brock Taylor....why does that name sound so familiar?”

Kurt shrugged.

“Brock is only putting this fashion show on because it is his girlfriend’s idea to market his fitness brand. He has no fashion experience, what so ever. I am going to need your help on this one because I do not know how to get through to him. He has been, by far the most frustrating client I have ever worked with.”

“How so sir?” Kurt folded his arms across his chest.

“He does not know what kind of designs he wants to market his brand. I asked him if he wants workout clothes, he said no. I asked him street clothes, he said no. I asked him swim wear, he said no. He does not know what he wants.”

Blaine looked at Kurt. He did not understand why this was so frustrating.

“What does his girlfriend want? Has anyone asked her?”

Everyone looked at Kurt.

“What, she seems to be the brains behind this operation?”

“She is a model herself and is away in Paris doing a photo shoot, so Brock is all we get.” Callahan responded in a cold tone. “You can ask him all of the questions that you want when he arrives. I want to use this time now to discuss what type of clothing you guys would like to design for your section of the show. Since he does not know what he wants, I am going to assign each group what they will be designing.”

“Evening gowns are easy, we just covered them in class.” Warner suggested.

“But they are not much fun.” Kurt clicked his tongue. “Don’t get me wrong, all your dresses were wonderful but you guys need to do something new and different.”

“What about street clothes?” Blaine said quietly.

“Street clothes? How original!” Vaughn’s tone dripped in sarcasm.

“I kind of like the idea of street clothes. Let’s build on this.” Callahan held up a hand to him.

Blaine smiled. “Well maybe we could design something that could double as work out clothes but cute enough to wear out to lunch or to the bank or something.”

Callahan stroked his chin. “Hmm, that could be difficult to design. What if we did cute clothes to cover up your workout clothes.”

Blaine cocked his head to the side and smiled.

“That is actually kind of brilliant.” Kurt nudged him with his foot under the table.

Blaine looked at Kurt as he looked at Callahan.

What was that about?

“That settles it.” Callahan rubbed his hands together and then checked his watch.

Vaughn and Warner talked to each other in a hushed tone while Enid started doodling in her sketch pad.

The door opened and a man entered. He was very well put together in his three piece suit and his hair slicked back. “I am sorry I am so late everyone. My morning meeting ran longer than anticipated. I take it that these are the young interns Callahan?”

“First years.”

He nodded and then sat down in the seat next to him.

Blaine studied his face hard, where had he seen it before? It was really starting to bug him.

“I just finished talking to them and explaining to them the game plan. They chose what kind of clothes they will be designing for their challenge and I told them about you. I think they may have questions.”

Warner raised his free hand, “Excuse me, Mr. Taylor. What are you looking for in these designs?”

Brock chewed on his bottom lip and then shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know a thing about fashion. My girlfriend feels that this is a great way to market my growing brand and bring it to a newer audience. I need all the help I can get.”

Vaughn’s mouth hung open and Warner hit him hard to compose himself.

“Mr. Taylor, are you more interested in women’s styles or men’s styles?” Kurt bit on his thumb nail.

Brock’s eyes lit up. “I would love to see both styles in there actually. Nobody has asked me that questions yet.”

Callahan nodded. “Warner and Enid you will be doing men’s fashions. Blaine and Vaughn you will be doing women’s fashions.”

Blaine looked at Vaughn who gave him the look like he had just shit his pants.

“Awesome.” Blaine said under his breath. “Just wonderful.”

“Right well if any of you have questions, Mr. Taylor will stay behind and answer them, otherwise I would like to see you in the studio working on your pieces.” Callahan collected his items and left the room.

Kurt tied his scarf around his neck and glanced back at Blaine, “See you at the studio?”

Blaine nodded but remained in his seat. Slowly each of his classmates left the room, Vaughn and Brock had a long discussion over fabrics which only seemed to confuse him more.

After Vaughn left, it was just Blaine and Brock in the room together.

“I am sorry if this is a weird question but did you go to Dalton Academy in Ohio?”

Brock smiled. “Yeah actually, I did. Did you?”

Blaine nodded. “I did, just graduated actually. Were you in the Warblers?”

Brock ran his fingers through his hair. “Yes, I was lead vocalist my senior year.”

“I was lead vocalist for three years! I knew I recognized you from somewhere.”

“And now you are here.”

“Was not my first choice. Fashion is a new love of mine.”

“Oh?”

Blaine looked down at his hands. “Originally I wanted to go to school for music. I decided to transfer here for love, a love I thought I could win back.” Blaine shrugged.

“That did not exactly work out, so I have thrown myself into my school work and grew to love it.”

“Good to know there is another Warbler around.”

“Actually Warner, one of the other interns, he was a Warbler as well.”

“Something tells me he is the love you transferred for.”
Blaine did not respond.

Brock put one hand on his shoulder. “Hey, don’t get yourself down about it. Is there anything else you want to talk about regarding this disaster of a fashion show.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I know hardly any more than you when it comes to these things.”

“Oh good. I am not alone!”. He laughed.

“I am hoping to learn along the way. I have learned a lot but I have a ways to go.”

“We should meet for coffee sometime. I could really use the help in deciphering all of this fashion lingo.”

“I know just the place.”
------
Blaine sat in the studio at his desk making different sketches for what he wanted to do. Kurt walked in with 2 bags of fabric in his hands.

“You work quick.”

“Wouldn’t be where I was if I didn’t.” Kurt moved his face close to Blaine’s and smirked.

Blaine rolled his eyes.

“What are you working on?”

Blaine covered his drawing with his hands. “Nuh uh. This is top secret.”

“Fine.” Kurt laughed. “ I did not want to see them anyway.” He dropped his bags off at his station.

“I am meeting Brock for coffee tomorrow.”

“Oh.” Kurt backtracked over to Blaine’s station. Kurt’s eyes were wide with intrigue.

“Yeah, he used to be a Warbler and we connected on that and he asked me to help him learn things about fashion.”

“Well I could come with you if you need me too.”

“Sorry, Warblers only. Besides, I think he wants to talk to me because I am not that well verse in fashion.”

Kurt looked taken aback. “Oh okay. Let me know if he gives you any good information to go off on.” His tone had completely changed.

Blaine nodded, not looking up from his sketches.

Kurt walked over to his station and began unpacking his fabric.

He looked over at Kurt who slouched over his sketchpad as he absentmindedly twirled the fabric between his fingers.

Blaine noticed the change in his tone and demeanor but did not want to think to much upon it.
-----
He did however, Blaine could not stop thinking about it. In face, he could not help but look over at Kurt every so often for the rest of the afternoon. He had his iPod earbuds stuck in his ears and busied himself with his work. After watching him intently for 35 minutes, Blaine knew that he should be doing the same. He decided to go shopping for fabric before meeting up with Santana for coffee. He finalized the designs of his garment, took a long look over at Kurt and then packed up his things to go.

He could not understand really why Kurt seemed so upset with him. He was trying to make the best of the situation he was in and do right by his first client. Kurt understands that, doesn’t he? Well, if he did, maybe he would not be acting this way. Maybe he wouldn’t of looked the way he did. Yet again, Blaine was confused and had no idea where to turn.

The walk to the fabric store was short with all of the things that were on Blaine’s mind. Walking into the store however, was a whole other dilemma. The rows and rows of fabric, perfectly pressed and rolled and arranged by color were inspiring but also very intimidating. Blaine walked around the store 17 times before he took a break. As confident as he was beginning to feel as a designer, he realized, he still needed Kurt. Not in a hand holding, leading him around the store kind of way but in the way of bouncing back and forth ideas. He needed that second person to provoke him into discussions that would open up his mind to what his design could become. Kurt was good at that, he had helped him do that all last semester. In fact, it came so naturally to the two of them, Blaine was unaware if he would be able to make an important decision like this on his own ever again.

But.. Blaine really needed to try to do this on his own. He got up from the chair he had plopped himself in to and walked back over to the floral print section. For some reason, they were calling out to him in this moment. Maybe it would please Kurt if he could pick something great on his own.

When did he care about pleasing Kurt so much?

Blaine settled on a particular fabric and looked for others to go along with it. He really hoped it would go over well with Kurt.

He had the fabric cut and he paid for it. Feeling that sense of pride in his chest again, he could do this on his own. He took the bag from the woman who worked there and made a beeline straight to the coffee shop. Santana should be on shift right now and he really needed to talk to her or maybe just have her talk to him which she was also very good at.

His calculations were correct and when he entered the coffee shop he was met with the brilliant smile of his favorite latina.

“Just the man I wanted to see today.”

“Good because you are just the woman I was looking for. When do you get off?”

Santana raised an eyebrow. “Lucky for you, 20 minutes. Do you mind waiting?”

“Not at all. I will take our usual chairs.”

“Do you want your usual Sir King of the Bland?”

Blaine tipped his head back and let out a hearty laugh.

“Yes, a medium drip is fine.”

“You really need to get out more. There is more to life than medium drip.”

“And there are more expressions in the human realm than sarcasm.”

“Cute Anderson. I think I am beginning to rub off on you. I think I will keep you around a bit longer.”

“Like you could get rid of me otherwise?”

Santana thrust his coffee over the counter to him. “You know that cuteness factor can only last for so long before it gets annoying.”

“I’ll take what I can get.”

She smiled.”I promise I won’t be long. I am going to close out my register now and hopefully I can get off a few minutes earlier.”

Blaine shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. Take your time. Really, I don’t mind waiting.”
-----
Ten minutes later the door chime went off as someone entered the shop but Blaine did not bother looking up from his laptop. After the many hours he had spent in this shop, he was starting to not even hear the chime any more. What broke him out of his spell however was Santana stumbling over her own words. He looked up to see Santana stumbling over her own tongue while talking to a pretty blonde girl who appeared to be delivering some newspapers.

Blaine leaned forward to hear their conversation.

“I got to write an article in this issue Santana!”

“What did you write about?” Santana was clearly infatuated with this girl. It made Blaine chuckle to himself. He was going to give her a hard time over this.

“Earthquakes!” The girl squeaked. “I wrote about how the ground gets angry and if we are not nice to it it will start to shake. I even gave my own list on how to not make it angry.”

Santana’s smile was so wide, Blaine thought it may cut her face in half. “I can not wait to read it.”

“Can you sign this for me please?” The girl held out a form.

Santana took it from her and signed it.

“OH MY GOD! That cupcake looks amazing!” The girls face was now pressed up against the glass of the pastry display.

“Do ya-” Santana cleared her voice. “Do you want it?”

The girl looked up at her. “Can I?”

Santana pulled back the glass door of the display and careful grabbed the cupcake in question with the tongs and put it into a small white box. She closed the box and slid it across the counter.

The girl bounced on her heels. “Oh thank you Santana! I will see you next week.” With that the girl turned on her heels and practically skipped out of the store.

Santana watched her leave and once she was out the door she moved her gaze to Blaine who thought that if he held his laughter in any longer, his spleen would explode from the pressure.

“SHUT IT HOBBIT! I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT.”

Blaine roared with laughter and he almost fell out of his seat.

Santana walked around the counter and was in his face within seconds.

“You have a crush Santana?” He brushed away the tears in his eyes.

Santana chewed her bottom lip and then dropped into the opposite chair. “I am a lovesick puppy around her.”

Blaine let his last giggles out.

Santana punched him in the shoulder.

“Ouch, hey that hurt!”

“And there will be more coming your way if you don’t shut it!”

“Fine fine. Testy much?” He rubbed his eyes with the heels of him palms.

“Like your face much?” She held up a fist.

“Cool it De la Hoya, tell me about her.”

Santana sulked back into the chair. “Her name is Brittany. She goes to my school and works for a small newspaper company. I think I have been in love with her since the first day I met her.”

Blaine nodded. “So, have you talked to her outside of school and work.”

“I sent her a happy birthday message on facebook last month.”

“That hardly counts Santana.”

Santana shrugged. “What do you expect from me? I really like the girl and when I am around her, I lose my tough girl exterior and become a puddle at her feet.”

Blaine hummed in understanding. “You really like her then?”

“Completely and utterly.”

“Never thought I would see you so love struck before. Especially after all the stories you have told me.”

“That was different...she is different.”

“Well you need to go after her.”

Santana stood up and went back to the counter and tried to find something to do and avoid Blaine’s conversation.

“Oh, she left this.” Santana picked up the form that Brittany had asked her to sign and held it up to show Blaine.

Blaine got up and joined Santana at the counter and took the paper from her. “You know what this means don’t you?
She has to come back and get it.”

Santana groaned.

Blaine put one hand on her arm. “Clock out and I will teach you the secret gay weapon to get someones attention.

Santana groaned again. “Secret gay...ohmygodBlaine.”

He laughed. “I am serious. So hurry up.”

She pulled her arm out from under his and disappeared into
the back of the store.

Blaine stood in the clearing between tables and rolled up his sleeves. Santana came out from the back room and covered her face at the sight of Blaine.

“What can you possibly teach me?” She made sure to add an extra emphasis on the word you.

“The bend and snap.”

“The what?”

“The bend and snap. Here, let me show you.” Blaine bent
over like he was going to pick something off the ground but then snapped up quickly tucking his arms at his side.

“Blaine.... Blaine... what the hell was that?”

“The bend and snap! I swear to you it works. It is like a secret gay trick that we pass along through the community.”

“Well, does it work Obi Wan?”

“How do you think Warner noticed me?”

“Warner sounds more and more like a complete idiot the more you talk about him. Now I know he is one if he fell for you over this move.”

Blaine shoved her playfully. “Try it before you knock it Santana!”

She gave him a seething glare but gave in. She reached down to the floor and snapped up and tucked her hands under her boobs.

“Excellent, nice touch there are the end Grasshopper.”

“Shut it Anderson. I feel ridiculous doing it.”

“Do you need proof that it works?”

“Actually I would love proof.”

Blaine looked around the room and found a boy sitting alone drinking his coffee and playing with his iPhone.

“Alright, I will go for that boy there.”

Blaine grabbed a straw off a neighboring table as he walked over towards this boy. He dropped the straw next to the boy.

“Oh gosh.” Blaine said quietly.

The boy looked up from his phone.

Blaine bent down and picked up the straw but slowly dragged his hand along his calf as he snapped up. He looked down at the boy whose jaw had just dropped open.

“Clumsy ol’ me!”

Blaine then turned around and walked back to Santana, the boy not breaking eye contact with his back as he walked away.

“You are such a tease!”

Blaine laughed. “There are some things you still have to learn about me.”

He jumped down into his chair and Santana eased herself into the other.

“So it works.”

“It works. Quite well.” Blaine took a sip of his coffee.

“Then why have you not used it on Kurt?”

Blaine almost sprayed Santana.

“Oh please, do not tell me you don’t have feelings for that sex pot.”

“Santana! We are friends.”

“Just friends?”

“Yes!” He pleaded.

“You sure?” Santana raised an eyebrow up at him.

“Yes Santana. He is my mentor. That is it.”

“I see the way he looks at you.”

Blaine’s face softened. “The...what?”

Santana wiped the corner of her mouth. “He looks at you with the most loving glance. Like you are the only boy in the room.”

Blaine felt his cheeks grow hot. “No he doesn’t, you are just saying that.”

She pressed her lips together. “You mean to tell me that you have never noticed it before?”

“There is nothing to notice, we are friends. Friends don’t have looks.”

“I think you need to really look at him Blaine. You should of seen him at Open Mic night.. He could not keep his eyes off of you as you performed with me. When you guys talk, he hangs off your every word. That boy has a mega crush on my little Blainey!”

Blaine looked at the floor, idly rubbing his shoes together.

Santana laughed. “I can not believe you never noticed it.”
Blaine did not respond. He continued to stare at his shoes.

Does Kurt really look at him like that? Does he have feelings for him or is San messing with him. She would do that but then again, it would make Kurt’s recent actions understandable. Blaine still did not want to be convinced that was the reason. So looking at his shoes looked like the thing to do right now.

The door chime when off and Blaine looked up to see Brittany walking in.

“Saved by the bell.” He muttered under his breath.

“Hey Santana!”

Santana froze in her seat.

“I left my form here and my boss will need it.”

Santana stood up stiffly and walked toward the counter. “I will get it for you it is right over here...somewhere.”

Brittany walked over towards Santana.

She noticed the form and reached over the counter and grabbed it. When she turned to give it to her she yelped at how close Brittany was and she dropped the paper on the ground, falling at Brittany’s feet.

Santana nervously looked over at Blaine who motioned for her to go through with it.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, bending over to grab the piece of paper.

“Let me get it Sanny!” Brittany began to bend over to grab it.

It was too late. Santana was already in the snap motion and smacked the back of her head against Brittany’s face.
Brittany fell to the ground clutching her nose and Santana looked down at her in shock.

She fell to her knees beside Brittany. “I am so sorry Britt. I am so so so sorry.” She held her hands over Brittany’s that covered her face. “Let me see.”

Brittany moved her hands to show that her nose was bleeding.

“Oh my god. Let me take you to the back to wash you up.”
Santana got to her feet and then helped Brittany up as
well.

Blaine however, was violently shaking from silent laughter in his chair, teetering on the edge about to fall out. Santana noticed this and shot him an icy cold glare.

“I hope you choke and die Anderson!”

Santana led Brittany into the back room and Blaine slid out of his chair and broke into hysterical laughter.

He pulled his phone out of his back pocket and clicked on his inbox and searched for Kurt’s name. “I need you. Can I meet up with you?”