"The zoo?" Kurt asked, with a smirk.
"Yeah. It'll be fun. I love it here," I grinned at him. I've wanted to take Kurt to the zoo even before we were together. I practically grew up here; I used to live right down the road, so whenever I was feeling particularly lonely, I'd just grab my bike and just come here. The staff knew me well, and some of them still do. I knew my way around the place, and I knew all its secrets. And I was thrilled to finally get to share them with Kurt.
I pulled into the parking lot and drove towards the back entrance, reserved for staff. I smiled to myself at Kurt's face became puzzled.
"Wait, why are you-"
"Just hang on a sec, Kurt. I'm going to make a quick phone call." I pulled out my phone and pressed number three on my speed dial. The phone barely rang once before a familiar, cheery voice greeted me on the other end.
"Blaine! Long time no see! I miss you! You should totally come visit. Wait, it's a Saturday during the summer. Are you here?"
"Yeah, I'm out back. I have someone I want you to meet," Kurt's face was blank, obviously deep in thought.
"Awesome, I'll open up the gate. See you in a few!" I hung up the phone.
"Who was that, Blaine?" Kurt said, fiddling with his tie and fixing his hair.
"A friend. Come on, let's go. And you don't have to look perfect, you know. It's a zoo."
"Yeah, a zoo. A crowded zoo filled with cruel toddlers and judgmental parents," Kurt ignored my hint, glancing in the mirror once again.
Just then, the gate to the back of the zoo opened up to reveal a grinning girl. Ava.
"Blaine!" Ava called, running towards my car as I climbed out of it hurriedly. I was practically bulldozed over in her embrace, but I returned it almost as eagerly. "Blaine, I've missed you so much! You haven't been here in... like months! So much has happened here, I can't wait to tell you all about it! Come on, we got a new monkey! We'll have to hurry though, they feed in ten minutes. His name is Pluto, he's only two months old, but-"
"Woah, Ava, calm down!" I interrupted her rant, and pulled away from her. I saw Kurt awkwardly walk around the front of the car, and he stood a few feet behind where Ava and I stood, with a confused expression. I grinned at him, motioning him over. He did so cautiously, the corner of his mouth lifted into an awkward smile.
"Kurt, this is Ava. Ava has been working at the zoo since I was little. Her dad owns the place," Ava grinned, nodding. "And Ava, this is Kurt Hummel, my boyfriend."
"Hi," Kurt's cheeks flushed as he reached out his hand to Ava, who, predictably, ignored it and pulled Kurt into a gigantic hug.
"Hi, Kurt! Blaine's told me a lot about you! Well kind of, I knew you were his friend but not boyfriend... When did this happen? I'm very extremely curious. I've never met one of Blaine's boyfriends before. He hasn't had very many, though, I think. You're going to have to tell me every detail. I'm Ava, by the way! I'm awesome. You must be awesome to if you're with Blaine, because Blaine is very awesome. Ooh, and your hair is really nice, by the way. It's so fluffy and perfect and I think I'm kind of jealous of it." Kurt's face was shocked. Not sure if he was shocked in a good, friendly way, or a terrified kind of way.
"I try my best... But... do you mind letting go? I can't exactly breathe," he squeaked. Ava released Kurt, smiling even bigger than before, if physically possible. I took Kurt by the shoulders and pulled him close to me, and whispered in his ear.
"Get used to that, she tends to talk a lot."
"It's true, I really do. I just get excited easily. And really, why shouldn't I be excited? Blaine freaking Anderson is back at the zoo with his fancy new bf! Oh, everybody will be so thrilled to see you. It's been so long. You're new school must be really tough. Takes up all your time, you barely come to visit anymore... Do you go to Dalton too, Kurt?"
"No. I mean, yeah, I did. Not for long though, not anymore."
"Oh, bummer. But you and Blaine still seem pretty close, which is cool. Blaine needs someone like you to keep him sane. Or insane, I can't tell the difference. So yeah, about the monkeys. We should hurry if you still want to go. I mean, it's cool if you don't! I totally understand if you want to ditch me for your pretty little boyfriend. I mean, he sounds like a cool dude. And he has pretty awesome boots that I kind of want... Where did you get them? Do they make those for girls? Were they expensive? I wouldn't mind taking up another shift at the snack bar, I'm sure I could do it. I think-"
"No it's fine, Ava. We can go see the monkeys," I said, laughing. Kurt laughed too. I hoped that he and Ava would get along. Ava, too, had an eye for fashion.
Ava was probably around twenty-six. She was only a teenager when I started coming here. Her dad had her working here and there since she was ten, and Ava really enjoyed it. She's been more than a best friend for me when I was growing up. She's really supported me when I was trying to figure out who I am. And I've helped her a good deal, too. Ava is what one would call... well, probably crazy. She is always very energetic and has this passion about everything that she does. Sometimes the passion leaks into borderline obsessive, and some people have really given her crap about it. She's a lot like Kurt and I in the way that she loves musical theater, more than anything in the world. It's become such a passion in her that it's all she can think or talk about. Sure, we all have moments like this, but this is Ava's life. Her so-called friends at school have teased her about it and called her annoying because of it, and she had points where she felt like just getting rid of her personality completely. That's where I stepped in. I really helped Ava learn to accept herself, and she's a lot happier now, I think.

"Yeah, okay, sure. Let's go!" and with that, Ava grabbed my wrist and dragged me towards the gate. I clutched Kurt's wrist too, dragging him behind me, so the three of us were linked, stumbling forward in a clumsy jog. Kurt chuckled happily, and I couldn't help but do the same. He was going to have a great unofficial first day of summer, I just knew it.