"Yeah, actually the first time I saw it, it was Idina and Kristen! Amazing, right? I've seen it like five times since then, and none of them have been quite as good. Like, you just can't beat those two. They are like... the two most amazing people to ever walk this planet. Wicked just isn't the same without them..." Ava grinned, taking another lick of her ice cream cone. I can't believe that this girl has seen more musicals than me! She is like a less annoying and amazingly sweet version of a certain Rachel Berry.

"Oh my Oz, you're kidding!" I squeaked. My voice was embarrassingly high-pitched when I said that. "I'd kill to get to actually see those two as Elphie and Glinda! That's so amazing, how were they? I bet they did amazing. Actually, no, I know they did amazing. Tell me all about it! Every last detail, go!"

"Kurt, you are seriously turning into Ava. Slow down, you too. I'm having trouble keeping up with your crazy conversation," Blaine laughed, scooping a chunk of cookie dough out of the sundae we were sharing.

"Oh, Kurt, they were amazing... I swear, I'm going to be just like Idina. She's my role model. Have you seen her in Rent? A-ma-zing. Like, honestly. What can't that woman do? Have you seen Wicked, Blaine?"

"Well, no. I've listened to all the music and seen enough of it on YouTube, though. And Kurt talks about it only ten times a day. So, I've pretty much seen it. Never live, though." Ava looked up at me with a glimmer in her eye. I connected with her gaze, and I knew she was up to something.

"Let's go to New York. The three of us. Sometime this summer. I can drive us there, I'm a good driver. We can hit Broadway, and see Wicked. I also heard they have a Wicked museum there. With like... original costumes. It will be amazing. What do you think?"

"YES!" I nearly shouted. "Yes, yes, a million times yes. It will be so fun! New York! Two times in one year, I can't even believe the thought! Blaine, we gotta go! You'll love it so much! Blaine's never been to New York. I have, the New Directions, the McKinley glee club, we went there for nationals this year. We lost, but it was still amazing. Oh, Blaine, please can we go? It'll be so much fun, you'll love it! Please, Blaine?"

"Please, Blaine?" Ava repeated, batting her eyes and making a sort of puppy-dog face.

"You two are ridiculous. I kind of regret not introducing you guys sooner, you'll get along famously," Ava and I grinned at each other, agreeing. Seriously, Ava is this altered, enhanced version of my brain stuffed inside the body of an energetic twenty-six year old girl.

"Please tell me that's a yes, Blaine. That better be a yes," Ava threatened. I, too, had resorted to batting my eyelashes adorably.

"Pretty, pretty please with a cherry on top? And cookie dough. I know you love cookie dough," I pleaded, poking his tummy underneath the table excitedly.

"I'll think about it. I don't know if my parents will let me go and stuff. I'll get back to you," Blaine said. His parents? Since when did his parents care what he did? They never did before. Blaine avoided my eye contact, and he resumed his previous task of removing the cookie dough from the ice cream and devouring it. What was up with him?

"Aw, Blaine. You no fun. No, but seriously. Kurt, if Blaine can't make it, you and I could totally take the city on our own. We'd even be able to hit a couple of designer stores we wouldn't have been able to get away with dragging Blaine around," Ava grinned at me. Seriously, I love this girl.

"Ha, it seems like you two would be better off without me anyway."

"Aw, of course not, Blainey. It's just that you don't understand fashion like Kurtsie and I do."

"Kurtsie? You're already using pet names? Should I be getting worried? I'd hate to lose my boyfriend to my best friend, that'd hurt." I laughed. Even if Ava was one of the best people I've ever met, my mind can't even think of ever being with anybody but Blaine.

"Aw, don't worry about it, Blaine. Kurt and I will never ever be anything more than best friends forever. You're my best friend forever, too. So the three of us can be best friends forever together, except for you and Kurtsie will be more than friends. So it will be like I'll be best friends forever with you two, and you two will be best friends forever with me, and you two will be in love forever and ever," Ava said in her usual mile a minute speed.

"Yeah, that makes total sense..." muttered Blaine, smirking. I looked down at our ice cream. Totally deprived of cookie dough, more milk than ice cream at this point. Ava was just popping the remainder of her ice cream cone into her mouth.

"Hey, Blaine? Can we see the polar bears now? I've never seen a polar bear before," the excitement in my voice was undeniable. Because, well, I was excited. I'd never been to a zoo before. I went to a wildlife center when I was twelve, but that was mostly deer and stuff. Not as fun. So yeah, I was excited. And since it was just Blaine and Ava around, I didn't hide it.

"Actually, I gotta bolt. It's a bit past two, and I got a shift at the gift shop. I'll be out around five, if you guys are still around. Maybe we can catch dinner after?" I glanced at Blaine questioningly. I wasn't in any rush to be home. My dad knew where we were and I'm pretty sure he figures that we're at a zoo, and we really won't be gone too long. I wasn't sure about Blaine, but I was totally for seeing Ava more. He nodded, smiling slightly.

"Yeah. Do you want to meet outside at closing time?" Blaine asked.

"Sounds awesome. I'll meet you by your car, kay?" she beamed and Blaine nodded. Her walkie-talkie attached to her belt buzzed, followed by a yell that was undeniably her father giving her a hard time about being late. She replied to her father with some colorful language before jogging off, waving goodbye with a grin.

Things with Blaine and I were almost awkward once Ava had gone. Neither of us had anything relevant to say, so we just sat there for a minute, enjoying the slight summer breeze. He squeezed my hand where our fingers remained intertwined, kissed my forehead and whispered in my ear.

"Polar bears?" I smiled and nodded, and he stood up from the picnic bench. "Come on, I know a short cut."

As it turned out, Blaine knew the polar bear keeper, too. So far, he'd known the keeper to every single exhibit we've visited. It was actually pretty amazing, because he'd let us get up close to the animals. I'd even gotten to pet a giraffe. Now I can check that off of my bucket list.

"Look, Blaine! A polar bear!" I said, my voice reaching its highest note all day. He chuckled, nodding.

"Yes, Kurt. That's a polar bear. Great job, you know your animals," his voice was replete with sarcasm. I stuck my tongue at him, but I guess I did give him a pretty good reason to tease. But he smiled at me. "Come on, I want to show you something."

He led me around the exhibit, where a white keycard-locked door blocked any entry. When Blaine pulled out a card that I could only assume opened this door, I couldn't say I was surprised, but I certainly wasn't expecting it. I raised an eyebrow at him as he slid the card through the slit and it buzzed and flashed green, but he just returned it with a knowing smile.

We were just about to enter when a husky voice said something from behind us.

"The unicorn exhibit is at the other side of the zoo, fairies."