Kurt Hummel works during the week at a coffee shop. It's a part-time job, but it keeps him busy enough., most of the time. He never works on Thursdays and he works early on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the summer. In the free time he spends sitting around his apartment with Toby or hoping Rachel will call him to make plans, he gets the idea.

“Hi, I heard you guys were running short on volunteers.” The idea that led him to Sharon's office at that little animal shelter where he first met Blaine and found his new companion. “I heard this place is going to be closing down, but until that happens, I'd love to help out with my free time.”

“Hell, it's not like it'll hurt.” She tosses him an “Adopt Today!” shirt and starts teaching him how to care for the animals and what paperwork needs to be filled out, on the rare chance that someone actually decides to adopt one of their animals.

And just like that, Kurt is a volunteer at an animal shelter.

As he steps in a pile of dog poop in his new shiny boots, he wonders what he just got himself into.

Blaine wants to see Kurt again. He's debated calling him again, but he knows he already messed that up, and it was his last chance. He debates checking his paperwork for his address and casually taking daily walks by his apartment, hoping to run into him. He realizes he's probably a stalker for even considering that.

“I don't know what to tell ya, Squirt,” Cooper says coolly over the phone. “Looks like you're gonna be alone forever.”

“Cooper.”

“What? Kid, you never take chances. Ever. That's your own fault. I was amazed you actually called him, to be honest, and I'm not that surprised that you messed it up.”

“Gee, thanks.” Blaine's sitting on his couch staring at a blank wall. A blank wall because he doesn't have any photos to hang there, the way he imagined there would be when he first viewed the apartment. Sure, he has one photo of him and Cooper (that Cooper decided to sign for him for his birthday) and a photo of him with the Warblers, but having two photos on a whole blank wall is just sort of... sad.

“Maybe you should take the money I send you this year and put it towards getting laid, Blainey.” Blaine sputters.

“I'm not getting a prostitute, Cooper!”

“They're just people, Squirt.”

“Cooper!”

“I'm just saying, it's a respectable profession-”

“No!”

“Alright, alright, fine,” Coop surrenders. “On that note, I've got a date.”

“With a prostitute?” Blaine quips.

“Very funny, kid. I don't pay people to sleep with me. Most of them would sell their own house for the chance. Call ya later, Blainey. Enjoy your hand!” He hangs up with another word and Blaine groans, sinking into his seat and covering his face with a pillow.

He can't end up alone forever. Kurt wasn't his only chance. Sure, Kurt's gorgeous and from Ohio and sings and is gorgeous—but that doesn't mean anything, right?

It can't mean anything, because he's never going to see Kurt Hummel again.

Kurt works during the week, so he never sees Blaine. He's disappointed, but he tries not to show it, when a volunteer named Chrissy explains that Blaine's only in on weekends. Kurt likes Chrissy. She reminds him of Santana, and while he and Santana were never really best friends, the familiarity is comforting.

He finds that he really enjoys working at the shelter, even if he doesn't get to see Blaine. You're not here for Blaine. You're here to help the animals. Stop thinking about Blaine, he tells himself for the millionth time.

“I can't believe you're working in an animal shelter in your free time,” Rachel says over brunch. It's the first time he's seen her since she moved out, and the thought kind of hurts. He shrugs, picking at the remnants of his spinach quiche.

“It's not like I have anything better to do with my spare time. They need the help, so I figured, why not?” Rachel nods slowly, sipping her chai tea.

“You know, you can call me in your spare time. Just because I'm not living with you doesn't mean you aren't still my best friend, Kurt.”

“You haven't called me, either,” he replies childishly. Rachel shoots him a look as he crosses his arms over his chest.

“I've been busy unpacking and working, Kurt, and you know that. You know I've been busy, and I'm sorry if you feel abandoned, but that was never my intention. Things with Jesse are going really well, Kurt, and I'm really happy... I'd be happier if you didn't hate me so much for leaving.”

“I don't... hate you,” Kurt says lamely. “I don't. And the apartment isn't so bad now that I have Toby, I just... got really used to always having you around, Rachel. I liked always having you around.” She gives him an apologetic look and reaches over to hold his hand over the table.

“I'll tell you what, let's go to the movies tomorrow. That new Cooper Anderson movie just came out and I hear he's shirtless in it a lot. We'll make a day of it.”

“Tomorrow's Thursday, I volunteer at the shelter,” Kurt argues.

“In the afternoon, yeah. We'll go tomorrow night.” He hesitates. “Kurt, come on. Come to a movie with me. It'll be fun.” He sighs, knowing it's no use to fight her. Rachel always gets what she wants.

“Fine, I'll go, but we have to go for dinner, too. I'm not eating any of that disgusting movie theater food.” Rachel squeals in delight.

“This is going to be great! Look, I have to get going, but I'll see you tomorrow. You get to pick where we eat, okay?” She gathers her purse and leans over to kiss his cheek. “Jesse and I will pick you up at six!” Kurt's mouth falls open but she's waving and rushing out the door before he can protest.

Great. Just what he wanted.