Kurt looked up when he heard loudly pealing laughter from a group of older kids as they chased each other into the ocean. They splashed in the water as the blue waves rolled in onto the sandy beach.

"Dont you want to go play in the water?" Kurts mom asked and he smiled up at her before looking back down at the sand castle he was making. It was almost done, he just needed to build that water thing around it, all the best castles had that water thing.

"Not until its finished; it still needs water," Kurt answered, scrunching up his little nose as his mother smiled at him.

"Water?"

"Like around it, in a circle."

"Ahhh, a moat."

Kurt nodded seriously. "I need to do that first."

His mother leaned over and gave him a peck on his forehead. "Okay, Im going to go sit with dad for a little while. Come and get me and well get in the water together."

Kurt watched her walk back to where his dad was relaxing in a beach chair; she kissed him awake and Kurt smiled before turning away. This had been the best family vacation ever, he loved the beach. Kurt grabbed his yellow plastic shovel and starting giving his sand castle a moat, the sun hot on his shoulders and the salty ocean breeze in his face.

His mom had put on so much sun-tan lotion that he felt a little greasy, but mostly he didnt even care that there was sand in his bathing suit and lotion all over his skin. He was having fun. He finished the moat and then hurried to his parents. "Its done! Its done come and see!"

His mom got up and grabbed his hand and his dad got up, grabbing an empty plastic pail and heading towards to ocean. "Arent you going to come look daddy?" Kurt asked, feeling a little disappointed.

"Of course bud, give me a second."

Kurt tugged his mom over to the castle and started pointing out its unique structure. "That is the tower where the princess sleeps and the knight has to climb up and save her. Or a prince… A prince might need saving too, right?" Kurt asked looking at his mom for the answer. "If I was a knight could I save a prince?"

"Of course." She answered easily as his dad joined them, water now in the plastic pail. "Mommy said you built a moat, want some water for it?"

"Yes!" Kurt answered excitedly as his dad poured the ocean water into the moat hed dug. Now it was perfect. The three of them went to play in the ocean after that and Kurt all but forgot about his sand castle until the sun started going down in the sky and it was time to leave.

Hed been happy and energetic all day, but now as his mother carried him back to where theyd left their stuff, he felt heavy and sun sleepy. "You are going to sleep soundly tonight arent you baby?" She asked, and Kurt just nodded before picking up his head. What was that noise? Kurt looked over to where hed made his sand castle, it sounded like it was coming from over there.

"Can I go see my castle again before we go?"

"Yes, but dont go far, it wont take us long to be ready." She put him down and started packing their things into a beach bag and Kurt ran over to his castle only to stop short, his stomach dropping when he saw the castle was destroyed. It looked like someone had walked right on top of it. He got down on his knees and reached out with a chubby little hand. "My castle," he said sadly, his eyes filling with tears.

Then, the sound he heard started again, it was faint, a rhythm of some kind.

Baa bump baa bump. It was coming from inside his ruined castle, he dug though the sand with his hands for a minute. Baa bump baa bump. Baa bump baa bump. The noise was getting faster and louder until Kurt uncovered a rock, bigger than his hand and ruby red in the light of the setting sun. Baa bump. He reached out and picked it up and the sound stopped immediately. The stone looked smooth like glass and cought the sunlight beautifulyl.

"Oh honey." Kurt looked up to see he mom standing over him. "Im sorry about your castle."

Kurt didnt care much about his sand castle anymore. "Look what I found." He said lifting up the rock.

"Thats pretty." She said giving him a warm smile.

"Feel it." His mom reached out and ran her hand over it; it was a little bigger than her fist. "The ocean has made it nice and smooth hasnt it?"

"Can I keep it?"

"Kurt, you already have that whole bag of seashells…" She sighed as Kurt looked up at her, he knew he had found a lot of great seashells, but none of them were as special as this rock. Hed give them up if it meant he could keep it.

"Please?"

"Okay sweetie, what is one more thing to put it the bag?"

Kurt jumped up happily. This rock was important, he could tell. His dad ended up carrying him back to the car and he fell asleep on his way to the hotel room. They woke him up for dinner and he watched a little TV before going to bed.

It was dark and quiet in the room aside from the sound of his dad snoring when he woke up. Kurt sat up in bed and listened. Did he hear his rock again? He slipped out of bed and walked to the beach bag by the door, looking through it until he found his plastic bag of seashells, and among them, the smooth red rock. It wasnt making any noise, but when he pulled it out, it felt warm in his hands. He carried it back to bed with him and tucked it under the covers.

"If you are going to make funny sounds again." He yawned as his eyes fluttered closed. "Im listening."

"Kurt you are not cancelling on me. No way"

Kurt sighed as Mercedess insistent voice came through his phone. "Cedes, trust me Id much rather spend the evening with you than work on a group project for school, but I cant help it."

"Tell them you have plans. Better yet, give me these drama kids numbers and Ill tell them."

Kurt smiled at her fervor. "As much fun for me as that would be, we just need to get this done."

"I thought youd gotten all of your school work out of the way so we could have quality time this weekend?"

Kurt rubbed his head and stopped on the street where he was walking, and then quickly got out of the way as people starting bumping into him. He had told Mercedes that hed been done with his school work so they could have the whole evening together. He just hadnt planned for the incompetence of the people in his group.

"Do you really need this grade?" Mercedes asked in a softer voice when it seemed that Kurt wasnt going to respond. The thing was, he didnt. He had good grades in this class and had already done his part of the project. It was just that the others would hate him for bailing on them and their last minute group meeting..

He was only going to this thing to be nice. So that these people in his group who he didnt even like that much would like him. People rarely ever do something selflessly kind. Kurt frowned as Blaines words from the day before came back to him. He didnt believe that; people were kind. There was true goodness in the world despite the aggravating words of some good-looking self-important jerk.

In this case rude coffee shop guy had been right though, Kurt was only going so his classmates would think well of him. And when it came down to it, hed rather do right by Mercedes who was so busy he rarely got too see her.

"No, I dont need the grade that badly," Kurt answered. "And I do need some girl talk."

"Yes! Okay, Ill meet you at the restaurant at 7:30?"

"Ill be there." Hed just email his part of the project to the rest of the group and wish them the best.

Kurt had known Mercedes since his glee club days in high school. They had been fast friends, and besides a rough patch with Mercedess brief crush on him before he came out, theyd been inseparable ever since. In fact, she was the first person Kurt had ever said the words, "Im gay" to and shed been wonderful about it.

Mercedes worked as a recording artist now and was in New York getting inspiration for her next album. Her career was doing really well; she wasnt famous enough to get mobbed on the street for autographs, but she had the fan base to allow her to tour the country, signing at some smaller venues that she always packed. Kurt was glad to have her in New York for a while. He had to admit hed been a little lonely since his friend and roommate Rachel had moved away.

Kurt made sure to dress to the nines for dinner knowing Mercedes would do the same, and as he walked into the restaurant and saw her, he was glad of what he was wearing, cravat and all. She was in a sparkly purple dress that came down to just above her knees and made every other woman in the room pale in comparison.

"Kurt!" She called and gave him a big hug as he approached. "Boy you look fabulous."

"So do you!"

"Thats true." She beamed at him, her smile bright against her perfect dark skin. They sat down for dinner and talked like they hadnt seen each other for months, though the truth was theyd had dinner together just a couple of weeks ago.

"And Kurt, there is a new guy in my touring crew," she said excitedly. "His name is Tank and…" She got a faraway look in her eyes.

"Really?" Kurt lifted an eyebrow and watched her get lost in thought; it had been too long since hed seen that look on his friends face.

"He is dreamy," Mercedes finished. "And Hot. And dreamy."

Kurt laughed at that and they spent a little time talking about how cute and awkward Tank had been asking her out for the first time, especially for a man whose size reflected his name.

"God Cedes you are so lucky to have found a nice guy. I swear the men in New York are getting worse and worse."

"Kurt, there has to be someone at NYADA thats caught your eye, isnt there a guy there that keeps asking you out?"

"Hes only asked me out two or three times."

"Oh, only two or three." Mercedes rolled her eyes.

"But Im not sure Aaron is the guy for me."

"He doesnt have to be the one," Mercedes said dramatically. "Just go on a date, have some fun!"

"I find I dont have much fun when I force myself to go out with someone."

Mercedes huffed out a breath and crossed her arms. "Fine. What about hot coffee shop guy?"

"You mean cute coffee shop guy?"

Mercedes smiled and Kurt looked down at his nearly empty plate in embarrassment, he should have said what coffee shop guy? Did he really talk about him enough that Mercedes remembered it? Kurt drew a breath and looked back up, "I talked to him actually."

"No!"

"And it was… awful."

"What?"

"You know how they say, never meet your heroes? Well, I think you should also never meet the people you have been crushing on from afar because its bound to let you down. Seriously, he is the one thats made me doubt there are any good single guys left in New York."

"What happened. Was he straight?" Mercedes teased.

"What? No. I mean I dont even know. I gave up crushing on straight boys after high school you know that, I get a distinct interested in men vibe from him. He was just… mean."

"Mean? To you?" Mercedes sat up, her face going hard, as if at Kurts word shed go track this guy down and hit him over the head with her purse right then.

Kurt shifted uncomfortably in his chair; talking about this made him gloomy and he hated feeling this way. He was strong and confident and didnt pine over guys who werent worth the time of day. "Yeah, he said something about how I was only being nice to him because I had something to gain from it… or something like that. It was awkward. I might have snapped at him."

"Oh Kurt," Mercedes said, covering his hand with her own, but she couldnt help the smile that was attempting to spread over her face. "Did you give him a good Kurt Hummel bitch rant?"

"I wish. I was mostly really shocked and disappointed; he always looked so… nice." Kurt shrugged, not really wanting to talk about it anymore.

"Uh huh, you liked him because he seemed nice."

"That was part of it!" Kurt insisted. "He always holds the door open for other customers and he always tips the baristas and he helped get a toy that had rolled under the counter one day for a crying child. He gives up his chair a lot of times when it is crowded. He just seemed … sweet." Kurt thought back, a little embarrassed of all the time hed spent watching Blaine, and okay, it turned out he did want to talk about it after all.

"I take my sarcasm back, that does sound exactly like the kind of guy youd fall for." Mercedes said, "You were always a sucker for the hero type."

"Doesnt matter. I was wrong about him. I bought him a coffee and introduced myself and he somehow ends up telling me all acts of kindness are just selfish and… god, it was such a letdown."

Mercedes leaned forward a little and met his eyes. "Two things. One, what he said to you doesnt seem to line-up with what youve observed about him, so maybe he is a sweet guy and hes just not used to someone being nice to him?"

Kurt blinked at her, he hadnt actually thought about that.

"Or maybe hes a jerk, I dont know. But that brings me to point two. It might be okay for you to let go of that crush. You tend to… like guys you cant have? Im not saying go out with Aaron if you really dont want to, but maybe give a guy you actually know a shot? How long has it been since youve had a boyfriend Kurt?"

"I go on dates a lot."

"Yes, dates, but thats different than being in a relationship. Having someone who is there for you, that you can call yours. Kurt, it is such a great feeling. Maybe you need a boyfriend."

"I dont need a boyfriend to be happy."

"I know, but… Its just that…" Mercedes shrugged and seemed to shift gears. "I do know that. Youre a strong black woman who needs no man." She winked at him and Kurt laughed. Mercedes changed the subject and Kurt let her.

He didnt need someone else to be happy… still it would be nice.

On Monday at school Kurt practically ran into Aaron in the hallway, making him drop some of his things. They were both kneeling on the ground picking them up and apologizing to each other and Kurt couldnt help but think this was kind of like a "meet cute" in a movie. Aaron was a good guy, why had he never said yes the many times Aaron had asked him out?

They both stood up and Aaron smiled at him. He was tall and in great shape and had light wavy hair that went down to about his chin but was most often kept back in a tuff of a ponytail. He was cute.

"Thanks for the help," Aaron said. "Im rushing from class to class a bit too fast I guess." He smiled brightly and suddenly Kurt heard Mercedess voice in his head. Maybe give a guy you actually know a shot? Still, he couldnt make himself ask Aaron out, but if Aaron asked for a fourth time, then maybe Kurt would say-

"Hey Kurt, want to go get dinner this evening?" Aaron asked with a hopeful smile and Kurts eyes widened in surprise.

"Yes."

"I mean I get it if you dont…. wait yes?"

"Yes, sure," Kurt answered and laughed nervously.

"Great! What about that little sushi place on the corner?"

"Okay, Ill meet you there, about six?"

"Great!" Aaron repeated and his enthusiasm was catching. They went to their separate classes and Kurt found that he was actually a little excited about having a date that evening, and if it served the dual purpose of getting his unfortunate encounter with Blaine out of his mind, all the better.

Blaine shifted nervously in his chair as Aroma Mocha started to fill up. It was busy this afternoon and Blaine kept glancing at the little table to his right. It was still empty; the man who usually sat there, Kurt, wasnt here yet. And if he didnt hurry, all the tables would be full.

Kurt usually came to the coffee shop this time of day. He probably worked or lived nearby because hed always sit at that table and do his homework and steal glances at Blaine. He hadnt come in on Monday even though Blaine had waited for a long time, dodging the glares of the barista; he hoped Kurt would come in today.

Blaine had noticed him on more than one occasion, how could he not? Kurt dressed better than anyone else in the shop and his hair was always perfect and gorgeous and he had these bright blue eyes that made Blaine want to smile and he wasnt the kind of person to waste a smile. So yes, Blaine had noticed him and hed even admit he liked looking at him from time to time. He had never thought about actually talking to him though. Kurt had been a pretty stranger that brightened Blaines cold days a bit. Nothing more.

But then last Friday that had changed. Blaine was about to head out that afternoon for his meeting when he looked up and saw this breathtaking stranger standing in front of him and offering him coffee and Blaine… well Blaine had been himself. Surly and abrupt and rude. Thats what Kurt had said, hed called him rude. Blaine had been called much worse in his long life. So a flippant comment, true though it may have been, shouldnt bother Blaine so much.

Except Kurt hadnt deserved the way he treated him, and for some reason Blaine couldnt understand, it had been weighing on him. He hated that hed been rude to Kurt. Blaine didnt usually spend much time thinking about other peoples feelings; he minded his own business and expected others to do the same, but the way Kurts face had gone from bright and hopeful to hurt and shocked kept replaying in Blaines mind and he had to do something about it.

The door chimed and Blaine looked up, his breath catching in his chest as Kurt walked into the coffee shop. He was wearing that bright blue coat again, the one that made his eyes look like gems, and the whole room seemed to brighten as he walked in. That was ridiculous of course; the sun probably just came out from behind a cloud. Blaine watched as he got into the long line and Blaine tried to make eye-contact with the barista, a different one from yesterday, but she didnt look up. Too busy trying to get through the line of customers in front of her.

Blaine looked around the room as the last of the chairs was taken, only Kurts little table was left and there were three people in front of him in line. Blaine grabbed his bag and got up from his chair, walking over to the table and sitting down. Finally, it was Kurts turn to order; he got up to the counter and talked to the barista for a moment, Blaine saw a look of surprise come over his face as the girl refused to take his card to pay for the drink. Blaine swallowed nervously. Kurt glanced over to Blaines normal chair, a petite girl texting on her phone was sitting there now, and then over to where Blaine was sitting at the table. Kurts table.

Kurt scowled at him and Blaines heart dropped, hed messed up, this bright and cheerful person already hated him Once Kurts drink was ready, he walked up to Blaine with a determined step. Good afternoon Kurt was on Blaines tongue, but he was beaten to the punch.

"This drink isnt from you is it?" Kurt said, lifting up his cup. "They said it was already paid for."

Blaine cleared his throat but again didnt have a chance to say anything.

"And why did you give up your regular chair? Just to steal my regular table?"

Blaine stood up from the table immediately. "The drink is from me, for the coffee the other day."

"Right, because someone cant just buy you a coffee to be nice. You have to make sure you pay them back right?"

Okay this really wasnt working well. Blaine wasnt good at apologies, probably because he rarely bothered to give them. "I sat at the table to save it for you." Blaine tried to explain, he needed to say more but Kurt made him flustered.

Kurt narrowed his eyes at him and Blaine felt himself getting sweaty with nerves. This was ridiculous. Hed once stared down the barrel of a gun and it wasnt as intimidating as the look on Kurts face right now.

"Why?"

"Why?" Blaine repeated.

"Why save the table for me? To be nice?"

"No. To say sorry."

Kurt arched a perfect eyebrow, and even angry, he was still one of the most beautiful men Blaine had ever seen.

"I was rude the other day and Ive felt bad about it and hoped to make it up to you. I shouldnt have treated your kindness that way. I apologize."

"Oh." Blaine watched as Kurt took a breath, surprise settling over his features. "Thank you." Kurt sat down and Blaine grabbed his coffee from the table and turned to go. That had gone about as well as Blaine could have expected, at least hed been able to say his piece.

"Wait!"

Blaine turned back to look at Kurt.

"All the other seats are taken. Sit with me."

Blaine could feel his eyes grow round in surprise and hurried to school his expression, he took a step back towards Kurt. "Why would you want me to sit with you?" He tried not to sound suspicious, but there was no reason for Kurt to want to spend more time with him.

"Because Im trying really hard to figure you out and if you leave I cant do that as well," Kurt answered and arched that brow again.

Blaine looked at the empty seat across from Kurt and back to the exit where hed been heading. Then he looked at his watch, he had time. He sat down, and when Kurt smiled, Blaine felt an odd warm sensation bloom in his chest.

"Do you maybe want to start over?" Kurt asked, his eyes sparkling. "Hi. Im Kurt." He held out his hand and Blaine looked down at it. He paused for only a moment, afraid of being accused of being rude again and quickly slipped off the gloves he was still wearing before taking Kurts hand, and oh it was so warm.

"Im Blaine."

Kurt shook his hand and then reached for his mocha, taking a sip. "Your hand is cold," he finally said.

"Thus the gloves," Blaine answered, holding them up. Blaine took a sip of his own drink and for some reason didnt mind the silence that fell between them or even the way Kurt seemed to be studying his face.

"Can I ask you something gravely important?" Kurt spoke up after a moment.

Blaine swallowed nervously and nodded his head.

"Do you always drink your coffee black?"

Blaine felt a smile tip up on his lips before he even thought about it. Kurts returning smile was like being bathed in sunlight. "Yes I do."

"That is the saddest thing Ive ever heard," Kurt said. "No cream or sugar ever?"

"I dont care for cream and sugar is too sweet."

Kurt reached out as if to take Blaines cup, and he realized only after a moments pause that was exactly what Kurt was doing. He handed Kurt his coffee without even thinking about it.

"I want to try something, and if you dont like it, Ill buy you a new cup."

Blaine watched silently as Kurt made his way to the condiments table and took Blaines lid off, stirring something in his coffee before replacing the lid and coming back to the table.

Blaine didnt do this. He didnt have coffee with strangers and he certainly didnt drink something he knew someone had altered. He wasnt friendly and he definitely wasnt trusting, but when Kurt sat down and told him to try it, Blaine took a sip. It was still his dark roast coffee but with just a hint of something else, something familiar but not in this context. It was really good.

"Cinnamon?" Blaine asked, taking another sip.

"Do you hate it?"

"No, I like it. A lot."

Kurt looked at him closely, "Are you just saying that to be nice?"

"I dont really do anything just to be nice," Blaine answered seriously, but it made Kurt laugh. It was a beautiful sound, hearty and happy and ringing like bells, it made something tight squirm in Blaines belly. Something he hadnt let himself feel in a very long time.

Kurt smiled at him, his cheeks tinged a little pink and he looked down at the table and back up again almost shyly. Blaine had to remind himself to breathe.

"I have another question if you dont mind."

Blaine gestured for him to go on, "I dont mind."

"Do you really believe people are only kind out of selfish motives?"

Blaine mulled over the question, those words had obviously stuck with Kurt, and Blaine regretted saying them to him. He didnt want to be the person who made Kurt see the world for what it could be, cold and harsh and lonely. "Thats been my experience," Blaine answered, though that was only partially true.

"I take it back. That is the saddest thing Ive ever heard," Kurt said softly and Blaines chest started to hurt. "Im sorry thats been your experience."

Blaine stood from the table quickly. "I have to go." Blaine looked at his watch. "I have an appointment." And at least that was true.

"Oh… I didnt mean to scare you off." Was it Blaines imagination or did Kurt look disappointed he was leaving?

"You didnt. I really do have somewhere to be, I was worried you wouldnt get here in time today for me to apologize."

"Maybe we could have coffee together again next time were both here?" Kurt asked hopefully, and Blaine didnt understand why someone as interesting and beautiful as Kurt would give him a second chance like this, but he wasnt about to turn it down.

"Okay, Id like that." Blaine grabbed his bag and the cinnamon coffee which might be his new favorite now, and headed out the door; when he turned back, he found Kurt still smiling at him and Blaine had to look quickly away. This was such a bad idea, Blaine should stay away from guys like Kurt… he just really didnt want to.