"So I gave him the list."

Kurt was sat on the bed with Rachel, drinking their morning coffee. It was rare for them to be getting their quality best friend time nowadays as they now have another roomie in their apartment. Blaine was out and about in god-knows-where, telling them he had ''something going on'' that day and that he would probably be gone for the whole day. He's been quite busy for a few weeks now doing whatever it was that he was doing.

"List?" Rachel asked, taking a sip of her coffee. Kurt nodded in reply, giving Rachel a look that told her all she needed to know. "Ah.Thelist.Why'd you do that? I thought you hated the guts of that other dude that he's been chasing in the book? And I thought it was private?" She pointed out.

Kurt shrugged. "I do hate him. He doesn't deserve Blaine. And itisprivate but what was I gonna do? He was asking for it, equipped with his puppy dog, hazel gold eyes. I didn't stand a chance." Kurt replied, quoting a phrase in the book describing Blaine's eyes during a scene with Wes and David.

Rachel just hummed in reply, raising a suspicious eyebrow along with a quirk of her lips, almost forming a small smile that went unnoticed by Kurt. Silence ensued after a while with them just enjoying the peace and quiet until Rachel spoke again. "So, what do you plan on doing now? I mean, he's still trying to find his way back, isn't he?" She asked curiously.

"I think he is but I also think he's just enjoying where he is right now. I don't know, we haven't really talked about it that much because we were busy this past month." Kurt explained, finishing his coffee. He placed it on the side table and stretched out a little. Rachel kept her eyes on him all the time. "Enough about the trivial things," He said, "How's auditions going?"

Rachel brightened up, glad to be talking about herself as usual. "Well, I've been to many open auditions and it's been tough." She started, pausing dramatically for effect. Kurt just rolled his eyes, chuckling quietly. "But I auditioned for the role of Fanny Brice for the Broadway revival of Funny Girl and I hope I get the part. Succeeding the role of Barbra Streisand would be a dream come true." She practically started fangirling.

Kurt's face lit up at the news, genuinely happy for Rachel. "That's great news, Rachel! I hope you get it." Kurt smiled, getting up from his bed, taking his cup to put to the dishwasher. "Meanwhile, I'm gonna be slaving away at Vogue.com, doing what I love best. Fashion and acting."

"Acting?"

"Yeah, because most of the people there are socialite plastics." Kurt laughed. "Probably including me." He continued. There was a pause before he said, "I'm totally kidding. They're all great." His phone buzzed and it was a text from Isabelle asking him to come to a meeting at the office. He's been there at all of Isabelle's meetings, she liked to ask for his opinion and he's honored to be able to voice them out. "And I'm going to head over there right now, need some stuff to do." He said, raising his phone. Rachel nodded.

"I'll hang around here and take my beauty rest before I go out to see more of the world." She laughed. "Bring your keys and send Isabelle my love." She smiled, blowing him a kiss before proceeding to her supposed 'beauty rest' on Kurt's bed. Kurt just shook his head at her, getting ready to leave.

Before he left, Kurt called out, "Don't ruin my sheets!" and he heard laughter coming from his bed. Rachel was really just insane sometimes.

This was all ridiculous. Everything that was being said inside the meeting room was ridiculous in Kurt's opinion. He was sitting right next to Isabelle inside the conference room where Isabelle called her staff for their monthly brainstorming, thinking of what trend to start and other brilliant ideas. However, there were no brilliant ideas coming out of anyone's lips in the conference room at the moment. Kurt's all for uniqueness—he loves it—but when uniqueness means starting a trend by using bright orange, yellow and red together for summer outfits, he was going to flat out reject it.

Being Isabelle's assistant, Kurt was quietly taking down notes for her, although in his mind, he was burning all the staff's ideas to the ground. Also, he was judging all the designs presented in the meeting. Finally, the conference ended and little by little, the room cleared out of people, leaving only Isabelle and Kurt to their 'after-meeting musings' which meant they deliberated and Kurt gives out his opinions.

Isabelle looked over at Kurt who was still busy scribbling away on his memo pad. "So, what did you think of the ideas, Kurt?" Isabelle asked him straightforwardly.

Kurt finally looked up, a small frown gracing his features. "Do I have permission to say whatever's on my mind?" He asked, making sure he wasn't setting himself up to a trap that led to him being fired.

"Of course, you know how I value you honest opinion." Isabelle smiled. Kurt nodded in reply.

He proceeded into ranting about how bright orange, red and yellow doesn't work in summer with the kind of fabric that was suggested in the meeting. "Someone did suggest a palette of cool colors that we can use with a breezy fabric to beat the heat of the summer. I think we can start a trend of something looks easily available to all but still has the elegance, beauty and quality of Vogue fashion." Kurt winked, ending his rant.

Isabelle looked impressed or so Kurt would like to think. She nodded at him, appreciation clearly etched on her face as she hang on to Kurt's every word. "Good observations and opinions as per usual, Kurt." Isabelle complimented him. "I want to see your summer designs. Surprise me." She added.

Kurt had the grace to blush. "I'm learning from the best and I won't fail you. I have some design ideas in mind already." He said.

"Alright, I'm going to deliberate more in the office. Please take care of my calls and I'll call for you when I need you." Isabelle smiled, getting up and walking out of the meeting room.

Kurt was left behind, carrying all the stuff that he brought in the meeting while simultaneously checking his phone for work or non-work related messages. He was passing through towards his office table when Paolo, one of the employees, called out to him.

"Oh hey, Kurt! A package arrived for you earlier. I placed it on your table." Paolo informed him with a bright smile. Kurt nodded and said his thanks.

However, before he could get to his office table, he could already hear Isabelle's teasing voice saying "Looks like you have an admirer, Kurt." Isabelle might have seen it first because she passes by Kurt's table before she gets to her office. With that, Kurt turned the corner and sure enough, there was a box on top of his table. A pink box with a white ribbon on it.

With just one look, he knew what it was. It was a box of chocolate-covered strawberries from his favorite sweets store. It was also number 20.

[√ ]20. Send something sweet at work/university.

He wasn't mistaken; this was number 20 which can only mean that Blaine has started and he wasn't starting from the top of the list. A small smile crept up to Kurt's lips, he could hear his colleagues teasing and whistling at him and his admirer. Oh if only they knew. He whipped out his phone, eager to send out a thank you message to Blaine, as he picked up the dedication card on the box and in a handwriting that he barely recognize, it read"From 1-10, how perfect was the timing of my surprise? – B".

He was scrolling through his contacts when, like a wake-up call, he realized that Blaine doesn't have a phone. Blaine was not from there. Blaine wasn't doing this for him. Right, Blaine wanted his help, not him. Kurt sighed, it sucks when he thinks about the trivial things. He stared at the box of Shari's berries on his table and shrugged, he might as well eat it rather than think about it.

Kurt spent his time munching on Blaine's gift while he worked his way through the day until he remembered that maybe he should give some to Isabelle. He would love a distraction. All these "not trying to think about it" was getting to his nerves more so than when hewasthinking about it.

He stood up and walked over to Isabelle's office, knocking and entering upon hearing her permission. "Hey Isabelle, do you want a few of these? They're really good." Kurt smiled, looking as if he had no ulterior motive. Being close to your boss has its perks.

Isabelle nodded in reply. "Thank you. I'd love to have some of your secret admirer's gift." She teased. "So, who's the lucky boy? Boyfriend?" She inquired.

Kurt hesitated for a moment, having trouble with what information he was going to give Isabelle that won't freak her out. He settled on the usual storyline of Blaine. "Oh no. No boyfriend. He's a friend of mine just asking for my help".

Maybe it was the way Kurt twitched when he said these things that gave it away. Isabelle instantly saw through him. "There seem to be something more to this than you're letting on. Come on, Kurt, you can tell me." She egged him on.

Kurt paused, thinking about it again. He wanted some advice and here was his New York fairy godmother wanting to give him one. What was there to lose? He finally slumped down on the chair, explaining things to Isabelle.

"So his name is Blaine." He started.

"Ooh, beautiful name. I like him already." She winked.

Kurt just shook his head, chuckling a little bit. "Yeah and he's not from here. He just, kind of, went here by accident." He vaguely explained. "But he's been here a while and we've been friends for a while too. It's great being friends with him because I relate to him a lot."

"Okay. So where does the sending you sweets come in the story?"

"Alright, so a few days ago he asked me a favor. He left someone he liked back at home and he's been wooing that guy for a long time already. So he asked me for advice in the romance department." Kurt continued. "I gave him a list with all the romantic gestures I can think of—yes, I have a romance checklist, don't judge me—and now he's doing this because he wants me to be his dry run partner. He wants to practice and learn how to do it properly and I'm gonna be his judge." He said all in one go.

Isabelle listened intently and Kurt thinks she's glad to have something other than work to occupy her time. "I don't see any problem in this story. What are you worried about then?" She asked.

"I'm not worried, I just..."

"You're worried, I can hear it in your voice. Is it because you already like this Blaine guy? Is that it?"

Kurt paused. Even if he doesn't want to admit it, clearly he does like Blaine. He liked him when he was a man on paper and now, he's still that same man on paper but has barged into the real world like a beautiful nightmare. He glanced at Isabelle for a bit and saw understanding in her eyes.

"Oh, honey, youdolike him." She said in a very motherly voice that she rarely used.

"But I can't, Isabelle. It's a lot more complicated than just because he already likes someone else. I can't be feeling things for him, not like this, because I know it will just end badly." Kurt voiced his thoughts out, finally admitting his worries even to himself.

"Why? Because he's not from here?" Isabelle asked again.

Kurt sighed. "Precisely that." If only Isabelle knew.

Isabelle reached out to hold Kurt's hand, smiling sincerely at him. "Do you want to know what I think?" She asked, Kurt nodded. "I think you should live in the moment. Enjoy the time you have with him and be happy. Even if he still ends up leaving, at least you made a dent in his heart." She said. "Don't be afraid to feel, Kurt. Feelings are the best part of being human. I can't say that you won't be hurt but think about it this way: you wouldn't know what real happiness is without a little pain." She smiled. "So go out there and show him what you got. Make it be a happy memory for the both of you."

The way Isabelle said her words of wisdom almost made Kurt tear up. She was right, he should just enjoy it while it lasts. After all, when else will a bizarre thing like this happen again? Maybe never. Even if it's going to end up being an impossible one-sided feeling, he still wanted to feel it.

He smiled at Isabelle. "If I get hurt in the end, expect me to come running to you and blame you for encouraging me." Kurt joked.

Isabelle straightened up in her chair, "I will welcome you with open arms." She grinned.

"You really are a fairy godmother, Isabelle." Kurt voiced out. Isabelle just laughed her signature small laugh.

"Thank you, I try."

Kurt spent the rest of the day being chipper at work. His talk with Isabelle gave him a lot more strength and less worries in his mind. He was even offering coffee to the employees on his floor. Of course, the teasing were endless.

By the end of his shift, everyone shuffled outside the building, talking about going drinking that night. Kurt exited the building and saw his colleagues stop.

"Oh. Don't wait up for me, I'm going to pass this one." Kurt apologized a little bit as he thought that they were waiting for him before they leave.

But that wasn't the case, Kurt realized, as Paolo interrupted the silence, "Ah we know why."

That was when Kurt saw what they were referring to. Or rather, who. Blaine was casually stood right there in front of the building and was probably waiting for him. The look on all his colleagues faces was enough to make Kurt want to bury himself to the ground for embarrassment. Though that didn't stop the shy smile on his face that he tried to hide behind his palm.

[√ ]7. Fetch me from work/university.

"Hey, Kurt." Blaine greeted him, straightening up and waving a little bit before walking over to Kurt. There was a soft chorus of'Hey, Kurt's'from his colleagues as well, imitating Blaine and clearly teasing Kurt, which made him whack one of them in the arm.

Kurt turned to Blaine and smiled. "Hey, Blaine." He started, again earning a chorus of"Ohhh Blaine"from his work friends. "Don't mind them, they're kids." He said.

The group of people laughed and told Kurt that being called a kid at their age was a compliment. Blaine was smiling politely as this all went on, Kurt noticed. Maybe he was marveling at the fact that he met some of the people who works their magic at Vogue.

"It's great seeing Vogue employees." Blaine said. Kurt was right, he should have made a bet on that one.

Isabelle walked out of the building right then, already done for the day and Kurt realized that it was her they were waiting on. "Okay, everybody ready?" She turned to them and her eyes landed on Kurt and Blaine. She raised an eyebrow and understood immediately.

"Oh my god, Isabelle Wright." Kurt heard Blaine's hushed voice next to him. He can be such a fanboy sometimes. Kurt laughed a little bit, tugging at Blaine's hand and walking over to Isabelle.

"Isabelle, this is Blaine Anderson." Kurt said. He marveled at how great Isabelle was at hiding her curiosity. It was clear that she wanted to know more about Blaine but didn't want to make it seem like she was too eager. "Blaine, Isabelle Wright. My boss." Kurt turned to Blaine.

"Your boss? Wow." Blaine said in amazement. Isabelle stretched her hand out in a shake and Blaine took it. He was always confident in meeting new people, even meeting some of his idols (as was stated inBetween The Pages, Ch. 5). Kurt hoped he could say the same to himself but he freaks out most of the time.

"It's very nice to meet you, Blaine." Isabelle said. "But I'm afraid this meeting is short, we have somewhere to go." She continued. "Maybe you'd like to come with us?" She offered.

Blaine was about to answer, Kurt letting him be because this was probably a dream of his. "I..." Blaine started, looking excited and happy. Kurt noticed him glance a little back at him before saying, "Thanks for the offer but I'm just really here to pick Kurt up. Maybe next time." He smiled politely.

Kurt was surprised and with the way Isabelle's lips quirked upwards and her eyebrows raised, he knew she was too. "Oh, you can go, I can just—"

Blaine reached out to hold Kurt's wrist, effectively stopping him from talking. "It's nice meeting you, Isabelle. Enjoy your night." Blaine said, now he was the one tugging on Kurt's hand.

"I guess we're leaving. See you guys tomorrow." Kurt bid his goodbye but before they left, he heard Isabelle softly said, "Live in the moment."

Kurt had a small smile on his face as he turned his back, waving at his work friends and walking home with Blaine. Once they were out of earshot, Blaine finally let go of Kurt's wrist. There was a few minutes of silence until Kurt couldn't take it anymore.

"You could have gone with them. I would have been fine." Kurt started to say. He heard Blaine shrug next to him.

"I wasn't there for them. I was there for you and you were already tired. I know how you love staying home." Blaine reasoned out. "And you're not much of a drinker." He added with a smile.

Kurt took offense in that. "You make it sound like it's a bad thing." Kurt huffed in reply. He failed to notice the nonchalant smile on Blaine's face.

"It's not. In fact, I love that you're like that. All my friends drink like maniacs and it's nice to have one that just chooses not to." Blaine casually said as they strolled towards the subway. Kurt almost choked on his saliva, finding it difficult to swallow just because Blaine said the word 'love' on something that was pertaining to him.God, I'm such a hopeless romantic,Kurt thought.

Kurt didn't know how to reply to that, so instead, they walked in companionable silence all throughout. When they made it to the subway, he noticed how Blaine was anxiously tapping his knees as if wanting to say something to Kurt.

"All right, spit it out. What do you want to say?" Kurt asked. Blaine grinned widely at that, looking proud and a little smug.

"So..." Blaine dragged the word out, earning a raised eyebrow from Kurt. "How did you find my surprise? Did you rate it? Was it any good?" Blaine asked straightforwardly.

Kurt made an impressed face and nodded. "It was good. I think it was perfectly timed." He said, talking all business-like and serious. "In my opinion, you always have to keep it spontaneous. It was great that you didn't start from number 1 on the list. And don't think you fooled me, your fetching me at work was number 7." Kurt pointed out, showing that he did actually notice that.

Blaine was impressed as well with Kurt's memory. "Did you memorize the whole thing?" He asked curiously with a bit of teasing. Kurt rolled his eyes at him. "Because that's a lot of things. Even I, myself, can't remember half of it."

"I made it, Blaine. Of course I'd know it by heart." Kurt replied. They were now out of the subway and were on their way to the apartment. "How did you know what brand I liked though? With the strawberries?"

"Ah, you told me that once when we were talking. I think you told me that someone at NYADA brought and gave you some and you loved it." Blaine said, making their way up the apartment. "I do actually listen to you, you know." He winked, getting the key from Kurt and opening the apartment door for them both. He gestured for Kurt to go first, "After you, my good sir." He smiled.

Kurt's heart was fighting to break off its hinges, beating madly in his chest. Blaine didn't seem to realize that he's done one more thing on his checklist.

[√ ]13. Be a gentleman.

He smiled and entered the apartment, listening to Blaine talk about his day and he thought, that's what Blaine adds to his checklist. Blaine was a great listener. Kurt didn't think that he'd remember about his strawberry story but he did and that did wonders to Kurt's easy-to-melt heart.

"Kurt? Kurt, did you hear what I said?" Blaine asked.

Kurt snapped out of his internal monologue and glanced at Blaine. Clearly, he wasn't as great as a listener like Blaine. "Sorry, I didn't catch that. What?" He asked, putting his shoes aside and wearing his indoor slippers.

"I said I found a job! That's how I managed to get you that box of strawberries. No, I mean, I got that from my playing on the streets but I landed a job today!" Blaine grinned. "It's also the reason why I was out all the time, I was trying to land a job."

Kurt clapped his hands in front of him. "That's great news! Where and what is it?" He asked.

"It's at Callbacks. I played a little when we went there and now they hired me to be a regular. I get to play like Pascal." Blaine excitedly said. "Imagine, I get to play the piano and I get paid. Nice."

"That's awesome. I'm happy for you." Kurt said as equally excited as Blaine. Before he could think about what he was doing, he went in for a tight hug but once he processed what he did, he became flustered again. Although Blaine didn't look like he was affected, he was still grinning widely. Kurt thought that he really needed to stop letting this get to his head.

"When I get my first paycheck, I'm going to treat you to dinner." Blaine winked as he was let go from Kurt's hug, unaffected and not noticing how Kurt was blushing. He sat down on one of the dining table chairs and sighed. "You know, surprisingly, I'm enjoying myself here. I mean, it's not that I don't miss the world that I lived in. It's just...I'm experiencing so much more than I ever did here than when I was back there." Blaine said.

Kurt sat down opposite him at the table; it was rare for them these days to talk about Blaine and his condition. "Yeah?" Kurt supplied lamely just so that Blaine knew he was listening.

"It's like, I'm not in a hurry for all of this to end." Blaine admitted. "Although I still don't know when that will happen but I imagine I'll be crying when it's time for me to go." He said, suddenly feeling glum. "Don't you dare laugh at me when I do." Blaine added, eyeing Kurt.

"Of course I won't laugh at you. Maybe Rachel and I will even join the crying fest." Kurt said honestly because it was true. Blaine's been here for 2 months now and they were already the golden trio or that's what Rachel calls them. Kurt reached out to touch Blaine's arm. "Hey, it's going to be okay. Just like my mentor said, we should live in the moment. Let's enjoy it while it lasts, okay?" Kurt smiled. "When you get back in there, tell them stories about the real world. You know...if that's how it works." He said, a little unsure.

Blaine smiled back at him, nodding. "Yeah. Let's do that." He agreed. "Thank you, Kurt." He quietly said, smiling. Blaine stood up, shaking the glum feeling and rolling his sleeves up. "Alright, now what can we have for dinner?" He said to no one but himself.

Kurt was left to his thoughts again. He just planned on making this a beautiful memory for the both of them and he's not going to let anyone ruin that plan.