Tina nudged Kurt in the side. “Hey, you and Whole Foods guy look like you’re getting cozy.”

Kurt looked away and sighed. “Not cozy really. More like chummy. We had coffee last night, however impromptu it actually was. But yeah. He’s really nice.”

“I bet. So, when are you seeing him again?”

Kurt’s cheeks colored, “I really don’t know. The coffee thing was just a random meeting. We talked and he walked me halfway home. That’s it.”

Tina grinned at Kurt and wrapped their arms together. “Maybe just give it time. He could turn out to be your prince charming.”

He tilted his head against hers and they fell into step together. “Well, right now I need to deal with my ex-prince charming.”

“Have you talked to him at all yet?” Kurt shook his head. “Well, then the staff meeting today should be interesting. Are you ready to give your pitch?” He nodded, finding it hard to make words come out. “You’ll be amazing. Your designs always are.” Kurt grinned at her and tugged the girl along, desperate to get this over with.

At the studio Patrick and Kurt did their best to not look at one another or acknowledge each other’s presence. Kurt walked by his front desk with his eyes staring straight ahead. When their boss called the staff meeting Kurt settled in his usual seat near the front, right next to Tina. Across from him Patrick sat beside his boss with a laptop on the desk.

“Great, so today I know that Kurt has been preparing a little something for us today. Kurt?” Kurt immediately leapt to his feet. Patrick stared at Kurt through narrowed eyes as Kurt brought his designs up on the screen. He slipped through each one, carefully describing his thought process. In the end it was brought out for discussion. Almost immediately Patrick’s hand went into the air.

Kurt took a steadying breath before nodding to the man. “Well, I was just wondering if these designs weren’t a little too, well, prudish. The high necks and everything. They seem like they’re just a little old for the people we’re trying to attract. We cater to the young ones who like showing skin.”

Kurt bit the inside of his cheek and bristled. “While I appreciate that, I think that leaving things to the imagination.

“It’s such an archaic style. It’s almost like you’re trying to send these kids back into the time of Pride and Prejudice!”

“Pride and Prejudice is in style now. The books are making a comeback and if kids like the books then they’ll want to dress and do their hair like the characters.” Kurt countered. “It’s hardly prudish.”

“Hardly prudish?” Patrick scoffed. “Please, look how low that hemline is in the second blue and white dress. It’s right below the knee! That’s so five seasons ago! And that pattern on the skirt it far too old fashioned.”

Kurt clenched his hand but kept his head held high. “I think they’re rather bold choices, but at least I’m committed to them.”

Patrick looked about ready to leap to his feet and strangle Kurt. Their boss watched this interaction through narrowed eyes before sitting up. “I think this should be tabled until you two can work through whatever underlying issue is going on. Kurt, I agree that the outfits are stunning visually but they do seem rather old fashioned. Maybe you need to lower some of the neck lines and bring up a few hems, but keep the style. I love the idea of Pride and Prejudice inspired clothes.” Kurt beamed at the woman, thrilled that he hadn’t been completely shot down - even if he believed that the neck lines were perfectly adequate.

As he left Patrick bumped hard into his side and pushed him over. Kurt was about to turn around and chew Patrick out but instead found himself face to face with his boss. “Kurt - good presentation today, but if your broken relationship with Patrick is going to get in the way I will have to intervene.”

“I understand. He doesn’t seem to be taking the fact that I broke up our relationship well. I don’t know how to talk to him about this.” Kurt offered, trying to straighten his shoulders more and push away his scowl.

She smiled understandingly. “If it would help, how to you feel about me talking with him? You’re one of my best up and coming designers. I want to make sure that everything goes smoothly around here.”

Kurt sighed. “Thank you so much. Now, I have a ton of work to do, so I’ll just go ahead and do it.”

“Wonderful. Thank you Kurt.” She patted his shoulder and he hurried off to do some work. He didn’t stop working until about seven that night when he was about to drop from exhaustion. He got a call from Quinn as he was tugging on his coat.

“Hey, darling. Are you on your way back yet?”

“Yeah, just getting ready to head out. Why?”

“Well, we - Santana and I - were wondering if you could drop by the store and get some treats for a snack platter.” Kurt’s eyebrows shot up.

“A snack platter? What? Are we hosting a party or something?”

Quinn’s voice was high and strained. “Something like that.” The doorbell rang. “Listen, I need to get this. I’ll see you when you get home, okay?”

“O… kay?” He murmured, hanging up and chucking his phone in his messenger bag. He waved goodbye to Tina who was getting into a car with her other half.

“Want us to give you a ride back to your house?” she called.

Kurt waved her on. “Nah, don’t worry about it. I have to drop by Whole Foods and get some stuff for the girls. I think they’re planning an impromptu girls night.”

Tina waggled her eyebrows at him. “That sounds like fun. Say hi to the dreamy check out boy for me.” He rolled his eyes and waved her on again, walking down the street with a little bounce in his step. His phone started ringing insistently in his pocket.

From unknown: You should go back to the office right now.

From unknown: Why haven’t you gone back?

To unknown: Why?

From unknown: That would be telling you and that would mess up that whole space/time continuum thing I told you about earlier.

To unknown: And telling me to go back to the office isn’t messing that up?

From unknown: No, you could have forgotten something there.

To unknown: But I didn’t. And Patrick is there and I don’t want to deal with him. Right now I want to pick up that stuff for the girls and go home.

From unknown: You’re making a mistake.

To unknown: How is it a mistake? I get to see Blaine again.

From unknown: …fine. Say hi for me.

To unknown: I will.

At Whole Foods Blaine wasn’t up front so Kurt meandered through the aisles, pretending to be looking for something, all the while trying to track down the cute stock boy. He was getting discouraged and had finally started looking at crackers when he heard someone shuffle up behind him. “Hey, I thought I recognized that hair.”

Kurt turned to smile at Blaine, feeling a little giddy. “Hey. How was your day?”

“Really long. I hate dealing with my ex and he works- you know what? Never mind. I don’t want to talk about him. Right now I’m on a mission.”

“For what?”

“Crackers and cheese.” Blaine’s eyebrows crunched together. “My roommates are probably planning something.”

Blaine nodded his head down the aisle. “Well, crackers and cheese are down there. You shouldn’t leave your roommates waiting too long.”

“Probably a good idea. I just hope it’s not anything big. I don’t have the energy.” Kurt babbled as he followed Blaine. He didn’t really even look at the boxes as he grabbed a few at random.

“If I can? You do look like you need a nice long nap. And it’s only Monday.”

Kurt snorted. “What I need is for my boss to get a new assistant.”

“Maybe if you wish hard enough, it’ll happen. Keep searching the sky for a shooting star.” Blaine gave him a brilliant smile and Kurt felt his stomach flip.

“I can’t believe you just said that.”

Blaine brushed past him and without realizing it Kurt followed. “Call me a hopeless romantic.” Blaine shot over his shoulder, pulling a wedge of cheese out of the freezer section. “This will go amazing with the crackers you got.” Blaine handed it over with a wink and gave a small wink as his name was called over the store speakers. “See you around?”

“Y-yeah. I’ll text you. Okay?” Blaine shot Kurt another grin and trotted away, making his heart flutter. He left the store feeling lighter than air. That bright feeling quickly ebbed away when he got to his house and found a ton of people loitering in front of the steps. “Coming through! Make way! Don’t look at me like that, I actually live here!” Once inside the front door music played from the speakers and people milled about holding bottles and cups. “Quinn! Santana!”

Santana’s head popped up from the couch. “Awesome. You brought cheese.” She bounded over and dragged the bag from his hands. “And the good kind too. You have good taste.”

“It was, um, Blaine’s, um, Blaine chose it.” Kurt replied feeling a little blindsided.

“Of course he did. Why didn’t you invite your little pocket pet?” She cooed, moving into the kitchen.

“Because I didn’t know that there was anything to invite him to. What the hell is going on?” he demanded, on the verge of freaking out.

Quinn was in the kitchen, ready with a cutting board and knife. “It’s a get together of sorts. We haven’t had one in a while and Santana and I thought that hosting something like this would be fun.”

“Without consulting me?”

Quinn grinned at him over her shoulder. “It was a bit of a spur of a moment thing. Nothing major.”

Kurt touched his hands to his temples. “I should never leave you two alone. It gives you time to scheme.” Both girls shared twin smirks and Kurt left them mumbling, “Let me get changed and I’ll be back out to help be a good host. No scheming while I’m gone! And Quinn, put your drink making magic into work and make me something strong and amazing.” Once he was gone Santana leaned close to Quinn.

“So I have an idea.”

Quinn started cutting up the cheese. “I thought Kurt said no scheming.”

Santana’s eyebrow lifted and her lips curled. “This isn’t scheming. This is plotting for the good of our newly single roommate.”

Taking a moment to finish what she was doing Quinn turned and met Santana’s smirk with her own Queen Bitch smile. “Alright. I’m all ears.”

“I think we should try to set Kurt up tonight. Also, I think that whoever sets up Kurt first should win something.”

Quinn’s eyes swept the room as she pulled out the rum and Kurt’s favorite sweet tea drink. She watched one guy throw up and snorted delicately. “Loser has to clean up after the party.”

“Deal,” they shook on it and parted, searching for potential matches for their boy.

[xXx]

In his room Kurt curled up on his bed with his phone and texted.

To unknown: The girls threw a house party without asking me about it first.

From unknown: That sounds about right for them.

To unknown: Why aren’t you more upset about this? We hate disorder and chaos.

From unknown: And that’s something we have to get over.

To unknown: I hate this.

From unknown: Go. Have fun. Text me later.

Kurt tucked his phone into his pockets and quickly dressed, not really putting too much effort into his appearance. He didn’t want to do this. At all.

Finally, when Kurt emerged from his room Santana was waiting outside the curtain. “Come. I have someone you just have to meet.” She grabbed his arm and dragged him into the living room to where a guy a little taller than Kurt was standing, leaning against a chair. He was tall and insanely attractive with a lean figure, pushed back bangs and deep blue eyes. “Kurt, this is Vanya. He’s from Russia and he’s a model. Vanya, this is Kurt. He’s in fashion. Have fun.” She patted their shoulders and sauntered away.

Vanya fixed Kurt with piercing eyes. “You fashion model?” His eyebrow lifted.

“No. I am a designer. You know Santana through work?” Vanya nodded once, his eyes fixed on Kurt’s lapel pin which was shaped like a moose. “So,” Kurt continued, trying to get the man’s attention. “What do you do for fun?”

“I tan.”

“Of course you do. If you’d excuse me?”� Vanya’s attention strayed immediately as Kurt hurried away.

A second later Kurt was grabbed by Quinn. “Kurt! Great, I am so glad that I caught you. I have someone I need you to meet. I met him at PTA. He has a son who is in my class and the boy is adorable and the guy is sweet too.”

Kurt groaned and let his body fall limp. “What is going on here?”

“Absolutely nothing. Nate! Wonderful. Nate, this is my friend Kurt. The one I told you about?”

Nate looked incredibly worn out, like he’d been run through the ringer many times. He was shorter than Kurt with a little bit of a beer belly. Glasses perched on his nose as he grinned up at Kurt. “It’s a pleasure Kurt. Now Quinn tells me that you’re in fashion. That must be quite the interesting line of work. I bet the models are hell to work for.”

“Actually, the models aren’t all that bad. Some are very sweet. I live with one actually. The one in the red dress over there.” Kurt replied, pointing toward Santana who was scowling at him from across the room. That look was never a good one to be on the receiving end.

“Really? I always saw them as shallow. It’s my job to make sure that young impressionable girls don’t end up as skin and bones like the girls on the runway.”

Kurt bristled. “That is a generalization. The girls that I know are actually very sweet and smart and work hard to be where they are.”

“Really. That’s surprising.” Nate murmured, his gaze trailing off.

Kurt’s nose wrinkled. “If you’ll excuse me.” He stepped away and before he could get out of the room Santana grabbed him.

“Okay, I know Vanya is a little hard to get to know but I would love for you to meet Nicholai. He’s a French artist who is always looking for a new muse for his artwork.” She dragged him over to a guy in the corner. When Nicholai turned out to be creepy (“I love your eyes, what color are they, let me get a closer look” and then shoved Kurt’s head under a lamp) Kurt ran away, straight into the arms of Quinn.

“What was I thinking ever introducing you to Nate? You’re so much better than him. Here, meet Michael. He’s the school’s new secretary.”

Michael was, in a word, bland. He had no personality and his favorite hobby was yo-yoing.

Between Quinn and Santana Kurt met: John, Cori, Seamus, two different Jareds, a Spencer and a Yoshi. Soon Kurt was beginning to feel sick from the constant barrage of alcohol smell and male cologne. People were continually shoving drinks into his hands and something in the corner was beginning to smell rancid.

After he finished with Matteau he slipped away before either of his roommates could show up and drag him away to another guy. He rushed to the bathroom, ignoring the guy passed out on the floor and escaped through the window, trying to get away from the house. He could see what the girls had been trying to do and he appreciated it.

But he could no longer stand to be a piece of meat they showed off to help him get laid. There was no way the girls could have ever thought he’d be attracted to any of those guys in any version of his life. Except Matteau. He was hot and spoke little English.

Kurt took a while to get used to the cool New York air after being stuck in his sweltering house. He let his feet take him where he wanted after he realized just how lonely he was Kurt felt his heart sink. He wasn’t used to being alone. He’d gotten so used to having Patrick around. In college he’d had a few boyfriends that he always been around. Being single was strange, but he was slowly growing used to the idea of being alone. No matter how sad it seemed. He was a strong man, he didn’t need some guy to complete him.

But it was still nice to have someone to go to after a long day at work to help comfort him.

Slowly, his feet took the normal path to his workplace because work was always good at distracting him. He walked along the sidewalk, weaving in and out of the people, his eyes focused on the ground. Lights and sounds passed him but he didn’t really notice them.

To unknown: I can’t believe I ran away. That’s pathetic.

From unknown: It’s not. That was terrifying.

To unknown: But the girls were obviously trying to help me meet a guy.

From unknown: Yes, they were. But they were being too pushy. Think of it this way, now they have to clean up their own mess. Plus, you don’t need to *meet* a guy. You already have a guy.

To unknown: What are you talking about? I don’t already have a guy. I think you have your memories messed up.

From unknown: No, I don’t. You’re just behind.

Kurt was about to send back an annoyed text telling his future self to mind his own business when suddenly there was a noise behind him. “Kurt!”

Kurt turned around to find Blaine hanging out the door to the Whole Foods. “Hi, Blaine. What are you doing?”

“I’m actually closing up.” Blaine’s eyes narrowed. “You look really upset.”

Kurt shrugged. “It’s been a really long day.”

Blaine glanced around and beckoned Kurt forward. “Well, how about this? I don’t like closing up alone but all the people I usually work with abandoned me. Why don’t you come in, keep me company and tell me about what’s bothering you? Sound good?”

Kurt’s expression lit up. “Actually that sounds great.” Blaine stepped aside to let him in and Kurt slipped past him, smiling a little as his arm brushed against Blaine’s chest and the door slipped closed.�