The night was long and lonely, sleep came about as easy as cutting down a tree with safety scissors would be. His hands were cold and empty, his heart beating out a keening song. His bed was chilled and uninviting, his whole apartment unwelcoming even to him. He lay awake for hours tracing the lines on his palm with one fingertip, his mind floating through a steady stream of thoughts.

When he finally slept, his dreams were infused with Kurt. Their first kiss, their first date, the first time they made love. He dreamed of what it would be like if things were different, if he had been able to hold onto Kurt instead of letting him go. Would it be their wedding this Saturday? Would they be happy? Would Kurt be happy? That was what most bothered Blaine, Kurt was miserable last night, disappointed and hurt. He hated seeing Kurt like that, fragile like the beautiful porcelain doll he was. What was worse, was that Blaine knew he couldn't fix it, only able to give Kurt the comfort a friend could. He couldn't wrap him in his arms and hold him until pain went away. He couldn't place little kisses on his nose and forehead and whisper sweet words to comfort him. That was Glen's job, even though it was Glen who had caused the disappointment Kurt felt.

Blaine was relieved when his alarm clock pulled him out of his dreams, thankful for the deterrence of his thoughts. He got out of bed, focusing on the task of getting ready for work. He missed how carefree and chipper he used to be in the morning as he would get ready for work. Lately, it seemed like Kurt's presence was taking an emotional toll on his system, taxing his energy in the morning. He dressed casually like he always did for work, not bothering to look special. He glanced forlornly at his guitar case and realized he hadn't played it for the longest stretch of days since coming to New York. Before he could decide against it he snatched his guitar off the floor, not letting his personal problems and internal conflict keep him from playing his music.

He left his apartment a few minutes earlier than he usually did, wanting the extra time to clear his head as he walked to work. He used the time to think of more pleasant things, like seeing his old friends he hadn't seen in nearly ten years. They hadn't changed as much as he feared they would which was a relief to Blaine. He hadn't realized how much he missed them until he spent time with them yesterday and he was grateful that he would be spending more time with them tonight at the bachelor outing. As far as Blaine knew it was just a club, but if Santana was involved in the planning process, he couldn't be too sure. He silently wished he had thought of an outfit last night instead of stewing in his emotions.

Blaine opened the shop as he normally did, turning down the chairs and mopping the floor. He had his second batch of scones in the oven when Elise came into work. He strummed the stings of his guitar leisurely as he told Elise all about the fitting yesterday, not leaving a single detail out. She asked about the girls a lot, what they were like and if they changed since high school. They chatted for a while about his friends, Elise had actually heard of Rachel Berry and her career on Broadway which was surprising to Blaine because he hadn't.

Slowly the customers started coming in and Blaine was forced to return his guitar to its case and do his job. The weather was nice, so there were a lot of customers that came into the shop for iced coffees throughout the morning. Blaine was grateful for the distractions of work, forcing his mind to concentrate on the task at hand. As usual, the crowds thinned as the lunch hour came around and Nate showed up for lunch. He asked about the fitting and Blaine told him the abridged version of what he gave Elise, neglecting the parts with him holding Kurt in the cab.

Nathanial too wanted to know how seeing his old friends went and Blaine talked about how it was as if seven years hadn't passed between them. He told Nate about how he was invited to Kurt's bachelor party with the girls. Nate didn't seem too keen on the idea, but he did not ask Blaine to decline the invitation, assuring him he had no problem if he attended because he trusted him. Blaine extended an invitation to Nate but he politely declined, saying again that he would feel like the odd man out and that he would get the opportunity to meet everyone on Saturday at the wedding.

Shortly before one o'clock, Nate left to go back to work, kissing Blaine on his way out the door and Blaine went back to work. He wasn't expecting Kurt to come into the shop today, since he had work and the girls were in town. Yet, half an hour after Nathanial left the shop, in walked Kurt with Santana's arm looped through his own. Blaine smiled from behind the counter and started getting Kurt's order ready as they approached the front of the shop.

"Ritzy set-up you've got here," Santana remarked looking around the shop.

"Thanks," Blaine replied setting Kurt's order on the counter, "can I get you anything San?"

She looked at the list of options on the sign next to the counter and ordered a small black coffee which Blaine put together in no time at all. Kurt pulled out his wallet and paid for both orders, including two pieces of biscotti. They seated themselves down at a table, Blaine sitting across the table from Kurt and Santana.

"So," Blaine began, "to what do I owe this visit?" he asked Santana.

She shrugged, "Kurt made me come."

Kurt rolled his eyes at her, "no, it was quite the other way around."

"Alright, so I wanted to see you too," she grinned at Blaine, sipping her coffee.

"Where is everyone else?" Blaine asked them.

"Mercedes and Tina went with Rachel who is giving them kind of a backstage tour of Broadway, and Lauren and Puck are taking in the sights of the city. Santana wanted to come into work with me today," he said nudging her elbow with his own.

"You needed someone to model some clothes and I was available," she shrugged, "you are one lucky guy."

Elise came back into the shop from her cigarette break and glanced at the table the three friends were seated at. "Hello," he greeted them.

"Hey Elise," Kurt replied in return, "this is a mutual friend of Blaine and I."

"Elise Durand," the she introduced herself holding a hand out to Santana.

"Santana Lopez," she replied, grasping Elise's hand and shaking it briefly. Elise smiled and headed into the back room to get ready for the wave of customers that usually came in after lunch. Santana watched her go, not taking her eyes off the woman, "is she…?" she began.

"She has a boyfriend," Blaine laughed.

"Damn it," Santana muttered under her breath.

"What ever happened to you and Britt?" Blaine asked, propping his chin on his hand.

Santana crossed her arms, "it just didn't work out. She just ended it one day and said she just wanted to be friends. We used to talk often, but I haven't heard from her in the last few months. Last I heard, she and Artie were trying a relationship again but that's only a rumor I heard from Quinn," she shook her head.

"I'm so sorry," Blaine murmured, placing his other hand on her arm.

"Yeah, me too," she replied, not taking her eyes off her coffee cup.

"Alright, enough with the Debbie-Downer attitudes," Kurt butt in, "on a more pleasant note, we are going to have a great time tonight." Santana nodded excitedly.

"Where exactly are we going?" Blaine asked tentatively.

"Just a club, nothing too spectacular—"

"It's going to be one hell of a night. It's Kurt's last outing as a single man so he is going to get drunk off his ass and dance with everyone in the club," Santana cut in.

"I should never have let you plan this," Kurt moaned kneading his temples with his fingertips.

"You'll love it," she assured him.

"Well, we will see about that. We have to get back to work," Kurt said checking his watch and turning to Santana.

"Already?" Santana whined standing up from her seat.

"Yes, I am completely swamped trying to finish the fall collection," Kurt replied. "I just have to use the restroom and we can go."

Kurt excused himself and crossed the shop and entered the men's bathroom, Blaine and Santana watching him go. Santana turned back to Blaine and eyed him with a knowing glance.

"What?" he demanded crossing his arms over his chest.

"Don't play dumb, Anderson," she hissed, "fess up."

"To what?"

"You still have it bad for Kurt," she stated, arching an eyebrow and smirking.

"No I—"

"Save it," she snapped, holding up a finger to silence him, "I'm not blind. I saw you run out of the restaurant yesterday night and you can hardly ever take your eyes off him. It's like you're wearing a blinking neon sign on your forehead saying 'I love Kurt'."

"I-I…" Blaine stuttered, visibly shaking.

Santana's features softened, "hey, it's okay."

Blaine swallowed hard, "is it that obvious?" he breathed.

"I don't think so. I just know you," she smiled, "or I used to. You better not drop off the face of the earth again."

"I won't, I promise."

"Damn straight you won't. How are you taking this whole wedding business?" she asked leaning against the table.

He heaved a heavy sigh, "not so great," he admitted.

"Does Kurt know?"

Blaine's face paled, "oh God no!" he blurted.

"Have you ever thought of telling him?"

"Are you insane?" he shrieked, immediately regretting the volume his voice got to. He tuned it down to a whisper, "he is marrying the man he left me for," he hissed.

Santana looked stunned, "o-oh, I didn't know."

"Yeah, I'm sure Kurt wouldn't broadcast that fact—"

"Wait! Didn't you mention yesterday you're dating some guy?"

"Yeah," Blaine barked out a laugh, "got myself in quite the emotional mess, didn't I?"

"What are you going to do?" she asked.

He shrugged, "I don't really know," he admitted, "I'm just banking on the wedding as being the closure I didn't get five years ago when we broke up."

"That plan sucks."

"Tell me about it," Blaine groaned.

Kurt came back through the door of the restroom and Blaine and Santana immediately ended their conversation. "You all set to go?" he asked her.

"I think so," she sighed, "I'll see you tonight, Blaine."

"Where are we meeting tonight?" Blaine asked them.

"My apartment, ten o'clock," Kurt said shortly heading for the door, Santana was already outside waiting for him.

"Wait, Kurt," Blaine blurted out, reaching and grasping Kurt's arm. "H-How are you? How are you feeling today?" he asked, concerned for the condition he was in last night when he dropped him off at his apartment.

Kurt sighed, "truthfully, I've been better," he admitted with a cheerless smile. He placed his hand over Blaine's that was on his arm, "thanks Blaine. I'll see you tonight."

"See you tonight," Blaine said in return dropping their hands. Kurt grasped Blaine's hand tightly in his own and gripped it reassuringly before joining Santana outside the shop and walking into the summer sun.

The rest of the day passed without any incident, just a typical day at the coffee shop. Blaine used his free time to plan his outfit for tonight, mentally going through the clothing items in his closet. When he got back to his apartment at seven that night, he knew exactly what he wanted to wear and immediately took it out of his closet. He decided on a crimson red button down long sleeved shirt, black skin tight jeans, red socks, and black shoes. He pressed the wrinkles out of his shirt with his iron, making the collar flat and crisp. He hung his clothes on the hook in his bathroom and he took a lengthy shower, taking his time.

When he got through with his shower, he continued with his regiment. He spritzed cologne and did his hair. Instead of trying to tame his curls, squirted a bit of gel in his hands and rubbed them together and fluffed his hands through his hair. Tonight, he was going for the tousled look, letting his dark curls be as unruly as they wanted, but keeping them from getting frizzy. When he was finished with his hair, he got dressed in his carefully planned outfit, the jeans were hard to get into, he hadn't worn them in a few years and they were tight. For the shirt, he rolled up the sleeves to his elbows and buttoned it up almost to the top, leaving the last two buttons undone to expose some of his chest.

Ten o'clock grew close and he left his apartment, locking the door and pocketing his keys on the way out. He hailed a cab and headed over to Kurt's apartment. New York was alive, even for a Thursday night. The lights were bright and the people were brighter, most heading out for the evening. The ride to Kurt's place seemed short, probably because Blaine's attention kept wandering and there was a lot for him to look at. Sooner than he thought, the cab was rolling to a stop in front of Kurt's apartment building and he was paying the cab driver. He walked up the stairs and made his way through the building and up to the door of Kurt's apartment. He knocked loudly on the door and waited for a response.

Giggling came from the other side of the wooden door and it flew open, revealing a very shiny Rachel. "Blaine!" she exclaimed sweeping him in a hug. "We've been waiting for you!"

"I'm not late am I?" he asked stepping into the apartment.

"No, you're right on time," Mercedes replied.

All the girls were standing around the kitchen table, sipping water and chatting. They had all dressed to impress. Santana in a very short tight red dress, Rachel in a short metallic silver number, Mercedes in a purple and blue swirl pattern dress, Lauren in a grey top and black skirt, and Tina in a short black lacey dress. "You ladies look great," Blaine remarked grinning at them all.

"As do you, hot stuff," Santana replied digging him in the ribs with her elbow.

"Too bad you don't play for our team," Mercedes laughed.

"Where is Kurt?" Blaine asked.

"You called?" Kurt trilled gliding into the room. He had really gone all out. His white long sleeved shirt had dozens of tiny buttons closing the front and studs, zippers, and chains looping around the shoulders. His jeans were a slightly metallic black and very, very tight and were worn with glossy knee-high black boots. His hair was vertical and resembled the crest of a bird. Blaine's breath caught when he first caught a glimpse of him and tried to regain his composure before anyone noticed.

"And another gay man who looks hot," Mercedes teased poking Kurt's side.

Kurt shrugged as if that was a well-known fact and looked all the girls over, "good thing I'm gay, because you ladies look great!" They all laughed along with him. "And you too, Blaine," he added, smiling at the man.

"As do you," he replied taking in Kurt's wardrobe again.

Kurt whirled in a circle, Blaine's eyes immediately dropping to his backside. Santana elbowed him hard in the ribs. "Ow," he hissed under his breath.

"Quit gawking," she whispered back.

"Alright, is everyone ready to go?" Kurt asked, "I called for the cab and it should be waiting for us now."

Everyone nodded and grabbed their belongings off the kitchen table. Kurt picked up his phone and attempted to fit it into the pocket of his jeans, failing miserably. He sighed in frustration, "Blaine? Would you mind holding onto this, I can't fit it in my pockets, my pants are too tight. Not that yours are much looser," he laughed.

"Sure," he replied taking Kurt's phone and cramming it into his pocket.

"Let's get this show on the road!" Rachel exclaimed and everyone headed out of the apartment.

They piled into the cab and Santana gave the driver the address to the club. On the way there, they all chatted excitedly about the nights events, all excited for a night of drinking and the dancing. The cab ride itself wasn't too long, but necessary because the girls were wearing heels. They arrived around 10:30 PM and waited in the line for about fifteen minutes before they got through the bouncer at the door.

When they all finally stepped inside, the club was in full swing. It was dark, the DJ was playing a heavy beat, and the colored lights were dancing over the bodies on the dance floor. Once they were all inside Santana stopped in front of the group and exclaimed as loud as she could, "to the bar!"