When Kurt's alarm went off a week later he didn't wake up groaning. He actually woke up with a smile on his face. It had been a week since the dream had resurfaced. It had also been a week since he had last seen Blaine. One whole week, and Kurt couldn't be happier about it.

He didn't shy away from the fact that he thought he still had some lingering feelings for Blaine. However, he had decided it was time to do something about it.

The first thing was, he was limiting himself to one cup of coffee a day. He knew he would feel better about himself if he wasn't addicted to the caffeine. Plus the coffee only served to remind him of Blaine. He had caught himself more than once just staring into his cup sadly only to realize what he was doing and get so mad that he would throw it away. It wasn't going well; but he was doing it. The day that he had told Cathy Blaine's story he had gone to the store directly after work to buy a new coffee pot. That way he would never be tempted to stop at the coffee shop ever again.

The second thing was, he was going out for jogs in the evenings after dinner was eaten and the mess cleaned up. If you had told him two weeks ago that he would be going out for a jog each night he would have laughed in your face. But now, he loved it. There was something so freeing in the way he could go out and run has hard or as slow as he wanted. He got to drown out the world on his iPod and just let his body go. It was a therapy that he never knew existed, and it didn't cost him $3,000 a session...

He planned things for work while he ran, so he was getting more done. Cathy and he had been blowing through everything that they had missed in the day they had been out and they were moving faster than ever. They were actually ahead of schedule. Something that was a first. Cathy also didn't ask questions about Blaine. Kurt knew she was there to talk if he needed it, but she didn't pry. It was nice to know he had the support behind him without her always being in his face about it.

He didn't flinch when he heard Blaine's name anymore. Rachel and Blaine had somewhat re-kindled their friendship. They had stopped talking when Kurt and Blaine had broken up, due to the fact that Rachel wanted to stay loyal to her friendship with Kurt. Though, he had kind of always felt guilty that their friendship had ended because of him.

"Rachel, I have told you a million times that I don't care if you are friends with Blaine. Just don't talk about me with him and don't bring him over."

"Are you sure? Because I don't want to hurt you anymore than you have already been hurt. I mean I only knew him for like 3 years so it's not that big a deal. No, I'm perfectly fine with not speaking to him if it will upset you."

"Take a breather. Just answer my questions with one word, okay?" Rachel nodded. "Good girl. Now, do you want to be friends with Blaine again?"

She opened her mouth to launch into explanation but Kurt glared at her. Slowly she nodded yes.

"Can you be friends with him without talking about me?" She nodded her head yes.

"Can you be friends with him without bringing him over?" Yes.

"Have you answered your own question yet?"

"Yes Kurt," she said like she was a little kid that had just gotten yelled at.

"There you go."

"But-"

"No buts Berry. End of discussion."

Surprisingly, it had been. She hadn't brought it up again. But Kurt knew that they had been hanging out, she didn't have to tell him. Rachel came home from work a little later now and one night she had even gone out and she hadn't said she was going on a date so Kurt knew she was going somewhere with Blaine and just didn't want to tell him. Rachel also seemed happier, now that she had someone from her past back in her life besides Kurt. Finn and Rachel still kept falling in and out of the same relationship but this time it was years in between instead of months. Kurt had been the only one around for a long time.

However, there was something that wouldn't get out of Kurt's head. Blaine's 'threats'. Kurt had honestly thought that Blaine was going to put in more of an effort than giving him one rose. Not that he was complaining... but sometimes he wished that Blaine had put in more of an effort. He obviously didn't want Kurt back all that much if he had already given up. But it was just as well because now Blaine wasn't wasting his time trying to chase down a long lost dream. Even still, a little more effort would have been nice.

But Kurt figured it was for the best since now he could really focus on his career and didn't have to worry about Blaine being a distraction. He had all the work he needed with his job and his efforts to keep Blaine out. He was on his way to being healthier and happier now that he really could put what happened between him and Blaine in the past. He could get his closure now. It was done. Over. And he would never go back. No, life was getting seriously better.

Kurt was still smiling lying in his bed. He reached his arms over his head and stretched his body out. He was tried, but not exhausted like he used to be. Water had replaced the coffee and along with that and the running... he could already feel he was getting healthier. Kurt actually was able to get up out of bed, instead of roll out of bed. When his feet hit the floor he pulled himself up.

He stretched his legs out when he stood. His body wasn't used to the exercise yet. Kurt knew that soon he would be able to take longer and longer runs around the city but for now his body was kicking its own ass. However, it was a good sore. It reminded him that he was doing something to change what he didn't like about his life. It was a great feeling, he was proud. Something that didn't happen very often for him.

He started to walk to the kitchen to make his one cup of coffee for the day. It wasn't as good as what he could get at the coffee shop... but Folgers had to do. He didn't have the time or the equipment to make himself lattes every morning plus he knew that it would be a while before he was able to drink another nonfat mocha, even if Blaine wasn't making it. Kurt had been doing so good that when he walked by the shop in the morning he didn't even turn his head. But he secretly hoped Blaine watched him walk by every morning and wished that he would stop in. This morning was no exception.

Every day Kurt made sure he looked perfect. Just in case he had something else left on his door step and he had to go yell at Blaine. Or just in case Blaine really waswatching him in the window at work. He hated that it seemed his life was still revolving around Blaine but for at least right now, it had to stay that way. Soon he would be completely over Blaine for the first time since meeting him and he couldn't wait. He would put in all the hard work for it to happen. It had to happen. There was no other choice now.

So Kurt drank his coffee deeply and quickly. The cup was always gone too soon. But he walked back to his room to go get ready anyway. He flicked on his iPod while he walked by. That was also part of his plan, drown everything out with music. Even if he didn't sing anymore, he still enjoyed listening to it. And this morning he was in such a good mood, he even caught himself humming along. Just a little bit.

Once ready an hour later, he pulled his iPod off the dock and plugged in his headphones. Pushing them into his ears and grabbing his satchel he went to walk out the front door. He stopped and looked down at the mat. There was nothing there and he smiled. Blaine really had given up. It was too perfect. Kurt couldn't believe his luck. He pulled the door shut behind him and turned to lock the door. He ran slowly down the stairs and out the door of the apartment complex and into the city.

Kurt felt like skipping to work he was so happy. He knew there was an extra bounce in his step until he got to the coffee shop. He just wanted to walk by without anything to do with it but something caught his eye. It was closed. For the first time since opening that Kurt had seen. All of the lights were off and the closed sign hung in the window. So, definitely closed. But...why? Where was Blaine? Was he sick? Was he hurt? He wouldn't just call out of work for nothing...

No. It didn't matter. It didn't matter where Blaine was or what he was doing or whatever. Blaine didn't matter anymore. So why was Kurt standing here thinking all of these things? He shouldn't be. It didn't matter. He didn't care. Well, he was working on not caring, and to do that he had to not care. Shaking his head he continued to walk to work. But he turned up his music to drown everything out and he had much less of a skip in his step.

He got to work shortly after and his mind was almost completely off Blaine. Kurt had been planning what had to be done today in his mind the whole way there and it had been an excellent distraction. He was almost as happy as he was when he had left the apartment. He pulled out his headphones when he entered the building and fished the iPod out of his pocket to turn it off.

"Hey Bill!"

"Hi Kurt! Good morning!"

Now that Kurt had been decidedly less rushed in the mornings he had made a habit to stop and talk to Bill. He had felt bad when Bill had said that people had forgotten he was there and and in talking to him Kurt had found that Bill was actually extremely nice and easy to talk to. He thought they were on their way to a very solid friendship. In fact, Bill didn't even stammer while talking to him anymore.

"It's a beautiful day out! I felt like I was dancing all the way here."

"Just as long as you don't sing out loud, people don't think you're too crazy," Bill said smiling.

"I don't sing." Kurt snapped.

"Oh. Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you."

"No. It's okay...I just. Don't sing." Anymore, Kurt added silently in his head.

"Right. No singing. Filed away in the 'Don't Mention' drawer. I add something new to it everyday. Some weird shit makes you mad."

"Well, you know how your teen years are. Hell on Earth," Kurt said easily. Most of it had been anyway...

"Oh don't I know it."

"Were you bullied too?"

"Everyday. High school was the worst part of my life. The best day of my life was when I graduated, and I came here. Everything got better."

"I know what you mean. It hasn't always been easier here though."

"But better," they say at the same time. Smiles broke out on each of their faces.

"Oh!" Bill started, "I forgot to tell you. I'm pretty sure Cathy has a surprise for you upstairs. You better go before she has a heart attack from the excitement."

"That good, huh?"

"Oh yeah. You're gonna be thrilled. Or at least Cathy thinks so..." Bill trailed off with a funny look on his face.

"Well then I better go find out. I'll see you later."

"Have a good day Kurt! Oh, and go easy on him. He seems like the type that would break easily."

"On easy who?"

"Just go upstairs," Bill said in an amused fashion.

"Okay, okay," Kurt laughed walking over to the elevators. He pushed the up button and waited.

"Go easy on who?"

Bill rolled his eyes, "Just wait 30 more seconds. She won't wait to tell you."

Kurt huffed. He hated surprises. Something about walking into more than a dozen slushies does that to a person. Soon enough the elevator dinged and he climbed inside. Before the doors shut he called, "Go easy on who?" But all he heard was Bill laughing again.

He paced around the elevator. His good mood dwindling again. Why was all this happening today? First Blaine not being at work, and now this...but this he actually had reason to be upset about. Not Blaine. Blaine didn't matter. Right. Kurt nodded to himself. And then he was out the door and almost ran to his office.

Kurt had almost expected Cathy to be there waiting for him but she wasn't. So he walked to his desk and sat down. He turned his computer on and then he heard the door open. It was Cathy and she was beaming.

"So, Bill said you had good news."

"I found him!"

"Who?"

"That personal shopper-thing-person! I found him! He's perfect!"

Kurt's mood lightened. This was good news. "Him?" Kurt inquired.

"Yes! His name is Joshua. He's gay but don't worry about falling for him 'cause he is definitely not your type."

"I have a type?" Kurt laughed, genuinely shocked.

"Yes Kurt. Everyone has a type. Even you."

"What's your type? Actually...what's my type?" Kurt asked, confused.

"Now's not the time! Don't you want to meet Joshua?"

"Oh right. Yes. Joshua. Tell me about him first."

"Okay. Well. He sure knows a lot about you. Are you sure your Facebook is private? Whatever. You probably have a Wikipedia page by now. He knows all about your style and the clothes you have out now and in the past. He is very handsome and has greenish hazel eyes. I actually couldn't figure out what color they were...never mind. Not important. He was downstairs talking to Bill when even I got here. Boy was here early. Said he didn't want to lose the job. But I told him he didn't have much competition. He seemed to find that funny. He's got a great laugh, great smile to..."

"Sounds like Joshua is...your type Cathy."

"Yeah except the fact he's gay. Doesn't look it though. Even with the ha-"

"Tell me more about him. Does he have experience?"

"Well, not really. But some. He said he dated someone a while back that was very into fashion so he could keep up. I also warned him about the way you shop. But all he did was laugh and say it was nothing he couldn't handle. Something about his ex being a horrible shopper so not to worry about it."

"Sounds perfect." Kurt smiled. This was all very good.

"He is! I already had him sign the contract for a year."

"Contract?"

"Yeah, it's this new thing Harvey is doing. All new employees must sign a contract for at least a year saying they won't take designs out of the building. It also states that the person has to work for a full year before they can be fired unless they do something major. But it's all legal stuff. Yadda yadda yadda."

"Wait Cathy. Shouldn't you have at least had him meet me first?"

"Oh psh. I know you better than you know yourself. And I say he's perfect."

Kurt laughed. "Well you seem so sure so I suppose he is. Do I get to meet him now?"

"Right! One thing. He has...well...quite the head of hair. But don't let that fool you. He's actually very...well...I guess dapper would be the right word."

"What did you call him?" Kurt paled at the word, people had always told Kurt that Blaine was dapper. But Cathy was out the door waving to someone.

Kurt watched his window glass wall, waiting for the first look at Joshua. And when he came into view Kurt started to chant "oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no" over and over and over. Joshua's name wasn't Joshua...no...his name was...

Before he was ready, Cathy opened the door and the pair of them walked in. Cathy was beaming as was the man standing next to her. He looked like he had just won the freaking lottery.

"Cathy what have you done?" Kurt asked in horror.

But she didn't hear him because she was making flourishing movements with her arms and saying loudly, "This is Joshua!"

Then the man opened his mouth to talk for the first time, "Actually everybody has always called me by my middle name. My whole life actually. You would have thought my parents would have just named me it if that's what I was going to be called my whole life. But no. Most people don't even know Joshua is my first name. Please, call me Blaine."