Kurt sighed, still frustrated, but he knew that shopping would be good for him. Retail therapy was always his first choice. He stood, giving a thankful nod to Maria as she walked by, and linked arms with Mercedes.

"Okay, spill," the boy demanded as soon as they left the restaurant. Mercedes glanced over at him. "What is Blaine up to?"

"I'm not telling you," she replied simply, pulling them across the street.

"Why not?"

"Because, it'll ruin the surprise."

"I hate surprises."

"I know."

"Then tell me!"

"No."

"'Cedes, come on, please?"

"You really want to break Blaine's heart?"

Kurt froze. "What do you mean?"

"He's counting on this to go perfectly and for you to be surprised, so if I told you, then it'd break his little heart," the girl replied, shrugging her shoulders.

"Fine," Kurt sighed. "I'm not happy about any of this, though."

"I know you're not. But it'll be worth it. Trust me." She pulled on Kurt's arm once more and into a little boutique they had stopped in front of.

"There he is!" Quinn called out as she saw Kurt enter the boutique, running over to pull him into a hug.

"Hi, Quinn," Kurt laughed, taken completely off-guard by the gesture. Sure, after high school he and the blonde had grown a lot closer and hugs were just a part of being friends with Kurt Hummel, but something like that was unusual for both of them. "Why so excited?"

"Because you're shopping here, of course," she quickly replied, pulling Kurt over to a rack of clothes that were just his style. "And something going on later."

"Care to explain?"

"Don't worry about that. Shop!" Quinn smiled, holding out a perfect Burberry sweater. Kurt raised an eyebrow at her but took the hanger, looking over the sweater before grinning. He moved on to pick out a pair of skinny jeans that hugged him perfectly, keeping Blaine in mind when he heard the girls tell him how great his ass looked.

"Do I get any kind of hint?" Kurt asked a little while later, piling his new outfit on the cashier s counter. "Like how long this will take? I haven't seen Blaine all day and I miss him."

"It shouldn't take too long," Mercedes replied, glancing over at Quinn. She nodded in agreement, pulling her phone out as she went to go clock out in the back.

"But I don't get to know what's going on, right?"

"Right."

Kurt groaned in frustration. His phone chimed in his pocket moments later, causing Kurt to jump a bit.

(6:35 P.M.) I hear you re upset.
(6:36 P.M.) Why are you doing this to me?
(6:37 P.M.) Good things...
(6:37 P.M.) This isn't fair. I haven't seen you all day and I really miss you. Why can't we just go home and watch Audrey Hepburn movies until we fall asleep in each other's arms?
(6:38 P.M.) We still can. Just not right now. Trust me, baby, you'll like this. I love you.

"Here you are," the cashier chirped, her voice light and youthful. She had to be sixteen at the most. Kurt smiled sweetly at her and turned to Quinn, who was holding a folded piece of paper out for him.

"Not again," Kurt mumbled as he glared at the note.

Kurt Hummel's New York City Scavenger Hunt
Step 3 -
I expect to see you in that outfit one day soon. You're gathering a posse, if you haven't noticed. Tell Quinn it's time to pick up Beth and accompany them to get her. She has your next destination.
- B

"What's this one say?" Mercedes asked, that knowing smirk on her lips again.

"I'm supposed to tell Quinn that we need to go get Beth?" The girl nodded, moving simultaneously with Mercedes to link arms with Kurt and pull him out the door.