Kurt Hummel strode down the hallway of McKinley High, clutching the strap of his messenger bag. Most of the kids in the hall turned to stare as he walked by. Kurt was used to it by now- he just held his perfectly coiffed head high and ignored their mutters of, "What the hell is he wearing?".

He passed Mr. Schuester, the Spanish teacher and glee club coach. "Hey there, Kurt!" said Mr. Shue.

"Hi, Mr. Shue!" Kurt replied.

"Any plans for the weekend?"

Kurt grinned. "The mall, of course. I just got the most amazing jacket, but of course I need a new scarf to go with it, so-"

"That's great!" Mr. Shue cut in. "See you in Glee, huh?" Kurt nodded, and they went their separate ways.

The whispers continued as Kurt kept walking. "There goes Ladyboy."

"He's so weird."

"Does he even NOTICE how fruity he looks?"

"Those glee kids are such LOSERS!"

"He lives in his own little world."

Kurt saw a flash of red out of the corner of his eye. He glanced up nervously at the large, familiar figure of Dave Karofsky, the right guard for the football team. The petite boy braced himself for the insult or locker shove, but it never came. Karofsky simply passed by him, his face scowling as per usual.

Curious, thought Kurt. He's been ignoring me ever since that day in the locker room...Kurt shuddered, remembering the unexpected kiss. I don't trust that guy...

Mercedes Jones caught up with him. "Hey bestie!"

"Hey 'Cedes!" Kurt fell into step with her. He placed both hands around his neck and started to take off the necklace he was wearing. "Before I forget, let me give this back to you. Thanks for letting me borrow it, honey."

"Finished already?" Mercedes laughed.

"Wearing a pair of red lips around my neck may be a tad too fem, even for me" said Kurt. He eyed the collection of bracelets around his friends' wrist. "Got anything more neutral?"

"Not since yesterday."

"What about this one?" Kurt asked, tugging on a slim studded cuff.

Mercedes quirked an eyebrow at him. "Boy, you always wanna borrow that one!"

"What can I say? It gives any ensemble a much-needed edge."

"If you like it that much, Kurt, it's yours." She took off the bracelet and slipped it over his hand.

"But- Mercedes!" Kurt protested.

"I insist!" she said with a smile.

"Thanks!" he exclaimed, hugging her.

After school, Kurt sat in the Lima Bean, a coffee house frequented by private-school kids. He sipped his grande non-fat mocha and stared at the Vogue Homme before him, sighing. How amazing it must be to live in New York. All those wonderful shops...

Just outside of the Lima Bean, a well-trained and masculine voice could be heard, belting out the final notes of "Baby, It's Cold Outside".

Trent Nixon, a chubby boy in a Dalton Academy school uniform, clapped his hands. "You didn't mess up one note, Blaine! You have the greatest voice I've ever heard!"

"I know." Blaine Anderson, a dapper young man also in a Dalton uniform, smirked.

"None of the other show choirs stand a chance with you up there!" Trent leaned in. "None of the guys stand a chance, either.."

"It's true, Trent." Blaine looked through the window of the coffee shop. "And I've got my sights set on that one."

Trent followed Blaine's gaze to where Kurt sat. "That public school kid?"

"He's the one! The lucky boy I'm gonna take out."

"But he-"

"The most beautiful boy in Lima!"

"...I know." Trent sighed.

"That makes him the best! And don't I deserve the best?"

"Well, of course, I mean, you do, but I mean-" Trent stammered.

Blaine ignored his friends' rambling. "From the moment I saw him, I said he's gorgeous! Who else in Lima is as beautiful as ME? So, I'm planning to take out Kurt."

Inside, three boys in Dalton uniforms sat at a table, sipping coffee and watching as Blaine entered the shop with Trent at his heels.

"There he goes" said Nick, not taking his eyes off the dark-haired boy.

"Isn't he dreamy?" Jeff whispered.

"Blaine Anderson- he's SO cute!" Andrew replied.

"Be still my heart."

"I can't breathe!"

"So tall, dark and handsome!"

"Kurt!" Blaine called out, rushing around the tables.

There must be more than this town, Kurt was thinking.

I'm gonna make him MINE, thought Blaine.

Everyone stared at Kurt as Blaine made his way toward the fashionably dressed boy. The whispers began again.

"Hello, Kurt."

"Oh..hi, Blaine." Kurt didn't look up from his magazine. Blaine snatched it up from the table.

"Blaine, give that back!"

"New York? Really, Kurt?" Blaine smirked, looking at what Kurt had been reading.

"Hey, I can dream, can't I?"

"Kurt" Blaine began, sitting down across from him. "It's about time you got your head outta those silly magazines, and paid attention to more important things- like me." He tossed the Vogue carelessly onto the floor.

There was an audible sigh from the other Dalton boys' table, and Kurt raised an eyebrow. He retrieved the magazine from the floor and dusted it off. "Blaine, you are...something else."

"Why, thank you, Kurt!" Blaine scooted his chair over, and draped his arm over Kurt's shoulders. "Hey, what do you say we go over to Dalton, take a look at all my show choir trophies?"

"Maybe...some other time" Kurt said, standing up to leave.

"What's wrong with him?" Nick exclaimed

"He's crazy" said Jeff, shaking his head.

"Blaine's gorgeous!" sighed Andrew.

"Please Blaine, I can't. I have to get to the garage and help my father." Kurt picked up his bag, threw his coffee cup away, and headed out the door.

"His father the MECHANIC?" Trent laughed.