Sunday, June 12 – Saturday, June 18

Kurt found the week of staff training to be somewhat surreal.  Everything seemed both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.  And he couldn't quite shake the feeling of being an impostor.  He kept half-expecting someone to point to him and demand, “Hey, how'd one of the campers get in here with the grown-ups?”

Kurt remembered most of the other staff members from previous summers.  His old Horsemanship instructors, Robert and Zach, were still there, as were the cooks, Brad and Ian.  His old counselor, Matthew, was now working as a Horse Sense instructor, along with Harry, of whom Kurt still felt slightly and irrationally jealous.  

The counselors – Cory, Mark, Kevin, Chord, Blake, and Jacob – had all attended Ride ‘Em Cowboy Ranch Camp as kids.  Most of them were a couple of years older than Kurt, but he vaguely remembered them all.

The first evening, after introducing everyone, David and Ryan sat back and allowed them to have free time to get acquainted (or reacquainted).  Kurt had never really enjoyed “mingling,” but Blaine was in his element.  He greeted everyone like a long-lost friend, with a huge grin and a hug.  Kurt was more reserved, shaking hands and smiling tentatively.

When Harry approached, Blaine was, as always, effusive in his greeting.  “Hey, it's great to see you!  How've you been?” he cried, pulling the older boy into a big hug.

Turning toward Kurt, Blaine then surprised him by grabbing his left hand and pulling him forward.  “You remember my best friend, Kurt, right?” he asked, giving Kurt's hand a squeeze.  Kurt could feel his face heating up, and wished for the thousandth time that he didn't blush so easily.  He stammered out a greeting and shook Harry's hand.

As Harry moved away, Kurt realized that he was still holding Blaine's hand.  He tried to let go, but Blaine just gave his hand a little squeeze, pulled him forward, and said, “C'mon.  Let's go say ‘Hi' to everyone else.  They're more likely to remember who we are if they see us together.”

For the rest of the evening, Kurt let Blaine lead him around, chatting with one person after another.  Although Kurt felt awkward at first, he soon realized that no one seemed to mind Blaine's touchy-feely friendliness, and he began to relax and actually enjoy himself.

Eventually, Ryan announced that they'd be meeting the next morning at 7:30 for breakfast, and sent them all off – the counselors to the centrally located cabins, the rest of the staff to the far-flung bunkhouses.  Kurt and Blaine walked together through the twilight, still laughing over one of Chord's impressions.

Back in their bunkhouse, Blaine said, “Guess what I brought?”

“A guitar,” said Kurt, noticing the case leaning against the wall.

“Well, yeah,” said Blaine, “but that's not what I was thinking of.  Guess what I brought to read?”

“Harry Potter?”

“The complete series!  Last time we were together, we'd just finished The Prisoner of Azkaban.  Do you want to start with Goblet of Fire?  Or should we go back to the beginning?”

“You mean, like, read to each other?”

“Of course!  It's a tradition.  You can't seriously expect me to read to myself, can you?”  

“Of course not,” said Kurt, laughing.  “What was I thinking?  Let's start with The Goblet of Fire.”   

“Good call,” said Blaine.  “Do you want the first shower?”

“No, you go ahead.  I haven't even made my bed yet.”

While Blaine was in the bathroom, Kurt made up his bed with the clean sheets and blankets his father had sent with him.  It felt strange to be at camp without his old sleeping bag, but Kurt knew that he'd be more comfortable this way.  

Kurt was unpacking his bags when Blaine came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.  Kurt quickly looked back down at the clothes he was folding, and steadfastly avoided glancing up again until he was certain that Blaine had put his pajamas on.  Things with Blaine had been going so smoothly, and Kurt did not need any complications.

When it was his own turn to shower, Kurt made sure to bring his pajamas with him into the bathroom, so that he could be properly attired before he came out.  Leaving the bathroom, he found Blaine sitting on the bottom bunk, holding Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Kurt walked across the room and sat down at his desk chair.  Blaine looked up, surprised.  “Do you have a letter you need to write?” he asked.

“No,” said Kurt.  “I'm ready for the story, if you are.”

“Well, then, c'mere,” said Blaine, patting his leg as he had done when they were kids.

Kurt hesitated.  Reading to each other seemed unusual enough, but lying with their heads in each other's laps just really didn't seem like something that guys their age did.

“C'mon,” Blaine urged.  “I won't bite.”  

Then, when Kurt still didn't get up, he added, with a gleam in his eye, “But the Monster Book of Monsters might!”  And with that, Blaine leapt up, snapping the book's covers open and closed toward Kurt.

Kurt popped up out of his chair, and Blaine chased him around the room, making ferocious growling noises.  Kurt stumbled, and Blaine took the opportunity to grab him and toss him down on the bed.  

“There!” crowed Blaine triumphantly.  “Now, are you going to lie there and listen to the story, or do I have to let this book bite your toes?”

Kurt was laughing so hard, he was afraid he was going to pee his pants.  “Okay, okay,” he gasped.  “Don't let it get me!”

“Fine,” Blaine smirked.  “But let there be no more of this silly sitting-in-chairs nonsense.”

Lying there, with his head in Blaine's lap, Kurt closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on the story.  J. K. Rowling seemed to be losing her touch, though, because all Kurt could focus on was the feeling of Blaine's fingers running through his hair, and the warmth of Blaine's thigh under his cheek.  He was afraid this was going to be a very long summer.

The next day, David and Ryan had planned a series of team-building exercises for the staff.  The activities – Human Knot, The Amazing Shrinking Blanket, Trust Falls, Hot Chocolate River, Blindfold Obstacle Course, The Magic Carpet, etc. – were designed to help them loosen up and feel comfortable with each other, while developing their cooperation skills.  Somewhat to Kurt's surprise, they actually worked.  By the end of the day, Kurt felt like he had a new family.

That night, at dinner, talk turned to college.  All of the counselors were college students, and most of the instructors were either students or professors.  Kurt mentioned that he was headed to NYADA in the fall.  

“No way!” Blaine yelled, shoving him so hard that he actually fell off the end of the bench.  “I'm going to NYADA, too!  This is going to be fantastic!  Are you really going to NYADA?”

Picking himself up off of the floor with a glare at Blaine, Kurt answered, “Well, if I live long enough, I am.”

Blaine was too excited to be properly contrite.  Nothing would satisfy him until he had gotten Kurt to agree that they would get an apartment together in New York.  Kurt had serious doubts about what he was getting himself into, but he just couldn't say no.

On Tuesday, each staff mini-team was focused on preparing for their own area of responsibility.  For Kurt and Blaine, this meant reading through the Certified Horsemanship Association guidelines for classes at the different riding levels, and then heading out to reacquaint themselves with the over 25 miles of trails on the ranch.

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were “trial run” days.  On Wednesday, they followed the schedule of the beginners group, with each pair of instructors teaching the appropriate lessons, and the rest of the staff acting as campers.  Kurt felt a little nervous teaching his first riding lesson, but his skills as an actor helped him to imagine that his colleagues really were little kids just learning how to ride.  Blaine's acting skills came to the fore when it was his turn to pretend to be a camper, although Kurt secretly wondered if he was even acting.  

On Thursday, they followed the schedule of the intermediate group, and the advanced group was on Friday.  With each lesson he taught, Kurt became more confident.  He and Blaine developed an easy flow, each knowing when to pick up and when to let the other take over.

When they took their groups out on trail rides, Kurt soon discovered that he preferred to lead, and to let Blaine ride drag.  Otherwise, he found himself too distracted by how good Blaine looked in the saddle up ahead, and he missed pointing out essential safety information to his group.

By Friday night, David and Ryan declared them all ready for camp.  They would have Saturday off, and the first campers would arrive on Sunday.

Kurt and Blaine still had some trails left to explore, so after breakfast on Saturday they packed themselves a picnic lunch and headed out on their horses.  The weather was perfect, and Kurt felt relaxed and happy.  He glanced over at Blaine, riding next to him.

Blaine met his gaze with a big smile.  “I'm glad you're still my best friend,” he said.