The staring competition had been dragging on for ages, it seemed. Kurt had eaten a nice dinner with his parents like he did every night, and like every night since the summer holidays began, he was meeting Blaine. Only problem was that Kurt had dinner at six, Blaine had at seven. Even though Kurt had tried his best to make the family dinner as long as possible, time still seemed to be stuck still, too stubborn to move. He had finished his meal and even offered to do the dishes - to which his mom was surprised for, but very willing to agree on - but by the time Kurt got up to his second floor bedroom, the time was only six forty. That's why he found himself, lying sprawled out on his stomach on top of his bed, having a staring competition with his nightstand watch.

"Come on, come on, come�on," Kurt whined, as the pointer slowly ticked round and round. He knew that time would only go slower if he didn't do anything, but he couldn't help it. He didn't want to do anything else, he just wanted the night to begin.

Him and Blaine had known each other since they were just little kids. Blaine had moved to the house a few hundred meters from his in Pumpkintown, South Carolina in the fall of '89. Kurt remembered hearing his parents talk about it, and how fun it must be for Kurt to have someone his age move in so close by. The two families had dinner together a few weeks after the Anderson family had settled in their new house, and Kurt and Blaine had met. Kurt had liked Blaine, and they had fun that night. But he hadn't seen him for months and months when they finally ran into each other at the pumpkin festival in 1990.

Since then, they had decided to become friends. It was as simple as that, after all they were only eight and seven years old. Things were easy when you were young, and things were easy for Kurt and Blaine. Almost out of accident, they became just that:�Kurt and Blaine. Whenever someone would talk about them - parents, teachers, or any elders who knew them, really - it would always be as�Kurt and Blaine. Kurt and Blaine are going out to play, they'll be back for dinner. Kurt and Blaine have gone biking. Have you seen Kurt and Blaine? It had come as naturally as breathing, and Kurt and Blaine were soon inseparable.

"Kurt! Weren't you meeting Blaine tonight?" his mother Elizabeth called from downstairs.

Kurt suppressed a sigh and heaved himself up on his elbows. "Not until eight!" he called back, casting a final glance at the clock. 7.32.

With fifteen minutes left until he could leave the house, Kurt's mind drifted back the weeks before school had ended. Blaine was one year younger than him so they didn't share any classes, but they went to the same school and ran into each other from time to time. Since they lived so close to each other, they often biked to school together in the mornings, and back home in the afternoons. Every day was the same: bike to school with Blaine, endure the classes, bike with Blaine to the hay field or the lake until dinnertime, eat dinner and do homework. As school ended for the summer, they were allowed by their parents to stay out longer, and therefore met after dinner as well.

Something had happened a few weeks ago, the dynamic between them had changed. They had been fooling around in Blaine's tree house one Saturday, and it had been close to dinnertime, Kurt remembered. He remembered himself getting ready to leave, to head down the ladder and go home, when Blaine had pulled his arm. Kurt had looked down at where Blaine was still sitting, eyes wide and shiny.

"Wait," Blaine said, jerking Kurt's arm to get him to sit down again. "There's something I have to tell you."

Kurt did as he was told, but there was something uneasy in his stomach. He knew he should be heading home because there was only one rule in his house: be home in time for dinner. He knew that he would be late if he stayed much longer, and Blaine knew it too. And they both knew Kurt would be grounded, because it had happened one or twice before over the years. So what made Kurt uneasy was wondering what was so important that Blaine risked more of their time together, something that couldn't wait to the next day.

"What is it, Blaine?" Kurt asked carefully. When Blaine hesitated, worried his lower lips between his sets of teeth like he did when he was really nervous, Kurt added, "You can tell me anything, you know that. I won't tell anyone, I promise." Kurt extended his pinky, and Blaine hooked it with his and smiled shyly.

With another sigh, Blaine diverted his eyes and stared down into his lap but keeping his hand in Kurt's. "You can't get mad at me," Blaine said quietly.

"Why would I be mad at you?" It was safe to say that Kurt was getting worried.

"I know that you don't like when we accidentally match outfits because people think I'm copying you or you're copying me - even though they know we didn't mean to - and you don't like when people copy what you do or what you wear, I know you don't because you told me so and-"

"Blaine, you're rambling," Kurt interjected.

Blaine's face crumpled slightly, and for a moment it looked like he was about to cry. His shoulders slouched and suddenly he seemed so little and so fragile. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. It looked on his face like he was trying to squeeze the words out, but when nothing came out, he closed it again.

"Blaine," Kurt said again, and put a hand on his cheek to make their eyes meet. Blaine was like a little brother to him, and it pained to see him like this. "Whatever it is…"

"I'm gay."

Kurt blinked a few times, making sure he's heard the words. It was possible that he'd heard wrong, because they had only been a whisper. But judging by the devastated look on Blaine's face, there was no mishearing.

"What?" Kurt whispered back, because it was the only thing he could think of doing.

Blaine's lower lips started quivering but he kept Kurt's eyes. "Don't make me say it again."

Kurt shook his head violently and brought Blaine into his arms as the younger boy's body was seized with shaky sobs. "Shhh, it's okay."

Blaine nodded feverously against his chest. "I know," he assured. "I just… this is a bit embarrassing, actually. I didn't think I'd break down like this. It's just that you're the first one I've ever told it to. I knew I could trust you with this or that you wouldn't judge, because you're gay too. And maybe you'd understand what I'm going through."

"I do," Kurt nodded. "But - if you don't mind me asking - what was it that made you realize it?"

Blaine leaned away and sat up straight. His cheeks had wet marks over them but he didn't bother wiping it away. "I don't know," he answered honestly after a moment of thought. "I mean, I guess I always knew, somehow. I've always been grossed out by girls - all guys were. Until recently when my friends have been talking about girls and boobs and sex… and I just… couldn't care less. About girls," Blaine added with a smile. "Maybe that makes me sound asexual or something, but I'm not."

Blaine met Kurt's eyes again, and Kurt remained silent and content with just listening. But he was surprised when Blaine suddenly started laughing. "I found mom's porn stash - the fact that she even has one is completely disgusting and I am repelled-" Blaine put his hand on his chest and acted surprised and, well, repelled, as he spoke in a mocking voice. He couldn't contain the act for long, but started giggling, and Kurt chimed in. "But I have to say it was a glorious moment when I found it," Blaine said, when the laughter had died. "All those half naked men…mhh."

Blaine started laughing again as Kurt punched him in the chest and blushed violently. "Blaine!" he squealed. "Oh my God! I cannot believe you!"

The grin - that probably was a mixture of humor and relief - was spread wide on Blaine's face as they continued joking. It was the grin that Kurt loved because it gave him lots of cute laughing wrinkles around his eyes.

That night had been a huge step in their friendship, and afterwards they had been closer than ever.

It was almost an hour after the set dinner time that Kurt got home that evening, and he took the upset voices and the week of grounding without complaining or explaining. He went to his room without dinner and laid down on his bed to sleep for the night like it was just any other night. He didn't explain anything when his parents asked, just said that he was with Blaine. Blaine's words echoed through his head.�Promise not to tell anyone. Not anyone. Not until I've told mom and dad.

"I promise."

"Kurt! Were you not seeing Blaine? I thought you had been eager to all night?"

Kurt snapped back into the present at the sound of his mother's voice. He almost twisted his neck at the speed his head turned to the clock. It was already five minutes to eight.

With more speed than what should've been possible, Kurt rushed out of his bedroom and down the stairs. His mom and dad were both in the living room, sitting on the floral couch, watching some entertainment show on the small television. "Be home by ten!" his mom called after him as he rushed out the door.

On the lawn by the front of the house was his bike tossed recklessly. Kurt lifted it by the handles and walked it over the uneven driveway and jumped on the saddle as the wheels touched the asphalt road. His house lay right by a field that nothing seemed to grow on, and far away on the other side, Kurt could see the sun beginning to set over the treetops. The sun shone in that kind of yellow it only did during the summer evenings, and it took Kurt's breath away every time even though he ought to be used to them by now.

Kurt's feet moved with the pedals as fast as they possibly could, not willing himself to miss another minute of the two short hours him and Blaine would have together. Not five minutes later, at eight sharp, Kurt rolled up in front of Blaine's house. Blaine was already outside on his bike when Kurt got there, and when their eyes met, Blaine's face shown up in a huge, teeth-revealing grin.

"Decided to show, did ya?" Blaine teased through his grin, and hopped on his bike. He started pedaling to catch up with Kurt - who had barely slowed down as he swooshed by, only replying with a stretched out tongue.

They continued in silence, speeding fast on the uneven country roads with the wind caressing their arms and legs and tousling their hair. It was such a rush, feeling the wind and the speed without anything stopping them but themselves. There weren't many cars out at this time of day anyway, so it wasn't like they could be inattentive and get into an accident.

As they kept going, Kurt slowed down a little to let Blaine slide in next to him. They slowed, because the rush of freedom had started to settle.

"So where do we wanna go tonight?" Kurt asked and turned his head up to the sky. It was still a light blue, and the few thin clouds playing in the sky were tinted with sunlight. Kurt had to turn his head back down before he became dizzy.

"I wanna go to the lake. We haven't been there since… last summer!Please, Kurt, can we go?" Blaine managed to make his sad puppy face at the end of the sentence, which made Kurt unable to say no.

"But then we have to go faster, it's a long way to go."

Almost twenty minutes later, they arrived at Lake Oolenoy. The water was incredibly still, and it seemed like it would be a calm evening. The day had been very warm like a typical pre-summer day, but not excruciating as the mid-summer. Since the sky was almost clear, the heat was disappearing quickly. Kurt, having been eager to meet Blaine, hadn't even realized he was only wearing a thin T-shirt to his shorts. His heart almost dropped as he glanced at Blaine, wearing a deep purple hoodie, but let out a sigh of relief as he noticed the blanket trapped on Blaine's packet holder. Blaine sure thought of everything.

They sat down next to each other on a small cliff by the edge of the lake. It felt incredibly nice to feel the hard stone still having a bit of warmth from the day's sun. But it was chilly in the air, and after a moment of looking out over the lake and the sun-kissed trees on the other side of the water (luckily they had the sun in their backs), Blaine moved closer to Kurt and wrapped the blanket around them.

"This is so nice. I wish we could stay here forever," Kurt purred and rested his head on Blaine's shoulder, to which he replied by pulling his arms around Kurt.

"Me too. It looks just the same as I remember it."

The distant sound of a falcon echoed in the stillness. There was a distinct little�plop�as a small fish breached the surface of the water with its fin. A lone duck swam out in the lake, lazily and completely carefree. The nature was so beautiful, Kurt mused. And there was no person he'd rather share it with than Blaine.

As though hearing his name being mentioned in Kurt's thoughts, Blaine's head turned to the side, resulting in his lips ghosting across Kurt's forehead. Kurt looked up, surprised by the sudden closeness, and looked deep into Blaine's eyes.

What followed between the two were something peculiar that only had happened a few times over the last few weeks. There was a moment where nothing was acknowledged, where Kurt and Blaine simply stared deeply into each other's eyes, as if seeing down to the depths of their souls. Kurt didn't know what those looks meant or why they were suddenly occurring between the two more and more frequently, but he couldn't question it. He only smiled with pleasure for the things that brought the warm and fuzzy feelings to his stomach.

But this wasn't just any other look, Kurt suddenly noticed. As he kept watching, Blaine suddenly started leaning in. It didn't occur to Kurt what Blaine was doing until he felt the warm and wet press of lips against his cheek.�Blaine just kissed his cheek. When Blaine leaned back, it was to look at Kurt's reaction. Whatever he found must've only been pleasant (Kurt was only vaguely aware of the strong twitch of his lips and the strain in his cheeks) and he decided to lean in again, this time laying a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

Blaine was smiling, eyes shifting between Kurt's eyes and his lips. Kurt's heart was pounding in his chest, beating so loudly that he thought Blaine must've heard it by now. But Blaine just kept looking, looking at him like he was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. If Kurt hadn't melted already he would be a pretty big puddle by now.

The hour Kurt and Blaine had by the lake contained lots of cuddling and soft pecks and kisses across cheeks, jaws and noses, exploring the way the other person's skin felt and tasted. But not right on the lips, never the lips. They stayed like that for as long as they possibly could, wanting everything from each other.

They didn't talk much that night, content with only being and feeling the warmth and presence of each other. That often happened between the two, and it was nice to know that they never had awkward silences, but pleasant ones where they could understand each other fully without trying to explain. They just�got�each other. Kurt savored every one of those moments, and saved them in his heart to replay to himself whenever he felt lonely, knowing that Blaine would always be there.

By the time they were forced to head back, the air was almost cold and the night was almost dark. They biked in silence, and it wasn't until they pulled up by Blaine's house that they actually stopped and looked at each other. They only lasted a second before bursting out in huge grins.

"We should do that again some time," Blaine said and smirked secretively. Kurt just blushed and nodded.

"Blaine! Is that you?" came a voice from inside the house. Blaine's dad.

"It sucks that we can't see each other more," Blaine said quietly. "In the night time, I mean. Because that's like the most awesomest time of day."

"It is," Kurt agreed. "But we are gonna go camping, right? The fishing trip with my dad?"

"Of course. But we should do something on our own too, without our parents."

"I don't know, Blaine," Kurt said, chewing on his lip. "I mean, I'd love to, more than anything. There's just no way my parents will let me be out late on my own."

There was a hint of mischief in Blaine's eyes, just a flash, before he spoke. "Who says they have to know?"

"Blaine?"

"I better go," Blaine said quickly, leading his bike away and opening the white painted fence door. "Just think about it, okay?"

Kurt nodded as an answer that he would, and they parted. Kurt continued to bike home, so quickly that he almost fell a couple of times, but he was determined to make it back on time. Blaine's parents weren't as strict with rules and times as Kurt's were, and though he sometimes wished they weren't so overprotective, he wouldn't want them any other way.

As he slowly rolled over the front lawn, Kurt saw his dad through the screen door, looking out into the night already in hopes of spotting Kurt. Kurt wondered how long he'd been standing there, and actually got annoyed with him. He understood the importance of keeping curfews but,�come on, it was just a few minutes past ten. He was fourteen already, his parents should have stopped treating him like a baby by now.

Once Kurt had parked his bike, taking his time, he strolled up to his house, making the four wooden steps crack under his feet before he got onto the porch. He cast a glance at his dad for a moment, but decided not to go inside. Instead, Kurt sat down on the hammock settee. The white cushions were cold under his touch, and as he sat down, it wavered slightly, eager to be set in motion.

His dad noticed his tentative motion, and swung the screen door open with one hand. The door whistled the way it always did when it was being pushed, the familiarity of it all seizing Kurt by the shoulders and shaking him aware. There was something gloomy in the air, and even though Kurt couldn't wait to explore all the secrets that the night kept from sight, he felt like it was all so temporary. He knew summer always went by with the blink of an eye, and he knew you had to make the most of it before it was over.

Burt sat down next to him, placing his hands on his knees as he lowered himself next to Kurt. The hammock wobbled at the sudden contact, and Burt leaned back in his seat, throwing his arm over the back of it, almost over Kurt's shoulders.

"Something bothering you, kid?" he asked after a minute, keeping his feet on the ground and rocking the hammock into a gentle rhythm.

Kurt sighed heavily. "Dad, you and mom�have to�stop being so anxious about me all the time! I'm fine, I can take care of myself!"

"We know you can, Kurt," Burt replied, placing a gentle hand on his son's shoulder. "We're just looking out for you, making sure nothing bad happens. We might not live in a city where you have to worry about traffic and serial killers, but we do live in the woods. And one thing I known about 'em, Kurt, growing up in them, they can be real dangerous sometimes. I just want you boys to be on the lookout. When you're young you think you're just out and having fun, you're not on the lookout. I've told you what happened to uncle Jack."

"Yes, dad," Kurt said, frustrated. How he could ever forget when he was constantly being reminded was beyond his capability to comprehend.

"Kurt, I'm serious. Neither Jack nor I ever saw that snake coming, because we didn't take our parents' words seriously, because we were young and rebellious, we thought we were invincible. But it cost Jack his life."

"I know, dad," Kurt said, more quietly this time. "And I'm sorry, I am. But that's never going to happen to Blaine and I, because we�are�careful. We know the risks." For a moment, Kurt was hit by a wave of thoughts, wondering if this what his sex talk with dad would be like when they eventually had it. Kurt was glad it was dark, because the blush on his cheeks or his train of thought weren't appropriate in a conversation like this.

"Your mom and I are just looking out for you, and Blaine," Burt said mildly, smiling at his son. "It's strange, seeing you all so grown up, I guess we're not used to it yet. Time goes so fast. So fast, Kurt. It's a bit hard for us to keep up with it. Hell, next thing you're gonna be tellin' me you have a boyfriend!"

If Kurt had been blushing before, it was nothing compared to now. Without warning, Kurt rose from the hammock, rubbing his cool arms. He mouthed a goodnight to his dad and gave him a faint smile before heading inside. He set his mind on going directly up to his room, knowing his mom would have a similar talk to him if she saw him.

He practically skipped up the stairs, taking two or even three steps at a time, feeling giddy and grinning widely over what his dad had said.�A boyfriend. Kurt wondered what it felt like to have a real boyfriend. He thought back to the evening he'd just had with Blaine, glowing inside and out with happiness, happy that no one could see him. He wondered if Blaine wanted to be his boyfriend like he wanted to be Blaine's.

When Kurt threw himself onto the bed that night, the smile was still in place, strong as ever. He couldn't wait for tomorrow, and the tomorrows of the rest of the summer, the summer he would have with Blaine.

It wasn't the first summer they'd spent day in and day out with each other, but for some reason Kurt couldn't explain, nor did he attempt to, he felt like it was the essential one. And right now, when it was only mid-June, Kurt didn't allow himself to think about how dull things would be when summer ended and school began once again, only the days of summer he had ahead. The days he had with Blaine.