Kurt paused as he reached his usual seat in the chapel auditorium. Josh looked up at him. “Hey Kurt, what's up?”

“Hi Josh... I think I'm going to sit a little closer to the front today. I have had a hard time reading the overhead screens.”

“Really?” Josh asked, “I never have a problem with it, you ought to get your eyes checked if it's that difficult for you.”

“Yeah, sure, Josh, I'll make sure and do that. See you later!” Kurt waved and dashed off to claim a seat in the very last row before the Bear section.

When Blaine came up the aisle and saw Kurt, his eyes lit up and his grin threatened to crack his face in half. He sat down directly in front of Kurt and immediately twisted around over the seat back. “Hey you!” he said.

“Hey yourself,” Kurt responded with his chin propped on his fist. “We were total 'missed connections' at breakfast and lunch. How did you sleep?” Kurt was surprising himself with the sudden intimacy he felt towards this boy, but after the previous night's conversations there weren't a lot of barriers left between them.

“I slept well, had a lot of dreams though,” Blaine said.

“What did you dream about?” Kurt asked.

“Random, abstract stuff. The ocean, turquoise, blueberries, stormy skies. Stuff like that. How did you sleep? Any dreams?” Blaine asked.

“No, actually, but I suddenly have the oddest craving for caramel.” Kurt blushed, unused to flirting and meaning it.

Blaine glanced up just in time to catch a disapproving look from Adam. He turned towards the front as Josiah took the stage and the lights went dark.

Kurt thought that sitting in Worship was torture before, but to be so close to Blaine and not be able to look into his eyes or talk to him was worse somehow. This boy was intoxicating and addicting, but Kurt didn't want to stop or even slow down. Glancing around the room, Kurt chose a moment when he didn't think any counselors were looking and hopped over the row into the empty seat beside Blaine.

“Welcome to Team Bear,” Blaine whispered, pretending to watch Josiah but sneaking a glance at Kurt. The brief look sent electric sparks racing through Kurt. He knew he should follow Blaine's lead and pretend to be watching the service, but he couldn't help staring, to study the curves of Blaine's face.

Kurt's mind was swimming with thoughts of the boy sitting next to him, but he tried to clear his head and focus on what Josiah was saying. In his head it was a messy jumble of words, sounding pretty much the same as every other service he'd been to.

“God created male and female as two district sexes and gender and God's plan was for a man and woman to make a lifetime commitment and enjoy sexual relations within that bond,” Josiah blathered.

In the next moment, Kurt felt something that made him abandon all efforts to listen to Josiah's blather. It started as a tickle on the edge of his pinky finger, which turned into the sensation of fingertips ghosting over the back of his hand. Kurt's heart stopped, his breathing stopped, and his mind went completely blank, except for one thought.

Please, please, please, hold my hand.

Kurt gasped as Blaine's fingers curled around his own. Kurt squeezed Blaine's hand back gently. He felt a pang of anxiety at the thought that his hand might be sweaty. In turn, that thought made his hand break out in more sweat.

Blaine's fingers traced the lines of Kurt's hand, circling each knuckle, then rubbed his thumb along Kurt's palm. Kurt felt like he would never get tired of letting Blaine explore his hand.

For the first time, Kurt was unhappy that Worship was drawing to a close. When everyone stood up to sing, Blaine withdrew his hand. Kurt was still floating on a cloud, elated by Blaine's touch.

He barely noticed the first time Blaine elbowed him in the ribs, but the second time brought him back to earth. Amy was in the aisle, looking at them strangely.

“Kurt, why are you sitting with the Bears?” she asked.

“Sorry, Amy,” Kurt replied, “The lights were causing a glare on the overhead and I was having a hard time reading the words, so I moved forward a row.”

Amy looked skeptical, so Kurt decided to err on the side of 'laying it on thick.'

“I never went to church much before, so I don't know the lyrics... I really wanted to be able to sing along.” Kurt tried to affect a look of melancholy, despite the joy still surging through his chest from holding hands with Blaine.

Amy knit her eyebrows together, but moved on without a reply.

Josiah announced that all campers were to report to their dorms for Quiet Reflection time for the hour before dinner. “Will I see you in the cafeteria?” Blaine asked. “Of course,” Kurt responded.

* * * * *

Kurt had a great deal to reflect upon . He began with his fantasy of Blaine shirtless and dripping wet from swimming in the lake, and went from there. The hour flew by.

* * * * *

In the cafeteria, Kurt paid little attention to the food, as usual. He made a beeline for Blaine's table as soon as he passed the last station. Josh tried to flag him down, but he smiled and waved in feigned obliviousness without even slowing.

“You have such a beautiful voice,” Kurt remarked, setting down his tray and pulling up a chair next to Blaine's. “Do you like to sing?”

“Actually, I'm in the glee club at my school, Dalton Academy. I'm kind of the lead soloist.”

“The Warblers?” Kurt exclaimed, remembering them as potential competition though they had yet to compete against the all-boys school. “I'm in the glee club too! New Directions, at my school McKinley... well, it was my school, I guess I'll be transferring now.”

Kurt had been trying not to think about the move to Lancaster and what it would mean for his Junior year. He wasn't sure how his friends would react, and it had been too easy to shut everyone out. Word had spread about what had happened to Burt, but Kurt was not ready to face the fact that the New Directions would take their next run at Nationals without him. Kurt screwed up his face, trying not to cry at the flood of memories. What was it about Blaine that brought everything to the surface and stripped away his defenses?

Worry streaked across Blaine's face at the sight of Kurt struggling not to break down. “So you like singing, too... how about this talent show on Friday? We should sing a duet together!”

Kurt raised his eyes to meet Blaine's warm hazel ones, and his face relaxed. “I would love that. Any ideas on what to sing? I guess we can't just sing a pop song, they probably want something religious.”

They pitched ideas back and forth, but none of their suggestions seemed to fit. Somehow they switched to the topic of favorite movies, which occupied them for the rest of the meal.

After they had bussed their trays, Blaine suggested a walk down by the lake. Kurt readily agreed, and as soon as they were beyond the lights of the last building, he slipped his hand back into Blaine's. This time it was Kurt who explored every curve and crease of Blaine's hand, trying to memorize the details and the warmth of Blaine's touch. The two boys fell into a comfortable silence, hearts full of the thrill of being alone together.

Kurt was listening to the soft splash of the water upon the shore when Blaine's hand slowed him, and they came to a stop, Kurt twisting around to face Blaine at the water's edge. Blaine took both of Kurt's hands in his, and pulled them to his chest, his eyes fixed on Kurt's face.

“This week was supposed to really suck, but I'm so lucky to have met you, Kurt. I'm glad I didn't listen to the little voice in my head telling me to resist.” Blaine cleared his throat and continued. “Maybe it's my father's influence, but my first instinct is always to deny myself what I want.”

Kurt sucked in a breath and held it, processing the words. “...and what you want?” he said. The question hung in the air unanswered, as Blaine's eyes lingered on Kurt's face.

“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are in the moonlight? Your skin... you just... glow.” Blaine brushed a thumb across Kurt's cheekbone, his voice hushed. Kurt blushed and cast his eyes downward. He was not used to thinking about himself as beautiful, and he certainly wasn't used to hearing someone else call him that.

“No, don't. I want to see your eyes.” Blaine said, moving his thumb to Kurt's chin and tilting his face back up. Kurt reluctantly looked back at him, struggling with the intensity of the connection. It was almost too much.

Kurt's eyes shone with blue-gray fire in the dark. They were far past the edge of the camp, past the reach of lamps, prying eyes or judgmental thoughts.

Blaine wet his lips and moved closer, drawn in by the other boy's enigmatic gaze. He moved his hand to the nape of Kurt's neck and stroked his hair.

Kurt could feel Blaine's hot breath on his face, still pleasant even in the sweltering summer night. He was so close that Kurt was made dizzy just from being near him.

Time stood still for both boys as Blaine pulled Kurt into a searing kiss.