Kurt sat on the front porch of the main building, his bag by his side. He watched the students mill about, looking for their assigned buses. Kurt warily eyed the Ohio bus at the far end of the parking lot, stalling as long as possible.

He and Blaine ran from the auditorium after their song, stealing away to the woods and cuddling there together, watching the moon shining on the lake one last time. When Kurt couldn't keep his eyes open anymore, Blaine had walked him back to his dorm room. They kissed desperately at Kurt's doorstep, still not saying goodbye even as the door closed between them. But Kurt knew that they couldn't put off the words forever. Unless, of course, he never saw Blaine again. Which was looking more and more likely.

Maybe he doesn't want a big goodbye scene, either. Maybe he doesn't want to answer questions about “us.” Maybe I was just a summer fling and he doesn't want there to be an “us” after he gets on his bus. Maybe...

Kurt's dark thoughts were interrupted by approaching steps. Cate and Josh walked up to him and sat on either side of Kurt on the porch.

“It's been real, Kurt,” Cate said with a grin.

“So, Ms. Cate,” Kurt smiled back, temporarily abandoning his self-pity storm, “Which of the lovely ladies you courted during the week is going to become your special someone?”

“Ummm... none of the above?” Cate replied, waggling her eyebrows. “In all seriousness, I'm going to try and get Sheena back. Though it will be difficult, with the distance and all.”

“Distance?” Kurt asked, “I thought you two were best friends... don't you go to the same school?”

“We did,” Cate replied, beaming with excitement. “But I've been calling my dad this week, and... my mom's agreed to let me go live with him! I'll be starting the school year at a different school, but it'll be worth it. He and I can have a real relationship again. Maybe I can work things out with my mom down the road, too.”

“Sometimes that happens with teens and their parents,” Kurt said thoughtfully. “Hopefully she'll be able to come to terms with some things and accept you for who you are. If not, it's her loss. Screw her. But anyway, I'm really happy for you, Cate.” He hugged her tightly, then they pulled apart and swapped phones to program in their phone numbers.

Cate got up from the porch. “I'm getting on the bus now... I'll see you in a bit, Josh,” She said with a knowing look.

Kurt turned to Josh, one eyebrow raised. “She's from Pittsburgh, I'm from Delaware,” he responded. “We'll be on the same bus, at least until we drop her off. I'd better get going...” Josh made no move to leave, rubbing the back of his neck and squinting at the sunlight reflecting off of the buses.

“Josh, I hope... I hope you can...” Kurt started.

“I know, Kurt,” Josh interrupted, “I'll do my best, okay? I'm just not sure, still. I'll try.”

“That's not what I meant,” Kurt said, shaking his head. “I hope you can be happy. If that means, well, to be blunt, drinking the kool-aid,” Kurt giggled at Josh's puzzled expression. “...then that's fine, but either way I wish you happiness. If you ever need to talk, just call me. Here.” He traded numbers with Josh as well.

“Aw, Kurt,” Josh smiled again, the open, sweet smile that had comforted Kurt on the very first day of camp. He took Kurt's hand and pulled him off of the porch, hugging him tight enough that it was hard for Kurt to breathe. Kurt stiffened his shoulders at first, then relaxed into the hug. Perhaps Josh still had some work to do on his issues, but the tension between them was gone.

With a last squeeze, Josh let go of Kurt and turned towards the bus, picking up his backpack as he went. “Say bye to Blaine for me, too!” he shouted over his shoulder, not looking to see Kurt's reaction.

Kurt slumped back down onto the porch and checked the time. Looks like I'm running out of time for goodbyes, he thought, screwing up his face to keep from crying. He waited five more minutes, the camp growing more and more deserted. Finally, he hopped off the porch, picked up his suitcase, and slowly walked in the direction of the bus.

Kurt was so wrapped up in his misery that he barely registered the boy walking by his side. He blinked as he noticed a tiny frame topped with dark hair, and the startlingly blue eyes peering up at him. “Oh, hey, Ian,” he said.

“You're a really good singer, Kurt,” Ian whispered. “I wish I could sing as good as you someday. Did you hear me sing? I tried my best.”

“Um, I'm sorry, Ian, I left after Intermission,” Kurt said, a pang of guilt striking his heart as the small boy's face fell. “But I'm sure you were great. Maybe we can sing together on the bus later? Just give me a little time, okay? I'm feeling kind of sad right now.”

Ian hesitated, then took Kurt's hand in his smaller one as they walked to the bus together, only dropping it when they reached their seats.

Kurt slumped in the front row, leaning his head against the window again. He would have to get over his dramatics at some point, but for now he would allow himself to wallow in just a little bit of misery. He put his headphones in and closed his eyes as the bus began to move.

“Kurt?”

The question barely registered over the music, but Kurt looked up when a hand touched his shoulder. His eyes went wide and he pulled out his earbuds with one hand, clasping the other one tightly over the hand touching his shoulder.

“Blaine? I thought you were gone!” Kurt squealed, jumping up and throwing himself into Blaine's arms. “Where have you been?”

“I was saving us seats at the back of the bus. I like sitting in the back. I thought we'd have more privacy.” Blaine replied, tugging Kurt towards the back seat. “You know I live in Westerville. Where else did you expect me to be, but on the bus to Ohio?”

Kurt's eyes were shining, as wide as saucers. “I honestly didn't think about it. It just felt like the universe was trying to keep us apart all week long. I keep expecting the worst.”

“All that's behind us now,” Blaine said, sitting on the seat and pulling Kurt into his lap, nuzzling into his neck. “We made it.”

“Yeah,” Kurt said, taking Blaine's hand and cradling it over his heart. “Yeah, we did.”