Kurt stretched his arms overhead and peeked open his eyes. The sun was up and it looked like it would be another gorgeous day. He sniffed the air drifting in through the open window, detecting pine and old campfire smoke. It smelled amazing.

What a difference a day makes, he thought.

Kurt bounced out of bed and gathered his shower supplies. Josh rolled over in bed to see what was going on. “You're in a ridiculously good mood today,” he said skeptically, “sleep well?”

“I guess I'm just full of the Holy Sprit,” Kurt snarked. “Now, I'm going to shower and after that we can go to breakfast!” Kurt was humming his way down the hall towards the showers before Josh could reply.

“Why are you still in bed? Hurry up and get ready so we can go!” Kurt squeaked on his way back into the room after showering, a towel twisted around his hair.

“Kurt, I tried to tell you...” Josh interjected, eyes growing wide as he watched Kurt button up his shirt.“I guess you didn't check the schedule last night? We aren't having breakfast in the cafeteria. We are meeting up with Team Bird to canoe across the lake. They are going to learn cooking while we practice building fires and tying knots.”

Kurt's face fell a bit, but a moment later he lifted his chin in determination. He could put up with a lot from this camp if it meant he could see Blaine eventually.

* * * * *

“Hummel, how about you try actually rowing for once? The longer it takes us to get to the other shore, the longer it will be before we get breakfast.” Jessica barked from the stern of the canoe. Kurt smiled pettily and picked up the oar, making ineffectual splashes at the surface. It's not like Jessica could be bothered to pick up an oar herself.

Kurt let his mind wander back to the previous evening.

“My name's Blaine.” “Kurt,” he replied, curling his fingers around Blaine's outstretched hand.

Blaine paused, not dropping Kurt's hand. “I've noticed you. You have an incredible voice.”

“I've noticed you noticing me.” Kurt replied, blushing and wondering where his sudden boldness came from.

“Do you want to maybe get out of here, find someplace quiet to talk?” Blaine asked, “It would be nice to actually have a conversation instead of trading meaningful glances.”

Kurt giggled. “Lead the way!”

Blaine pulled Kurt away from the bonfire and into the dark.

Kurt blinked back into the present as the boat bumped into the shore. Other canoes were running aground on either side, and boys were spilling out and dragging them up onto the beach to unload supplies. Other canoes full of girls were doing the same off in the distance.

“Okay guys, let's work on tying knots first,” shouted Adam, a counselor, stepping off of one of the other canoes. “Grab a length of rope out of that duffel bag and make a circle so you can watch the demonstration.”

Kurt frowned and struggled with his rope. The fibers were rough on his hands, and he had no idea what he was doing. Nor did he want to know. What was the point of knowing how to tie that many knots anyway?

“Adam, if I may? Why are we being put through this pointless exercise? With all due respect, I don't see myself ever needing to tie fifteen different kinds of knots. On the other hand, I make marvelous pancakes, so why don't I go help the Birds get breakfast together instead?” Kurt was wearing his beauty-queen smile again.

“Kurt, the girls need to focus on learning their job, and we need to focus on this. What if you want to go hunting or fishing someday? Or maybe camping with your family? Knots can come in handy in those situations. It's not that hard. Keep trying.”

Kurt grimaced. He had no intention of ever killing for sport, and he had no future plans to vacation anywhere that didn't have a spa.

Kurt and Blaine sat under a tree, in the darkness beyond the edge of the group. Their conversation bounced back and forth readily between laughter and heavy topics like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“So, Blaine, what brings you to Camp Reflection?” Kurt asked, trying to hide the caution in his voice.

“My parents.” Blaine shrugged, looking away.

Kurt waited for him to elaborate, and after a brief silence followed up. “...So, just, your parents? What about you, do you believe in God?” Kurt did his best not to indicate the answer he was hoping for. The last thing he needed in his life was a preachy closet case, no matter how pretty his eyes were.

“I don't know, I guess I don't have an opinion,” Blaine said. “We went to church when I was a kid because it was expected. When I got older, they stopped trying so hard. All church has ever been to me is something you go to because you have to. What about you?”

“In my opinion,” Kurt paused, tilting his chin thoughtfully and watching Blaine for his reaction, “God is about as likely to exist as a flattering photo of Donatella Versace. And half as interesting.”

“Well, that I wasn't expecting,” Blaine chuckled.

Building fires didn't go much better. Kurt tried rubbing two sticks together like in the movies, which didn't work even a little bit. They had other techniques, some of which might come in handy, Kurt had to admit, if he was someday dropped into a Hunger Games-esque deathmatch wilderness survival scenario. Kurt was able to daydream some more while fiddling with the kindling.

“People can surprise you sometimes,” Kurt said, “Right before you came over, I was talking to Cate about how she ended up here. It didn't make sense that someone who was so comfortable with herself would wind up at a camp like this. She actually believes in some of it, just not the anti-gay stuff.”

“Why are you here, Kurt?” Blaine asked, with narrowed, inquisitive eyes. “All of that applies to you, except the believing part, apparently. Why would anyone want to try and change you?”

Kurt dropped his head to his hands. “I haven't really been talking about this.” Kurt said.

“It's okay, you don't have to...” Blaine said quickly.

“No, it's fine, really,” Kurt said. “I want to talk, now. With you.”

Breakfast was crunchy and late. After everything was cleaned and packed, they rowed back to camp, washed up and headed into the cafeteria. Blaine wasn't there, and Kurt remembered something about the Bears having a hike and picnic lunch. Kurt picked at his food, not even remotely hungry.

“My mom passed away when I was little, and after that it was just my dad and me. He meant more to me than anything in the world, more than my life, more than my self. When he...” Kurt ducked his head again as the tears flowed freely down his face. Blaine wrapped his arms around Kurt and pulled him up against his shoulder. “When I lost him, I had to go live with my aunt and uncle. My dad always accepted me completely, but my aunt and uncle had a harder time with it. I guess they thought this camp would help somehow.”

“How long ago... did you, um, move?” Blaine asked.

“Six... s-seven, closer to seven weeks now really.” Kurt replied. “I'm taking it one day at a time. I know my dad would want me to respect and obey my aunt and uncle, and I know this isn't easy on them either. I just need to suck it up and deal.”

“But,” Blaine countered, “From what you tell me, it sounds like your dad loved you just the way you are. Wouldn't he want you to be proud of that? To be yourself, to be happy?”

“Being happy isn't an option for me anymore.” Kurt said, bitterly.

Kurt got up from the table and picked up his tray, brightening at the thought of possibly seeing Blaine during Worship. His words from last night still echoed in Kurt's ears.

“You deserve to be happy, Kurt, and I think your dad would have wanted it that way. I know you're hurting badly right now. I can't even imagine... my relationship with my dad, we're nothing like that. But even if I can't fully understand how you're feeling, I'm here for you. Just remember that someday you will be happy again.”