Hiking up the mountain toward the backcountry campsite felt like the start of an adventure. Returning to base camp, on the other hand, felt like a slow trudge toward imprisonment. It didn't help that the path down the mountain – a different path than the one they used to climb up – was treacherous. Even wearing the regulation heavy-duty hiking boots he was forced to purchase before starting the job, Kurt's feet continually threatened to slip from underneath him on the loose rocks and gravel. Every few minutes, a pile of debris would tear down the slope, kicked loose by one of the crew members as they skidded and tried to catch themselves before falling. The heavy packs on their backs just added to the pull of gravity. Kurt was a bit better balanced than some of his companions, and probably could have made his way down the slope a bit more quickly, but he held back to give Mercedes a hand through some of the rougher patches.  Everyone, including the crew leaders, were in a bad mood. They already missed the relative freedom of the mountain top. 

They stumbled into base camp on tired legs about mid-day on Sunday. Kurt managed to empty his pack, take a long-awaited and glorious shower, and change clothes without running into anyone other than his own crew members, who were also grooming themselves and settling back in.

Kurt took a deep breath and released it, his hand on the common room door, before he opened it and stepped inside. He expected it to be bustling with activity – card games, a game of pool, groups of teenagers sitting around and talking. But the room was quiet, and nearly empty. Mike and Brittany were stretched out on two of the couches. Mike raised a hand to Kurt in greeting before dropping it back down to his thigh with a groan.

“Hey Mike. Hey Brittany,” Kurt said. Brittany lifted her head and gave him a brief smile before relaxing back into the cushions. “Where is everyone?”

“They're at the movies,” came a voice from the back of the room. Kurt looked up and met Sebastian's eyes.

“Bastards,” Mike muttered, a hand now thrown over his eyes. “They would take everyone for another movie trip when our crew wasn't even here.”

“I don't care,” Brittany said flatly, as if speaking with inflection was beyond her present capabilities. “I'm too tired to move, let alone enjoy a movie right now. I don't even know why I came to the common room. It just means I'm going to have to walk back to my cabin so I can sleep.”

Kurt stared at Sebastian and he could feel the color rising on his cheeks as Sebastian's eyes roamed across his body, one side of his mouth turned up in an approving and confident smirk. Kurt took a step toward him and asked, “If everyone else went to the movies, why are you still here?”

“I wanted to be here when you got back,” Sebastian said, grinning broadly.

“Oh,” Kurt said softly, dropping his gaze to the floor and feeling even more heat burn across his face. He dared a small glance up toward Sebastian, who was still smiling at him. “That was nice.”

“Come on,” Sebastian said, turning toward the door to the screened in porch and gesturing at Kurt to follow him. “I want to hear all about your adventures on the mountain.”

Kurt glanced back at Mike and Brittany, both inert on their respective sofas, and followed Sebastian, forcing his legs to move forward smoothly and solemnly, no matter how much he itched to skip. He was suddenly full of energy, all of his weariness melting away with the newfound excitement of feeling wanted and wondering what might happen. 

Just before Kurt reached the porch door he heard another voice call out to him. “Kurt! You're back.”

Kurt turned around just before Blaine caught up to him, arms outstretched. Kurt opened his own arms and let Blaine wrap around him. He held his own arms open stiffly for a moment before placing them gently on Blaine's back and rubbing them lightly up and down.

“Did everyone just get back from the movies?” Kurt asked, stepping back with a questioning look.

Blaine smiled and looked away bashfully. “No. I don't think so. I mean, I wasn't at the movies, so I don't know.”

“You didn't go to the movies either?” Kurt asked incredulously.

“No, of course not.” Blaine looked into Kurt's eyes searchingly. “No movie is worth missing you for one more minute than I had to.”

Kurt opened his mouth to speak, but after a few moments, he closed it again, shaking his head in shock. He felt so special, so incredibly cared for – first by Sebastian and now by his incredible friend.

“Oh, great. I didn't know you were still here,” Sebastian said pointedly, holding the porch door open and staring at Blaine with narrowed eyes.

“Hello Sebastian,” Blaine said with exaggerated graciousness. “Of course I stayed. I couldn't let you be the only member of Kurt's welcome committee.”

Kurt felt the smile drain from his face. He looked from Sebastian to Blaine and wrapped one arm across his waist. When he told Mercedes that he thought Blaine was jealous that Sebastian had turned his attention from Blaine to Kurt, he was mostly trying to silence her questions and warnings. Now, however, Blaine's own actions seemed to prove Kurt's casual theory correct.

“I agree with what you said before about regretting coming here,” Mike said to Brittany, “but now I'm beginning to approve of the decision.”

“Yes, this is very entertaining,” Brittany said.

Kurt rolled his eyes in their direction, but the effect was lost as they were both lying prone and couldn't see his eyes over the backs of the sofas. “Let's move this reunion a little further from our eavesdropping friends,” Kurt said, walking between Blaine and Sebastian and through the door to the porch. The other two boys followed close behind. They pulled three rocking chairs into a semi-circle at one end of the porch.

“So, just before you came along and interrupted us,” Sebastian said to Blaine with thinly veiled hostility, “I was asking Kurt to tell me about his trip.”

“Oh yes,” Blaine said, smiling at Kurt and ignoring Sebastian. “I know you were really looking forward to the backcountry hike. How did it go?”

Kurt starts with a vague answer about the trip being pleasant, but both Blaine and Sebastian seem genuinely interested in the details. Both of them keep asking questions until Kurt is entertaining them with dramatic stories about crew leader Schuester killing a snake and describing in great detail the beauty of watching the stars through the fly mesh at the top of the tent at night.

It's not until he is telling them about his makeshift method of showering that he realizes that his theory about Blaine's jealousy might be slightly flawed. Kurt didn't intend to talk about self-care on the mountaintop exactly, but Blaine had asked Kurt what was his favorite thing about the trip and Kurt had immediately answered, “the freedom.” Sebastian asked him to elaborate and Kurt had given examples – the coolness of the air, the distance from base camp and the oppressive rule of Figgins, the relative easiness of the work. But then he looked into the distance and his face lit up as he described the beauty of his moments alone on the mountaintop. And his most spectacular moments of solitude happened when he found a secluded spot on the other side of a rock outcrop from the camp. He would shuffle out onto the rock, look down at the view of trees below and feel the cool breeze on his skin as he stripped off his clothes and poured a steady stream of cold water over the top of his head that ran down his body.

In telling this story, Kurt was reliving the feeling of peace and solitude, as well as his awe at his own smallness compared to the vast height of the mountain. But when Kurt came out of his reverie and focused again on Sebastian and Blaine, he realized that both boys were staring at him, looking as though they were imagining his naked body and longing to devour him. Kurt shivered, blushed, and quickly changed the topic of conversation. But he realized in that moment that although Blaine was indeed jealous, he wasn't jealous that Sebastian had turned his attention from Blaine to Kurt. Blaine was jealous of Sebastian pulling Kurt's attention away from himself.

Kurt felt his cheeks burn at this realization. He trained his eyes on the floor and cleared his throat. “Uh – anyone else hungry?” He got to his feet without looking at either of them. “The kitchen's still open if we want something, right?”

Sebastian and Blaine followed Kurt closely to the kitchen. The three of them spent a few minutes rummaging through the refrigerator and cabinets. When they each had a sandwich in front of them, they carried their plates back to the porch.

Kurt asked about how things were going at base camp, but Blaine and Sebastian didn't have much interesting news to share, so they soon focused back on Kurt's trip again. He recalled the ghost stories by the campfire, and even gave them a brief sketch of a few of the stories, including his own.

Even with the excitement of the rapt attention of two boys hanging on his every word, Kurt couldn't suppress the yawn that crept upon him as his body relaxed into the porch chair.

“You're looking a bit tired,” Sebastian said with concern. “We shouldn't keep you up any longer. Let me walk you back to your cabin.”

“Okay,” Kurt agreed, taking Sebastian's hand and using the leverage to help him get to his feet.

Across from him, Blaine also jumped up. He glared at Sebastian and said, “I think Kurt can make his way back on his own. I need to talk with you about something.”

“Blaine,” Sebastian reprimanded. “And here I thought you were a gentleman. I'm not going to let Kurt walk up back by himself when he so clearly can use a shoulder to lean on.”

“Fine,” Blaine grumbled. “We can both go with him.”

Kurt watched this exchange with growing annoyance. Flattering as it was to have two boys seemingly interested in him, he felt that Sebastian had offered to walk with him out of genuine concern and that Blaine was trying to prevent them from having a moment alone.

“It's okay, Blaine,” Kurt said in a clipped, but firm tone. “Sebastian and I will see you tomorrow.”

“But Kurt,” Blaine said desperately, grabbing at his hand. “I need to tell you something, It's really important.

Sebastian stared daggers at Blaine. “Don't you dare,” he said sternly.

“Kurt, you need to know that Sebastian – ”

“Anderson!” Sue Sylvester's booming voice cut through the dining hall. The three boys swung their heads in her direction, just as she flung open the door to the porch. “What the hell is this? The backcountry pride parade?” she sneered.

“How can we help you, Ms. Sylvester?” Sebastian asked smoothly.

“I'm here for Anderson,” she barked back, jabbing a finger in Blaine's direction. “Your parents have been calling the office all night, bugging us near to death. Figgins finally broke down and caved on his no mid-week calls rule and I've been looking all over the damn camp for you.”

“Oh my God,” Blaine said, face suddenly drained of color. “What's wrong?”

“Wrong?” Sue Sylvester snapped. “I'll tell you what's wrong. Your damned entitled parents thinking they have the right to disrupt the entire camp just because your grandmother is visiting from overseas and wants to talk with you.”

Blaine stared at her for a moment before his breathing regulated and he broke out in a tentative smile. “Oh. That's good. I thought someone had died or something.”

“Well, come on,” Sue grumbled. “Don't keep your precious grandma waiting.”

Blaine jumped up and took a few hesitant steps toward Sue before turning back, glancing forlornly between Kurt and a grinning, triumphant Sebastian. “Kurt, before I go I need to tell you – ”

“Anderson! Don't you dare keep me waiting!” Sue barked.

“I guess I better go,” Blaine said.

“Yes, you better,” Sebastian drawled in a pleased tone.

Blaine glared at him, flashed one last weak smile toward Kurt while pushing his way backwards through the door.

“And finally, we're alone,” Sebastian said slowly. He was grinning in a way Kurt wasn't sure how to describe, but it made him feel a little uncomfortable. Hungrily, he thought, and coughed awkwardly, suddenly fascinated with a dark knot in the wood on the floor.

“Everything okay?” Sebastian asked. Kurt looked up at the concern in his voice and decided that he must have imagined the hungry look. Sebastian's smile was radiant and innocent.

“Yes, of course,” Kurt said quickly. “I guess I am a little tired, sorry.”

“No need to apologize,” Sebastian said gently. “I'm sure it's been a long day for you.”

“So, what was that all about with Blaine?” Kurt asked. He suspected that it had something to do with the bet, but he didn't really want to believe it.

“Hmm,” Sebastian said with a puzzled expression. “I don't really know. I think maybe it's because I told him about one of my past boyfriends and he thought he had to warn you that I'm some sort of man killer or something.” Sebastian laughed easily, his eyes open wide in the picture of innocence. “I'm really not like that though, I swear. I think he just wants you for himself.”

Kurt studied Sebastian's expression and decided he was telling the truth. He also realized that he was a bit annoyed with Blaine. After all, why was he suddenly interested in Kurt now, just because someone else finally showed some interest? Blaine had had plenty of chances to show his interest and ‘get' Kurt before Sebastian even came into the picture. And even if there was some kind of bet about whether Sebastian could get him into bed, it annoyed Kurt that Blaine didn't seem to think he could take care of himself.

“Come on, it's been a long night,” Sebastian said gently. “Why don't I walk you back to your cabin like I said before?”

“That would be great, thanks,” Kurt replied, his lips upturned in a slight smile.

“Oh, I thought of some more places you have to check out when you go to New York,” Sebastian said, holding the door open and gesturing for Kurt to go first.

“Do tell,” Kurt said, any trace of feeling tired leaving him suddenly as he warmed to the exciting topic. By the time they meandered up the dark path to the door of Kurt's cabin, Sebastian was in the middle of a story about the beauty of the fountains at the conservatory garden in Central Park. “It's a magical place, especially at night, when the reflection of the street lights sparkle in the water. It's even better when there's a performance at the same time.”

“Does that happen a lot?” Kurt asked, fascinated.

“It's not every day, that I know of, but I've been lucky enough to see a few,” Sebastian said. He glanced at the closed door of the cabin and Kurt immediately opened it wide.

“Please, come in,” he said. “I want to hear all about it.”

“Your side, I presume?” Sebastian said, gesturing at the neatly made bed, camping gear still unpacked beside it. On the other side of the room, Glenn's blanket and sheets were a rumpled pile in the middle of the bed, socks and t-shirts draped over the bedside table and strewn across the floor.

Kurt looked down his nose at Glen's mess and sighed. “I don't know how he tolerates it like that.” Kurt turned around to see Sebastian sitting on the edge of his bed.

“I think the a cappella group was the best,” Sebastian said. He raised an eyebrow and patted the bed beside him.

The room suddenly felt very small. Kurt's heart pounded against his chest and his stomach flipped. His eyes flicked over Sebastian's face, studying his sharp cheekbones, his green eyes, the plumpness of his lips. After a moment, Kurt realized he was standing in the middle of the room, staring open-mouthed at the boy on his bed, one arm wrapped around his stomach, his fingernails digging into the arm hanging by his side. Startled, Kurt tore his gaze from Sebastian's lips and looked instead at his eyes. “Um, what?” he said stupidly.

Sebastian smiled and leaned back to make more room for Kurt. “I said they had a great a cappella group this one time. Do you like that style?”

“Oh, yeah. I mean, yes. That sounds great.” Kurt stepped forward and gingerly lowered himself onto the bed, still looking into Sebastian's eyes. “What was it like?”

“Amazing,” Sebastian said. “It was really romantic – like being serenaded under the moonlight.”

Kurt smiled, looking first into one of Sebastian's eyes and then the other. Sebastian's gaze dropped. Kurt felt a thrill run down his spine as he realized Sebastian must be looking at his lips. They suddenly felt dry. He was already licking them before he realized how that must look, and stopped, biting his lip for a moment instead.

“I realize something now,” Sebastian said softly, looking deeply into Kurt's eyes again.

“What's that?” Kurt asked, his eyes glued to Sebastian's.

“It would be so much better to be there with you,” Sebastian said. He leaned forward, gaze fixed on Kurt's lips again, tilting his head as he moved closer.

Kurt's heart raced even faster and he felt a rush of heat surge through his body. He closed his eyes and leaned in just slightly and shivered as he felt Sebastian's soft breath on his face just moments before their lips pressed together.

It was soft and warm and gentle. Kurt kept his eyes closed and tilted his head a little further to the side as he felt Sebastian's fingers run up his neck and through his hair. Sebastian sucked on Kurt's bottom lip and pulled it gently, and Kurt opened up to him.

And all of a sudden it was all fast and desperate and wet as Sebastian pressed forward, gripping the back of Kurt's head and exploring his mouth with his tongue. Kurt heard himself moan softly, but he barely felt the crest of the wave of his embarrassment before he was utterly lost in the sensation of tongue sliding against tongue. He pulled back and drew Sebastian's lip into his mouth, rolling it between his lips experimentally and tugging at it before dipping his tongue between Sebastian's open lips in renewed exploration.

Sebastian pressed forward, pushing Kurt's shoulders until he was lying back on the bed. He nudged Kurt's legs with his knees and straddled him. Kurt didn't care how loudly he moaned when Sebastian lowered his hips and rubbed his hardness against Kurt's.

“God, you are perfect,” Sebastian breathed into Kurt's ear and Kurt's hips bucked at the delicious sensation.

“Kiss me,” he whined, gripping Sebastian with a hand on each side of his face and pulling him down until their mouths met and they melted into each other again.

They panted and writhed and groaned, completely lost in desperately devouring each other. Kurt dug his fingers into Sebastian's back, sliding them inch by inch toward the swell of his ass.

“What the fuck?”

Kurt froze beneath Sebastian, who was still moving on top of him.

“Seriously, Kurt, what the hell?” Glenn's voice boomed through the tiny cabin again. “God, my eyes,” Glenn groaned, covering them with one hand dramatically.

Kurt shoved Sebastian off of him and sat up, swinging toward Glenn.

“I'm s-sorry,” he stuttered. “I didn't know you were back.”

“Obviously,” Glenn said sarcastically, lowering his hand and fixing a glare on Kurt. “Disgusting,” he muttered, backing out of the door.

“Glenn, wait – ” Kurt started, but the door was already slamming shut behind Glenn as he stormed back down the path. “Oh my God,” Kurt said, his panic rising rapidly. “What should we do?”

“How is that even a question?” Sebastian asked, stretching languidly before reaching for Kurt, pulling him back onto the bed.

“But Glenn – ”

“He's gone,” Sebastian said, grinning and pressing their lips together.

“No,” Kurt said, pushing Sebastian away and jumping up and off the bed. “You don't understand. You have to get out of here.”

“Aw, come on, baby,” Sebastian said. “We were just getting started.”

“What is wrong with you?” Kurt practically shouted. “I bet he's telling Figgins right now. We can't have him find us here together. Go on – go,” Kurt said desperately, pushing Sebastian out the door.

Kurt immediately began pacing the several steps back and forth from the door to the other end of the small cabin, rapidly running a hand through his hair again and again, willing himself to think. It didn't matter that his first alleged transgression was false. Figgins believed that Kurt and Blaine had engaged in forbidden sexual contact during their walk in the woods the week before. And this time, Kurt actually had been kissing someone. And there was an eye witness. Glenn – who had every reason to try to get Kurt kicked out of the program.

“Oh my God,” Kurt muttered to himself. “I'm going to get fired. Shit. I have to think. Think, think, think.” Repeating the word to himself wasn't helping and the cabin began to feel oppressive, as if the very walls were closing in on him.

Kurt rummaged through his backpack and pulled out his toiletry bag. Not even bothering to retrieve the moisturizers that he wasn't allowed to bring on the backcountry trip, Kurt rushed out of the cabin and to the bathroom. But no matter how vigorously he brushed his teeth and scrubbed his face, he couldn't think of a good excuse to present to Figgins that would explain what Glenn had seen.

When Kurt returned to his cabin, Will Schuester was waiting for him. “Kurt, you better come with me.”

They sat in silence. Kurt crossed and uncrossed his legs. He tugged on his pants, smoothing out a crease. He tapped one foot up and down. Will jumped up from the seat behind his desk and paced a few steps back and forth in front of it, before leaning against it and running a hand through his hair with a weary sigh.

“I wasn't going to say anything, but I just can't help it, Kurt,” Will muttered, unable to even look in Kurt's direction.

Kurt remained silent.

“I mean, I even believed you when you said that thing that happened with Blaine was just a misunderstanding. An innocent walk in the woods where you both lost track of the time.”

“It was – ” Kurt started in a petulant tone.

“Don't even start with me,” Will cut him off, leveling Kurt with a steely stare. Kurt sucked a breath in, startled by the wrath emanating from his usually laid-back crew leader. “I mean, I get the temptation. I really do. I'm an education major and I've had to do some student teaching. Young girls throw themselves at me all the time. But you have to know that you can get arrested for that. Not to mention that it's just so very, very wrong.”

Kurt cocked his head and wrinkled his brow. These words were so unexpected that he didn't know how to respond. After a moment, he managed a faint “What?”

“I mean, I'm sure Blaine can take care of himself. I don't need to know what really went on there – nor do I want to. But Sebastian? Kurt, you should be ashamed of yourself.”

“Um, I'm really confused…” Kurt said softly.

“Don't even try to play this off like you didn't know,” Will continued, the words dripping with disgust. “That kid has so much to deal with already with his home situation, and then you have to go and take advantage.”

“Take advantage?” Kurt echoed dumbly, not understanding what Will was talking about. He wasn't even sure if they were talking about Blaine or Sebastian or someone else entirely.

“Of his age!” Will shouted.

“His age?” Kurt knew Blaine's age without a doubt. Seventeen. One year younger than Kurt. Kurt then thought back to his conversations with Sebastian. Had it only been two conversations? It has seemed like he had known Sebastian for so much longer. It was as if the camp was operating in some alternate dimension, where time barreled by, and one day felt like weeks. Kurt blinked, chasing away the unhelpful tangent on which his mind seemed bent on wandering. He replayed his conversations with Sebastian to himself, sifting through all the words exchanged for some clue about Sebastian's age. “He's seventeen,” Kurt said out loud.

Will stared at him in disbelief. “Do you really not know?”

“Know what?” Kurt asked. “We talked about what colleges we're applying to…”

“Sebastian is fourteen.”

Kurt felt the floor drop under him as the color drained from his face. His stomach twisted and he slumped back in his chair. He looked down at his hands, twisting in his lap. Funny – he had always thought his long lean fingers meant he had piano player's hands. Now all he saw were the hands of a child molester. His skin crawled and he shuddered. “That's not possible,” he whispered. After all, Sebastian was always in charge – had instigated everything between them. Had seemed so sure of himself. And he was so tall.

Will sighed again. “Look, Kurt,” he said, leaning forward from his perch against the desk, “I believe you that you didn't know. I think you're a good guy who's made some mistakes. But you need to make sure that you know damn well how old your, um, partners, are before you start fooling around with them.”

“Oh God,” Kurt moaned, cradling his head in his hands.

“You're actually really lucky that Glenn walked in on you when he did.”

“I hope you can understand why I don't feel particularly lucky about that,” Kurt said dryly.

“You know what I mean,” Will snapped. “You're eighteen, Kurt, for God's sake. If you had actually had any kind of, well, uh… penetration…” Will trailed off awkwardly, gathering his thoughts. “We would have had to get the police involved. Actually, that could still happen, depending on what Sebastian is telling Figgins right now. But either way, you'll most certainly be going home tomorrow.”

Well, that was it. There was no way Kurt could let NYADA know that he had been kicked out of his trail maintenance job for child molestation. The past six weeks of self-depravation, boredom, and challenging work in the heat had all been for nothing. All he wanted to do was get under a hot shower and just scrub and scrub until he had removed every skin cell that might have ever had contact with Sebastian. Without looking up he moaned, “Can we please stop talking about this?”