One of the great things about still being in the leadership cabin is not having to get kids up in the morning. Instead, I rolled over groggily at the first bell, grabbing a sweatshirt to pull on over my pajamas and my kit to stumble down to the bathroom.

I leaned over the sink, staring at my skin in the small mirror. It was already getting dry. I was going to have a hell of time getting it back to a properly moisturized state in the fall. I doubted it would really be any worse than last year, but still, I didn’t have to like it. Just because it was worth it, didn’t mean it was great.

I pulled lotion out of my bathroom kit and started to smooth it into my face. I keep telling myself that it’s worth stumbling straight down at first bell to get this done before all the guys are piling in here ribbing me for it.

I’d not even noticed the sound of a shower running until it shut off. Probably just Sam after another early morning run.

I glanced over out of habit as the shower curtain opened. I’m not sure if I should be glad I did, or wish I never had. It wasn’t Sam, after all. It was Blaine who stepped out, with a towel wrapped around his hips.

Blaine flushed almost as red as his cast as he spotted me trying not to stare and hurried to the stall where he’d apparently left his clothes.

I had tried not to stare, but oh my God. I’ll admit that I lived with some good looking boys.  Mike and Sam both had amazing bodies, after all. I saw them changing all the time though without wanting to stare. Maybe it was because they felt sort of like brothers or because I knew they were off limits.

Neither of those things was true about Blaine. He wasn’t as muscular as Mike or Sam, but he was definitely in good shape. There was nothing wrong with his fit and toned build, especially with water glistening off it. It took Blaine’s voice calling out to me to make me snap out of that reverie, and to remind me of why I couldn’t push Blaine into a relationship. Or follow through on a desire to lick that water off his body. Oh no. I’m turning into a pervert.

“Kurt?” The voice from the stall was tentative enough to remind me of why I couldn’t let Blaine know that I was attracted to him. He wasn’t ready for even a summer fling right now. “Can I talk to you?”

“Of course. When have I ever said no to that?” I pointed out, staring over to my reflection in the mirror for a moment, steadying myself. I guess I do have the hormones of a teenage boy after all. “What’s up?”

“I-“ Blaine paused for a moment, and the rustling I could hear of him getting dressed wasn’t really helping my imagination that much. “There’s no one else here, right? How well do you know David?”

That was not the question I was expecting, well, the second one at least. “Just us. We’ve probably got five minutes or so before the rest of the guys bombard the place to pee, so it’ll have to be quick.” I tucked the lotion back into my bathroom kit, grabbing my comb out. “David? Fairly well. He was my counselor for two years when I was a teenager. Why?”

“He heard things yesterday.” Blaine stated so softly I was glad I hadn’t turned the sink on. “I just, I can’t deal with it if he tells everyone about me breaking down or about what happened. It’s embarrassing enough for it to have happened in front of you, and I trust you.”

It might be a little bit sad how warm inside Blaine admitting he trusts me made me feel. “I don’t think David would spread it around. He might tell Wes, but he wouldn’t tell the whole camp. If I wasn’t pretty sure Wes and David are straight, I’d think they were together.”

“Then what if Wes starts treating me differently?” Blaine opened the stall door, stepping out in jeans and hoodie with his pajamas all wrapped up in his towel. He glanced around the room quickly to make sure no one else was there before he continued on. “I’ve been thinking long and hard about coming out to some of the staff this summer, but even then, I wouldn’t want to tell them all about what happened to me.”

 I’ll admit to being distracted from the conversation for just a moment by Blaine’s hair. I knew it was curly under the gel he usually wore, but I didn’t realize quite how curly it would be right out of the shower. It was utterly adorable. Man, where was my mind this morning?

 In reality, it was probably only a moment’s hesitation and a murmur of ‘Your hair looks really good that way,’ before I was back with the previous topic. “Wes is Wes. He’ll be just as officiously caring no matter what he knows. I was worried that he’d treat me differently, too, after I told him this summer about how bad the bullying really is at home. He hasn’t. I’ll talk to David though, and Wes if I need to, if you’d like?” I glanced over to get a nod in response from Blaine and not a single response about the hair. “And if you ever do decide to come out, even just to a few other friends, I’ll be there supporting you.”

That was all that I got out into the conversation. Whatever Blaine had meant to say in reply was halted by the ringing of the second bell. Jeff and a few other CITs stumbled into the bathroom with their toothbrushes, and it was no longer our own little haven to talk.

After breakfast was cabin cleanup in our little structured camp day. I never left my things a mess, so it seemed like a good time to corner David, and maybe Wes.

I wasn’t at all surprised that Wes was with David when I found him on the way out of the dining hall. They did tend to be rather joined at the hip.

“Morning, David.” I greeted rather cheerfully. I had managed to snag a cup of coffee at breakfast. It’s amazing what that will do to improve your morning.

“Morning, Kurt. Need something? Or just being a ray of sunshine on a summer day?” David opened up with a tease.

“Hah. I was actually wondering if you had time to talk. About yesterday.” I glanced over to Wes’s reaction. By the lack of surprise on his face, I assumed David had already told Wes all about it. “Both of you, if you know, Wes?”

“Of course. David can hold off on harassing his counselors for a few minutes, and you are my charge, after all.” Wes stated, pretty much admitting that he knew it all. “Why don’t we go down to the dock for some privacy?”

As we settled down, it called back memories of lunch on another dock the day before. I didn’t even bother slipping off my sandals this time, they could get wet. Instead, I just rolled up the legs of my pants and stuck my feet down in the water with a shiver. It felt good, if freezing. It also gave me a moment to collect my thoughts before I had to start in with this. It was so much easier to promise Blaine to talk to them than to actually sit down two people who were my superiors in the camp hierarchy to do this.

“So I ran into Blaine this morning. He’s still feeling really embarrassed about everything that might have come to light at the doctor’s yesterday. Probably even more so because he pretty much broke down.” I started, sitting shoulder to shoulder between David and Wes. How had they ended up flanking me?

They shared a look over my head then David shrugged. “From what I heard, he doesn’t have anything to be embarrassed about, Kurt.” David pointed out. I’d agree with him, personally, but that didn’t change Blaine’s feelings. “I had to talk to someone about it, so I did tell Wes. I assumed at first that he already knew.”

“And you both know I won’t spread it on.” Wes interjected. “We’re not going to sacrifice Blaine to the camp gossip mill.”

“He feels really touchy about this. I guess I understand that. I know the two of you aren’t going to go off spreading this around, but Blaine doesn’t. He doesn’t know  you.” I paused for a moment, kicking at the water with sandaled feet.

I wasn’t going to out Blaine, but maybe I could help them get it a bit better. “You have to understand what it does to you to be bullied like that. Blaine spent months with people telling him every day that he is a horrible person. Every day with people shoving him or calling him slurs for just being who he is. I’ve been there. You start to doubt yourself. You start to worry that maybe you are all those things. You watch people wondering how long it’s going to take before they turn on you, too. All of that for months on end just because you’re daring to walk down the halls of your own high school. And then for Blaine it didn’t end there. At the end of the year, a group of kids beat the shit out of Blaine and his friend.”

David winced at that. “No wonder he looks like a puppy who expects that someone’s going to aim a kick his way sometimes.”

“He looks that way a lot less than he did a week ago.” Wes noted, looking over to me with understanding. I know that he knew why I could understand all those feelings.

“I think he’s healing, but it’s not something that happens overnight. Being with the campers helps. It’s something he’s truly good at, and he can trust that they aren’t going to turn against him and start picking on him as soon as they really get to know him.” I added before I glanced between the two of them. “Please don’t start treating him differently. He doesn’t need or want pity, just support. I understand that. It’s one pick reason I don’t share often at camp how truly horrible my High School life is. I don’t want people pitying me for something neither of us can change.”

“I hate the thought that in August I’m sending the two of you home to be picked on.” Wes shared with his own kick at the water.

“Maybe Blaine at least has a hope that will change. His dad isn’t sending him back to a school where he got beat up. Maybe he’ll end up somewhere not as awful.” I paused for a second to stand, not bothering to roll the legs of my pants back down. “Nine more months. I graduate in nine more months, and then I will never ever have to see those kids again.” I glance out over the lake, taking in the beauty of nature, the calm of the water’s surface. “I should go sunscreen up before I head to a morning of thrilling archery classes.”

It was two more days before our free time aligned enough for me to follow through on my promise of taking Blaine out in a canoe. It aligned really well, too, because we had a good chunk of time at a good time of day.

The whole camp was in the playhouse watching a movie after dinner. That made it a good time to give the CITs and JCs all time off. Some of the guys had chosen to sprawl in the back to watch the movie together. A bunch more were taking a basketball over to the court. Blaine and I had been invited, but I didn’t really love playing basketball, to be honest, and Blaine couldn’t play with his cast. It was a perfect time for me to talk him into a canoe ride.

After changing into swim gear, Blaine met me at the beach. I tossed him a lifejacket with a grin. “Can’t let you come all this way only to drown in the lake.” I teased gently, grabbing my own. A benefit of being almost waterfront staff was that I could bring and stash a lifejacket of my own, which just might match my rash guards and swim trunks.

Blaine caught the jacket with a quick laugh. It had been a good day for Blaine today, I’d noticed. “I can swim. Now that I’ve got a shorter cast, I bet I could even swim quite well.” Blaine pointed out before he took a teasing tone to mimic mine. “Besides, aren’t you a lifeguard?” Despite the teasing, he snapped the life jacket on over the plain white t-shirt he was wearing.

I apparently wasn’t lucky enough tonight for him to decide to peel off the shirt for the trip. Honestly, I don’t know what’s up with my hormones lately. It’s like they’ve finally decided I’m a seventeen year old guy. Ever since I’d gotten that five second glance of Blaine in a towel a few days ago, it had barely left my mind. I wished there was someone here I could talk to about it, but I couldn’t do that without outing Blaine.

“That’s why it would look so bad if I let you down.” I pointed out, laughing as I plunged waist deep into the cold water moving to the rack the canoes rested on. Maybe I didn’t have to go quite that deep to get to the canoes, but it did serve other purposes. “Come help me get one down?” I glanced over towards his feet. “Leave the water shoes on. You don’t want to get cut by one of the mussels on your foot. Really sucks.”

“Yes mother.” Blaine stated with a playful roll of his eyes. “I know that. Who do you think makes the boys wear theirs when I’m with the cabin?” Blaine splashed in after me towards the wooden frame sticking up from the shallow part of the lake that the canoes rested on.

We got a canoe flipped off the stand, and I directed Blaine towards the front, slipping a paddle under his seat. “Just in case. I should be able to do the paddling tonight though. I’ll bring you back to teach you some strokes when you get that cast off and can really hold the paddle correctly.” I slipped into the back seat and pushed off of the sandy shore.

It was rather more strain on my arms to paddle by myself with Blaine in it that when I’d done the same for Seth yesterday. He’d been too scared to go out with a friend, so I’d talked him into a canoe with me. It was quite the opposite problem from getting Jared and Kyle to focus on something besides trying to soak each other with lake water.

“It’s like having my own personal chauffeur. I suppose I could get used to this.” Blaine noted, making a point of pretending to chill back in the canoe.

“Hah hah. You’re a regular comedian tonight.” I teased over, dipping a hand into the lake to splash water up at him, just like I’d stopped Jared from doing.

Blaine sputtered a bit and then broke down laughing. “And you’re just the height of maturity, splash boy.”

I purposely rocked the canoe a bit, shifting my weight from side to side. “I could be capsize boy, if you’d like.”

“Oooh. Scary lake fish might just eat me if you do.” Blaine shot back before he let out a happy sigh. “This is kind of wonderful. It’s so peaceful out here.”

I paddled on, aiming to take us out towards the middle of the mile long lake. “And we’ve timed it perfectly. This is the absolute best spot on camp to watch the sun set.”

Oh God. I’d set us up on a rather romantic outing. What part of my subconscious had decided that was a good idea? It was moments like these, though, that kept making me fall harder for Blaine: the moments when he was just being himself. I loved watching Blaine relax. Someday he’d be like this most of the time, and then I could make my move. I just couldn’t feel like I was taking advantage of his reliance on me to push him into something he might not truly want.

“I do enjoy a good sunset.” Blaine admitted reaching over with his non-casted hand to trail his fingers in the water. “So, let’s talk about something other than camp and what crazy things I’ve stopped the boys from getting into today.”

“I’m sure those are all wonderful stories, but sure. Hmm. How about the future? What do you plan to be when you grow up?” I asked over, deciding we were far enough out. I tucked the paddle over my legs, looking up towards Blaine, or at least the back of his head. The only awkward thing about this chat in a canoe thing was that he had to turn around for me to see his face.

“I’m not really sure. I’ve considered performance, but I don’t know if I want to make a career out of it.” Blaine shrugged. “Cooper’s in LA still trying to find acting jobs, most unsuccessfully. I’m not sure that’s really me. My dad wants me to become a businessman or a lawyer. I couldn’t see myself in business, but maybe law. Not the kind my dad would want, I’m sure. But maybe working for someplace like the ACLU, fighting for people’s rights. I might decide to become a teacher though. Maybe a music teacher. I really like the kids.”

“You’re good with them. Music huh? I know you sing really well, but do you play instruments, too?” It was nice getting to know more about Blaine on a non-camp or horrible life experiences level.

“I’ve been playing piano since I was a little kid, and since I started high school, I’ve been working on learning guitar.” Blaine flicked a bit of water back towards me as he asked, “How about you? What do you want to be when you grow up?”

“Happy.” I automatically answered with a grin back. “Oh, you mean for a career? I’ve thought about theater. I love to sing, but my voice would be a rather unique niche, being as high as it is. This is probably going to sound odd, since you’ve only seen me in my camp wardrobe, but I think I want to major in fashion at college. Which is really soon!”

“You mean you don’t dress in swimsuits and sandals at home?” Blaine asked with fake wide eyed innocence.

“Nope. I think the people in my high school would be shocked to see what I wear at camp. I dress as high fashion as I can sew and scavenge from sales at home. It’s kind of like a big FU to all the people in my school when I walk down the hall in something they’d never dream of wearing.” I flicked a bit of water back, not hard enough to actually splash Blaine this time, just enough to maybe break any negative mood I’d just made.

“I like the idea of that. Like a giant middle finger to the bullies in the way of fashion.” Blaine noted, looking out over the mountain beyond for a moment before he added, “My dad sent me a package.”

“Oh? Did he send you sweets? I’m still waiting for Mike’s mom to send him more cookies.”

“No. No sweets. You’d think having been a camper here once upon a time he might think of that.” Blaine fake pouted for just a moment before he returned to the topic at hand. “It was information on my new school for the fall. Plus, all the books on my summer reading list. Ug.”

“Summer reading list, huh? Sounds like a more serious school than mine. I guess I know where all your free time and rest hours will go now.” I scooted to change positions on the metal bench of the canoe, giving my legs a chance to stretch out now that we were just drifting.

“He sent a brochure for the school. Looks like it’s a pretty serious place. Dalton Academy, with uniforms and everything. I don’t know what his kick about me and all boys environments is. First it was here, now it’s an all boys high school.” Blaine made a silly little face. “I love how he seems to think that being around a whole bunch of boys will make me straight.”

“Or maybe it’s just a good school?” I pointed out. “Ah, so now I’m imagining you in button down shirts and a sweater vest. It could be a good look.”

“That might be how I dress at home anyway.” Blaine admitted before he shrugged. “Someone, probably my mom since it’s in purple, highlighted parts of the brochure. Apparently the school has a zero tolerance policy on bullying. That almost sounds too good to be true.”

“I wish my school had something like that. Are you still going to be around the Columbus area? That’s where you’re from, right?” It felt weird to talk about Ohio out here on the lake.

“It’s in Westerville, which is still Columbus area.”

“That’s only about a two hour drive away from me.” I noted, flicking my fingers into the water. “Maybe we can get together every once in a while on the weekend? It would be nice to have a friend who understands.”

“I think that is a great idea.” Blaine gave me a genuine smile. There’s not much I wouldn’t give to see him like this all the time. It felt like a gift that he was letting me see him without all the walls and barriers he’d built to protect himself. “And in the real world we’ll have working cell phone service again. So not only can we see each other once in a while, we can call and text. I didn’t have a whole lot of friends at my last school, and I’ll know no one at this new school. I’m not going to turn down a chance to keep talking to someone I get along so well with. Can you believe it’s not even been two weeks?”

“That’s what camp does. We’re together so much in this little isolated piece of earth that friendships speed up. I’ve gotten closer to people here in eight weeks than the other ten months at home.” I eyed the shore and grabbed my paddle to turn the canoe. “Look! The sun is starting to set.”

It was a perfect end to the day. It was so easy to just talk to Blaine about everything after that: favorite musicals and TV shows, fashion choices, embarrassing childhood moments. The sun set around us as we conversed, and I finally paddled us in towards shore. I didn’t want that moment to end, but soon it would have been too dark to get the canoe put away.