I sank down to sit between Blaine and Mike on the floor of the camp library. The building was really more of a multipurpose space. Sure there were a few bookshelves full of children's and teen novels, but the room was more a place of worn comfy couches and a TV used for cabin or unit movie nights.

Today it was the site of the first Red Team meeting. The campers were all out meeting in their respective teams, and the rest of the staff and Jr. Staff was here, packed into the room and dressed in varying shades of red and orange. The counselors had commandeered the couch, leaving the floor space for the Jr staff, and whatever counselors couldn't cram themselves onto four rickety sofas.

"Sorry I was running late." I whispered. "Thanks for saving room for me to plant my butt. Liam was having a wardrobe crisis. He was so worried about the fact the he didn't have a grey shirt to wear. Alex saved the day by loaning him a t-shirt. I'll have to have Finn impress upon him later that white and black are alright, too. He didn't seem to believe me."

Blaine laughed at that, grinning over at me. "Leave it to Liam to have a wardrobe crisis at camp."

"You'd be laughing less if it'd been you that'd been there having to deal with it." I pointed out reaching out to straighten the collar on the red polo shirt Blaine was wearing. "You are looking rather dapper today." It was a dressier choice for camp, despite the fact that he'd left his hair in the loose curls he'd worn since about the third week or so.

There was a flutter of whispers behind us, and I could feel Blaine tense beside me. "Don't let them get to you. There'll be a new source of news by supper time." I whispered over.

Schue chose that moment to speak up, flanked at the front by all the Unit Leaders. My inner bitch had to grin at the look I could see Wes giving the whisperers. They'd stop gossiping if they knew what was good for them. "Alright, welcome to the Red Team!" Schue started off, pausing when we all let out a whooping cheer. "We'll have far less reason to meet, but let's take this one to review rules and go over schedules. I know this all old hat for some of you, but this is the first color war for many of you as well." I leaned over to nudge Blaine lightly at that, getting a smile in return.

"We'll be going straight from here to set the dining hall up for lunch. During color war, the campers eat as a team. We'll shove all the tables together into long rows, with two set in between for the leadership of each team. Be glad that none of you are working through every meal this week." I glanced over to Mike with a sympathetic smile. It was two summers ago, but the memory of all those crazy hours planning strategy and performances for seventy-ish other campers was still pretty fresh in my mind. "Yes, that means we'll be setting up tables on one side of the hall for all of you. Please don't get too crazy, and know that you're still on duty if a camper needs something. Let's see, last piece for the dining hall, campers have to be on their best behavior, or they can lose their teams points. That includes refraining from singing. You lot are welcome to sing as loud and often as you wish, however."

Schue had to pause again for a rustle of amused chatter spreading through the staff at that news. "Your Unit Leaders will have your schedule of duties for the week. JCs see the ULs for your assigned cabins. CITs see Wes." Wes waved his hand, as if any CIT on camp didn't know who he was. "We've worked hard to try to give you some down time in between events. We may have assigned you to help with closing camp procedures as well, like the massive task of inventorying Arts and Crafts. Please make sure you are on time to all events and report all scores to Wes, he's keeping the tally this year."

Monday brought Color War into full swing, and by supper time, Blaine had a pretty good idea of what the competition was about. I could see the grin on his face as I walked up to him outside the dining hall. "Having a good time?" I asked, resting my hand on his shoulder for just a moment. We were really careful with the PDA, but that was something that would have been okay with any of my friends, right?

Blaine just grinned back. "I am! This afternoon I was helping to run a scavenger hunt for the juniors. It was great. They were having so much fun. It was a bit hilarious because you could tell some of the international staff had written the list. It took the kids a moment to figure out what a 'yellow jumper' was."

I laughed at that bit, tucking my hands down in the pockets of my jeans. "I can't wait for the Apache Relay tonight. Terribly un-PC name, but it's a ton of fun." Blaine raised his eyebrows curiously, so I continued on. "Right after dinner while the teams meet, we'll set up events all over camp. It's a huge relay where they have to stop and compete in different events. I'm not sure what they'll have you doing, but I know I'm going to end up guarding the far dock from one of the playaks. It's great fun. Always ends with the captain of each team having to build a fire to burn through a rope. Then one of their counselors has to speed eat a pie, no hands alowed Hope they're up on their outdoors skills. One of the counselors on each team has to ride alongside the whole thing on a bike, so I bet you'll see Finn around, though they might have him save his energy for the pie."

Blaine nodded. "That sounds like a bit of chaos."

"It is. Entertaining chaos." I insisted, even if it was partly drowned out by the beginning of the green team singing. Each team was standing in a long line by one of the dining hall's doors. This was the one song they could sing for the meal, so they were making the best of it. It'd be lucky if the green team still had lungs to cheer tonight. Puck's voice rose above them all as he sprinted down the line, giving all the guys a high five as they starting to file into the dining hall.

The grey team followed in similar fashion before the staff of the red team could follow inside. We'd pushed tables together for the counselors to make big squares. We were a little bit squished along the sides, but it was great to sit with a bigger group of people. There was space next to Nick for Blaine and I to squeeze in.

"I do miss having a fifteen year old to get food for us." Jeff stated with a sigh as he carried a tray of food over to set it down on the table's center. "But at least we're having Thanksgiving!"

I laughed, reaching out to start grabbing dishes to pass, helping myself to some turkey, potatoes, and vegetables. "Thanksgiving is one of my favorites." I admitted. I'd be hard pressed to admit it, especially to friends at home, but I love the camp mashed potatoes. The cook uses red potatoes and leaves the skins in. So good.

Meals were so much more relaxed this week, not having to worry about watching every move of a table of boys. It was nice to be able to just sit by my friends, instead of wherever the UL in charge of table placements that week stuck me. Everything lapsed into silence for a moment as we started to eat. A table full of teenage boys could really shovel in the food, as Nick and Blaine on either side of me seemed to be trying to demonstrate.

I speared a green bean and looked over the crowded dining hall. "Always reminds me a bit of the house table in Harry Potter when they do this." I pointed out.

Blaine swallowed long enough to agree. "But does that make us Gryffindor and the whole rest of the lot Slytherin? They're in the colors for it."

I laughed at that then glanced towards the tables of leadership for each team. "How's your brother Dan holding up?" I aimed towards Nick, trying to drag him into the conversation.

"He came over to see me earlier and steal all my green clothing." Nick said, pausing to take a drink of his lemonade. "Being Sargent is wearing on him a bit, I think, but he'd never admit it. If you ask him, he's got as much energy as the energizer bunny.  I think he could use a nap."

"I'm sure he could, though I doubt he'll get one until Thursday." I grinned over, reaching out to dish up a bit more of the potatoes onto my plate. "We, on the other hand, could probably fit in time tomorrow."

Jeff nodded then grinned, leaning over Nick. "It's rather too quiet in here. I think we may need to do something about that."

"Song?" Blaine questioned, catching on quickly.

"Song." Jeff confirmed, pausing for a moment. "Something call and repeat. See if we can get anyone to slip."

"How about Boom Chicka Boom?" Nick suggested, glancing to the other staff tables. "If we start it, I bet they'll all join in."

"Boom Chicka Boom it is." I confirmed. My poor mashed potatoes were about to be neglected. Ah well, it would be worth it. "On three?" I checked for nods and then quietly counted off. On three, all of us yelled, more than sang, in unison, "I said a boom chicka boom!"

There was only a reply of a few seconds before the rest of the staff answered back with the same line, and we were off into the high energy song. By the second verse (a little bit louder), we were up standing on our chairs. It was fun to see the look on the campers' faces. They so wanted to join in, but they restrained themselves well.

We finished off with Parent Style, a personal favorite. I mean, what isn't hilarious about singing in your best mocking tone, while wagging a finger, "I said a go to your room! I said a go to your room! I said a go to your room and don't come out 'tail next June!" All of us slid back into our seats, despite the fact our dusty sandals had just been on them.

I let out a long peal of laughter, Thanksgiving food forgotten on my plate."God, I'm going to miss all of you and all of this so much. Why do we ever have to go home?"

Tuesday afternoon found me across the lake at a small beach, settling myself into my favorite of the camp kayaks. I turned to fiddle with one of the fastenings on my life jacket, adjusting the tension until it was just right. I pushed off into the water and paddled over towards Joe, waiting for them to be ready to start the event.

"Hey, man." Joe greeted, just floating in the water with his paddle resting across his lap. "You ready for this?"

"This is easy enough for me. We're just paddling across the lake. I think the question is more if the campers are ready." I glanced back to the swimmers still standing on the shore, gathered around David and listening to instructions.

"You know we signal the motorboat if our camper is having difficulty, right?" Joe asked, using his hand to gently correct course. The lake was smooth today, almost like glass on this windless day.

"I know. I did this last year. Hell, I swam it when I was fourteen. Came in third, but I made it across." That was the trick. There were four older campers waiting to swim the lake. This was, out of all the color war events, one of the few that was all about endurance. This and the longer foot race. The lake was about three quarters of a mile across. That made for one long swim.

"Makes me kind of nervous." Joe admitted, though he looked nothing but laid back. "The lake's deep. If one of them went under..."

"That's why they have to be approved by David to even compete in this. These are some of the strongest swimmers. And that's why there's one of us to stay beside each of them. The trick is to see they're tiring before there's time to go under. They are allowed to rest on your boat, you know, as long as you're not paddling." I pointed out. Though really? If it came to that, I'd be signaling for the motor boat to come get him. I understood Joe's nerves in a way I never would have racing this at fourteen. It's amazing what a difference in perspective just a few years and some responsibility can bring.

David signaled the start of the race, and I paddled away from Joe with a wave, shadowing the lanky blond I'd been assigned across the lake. He was a good swimmer, in good shape. I kept an eye on him, but the relative pace gave my thoughts time to wander as well.

I realized on that lake that I really didn't feel one bit like a camper anymore. That I wasn't a camper. This summer had been a wonderful amount of fun, but it hadn't been all about me. Not the way my camper years had been. Maybe that's what it meant to be a counselor. To have such a great time, but to know that your fun is second to making sure that your campers are safe. That they're happy and having a good experience.

I feel like that started this summer with Blaine. That he'd moved from being my camper to being my friend. And now he was just about the best thing to ever happen to me. Knowing I'd have him to talk to about it all made the idea of going back to Ohio in a few days seem less like the realm of Hell I'd been fearing. Two hours drive wasn't that far away, right?

Blaine sank down beside me on a bench toward the back of the Playhouse, a relaxed grin on his face. He took advantage of the number of people sitting around us to sit close, pressing the heat of his thigh up against mine. It still amazed me how simple touches could feel like much more. It certainly didn't feel the same way when Nick or Sam got shoved up against me in close quarters. That felt slightly uncomfortable. This had the power to take my breath away.

"So this is the last event?" Blaine broke into my reverie to ask.

I nodded my head, glancing up to where Finn was directing a crowd of campers in white Camp Cardigan shirts. "Last event, and always one of my favorites. It's worth a ton of points, too. This and the banners we voted on after dinner."

"So each team has a song and a skit?" He asked, giving Jared a wave, from where the little boy was practically bouncing on stage.

"Right. Well, two songs. A slow, sappy number and a fast upbeat one." I waved as well, getting more of a kick than I'd have though back in June at the way Jared beamed proudly down at us. Happy his counselors had seen him and taken the tie to wave. "The skits are my favorite part. Basically, they're a way to make fun of the staff and the summer. The key there is to stay on the tasteful side. I hope Puck didn't pull his team astray there." I noted jokingly.

"I'm sure they'll be fine. He's not the only leader of the team." Blaine pointed out, before the captain of the grey team was stepping forward, taking a deep breath before he quieted the room and introduced his team's alma mater.

That warmth of pride I'd had watching Jared came back. Ian had been in the cabin I'd worked with last summer. Watching him stand up and lead half the camp was amazing. I had no desire to be back in his place, though. I remembered the absolute exhaustion I'd felt by that point in the week. Happy, but so, so tired after super late nights of planning and helping create songs and banners and long days spend maintaining an almost forced level of enthusiasm. Maybe it was part of feeling like an actual counselor, but I I was just happy to see Ian succeeding so well.

Both teams did well, the kids staying in steady rhythm and not messing up the words too badly. I'd definitely owe Puck a shove later though. I had a feeling I knew who was behind the inclusion of one character in the green team's skit.

Nick's little brother Dan had come out dressed super in tight jeans and a vest over his camp t-shirt, instructing a group of campers on the proper use of sunscreen and moisturizer, among other things.

Blaine winced beside me as we followed the crowd of staff, turning in ballots and moving towards the campfire ring. "I'm not sure that was very nice of the green team."

"I won't say that part of me doesn't want to kill Puck for that." I told Blaine, finding a spot towards the back of the wooden benches to sit, so we could keep talking, "But at the same time it makes me feel strangely accepted." I shook my head. "If some idiot at school did that, I'd be horribly hurt, because I'd know the motivation was to make fun of me."

I paused for a moment to collect my thoughts and then kept going with a shrug. "Actually, I can't say that they weren't making fun of me, but it's a different kind of it. Friendly making fun, if that makes any sense. In a way, it's a good thing. If you noticed, they made fun of everyone they portrayed, including David and Schue. Being chosen to be made fun of in a color war skit really just means that people like you. Goes all the way back to that whole being popular thing that you noticed."

Blaine nodded, considering that. "I guess I see your point." He conceded then glanced over to the quiet song starting to ripple through the crowd, starting with some of the oldest campers. "Are they really singing about wanting a tie? After the fierce way they've competed this week?" He asked incredulously.

I just shrugged again. "It's tradition. I don't know how many of them truly mean it deep down, but well, that's camp. The competition is about competition. It's about playing hard and getting to show off your absolute best. In the end, the winners will be excited, but they'll recognize that their friends aren't."

Schue reappeared at that moment, holding a lit torch, probably one of the modified tikis again, and a sheet of paper. "Color War 2011 was well played. You all fought hard for your team and showed your Cardigan sportsmanship. That makes all of you winners in my book." There was a rustle of muffled laughter at that cheesiness before Schue picked back up. "But as you know, there can only be one team with their win recorded on the plaque in the dining hall. So let's get to the results.  Thirty points for the alma mater goes to Green!" The singing about a tie was forgotten in the cheers. "Thirty points for the fight song goes to Grey!" The other half of the crowd erupted in excitement. "And finally, forty points for the skit goes to... Grey!"

Schue turned his torch to the wire frame behind him, lighting the letters G R E on fire before he turned back. "And the winner of Color War 2011 is..." He turned back, pausing dramatically for a moment before he lit the Y, letting the word Grey burn brightly for a few minutes while the team cheered loudly. There was the click of cameras taking pictures of the burning word before he turned, lighting up the other E and the N to let the whole thing burn.

I stared out at the burning letters for a moment before I sighed. "Finn is going to be insufferable."