The next day Kurt woke late. 

"Youre certainly in a good mood, today," his dad commented when he came into the main house whistling.  "Good night last night?"

"Yeah, I had fun." 

"Now whos this Blaine kid, again?"

"I met him in high school.  He was the lead singer for the Dalton Academy Warblers.  Youve seen him perform."

"Those were the guys in the blazers?"

"Yeah."

"Sharp-looking kids.  Seemed polite.  Is he gay?"

"What?"  Kurts voice rose an octave, then he realized it was a perfectly reasonable question and he relaxed.  "Yeah, Dad, he is.  But Im not sure he realizes I exist--not like that."

"Well, I just dont want you jumping into anything on the rebound.  Thats never a good idea." 

This from the man who didnt date for eight years after his wife died. Kurt hoped his dad wasnt expecting a similar waiting period for him.  

"I dont think you have to worry about that, Dad.  Im pretty sure Im not his type."

"Whats his type?"

"I dunno.  Just--not me.  I mean, I had a good time last night, but he was just...cordial.  He probably has a boyfriend, anyway."  That last sentence came from Kurts mouth, but when he heard it aloud, he felt a little pang of jealousy, which was crazy, because its not like he was dating Blaine, and he didnt really know if he was seeing someone or not. 

"Well, Carole and I are going to the beach.  You wanna come?"

"Dad, Ill fry out there.  You know that."

"I know that Carole brought a whole bag of sunscreen just for you.  You can wear a hat, wear a t-shirt.  Well bring an umbrella.  Come on.  It will be fun."

Maybe it was because Kurt really was having a good morning, or maybe it was because his dad was looking at him with that expression he could never resist, but Kurt shrugged and said, "Okay." 

He retrieved the bag of sunscreen--his dad wasnt kidding; it was a whole bag--and took it back to his apartment.  Stripping down, he applied an SPF 70 lotion liberally all over his body, even in the places that would be covered with clothing, which was most of his places.  Then he sprayed himself with a spray sunblock (also SPF 70), just in case.  After that first pass, he made a mental note to avoid the genitalia next time, because that spray was a little sting-y.  Then he sprayed himself again.  Then he put on swim trunks, a long-sleeved t-shirt, and a ball cap.  Then he sprayed himself again, choking a little at the fumes.  He looked in the mirror.  It wasnt a great look--well, it was an okay look; he looked like every other guy, which was never the look Kurt was going for--but it would do for the beach.  It wasnt like hed see anyone he knew. 

Grabbing a towel and a beach umbrella that Carole thrust at him, he followed his parents down a dusty road until the shrubs opened up and revealed a majestic surf pounding a white beach.  Above the roar of the surf, Kurt could hear children and gulls screaming, and he saw swimmers and surfers cavorting in the waves. 

Kurt laid his towel on the beach and planted his umbrella.  Then he dropped down on the towel and stretched out his long limbs, reveling in the feel of the heat radiating from the sand into his muscles.  He had to admit, this was kind of nice, and as long as he stayed in the shade and reapplied his sunscreen regularly, he might be able to last a whole thirty minutes before turning the color of a lobster.  He reached into his bag and pulled out the sunblock spray, applying yet another coat. 

"That stuffs going to give you cancer," Burt complained, wafting away the toxic spray with his hands. 

"The sun will give you cancer, Dad," Kurt retorted, "Its called melanoma."

Burt chuckled and shook his head.  He put a hand out to Carole.  "Lets see how your new bikini holds up in the water."  Carole took Burts hand, and they ran down into the water, laughing and chatting, and Kurt smiled to see them both so happy. 

He watched them for a while, and then his eyes were pulled to the surfers, paddling out to sea on their stomachs, then turning and swimming rapidly in front of the waves before gracefully standing on their boards to ride back into shore.  Kurt found himself watching a man in shockingly bright pink shorts riding an equally eye-jarring neon green surf board.  As the surfer came closer, skimming easily on the top of the water, Kurts eyes widened. 

It was Blaine. 

Kurt leaned forward a little to get a better look.  Blaine was in a tube, riding fast just ahead of the wave curling behind him.  His knees were bent and his body was perfectly perched on the board, arms slightly out to the side.  And then something happened, and Kurt saw the empty surf board fly into the air, and Blaine hit the water head first and tumbled, head over heels before crashing onto the beach. 

Kurt didnt realize he was up and running until he was standing over Blaine shouting, "Are you all right?"

Blaine rolled over onto his hands and knees and coughed up a little sea water.  Then he stood and gave Kurt a shaky smile.  "Kurt!" he exclaimed. 

Kurt put a hand on Blaines arm, but when his hand met the wet surface and the contrast of cold water and warm skin, he jerked it back as though scalded.  Blaine barely knew him; now was not the time to get touchy-feely.  Kurt cleared his throat and repeated, "Are you okay?  You really got tumbled."

Blaine chuckled, "No, Im okay.  Ive had way worse dunkings than that one.  Im a little embarrassed that there were witnesses, though.  But it was a great ride.  Do you surf?"

Kurt shook his head.  "No.  I dont even swim.  The beach isnt t the best place for me.  Im kind of...pasty." 

"Pale is the new black," Blaine joked. 

It was kind of lame, but Kurt laughed, "I wish."

"Seriously, you dont swim?  Not at all?" Blaine seemed genuinely stunned.

"No.  My dad tried to teach me when I was little, but apparently I just cried and screamed and refused to unwrap my hands from around his neck.  Dad says he had to stop trying to teach me or risk strangulation." 

"You really dont have to swim when youre in the ocean.  Its salty.  You couldnt sink if you tried."

"Yeah, Im gonna take your word for that."

"No, Kurt.  You cant come to the ocean and not go in.  Theres no fun in that,"  Blaine stepped over to retrieve his board, which had miraculously washed up fairly nearby.  He dragged it up the beach a little further to keep it away from the surf, then he planted it in the sand like a door.  He turned back to Kurt and gave him big eyes, "Please let me show you.  I promise I wont let you drown.  Please?"  At the last please, he gave Kurt sad, puppy dog eyes, and Kurt couldnt resist. 

"Okay, let me drop off my stuff at my towel.  Will your board be okay here?"

"It will be fine."

Kurt walked to his towel and umbrella, and he was a little surprised that Blaine followed him.  Then Blaine just stood there, watching him, as if he expected Kurt to just strip in front of him.  Then Kurt realized that Blaine did expect Kurt to just take off his shirt and his hat, and Kurt started to blush.  Of course, this wouldnt be any big deal to Blaine, and it wasnt like Kurt hadnt seen Blaine take off a lot more than a shirt and hat last night.

Whoops!  Now was not the time to be thinking about that. 

Grimacing inwardly and reminding himself that a man shouldnt have a problem with undressing in front of another man, Kurt pulled off his hat, tossing it on the towel.  Then, before he could chicken out, he reached down and swiftly pulled his shirt over his head.  "Try not to let the whiteness blind you," he joked to hide his discomfort. 

"No, youre..." Blaines eyes were a little wide, and he was stammering, "I mean...its...um...hmm."  Blaine shook his head a little, "Uh, lets go into the water."

Kurt followed Blaine to the waters edge, puzzling over Blaines reaction.  Did Blaine like what he saw, or was Kurt imagining it?  Blaine actually seemed flustered.  Maybe he was even drooling a little? Was it possible?

Then Kurts feet hit the water, and he froze, all thoughts of Blaine instantly vanishing. 

The water was fucking freezing. 

"Geez, Blaine.  I cant get into that.  Ill catch hypothermia." 

"Its not that cold, Kurt.  Youll get used to it."  He reached back and grabbed Kurts hand, pulling him further into the water.  The touch of Blaines hand gave Kurt courage--or, at least, it made him not want to make a fool of himself--and he followed Blaine further into the icy water, part of his mind reveling in the warmth of Blaines hand as it clutched his and part of him wondering if his testicles would ever be brave enough to come back down from where they had shriveled up against his body to escape the cold.  He was going to be a living, walking Ken doll. 

When they got to where the water was about chest deep, Blaine turned to Kurt and said, "Just lay back into the water, like this."

Dropping Kurts hand, Blaine just fell backward and was instantly floating on the waters surface.  Kurt kind of wanted to lay on top of him.  

He was brought back from his reverie by Blaine saying, "Now, you try it."

There was no freakin way that Kurt was going to do that. 

His expression must have said as much, because Blaine stood again and walked through the water until he was standing next to Kurt.  "Youre shivering," he noticed.

"This water is freezing," Kurt complained.  Then, when Blaine just looked at him expectantly, Kurt admitted, "Im also terrified."

"Just trust me, okay?"

Then Blaine got behind Kurt and wrapped his arms around Kurts waist. 

Oh, geez.  Maybe his testicles were going to drop after all. 

"Okay," Blaine said, his chest pressed against Kurts back, "Just pull your legs back and kind of sit back into my chest."

Kurt didnt move, partially because he was still scared and partially because his whole body was humming from the feel of Blaines chest pressed against his back.  Ohhhhhhh.

Fortunately for Kurt, Blaine only sensed the fear.  He squeezed Kurt a little more tightly around the waist.  "Its okay, Kurt.  Ive got you.  Just lean back against me and pull your feet up.  Im never going to let go of you.  I promise." 

Wow, that sounded good. 

Kurt gritted his teeth and let his feet float up.  The next thing he knew, he was sitting on the water, back pressed against Blaine.  It felt weird but also kind of cool. 

"Am I too heavy for you?" he asked Blaine. 

"Wow, youve never really done this, have you?"  Blaine asked.  "Okay, let me show you.  Put your feet back down." 

Kurt did as he was told, then Kurt felt Blaines arms leave his waist and come up to wrap around his neck.  Then Blaine gave a little jump, and his legs were wrapped around Kurts waist.  Kurt staggered a little in surprise, but then he righted himself. 

"Do I feel heavy to you?" Blaine asked.

"N-n-no."  Kurt managed to say.  Heavenly?  Yes.  Heavy?  No.  How was it possible to get an erection when your penis was submerged in ice water?

"Try walking around with me on your back," Blaine encouraged, and Kurt thought he might walk to Florida if it would keep Blaines legs around his waist.  So Kurt walked around a little, and he was surprised that he really couldnt feel Blaines weight at all.  But he could feel his warmth, and it felt soul soothing. 

Sadly, Blaine eventually unwrapped his legs from around Kurt and said, "Lets try it again.  Are you ready?"  His arms were back around Kurts waist.  Kurt nodded and lifted his legs again, pushing back a little against Blaines chest.  When his legs were trailing in front of him, Blaine started moving backward, helping Kurt better feel the sensation of floating. 

"Okay, now I want you to let your torso float, too.  Lean your head back on my shoulder and just let your body float free.  I promise Ive got you." 

Feeling braver, Kurt did just that, and although he was disappointed to feel Blaine release his hold from Kurts waist, he now got to feel his cheek pressed against Blaines neck, and that was pretty great. 

Now his whole body was floating, with just his head anchored on Blaines shoulder and Blaines hands resting lightly on Kurts side.  Blaine had backed them up into slightly deeper water so that he didnt have to squat to keep Kurt afloat.  Kurt felt Blaines hands leave his ribs to travel down the length of his arms and grab his wrists.  Then he was pulling out so that Kurts arms were away from his body.  "You put your arms out like this to have better buoyancy," he said.  He pushed in and pulled out a little to give Kurt the idea of moving his arms back and forth like he was making snow angels.  "Are you ready to put your head in the water?" he asked. 

Kurt shook his head.  Absolutely not. 

"It will be okay, Kurt.  You can do this."  Blaines hand traveled back up Kurts arms and he felt strong fingers at his neck.  "Im going to slip out from under you, but Ill keep my hands on your neck.  I wont let go.  Just let your head rest in the water.  You wont go under.  You wont."

Kurt was terrified, but Blaines hands on his neck were calming.  He took a deep breath, and he felt Blaine slip away from him, his hands remaining cupped around the back of Kurts neck.  Kurt let his head fall back into the water, and even though it was frightening, he realized that he was floating. 

"Youre doing it, Kurt!"  Blaine exclaimed as though Kurt had just walked a tightrope or something equally amazing that couldnt be done by a three-year-old. 

He really was doing it, though.  Kurt couldnt believe he was floating.  It felt...relaxing.  Peaceful.  Zen-like. 

And then it all went to Hell in a hand basket.  A giant wave crashed over Kurts head and he was ripped from Blaines hands and tumbling in the surf.  He couldnt tell which way was up, and he began to flail, and he heard a roaring in his ears along with his own racing heartbeat. 

Suddenly strong arms reached for him and were lifting him out of the water.  Blaine.  Out of sheer terror and an instinct for survival that involved getting as far from water as possible, Kurt wrapped his arms around Blaines neck and his legs around Blaines torso, squeezing as tightly as he could. 

Blaine stroked down Kurts goose-bump covered back and murmured, "Im so, so sorry.  I should have been watching better.  Ive got you now.  Youre okay.  Youre okay." 

They stayed like that for a while, and eventually Kurts terror subsided enough that he realized that his hold on Blaine was a little...inappropriate.  Reluctantly, he unwrapped his legs and tried to ignore the jolt that went through his body as his bare legs slid down the length of Blaines.  Somewhat shaky, he stood erect, surprised to find that the ocean floor wasnt far below him.  The water was only a little more than chest deep at this point.  Knowing that made his panic a little embarrassing.  He started to untangle his arms, but Blaine said, "Dont," in a low voice and held Kurt just a little bit tighter. 

Kurt pulled his head back a small distance to look at Blaines face. 

Blaines gaze met Kurts, and Blaine seemed to color a little--or was it just the sun?--and he stuttered, "Just, um, just, just wait until youre ready.  I dont want you to be scared."

What the Hell did that mean?

A drop of water ran down Kurts cheek and onto his lips, and he licked at it unconsciously.  Then he felt Blaines breathing hitch in his chest where it was pressed against Kurts, and he saw Blaines eyes darken a little, and then Blaines eyelids fluttered down and Blaines lips moved closer to Kurts, and everything in Kurt went ohmyGodohmyGodohmyGod, and then...

"Whos your friend, son?" said Burts voice really, really close by.