SUMMARY: After his NYADA rejection, Kurt gets an unexpected scholarship offer.

Kurt found himself becoming increasingly more and more nervous as the summer drew to a close. He spent as much time as he could with his family, friends and of course, with Blaine. He also found himself seeking out David Karofsky to try and discuss a potential alliance so they were not alone at Amherst, and they could present some sort of unified front.

The atmosphere in the Hudmel household during Kurt's last weeks at home was tense, and yet subtly freeing. Kurt had begun to notice that he was never really alone when he was at home, Finn seemed to find any excuse to be in Kurt's room a lot of the time he was asking stupid questions that even Brittany knew the answer to. Burt and Carole were more subtle in their farewell techniques, such as Carole inviting Kurt to do some more cooking so as to 'stock up for a few days'. Burt offered to help him pack his things, so he didn't have to do it all alone.

Blaine however, despite it being clear that he didn't want Kurt to go was almost unbearably sweet about his leaving. Each Saturday he arrived on their doorstep holding a bunch of flowers, and with some cheesy pick-up line rolling off his tongue. Yet he would then take Kurt off on some adorable date where they wouldn't talk about his leaving, but just enjoy the time they were spending together.

Kurt would never tell anyone, but although he told them he felt stifled, he really enjoyed the attention and was extremely touched by the fact they seemed to feel they would miss him when he left Ohio for College. He knew that he would miss them when he left town. Which was not long now, and he was both eager for and terrified.

He knew that Burt was proud of him, but it had been drilled into him when he had been helping out at the garage, and when he'd been leaving the office which he'd popped into for a second, and he heard his Dad brag to one of his customers,

"Y'know my son, well, he's got a football scholarship to Amhurst." At that, Kurt had slid back into the office with a smile on his face.

Lost in thought and rememberance, Kurt was surprised when Burt called him to the kitchen from his room where he was doing some packing.

"Yeah, d'you need something?"

"Just a word, take a seat." Kurt did so looking confused, "Now, this is gonna seem like I'm picking on you, but I'm really not. I would say exactly the same to Finn. Okay?"

Kurt nodded, with the same confused look.

"Y'know I want you to go out into the world and be yourself and not be afraid of anyone. But you also know that there aren't a great many accepting people around. Now, I want you to be yourself, but don't do that anything like when you wore black for ages."

"Dad, Alexander McQueen had died! And it was only for three weeks."

"I do remember that it would've been for longer if I hadn't threatened to burn the rest of your clothes. Don't forget that whole 'theatricality' thing. You know what I mean right?" Burt hoped he hadn't managed to push his son away with a few sentences that may have come out sounding wrong.

"Yeah, Dad, I do. You just don't want me pushing myself in people's faces. 'Cos people round Lima have kinda got used to me and people in Massachusetts won't be used to me, I may be an entirely different type of person. Yeah?"

"yep. That's roughly what I meant. I just want you to take care of yourself, 'cos we won't be there to help you…" that's when Kurt cut him off,

"Dad, I'm 18. I don't need protecting like I did when I was 8, and I don't need to go and hide behind Finn when the jocks are out to get me. But I have contacted Dave Karofsky, and we agreed to keep in contact so that we could help each other out."

"I know you don't need protecting anymore Kurt, but I just remember when you were 8, and it doesn't seem that long ago to me. Anyhow, this is your fresh start. Make it count for something." Burt couldn't help the emotion that seeped through his words, knowing that in less than a week his son would no longer be in the same state as he.

"I'll make you proud Dad." Was Kurt's short reply as he stood and then rounded the table to hug his father. Neither seemed to want to let go, as if they would be letting go of each other for ever if they released each other.