Kurt opened the car door for me and followed me into the airport. I lifted my two bags over my shoulder. Once we got past the first door, Kurt stopped walking. "I guess this is goodbye then," I said quietly.

Kurt smiled weakly. "Bye, Finn. Stay safe."

I hugged him, and his body loosened up. "Thanks, Kurt." I waved and walked forward. If Kurt thought that I might not come back, he certainly wasn't showing it. He never cried or held on too tight when I went back. I guess being away from Blaine hardened him.

I went through security and then went to sit by my terminal. The chairs were occupied by some of my friends from the army. "Hey, Finn!" Ryder called out. Ryder was one of my best friends. He reminded me of Puck. It was nice to have a friend like Ryder, now that Puck was in L.A.

I smiled as I bumped my fist against Ryder's. "Hey, bro! How was your break?"

"It was great! I picked up so many chicks! You?"

"Yeah I guess you could say I picked up a chick." I grinned to myself.

"Cool! She hot?"

"Very."

Ryder congratulated me with a pat on the back. "Great for you, man."

A few more guys arrived, and we all exchanged our generic back pats and fist bumps. Finally, we all boarded the plane together. I took a seat near the back of the plane. Rachel and I used to sit in the back all the time when we went on vacations together. She would toss her hair indignantly and say, "I can handle the back. I never throw up." But then when the ride became turbulent, she would squeal and clutch onto my arm.

I pulled her letter out of my pocket and unfolded it. Her familiar bubbly script was all over the page.

Dear Finn,

You came back into my life for two weeks. Those were the two greatest weeks of my life. I have to be honest with you. I hated what you did to me at the train station. I couldn't believe you would trick me like that, but then I settled into New York. It was a dream. The sound of the cars rushing down the street, the intimidating height of the skyscrapers, the bright lights at night. The only thing I was missing was you. And then you came and completed everything.

As all of us Glee kids know, some things can only be expressed in song.

"Loving him was blue like I've never known.
Missing him was dark gray all alone.
Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met.
But loving him was red, burning red."

Ever since we first met during sophomore year, I spend several nights crying my eyes out over you. When you told me that you were already dating Quinn. Then when you kissed me in the auditorium and went right back to Quinn. When you called me a sad clown hooker. When you broke up with me because you wanted to find yourself. When we broke up again after I made out with Puck. And the longest night of crying, when you put me on that train. No matter how many tears I shed over you, I still loved you all the time, forever. Something was just missing whenever I wasn't with you. You're the only one for me.

It breaks my heart that I have to part with you again, but this time I know we both have a promise from each other. I'm forever yours, and I mean it this time. I will be more faithful than I have ever been. Write back soon. I love you.

Rachel Berry

I traced my finger over the heart she drew around my name and I pressed the lipstick mark by her name to my face.

Ryder sat down next to me and pulled the letter out of my hand. "Oh, so this is the girl?" He snickered at the hearts. "Her name is Rachel Berry? Are you sure she's hot?"

My face reddened. "Shut up. She is!" I pulled a picture out of my pocket defensively. It was the one from our senior prom. Her hair flowed over the side of her face and tumbled down in silky waves. Her dress hugged over her subtle curves.

Ryder nodded. "You're right. I'm impressed, brother! So you're gonna have a long distance?"

"Well we've kind of been on and off. She went to my high school."

"Dude, why didn't you tell me!"

I shrugged. "I was trying to forget her, but then I ran into her again in New York. And now we're back together."

For the first time, Ryder gave me a sentimental smile. "Well, I'm happy for you."

"Thanks," I said, pleasantly surprised.

"As long as she has a hot friend!" he laughed. I snorted. Typical Ryder.

The plane landed at night. After we got off, we had to get on a big truck that would bring us to our camp. I looked up at the full moon and held my thumb out. My thumb covered the moon exactly. And Rachel's moon would be the same size, one thumb. In my head I thought about the letter I would write to her once we got to the camp.

Dear Rachel,

It's lonely here without you. But it's alright, because when I look up at the moon, I know you're with me. My moon will always be the same size as your moon, half a world away. Do you look up there sometimes and hold your thumb out the way I showed you? I know you're really busy at NYADA, and I know your hard work there will pay off and make you a big star. But I hope you still have time for me, even when I'm not there. Do you ever do any outdoor performances at night? Cause I'll be right there in the glimmering moonlight watching you with a proud smile on my face.

I love you and wish that I was with you every day. But I'm honoring my dad, and I know he'd be proud of me. I hope you're proud too. I miss you.

Love,

Finn Hudson