A/N: So, I've finished writing this story. I wanted to wait to post this chapter until I finished writing the next one, because I wanted to give a little warning before just dropping the final chapter unexpectedly, and I wanted to be sure that it was the end and I wasn't going to get carried away with more writing again. But, this is it, so this is your heads up: the next chapter will be the last. Thanks for reading, and I hope you like this chapter!

"This time next month we'll be in New York," Sebastian says, grabbing a piece of bread from the plate in the center and taking a bite.

"I know, I can't believe it," Kurt says. "I can't believe high school is over."

"Well, believe it," Sebastian says with a smile, still chewing on his bread. "Good riddance."

"Yeah," Kurt agrees, and he tries to sound convincing though he's not sure how successful he manages to be.

It's not that he isn't glad high school is over, glad that there are some people he will never have to see again if he doesn't want to; because he is genuinely glad. And he's excited to go to New York, too. This is his dream. But... there's still something hard about leaving all of this behind. As hard as high school was, as awful as some of the people here have been to him... some of them have helped him. Some of them are his friends, his family. He gained a brother, Finn, who means the world to him, and will be staying in Ohio. His best friend, Mercedes, will be moving to LA; who knows when he'll get to see her next. And his dad, oh, god, his dad will be here in Lima, and he won't be alone because he has Carole and Finn now, but for so long it was just them and he's not sure how to deal with not being here with his father – and, perhaps more importantly, not having his father there with him.

And this is where he met Sebastian, too. Met him, hated him, slowly started to hate him just a little bit less. Realized that, maybe, he wasn't as bad of a guy as he made himself out to be. Maybe hate was too strong of a word.

This is where he fell in love with Sebastian.

And they'll still be the same Kurt and Sebastian in New York as they are here, but there's something that feels unshakably different about Kurt-and-Sebastian in New York compared to Kurt-and-Sebastian in Lima, and... he's scared.

"Hey," Sebastian says, pulling him from his thoughts. "We're not going that far. It's just a plane ride away."

"Yeah, I know," Kurt nods. "It's just... I'll miss it. Is that weird?"

"No," Sebastian says, shaking his head. "It's not weird at all. I'll miss it, too. But New York is going to be great. If we want to go out to eat we can go somewhere other than Breadsticks, for starters. And we'll have our own apartment, with all the alone time we want," he adds with a wink.

"You're right, it's going to be great," he says, trying to focus on all of the amazing things about being in New York City.

But now there's a new thought on his mind; he'd been so caught up thinking about what he would be missing here, he hadn't really stopped to think about what he would have there, and... an apartment. With Sebastian. He'll be sharing an apartment with Sebastian. And they'll have all of the alone time they want. Which... is great. In theory. He should be thrilled about this, but... all he can think about is... what alone time means. What's expected of alone time. And he knows Sebastian well enough to know that Sebastian doesn't expect that of him, but... shouldn't he? If they're making this move to New York City, this fresh new start, isn't it a bit childish to be so uptight about sex, still?

He's moving to New York to live with his boyfriend. His boyfriend who he loves, trusts, who he knows would never hurt him. And he's an adult now, right? He's certainly not a kid anymore. What kind of person goes off to collegestill a virgin? He's done stuff, sure, but not that, and he has a boyfriend – has had two boyfriends – so he really doesn't have an excuse other than he hasn't been ready, and maybe that's not a very good excuse anymore.

It's different, this time; usually when his mind wanders down this road, it's because he worries what Sebastian thinks and wants, but that's not what this is. This is about him. And... is that how he knows he's ready? He'd been expecting it to just feel right, eventually, but maybe that will never happen. Maybe he just needs to get it over with.

"Kurt? You good?" Sebastian asks, waving a hand in front of his face and pulling him from his thoughts.

"What? Yes, sorry, I was just... sorry. What?" he stammers.

"I was just saying how good the pasta is," Sebastian says, eyeing him warily.

"Oh, yeah. It is," Kurt agrees, taking another bite from his plate.

"You sure everything's okay?"

"Yeah, yeah it's fine. I just... we should... we should do it before we go, right?" he asks, twirling a piece of spaghetti on his fork.

"Do what?" Sebastian asks.

"Like... sex," he says, lowering his voice and blushing a little. They're off in a corner booth, and there's nobody really around them, but they are still in public.

Sebastian just watches him for a moment, eyes narrowed slightly, thinking. "I don't think there's any should about that, Kurt," he says finally.

"We're going to be living together in New York, Sebastian," Kurt offers by way of explanation.

"Do you want to?"

"I don't want to go to college to live with my boyfriend as a virgin," he hisses.

"That's not what I asked," Sebastian shoots back.

"It's the same thing, isn't it?"

"No, it's not," Sebastian says. "You know I'm not expecting anything from you, right? Because I will tell you a million more times if I have to, but it's fine, Kurt, seriously it's –"

"No, that's not it," Kurt cuts him off, shaking his head. "It's not about that. I just... I feel so stupid. What are people going to think if we're living together and still haven't... you know?"

"Who cares? It's none of their business," Sebastian says with a shrug.

"No, I know, but they'd have a point. I'm not a kid anymore, it shouldn't be this big of a deal, we should just get it over with, right?"

"Wow, you make sleeping together sound so appealing," Sebastian deadpans.

"Shit, I didn't mean–" Kurt starts, but Sebastian stops him with a laugh.

"I'm kidding, Kurt. I know what you meant. Look, you're... kind of right. It's not the big deal everybody makes it out to be, but... it's not not a big deal. If you're not ready before college it's fine. Who gives a fuck what anyone else thinks?"

"I guess. It just feels... I don't know. Like I should be ready," Kurt says, still twirling the same piece of spaghetti.

"What about Mercedes?" Sebastian asks abruptly.

"What?" Kurt asks, bewildered, caught off-guard by the question.

"Mercedes. She hasn't had sex, right? Should we go find her some guy to fuck before she goes off to California?"

"What? No, of course not! Don't be ridiculous," he says immediately, horrified, because what the fuck?

"You don't think she should have a good dick once or twice before she goes off to college?" Sebastian presses.

"No! Jesus, Sebastian, of course I don't think that."

"So you don't think less of her because she hasn't had sex," he continues.

"Of course I don't," Kurt says, a bit annoyed, because that's not the point.

"Okay, great, we're on the same page. So why does it matter if you do?"

"It's – that's different."

"How, Kurt? Tell me how it's different."

"She's my best friend. Of course I don't think less of her for that."

"So you think everyone in LA will, then?"

"What? No, I didn't say that."

"So they won't?"

"No, they won't."

"Then why would New York think less of you?"

"I– I don't know, I just... never mind," he mutters, finally taking the pasta he'd been twirling on his fork into his mouth.

"Kurt, look," Sebastian says, putting his utensils down and leaning back in his seat, eyes fixed on Kurt. "Most people aren't going to give a shit. Some people might, sure, but honestly if someone is going to think less of you for something like that, then they aren't worth your time. And all that aside, it's none of their business, anyway. So fuck 'em. Or, y'know, don't," he finishes with a small smirk.

Kurt sighs, looks back at his boyfriend as he processes the words. "I guess you're right," he says, though not entirely convinced.

"I know I am," Sebastian asserts, corner of his mouth tugging up into a bigger smirk.

"Shut up," Kurt says with a laugh, "you don't have to be so smug about it."

"But how else would I make you laugh?" Sebastian asks, face breaking out into a grin now.

"You're an idiot," Kurt says fondly, rolling his eyes.

"Your idiot," Sebastian says happily. "And I'm serious, Kurt. If you're not ready, you're not ready. And that's fine. It's not like we won't be able to find any other ways to defile our New York City apartment," he adds with a wink.

"Oh my god, shut up," Kurt scolds, laughing, blushing.

"Tell me I'm wrong," Sebastian counters, grinning widely.

"Eat your food," Kurt says, rolling his eyes again.

"You really don't have to do this, you know that right?" Sebastian's voice asks through the phone.

"I know, I just... feel bad."

"You feel bad? Kurt, if anyone should feel bad it's him."

"No, I know, I just... I didn't know how to say no. It will be fine. It's just coffee."

"Are you sure?" Sebastian asks, voice a little softer now.

"Yes, I'm sure," Kurt reassures him.

"Well, if you need an emergency escape route, just say the word."

Kurt rolls his eyes. "I'm not going to need an escape route, Seb, it's just a coffee. I'll be fine."

"I know, I know. But still. Just in case," Sebastian responds.

"Okay he's here," Kurt says quickly as he watches Blaine walk through the door, "I have to go."

"Good luck," Sebastian tells him.

"Thanks," he says, then hangs up the phone.

Blaine spots him then, gives a small smile and a wave before he walks up to the counter to order his coffee.

When Blaine had asked him to grab a coffee, he had wanted to say no. He really, really had. He wants to move away to New York and never have to see Blaine Anderson again. But, at the same time... it's Blaine. And as much as he's over Blaine, as much as he knows Blaine isn't good for him... he's still Blaine. Still his first boyfriend, still the boy who was his best friend and, at times, who felt like his only friend. The boy who was there for him when he really needed someone, who helped him feel like he was worth something. And that relationship came with a lot of baggage in the end – baggage that he's still trying to work himself through – but it still meant something. It still meant a lot. And there were still good things, still parts of Blaine and their old relationship that he misses.

It's hard to turn your back on something so significant. It's hard to turn your back on something when it's such a big part of you.

It's hard to turn your back on someone who once meant so much... who still, somehow, means so much.

So, he'd said yes. It's not that he intends to be best friends again. It's not even that he intends to ever see Blaine again after this. But... he's going to New York. If all goes as planned, he won't ever see Blaine again, and... that's hard. It shouldn't be, he thinks, but it is nonetheless. And maybe if he sees him this one more time, it will make it easier. Give him a bit of closure. He can have this one last time, and then walk out of the Lima Bean knowing that it's the last.

"Sorry, you weren't waiting long, were you?" Blaine asks, taking the seat across from Kurt and pulling him from his thoughts.

Kurt blinks once, twice, shakes his head a little. "No, no not long."

"Good," Blaine says, a warm smile spreading across his soft features.

Blaine always did have a beautiful smile.

"So, how are you?" Blaine prompts, taking a sip of coffee and looking at Kurt expectantly.

"Um, I'm good," Kurt says, stammering a little, awkward in a way things never used to be with Blaine. "I've been helping my dad out at the garage, trying to figure out what to take to New York."

"New York," Blaine says, almost a little wistful. "Do you have a place yet?"

"Yeah," Kurt nods, smiles a little as he remembers looking at photos of apartments with Sebastian, trying to choose one they both liked. "Seb and I picked out a place together."

Blaine hums his acknowledgement. "That's good."

They sit there in silence for a while, hands wrapped around their respective coffee cups.

"What about you?" Kurt asks, when the silence stretches just this side of too long.

"Good, I'm good," Blaine says quickly, nodding. "Just trying to enjoy the summer." He takes a sip of coffee, then adds, "Dad wants me to transfer back to Dalton for my senior year."

Kurt can't help but ask, "Are you?" It's not a surprise; Blaine's dad hadn't wanted him to transfer to McKinley in the first place.

"No," Blaine shakes his head. "I thought about it, but... McKinley is where my friends are. Sam, Tina... I don't want to start all over back at Dalton."

"Right," Kurt agrees, though he wants to point out that he wouldn't be starting over, he still has friends at Dalton, but... he's not sure how much that's true, and how much that's just Kurt hating the idea of his friends being Blaine's friends, too. Or, maybe it's not his friends are Blaine's friends, but... Blaine's friends are his. Which is even worse.

"This isn't how it was supposed to go, you know," Blaine murmurs.

"What wasn't?" Kurt asks, confused.

"This," Blaine says, gesturing between them. "You moving to New York with Sebastian Smythe, me just... here."

He chooses to ignore the way Blaine says his boyfriend's name for the moment; for the sake of not starting an argument, at least. "You were always going to be here. It's not like you were going to skip a grade at McKinley, Blaine."

"No, I know that," Blaine says. "But it's just... I was going to come visit you in New York. And you were going to show me around the city, all the cool new places you find."

"Yeah, well... things change," Kurt says with an awkward shrug. He's not really sure what else he can say.

"Yeah," Blaine says solemnly, nods. Then, "I could still come visit, you know."

"Blaine," Kurt starts, "we're not getting back –"

"No, I know," Blaine assures him quickly, "we're not getting back together, I know. I just... I miss you, Kurt. We used to be best friends."

"Yeah, we did," Kurt says, and he can't help the tinge of venom in his voice.

"I miss that," Blaine says, reaching across the table and taking Kurt's hand, either oblivious to or ignoring Kurt's tone, he's not sure.

Kurt stiffens, but doesn't pull away, just kind of freezes under Blaine's unexpected touch.

"Look, I know this is... a mess. And I'm sorry. But I'm sick of not having my best friend. I'm ready for this to be over. I know we're not getting back together, but... don't you think this has gone on long enough?"

"Don't I think what has gone on long enough?" Kurt asks carefully, slowly, finally pulling his hand away from Blaine, who pulls his arm back across the table.

"This whole hating me thing," Blaine says, a sad, tired smile on his face. "Don't you think you've punished me enough?"

"This was never about punishing–"

"Whatever it was about, it doesn't matter," Blaine says, brushing it off. "I just want to put it behind us so I can have my friend back."

Kurt purses his lips, stares back at Blaine, silent, genuinely speechless; he has no idea what to say to any of this, because... no. No, they can't just put this behind them. And that's not for lack of wanting, lord knows Kurt would love nothing more than to put this all behind him and have Blaine as his best friend again, but... things are different now. This Blaine can never be his Blaine again, not his boyfriend and not his best friend.

"Let me visit you in New York," Blaine says, oblivious to the thoughts swirling around in Kurt's head.

Kurt takes a slow, even breath. "We'll see," he says. He has no intention of it happening, but it's easier if he doesn't have to have that conversation with Blaine right now.

"Okay," Blaine says, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I'll take that."

"Shit, I have to go," Blaine says, taking a quick glance at his watch. "This was nice," he says, looking back at Kurt. "We should do this again sometime. Before you go."

"Yeah," Kurt nods, offers a thin smile, has no intention of meeting up with Blaine again.

"Great, okay," Blaine says, downing the rest of his coffee and standing. "Bye, Kurt," he adds with a small wave, then turns and heads off toward the door.

Kurt watches him leave, watches as he steps through the door, the small bell ringing as he pushes it open, then holds the door open and smiles for a woman who enters and thanks him, before he disappears out of sight.

And, if he has it his way, that will be the last time he'll ever have to see Blaine again.