Dave wasn't alone when he heard the news.
He'd been sat watching the game with his dad and after it had finished, he took the empty potato chip bowl to put it in the kitchen. His hand was on the door handle when he heard his dad say: "Oh, it's Coach Sylvester on the TV."
He turned around, thinking he would watch her advert before leaving. But it wasn't her ad. It was Reggie 'The Sauce' Salazar bitching about her.
A flicker of anger formed in the bottom of his stomach. While they'd never seen eye to eye, and she did try to get him kicked out of school for bullying Kurt he knew her intentions were pure. It just wasn't right to see her get cut down on state-wide television.
But what turned his tiny flame of fury into a blazing inferno was what happened next. It took him a couple of seconds to register that it was Santana's picture on-screen, next to a rainbow heart and two female symbols intertwined. When it fully sank in, he had to hold onto the chip bowl until his knuckles went white and bite down on his lip to stop himself from internally combusting.
Mr. Karofsky swallowed down a swig of his beer before turning to Dave. "Isn't that your ex-girlfriend?" he joked "Now I see why she ended it. Better luck next time son."
Dave's lip drew blood as he wrenched the door open and hurried to his bedroom. His dad watched him leave before saying: "Seems like I touched a nerve" and returning to his beer. Dave slammed his door shut and he was so furious that he'd forgotten to put the bowl down. He looked at it absent-mindedly before slamming it down on his bed. Balling his hands into fists, he rested his forehead on them, thoughts of Santana running through head.
She wasn't ready. To be outed in front of the entire state? No-one was ready for that. Dave wondered what she was feeling at that moment. Whatever she was, it wasn't going to be pleasant. He was thankful for the fact that she had Brittany, otherwise who knows what would have happened? Britt knew how to cheer her up.
He thought about what he would have done in that situation and he knew deep down that he wouldn't be as strong or as brave as San. He was the one who left McKinley, and Santana stayed, despite The Muckraker twisting Brittany's words and spreading rumours.
He took his phone out of his jeans pocket and opened up a blank text. How would he start? He hadn't texted Santana since she told him that her and Britt were dating like a month ago. Deciding that one month wasn't that long, he quickly typed out his message.
Heard the news bout Reggie Salazar. U ok?
It took a full fifteen minutes before he got a reply.
Ofc not, abuela's not talking to me, everyone stares at me. But I have Britt x
A dull ache twisted his stomach in knots but the end of her text made Dave's mouth turn up at the corners. Sure she may be going through hell but she had the light at the end of the tunnel.
I'm glad u have someone San. I'm always here 4 u as well ok?
Two minutes later his phone beeped.
I know that. Thanks 4 everything x
