Dave stood in front of the glee club, fingers clenching into a fist and unclenching, again and again. His eyes darted from the floor, to Santana sitting in the back row, to Kurt sitting in the front. He licked his lips.

He could do this. They planned this, they supported him. He could do this. It was no sweat. It was easy. He could do this. Just say the words. He could do this. He could do this.

He couldn't do this.

His head swung around quickly to look at the closest door, lower lip worried between his teeth. Eyes to Santana, Kurt, Santana, Kurt. He couldn't do this.

"This is stupid." Muttered Puck, rolling his eyes. Other members of the club grumbled in agreement.

"Shut up!" Santana retaliated. She glared at the back of Puck's head, then smiled at Dave and winked.

Dave stared at the floor again. It helped not to have to look at their faces – but it didn't help enough. He was still panicking. A chair scraped against the floor, a pair of Doc Martens appeared in his sight. Dave followed them up to a pair of tight jeans, stylish dark blue jacket, and finally, to Kurt's face. Hummel wasn't smiling, but his eyes were kind and he was holding out his hand. Without thinking, Dave grabbed it with one of his, and felt Kurt squeeze.

"Close your eyes." Kurt said.

Dave glanced at the glee club, but closed them obediently. He sensed Kurt take a step closer, heard a murmur from those watching.

"Ignore them," Kurt continued. "It's just you and me. I already know. Just say it to me."

Dave said nothing.

"Tell me." Kurt urged again.

Dave took a deep breath. And another.

"I'm gay."

Silence. Then Kurt's voice again.

"Open your eyes."

Dave did, locking his gaze with Kurt's immediately. Hummel was smiling.

"Tell me again."

"I'm gay." Dave repeated, more sure this time. Louder. Stronger.

Kurt nodded his head to the side, towards their shocked audience. "Now tell them."

Dave turned to face them. The glee club. The kids he had slushied countless times. The peers that he had bullied, called names, and been downright horrible to for years.

Now they were the people he hoped would accept him, out of all others.

"I'm gay."

Eyes were wide. Mouths open, gaping in shock. Then they hesitantly started looking at each other, as though seeking proof that they had all heard the same thing. And then –

"For real?"

Kurt smiled and laughed at Puck's break in the hypnotic silence. "Yeah," he answered.

Santana clapped her hands a few times as she stood up and walked down to the boys. Stepping on her tip toes, she gave Dave a kiss on his cheek before whispering "I'm so proud of you" in his ear.

"You knew?" Finn this time.

Kurt nodded.

"And you didn't tell me?"

"Not my secret to tell." Kurt replied.

More questions from the group – How did Kurt find out? Did Santana know? So they weren't really dating? Why was he coming out now? Who else knew?

Kurt and Santana answered most of them, but Dave finally piped up. He was coming out because he knew it was the only way for Kurt to truly forgive him, and he was taking a chance on being himself – truly himself. No one else knew, but Kurt was going to bring Burt around to his house that night so Dave would have support while telling his father.

"So…um," Dave said, when the questions had finally died down. "Can I audition now?"

Santana patted him on his back and Kurt gave his hand a last squeeze before releasing it, and they both returned to their seats. Mr. Shue, who had been standing shocked by the piano while this was all going on, smiled and nodded before sitting next to Kurt in the front row. He waved towards Dave.

"The stage is yours."

Dave smiled.