Summary: AU. Kurt's brand new at McKinely. Dave is returning after a year long absence. Both are trying to manage the secrets and rumors that seem to have a nasty habit of following them.

Note on Timeline: Takes place between Sectionals and Regionals of the 2ND Season. Canon is canon (just without Kurt)...with one major exception to be disclosed in the next chapter.

Disclaimerr: Don't own Glee.

The Life Fantastic, Or, The Blessing of Unverified Facts

Seventeen year old Kurt Hummel stared at his reflection with a slight frown, quite displeased with his outfit for his first day at McKinley High. This was the problem with attending private schools for the last seven years, the lack of the uniform left his winter wardrobe rather bare. Though, in his defense he hadn't exactly planned on transferring to the public education system in the middle of his junior year, but between what he had started referring to as 'The Incident' and his father's marriage to Carole Hudson his hand had been forced. With a lightly grumbled sight Kurt took one last moment to convince himself that the slightly bland ensemble he was wearing would have to do until his father reinstated his allowance before heading upstairs to the kitchen where Burt Hummel was nursing a cup of coffee.

"Dad, do I…"

"Kurt," The interruption was instant as the older man leaned over the old, chipped mug, "Look, we're not having this conversation again. I want to believe you, I really do, I thought you were raised better than…that." For a moment Kurt's afraid that his dad just might bring up the over discussed, over argued incident, but instead the mechanic stay on the original course of conversation, "But the truth of the matter is that, now that Carole and I are married, with you not …being unable to return to Dalton, we can use that money towards a bigger house. As much as Finn might enjoys having a bed in the living room, I would like to watch television without competing with the kid's snores. Besides it'll be good " Either Burt didn't want to give his son a chance to respond or his eyes landed on the time blinking from the top of the microwave because his focus changed to shouting in the general direction of the aforementioned living room, "Finn, get a move on it, you boys need to getting going. Kurt has still has to pick up his schedule…"

Before he could finish the other teenage occupant of the house came bumbling half awake into the kitchen still putting his clothes on. The two boys didn't know each other beyond the occasional weekend Kurt had been home since the day Burt had rescued Carole off the side of the road when her car had broken down, but if their morning routines were any example they couldn't have been more opposite. Kurt, who spent at least an hour and a half getting prepared for each day, watched with a mix of disgust and awe as his step brother managed to button his shirt with one hand while shoveling a toaster pastry into his mouth with other. It wasn't until Finn took a the set of keys out of the car mechanic's hand that Kurt finally found his voice again, "Dad! We're going to die if he drives, he's barely beyond the awareness level of a zombie right now."

He only got a patronizing laugh in response, "Then keep him awake by talking to him. It'll give you two a chance to get know each other."

Not wanting to further disappoint his father Kurt settled for one final eye roll before grabbing his messenger bag and followed Finn to the car. He did try to talk but the athlete wasn't very interested in saying much of anything until he pulled into the juniors' parking lot.

"Look, I know you're…" Finn trailed off until he landed on a word that clearly wasn't the one he originally intended on, "…new, but McKinely is kind of based on labels, who you are, who you know…And after joining the Glee club last year and Quinn and everything…its taken me forever to get back on top so I would really…."

Though slightly perturbed Kurt cut him off out of understanding, "After the incident at Dalton I really don't want to draw any more attention at this particular moment. And I certainly don't want any one here finding out what happened. So, you're fine, Finn, I'm not going to bring you any embarrassment."

Finn offered a small smile thanks as they got out of the car, "Thanks, man, for being cool."

The gratitude was shrugged off, even if he had cared about it, Kurt was too distracted by his new surroundings to pay much attention to what the well-meaning, if slightly air headed teenager had to say. McKinley High was definitely different than what he was used to starting with the fact he was pretty sure it was a red track suit clad teacher that pushed him against the wall and to the floor outside the office before she stormed down the hallway shouting doom on the glee club the entire way.

"Good to see some things don't change around here," the chuckle accompanied a hand that appeared in front of Kurt's face offering him assistance in getting here, "I'm pretty sure she has to be blackmailing most of Ohio to still have a job."

Kurt looked right up into a pair of warm (if not tired, worn) eyes and the wide smile of a taller, broad shouldered, dark haired boy that, if Kurt had to venture a guess had, at least at some point in time, had been an athlete. The yet to be named stranger is look at him expectantly as Kurt is pulled to his feet.

"Huh?" Kurt replies with a lack of his usual class.

"I asked if you were new?"

"First day here." Kurt confirms, "Am I that obvious?"

His question is answered only with a laugh and a shrug.

"Well, I'm Kurt. I take it you've been here a while."

"Actually, this is my first day back." Dave was forced to clarify when Kurt's eyebrows scrunched in curiosity, "I've spent the last year at another school."

Continuing the pattern of chivalry that negated all the conclusions that Kurt's brain was coming to due to the vague statements, the larger boy opened the door to the office allowing Kurt in first. "And I'm Dave, by the way."

"Mr. Karofsky, it's good to see you back." The secretary greeting them seemed sincere to Kurt before she turned to him and her voice became slightly clipped, "You must be Kurt Hummel."

He nodded, took the schedule offered, and made his way out of the office as quickly as possible. With slight disappointment Kurt skimmed the classes listed to find his semester would be much less challenging than the one he would have had at the all boys school. As he looked up from the piece of paper he spotted his stepbrother among a group of students so he decided to approach them hoping that if nothing else it would be his first step in blending in to the new environment. However, at the same moment all the eyes in the hallway seemed to turn towards him. Feeling self-conscience he continued cautiously before he realized they were, in fact, looking behind him. Kurt didn't turn until he was next to Finn's group when he saw they all seemed to be watching Dave fiddle with locker before continuing down the hall. As Dave got within hearing distance the mohawk boy, who Kurt had met once or twice before when he invited himself to dinner spoke up,

"If it isn't the village homo."

In an instant, Dave had Finn's friend against the locker, "Whatch it, Puckerman."

Kurt started to open his mouth, but felt an elbow in his side before he could continue. So instead he watched with the rest of the hall as Dave shrugged off the distraction and walked off. The hallway seemed almost cleared from any further trauma when a blond girl in cheer leading outfit turned the corner. The hall is instantly filled with the tension radiating from the pair that only cools when the bell rand dispersing everyone.
The class rooms are easy enough to find and even McKinley's advanced classes aren't enough to hold his attention. The only thing, person rather, that peaks Kurt's interest is the mornings man of mystery, Dave. The only fact about the guy Kurt managed to find was that his last name is Karofsky. There were plenty of rumor he could have chosen from but Kurt decided to go with only what he had evidence to. Like the fact in both honors classes they shared in the morning both teachers welcomed Dave back rather warmly. The student body however, couldn't have treated the guy like more of a outcast. Kurt also discovered that outside of the gossip the topic of Dave Karofsky was somewhat taboo. It was a feeling that hit uncomfortably close to home for Kurt.
It was most likely that addition the things they apparently had in common that inspired Kurt to approach Dave in the hall at the end of lunch. He was, to his relief spared having to start the converation after his approach was noted

"I thought you would have warned you about me by now." Dave's voice is gruffed and annoyed leading Kurt to suspect that Dave wasn't handling things as well as he appeared to be.

"Warned?"

"Told," Dave corrected switching his textbook out with a notebook, "about why I left."

"All I've heard are rumors."

His admission is met with a shrug, "Rumors are just facts before they're verified."

Kurt copies the nonchalant attitude Dave is trying to maintain, "So you were castrated...at least that's what you deserved."

There's only mild disbelief, "Is that what they're saying?"

"Among other things I heard from a cheerleader at lunch." He purposefully left out the girl's name but Dave's quick enough to guess, "Oh, I'm sure it came from Quinn, the queen bee herself," When Kurt didn't deny it Dave let loose an airy snort of mild amusement as he rolled his eyes. "Should have known."

Dave started walking away from the locker and since Kurt wasn't sure where he was supposed to go he simply followed.

"She seems like she really has it out for you." Kurt commented trying to fish his schedule out of his messenger bag at the same time.

"Quinn was the last girl I was with before...I came out of the closet."

The honesty would have surprised Kurt more if he had suspected the only reason Dave even told him was to get the 'new kid' up to speed. The moment didn't stop Kurt's mouth opening just slightly before his brain could catch up, "So you are...gay?"

"Yeah." Dave voice instantly turned a bit sour,"So, if you just came to stare at the gay kid..."

Mostly out of guilt for having blabbered his mouth he cut the sentence, "Please, if I wanted to do that, I'd look in the mirror."

Dave simply gave a strangled half nod and Kurt struggled for conversation as they turned into another hallway.

"It's weird, telling people again...everyone at my old school knew, none of them had a problem with it." Well, it was mostly true. And no poured all their secrets on an almost complete stranger.

Dave scoffed, more out of understanding and his tone softened considerably, "Why did you even move to the wonderful McKinley, then?"

He felt he could have been honest, after all Dave had been with him, it would be merely returning the favor. The voice in his head laughed him off and he settled for, once again, the sort of truth, "My dad remarried, and my stepbrother goes here."

"Who's your stepbrother?"

Kurt shrugged trying to pass it off nonchalantly to avoid the high school equivalent to name-dropping, "Finn...Hudson."

It took a moment for Kurt to process the fact that at the name Dave had backed him into a wall, and the face that had been extremely welcoming that morning was now stone, very angry stone, "Tell Hudson I've done enough to apologize. It's been a year, get over it. I don't need to be stalked by a crony spy...I'm just here to finish the last year and a half of high school and get the hell out of Lima. And why your at it be sure to thank brother, McKinley isn't home until you get slushied."

For added effect Dave's hand slammed against the locker next to Kurt's head before he stormed off down the hall, leaving behind a very confused Kurt.

"Slushied?" He muttered to himself, positive that there was much more than food coloring and ice that had set off Karofsky, before turning his attention to the class room he needed to find.

Despite the outburst in the hall, Dave Karofsky still proved helpful to Kurt. No one really seemed to pay him too much attention, or really cared that there was a new kid because the rumor mill spotlight was more focused on the returning student. Even in his last class, gym, as he made the mental note to talk to Finn (who unfortunately had a set of clothes he had to borrow) about the appropriate clothing usage between laundry cycles, most seem to aim most there there verbal and physical (in the form of a soccer ball) jabs at Dave. Kurt watched in awe, as the guy let it roll off his shoulder, as though he had accepted it all. It was clear that Dave could probably snap most of their peers in half, or at least put up a damn good fight, and the mechanic's son couldn't help but wonder how Karofsky managed to not snap.

After the bell rang, Kurt sped up to finish getting dressed. He had spent much too long in the shower after having worn those clothes and risked being late to Glee club. As he tied his shoes the sound of voices carried through the almost entirely abandoned locker room.

"Coach, please."

"I said I'd let you know...you've got a lot of responsibility that makes you a liability for a team sport..."

"That's bull..."

"Watch your mouth."

Kurt grabbed his bag and tried to make it past the open door of the coach's office as quietly as possible. He tip-toed out the locker room door, not caring as it slammed behind him before he bolted towards the choir room. He let a giant sigh of relief as he realized he hadn't been followed, so he could shift his focus to auditioning for the glee club Finn had convinced him to join. It really hadn't take too much convincing, it was just after the Warbler's way of running things, he really couldn't be blamed for being a little leery. He plastered a smile on his face as he made eye contact with his stepbrother, and followed him into practice, hoping to clear his head after his semi-eventful first day at McKinley High.

Author's Note: Well, this was a part of the upload-a-thon that was meant for last month, but had to sit in the notebook for a little. So I hoped you enjoy.

The next chapter will be from Dave's perspective and we'll find out the his secret and the major change to the canon that this story is set around. Though I'm sure some of you have already guessed it.

Thanks so much for reading. Let me know what you think!