As the Gleeks trickled in, none could have guessed that the lives of two completely different boys were about to change. Kurt entered the room with one Dave Karofsky following him like a lost puppy. Everybody was staring but Kurt sat down in his normal seat like nothing was happening.

Rachael was the first to speak, "Why is he here?"

Kurt turned a fierce gaze to her that only Finn had ever seen before and could strike fear in the bravest of men, "I asked Karofsky to come."

The boy in question was sitting on one of the chairs now, clearly feeling extremely out of place and awkward.

Just like the idiot Rachael is, she didn't get Kurt's hint to drop it, "I didn't know you two were such good friends."

"We're not…exactly."

"If it's that big of a deal, I can just go." Karofsky spoke softly, and looked about ready to flee.

"No," Kurt answered, gaze softening as he looked at the boy, "I prepared the song and I want you to hear it."

Karofsky nodded, ready to do anything to get Kurt to smile at him like he meant something. The jock was not disappointed, and before anybody could protest more, Mr. Schuester come in, "Alright, guys, we have a lot of…why is Karofsky here?"

"Kurt apparently wants him to hear a song." Rachael told their teacher with as much know-it-all-ness as she could muster.

"Okay," Mr. Schue said slowly, "Kurt, you want to take the floor then?"

Kurt smiled again and nodded, bounding up and leaving Karofsky to just sink lower in his chair. He looked like he wanted to disappear but had to stay visible for one thing, and none of them seemed to know what…

Kurt's soft voice filled the room seconds before any instruments could be heard,

"Made a wrong turnOnce or twiceDug my way outBlood and fireBad decisionsThat's alrightWelcome to my silly lifeMistreated, misplaced, misunderstoodMiss, no way it's all goodIt didn't slow me downMistakenAlways second guessingUnderestimatedLook, I'm still around…"

Everybody's eyes widened but Karofsky kept eye-contract with the floor,

"Pretty, pretty pleaseDon't you ever, ever feelLike you're less thanless than perfectPretty, pretty pleaseIf you ever, ever feelLike you're nothingYou are perfect to me"

The honesty in the words was what untimely made the outsider in their mitts look up and meet the eye of the singer.

" You're so meanWhen you talkAbout yourselfYou are wrongChange the voicesIn your headMake them like youInsteadSo complicatedLook how big you'll make itFilled with so much hatredSuch a tired gameIt's enoughI've done all I can think ofChased down all my demonssee you do the same"

Kurt couldn't help but remember all the mean names Karofsky had called himself with more hatred then he had ever said them to Kurt. Freak, monster, sick, fag, fairy, faggot. Possible worse, undeserving…

"Pretty, pretty pleaseDon't you ever, ever feelLike you're less thanless than perfectPretty, pretty pleaseIf you ever, ever feelLike you're nothingYou are perfect to me"

The message was getting sent, and the words were being spoken (well, sung), but the important part was how they'd be received.

"The whole world stares while I swallow the fearThe only thing i should be drinking is an ice cold beerSo cool in lying and we tried tried triedBut we try too hard, it's a waste of my timeDone looking for the critics, cuz they're everywhereThey don't like my jeans, they don't get my hairStrange ourselves and we do it all the timeWhy do we do that?Why do I do that?Why do I do that?"

Everything stopped, in the song that is. No voice coming from Kurt, and not instruments being played. If you listened closely, the slight sound of water sloshing was coming from the speakers. But suddenly, Kurt practically screamed the next word,

"Ooh, pretty pretty pretty,Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feelLike you're less thanless than perfectPretty pretty please if you ever ever feelLike you're nothingyou are perfect to meYou're perfectYou're perfect to mePretty, pretty please if you ever ever feellike you're less than, less than perfectPretty, pretty please if you ever ever feellike you're nothingyou are perfect to me"

Slowly, the music whined to a close. Instantly everybody but Karofsky was on their feet clapping. Kurt hadn't been paying attention to them while he was singing, to focused on the retired bully to get it to care about his fellow New Directions. Karofsky got up and mouthed to Kurt 'after' before slipping out of the door.

When Glee ended an hour later, Kurt walked out of the choir room. Instantly, he saw Karofsky leaning against the lockers next to the door.

"Coffee?" He asked and pushed himself off of the wall and offering Kurt a cup of coffee.

"You bought me coffee?" Kurt asked but took the offered cup.

"Of course. I remembered your order from last time we went to get some."

Kurt smiled brightly, "Thanks."

They started walking, just far enough apart but not so far that it looked awkward.

"That song was really good." Karofsky said after a minute of silence.

"I meant it. There's nothing wrong with who you are…the only bad thing is when you wont even admit it to yourself without hurtful words."

"I know, and I want to…I guess, give you a performance too." Kurt looked at him in awe. "Don't think I only went to get you coffee in that hour you were in there."

"Of course you were doing something else." They stopped just outside the doors to their school, "What is it?"

There was a long pause before Karofsky spoke in a soft voice, almost afraid somebody besides Kurt would hear, "I'm gay." Kurt smiled. "I'm gay…Wow, it feels good to say to somebody else. Even though you already knew."

"You know what? You sounded perfect saying it."

Karofsky smiled, "Thanks but I'm not done. I practiced something else that took just as much time to get down."

"Alight…"

"Would…I'd be…Will you go to Breadsticks with me tonight for dinner?" It came out all in a rush but Kurt understand every word and they 'caused his heart to race.

"Like…on a date?" He blinked. This was happening too fest. Karofsky should come to terms with being gay before having a boyfriend or even a date…But Kurt wanted to say yes so bad.

"Yes, exactly like a date."

"…Yes."

"Really? Awesome! Should I pick you up then? Your old man doesn't like me does he?" Karofsky was suddenly all nerves.

"He doesn't like you…I'll meet you there. Six-ish?"

"Yeah, o-okay."

Kurt turned and headed towards the car, calling after him, "Thanks for the coffee!"

"Thanks for the song." Karofsky answered. He rested against the wall for a minute before heading home himself. He had to figure out what one is suppose to wear to a date with another boy like Kurt Hummel.