Spoilers: Up to Season 3
See A/N Below
~Chapter 2~
David Karofsky felt the ball leave his fingers to make a bang on the basketball rim, followed by a swoosh as it tumbled into the net. Several of his mentored kids cheered and exchanged high fives. Dave grinned back at them; happy with getting to spend some time relaxing after what had been a grueling first semester of his senior year at Columbia University.
After Dave had attempted to commit suicide, he thought long and hard about just how he was going to continue his life from there on out. Dave decided he was no longer going to let fear rule him or his life. Been there, done that, and look where it landed him. So Dave returned to Thurston High, even though he had told Kurt he couldn't go back. He faced down his bullies (even beat an ass or two when he absolutely had to) and graduated top of his class.
Remembering his imaginings with Kurt about where he wanted to be in ten years, he started researching schools and what was required to get where he had dreamed of as soon as he got home. After looking at his options, Dave decided on getting his MBA and then applying for a Sports Management MS program. This way, worst come to worst, he would have a back up career and a way to provide for that future family. He was realistic about the career he had chosen. Dave knew that while sports in general had become more accepting of gay athletes and other positions within the sports world, it was still a very sensitive topic. He was in for a long road, but he remained optimistic about it.
Dave had always been an academic for all that he acted the dumb jock; numbers especially had just been easy for him. To say he had been ecstatic to get accepted into Columbia was an understatement. His dad had been so proud and wasn't above bragging to anyone he could about David. It hadn't hurt that Columbia was in New York…where Kurt would be.
They were friends of a sort. At first, Kurt had called him everyday after Dave had gotten home, making sure he was doing okay and giving him encouragement when Dave would get down because of his former teammates. Kurt had understood his need to go back to Thurston and face everyone, had been Dave's biggest supporter when it came down to convincing Paul about letting him go back.
Then something had happened about two months later, Dave wasn't sure what, but over a two week period Kurt had stopped calling every day, then just once every couple of days, and then nothing. Dave would admit it had hurt, being suddenly cut off from the one person he felt had understood him and what he was feeling. Dave got over it eventually and learned he needed to rely on himself to not let the world and others get to him, to be his own inner cheerleader. It hadn't stopped him from missing Kurt though; from wondering had it been something he had said or did that had caused the communication blackout.
Dave had looked forward to starting college, being in a new place where he was free to just be…Dave. The first thing he did after settling into his dorm room was find Columbia's Queer Alliance and get involved. He became Treasurer sophomore year and continued to hold the position all through junior and now senior year. The position would look good on his resume, but truthfully Dave just loved being involved with something that was a reflection of him choosing to be open and honest about whom he was.
Freshmen year he dated a little, mostly guys he met at various events with the CQA. He hadn't wanted to get serious with anyone, and if Dave was honest with himself, he had still carried a torch for Kurt Hummel. It shouldn't have surprised Dave that he realized he had a type per se, considering he always compared them to Kurt and none of the guys he had gone out with had measured up to him. So Dave stopped trying to date, he focused on his classes and hanging out with his friends. And if at night when Dave's mind was no longer occupied with courses and the topic of conversation, when he felt alone amid the hundreds of students in the dorms, well it was only him and his pillow that knew it.
Sophomore year proved more interesting, that was the year Dave met Justin, a junior. Justin who foraged a friendship with Dave when they were paired together to mentor, what Dave now fondly thinks of as The Lost Boys, at the LGBT Community Center. These boys that were so much like himself and Justin at that age, full of loathing and scared of what the world and loved ones would say when they finally came out. It had been a boost to Dave's self esteem when he realized that these boys looked up to them. Considered them the brothers that supported them when others in their family, did or would, cast them aside.
Apparently this self-confidence must be a guy magnet or something because Dave had started to get hit on pretty frequently when he and the guys would go out for a beer on the weekends soon after. And Dave figured now that he had put Kurt in the past where he belonged it was time to start dating again. While he enjoyed their company and had many dates to choose from, Dave was never with the same guy more then a couple of weeks or so. Something always seemed to be missing, but damn if Dave knew what it was.
It had been on a night Justin and him stayed in to watch the game at Justin's rather then go out with the others, that they sort of just… fell in with one another.
Justin had asked how Daniel was and Dave answered back last he knew secretly screwing one of the basketball players. Justin leveled him with a look that asked what was wrong with him (Daniel had been pretty cute). Dave had simply sighed and mumbled something about how they were incompatible. Justin proceeded to give him the third degree about how none of the guys Dave had dated had been compatible and what the hell was he waiting for, perfection?
Dave snarked back that Justin seemed pretty perfect to Dave and yet had ignored all of Dave's attempts at asking him out when they first met. To his surprise (he was only joking after all), Justin had blushed so hard the tips of his ears had turned red. And rather like a Mack truck, Dave realized that Justin was interested.
After that night, they became a couple. Neither called the other boyfriend, despite the fact that that's just what they were. It was a relaxed sort of relationship. They hung out together or with the guys, mentored their boys, and saw one another on campus. The only difference from their previous relationship is that now they were sleeping together. And how nerve racking that had been for Dave, to explain to Justin that he would be his first. It's something to this day that he still teases Dave about, although always good-naturedly.
They're still best friends despite not being together anymore. It was Justin that had broken it off Dave's junior year, after a long discussion of what sort of "us" they were. It was agreed that they were with one another for the sake of being with someone and not because there were intense feelings. And just like that, things went back to the way they were before.
Dave's exchanging high five's with Ben, one of his younger boys, when he hears some of the others whistling in the direction of the gym doors. Looking over, he notices a male figure standing there. Briefly wondering why the voice that calls out looking for Justin sounds familiar, he mentally shrugs, and prepares to go back to the game telling some of the boys to shut up and get back into position.
"Dave, that volunteer I told you about is here" Justin interrupts. "Come over and meet him since he'll need to be shown around."
Glancing over again at the figure, Dave looks back at Justin "And I'm going to be showing him around, huh?"
"Of course, after all you do it so well!" Justin says with a grin and spark to his pale blue eyes. Dave simply rolls his and passes the ball to Derrick, another mentor and one of his close friends. Derrick laughs as he catches the ball, already turning and instructing the boys to their positions.
"You know ever since you got promoted to director of Yes!, your awfully bossy," Dave throws out, nudging Justin's arm as he does.
"Well, I am your superior. You should be grateful Dave, you're practically my right hand man now."
Dave could feel the laughter bubbling beneath the surface and quirked his lips in a grin, "Really, then perhaps I should inform Gray that I'm relieving him of one of his favorite pastimes, at least according to you anyways."
Justin looks over at him amusement brightening his eyes, before he mock scowls, retorting, "You'd better not or I'll tell that stalking freshman your interested in him."
Dave merely shakes his head, before looking the volunteer over. The guy was wearing what looks like designer kicks. Dave almost snorts, but stops himself in time. He continues running his eyes over a pair of what had to be the tightest jeans Dave's seen on a guy since Kurt Hummel in high school, and up what looked like a nicely defined chest covered in a fitted solid teal t-shirt. He mentally notes the slim neck and pointed chin, barely registering pale pink lips curved in a slight smile. The slightly turned up nose also gets a fast glance before Dave feels himself still, the eyes, those are Fancy's eyes. He'd know that bluegreengray color anywhere. Dave feels something inside of him tilt knowing that Kurt is right here, in front of him. He knows that whatever that was had to have shown on his face and quickly schools his expression to one of surprise.
"Kurt, what…" is all Dave can get out before he's spoken to.
"Hello, David" is said with a smile that shows in Kurt's eyes.
Justin, seemingly forgotten for a moment, breaks in with a laugh, "Well you both know one another, that's good. Dave will be your guide for this afternoon and show you the different groups we have here Kurt, then you can decide where you'd like to volunteer, okay?" With a clap to Dave's shoulder, Justin heads back to the basketball game. Smirking, he thinks to himself, things just got really interesting!
Dave's gaze follows Justin's back as he walks away, wondering if he had ever mentioned Kurt to his friend. His joviality seemed a little too aware for Dave's liking, but knowing there was nothing he could do about it right now, he mentally made a note to talk to Justin as soon as they were alone. Glancing over at Kurt and trying very hard to not let his voice shake he states, "let's get to that tour then, yeah" and starts walking before Kurt can answer.
A/N: I am so sorry this was a week later then I wanted to post. Unfortunately the munchkin got sick and then my husband and I followed. Hopefully there will not be any more delays for updates after this. Look for an update to I Want Your Love coming next!
Also, thank you all so much for the response to this story! I am so pleased that this has gotten such a positive reception =)
Concrit welcome! I have a beta now, but we haven't gotten to this story yet and I wanted to update after having 2 weeks go by, so if you spot any grammar/spellings errors let me know and I'll fix them.
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, if I did Dave's story would have gotten closure on said show.
