Sorry for the delay in updating. I hate when a story takes so long to update you can't remember what happened the chapter before. I promise to update this thing every day for the next week! I want to dedicate this chapter to my official song selector. You inspire me and I both hate and love that you are a better writer than me. I'm going to have some jumbo cashews and watch some Vin Diesel in your honor!

"What time is it?" Dave's voice; a husky whisper, sent shivers down Kurt's spine. A quick look at his alarm confirmed what he already knew. It was late.

"2:13 am"

"I thought we promised ourselves last night we wouldn't stay up past midnight"

"You have only yourself to blame tonight! You had to ask me about my favorite musicals and God knows that's not something I can just sum up in a few minutes!"

Dave's laughter; low and gravelly, came across the line, wrapping itself around Kurt's body and settling finally on his heart.

God, this was so hard.

For four weeks; since that afternoon in the library, they'd talked every night on the phone. Each and every single night; without fail. Sometimes just for a few minutes, but most nights it was for hours.

Some nights it was all night.

They talked about everything. School, sports, music, family, hobbies, movies, memories, favorite books and favorite foods and everything. Just everything.

Everything except "it".

Kurt knew the moment that he'd said it, that afternoon by the side of the school, that he had pushed too hard, too fast. Asking Dave to talk about their attraction to each other had the exact opposite effect of what he had desired.

Dave had yanked his hand back; flushing darkly, and had high tailed it so fast back into the school that Kurt was surprised he hadn't left skid marks.

Since that moment, there had been no talk about 'the kiss' or their relationship or why Dave had called him that first night. It was clear Dave wasn't ready to talk about it, and Kurt cherished their nightly conversations too much to risk driving Dave away by bringing it up again.

But for all that they didn't speak of them, their feelings hung in the air between them. The unspoken words; words Dave couldn't say, words Kurt wouldn't say…they colored every interaction between them. Making their conversations; the words that they did say, sharper, stronger somehow… more bittersweet.

Kurt couldn't help but wonder how long they would have this; how long Dave would let himself call. Every day he worried that today would be the day. The day that Dave realized he was giving himself away with every word he spoke to Kurt.

The worry of losing this tenuous new relationship, the weight of being so close emotionally to Dave; having so much of him, but not everything…it was breaking Kurt's heart.

He couldn't seem to protect himself.

Every night; every word, he fell deeper.

Deeper in like, in lust, in…everything, with a boy who may never be able to return those feelings. Who might never let himself be who he really was.

Kurt spent his days counting down the hours until the night, when he shut his bedroom door at night; curled up in his bed, and waited for the phone to ring.

He'd set the ring tone for Dave's number to "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles.

He loved the first line of that song.

Something always brings me back to you. It never takes too long.

Last week he had pretended to "accidently" call Dave during Glee to see what his ring tone was on Dave's phone.

He had been surprised to hear the opening strains of "Someone like You" by Adele.

He didn't know what to make of it. Hadn't expected Dave to even know who Adele was.

He was as confused as hell about everything. He really liked Dave, but he needed more. He needed to know that this wasn't just another friendship to him.

He wanted to be able to pick up their conversations in the light of day, at school. He wanted more than just seeing Dave at Glee, and shooting the breeze with him and the other boys; as if they were nothing more than casual friends.

He wanted so much, so fast. He didn't know how he would survive if this was all they would ever be to each other.

Sighing; he said goodnight to a sleepily incoherent Dave, looking at his clock. 5 hours until he could talk to the other boy again.

God, he was such a mess.

Love Letters.

Mr. Shue underlined the word on the white board with a flourish and spun around to the face the glee club, an expectant smile on his face.

Blank looks stared back at him.

Heaving a sigh, he frowned at the group and spoke.

"This week's theme is love letters, guys. Now, some of you may be asking, how can we sing love letters? Well, first we ask ourselves, what is a love letter?"

Rachel's hand shot into the air.

"Yes, Rachel?"

"A love letter is a way for one person to tell another person things that they can't say in person."

No one missed her not so subtle glance towards Finn. Quinn cleared her throat loudly, grasping Finn's hand in hers. Dragging her eyes back, Rachel continued in a rush,

"Or a way for two people separated by distance or circumstance, to show their love to each other. My dads still write each other love letters when one of them goes out of town...well, I guess love emails would be a better description, although they do still occasionally send the letters through the actual mail, but I think…"

Mr. Shue held up a hand, cutting off her rambling definition.

"Thank you Rachel, that is an excellent description. A love letter traditionally is the method by which one person can; non verbally, express love for another. The letter can sometimes be an expression of what they cannot say in person. Not always, but sometimes. The majority of love letters are romantic in nature, but they don't always have to be. The letters can be from parent to child, friend to friend, or any other number of combinations. Now, for our purposes we are looking for love letters that take the form of the lyrics of a song. Some of the most powerful songs are of yearning, sadness, need, or love lost. "Hey there, Delilah" by the Plain White T's or "Dear John" by Taylor Swift, are a few of the more recent ones, you've probably heard. Heck, "I'll be missing you" was Puff Daddy's love letter to Biggie"

The Glee club exploded with laughter. They were amused at both at the idea of Diddy writing Biggie Smalls a love letter, and Mr. Shue's knowledge of any rap and R & B music. He wasn't exactly known for having any 'street cred'.

"Your assignment this week is two parts. First, find someone in your life...and it can be anyone that you want to send a message to via song. Second, find the right song to express what you want to say. Even though the assignment is 'love letters', it doesn't have to be a message of romantic love.

Also, no duets or group numbers on this one, guys. Now that nationals are behind us, I want to push some of our more reluctant performers out of their comfort zones before the end of the school year. Everyone will be going solo on this one"

With a pointed look at Mike Chang and Dave, Mr. Shue dismissed the already buzzing Glee club with an encouraging smile.

"Good luck to each and every one of you. Songs will be performed this coming Thursday and Friday. That gives you each 3 or 4 days to prepare."

"So…what are you going to sing?"

Kurt held his breath, wondering how Dave would answer.

It was 11:30, and they'd been talking idly about their day for over an hour.

Kurt eventually realized that Dave wasn't going to bring up the Glee assignment, so he did. He had thought of little else since Mr. Shue announced it earlier that day.

He'd run through a million songs to Dave.

And he couldn't help but wonder...maybe to hope a little...that Dave might take the chance to sing to him.

The silence lengthened on the other end of the line.

Finally; just a second before Kurt would have jumped in, Dave spoke.

"Umm...I don't know. Maybe something for my mom. It's the month of Mother's Day after all"

Kurt's heart dropped.

He hadn't realized how much hope he had been harboring that Dave would use this opportunity to convey a message to Kurt. A love letter. Something to hold onto; even if he couldn't tell Kurt the words in any other way.

Dave was talking again.

"Yeah, I'm really nervous about the solo, so I'm going to ask Mr. Shue if I can go first and just get it over with".

Somehow Kurt managed to express excitement about Dave's idea, and even engage in chit chat for a few more minutes, before yawning audibly and telling the other boy that he had better have an early night.

But it was hours before he fell asleep.

It was Thursday already. Two weeks and 1 day left of school.

Kurt was excited for the summer, excited for Europe (he had finally convinced his dad to let him go on that Contiki tour), excited to get away from McKinley. Away from Dave.

The other boy hadn't called the last two nights.

Kurt had stayed awake until 4 the first night; waiting for him to call. He knew he could have called; but Dave had always called.

He didn't think his heart could take the pain of trying to call and having Dave ignore him. He'd gone to hit the call button so many times, but in the end; he hadn't been brave enough.

Not the first night, nor the second.

The second night, he'd given up by 1 am.

He had barely seen Dave at school.

He was probably trying to avoid Kurt.

Maybe the sight of Kurt sickened him now. Reminded him of his emotional weakness in talking to Kurt for hours and opening up to him.

Kurt's stomach rolled at the thought that Dave would be sickened at the sight of him.

Surely it hadn't come to that.

As if summoned by Kurt's anxious thoughts, Dave walked in the door.

Kurt was shocked by his appearance.

The other boy looked just as exhausted as Kurt. His normally neatly combed hair was mussed, as if he'd spent the day running his fingers through it.

What was wrong?

Kurt was half out of his seat to go to him, to find out what was wrong, what kind of pain he was in, when the other boy looked him in the eye, mouth clenched and shook his head.

Kurt's heart; already laden with sadness, broke into even more pieces. It was a literal feeling of pain; that robbed Kurt of his breath and forced his exhausted eyes shut.

He couldn't' deal with this. He couldn't be here, and see Dave, and know that the other boy didn't love him, or like him, or even want his comfort as a friend.

Mercedes was the only one to notice how pale he'd gone.

"Kurt, are you ok? You look terrible."

Her voice was tinged with concern and urgency, but Kurt couldn't let her sympathy in right now. If he did; it would break him, and he'd cry. He waved her away.

He couldn't let Dave see him cry. He wouldn't let him. The other boy was obviously in pain over something, and Kurt would not add to his burden.

Mr. Shue came bounding into the room in that moment.

"Ok, it's time, people! Our Love letters song marathon is about to begin!"

Cheers and clapping broke out amongst the glee clubbers.

Kurt forced his eyes to focus on the front of the room. Dave was about to sing. He'd asked to go first.

He'd stay for that, and then he'd go home, pleading a headache.

He could make it through one "Did you ever know you were my hero?" mothers' day tribute from Dave. It was a matter of pride that he make it.

Mr. Shue was announcing the line up.

"Dave here is very brave; he has volunteered to go first. Please give a big Glee club welcome to Dave Karofsky, as he takes the microphone for his first solo!"

The clapping and cheers came louder this time. Kurt forced his hands together in a quick motion, a strained smile stretched across his mouth.

He could see Dave grab the microphone out of the corner of his eye.

He couldn't quite bring himself to look directly at the other boy.

Dave began speaking.

"Ummm…thanks, you guys. This isn't easy for me. I love to sing, but I have never done anything like this. Anyway, this love letter song is for the only person I have ever been in love with"

Cat calls and chants of "Oh yeah, Davey!" raced around the room. Kurt's head jerked around to face the other boy, who was standing at the front of the room, with a guitar slung across his chest.

Kurt's heart began to thump in his chest. Hope, so recently crushed, reemerged. What would he sing?

His head ducked, gaze fixed on his guitar strings, Dave began to play.

Kurt recognized the chords at once. It was one of his favorite songs. Then Dave's husky baritone hit the first note and Kurt couldn't think anymore. He could only feel.

And I'd give up forever to touch you
Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now

Dave had been looking at his guitar the entire first verse, his voice slightly muted. At the last word of the verse, he seemed to gain courage, lifting his head.

And for one timeless, haunting moment, a moment that Kurt knew he would never ever forget, he looked Kurt dead in the eye, and sang to him; pain, love, and confusion laced through every word.

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
Cause sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

He repeated the chorus, his gazed now fixed straight ahead, eyes welling with tears.

He reined in his voice; the confident baritone of the verse before, scaling back to the husky whisper that Kurt knew so well.

The last words he sang were accompanied by the slow fall of the tears tracking down his cheeks.

"Oh my God."

Startled, Kurt realized he'd said the words out loud.

His had one hand over his heart; on his heaving chest, the other shaking hand was brushing tears from his eyes.

Kurt tore his gaze from Dave; who was also now scrubbing the tears from his cheeks, to gauge the reaction of the rest of the Glee club, who were sitting in complete silence.

Kurt saw tears on the faces of every single one of the girl's faces...and Puck's.

No one would have noticed his reaction; especially now that they were all on their feet, clapping, whistling, and stamping their feet.

Dave; who had looked mortified at his having cried, was slowly starting to grin at the wild response. Smiling, he bowed and returned to his seat.

His eyes didn't meet Kurt's again.

It was 11 pm.

Kurt had just finished watching The Fast and the Furious. For once, being Finn's step brother was paying off. He had the best DVD collection.

Not that Kurt cared about cars or racing...but Vin Diesel was beyond hot and a great distraction. And Kurt needed a distraction from thinking about today. The song. The look. The ignoring that followed. Turning off the TV, he heard it.

The ending credits must have covered the sound.

Something always brings me back to you. It never takes too long.

Dave was calling.