Dave sat at the kitchen table staring down at his strawberry poptart. His dad was away on business and his mom had to run to the office and said that she might be in meetings all day. So there Karofsky sat, alone in an empty house.
Dave thought back on the night before. He flexed his hand as he remembered the sensations. Dave remembered Derek's warm breath on the side of his face; his hard, toned body underneath him; the way he tensed and groaned as the experience came to its crest...
"'Don't touch me, you son-of-a-bitch!' "
Karofsky quickly shook his head to force his fantasies out.
Dave pushed his plate away. He didn't feel like eating anymore.
"'Run! Run like I ran' "
"Run from what?" Wondered Dave.
Suddenly, Karofsky had an idea. He got up from the table, ran up the stairs and into his bedroom. He immediately sat down at the computer and signed in on Facebook.
Dave typed in Derek's name and after scrolling down a few people, he came across Derek's picture and opened his profile.
His wall was littered with comments. Most were reminders of what songs the Glee clubers were going to sing, and posts that were obviously written by drunk teammates.
It wasn't until Karofsky got to posts older then two weeks when things started to get interesting.
Dave found a three-week-old post from Derek that read:
"I am leaving Arcadia Valley. Everything that's happened the past few weeks... It's just too much. The press are everywhere; even now some are just out my window. We're getting angry calls day and night. I'm sorry."
Karofsky scrolled down through the older posts.
The comments on dates going back from Derek's announcement got really heated. Karofsky found dozens of posts from both teenagers and adults; almost all were insults and threats. All of which mentioned one name in particular: Troy Royal.
"You're nothing but a monster!" One post read "How could you do something that horrible? Troy is a good kid. What could he have possibly done to you? I hope you rot in Hell!"
Dave scrolled down even further but he hit a dead end at around November 23rd 2010. Everything before that date concerning this Troy Royal guy had been deleted.
Karofsky leaned back in his chair as he stared at the screen. Derek seemed like such a nice guy. What the hell happened to him?
Suddenly, Dave's cellphone rang, making him jump slightly. He rolled his chair over the night stand and answered it.
"Hello?"
"Is this the Karofsky residence?" Asked a woman on the other end.
"Yes ma'am." He replied.
"You must be David, then. Right?"
"Yeah, I am. Sorry, but is there some kind of problem? You sound a little worried or something."
The woman took a short breath before speaking again.
"I'm Kathy Malone. Derek Malone's mother... I'm calling to see if you might know where my son is."
"... He's not at home?"
"No... And he's not answering his phone."
A slight chill went up Dave's spine.
"Derek drove me home because uh... I was pretty drunk, to be honest. The last time I saw him, he was pulling out of my driveway last night."
"And he hasn't called you at all?"
"No ma'am."
Dave heard Mrs. Malone take a shaky breath.
"Listen, uh, my car is still at my friend's house but why don't I get him to pick me up so I can get it, then I'll go out and help you find him. It's a small town. He can't be too far."
"... Thank you, David."
"No problem. And don't worry... I'm sure Derek is fine."
There was a short pause before Mrs. Malone hung up. Dave immediately called the teammate who had hosted the party and asked him to pick him up pronto. Dave had a bad feeling that he couldn't waist any time.
Dave drove through the streets of Lima as he looked down every alleyway and asked every person he saw if they had seen a boy with Derek's description. After about an hour-and-a-half without any luck, Karofsky reluctantly called Finn Hudson and told him to get the rest of the "No Directions" to join in the hunt.
"Why don't you just call the other football guys?" Asked Hudson when Dave called.
"Because I know that they really wouldn't give a shit." Karofsky replied "Malone is a newbie. He may technically be part of the team but they don't think he's part of the real group yet."
"And you do?"
Dave bit his lip to hold back the honest response.
"Come on, man, please." Said Dave "Just get your little group of freaks and help me find this guy. Ok? He's part of your gang too."
Right then, a familiar voice was heard in the background. The moment he heard that high, soft voice, Karofsky's stomach churned.
"One sec." Said Finn.
After a few seconds, Finn got back on the line.
"The Warblers are in town for a gig. Why don't I see if they can help too?"
"Wait... Isn't that the team that Hummel's in?"
"That won't be a problem, will it?"
Finn's voice was hard as steel.
Dave wanted to yell in frustration. He didn't want to be anywhere near Kurt but he knew that he needed to get as much help as he could.
"No..." Karofsky said after a while "No... that won't be a problem. Just get to it. The guy's not answering his phone and he's been out all night. Who knows what's happened.
Karofsky hung without bothering to listen to Hudson's reply.