PART SEVEN

He's getting changed for practice when he feels a hand on his shoulder and turns. Rachel. Of course. He's half naked and she's never respected the whole male/female changing room etiquette, much to the consternation of Finn and the rest of the football team. She doesn't need to train to become a mini-Sue Sylvester, she already is. A lot less cynical though.

"So, I have a bone to pick with you."

"Oh really? What is it this time?" He's used to her picking at things he says and does, and at least with her he knows it isn't a vindictive willing-him-to-fail type of picking, but more of a I-want-you-to-be-the-best-that-you-can-be.

"You didn't let me know how your date went… why didn't you tell me?"

"Oh…" He really hadn't thought she'd be interested in his love life. Or his sex life. Either. "Um, well… I didn't think you were really that interested."

"Well, you're wrong. I'm very interested. I'm a sucker for romance. Although I suppose with your need for my foundation for your neck the other night there's a little more than romance going on."

"Uh…" He's pretty sure telling her that he gave Dave a blowjob in the locker room after Dave got him off would completely shatter whatever misguided impression she has about him so he just smiles and shrugs helplessly. He really doesn't want to talk about what he's done with Dave.

"Berry! You perving on the boys again?" He and Rachel both huff at Santana's voice, exchanging looks of commiseration, and he steels himself for what he knows is coming. "Oh… it's just Hummel. He's not exactly a boy now is he?"

He simply smiles sweetly, having learnt that his lack of reaction pisses Santana off more than a well worded response. That hasn't stopped him from having slinging matches with her of course, but he's trying to be a better person now. That's what he keeps repeating to himself in his head anyway. He'd texted Dave and asked him to come and watch him practice, only a bit put out when he'd been turned down for a study session in the library.

He doesn't get it, he really doesn't. The majority of the football team seems to want to watch the Cheerios train… Huh. Of course, the majority of the Cheerios are girls. He sighs at his own apparent obliviousness and he supposes he can't blame Dave for that. Although he has to admit that Mike is fairly fit, and he'd watch him… then again, he doesn't like the idea of Dave watching anyone but him.

"Hummel!"

"Hmm? What?"

Santana looks furious at the fact that he was apparently ignoring her and he winces. Ignoring her and not responding to her taunts are two completely different things, and he knows he'll need to watch himself with more care than normal during practice, because she's tried to sabotage him before.

"Kurt, ladies…" Mike greets, starting to strip off. He's the only one that even bothers averting his eyes when he drops his pants and he knows that he's seen more of Mike then that, but at least he's polite. Rachel and Santana are both watching, heads cocked to the side to watch as Mike changes into his Cheerios practice uniform. Mike doesn't care, has never cared, and fuck he wishes he could have some of that self-confidence sometimes. At least it seems to have distracted Santana for now at least.

"As I was saying, I hear you finally found another little friend to call your boyfriend. Pickings must be pretty slim if he chose you."

"I'd say he has discerning taste," Rachel states, eyes flashing dangerously and Mike looks between them all as if they're all a little crazy.

"Uh, no. He can't afford to be picky. Not in this school."

"Whatever Santana," Kurt mutters, shoving his things into his locker and shoving past her. He feels the tiny prick of truth to her words, something he's only admitted to himself in the quiet darkness of his bedroom. It was never about Dave specifically, but about anyone that he thought he could maybe be interested in.

"Ooohhh, have I hit a sore spot? Poor little baby can't find anyone to love him for real and is just being used for his good looks and hot little body." Santana says, following him with a skip to her step. He ignores her and pushes the door open to the gym, Sebastian coming up beside him and checking his shoulder like he's one of the guys. Weirdly, it relaxes him, and he heads toward where Finn and some of the others are sitting, Santana and Sebastian falling into step either side of him.

"Lopez."

"Smythe."

He has no idea why Santana and Sebastian ever went out, or really why they broke up, but he's kind of in awe of their fights, it makes his and Santana's own exchanges seem like whispered sweet nothings in comparison. Sebastian has always been pretty cool, the first to stick up for him when Santana, or anyone really, attacks him regarding his sexuality. While the Cheerios and jocks are definitely the top of the heap there's no limit to the amount of in-fighting.

Coach Sylvester hasn't turned up yet, which is normal, she likes to make an entrance. Or watch them from a two-way mirror and then yell at them for wasting time. Some of the newer members of the Cheerios are getting the gear out and are warming up, and he knows he probably should as well, it's not a long practice, the lunch time ones, and they're always late to next period because Coach Sylvester doesn't let them go until well after the bell has gone.

" — the school bicycle. Or is it the entire State of Ohio?"

"At least people want to ride me, unlike you…"

"I assure you, there's nothing wrong with my bike riding ability, I'm just picky about the types of bike I choose these days."

He glances between them and takes a quick few steps forward and up the steps of the bleachers and settles himself so he's sitting behind Finn. He can see over Finn's shoulders easy enough, and it gives him a ringside seat. He's pretty sure Santana is about to actually slap Sebastian. Or punch him. Except now he's too far away to hear what has become a whispered conversation and he wishes he hadn't been so hasty in his retreat, because there is definitely something going on there. It's broken up of course, Coach Sylvester enters and everyone snaps to attention. The guys all fall silent, a condition of them even being allowed in the room and he heads down to warm up with the others, pausing when Sebastian's hand lands on his forearm, stalling him and he raises an eyebrow.

"Chin up, at least she called you hot."

He really doesn't know what to say to that, doesn't have time to respond as Coach is telling him to get out and he leaves with a wink in Kurt's direction and blowing a kiss toward Santana. He really doesn't get what those two ever had in common.