Over the next week or so, Dave and Kurt had been spending more and more time together, usually at Dave's house in order to avoid Finn. They would just talk, watch TV, and play around with Dave's computer and instruments.
Dave had geeked out over Garage Band last summer and loved recording himself, mostly playing his guitar and keyboard. Kurt enjoyed singing while Dave handled the accompaniment. After that first night, Dave was careful not to sing anything too emotional with Kurt, but that didn't seem too hard since they were in a good place in their friendship and both boys tended to gravitate towards generic or happy songs.
Dave had originally avoided Santana's text messages because he didn't want her to know that he had spent New Year's Eve with Kurt. He also knew Kurt didn't want it spread around that he was spending time with Dave. Sure, it hurt a little, but when he was with Kurt, he didn't care.
It was Wednesday about a week after New Year's and Kurt was heading to Glee when Santana stopped him outside the choir room.
"Hey Kurt."
He just stops and rolls his eyes because she sounds like she's in a mood. He just waits for a second before responding.
"Yes."
"Hey, I heard you spent New Year's with Dave," she wasn't quiet, but that was on purpose.
She had talked to Dave the night before, and he ended up telling her about the ice-skating, but not the kiss. She's not stupid' she knows Dave's not that nice. He wouldn't have spent New Year's Eve, let alone most other nights with Kurt, if he just wanted to be a nice guy or help Kurt through a bad time or whatever.
Kurt looked around nervously to see if anyone heard, and quietly said, "That's none of your business."
Santana didn't like that. Kurt lowered his voice as an indication that this was not to be discussed out loud like he was embarrassed by Dave. Sure, Dave had been a bad guy, but that was a year ago.
Just as she was about to respond, Blaine walked past, and she decided that maybe it wasn't a good idea to make a scene.
Quietly, she responded, "I just want you to be careful, okay? Dave's a little fragile, especially when it comes to you." When she turned to enter the room, she hadn't realize that Brittany was already standing next to her and Kurt, actually she didn't know how long Brittany had been standing there.
Kurt just sat in his chair. Blaine was again sitting on the other side of the room, giving Kurt space. Kurt felt like it was punishment since he'd basically already forgiven Blaine.
Mr. Schue had been discussing their current assignment, 'Love Songs.'
Kurt scoffed.
"Kurt, do you have something to add?" Mr. Schue said.
"Not really. I just find it ironic that you had us sing heartbreak songs first, and now we're singing about love. It's backwards, don't you think?"
"Actually, sometimes you need to go through heartbreak in order to find real love."
The class started to chatter, and Mr. Schue continued the lesson.
As class ended, Kurt found out that his turn to sing was the next day. He'd have to suck it up and choose a song.
Before Kurt walked out of class Rachel and Mercedes stopped Kurt to console him on having to sing a love song so soon after breaking up with Blaine.
"Kurt, It's only been two weeks; don't act like this doesn't hurt." Rachel said.
"Yea, maybe Mr. Schue will let you slide." Mercedes said.
"Thanks guys, but I think he's right." Kurt said.
In unison, "What?"
None had paid attention that Brittany has joined their group.
"I think that Mr. Schue expects us to be professional and be able to handle what life throws at us. Look, if I was on Broadway singing about love everyday, I couldn't just not sing one day because I broke up with my boyfriend." Kurt said reassuringly.
"Well, speaking as someone with a boyfriend, it is so much easier to sing about love when you have someone to just be with, especially during the holidays." Mercedes said.
"Yea, that must have been horrible. Christmas…oh…and New Year's…I wish you would have taken me up on my offer to spend it with Finn and me." Rachel said.
"Um…as wonderful as that sounds, I don't think spending a night devoted to couples as a third wheel is my idea of a good time." Kurt replied.
"Besides, he was ice-skating with Dave." Brittany finally said.
Before anyone could react, Santana called out to Brittany from the doorway.
"See ya guys, and Kurt I hope you work it out." Brittany rushed to meet a waiting Santana, and they were gone.
The three of them sat in silence for a second before Mercedes spoke.
"Wait. You spent New Year's Eve…with…Dave…Karofsky?" She had an accusatory tone.
"Yes?" he answered sheepishly.
Rachel was a little calmer.
"Why?" Rachel was actually curious.
"I needed a friend, okay? A single friend. If you haven't noticed there aren't exactly a lot of those around here. It wasn't a big deal, okay. He taught me how to ice-skate."
Mercedes understood that. She and Sam had been back together for about a week, but she didn't break up with Shane until after Christmas and New Year's just for that reason – she didn't want to be single for the holidays.
"Kurt, we get it. Really we do, but you don't want to start hanging around that guy. It took a year and him changing schools for you to get over it." She looked at him and smiled.
Rachel was more optimistic, "Look at Finn and I. It took him cheat- um…going out with Quinn for us to realize that we were meant to be together."
That made Kurt chuckle, "Yea, that and you two kissing at Nationals."
"I'm just saying, Blaine's a good guy and maybe you should give him another chance rather that hanging out with," she tried to find a nice word, "Karofsky."
They each gave Kurt a reassuring hug.
As they were leaving, Mercedes and Rachel parted way from Kurt, and Mercedes said over her shoulder to Kurt, "think about that love song, and remember who your Prince Charming is…"
Kurt was not looking forward to tomorrow. Love Songs. Ugh.
XxXxX
It was Wednesday night. No hockey practice and Kurt would be over soon. They had taken turns making dinner. Kurt always made some dish that tasted good, but Dave couldn't pronounce the name.
Tonight was Dave's night. He was making Tacos.
These weren't Taco Bell tacos; it was his mom's recipe. Dave's dad had been making them since he could remember. They were probably the only thing he remembered about his mother, not so much the tacos themselves, but the smell of the oil and the soft shell being cooked. They were basically pan-fried soft taco shells with a meat-bean mixture topped with cheese, sour cream, lettuce, tomato and salsa.
Kurt was going to love it. He would complain about the calories, but he'd love it.
When Kurt arrived, Paul let him in, and a black lab greets him.
"Hey Xander." Kurt reaches down to pet the dog.
Kurt walks to the kitchen and sees Dave in a dressy button-up shirt and khakis. He's got an apron on covering the front of the shirt.
Dave sees Kurt and smiles.
"Hey – I'm almost ready." He says still grinning.
Kurt wrinkles his nose at the heavy oil in the air, "What is it," he doesn't sound enthused.
"Tacos." Dave is excited. He's been dying to make them, but he wanted his dad to be there since it's also one of Paul's favorite dishes.
"Oh." Kurt says quietly. He's still thinking about what Rachel said earlier.
Dave notices that Kurt is distracted, "What's going on?" he keeps an eye on the frying pan, but turns toward Kurt, "Hey – if it's the calories – I'm using extra virgin olive oil, and-"
"No. There's nothing wrong. I'm sure it'll be delicious." He said it, but there was nothing behind those words.
Dave's too distracted to notice and continues cooking.
Paul had already set the table and was waiting in the study.
When Dave finished, he put the pan in the sink and took off his apron. He walked over to Kurt who was sitting at the table mindlessly stroking Xander's ear, who by the way was eating it up.
"Hey, I was thinking that maybe we go to a movie, they're play-"
"I don't think it's a god idea." Kurt interjects.
"But it's-"
"Do you really want to go out…" Kurt looked from the table to Dave, "…to a movie with me? You know, where people can see us?"
Dave was confused. Sure, they were friends and hadn't done anything outside of Dave's home since New Year's, but he figured it was mutual.
"Kurt, It's just a movie. It's not a big deal, I-"
"Well, I don't. I don't know what this is." Kurt motioned between them. "I don't know if I can keep doing this anymore."
Dave was hoping that he was misinterpreting the message. "I though we were friends."
"Is that what you want? You want to be friends? Because I'm pretty sure that I don't." Kurt wasn't sure that Dave really wanted to be more than friends, but Kurt needed to know that this was going somewhere, and he didn't want to be lead on.
Dave was starting to get upset, "What are you getting at? Just say it."
Kurt stood and reached for Dave's forearms, but decided that wasn't smart and said, "Look. You've made some great progress and I am so proud of you."
"Don't patronize me." Dave had a scowl. He wasn't dating Kurt, but this sure as hell felt like a break up.
"Dave – I still want to be your friend, but I think we need to slow down…I mean…you're not even out…at school I mean…I can't expect you to go at my speed." Somehow that was supposed to be comforting, but it came out like an insult.
"You know what? I don't even know what I was thinking…"
Kurt could see Dave was hurting and it hurt him almost as much, but he knew Dave wasn't ready for a relationship beyond friends. Kurt knew the next words before Dave said them.
"I think you should leave."
Kurt looked around before nodding. He gathered his coat and walked out the front door.
Dave just sat at the kitchen table a bit pissed and a bit shocked. He couldn't keep the tears from welling and eventually running down his face.
Fuck.
XxXxX
