Dave had never been good at fixing things. Whether it was the engine of a car or a relationship hanging by a thread, he just never knew how to fix it. He wasn't exactly what you'd called eloquent; he didn't have the right words for the right moment. It had taken him long enough to make things better between he and Kurt, and that was only achieved by wearing a dorky red hat and crying. Crying.

Dave seriously doubted crying would work on Azimio.

He had to do something, though. Azimio hadn't looked at him in over a week. There had been distance between them for months now, but this was different. This was what Azimio wanted, apparently.

Dave had come to the point where he didn't even want to think about it anymore. He wanted to lock himself away in his room and never come out.

O.o.O

"Hey man, can I talk to you?"

Jeff had one headphone in his ear, smiling to himself while he grabbed his books out of his locker and swayed softly to Enya. He had woken up this morning feeling like something beautiful was going to happen and so far his day hadn't contradicted his thoughts. So yes, it was an Enya kind of day.

He had been so deep in his little world that the sound of someone else's voice, a voice he barely recognized, sent him jumping out of his skin the very moment he decided to stick his head in his locker. He pulled his head out, rubbing the spot where he was sure a bump would present itself later, and was shocked to see Azimio leaning on the locker next to his.

"I'm sorry, what are you doing here?" He asked politely.

"I need to talk to you about Dave."

"Well, I need coffee," Jeff said, shaking his hair out. "So I hope you don't mind taking this conversation to a coffee shop."

"Not at all. I could use some caffeine."

The boys wandered silently over to the Lima Bean and got their coffees without saying a word to each other. Jeff didn't try to make small talk, figuring that Azimio would say what he had to say when he was ready. At least he knew that what he had to say wouldn't be negative; nobody goes to get coffee with someone when they have something bad to say to them.

"So..." Azimio started. Jeff licked the side of his cup and set it down, staring up at the boy. "I don't know what to do about Dave."

"What's there to do?"

"You know..." He shifted, looking slightly unconfortable.

"Azimio, we're both dudes. Talk to me, Dammit." They both let out sighs before Azimio sat up straight.

"I'm hurt, okay? I feel like shit. I hurt so many people, and I hurt my...my brother, without even realizing I was doing it. And he never told me. I don't know what to do now." He hung his head. Jeff pushed Azimio's coffee closer and he grabbed it, sipping the steaming liquid just to have something to do.

"Did it ever occur to you that he didn't tell you because he was afraid he'd lose you?" Azimio stared at him like he had three heads.

"Why would he ever think that?"

"Gee, I wonder why. Did you ever give any sign that you'd still accept him if he was gay?"

As Jeff sipped his coffee, rubbing the edges to wipe off excess coffee, Azimio stared at the wall deep in thought. After a few minutes he hung his head in his hands.

"Never. I should have. I would have, if I'd had any doubts about his sexuality. I just never thought...Dave-"

"Needs you to be his friend right now, above all else. He loves you, Az." Jeff stood up, nodded, and left the startled boy to his thoughts.

O.o.O

"David, your friend is here!" His father's shouts were followed by the unmistakable sound of Azimio's heavy footsteps making their way up his staircase and to his room. Dave pulled himself off the bed and sat on the edge. He didn't know why Azimio was here but, whatever the reason, he refused to let Az see him curled up in a ball on his bed like a pathetic waste of space. Even if it did make him feel better.

His door was open a crack so Azimio walked right in and shut it behind him softly. Dave heard his deep sigh before his friend turned to face him, a small smile playing on his lips.

"He's a real keeper, y'know," he said as he sat on the bed next to Dave.

"Who?"

"That Jeff kid. Really smart. That's good; now you have someone to cheat off tests and homework." Dave rolled his eyes at his...friend?

"You know I've never been a fan of cheating."

"He's still a keeper. He cares about you a lot..." Azimio twittled his thumbs, waiting for Dave to say something.

"I'm sorry I never told you. I was scared, I guess. I didn't want to lose you." Az looked up from his thumbs and smiled wider, though his eyes were fogging up with tears.

"I know. But I should have made it clear that I'd always support you, no matter who you are. You're my best friend, Dave. Ain't nobody or nothing gonna change that." Then Az did something he rarely ever did. He leaned over and gave Dave a real hug, none of that "man-hug" bullshit that he usually pulled. And Dave felt lighter because he knew that, for now, he had nothing to worry about.

Except for that duet in Glee club. Crap.

PLEASE READ:

Okay, so I'm not too satisfied about this chapter. Haven't been feeling this story lately, so it's hard for me to write. I wanted to put a chapter up for you guys so I didn't keep you waiting, but please keep in mind that I am a first semester college student, and anyone who is in college now will tell you that the first semester is one of the hardest. I'm very busy, and therefore won't be up-dating any of my stories that often (unfortunately). I have several new ones floating around in my head, but I'm afraid that if I write them I'll neglect this one, so I'm holding off. Terribly sorry about the long wait! There will be (I think) one more chapter for this fic. Thanks for sticking with it!

~Alex