I know it's been a long time! I'm so, so sorry. I just get easily distracted and really lazy, so I don't update like I should. But I haven't given up, I promise! This chapter is kind of upsetting, and I apologize for that as well. It'll get better, I promise!

Kurt was withdrawing. He knew it, and everyone else was seeing it. He barely talked to anyone anymore, and when he did it usually ended in a fight. He felt bad, but he just didn't want to deal with anyone at all.

"Kurt, you have to figure this out," Mercedes said as she stood by her locker. She was well aware that this was a very risky subject to bring up, but she had to try. She hated seeing him this miserable.

He glared at her. "I don't have to do anything." he snapped, slamming the locker door shut and turning to walk away from her. Of course, this would be the time that Dave decided to be standing there, causing Kurt to run straight into him.

"Shit, Kurt, I'm sorry," he mumbled, taking a step back.

With an irritated huff, Kurt stepped around him. "Can't anyone just leave me alone?" he asked rhetorically, his fists clenched around the straps of his bag.

Dave followed him stubbornly. "What do you want me to do, Kurt?" he asked, the sadness in his voice evident and utterly heartbreaking.

"I think I just said." he replied sharply.

Dave rolled his eyes. "That's not what I mean and you know that." he said, grabbing Kurt's arm gently to pull him to the side. The pair ducked into a doorway, out of the way of other students. "Tell me what to do. Tell me how to win you back." he pleaded.

Kurt looked up at him, recalling all of the things that had happened and what went down with Blaine in the coffee shop.

He still hadn't heard from Blaine. Not once. No message, no call. Nothing.

"I just need to think, Dave." he told him, his voice tired. He hadn't let anyone realize how emotionally worn out he was until that moment. He didn't know what he was letting Dave see it, but that wasn't really relevant.

Dave nodded slowly, his eyes thoughtful as he looked at Kurt. "Promise you'll tell when you've made up your mind." he said desperately.

Kurt just nodded before pulling away from him and walking away, his head ducked and his mind racing. Mercedes was right; he did need to figure this out.

Maybe if Kurt had been paying attention, he would have noticed soon. Maybe if he hadn't been so wrapped up in himself, he would have seen what was happening right in front of him.

Of course, none of these things had happened. He wasn't paying attention and he was wrapped up in himself, causing him to miss something he should have been there for.

The slamming resonated throughout the hallway, making everyone stop and turn, looking at Dave as he pushed away from the lockers. The group of football players around him were laughing, not at all threatened as he advanced on him. They outnumbered him; what was there to be afraid of.

"Why don't you go back to your boyfriend, Davie?" one of them taunted, making Kurt flinch at his own locker, where he was looking on in shock.

Dave shoved the guy, making him stumble back a few steps before one of the other guys caught him. "Shut up!" he shouted, his rage evident.

Kurt didn't know how long this had been going on, but it certainly wasn't the first time.

Two of the guys grabbed Dave, pushing him into the lockers while another punched him in the stomach, making him fall to his knees.

"Enough!" Finn shouted, coming down the hall with Puck and Mike and getting between Dave and the team. "Get out of here. Now." he said.

Kurt took this opportunity to go to Dave, finally remembering how to walk. The shock had gotten to him and he didn't even remember to breath, much less consider going to Dave's side.

'He does this for you. He's going through this for you. And you just stood there.' a voice in his head berated him, but he ignored it, crouching next to Dave. "Come on, let's go." he said, placing a hand on his arm lightly.

Dave looked up at him, tears in his eyes that only Kurt could see, and nodded. They stood together with Puck and Mike acting very much like bodyguards, and headed down the hall, toward the Glee Club room.

Kurt's decision was just getting harder and harder.