After his Aunt Cheryl told him he could stay with her for a while, he thought things were looking up.

Maybe it wasn't that easy.

Would you believe that he tried? Dave put in good effort, definitely, but Azimio had never really been the forgiving type who would let you change on a whim. When he saw Dave helping move some boxes for Ms. Pillsbury (she was married now, though Dave couldn't remember the new name) he had berated him for being a teacher's pet. Really, teacher's pet. The way he said it was sour, and he immediately put down the rest of the boxes—couldn't leave her hanging—and joined Azimio as he headed down t the gym.

Dave was trying, but society was grinding on him from every direction, and it was difficult. Later, Puckerman stood on the bench in the locker room and told the guys that they should join glee so they could be studs. Dave didn't say anything at first, but Azimio gave him a look, and like a trained monkey, he bashed show choir. And you know what? It hurt like hell when Puck reminded Dave that it was his fault that Kurt was gone. Why had he even brought it up? Well, that's Kurt's spot they were trying to fill. Oh, Kurt…

Damn it. Dave truly wanted to just say "I'll do it, let me"; it was his fault, right? But Azimio might actually kill him. When they threatened Puck with a 10 o'clock slushie facial, he didn't back down, and when the rest of the team pushed Puck down, Dave didn't lay a finger on him, using his broken arm as an excuse. He didn't find out until later about the port-a-potty.

After he left the boys to rip Puck to pieces, he regretted not stepping in. He thought about going back when Ms. Pillsbury caught his elbow.

"Hello, David, could I speak to you in my office for a moment?" she asked softly.

Dave guessed she'd gotten over her fear of touching, and in slight amazement, he followed her.

He sat in the nasty and uncomfortable chair across from the guidance counselor, moving around, trying to find the best way to sit.

Ms. Pillsbury cleared her throat, a small hand politely raised to her lips as she did so.

"David," she began, seeming to choose her words carefully. "How are you?"

"Fine, I guess." What was this about?

"I heard about your expulsion and your accident." Oh.

"Yeah."

"Is there anything you want to talk about?"

"No."

"Oh." Ms. Pillsbury looked uncomfortable, but she put a smile on her face and nodded.

Dave had to give her something. She looked sad that he didn't. "I guess there's something."

Her smile widened. "Okay."

Dave took a deep breath. He looked at his feet, shuffled, contemplated admitting everything, and then just went with admitting part of it.

"I'm lonely." He breathed out heavily, like saying just those words was the biggest weight on his shoulders. He thought how he might completely come apart if he had come clean about everything.

"Oh, David, you feel lonely? How so? You've got your friends, athletics—"

"It's not all that great," Dave interrupted. "My friends don't know that much about me. They know the main stuff, you know, like that I like cars and football…" Why was it so easy to talk to her? "But they don't know me. That sounds stupid."

"No, not stupid at all." She was so sweet, Ms. Pillsbury. "You feel lonely because you have no one you feel like you can talk to on the level."

"Yeah, yeah, exactly."

"Isn't there anyone you feel like you connect with?" Ms. Pillsbury had become animated, leaning closer and watching Dave closely.

"Uh, yeah, there's someone, but they won't… they aren't available."

"How so?"

Dave started to clam up. "It doesn't matter. Is that all?"

Ms. Pillsbury leaned back, arranging her pencils that she had brushed with her elbows. "David, listen, it seems like it would be a good idea to talk about this. You don't need to talk to me, though don't get me wrong, I'm always here. But maybe you should find someone new to talk to, or perhaps mend your differences with the person you know you can already talk to. I don't mean to sound presumptuous, but it sounds like you had some sort of falling out with them. I won't press it, but I do recommend it."

Dave's cheeks were warm. How had he become so pliant? How had she been able to get information out of him so quickly? He chalked it up to brain damage from the crash.

"Do you understand what I'm saying, David?"

He nodded, not making eye contact.

Ms. Pillsbury smiled brightly. "Here," she said, handing him a grape lollipop from a jar on her desk.

Dave loved grape. It was like she was a mind reader. Suddenly feeling naked and vulnerable, he stood and rushed out of the room, crushing the lollipop in his right hand. He was thinking about what she had said, about making amends with Kurt. But how could he, when he was still stuck?

Oh, it was simple, then.

He had to get un-stuck.

He had to be himself.

This was crazy! He must have brain damage after all. But before he really thinks about it too much, he's looking for Azimio. He finds him walking in from outside with three other football guys.

Perfect.

Dave walks right in front of him. The boys stop, smirking and acknowledging each other as friends do.

"'Sup, Karofksy?"

"Hey, yeah. So I've decided that you're not going to pick on gay kids anymore."

Azimio stares at him, open mouthed. "What the hell did you just say to me?"

"Leave gays alone. It's not cool to pick on them for their sexuality when they can't control it. It would like dissing you for your race, dude."

Again, Azimio is speechless. Unfortunately, it was only temporary. "You are not telling me you're siding with the homos."

Dave stood his ground. "Don't say homos. It's disrespectful." Dave felt that high coming back, that high he got from doing right by others.

"Are you for serious? Dude, what the hell's going on with you? You hit your head too hard?"

"I think I'm starting to get a clearer picture, actually."

"What are you going on about? Is this because of the Hummel kid?"

"Yes, actually. Don't ever touch him again."

"Dude—"

"Don't slushie him, don't push him, don't even talk to him. Leave. Him. Alone."

"What the hell, man? What, are you into him or something?" Azimio laughed; that was, he laughed until he saw Dave's expression grow ruddy. "Dude, what the fuck!"

"I see you figured it out then, Azimio. That's right. I'M GAY."

Azimio punched him in the mouth. Hard. But Dave was laughing. The minute he'd told someone, he'd felt amazing. He didn't even feel the swelling of his cheek, and he hardly felt it as the other boys started kicking him. But that was a lie. He could feel them kicking him. It hurt.

"Hey! What's going on!" It was Mr. Schuester to the rescue. He seemed to pop up when necessary. Lucky Dave.

Azimio and the three other boys book it down the hall, leaving Dave bleeding. Mr. Schuester was screaming after the boys, and then screaming for the nurse.

((((

Dave had come clean, and had taken the beating. This time. Next time anyone said any shit about Kurt, or called Dave a fag or anything, he would kick some ass. But he was too happy to be free to care about them right now. Nothing new was broken, the nurse said, though she mentioned that he should go see his family doctor just in case.

He'd told Mr. Schue everything. Everything. Mr. Schue even drove him to his aunt's house. He barely heard the Spanish teacher going on about pressing charges. Right now, all he wanted was to figure out how to bring Kurt back into his life.

He fell asleep comfortably (relatively, anyway) for the first time in weeks.