Disclaimer-I don't own anything
Thanks for reviewing
Lyrics are in italics song is 'The Middle' by Jimmy Eat World
Also, to anyone who doesn't like the idea of Blaine/Karofsky and feels that romance between those two characters will ruin the story for them, I strongly suggest you discontinue reading.
Chapter 21-Sunday III
"Fuck off." Santana grumbled sleepily as a gentle hand on her shoulder lightly shook her awake. "Fine, I'm up." She groaned as the hand continued to shake her.
"How are you feeling?" Jed asked looking down on her as she sat up in the bed.
"I'm fine." Santana responded before noticing the breakfast tray in the college student's hands. "Starving actually, give me that." She said taking the breakfast tray from him and digging straight into the sausages. "Wha' time is it?" She asked through a mouthful of food.
"It's eight o'clock." Jed informed her checking his watch and the Latina glared at him in horror.
"What kind of freak gets up this early on a Sunday?" Santana asked after swallowing a mouthful of food. "Oh damn, are your parents around?"
"Yeah, they're downstairs eating breakfast." Jed replied. "Is that a problem?"
"I hate parents." Santana responded as she stabbed at her second sausage. "And they hate me right back. And I'm not just referring to my lame-ass parents; I'm talking about parents in general. People's mums look at me like I'm something they stepped in and people's dad's perve over me. I'm not gonna have to meet your parents am I?"
"Not if you don't want to." Jed told her. "But you don't have anything to worry about. I'm sure my parents would really like you."
"Do they know I'm here?" Santana asked.
"Yeah," Jed nodded. "I've explained the situation to them. They've already agreed that you can stay here for a few weeks if you need to."
"Wait, what the hell did you tell them?" Santana demanded to know, her tone sounding less fierce than she intended due to the scrambled eggs in her mouth.
"I just said that I gave you a lift home last night and that all the cars parked in your driveway indicated that your mum was having a party, and so I brought you here." Jed answered. "I told them I didn't feel comfortable leaving you there with everything going on. My parents accepted that."
"Did you mention that it was most likely a sex party?" Santana asked taking a sip of the fruit juice.
"No, that part I left out." Jed said. "Also, I should tell you now that they don't actually know about me dating your mother."
"You were living with us for weeks, how could they not know?" Santana poked at the mushrooms with distaste before chewing down some bacon.
"I wasn't sure how my parents would react to me dating an older woman." Jed replied uncomfortably. "I may have given the impression that your mother was closer to my age than she really is."
"Get to the point." Santana huffed.
"They think you're my girlfriend." Jed said quickly.
"What?" Santana cried indignantly.
"They just assumed ok." Jed told her hurriedly as the girl glared daggers at him. "All I really told them about your mum was that she was a beautiful Latina, so when they caught a glimpse of you last night they thought you were her."
"And you haven't corrected them because?" Santana demanded to know.
"Because it's simpler this way." Jed answered. "If they think you're my girlfriend then it makes sense for you to be here. If they find out that you're actually my ex-girlfriend's daughter then they're going to be a lot of questions."
"Fine, I'll play along for now." Santana sighed. "But don't think it's not gonna cost ya."
"How much?" Jed asked pulling his wallet from his back pocket as though he'd been expecting such a response.
"For you, fifty dollars." Santana told him and he handed the money over before taking back the breakfast tray and eating the mushrooms she had left. "I'm not sticking around though. I'll jump in your shower and then I'll head over to Brittany's and hang there for a while. Whatever disgusting guys my mum had a gangbang with last night should be gone by this evening. She never keeps guys around for long. Other than my father you were probably her longest relationship."
"Ok, but if she still has a group of guys there later on I don't want you staying in that house." Jed said sternly. "Either you stay with a friend or you come here. Deal?"
"Deal." Santana answered.
"Good." Jed nodded approvingly. "If you're ready for that shower now I'll show you where everything is."
"Sure," Santana replied before following his lead to the bathroom where he set out a towel for her. "My clothes?" She asked. "There's no way I'm wearing your sweatpants and Guns N Roses t-shirt in public."
"I put your clothes in the wash last night." Jed explained. "They'll be dry now. You wait here and I'll get them."
Watching him go, Santana looked around the bathroom. Finding a pack of dental floss, she pulled off a strip and stood before the mirror flossing her teeth. Jed returned fairly quickly with her clothes neatly folded and he placed them next to the bath towel ready for her.
"Do you need anything else?" Jed asked.
"I'm a big girl, Jed, I know how to shower by myself thank you." Santana answered.
"Right, well, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel." Jed listed pointing out the items set in the shower rack.
"I can read." Santana informed him.
"I'll be downstairs." Jed replied. "Take your time, sweetheart."
"Yeah, whatever." Santana responded before shoving him out of the bathroom then locking the door.
Stripping out of the clothing Jed had leant her to wear to bed the previous night, Santana found herself wondering why Jed was still going out of his way to be nice to her. It wasn't something she was used to. Usually, if a guy did something nice for her it was because he was hoping to get laid. It wasn't like that with Jed. He'd even slept in the spare room and he'd never once stared down her top or slapped her ass like many of her mother's fuck buddies did. Jed truly seemed to care about her wellbeing and had no expectations of receiving sexual favours in return.
Standing under the spray and washing her hair, Santana still found herself questioning why Jed was being so good to her. She simply wasn't accustomed to people looking out for her and caring about her. It was a pleasant feeling in a way, but it was also scary. Santana was used to standing on her own two feet and looking out for herself. The idea of depending on someone else was frightening, especially when she was so used to people letting her down.
Finishing her shower quickly, Santana stepped out and dried off before pulling on her clothing. She found a brush on the windowsill and worked through the tangles in her hair before cautiously heading downstairs. She hovered in the doorway of the living-room and spied Jed chatting easily with his parents as they laughed at something on the television. The family of three looked almost boringly normal but still happy. It wasn't anything like Santana's miserable home life.
"Ah, you must be Jed's girl." Jed's father spoke up spotting her standing awkwardly as she looked in on them. "Come on in, love, don't be shy."
Tucking her hair behind her ears, Santana stepped into the living-room and quietly sat beside Jed on the coach. She wasn't sure how to respond to Jed's dad referring to her as 'shy'. It wasn't a word anyone had ever used to describe her before.
"Magdalena, isn't it?" Jed's mother asked, unknowingly calling Santana by her mother's name.
"Yeah," Santana answered. "But people just call me Magda or Maggie."
For the next half hour, Santana found herself being forced to make small talk with Jed's parents. She became incredibly uncomfortable when his mother started on about how she longed for grandchildren. It took a lot of self-control for Santana not to simply respond by stating she was in fact a lesbian.
"You'll have to join us for dinner sometime." Jed's mother insisted.
"Sure, that sounds great." Santana replied trying to smile but she was sure it came out as a grimace. "So anyway," she said standing up. "I don't mean to be rude…" she caught sight of Jed smiling in amusement at the thought of her not meaning to be rude to someone. Ordinarily, Santana lived to be rude to people. "But I should probably get going."
"Of course, it was nice to finally meet you, Maggie." Jed's mother said while his father nodded.
"You too." Santana answered before walking out of the living-room with Jed following her.
"See now," Jed said as they climbed into his car. "That wasn't too bad was it?"
"I guess it could have been worse." Santana admitted. "Still not the way I'd have chosen to spend my Sunday morning though. And you had better tell them that you've broken up with 'Maggie'," she made air quotations as she said the name. "Because I am not down with doing dinner with your parents, or even communicating with them ever again, at all, ever."
"Relax, I'll tell them I dumped you." Jed assured her.
"Uh-ah. No way." Santana retorted shaking her head. "That just isn't at all believable, especially since they've seen how hot I am. You'll have to tell them I dumped you."
"Fine, but we're still friends right?" Jed asked. "If things are ever difficult at home I want you to know that you can come to me."
"Why do you even care, Jed?" Santana asked with a sigh as they drove along. "It's not like I was ever actually your step-daughter. Hell, I'm not anything to you. There's no reason for you to stick around."
"I may not be with your mother anymore, Santana, but I still care about you." Jed told her. "You act tough but I've seen how vulnerable you really are. Somebody has to step up and look after you."
"And how long will this last for?" Santana questioned. "Let's be real about this for a second. With enough time, you'll find yourself a new girlfriend. I don't imagine that many women would be happy to know that you sometimes hang around with a teenage girl. If I was an ugly, fat chick, yeah ok, they might be cool with it. But I'm hot, they'll assume you're fucking me and then your relationship will be over. And eventually you may meet a girl who is perfect for you. True, she'll probably have to be blind and deaf to put up with you, but through that disability she'll still sense that I'm a hot bitch. You won't want to let this perfect girl go. You'll be given an ultimatum to choose between her and me. I know how it'll go. Some chick will take control of you and you'll leave me to deal with my problems all on my own and when I need you, you won't be there."
"That's not gonna happen." Jed insisted. "Not everybody in your life will disappoint you, you know. Besides, I'm sure any girls I meet will accept our friendship as soon as I explain to them that you like girls. Just face it, San; you aren't getting rid of me. Now, where am I taking you, Brittany's house?"
"Yeah, turn right here." Santana directed.
They pulled up outside Brittany's house and Santana left the car and walked up to the front door and rang the bell. Jed waited to watch her go inside but it didn't happen. After Brittany's dad answered the door and had a quick word with Santana, the Latina returned to the passenger seat of Jed's car.
"She's with her boyfriend ok." Santana grumbled before Jed could ask.
"Boyfriend?" Jed repeated in confusion. "But I thought you and her were sort of together."
"We used to fool around a little, that's all." Santana replied as Jed restarted the car. "She'll still trade super hot sexts with me occasionally but that's it. She's all about playing little miss faithful heterosexual girlfriend right now."
"Oh," Jed said. "Do you have another friend you could spend the day with?"
"It'll have to be Puckerman." Santana decided. "At least he's more miserable and pathetic than I am so that'll cheer me up a little. Why does life have to suck so badly?"
"Hey, come on, you have good things going on for you." Jed told her encouragingly. "You're smart, beautiful and talented. You've just won at Regionals."
"One little trophy doesn't cancel out the giant ball of suck." Santana commented. "My mum's a whore, daddy doesn't want to know me, and the girl who should be my girlfriend isn't in the mood to get her girl-gay on. Forgive me for whining, but things really aren't that great. I'm not even really a part of that stupid Glee Club. I just make bitchy remarks so I can make people feel as shit as I do. Sometimes I just feel left out."
"Everyone feels that way sometimes." Jed replied before pulling up outside Puck's house as Santana pointed it out. "It's a part of growing up."
"Well it sucks." Santana complained.
"Promise you'll call me whenever you need to?" Jed asked her.
"Yeah." Santana nodded. "Thanks Jed." She leaned in to give him a one-armed hug before climbing out the car and knocking on the door.
Puck answered and stood back to let her in. Stepping inside, Santana looked out over her shoulder to find Jed watching to ensure she got safely inside. He raised his hand in a wave and she waved back before following Puck up to his bedroom.
"Yuck," she exclaimed. "It smells like an animal died in here." She crossed to open the bedroom window, kicking things out of her way as she did so.
"What's up, Satan?" Puck enquired.
"Life sucks, I'm feeling miserable today, so I've come to you to feel better about myself." Santana answered him. "Seriously, you need to cheer me up somehow because I'm dangerously close to giving up and skipping town to go live in a lesbian colony."
"Um, I'm not really that good with making people feel better." Puck replied uneasily as he watched her fall down onto his mattress. "So unless you feel like playing it straight today and taking a ride on Puckzilla…"
"I'm not that lonely yet." Santana interrupted.
"Well in that case," Puck continued. "The only thing I can think of is to sing to you."
"Fine, whatever. Give that a try." Santana told him.
"Right, well, I think I know a song that might help you get your shit together." Puck said. "Just concentrate on the lyrics, babe, they should make you feel better."
"Ok, I'm listening." Santana replied sitting up and looking to him expectantly as he reached for his guitar and started to strum a tune before singing to her.
"Hey, don't write yourself off yet," Puck sang. "It's only in your head you feel left out, or looked down on. Just try your best, try everything you can. And don't you worry what they tell themselves, when you're away."
He nudged the leg she had dangling off the bed with his foot playfully before launching into the chorus.
"It just takes some time, little girl you're in the middle of the ride, everything, everything will be just fine, everything, everything will be alright, alright." Puck sent her a smile and Santana's lips slowly formed into a smile of her own. "Hey, you know they're all the same. You know you're doing better on your own, so don't buy in. Live right now, yeah, just be yourself. It doesn't matter if it's good enough for someone else."
He briefly stopped playing in order to pull her up and encourage her to dance a little to relieve some tension as he repeated the chorus.
"It just takes some time, little girl you're in the middle of the ride, everything, everything will be just fine, everything, everything will be alright, alright." Puck sang before grinding his ass against her front, causing Santana to spank him playfully as she pushed him away. "It just takes some time, little girl you're in the middle of the ride, everything, everything will be just fine, everything, everything will be alright, alright. Hey, don't write yourself off yet," Puck continued as Santana danced around him. "It's only in your head you feel left out, or looked down on. Just do your best, do everything you can. And don't you worry what their bitter hearts are gonna say."
"It just takes some time," Santana joined in to sing along with Puck for the chorus. "Little girl you're in the middle of the ride, everything, everything will be just fine, everything, everything will be alright, alright. It just takes some time, little girl you're in the middle of the ride, everything, everything will be just fine, everything, everything will be alright, alright."
"Feel better?" Puck asked placing his guitar down.
"A little." Santana shrugged.
"Great, let's play Mario." Puck responded handing a control pad to her.
Santana let out a groan but sat down to play the game with him anyway.
XXX
After receiving a text from Dave, Kurt found himself driving to the Lima Bean to meet the other boy as well as Blaine. He guessed that Dave must have gotten the Warbler's number the night before and the text Dave had sent to him had informed him that Tina had given Dave his number. Kurt knew that Dave planned to tell his parents about his sexuality that day, and he had already agreed to offer support, but he wasn't entirely sure why they were meeting for coffee.
Still, he parked up, joined the queue and ordered himself a Medium Drip before hearing his name be called out from the corner of the coffee house. Recognising Blaine, Kurt made his way over and offered an uncertain smile as he took a seat.
"Congratulations on winning Regionals." Blaine told him sincerely.
"Thank you." Kurt replied. "I take it Dave isn't here yet?" He asked unnecessarily. "Have you any idea as to why he's asked to meet up with us?"
"Not really." Blaine shrugged as he broke off some of his cookie and popped it into his mouth. "I gave him my number last night in case he ever needed somebody to talk to. Then this very morning I got a call from the big guy. He probably just wants some friendly advice on how to deal with coming out."
"And how are you supposed to help?" Kurt asked in confusion. Blaine simply raised a triangular shaped eyebrow at him as he waited for Kurt to find the answer to his own question. "Oh, you're… oh." Kurt said in surprise. "I know there's a stereotypical view about private school boys but I never really gave it much consideration. Are many of the boys from Dalton gay?"
"It isn't a gay school," Blaine laughed. "In fact a lot of my friends in The Warblers have girlfriends, or at least girls that they wish were their girlfriend. I transferred a while ago after some trouble with bullies at my old school. The environment at Dalton is so much more accepting. We have a strict no bullying policy."
"Sounds divine." Kurt replied.
"I take it things aren't easy for you at your school?" Blaine asked gently.
"Not always." Kurt answered. "But I have great friends to get me through each school day. Besides, things will be much worse on Dave than it ever was on me. I just hope his parents are the supportive kind."
"With a friend like you I'm sure Dave will make it through whatever tough times may lay ahead." Blaine said. "Is there any chance you and he might… you know?" Blaine asked. "Start dating." He elaborated at Kurt's bewildered look.
"Oh, no, I don't think of him in that way." Kurt replied.
"But you know he likes you right?" Blaine questioned.
"I am aware, yes." Kurt nodded. "But I don't think his feelings are anything genuine. I just happen to be the only gay guy he knows and all his confusion about his sexuality probably just makes him think he's interested in me romantically when really he just relates to the fact we have something in common that nobody else at our school can understand."
"You're probably right." Blaine agreed. "From my experience, a lot of gay teens have a tendency to crush on the first other gay boy they meet, or any guy that just happens to treat them like a human being rather than someone with a life-threatening disease."
"That makes a lot of sense." Kurt said thoughtfully. "It certainly explains my misguided crush on my step-brother… Oh, he wasn't my step-brother at the time." Kurt added hastily at the awkward expression that had formed on Blaine's face. "So…" Kurt said as he searched for something else to say. He was spared having to think of anything by Dave's arrival.
"Hey." Dave said somewhat shyly as he sat at the table with them clutching his own cup of coffee. "Um, thanks for coming."
"Not a problem." Blaine replied resting his chin on his hand as he gazed at Dave with a far greater attention than he had given Kurt.
"Are you still planning to tell your parents today?" Kurt asked after a moment of silence.
"Yeah, I want to." Dave answered running his finger round the rim of his cup. "I think the sooner I just tell them the better. At least I'll know what they think of me instead of stressing about it all the time."
"Is this why you asked to talk to us today?" Blaine asked searching Dave's face, encouraging the burlier boy to make eye-contact with him.
"Kinda," Dave shrugged. "I thought maybe you could tell me how you came out to your parents. Kurt already told me how things went with his dad but I know it won't be that way with mine. There's no way they know that I'm gay. This is definitely gonna be a shock to them."
"It was a huge shock to my parents." Blaine offered reaching his hand out and resting it on top of Dave's hand. The larger teen looked down at their hands with what appeared to be terror before his eyes darted around the coffee house, as though expecting somebody to unleash their homophobia upon them. "Their initial reaction was one of silence." Blaine continued moving his hand away since Dave clearly wasn't entirely comfortable with such a public display of gayness.
"Yikes," Kurt commented, his baby finger poking out as he lifted his coffee to his lips. "That must have been awful."
"What happened after?" Dave asked. "Did they yell or just accept it or… grill you with questions?"
"My mum was the first to recover from the shock." Blaine answered. "She put her book down then looked at me like she was trying to read my mind before asking if I was sure. My vocal ability then failed me so I simply nodded in the affirmative. Then my dad offered his opinion on the matter?"
"Bad?" Dave asked quietly.
"It could have been worse," Blaine acknowledged. "But I had hoped for better."
"What did he say?" Kurt asked curiously, quietly appreciating how fortunate he was to be blessed with such an amazing dad.
"He told me I was being stupid," Blaine laughed though there was no humour in his chuckle. "That it was just a phase and I'd grow out of it. That summer he had us repair a car together. I guess it was his way of trying to turn me straight."
"That's ridiculous," Kurt snorted. "I've been aiding my dad with his work at the garage since I was eight years old and I'm still as gay as it is possible to be. I can fix a car up a great deal better than most straight guys too."
"How are your parents about it all now?" Dave asked. "I mean, are they like… ok with it?" He looked to Blaine with hopeful eyes but it was a tight smile that Blaine returned to him.
"We don't really mention it." Blaine admitted. "My mum talked to me about it a little when I was having a rough time at my old school because of it. Then when I started at Dalton she asked what the boys were like there and if I'd met anyone special but our talks haven't gone beyond that. My dad just doesn't talk about it. I don't know if he just doesn't know how to deal with the situation or if he's just ashamed of who I am."
"Oh, sorry." Dave apologised looking increasingly more worried for himself.
"Everybody reacts in different ways, Dave." Kurt said. "Your parents might need some time to adjust but I'm confident it will all work out."
"I don't know." Dave sighed running his hand over his face. "I don't know what to do or how to tell them. I don't know anything."
"Hey, it's ok." Blaine told him placing his hand on Dave's shoulder. "We're here for you. We'll help you through it."
"Yeah?" Dave asked with a little half-smile and Blaine nodded. He then looked to Kurt and Kurt gave him a nod. "Any suggestions on what I should say when I tell my parents?"
"Just tell them that this is who you are and nothing is going to change that and you hope you can count on their love and support." Blaine suggested.
"Or you could be more direct and simply say, I'm gay, deal with it." Kurt said. "That's what I feel like saying to most of your old football and hockey friends."
"What do I do if they don't accept me?" Dave asked. "I read some stuff on the internet and I know not everyone gets a nice family hug after stepping out of the closet. I read about kids whose parent's kicked them out or beat the hell out of them and other horrible things. What if my parents respond like that?"
"If the worst should happen then you can stay with me for a while." Kurt said. "You can share Finn's room, Carole will show you all the motherly affection you could possibly need and my dad could talk to your mum and dad and hopefully educate them in how to be a good parent. But you shouldn't think too much about the worst case scenario right now. Things may be perfectly fine."
"I don't know." Dave sighed again.
"Well you won't know until you tell them." Blaine pointed out.
"Do you still want me to be there when you tell them?" Kurt asked. "If I'm standing beside you in all my obvious gay-boy glory the revelation may not come as such a shock."
"Yeah, I could really use your support." Dave nodded. "Um, you too if you're not gonna be busy with something else?" He asked Blaine.
"I'm free all day." Blaine replied. "My time is all yours, big guy."
Dave smiled in gratitude before turning his eyes back to Kurt. While Dave admired Kurt's form, Blaine had his head cocked to the side checking out an oblivious Dave and Kurt tried not to fidget uncomfortably as he sipped at his coffee.
XXX
"So, what do you think, white boy?" Mercedes asked looking to Sam for his opinion on her 'get Kurt and Puck together' plan.
"I think you're insane." Sam answered honestly torn between looking amused and disapproving. "You can't force people into a relationship, it doesn't work that way."
"Not forcing," Mercedes defended. "Merely encouraging. Puck has totally got the hots for Kurt. The attraction is already there, Mercedes Jones is just gonna help bring it to life."
"But is Kurt interested in Puck?" Sam asked her.
"Of course he is." Mercedes answered and Sam frowned at her. "He might be." Mercedes said. "Well, ok, no. But if he gets to know Puck a little better then he really could develop feelings for him. Stranger things have happened."
"I don't even understand why you're doing this." Sam replied from where he was sitting cross-legged on Mercedes' bed, one of her teddy bears settled in his lap.
"So that Kurt can be happy." Mercedes said. "He's too proud to say anything to me, but I know my boy's lonely. He thinks he won't get a chance to date until college and I don't want it to be that way. Kurt deserves some loving right now."
"So you're going to try and set him up with Puck?" Sam asked. "Wouldn't it make more sense to try and set him up with Dave? At least we actually know that he is gay."
"Tina's gonna be working on Dave." Mercedes told him.
"Wait, what?" Sam questioned.
"I'm gonna try and set Kurt up with Puck, Tina's gonna try and set Kurt up with Dave." Mercedes explained. "We'll work with the boys and with our help we'll make them such perfect boyfriends for Kurt and then he can choose who he wants."
"'Cedes, that's terrible." Sam replied. "I don't think Kurt would like the idea of you and Tina meddling with his life like this. And it isn't fair to Dave or to Puck."
"You mean you're not gonna help me with this?" Mercedes asked.
"I can't," Sam answered. "I'm sorry but it's kinda messed up. You shouldn't treat your friends like they're a game."
"It isn't like that." Mercedes said.
"Look, I know your heart's in the right place," Sam told her. "But I still think you and Tina are wrong. Trying to set a friend up with somebody is fine, but trying to set Kurt up with Puck and Dave simultaneously is only gonna cause heartbreak. Imagine if Kurt tried setting you up with a guy you really liked but Tina was trying to set Rachel up with this guy at the same time," Sam said. "How would you feel if the guy you really liked chose Rachel over you? Because that's exactly how Dave or Puck will feel if you and Tina go through with this. And I don't even want to think about how Kurt would react if he found out."
"You don't know Kurt like I do." Mercedes replied. "All he wants is someone to love him. And he'll never admit it, but that's all that Puck wants too. This isn't just a fun game to me. I really think Kurt and Puck could be good together. But without my help it'll never happen."
"You should do what you think is right," Sam responded. "But I can't help you out on any of this."
"Right, ok, that's fine, dude." Mercedes responded. "Movie?" She asked. "But not Avatar again."
"You choose this time." Sam told her.
Mercedes selected a film and the two then settled on her bed together to watch it.
"You know," Sam said as they watched the happenings on screen. "I think this guy really likes that girl."
"Yeah, I think she likes him too." Mercedes replied.
"He seems kinda shy about it though," Sam commented. "I guess he's a little unsure about himself since that other girl cheated on him. He's probably hoping she'll make the first move."
"Probably." Mercedes whispered turning his gaze away from the television and looking to Sam instead. "But I don't think that girl's ever made the first move before."
Smiling softly, Sam brushed a hand through Mercedes' hair and the diva smiled before bringing a hand up to rest on his cheek. She moved her face closer to his and their eyes closed before their lips touched. Mercedes pulled back and kept her eyes tight shut fearing a rejection. Instead, she felt Sam's lips upon hers again, pressing firmer this time for a deeper kiss.
XXX
That evening, Dave was stood before his parents in the living-room with Kurt and Blaine stood either side of him.
"Mum, dad," Dave said to gain their attention and the two adults looked between the three teenagers in confusion. "There's something I need to tell you."
Paul and Paula Karofsky shared a concerned look before sitting up straighter in their seats as they looked to their son.
"This um, this isn't easy for me." Dave told them.
"Please not drugs," Paula muttered burying her face in her hands and looking to the floor. "Please not drugs, please not drugs."
"No drugs, Mrs Karofsky." Blaine assured her. "Nothing at all criminal." He added.
Paul's eyes flicked over to Kurt briefly before he returned his attention to his son who was staring down at the carpet.
"Dave?" Paul prompted, his eyes shooting to Kurt again before back to his son who lifted his head up.
"This isn't your fault," Dave said. "And I can't help it. This is just the way I am."
"I don't understand." Paula said looking baffled. "What's going on? What's happened?" She asked looking between the three boys for an answer while Paul looked at Kurt once again before standing up and stepping towards his only son.
"Dave, you know we love you." Paul told his son as he rested a hand on his shoulder, eyes once again glancing to Kurt. "No matter what. Just tell us what you need to say."
"Go on, Dave," Blaine encouraged quietly. "It's ok."
"I'm…" Dave let out a shaky breath and turned his head away, avoiding his father's gaze. "I'm… I'm gay."
"Gay." Paul repeated the word, his eyes turned to Kurt who stood tall and proud as he returned the older man's gaze.
"I'm sorry." Dave apologised, his voice cracking slightly as though he was about to cry.
Paul just shook his head and clapped his hand on Dave's shoulder before heading to the kitchen. In the silence of the living-room, they could all hear the sound of a bottle being opened and liquid being poured into a glass. Paul returned with a glass of whiskey along with the bottle. He set the bottle on the coffee table before chucking the amber liquid down his throat. He poured himself another helping and drained that as well before taking hold of the remote control and turning on the T.V. He poured a third glass of whiskey but did not drink it.
"Mum?" Dave asked sounding a lot younger than he was while Kurt and Blaine stood by, feeling immensely awkward as they acted as a silent support, Blaine's hand resting comfortingly on Dave's bicep.
Lifting her face, Paula looked her son in the eye with a sad smile as silent tears travelled down her face. Reaching her hand out, Paula grabbed her husband's glass of whiskey and drank the liquid before coughing as it burned down her throat. Wiping her eyes, she stood and disappeared into the kitchen where she got to work on washing up, the sounds of her sobs reaching the men in the living-room.
"Dad?" Dave asked.
"A repeat of the game's on," Paul said pointing to the T.V. "Sit with me."
Hands in his pockets, Dave sat beside his dad.
"Can we, um, can we talk about this?" Dave asked quietly while Kurt and Blaine busied themselves with looking around the living-room.
"Later," Paul answered sounding tired. "I don't know what to say right now. Just… later, ok kid?" He asked resting a hand on Dave's knee.
"Ok." Dave replied.
"Well, we should go." Kurt said. "See you at school, Dave."
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Karofsky." Blaine said politely earning a nod and half-hearted groan in response. "We'll show ourselves out."
Quietly, Kurt and Blaine left the Karofsky household.
"Well that was painfully awkward." Kurt commented. "Do you think they'll be ok?"
"His parents are in shock," Blaine replied. "But it seems like they're going to deal."
"Coming out at school is going to be harder." Kurt said.
"We'll help him through it." Blaine said confidently.
"You like him, don't you?" Kurt asked.
"Shut up." Blaine laughed looking a little embarrassed. "Yeah, I think I do. But it doesn't matter. He just needs to have friends who understand what he's going through right now. He has a way to go before he'll be comfortable with actually being in a gay relationship. Besides, he still likes you. I'll see you around, Kurt. Drive home safely."
"You too." Kurt replied before they parted ways.
To Be Continued
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