Author's note: I wrote a brief (~800 word) conversation between Burt and Paul, which will be referred to obliquely, so you don't need to have read it, but you'll probably find this chapter funnier if you do.

Kurt communicating via technology

Dave communicatingvia technology

PART TWENTY

The only thing that got him through that mortifying experience was knowing he'd be chatting with Kurt again before the end of the night. His dad leaves, shooting a pleading glance towards the book he bought him and he shakes his head before grabbing it and shoving it in his stash box. The one labeled Middle school books, which will hopefully keep anyone out, but it might make his dad question why it has to go to New York with him. He pulls his laptop toward him on the desk and turns it on, clicking into the chat room, and like before their conversation is all still there.

HookedonHope has left the chatroom

But despite what my friends might say I kind of want to date you.

I'm home. Let me know when you're on. Send me a text or something. *smile*

HookedonHope has entered the chatroom

He feels like a complete fool, but he screen caps it and saves it, and Kurt hasn't even bothered to leave the chat room since signing in. He's glad he logged out when he did though, because if Kurt responds like that every time he lets his idiocy reign or his insecurities swamp him then they might actually have a chance. He pulls out his phone and sends a text message, typing the same message into the chat room at the same time.

You around?

He picks up the book he was reading earlier; the same one he's dropped a couple of times when Kurt had started texting him. It's a historical drama he's reading for work, so that he can write a review on it, the bonus being he gets to keep the book at the end. He actually reads the books, unlike some of his other workmates. He's only managed a couple of pages when his laptop chimes quietly alerting him to a message.

I'm here. *smile* How was your dad after I left? He looked a little freaked out.

He grins, because freaked out is a pretty apt description really. He'd been a little freaked out as well, but had gotten over it pretty quickly, because being kissed had definitely snapped his attention to pin-point focus and nothing else had mattered.

Yeah, he was a little uncomfortable I think. I had to endure a sex talk. -Again-. And then he gave me a book, one I already own, and I definitely showed him exactly how mature I am by snorting with laughter every five seconds. Yeah. Awkward. Obviously a day for awkward conversations.

What book was it?

The Joy of Gay Sex.

There's a book?

Seriously Kurt?

There are books for -everything-. -Lots- of books.

I like reading.

He bites his lip and grins, because normally he'd add a wink after that, because well, reading is what started this whole thing, but knowing it's Kurt on the other end makes him feel a little more restrained, like he needs to test the waters before he starts outright flirting again. Although if they're dating then surely he should flirt with him right?

So do I. *wink*

He laughs out loud at that and bites a knuckle, because good, they aren't going to pretend that that never happened; their flirty back-and-forth banter online. He could never do it in person. Not yet. He feels self-conscious and seriously out of his depth when faced with Kurt in person, but he knows that's not the real him, and he suspects that Kurt knows that now as well. He just has to give himself time, and he has plenty of that, and Kurt doesn't seem to mind. He's fairly certain that once he has some confidence though he might

So you have two copies then? You can give one to me?

He has nothing in his mouth, so he's not quite sure how he manages to choke, but it's likely on his own tongue, and fuck, it's only just occurred to him. Sex. He's talked about sex a lot with Kurt. FruitLover. That's fine. He's not freaked out by it, or ashamed of the idea of it or the fact that he likes the idea of sex. But now he's going out with Kurt, dating him, except he's not sure what that will entail exactly, and it's always seemed a pretty murky-grey area to him. Does that mean he's not single? Not that there's an army of guys wanting to date him, but he'd kind of like to know.

David?

Sorry. Busy laughing. Sure you can have the book, you should have stayed for the talk too. I mean, I get that he's trying to look out for me, but it's gone from 'don't get anyone pregnant' to…

Well, let's just say I'm never going to look at a free sample the same way ever again.

No thanks, I've had my fair share of uncomfortable talks with my dad, I don't need them from your dad as well.

And don't get me started on the double standards. I know if I were straight my dad would be fine with closed doors. He was when I was dating Brittany anyway.

Huh. So I'm betting the whole open door thing has come from your dad then. You're right, they shouldn't be allowed to talk. He never insisted on it with Santana. I forgot that you went out with Brittany.

You had Santana at your house? Brave.

And yeah, our one-time girlfriends are now going out. I'm sure there must be a joke in there somewhere.

Yeah. I mean, Santana is kind of a control freak. We had Bullywhips schedules to work out, and then the whole prom thing…she was kind of obsessed.

He pauses, doesn't know what to write next, because he screwed up so often and in so many ways he still kind of wonders why Kurt even talks to him. Sure Kurt knows him better know, but Kurt forgave him over a year ago, when their contact was pretty much limited to him walking Kurt to classes and short sharp nods when the passed each other in the hallways at other times. Seeing him in Scandals, he'd only approached him because he felt comfortable there. And Valentine's Day because his online friends had convinced him he had nothing to lose.

I'm sorry about that.

What?

For telling you that you should come out, to the whole school, at prom. I know it's your biggest fear.

Dude, you don't have to apologize for anything. Seriously Kurt, you don't need to say sorry. I'm the one that should never stop saying sorry.

No.

You don't get to do that. You have nothing left to apologize for.

You apologized and I forgave you.

I'm not starting something with you if you feel that you need to be making it up to me all the time.

I want someone who is my equal, not someone that who feels he has to let me get my way all the time because of a messed history.

I screwed up too, I can see that now, looking back, and I never apologized.

Of course, from here on out if you screw up then I expect a separate apology.

Are you listening to me David?

David?

His hands are hovering over the keyboard and he hasn't managed to type anything with the speed at which Kurt's been typing and sending messages. He's pretty sure Kurt's being overly simplistic and idealistic, because there're generally always some imbalances in a relationship, some give-and-take, but he gets where Kurt is coming from, but he can't promise that he won't forever feel bad about his past actions, but he doesn't need that guilt there to make him want to treat Kurt like a prince. He just has to let Kurt know that.

All I can do is try and be myself.

Fuck he hopes that that's enough.

OAA

"You seem in a pretty good mood…" Nick states, bumping him roughly with his shoulder in greeting and Dave grins, shrugs. He is in a good mood, and it's kind of nice that it's so apparent to someone else, plus it's his last Monday at high school, so he has multiple reasons to be happy. This part of his life is almost over. Thankfully.

"Yep."

"You want to tell me why? Wait… do I want to know?"

He laughs, shrugs again, because no, Nick probably doesn't want to know, but he can give him an edited version.

"I am in a fantastic mood, not only do we only have five days of school left, ever, but my weekend was awesome."

"Did you, uh, get laid or something?"

Dave stops walking and stares at him. He's never talked guy talk, not actual talk where the other guy knew he was gay. He's made noises about tits and asses within a general group, but he stopped doing that when he transferred. He kept quiet on all fronts. Nick has asked knowing if he got laid it would have been with a guy, it's kind of weird. Refreshing. Odd.

"I… no. Dude. I don't need to get laid to have an awesome weekend. And as if I would tell you anyway…"

"Definitely a no then…" Nick says, and he's laughing at him.

"Fuck off," Dave mutters, punching Nick's shoulder, laughing as well, because it's kind of nice, being mocked this way. It makes him miss Az though, because they always gave each other shit, and he's kind of curious to know how he would react.

"So, what, no other reason for the good mood? Just school finishing. Fair enough though, I mean, I'm happy about that myself. Just… you're really happy."

"I… yeah." He glances around, and there are people, but no one is really paying attention, and Nick is a friend, mostly. "You remember Valentine's Day?"

"Yeah."

"The guy from Valentine's Day?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, he's…" My boyfriend? "Uh, well, he's, we're…"

"Dude, doesn't he have a boyfriend?"

"Did have… yeah."

He gets another shove and Nick's grinning and nodding. It feels kind of nice to share this with someone in person, because even though he'd put the screen cap on his blog last night and said that he's not so single anymore and his online friends had been pretty freaking ecstatic for him, what Nick is offering is something completely different; it's kind of nice.

OAA

Kurt isn't really paying attention to the documentary playing on the screen. The teachers have gotten even lazier, in fact he's pretty sure Mrs. Honeywell is asleep at her desk. He's more than okay with it, it gives him more time to daydream and plan for New York. Mercedes is passing him a note when there's a knock at the door. The runner, the poor freshman sent into a den of bored seniors. The dim lighting probably doesn't help, but she spies him and… oh. It is for him. He straightens in his seat and smiles, accepting the single flower, which looks like a rose.

"Flowers Kurt? Well, flower rather?" Mercedes whispers, and of course everyone's interest is suddenly centered on him instead of the documentary, which has finished anyway, the credits rolling. "Who is it from?"

He flicks open the card, and there isn't enough light in the room to really read it so he just shrugs, although he knows exactly who has sent it. He doesn't know if David would have been so bold as to sign it off with his own name though, and he's not going to say anything. If he has signed his own name and someone steals the card… well, then he'll deal with that if it happens.

"I can't see…" he says, and is then blinded by the lights flicking on, the blinds being wound up and the bell ringing. What he had thought was a single dark-colored rose is in fact a brightly multi-colored one, clearly artificially colored in rainbow shades. It's stunning. Mercedes takes advantage of his distraction to snap the tiny gift card from his hand and…

"Who's HH?"

"Hmm. I don't know…" Kurt replies, picking up his bag and settling the strap over his shoulder. He holds the rose carefully, notes how carefully it's been wrapped and he wonders what David's source is, because he would have no idea where to get such a thing.

"Liar. You so do! Who is it? Are you and Blaine getting back together?"

"What? No. Blaine's dating Luke? Remember? The guy you were gushing over just last weekend?"

"Pfft. You guys were cute together. Luke's cute too though…"

They start walking towards the door and he can see Blaine waiting for them so they can all go to lunch together and the flower is plucked from his hand and he rolls his eyes.

"Nice… it's really unusual."

"He won't tell me who it's from…" Mercedes mutters.

"Same guy as Valentine's?" Blaine queries, and he nods, even though he considers it a stupid question. Who else is it going to be? Blaine grins and he grins back. It's good to know that even if he might not like David himself, he's fine with Kurt's decision, and when all this comes out, he's pretty sure he's going to need Blaine's support.

"Wait, I thought Blaine sent those things…that wasn't you?"

Blaine laughs and shakes his head and Kurt blushes, because well, he's never corrected anyone else about his misconceptions. They enter the cafeteria and line up and Mercedes is looking decidedly pissed off.

"So you have a secret admirer. Or not so secret. It's signed HH. And you both know who it is…"

"Who both know what now?" Puck asks, pushing into line with them and crap, this is about to get circus like.

"Kurt has a secret admirer. Actually a secret this time, because last time we all just thought it was Blaine… wait, is it a secret if you know who it is?"

"You know who gorilla guy is?" Puck asks and Kurt rolls his eyes. "'Cause my money was on Evans."

"Sam isn't gay," Mercedes snaps and Kurt looks at her, because the tone of voice is just a little insulting. "Not that being gay is bad, I just… get a little defensive. Remember in Sophomore year when I had a bit of a crush on you?"

"Wait, you had a crush on Kurt?" Puck asks, and then starts laughing. He's not sure why, but he feels even more insulted by the laughter.

"Why shouldn't she? Kurt's pretty bangin'. For a guy. I mean, if I were gay I'd date him…" Sam says, joining them at the table and Puck spreads his hands out in supplication as if his point has just been proven.

"Thank you Sam. I'm touched, truly. However my love life is not actually up for discussion right now."

"It kind of is," Blaine states, waving the flower in the air and he wants to snap at him to be careful.

"And you're okay with this? This other guy wanting to date Kurt?" Mercedes asks and Blaine looks amused.

"I'm sorry, did you miss the memo about us breaking up? And the fact that I'm dating Luke? Anyway, any guy that makes Kurt happy is okay in my books."

Mercedes doesn't look appeased at all, although he's insanely grateful for the fact that Blaine has already spied potential problems and has started laying the groundwork for when he can tell people he's dating David.

"So what does HH stand for?"

"Happy Hummel?" Puck suggests.

"Oh my god…" Kurt mumbles, and lets his forehead hit the table.