A/N: OMG! Thanks so much for the heartwarming and funny reviews... I feel so touched and honored... :D …. I will include some pictures for the stories as well...
Chapter 25
Friendships and Hardships
Dave walked into his house later that night, pretty happy with himself. He was officially Hockey captain, starting tomorrow at practice, he was glad that practice didn't interfere with Glee. His mood however didn't last. Azimio was sitting on his couch as his mother could be heard upstairs. He froze for a second and then walked into the living room and took a calm breath.
"Why are you here?" asked Dave, putting his bag down.
"I'm sorry about what I said man... I thought I was okay with it, but I'm still not completely... and I was talking out my ass," said Azimio with a groan.
"Obviously... listen.. I'm over it.." said Dave rifling through his bag.
"Dude... no your not... you always do that... when your nervous or upset, you reorganize shit..." said Azimio, taking the bag away, "Can we talk?"
"Dude... give me back my bag... now Az," said Dave, he didn't want to talk right now, he just wanted to return to that floating on air feeling he'd had a moment ago... or something to distract him right now.. and the backpack had been helping him remain calm.
"No... you want to talk about it and I'm here... I mean okay... I am a little uncomfortable... I really am... but we've been friends for like ever... and I know your still Dave... but I... dude... I just don't know okay... I didn't mean to say that... or even imply it... I just... man please believe me I am trying.." said Azimio, Dave could tell he was fighting yelling at him.
"I know.. okay... just... you need time... but I am still me... and its not something I can change or force on myself... I have tried... okay.. I have... and I'm done... I'm... I've come to terms with me.. okay... I don't expect you to except it so quickly... because I've been trying since eighth grade," said Dave, sadly, "I'm done pretending."
"And dude, I'm glad... I'm glad your okay with you, man... I really am... but I'm tryin and I want to be cool with it... but you know... its hard... okay... I am.. and I will keep trying.. but your right, its not gonna be the same..." said Azimio, Dave wanted to yell or cry, but he didn't... he couldn't... and he saw the anguish in his friends eyes and nodded, he was trying.
"I know, Az... I just wish it wasn't... you know... I still want to play Mario Kart or talk about girls and shit... I mean... sure I'm not into them... but we can still talk about that stuff, you know," said Dave, he kept an ear open to make sure his mom wasn't coming, they we're both silent for at least ten minutes.
"... just... know man... I love you okay, dude... and I am trying... but I'm gonna say the wrong shit sometimes... and please just... punch me or something... knock some sense into me... tell me... don't run off and ignore me for days..." said Azimio, scratching his head.
"Deal," smiled Dave, holding out his hand.
"Dude... we just we had a fucking heart to heart... you better not try to get off shaking my hand," said Azimio, pulling Dave into a hug, Dave responded a second later, forcing himself not to cry or even sniffle.
"We're okay then..." muttered Dave, he heard Azimio chuckle before they pulled away.
"For sure, man..." said Azimio and they sat on the couch for a few awkward seconds, "So... apart from your preferences... what's new?"
"... I'm the hockey captain," said Dave with a hopeful smirk.
"What!" yelled Azimio, eyes wide, "Your shitting me, right?"
"... ohm.. no... it was an opportunity.. and I took it," said Dave.
"... you being gay I can accept... you joining hockey and ditching football... I just can't," said Azimio eyes wide and for a second, it looked very truthful and then Azimio slowly smiled, "Just playin... good for you I guess... just don't diss us... or grow a mullet or some shit."
"Too late... I promised Finn we could have matching ones," said Dave, hoping to crack a joke, but Azimio's face soured a little.
"You sure Hudson's not playing you man... I mean... you always fucked with his brother and shit... I mean I know why now... but dude... you kind of we're..." Azimio trailed off.
"It's been talked out... Kurt accepted my apology... I crashed over there last weekend... I mean... its still awkward... but nah, Finn's not playing me," said Dave, with a shrug.
"Okay... so for serious... what actually happened between you and Hummel?" asked Azimio, Dave paled.
.=.=.
Finn lay in bed eating Cheetos and listening to music... well he was supposed to be doing his homework, but he and Quinn were texting for the most part. A knock came at his door and it opened before he could say anything, Kurt peeked his head in. Finn hit his radio and sat up as Kurt held up warm milk, he beamed.
"What's up bro?" asked Finn, as Kurt handed him a glass.
"Nothing... just coming into see what you we're doing?" asked Kurt, sitting in his normal spot on Finn's bed.
"Not much... just texting Quinn..." then something occurred to Finn, "Kurt... I'm kind of worried about Dave... you know.. and the other guys..."
"... why?" asked Kurt, suddenly alert.
"I thought that after the cabin, they'd accepted him and stuff... but.. well there not even giving him a shot and its kind of a shitty situation... because he's become comfortable around them and I'm worried that he'll tell them something and they'll take it as a joke or a way for payback... I mean... I know we love all of them and stuff... but glee can be kind of...well..."
"Dramatic... vindictive... bordering on possible pure evil," said Kurt with a nod.
"Exactly..." said Finn after a few seconds of thought.
"God I miss it," sighed Kurt with a sad smile then cleared his throat, "Well... you can't exactly force them to try.. I mean I forgave him.. but I'm not exactly extremely comfortable with him... I don't think he'll kill me or anything.. but we know things that the others don't... so they can only base it off of the surface, not the depth."
"Well then... how?" asked Finn, scratching his head.
"Do what I do... guilt them... reason... yell... one's bound to work," said Kurt with a yawn.
"I've tried them all... so what... wish it the best?" asked Finn, Kurt nodded, "I suppose... so... what's new with you? How's Klaine?"
"... who?... oh god... who named us," said Kurt with an eyeroll.
"Puck... he called it.. he said if it wasn't for him telling you to go spy, you'd never had met Blaine... so he takes full credit," said Finn.
"Well... could be worse... we're fine..." shrugged Kurt, Finn tilted his head and looked Kurt in the eyes.
"Did he try something? Is he pressuring you? Did he touch you?... I'm calling..." Kurt cut Finn off, with frantic hand gestures.
"NO! I mean no... we're not.. no.. he's... no Finn, just no... I just... I worry sometimes, you know," said Kurt fighting a yawn.
"Okay... just know that..." his phone beeped from lack of charge, "I'll be right back.. I have to get my charge from downstairs.
Finn walked down the steps, it was dark in the house as their parents we're getting ready for bed and they had school the next morning. He managed to locate the charger just as his phone went off, he glared. What the hell was with Puck changing his ringtone to the Scrotum Song again... he was locking his phone from now on. He answered it with a small yawn.
"Sup, man?" asked Finn.
"Why do you trust Karofsky?" asked Puck, it echoed, he was on speaker.
"Dude... seriously?" asked Finn, plugging his phone in and sliding down the wall.
"Yeah... its just... you seem so... so certain," came Artie's voice.
"Are you guys having a party without me?" asked Finn.
"No... more like a Glee convention," came Brittany's voice.
"Oh for crying out loud... because I talk to him. We talk to each other. I ask him things... we respond.. and I try not to think about the past, so I don't pass judgment... and truthfully.. I'm not saying what was done was alright and that it wasn't wrong.. its just... Glee is about second chances... and he really needs friends right now... actually he need friends period and he honestly thinks you guys are... and it's pretty fucked up that you can't even try and look passed everything... and he's apologized.. and been nothing but helpful... and he's trying to be a better person and your not letting him in your minds sake," said Finn in a very long tangent, "Now goodnight... I'm done talking."
Finn turned his phone off and then after a moment, opted to just leave it downstairs. As he walked the steps he wondered where that had all come from. Maybe guilt... guilt for being like Dave once and being forgiven so quickly. Anger... anger that his friends we're denying someone's growth... or was it because he knew Dave's secret and was mad because they just didn't know... a million thoughts ran through his head.
"Hey Kurt..." Finn fell silent as he opened his door to see Kurt dead asleep on his bed.
Finn shook his head and smiled. He took Kurt's slippers off and slid the covers over him. Glad Kurt hadn't woken up as he turned off the lights and television. He mentally hoped something had gotten through to his friends, who'd apparently held a meeting about the subject. He yawned and crawled into bed, snuggling up to his pillow.
"Night Kurt," said Finn closing his eyes, he heard Kurt mumble something that might have been bite Lynn... but he decided it was 'Night Finn' instead.
.=.=.
"Weird..." said Mike as Azimio switched seats with a Sophomore girl to sit at the table next to Dave, "I feel like somethings happening and we have no idea."
"Morning guys," said Dave, looking at his seat and then Azimio, giving a small smile and sitting down, "What's up?"
"Nothing," said Puck and Mike at the same time.
"Okay... because that wasn't concerning at all," muttered Dave as Finn ran into class as the bell rang.
"Made it," chuckled Finn, plopping down in his spot, he glanced at Azimio, then to Dave, then shrugged.
"So.. Dave? What's new with you man?" asked Mike, after a brief silent period.
"Ohm.. not much... just... school.." said Dave, he looked confused.
"Hey, forgot to tell you... that song freaking rocked yesterday," said Puck, turning around to look at Dave, who saw Finn's brow raise and then smile.
"Yeah man... so.. are you.. into Rachel?" asked Mike, Azimio snickered and then cleared his throat as Dave shot him a scathing look, he totally wasn't helping.
"She's cool, but not in that way," said Dave with a shrug, but apparently the chuckle Azimio had given, told a different story.
"Guys, don't badger him... he's not into Rachel," said Finn with a slight shake of the head.
"Dude, you can't say anything... your just mad 'cause she's not into you anymore," said Puck, nudging Finn in the shoulder.
"Hey, anyone have any ideas for the competition... I mean.. I can't find a decent anthym song and I've exhausted my iTunes," said Mike.
"Why don't you sing something about losers," shrugged Azimio, Dave glared, "No.. not.. I mean.. you know cause... glee clubs kind of known for it..."
"Az..." said Dave, glaring.
"No I meant... not... I was meaning to say... you guys can sing about being outcasts or... you know because its..." all the guys were glaring and Puck looked about to punch him, "You know... I'm just gonna... yeah... I'm going to switch back to my old... yeah talk to you later, Dave," said Azimio, going back to his old spot.
"Okay... this might sound bad.. but maybe he's right," said Mike, the other's raised their brows.
"Okay, so why don't we have a glee meeting tonight, at Finn's," said Puck.
"I can't," said both Dave and Finn, they looked at each other for a moment, almost sizing up what the other was about to say.
"It's Furt night," said Finn, "We missed last week... so its an all night thing... weather he likes it or not... I'm driving to Dalton after school and kidnapping him from Warbler practice... how about tomorrow, its Saturday... we have Glee anyways."
"Valid... Dave?" asked Mike, looking at him.
"I have hockey practice till seven tonight..." Puck cut Dave off.
"Whoa... wait.. Hockey?" both he and Mike looked shell shocked.
"I'm captain," smirked Dave, though he felt nervous about it.
"Dude.. those assholes slushies us more than the football team," said Puck.
"Oh.. don't worry.. I got something planned for that," smirked Dave, and boy did he ever.
"Right.. what about tomorrow night?" asked Mike, apparently in agreement with Puck not to press.
"Musical Marathon at Rachel's," said Dave, regretting saying it immediately at Puck and Mike's smirks, "Dude... she just..."
"Wants some alone time with Davey," said Puck with a chuckle, Dave rolled his eyes and looked at Mr. Schuester, choosing to ignore them the rest of the class period.
.=.=.
It was still apparently on ongoing discussion later that day as the guys couldn't stop cracking jokes, thus he was avoiding them as he grabbed books out of his locker. He looked down the hallway in boredom and saw Santana and Brittany... mostly Santana. Who was crying. He froze and watched, she was trembling and the tears we're streaming and suddenly his ears we're focused... he could hear them a little over the crowd. Before everything could click, Santana had run the opposite way. He knew that run... those tears... that crushing feeling all too well. He looked once more at his locker, and then closed it, following the same path Santana had. After he heard the bell rang, he hoped he hadn't made a mistake and followed her for nothing... he heard sobbing and turned to see Santana near the side door to the stage sitting on the steps.
"Santana?" asked Dave, taking a few steps towards him, she looked up and looked away quickly.
"Leave me alone, Karofsky," she snapped.. but it didn't have nearly as much bite as she'd obviously intended.
"..." Dave wasn't exactly sure what to do now that he was here... he thought back to November and opted for what he'd wanted, "No.."
She ignored him, and jumped a little when he sat next to her, it was silent as she let her crying start to fade. He took a deep breath and tentitvley rubbed circles on her back, squeezing her hand with his other. She broke, he sobs loud and deafening as her head hit his shoulder. He almost paniced... but he realized... this was what she needed right now, silence... and support... he let his shoulder's slump, 'What have I gotten myself into now...' he thought with a slight head shake, as he pulled Santana into a light hug to calm her.
TBC
Epicness... I realized that I wanted to end it there... because.. I am cruel and you know that the next episode.. er chapter will involve hockey... Santofsky.. Furt bonding... and Pike plotting... enjoy that thought...