May 19th
Dave looked like a total tourist as he made his way down Times Square with Courtney. Every time he saw a light or heard a new noise his head flipped in its direction. He looked like he was bird watching the way he kept his head craned backwards.
"You'll completely love it Day-Day plus, it'll be total bonus points with Kurt, it's his favorite." Dave turned to face Courtney and was glad he did, he was so busy looking at the billboards that he almost walked into a few equally distracted tourists.
"I would much rather see The 39 Steps. Mystery and political intrigue is a lot better than…what the hell is this thing about, anyway?"
"Wicked is the Wicked Witch of the West's perspective of what really happened in the Wizard of Oz." Dave groaned. He didn't even like the original Wizard of Oz, why would he like an alternative universe re-make? Courtney was finally done with her freshman year and Dave had made the trek across Ohio, Pennsylvania and into New York to collect her and her belongings. This was his fourth trip out here; once to drop off Courtney for the start of the year, once to pick her up for winter break, once to drop her off at the end of winter break, plus this trip. As much as Dave loved a nice long car ride, he was kind of happy she would be allowed to have a car next semester.
Granted, he would probably be making lots of trips to see her next year anyway. Courtney loved her school so much she had sold Kurt on it and he had been able to scrape together enough scholarships for his participation in the arts and his good grades that he was able to attend with only minimal student loans. Dave on the other hand had so completely dominated the rink that his first choice, a D-1 college in Pennsylvania with a fairly decent sports medicine department had picked him up for a full ride. The headhunters had only been slightly put off by the fact that he was openly gay, but considering that the Ice-Titans had only garnered one loss that season there wasn't a lot they weren't willing to put up with in order to get their hands on him. Even still, it would be hard being three hours away from Kurt.
xoxoxo
August 17th
Kurt hung his diploma on the wall. It had only arrived in the mail a week ago (they gave out faux diplomas on stage) and Carol had immediately confiscated it in order to get it properly framed. Kurt had to admit, she did an awesome job selecting the frame. It was a shadow box style with the diploma itself flat against the glass and a second frame adjoined to that where his graduation tassel hung in it's own little showcase.
He lined it up with a picture hanging next to on the wall: one of him and Dave together around Hanukkah. Dave had called Kurt up one day in a complete tizzy, unable to tackle the onslaught of family arriving in droves at his house to celebrate the holiday. "Please don't make me deal with these crazy people on my own," Dave had begged. Most of his extended family was still getting used to the idea that Dave was gay and, while Kurt was positive his presence could only make things worse, him being there actually helped to reaffirm that Dave wasn't just "going through a phase," as some of the older Karofskys had put it. Dave's grandparents, Murray and Vivian had thankfully not been like the great aunts and great uncles and were very open-minded about David dating a "charming young faygala." Dave told Kurt "faygala" meant "little bird" but Miriam told him later that while technically that was what it meant, it was actually a term for a gay guy, but she assured him that her grandparents meant it nicely.
After Dave had introduced Kurt to the relatives he actually cared about, Dave went off and spent most the day playing with the little kids; playing tag and hide and go seek with them, giving them piggy-back rides, skating with them on the pond in the back yard; Dave was really cute with the kids…although it could be argued he was nothing more than a giant kid himself. Kurt sat and talked with Vivian and Murray, really enjoying the older couple's company. They were so cute together, even after so many decades of marriage. They reminded Kurt of Paul and Joan. He mentioned that to them at one point and, when prompted for elaboration, explained to them how it astounded him how, despite Joan being deaf, Paul and Joan always seemed to know when the other wanted to say something in a conversation. Vivian laughed at that and waved her hand through the air in a dismissive manner. "When you've been married as long as those two, you figure things out. You notice how they almost always hold hands? When one wants to say something they give the other's hand a little squeeze." Kurt felt rather stupid; of course there had to have been some trick to it. It's not like Joan was psychic or anything. Still, marriage is based on the little things like that and it still left Kurt feeling mildly awestruck.
And here he was, months later, faced with the horrific fact that, after tomorrow, he would only see David sporadically. It was terrifying really; not just Dave going to college so far away, but the fact that he would be so far from home, in a completely strange place, without any familiar faces other than Courtney who he would be rooming with. Thank god for Courtney! Kurt didn't think he'd have the strength to do all this if Courtney wasn't going to be right there beside him. Besides, with him living with Courtney, Dave would have all the more incentive to visit and call. Kurt took the picture of him and Dave off the wall and put it on top of his bags. Everything would be all right. If military couples could do it, so could he and Dave.
Burt came down the stairs and surveyed Kurt's nearly empty room. It was strange that his little boy would be leaving for college in a week. At least he would still have Finn, though. Despite Finn's frequent tirades about "Lima Losers," he had opted not to go to college and instead was learning under Burt at the garage everyday. It was obvious to everyone that Kurt would never take over the garage, but Finn was more than happy to spend the rest of his life working on cars. Burt cleared his throat to get Kurt's attention. "Uh…Dave's here."
Kurt smiled and practically pushed Burt out of the way as he bounded up the stairs. It would be his last chance to see Dave for god-only-knows how long. Dave was leaving some time around six tomorrow morning to start the trip to eastern Pennsylvania. Dave was standing in the living room, waiting for Kurt. Kurt smiled up at him and threw his arms around his neck.
"Come on, let's go hang out back, Kurt." Dave took Kurt's hand and led him through the kitchen and out the back door. In the center of the yard, Dave sat down in the grass and Kurt followed suit. Being with Dave, Kurt had stopped being so obsessive about getting dirty. Even his nightly skin care regime was beginning to taper down. Dave was leaning backwards on his hands, staring up at the stars. Kurt crawled closer to Dave over the lawn and tried to kiss him, but Dave turned his head and Kurt ended up getting a mouth full of ear. "You are going to absolutely love New York."
Kurt sat back, mirroring Dave's posture, "Yeah, I know. I absolutely cannot wait."
Dave smiled, liking seeing Kurt so excited. "It's like the gay mother-ship." Kurt chuckled. "I'm not kidding! Last time I went I counted six same-sex couples walking down the street holding hands, or kissing in public, not giving a crap about what the rest of the world thought. You and I had to fight for that kind of freedom…out there, it's a right."
Kurt nodded, "Mmmm…I know. It's going to be tempting to not stay faithful with all those hot, young, single, gay men." Kurt was only joking and expected Dave to not catch that he was, but Dave was still smiling.
"And the theatre…you know Courtney will be dragging you to Broadway, like, every weekend, right?" Dave turned to face Kurt, still smiling.
"Oh, believe me, I know. And if she doesn't, I'll be dragging her."
"Last time I went to New York…back in May. Courtney took me to see Wicked."
Kurt grabbed Dave's shoulder in a death grip. "Why didn't you tell me? I can't believe you didn't tell me! Did you love it? Tell me you loved it!"
Dave, still smiling, took Kurt's hand off his shoulder and held it. "Yeah, it was pretty good. I liked the music. Especially this one song."
Dave started getting up off the grass. Oh my god…is he going to sing to me from Wicked? Kurt stood up as well, dusting grass off the back of his pants. Probably "Dancing Through Life" if I know him.
Dave took both of Kurt's hands in his, while looking him in the eye…still smiling that same gentle smile.
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good
Kurt could feel his heart fluttering madly. Dave paused in his singing and Kurt took up Elphaba's lines:
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
Dave: Because I knew you
Kurt and Dave's voices melded together: I have been changed for good
Kurt took a breath and was about to start up Elphaba's next lines when Dave stole them. Kurt couldn't get angry though, the lines were more suited to him.
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for
Kurt shrugged coyly, knowing that it wasn't just in the song that Dave was asking forgiveness. Taking up his own lines:
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share
Once again their voices melded perfectly, as though they were made for each other:
And none of it seems to matter anymore!
In perfect counterpoint they continued on with their choruses:
Like a comet pulled from orbit (Like a ship blown from its mooring)
As it passes a sun (By a wind off the sea)
Like a stream that meets a boulder (Like a seed dropped by a skybird)
Halfway through the wood (In a distant wood)
Both:
Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better
Dave:
And because I knew you...
Kurt:
Because I knew you...
Both:
Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good...
Kurt leaned in to kiss Dave, but once again he turned his head to the side. Kurt, chuckling softly, took Dave's cheek in his hand. "Would you please stop doing that?"
Dave turned to face Kurt, the smile gone from his lips. "I don't want to kiss you, Kurt."
Kurt was taken aback by that. "I don't think I've ever heard you say anything like that before."
Dave lowered his eyes and shrugged. "Kissing you will only make this harder."
Kurt placed his hand under Dave's chin and raised his head back up so he could look him in the eyes. "I know it's going to be difficult, Dave. But we'll get through this. Relationships take work, not just working through differences, which, by the way, we've seemed to master. But also working through the little things like being away from each other for ungodly amounts of time."
Dave shook his head. "You don't get it, Kurt. You're going to New York. There's gonna be gay guys that are into theatre and music and all that shit you love. I'm going to Pennsylvania and will be completely absorbed in hockey. I mean, college hockey is a lot harder than high school hockey."
"So what? We'll get through it."
Dave ran his hand down Kurt's cheek. "No. We won't. It isn't fair of me to make you "get through it." You are probably the realest friend I have ever had. And I've kept you chained to my side for far too long. It was never fair of me to pressure you like that to begin with."
Kurt could feel panic welling up in his chest. "David, what are you doing?"
"I'm letting you go, Kurt." Kurt tried to cut him off, but Dave kept speaking. "I wish you every imaginable happiness in the world. But more than anything, I really hope you find true love. College will give you that chance." Dave kissed the mildly traumatized Kurt on the forehead before turning around and heading to the driveway.
"You're just abandoning me?"
Dave stopped and turned slowly back to Kurt. "After all we've been through, how could you possibly think I'd ever abandon you? You're still my best friend and always will be. I'll see you and Courtney in a few weeks. Hell, I might pop over next weekend to help you guys get unloaded. See you, Kurt."
Kurt still stood in the backyard ten minutes after Dave left before he realized he must look like a complete and utter fool. He went back inside and quickly retreated to his room, not wanting to be seen by anyone. Kurt sat down on his bed, trying to keep his frantic breathing in check. You're just so used to him, that's all. You're afraid of going off to college and leaving everything behind. That's all. It's okay, Dave's right, this is for the best. Kurt looked down at the floor, his pile of bags sat there, seeming to stare back at him. The picture of him and Dave still sat on top, right where he had put it. He picked it up and looked at the two smiling men in the picture. What went wrong? When did things change? He couldn't take the happy little faces anymore and hurled the picture against the wall, shattering the glass and denting the wall in the process. "I HATE you David Karofsky. I could never love someone I hate as much as you!" Kurt collapsed into the fetal position on his bed, rocking himself back and forth, trying to get the tears to stop. "I hate you…I hate you…I hate you…I….I…oh god, what have I done?"
xoxoxo
Just remember, if you come after me with pitchforks and torches then they'll never get back together.
The song is "For Good" from Wicked