A/N: Ooo a double dose!
Chapter 53
The Journey Ahead
It was pretty easy to realize the tensions were high on the bus late the next day after the competition. Dave wasn't really amongst the angry ones of how they'd lost. Though it would have been nice, he was going to hate on Finn because he followed his heart or whatever. Regardless, Finn was staying as close to Bieste and Shcue as possible, which was probably a good thing. Everyone was in a sour mood, and Dave wasn't gonna deny he was in one, but for a completely different reason. He glanced to see Kurt walking towards him, he noticed the empty seat next to him and quickly got up, he didn't want to talk about anything, he just needed space right now, and he wasn't going to pretend to be all happy when he wasn't. He headed passed the other quietly… which was how the bus pretty much was anyways, save for Brittany's cheerful banters…. He reached the end of the bus and flopped on the bed.
"David, please stop ignoring me," said Kurt, storming in, Dave mentally wondered how many people were looking, but only before rolling his eyes, "You know what… fine… be immature about it…. God forbid I try and talk to you like an adult instead of a Neanderthal!"
"That's why… right there.. because no matter what, that's all you see me as, isn't it?" asked Dave, sitting up and glaring at Kurt.
"You have no idea how I see you, so don't assume to know what I think of you… and as of this second, I think your being belligerent," said Kurt, his hands in fists, his cheeks flushed and angry.
"Okay, sure," said Dave closing his eyes and falling back onto the bed, he couldn't look at Kurt right now, it was sending images back to the locker room; Kurt's flushed face, the narrowed eyes, the balled fists… that was not something Dave needed on his mind right now.
"Whatever," he heard Kurt after a few seconds, before he heard the tap of Kurt's feet head towards the bathroom and slamming the door, but he heard a screech sound, "Oh for fuck's sake!"
"Now what?" Dave heard a few snickers and chuckle, and then Kurt laughing; Dave stood up and looked down the hall to see the bathroom door on the ground and Kurt glaring at it.
"Well… just because you're mad doesn't mean you should go around braking things?" smiled Dave, he couldn't help but laugh at the scene.
"You know what.. just.. just shut up," snapped Kurt, but it wasn't as angry as it should have been, simply because Kurt was laughing, as did the rest of the group.
"Someone get a screwdriver," said Puck with a laugh as Finn headed over to the door.
Finn picked up the door as Kurt side stepped towards where Dave stood in the doorway. Finn had the faintest idea of what their argument was about, but in that second it had apparently faded. No one looked as angry as he held the door in place as Puck started working on the hinges. Finn shook his head, this is what they needed… none of them did well when they were being serious… they needed something… anything to remind them of the stupid stuff that made them laugh… like Kurt busting a door off its hinges. A reminder that they were all human.
.=.=.
Dave laughed as he and Rachel drove into her driveway, apparently the bus had decided to fall apart after they got back to Lima. It had been an interesting two days on the bus, filled with half ass arguments, an attempt by Lauren and Puck to leave Finn behind outside New York, and a really horrible game of spoons which resulted some minor injuries and had led to Dave actually talking to Kurt without feeling angry or upset. Today had been the last day of school and everything was almost back to normal again… well minus the slight anger that was still held for losing Nationals, but regardless.
"It was still fun, I mean it would have been great to win… but… it was worth it. We went to New York, had adventures," beamed Rachel, "We even had a congratulations banner when we got back… and to think this summer is going to be amazing!"
"I think Puck's random yell of 'To the Cabin!' when the final bell rang frightened some people today," laughed Dave.
"He's attempting to get us all to head out early… even though we said next weekend," smirked Rachel, "I think he just wants to put Sammy back on the counter and mess with us."
"He's been doing it all year in the locker room, so he'll be fine…" Dave trailed off as he saw a familiar silver car in the driveway, "Now what?"
"What? Who is it?" asked Rachel as they climbed out of the jeep.
"My dad…" said Dave.
.=.=.
"Last day of school… Last day of school!" sang Finn as he came in the door, "Oh it's the last day… and I got Rachel back…. Oh yeah… summer's awesome."
"Finn you're scaring the neighbors," chuckled Kurt, waving at the elderly lady who lived one house away.
"I don't care. We rocked out… partied in New York… I got Rachel back, let the watch in my victory dance.. well apart from Santana trying to kill me," shrugged Finn, "Come on, let's start prepping for the cabin!"
"Finn, no… we have time… besides, don't you and Dave have plans this weekend?"
"You mean out action movie explosion down town…. It will happen… but there's time," smiled Finn as Kurt headed to the kitchen, "Speaking of Dave…. What went down in New York?"
"What?" asked Kurt, eyes wide.
"Nothing better have went down in New York," said Burt, sitting at the counter as Carole handed him a coffee and joined him.
"Nothing did," said Kurt with a slight glare at Finn, "Finn's just delusionaly in love right now and not thinking straight."
"I see the world in a whole new light," beamed Finn, "Seriously… I do, I just want to enjoy my final year of freedom before the rest of my life."
"Interesting choice of words," said Kurt as his phone went off.
"Shit.." said Finn, opening his phone, "Dave's dad is at Rachel's."
"His dad better be careful, Hiram may be small, but he's vicious," said Kurt, headed back towards the door.
.=.=.=.
"Dad, what are you doing here?" asked Dave, standing in the doorway, Rachel right beside him, her hand firmly clasped around Dave's fist.
"I came to talk to you," said Paul, Dave glanced at Leroy and Hiram, neither looked happy Dave's dad was there, Hiram expression reminded him of an angry Pomeranian.
"Talk about what? There's nothing to really talk about… at all," said Dave, he felt his chest hurt, he wanted nothing more than too talk, but he was afraid of what he might hear or say.
"Rachel, Hiram… let's give them some time alone," said Leroy, clearing his throat, Dave saw Hiram's shocked looked and felt Rachel hold tighter on his hand.
"Leroy, I don't think…" Hiram began, but Leroy had grabbed his hand and began pulling him into the other room, "Rachel, come on."
"Were in the next room," whispered Rachel, giving Dave a quick hug, Dave waited for her to leave.
"Why are you here? To talk? Why couldn't you talk to me over a month ago when this all happened?" asked Dave, he felt his arms cross angrily.
"I want to say it was your mother… but it wasn't… I just… I didn't know how to take it…" said Paul, with a sigh.
"Take what? I'm gay. Oh the fuck, well!" snapped Dave, he cringed, hoping Hiram didn't hear him swear, "I'm your son."
"I know that, David… I know that… It was… it was me being stupid. I figured that when your mom called and told me, that when I'd get home, it would all be fixed or something," said Paul.
"So what… you came here to tell me it's not… why are you here?" asked Dave, he felt his eyes wanting to burn, but shook it off, although his voice pissed him off.
"I want you to come home… we can go to counseling as a family and get through this," said Paul, and Dave saw his dad's eyes matched his.
"What did mom say," said Dave, he knew his mom would never go for that, she hadn't wanted him to go in counseling.
"I have to talk to her more about it," said Paul, Dave saw his eyes falter.
"She doesn't even know you here…. Dad, I'm not going to that house with you… just to hear her scream and yell that I'm a fagot and I disgust her… I'm not!" snapped Dave, the memory faded back in a little, and he felt that pain again, "I can't… no…"
"David, she…"
"Would never? Bull shit dad… Bull shit!" yelled Dave, "I think I know mom a hell of lot more than you do, your rarely home unless you have to be!"
"David, she's your mother…" Dave cut Paul off again.
"No… she stopped being my mother when she told me to leave and never come back…. Why don't you ask her… ask her about everything… I'm not going back in that house so the first second you're out of ear shot she berates me and the second you leave on a trip, she kicks me out again, it's not happening. This is my home… I'm not leaving to go and pretend to be a perfect family again… One that looks good on paper, but the moment shit hits the fan it's all covering an no dealing… no!"
"David, I understand these passed months have been trying… but you know it's not like that?" said Paul, Dave hated seeing his dad cry, but he was angry and all his bottled up emotions were at the surface now.
"When hasn't it been? When? You guys pretend that your brother died because he left his wife for a man. Mom doesn't even want us to know she has sisters because her older sister works at a bar and he younger sister is a dancer….. and don't even get me started on our small little family… about your affair? Huh? You act like I didn't know that… I wasn't stupid. She went to stay at grandmas not because she was mad at you, but because she was knocked up… News flash… it was never perfect and I'm done pretending it ever was!" Dave's voice felt hoarse, he'd never yelled so much in one conversation, than he had now.
"…." Paul's mouth was agape, Dave didn't know what was going on in his dad's mind, but he was glad he'd stopped there; glad he hadn't ranted everything that he could have, "David… you shouldn't…"
"I don't care… I'm done… please just.. just leave… go," said Dave, looking at the wooden floor.
"Okay," said Paul, Dave saw his anger as he stormed passed him and out the door with a slam.
"Fine," muttered Dave, he let out a sob, the pain was all new and sharp.
"David?" came Rachel's voice from near the door, but Dave didn't want her comfort, talking about all those things had brought back the memories and the rejection had mingled with it.
"I… I need to go," said Dave, bolting out the back door, he just needed space…. He needed the think.
.=.=.
Dave had opted to walk, not wanting to drive and crash do to a freak out or something… although he wondered what would be the harm if he did. He heard running behind him, but ignored it. Waiting for the jogger to go passed him, but they didn't, he heard them stop a little behind him and some deep breaths.
"Dave… if I… if I have to run for… two more blocks… I'm going to find a way… to ground you, I am not in the shape I was in high school.."
"Leroy?" asked Dave, turning to look at the tall man, doubled over taking deep breaths.
"No… it's the cookie monster… dear god boy, can you walk any faster… or did you run?" asked Leroy walking up to him.
"I ran for two blocks," said Dave after a moment of thought, "I'm sorry about that… I hope he didn't insult you before I got there or anything…"
"No… but I was on Hiram's side of making him leave, but I think it was the fact your dad brought up the fact he was a lawyer and had rights that kind of forced us to let him stay," said Leroy, Dave saw his nostrils flair, "I didn't want you to have to go through that…."
"What do you mean?" asked Dave, as Leroy sat down at a bench.
"I had the same problem you did… we're a lot alike Dave…. Nobody knew I was gay in school until the end of senior year…. Here in Lima actually… that's why I came back… I hoped it changed.. it didn't… There was always the jocks messing with the different people… the cheerios… the outcasts… Glee wasn't as unpopular grant it… I was never in it…. But when I told my parents I was gay… that was the worst day of my life…"
"Why did you tell them?" asked Dave.
"A lot of reasons, graduation was coming up… I had just turned eighteen… I was sick of living a lie, bringing my 'girlfriends' home and pretending we were a couple… really it was mostly the cheerios I was friends with… then I wanted to bring my boyfriend home… so I figured I should tell them… They were very Christian, but they'd always been supportive of my friends' different cultures and thoughts… I suppose it's different when your own kid tells you," sighed Leroy, "So I told them… my dad punched me in the face and told me to get the fuck out… I went to the only place I knew I could go, my friend Molly's… I stayed there till graduation… then I moved in with my boyfriend's family… he was a year younger than me… so yeah."
"Did you talk to your parents, then… after?" asked Dave.
"Yeah… it was a few months after I was living in Plymouth…"
"Plymouth?" asked Dave, his brow corked.
"It's a small city outside Columbus.. and it was where my boyfriend lived, his school wasn't so… backwards… and we'd met at football camp the end of Junior year… he was at the co-camp… cheerleading.. across the lake…. But yeah they came… insulted my boyfriend's family… and left… I didn't talk to them fully until I was a Sophomore at Ohio State," sighed Leroy, "I just want you to know, that me and Hiram are here for you, okay… we know what you're going through and if ever you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
"Thanks, Leroy," smiled Dave, as the other man patted his shoulder and stood up.
"Now come on, I think Rachel said she texted Finn and Kurt… if we leave them alone too long Kurt will convince Hiram to redo the kitchen again…." Chuckled Leroy.
"When did you meet Hiram?" asked Dave as they started walking.
"… at football camp…. " said Leroy with a small chuckle, Dave' raised an eyebrow, "He claims it was his cheerleading uniform that got my attention, but really it was when he tossed a the football at our field and he knocked out Molly's boyfriend that got my attention….."
"How did his parents take it?" asked Dave, loving the mental image of a teen Hiram knocking out a faceless jock and Leroy laughing.
"They knew he was gay…. They were mostly upset I wasn't Jewish… that's when I converted," said Leroy, "It's also around the time I finally cut my hair."
"Your hair?" asked Dave, with a raised brow at Leroy's neatly shaved head.
"It was the 70's David… I rocked a high top," said Leroy, Dave snickered, "You know what… you just wait thirty years from now…"
"Please tell me there's pictures," laughed Dave, he walked with Leroy in deep thought, he did feel better… but more than anything, he didn't feel alone.
TBC
Okay so I have a WHOLE story line for their parents era that I don't really talk about… but yeah… I enjoy doodling the adults teen selves, including Molly Lincoln aka Molly Hummel.
