Dave's alarm woke him up the next morning. But instead of smashing his hand on the 'stop' button, Dave gingerly and eagerly pressed it with a boyish smile. He was enthused to get to school today to talk to Kurt. He had to negotiate times and meeting places to tutor Kurt and have Kurt tutor Dave in writing. Dave just had to pretend that he got a bad grade in history and English, and was a bad writer. In reality, Dave was doing well in both classes, but not as good as he could, he supposed. Pretending wasn't something Dave was foreign to. Not at all.
He also remembered that he may have to console Kurt as well. Kurt normally got A's and B's just like Dave. But that D- on that midterm had to throw Kurt off. Dave rarely got the opportunity to be somebody's support system and, while he was eager to be that for Kurt, he was also venturing in relatively unknown territory. That made him a little anxious, but resolved that he would protect Kurt as best he could. Tutoring was one way he could do that.
Dave went about his normal morning routine with a little spring in his step. After brushing his teeth, showering and shaving quickly, and picking out his usual uniform to wear (t-shirt, Polo shirt, baggy blue jeans, white sneakers), he briefly considered wearing something else – something dressier. Dave rarely got the opportunity to impress somebody and impressing Kurt was suddenly important. He then decided against dressing up, going for comfort and reliability. It just felt like it was the right thing to do.
As he descended the staircase, normal breakfast aromas filled his nostrils – coffee, toasted bread, etc. He quickly walked into the kitchen, where his Dad was spreading jam on some toast.
"Morning!" Dave said, enthusiastically.
"Well, good morning Dave." Paul said. "You seem happy today."
"Well," Dave began, "I got an A on my geometry midterm and I think I did really well on my chemistry test too."
"That's great, Dave!" Paul responded happily. "It's nice to see your grades back up."
Dave smiled. One can never get too tired of praise, if something is truly praiseworthy. Dave walked to the refrigerator and poured a small glass of milk.
"I'm really proud of you." Paul said, with a little smile.
"Thanks Dad."
Normal breakfast routine ensued. Paul had by that time sat down to his toast and coffee, going over some legal documents for his law office. Dave gulped his milk, already reaching for more. He used his other hand to grab a loaf of bread for his own toast, gently kicking the refrigerator door closed. Once he was set with his breakfast, he sat down next to his Dad. The two men chewed and pretty much ignored each other until Paul spoke up.
"I heard from your mother last night."
Dave stilled and said nothing.
"Dave?"
"I gotta go." Dave said, getting up and shoving toast in his mouth.
"Dave, you've gotta-"
"Dad!" Dave said, a little loudly. "I need a favor." That last part was spoken much softer.
Paul set his toast and paperwork down. Dave didn't ask for "favors" often and Paul was intrigued. Dave sat back down.
"Alright. What is it?" Paul asked.
Dave knew he'd easily get permission from his Dad about this, but he was still a little nervous to ask. After all, time does heal wounds…..doesn't it?
"Kurt isn't doing very well in geometry. He normally gets A's and B's just like I do, but he got a D- on his geometry midterm."
Paul winced.
"Poor kid…..but Dave, is everything OK between you two?" Paul asked, concerned.
"Oh yeah, Dad. We're fine now." Dave responded confidently.
"That's good. I'm glad to see you two on better terms now. I still can't believe he knew you were gay throughout-"
"Dad!" Dave screamed. "I said we're fine now!"
"Don't yell, Dave." Paul warned.
Dave blinked twice before responding.
"M-sorry." Dave responded sheepishly.
The two men regarded each other for a moment before Dave began again.
"Well, Kurt was pretty shook up about the midterm, so I offered to tutor him. Can he come over a few nights this week and maybe the weekend?"
Paul, no longer annoyed, smiled.
"Of course he can! I look forward to seeing him and you together."
Both men froze.
"I mean, I think he's-"
"I get it, Dad." Dave said, letting his Dad off the hook. "Kurt's miserable over his geometry grade and I thought I could help. He's going to help me some with my writing skills, even though they're really not that bad."
Paul smirked.
"Is this some kind of ploy to try to date him?" Paul asked devilishly.
"No, Dad!" Dave responded hastily. "I just thought he could use the help. I'm doing really well in geometry so I thought I could help. Plus, I hurt him so much in the past….." Dave was rambling and he knew it. So, he stopped talking.
Dave took another bite of his toast. When he chewed and swallowed, he looked up at his Dad. Paul's smirk never left his face. Dave rolled his eyes.
"Invite Kurt over whenever you want." Paul said, getting up and grabbing his keys. Paul started walking towards the door.
"But no sleepovers, Dave!" Paul yelled, laughing as he hurriedly opened the door and left for work.
Dave rolled his eyes. There is no ulterior motive, Dad….OK, maybe.
.
Dave arrived at McKinley High School's student parking lot soon after breakfast. He excitedly grabbed his satchel and quickly walked across the lot. Other students were heading towards the entrance, heads down and walking slowly. But not Dave. Dave was on a mission.
Dave entered the school and quickly walked down the hall with a little smile on his face. He casually, yet happily greeted fellow students, with a bumped fist here and there to fellow teammates. He felt good. He rounded the corner in the hall and stopped. The good mood in Dave vanished.
Kurt stood at his locker motionless. Head down, eyebrows furrowed, holding an open geometry text book. The anger and frustration was clearly evident on Kurt's face.
Dave slowly walked towards Kurt and stopped just two feet away. But Kurt hadn't noticed. Dave cleared his throat.
Kurt's head shot up in surprise, looked at Dave and happily smiled.
Oh.
"Good morning Kurt." Dave said.
"Good morning Dave. You look… happy today." Kurt responded. But his wording softened a little by the end of his greeting.
"I see you've already begun stressing out about geometry." Dave said honestly.
"You know, just two weeks ago, I could figure out all of this crap in geometry. And then, suddenly, everything became Greek to me. I couldn't explain the difference between an isosceles triangle and a Dolce & Gobbana sweater vest."
Dave looked a little confused.
"I mean, my sudden…issues with geometry seem to affect other…things. And my wardrobe. I don't like my outfit and it is so last year." Kurt responded, looking down at his clothes.
Dave briefly looked Kurt over. Kurt was wearing a black, long sleeve, button up dress shirt, a thin red scarf, and white cotton pants. Kurt always dressed well and his clothes hugged his body in places that made Dave primally aroused. Dave stifled a little growl.
Damn.
Dave snapped out of his brief thoughts and looked back up at Kurt. Kurt was only two inches shorter than Dave, but his body was much, much smaller. Dave loved that Kurt could almost look him in the eye at eye-level, but hated how small and weak his body was, as Dave saw it. Kurt had some muscle mass thanks to dancing, but not much. And not even an ounce of body fat. Dave simply saw Kurt's body as vulnerable…among other things.
Nobody gets to harm Kurt. Nobody. Not even geometry.
"Well, you look nice anyway." Dave said distractedly.
"You don't have to play nice, Dave." Kurt said, closing his locker and walking down the hall. Dave quickly joined in step with Kurt.
"Kurt, you always look nice."
Kurt smiled. And this time, his smile seemed more genuine and heartfelt. Dave loved making Kurt smile and he looked forward to the next time he could.
"Well, thank you. Finn almost died last night."
At Dave's perplexed and amused expression, Kurt continued.
"You don't put wool in the dryer unless you want your head shaved and your letterman coat ripped."
"Yikes." Dave said. "I don't think I'll ever like having you mad at me."
Both boys laughed. Kurt was a spitfire and Dave loved that passion.
"Dave. I have been mad at you in the past. But since those days are over, you have absolutely no reason to make me mad at you anymore…..right?" Kurt asked, with an evil smile on his face.
"No sir!" Dave replied with a laugh. The two laughing boys continued walking down the hall to their first period classes. Their classes were side by side for first period and only shared one class – 4th period geometry.
They were so caught up in their own little world that neither boy saw who was coming.
"When were you gonna tell me?"
Dave and Kurt looked forward to see an exasperated Azimio Adams standing right in front of them. Azimio was wearing his usual letterman jacket just as Dave was, yet his facial expression wasn't kind. But it wasn't mean either.
"Hey Az." Dave said automatically.
The three boys just stood, facing each other. Nobody was moving. Dave and Azimio just looked at each other. But Kurt was silently scared. Dave noticed that Kurt had ever so slightly moved a little closer to him.
"Az?" Dave asked.
"Well?!" Azimio asked, frustrated. Kurt flinched. Dave quickly glanced at Kurt and then looked right back at his friend.
"Whaddaya mean?" Dave asked, eyebrows furrowed.
Azimio shook his head a little, looked a now shaking Kurt up and down, and then looked back at Dave.
"I know what's goin' on. I'm not stupid. Thanks for leavin' me out of the loop, asshole." Azimio said angrily, and walked away. But as Azimio walked away, he motioned for Dave to follow him. Both Dave and Kurt noticed this and didn't like it. Kurt exhaled a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"I better go see what's up his ass. If there are any slushies planned, I'll text you." Dave said, annoyed at how Azimio made Kurt feel.
"OK. Dave, we have to work out days and times for our tutoring sessions too." Kurt said.
Dave smiled as he back pedaled the other direction down the hall.
He brought it up! He's looking forward to it! I'm so excited! Please no more caffeine around Kurt anymore!
"Yeah, OK." Dave said, trying to sound neutral. Dave's insides were another story.
Then Dave turned around and followed Azimio. Azimio was at least ten yards ahead of Dave, occasionally looking over his shoulder to see if Dave was following. He was. Azimio walked as students got out of his way. Dave politely dodged students here and there.
Azimio walked into the gymnasium and then took a hard right, near a semi-secluded area of the bleachers.
Dave soon arrived, found Azimio, and walked up to him. He offered his fist to bump Azimio's. But Azimio just looked at it and right back up to Dave, shaking his head.
"What?" Dave asked, annoyed.
Azimio paused. Dave had been friends with Azimio for years and knew when Azimio was ready for a heart-to-heart discussion, which didn't happen very often. They were jocks, after all.
But, finally, Azimio spoke.
"You're gay."