FINAL chapter. Thanks for reading and reviewing! By the way, "The Stone Boy" is an incredible movie from 1984. It stars Robert DuVall, Glenn Close, and Linda Hamilton. It's grueling to watch, but beautiful. I recommend it.
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Dave smiled. He was looking at Kurt. Kurt was smiling and looking back at Dave. A truce was reached. Dave, no longer interested in becoming a monster closeted bully and transforming into a more confident, albeit still closeted, man was in the works. Kurt couldn't have been more proud of him.
The air in the locker room was different. Kurt was sitting up straighter and Dave was beaming with a boyish pride. The cute boys were so happy!
Then, Dave's smile began to fade. Kurt stared at him, a little questioning look on his face. Gradually, Dave's smile was gone and his head bowed. Kurt now was very concerned.
"Dave?" Kurt gently asked.
Dave said nothing. For the moment, at least. Dave was having an inner battle and was slowly losing it. Kurt scooted even closer.
Dave started to cry. Kurt was torn. He never, ever considered having to console his bully (former bully, Kurt suddenly thought), but so much progress had been made in the last twenty minutes that he didn't want it to go away. And it was slipping.
Kurt placed a gentle hand on Dave's broad shoulder. That was a mistake.
Floodgates of tears poured out of Dave's eyes. Shaking, Dave started to wobble back and forth, like a little kid. Kurt was nearly in tears.
Slowly, Dave lifted his head. Oh, the pain in those eyes! Kurt didn't understand.
"Dave?" Kurt gently asked, again.
Dave tried his best to pull himself back together and was ever so slowly winning the battle. He angrily wiped his letterman arm across his eyes, embarrassed that he was crying in front of Kurt. But Dave was coming to the realization that if he was going to cry in front of anyone, it would be Kurt.
"Kuuurt…." Dave cried out.
Kurt absolutely hated what he was seeing. He scooted even closer and tried to pull Dave towards him a little. Dave refused. So, Kurt scooted even closer, placing his other hand on Dave's other shoulder. Still, Dave didn't budge. It was as if Dave was refusing to be held by Kurt.
Kurt took it all in stride. He was providing support for…..well, he didn't know what Dave was to him in that moment. Was Dave an ally? A confidant? A…friend?
Kurt waited. Finally, Dave was able to speak.
"Oh Kurt," Dave pathetically began, "I've hurt you and soooo many people."
Kurt sighed. This was an undeniable fact. Dave's bullying ways as "Karofsky" couldn't be overshadowed. Dave had a lot of work to do to repair his image and obtain forgiveness. Especially from the glee club.
"This guilt…." Dave croaked.
Kurt bowed his head a little, knowing what he would have to say. He quickly looked up at Dave, seeing his head bowed a little. Kurt gently yet firmly moved one of his hands off Dave's shoulders to his chin, raising his head. Kurt looked into Dave's eyes. At this closeness, Kurt realized that Dave's eyes were hazel. Dave realized how blue and beautiful Kurt's eyes were. Dave was so torn. He had always thought Kurt was beautiful and he hated it. But in that moment, Dave was becoming calmer and calmer, looking into Kurt's eyes.
"Dave," Kurt quietly began, "there comes a time when we all have to forgive ourselves for the things we've done."
Kurt stopped for a brief second, making sure Dave was absorbing what he was saying. Forgiving one's self was something Dave hadn't considered possible.
"Do you think I'm innocent?" Kurt asked.
Dave said nothing.
"I'm not. While you used to use locker checks, slushies, and the Fury," Kurt began with a little smile, returned by Dave's cute little embarrassed smile, "I used words. And some actions. I have said very nasty things to people I either envied or hated. Plus, I arranged for a bad makeover for Rachel Berry!" Kurt then laughed.
Dave didn't quite get it, but realized it was a confession of sorts and politely chuckled back.
Dave briefly nodded. He loved that he could have a conversation like this with anyone. He didn't have this kind of relationship with his parents, Azimio, or…anyone. But he was having it with Kurt and he would do anything to secure these conversations in the future. Even so far as protecting Kurt.
"So…did you forgive yourself fully?" Dave genuinely asked.
Kurt thought for a few seconds before answering, never taking his eyes off Dave.
"Yes. But it took some time. It'll happen for you, Dave. It will."
And with that intense end statement, Dave began to break down again. Then, Dave gave in completely and fell into Kurt's arms. Kurt struggled for half a second, before repositioning himself to accommodate Dave's size and held him firmly. Dave cried and cried. Tears of anguish. Tears of fear. Tears of pain. Just…tears.
Dave realized he was gently being rocked. He had the distinct impression that Kurt's mom may have done this to him when he was very little. Dave didn't mind.
The two boys sat there for quite a while. Kurt holding Dave as Dave's tears ever so slowly dried up. Kurt couldn't let Dave go. Not yet.
There's something very comforting the first time you can talk about the fear and pain in your heart with someone you trust. When you're an angry, terrified teenager, this feels like you've hit the lottery. Dave realized this and was so grateful, but the guilt and fear in his heart wouldn't let him subside. Suddenly, Dave realized what he had to do.
Dave started humming the theme song from "The Stone Boy." Kurt immediately picked up on it and joined in. Two boys, humming a beautiful, sublime tune of sadness, hope, anger, fear…and love. The locker room reverberated the boy's humming and returned it with its emotionless walls, only to start back up with the boy's sweet purring. It was truly, wonderfully, beautiful.
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Dave was walking into the school building the next day. He was a bit early and decided to head to the snack bar for an early morning doughnut and chocolate milk. Dave had a sweet tooth, after all, and most teenagers love chocolate milk. He had a little smile on his face too.
Soon after the half hour locker room conversation with Kurt, they said a few pleasantries, exchanged cell phone numbers, and parted company. Kurt gave Dave a few more positive affirmations as Dave did the same for Kurt, stating how the bullying would stop. Kurt smiled politely, not completely believing Dave, but wanted to nonetheless.
So, as Dave was walking into the snack bar, he noticed Kurt sitting with his best friend, Mercedes. Kurt, immaculately dressed as always, saw Dave, but didn't acknowledge him. The boys were in new territory and neither completely knew how to approach each other during the school day. Dave decided to make good on his word.
Politely, he waved to Kurt. Suddenly pleased, Dave was rewarded with a little eager wave and a smile from Kurt. God, Kurt's smile just warmed Dave's heart. He'd longed for this kind interaction with anyone, but Kurt especially. Dave and his best friend Azimio would only occasionally have little heart-to-heart conversations, but nothing about sexuality of course. Dave very closely avoided that subject.
Dave got in line for his unhealthy snack. He took his eyes off Kurt, studying the array of bear claws, filled sticks, and other in-nutritious breakfast items.
Suddenly, Dave heard a commotion. He looked and saw that one of the football guys was arguing with Mercedes. He briefly looked at Kurt, saw his concern, and bolted for them.
When he arrived, he saw Mercedes get up in Strando's face.
"Strando!" Dave growled.
Strando, who hated Dave, glared at Dave.
"What, Karofsky?"
"Leave her alone." Dave growled.
Strando looked at Dave like he was from another planet.
"Fuck off, Karofsky. This black heifer here was in my way and-"
Dave stalked his way over to Strando, stopping a mere inch from his face.
"Get out of here." Dave quietly said with a vicious fierceness to his voice.
Strando, momentarily confused, did his best to show no fear and lost. Strando slowly backed up, put his hands in the air as a meek surrender, and walked away.
Mercedes stared in shock at Dave.
"You 'K?" Dave asked.
Mercedes nodded, confused by Dave coming to her defense. Once Dave realized she was OK, he looked up at Kurt, only to realize that he was being studied, a soft, fond look on Kurt's face.
"Thank you, Dave." Kurt said with a little smile.
"I'm just keeping my word." Dave curtly said and immediately left. Dave wasn't ready to make himself vulnerable to McKinley High School's masses about his sexuality yet, especially in front of the only openly gay kid in school. But he wanted to do what he could to protect Kurt. And if that meant protecting Kurt's friends, so be it.
Soon, the first period bell rang and student life began. Dave left the snack bar, a broad smile on his face, without even buying his doughnut and chocolate milk. He had a lot of things to look forward to in his day. He knew Kurt's schedule by heart, thanks to months of bullying and, dare say it, a little stalking. He knew he had to make good on his word to Kurt to protect him and stop bullying. Hell, maybe he'd even approach somebody like Santana Lopez and Principal Figgins about an anti-bullying campaign.
But Dave was seeing hope. This was something he hadn't seen in a very, very long time. And he liked what he was seeing. Baby steps are, after all, baby steps.
Adjusting his strap on his satchel a little tighter, he turned down the hall, heading to his first period class. Dave couldn't stop smiling even if he wanted to.
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