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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
He's failed. Completely and utterly. He's come out to Honey and she's just patted him on the cheek, murmured 'Sure you are' and walked off, calling out that she'll see him tonight. He doesn't get it. It's not like he goes around telling people he's gay for the fun of it, like it's some big joke. He's never had someone not believe him before. Not that he's told that many people, like, two, but still… he feels confused for the remainder of the morning. He doesn't know what's going to happen tonight, but he's going to try and ensure he's never alone with Honey.
He's invited Terence from the hockey and football teams, because he's the one whom he's friendliest with, and the only one who has never given him any shit about his lunchtime routine. He's also invited Mickey from the drama club, and his girlfriend because she's in the math and chess club. He's left it at that. Five people. None of whom would normally even talk to each other except for the fact that they all seem to like hanging out with him at lunch time.
He's heading to his car when he hears Nathan call out to him. The guy is getting out of his car where he's obviously been waiting for him. He waits for him to come over, not really intent on yelling his evening plans across the school parking lot.
"Hey man… we still cool for tonight?"
"Yeah. Yeah sure. Hey… you know how yesterday you told me to tell Honey I was gay?" Dave asks quietly, eyes darting around, but no one is paying them any attention and no one is close enough to hear them.
"Hey, I joked. I didn't mean it seriously…" Something must register about the expression on his face. "Dude, you told her you're gay? That's fucking hilarious."
"Yeah yeah, laugh it up…except she didn't believe me," he takes a deep breath "and it's actually true." He lets out the remainder of the breath and concentrates on not freaking out.
Nathan bursts out laughing, is laughing so hard his face goes red and Dave is pretty sure there are tears leaking out the side of his eyes. Obviously today is unexpected responses to his sexuality day or something. He waits for Nathan to calm down, which he does in gasping amused sobs.
"Dude, sorry, but… you couldn't make this shit up. I mean, you told her the truth? If she has her head buried then it's her own fault."
"Uh. You're fine with me…" Being gay? He still can't say the words completely freely.
"Being gay?" Nathan says the words easily, shrugging, like he doesn't really get the question. "Dude, I don't care."
"Oh. Cool. You're just…"
"I get that you're not out, and I don't blame you. You could date Honey just as a cover you know."
"Been there, not doing it again. Thanks for being cool about it… I've only told four people."
"Wow. Serious? Who else?" He seems pleased to be included in the four, so at least something good is coming out of this whole Honey-saga.
"My dad, step-mom and Honey… and I don't know if I should count Honey."
He rolls his eyes and Nathan starts cackling again and he punches him lightly on the shoulder, which only seems to make him laugh harder.
"So only three people know and actually believe you're gay?"
"Uh… there're more that know. Uh… like…" he counts them quickly in his head. Kurt. Blaine. Santana. Burt Hummel. Hudson's mom. Blaine's parents. Probably all the other regular patrons in Scandals. Holy shit, it's actually quite a lot. His chest feels tight at the thought, that he's teetering between closeted and completely out. Oh god.
"Dude, you look like you're about to pass out… head between your knees or something."
He takes a deep breath, holds it in for five and exhales slowly. Repeats. He's fine. He'll be fine. He has a few months left of school and then… college. University. He'll be out of Lima. He can make it through the next few months. Nathan's looking a bit concerned so he waves a hand, indicating he's fine, although judging from the look on Nathan's face he looks anything but fine.
"Just… realizing a lot more people know than I'd thought. But… they know because they guessed, or it was implied or… yeah. It's complicated."
"Dude. I'm getting the feeling everything is complicated with you. I'll see you tonight yeah?"
"Yeah, sure. See you later."
He's positioned himself so that he's in a single chair, ostensibly so he's closest to the door and kitchen so he can play host. Honey had been a put out when she'd arrived to find Nathan and Terrence already in attendance, discussing the merits of different first person shooter games. Mickey and Kara had arrived only a few minutes after, and weirdly everyone seems to be getting on. Except Honey. Although Dave's pretty sure she's deliberately paying more attention to Terence in an attempt to make him jealous. Cause that's going to work.
They've finished the pizza, Claire coming in and clearing the boxes and failing at subtlety while trying to check out Honey. He'd rolled his eyes and Nathan had snorted soda up his nose. He'd introduced Claire to everyone, pausing the movie to do so, and when she'd gone and the movie had resumed Nathan had leant over and in a stage whisper asked 'dude, that's your stepmom?' He'd shoved him away, but Terence has huffed in amusement as well. He didn't even need to look at Honey to tell she isn't impressed. He'd ignored her.
They're watching the credits roll when he hears the doorbell ring and when everyone looks at him expectantly he just shrugs. He's not expecting anyone else, and he hears someone go to the front door, hears his dad greet someone and tell whoever it is that he's in the lounge. A female voice calls out thanks, and doesn't ask for directions, and he's pretty sure he knows exactly who it is.
"You're having a movie night and didn't invite me? Tsk tsk tsk…" Santana greets, and slides herself onto his lap. Nathan's eyebrows have shot up under his fringe, and even Terence is looking intrigued. "Aren't you going to introduce me?" He looks around the others and has no idea where to start, mind completely blank. Santana huffs and pokes him in the chest.
"Fine. I'll introduce myself. I'm David's…ex-girlfriend. Santana. He was so heart broken when we broke up that he just had to transfer…"
Dave rolls his eyes, and Terence is looking highly skeptical. Honey however has suddenly lit up, like the world suddenly makes sense and he groans internally. Nathan looks like he's about to hurt himself from not laughing aloud and has suddenly taken a deep interest in the light fittings.
"Anyway Davey, I need to talk to you… privately. Please."
The last word is low and seductive, and she's laying it on a bit thick, even for her. He goes to stand, expecting her to move, and instead she loops her hands around his neck. He slides his arms around her and lifts, carrying her out and she waves at the others and smiles one of her saccharine-sweet smiles that he knows can be laced with poison. He puts her on the ground as soon as they're in the hall and takes her through to the kitchen and out on to the back porch. The cold will ensure this is a quick conversation.
"Seriously San? Was that really necessary?"
"They way you're being eyed up by little miss Barbie doll in there? Yes. Still hanging out in the wardrobe section of Ikea hmm?"
"You're one to talk. I've told my dad. And Claire. And one of my friends. And the Barbie doll actually, but she didn't believe me. And she's definitely not going to believe me now is she?"
Santana has the grace to look a bit abashed, then she's hugging him tightly, telling him how great it is and it all becomes a bit garbled but he gets enough to know that she's happy for him. He shrugs like it's no big deal, although it is a massive deal to him. She tells him her reason for coming around, that Kurt has told them what happened, that Dave was there for Kurt means something. And also that Kurt's worried about outing him, so wanted her to check on him, tell him that he was actually at the pool hall that night if anyone asks.
He's kind of touched that with everything Kurt is dealing with he's spared a thought for him and his possible debut, but Kurt really doesn't have to worry about him. He tells Santana so, tells her that if she wants she can tell Brittany and Mercedes. Means she and Kurt don't have to lie to their friends, and he's over his mini panic from earlier. He gets another hug for his words and then Santana is off, arm waving as she runs around the side of the house. He goes back inside slowly, still a bit bemused by the whole encounter. He heads back into the lounge for the second movie to find Honey standing in the hallway, jacket hanging over her arm, clearly ready to leave early.
"It's okay Dave, I know the real reason you can't date me." Dave stares at her, because he can't wait to hear her tell him why. Because he knows it's not going to be because he's gay. "I can tell you aren't over Santana. That's fine. I can wait." He blinks and scratches his neck. She's going to be waiting a long time.
"Uh…" He's not sure of the etiquette of pointing out someone else's sexuality, so he keeps quiet about Santana's , and he'd put money on everyone in the lounge being able to hear them. "Yeah. Look, I know you don't believe me… but uh… Santana has ruined me for all other women. No one will ever measure up to her."
Honey looks sad and strokes his cheek again, before telling him she'll see him at school on Monday. He watches her leave and then turns to find Nathan beside him.
"Dude, I'm so glad we're friends. You're life is more drama filled than my aunt's soap operas. Except your life has a lot more hot chicks in it…" He rubs his face with his hands, but has to silently agree.