"Kurt?"
Kurt awoke to a soft knock at his door. He rose his tear-stained face from the pillow and called out, "Who is it?"
"It's Lily, dear. Dave's grandma. Thought you might like some tea."
He got up and opened the door, surprised. Lily was short, just a bit taller than Rachel Berry, with a head full of snow-white hair. She carried a tray with a teapot, cup and saucer, as well as matching creamer and sugar bowl.
"Thank you" Kurt said, sniffling. "I didn't know you lived with Kar- with, with Dave."
Lily smiled as she poured his tea. "I moved in just last month" she said. "Paul tells me Dave has had some trouble at school. Thought he might need someone to keep an eye on him."
"Oh." Kurt bit his lip. Did she know what the 'trouble' was, exactly?
"Well" said Lily. "I'm sorry to hear about your father, you poor dear. I'm sure he'll be fine." She got up from the bed and opened the door. "Dinner will be ready soon. Come down and eat with us, won't you?"
Yeah, right. Like I'm gonna enjoy a nice family dinner with Hamhock around. But Kurt just shook his head, forcing a tiny smile. "Thank you, Lily" he said. "But I'm not that hungry."
Lily frowned, but she left, closing the door behind her.
Kurt stood up, grimacing at his wrinkled sweater and jeans. He saw the clothes Mr. Karofsky had left, gray sweatpants and a Montreal Canadiens T-shirt. Ugh. Well, it'd be comfortable, anyway. He changed quickly and flopped back onto the bed, realizing he had little to entertain himself with in this dreary little room. Kurt pulled his phone from his jacket pocket, and called Mercedes.
"Hey, Kurt!" his best friend answered brightly.
"Hi, Mercedes" he replied, in a much less cheerful tone.
"Baby boy, what's wrong?" she asked.
Kurt sucked in a breath. "M-my dad, 'Cedes" he began to sob. "He, um, he had a heart attack."
"What? Oh my goodness, Kurt, is he okay?"
"I...I don't know" he said, suddenly feeling even more helpless. "He was..he was at the...oh, Gaga, Mercedes...he was at the Karofsky's when it happened!"
"Karofsky?" she exclaimed. "What was he doing there?"
"I d-don't know that either, oh, Gaga!" he cried. "He left for the c-car show..it, it must've been the rain, he s-stopped...and now, Mercedes, now I've gotta stay here tonight!"
"There? Where? At the..Karofsky's? Oh, hell to the no! Boy, you come over to my house this instant! How could your dad let you stay there, with HIM?"
Kurt swallowed more tears. "I can't, honey" he said, defeated. "It's getting late, and...and, I don't know. My dad knows Mr. Karofsky, and he, well, he's not such a bad guy. He even told Dave not to call me names."
She was silent for a moment. "Wow. I always thought, with the way he treats you at school..."
"I know. 'Course, his dad could just be playing nice, you know. 'Cause of what happened." He didn't want to think of his dad, of what must be happening with him right now. "Oh, Mercedes, I don't want to lose him!"
"Shhhh, baby" she cooed. "You won't. You get your strength from your daddy, you know. He'll be fine. And it doesn't seem like Knuckles will get near you, not with his dad there."
"Yeah. His grandma lives here too. She just brought me tea."
Mercedes giggled. "Well, alright then. It looks like you're gonna be just fine for tonight, Kurt."
"I don't know. I guess. Not gonna eat dinner with them, though. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction."
"Oh, c'mon" she coaxed. "You've gotta be hungry! And they're keepin' you safe from the rain, and that boogeyman in the house..."
"Oh, jeez, girl! That makes me feel so...at ease, calling him the boogeyman."
"Oh, you know what I mean! Go get you some dinner, boy!"
Kurt wiped his eyes, sniffling. "I don't think so, 'Cedes. I'll be fine- I'm just gonna go to sleep, okay?"
"Alright, baby boy. I'll see you at school tomorrow."
"Goodnight, Mercedes."
"'Night, Kurt."
Just as Kurt thumbed the 'end' icon, a new text popped up.
Kurt? Dolfins r gay sharks, rite? xoxo, Britt
He smiled to himself. Ah, Brittany. Her accidental hilarity could definitely ease his current blues.
No, Britt-Britt. Dolphins are just smaller and cuter than sharks.
She texted back quickly. But...ur smaller n cuter then like Finn or thoes other guys.
Aww, thank you honey. But I'm sure that size & cuteness doesn't mean much in the animal kingdom.
Ur welcome, Kurt 3. How big is the aminal kingdum? I bet its big as the magic kingdum.
Kurt shook his head, almost giggling. I bet it is, Britt. You know, you make me feel so happy when I'm sad.
R u sad, Kurt? the blonde replied. Y wud u b sad? U always look so pritty.
My dad's sick, Kurt typed back, feeling tears begin to fill his eyes again. And I have to stay at the Karofsky's- just for tonight, I think. But I don't know what'll happen next.
Aww, Kurt I hoep ur dad feels beterr. N Karfskys kool if u guys r aloen..he's a good kisser.
Kurt froze, the one thought in his head being...I know. He shuddered.
Kurt placed his iPhone on the bedside table and rolled over onto his back. He stared at the ceiling of the small room, sighing. The locker room "incident" was something he had pushed to the back of his mind since it ocurred. It was strange, terrifying even, to think about- that that bully could be secretly gay. Well, maybe not gay. Confused, perhaps.
"Boys! Dinner's ready!" Mr. Karofsky's voice interrupted his thoughts. Great. Dinner. Maybe if I just stay quiet, keep the lights off, they'll think I'm sleeping. Yeah, sleeping. Kurt drew the covers up around himself.
Dave sat at the dining room table, across from his Grandma Lily. His dad sat at the head of the table, looking anxiously at the empty seat at the other side.
"What's taking him so long?" Dave grumbled. "You told him to come down- why isn't he here yet?"
"Try to be patient, David. The boy's worried about his father, and, well, he's...not so thrilled about having to stay here." Grandma Lily smiled nervously.
"David" his father piped up, "Have you thought that maybe, you should apologize to Kurt?"
Dave scowled at his plate. "Yeah, I'm not stupid."
Paul brightened. "Good! Tell him when he comes down, huh? Hopefully he'll understand, if you just explain-"
"Explain? He's been terrorizing the poor thing!" Grandma Lily said with a disapproving look.
Paul tensed. "Dave..at least try to say sorry" he said softly.
What's the point? Dave thought. He's so...and I'm just...well, look at me. "He's not gonna forgive me" he said instead.
"He will in time, Davey" Grandma Lily responded, squeezing his hand.
Dave shook his head, moving his hand away from hers.
"Just smile at him when he comes down, eh Davey? We haven't seen that nice smile of yours in so long". God, she just won't stop.
"She's right, Dave" his father agreed. "And would it kill you to say something nice to the boy?"
A noise in the doorway startled the three of them. They all turned their heads, but it was only Max, the family's bulldog. He tiltled his head and the three surprised faces.
Dave's expression quickly turned to exasperated. "Where is he?" he growled, getting up from his chair. "HUMMEL!" he shouted in the direction of the stairs.
"Not. Comming!" was the clipped response.
Dave bounded up the stairs two at a time, his dad on his heels. He knocked forcefully on the guest room door. "Thought I told you to come to dinner, Hummel!"
"I'm not hungry!" Kurt retorted from inside.
Dave was fuming, his face burning with rage. "You come out, or I'll- I'll break down the door!"
Paul grabbed his son by the shoulder. "That's ENOUGH, David! If you can't ask nicely, just FORGET about it!"
David pushed his father away and sucked in a breath. "Will you come down and eat...please?"
"No, thank you".
Dave bit his lip. "Fine the, go ahead and STARVE!" he shouted, and ran down the stairs.
After an uncomfortably quiet dinner, Dave stumbled into his own room. He knocked over his hamper and bedside table in anger, before flopping onto his bed. I ask nicely, but he refuses! I mean, what does he want me to do- beg?
Dave could hear faint noises through the wall, as if Kurt was talking. He tiptoed out of his room and pressed his ear to the door.
"I don't wanna get to know him! I don't wanna have anything to do with him!" he could hear Kurt say into his phone.
Dave's eyes begin to sting, and he shuts himself inside his room once more. I'm kidding myself, if I think he'll ever see me as anything...but a monster. No one'll ever love me like Mama did. His face crashed into his pillow, masking his secret tears.
Downstairs in the kitchen, Paul was helping Grandma Lily with the dishes. He looked at his mother in law, hesitating . "This...isn't going very well, is it?"
Lily sighed. "It's been a long night for all of us...David just has to learn to control his temper"
"He's trying. I know he is...there's something wrong, Lily. Something he's not telling us."
"I know. You've done your best, Paul, but...he needs help."
Kurt hung up the phone after speaking to Brittany. She'd been trying to convince him to talk to Dave, but he was having none of it. He realized he didn't have to stay here after tonight, there must be someone else who'd take him in. Just a few more hours, and then he'd be outta here. But what about his dad?
The rumbling of his stomach broke through Kurt's jumbled thoughts. It seemed, no matter how little of an appetite he had in stressful situations, it always crept back upon him when the chaos had settled. I'm sure if I tip-toe downstairs, I'll be able to find a snack, Kurt thought as he opened the door.
He did manage to decide on a buttered bagel, not having the patience to prepare anything more exciting. Kurt hummed to himself as he waited for the bagel to toast. Hearing the thunder from outside, he began to sing softly to calm his nerves.
"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens,
Brown paper packages tied up with strings,
These are a few of my favourite things."
The toaster popped, and he continued the comforting song as he buttered the bagel.
"Cream-coloured ponies and crisp apple strudels,
Doorbells and sleighbells and schitzel with noodles,
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings,
These are a few of my favourite things."
That familiar tune kept playing in Kurt's head as he ate. He washed the plate and knife, and began to creep up the stairs again. The closed door at the end of the hallway caught his eye. I wonder why Karofsky doesn't want me going in there. Would it be so bad if I just took a peek? Ha, I bet he'd feel so violated if he found out! As if he hasn't violated me enough!
Kurt walked towards the door, slowly, trying to be as silent as possible. He turned the doorknob. Jeez, if this room is so forbidden, you'd think they'd keep it locked. Looking inside, it appeared to be a rather normal master bedroom. I thought Mr. Karofsky would have slept in the master...On a small wooden table beside the bed, there was a thick leather-bound book of some sort. Curiosity making his fingers itch, Kurt opened the book. It was a photo album.
The plastic pages contained pictures of a beautiful young woman. A few of them must have been taken when she was a kid, but in most, she looked to be in her twenties. This has got to be Karofsky's mom- she looks just like him. Kurt could see the resemblance in her dark, wavy hair, the expressiveness of her brow, the shape of her eyes. Her eyes are such a pretty green, though. I've never really noticed Karofsky's eyes- they're brown, aren't they?
As Kurt turned the pages, the pictures became those of the Karofsky family. Well, it looked like them alright, but that little boy looked far away from the bully he knew Karofsky as. He was chubby, with a cute smile and an obvious bond to his mother. What happened to that sweet-looking child?
Kurt's question was answered on the next page, which held just two pictures. One was a picture he recognized from the previous pages, printed onto paper that was yellowed with age. Mrs. Karofsky's pretty young face smiled up at him, over the words,
Nadja Liliane Karofsky, 1969-2001
She died! When he was...seven? Gaga, we have more in common than I thought. Kurt could feel his eyes beginning to water. Karofsky must've loved his mother so much...The second picture was of a gravestone, Mrs. Karofsky's, a red rose in front of it, bright against the plain gray stone.
"HUMMEL!" That voice, at a terrifying volume, boomed from the doorway. Kurt jumped, dropping the photo album. "Karofsky-"
"Why did you come here?" the taller boy thundered, stomping into the room.
Kurt backed up against the wall, blinking back his tears. "I- I'm sorry-"
"I told you not to come in here!"
"I- Karofsky, I- I lost my mother too, I understand-"
"UNDERSTAND?" Karofsky stalked toward him, his fists clenched. Kurt scurried away. "Please...Dave, can't we talk-"
"GET OUT!" Tears streamed down Dave's cheeks too, as he screamed. "GET OUT!"
Kurt ran to the guest room and slammed the door. Dave crumbled to the floor of his parents' old room, clutching the photo album and sobbing.
Kurt could hear Mr. Karofsky and Grandma Lily out in the hall, trying to console Dave. He only seemed to yell in response. Kurt squeezed his eyes shut, still letting the tears flow, and whispered to himself,
When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember my favourite things, and then I don't feel so bad.