Chapter 11

"Tonight's the night, Bigfoot!" Santana said cheerfully, grabbing onto Dave's trembling shoulders.

"I'm not sure I can do this" he replied, his voice small and nervous.

"Don't be scared, Dave" Brittany said. "You gotta be brave and sexy!"

"Brave and...sexy?" Dave repeated, his eyebrows raised as he toweled his hair dry.

"Yeah. Here, sit on the bed. Let me make you look hot." Dave gave her an odd look, but Santana pushed him towards his bed. Brittany knelt behind him and began combing his hair.

"You got music, candlelight, the whole shebang. When the time's right, just...tell him how you feel." Santana smiled encouragingly.

Dave puffed up. "Yeah, I...no, God, I can't!" He buried his face in his hands.

"You like Kurt a lot, don't you?" Brittany asked.

"Y-yeah."

"Well then, tell him!" Santana stifled a laugh. "Whoa, Britt. What are you doing?"

"What?" Dave stood up, knocking Brittany backward onto the bed. He looked in his mirror, and then back at the blonde, who was beaming. "I think he looks-"

"Stupid." Dave finished for her. Britt had clipped three little bow-shaped barrettes into his hair.

"No! You look pretty, Dave" Brittany retorted. "You're supposed to be gay, right? And they're blue, 'cause you're still a boy."

Santana shook her head. "Not every homo can be as pretty as Kurt, honey. Let's just forget the bows, 'kay?" She took them out and began smoothing Dave's hair down.

The door to Dave's room opened just a crack, and Mercedes peeked in. "Hey guys!" she said brightly. "Kurt's ready."

Dave looked up as Kurt descended the staircase, his gleaming gold jacket catching Dave's eye. Kurt caught Dave's eyes and smiled shyly.

Brave and sexy, Dave reminded himself, and he smiled back at the impeccably-dressed boy.

"You look...is it okay to call you beautiful?" Dave asked, breathless. "I mean, I know you're a guy, but-"

"Of course, it's okay!" Kurt replied, blushing. "Thank you. You look so handsome, Dave."

Now it was Dave's turn to blush. "Th-thanks." He offered Kurt his arm. "Shall we?"

They drove to Breadstix for dinner, not having many better options. Kurt found himself nervous, on his first date with a boy, and one who seemed to like hima lot. It was so strange, just a few days ago, Karofsky -Dave- was just a troubled closet case. Hell, just a few weeks ago, he was a bully who lost it and kissed his favourite victim in the locker room. But this young man sitting across from him, watching him shyly over spaghetti, this was a stranger. A very kind, very good-looking stranger.

Dave couldn't believe this was actually happening. This was the boy of his dreams, the one who had driven him to near madness in the past, in front of him. Looking at him with kindness and understanding- with interest- in his eyes. He had to do this right, now that it seemed he had a chance.

When their meals were finished, Dave grabbed Kurt's hand. "I have a surprise for you" he whispered. "Follow me, okay? And, um, close your eyes."

"Another surprise?" Kurt laughed, standing to follow his date. "Dave, you shouldn't have!"

"I wanted to. I'm so...so unbelievably lucky that you's even look at me after what I did, Kurt." Dave stopped them outside the back door of the restaurant. "Open your eyes. This is for you."

Kurt opened his eyes, and if the surprise in his room was a shock, this was beyond words. The back courtyard was covered in candles, and the school band was there, a soft and familiar melody floating through the space.

"Will you dance with me?" Dave asked. Kurt turned to him with tears in his blue eyes. "Oh, Dave" he breathed. "You're amazing." He placed his hands on the larger boys' shoulders, and they stepped closer to each other, beginning to move to the music.

"You're amazing" Dave whispered in Kurt's ear as they danced. "You're brave, and talented, and just so, so beautiful..."

Kurt just leaned in and inhaled Dave's clean, masculine scent. He closed his eyes and lost himself in the music, the soft light, the warmth of Dave against him in the cold night.

After what seemed like a very long time, the music had stopped and they were all alone. Dave sat on a bench, still holding Kurt close to him.

"Kurt" he began. "Are you happy, with...with me?"

Kurt seemed to hesitate. "Yes." He looked down, at his hands folded in his lap.

Dave took one of Kurt's hands gently in his own. "What?"

"I miss my dad" Kurt said. "I'm worried about him. I..I don't want to lose him. I can't."

Dave nodded. "I know. I'll, um, drive you to see him tomorrow. If you want..."

"Thank you, Dave." Kurt held Dave's hand tightly. "I know you can understand. It's hard to talk about, but if you ever need to...I'm here."

He looked into Dave's eyes and caught his breath. Slim hands pressed to a smoothly shaven face, pulling it closer until their lips were pressed together. Dave felt his heart swell, the air between them electric as their lips moved against each other. Kurt sighed and pulled away, his hands still brushing Dave's cheeks.

"That was incredible."

"It was."