See chpt. 1 for info and warnings

He was nervous. So nervous that he actually felt sick, which wasn't helpful when facing an attempt to have a nice lunch. A nice lunch with someone he'd been more than slightly in love with since high school. With an effort, Dave kept from banging his head against the table. He considered the idea of just getting up and leaving before it was too late.

Of course, it was already too late. His heart lurched painfully in his chest at the sight of Kurt Hummel walking over to the table with a smile on his face. After everything that had passed between them, he frankly didn't feel worthy of the expression or the way it made him feel.

"I'm glad to see you made it," Kurt said, tone breezy and light as he slid into the chair across from Dave.

"Nothing would've made me miss it." The words were out of his mouth before he could think better of it, and Dave fought the urge to slap his forehead. He knew he was taking socially awkward to new heights, but there was nothing that could be done for it. "Uh, so, what kinda food do you like?"

Having expected something highbrow – French or Ethiopian or even sushi – Dave's eyebrows raised of their own volition when Kurt answered simply, "A burger sounds perfect." Catching sight of the expression, Kurt's smile grew a bit wider. "Well, the place I have in mind makes their own buns and root beer if that helps at all."

Dave snorted and nodded. "Yeah, a little. Well, lead the way. I don't say no to burgers… well, okay, more often than I used to," he patted his stomach and shrugged, "but not a lot."

"Good." Kurt led the way out of the coffee shop and down the block to a small café. It looked like the kind of place that had been owned by the same family for years and years, and Dave liked it at once. "They have the absolute best food. Swear to god." Still smiling easily, Kurt added, "The owner is this little old guy. He looks like he's a thousand, but the man can make a shake like no one else."

When they got up to the counter, Dave looked the menu over and finally shook his head. "Order for me. I'll trust the pro."

Kurt took to the task without a moment's hesitation, getting them each a cheeseburger, onion rings and a chocolate shake for him with peanut butter for Dave. "That way we don't have to choose – just share."

The intimacy of that idea brought a new blush of color to Dave's cheeks, but he nodded anyway and tried to sound comfortable and casual. "Sure. Yeah. Good thinking." The silence stretched out between them, but it wasn't all that uncomfortable. Sitting at a rickety table with pop music playing in the background while they waited for food actually felt pretty darn normal. "Sorry, I feel like I should have, like, something to say. Something profound." Dave couldn't help laughing as soon as the words were out of his mouth. "And that was not it."

"Maybe not," Kurt agreed with a chuckle, "but it was nice. Better than profound, actually. Deep philosophical discussion doesn't go with burgers. Laughing is better."

"Yeah… it is." The smile that lit the larger man's face was genuine, and he shook his head. "God, how do you just… it's just normal being here with you. Shouldn't it be weird?"

Kurt considered that quietly for a moment. "Probably, yes," he agreed, "but after last night, it's easier to see you as David. Right now you're where I used to be in a lot of ways, but you have it worse. I had my father, my stepmother, my friends. You're doing this alone. Do you have any friends you can talk to?"

That question brought the mood down a bit, but Dave had already decided that he owed Kurt openness and honesty at the very least. "No. I have… there's a few people I talk to some, hang out with, but it's… it's not… I guess it's just company, not anybody I can talk to about really important things. Sounds dumb, but it's easier talking to you."

"It isn't dumb. I've seen a side of you that they won't. That's a good thing for them, but it means that you don't feel like they know you." Kurt waited for a silent affirmation before he continued, "The thing is, they do. They know you as you are now, and hard as it may be for even you to believe, that's the part that matters."

Dave looked down at the table but was saved from thinking of an immediate reply by the arrival of their food. He opened his mouth at one point to ask again how the hell Kurt could be so nice to him, but he finally decided against it. The question had nothing to do with Kurt and more to do with the fact that he felt like he deserved a mean answer. He didn't deserve Kurt being so nice. And that was his own hang up to deal with. "You were right about the burgers, man. Really good."

"Of course I was," Kurt answered as though it had been obvious from the start. "I won't eat just anything. Please stop looking at me as if I'm going to pull out a gun any second. If this is going to work – us trying to be friends – then it has to be in spite of the past, not because of it. We'll both drive ourselves crazy otherwise."

Again Dave found himself struck by the fact that Kurt seemed to be reading his mind. "Yeah. No. You're right. Again. You ever get tired of that?"

The young man didn't even pause before answering, "Never. Ever. Not for a second."

Shaking his head, Dave just grinned and went back to eating. Despite everything – or maybe even because of it – he had himself a new friend.