So I realise that I've been writing using my experience with school and attempting to interpret others from TV or from people I know. However, I'm still not exactly positive on the American schooling system and I've come to the realisation that, as the schools in my area are all very new, they're probably more modern compared to other schools in other areas. Apologies if any information is wrong in this and don't be afraid to tell me when I slip up. Thanks for reading :)
Dave
I wasn't exactly sure what to say to them, but I needed to get it over with. So instead of a long, thought out, super-smart speech I just mumbled, "I'm sorry, guys."
Both Kurt and Lauren narrowed their eyes in wonder. "W-what? Why are you sorry?" stammered Lauren who then shared a glance with Kurt.
"You two have tried to help me and you've been so great and I just kind of shut you off. I should have seen this coming sooner and I was stupid to let it get to me so much. You two mean the world to me and this isn't just effecting me now, it's effecting you too. I'm being selfish by dragging you guys down with me. I'm so sorry," I declared. Kurt and Lauren continued exchanging glance between each other and me.
"Dave... what are you talking about. You're not being selfish. Trust me, we're upset about this too, it's not you bringing us down. You're not stupid so don't even say that. It's perfectly fine for you to be so upset about this situation," Kurt replied.
"He's right, Dave. You don't need to apologise. We completely understand why you're so upset and we don't think you're being stupid. We're going to be here for you, no matter what," added Lauren.
"I know, but I don't want you to feel obliged to make me feel better," I muttered. I avoided looking at them both and instead went to continue making the food.
"We're not going to look out for you because we have to. We're doing it because we want to. I promise," said Kurt. He stepped off of his chair and walked around to the other side of the counter to stand next to me. He brought an arm up to wrap around me and I once again leaned into the magic of his touch.
"Thanks, Fancy," I mumbled and he giggled at the use of my odd nickname for him. My awareness of Lauren suddenly disappeared and I pulled Kurt in for a proper hug, him leaning up to rest a head on my shoulder. I held him tightly and closed my eye. I didn't need anything else at that moment. Just Kurt's embrace was enough to settle me.
"Dave," Kurt whispered into my ear. I gave a small hum in reply. "The food is going to burn."
"Oh crap!" I pulled out of the hug and rushed to the grill to save the cheese on toast. Kurt and Lauren chuckled at me and Kurt wandered back around the counter to take his seat next to Lauren.
"Gosh, you two are such saps. I swear my phone's just full of mush!" Lauren laughed.
"Shut up, Lauren! You were the same when you dated that jerk in your senior year!" I argued. Lauren narrowed her eyes at him.
"I was not! He was too much of a jerk to be sappy with me!"
"Well you shouldn't have dated him then. Or at least brought him home. Then I wouldn't have been constantly criticised on everything I did by some guy I barely knew. Damn you and your awful taste in men!" I complained.
"I got rid of him didn't I?"
"Only when he tried to kiss your best friend..."
"Yeah, well at least Jess told me. Otherwise I'd probably have carried on dating him," she said with a furrowed brow.
"Wow. Who'd have thought my first boyfriend would be better than yours," I laughed, shooting a wink in Kurt's direction.
"Yeah, it's kind of bad that my brother is better when it comes to guys than I am. Well, I guess I'm getting credit for helping but still, I'm sure you'd have gotten there eventually," Lauren joked.
"I did kind of have no clue when it came to dating. Well dating guys anyway."
Kurt laughed at this and shook his head at me. I went to take the lunch out of the grill and served it up on three separate plates before adding the final ingredient – Branston Pickle. Kurt watched as I did this.
"What's that?" he asked.
"Branston Pickle. It's British I think. My aunt went to England once and came back raving about the stuff and forced us to try it. It's amazing!" I told him.
"Oh British, huh? Shall we make this truly British by having a cup of tea too?" Kurt laughed. I beamed at him and motioned towards the kettle, which he went and filled, before flicking it on. Lauren went to help him, pulling some mugs out of the cupboard along with some teabags and sugar.
Soon we had what was newly named 'The super famous, super tasty Dave Karofsky cheesy toast special with a hint of Britishness'. I didn't usually drink much tea and I'd never had it the way Kurt made it with milk and sugar. It was surprisingly nice and I gulped it down with my cheese on toast.
"God, David. How did I find someone like you, huh? You cook, you play guitar, you endure chick flicks. If you were straight you'd be a complete chick magnet!" said Kurt.
"You kidding? It's cheese on toast, I only know a few songs and I'm not expecting you to endure several action films," I replied with a wicked grin.
"Great. Action films means some eye candy." Kurt winked at me.
"On second thoughts, I really fancy some chick flicks..."
Lauren, Kurt and I sat talking in the kitchen whilst we finished our food and then we ventured back into the living room for another film. The normality of the situation had definitely calmed me, plus the fact that Kurt sat next to me, his thumb caressing mine carefully. I didn't feel like crying or screaming or throwing things any more. I just wanted to stay with Lauren and Kurt, emerged in this comfortable conversation and let all my worries wash away.
Kurt
I received a text part way through the conversation in the living room.
From Blaine: Hey, Kurt! Fancy meeting up tomorrow?
I thought it through for a moment. I hadn't seen Blaine in absolutely ages, and even though I was pining after him any longer he was a pretty good friend. Even if he could be a bit of a bitch sometimes.
Dave noticed my thoughts and glanced down at my phone. "Go for it, Kurt," he mumbled. "I'm sure I can go without you for a day."
"Thanks, Dave," I said and replied to Blaine's text.
To Blaine: Sure. The Bean at 10 okay for you?
"I haven't heard much about Blaine from you recently. I take it you're still friends," he said, gesturing towards my phone.
"Yeah. I just haven't really spoken to him. He's busy with his boyfriend, I'm busy with mine. Y'know how it is," I explained with a smile.
"Blaine? Where do I know that name?" Lauren asked and Dave shot her an annoyed glance. She grinned at him. "Oh yeah. Hair gel, right?"
"How did you know about that...?" I asked, looking between Lauren and a grimacing Dave.
"Oh trust me. Dave told me all about him when he first told me about you... which was pretty much as soon as I found out he was gay," Lauren laughed. I felt my cheeks heat up and noticed Dave's were doing the same.
"Lauren..." he groaned but Lauren continued to laugh.
"He was worried that Blaine was better for you than he was. He started asking me whether I thought he should use hair products," Lauren informed me.
"Lauren!" Dave snapped and I suppressed a laugh.
"Aw, Dave!" I said and wrapped my arms around his strong abdomen. "You're much better for me. And although I would usually approve of hair products, I like your hair!" I insisted.
"He has the Karofsky curls," Lauren said, gesturing to her own wavy hair. When I looked at Lauren properly I realised her and Dave had some quite similar features. Although her hair was a lighter colour, it was definitely the same texture. Their eyes were also very similar, but where as Dave's were hazel with a slight amount of specks of green, hers had a larger amount of green in them. Just as Dave was good looking, Lauren was quite beautiful.
"They're some lovely curls too," I said, pulling my hand up to comb my fingers through a handful of his hair. "Hey, Dave. I've been wondering actually about something you said on our first date."
Dave's eyes flicked to me, as did those of his sister who now had a curious expression.
"You said that a certain sport often calmed you down," I told him and Lauren seemed to understand.
"You should go swimming!" Lauren called immediately.
"What?" Dave inquired.
"You said you get lost in the water. I was thinking it might help you think a bit?" I suggested. He considered it for a minute before I added, "I'll come with? As long as I don't get my hair wet. Chlorine does not agree with it!"
"You know that's not actually a bad idea. It might help me clear my head a little," he muttered vacantly.
I looked up the clock which read half past 12. "We have time to go now if you'd like. If we just stop off at mine on the way," I told him.
"Okay then. Lauren, you coming?" he asked, turning to his sister.
"If you don't mind. I haven't been in a while," she said. Suddenly Dave was beaming and I recognised that I'd made the right decision suggesting it. He rushed upstairs with Lauren to grab some things and came down not long after fully dressed with a string bag slung over his shoulder. His sister followed him in a similar state, her hair pulled up into a pony tail.
"Let's go," Dave encouraged and we went and climbed into his car. I sat in the front with him while Lauren took the back seat. "It's been so long since I've been swimming!" Dave exclaimed with the glee of a small child and I smiled at the happiness that had overcome him. It would be good for him to get some time to think to himself.
We stopped by my house where I hurriedly grabbed a towel and my swimming shorts from the last time my dad and I had visited his friend who happened to have a pool. I also grabbed a towel and hesitated before grabbing a variety of skin products. After stuffing them into my older Marc Jacobs bag, and grabbing my wallet I rushed back out and into the car so we could drive to the pool.
The destination Dave chose was in Westerville, which surprised me as it was quite a drive, but it was also a safe place for Dave. It was highly unlikely we'd see anyone and I didn't think he was prepared to face anybody just yet. When we got there we paid and rushed off to the changing room, Lauren telling us "No getting up to anything inappropriate in there," before hurrying into the women's changing room, leaving us both red faced. I changed quickly and found myself a locker to put my things in. Dave came out of his own changing room and I couldn't help but look him over a few times.
In his shorts, this was the most of him I'd ever seen and he was definitely anything but chubby. His chest and abdomen were as strong as they felt, his arms chiselled masterpieces and his shoulders broad. I was hit by a wave of self consciousness and I realised how different my body was compared to his. I, being pale, thin and in no way athletic, looked so different to him. However I couldn't help but wince at the fading dark patches spread across his body and the waterproof bandage which now covered the cuts on his arm.
He made his way towards me, choosing a locker next to mine. He had his bag clutched to his chest as if hiding himself after my glances. I smiled at him as we put our things away and then took a step closer to him.
"I don't know if anybody ever told you this, Dave, but you're hot!" I told him, my hand gripping the top of his arm.
"I don't know if anybody ever told you this, Kurt, but you're gorgeous," he said with a wink.
"You ready?" I asked, gesturing towards the exit and taking his hand in mine.
"As I'll ever be," was his reply and with Dave I strolled towards the exit, hoping that this could help me on my way to fixing Dave.
So this chapter is pretty long and random... Anyway I've added some of Britishness because I have a friend in America who informed me that he (and the people he knows) doesn't drink tea with milk and sugar. As I am very stereotypically English when it comes to tea drinking, I decided I'd force some tea with milk and sugar into the boys and Lauren :') I also had cheese on toast with Branston pickle so I decided I'd share the experience. Anyways, sorry if this is a bit long and drony and sorry if there are any mistakes. I thought swimming would make Dave feel better. I hope you enjoy :)