Author's note: Thanks for the reviews – I am behind on replying, and am likely to miss a couple, but I love getting them.
CHAPTER THREE
When he sees Blaine on Monday he sighs. He's got the same little thing that Rachel had when she broke her nose and he feels another spike of anger at Puck. Blaine looks… for a lack of a better word, broken, like the weight of the world's problems are on his shoulders and he doesn't like seeing him like that, because it's the antithesis of the Blaine he knew and loved, and he knows he's going to have to make some sort of gesture. Blaine is clearly trying to avoid him, which is all part of the plan, except he needs to change that. Starting now. He steps in front of him, halting his progress away.
"How's your nose?"
"Ah. Better. But it's uh… broken." His voice does sound a bit nasally, and if Puck has ruined Blaine's voice he'll forgo his violence is not a last resort, it's not a solution to anything rule and do something.
"Puck's an idiot. You didn't deserve that."
"What? Yes I did."
"No, Blaine. You didn't."
They stare at each other, and god he wishes things were different, could be different, but he needs to make the best of this situation that they're in, because it's not like Blaine can reach out to him what with his strict instructions that they're not going to be friends. And they're not. But he misses Glee Club, and despite the fucked up situation, Blaine is also a victim, although he doubts very much that Blaine views it that way.
"I'm sorry you know. More than I can ever express…"
"I know. I know you are. You think I'd even be talking to you if I didn't know that? Just… can we not talk about it right now?"
"Sure. Sorry," Blaine says, wincing when he says sorry again.
"So, did Rachel apologize for blabbing?"
"Yeah. She's been carrying my books around like it's my arms that are broken instead of my nose…"
"That's Rachel for you. How about Puck?"
"He… has kind of avoided me. I think he expects me to retaliate or something…"
The idea of Blaine retaliating is amusing to say the least, because Blaine would never intentionally hurt a fly, but if Puck is running scared then Kurt will let him. Actually, he imagines that Puck is probably more afraid of him right now because he told him he had to apologize and it's very apparent that he hasn't. Although his opportunities have been lacking given Blaine's absence from school on Friday.
That small fact hadn't stopped Rachel of course. She'd driven out to sing him a combined apology and get-well song to show Kurt and Blaine that she really meant her apology. That and it'd given her an opportunity to sing, which she never passes up, and to have a nosey around Blaine's home. He knows all this because she'd come around directly afterwards to tell him, and he'd been enjoying his Saturday afternoon up until then. The bell ringing jolts him back to the hallway and he nods farewell.
"I'll see you in Glee Club later…"
It's been a week since he saw Kurt, and he kind of wonders whether he should ring him up, or send him a text or something, because if they're meant to be friends then it's meant to be a two-way street, and Kurt's visited him twice. Sure it was to kind of rant and complain about things the last time, but that's what friends do. At least, that's what his friends do. Except for Honey. She's just resorted to sighing and patting his arm each time she sees him, and Nathan snickers every single time. Terence has started joining him and Nathan in their lunchtime game of table leap-frog, and it's kind of nice to have another guy to discuss sports with, but he makes a conscious effort to ensure the conversation at the table isn't unduly affected by his presence. They all seem to be used to him by now though, although Terence adds another layer once he beats Dave, by complete fluke, at one of the logic problems, he'd been welcomed with open arms.
So that brings him to be standing outside Kurt's house, holding a cake that Claire had insisted on him bringing with him, which he'd been tempted to leave in the car, except he knows she'll ask Kurt whether he liked it next time she sees him. Or worse, ask him, and he's crap at lying when asked a direct question. He rings the bell and wonders who will answer, because it's Thanksgiving, and why he thought visiting Kurt would be a good idea, he knows he has family visiting. He's tempted to turn around and leave, he can tell Claire there was no-one home…
"Dave! Oh my god! Great. Come in…"
He's never heard Kurt so happy to see him before, and he kind of wants to look behind himself to ensure there isn't another guy named Dave standing there but instead thrusts out the cake.
"I brought cake. From Claire. Uh. Happy Thanksgiving?"
"Food! Maybe I can sneak it past them…"
"I. What?" He'd kind of expected to hear a complaint about having already eaten too much. "Um, I just thought I'd come round and see how you were going. I mean… I haven't heard from you, so I figured everything was okay…"
"Come in. Maybe with an actual guest the family will stop arguing. And I'm sorry, I always seem to visit you when I need to vent. And now I need to vent again… oh god, I'm a terrible person."
He follows Kurt into the house but he really has no idea what Kurt is talking about. It's kind of par for the course when it comes to Kurt though, because sometimes he doesn't hear what Kurt is saying, just knows that he's talking, that his lips are moving. Except he forces himself to pay attention to what he figures is hopefully the key point.
"You're not a terrible person. Human. Like everyone else."
"Tell that to the grumpy grannies in there… I knew it wasn't a good idea. I mean, my poor dad. Both his mother-in-laws visiting for the holidays? He's probably going to have another heart attack or something."
"Kurt… relax dude, or you'll have a heart attack."
He watches as Kurt visibly takes a deep breath it and slowly exhales and he can see him relax, and it's kind of flattering that Kurt will listen to him when they've only really been 'friends' for two weeks.
"Right. Can I offer you a drink? We have lots of options…"
"Um, water's fine. Thanks."
He only says it to give Kurt something to do, and he follows Kurt through to the kitchen, and he sees why Kurt was so happy to see him. Two women, who he assumes are the afore-mentioned grumpy-grannies, are arguing over the best type of sugar to use for something. He's not sure what, but Kurt seems to visibly tense again as he lays the cake down on a cleared part of the bench.
"David, let me introduce you to Doria and Gloria. Finn and my maternal grandmother's respectively. Doria, Grandma, this is my friend Dave…"
They instantly stop bickering and turn to him, and he kind of stares at Kurt over the shoulder of his grandmother as the fiercely regal looking woman gives him a hug.
"Are you any good in the kitchen?" Doria asks, and he shakes his head, stepping away from Kurt's grandmother.
"I burn water…" he offers, and hopes this gets him out of whatever plan they might be plotting and they both look disgusted.
"Get out then. Kurt, you better go too. Entertain your guest!"
Kurt grabs the cake with both hands and jerks his head, indicating for him to follow. In the living room Finn is nowhere to be seen, and Kurt's dad and Mrs Hudson are sitting with an elderly gentleman and they're all drinking what looks like wine.
"I have cake! Dave has maybe saved you all from becoming drunken fools before dinner. And dying of possible starvation."
He gets greetings and introductions to Mrs Hudson's dad, gets told to call them Burt, Carole and Edward and he's pretty sure the only name he'll manage is Carole, because he keeps slipping up and calling her Mrs Hudson when she's now Mrs Hummel and she's already asked him before to call her Carole. He can't ever imagine calling Burt Hummel anything but Mr Hummel, but it's nice to have been extended the offer.
"Uh… have you guys not eaten?" he asks, because it's three in the afternoon, he'd kind of thought that he'd maybe interrupting their lunch, but apparently not, especially with the way they're all staring at the cake that Kurt has set on the coffee table and is unsnapping from the container.
"No. We haven't been allowed to eat since breakfast. At seven. Because apparently we'll ruin our appetites. Finn has made a mercy dash to Rachel's, because apparently vegan food is better than no food, while we've been sitting here being taunted by the smell of cooking food and not being allowed to eat any of it. Top that off with the hangriness we're all experiencing, your arrival, with food no less, is very well timed…"
"Uh. Okay. Hangriness?"
"What type of cake is it?" Burt asks, and he knows this at least.
"It's sticky date with walnut and maple…" Dave replies and watches as pieces are cut off with a knife Kurt has clearly smuggled out of the kitchen.
"Hangry. When you're so hungry you become angry. Anyway, have you already eaten?"
"Yeah, I'm stuffed. We had lunch early so we can watch the games in relative peace…"
Burt and Edward both moan and make what he can only describe as whimpering sounds.
"They haven't been allowed to have the TV on. No games. Nothing," Kurt provides, and he's taking off dainty pieces of cake off his slice and popping them into his mouth. Burt, Edward and Carole have all taken descent sized slices and he waves away the offer of cake.
"But… that's the whole point of Thanksgiving…"
"I know!" Burt and Edward say simultaneously and Carole rolls her eyes.
"Yes well, they're a tour de force, and not one I'm going to argue with."
"Me either…" Carole says, swirling wine and taking another sip.
It's kind of nice to know his family doesn't have the market cornered on slightly crazy, and if he knew them better he'd offer for them to sneak out and come eat leftovers and watch the games at his place. It's not like they don't have the room. As long as the twins aren't out and about.
"Call me when we're allowed to eat. Dave and I are going to go and talk…"
Burt looks up at that, his eyes flicking between the two of them, as if he's about to say something but then decides against it and just nods instead.