FINAL chapter. Thanks for reading and reviewing! And, my thanks to IlovesMesomeGlee, for co-writing, editing, reviewing, and internet hugs.
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Sebastian was walking down the hall. He was especially proud of himself that day. He prepared a new Evans Blue song for glee and couldn't wait until rehearsal. However, he heard something he didn't like. He came to a complete stop outside the boy's bathroom.
"…more where that came from."
It sounded like a student and it was coming from the boy's bathroom. Sebastian knew those words could only mean trouble, especially if they were coming from the boys bathroom. He walked in to see Brad Barrington, jock and total idiot, looming his large frame over a student. When he saw the outline of a student behind Brad shaking, he knew he had to intervene.
"Hey!" Sebastian hollered.
Brad turned around to sneer at Sebastian. And, to Sebastian's horrified eyes stood a shaken Matt. Sebastian put two and two together and knew what happened.
Brad narrowed his eyes at Sebastian and turned to leave. But as he started to pass Sebastian and turn down towards the door, Sebastian further intervened.
"Sexual assault is a sex offense." Sebastian said coolly.
That got Brad to come to a complete stop. He glared at Sebastian.
"Nothing happened!" Brad roared.
But Sebastian was undeterred. He quickly glanced at Matt, just to make sure he was OK, before he returned to Brad.
"And could be a hate crime." Sebastian finished, as if Brad hadn't said anything. "You can't get a college football scholarship with those charges on your record."
Brad charged up to Sebastian and got right in his face.
"I said, nothing happened." Brad said warningly.
But Sebastian simply smiled a little.
"I know what I heard." Sebastian said, still with that little smile. "All Matt will need is a witness statement from me and for Matt to press charges and your little," Sebastian pointed down to Brad's crotch and then up to Brad's face, "escapade will ruin your future."
Brad's eyes couldn't have become narrower.
"So," Sebastian continued smoothly, "leave Matt alone or you will face a judge. I hear juvenile detention centers in Lima love jocks."
Brad hesitated. Sebastian seized the opportunity to show that snarky, Sebastian-trademarked smile. Brad said absolutely nothing and turned to leave. But as he left, Sebastian noticed Brad was fleeing the room.
As soon as Brad left, Sebastian dashed over to Matt.
"Matt?" Sebastian said quietly. "Was I right?"
Matt paused. He was looking down towards the floor, as if he wasn't even there. His arms were hugged around his chest and he was still shaking a little. His skin looked paled and his eyes were bulged a little.
"Yes." Matt whispered.
Sebastian tried to hide a flash of anger before regaining his composure. He knew he'd have to say something, but he'd never been put in this position before.
"Talk to Dave." Sebastian said, turning to leave, clearly uncomfortable with what just happened. Momentarily, Sebastian felt incredibly sorry for appearing to abandon his… friend? He really didn't know what he was to Matt, but Sebastian knew he was out of his league when it came to dealing with sexual assault.
"Thank you." Matt quietly said. Sebastian came to a stop. He craned his head just a little to the left and nodded.
"I don't think he'll bother you again." And with that, Sebastian left.
As he entered the hall, he couldn't have been more proud of himself – to a degree.
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"So," Matt gingerly began, "I think Sebastian handled that situation as best he could, grizzly."
Dave was shaking with rage. He wanted to do something more, but Matt would be furious with him.
"We'll go to the principal. We'll make people aware of bullying, sexual assault, anything, Matt." Dave said. "Hell, maybe we'll pressure the principal to do it or we'll press charges against that asshole Barrington."
Matt lazily stroked the right side of Dave's chest. Matt loved how thick and meaty Dave's pectoral muscles were, but right then was not the appropriate time to address that.
"I guess." Matt said apathetically.
Dave took a moment to lower his head and look at his boyfriend. Matt was still there, but clearly shaken. Dave just wanted to pull Matt closer to him. But something told him that Matt might freak out a little. Hesitantly, he started to stroke Matt's back.
"Can I…?" Dave started.
Matt looked up into Dave's loving, supporting eyes. The two boys shared a longing moment. They were so in love with each other. Dave wanted to swallow Matt's pain and fear, but he didn't know how.
Dave very gently tugged on Matt's back. Matt got the message. He placed his head back on Dave's chest, guiding Dave's arms around him. Dave didn't hesitate. He pulled Matt into a bear hug and held on tight. Matt was broken at the moment and Dave just wanted to fix him.
Little tears escaped Matt's eyes. Dave could feel the moisture through his t-shirt but didn't care. The two held each other as silent tears of fear, anger, and even embarrassment fell. Normally, this would've been a sweet moment. But it was anything sweet. Dave held onto Matt like his life depended on it. And in some ways, it did.
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The next day, Dave and Matt arrived together. It would be the second day in a row that they had come out. News crews hovered near the entrance again, eager for an interview with the gay quarterback, the gay football player, the gay state champion. Dave was sickened.
I'm a state champion quarterback, too.
Dave frowned as he emerged from Matt's car, glaring at the news crews. Matt walked up beside him. The two were simply looking at groups of cameramen and reporters.
"Do you wanna duck in the gymnasium entrance?" Matt quietly asked, eyes still on the news crews.
"Yeah, I guess." Dave despondently replied.
Dave gently but firmly grabbed Matt's arm and quickly strode to the left side of the school, away from the reporters. Their eyes were trained to the ground as they walked. Morning sunshine was behind them and, from a distance, made it difficult for the reporters to keep an eye on the student parking lot. Some reporters were straining their eyes or using their hands to scan the area. But Matt and Dave were able to sneak away from them. Other students entering the gymnasium with them didn't realize what the boys were doing. They just gawked at Dave and Matt like yesterday.
Dave sighed. Matt kept his head down.
They walked through the gymnasium wordlessly. Furious thoughts were in their heads as they mentally rehearsed what needed to be said. They walked through the gymnasium, turning left towards the administration office. Dave kept his hand firmly on Matt's arm the whole time, protecting Matt and strengthening his resolve.
The student body still hadn't gotten over the shocking revelation from the day before. Some were whispering as they walked by, only to hush up whenever Dave would glare. Others had little smirks on their faces. It was all very tiresome and bothersome.
"Do you want to stop by the snack bar before we go see Principal Figgins?" Dave asked.
"No." Matt said, but he surprised Dave by coming to a complete stop in the hallway. They were just outside the administration office. Matt looked up at the imitation gold plating of the letters on the sign – ADMINISTRATION OFFICE. He couldn't take his eyes off it, lost in thought. Students passed them by as Dave followed Matt's eyes, looked at the sign, and then back to Matt. He gently stroked Matt's upper arm, hoping to strengthen his resolve.
"Second thoughts?" Dave gently asked.
"No." Matt replied quickly. "I just…. I don't want to have to threaten Principal Figgins."
"I doubt it'll come to that." Dave said resolutely. "With all the national attention bullying in the LGBT community has been receiving, I think Figgins will eat this opportunity up."
Matt turned to face Dave. Blue eyes met hazel eyes in a sweet, non-verbal conversation that only the two of them could have. That was one of the wonderful things about the boys being in love with each other so much. Simple moments like these spoke volumes. Dave was so happy to have Matt in his life and Matt was so happy to have found Dave. Matt wanted to stroke the side of Dave's face, but they were at school.
But in that quiet, serene moment, all the boys could think about was sending positive messages to the school and the world. All they had to do was take the first step forward. And they did.
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Turns out Principal Figgins not only loved the idea of an anti-bullying message, he organized an assembly himself. The student body was required to attend. Matt decided not to do anything about Brad's little indiscretion in the boy's bathroom.
Day by day, the boys went to school. Gradually, students stopped gawking at Dave and Matt. The boys made sure not to have too many public displays of attention. They just wanted to be open and graduate. And they did. Dave was able to finally address football-related questions in interviews. However, the topic of gay college athletes was just too juicy of a story to resist. After all, David Karofsky would be the first openly gay college football player, entering college.
Matt watched the media love on Dave. Dave saw right through it, even winking at Matt during the gawdy interviews. They couldn't have been happier.
Winter came and went. Dave was practically living with the Saranitys. The Saranitys didn't seem to mind. Dave was helpful around the house and was good at reaching things the others in the household couldn't. When you're 6'5", you never escape this task.
Spring was fast approaching. The boys planned to attend prom. And they did. The boys planned to go post-prom. And they did. And then they planned the sooner-than-expected graduation.
However, just days before the school year ended, Matt found Dave frowning.
"Grizzly?" Matt asked one beautiful May afternoon at lunch. The boys were sitting in the cafeteria, closest to the windows. The early afternoon sunshine brightened the boy's faces. However, Dave was lost in complete thought.
"Not one word." Dave said slowly.
"Huh?" Matt asked.
"Not. One. Word." Dave repeated, with the same cadence.
"What do you mean?"
Dave slowly turned and looked at Matt with such a sudden sadness that Matt had to do a double take. He put down his sandwich to give Dave his full attention.
"My Dad." Dave clarified.
Matt placed his hand gently on Dave's bicep. Normally, this calmed Dave. But when Matt looked up, he saw Dave's clenched jaw and hawk-like eyes. Dave was completely lost in thought and wouldn't let even Matt in. Matt knew this was headed towards a bad place and he had to do something.
"Dave? Whatever you're thinking, don't do it." Matt said confidently.
But Dave snapped his head, practically glaring at Matt.
"The hell I won't!"
Dave suddenly stood up and marched out of the cafeteria. Matt watched Dave storm out, knowing exactly where he was headed.
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"Coach Karofsky!" Dave roared as he blasted the door wide open. Paul barely registered somebody entering his office. Dave was panting in his fury and his trek to his Dad's office.
"Normally," Paul coolly replied, without even looking up, "students who come into my office yelling like that get detention."
Paul finally looked up into Dave's ferocious.
"But," Paul continued, "I guess I'll make an exception."
"Dad!" Dave pleaded as he walked into the office, "What did I do that was so bad?"
"What do you mean?" Paul asked, feigning offense. "I mean, you abandon your family when you win the state championship and you ignore all my attempts at communication with you. So, I ask you, what do you mean?"
Dave's blood boiled.
"What the hell are you talking about, Dad?!" Dave screamed. "Do you hate me that much because I'm gay?"
Paul's jaw clenched when Dave said the word Paul hated the most – "gay."
"That's right, Dad," Dave angrily started, "I'm gay. Gay, gay, gay, gay gay! And that's not going to stop!"
"Get out of my office." Paul quietly and angrily said.
But Dave chuckled in his face.
"Now look who's ignoring all my attempts at communication with you."
Paul slowly stood up, hands placed on his desk, eyes darting through his son.
"Now you listen here, boy," Paul angrily and quietly began, "If you think-"
"Think what, Dad?" Dave quietly replied, inching closer to his Dad's angry face, "That I'll get a spanking? That my Dad won't love me anymore because I like guys?"
Paul sneered at Dave.
"You've got a bright future, Dave." Paul quietly began, "But I don't want to see it."
Dave's eyes widened in surprise.
"Why, Dad? Why?" Dave implored.
Paul leaned back a little, thinking over his words carefully.
"You drove your mother away from me."
Dave was stunned. Dave's mother left home when he was eleven. If it wasn't for Azimio's words that day before the state championship, he wouldn't have gotten the truth. He quietly thanked God for Azimio.
"No, Dad." Dave confidently began, "You drove Mom away. She was too weak to stand up for herself and her son, but I'm not."
"You and your homo self drove her away from me." Paul absently repeated.
"Your hate drove her away."
The two men just stared at each other, the impasse evident.
"Dad, I've struggled for so-"
"Oh," Paul interrupted, "I don't want to hear it! I'm sick of all these homos in the world, wah, wah, wahing about their boo hoo lives."
Dave did his best to keep his temper under control. Paul must've sensed it because he dug deeper.
"What?" Paul cockily began, "You think we wanted a fag for a son?"
Dave lost it. He lunged at his Dad's lapels and brought him right up in Dave's face.
"Stop it!" Dave roared. He glared at his father for potentially the last time.
"Get this through your thick skull." Dave quietly began. "Matt and I are going to Missouri together."
Paul's eyes narrowed at the mention of Matt's name.
"And we will be together. It's up to you to accept or reject us, Dad. No gray area. And I won't let you interfere with our relationship."
Paul's eyes widened a little.
"That's right, Dad." Dave gently began, "I love Matt. We plan on having a future together. And you've got to get over your issues with me being gay."
And then, Dave's voice softened to a whisper.
"Because I love you Dad. But I can't let you in my life if there's no mutual respect."
The two men then looked at each other. Dave tried to figure out what was going on in his Dad's head. But Paul revealed nothing – just a blank stare. Dave couldn't take it anymore. He didn't want to leave things the way they were, but his Dad was being no help.
Slowly, Dave turned and walked out of the room. Had he turned around, he would've seen a tear escape Paul's right eye.
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The day after graduation, the boys were sitting in Matt's room, getting packed. Dave had gone home while his Dad was still at the school and packed up most of his clothes. The bus trip to Missouri would be ten and a half hours. Dave and Matt weren't looking forward to it.
"So," Matt eagerly began, "here's your iPod." He handed the iPod to Dave.
"Batteries are charged, so you should be fine." Matt said. "Oh, and I packed my laptop in my suitcase because I didn't think the bus would have WiFi, but I'm not so sure now."
Dave was silent.
Matt finally looked at his boyfriend, who was lost in thought.
"Dave?" Matt asked. When Dave didn't respond, he placed his thin fingers under Dave's chin and turned his head towards him. Dave had a pensive look on his face.
"We're really doing it, Matt." Dave quietly announced. "We're really going to college."
Matt understood what Dave wasn't saying. Dave was an out college athlete. He would be the nation's first in a hopefully long line of gay college athletes.
"You're pretty brave, Dave." Matt announced. He leaned down and placed a heady kiss on Dave's lips. Dave grasped the back of Matt's head and held firmly. The kiss lingered and was passionate. Finally, they broke apart, but didn't separate very much from each other.
"Are you scared?" Matt quietly asked.
Dave thought for a second before answered.
"Yeah." Dave boyishly replied.
Matt couldn't help but smile.
"Well, don't worry grizzly." Matt smiled. "You're gonna be a helluva football player!"
Dave couldn't help but smile. He really loved Matt. And Matt really loved him; nothing could ever get in the way of how much cared Matt for and loved Dave, his grizzly.
"You really think so?" Dave asks suddenly more serious staring at Matt not daring to look away as he grabs his hand gently for some reassurance that everything was really going to be okay. He knew Matt wouldn't lie to him. He was just so scared; scared of leaving Lima into the unknown that was in Missouri. He was going to be not only out of the closet but be an out football player. This would be a scary thought for anyone if they were in Dave's shoes. He's glad he had Matt to help him through of all his doubts and insecurities. If Dave wasn't already in love with Matt he would swear at that moment he could fall in love all over again.
Dave looked up into those blue eyes of his boyfriend and he found his answer. Matt's eyes were so full of love for the boy in front of him that he didn't need to verbalize out loud at Dave's question. They really were going to be okay.
Dave moved closer to Matt, their foreheads touching, arms linked onto each other's side, noses touching ever so lightly both staring down at the floor. They stayed like this for a few minutes enjoying the embrace until Matt speaks breaking the warm cocoon they created.
"I hate to really break this up, but we're gonna be late for the bus grizzly." Matt whispers softly chuckling lowly as Dave groaned clearly not wanting to move. They break up their little embrace but not before Dave tugged on Matt's shoulder pulling him into a hug whispering into his ear. Dave had his eyes closed as he was opening up his heart. Dave Karofsky meant everything he said – he really was in love and wouldn't have it any other way.
"You know Matt, I could love you forever, and no one can stop us from being happy. They can try but we have each other and I love you so much." Dave says pulling out of the hug as he opened his eyes watching Matt. Matt in return was doing the same.
Matt's heart melted at those words as he could cry but held back. He didn't want to be a mess when they got to the bus station. Instead Matt again pulled Dave back into one final hug. About fifteen minutes later they said their goodbyes to Matt's parents.
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