From his seated position, Dave watched Sebastian place a comforting arm around her shoulder. The summer heat raged around them and raucous sunshine brightened Sebastian's already blonde hair. For an instant, Dave was captivated at the beautiful, paternal Sebastian Smythe…..and then disgusted at the fear and hesitation. Dave sighed.

He abruptly stood up, getting Carolyn and Sebastian's attention. Dave avoided Sebastian's inquisitive eyes and focused solely on Carolyn.

"Carolyn?" Dave gently asked. "Make sure to hold Sebastian's hand when you out and about, OK?"

Carolyn radiantly smiled. "OK!"

And without looking at Sebastian, Dave waved his goodbye to her and began strolling back to the cotton candy stand.

"Dave?"

But Dave ignored him. Step by step by momentous step, Dave walked away from Sebastian, from Carolyn, from the memories of the previous day. He casually stroked the back of his hand across his forehead, wiping away annoying sweat beads. Without looking up, he walked into the cotton candy stand, waved goodbye to the exiting employee, and took his place at the cash register.

And when he signed in to the cash register's computer and verified the login, he looked up.

Sebastian was right there.

"Carolyn," Sebastian quietly began, "wants to ride the tea cups…"

Dave quickly took Sebastian in. He was standing in front of the counter, head slightly bowed, hair perfect, green eyes saddened. Dave surmised he was sad or embarrassed or scared or something. Then, Dave did something that completely surprised him – Dave smiled.

"You'll have to do that, Sebastian." Dave calmly said. "I'm at work."

Sebastian nodded and looked away.

"I know," Sebastian softly said, "I keep saying this, but I'm so, so sorry."

Dave nodded.

"Hey, look at me." Dave began. Sebastian slowly raised his sad face to him. "When you realize that you're worth it, look me up and see if I'm available." And then, he leaned down, oh so close to Sebastian's face. "Because I can't wait forever. . ."

Their faces were so close to each other that a kiss could've easily happened. But it didn't. A sudden breeze blew by, wafting their hair to the left.

Dave watched Sebastian's face crumple for just a second before returning to its neutral state. He knew Sebastian was thinking and thinking and thinking. Neither boy moved, desperately trying to understand and accept….

Finally, Sebastian spoke. "I understand, Dave."

"Do you?"

"Yes."

"And?"

Sebastian looked away for a second before returning to Dave's dazzling hazel eyes.

"I just. . ." Sebastian again looked away, searching for the right words. Dave hadn't moved an inch, oh so close to Sebastian and his beautiful lips. "I just don't understand why you'd be interested in me."

Dave half smiled and finally stood erect.

"And that's why," Dave calmly replied, "you can't be my boyfriend."

Sebastian's eyes shot up in an instant.

"But Dave-"

"No Seb. No." Dave watched the pain and confusion in Sebastian's eyes until he couldn't stand it any longer.

"I can't," Dave calmly explained, "fix your self-esteem issues. You have to do that."

Sebastian's jaw dropped. "Self-esteem issues?"

"Yes, Seb."

Sebastian just stared at him, baffled and hurt. Nobody in his life had ever talked to him in this way and he didn't like Dave's words.

"Well, at least I wasn't a bully-" And Sebastian came to a complete halt. Dave's expression turned cold as the summer heat pounded down on them.

"Oh D-Dave, I-"

"Take Carolyn," Dave coldly said, looking away, "on the tea cups, Seb. She'd like that."

Sebastian just stared at him. So many things came to his mind to tell this self-righteous football player in front of him. But all of them were cruel. Every single one.

Speechless, Sebastian slowly turned around and took a few steps away, away from Dave, away from love….

But then, he came to a halt. An idea hit him.

He spun around with the grace of a ballet dancer, and looked at Dave for a moment.

"Tomorrow," Sebastian loudly announced, "is the last day of the carnival."

Dave then looked up at him, a slightly confused expression on his face.

"Yeah?" Dave asked, nonchalantly.

Sebastian smiled. Dave noticed that this wasn't the Smythe Smirk, but a truly, honestly beautiful smile. Dave's angry heart melted for just an instant at the sight, before returning to its guarded state.

"3:30PM!" Sebastian again loudly announced. "That's when I'll prove to you that I'm ready to be your boyfriend!"

And before Dave could respond, Sebastian left. He watched Sebastian go to the picnic bench where Carolyn patiently waited under the umbrella, shielded from the Lima afternoon sun.

Perplexed, Dave saw Sebastian grab Carolyn's hand. They both practically skipped away, headed towards the kiddie rides. Had Sebastian turned around, he would've seen Dave smiling. And smiling. And smiling.

.

She wanted to go on the tea cups again. But not quite exactly like before.

Carolyn Smythe was walking down the short ramp from the tea cups, her hand firmly in Sebastian's. She looked up at the summer sun, squinting at its brightness and really getting tired of the heat.

"I'm hot." Carolyn whined.

"Let's go under the shade." Sebastian responded, noticing how tightly her hand was in his.

"No!" Carolyn screamed. "I wanna go on the tea cups again!"

Sebastian sighed. "Carolyn, you can't get too hot. We need to get some shade. Now."

Carolyn stomped her feet on the ground twice. Annoyed, she slowed her pace, allowing her big brother to take her to the nearest, shaded picnic table. It didn't take long for him to find one.

Sebastian sat down on the bench and Carolyn yanked her hand free. She skipped to the other side of the table, but then proceeded to sit on it.

"No, Carolyn." Sebastian said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Not on the table. Sit on the bench."

"Awwww!" Carolyn wailed. "I wanna sit on-"

"No."

"But-"

"No!"

"BUT-!"

"Carolyn, do you want me to call dad?!"

Carolyn looked away, her lower lip dropping ever so slightly. Her head was turned looking at the people walking by.

"I want," Carolyn softly, "you to call Dave."

Sebastian was speechless. He looked down at his hands, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Carolyn watched people walk by. She enviously watched kids her age walk hand-in-hand with parents – one hand with the dad, and the other with the mom. She couldn't understand why she couldn't have that.

Saddened, she looked back at her big brother. She didn't know what to say, but she knew what she wanted. She wanted Dave back. She wanted her mom and dad back together. She wanted Sebastian to be happy.

She wanted to go on the tea cups.

"Can we go," Carolyn softly, yet sadly said, "on the tea cups?"

Sebastian didn't respond.

So, Carolyn harrumphed, going back to people watching. She found another boy her age to study. But this boy was different. He was walking with his dad, one hand firmly clasped in his, but the other hand clinging a huge, stuffed panda bear.

Carolyn started to cry.

Immediately, Sebastian got up and sat down beside her, his right arm holding her tight.

"Carolyn? What's wrong?"

Carolyn slowly raised her head, tears falling down her face in gentle rivers.

"I – I want. . ."

"Go on, Carolyn." Sebastian gently said, "Go on."

"I want. . .a panda bear. . ."

Sebastian straightened, smiling slightly and rubbing soft circles in her back.

"Well, Carolyn, I'll try to win-"

"And I want Dave."

Sebastian froze. His smirk seemed like a distant memory.

.

"And I want Dave."

The words stopped him in his tracks. Still rubbing circles along his cute little sister's back, his thoughts drifted back to Dave.

In sum, Dave was marvelous. Sebastian considered everything Dave survived – bullying (both predator and victim), suicide, Kurt. . . The list probably went on, but Sebastian only knew of those things. But they were enough.

He looked up, mindlessly watching carnival goers, occasional screams from rides, cries of joy of winning a stupid stuffed animal or a decorative mirror. The sun ordered sweat beads down his thin face, his arms, his chest. The shade did little to cool them off, but he couldn't help but wonder if Dave was cool at the cotton candy stand.

He looked over and watched him.

Why can't I get him out of my thoughts? Sebastian thought. He sighed, looking away. Dave was right in so many ways. And Sebastian hated that. He hated that Dave could read him so well. He hated that he was now vulnerable in front of Dave. And, yet, Dave didn't take advantage of it. Every single time he made himself emotionally available to his father or mother, they ridiculed him, calling him 'weak' and a 'pussy.' He frowned at the thought of his father…..

He shook his head. No, his thoughts were focused on Dave. Dave was different. Dave treated him like. . .a human.

In fact, Dave presented him with a choice – learn to accept himself or go away. He shook his head. Dave fascinated him.

He looked back at Dave. It seemed like every time he looked at Dave, he had a smile on his face, dishing out bag after bag of cotton candy. This time, an elderly couple bought a bag of cotton candy. Dave's smile was hugely dimpled, his chubby cheeks accentuated, highlighted by a flash of sunlight. After the couple walked away, Dave's eyes drifted to Sebastian.

Passion. Hungrily, Dave stared at Sebastian, daring him with his eyes. Caught off guard, Sebastian's eyes widened, much to Dave's amusement.

I'll get him for that, Sebastian thought. But will I get that chance?

He supposed he would find out tomorrow at 3:30PM, Dave's break time. He decided Dave was worth the risk. He knew he could have any man he wanted. That was easy. But nobody challenged him like David Karofsky did. Nobody. And nobody appreciated Sebastian for. . .anything, except his body. But David didn't just want his body. David wanted him.

"Come on, Carolyn." Sebastian said, eyes never leaving Dave's passionate ones. "Let's go on the tea cups."

Carolyn squealed. Sebastian smirked. Dave stared.

.

Dave watched Sebastian walk away, with Carolyn in tow. He loved how Carolyn skipped and Sebastian strolled. Dave loved it when Sebastian was confident, strong. . .

Paternal.

Dave smiled a little. The two were almost out of eyesight, but he wouldn't take his eyes off them. Sebastian didn't even turn around. He knew he was being watched, studied. And Dave knew he loved it. He was sure Sebastian was smirking.

The little brat, Dave thought with a smirk of his own.

And then, quite suddenly, Dave frowned. He was alone. No customers, no eager hands waiting for cotton candy, no co-workers.

No Sebastian.

He absentmindedly wiped down the cash register, pretending sugared syrup was coating the keyboard. Lost in thought, he considered Sebastian.

He wanted Sebastian. But he couldn't fix him. Why couldn't he see how awesome he is? Dave wanted to lash out at his father. Between high school and our parents, it really is true that nothing screws us up more in our lives.

Sebastian hadn't really turned him down. There was an obvious attraction. Oh, there was more than an obvious attraction – there was a passion. A heated one at that. But with a firm shake of his head, he knew there had to be more than that. He remembered how much Sebastian seemed to love being a big brother. The other day on the tea cups haunted Dave. He remembered, as he was spinning on the ride and holding his lunch down in his stomach, how he caught glimpses of Sebastian's honestly smiling and laughing face.

Dave smiled.

But then, the tears in his truck and the absolute terror on Sebastian's face brought Dave back to reality. He'd thought it before, but this thought kept coming back – he wanted Sebastian, but couldn't fix him.

A young boy and his mother bought a bag of cotton candy. Each of them had huge smiles on their faces, as money was transacted and the candy bag was collected by eager hands. Yet Dave couldn't describe what they looked like or what they were wearing. Sebastian Smythe had stolen his attention and his heart. He just hoped it was the other way around. And Dave simply didn't know.

.

Dave watched his hands, resting on the cotton candy stand's counter top. He studied how pale his fingertips were, the tremors making his hands shift in all directions, the hairs gently blowing in the soft, summer breeze. He turned both hands for a full second, noticing how pale that side was too, before rotating his arms again. He resumed resting his fidgety hands back on the counter top, studying them like he was a physician.

If a customer arrived, he wouldn't have noticed. He was too busy examining his nerves, all too aware that his break time was fast approaching.

His nervous hands told him so.

Shakily, he pulled his cell phone from his denim pocket and flipped it open. No calls, no texts, no…anything. Nothing from the (gorgeous, talented, sexy, passionate, thoughtful, scared, beautiful) boy named Sebastian Smythe. Frowning, he looked at his cell phone's clock.

3:20PM.

Dave didn't know what to do. His nails were already bitten down as far as he could go, all soda pop containers were full, the sugar-spinning machine was in working order, the counter tops were clean, and David Karofsky was standing in the Lima summer heat, anxious and scared. Oh yeah – Dave was nervous!

"Can I have a bag of cotton candy?"

Dave looked down and didn't see anybody. Eyebrows furrowed a little, he leaned forward and saw a small, blonde girl, with dollar bills squeezed in her tiny hand, looking up expectantly. She looked like she could've been Carolyn Smythe's twin.

Upon seeing Dave and his intimidating, towering size, the girl frowned and looked scared. He was used to this and knew how to handle it.

"Well, hi sweetie," Dave gently began, an adorable smile on his full face. "Do you want a bag of cotton candy?"

Hesitantly, the slightly scared girl said nothing and further extended her dollars-full fist. Dave smiled.

"OK!" Dave said brightly. "One bag of delicious, yummy cotton candy coming up!"

Relieved, the girl giggled.

Once Dave was done with his cute, little transaction, he looked at his cell phone – 3:29PM. Break time. Well, close enough. He took a deep breath, closed the cotton candy stand, and walked across the way to the picnic bench. He took a seat alone, under the umbrella, shielded from the sun, as he waited for whatever Sebastian Smythe had in mind.

.