Finn's Fail-Proof 5-Step Plan
“Hey. I need your help with something.” Finn cornered Rachel at the end of the hall.
“Hi.” She smiled sweetly, no trace of hurt left in her eyes this time. “Of course. What is it?”
“Ok. But I need you to promise that you won’t ask too many questions.” Finn looked down at the paper in his hand. “Ok, like any questions. At all. Just do this for me and if it works out, well, I’ll tell you then.”
Her puzzled expression grew as he handed her the paper. “What is this?” She asked.
“I want you to sit with me at lunch today. And use, like, your amazing acting talents and throw these lines into the conversation. Can you do that? Without it being obvious?”
She appreciated the compliment and was determined to prove that she could, in fact, do exactly that. She studied the words on the paper. Her lips moved silently as she read her lines. Then she looked up to Finn’s hopeful face. “Who am I speaking these lines to?”
“Well, first of all, no questions.” Finn chuckled. “But…um. I guess…me, or, actually, no one…like, you’re talking to yourself, maybe.” Finn hadn’t thought of that. “Can you do that?”
“And I can’t ask any more questions?”
“Yeah, no….not yet.”
“Of course.” She shrugged her shoulders as she turned and walked away, studying her lines. “See you at lunch….” she called out as she turned the corner.
Finn headed to second period.
They met outside the cafeteria. “Ok, so just….like, follow my lead. And then, just….be cool. No matter what.” Finn pushed the worry aside that told him that this could actually backfire. In a big way. But he had a plan. He really wanted to make it work.
They went through the lunch line and Rachel followed him to a table and sat down. She looked at the faces of the people already sitting there. She looked back at Finn with a million questions in her eyes.
“Hey, Karofsky. How’s it going?” Finn asked with a smile. He noticed out of the corner of his eye Rachel’s smile falter slightly but then, because she was a true master of her craft, she regained her composure.
“Not bad.” Dave answered.
“Azimio. Strando. Cooper. What’s up guys?”
“Not much.” Azimio answered. “Yo, Hudson. I hear there’s supposed to be an assembly next week.” He popped a tater tot in his mouth. “Should I get my hopes up that you and the rest of Lima’s Got Talent are gonna put on a show?”
Finn smiled. “Uh, yeah. We might be doing a little something for the assembly.” He looked sideways at Rachel. “But, of course, its classified. Only those who are actually in glee, know for sure.”
“Uh huh.” Azimio raised his eyebrow. “Well, I’ll try not to fall asleep then.”
“So, Rachel. Do you think that idea would work?” Finn asked. “About the costumes?”
“Oh, definitely.” Rachel smiled brightly, adlibbing only a little. “And Kurt already said he’d be willing to help out. We’re meeting after school to go over the designs. Me and Kurt.”
Finn studied Dave’s face from the corner of his eye.
“It’s still so sad that Kurt’s not here at McKinley. I miss seeing him every day, you know.”
Finn turned his attention to his lunch, still watching Dave.
“Oh. That reminds me.” Rachel kept talking. “Since Kurt’s birthday is coming up, I need a really good suggestion for what he might like.”
Dave looked across the table to Rachel, or actually through Rachel. His eyes seemed to be focused on something a mile away. Or three towns away.
“Kurt’s sort of been feeling glum lately. Ever since he and Blaine. We’ll you know.” Rachel’s scenes were done. She sat happily and ate her lunch, not letting her uncertainty show on her face. At all.
“You know what would be cool, guys.” Finn addressed the four jocks sitting at the table after a stretch of silence. “I know you had a blast being in glee club last week. Why don’t you join back?”
“Didn’t I answer that question already?” Dave narrowed his eyes at Finn.
“All that dancing and zombie makeup was pretty cool, though.” Azimio chuckled. “My dad was almost as impressed with my dance moves as he was with the final score of the football game.”
“I’m not joining glee.” Dave stood abruptly from the table and grabbed his tray. Everyone at the table watched him walk to the dish tank, drop his trash and then walk out of the lunch room. Azimio’s eyes then fell on Finn.
“It would be cool if you guys joined back. That’s all I’m saying.” Finn ate his lunch, not sure if step 1 worked or not. But he was hopeful.
Step 2 - Tuesday - “Freak Out”
The next morning before school, actually way before school, at 4am, Finn let the air out of both driver’s side tires of his car. This was a tricky setup. It could go any number of ways, but he was really hoping it worked out.
Two and a half hours later, with only a few minutes to spare, Finn stood at the front door and gasped. “What the hell?”
After the commotion died down and logistics were figured out, finally it was agreed. Carole would have to take Kurt to Dalton in her car on her way to work, so he wouldn’t be late. Burt would drive his truck to the shop and see about getting (unnecessary) replacement tires for Finn’s car. And Finn would have to drive Kurt’s SUV to McKinley.
Finn pulled into the parking lot and scoured the sea of high schoolers looking for Dave.
He spotted him. Yes, this could work. Dave was just pulling into the opposite entrance. Finn drove the long way around, dodging students as he quickly made his way to where Dave was looking for a spot. Kurt’s large black SUV pulled up behind Dave’s old beater truck. How long would it take him to notice?
A second and a half.
Finn saw Dave flinch as he looked in his rearview mirror. He quickly looked in his side mirror and then back to his rearview. It was a good thing Kurt’s windows were so tinted. From what Finn could tell, Dave was having a little bitty freak-out. The car behind Finn honked its horn, since Dave had slammed on his brakes for no reason (other than to wonder why on earth Kurt was sitting behind him in the parking lot) and Dave quickly lurched ahead and into a spot.
Finn drove past, noticing Dave studying the large SUV in his side mirror. Finn’s smile could only be described as shit-eating.
He parked Kurt’s vehicle five or six spots down and got out. Dave was still hunkered down in his truck. But once he saw Finn exit the SUV, Dave got out of his truck and made his way to the school entrance.
“Morning.” Finn called over his shoulder, nonchalantly.
“Sup.” Dave answered. He sighed deeply. Probably still trying to slow his heart rate.
Step 3 - Wednesday - “Not Too Late”
Finn passed Karofsky between classes the following day. “Hey, dude. What’s up?”
“Hey.” Dave kept walking.
“So I was thinking.” Finn turned on his heels and started walking alongside Dave. “That song you picked last week for our warm up number, I mean, it was a really great song.”
“Yeah.” Dave thought back to the feeling of being on stage, in zombie make up, dancing. He almost let the twitching in the corners of his lips turn into a full smile before he caught himself.
Finn kept going. “The lyrics, you know. They really mean something. I get that now.”
Dave looked straight ahead, not giving anything away. “What are you talking about?” Dave was good at playing dumb. He could pull off both incredulous and oblivious simultaneously.
Finn put his hand out and lightly touched Dave’s arm. He stopped walking and turned to face Dave. He attempted his best Zen face as he looked at Dave. “It’s not too late…you know, to say you’re sorry. You might think it is. But it’s not.” With that Finn turned and walked away. The urge to look back and see Dave’s expression was killing him. But he was pretty sure his plan was working.
Step 4 - Thursday - “Just Say It”
The next day, Finn found Dave at his locker after school. Dave was just standing there, staring into the shallow cavern of books and assorted school supplies. Maybe he was looking at something specific. Maybe he was just lost in thought.
“Hi, Karofsky.”
Dave looked up, startled, slamming the locker door shut. “Oh, hi.” He looked down the hall at the few students still clearing out of the hallway.
“So.” Finn wasn’t sure about this step. But it was now or never. “Um, don’t freak out on me here. Ok, dude. Don’t.”
Dave stiffened.
“You like him, don’t you?”
“What!” Dave looked over his shoulder, panicked. “What are you talking about?”
“You do. It’s ok.”
“I don’t know who or what you’re talking about. Ok, so just--”
Finn put his hand up, gently stopping Dave as he tried to turn and walk away. “You know who. But….you can’t even say his name.” Finn’s eyes narrowed. “Hearing his name does things to you. Seeing his car makes you freak out. Song lyrics make you think of him.” Finn lowered his voice, although they were completely alone in the hallway now. “You like him. It’s ok.”
Dave’s face turned to rage. He turned quickly towards his locker and punched it angrily. He kept his eyes closed, not wanting his tears to betray him.
Finn sighed. He was so close.
“I get it, ok.” Dave’s voice broke. He rested his forehead against his locker, his eyes still closed. “He told you. I get it. Run and tell the whole damn school, alright? I don’t fucking care.”
“Wait, what? He didn’t tell me anything.” Finn was confused. “What would he tell me, Dave?”
Dave’s eyes shot up to look at Finn. He didn’t see any deception because there was none. “He didn’t…tell you…?” his voice was barely a whisper now.
“He said you threatened to kill him. But I know you were probably just trying to scare him.” Finn leaned his shoulder against the wall of lockers, digging his hands in his jacket pockets. “But I think, if he knew….you know, about this…about how you felt. Then he would probably, I don’t know….understand. He’d probably forgive all the shit from before.”
Dave studied Finn’s face. He was completely bewildered. Finn didn’t know about what happened in the locker room. Kurt was still protecting him, protecting his secret. After all this time. And now Finn was trying to get Dave to admit his feelings. On top of that, suggesting that if Kurt knew them, then he’d be more willing to accept an apology.
But it would never be that simple.
“He already knows.” Dave whispered as he turned back towards the locker, leaning his head against the cold metal once again.
“What? What do you mean? You mean, you told him how you felt?” How did Finn miss that?
“No. I….we…I did something. And I thought he’d understand. I thought it would work. But it didn’t.”
“Whoa, slow down. What happened?” Finn was shocked. He thought he had his plan all figured out but Karofsky was derailing it. Well, maybe not derailing it, but it was definitely switching tracks.
“He knows. Ok? He knows I’m….gay.” Dave huffed angrily as he raised his head slightly before dropping it back against the locker. “I didn’t tell him, but he’s not an idiot. He knows. I thought he’d tell everyone. I was….hoping….he’d tell.”
“Wait, what? You wanted him to--”
“I never could! I don’t have the balls to come out and be like that. I’m such a fucking coward.” Dave gave the locker one more slam with his first, his voice breaking on the last word. “I was hoping he’d tell so I wouldn’t have to. And he did, at first. He brought that prep school kid here and they tried to talk to me. But he wasn’t going to tell the whole school, he just wanted to help. He wanted to help me. Not out me.” Dave looked up at Finn, bewilderment etched on his face. “But I fucked up. The thought of Kurt….and that guy….it killed me. So I fucked up even more.”
Finn had nothing to say. Absolutely nothing.
“Instead of angry or confused, I tried creepy and disturbed. I didn’t want him to pity me or feel sorry for me. I wanted him to hate me so that he would run and tell everyone my dirty little secret. But he didn’t. Still. He sat there….in the principal’s office. My dad, his dad, Coach Sylvester. They asked him, point blank, and he still wouldn’t say it.”
Finn never knew. Any of it.
“Instead, he just ran away. To be with that pretty boy. And I’m here, still lacking the balls to come out. Hating myself for making him hate me.”
Finn had to say something. His mind was blown but he had to speak up. “Dude, he doesn’t hate you. Trust me.” Finn tried his best honest smile. “Kurt doesn’t hold grudges. He doesn’t hate you. I honestly didn’t know about any of this. But from what I know of my brother, if you tell him what you just told me, then you might have a chance. Apologize. Make things right.”
Dave turned around, leaning his back against the locker and staring blankly at the tiled wall.
“That’s what you want, isn’t it? A chance? With him? To make things right?”
Dave looked up at Finn’s friendly smile. Were people really this cool because they just were?
“And if you’re not ready for everyone to know you’re gay, then they don’t have to know. That’s like, the rule or something. Whenever you’re ready, that’s when you come out. Even I know that.” Finn chuckled.
Step 5 - Friday - “Just a Friendly Hello”
The next day, after school, Finn was in his bedroom texting Karofsky. Kurt was in the kitchen, so much closer to the front door than Finn was. Burt and Carole were both still at work.
just say hi, hand him the book, its easy
how do you know he won’t freak out?
1, he’s cooking, he loves to cook, and 2, I just have a feeling he’ll be cool
idk dude
trust me, i’ll be there like 5 seconds later
and don’t forget to smile
The doorbell rang. Kurt set the spoon down and yelled towards Finn’s upstairs bedroom that he would get it. He swung the door open and froze.
“Hi. Um, this is Finn’s.” Dave shoved a library book in Kurt’s direction. “I told him I was gonna bring it by. So. Um, here.” Oh, crap, he forgot to smile.
Kurt reached for the book instinctively. He didn’t speak.
Footsteps thundered down the stairs. “Hey Dave. Oh, wow, my book. That is so cool of you to drop it by.” Finn took the book from Kurt and held it against his chest, smiling broadly. “Isn’t that cool of him, Kurt, to bring me my book?”
“Um, yeah….cool.” Kurt answered. “Excuse me.” Kurt turned quickly, bee-lining it for the kitchen.
“Hey, why don’t you come in for a second? Are you thirsty?” Finn’s voice was way too loud. On purpose.
Kurt stiffened.
Dave sulked into the kitchen after Finn. Being this close to Kurt, knowing what he wanted to do...wanted to say....had him tied up in knots.
Finn busied himself in the fridge while Dave leaned against the counter, as far away from Kurt as possible while still being in the same room.
“Here ya go.” Finn announced brightly, handing Dave a can of soda. “You want one, Kurt?”
Kurt turned around slowly from his spot in front of the stove. “I’m good, thanks.” He eyed the two boys looking at him. He narrowed his gaze. His step-brother was smiling way too much and his former bully looked like he had just been kidnapped at knifepoint. “So you two are friends now?” he asked skeptically.
“Sure. Why not?” Finn answered. “Yeah. Ever since last week when all the footballers joined glee. Man, that half-time show was great. You saw it, Kurt. Wasn’t that cool?”
“But you had to join against your will. Didn’t you?” Kurt was addressing Dave directly now.
“Yeah, I mean, um….yeah, it was. Um, at first.” God, could he even fucking speak.
“But then, I found out Dave’s big secret, Kurt.”
Kurt and Dave’s eyes shot to Finn, both panicked.
“He loves glee club! He’s really good. Isn’t that great?” Finn was so good at this. “And he’s thinking about joining back, like full-time. You should have seen the warm up number we did before the football game, Kurt. It was awesome.”
Kurt eyed Karofsky suspiciously. He enjoyed singing and dancing? He and Finn got along now? What else had changed? He turned back towards the stove and started stirring dinner again.
Finn gave an encouraging smile and nod to Dave.
Dave took a couple long chugs from his soda can.
“Hang on. I gotta get something from my room. I’ll be right back.” A half second later, Finn was gone, flying up the stairs before either boy could protest.
Kurt’s eyes followed Finn out of the room and then they fell on Dave.
Dave wanted to smile but just thought it would come off as creepy. He took another drink of his soda instead.
Silence. Dave stared at Kurt’s back as he stood at the stove across the kitchen. His eyes began to drift down towards Kurt’s ass just as Kurt turned.
“So I….” They both said at the same time.
“I’m s-sorry, you go.” Dave stuttered.
“No. You.” Kurt answered.
After a moment of silence, Dave sighed and began again. “I, um….I wanted to tell you something.”
Kurt leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms across his chest. He tilted his head slightly, and softened his face. “I’m listening…”
At the top of the stairs Finn punched the air in delight, knowing this would probably, definitely, most likely work out. Five steps, fail-proof. His new step-brother and new buddy could be friends after all.
And maybe, who knows. They might even be more than that someday.
“Hi.” She smiled sweetly, no trace of hurt left in her eyes this time. “Of course. What is it?”
“Ok. But I need you to promise that you won’t ask too many questions.” Finn looked down at the paper in his hand. “Ok, like any questions. At all. Just do this for me and if it works out, well, I’ll tell you then.”
Her puzzled expression grew as he handed her the paper. “What is this?” She asked.
“I want you to sit with me at lunch today. And use, like, your amazing acting talents and throw these lines into the conversation. Can you do that? Without it being obvious?”
She appreciated the compliment and was determined to prove that she could, in fact, do exactly that. She studied the words on the paper. Her lips moved silently as she read her lines. Then she looked up to Finn’s hopeful face. “Who am I speaking these lines to?”
“Well, first of all, no questions.” Finn chuckled. “But…um. I guess…me, or, actually, no one…like, you’re talking to yourself, maybe.” Finn hadn’t thought of that. “Can you do that?”
“And I can’t ask any more questions?”
“Yeah, no….not yet.”
“Of course.” She shrugged her shoulders as she turned and walked away, studying her lines. “See you at lunch….” she called out as she turned the corner.
Finn headed to second period.
They met outside the cafeteria. “Ok, so just….like, follow my lead. And then, just….be cool. No matter what.” Finn pushed the worry aside that told him that this could actually backfire. In a big way. But he had a plan. He really wanted to make it work.
They went through the lunch line and Rachel followed him to a table and sat down. She looked at the faces of the people already sitting there. She looked back at Finn with a million questions in her eyes.
“Hey, Karofsky. How’s it going?” Finn asked with a smile. He noticed out of the corner of his eye Rachel’s smile falter slightly but then, because she was a true master of her craft, she regained her composure.
“Not bad.” Dave answered.
“Azimio. Strando. Cooper. What’s up guys?”
“Not much.” Azimio answered. “Yo, Hudson. I hear there’s supposed to be an assembly next week.” He popped a tater tot in his mouth. “Should I get my hopes up that you and the rest of Lima’s Got Talent are gonna put on a show?”
Finn smiled. “Uh, yeah. We might be doing a little something for the assembly.” He looked sideways at Rachel. “But, of course, its classified. Only those who are actually in glee, know for sure.”
“Uh huh.” Azimio raised his eyebrow. “Well, I’ll try not to fall asleep then.”
“So, Rachel. Do you think that idea would work?” Finn asked. “About the costumes?”
“Oh, definitely.” Rachel smiled brightly, adlibbing only a little. “And Kurt already said he’d be willing to help out. We’re meeting after school to go over the designs. Me and Kurt.”
Finn studied Dave’s face from the corner of his eye.
“It’s still so sad that Kurt’s not here at McKinley. I miss seeing him every day, you know.”
Finn turned his attention to his lunch, still watching Dave.
“Oh. That reminds me.” Rachel kept talking. “Since Kurt’s birthday is coming up, I need a really good suggestion for what he might like.”
Dave looked across the table to Rachel, or actually through Rachel. His eyes seemed to be focused on something a mile away. Or three towns away.
“Kurt’s sort of been feeling glum lately. Ever since he and Blaine. We’ll you know.” Rachel’s scenes were done. She sat happily and ate her lunch, not letting her uncertainty show on her face. At all.
“You know what would be cool, guys.” Finn addressed the four jocks sitting at the table after a stretch of silence. “I know you had a blast being in glee club last week. Why don’t you join back?”
“Didn’t I answer that question already?” Dave narrowed his eyes at Finn.
“All that dancing and zombie makeup was pretty cool, though.” Azimio chuckled. “My dad was almost as impressed with my dance moves as he was with the final score of the football game.”
“I’m not joining glee.” Dave stood abruptly from the table and grabbed his tray. Everyone at the table watched him walk to the dish tank, drop his trash and then walk out of the lunch room. Azimio’s eyes then fell on Finn.
“It would be cool if you guys joined back. That’s all I’m saying.” Finn ate his lunch, not sure if step 1 worked or not. But he was hopeful.
Step 2 - Tuesday - “Freak Out”
The next morning before school, actually way before school, at 4am, Finn let the air out of both driver’s side tires of his car. This was a tricky setup. It could go any number of ways, but he was really hoping it worked out.
Two and a half hours later, with only a few minutes to spare, Finn stood at the front door and gasped. “What the hell?”
After the commotion died down and logistics were figured out, finally it was agreed. Carole would have to take Kurt to Dalton in her car on her way to work, so he wouldn’t be late. Burt would drive his truck to the shop and see about getting (unnecessary) replacement tires for Finn’s car. And Finn would have to drive Kurt’s SUV to McKinley.
Finn pulled into the parking lot and scoured the sea of high schoolers looking for Dave.
He spotted him. Yes, this could work. Dave was just pulling into the opposite entrance. Finn drove the long way around, dodging students as he quickly made his way to where Dave was looking for a spot. Kurt’s large black SUV pulled up behind Dave’s old beater truck. How long would it take him to notice?
A second and a half.
Finn saw Dave flinch as he looked in his rearview mirror. He quickly looked in his side mirror and then back to his rearview. It was a good thing Kurt’s windows were so tinted. From what Finn could tell, Dave was having a little bitty freak-out. The car behind Finn honked its horn, since Dave had slammed on his brakes for no reason (other than to wonder why on earth Kurt was sitting behind him in the parking lot) and Dave quickly lurched ahead and into a spot.
Finn drove past, noticing Dave studying the large SUV in his side mirror. Finn’s smile could only be described as shit-eating.
He parked Kurt’s vehicle five or six spots down and got out. Dave was still hunkered down in his truck. But once he saw Finn exit the SUV, Dave got out of his truck and made his way to the school entrance.
“Morning.” Finn called over his shoulder, nonchalantly.
“Sup.” Dave answered. He sighed deeply. Probably still trying to slow his heart rate.
Step 3 - Wednesday - “Not Too Late”
Finn passed Karofsky between classes the following day. “Hey, dude. What’s up?”
“Hey.” Dave kept walking.
“So I was thinking.” Finn turned on his heels and started walking alongside Dave. “That song you picked last week for our warm up number, I mean, it was a really great song.”
“Yeah.” Dave thought back to the feeling of being on stage, in zombie make up, dancing. He almost let the twitching in the corners of his lips turn into a full smile before he caught himself.
Finn kept going. “The lyrics, you know. They really mean something. I get that now.”
Dave looked straight ahead, not giving anything away. “What are you talking about?” Dave was good at playing dumb. He could pull off both incredulous and oblivious simultaneously.
Finn put his hand out and lightly touched Dave’s arm. He stopped walking and turned to face Dave. He attempted his best Zen face as he looked at Dave. “It’s not too late…you know, to say you’re sorry. You might think it is. But it’s not.” With that Finn turned and walked away. The urge to look back and see Dave’s expression was killing him. But he was pretty sure his plan was working.
Step 4 - Thursday - “Just Say It”
The next day, Finn found Dave at his locker after school. Dave was just standing there, staring into the shallow cavern of books and assorted school supplies. Maybe he was looking at something specific. Maybe he was just lost in thought.
“Hi, Karofsky.”
Dave looked up, startled, slamming the locker door shut. “Oh, hi.” He looked down the hall at the few students still clearing out of the hallway.
“So.” Finn wasn’t sure about this step. But it was now or never. “Um, don’t freak out on me here. Ok, dude. Don’t.”
Dave stiffened.
“You like him, don’t you?”
“What!” Dave looked over his shoulder, panicked. “What are you talking about?”
“You do. It’s ok.”
“I don’t know who or what you’re talking about. Ok, so just--”
Finn put his hand up, gently stopping Dave as he tried to turn and walk away. “You know who. But….you can’t even say his name.” Finn’s eyes narrowed. “Hearing his name does things to you. Seeing his car makes you freak out. Song lyrics make you think of him.” Finn lowered his voice, although they were completely alone in the hallway now. “You like him. It’s ok.”
Dave’s face turned to rage. He turned quickly towards his locker and punched it angrily. He kept his eyes closed, not wanting his tears to betray him.
Finn sighed. He was so close.
“I get it, ok.” Dave’s voice broke. He rested his forehead against his locker, his eyes still closed. “He told you. I get it. Run and tell the whole damn school, alright? I don’t fucking care.”
“Wait, what? He didn’t tell me anything.” Finn was confused. “What would he tell me, Dave?”
Dave’s eyes shot up to look at Finn. He didn’t see any deception because there was none. “He didn’t…tell you…?” his voice was barely a whisper now.
“He said you threatened to kill him. But I know you were probably just trying to scare him.” Finn leaned his shoulder against the wall of lockers, digging his hands in his jacket pockets. “But I think, if he knew….you know, about this…about how you felt. Then he would probably, I don’t know….understand. He’d probably forgive all the shit from before.”
Dave studied Finn’s face. He was completely bewildered. Finn didn’t know about what happened in the locker room. Kurt was still protecting him, protecting his secret. After all this time. And now Finn was trying to get Dave to admit his feelings. On top of that, suggesting that if Kurt knew them, then he’d be more willing to accept an apology.
But it would never be that simple.
“He already knows.” Dave whispered as he turned back towards the locker, leaning his head against the cold metal once again.
“What? What do you mean? You mean, you told him how you felt?” How did Finn miss that?
“No. I….we…I did something. And I thought he’d understand. I thought it would work. But it didn’t.”
“Whoa, slow down. What happened?” Finn was shocked. He thought he had his plan all figured out but Karofsky was derailing it. Well, maybe not derailing it, but it was definitely switching tracks.
“He knows. Ok? He knows I’m….gay.” Dave huffed angrily as he raised his head slightly before dropping it back against the locker. “I didn’t tell him, but he’s not an idiot. He knows. I thought he’d tell everyone. I was….hoping….he’d tell.”
“Wait, what? You wanted him to--”
“I never could! I don’t have the balls to come out and be like that. I’m such a fucking coward.” Dave gave the locker one more slam with his first, his voice breaking on the last word. “I was hoping he’d tell so I wouldn’t have to. And he did, at first. He brought that prep school kid here and they tried to talk to me. But he wasn’t going to tell the whole school, he just wanted to help. He wanted to help me. Not out me.” Dave looked up at Finn, bewilderment etched on his face. “But I fucked up. The thought of Kurt….and that guy….it killed me. So I fucked up even more.”
Finn had nothing to say. Absolutely nothing.
“Instead of angry or confused, I tried creepy and disturbed. I didn’t want him to pity me or feel sorry for me. I wanted him to hate me so that he would run and tell everyone my dirty little secret. But he didn’t. Still. He sat there….in the principal’s office. My dad, his dad, Coach Sylvester. They asked him, point blank, and he still wouldn’t say it.”
Finn never knew. Any of it.
“Instead, he just ran away. To be with that pretty boy. And I’m here, still lacking the balls to come out. Hating myself for making him hate me.”
Finn had to say something. His mind was blown but he had to speak up. “Dude, he doesn’t hate you. Trust me.” Finn tried his best honest smile. “Kurt doesn’t hold grudges. He doesn’t hate you. I honestly didn’t know about any of this. But from what I know of my brother, if you tell him what you just told me, then you might have a chance. Apologize. Make things right.”
Dave turned around, leaning his back against the locker and staring blankly at the tiled wall.
“That’s what you want, isn’t it? A chance? With him? To make things right?”
Dave looked up at Finn’s friendly smile. Were people really this cool because they just were?
“And if you’re not ready for everyone to know you’re gay, then they don’t have to know. That’s like, the rule or something. Whenever you’re ready, that’s when you come out. Even I know that.” Finn chuckled.
Step 5 - Friday - “Just a Friendly Hello”
The next day, after school, Finn was in his bedroom texting Karofsky. Kurt was in the kitchen, so much closer to the front door than Finn was. Burt and Carole were both still at work.
just say hi, hand him the book, its easy
how do you know he won’t freak out?
1, he’s cooking, he loves to cook, and 2, I just have a feeling he’ll be cool
idk dude
trust me, i’ll be there like 5 seconds later
and don’t forget to smile
The doorbell rang. Kurt set the spoon down and yelled towards Finn’s upstairs bedroom that he would get it. He swung the door open and froze.
“Hi. Um, this is Finn’s.” Dave shoved a library book in Kurt’s direction. “I told him I was gonna bring it by. So. Um, here.” Oh, crap, he forgot to smile.
Kurt reached for the book instinctively. He didn’t speak.
Footsteps thundered down the stairs. “Hey Dave. Oh, wow, my book. That is so cool of you to drop it by.” Finn took the book from Kurt and held it against his chest, smiling broadly. “Isn’t that cool of him, Kurt, to bring me my book?”
“Um, yeah….cool.” Kurt answered. “Excuse me.” Kurt turned quickly, bee-lining it for the kitchen.
“Hey, why don’t you come in for a second? Are you thirsty?” Finn’s voice was way too loud. On purpose.
Kurt stiffened.
Dave sulked into the kitchen after Finn. Being this close to Kurt, knowing what he wanted to do...wanted to say....had him tied up in knots.
Finn busied himself in the fridge while Dave leaned against the counter, as far away from Kurt as possible while still being in the same room.
“Here ya go.” Finn announced brightly, handing Dave a can of soda. “You want one, Kurt?”
Kurt turned around slowly from his spot in front of the stove. “I’m good, thanks.” He eyed the two boys looking at him. He narrowed his gaze. His step-brother was smiling way too much and his former bully looked like he had just been kidnapped at knifepoint. “So you two are friends now?” he asked skeptically.
“Sure. Why not?” Finn answered. “Yeah. Ever since last week when all the footballers joined glee. Man, that half-time show was great. You saw it, Kurt. Wasn’t that cool?”
“But you had to join against your will. Didn’t you?” Kurt was addressing Dave directly now.
“Yeah, I mean, um….yeah, it was. Um, at first.” God, could he even fucking speak.
“But then, I found out Dave’s big secret, Kurt.”
Kurt and Dave’s eyes shot to Finn, both panicked.
“He loves glee club! He’s really good. Isn’t that great?” Finn was so good at this. “And he’s thinking about joining back, like full-time. You should have seen the warm up number we did before the football game, Kurt. It was awesome.”
Kurt eyed Karofsky suspiciously. He enjoyed singing and dancing? He and Finn got along now? What else had changed? He turned back towards the stove and started stirring dinner again.
Finn gave an encouraging smile and nod to Dave.
Dave took a couple long chugs from his soda can.
“Hang on. I gotta get something from my room. I’ll be right back.” A half second later, Finn was gone, flying up the stairs before either boy could protest.
Kurt’s eyes followed Finn out of the room and then they fell on Dave.
Dave wanted to smile but just thought it would come off as creepy. He took another drink of his soda instead.
Silence. Dave stared at Kurt’s back as he stood at the stove across the kitchen. His eyes began to drift down towards Kurt’s ass just as Kurt turned.
“So I….” They both said at the same time.
“I’m s-sorry, you go.” Dave stuttered.
“No. You.” Kurt answered.
After a moment of silence, Dave sighed and began again. “I, um….I wanted to tell you something.”
Kurt leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms across his chest. He tilted his head slightly, and softened his face. “I’m listening…”
At the top of the stairs Finn punched the air in delight, knowing this would probably, definitely, most likely work out. Five steps, fail-proof. His new step-brother and new buddy could be friends after all.
And maybe, who knows. They might even be more than that someday.