Valentine's Day, Chapter 10(b)....Prom Night!!
Carole was taking pictures of Finn and Rachel while Mercedes and Kurt looked on. They’d already taken some themselves but felt like they needed the whole group together in order to take more.
“So, Kurt.” Rachel sat next to Kurt on the couch. “I believe I’ve been exceptionally patient with regards to this secret relationship you insist on having. You must tell me who this mystery boyfriend of yours is. And you should probably tell me before he gets here.”
“Oh, well actually.” Kurt stated matter-of-factly, “We’re going to pick him up at his house. So. Maybe just a little bit longer…?” Kurt smiled teasingly at Rachel.
“No! Tell me now, please.” She was trying to be serious but couldn’t help laugh at Kurt’s stubbornness. “This is getting ridiculous, honestly.”
“Ok, fine.” Kurt soothed. “But don’t freak out. Because its really ok and I’m really happy and he’s really changed.” Kurt paused and assessed Rachel’s questioning furrowed brow. “Its Dave, Dave Karofsky.”
“Dave Karofsky is gay!?” She jumped to her feet, looking around the room like someone just slapped her and disappeared. “No way!”
“Yes, Rachel. Way.” Finn tried to calm her, “Dave’s been dating my step-brother for a couple months. I wasn’t really cool with it myself at first.” Finn chuckled. “But the guy’s alright. He has changed. He digs Kurt. And he’s always the life of the party on Family Night.” Realizing his mistake too late, Finn shot his eyes to the floor and sat down next to Kurt.
“Family….Night….?” Rachel enunciated every syllable. “Dave Karofsky has been invited to Family Night?”
Just then they heard the sound of a honk from the limo pulling up the driveway. “And on cue…Blaine is here to save the day.” Mercedes dead panned.
They piled into the limo and headed to Dave’s house. The mood was festive, for everyone except Rachel. It seemed she had taken the news as a personal affront. She stewed while the others enjoyed the ride in the shiny, black stretch limo.
“Ok, guys. Everybody out.” Kurt opened the door and waited. “Let’s go get my boyfriend!” he cheered.
Five high school kids stood on the porch in front of Dave’s house. Vicky opened the door.
“Hi.” They all said in unison. “Is Dave here?”
Vicky stepped back to let the crowd of smiling faces into her home. Then Dave walked to the door. “Hi guys. Hey. What’s up?” Dave smiled at Kurt in particular who was now showing obvious signs of approval for Dave’s wardrobe. He had never seen Dave look so handsome.
“Mom. This is Kurt.” Dave took Kurt’s hand and pulled him forward out of the crowd. “Kurt, my mom.”
“Very nice to meet you, Mrs. Karofsky.” Kurt smiled politely. “You have a lovely home.”
“Thank you. Its very nice to meet you too.” Vicky tried to lose some of her stiffness. She kept telling herself how important this was for her son. Do it for Dave, this will make him happy, she kept saying.
“I’m Lauren!” Lauren burst through and stood between Vicky and Kurt. “I totally couldn’t wait to meet you. I don’t even know you and I think you’re awesome.”
“Very nice to meet you, Lauren.” Kurt shook her hand emphatically. “And thank you.” Kurt looked back at his boyfriend, asking, “…and your father?”
Dave tightened his lips and shook his head. “He had to go out. Um, sorry.”
“Hi, Mrs. Karofsky. I’m Mercedes.” Mercedes stepped forward with her camera in hand. “Would you mind taking a few pictures of all of us?”
“Um, certainly.” Vicky gestured towards the living room and the group got busy creating several poses, some comical, and at Rachel’s request some more formal.
“Time to go.” Blaine eyed his watch and tried to round up the group. “Dinner reservations are a serious thing, people.”
Everyone headed to the front door as Vicky pulled on her son’s jacket sleeve. “David. Can I talk to you for a second?”
“Yeah. Um, go ahead guys,” he tells Kurt and everyone else waiting at the open door, “I’ll be right there.”
“I don’t know how to ask you this. But as your mother, um, I just want to know.” She hesitated and Dave did his best to figure out what she was trying to say. “When are you, um….when do you think you’ll be home tonight?”
Dave sighed, fearing a confrontation. “Actually, mom. I was planning on staying out kinda late tonight.” Dave searched his mother’s eyes for signs of anger.
But instead she just looked back at her son and smiled softly. She walked to the table by the front door and opened her purse. She took out five or six twenty dollar bills and tucked them into Dave’s jacket pocket. “No drugs. No alcohol. Please be safe. I love you.”
Dave’s jaw dropped. “Ok. I promise….um, thanks.” Did that just happen, he thought.
“I’m sorry your father isn’t quite on board yet. He just needs some time.”
“Yeah. I know. It took me a while, too…so…I understand.” He hugged his mother and walked out the door. “Love you. Thanks…again.”
Mercedes snapped pictures of everyone on the ride to the restaurant. Rachel had been studying Dave and Kurt and had relaxed considerably. Everyone was acting goofy and making funny faces for the camera.
They were seated towards the back of the restaurant at a large round table. It was definitely nicer than Breadstix. Mercedes was telling Rachel about the spa day she and Kurt had.
“Studio Prestige had a two-for-one prom night special.” Mercedes gushed. “Gurl, I swear, I could seriously get used to that.”
“Yes. Don’t you all agree Mercedes’ makeup is flawless?” Kurt chimed in. “Her skin is glowing, thanks to this wonderful little mini facial we both received. It was heaven. And then the mani/pedi and mini sugar scrub. Heaven.”
“I’ve always loved spa treatments.” Rachel noted. “Nothing helps me get relaxed before an important vocal performance like a professional massage. I absolutely love sugar scrubs.”
Dave leaned closer to Kurt and whispered, “Sugar scrub?”
“Its amazing, Love.” Kurt informed him. “They take like, course, raw sugar and aromatic oils and massage it into your skin.” Kurt eyes fluttered at the memory. “Its blissful. It leaves your skin so soft and silky.”
Dave blinked. “You’re telling me your skin is softer now than it already was…?” Dave asked, expressionless, monotone, quietly, but unfortunately….not quiet enough.
Kurt stared back at his boyfriend but did not speak.
“Ok. Awkward moment alert.” Blaine broke the silence with a laugh. “I was thinking about the chicken pasta, um, did anyone else have any thoughts on the menu…?” Everyone chuckled at Dave, who hid his red, embarrassed face behind his menu. Kurt reached under the table and squeezed his thigh. They locked eyes and smiled.
The limo drive to McKinley High didn’t take very long. For some reason, Dave thought it would take longer. But there they were.
The driver pulled onto school grounds and the group of friends chatted excitedly about the dresses and tuxes that they could see, the line of parents’ cars dropping of their children and the four or five other limos parked along the west side of the building.
Dave suddenly developed a football-sized knot in the pit of his stomach. The color drained from his face and he dropped Kurt’s hand he had been holding.
The driver parked second in line behind a white limo and the lively group gathered their things, making their exit from the car. Dave didn’t move.
“Dave?” Kurt looked back at his boyfriend. “Sweetheart? Are you ok?”
Dave couldn’t move. He felt like he couldn’t breathe. He just stared blankly into the sweet, angelic face of his boyfriend.
“Yo. Dave?” Blaine tapped him on the top of his leg lightly to try to wake him up.
Dave was frozen, silent and had the strangest look on his face. Like death was waiting for him outside that car.
The five friends stood on the curb as he sat motionless.
“You guys go ahead.” Rachel smiled brightly. “Dave and I are going to have a talk.”
“Thank you, Rachel, but…” Kurt protested.
“No. I’m serious here. Go. We’ll be in soon.” She climbed back in the limo and shut the door.
“If you need to take a cigarette break, feel free.” Rachel announced to the driver. Nodding through the rear-view mirror, he mumbled something incoherent and exited the car. He walked back to the group of other drivers, apparently some he knew.
Rachel sat next to Dave and waited.
She heard him sigh a ragged, hard breath. He shook his head and looked down at his hands. She waited.
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” Dave exploded with anger and violent kicks to the seat in front of them. He pounded the window next to him with his fist and kicked the seat again. “Fuck! I’m such a fucking asshole! What the hell is wrong with me?”
Rachel waited.
Dave’s voice softened, “I am such a fucking loser. I don’t deserve him.” He looked out the window at the people walking by. The tint on the windows prevented anyone from seeing Dave’s breakdown. He was grateful for that. “Why can’t I walk into a fucking room with him?” He looked at Rachel’s face. “What am I so scared of?” Just then, the memory of hearing those words another place and time crashed into him and he began kicking the seat and beating the window beside him again. “Fuck!”
Rachel waited.
His breathing calmed. He let his head fall back on the head rest and he stared at the ceiling.
Rachel’s voice was soft, tender. “I wish I could tell you that it will all be ok.” Her eyes bore into his sympathetically. “I wish I could tell you that nothing bad will happen once you decide to come out to the world. But I can’t.”
Dave looked at her, puzzled.
“The world is filled with hateful, ignorant people. Some of those people attend this school. Some of those people you may have to work with once you leave this school. Some of those people may be in your extended family.” She spoke softly, yet directly. “My father, my papi….came out to his family, to people he thought would support him. But they didn’t. His mother’s side of the family is Cuban, very devout catholics and they did not understand. They disowned him. To that small, close-knit Hispanic community, being gay was worse than death. He spent so long trying to get them to accept it, to understand. But they wouldn’t. And they still don’t. When he met my dad, when they fell in love and made their commitment to each other, my papi took his last name. He converted to his religion. And they adopted me. We have a happy, full life. I know it still bothers him. It bothers me to think that I’ll probably never meet my grandmother. But the life that we have is so good, so content. What a waste if we let the hatred and ignorance of others ruin that for us.”
Dave turned back to look out the window.
“You can stay here in this limo. You can stay in the closet. I know it feels safe. The hatred and ignorance can’t get to you here. But there’s so much happiness out there. It would be a waste to let it slip by, if you missed it.”
Dave took a long ragged breath. “They’re going to mock me. The idiots I used to call friends. They’re gonna have such a fucking field day with this.”
“Yeah. Maybe.” Rachel’s cheery smile caught him of guard. “Let them. They’ll only continue to look like idiots. Maybe they’ll ease up and let you be yourself without the harassment. Maybe they’ll torment you every day until you graduate and leave this place.” She placed her hand on Dave’s knee. “It sucks, being bullied, harassed, tormented. But it feels really good to just let go, be yourself and decide to be happy anyway.”
Dave managed to crack a very slight smile.
“Now, since it seems I may have temporarily lost my date, would you please be so kind as to escort me into our prom?” She held her hand out and waited. Dave smiled and nodded.
They left the car and walked along the sidewalk, joining the other students still arriving.
They walked arm-in-arm through the halls and into the gymnasium which had been decorated appropriately. The lights were low and there were disco balls and party lights set up around the dance floor. There’s a stage set up at one end of the dance floor with a microphone stand as well as a two students acting as DJs with binders filled with cds.
Enrique Iglesias’ song “Baby, I Like It” is playing and the dance floor is pulsating. Sure enough, Dave spots Kurt, Blaine and Mercedes out there. He watches them for a moment and can’t help but smile. He’s relieved to know that his childish episode didn’t ruin Kurt’s night.
“Can I get you a drink?” Dave has to shout to Rachel. The music is really loud but Dave is bobbing his head, enjoying the beat.
“Yeah. Great idea.” They walk to the refreshments table together and get some punch.
“Hey, Berry. Don’t drink that yet…” Puck looks over his shoulder at the teacher standing behind him. “I have a bottle of goose I’m about to unload. Ya can’t have prom with spiked punch! Hah Hah!”
Dave steps in beside Rachel. Deliberately, he pours a glass for her, then one for himself. “No, thanks, Puckerman. I appreciate your intention to get everyone fucked up tonight. But some of us are cool staying sober.”
“Dude. Are you kidding me with this. That is like, so gay.”
Dave cocked his head to the side, “Really, ya think so? Hmm. Alright, then….” He nodded his head to the beat of the music and took a drink of his punch. Rachel winked at Dave and they walked off to find a table.
“Whoa! Karofsky!” Jay and Neil stopped him as he tried to pass by. Even with the tuxedos, the two jocks still looked like the morons that they were. Their dates looked irritated and bored. “Did you steal Hudson’s girl?”
“Not possible. For a couple reasons.” Dave took another sip of his punch and looked over the two dumb and dumber stand-ins. “You guys are idiots. And not worth my time.”
They continued walking through the sea of tables until they found Finn and sat down.
“I voted for you!” a girl from Rachel’s biology class said as she walked by and waved.
“Oh, she can’t be serious.” Rachel rolled her eyes. “I hope that was sarcasm. Everyone knows Quinn and Sam are going to win Prom King and Queen.” Finn shrugged his shoulders and offered his girlfriend a half smile. “The only reason we’re even on the ballot is because they need five couple to put on the ballot. There’s no way we’ll win. Why would she waste her vote?”
“I voted for you guys.” Dave smiled. “Why not? You guys are great. Quinn and Sam seem a little too perfect, ya know.”
“Too perfect?” Rachel snorted. “If only we could have that problem, right, Finn?” Finn wasn’t sure how to respond, as usual.
“No, really. You guys have broken up and gotten back together like, how many times? I only know cause Kurt tells me.” Dave tried to reassure his favorite new ally. “But you guys give the rest of us hope that true love can last, ya know, that love conquers all.”
Dave took another drink of his punch and turned his attention to Kurt on the dance floor. “Raise Your Glass” by Pink was playing and Dave was really enjoying the show. He didn’t notice Mercedes walking straight up to him.
“Dave. Dave?” Mercedes called.
“Oh, sorry. Didn’t see you there.” Dave smiled.
“I know. Cause you’re too busy checking out my man, Kurt.” She joked. “Come get some punch with me.”
He looked at his empty glass and agreed.
With filled glasses of punch, they stood at the end of the snack table and watched the dance floor.
“Kurt means the world to me.” Mercedes began. “He was my first love.” She expected Dave’s look of surprise and smiled when she got it. “I was the last person to accept that he was gay because I thought I loved him. And I do love him, of course. Just not the same way as…well. Anyway.” She looked back towards the dance floor. “He helped me out when I really needed him. That scoundrel of a boyfriend I had did a bang-up job fucking with my head. But Kurt was there to help me through. He was my anchor, he was my only true friend. He helped me and he supported me and without his friendship I wouldn’t be able to be here tonight, knowing that Anthony is across the room with that skank ex-girlfriend of his.”
Dave glanced around the gym, looking for Anthony. He hadn’t noticed him. But then again, he had been preoccupied with watching Kurt.
“What I’m trying to say is, if for some reason I weren’t able to tell the world what Kurt meant to me, I think I would die.” She waited for her words to sink in. “I want everyone to know. Whether they are important to me and my happiness or not, I want the world to know how truly amazing I think Kurt Hummel is.”
Just then the music stopped and light feedback could be heard from the microphone. Mr. Schuester stepped in front of the microphone and cleared his throat.
“Now we’re gonna slow it down just a bit.” Mr. Schuester was using his extra-sexy, yet corny radio disc jockey voice. “Grab the person that means the most to you and hold ‘em tight…”
A chorus of strings and piano started playing over the speakers and Mr. Schuester began singing:
Unforgettable, that's what you are
Unforgettable though near or far
Like a song of love that clings to me
How the thought of you does things to me
Never before has someone been more…..
Dave could feel something like panic set in, but he liked it. He shot Blaine a quick look, glanced back at where Rachel was sitting and then looked back at Mercedes standing next to him. He placed his hand over his heart and smiled. He felt the cd in his breast pocket and knew immediately what he was going to do.
Unforgettable in every way
And forever more, that's how you'll stay....
He leaned close and whispered his idea to Mercedes. She smiled and eagerly nodded. “I’ll go get Rachel. See you there.”
Dave walked towards the dance floor but stopped. He was trying to get Rachel’s attention without alerting Kurt. Blaine made eye contact and smiled, knowingly. He cut into Rachel and Kurt’s slow dance, whispering in her ear and taking over as Kurt’s partner. She skipped ever so lightly to Dave’s side.
“Really? Are you sure?” She beamed.
“I’m sure. But I need your help.”
That's why, darling, it's incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am unforgettable too
After two more slow songs sung by the Glee club director, the DJs song selection bounced between hip hop, rock and current pop songs.
Dave and his cohorts returned to the gymnasium. Kurt noticed as Dave walked to the DJ booth, exchanged words with the two students there and then walked to the back wall of the gymnasium. Kurt meandered over to where he stood.
“Hi.” Kurt said, anxiously.
“Hey.” Dave smiled broadly.
“Can I ask where you’ve been for the last thirty minutes? And why you’re smiling like a goof?” Kurt eyed his boyfriend suspiciously, trying to seem nonchalant to others who may be watching or listening to their conversation.
“Sure. You can ask…” Dave chuckled devilishly, “but I’m not telling.”
At the end of the next song, Mr. Figgins took the microphone out of the mike stand and called the crowd to attention. “Please, please students. It is now time to announce the results of the voting for Prom King and Prom Queen. Could I have all the couples please come up onto the stage?”
Excited chatter erupted throughout the gym as the five couples made their way up to the stage.
“Hang on for a minute, ok, baby?” Dave mumbled as he walked away, leaving Kurt standing alone along the back wall of the gym, more than a little confused. He scanned the crowd eagerly for Blaine who showed up at his side right on cue.
“How ya doing, girlfriend? This is quite a party, huh?” Blaine was so relaxed, enjoying himself. Kurt was trying to dismiss the nagging feeling that something was up. He didn’t like feeling that he was left out of the joke, somehow.
“Its great.” Kurt tried his best to sound genuine.
“And in third place, we have Julie Emery and Steve Wilkes. Congratulations.” The crowd applauded politely as the third place couple left the stage. “And finally….” Principal Figgins attempted a dramatic pause before announcing the winners, “we have Quinn Fabray and Sam Evans and Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson.” The look of surprise on Rachel’s face was priceless, she couldn’t believe she was still on stage. “Once the winner is announced, they will celebrate with a special song dedicated just for them.”
The room was quiet with eager anticipation. Figgins looked down at the paper in his hand and stared back at the students gathered in front of him. He glanced back at the two couples remaining on stage and smiled. “Congratulations Rachel and Finn. You are William McKinley High School’s Prom King and Queen for the 2010-2011 school year.”
The room exploded in cheers and celebration for the happy couple. Quinn and Sam quietly stepped off the stage. Rachel and Finn received their crowns and sashes and made their way to the dance floor in front of the stage. Mercedes and Mr. Schuester each took a microphone as the music for “Endless Love” began playing. They sang the duet perfectly while Finn and Rachel danced happily to the song.
Kurt and Blaine watched from the far corner of the room, smiling as the happy couple enjoyed their victory dance.
Dave paced nervously behind the stage.
Once the song ended he stepped up on stage and stood next to but slightly behind Mercedes. Mercedes gave her friend a huge smile and took his hand. She whispered in Mr. Shue’s ear and took his microphone.
“Congratulations, Rachel, Finn. I couldn’t be happier for you.” Mercedes spoke into the microphone. “There’s another song we’d like to sing for you all. This is dedicated to anyone who is lucky enough to have that special someone with them here tonight.”
Kurt’s jaw dropped as the sight of Dave on stage registered. He saw the microphone in his hand and heard what Mercedes was saying but it didn’t seem like it was really happening.
Blaine leaned in and nudged his shoulder. “You ok, there, princess?” Blaine chuckled. “If I were you, I’d pay attention to this.”
An upbeat soft drum intro began playing and Mercedes squeezed Dave’s hand. She had her mike ready to sing backup vocals. With an encouraging nod from her, Dave took a long, deep breath and began to sing…..
L is for the way you look at me
O is for the only one I see
V is very, very extraordinary
E is even more than anyone that you adore can
Love is all that I can give to you
Love is more than just a game for two
Two in love can make it, take my heart and please don’t break it
Love was made for me and you
The trumpet solo began and Kurt started walking slowly through the empty tables and chairs to the edge of the dance floor. He stared up at his boyfriend singing to him.
L is for the way you look at me
O is for the only one I see
V is very, very extraordinary
E is even more than anyone that you adore can
Love is all that I can give to you
Love is more than just a game for two
Two in love can make it, take my heart and please don’t break it
Love was made for me and you
Love was made for me and you
Love was made for me and you!
The crowd applauded politely as the music died down. Dave locked eyes with Kurt and smiled.
“Congratulations Finn and Rachel. Prom King and Queen.” The room applauded again. Dave cleared his throat and continued. “Prom is about being with the person you care about the most. No matter what, you have to make sure they know how much they mean to you. I haven’t been doing a good job of that lately and I just wanted to say thank you, Rachel,” Dave turned to look at Mercedes standing next to him, “and you, Mercedes, for helping me. For getting me up here so I could do this right. I’m done lying, everybody. I’m here at prom with someone I really care about. And they deserve some recognition.”
Dave handed the microphone to Blaine who had joined him on stage. He hopped off the stage and walked though the packed dance floor. The crowd parted as Dave made his way to where Kurt was standing. All eyes were locked on the couple as he took Kurt’s hands.
“I love you, gorgeous. Can I have this dance?”
Kurt could only nod, with tears welling up in his eyes. The music started to play and Blaine began to sing one last love song for the night….
Fly me to the moon
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars
In other words, hold my hand
In other words, Baby, kiss me
Fill my heart with song
And let me sing forever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other please be true
In other words, I love you….
“So, Kurt.” Rachel sat next to Kurt on the couch. “I believe I’ve been exceptionally patient with regards to this secret relationship you insist on having. You must tell me who this mystery boyfriend of yours is. And you should probably tell me before he gets here.”
“Oh, well actually.” Kurt stated matter-of-factly, “We’re going to pick him up at his house. So. Maybe just a little bit longer…?” Kurt smiled teasingly at Rachel.
“No! Tell me now, please.” She was trying to be serious but couldn’t help laugh at Kurt’s stubbornness. “This is getting ridiculous, honestly.”
“Ok, fine.” Kurt soothed. “But don’t freak out. Because its really ok and I’m really happy and he’s really changed.” Kurt paused and assessed Rachel’s questioning furrowed brow. “Its Dave, Dave Karofsky.”
“Dave Karofsky is gay!?” She jumped to her feet, looking around the room like someone just slapped her and disappeared. “No way!”
“Yes, Rachel. Way.” Finn tried to calm her, “Dave’s been dating my step-brother for a couple months. I wasn’t really cool with it myself at first.” Finn chuckled. “But the guy’s alright. He has changed. He digs Kurt. And he’s always the life of the party on Family Night.” Realizing his mistake too late, Finn shot his eyes to the floor and sat down next to Kurt.
“Family….Night….?” Rachel enunciated every syllable. “Dave Karofsky has been invited to Family Night?”
Just then they heard the sound of a honk from the limo pulling up the driveway. “And on cue…Blaine is here to save the day.” Mercedes dead panned.
They piled into the limo and headed to Dave’s house. The mood was festive, for everyone except Rachel. It seemed she had taken the news as a personal affront. She stewed while the others enjoyed the ride in the shiny, black stretch limo.
“Ok, guys. Everybody out.” Kurt opened the door and waited. “Let’s go get my boyfriend!” he cheered.
Five high school kids stood on the porch in front of Dave’s house. Vicky opened the door.
“Hi.” They all said in unison. “Is Dave here?”
Vicky stepped back to let the crowd of smiling faces into her home. Then Dave walked to the door. “Hi guys. Hey. What’s up?” Dave smiled at Kurt in particular who was now showing obvious signs of approval for Dave’s wardrobe. He had never seen Dave look so handsome.
“Mom. This is Kurt.” Dave took Kurt’s hand and pulled him forward out of the crowd. “Kurt, my mom.”
“Very nice to meet you, Mrs. Karofsky.” Kurt smiled politely. “You have a lovely home.”
“Thank you. Its very nice to meet you too.” Vicky tried to lose some of her stiffness. She kept telling herself how important this was for her son. Do it for Dave, this will make him happy, she kept saying.
“I’m Lauren!” Lauren burst through and stood between Vicky and Kurt. “I totally couldn’t wait to meet you. I don’t even know you and I think you’re awesome.”
“Very nice to meet you, Lauren.” Kurt shook her hand emphatically. “And thank you.” Kurt looked back at his boyfriend, asking, “…and your father?”
Dave tightened his lips and shook his head. “He had to go out. Um, sorry.”
“Hi, Mrs. Karofsky. I’m Mercedes.” Mercedes stepped forward with her camera in hand. “Would you mind taking a few pictures of all of us?”
“Um, certainly.” Vicky gestured towards the living room and the group got busy creating several poses, some comical, and at Rachel’s request some more formal.
“Time to go.” Blaine eyed his watch and tried to round up the group. “Dinner reservations are a serious thing, people.”
Everyone headed to the front door as Vicky pulled on her son’s jacket sleeve. “David. Can I talk to you for a second?”
“Yeah. Um, go ahead guys,” he tells Kurt and everyone else waiting at the open door, “I’ll be right there.”
“I don’t know how to ask you this. But as your mother, um, I just want to know.” She hesitated and Dave did his best to figure out what she was trying to say. “When are you, um….when do you think you’ll be home tonight?”
Dave sighed, fearing a confrontation. “Actually, mom. I was planning on staying out kinda late tonight.” Dave searched his mother’s eyes for signs of anger.
But instead she just looked back at her son and smiled softly. She walked to the table by the front door and opened her purse. She took out five or six twenty dollar bills and tucked them into Dave’s jacket pocket. “No drugs. No alcohol. Please be safe. I love you.”
Dave’s jaw dropped. “Ok. I promise….um, thanks.” Did that just happen, he thought.
“I’m sorry your father isn’t quite on board yet. He just needs some time.”
“Yeah. I know. It took me a while, too…so…I understand.” He hugged his mother and walked out the door. “Love you. Thanks…again.”
Mercedes snapped pictures of everyone on the ride to the restaurant. Rachel had been studying Dave and Kurt and had relaxed considerably. Everyone was acting goofy and making funny faces for the camera.
They were seated towards the back of the restaurant at a large round table. It was definitely nicer than Breadstix. Mercedes was telling Rachel about the spa day she and Kurt had.
“Studio Prestige had a two-for-one prom night special.” Mercedes gushed. “Gurl, I swear, I could seriously get used to that.”
“Yes. Don’t you all agree Mercedes’ makeup is flawless?” Kurt chimed in. “Her skin is glowing, thanks to this wonderful little mini facial we both received. It was heaven. And then the mani/pedi and mini sugar scrub. Heaven.”
“I’ve always loved spa treatments.” Rachel noted. “Nothing helps me get relaxed before an important vocal performance like a professional massage. I absolutely love sugar scrubs.”
Dave leaned closer to Kurt and whispered, “Sugar scrub?”
“Its amazing, Love.” Kurt informed him. “They take like, course, raw sugar and aromatic oils and massage it into your skin.” Kurt eyes fluttered at the memory. “Its blissful. It leaves your skin so soft and silky.”
Dave blinked. “You’re telling me your skin is softer now than it already was…?” Dave asked, expressionless, monotone, quietly, but unfortunately….not quiet enough.
Kurt stared back at his boyfriend but did not speak.
“Ok. Awkward moment alert.” Blaine broke the silence with a laugh. “I was thinking about the chicken pasta, um, did anyone else have any thoughts on the menu…?” Everyone chuckled at Dave, who hid his red, embarrassed face behind his menu. Kurt reached under the table and squeezed his thigh. They locked eyes and smiled.
The limo drive to McKinley High didn’t take very long. For some reason, Dave thought it would take longer. But there they were.
The driver pulled onto school grounds and the group of friends chatted excitedly about the dresses and tuxes that they could see, the line of parents’ cars dropping of their children and the four or five other limos parked along the west side of the building.
Dave suddenly developed a football-sized knot in the pit of his stomach. The color drained from his face and he dropped Kurt’s hand he had been holding.
The driver parked second in line behind a white limo and the lively group gathered their things, making their exit from the car. Dave didn’t move.
“Dave?” Kurt looked back at his boyfriend. “Sweetheart? Are you ok?”
Dave couldn’t move. He felt like he couldn’t breathe. He just stared blankly into the sweet, angelic face of his boyfriend.
“Yo. Dave?” Blaine tapped him on the top of his leg lightly to try to wake him up.
Dave was frozen, silent and had the strangest look on his face. Like death was waiting for him outside that car.
The five friends stood on the curb as he sat motionless.
“You guys go ahead.” Rachel smiled brightly. “Dave and I are going to have a talk.”
“Thank you, Rachel, but…” Kurt protested.
“No. I’m serious here. Go. We’ll be in soon.” She climbed back in the limo and shut the door.
“If you need to take a cigarette break, feel free.” Rachel announced to the driver. Nodding through the rear-view mirror, he mumbled something incoherent and exited the car. He walked back to the group of other drivers, apparently some he knew.
Rachel sat next to Dave and waited.
She heard him sigh a ragged, hard breath. He shook his head and looked down at his hands. She waited.
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” Dave exploded with anger and violent kicks to the seat in front of them. He pounded the window next to him with his fist and kicked the seat again. “Fuck! I’m such a fucking asshole! What the hell is wrong with me?”
Rachel waited.
Dave’s voice softened, “I am such a fucking loser. I don’t deserve him.” He looked out the window at the people walking by. The tint on the windows prevented anyone from seeing Dave’s breakdown. He was grateful for that. “Why can’t I walk into a fucking room with him?” He looked at Rachel’s face. “What am I so scared of?” Just then, the memory of hearing those words another place and time crashed into him and he began kicking the seat and beating the window beside him again. “Fuck!”
Rachel waited.
His breathing calmed. He let his head fall back on the head rest and he stared at the ceiling.
Rachel’s voice was soft, tender. “I wish I could tell you that it will all be ok.” Her eyes bore into his sympathetically. “I wish I could tell you that nothing bad will happen once you decide to come out to the world. But I can’t.”
Dave looked at her, puzzled.
“The world is filled with hateful, ignorant people. Some of those people attend this school. Some of those people you may have to work with once you leave this school. Some of those people may be in your extended family.” She spoke softly, yet directly. “My father, my papi….came out to his family, to people he thought would support him. But they didn’t. His mother’s side of the family is Cuban, very devout catholics and they did not understand. They disowned him. To that small, close-knit Hispanic community, being gay was worse than death. He spent so long trying to get them to accept it, to understand. But they wouldn’t. And they still don’t. When he met my dad, when they fell in love and made their commitment to each other, my papi took his last name. He converted to his religion. And they adopted me. We have a happy, full life. I know it still bothers him. It bothers me to think that I’ll probably never meet my grandmother. But the life that we have is so good, so content. What a waste if we let the hatred and ignorance of others ruin that for us.”
Dave turned back to look out the window.
“You can stay here in this limo. You can stay in the closet. I know it feels safe. The hatred and ignorance can’t get to you here. But there’s so much happiness out there. It would be a waste to let it slip by, if you missed it.”
Dave took a long ragged breath. “They’re going to mock me. The idiots I used to call friends. They’re gonna have such a fucking field day with this.”
“Yeah. Maybe.” Rachel’s cheery smile caught him of guard. “Let them. They’ll only continue to look like idiots. Maybe they’ll ease up and let you be yourself without the harassment. Maybe they’ll torment you every day until you graduate and leave this place.” She placed her hand on Dave’s knee. “It sucks, being bullied, harassed, tormented. But it feels really good to just let go, be yourself and decide to be happy anyway.”
Dave managed to crack a very slight smile.
“Now, since it seems I may have temporarily lost my date, would you please be so kind as to escort me into our prom?” She held her hand out and waited. Dave smiled and nodded.
They left the car and walked along the sidewalk, joining the other students still arriving.
They walked arm-in-arm through the halls and into the gymnasium which had been decorated appropriately. The lights were low and there were disco balls and party lights set up around the dance floor. There’s a stage set up at one end of the dance floor with a microphone stand as well as a two students acting as DJs with binders filled with cds.
Enrique Iglesias’ song “Baby, I Like It” is playing and the dance floor is pulsating. Sure enough, Dave spots Kurt, Blaine and Mercedes out there. He watches them for a moment and can’t help but smile. He’s relieved to know that his childish episode didn’t ruin Kurt’s night.
“Can I get you a drink?” Dave has to shout to Rachel. The music is really loud but Dave is bobbing his head, enjoying the beat.
“Yeah. Great idea.” They walk to the refreshments table together and get some punch.
“Hey, Berry. Don’t drink that yet…” Puck looks over his shoulder at the teacher standing behind him. “I have a bottle of goose I’m about to unload. Ya can’t have prom with spiked punch! Hah Hah!”
Dave steps in beside Rachel. Deliberately, he pours a glass for her, then one for himself. “No, thanks, Puckerman. I appreciate your intention to get everyone fucked up tonight. But some of us are cool staying sober.”
“Dude. Are you kidding me with this. That is like, so gay.”
Dave cocked his head to the side, “Really, ya think so? Hmm. Alright, then….” He nodded his head to the beat of the music and took a drink of his punch. Rachel winked at Dave and they walked off to find a table.
“Whoa! Karofsky!” Jay and Neil stopped him as he tried to pass by. Even with the tuxedos, the two jocks still looked like the morons that they were. Their dates looked irritated and bored. “Did you steal Hudson’s girl?”
“Not possible. For a couple reasons.” Dave took another sip of his punch and looked over the two dumb and dumber stand-ins. “You guys are idiots. And not worth my time.”
They continued walking through the sea of tables until they found Finn and sat down.
“I voted for you!” a girl from Rachel’s biology class said as she walked by and waved.
“Oh, she can’t be serious.” Rachel rolled her eyes. “I hope that was sarcasm. Everyone knows Quinn and Sam are going to win Prom King and Queen.” Finn shrugged his shoulders and offered his girlfriend a half smile. “The only reason we’re even on the ballot is because they need five couple to put on the ballot. There’s no way we’ll win. Why would she waste her vote?”
“I voted for you guys.” Dave smiled. “Why not? You guys are great. Quinn and Sam seem a little too perfect, ya know.”
“Too perfect?” Rachel snorted. “If only we could have that problem, right, Finn?” Finn wasn’t sure how to respond, as usual.
“No, really. You guys have broken up and gotten back together like, how many times? I only know cause Kurt tells me.” Dave tried to reassure his favorite new ally. “But you guys give the rest of us hope that true love can last, ya know, that love conquers all.”
Dave took another drink of his punch and turned his attention to Kurt on the dance floor. “Raise Your Glass” by Pink was playing and Dave was really enjoying the show. He didn’t notice Mercedes walking straight up to him.
“Dave. Dave?” Mercedes called.
“Oh, sorry. Didn’t see you there.” Dave smiled.
“I know. Cause you’re too busy checking out my man, Kurt.” She joked. “Come get some punch with me.”
He looked at his empty glass and agreed.
With filled glasses of punch, they stood at the end of the snack table and watched the dance floor.
“Kurt means the world to me.” Mercedes began. “He was my first love.” She expected Dave’s look of surprise and smiled when she got it. “I was the last person to accept that he was gay because I thought I loved him. And I do love him, of course. Just not the same way as…well. Anyway.” She looked back towards the dance floor. “He helped me out when I really needed him. That scoundrel of a boyfriend I had did a bang-up job fucking with my head. But Kurt was there to help me through. He was my anchor, he was my only true friend. He helped me and he supported me and without his friendship I wouldn’t be able to be here tonight, knowing that Anthony is across the room with that skank ex-girlfriend of his.”
Dave glanced around the gym, looking for Anthony. He hadn’t noticed him. But then again, he had been preoccupied with watching Kurt.
“What I’m trying to say is, if for some reason I weren’t able to tell the world what Kurt meant to me, I think I would die.” She waited for her words to sink in. “I want everyone to know. Whether they are important to me and my happiness or not, I want the world to know how truly amazing I think Kurt Hummel is.”
Just then the music stopped and light feedback could be heard from the microphone. Mr. Schuester stepped in front of the microphone and cleared his throat.
“Now we’re gonna slow it down just a bit.” Mr. Schuester was using his extra-sexy, yet corny radio disc jockey voice. “Grab the person that means the most to you and hold ‘em tight…”
A chorus of strings and piano started playing over the speakers and Mr. Schuester began singing:
Unforgettable, that's what you are
Unforgettable though near or far
Like a song of love that clings to me
How the thought of you does things to me
Never before has someone been more…..
Dave could feel something like panic set in, but he liked it. He shot Blaine a quick look, glanced back at where Rachel was sitting and then looked back at Mercedes standing next to him. He placed his hand over his heart and smiled. He felt the cd in his breast pocket and knew immediately what he was going to do.
Unforgettable in every way
And forever more, that's how you'll stay....
He leaned close and whispered his idea to Mercedes. She smiled and eagerly nodded. “I’ll go get Rachel. See you there.”
Dave walked towards the dance floor but stopped. He was trying to get Rachel’s attention without alerting Kurt. Blaine made eye contact and smiled, knowingly. He cut into Rachel and Kurt’s slow dance, whispering in her ear and taking over as Kurt’s partner. She skipped ever so lightly to Dave’s side.
“Really? Are you sure?” She beamed.
“I’m sure. But I need your help.”
That's why, darling, it's incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am unforgettable too
After two more slow songs sung by the Glee club director, the DJs song selection bounced between hip hop, rock and current pop songs.
Dave and his cohorts returned to the gymnasium. Kurt noticed as Dave walked to the DJ booth, exchanged words with the two students there and then walked to the back wall of the gymnasium. Kurt meandered over to where he stood.
“Hi.” Kurt said, anxiously.
“Hey.” Dave smiled broadly.
“Can I ask where you’ve been for the last thirty minutes? And why you’re smiling like a goof?” Kurt eyed his boyfriend suspiciously, trying to seem nonchalant to others who may be watching or listening to their conversation.
“Sure. You can ask…” Dave chuckled devilishly, “but I’m not telling.”
At the end of the next song, Mr. Figgins took the microphone out of the mike stand and called the crowd to attention. “Please, please students. It is now time to announce the results of the voting for Prom King and Prom Queen. Could I have all the couples please come up onto the stage?”
Excited chatter erupted throughout the gym as the five couples made their way up to the stage.
“Hang on for a minute, ok, baby?” Dave mumbled as he walked away, leaving Kurt standing alone along the back wall of the gym, more than a little confused. He scanned the crowd eagerly for Blaine who showed up at his side right on cue.
“How ya doing, girlfriend? This is quite a party, huh?” Blaine was so relaxed, enjoying himself. Kurt was trying to dismiss the nagging feeling that something was up. He didn’t like feeling that he was left out of the joke, somehow.
“Its great.” Kurt tried his best to sound genuine.
“And in third place, we have Julie Emery and Steve Wilkes. Congratulations.” The crowd applauded politely as the third place couple left the stage. “And finally….” Principal Figgins attempted a dramatic pause before announcing the winners, “we have Quinn Fabray and Sam Evans and Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson.” The look of surprise on Rachel’s face was priceless, she couldn’t believe she was still on stage. “Once the winner is announced, they will celebrate with a special song dedicated just for them.”
The room was quiet with eager anticipation. Figgins looked down at the paper in his hand and stared back at the students gathered in front of him. He glanced back at the two couples remaining on stage and smiled. “Congratulations Rachel and Finn. You are William McKinley High School’s Prom King and Queen for the 2010-2011 school year.”
The room exploded in cheers and celebration for the happy couple. Quinn and Sam quietly stepped off the stage. Rachel and Finn received their crowns and sashes and made their way to the dance floor in front of the stage. Mercedes and Mr. Schuester each took a microphone as the music for “Endless Love” began playing. They sang the duet perfectly while Finn and Rachel danced happily to the song.
Kurt and Blaine watched from the far corner of the room, smiling as the happy couple enjoyed their victory dance.
Dave paced nervously behind the stage.
Once the song ended he stepped up on stage and stood next to but slightly behind Mercedes. Mercedes gave her friend a huge smile and took his hand. She whispered in Mr. Shue’s ear and took his microphone.
“Congratulations, Rachel, Finn. I couldn’t be happier for you.” Mercedes spoke into the microphone. “There’s another song we’d like to sing for you all. This is dedicated to anyone who is lucky enough to have that special someone with them here tonight.”
Kurt’s jaw dropped as the sight of Dave on stage registered. He saw the microphone in his hand and heard what Mercedes was saying but it didn’t seem like it was really happening.
Blaine leaned in and nudged his shoulder. “You ok, there, princess?” Blaine chuckled. “If I were you, I’d pay attention to this.”
An upbeat soft drum intro began playing and Mercedes squeezed Dave’s hand. She had her mike ready to sing backup vocals. With an encouraging nod from her, Dave took a long, deep breath and began to sing…..
L is for the way you look at me
O is for the only one I see
V is very, very extraordinary
E is even more than anyone that you adore can
Love is all that I can give to you
Love is more than just a game for two
Two in love can make it, take my heart and please don’t break it
Love was made for me and you
The trumpet solo began and Kurt started walking slowly through the empty tables and chairs to the edge of the dance floor. He stared up at his boyfriend singing to him.
L is for the way you look at me
O is for the only one I see
V is very, very extraordinary
E is even more than anyone that you adore can
Love is all that I can give to you
Love is more than just a game for two
Two in love can make it, take my heart and please don’t break it
Love was made for me and you
Love was made for me and you
Love was made for me and you!
The crowd applauded politely as the music died down. Dave locked eyes with Kurt and smiled.
“Congratulations Finn and Rachel. Prom King and Queen.” The room applauded again. Dave cleared his throat and continued. “Prom is about being with the person you care about the most. No matter what, you have to make sure they know how much they mean to you. I haven’t been doing a good job of that lately and I just wanted to say thank you, Rachel,” Dave turned to look at Mercedes standing next to him, “and you, Mercedes, for helping me. For getting me up here so I could do this right. I’m done lying, everybody. I’m here at prom with someone I really care about. And they deserve some recognition.”
Dave handed the microphone to Blaine who had joined him on stage. He hopped off the stage and walked though the packed dance floor. The crowd parted as Dave made his way to where Kurt was standing. All eyes were locked on the couple as he took Kurt’s hands.
“I love you, gorgeous. Can I have this dance?”
Kurt could only nod, with tears welling up in his eyes. The music started to play and Blaine began to sing one last love song for the night….
Fly me to the moon
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars
In other words, hold my hand
In other words, Baby, kiss me
Fill my heart with song
And let me sing forever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other please be true
In other words, I love you….