I'm only writing this author's note to say thank you to all the people that kept this going. Also, I'm not sure if a lot of you noticed, but chapter 9 has been up for a bit. I don't know if you all got the update because it was posted so shortly after I asked if you guys wanted more of this, so it may have been overlooked. So it would probably be a good idea to read that before starting this haha.

Also, if you could leave a good review for that chapter, please? That'd be great. I worked really hard on it for you guys and it hasn't received much love since it was posted :/ please make it feel loved! So for those of you who haven't read that, obviously you should read it before starting this one, yada yada yada... okay.

"You okay?"

The question was simple; two words that only required one word to answer. Hell, they didn't even really require words, to be honest. Kurt could have simply just nodded "yes," but David clearly would have been able to see right through that.

But if he shook his head "no," then that opened the door to Kurt having to explain himself; which he didn't really feel up to doing.

Of all the times Kurt would have killed to have David this close… the times he wished that the older boy would talk to him alone, fate chose now to grant him his wish. It wasn't like he couldn't be around David. But then again, maybe it was.

Kurt didn't really want to be around anyone at the moment, but because of his already intense feelings for the other man, David specifically was dangerous.

But maybe he didn't have to go through this. David surely would have understood if Kurt wanted to be alone. It would be acceptable for Kurt to push him away given the circumstances. But the jock just kept staring at him with those intense eyes.

Those eyes… those beautiful, hazel eyes didn't simply watch Kurt. The singer could feel the other's gaze piercing right through him, down into his heart. Kurt almost felt that the football player was being… invasive. Like Dave was reading his mind without his permission through some telepathic bond. He quickly realized that such things were impossible and Dave could not simply just literally look into his very soul. That was a silly thought.

But the way Karofsky's eyes were fixated on him, Kurt got the feeling that maybe there was some kind of way that Dave really was reading him like an open book. Maybe he could see it in his own eyes. Maybe, just maybe, Dave was reading him in a way that no one else in his life ever had before. And if Kurt was being quite honest with himself, he found that to be incredibly frightening.

"Kurt?" he said softly. That simple spoken word about did it for the soprano. Though he found it incredibly difficult momentarily to even move any of the features on his face, on the inside he was breaking.

One word was all it took to break the dam inside him and let all the emotions run loose. He realized that his mouth hung slightly open and made sure to shut it as he turned away from the boy, his eyes to the ground.

"Are you gonna be okay, buddy?" he asked tenderly. Kurt's attention was diverted back to David and those sympathetic eyes were on him again, reading him, examining him.

Kurt started to slowly nod his head, making an attempt at a soft smile. But that gesture failed before it was even completely implemented and he found himself shaking his head vigorously, his damp eyes downcast.

Overwhelmed by the string of emotions he was left to deal with, he instinctively closed the gap in between the two and wrapped his arms around the juniors' neck, face buried in his chest. The tears erupted from his now closed eyes and he physically shook against the sturdy jock.

By the time that he realized that he was far too close (like he was after the performance a few hours ago), he already felt broad, muscular arms hugging him back slowly and gently. At this point, Kurt didn't care how he looked, draped around David like a clingy child. It felt right to be in the others' embrace; it was warm and almost… soothing.

"Oh, god, Kurt… come on, buddy, don't… don't cry, man, please. It'll be okay, don't cry," the older one said softly, his hand sliding up and down the sopranos' back in a comforting fashion. And of course, the pleading request not to cry only made Kurt cry even harder. The two of them stood for a good minute in each other's arms before Kurt broke the embrace apart, rubbing his eyes.

"Do you want to talk to me? I'm here if… if you need to," David asked sincerely, his hazel eyes never losing that genuine, caring gaze. Kurt sniffled and rubbed his eyes some more.

"Yeah… yeah," he mouthed. The words were barely able to come out as it was, so there really wasn't anything else he could say. There was no fighting it any more. He couldn't avoid it. He had to talk to Dave now… he wanted to talk to Dave. The jock nodded.

"Not here," was all that was left that Kurt could get out. He looked back up at the Hudson house, sheer pain and discomfort brewing in his stomach. The statement was quiet, raspy… but David understood completely.

"Alright, bro, let's go somewhere and talk, okay? Just the two of us. Come on," he said tenderly, slowly turning away from the Navigator, his hand laid gently on Kurt's' back.

The two walked side by side around the neighborhood for about half an hour, mostly spent in complete silence. But David didn't complain or push. He simply wandered the streets with Kurt under the impression that Kurt would speak when he felt like speaking. And that actually put stress on Kurt. He would have to break the ice. He would have to be the one to start talking because he was the one that wanted to talk in the first place. At this moment, he actually wished David was like everyone else and pestered him about what was wrong until he gave in.

But he wasn't like everybody else. He was patient and quiet and… there. For thirty minutes, David was just there. And the silence was killing Kurt.

"It's a little cold out tonight," Kurt said softly, not wanting to dive right in. David had apparently grown accustomed to the silence because the surprise on his face when Kurt spoke was as plain as day. The taller boy glanced up around the empty subdivision and back at Kurt.

"Little bit… here," David said, stripping off his large letterman jacket and draping it around the singer's tiny shoulders.

"You don't have to…"

"It's fine." David pursed his lips in an encouraging smile and Kurt meekly attempted to return it.

The two continued down the street for several minutes until there was no more street and a small park lay ahead of them. It was deserted, as one would expect at half past midnight. They both slowly strode inside and when Kurt sat down on one of the benches, David took that as his cue to take a seat next to him. They sat in the quiet for a few more minutes and David actually gave in, to Kurt's surprise.

"We don't have to do this if you don't want to. If you'd rather be alone…"

"No. I… I want to talk. I want you here." Kurt looked at the boy, a hopeful, pleading look in his eyes, begging Dave to stay. The jock sighed softly, his gaze never faltering.

"I am."

Kurt turned away and exhaled deeply.

"This, uh… this isn't easy," Kurt half chuckled. Dave smiled thoughtfully.

"Break-ups never are, believe me. But it'll be better in time, I promise."

"No, not… that."

Dave averted his attention back to the younger boy and studied him.

"Then what are you so upset about?"

"I'm not sad that Mercedes and I broke up. Well, that's definitely part of it, but it's so much bigger than that. It makes no sense because we both knew it had to come to this someday, that's what we agreed on. I just didn't expect to…"

"Kurt…"

At the sound of his name, Kurt looked up at Dave, his confused expression alerting Kurt that this was all going completely over his head.

"It's just that… with Mercedes around, it was easier. I could still kind of be myself and I could… still allow myself to be around you sometimes."

"Why wouldn't you be able to be around me? We're friends, aren't we?"

"Yes, of course we are! It's just… it's easier. There'd be less stuff to explain if… people were to see us."

"You mean… explain that you're gay?" Dave whispered. Kurt's eyes shot wide open and he saw that the older boy was watching him with a concerned expression. There was no denying it. This was exactly what Kurt brought David out here for, why would he lie now? In fact, David had just spared him the worst part; actually admitting it out loud. Instead of giving him an answer, Kurt just turned his head to the ground which was confirmation enough.

"So you are… what the hell are you ashamed of?"

"That's easy for you to say," Kurt scoffed. It sounded a lot harsher than he meant for it to come out, but David didn't seem to mind much. If he did, he was really good at hiding it.

"And why's that?"

"Because… you know, you're just so… you. I mean, look at you. You're just… god, David don't look at me like that; you know what I'm trying to say."

"Actually, Kurt, I'm not certain that I do. Enlighten me."

"Jesus, are you really gonna make me say it? David, you… it's just easier for people like you…"

"People like me? Why, because I'm a straight-acting jock?" David concluded. He was spot on, but Kurt didn't like the tone in his voice. It was as if Dave was offended by the statement, if the scoff he let out after Kurt's validation was any indication.

"That's bullshit, Kurt."

"Well, it's true, isn't it? Look at you, David; look at your life! You're on the football team, you're popular… everyone likes you… because you aren't like me."

"I'm exactly like you," David said firmly, his gaze softening, yet still intense and focused. Any retort Kurt was about to make was lost on his lips when he saw that David's face was like stone; intent and serious.

"And if you think… that I haven't suffered for who I am because of trivial reasons like that, you're wrong, Kurt. In fact, you might not believe it, but I may have even suffered more. Because there are a lot of people out there who had that exact same opinion.

"They thought that just because I played football, there was no way I could be gay. Or when I came out, I was just trying to blend into the straight crowd and wasn't being true to myself. There was a lot of backlash to being me back in the day. But I'm every bit as gay as you are. Do you have any idea what it's like to be out on the football team in a town like this?"

"I can't say I do… but then again, I thought that was a given."

"It's not easy either, buddy. It's just as hard for me as it is for you. I hear the jokes, I'm talked about… I've even been pushed into a few lockers in my experience."

"Then why do it?"

"What?"

"Why even come out at all?" Kurt barely whispered. Dave's features relaxed as he looked over back at Kurt who had tears brimming in his eyes. Dave exhaled and examined the singer sympathetically.

"…Because I'd rather have been looked down upon for who I was… than be praised for someone that I wasn't."

"But wouldn't it be easier just to pretend? Why would you put yourself through that?"

"You'd think it'd be easier… but it's not. I played that game too, for a long time. On the outside, I was just another straight football player; no reason to draw any attention to myself. I was popular, well-liked… but I wasn't me. And when I came out, I did lose a lot of my 'friends'. And I won't lie to you; it hurt like hell. But at the end of the day, it was completely and totally worth it. You wanna know why?"

Kurt nodded.

"It's called pride, Kurt… pride. It's because deep down, I know that I don't have to apologize to anybody for who I am. It's because I learned to love myself and finally figured out that even though my sexuality makes me no different from anybody else, it also makes me different in a way that I wouldn't change for anything in the world. I deserve to be happy in my own skin... and so do you."

"David…"

"There's nothing wrong with you, Kurt. You're great. You're special. You're you. And I promise you that in your own time, you'll come to see that too."

There was a silent pause. Kurt sighed and looked David straight in the eyes.

"How do you know?"

"…Because I've been there too. I've been exactly where you are. What, do you think I came out in kindergarten or something? I haven't always been this amazing, you know," the jock laughed, eliciting a meek chuckle from Kurt.

"You really are."

"What?"

"Amazing… you really are amazing; that's what I meant."

"Yeah, I know," David shrugged and cocked his head to the side in mock vanity, causing Kurt to laugh again. The two of them locked eyes for a moment and exchanged soft smiles when the laughter had subsided.

"And so are you, Kurt," he placed a rough, meaty hand on the singers' shoulder, "You just need to… see yourself the way I do. Once you do that… it won't matter what other people think. Also, if you ever find yourself struggling… know that I'm here for you."

"I will… thanks," Kurt muttered, a weak, teary smile creeping on his face. Dave opened up his torso to Kurt, his arms outstretched, offering an embrace which Kurt gladly accepted. He hugged the older man tight, nuzzling his face in the jock's neck, relishing in the strong, piney scent of Dave Karofsky. He could have stayed there forever.

Dave's speech was inspiring; motivating even. Though it didn't do much to help Kurt's current situation; not completely anyway. With him and Mercedes officially broken up, he would undoubtedly receive a bombardment of questions and comments from the other glee clubbers. Talking to David after a while was easy. In this moment, it was like he and David had their own little bubble inside their own little world that nobody could mess up.

But how was he going to face them? They weren't going to understand him. And David had been used to being out. Even though he had his bullies in his day, he was more than capable of standing up for himself. Come on, look at the guy! And Kurt was just… Kurt. He wanted to be proud, he wanted to be comfortable in his own skin like David… and just as importantly, he wanted to be able to hopefully someday be with David.

But just like coming out… he knew that wasn't happening any time soon. The one thing he knew was what was happening right now. David was in his arms. And he was going to delight in this moment for as long as time would let him, tears or not, before he had to go back to real life.

For those of you still waiting on By Your Side, I'm sorry to keep you waiting this long. It's been months, I know, and I really am not sure when it will be updated again!

I thought that this chapter would have been up over Christmas Break, but… I have a confession to make. I started watching Queer as Folk and… That's pretty much all I've been doing lol I've barely been able to come up for air! It's just… so… GOOD.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter.