Author's Note: I mentioned in the author's note at the end of the last chapter that I recently figured out I was asexual. I think that might be part of why I'm more interested in exploring something like the platonic relationship between Santana & Dave rather than writing a fic with a romantic (and especially a potentially sexual) ship like Brittana or Kurtofsky. In fact, most of my fics have been me writing about platonic stuff as the main focus, since that is more of what I feel comfortable with. What I have a desire to explore. I don't know. I also think these types of relationships are some of the most underappreciated in fandom, but still beloved when they are addressed. But anyway… the fact that I have never experienced sexual attraction doesn't mean I won't try to make the fact that Santana and Dave are sexual beings with strong feelings for their romantic interests as realistic as I can. I've written this kind of thing before. I think I'm fine at doing it, despite not being able to relate. I just thought I'd let you all know.

I really appreciate that now 14 different people are following my fic. It means a ton to me. I wish that many people would have also left at least 1 review, but oh well. Maybe sometime you can find the time to review, though?

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Also, sorry for the lame chapter titles. Last chapter… I am renaming it. It was "Going Public" before. I think now it should be named "Sam".

This chapter… I also struggled with a good name for it. I think what I settled on is okay, though.

Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 5: "Plans Set In Motion"

Dave spent the weekend tempted to brag to his friend, Z, about him finally scoring a hot chick to call his own, or even tell his parents. His mom and dad had been on him for months - years maybe - to put himself out there and to just ask a girl on a date. But he sat in his bedroom, alone most of the weekend, playing Battlefield: Bad Company 2 , Blur, and Call of Duty: Black Ops on his computer, doing the homework he had to get done, and trying to distract himself from the fact that on Monday, his life would get a bit more complicated. He rehearsed the speeches Santana had written for him a few more times by just silently mouthing them, afraid if he spoke the words even in a whisper volume that his parents might hear. He didn't want to mess any of it up. Besides, Santana would probably kill him if he did.

When Monday morning came, Dave woke up earlier than normal. Santana said they had to meet in the school early to talk to Principal Figgins before school even started. So he showered and prepared for the day, running into his dad in the kitchen, for once their paths actually crossing before he left for work.

"What are you doing up so early?" he asked kindly, truly wondering.

"Um, I just have something I wanted to do before school," he answered vaguely.

"Alright," Paul replied to his son. He left the house as Dave poured himself some cereal. He ate two full bowls, because one was never filling enough, then grabbed his schoolbooks and was off.

Santana was already waiting for him in the parking lot when he arrived. She was carrying the Bullywhips uniforms in her arms, and he followed her to the principal's office. Figgins allowed them in.

"Miss Lopez. Mr. Karofsky." He looked at each of them in turn, knowing their names, which kind of surprised Dave. Figgins hadn't even been there when he'd been expelled briefly, that was when Coach Sylvester had been in his seat. But sure enough, he knew the names of most of his students. He made a point to pay attention to that kind of thing. And, Dave realized, he probably also was well aware of Dave's history with Kurt Hummel.

"Principal Figgins," Santana announced, confident and fully prepared. "We have a proposition for you. We'd like you to hear us out."

She turned to look at her pretend boyfriend, and he in turn began his speech. He explained how he'd learned the error of his ways, how Santana and he had come up with a new club to combat bullying, and how they even hoped to have a meeting in order to reach out to Kurt personally, through Principal Figgins arranging it and being there the whole time, if he'd be so helpful. Santana chimed in a couple times, but let Dave do the vast majority of the talking. Santana ended by asking if Figgins would help Karofsky apologize to the glee club, and Dave nodded in agreement that he wanted that.

Figgins considered their requests for a few moments.

"Let us give it a chance," he finally agreed. "What you are both proposing sounds as if it just might be what Mr. Hummel deserves. Bullying should be ended too." His speech was thick with his Pakistani accent.

Santana smiled.

"Thank you," Dave replied.

"I'll set up the meeting with Kurt and his parents for Friday," Principal Figgins finished.

Dave looked over at Santana. She seemed satisfied with that response.

They left the office together.

"Should I have told him that his mother is dead?" Santana asked Dave, commenting on how their principal had just used the plural form of 'parents'.

"Uh…" Dave trailed off, unsure of how to respond. He had no idea. He'd developed quite the crush on Kurt at some point, despite however much he might want to deny it. He knew very little about Kurt as a person, though. He hadn't realized just how much he didn't know the kid until Santana brought that up.

"I mean, I guess he still does have more than one parent," she continued. "He has Finn's mom as his new stepmom. I was at the wedding. So I guess he wasn't wrong to say 'parents,'" Santana finished, thinking out loud.

They made their way over to the bulletin board where clubs to join were posted.

"Hold these," she said, passing off the uniforms to Karofsky. He awkwardly accepted them on top of his arms.

Santana then pulled her bag around and opened it, pulling out a flyer for the Bullywhips she had created, along with contact info for anyone who wanted to join. She tacked it to the board, then took the clothing back.

"Hopefully people will want to join us," she commented. "If not, you and I can still do a great job, all on our own."

Glee was the first class on this particular day, and Santana parted ways from Dave temporarily, taking her seat at the back of the class. She let Karofsky meet up with the principal on his own and they'd enter the Glee classroom only after class had started.

Sure enough, the Glee club reacted viscerally the moment Dave set foot in the room. Even though Principal Figgins was walking alongside him and had immediately announced that David had something he wanted everyone to hear, everyone started murmuring about how he should leave and making it clear they were not okay with him being in their presence, and Dave tried to remain calm and brave. He didn't make eye contact with anyone. He waited for the class to quiet themselves. Figgins' requests helped and eventually the chattering did die down. Finn spoke for everyone to let Figgins know that they didn't care what he had to say. But everyone else stopped talking, and Finn did too, and Figgins then had a chance to properly address the club.

"Now I know David has had some issues in the past, but I have great respect for what he's doing right now, and I ask you to hear him out. Thank you."

"How about we punch his face out?" Sam suggested as an alternative, quietly. Dave looked up at Santana and saw her scowl at him.

"Okay," Mr. Schuester interjected. "That's enough, guys. Everyone listen up!"

The show choir director's instructions finally did the trick, and Karofsky gave his speech. He apologized for slushie-ing everyone, in addition for what he'd done to Kurt. He admitted that he was ashamed of who he was and what he did, finding the words surprisingly difficult to get out, now that he was in front of everyone, despite how many times he'd rehearsed the speech.

"Why should we believe you?" Puck asked a bit harshly. Dave got a little nervous. Answering a question like that wasn't part of the prepared speech. But he thought of a good answer on the fly.

"You don't have to. I know I'll need to earn your trust."

It was true. Dave had been thinking that for a while. A speech out of the blue wouldn't change the entire glee club's minds about how evil of a person he was, not instantaneously.

He then got to the part of the speech where he mentioned Santana's name. He credited her for his change of heart, and he could see every single pair of eyes in the room, even Mr. Schuester, grow wide in disbelief. He continued. When he finished this portion of the speech, Santana started speaking herself. She got up and walked down to him as she explained that they'd try to get Kurt come back so the McKinley glee club could win Nationals. Then she grabbed his hand as she announced that they… had fallen in love.

Dave was a little shocked by how the entire glee club reacted to that. Tina said she was gonna barf and Puck made a facial expression and contorted his body to express a similar sentiment.

"I want Kurt to feel safe to come back," Dave said, trying to ignore them all. "Which is why Santana and I have started a new club." He put his arm around her, trying to act lovingly. She acted along with him, leaning into the embrace and smiling. "The Bullywhips," Karofsky continued.

"Name was my idea," Santana explained. "We're gonna be like guardian angels."

Dave finished the speech. He could see everyone was still in a state of disbelief about everything he was proposing. His change of heart was surreal and honestly, he couldn't quite believe himself that Santana had roped him into doing it. At the same time though, he kind of felt proud of himself as he looked over and saw how pleased Principal Figgins seemed to be with the new David Karofsky.

"You can get on with your singing now," Principal Figgins told them, signaling to Dave that it was time to leave them be and let it all sink in. Karofsky took his arm off of Santana, and as he started to depart from the classroom, she called over to him.

"Dave!"

He turned back around to look at her.

"Let's put The Bullywhips into action starting during the break between this class and second period. 'Kay?" Her voice was almost sickeningly sweet. He forced a smile.

"Sounds great," he replied. "You can meet me outside Mrs. Allen's English classroom," he added, preparing to enter that class about five or ten minutes late now.

Principal Figgins happily escorted him out of the room. The Bullywhips was about to begin. Dave would have to get his parents… or at least his dad, since his mom worked insane hours… to agree to a meeting where they try to get Kurt back into school. Dave braced himself for the rest of his day, not really sure what to expect from any of it. At least he'd done his English reading, he thought as he approached that class.