Chapter 11
Set Fire to the Rain
Dave was hyper-ventilating. Auditioning for the Glee club was going to be painful, but at least he could have gone in with a manly song. But KE$HA!
"That little shit! He knew that me singing a Ke$ha song would basically out him for me!"
Dave's lip was quivering. A symphony of anger was raging in his head. He didn't know what to do.
I'm damned if I do, and damned if I fuckin' don't!
Cody reached over and touched Dave's face. As soon as Dave looked into his eyes, the noises in his head came to a halt. There were no words spoken, but so much was said. Dave knew from the look Cody was giving him that he had no choice and that this really was the lesser of two evils. Dave's muscles began to relax as he looked at Cody's face.
This is bullshit… I guess I'll just have to be really creative with my excuse to the guys.
Then it hit Dave.
"Was that BJ-"
Cody finished his sentence for him.
"Motivation. Yes it was."
Dave's face became extremely red. His face was hot. Cody didn't seem to feel wrong about it at all. Cody broke the silence.
"Did it work?"
Dave twitched and stared blankly into nothing. He didn't know if we angry, embarrassed, or both. Finally without really knowing if it did or not, he nodded.
"Good! Well it's about that time. Do you want me to come with you?"
Dave didn't speak but his eyes quickly darted to Cody and he violently shook his head yes.
"Well let's go."
Meanwhile in the choir room…
It was now 3:30 p.m. and school had just let out. Kurt quickly made his way to the choir room and stood near the door way scanning the flood of people for Mercedes. While waiting on her, Kurt's insides felt hot. He didn't know what to make of his thoughts. The boy who had made his life a living hell was about to experience supreme embarrassment… by his hand.
Is this wrong? Why do I feel so weird about this? Karofsky has made it his goal to embarrass me every single day of my life for the past several years. Surely this is justifiable to any objective perspective.
The more Kurt mulled it over in his head, the angrier he got. For some reason, even through all of the anger, he couldn't without a doubt come to a conclusion. He felt torn.
"Just don't think about it and do it."
Kurt jumped. Apparently Kurt had been so immersed in his own thoughts that he had not noticed Mercedes walk right up to him. She spoke again.
"I know you well enough to know that you don't enjoy hurting people, and you're trying to justify outing Karofsky in your head."
"Well do you think that I shouldn't do it?"
Mercedes looked slightly away from Kurt. It was almost as if she couldn't look him in the eye when she spoke.
"I can't tell you that. If you can't bring yourself to do it, then you must think it's the wrong thing to do."
Kurt brought his thumb to the bottom of his lip.
This is absolutely ridiculous! Why is going through with this so hard!
!Gleebreak!
"Hummel."
Dave walked in sheepishly. Kurt turned around and immediately assumed a confident persona.
I guess he doesn't look scared because he's surrounded by all the other weirdos. Great.
Kurt crossed his arms and spoke pompously.
"Karofsky."
Dave crossed his arms too. He was halfway biting his bottom lip waiting for Kurt's next move. At this point, had walked into the room. He noticed that Dave was standing in the doorway glaring at Kurt.
"Uh, Dave… can I help you with something?"
Kurt's face immediately lit up. He gladly interjected.
"Mr. Shue, if I may, Dave is actually here to audition for The New Directions."
The room went silent and everyone in the glee club focused their attention on Dave. Mr. Shue's face was priceless. He looked shocked beyond all belief.
"Dave, is this true?"
Dave could feel his heart beating and pounding against his chest. His palms were sweating and he felt cold. Finally, he answered.
"Y-y-yessir."
The room was still silent.
"Well do you have a number prepared?"
"Y-y-yessir."
"Well very good. Guys, I want you all to give Dave your attention."
"JUST ONE SECOND."
Cody came rushing in stopping to pick up some paper that he dropped. Kurt had moved to the risers by this point and was glaring at Cody.
Cody please get over here! I'm so scared without you! All of the weirdos are staring at me!
Cody walked directly to Puck and spoke without fear.
"Hey you, I heard you play some pretty sick guitar. Is that rumor true?"
Puck furrowed his brow. It looked like he didn't know what to do with Cody's audacity.
"Yeah, that sounds about right."
"Can you sight read?"
Puck sighed.
"Fuck yeah, I do! What tune am I going to be gracing everyone's ears with?"
Kurt took this moment to speak up , practically spitting with every consonant.
"A Ke$ha song."
Puck let out an obnoxious laugh.
"Are you freakin' kidding me Karofsky? Ke$ha! REALLY!"
Karofsky just awkwardly shuffled his weight.
"Yeah."
The room jeered. Dave felt horrible.
Everyone's making fun of me! Is this what I get for being such a dick to Hummel all these years?
It took every ounce of fortitude for Dave not to run out of the room. Cody looked over and saw that Dave needed some assistance. He spoke up, quickly silencing the room.
"Not just ANY Ke$ha number. As most of you guys probably don't know, Ke$ha originally wanted to be a country artist. Her mother, Pebe Sebert, actually wrote several famous songs for Dolly Parton. And this song, definitely captures her country roots."
Santana leered at Cody, and spoke.
"So are you going to audition for Dave or something?"
Cody just smiled and kept his cool.
"First of all, I would like to compliment your oversized lips. Where do you get them done? Cuz on Halloween, I really wanna dress up as a pregnant Mexican drag queen, and I feel like you'd know more about that than me."
The room gasped. Santana's leer became even more intense.
"Look, Firecrotch, I don't know who you think you're messing with, but-"
"Awww! Did I step on your oversized ego? I'm sorry!"
Santana went to get up, but she was grabbed my Mercedes and Brittany. She was screaming obscenities in Spanish when Mr. Shue decided that things were getting out of hand.
"GUYS!"
After a while, the room finally settled down.
"Mr. Shue, if it's alright with you, I'd like to audition with Dave."
"Sure that's fine. But let's get this started already. What's the name of the song?"
Cody handed the sheet music to Puck, who had gone to get his guitar.
"Goodbye, by Ke$ha Sebert."
"Alright, let's hear it."
Puck began to play the guitar. The room was DEAD SILENT. All that could be heard was the sorrowful prelude. Cody looked at Dave and mouthed 'here we go'. Cody was the first to sing.
The hope is fading from my lips I'll find a way to close the door I don't want to
When I kiss you with goodbye
Now when you let go of our last embrace
Please don't look me in the eye
Secret's out, that I just might care about you
You broke me, you're leaving
There's nothing I can do
I want to say so much more but
I found you once, you're lost again
Two thousand miles took what could have been
Won't let myself
I have to realize
This might be
This could be
This is goodbye
This is goodbye
As Puck played the vamp, Dave's pulse began to race. He was going to have to sing in front of the glee club! In public! He took a deep breath and let the sweet baritone goodness pour out. The smile fate was wearing, slowly die I'll find a way to close the door I don't want to
Minutes turn to months
Silence of the phone just mocks my cry
When I see that you've moved on
Secret's out that I did care about you
You broke me, you left me
There was nothing I could do
I want to say so much more but
I found you once, you're lost again
Two thousand miles took what could have been
Won't let myself
I have to realize
This might be
This could be
This is goodbye
By this point in the song, the entire room's jaws were dropped. The couldn't take their eyes off of Dave and Cody. Kurt just stared in disbelief. Do I ever cross your mind? Find a way to close the door I don't want to The hope is fading from my lips
Cause you're on mine all the time
I can believe how unfair life is sometimes
And be okay with nothing more but
Found you once, you're lost again
Two thousand miles took what could have been
Won't let myself
I have to realize
This might be
This could be
This is goodbye
This is goodbye
When the song ended, Puck actually forgot to pluck the last chord. He was so enamored with the performance. Everyone started clapping.
What is this? They're applauding me. No one's laughing. What the fuck?
Cody looked at Dave and mouthed 'you did great'.
Mr. Shue walked up and put his hands on Cody and Dave's shoulder.
"I have to say that I'm very impressed with both of you. Given that you two were at each other's' throat about three days ago, I'd say you've both made very good progress. The New Directions will gladly open its arms to you. You guys can go have a seat by Kurt."
!Gleebreak!
Kurt's eyes were huge.
HOW THE HELL COULD THAT HAVE GONE SO WELL! THIS IS INFURIATING! I HAVE TO FIX THIS!
As Cody and Dave made their way up the risers, Kurt thought very quickly and set his plan into motion.
"NOT-SO-FAST!"
Cody and Dave stopped dead in their tracks. Dave looked like he was about to faint. Everyone looked at Kurt. spoke up.
"Kurt, what are you d-"
"Mr. Shue, I'm probably going to be suspended for this and honestly, I don't care. But I DO care about making sure that everyone knows some crucial information about David Karofsky."
Dave looked pitiful. He whispered while making eye contact with Kurt.
"Hummel, please!"
Kurt just grinned and walked down the risers past Dave and Cody and stood in front of the entire room.
"Now, as you all know, David Karofsky has made it his personal vocation to make my life a living hell. And as you all know all too well, he has constantly picked on me because I am openly gay."
Dave couldn't take it anymore. He yelled out.
"STOP! PLEASE!"
Kurt continued to grin. His plan had worked. Kurt didn't even have to announce that Dave was gay. Dave did it for him. Santana turned to Dave and spoke incredulously.
"Why did you ask him to stop?"
And then a light bulb switched on in her head.
"Oh….MY GOD! You're GAY!"
The insanity ensued. The entire room gasped and put the pieces together. Dave started to tear up. Kurt was absolutely loving this.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP! ALL OF YOU!"
Mr. Shue had grabbed Kurt and started to walk him to the office. Kurt was laughing as he was being walked to office.
Revenge feels SO good! I never knew how gratifying it felt! Finally, we're even.
Back at the choir room…
Dave and Cody just stood in the front of the room as the glee club jeered. Amongst the chaos, Cody tried to comfort Dave. He pulled out his phone and texted him.
So the secret's out. Wanna hug?- Cody
Dave looked at Cody, as tears were falling down his cheeks and nodded. He opened his arms. Cody quickly rushed to him and gave him the biggest hug known to mankind. The room gasped even more. Cody took Dave's hand and began to walk out of the room.
"C'mon Dave, let's get out of here."
!Gleebreak!
As Kurt waited in the office, he saw Cody and Dave holding hands walking down the hallway. His plan had worked. He got revenge. He was so happy, he began singing to himself.
I let it fall, my heart My hands, they're strong But there's a side to you that I never knew, never knew But I set fire to the rain When laying with you 'Cause there's a side to you that I never knew, never knew But I set fire to the rain I set fire to the rain Sometimes I wake up by the door I set fire to the rain I set fire to the rain Oh, no
And as it fell, you rose to claim it
It was dark and I was over
Until you kissed my lips and you saved me
But my knees were far too weak
To stand in your arms
Without falling to your feet
All the things you'd say, they were never true, never true
And the games you play, you would always win, always win
Watched it pour as I touched your face
Let it burn while I cry
'Cause I heard it screaming out your name, your name
I could stay there, close my eyes
Feel you here, forever
You and me together, nothing is better
All the things you'd say, they were never true, never true
[| From: . |]
And the games you'd play, you would always win, always win
Watched it pour as I touched your face
Let it burn while I cried
'Cause I heard it screaming out your name, your name
And I threw us into the flames
Where I felt somethin' die, 'cause I knew that
That was the last time, the last time
Now that you've gone, must be waiting for you
Even now when it's already over
I can't help myself from looking for you
Watched it pour as I touched your face
Let it burn while I cried
'Cause I heard it screaming out your name, your name
And I threw us into the flames
Where I felt somethin' die
'Cause I knew that that was the last time, the last time, oh
Let it burn, oh
Let it burn
Let it burn
It was over. The war between Dave and Kurt was over. But then it hit Kurt. As he watched Dave and Cody walking away he realized that they were happy. The stuck together through the endless laughter and ignorance. The first open gay couple at McKinley, and he wasn't part of it.
"Hm, that's bittersweet."