Kurt Hummel was back. Every movement he made, every word he said, Dave was aware of.

He walked through the halls, unslushied and beautiful, making Dave's heart clench and his brain freeze.

Since Santana's... offer, Dave had been contemplating his past actions and the motivations behind them. It had been a couple of months since they had started dating, and since then he'd come to a terrifying conclusion: not only was he gay, but he was ridiculously in love with Kurt.

Santana had quickly become his confidant- they spoke regularly on their 'dates' about their shared secrets. She had been in love with Brittany for years, which made Dave sick at the thought.

'How could she take this pain for so long?'

But she'd gotten at least friendship with her obsession, she'd gotten hookups and hugs... he'd gotten nothing. He actually wasn't sure what was worse, though. Getting a taste of what it'd be like and not being able to keep it, or never having it to begin with.

Today was going to be harder than usual since it was Kurt's birthday. Everyone was making a fuss over it, since he was the golden child of his group.

As Dave walked into the school, and towards his locker, he noticed balloons and glitter all over Kurt's which was across the hall, mocking him with it's cheerfulness and display of love.

'I wish I could-" his thoughts were cut off.

"Hey babe." Santana proclaimed loudly as she stretched up to kiss his cheek.

He threw her a quick smile, as he put the combination in and opened his locker.

She studied his face for a moment, making him uncomfortable, and then gave him a knowing look.

"It's Kurt's birthday today." she sighed, and touched his shoulder softly.

He nodded shortly, after looking to see if anyone was nearby.

"Yeah. I just... I'll never get that, you know? I don't understand how he can be so happy, comfortable with himself... he has friends that love him. I'm... if I were to... you know, I'd lose everything. It sucks."

Santanna nodded.

"Someday you'll be out of here, and you can come out and be happy too. We both will... someday."

"But I'll never have him. I'll never get to celebrate days like this with him."

Santanna nodded sadly, beginning to say something when Finn came up to them. Dave shot a look of annoyance his way, putting on his new kinda-nice-but-still-gruff Karofsky charade.

"Hey, so... I was just wondering if you, um, wanted to come to Kurt's surprise birthday party tomorrow night at our house... our parents are leaving so it's perfect."

"You're asking me to come to Kurt's birthday party. Really, Hudson?"

"Um, yeah? I just thought, y'know, it's been alright the last couple of months and I think you're an okay guy now, and... yeah."

"He'd love to." Santanna answered for him, leaving Dave to flounder for words.

"Great, so, yeah. Tomorrow at 8. See ya." Finn scurried off then, leaving Santanna to deal with her boyfriend.

"Why'd you do that? I can't go there! He hates me, they all do. Plus it'll probably suck anyway..."

"Dave, you said you wanted to be close to him, celebrate with him... well, here you go. It won't be exactly the same, but it's a way to worm your way in. It's worth a shot."

"Ugh, you're impossible."

"That's why you love me."

"No I don't."

"Well... shut up."