Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

This is just a quick overview of all the Warblers.

All the freshmen are my OCs but the rest of the Warblers are from the show or an online Warbler yearbook I found. Also a great deal of detective work (and squinting) went into matching the yearbook to actors so if there's a mistake, please let me know. There's some Warblers who are without actors cause I just couldn't figure it out so if you know who plays them, please tell me!

Anyways if you ever are like "Who's that again?", just go to the table of contents and jump to this page!!

The Freshman :

●Blake Hall
Played by Abraham Attah

●Cash Miller
Played by Asher Angel

●Logan Snyder
Played by Noah Jupe

●Nathaniel Suzuki
Played by Ryan Potter

●Travis Turner
Played by Jaden Smith

●Xavier Narváez
Played by Marcel Ruiz

The Sophmores :

●Cameron James
Played by ?

●Ethan Moore
Played by ?

●Flint Wilson
Played by ?

●James Kirk
Played by Aaron Page

●Luke Wright
Played by Nelson Beato

●Nicholas (Nico) Hudson
Played by ?

The Juniors :

●Andrew Stewart
Played by ?

●Bennett Clarington
Played by Max Lloyd-Jones

●Jayden Boyd
Played by Jordan Fischer

●Jeff Sterling
Played by Riker Lynch

●Jesse Martin
Played by ?

●John Dempsey
Played by ?

●Nick Duval
Played by Curt Mega

●Richard James
Played by Jon Hall

The Seniors :

●Blaine Anderson
Played by Darren Criss

●David Thompson
Played by Titus Mankin Jr.

●Hunter Clarington
Played by Nolan Gerald Funk

●Sebastian Smythe
Played by Grant Gustin

●Thad Harwood
Played by Eddy Martin

●Trent Nixon
Played by Dominic Barnes

●Wesley Montgomery
Played by Telly Leung

Chapter Text

So close to the actual story, don't worry. But first, each chapter will contain a coded message in the form of random letters grouped at the beginning of the chapter. The message is a hint about the next chapter (each chapter has two key words in the title). The key is below and if you ever need to come back to it, you can.

You may as, 'Why would I do this?' and there's no good reason. I just thought it'd be fun. You can comment your answer at the end of the chapter and whoever has the most (correct) answers by the end of the story wins. The grand super cool prize is a digital trophy.  

A -> N 

B -> O

C -> P

D -> Q

E -> R 

F -> S

G -> T

H -> U 

I -> V

J -> W

K -> X

L -> Y

M -> Z 

N -> A

O -> B

P -> C

Q -> D

R -> E

S -> F

T -> G

U -> H 

V -> I 

W -> J 

X -> K

Y -> L

Z -> M

Example :

Code - ELQRYY UVTU 

Message Decoded - RYDELL HIGH

Obviously, it's optional but I'd love for you to take part in this little game. Thanks!

Chapter Text

Blaine's POV

Put it away for now. Blaine clenched his fists as he tried to focus on warm-ups. Tonight was opening night of Grease but nothing could take his mind of the searing regret. The look on Kurt's face as Blaine admitted his transgression was difficult to forget.

"Blaine." Artie nudged Blaine with his wheels. "You know warm-ups work better when you sing them, right?"

"Yeah, sorry." Blaine inhaled and tried to focus on the vowels he was supposed to be singing.

"Is everything okay?" Artie asked in a whisper.

Nothing is okay. Blaine nodded 'yes'.  

Opening night was always electric. The sound of the audience settling in, the pre-show rituals and the sensation one gets in the wings is unrivaled outside the arts. However, nothing could stir Blaine's heart tonight. Or any night for that matter, ever since his trip to New York. Confessing to Kurt made his betrayal infinitely heavier.

Just focus on the show, on the lines. Don't mess this up. Blaine slowly exhaled after the warm-ups finished. 

"Ten minutes to places!" Finn called.

"Thank you, ten." The cast said in unison. 

Blaine wouldn't be on for a bit so he carefully touched up his makeup. Maybe if he put on enough, he would be someone else. 

"Hey man, you ready?" Sam sat down in the vanity next to Blaine. 

"Yep." Blaine lied once more.

"You're gonna do great. We got this, okay?" Sam clapped Blaine on the shoulder.

Blaine nodded and mustered a smile. "Break a leg." Sam nodded and echoed Blaine's words before he left.

Before Blaine knew it, he was onstage as the curtains opened for his song.

Your story sad to tell

A teenage ne'er do well

Most mixed up non-delinquent on the block!

Your future's so unclear now

What's left of your career now?

Can't even get a trade in on your smile!

Beauty school dropout

No graduation day for you

Beauty school dropout

Missed your midterms and flunked shampoo!

Well at least you could have taken time

To wash and clean your clothes up

After spending all that dough to have the doctor fix your nose up!

Baby don't sweat it (Don't sweat it)

You're not cut out to hold a job

Better forget it (Forget it)

Who wants their hair done by a slob?

Now your bangs are curled, your lashes whirled

But still the world is cruel

Wipe off that angel face and go back to high school!

Baby don't blow it

Don't put my good advice to shame

That was the moment Blaine saw him, Kurt. He'd pictured himself apologizing to Kurt countless times but he never expected his ex to come to the show. But as the old adage goes, 'the show must go on'. Blaine's eyes welled up but he recovered and continued.

Baby you know it

Even Dear Abby'd say the same!

Now I've called the shot, get off the block, I really gotta fly!

Gotta be going to that, malt shop, in the sky!

Beauty school dropout (Beauty school dropout)

Go back to high school

Beauty school dropout (Beauty school dropout)

Go back to high school

Beauty school dropout (Beauty school dropout)

Go back to high school

Blaine quickly decended the back stairs after the lights went out. The air seemed like lead in his lungs and his costume was a strait jacket. He supposed he should be glad that Kurt came back for the show but everything was a swirl of emotions. 

The desire to make things right waged war against the crushing guilt inside Blaine. He put on a brave face for the remainder of the show and the bows. As soon as he could get the mic off, he went to find Kurt. He couldn't get the mic tape off but it never really left anyways. 

Blaine spotted Kurt and Rachel in the hallway and gathered his courage. "Kurt, I need to talk to you."

"I'm not interested." Kurt began to walk away. 

"I never told you about what happened." Blaine followed Kurt as he walked. "The guy I hooked up with, I need you to know everything."

Kurt turned to face Blaine. "What are you gonna tell me? That it wasn't serious? That you only made out? That you didn't care about him?"

"I didn't care." Blaine said truthfully. 

"Do you think that any of that matters to me? Relationships are about trust. I don't trust you anymore. I was stupid to come back. Rachel's right, this isn't home anymore." Kurt's eyes were cloudy as he waited away. 

Blaine was stood frozen and silent as he watched the love of his life walk away. Kurt's words echoed in Blaine's heart. There didn't seem to be a future behind the end of the hallway but Blaine sure as hell was going to try. 

Chapter Text

Sebastian's POV : 

Sebastian stared at the steering wheel, unsure what to do with himself. He had half a mind to go back inside and find Blaine but he decided not too. Even though Blaine was amazing as the Teen Angel in Grease, Kurt was there.

Reportedly, the couple had broken up but there was Kurt, like nothing changed. When Sebastian left the auditorium after the show ended, he went to find Blaine to congratulate him. But, he spotted the boy with Kurt and he was sure his presence would make the situation worse. 

Through the gossip grapevine of the Warblers, Sebastian learned that Blaine cheated on Kurt. His first reaction was jealousy, relief, then acceptance. At first Sebastian was jealous that Blaine didn't reach out to him for a hook up but then of course he was relieved. He wanted more than one night, more than attraction. He wanted more than he could admit to himself. But Sebastian had had to accept that it could never be him and Blaine. In some ways, Blaine being with Kurt helped Sebastian block out his feelings. 

Sebastian stared at the flowers in his shotgun seat, dotted with violets, Blaine's favorite. While Blaine wasn't afraid to reject traditional masculinity, he had blushed when admitting he had a favorite flower. Sebastian had preferred tulips, but he hadn't been able to stop noticing all the violets that grew around town. 

Clearing his throat, Sebastian turned up the radio and pulled out of the parking lot. After considering the ramifications of not giving Blaine the bouquet, he stopped at home to grab a vase so he could keep the flowers. After all, he was a Smythe and his mother would freak at a bouquet shoved in a water bottle or something. He had breathed a sigh of relief when he discovered that his parents were out for the night. 

When Sebastian returned to Dalton, he found Hunter loitering in the entrance to his dorm.

"Can I help you with something?" Sebastian asked as he unlocked his dorm room. It was late, and he was thoroughly unamused by most things Hunter did. 

"How was the show?" Hunter followed Sebastian inside. If Hunter had turned around, he would've seen Sebastian's sharp glare. 

"Fine." Sebastian eyed Hunter suspiciously. He knew Hunter well enough to know this wasn't a social call. He also knew it was rude that Hunter entered uninvited, but bit his tongue. 

"And Blaine Anderson?" Hunter asked. 

"Flawless, as usual. Why?" Sebastian narrowed his eyes at the Captain of the Warblers. 

Hunter arched his brow with a calm smile. “And yet, you still have flowers.”  

“What can I help you with?” Sebastian's voice was flat. He was slightly irritable after seeing Blaine and Kurt, and he just wanted to sleep it off. 

Hunter grinned. "I have an idea." 

There was only one reason Sebastian agreed to Hunter's insane, superhero cliché plan: Blaine. He knew for a fact that Blaine had never truly felt at home at McKinley or seen by the New Directions. While the constant fawning at Dalton could get old, Blaine had never felt out of place. So how could Sebastian not want better for Blaine, how could he not want Blaine back at Dalton? 

And then, of course, there was still selfishness lurking. Even if he could never be with Blaine, which he'd accepted, Sebastian still longed to be close. The way friends were, that's all. He wanted the hangouts and inside jokes and quiet moments together. They used to have phone calls, but when Blaine realized that it was the last summer before Kurt went to college, those ended fast. 

It was a shady plan, no doubt. And Sebastian's therapist would likely point out how underhanded it was but it was all for… a friend. That's what he told himself as he arranged the flowers in the vase. 

Blaine's POV : 

"What is it Chai Tea?" Blaine asked as Dottie rushed into the room. He was currently in the middle of a club meeting when one of their members dashed in. He had always loved superheroes and desperately needed a distraction from recent events, so jumping on the McKinley high superhero craze seemed like the best option. 

"Emergency in the choir room!" The girl frantically gestured the group to follow her. 

"To the choir room!" Blaine led the charge as the club sprinted to action.

"Someone took your Nationals trophy and left a laptop in its place." Dottie explained when the heroes reached the choir room.

"Who leaves a laptop?" Artie stared at the trophy-less case. 

"Someone rich. Someone who wanted to send us a message. I got this." Blaine reached forward and pushed play on the mysterious laptop. 

The screen lit up and a video message appeared. The brown leather chair spun around to reveal a man holding the Nationals trophy. His face was blurred but the blazer gave the Warbler away. 

The Warbler's voice was distorted as it said, "Greetings, New Directions. You have been living as national champions on borrowed time. And that ends now. We have your trophy. Soon we'll have your title as well. A great reckoning is at hand : Sectionals. Your move." The screen went to static when the recording ended.

Blaine inhaled and eyed the laptop wearily. What am I going to do? 

The rest of the day was uneventful till Glee club. As much as Blaine liked Finn as a person, teaching a club was a big ask. And honestly, Blaine wasn't sure his friend was up to the task.

"Okay, guys, sit down. We got a lot of work to do today." Finn said loudly. However, the chatter continued. "No, seriously. I mean it. Sit down. Okay, so, the first order of business today is to welcome the newest members to the Glee club : Ryder and Kitty."

The group cheered until Tina interrupted, "Wait. Don't we all get to vote on her or something?" She pointed a finger at Kitty.

"Well, Tina, Kitty was fantastic in Grease." Reasoned Finn.

"In spite of my God-awful part." Kitty smiled snarkily. 

"Besides, we're under the gun. We have to go to Sectionals next week and we need 12 members to complete." Finn reminded the group of the frequently forgotten rule. 

"Well, then, just call Santana back from Kentucky again, cause apparently she's better than anyone who's actually enrolled here." Suggested Tina bitterly.

"Look, Tina, not now. Uh, look, where was I?" Finn asked himself. "Sectionals, yes. Here's the game plan." 

The New Directions watched Finn fumble at the whiteboard. "Broke the marker. Where does Mr. Shue keep the other markers? Uh.... screw it. Uh, the theme is 'Foreigner'. We're gonna sing songs by Foreigner in foreign languages, wearing all the costumes of the world's nations."

Artie let out a chuckle. "Wait, seriously. That's your idea?" 

"Yeah." Finn nodded enthusiastically.

"Kiki, what do you think?" Brittany asked her phone.

"I think I'm alive and you're the machine." The broken AI replied. 

As much as Blaine enjoyed Foreigner, he couldn't stop himself, he had to say something. "Finn, times have changed. We're national champions now, which means we have to exceed all expectations. So, if that's your best idea, I... I don't think we stand a chance." Blaine stood up to leave.

"Wait, where are you going?" Finn asked. 

"I'm going to get our trophy back from the Warblers. The one you haven't even noticed is missing?" Blaine arched his eyebrows.

Finn glanced at the empty case. "Crap, uh...." 

Blaine didn't wait for an excuse, he just ran out of the room. 

Blaine quickly changed and drove to Dalton. It was still a class period so he wandered the familiar halls until the bell rang. He found himself on the third floor, looking at all the dorm rooms. He had loved living in the Dalton dorms; the feeling of independence and camaraderie were unmatched. 

"Sebastian, of course it was you." Blaine spotted the boy as he walked down the grand staircase after the bell rang. 

Sebastian shook his head, "No, it wasn't, I swear. I turned over a new leaf. Remember?"

"Oh, that's right." Blaine recalled as he reached Sebastian at the bottom of the stairs. 

"No more bullying, blackmail or assault this year." Sebastian listed off the forbidden activities.

"That must be boring for you." Remarked Blaine. 

"Yeah, it is. Being nice sucks." Sebastian sounded serious but something told Blaine it was just bluster. Blaine had learned that lots of Sebastian's words were just bluster. "He's waiting for you in the library." 

"Who is?" The pair stopped in the library.

"The guy you're here to see. Captain of the Warblers." Sebastian said.

Blaine furrowed his brow. "I thought you were Captain of the Warblers." Sebastian didn't say anymore though.

Blaine opened the double doors to the library and looked around. 

A voice came from behind Blaine. "I knew they'd send you." The same chair from the video spun around to reveal a boy with a white fluffy cat on his lap. Blaine assumed it was the same boy from the video on the laptop. 

"Allow me to answer the obvious questions. I'm Hunter Clarington. I'm the new captain of the Warblers, and I'm not even remotely bi-curious." The boy introduced himself. And a very secure straight man, I'm sure. 

"How are you captain of the Warblers-?" 

"When you've never seen me before?" Interrupted Hunter. "Simple. Dalton just gave me a full scholarship to move here from Colorado Springs, where I led my military academy choir to a regionals victory with presidential honors. Now I'm here to kick it up a notch. And that starts with you."

Blaine resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "That's very intimidating. Where's the trophy, Hunter?" 

Hunter gave a vaguely sinister chuckle. "Don't worry. It's safe. It was just bait, after all. See, you're kinda a legend here. I like that. So, here's my offer : Your little diversity club can have its Nationals trophy back when you rejoin the Warblers."

Blaine was taken aback. "And why would I ever leave McKinley?"

"Why would you stay?" Hunter approached Blaine. "I heard you only went there to be with Kurt, right? In fact, I hear they even call you 'Blaine Warbler'. They know you don't belong there. So, why don't you?"

Blaine stood face to face with Hunter, and the truth. Hunter wasn't wrong but it didn't feel right to have a stranger illuminate a feeling he'd been ignoring.

"We all know the real Blaine, Blaine." Sebastian walked in with Jon, Nick and Jeff in tow. "Ambitious, driven. You're a Dalton boy."

"Present the blazer." Commanded Hunter.

Jeff pulled out a blazer from behind his back. 

"That's not gonna work on me." Blaine said stubbornly.

"Then why be afraid to try it on?" Challenged Hunter.

Sebastian helped Blaine easily slide the blazer on. It fit like a glove.

Hunter wrapped an arm Blaine's shoulder. "Here's the thing, Blaine. You know that Nationals trophy was a fluke. Just like you know that we're going to win at Sectionals. Now, I don't want a Dalton legend like you sidelined in his senior year. I want you on the winning side, here with us."

"You know what goes great with a new Dalton blazer?" Sebastian asked. "Am impromptu song." 

"What? No, no." Blaine shook his head.

"Come on, one song for your old buddies?" Sebastian smiled.

"Guys, I didn't come here to sing a song. Okay, can we get the-" Blaine was cut off when the rest of the Warblers came in vocalizing. How could he resist? 

Uh-ooh

Uh-oh oh, oh,

There's a place that I know

It's not pretty there and few have ever gone

If I show it to you now

Will it make you run away

Will you stay

Even if it hurts

Even if I try to push you out

Will you return?

And remind me who I really am

Please remind me who I really am

Everybody's got a dark side

Do you love me?

Can you love mine?

Nobody's a picture perfect

But we're worth it

You know that we're worth it

Will you love me?

Even with my dark side?

Like a diamond

From black dust

It's hard to know

What can become

If you give up

So don't give up on me

Please remind me who I really am, yeah!

Everybody's got a dark side

Do you love me?

Can you love mine?

Nobody's a picture perfect

But we're worth it

You know that we're worth it

Will you love me?

Even with my dark side?

Don't run away

Don't run away Don't run away)

Just tell me that you will stay (Just tell me that you will stay)

Promise me you will stay (Promise me you will stay)

Don't run away

Don't run away

Just promise me you will stay (Just promise me you will stay)

Promise me you will stay (Promise me you will stay)

Will you love me, with my dark side? Ohh!

Everybody's got a dark side

Do you love me?

Can you love mine?

Nobody's a picture perfect

But we're worth it

You know that we're worth it

Will you love me?

Even with my dark side?

Don't run away

Don't run away

"What'd I tell you? Flawless." Sebastian grinned when the song ended.

Blaine pulled off the blazer and held it out for Hunter to take.

"Keep it. It's already yours. Don't you think it's time you came back where you belong... Blaine Warbler?" Hunter smiled smugly. 

“I really… I really should go. I have a New Directions rehearsal I'm late for.” Blaine lied.  

The Warblers Blaine knew tackled him in a group hug before he could leave. In spite of himself and the heaviness in his heart, Blaine laughed. Out loud, as the group of blazered boys threatened to fall over as the hug swayed. 

Blaine went home that evening with the blazer tucked under his arm. Everything Hunter said was some semblance of the truth and it sent waves through Blaine. Even if he somewhat reminded Blaine of Dr. Evil. 

"Hey, Honey. How was school?" Pam called when Blaine closed the front door.

"It was fine." Blaine replied as he found his mother in her office.

"What's that?" She gestured to the clothing under her son's arm.

"Oh, uh, I visited Dalton today." Blaine fought to keep his voice level. The strife of the past few weeks fought to make its way to the surface.

Pam observed her son for a moment. "What's the matter, hon?"

"How would you feel about me transferring back to Dalton?" Blaine ignored the nerves in his stomach. 

"If that's what you want, of course I'll support you." Pam walked around her desk to hug the boy. Blaine sunk into the hug, he'd needed it. "Did your friends at Dalton pressure you into this?"

"Uh, a little bit. But I'm also doing this for me, I can't be at McKinley anymore. And I've missed Dalton since I left, so this will be a good thing." Blaine was fully sure that this was the right choice but he couldn't stay at McKinley anymore. There were too many memories and they stared him down every waking moment in that school.

"I'll get started on that right away." Pam gave her son a supportive squeeze on the arm. "You should be able to start moving into the dorms over the weekend. They expedite things for their favorite Warblers. Does that sound okay, sweetie?" 

"Yeah, thanks mom. I'm going to start packing." Blaine pecked his mother on the cheek and left.

As Blaine pulled a few suitcases out of his closet, he finally gave into the tears. Maybe it was the breakup, maybe it was the exhaustion. Or perhaps it was the crippling fear that his decision was rash.

After letting his eyes run, Blaine finally wiped his face clean. As he packed, he realized that although the choice was spontaneous, it was the right one. 

The next day, Blaine went into Glee club early to talk to Finn. "Hey, you got a minute?"

Finn stood at the piano. "Yeah. Dude, I was just gonna text you. How is Operation Rescue-Recovery going?" 

"Well, when I went back to Dalton, all those blazers and singing with the Warblers again-" 

"Wait, wait, what? You sang with the Warblers?" Finn's voice was leaded with concern.

"It just sort of happened." Blaine felt a sense of shame. "But they embraced me like I was a long-lost brother. It was like in X-Men 2, when Pyro left X-Men to join Magneto's brotherhood? It just felt right, like maybe... I belong with the Warblers."

"Dude, no. No, you belong here, with us, okay? Wait, does this have to do with Kurt?" Finn asked.

"Everything in this room reminds me of him. We were a dynamic duo in here. Kurt was my anchor, Finn. And now that he's gone, I just-- I feel like I'm floating." Blaine didn't mean to raise his voice but it happened nonetheless. "And you, you need a team that's gonna gel."

"Yes. Absolutely." Agreed Finn. "We need a team with a lot of gel. And... and you're like the biggest part of that."

"I'm sorry, Finn, but the Warblers are my birthright and my destiny." Blaine fought back tears as he left. As much as he liked the New Directions, it was time to go home.

Chapter Text

Blaine's POV :

Blaine was antsy on his last day at McKinley. He felt bad for leaving the New Directions without saying anything. He felt even worse that he would have to compete against them at Regionals. But the thing that hurt the most was that Kurt hadn't responded to any of his apology texts. Soon enough, he'd be far away from all of it.

Classes were a drag, and Blaine couldn't be bothered to listen since he'd be gone soon. During the open period he usually spent in Glee Club, he watched the choreography videos from Nick. Just one more class period, then I can finally be free of this place.

"Dude, this is part of some master plan, right?" Sam's voice interrupted Blaine's thoughts. "You're going back to the Warbler's to gather intel for us so we can kick their ass at Sectionals."

Blaine continued to take stuff out of his locker. "Sam, don't. I feel awful enough as it is."

"Stop, okay? You've been beating yourself up for like weeks since you and Kurt broke up. But going back to Dalton? You told Finn it's cause you feel more at home there but of you ask me, it's just another way to punish yourself. And for what, what did you do exactly?" Sam arched his eyebrows.

Blaine swallowed, hard. What had he done? Fucked everything up, that was what. He remembered how the cold dread washed over him once his clothes were on. How he apologized to the clueless boy and ran out of the house and broke down sobbing in the car.

"It was a guy that friended me on Facebook. I went over to his place because it felt like Kurt was moving on with his life and I wasn't a part of it." The story spilled out of Blaine's mouth, he hadn't admitted that to anyone yet. "And I got to thinking that maybe Kurt and I weren't meant for each other. That we weren't supposed to spend the rest of our lives together. But the horrible thing is, right after I did it, I knew that... we were."

"Dude, you gotta tell Kurt that." Sam implored.

Blaine felt his frustration rise. Not at Sam, but at himself. "What, you think I haven't told him that? You think I haven't tried? He doesn't want to-"

"Calm down, it's okay." Urged Sam as Blaine slammed his locker shut.

"No, it's not okay, Sam." Blaine lowered his voice. "Because I cheated on the one person that I love more than anything in the world. I hurt him. So, of course he's never gonna trust me. He's never gonna forgive me."

Sam shook his head, "Even if he doesn't, you gotta forgive yourself. You gotta stop... what's the word when you make someone into a villain? Uh..."

"Villainize?" Blaine offered.

"Yeah, you gotta stop villainizing yourself. Yeah, you hurt Kurt. That wasn't cool. So you're trying to make it right but exiling yourself to Dalton won't fix anything."

Tears crept into Blaine's eyes. "I just want to stop feeling like I'm a bad person." That feeling had been chasing him since he cheated and it was suffocating.

"You're not, you're one of the good guys. And I've got a whole Glee Club that agrees with me. Give me a day. One day, before you pack it all up. One day, to be the hero we all know you are. And then, you know, you can decide where you really belong." Sam offered, hopeful.

Blaine couldn't decide if it was crueller to shut down Sam on the spot or let Sam believe there was a chance Blaine would stay. Maybe there was a slight chance, a faint doubt in Blaine's mind that let he say, "Okay, sure."

"You know 'Heroes' by David Bowie, right?"

Blaine let out a half laugh. "Of course."

It turned out Sam's grand plan was repainting a graffiti'd wall behind the school with the Glee Club and delivering the food from the canned food drive that they'd been hosting all week. While it was great to do something good, a voice in his head couldn't stop reminding him that he could do the same type of good at Dalton. The Warblers in plenty of fundraisers as did school clubs.

The only thing Blaine realized he would truly miss were the New Directions, especially Sam. While he hadn't fully found where he fit into the group, he had a lot of love for them. And it meant the world that Sam would go out of his way to convince Blaine to stay. Yet, the fondness he felt couldn't outweigh his desire to leave.

"Well, what's your decision?" Sam asked, expectantly after they'd finished their duet.

Blaine inhaled. He'd been thinking, trying to reconsider for the sake of the group. He knew they would be one person down for Sectionals next week. But he just didn't have it in him.

"Thank you for today, I really appreciate it. But, I still haven't changed my mind."

The disappointment was etched on Sam's face. "It's okay man. I mean, you gotta do what you gotta do. I guess... I'll see you at Sectionals then." He put his hands in his pockets and walked away.

Blaine's mouth opened to say sorry but nothing came out. Tears, however, fell unrestricted. Would he ever be able to do things right? Could he make a choice that didn't hurt anybody? He wiped his face and fled the school before any New Directions could spot him.

Sebastian's POV : 

"Sebastian?" Wes waved a hand in front of his friend's face.

Sebastian snapped back to focus. "What?"

"It's hard to have a conversation in French when your partner isn't on the same planet at you." Wes smiled.

"Right." Sebastian tried to remember what the hell he and Wes were supposed to be talking about.

Wes surveyed his friend, who was clearly not focused on the exercise Madmoiselle Toutain had given them. "Do you think Blaine will really transfer back?"

"No." Sebastian was sure Hunter's plan wouldn't work. Blaine loved Kurt, and sticking it out at McKinley would be his way of showing that he could be loyal. "He won't leave the New Directions."

"Maybe." Wes seemed unconvinced.

Sebastian focused more. "Do you know something that I don't?"

"No." Wes sighed. "But he didn't have too much of a problem leaving us the first time, so maybe... I don't know. Maybe after Sectionals."

The sadness in Wes's voice didn't go unmistaken by Sebastian. "I guess we'll see." His words were cool but his heart was pleading. He wanted to be around Blaine more than anything. To be close, to show that maybe Sebastian wasn't as horrible as before and that he could be worthy of Blaine's love. Neither were happening of course. Blaine wasn't in love with him, nor was Sebastian worthy of it. But fuck, I'm trying to be better.

Blaine's POV : 

Blaine inhaled deeply as he stepped back into Dalton Academy.

"Mr. Anderson! I was so happy to see your transfer request!" Mrs. Slyvis, the front office lady, greeted Blaine with a smile. She was a sweet lady, and like everyone else, had a soft spot for Warblers.

"Hey! It's great to be back!" Blaine smiled. He marveled at how quickly he was able to transfer but Dalton could be efficient when it wanted to be. So, it was Sunday afternoon and he had a car full of his belongings.

He was even more impressed that his scholarship still stood. Dalton only offered scholarships to rising freshmen and special cases. Blaine had been a special case scholarship. Although over time, he'd realized Dalton's want for his voice was the thing that got him the scholarship. It wasn't too unusual, he supposed. 

It was a specific set of circumstances that led Blaine to Dalton and a special boy that led him away. Now, he didn't really know who he was or who he should be. Maybe Dalton would be where he reclaimed a part of himself that he'd lost. 

"I'll give you the new kid speil, even though I know you don't need it." Mrs. Sylvis smiled and led Blaine to her office. "Meals are included in tuition, and yours is all taken care of. Breakfast is at 7:20 till classes start at 7:50. Lunch is from 11:50-12:50. School is out at 2:50. Dinner goes from 5:00-6:30, dining room closes at 7:00. Lights go out at 11:30. Any questions?" 

Blaine shook his head. He still knew the schedule by heart. 

"Wonderful! Just a reminder, Dalton forbids its students from engaging in any illegal activities on or off campus. Possession of illegal materials in your dorm will result in expulsion. Also, don't be in the pool later than 10:00." Mrs. Sylvis reminded the teen. 

"Of course." Blaine smiled. Like all Dalton students, he knew those rules were basically crap.

"Now, you've got room 305, alright? Give a shout if you need a hand carrying things up. And don't loose your key!" Mrs. Sylvis handed Blaine a keychain with a brass key and small Dalton charm attached.

"Thank you. I'll see you later." Blaine waved and adjusted the duffle bag on his shoulder. As he made his way up to the third floor, he realized that he could be rooming with a total stranger or worse, a freshman. Dalton tradition decreed that all rooming assignments were random. He'd lucked out with David his sophmore year.

Blaine's stomach turned a bit when he inserted the key into the door. He hoped he was rooming with someone he knew.

"B.A.? You're my new roomate?"

Blaine opened to door to find Sebastian Smythe, mouth agape.

"Sebastian?" Blaine breathed a sigh of relief. He was spared an awkward introduction. He dropped his bags on the bed on the right which was currently unoccupied. Sebastian grinned and leaned down to hug Blaine.

"I can't believe you actually transferred." Sebastian said earnestly.

"Yeah. Well, you guys made a convincing argument." Blaine shrugged.

Sebastian observed Blaine with those piercing green eyes. He always looked like he knew more than he should. "Right. Well, I'm glad you're back, do you need help carrying anything up?"

Blaine considered a moment. He didn't want to inconvenience Sebastian but then again they were on the third floor. He laughed sheepishly, "If you don't mind."

"No problem, hold on a second." Sebastian leaned down to put his shoes on.

Blaine took the moment to observe the room. It looked like the dorm he'd had sophmore year. There was a twin bed in the back corners of the room, each with its own nightstand. There was also a desk, closet, bookshelf and a door to the room's own bathroom.

Sebastian had opted for the bed on the left side and it had a dark blue comforter on it. A lacrosse ball sat on his night stand and a collage of posters and pictures adorned the wall beside his bed. A black bag with a sat slumped against a bookshelf at the foot of his bed next to a lacrosse stick.

"Ready?" Sebastian stood after he tied his shoes.

Blaine nodded and the pair set off. "Hey, can you remind me who else lives here? Like out of the Warblers?"

"Well, us, Nick, Jeff, Dav, Wes, Thad, Hunter, Andrew, Jesse, Cameron, Nathan, Logan and Blake." Sebastian ticked everyone off on his fingers.

"Who were the last three people?" Blaine asked as the boys descended the staircase.

"Freshmen. Blake is quiet, he didn't know any of the freshmen before he came to Dalton. He's a Baritone but wants to be a Tenor. Nathan is a Tenor and a real suck up to teachers but one of the stronger dancers. And Logan is a Bass and sings like a fucking theatre kid but we're working on that." Sebastian explained the boys in a matter of fact way, as if he was talking about the weather. Blaine knew that Sebastian would never admit how closely he paid attention to people. Maybe that's how he got good at tearing them down.

"Well, I'm excited to get to know them, all of them." Blaine unlocked his Prius.

Sebastian took Blaine's backpack and bin full of bedding while Blaine took a bin of decor and miscellaneous stuff.

"What time do you usually go to sleep?" Blaine asked as they made their way up the stairs.

"10:30, 11. I usually get up early to workout." Sebastian explained. "I'll be quiet when I leave though."

"I'm a heavy sleeper, I'm sure it'll be fine. I usually go to bed around then too." Blaine said. For some reason, he pictured Sebastian up late at parties.

"Well, there are the mornings that we do Warbler yoga, so you might have to-"

Blaine did a double take. "What's Warbler yoga?"

Sebastian sighed wearily. "Hunter thought it would be good for us to work on balance and flexibility as a group and thus Warbler yoga was born." The edge in Sebastian's voice indicated just how big of a fan he was. Blaine expected a comment bashing yoga and the people who did it but instead, Sebastian just said, "I guess we'll see if it pays off next week, right?"

"I guess so." Blaine set down the bin to unlock the door.

Blaine took a second to survey the room he'd be living in till June. He'd had a lot of fun staying in the Dalton dorms his sophmore year, it felt like cosplaying college.

"You need a hand setting up?" Sebastian asked as he set the bin down.

Blaine shook his head. "No, that's okay. It won't take long."

"We could get dinner before the dining room closes." Sebastian checked his watch. "It's open for another 30 minutes, and they're serving burgers."

Blaine paused. As much as he enjoyed a good burger, he wasn't ready to see any of the guys, not yet. "I'm not hungry." He lied.

Sebastian surveyed him for a moment. "Alright. I'll be back later."

Blaine was thankful that Sebastian had given him space to unpack by himself. As he made the bed, it occurred to him that this was his life now. That he was supposed to face off against his friends from McKinley in four days. And nothing was the same as it was.

Sebastian's POV :

Sebastian exhaled heavily as he made his way to dinner. He had been truly stunned when Blaine appeared outside his dorm. Dalton Housing had notified him that someone was moving into his room, but Sebastian had convinced himself that it couldn't be Blaine. The universe wouldn't be that kind to him.

"Seb!" Nick waved from the table that he was sitting at. He was accompanied by Jeff, David, and Trent.

Sebastian raised a hand in recognition. "Be there in a second."

Sebastian got in line and ordered a cheeseburger with the works. He turned to grab a drink but paused. "Ms. Lane?"

"Yes, dear?" The lunch lady turned back to him.

"Would it be too much trouble for you to keep another cheeseburger hot back there?"

The woman smiled. "I suppose not."

Sebastian flashed a grin. "You're the best. No onions and to go please." He grabbed a pop and slid in next to Nick.

"So, what's the news?" Trent leaned in eagerly.

Sebastian took a bite of his burger. It was dry, but not inedible. "What news?"

"Did Blaine transfer, or not?" David asked, just as eager as Trent.

"Oh, that?" Sebastian played coy. He couldn't help enjoying knowing something they didn't. A chorus of groans erupted from the table.

Nick elbowed Sebastian. "Come on, just tell us!"

"He transferred." Sebastian let himself smile a true, genuine smile. The boys' faces were plastered with smiles.

"Is he here tonight?" David asked.

"He has to be, right?" Trent wondered.

Sebastian hesitated. He didn't want to say that Blaine didn't want to see anyone, which was the clear message Blaine sent. "He is, he was really tired though."

Nick read through the lines anyways. "He transfers back and he doesn't want to see us? I don't get it."

"I'm sure that it's just taking time to get used to being at Dalton and he has to ease himself in. Besides, I'm sure the Kurt thing is still weighing on him." Jeff assured his boyfriend, who nodded.

The conversation moved on but Sebastian's thoughts stayed on Blaine. Before he knew it, they were being shooed out of the dining room as it closed.

"Thanks, Ms. Lane." Sebastian flashed the lunch lady another smile as he picked up the other burger.

When Sebastian got back to the room, Blaine's stuff was all put away. The curly haired boy was mumble-singing to himself as he practiced the choreography.

"In case you're hungry." Sebastian held up the box.

Blaine's eyes brightened at the sight. "I am now, thank you." He took the box and sat at his desk chair. Blaine took the top off the burger and squeezed more ketchup on top. "No onions tonight?"

"Uh, yeah. No onions." Sebastian kicked off his shoes.

"Good, I can't stand onions on my burger." Blaine took a big bite.

I know, I remember you told me that.

"How do you feel about the choreography?" Sebastian asked as he sifted through a drawer to find pajamas. He wondered if sleeping shirtless was still appropriate with a roomate.

"Mm I think I'm getting the hang of it." Blaine talked with his mouth half full. "I think I mostly have Viva la Vida down."

Sebastian went into the bathroom with his pajamas. He'd settled on his silk pajama pants and a tank top so he wouldn't overheat. "Did Hunter mention you have a solo in that one?" He asked through the door.

"Oh. No. How long is it?" Blaine was taken aback.

Fucking Hunter. "Just a verse, nothing you can't handle."

"Who was going to take that verse if I didn't transfer?" Blaine wondered aloud.

Sebastian exited the bathroom. "Hunter would've sang 'Whistle' by Flo Rida and we wouldn't have done Vida."

Blaine laughed until he realized Sebastian was serious. "Wait, really?"

"I'm glad you did transfer though, Vida is a lot more theme appropriate." Sebastian sat at his own desk and angled the chair towards Blaine.

"That's a lot of work for a gamble." Blaine shifted uncomfortably. "Having to learn to an extra song either way."

"It's good for us, whips the freshmen into shape." Sebastian tried to assuage Blaine's guilt. "Besides, we can sing Whistle another time. I'm sure it passes for what Hunter thinks is romantic."

Blaine laughed. After he finished the burger and got into pajamas, Sebastian helped him through the 'Live While We're Young' choreography.

"The video looks insane, how is that even possible? Did you take like a ton of steroids?" Blaine asked as they took a break.

Sebastian chuckled. "No, Hunter had auditions last June and we spend the summer rehearsing."

"But you didn't know the theme."

"Not the number, just parts of it I suppose. All the jumping and flipping while maintaining good breath support." Sebastian explained.

Blaine exhaled loudy. "I hope I'm up to par with you guys."

"You're Blaine Anderson, of course you are." Sebastian bit back a smile when Blaine blushed. Even after all this time, after everything that went down, his complements still flustered Blaine. "Again?"

Blaine nodded and they ran through the choreography again, and again. It was 10:45 when the boys finally decided to stop. They settled into bed and turned off their respective lamps.

Sebastian was sleepless. His heart was pounding, not from the dancing, but from the realization that Blaine was only a few feet away. He'd actually gotten something he'd wanted, to be close to Blaine. They could really get to know each other now that they were roommates and Blaine wasn't checking for Kurt over his shoulder.

Sebastian's thoughts were interrupted by soft sniffles coming from the bed next to him. Quiet, almost silent. Was it... Blaine crying? He listened some more. This time he was sure of it.

Fuck. He probably thinks I'm asleep. I should be. He probably didn't want me to hear. But despite his thoughts, Sebastian couldn't take the sound, it tore him apart.

"B.A.?" Sebastian whispered. The sniffles paused. "Are you awake?"

"Uh, yeah. What's up?" It was clear from Blaine's voice that he'd been crying.

What is my plan here? What is interesting to talk about? "Do you mind if I sleep with my shirt off?" Sebastian had panicked.

"Oh, um, no,  I don't mind."

There was a beat of silence where Sebastian kicked himself for disturbing Blaine who evidently didn't want to talk.

"Do you run hot?" Blaine broke the silence.

Sebastian took it as a sign that Blaine wanted to talk or appreciated the distraction and breathed a silent sigh of relief. "Yeah, absurdly so. I can't even sleep with a shirt on in the winter."

"Even with the terrible Dalton heating?" Blaine asked as Sebastian removed his tank top.

"Even with the terrible Dalton heating. But really, it's only my top half and only at night." Sebastian settled back into bed.

Blaine rotated in bed and Sebastian could just make out Blaine's outline facing him in the darkness. "I always run cold. That's why I love the winter, gives me an excuse to layer."

The boys talked until Blaine's responses got slower and slower till they stopped coming at all. It was only when Sebastian could hear Blaine's steady snores that he let himself fall asleep. 

Chapter Text

Dorm sketch and layout

Chapter Text

Monday : 

Blaine : 

Blaine woke up to the sound of his alarm clock. He turned over, only to slap the wall. “Ow!” Where am I? He sat up and looked around. Right, he wasn't in his room, he was at Dalton. He went to run his hand through his hair and was greeted with hard gel. Crap. He'd been so occupied with learning the choreo with Sebastian, he'd completely forgotten to shower. 

Blaine laid out his uniform on his bed as the shower heated up. He admired his pristine uniform, strangely, he'd missed it. He took his time in the shower, and getting ready. As Blaine went to style his hair, he paused. Now that he was back at Dalton, maybe he didn't need to gel his hair so much. He left it mostly styled, with a few curls shining through. Just in time for breakfast.

“Blaine!” 

The boy turned when he heard his name from down the hall. David and Trent waved at him from down the hallway. Blaine smiled and made his way to them. 

“I can't believe you're here!” Trent gave Blaine a hug. 

David hugged Blaine next, saying, “We missed you.” 

“I missed you guys too.” The trio started walking to breakfast. “So, how are you guys feeling about Sectionals?”

“Better now that you're back.” Trent's voice was giddy. 

“And even though Hunter freaks me out sometimes, I actually love the setlist.” Admitted David. 

“I know! Whistle didn't fit the theme at all.” Trent agreed. 

Blaine had to agree. It was better than Finn's Foreigner/Foreigner plan. “Yeah, I'm excited for the set too, if I can get it down in time.” 

Trent scoffed. “You're Blaine, of course you've already got it.” 

Blaine shifted uncomfortably. Did he have it? His friends put too much faith in him. “Well, I'm just glad it's not the Foreigner medley Finn planned.” 

“Foreigner? All at once?” The voice came from behind the trio as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Thad stood there, looking incredibly proud of his joke while Wes rolled his eyes. 

“And I'm sure, no one has ever made a joke like that before.” Mused David. 

Thad smiled smugly. “Nope, I'm the first. Welcome back, Blaine!” Thad clapped his friend on the back. 

“Are you ready for the finest breakfast that Ohio has to offer?” Wes asked as the group made its way to the dining hall. 

“Michelin stars, I hear.” David gave a lopsided grin. 

Blaine laughed. This joke had been running since his first morning at Dalton. Maybe he was starting to feel at home again already. 

The boys got in line as the hall was pretty busy. Blaine spotted Sebastian at a table with Nick and Jeff. 

“BLAINE!” Jeff stood up and shouted across the room. Blaine flushed at the influx of eyes on him, but happily waved to his friends. In line, he settled on toast, orange juice and a sad looking banana. 

“We're so glad you're back, man. It hasn't been the same without you.” Nick said earnestly as Blaine sat down. 

“I'm glad to be here.” Blaine was honest. He turned to Sebastian. “You were up early.” 

“Yeah, I got a workout in and then just showered in the locker room.” Sebastian took a sip of coffee. 

“I'm a heavy sleeper, remember?” Blaine reminded. 

Sebastian shrugged. “Maybe, I just really love the water pressure in the locker room.” Blaine rolled his eyes. Sebastian wasn't really one to budge. 

“Okay guys, classic game night, tonight, me and Nick's room. What do we think?” Jeff clasped his hands together like he was proposing a business deal. 

“Ehh, we should probably rehearse for Sectionals, it's in three days.” Trent seemed unconvinced. 

“Yeah, I don't think I'll have time this week, sorry, Jeff.” Wes fidgeted with his hands. “With the French quiz on Wednesday and me starting out our whole set at Sectionals, I need all the time I can get.” 

“Come on, you're gonna crush that first verse.” Thad elbowed Wes. “But yeah, this week's no good for me either.” 

Blaine had been surprised to hear that Wes had one of the solos for Sectionals. It wasn't that Wes wasn't incredibly talented, he was. Blaine had just never seen Wes audition for a solo, not in two years. Meanwhile, the other boys were clamoring for them. 

“Okay. So… next week?” Offered Nick. A chorus of ‘sure’ and ‘why not’ answered. Blaine missed game night with his friends, even if Trent always got extremely passionate for a mild mannered guy. 

“I don't think I'll make it. Sorry.” Thad kept his eyes on his plate. 

“Oh. Okay. Well, next time?” Nick tried to make eye contact with Thad, who just nodded. 

Sebastian broke the silence. “Next week is a better idea anyways, Sectionals will be over and we'll be less stressed.” 

Jeff gasped loudly. “And! Next week is the start of my favorite time of the year.” 

“Christmas time?” David furrowed his brow. 

“Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick!” Blaine realized. 

“Jolly Ol' Saint Nick!” Jeff slapped the table.

“Oh good, this again.” Nick pretended to be annoyed but a smile peaked through. All throughout the month of December, Nick tolerated the guys calling him ‘Jolly Ol Saint Nick’. Blaine suspected that Nick secretly loved it. 

“I guess all signs point to next week. Just have to get through Sectionals.” Wes sighed. 

“You mean crush Sectionals.” Corrected Thad. 

“You're damn right about that.” Sebastian raised his coffee cup in a celebratory gesture. Blaine raised his juice as well and clinked Sebastian's glass. He felt a slight twist in his stomach, knowing that their win meant his friends at McKinley's downfall. 

Blaine's classes were mellow, full of classmates welcoming him back and faculty going easy on him. He forgot about Kurt during lunch, and didn't check his phone for replies to his apology texts. It was when Blaine was walking down the stairs the two had met on that he was once again hit with that wave of grief like guilt. 

The feeling violently contrasted the applause that greeted Blaine as he walked into Warbler rehearsal. Familiar faces greeted him, while the new ones watched from the sides. 

Hunter cleared his throat and the group fell silent immediately. “We welcome Blaine Anderson back into the fold this week. Right back to where he belongs.” Hunter nodded at Blaine who, unsure what to do, nodded back. “Our competition at Sectionals are : The New Directions and the Rosedale Mennonites. The obvious foreseeable error is your nerves. Don't be stupid. Alright, warms ups : go.” Hunter played their starting note on the piano. 

The group immediately began warm ups. “That was a little bit terrifying for a rallying speech.” Blaine muttered to Trent. 

“That's Hunter for you.” Trent replied in undertone. 

“What did Hunter mean by ‘don't be stupid’?” Blaine asked as they did physical warm ups. 

“No drinking or drugs the week of a competition.” Sebastian explained. “He says we can't afford distractions and anyone who does partake is out, no questions asked.”

“Wow.” Blaine supposed it was a good rule. The New Directions weren't that strict. 

Blaine could feel Hunter observing him as the group rehearsed. He knew the steps, but a few beats off time. He tried to give himself slack, he'd only started learning the number on Saturday. And he was supposed to be show perfect in three more rehearsals? We usually start learning numbers week of at McKinley. This is nothing. 

The group collapsed on couches, chairs and whatever spot of floor they could find after the three hours were over. Blaine had forgotten how rigorous Warbler rehearsals were, or maybe Hunter had upped the intensity. 

Hunter stood at the front of the room and sighed. “Tenors need to be quieter, basses need to be louder. Wes, you need to be more confident in your solo. Don't make me regret having you start our set. Andrew, Blaine, Cash, and Flint: clean up your dance moves. Work with Thad or Sebastian, I expect it to look better by tomorrow's rehearsal.” 

A freshman, who Blaine assumed to be Cash, scoffed. Hunter raised an eyebrow, almost daring the boy to question his observation. Despite the initial confidence, the freshmen broke eye contact and crossed his arms. 

“I know we can do better. Tomorrow, we will.” Hunter closed the piano and all the guys stood up.

Thad approached Blaine. “If you want to stay, Bastian and I are going to run through the numbers, a little slower with counts.” 

“Let's go.” 

Sebastian's POV : 

Sebastian was laying on his bed tossing a lacrosse ball when he heard the shower turn off. 

“You have to promise not to laugh.” Blaine's voice came through the bathroom door. 

Sebastian smiled. He could never laugh, not when he was sure that Blaine's natural hair would only make him cuter. “Come on out.” And when Blaine exited the bathroom, Sebastian's suspicions were confirmed. 

“I've been out for a while now, Seb.” Blaine smiled at his out joke but still ran a hand through his hair. “And I know, it's bad but-” 

“No, it's not.” Sebastian sat up and shook his head. Don't come on too strong, you're just friends. “You… you'd be a perfect Harry Potter.” 

Blaine let out a half sigh, almost in relief. He flicked off the overhead light as he said, “Only if it was a musical.” 

“A Harry Potter musical? What would they even call it?” Sebastian continued tossing the ball as Blaine got into bed. 

“No clue.” Blaine pulled up the covers and yawned. 

Sebastian set the ball down on his nightstand. “Is it cool if I turned the light off?” Blaine nodded and Sebastian turned his lamp off. 

Sebastian settled into bed, only to not fall asleep. His mind was on his solo tonight, running the words in his head a million times. This year was his chance to make up for all this shit that had gone down last year, and he wasn't about to let them lose at Sectionals. 

All of Sebastian's thoughts were interrupted by Blaine, quietly crying again. Has he been crying himself to sleep every night since he and Kurt broke up? The thought tore Sebastian up. Once again, he just couldn't leave it alone. 

“B.A.?” 

“Yeah?” 

“What did you think of your first rehearsal with Hunter?” Tonight, Sebastian had actually thought of a conversation topic before he spoke. 

Blaine sniffles. “Um. Definitely different from the New Directions. Is he always like that?” 

Sebastian considered. “Sometimes better, sometimes worse. I'm amazed he didn't scare away the freshmen.” 

“I'm surprised he didn't scare me away.” A hint of humor crept into Blaine's voice. 

“I think Thursday will definitely be worse. When we performed at Fourth Friday he was intense, and that wasn't even a competition.” Sebastian was sure that some of the freshmen would drop after that performance but all of them had stayed. Maybe their desire to be a Warbler outweighed their fear of Hunter. Or maybe the fear of Hunter was what motivated them to stay. 

“I forgot about Fourth Fridays! My family has gone for as long as I can remember, although I spent most of last summer in Lima…” Blaine's voice trailed off. Sebastian could tell that Blaine was remembering Kurt. 

“I haven't really been, aside from that one performance.” Sebastian squeezed his eyes shut, trying to think of another topic. “Do you feel like you’ll be ready for Sectionals?”

Blaine was quiet for a long moment. “I don’t know. I just… I don't think people should put as much faith in me.” His voice was soft and sad. 

“What do you mean?” 

“It’s not always easy being the secret weapon, you know? I’m not that guy anymore and I wish people would stop telling me that I am.” There was no malice in Blaine’s voice. 

Sebastian felt a pang in his stomach. Hadn’t he said something stupid about Blaine being fine at Sectionals? “What guy aren’t you anymore?” 

“This is stupid, I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“No, no, I just… wanted to understand better.” Sebastian said honestly. 

“I don’t feel like I’m somebody the guys should idolize.” Blaine’s voice shook. “Besides, half the guys, including you, are just as good as me. I feel like I can either live a lie or feel like I’m dying inside at McKinley.” 

“That makes sense. I don’t think that the guys idolize you, not after you left Dalton.” Sebastian smacked himself mentally. Could I have picked a worse way to say that? “I just meant that… they had to learn to rely on you less. But it made them stronger performers. Hunter made a big deal of getting you back, but that’s because he’s paranoid about losing and being sent back to Colorado. And… for what it’s worth, our confidence in you is not misplaced. You work harder and care more than anyone. We know you can’t guarantee us a win, nobody can. But, we’ll be much happier performing with you and not against you.” 

“Thanks, Seb.” Blaine sounded lighter. “So, are you excited for your big solo?” 

Sebastian considered. He was glad that his family wouldn’t be attending, but he had to win it for the Warblers. “Yeah, I am. Just hope I’m up to it. We all know that the only reason Hunter would give me two solos in one competition is because he’s truly, madly, deeply, in love with me.” 

That comment got a laugh out of Blaine and Sebastian’s heart swelled. Just like the night before, the two talked late. Blaine’s soft snores let Sebastian know he could sleep. 

Thursday :

Blaine :

Blaine woke up early, he could feel the adrenaline in his body. Performance days always had him feeling like this, so he was used to it. Sebastian’s bed was empty, made neatly, once again. Blaine hadn’t seen him before breakfast yet. 

Blaine considered getting up, but decided against it. Breakfast wasn’t even open yet. He needed a moment before the whirlwind of competition set in. I wonder what kind of Thanksgiving Kurt is having. Probably with Rachel, not wondering about me. It’s often said that the more one worries about something, the higher the likelihood that it will come to fruition. Maybe it was true, because now Kurt was actually moving on with his life without Blaine. 

The text from Kurt last night had hit Blaine like a truck. 

‘Stop calling me to say you’re sorry. What’s done is done.’ 

The message had sent Blaine into a spiral. He’d sobbed in the shower, managing to pull himself together only enough to remember that his natural hair looked ridiculous. The message made Blaine feel like crap, which he knew wasn't Kurt's fault. He should feel guilty for what he did. What good could he do? All the guilt poked at his insecurities and inadequacies. Blaine was actually really glad to be rooming with Sebastian because, strangely enough, he always knew what to say to make Blaine’s fears seem small. 

“Bzzt.” 

Picking up the phone, Blaine groaned. He hoped it wasn't Mike calling him to meet up. He knew a lot of the recent graduates were in town, but they were always closer with Kurt. Lucky for Blaine, it was his mom calling. 

“Morning sweetie, I hope I didn’t wake you up.” 

“No, not at all. Good morning, mom.” Blaine was glad to hear from his mom, especially since it interrupted his thoughts about Kurt. 

“Are you ready? It’s a big day!”

“You know, I actually am.” Blaine said confidently. “The Warblers have been working double time to make sure I’m ready, especially Sebastian and Nick.”

“I know you’ll do great. Oh! I’m not sure if Coop called you, but he's stuck in L.A. for Thanksgiving so he won't be able to see the show. I'll videotape it but would you wish him a happy Thanksgiving?”

While Blaine wished Coop had talked to him, he knew how hard the holiday could be for his brother. Coop’s dad had passed away a few days after Thanksgiving and ever since, Coop always shut down on Thanksgiving. At least, that’s how his mom had explained it once. Coop’s dad passed away about eight years before their mom got remarried and Blaine was born. 

“Yeah, of course I will.” 

“Good. Has your dad texted yet?” Pam asked, less for Blaine and more for herself. Blaine's parents had gotten divorced when Blaine was in middle school, and shortly after he started high school, his dad left Ohio. 

“He's probably not awake yet.” Blaine knew he shouldn't care so much, considering how much his father disapproved of Blaine's sexuality. 

Pam sighed. “Right. And what city is he in right now?” 

“Salt Lake City, but that was a few months ago. I'm sure he'll text later though.” Blaine lied. If he was sure of anything, it was that his dad was most certainly not going to text him. He didn't mind, ultimately. He was fine with it being just him and his mom. 

“I'm sure too. Also, I think we should do Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow.” 

Blaine furrowed his brow. “Wait, why?” He never wanted his mom to be alone on Thanksgiving, Coop's consistent absence installed that in him. 

“You always like to go out with the Warblers after competitions.” Pointed out Pam. 

“The Waffle House will wait, and I'm sure all the other guys want to be home with their families.” 

Pam laughed. “Blainey, your show starts at 5:oo and you have to be on the bus at 4:00. It's hard for anyone to go to the show and fit in a Thanksgiving dinner. I haven't even started preparing the dishes.” 

Blaine caved. He was no match for the will of his mother. “Tomorrow it is.” 

“You're going to crush it onstage tonight, okay? Your Nanna is calling but I'll see you after the show, honey.” Pam made a kiss noise into the phone. 

Blaine made one back. “I love you, Mom. Tell Nanna I said hi.” 

“Will do, I love you more.” 

Blaine smiled as he hung up the phone. He always felt better after talking to his mom. He opened the drawer to his nightstand and pulled out his sketch book. Looking around the room, he settled on sketching the view out the window. He got lost in the pencil strokes and barely heard the door open. 

“Good morning.” 

Blaine turned to see Sebastian, wearing a tight tank top and athletic shorts. His hair wasn't styled the same way it usually was, it was messier with sweat. He looks good. 

“Morning.” Blaine closed his sketch book. “How was your workout?” 

“I tried to get some of the nerves out.” Sebastian grabbed his uniform. “Not entirely sure if it worked. Are you good if I shower?” 

Blaine nodded. “Breakfast after?” 

“You're on.” Sebastian smiled and closed the bathroom door. 

Blaine set the sketchbook back into the drawer, and started running the choreography for the set, again. He had to have it down. What if I throw it for the New Directions? Be a spy like Sam thought? He knew he could never do that. Blaine’s love for the Warblers outweighed his affection for the New Directions. Besides, he’d betrayed enough people for a lifetime. He tried to shut down his thoughts by getting changed.

“Are you ready?” 

“I think so.” Blaine kept practicing the chunk of choreo he’d been a few beats behind on. 

Sebastian chuckled softly. “I meant for breakfast.” 

“Oh.” Blaine’s face flushed. “Right, yes.” 

Breakfast was deserted as most people were home for Thanksgiving break. Even so, Blaine spotted Wes. Sebastian and Blaine joined the boy. 

“Good morning.” Greeted Sebastian.

Wes was staring at something in his hand. “What?” 

Blaine glanced at Sebastian, who had a knowing look on his face. “Are you okay, Wes? If you’re nervous for today, I’m sure it’s gonna go well. We’ll all be up there with you.” 

“Oh. No, I just…” Wes smiled. He put his hand on the table revealing a small paper airplane made out of a gum wrapper. “Thad leaves me these when he can tell I’m stressed. It makes me smile, that's all. And, uh, yeah, it’s a good distraction today.” 

Blaine smiled. Although Thad would rather die than admit it, he was a thoughtful guy. “That’s sweet.”

“Morning!” Jeff sat down, chipper. 

“How are we feeling?” Nick asked. 

“My strategy is to deny that anything is happening today, until right before we’re onstage.” Wes took a swig of orange juice. “Are you ready?”

Nick took Jeff’s hand. “We are.”

While Blaine’s relationship with Kurt wasn’t perfect, he was glad that they’d never been the type of couple that referred to themselves as one. He loved Nick and Jeff, but the ‘Niff’ stuff got irksome at points. Sebastian might've thinking the same thing, as he nudged Blaine with his knee. Blaine bit back a smile.

“Good morning.” Hunter appeared next to their table, almost silently. 

“Hey, Hunter. Do you… want to join us?” Nick scooted away from the end of the bench.

Hunter looked surprised, but only for a second. “Sure.” 

The boys agreed to not talk about the competition ahead of them and focused on other things. Assignments, Thanksgiving traditions, Waffle House orders and family complaints made their way around the table. After breakfast, the boys retreated to their rooms. 

“Hey, that thing with Wes was weird, right?” Blaine asked when he got back to the room with Sebastian. 

“Which part?” Sebastian laid down on his bed and began to toss his lacrosse ball up in the air.

Blaine sat down on his bed, opposite Sebastian. “It’s nice of Thad and all, but I don’t get why Wes was so focused on it. If it happens when Wes is stressed, it must be all the time.”

“It had a note on the inside too.” Sebastian continued to toss the ball. 

Blaine furrowed his brow. “It did?” He hadn’t noticed. 

“I think it makes Wes feel special. Besides, we all know why he likes Thad making him feel special.”

Blaine racked his brain. He knew that Wes and Thad had been roommates every year they’d been at Dalton together. “Do we?” 

Sebastian paused his toss-and-catch loop and sat up. “Haven’t you heard about this?” Blaine raised his eyebrows and shrugged. He hadn’t heard about anything between Wes and Thad. He supposed that he hadn’t heard much news from Dalton in the better part of a year.

“Wes has a massive crush on Thad, but I’m not sure either of them know that.” Revealed Sebastian. 

“And how do you know that?” 

“He’s always staring at Thad during rehearsal. It’s… painful. Unfortunately, Thad is always staring at Nick who is staring at Jeff. Who is staring back at Nick, because they’re ‘Niff’.” Amusement crept into Sebastian’s voice which confirmed to Blaine what his friend thought of the whole ‘Niff’ thing. 

“Huh. I guess that makes sense. I heard that Thad and Nick's breakup was rough.” Blaine hadn’t noticed any of that but he'd been back for less than a week. 

Sebastian exhaled. “That's… an understatement. It's a miracle that Thad is still in the group, he missed most of the summer rehearsals. He just couldn't be around them.” 

Blaine hadn't known that. All he knew was that Nick broke things off with Thad and three weeks later, Nick and Jeff were official. Not that he had any right to judge Nick and Jeff, not now. 

The wait until 4 o'clock was brutal. Not by design, but most of the Warblers were in their rehearsal room by three. Boys were double, triple, quadruple checking their flips and dance moves in the hall. 

Blaine found himself around the piano running harmonies over and over. The ones for 'Viva la Vida' were much more complex since the dancing was simpler. They had to save their energy for the finale. Even though Hunter was unnerving, Blaine had to admit that he was a show choir genius. He'd engineered the number perfectly and made sure that the people doing the strenuous parts like heavy dancing, flipping and jumping weren't singing, while still maintaining balance between all the voice parts. Blaine got stressed just thinking about having to arrange it all. 

Things quieted when Hunter walked in, exactly at four. “It's showtime.” 

The boys onto the bus, chattering anxiously. Blaine smiled at Mrs. Sylvis, who was their chaperone. Hunter pulled Sebastian aside, so Blaine settled next to Trent. 

“I think we're ready.” Trent exhaled heavily. 

“We are.” Blaine had to believe it. His strategy had always been ‘fake it till you make it’. 

“Are you nervous to see the New Directions?” Asked Trent. 

Blaine thought for a second. “I just hope they don't hate me if we win.” 

“They're your friends, of course they'll be happy for you.” Assured Trent. 

Blaine wasn't sure. He knew a few people who would make a comment if he won with the Warblers. 

The bus ride to McKinley was relatively short, and Hunter booked it for the check-in table once the bus stopped. He came back, looking satisfied. 

“Listen up. We are in the dance studio for warm ups, and then we are first in the line up.” Hunter's excitement was palpable. First up or last were ideal. 

The boys chattered excitedly as Blaine led them to the dance studio. He paused when he spotted the New Directions show circle through their open door. Sam turned and saw him. Blaine gave a small wave, which Sam returned. His gut twisted but he continued walking. He wanted to say hi, especially to the alumni, but it probably wouldn’t be a pleasant reunion.

Hunter had the group go through each flip, then each number exactly once. It went flawless, but Blaine was still holding his breath. Everything that just went right could go wrong onstage. Hunter opened his mouth to start a speech but was interrupted by Sebastian clearing his throat. 

Hunter apparently understood the reminder. “Before each show there is a tradition to go around and have everyone shout out a member of the group. I’ll start. Sebastian, thank you for showing me the ropes, even after I replaced you.” There wasn’t enough humor in Hunter’s voice to indicate he was joking. Blaine glanced at Sebastian, who gave an unassuming smile. 

The boys started going around in a circle, shouting each other out. Blaine was brainstorming his when his phone rang. Maybe it’s Coop, wishing me luck. His heart sped up when he looked at the caller. Was he hallucinating?

Blaine’s hands were sweaty as he stepped into the hall. “Hello?”

“Hey. Can you hear me? It's kinda loud out here.” Kurt's voice was soft and unsure. 

Blaine made his way further from the room. “Yeah, yeah, I can hear you.” 

“Have you guys performed yet?” 

“No, not yet.” Blaine leaned against a wall in the hall. “Kurt, I just want you to know that no matter-”

“Just let me talk for a second. Look, you've said you're sorry a million times. And… I believe you. And I'm trying to forgive you but I'm just not there yet. But, it's Thanksgiving and it's Sectionals, and I miss you like crazy. And, I can't stand not talking to you, even though I'm mad at you. Cause you're still my best friend.”

“You're mine, too.” Blaine fought back tears. 

“At Christmas, we need to have a mature heart-to-heart. And maybe if it's cold enough, we can go ice skating on the Auglaize River. Get hot chocolate, anywhere but the Lima Bean because when I was working there, I saw a mouse.” 

A laugh escaped Blaine. “So, we're really gonna see each other at Christmas?”

“Yeah.” The silence was long. “Well, good luck with the Warblers, alright? Break a leg.” 

Blaine had no idea how the news of his transfer made it to Kurt, but he'd bet money on Tina.

“Happy Thanksgiving.” 

Blaine's voice came out weak as he echoed the sentiment back to Kurt. Suddenly, he couldn't help himself, couldn't stop himself. Hearing Kurt’s voice again brought a rush of emotion. “Kurt, I love you so much.”

“I love you, too.”  

Blaine hung up, his heart swelling with joy. Kurt still loved him. He hadn’t completely ruined everything. With any luck, he could be back with Kurt by Christmas. He walked back into the Warblers’ circle with a smile plastered across his face. 

“Blaine?” Prompted Hunter. 

“Oh, uh…” Blaine tried to remember who he was going to shout out. “I wanted to thank Hunter, actually. For bringing me back home.” The Captain of the Warblers gave a cool smile and nodded. 

“Huddle in.” The group squished closer to Hunter. “This is what we’ve been rehearsing for. We’re ready. Let’s go show them who the Warblers are.” The boys erupted in a cheer. “We’re on in five minutes, we need to get backstage.”

“Thank you, five.” A chorus of voices replied as they left the room. 

“A reminder that the American Legion Turkey Shoot begins at 6 pm, so, please drive carefully. Now, put your hands together for our distinguished panel of judges! Lima News obituary editor, Stan Cook! Chief Historian of the Lima Locomotive Museum, Harrison Paolucci! And the 2012 Defiance County Catfish Queen, Allison Metcalf!” 

As the M.C. outlined rules, scoring and the theme, the Warblers got into place. Blaine glanced at Sebastian, who nodded back. Showtime. 

The curtain opened and Hunter stepped out. “I'm Hunter Clarington, and we're the Dalton Academy Warblers. Hope you enjoy the show.” 

Wes : 

I used to rule the world

Seas would rise when I gave the word

Now in the morning, I sleep alone

Sweep the streets I used to own

Sebastian : 

I used to roll the dice

Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes

Listen as the crowd would sing

Now the old king is dead, long live the king

Thad : 

One minute, I held the key

Next the walls were closed on me

And I discovered that my castles stand

Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

Nick : 

I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin'

Roman Cavalry choirs are singin'

Be my mirror, my sword and shield

My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason, I can't explain

Once you'd gone, there was never, never an honest word

And that was when I ruled the world 

Blaine : 

It was a wicked and wild wind

Blew down the doors to let me in

Shattered windows and the sound of drums

People couldn't believe what I'd become

David : 

Revolutionaries wait

For my head on a silver plate

Just a puppet on a lonely string

Aw, who would ever wanna be king?

Nick : 

I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin'

Roman Cavalry choirs are singing

Be my mirror, my sword and shield

My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason, I can't explain

I know Saint Peter won't call my name

Never an honest word

But that was when I ruled the world

All : 

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh

Nick : 

I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin'

Roman Cavalry choirs are singin'

Be my mirror, my sword and shield

My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain

I know Saint Peter won't call my name

Never an honest word

But that was when I ruled the world

The number went even better than in rehearsals, flawless. The rush Blaine got from performing was exhilarating and his solo went off without a hitch. He stood in formation, breathing heavily as the crowd jumped to its feet, roaring. The applause for ‘Live While We're Young’ was even louder. 

The second the Warblers got offstage, Jeff bowled into Blaine, with his other arm around Nick. A sloppy, sweaty group hug formed. The PA shushed the boys and directed them offstage into the audience. Blaine was in the middle of listening to John and Cam debate the best kind of pie when he heard a familiar voice.

“Is this seat taken?” 

Blaine glanced a few rows down to see Mr. Schue taking a seat. He leaned down to say 'hi' but was interrupted by the M.C.

“They traveled 87 miles by horse and buggy to drop an old school beat. The Rosedale Mennonites!”

While Blaine was confused by Rosedale’s song choices, as they had nothing to do with the theme, they absolutely killed it. But the lack of choreo and connection to the theme made Blaine confident that the Mennonites wouldn’t beat the Warblers.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage, the New Directions!” 

Blaine crossed his fingers for his friends, he really did wish them the best. ‘Gangnam Style’ was a bold choice, but he was glad to see Tina get the solo she’d been craving. Everything was going well for the New Directions until Marley dropped. He watched Mr. Schue rush to follow the New Directions offstage. The crowd murmured as the lights dimmed, like the light techs were confused too. 

“They need to get back onstage.” John muttered to Blaine. 

“I mean, she passed out. They shouldn’t rush her.” Blaine defended. 

John shook his head. “No, if they don’t come back soon, they’ll be disqualified.”

Blaine stood to go warn his friends, but the judges walked onstage holding trophies. 

“Sadly, the New Directions are disqualified for leaving the stage,” Allison Metcalf gave a fake pouty face. “But now, without further ado, we get to announce the winner!” 

“Will the Warblers and Mem-Mennon-Mennonites get on up here?” Stan Cook said gruffly. 

The two groups rushed on stage. Blaine glanced at his friends who braced themselves. Without realizing it, he was holding his breath. 

“The runner ups for the 2012 Northwest Sectionals are… the Rosedale Mennonites!” 

Blaine’s brain took a second to compute, then the realization hit. 

“The Warblers are the winners of the 2012 Northwest Sectionals!”

Blaine let go of the breath he was holding, then cheered. Another messy group hug formed, the boys shouting and laughing. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Hunter give the leader of the Mennonites a hand shake and an apologetic look. He looked back at his group with pride. He knew that they deserved all the praise, the thunderous applause. The boys disbanded to find parents and friends in the audience. 

“Blaine!” 

Blaine felt as if he was swimming upstream, trying to reach his mom. She held out a bouquet of violets and had a huge grin on her face. The two embraced when he finally reached her. 

“I’m so so proud of you, honey! You were wonderful.” Pam kissed her son on the cheek. 

“Ah, it was all them.” Blaine brushed off the compliment. 

Pam put an arm around Blaine. “Really? I don’t remember any of them singing your solo?” 

Blaine smiled as they walked into the hall. “I’ll see you tomorrow for dinner, okay?”

“Six o’clock, don’t be late. I love you, be smart tonight.” Pam pointed at her son, wagging her finger. 

Blaine shook his head. “It’s just the Waffle House. I love you, too.” 

Blaine turned and spotted the New Directions, current and alumni, filing out of the choir room with disappointment written on their faces. His excitement dulled. He turned away, afraid that if Santana saw him she’d call him a traitor and go all ‘Lima Heights’. Sam spotted him before he could flee. 

“Blaine, wait up.” 

Wincing, Blaine turned. “I’m-” 

“Hey man, it’s okay. We’re cool.” Sam shoved his hands in his pockets. 

“Really?” 

“I don’t need you beating yourself up over this too.” Sam said jokingly.

 “Besides, who knows what would’ve happened if Marley hadn’t passed out.” Blaine offered. 

Sam nodded. “I’m just glad that one of us gets to go to Regionals, right?” Sam clapped his friend on the back and walked away. 

“Yeah.” Blaine said under his breath. It didn’t really stop him from feeling bad for his friends, but he didn’t feel as guilty. He would never say this to his Warbler friends, but the New Directions lost because of a technicality, not because they weren’t as good. And that made Blaine feel better. 

“There you are!” Sebastian’s voice came from down the hall. 

Blaine smiled. “Hey! You sounded incredible.”

“So did you, buddy.” Sebastian clapped Blaine on the back. “Waffle House?” 

“You know it!”

Sebastian : 

If a random customer had walked into the Waffle House, they’d have been baffled by the flock of teenage boys covered with sweat and stage makeup. They would have also been confused by the uniforms that would imply they were respectable young men, as the Warblers ate off each other's plates ravenously while talking over each other loudly. 

Sebastian found himself wedged between Hunter and Jesse. Hunter was talking about the plan for Regionals and Jesse was creating a waffle abomination while Sebastian ignored both. 

“Bastian?” Nick asked. Right, he was also in the middle of a conversation with Nick and Jeff. 

“What? Sorry, man.” Sebastian rubbed his face.

Jeff laughed. “Are we boring you?” 

“That would-” Sebastian changed course, to something less rude. He tried to keep the irritability away. “That would not be the case. I just always crash after competitions.”

“Really? I feel like I could run a marathon.” Laughed Nick.

“I just get exhausted.” Sebastian shrugged. And cranky. And with a headache. I should be nicer. I’ll miss this next year. His guilt over last year, the desperate desire to be better and the need to leave Dalton on a good note had cumulated. He had to be better to people. “But I’m proud of everyone, you know.” He glanced over at Blaine, who was chatting with Luke and David.

Nick laughed. “Yeah, we know. Hey, it’s a shame that Blaine didn’t hear the nice shout out you gave him.”

Sebastian rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. It was…” He shook his head. He hadn’t realized that Blaine wasn’t in the circle till he had finished the shout out. “... nothing special.” 

“Sounds like something I might say about Nicky.” Jeff leaned in, suggestively. 

Sebastian glanced between the two halves of Niff, and got the hint. He was too tired for this. “Okay. Anyways.” 

“Are we really not gonna talk about the elephant in the room?” Nick asked. Not when the elephant is not only in the room, but a few fucking booths over.

“Thad?” Sebastian shot back. Shit. He knew it was wrong the second it came out of his mouth. Nick’s face fell and Jeff’s smile disappeared, which was rare. “I’m sorry, you guys. I shouldn’t have-” 

Nick sighed. “It’s fine. We shouldn't've pushed you. And trust me, Thad is…” 

“Another elephant.” Jeff put an arm around Nick. “We should start a zoo.” 

Sebastian chuckled. “I’ll talk to him. Maybe get him to come to game night.” 

“Thanks.” Nick exhaled heavily. “I just want things to feel normal with all of us again.” 

Sebastian thought that there might be too many broken hearts in their group for things to be normal, but he kept that to himself. He just nodded in agreement. 

The conversation moved onto lighter things, and it was midnight when the group separated. Sebastian volunteered to shower after Blaine, and felt a rush of relief when he finally sunk into bed. He eagerly turned off the light and pulled the covers up. 

“Seb? Are you tired?” The voice came from across the room. 

Sebastian had turned over a new leaf. He was trying to be kinder, no more bullying or harassment or lies. But that night he lied to Blaine. “I am not. How do you feel about the win?” 

“Honestly? I feel bad for the New Directions, those guys are my friends. But I’m really glad I'm with the Warblers. Not just because we won, but because… it feels right. And you guys have worked so hard, no one deserves it more.” 

Sebastian smiled. He knew that the love Blaine had for the Warblers was like no other. “It was right because you were with us.” That was definitely too much. Cool it, you’re just friends. 

“Thanks.” Maybe Sebastian was kidding himself, but there was a smile in Blaine’s voice. “Honestly, this is the happiest I’ve been in a month.”

Even in his exhausted state, Sebastian smiled. “I’m… glad to hear it.” 

“Between the win and Kurt calling me today, I-” 

“He called?” Interrupted Sebastian. The excitement in Blaine’s voice crushed him.

“Right before Sectionals. And I stepped out at Waffle House and called him again. To tell him the results of tonight.” 

Sebastian’s heart kept sinking. 

“I told him that I love him, and he said it back.” Blaine’s voice was soft with affection.

“I’m really happy for you, B.A., I hope everything works out for you.” Sebastian squeezed his eyes shut, wishing he could be hearing something else, anything else. He reminded himself that he never should’ve gotten his hopes up, that this was just inevitable.