Chapter 1
Blaine shrugged off his coat as he entered Quinn’s room, the familiar scent of her lavender-scented candles filling the air. The walls were plastered with photos of their high school memories, birthdays, kid pictures of them at summer bonfires, school dances, and endless group selfies. It was comforting, knowing they’d been through all of it together.
“You’re late,” Quinn said, glancing up from the book she was reading on her bed, one leg thrown over the side, a cup of tea perched beside her. Her voice was teasing, but there was an affectionate undertone to it, like she was used to Blaine’s timing.
“Traffic,” Blaine replied, rolling his eyes. “You know how it is. Plus, I had to make sure I was mentally prepared for whatever random movie you decided we’re watching tonight.”
Quinn grinned, setting the book down. “You mean the one you’ve already seen, like, ten times?”
Blaine plopped down onto the edge of her bed, snatching the remote from her and clicking the TV on. “Obviously. But it’s tradition now. You can’t break tradition.”
They both laughed, a rhythm they’d perfected over the years. It wasn’t a special evening, but it didn’t need to be. They were just two best friends hanging out, the comfort of their shared history and unspoken understanding making everything feel natural.
“So, how’s Sam?” Quinn asked casually as she flipped through her playlist on her phone, trying to find the perfect soundtrack to accompany their night.
Blaine and Sam had been dating for a few months now, and while everything seemed perfect on the surface, Blaine couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something inside him wasn’t quite aligned. He shook it off quickly, trying to mask his unease with a smile.
“He’s good. Just busy with school, you know?” Blaine said, though his voice lacked its usual enthusiasm. “We’re still trying to figure out the whole ‘time together’ thing.”
Quinn didn’t seem to notice his change in tone. She continued scrolling through her phone, humming along to a song she liked. But Blaine couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted, that he was somehow missing something important.
“Do you ever think about… you know, what’s next?” Quinn asked, her voice softer now. “After graduation? Where do you want to go, Blaine? You’ve got all these possibilities in front of you.”
Blaine looked over at her, seeing her brow furrow in quiet thought, as if she was seriously contemplating the future. He could tell that Quinn was feeling the pressure of their senior year too. Everything was about to change, and neither of them could avoid the inevitable questions about what came next.
“I know i want to go to Julliard,” he replied honestly, his gaze drifting toward the window. “But I guess recently, I’ve been too busy trying to figure out what I want to do now to really think about all of that.”
Quinn chuckled, but there was a knowing look in her eyes. “You’ve always been good at staying in the moment. But don’t let it slip away from you, okay?”
Blaine nodded, offering a small smile, turning the volume up on the TV. Tonight wasn’t the time to get lost in his thoughts, not with Quinn beside him, her comfort and friendship so solid and unshakable. For now, he’d focus on the present. He could worry about the rest later.
Just as Blaine was about to speak again, the door to Quinn’s room swung open without warning. Sebastian stood in the doorway, his tall frame blocking the hallway, his usual confident smirk plastered across his face.
“Hey,” he said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. He tossed a casual glance over at Quinn before turning his attention to Blaine, his eyes lingering a second longer than necessary.
“Sebastian,” Quinn said, a hint of annoyance creeping into her voice. “You know, knocking is a thing, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, I remember. But I figured I’d just barge in. It’s more fun that way,” he replied with a shrug, his gaze flickering back to Blaine. He made no effort to sit down, instead leaning against the doorframe casually, like he owned the place.
Blaine felt the familiar unease settle in his chest. It wasn’t the first time Sebastian had barged in unannounced, but there was something different tonight. His eyes, the way he lingered in the doorway, it felt almost deliberate, as if he was waiting for something.
Quinn sighed and rolled her eyes, clearly not taking him seriously. “What do you want, Seb?”
Sebastian tilted his head, glancing at the TV. “I don’t know. Wasn’t planning on anything specific. Just thought I’d drop by, see what you guys were up to.”
His tone was light, but there was something about the way he said it that made Blaine uneasy. Sebastian was always the kind of person who had a way of making everything seem like a game, like he was always one step ahead of everyone else. Blaine couldn’t quite shake the feeling that Sebastian was aware of something, something Blaine hadn’t figured out how to admit to himself yet.
“You’re interrupting,” Quinn teased, nudging Blaine with her elbow. “We were in the middle of deciding what movie to watch.”
Sebastian grinned, uncrossing his arms. “Yeah, sure. Movie night, I get it. Don’t let me stop you.”
But his gaze never fully left Blaine’s face, and for a moment, Blaine thought he could almost feel the weight of it.
Quinn didn’t notice the shift. She picked up the remote and hit play on the movie, the sound filling the room, but Blaine was still aware of Sebastian’s lingering presence. The quiet tension between them felt like it was growing, and Blaine wasn’t sure how to escape it.
With a half-hearted wave, Sebastian finally turned to leave, but his eyes stayed on Blaine just a moment too long before he closed the door behind him.
Blaine exhaled, trying to calm the fluttering in his chest. Quinn gave him a puzzled look but said nothing, already absorbed in the movie. Blaine’s thoughts, however, were elsewhere.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
The day passed like any other, with Blaine sticking to his plan. His classes, his routine, all fell into place. At lunch, he met up with Sam, who was sitting at their usual table with a big smile on his face.
“You’re looking extra serious today,” Sam teased as Blaine slid into the seat across from him.
Blaine smiled, trying to shake off any lingering distractions. “Just focused. Got a lot of work to do tonight.”
“Always working, huh?” Sam chuckled, offering Blaine a piece of his sandwich. “You need a break, you know. How about we catch a movie this weekend? Just the two of us.”
Blaine felt his shoulders relax at the suggestion. It was just what he needed, time with Sam. No distractions. He nodded, grateful for the simplicity of their relationship.
“That sounds perfect,” Blaine replied, smiling warmly. “I’m looking forward to it.”
As they talked, Blaine realized how much he appreciated the steady, easy nature of his relationship with Sam. He was a good fit for him, and Blaine was content with that.
The rest of the lunch period passed without incident. Quinn waved as she left for her next class, and Blaine and Sam continued their conversation. Blaine’s thoughts didn’t linger on anything or anyone else. He didn’t feel the need to compare. It was just Sam and him, and that was more than enough for Blaine.
The end of the school day came quickly, and Blaine gathered his things from his locker. He glanced around, making sure everything was in order. As he shut his locker door, he spotted Sebastian walking down the hall, but this time, Blaine didn’t feel that strange pull from earlier. He had no reason to think about Sebastian. His focus was entirely on Sam and their plans for the evening.
When Blaine saw Sam waiting by the exit, he smiled and waved. The two of them walked out of the school together, chatting about their plans for the weekend.
“So, what movie do you want to see?” Sam asked, his voice light and easy.
Blaine thought for a moment. “Something funny. I could use a good laugh.”
Sam grinned. “I’ll pick the movie then.”
As they walked home together, Blaine felt a sense of peace. Everything was exactly as it should be. He didn’t need anything else, he was happy with Sam, and that was enough. There were no distractions. No second-guessing. Just the simple comfort of being with someone who made him feel good.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
It was another late afternoon when Blaine and Quinn found themselves walking out of school together. The sun was beginning to set, casting an orange glow over the campus. Quinn was talking animatedly about a new book she was reading, but Blaine’s mind kept wandering.
A small smirk appeared on Blaine’s face as he watched Quinn talk, her usual enthusiasm lighting up her expression. He couldn’t help but notice the way she seemed to light up whenever Rachel’s name came up. And it wasn’t just today; it was a trend.
Blaine tilted his head, interrupting her mid-sentence. “You know, you’ve mentioned Rachel like three times today.”
Quinn blinked at him, her smile faltering for a brief second before it returned with a teasing edge. “What? I talk about Rachel all the time. She’s my friend, Blaine.”
Blaine raised an eyebrow, a knowing look on his face. “Uh-huh. Friend, huh?”
Quinn rolled her eyes, but Blaine could see the slight blush creeping up her neck. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Blaine couldn’t suppress the grin that spread across his face. “Oh, come on, Quinn. We both know you two are way more than ‘best friends.’”
Quinn shot him a playful glare, clearly trying to hold back her amusement. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, really?” Blaine teased, nudging her with his shoulder. “It’s just the way you light up when her name comes up. You get all smiley and silly when you talk about her. It’s pretty obvious.”
Quinn shot him an exasperated look but didn’t deny it. “You’re ridiculous.”
Blaine chuckled. “Oh, I’m ridiculous? You’re the one who gets all shy when anyone mentions her.”
Quinn’s cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink. She glared playfully at Blaine. “I’m not shy. And Rachel’s just a good friend. We’ve been through a lot together. That’s all.”
“Uh-huh,” Blaine said, clearly not buying it. “You’re so subtle, Quinn. The world can’t possibly tell that you like her at all.”
Quinn crossed her arms, laughing despite herself. “I’m serious, Blaine. You’re imagining things.”
Blaine raised his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. If you say so, Quinn. But I’m just saying, you’re one step away from wearing a ‘Rachel, I love you’ T-shirt at this point.”
Quinn laughed, shaking her head. “Stop! You’re embarrassing me.”
“Embarrassing? I’m just speaking the truth,” Blaine said with a grin. “Come on, we all see it. You’re the worst at hiding it.”
Quinn gave him a playful shove, and Blaine laughed, sidestepping her attempt. “I’m just saying, it’s pretty cute. I think Rachel’s lucky to have you.”
The moment was quiet for a beat, and Blaine could see a tenderness in Quinn’s eyes as she looked away, her smile softening.
“Thanks, Blaine,” she said, her voice quieter now. “You’re a good friend.”
Blaine smiled back at her, feeling the warmth of the moment. “No problem. But seriously, just admit it. I’ll be waiting for the day you finally tell her.”
Quinn raised an eyebrow and laughed. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
They both fell into comfortable silence as they continued walking. Blaine knew he had teased Quinn enough, but he couldn’t help but feel a little proud of himself. He had successfully gotten her to laugh and perhaps even think a little more about what she was really feeling toward Rachel.