Chapter 5
Blaine leaned against the cool edge of the bathroom sink, staring into the mirror in front of him. His thoughts were scattered, but his reflection, blurry from how tired he felt, was all he could focus on. The noise from the hallway and the chatter in the cafeteria felt like it was closing in on him. He just needed a moment of peace. A second to himself.
As he took a deep breath, the bathroom door creaked open. Blaine didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. He could feel Sebastian’s presence like a force in the room, even before he spoke.
“You’re looking deep in thought, Blaine,” Sebastian’s voice came from behind him, smooth and casual. “Something on your mind?”
Blaine’s heart pounded as he looked at Sebastian in the bathroom mirror, trying to steady himself. He didn’t want this. Didn’t want to feel the weight of Sebastian’s gaze, the temptation that seemed to simmer in the air between them. But there it was.
Sebastian smirked, leaning against the sink casually as if this was all just a game. “You know, Blaine, we’ve always had this… thing. You can’t tell me you don’t feel it.”
Blaine closed his eyes for a brief second, gathering his thoughts. This couldn’t happen. Not with Sebastian. Not with everything at stake. His thoughts flashed to Sam, his boyfriend.
“I have a boyfriend,” Blaine said, his voice steady but tight, the words hanging between them. He forced himself to look Sebastian in the eyes. “And Sam is your best friend, Sebastian.”
Sebastian didn’t look surprised, but there was something almost amused in his eyes. “Yeah, I know,” he replied, a faint smirk on his lips. “But I also know how much you like me. Don’t act like I don’t see it.”
Blaine’s chest tightened. He had to stop this. He couldn’t, he wouldn’t, let himself be tempted by this anymore.
“Sam’s your best friend,” Blaine repeated, more firmly this time, his voice unwavering. “I’m not going to do this to him. Not when he trusts me. Not when he’s been nothing but good to me.”
Sebastian’s eyes flickered with something that could have been regret, but it was gone so quickly that Blaine wasn’t sure he’d seen it at all. “You think I don’t get it?” Sebastian’s voice had shifted, low and almost quiet now. “You think I don’t care about Sam too?”
Blaine swallowed, the guilt weighing on him, but he stood his ground. “Then why are we even talking about this?” he asked, his voice a little harsher than he meant. “Because no matter what you think, I’m not going to hurt Sam. He’s not just some guy I’m messing around with. I care about him. And that’s not going to change.”
For a moment, Sebastian was silent, his eyes scanning Blaine’s face, trying to figure him out. But instead of responding with his usual bravado, he simply nodded, taking a step back. His smirk was gone, replaced by a look Blaine couldn’t quite read.
“Fine,” Sebastian said after a moment, his voice colder now. “But don’t think this is over. I know what’s between us.”
Blaine’s heart raced as he tried to keep his emotions in check. He didn’t know what Sebastian meant by that, but he wasn’t about to find out. He wasn’t going to risk his relationship with Sam, not for anyone—especially not for Quinn’s brother.
“I’m dating Sam,” Blaine said one last time, quieter now but no less firm. “And that’s where I’m staying. So don’t do this again.”
Sebastian didn’t answer right away. He just gave Blaine one last look before turning to leave the bathroom. As he stepped out, Blaine took a deep breath, his heart still racing but his resolve stronger than ever.
Sam was his boyfriend. Sebastian might have his own thoughts about that, but Blaine wasn’t going to let anyone, especially Sebastian, distract him from what he knew was right.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
Quinn was lounging on the couch, lazily flipping through a magazine, when Sebastian walked in, looking a bit too relaxed for someone who’d just finished a lacrosse practice. He dropped his bag on the floor and flopped down beside her, pulling the magazine out of her hands and grabbing the remote, turning on the TV without asking.
“Hey! I was reading that!” Quinn protested, swatting at his arm.
Sebastian just shrugged, clearly unaffected. “You were half asleep. It’s not like you were actually processing any of it.”
“Shut up. I was getting there,” Quinn muttered, rolling her eyes. But her attention quickly shifted as she noticed the look on Sebastian’s face. He was leaning back into the couch, looking unusually contemplative.
“What’s up with you?” she asked, arching an eyebrow.
Sebastian shot her a sideways glance, clearly debating whether or not to open up. Finally, he sighed. “I dunno. Just thinking about stuff.”
“Stuff?” Quinn repeated, a little skeptical. “What kind of ‘stuff’?”
He shrugged again, this time more seriously. “I don’t know. Things just feel… off lately.”
Quinn’s eyes narrowed, picking up on the subtle tension in his voice. “What do you mean?”
Sebastian hesitated, clearly reluctant to dive into whatever was bothering him. But then, almost as if he couldn’t help himself, he added, “It’s just… it’s like everyone’s got their own thing going on, you know? People change, things shift.”
Quinn blinked, suddenly feeling the weight of his words. She knew what he meant. It wasn’t lost on her that everything had felt a little different lately, especially with Rachel. Her heart had been stuck on that situation for a while now—wondering if she should’ve said something sooner, or if Rachel had even considered her the same way.
Sebastian caught the change in her expression, noticing that something was on her mind. “You alright?” he asked softly, sensing the shift.
Quinn bit her lip, her thoughts swirling. She hesitated before finally speaking up. “I don’t know. I’m just… tired of this whole ‘maybe’ thing with Rachel. I told her how I felt the other night, and she didn’t feel the same way.” Her voice wavered slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.
Sebastian looked at her for a long moment, his usual cocky demeanor replaced with something a little more vulnerable. “That sucks,” he said, a quiet sincerity in his voice. “I’m sorry, Quinn.”
Quinn sighed, trying not to let the disappointment get to her. “It’s fine. I mean, I figured it was coming. I just didn’t want to face it.
“I get that,” Sebastian said. “The ‘what ifs’ are always the hardest part.”
She nodded, her gaze dropping to her hands. “Exactly. And I hate that I feel like I’m stuck in this weird place now, you know? Like I don’t know how to act around her.”
Sebastian turned to her, his tone a little lighter, trying to make her smile. “I don’t think Rachel would make things weird. She might need some time to process it, but she’s not going to cut you off.”
Quinn gave him a small, appreciative smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Yeah, you’re probably right. I just… I don’t know what to do now.”
“Well, you don’t have to figure it out right away,” he said, leaning back again. “You’ve got time. And if you want to talk about it more, I’m here. Even if you’re just looking for a distraction.”
Quinn let out a soft laugh, finally feeling the tension in her shoulders ease a little. “Thanks, Seb. You know, despite everything, I’m glad you’re around.”
Sebastian gave her a teasing grin. “You mean despite me being the coolest person you know?”
“Uh, no,” Quinn shot back, nudging him with her elbow. “I meant despite your constant awful sense of humor.”
Sebastian chuckled, rolling his eyes. “Of course. Can’t blame me for trying to cheer you up.”
“Well, it worked,” Quinn said with a soft smile, her heart feeling a little lighter. It wasn’t the answer she wanted from Rachel, but at least she wasn’t entirely alone in it.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
“Morning,” Quinn muttered, grabbing a granola bar before heading out the door.
Sebastian barely looked up from his phone. “Mornin’. You gonna be okay today?”
Quinn paused for a moment, considering his question. She could tell he was asking in a way that suggested he didn’t know what to expect either. But his tone was softer than usual, like he was offering her some space if she needed it.
“Yeah, I think so,” she replied, brushing past him and heading to the car. She didn’t know if she was going to be okay, but she could at least pretend she was.
Later that day, during lunch, Quinn found herself sitting with Sebastian and a few of their friends. She felt like she was beginning to return to normal, though there were still some things left unsaid. Sebastian, noticing the shift in her demeanor, gave her a small grin.
“Feeling better?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Quinn nodded, taking a bite of her lunch. “Yeah, actually. I think Rachel and I are okay now.”
Sebastian smirked, clearly relieved. “Good. You deserve to be happy, Quinn.”
Quinn rolled her eyes playfully but smiled back at him. “Thanks, Seb.”
Meanwhile, across the cafeteria, Blaine was sitting with Sam, trying his best to keep his thoughts focused on his boyfriend.
His mind, however, kept wandering back to the conversation he’d had with Sebastian the day before in the school bathroom. Every time he thought about it, his stomach did a little flip. Blaine quickly dismissed the thoughts and gave Sam his attention.
“How was practice today?” Blaine asked, trying to focus on Sam’s day.
“It was fine,” Sam replied, reaching for his drink. “What about you? Any plans for the weekend?”
Blaine thought for a second, shaking his head. “Not really. Probably just chill at home.”
As Sam continued talking, Blaine couldn’t help but glance over toward Sebastian, who was across the room with his friends. The way Sebastian always seemed to be so effortlessly charming made Blaine’s heart flutter against his will. He quickly looked away, focusing back on Sam as if nothing was wrong.
As the day went on, Quinn couldn’t help but feel a bit of a shift in the air. She wasn’t entirely sure what was coming next, but she knew it wouldn’t be easy. The feelings for Rachel weren’t completely gone, but at least she wasn’t feeling like she was standing on shaky ground anymore.
When the final bell rang, Quinn and Rachel exchanged a quick smile before going their separate ways—both with things left unsaid but also a sense of mutual understanding.
The next few days would bring more challenges, and maybe more moments of uncertainty for Quinn and Rachel, but for now, Quinn was grateful for the little victories. And Sebastian, as usual, was right there, just when she needed him, offering the kind of tough love she didn’t always realize she needed.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
Blaine spent his saturday with Sam, and the world seemed a little brighter. After a week of feeling confused and distracted, he finally had a chance to unwind with his boyfriend. They were sprawled out on Sam’s couch, wrapped in blankets, with the smell of pizza filling the air. It was one of those rare days when nothing felt urgent, and the only thing that mattered was the company they kept.
Sam was leaning against the armrest, scrolling through his phone while Blaine rested his head on Sam’s chest. The steady rhythm of Sam’s heartbeat was strangely soothing, and Blaine closed his eyes, letting the soft sound ground him.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Sam asked, his voice light but teasing, as Blaine absentmindedly reached for another slice of pizza.
“Just grabbing more pizza,” Blaine mumbled, taking a bite. He looked up at Sam with a grin. “You’re hogging all the good toppings.”
Sam chuckled, shifting to give Blaine more space. “I’m the one who ordered it, so I call dibs.”
“You’re lucky I love you,” Blaine joked, snuggling deeper into Sam’s side.
“I know,” Sam replied, his tone playful yet full of affection. He pulled Blaine closer, wrapping his arm around him. “So, what’s on your mind? You’ve been kind of quiet today.”
Blaine paused for a moment, unsure if he should admit what he was thinking. He didn’t want to ruin the easy, peaceful vibe they had going. But Sam was always so in tune with him, and there was no hiding it.
“I’ve just been… thinking a lot,” Blaine said quietly, shifting so he could look up at Sam. “About stuff. I guess I’ve just been in my head too much.”
Sam frowned slightly, but his fingers began tracing small patterns on Blaine’s arm, a comforting gesture. “You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”
Blaine smiled softly, feeling a weight lift just from hearing those words. “I know,” he said. “I guess I’m just… figuring things out.”
Sam nodded, his gaze softening as he adjusted himself so they were face-to-face. “I’m here for you, no matter what. Always.”
Blaine’s heart fluttered at the sincerity in Sam’s voice. He reached up, tucking a strand of hair behind Sam’s ear. “I really appreciate you, you know that?”
Sam smiled, leaning down to kiss Blaine’s forehead. “I feel the same way, Blaine. Always have.”
The tenderness of the moment made Blaine feel at peace. For all the confusion he’d been feeling, being here with Sam, in his arms, made it feel like everything could work out. There was no rush, no need to figure it all out right away.
Sam nudged him playfully. “So, what do you wanna do next?”
Blaine paused for a second, then grinned. “We could finish this movie, or we could make it a movie marathon. It’s your call.”
“You know I’m always down for a marathon,” Sam said, already reaching for the remote.
The next few hours flew by as they watched movie after movie, laughing, sharing popcorn, and just being with each other. It was the kind of day that reminded Blaine of what truly mattered, being with someone who made him feel safe, loved, and like everything would be okay, even when things felt uncertain.
As the night drew on and the last movie credits rolled, Blaine felt Sam’s arm around him tighten slightly, pulling him even closer.
“Thanks for today,” Sam whispered, pressing a soft kiss to the top of Blaine’s head. “I needed this.”
“Me too,” Blaine replied, closing his eyes, feeling completely at home. “I’m glad we have each other.”
Sam chuckled softly. “Always.”
And for the first time in what felt like forever, Blaine allowed himself to relax completely, knowing that for now, everything was perfect.