Chapter 12
Quinn stood at the kitchen counter, scrolling through a recipe on her phone. “Okay, we’re making chocolate chip cookies,” she announced, her tone authoritative. “Sebastian, grab the flour. Blaine, get the chocolate chips from the pantry.”
Sebastian groaned dramatically, leaning against the counter. “Bossy much?”
“Do you want cookies or not?” Quinn shot back, raising an eyebrow.
Blaine chuckled, already moving toward the pantry. Sebastian, meanwhile, rolled his eyes but pushed off the counter to grab the flour. As he passed Blaine, he let his hand brush lightly against Blaine’s back, so subtle it could’ve been accidental, but the smirk on Sebastian’s face said otherwise. Blaine fought to keep his expression neutral, his heart giving a small jolt.
“Stop slacking, Sebastian,” Quinn scolded without looking up.
“I’m getting the flour!” he protested, shooting Blaine a playful glance as he placed the bag on the counter. Blaine shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips.
As they started measuring ingredients, Sebastian stayed deliberately close to Blaine. He reached around him to grab the sugar, his hand lingering a moment longer than necessary on Blaine’s arm. Blaine shot him a warning look, but Sebastian just winked, stepping back innocently when Quinn turned around.
“You guys are so bad at this,” Quinn said, noticing the uneven amounts of flour and sugar going into the bowl. “Honestly, do I have to do everything myself?”
“Maybe you should,” Sebastian said smoothly, leaning against the counter again. “You’re clearly the expert.”
Quinn sighed dramatically and pushed between them to take over mixing. “Unbelievable,” she muttered.
With her focused on the bowl, Sebastian leaned closer to Blaine, his voice just above a whisper. “You’re not much help either, huh?”
Blaine’s cheeks flushed slightly, but he didn’t look up. “Maybe I’m distracted,” he muttered back, keeping his voice low.
Sebastian smirked, nudging Blaine’s hip with his own before stepping back to grab a tray. Quinn, still oblivious, started scolding them both for laughing too much and making a mess of the kitchen.
Quinn was busy rolling the cookie dough into little balls, her hands moving expertly. Blaine stood nearby, distracted by the quiet hum of the kitchen and the closeness between him and Sebastian. He could feel the weight of Sebastian’s presence even when the other boy wasn’t directly beside him.
Quinn’s voice broke through the comfortable silence. “Blaine, could you grab the baking sheets from the cabinet by the oven?” she asked, not looking up from her work.
Blaine nodded and moved toward the cabinet, but before he could reach it, He felt Sebastians body behind him, and Blaine couldn’t help but feel the electric charge between them. The proximity was something they were used to by now, but it never failed to make Blaine’s pulse quicken.
Sebastian’s chest brushed against Blaine’s back as he leaned to pull out the baking sheets from the cabinet. The moment stretched out, both of them hyper-aware of how close they were, how the space between them felt too small to hold everything unsaid.
Blaine tried to keep his composure, pretending not to notice the way his heart picked up its pace, but Sebastian’s presence was intoxicating. He felt the subtle pressure of Sebastian’s hand near his waist, and then, almost imperceptibly, Sebastian’s fingers grazed his side, a touch so light yet full of intention.
“Got it,” Sebastian muttered, his voice softer than usual, laced with something that felt like more than just a casual remark. He straightened up, handing them to Quinn, but his eyes lingered on Blaine for just a moment longer than necessary.
Quinn looked up, offering a small smile, oblivious to the exchange. “Thanks,” she said, then turned her focus back to the cookies. “Okay, I need you both to help me out now, so no more standing around.”
Blaine quickly cleared his throat, his eyes flickering to Sebastian. “Right, yeah. Helping,” he mumbled, trying to act normal, but his mind was still spinning from the brief moment of contact. He couldn’t help but feel a little off balance, like the world around him had shifted just slightly, all because of a touch no one else had noticed.
As Quinn busied herself with placing the dough on the sheets, Blaine tried to focus, but Sebastian’s presence loomed over him. He caught Sebastian’s eye again, a silent understanding passing between them in the briefest of glances. They were always walking this fine line, careful not to give anything away. But in these small, quiet moments, with no one else around, it felt harder to pretend it didn’t matter.
Blaine and Sebastian exchanged another look, a mixture of unspoken words, desire, and a shared understanding that this, whatever this was between them, was something they had to keep hidden, even when it was the hardest thing to do.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
The soft melody of the piano drifted through the empty auditorium as Blaine played, his fingers gliding effortlessly over the keys. Music always helped him think, but today, it was a distraction. He didn’t hear the door creak open or notice the faint shuffle of footsteps until Sebastian’s voice broke through the quiet.
“You’re really leaning into the tortured artist vibe, huh?” Sebastian teased, his smirk audible even if Blaine wasn’t looking at him.
Blaine smiled, his fingers pausing on the keys. “Just… thinking, I guess.”
Sebastian moved closer, hands in his pockets as he studied Blaine. “Dangerous habit,” he said lightly, though his eyes softened as he took in the tension in Blaine’s posture. “Mind if I join?”
Without waiting for an answer, Sebastian slid onto the bench beside Blaine. Their shoulders brushed, and Blaine’s heart skipped. The closeness was exhilarating, the kind of tension that always hummed between them when they were alone.
Sebastian leaned closer, his voice dropping. “You’ve been quiet all day. Something on your mind?”
Blaine hesitated, glancing at him. “Not really,” he said softly, though his gaze lingered a little too long. The warmth in Sebastian’s eyes, the faint smile on his lips, it was impossible to look away.
Sebastian tilted his head, studying him. “Liar,” he said, his tone teasing but gentle.
Blaine smiled, his hands hovering over the keys. For a long moment, he didn’t speak. He hated keeping secrets, especially this one. Every time he looked at Quinn, guilt twisted inside him like a knife. But he couldn’t bring himself to say the words out loud, not yet.
“I just…” Blaine finally began, his voice barely above a whisper. “I hate keeping this a secret from Quinn.”
Sebastian tilted his head, watching Blaine carefully. His smirk was gone now, replaced by something more serious. “I know,” he said quietly, his tone uncharacteristically soft. “I don’t like it either.”
Blaine looked at him, his expression conflicted. “She’s my best friend. She trusts me. And if she finds out like this…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “I don’t want to hurt her.”
Sebastian exhaled slowly, reaching out to rest a hand lightly on Blaine’s knee. His touch was steady, reassuring. “We’ll figure it out,” he said, his voice low but certain. “When the time’s right, we’ll tell her. Together.”
Blaine glanced down at Sebastian’s hand, his own trembling slightly as he placed it over Sebastian’s. “I just wish it didn’t have to be so complicated,” he murmured.
Sebastian smiled faintly, leaning in until their foreheads almost touched. “When has anything with us ever been simple?” he teased lightly, though there was an edge of truth to his words.
Blaine’s lips quirked up despite himself. “Never,” he admitted.
Sebastian chuckled softly, then closed the distance between them, pressing a gentle kiss to Blaine’s lips. Blaine sighed into it, his hand reaching for Sebastian’s face as if to anchor himself in the moment. For a while, the rest of the world faded away, the guilt, the fear, the complications. All that mattered was this.
The world seemed to fall away. The kiss was everything Blaine hadn’t let himself want, and yet here it was, real and consuming. Sebastian’s other hand rested on Blaine’s thigh, grounding him, as if to say I’m here. I’m yours.
What they didn’t see was Quinn, standing just behind the curtain wings.
She had come to meet Blaine after school, like they’d planned. She was going to call out to him when she saw Sebastian walk in, but something made her pause. Curiosity turned into confusion, and then into shock as she watched the scene unfold before her. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw Sebastian lean in and kiss Blaine. Her stomach twisted as realisation hit her like a freight train.
The curtain rustled faintly as Quinn stepped back, her heart pounding. She didn’t know how long she stood there, staring at the two of them, but eventually, she turned and left without saying a word.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
Dinner at the Fabray house was usually a lively affair, full of casual banter and the occasional good-natured ribbing. But tonight, something felt… off.
Quinn was unusually quiet, her fork pushing food around her plate more than actually eating. She offered the occasional nod or smile when their mom asked her something, but the spark that usually lit up her face was missing.
Blaine noticed it almost immediately. He’d been coming over for dinner with Quinn’s family for years, and he could read her moods better than most. Tonight, there was a tension in the air that he couldn’t quite put his finger on.
Sebastian, sitting across the table, seemed oblivious, or at least, he pretended to be. He was his usual charming self, cracking a joke about the burnt edges of the garlic bread that earned a laugh from their dad. But every now and then, Blaine felt Sebastian’s gaze flicker toward him, his smirk softening into something quieter.
Quinn, however, stole glances at both of them, her expression unreadable.
“Quinn, honey, are you feeling okay?” her mom asked, finally noticing her daughter’s uncharacteristic silence.
Quinn looked up, startled, as if she’d been caught in the middle of a thought. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she said quickly, forcing a small smile. “Just… tired. Long day.”
Blaine’s brow furrowed as he studied her. Something was definitely wrong, but he couldn’t ask her about it here, not in front of everyone.
Sebastian, catching Blaine’s concerned look, raised an eyebrow slightly as if to ask, What’s up? Blaine gave a small shrug in return, his stomach tightening.
After dinner, as they moved to the living room for dessert, Quinn lingered in the kitchen under the guise of helping her mom clean up. Blaine offered to help too, but she waved him off, her polite smile not quite reaching her eyes.
As Blaine sat on the couch next to Sebastian, his mind raced. He could feel the weight of Quinn’s stolen glances, and it was starting to gnaw at him. Did she know something? Did she see something?
Sebastian nudged him lightly with his elbow, his voice low. “You good?”
Blaine nodded quickly, though the tightness in his chest betrayed him. “Yeah. Fine.”
Quinn emerged, her face calm but her eyes sharp. “Blaine, can we talk? Upstairs?” she asked, her voice deceptively casual.
Sebastian’s gaze flicked between them, his smirk fading. Blaine hesitated for a second before nodding. “Yeah, sure.”
Blaine sat in Quinn’s room, the tension between them suffocating. She hadn’t spoken a word since she’d pulled him upstairs, and her silence felt heavier than any yelling could have. She stood near the window, arms crossed tightly, her back to him.
Finally, she broke the quiet. “How long has it been going on?”
Blaine froze. The bluntness of the question knocked the air out of him, and he couldn’t answer right away. Quinn turned to face him, her expression a mix of anger and hurt.
“How long?” she repeated, her voice sharper this time.
“Quinn…” Blaine started, his throat dry. “It’s not what you think.”
“Don’t,” she snapped, cutting him off. “Don’t try to spin this, Blaine. I saw you. I saw you kissing him.” Her voice cracked, and she looked away, swallowing hard. “My brother, Blaine. My brother.”
Blaine clenched his fists in his lap, guilt clawing at his chest. “I didn’t mean for you to find out like that,” he said softly.
“Oh, so I wasn’t supposed to find out at all?” Quinn shot back, her eyes narrowing. “You were just going to keep sneaking around behind my back?”
“It’s not like that!” Blaine said quickly, standing up. He took a step toward her, but Quinn held up a hand, stopping him in his tracks.
“Then what is it like?” she demanded. “Explain it to me, Blaine, because from where I’m standing, it feels like you’ve been lying to me for months. Do you know how humiliating it is to realize my best friend and my brother have been keeping something this huge from me? Do you have any idea how that feels?”
Blaine looked at her helplessly, his chest tight with shame. “I never wanted to hurt you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Well, congratulations,” Quinn said bitterly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You did.”
Blaine felt like the ground was crumbling beneath him. “Quinn, please,” he said, his voice cracking. “I didn’t know how to tell you. I was scared. I didn’t want to lose you.”
Quinn let out a hollow laugh, shaking her head. “You were scared? Blaine, do you even realize what you’ve done? You didn’t just lie to me, you broke my trust. How am I supposed to believe anything you say after this?”
Blaine’s heart ached at her words. “You mean everything to me, Quinn,” he said desperately. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to ruin what we have. I didn’t want to mess everything up.”
Quinn’s voice softened, but her expression stayed guarded. “You messed it up anyway,” she said quietly. “By lying. By hiding this from me.”
Blaine opened his mouth to respond, but he couldn’t find the words. The weight of her disappointment felt unbearable.
After a long, tense silence, Quinn sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “You should go,” she said, her voice flat. “I need time to think about this.”
“Quinn—” Blaine started, but she shook her head.
“Go, Blaine,” she repeated, her voice breaking slightly.
Blaine hesitated for a moment before nodding, his shoulders slumping. He walked to the door, his heart heavy with regret.
As he reached the stairs, he saw Sebastian standing at the bottom, his arms crossed, a concerned look on his face. Their eyes met, and Blaine shook his head slightly, signaling that things were far from okay.
Sebastian didn’t say anything, but his expression darkened. He glanced toward Quinn’s room before pulling Blaine into a brief, silent hug. It was quick, careful, but Blaine clung to it for the second it lasted.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
Sebastian was lying on his bed, lazily scrolling through his phone when his bedroom door flew open. He barely had time to sit up before Quinn stormed in, her face a storm cloud of fury.
“You,” she snapped, slamming the door behind her. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Sebastian blinked, caught off guard. “Good evening to you too, sis,” he said dryly, sitting up straighter. “What’s got your pearls in a twist?”
Quinn didn’t respond with words. Instead, she grabbed a pillow off his bed and smacked him square in the chest with it.
“Whoa!” Sebastian exclaimed, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “What was that for?”
“You know what it’s for!” Quinn shot back, her voice sharp with anger. “You and Blaine!” She hit him again, harder this time.
Sebastian caught the pillow before she could land another blow. “Okay, okay! Calm down!”
“Calm down?” Quinn repeated, her voice rising. “You’re hooking up with my best friend behind my back, and you want me to calm down?”
Sebastian’s smirk faltered, and he stood up, holding the pillow in one hand as he faced her. “Quinn, it’s not—”
“Don’t you dare say it’s not what I think!” she interrupted, jabbing a finger into his chest. “I saw you two. You were kissing him!”
Sebastian sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, we were,” he admitted, his voice low. “But it’s not what you think.”
“Really?” Quinn’s tone was dripping with sarcasm. “Because what I think is that you’re messing around with Blaine like you do with everyone else. He’s not just some hookup, Sebastian!”
“I know that!” Sebastian snapped, his voice sharper than he intended.
“You’re unbelievable,” Quinn hissed, turning to face him again. “How long has this been going on? Or do I not want to know?”
Sebastian leaned back against his desk, his arms crossed defensively. “Does it matter?”
“Yes, it matters!” Quinn exploded, her voice shaking with anger. “He’s my best friend, Sebastian. The one person I thought I could count on not to get dragged into your… your bullshit.”
Sebastian flinched at the venom in her tone, but he held his ground. “This isn’t bullshit, Quinn. I’m not playing around.”
Quinn laughed bitterly, shaking her head. “Sure, because that’s your specialty, isn’t it? Taking things seriously.”
He pushed off the desk, his frustration boiling over. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know you,” Quinn shot back. “I know you don’t do relationships. You flirt, you hook up, you move on. That’s how you’ve always been. And now, Blaine, Blaine of all people, is just another name on your list.”
“That’s not fair!” Sebastian snapped, his voice rising. “You don’t know how I feel about him.”
“Oh, I think I do,” Quinn said sharply. “You’re selfish, Sebastian. You don’t care about how this affects anyone else. Did you even think about what this would do to Blaine? To me?”
Sebastian exhaled harshly, running a hand through his hair. “I care about him, Quinn. I care about him more than I’ve cared about anyone.”
She scoffed, her disbelief plain on her face. “You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes!” Sebastian said fiercely. “Because it’s the truth! I get that you don’t trust me, and I get that I’ve screwed up in the past, but Blaine’s different. He makes me… want to be better.”
Quinn’s expression flickered for a moment, like she wanted to believe him but couldn’t bring herself to. Her voice softened slightly, but the edge of hurt was still there. “You should have told me, Sebastian. Both of you should have.”
Sebastian’s shoulders slumped, the weight of her words hitting him harder than he’d expected. “I know,” he said quietly. “We should have. I just… I didn’t know how.”
Quinn stared at him for a long moment, her arms still crossed. “You didn’t know how to tell me, but you knew how to sneak around behind my back? To kiss my best friend where anyone could walk in and see? God, Sebastian, you’re so reckless.”
Sebastian didn’t reply. He couldn’t.
“You might think you care about Blaine,” Quinn continued, her voice low but cutting. “But if you really cared, you wouldn’t have put him in this position. You wouldn’t have dragged him into your mess.”
“Quinn—”
“Don’t,” she snapped, her eyes flashing. “I’m mad at him, too, but you? You should have known better.”
Sebastian opened his mouth to respond, but she held up a hand, silencing him.
“I don’t even want to look at you right now,” she said, her voice trembling with barely-contained anger. “Just… stay away from me for a while, Sebastian. And for God’s sake, figure out what you actually want before you hurt Blaine more than you already have.”
With that, she turned on her heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
Sebastian sat back down on his bed, her words echoing in his head. For the first time in a long time, he wasn’t sure what to do.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
Quinn sat rigidly on Rachel’s bed, her arms crossed and her jaw tight. Her voice was low, cold, and deliberate when she spoke. “How long, Rachel? How long has this been going on between them?”
Rachel froze, guilt swirling in her chest as she avoided Quinn’s piercing gaze. “I… I’m not sure,” she admitted softly, but her tone made Quinn narrow her eyes. She didn’t believe her.
“Rachel,” Quinn said, her voice sharper now. “You know something. Don’t lie to me.”
Rachel sighed, running a hand through her hair as she tried to decide how much to say. She’d kept quiet about that night for months, convincing herself that it wasn’t her business and that Blaine and Sebastian would handle it. But now, looking at Quinn’s betrayed expression, she knew she couldn’t stay silent anymore.
“There was… something,” Rachel said hesitantly, sitting down beside Quinn. “A few months ago. After that Truth or Dare night at your place.”
Quinn’s eyes widened. “What?” she demanded.
Rachel exhaled slowly, clasping her hands in her lap. “I walked in on them,” she admitted quietly. “It was late. Most people had gone to bed, and you told me to ask Sebastian for his laptop. When I opened the door… they were there. Together.”
Quinn blinked, her confusion quickly giving way to anger. “What do you mean ‘together’? What exactly did you see?”
Rachel hesitated, guilt weighing heavy on her. “Sebastian had Blaine against the wall,” she said finally. “He wasn’t… they weren’t kissing. Not exactly. But it was close.”
Quinn’s breath hitched, her hands curling into fists. “Close?” she repeated.
Rachel nodded, her voice soft. “Sebastian was whispering something to him, and Blaine looked…” She trailed off, searching for the right words. “Conflicted. And then I walked in, and they stopped. Blaine swore it wasn’t anything, and he said it would stop, but—”
“Wait,” Quinn interrupted, her voice rising. “You knew? You knew about this, and you didn’t tell me?”
Rachel flinched at the accusation, her own frustration bubbling up. “I didn’t know it was still happening!” she defended. “I thought it was a one-time thing. Blaine said it would stop, and I believed him. I didn’t think he’d actually—”
“Lie to me,” Quinn finished bitterly, standing up and pacing the room. “He’s been lying to me this whole time. And you let him.”
“Quinn, I’m sorry,” Rachel said, standing as well. “I thought I was protecting you. I didn’t want to hurt you unless I had to. And I thought… I thought Blaine and Sebastian weren’t going to—”
“But they did,” Quinn snapped, her voice cracking as her emotions overwhelmed her. “They kept sneaking around behind my back. Behind Sam’s back. How could he do this? How could either of them?”
Quinn wasn’t even mad at Rachel. Her mind was racing with images of Blaine, her best friend, lying to her with every smile, every laugh, every word. And Sebastian… her brother. The one person who knew how much trust meant to her.
“Quinn,” Rachel said softly, her eyes full of sympathy. “I know you’re angry, and you have every right to be. But maybe you should talk to Blaine. Let him explain.”
Quinn laughed bitterly, wiping at her eyes. “Explain what? That he’s been sneaking around with Sebastian this whole time? That he was with my brother while still with Sam? What’s there to explain?”
Rachel didn’t have an answer. She could only stand there, watching helplessly as Quinn wrestled with her feelings of anger, betrayal, and heartbreak.
Quinn’s voice softened, trembling with hurt. “I trusted him, Rachel. And now… I don’t even know if I can look at him.”
Rachel’s heart ached as she watched Quinn walk toward the door, her shoulders tense, her head held high. “Quinn,” she called out gently.
Quinn paused but didn’t turn around.
“I know you feel betrayed,” Rachel said carefully. “But I also know Blaine. And I know he cares about you. Maybe… maybe you’ll hear him out one day.”
Quinn didn’t answer, didn’t even nod. She simply left, leaving Rachel alone in the room with nothing but the sound of the door clicking shut.