Chapter 16
Quinn walked into the kitchen, already halfway through a text to Rachel about their plans for the weekend. She barely glanced up as she reached for the fridge, but a movement in her peripheral vision made her pause. Turning her head, she froze mid-step.
There, in the corner of the kitchen, were Sebastian and Blaine, locked in a kiss that could only be described as… intense.
Quinn blinked, unsure whether to laugh, roll her eyes, or pretend she hadn’t seen anything. Ultimately, her instinct to tease won out.
“Ugh, gross!” she blurted, dropping her phone onto the counter with an exaggerated grimace. “Do you two ever take a break from being nauseating?”
Sebastian and Blaine broke apart instantly, both jumping like they’d been caught sneaking cookies before dinner. Blaine’s face flushed a deep red, while Sebastian merely sighed, shooting his sister an annoyed look.
“Don’t you knock before entering a room?” Sebastian deadpanned, crossing his arms like it was her fault for walking into her own kitchen.
Quinn snorted. “It’s a kitchen, not your personal love nest. You two better disinfect that counter before Mom sees.”
Blaine buried his face in his hands, mumbling something about never living this down, while Sebastian leaned casually against the counter, clearly unbothered.
“You’re just jealous,” Sebastian said with a smirk, reaching for an apple from the fruit bowl.
Quinn raised an eyebrow. “Jealous? Please. I have Rachel. I don’t need to scar people with public displays of affection like you two.” She turned to Blaine, her expression softening into something more playful. “But seriously, Blaine, why my brother? You could do so much better.”
Sebastian rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, very funny.”
Blaine peeked out from between his fingers, managing a sheepish smile. “I’m just going to… leave,” he said, edging toward the doorway.
“Oh no, you don’t,” Quinn said, blocking his path with a grin. “You’re not escaping that easily. I have questions.”
Sebastian groaned, tossing the apple in the air before catching it. “Here we go.”
Quinn leaned against the counter, crossing her arms as she gave Blaine a pointed look. “First question: how does it feel to date the most annoying person on the planet?”
Blaine laughed nervously, glancing at Sebastian. “Um… it’s not so bad?”
“Not so bad?” Sebastian repeated, feigning offense.
Quinn grinned, enjoying the banter. “Well, I guess if anyone can handle him, it’s you.” She paused, then added with mock seriousness, “Just keep the kitchen PG, okay?”
Sebastian rolled his eyes again, but Blaine chuckled, his tension easing. Despite the teasing, there was warmth in Quinn’s tone that reassured him everything was okay. As she grabbed her phone and headed out of the kitchen, she glanced back at them with a smirk.
“Carry on, lovebirds. Just… maybe don’t make me witness it next time.”
Sebastian waited until she was gone before turning to Blaine, shaking his head. “She’s impossible.”
Blaine laughed, still blushing. “She’s your sister.”
“And your best friend,” Sebastian pointed out, leaning closer.
Blaine smiled, his heart fluttering as Sebastian leaned in for another quick kiss. “Yeah,” he said softly. “Lucky me.”
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
Quinn stood in front of the full-length mirror in the boutique, adjusting the straps of a shimmering silver gown that clung perfectly to her frame. Her mom stood nearby, her expression equal parts sentimental and critical as she observed.
“You look stunning, sweetheart,” her mom said warmly, tilting her head to get a better view. “But I’m not sure about the neckline. What do you think?”
Quinn turned slightly, inspecting the dress from another angle. “I like it,” she admitted, though there was a slight hesitation in her tone. “But maybe it’s a little too… sparkly?”
From his spot on the plush bench near the dressing rooms, Sebastian snorted. “That’s the point, Quinn. It’s prom, not jury duty. Go big or go home.”
Quinn rolled her eyes at her brother’s commentary. “Says the guy who picked a classic black tux and called it a day.”
Sebastian smirked, leaning back with his arms crossed. “Because I don’t need sparkles to stand out. Unlike you, apparently.”
Their mom shot him a look. “Be nice, Sebastian. This is her moment.” She turned back to Quinn with a thoughtful expression. “Maybe try the emerald green one next? I think that color would be beautiful on you.”
Quinn sighed but nodded, stepping back into the dressing room. As she closed the curtain, she called out, “Sebastian, remind me again why you’re here? Didn’t you say you hated shopping?”
“I hate shopping for me,” he replied, pulling out his phone to scroll absentmindedly. “Watching you struggle to find a dress? That’s entertainment.”
Their mom shook her head, suppressing a smile. “You’re here because I thought it’d be nice for you to support your sister.”
Sebastian smirked but didn’t reply, his attention now on his phone.
A few minutes later, Quinn emerged wearing the emerald green dress. The rich color contrasted beautifully with her blonde hair, and even Sebastian’s usual sarcasm faltered for a moment as he glanced up.
“Wow,” their mom said, clasping her hands together. “That’s it. That’s the one.”
Quinn turned to the mirror, smoothing the fabric and tilting her head thoughtfully. “It does look pretty good, doesn’t it?”
“Pretty good?” Sebastian said, finally setting his phone aside. “You look like you belong on a red carpet.”
Quinn raised an eyebrow, surprised at the lack of sarcasm in his tone. “Thanks… I think?”
Their mom beamed. “It’s perfect. Let’s get it.”
As they moved to finalize the purchase, Quinn looked over at Sebastian. “So, are you and Blaine going to match, or are you just going to wing it?”
Sebastian shrugged, a sly smile playing on his lips. “Don’t worry about us. We’ve got it covered.”
Quinn rolled her eyes but smiled. “Just don’t overshadow me, okay? This is my night to shine.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Sebastian teased, but there was genuine affection in his tone as they all left the boutique together, ready for the big night ahead.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
It had been a long evening filled with laughter and lingering conversations. Blaine and Rachel had planned to head home after dinner, but Quinn and Sebastian’s mom had insisted they stay the night.
“It’s already late, and the roads might be a bit dangerous,” she’d said firmly, leaving no room for argument. “Besides, it’ll be fun. Like a sleepover.”
Quinn raised an eyebrow at the term but didn’t argue. “Yeah, sure, stay. Rachel can crash in my room.”
“And Blaine?” Rachel asked, glancing at him.
“Guest room’s open,” Mrs. Smythe said, though Sebastian cleared his throat.
“There’s plenty of room in my room,” he said nonchalantly, leaning against the doorframe. “I mean, if Blaine doesn’t mind.”
Blaine’s cheeks tinged pink, but he nodded. “That works for me.”
Quinn rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath about how subtle her brother was. Rachel smirked, nudging her playfully.
Once everyone was settled, Quinn and Rachel disappeared into Quinn’s room, and the sound of their laughter occasionally drifted into the hallway. Blaine followed Sebastian upstairs, his heart thudding a little harder than he liked to admit.
Sebastian pushed open his bedroom door and gestured for Blaine to step inside. “Make yourself at home,” he said, his usual smirk in place but softer than usual.
Blaine sat awkwardly on the edge of Sebastian’s bed as he looked around. The room was surprisingly tidy, with lacrosse trophies lined up on a shelf and a few framed photos on the dresser. One of the photos caught Blaine’s eye, it was a picture of the four of them as kids, smiling widely at the camera: Sebastian, Quinn, Sam, and Blaine. “Oh my god, this is so cute.”
Sebastian noticed and chuckled. “Yeah, mom loves that one. We all looked pretty innocent back then.” He sat down next to Blaine, following his gaze. “It’s strange, though. Feels like forever ago.”
Blaine nodded, his eyes lingering on the photo. The four of them had grown up together, inseparable. Sam’s carefree smile in the photo tugged at something deep inside him, a reminder of how things used to be before everything changed.
“Sam looks so happy,” Blaine said quietly, his voice soft with nostalgia.
Sebastian’s expression shifted slightly at the mention of Sam, but he quickly masked it with a casual shrug. “Yeah, we were all a lot younger. Things were simpler then.”
Blaine smiled, a little wistfully. “I miss those days.”
Sebastian met his eyes, his voice a little more serious than usual. “Me too.” There was a brief pause before he gave Blaine a teasing look. “Did you just call me cute, by the way?”
Blaine blinked, caught off guard. “I said the picture’s cute.”
Sebastian raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Uh-huh. Sure.”
Blaine rolled his eyes, but the teasing felt lighter than it had before, easier. They both laughed, and for a moment, the heaviness that usually hung between them seemed to dissipate.
Blaine yawned, covering his mouth quickly.
“Tired?” Sebastian asked, sitting up a little straighter.
“Maybe a little,” Blaine admitted, rubbing his eyes.
Sebastian stood up and grabbed an extra blanket from his closet, tossing it onto the bed. “You can take the bed. I’ll crash on the floor.”
“What? No, I can’t take your bed,” Blaine protested, standing up.
“Blaine.” Sebastian gave him a pointed look. “You’re taking the bed.”
Blaine hesitated, but then noticed how sincere Sebastian’s expression was. He sighed and gave in. “Fine. But only if you’re sure.”
“I’m sure,” Sebastian said, smirking as he grabbed a pillow for himself and plopped onto the floor.
As Blaine settled into the bed, he glanced over the edge to see Sebastian lying on his back, staring at the ceiling.
“Come on,” Blaine said, gesturing to the bed. “You don’t have to sleep on the floor. There’s enough room.”
Sebastian blinked, surprised, then smirked a little. “You sure?”
“Yeah,” Blaine said, smiling. “It’s more comfortable than the floor.”
Sebastian hesitated for a moment but then stood and climbed into the bed beside Blaine. They both shifted slightly, finding a comfortable position. Sebastian laid on his back, staring at the ceiling.
“Thanks,” Blaine said quietly, his voice carrying more weight than the simple word implied.
Sebastian turned his head slightly to look at Blaine, his smirk softened into something more genuine. “Anytime.”
The room fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that didn’t need to be filled. Eventually, Blaine drifted off to sleep, feeling a warmth he hadn’t realized he’d been missing. There was something in the air now, something between them, that made this simple act feel like it was more than just sharing a bed. It was something that was slowly, quietly shifting.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
Blaine stirred awake slowly, feeling the faint morning light streaming through the curtains. He was warm, comfortable, even. His head rested on something firm yet oddly soothing, and the steady rise and fall beneath him was like a soft lullaby. Blinking sleepily, Blaine realised he was curled up on Sebastian’s chest, his cheek pressed against the thin fabric of his T-shirt.
His breath caught for a moment, but the panic he expected didn’t come. Instead, a strange sense of calm washed over him. Sebastian’s arm was draped lazily around Blaine’s back, his hand resting lightly at Blaine’s waist. Blaine could hear the steady thrum of Sebastian’s heartbeat beneath him, a sound he found unexpectedly comforting.
“Morning,” Sebastian’s voice came, low and raspy from sleep. Blaine tilted his head slightly, glancing up to find Sebastian looking down at him with a half-smile, his eyes still heavy with sleep but unmistakably fond.
“morning,” Blaine mumbled, feeling heat rush to his cheeks but making no effort to move. If anything, he seemed to settle further into the warmth of Sebastian’s embrace.
“You know,” Sebastian started, his voice teasing but soft, “I don’t usually let people use me as a pillow. Consider yourself lucky.”
Blaine huffed out a laugh. “Lucky, huh?”
“Very,” Sebastian said, his smirk widening. His hand shifted slightly at Blaine’s waist, his fingers brushing gently along the fabric of Blaine’s shirt. “Though I might be the lucky one. You’re a pretty cute blanket.”
Blaine couldn’t stop the smile tugging at his lips, despite the blush creeping up his neck. “You’re ridiculous,” he murmured, though there was no bite in his tone.
Sebastian chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest and against Blaine’s cheek. “Maybe. But you stayed, so what does that say about you?”
Blaine groaned softly, hiding his face against Sebastian’s chest to avoid his gaze. “That I’m too tired to argue with you right now,” he muttered.
“Or,” Sebastian countered, tilting his head slightly to try and meet Blaine’s eyes, “that you like waking up like this.”
Blaine peeked up at him, his smile growing shy. “Maybe,” he admitted quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sebastian’s teasing expression softened, his smirk giving way to something more sincere. “Me too,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost tender.
For a moment, they just stayed like that, Blaine still resting on Sebastian’s chest, the morning light painting the room in soft gold. Blaine couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this at ease, this safe.
“Sebastian?” Blaine asked after a moment, his voice still soft.
“Yeah?” Sebastian replied, his hand absently brushing against Blaine’s back in slow, comforting movements.
“What do you think happens after this?” Blaine’s voice was quiet but carried the weight of uncertainty.
Sebastian blinked his eyes open a little more, tilting his head to meet Blaine’s gaze. “After this?”
Blaine hesitated, biting his lip before continuing. “After prom. After graduation. After… everything changes.”
Sebastian was silent for a moment, his thumb tracing small circles on Blaine’s arm as he thought. “I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice soft and honest. “But I know I don’t want this-” he gestured between them with a small smile “-to be something that changes. Do you?”
Blaine shook his head quickly, his chest tightening at the thought. “No. I don’t.”
“Then it won’t,” Sebastian said simply, his confidence almost enough to soothe Blaine’s nerves. “We’ll figure it out. Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it together.”
Blaine smiled, his head resting against Sebastian’s chest again. “Together sounds nice.”
Sebastian leaned down, pressing a kiss to the top of Blaine’s head. “It does, doesn’t it?”
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
The kitchen was buzzing with the smell of coffee and pancakes as all four of them sat around the table. Quinn and Rachel were seated on one side, leaning into each other as they sipped their coffee, while Blaine and Sebastian took the other. Sebastian had his arm casually draped over the back of Blaine’s chair, his fingers brushing lightly against Blaine’s shoulder. Blaine didn’t seem to mind, in fact, he seemed perfectly at ease.
“So,” Quinn began, breaking the comfortable silence as she glanced around the table. “Prom’s next week. Anyone else freaking out, or is it just me?”
Rachel laughed softly. “Why would you be freaking out? You’ve had your dress picked out for weeks, and you’ve been planning this since sophomore year.”
“Exactly!” Quinn exclaimed, gesturing dramatically with her fork. “That’s why I’m freaking out. What if it doesn’t live up to my expectations?”
Sebastian rolled his eyes with a smirk. “It’s a prom, Quinn, not the Met Gala.”
Quinn shot him a look. “Says the guy who already has his tux custom-tailored.”
Sebastian grinned, leaning back in his chair. “Hey, I like to be prepared. Besides, my date deserves the best.”
At that, Blaine’s cheeks flushed, and he busied himself with his plate, though he couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at his lips.
Rachel, catching the exchange, raised an eyebrow. “Speaking of dates, I don’t think you’ve mentioned your plans, Blaine.”
Blaine glanced up, looking between her and Quinn, who was now eyeing him curiously. “Uh, yeah. I’m going with Sebastian.”
Quinn let out a mock gasp, her hand flying to her chest. “No way. My best friend and my brother? I had no idea!” She smirked, making Rachel laugh.
“Wow, you’re hilarious,” Blaine said dryly, though his smile gave him away.
Quinn shrugged. “What can I say? I’m here for the drama.”
Sebastian chuckled, nudging Blaine gently. “At least you’re not stuck with her for a date. Trust me, she’s insufferable on the dance floor.”
“Excuse me!” Quinn said indignantly, though she was clearly amused. “I happen to have excellent moves.”
Rachel leaned into her girlfriend with a grin. “You really don’t.”
Quinn gasped again, this time more dramatically. “Traitor.”
The table erupted into laughter, the playful banter bouncing between them. Despite the teasing, the excitement for prom was palpable, the kind of energy that only came with knowing something special was just around the corner.