Chapter 18
As the car pulled into Blaine’s driveway, the air between them shifted, the playful banter replaced by something softer. Sebastian stopped the car and turned the engine off, both of them staying there for a moment in silence.
Blaine met his gaze, a smile tugging at his lips. “I had a great time, Sebastian. I’m really glad you’re in my life.”
Sebastian’s eyes softened, and for a moment, Blaine thought he could hear the unspoken words hanging between them. “Me too, Blaine.”
The moment stretched on until Blaine leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to Sebastian’s cheek. “I’ll see you later?” he asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Sebastian’s smile grew, his usual confidence replaced by something more tender. “Of course. I’ll text you.”
Blaine opened the car door, stepping out but turning back before he shut it. “Bye, Seb.”
“Later, Blaine.”
As Blaine walked toward the front door, he couldn’t shake the feeling that everything had changed. It wasn’t just prom, or the crown, or the night. It was the way he felt about Sebastian now, more than before. Like they were finally starting something real. Something that wasn’t just a moment, but a future.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
Blaine’s smile faltered the second he stepped into the living room, his heart sinking slightly at the sight of Sam sitting on the couch, looking a little out of place. His mom was in the kitchen, humming to herself as she made breakfast, seemingly unaware of the tension brewing in the room.
Sam looked up as Blaine entered, his eyes bright but guarded. He was wearing the same tux from prom, though it seemed a little out of place in the bright, quiet morning light. Blaine hesitated in the doorway, the sudden rush of memories—of the time they’d spent together, the way things had ended—flooding back in a single wave.
“Sam…” Blaine said, his voice coming out a little softer than he meant.
Sam stood slowly, his face tight with an unreadable expression. “Hey, Blaine.” He ran a hand through his hair, the movement nervous. “I… I wanted to talk. If that’s okay.”
Blaine swallowed, glancing toward the kitchen where his mom was busy. It felt like the walls were closing in. He wasn’t sure what Sam was doing here, especially after everything that had happened.
“What’s up?” Blaine finally asked, keeping his tone neutral, though his stomach churned a little.
Sam cleared his throat, taking a step forward. “Look, I know things ended weird. And I know I didn’t exactly leave things on the best note…” He trailed off, a flicker of regret in his eyes. “I just-I didn’t want you to think I forgot about you, or that I didn’t care. I came back because I didn’t want you to go to prom alone. I guess I just-I didn’t realise you’d have someone else with you.”
Blaine’s chest tightened, and he took a breath, trying to keep his emotions in check. He had moved on from Sam. But seeing him, hearing the sincerity in his voice, it stirred something deep inside Blaine, something he hadn’t fully dealt with.
“I don’t need you to fix things, Sam,” Blaine said softly, his voice steady despite the ache in his chest. “I’ve moved on. I’m not the same person I was when we were together. I’ve got someone now.” He paused, letting the words hang between them. “I’m happy.”
There was a long pause. Sam didn’t say anything at first, his gaze flicking down to the floor, as if processing the weight of Blaine’s words. Finally, he nodded, his voice low. “Yeah. I get it. I guess I was just… hoping, I don’t know, that maybe things were different.”
Blaine nodded, offering a small, appreciative smile, though there was a hint of bittersweetness in it. “I know.”
Then, as if unable to stop himself, Sam stepped closer to Blaine, his hand gently touching his shoulder as he gave him a soft, lingering kiss on the cheek, a final gesture of affection, of the past that wasn’t quite fully behind them yet.
When he pulled away, Blaine stood frozen for a second, the sensation of the kiss lingering on his skin, before Sam took a step back, a rueful smile on his lips.
“Goodbye, Blaine,” Sam said softly, his voice barely audible, before turning toward the door to leave.
For a long moment, Blaine stood still, staring at the empty doorway. The room felt heavier now, quieter, and Blaine felt the weight of what had just happened settle over him. He wiped a tear away, taking a deep breath and straightening his shoulders. It was over. Sam had kissed him goodbye, finally, and Blaine was ready to move forward.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
The morning of graduation was a mix of nerves and excitement for all four of them. Blaine woke up to the smell of coffee and pancakes wafting from the kitchen. His cap and gown were neatly laid out on his bed, and he stood in front of the mirror for a moment, adjusting his tie and trying to calm the butterflies in his stomach.
When Blaine came downstairs, his mom beamed at him, holding her phone up to snap pictures. “My graduate!” she said, wiping a tear from her cheek. “You look so handsome, Blaine. I can’t believe this day is finally here.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Blaine said, smiling softly.
“Are you nervous?”
“A little,” he admitted, sitting down to the plate of pancakes she’d made. “But I’m mostly excited.”
“Well, you should be. You’ve worked so hard for this, and I’m so proud of you.” She leaned over and kissed the top of his head, making Blaine’s heart swell.
After breakfast, Blaine double-checked his cap and gown before heading out. His mom drove them to the school, where the front lawn was already crowded with students and families. It didn’t take long for Blaine to spot Quinn and Rachel in the sea of people.
Quinn looked radiant in her gown, with Rachel by her side, her arm looped through Quinn’s. Rachel was already holding a bouquet of flowers, her other hand waving enthusiastically when she saw Blaine.
“There you are!” Rachel called.
Blaine smiled and made his way over to them, where he was immediately pulled into a hug by Quinn. “We did it!” she said, her grin infectious.
“I can’t believe it,” Blaine replied, glancing around. “Where’s Sebastian?”
“Right here,” came a familiar voice.
Blaine turned to see Sebastian walking up, his gown slightly wrinkled, but his smirk firmly in place. As he approached, Sebastian stepped forward, pulling Blaine into a quick hug. “Look at you,” Sebastian said, his voice low and teasing. “You clean up nice.”
“You don’t look too bad yourself,” Blaine replied, his cheeks warming as Sebastian smirked.
Quinn rolled her eyes. “Can you two not? It’s graduation, not date night.”
Rachel chuckled. “Let them have their moment. It’s a big day.”
The ceremony itself was a mix of laughter and tears. All four of them sat in the same row, sneaking glances at one another as the principal gave their speech. When Quinn’s name was called, Rachel practically jumped out of her seat, cheering loudly. Quinn walked across the stage with confidence, her smile lighting up the room.
Next was Blaine, who felt his heart race as he shook hands with the principal and accepted his diploma. The applause was deafening, and when he glanced at the crowd, he saw his mom wiping her eyes and Sebastian clapping loudly, pride written all over his face.
Sebastian and Rachel followed soon after, both earning loud cheers from their friends and families. When the ceremony ended, the four of them found each other in the chaos of the crowd.
“We’re officially done,” Blaine said, his voice tinged with awe.
“Don’t remind me,” Quinn replied, though her smile betrayed her excitement.
Rachel wrapped her arms around Quinn. “It’s the beginning of something new. Don’t get all sentimental on me now.”
“I’m not sentimental,” Quinn protested, though she was clearly holding back tears.
Sebastian chuckled, pulling Blaine closer. “You’re all a bunch of saps.”
“Says the guy who kept clapping the loudest,” Blaine teased, grinning up at him.
Sebastian shrugged. “What can I say? My boyfriend deserves it.”
Rachel insisted on taking a million photos, making them pose in every combination possible. “One with just the couples!” she declared, positioning Quinn and herself on one side, and Blaine and Sebastian on the other.
By the time they left the school, the sun was high in the sky, and their stomachs were growling. They decided to grab lunch at their favorite diner, where they laughed and reminisced over milkshakes and fries.
“That speech from Principal Harvey was way too long,” Sebastian said, rolling his eyes as he dipped a fry into ketchup.
Rachel nodded. “I thought he’d never stop.”
“But it was a good day,” Blaine said softly, looking around at his friends, and his boyfriend.
Quinn raised her milkshake. “To us. To graduation. And to whatever comes next.”
“To us,” they all echoed, clinking their glasses together.
That evening, Blaine’s mom hosted a small celebration for them at her house. There were more pictures, more laughter, and even a teary toast from his mom that left everyone misty-eyed. As the night wound down, the four of them sat on the porch, watching the stars.
“This is it,” Blaine said quietly. “The end of one chapter and the start of another.”
Quinn smiled, leaning her head on Rachel’s shoulder. “We’ll be fine. We’ve got each other.”
Sebastian squeezed Blaine’s hand. “And no matter where we go, or what happens, I’m not letting go of you.”
Blaine looked at him, his heart full. “Good. Because I’m not letting go either.”
The four of them sat there for a while, soaking in the moment, knowing that while the future was uncertain, they would always have this day, and each other.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
The four of them sat on Quinn’s back porch, the summer air warm and tinged with the faint smell of flowers from the garden. It had been their spot all summer—lazy afternoons turning into evenings filled with laughter, stories, and shared plans for the future. Now, it was their last night together before they all left for college, and the reality of it was settling in.
Blaine leaned against Sebastian, who had his arm draped casually over Blaine’s shoulders. Quinn was curled up in one of the chairs, her legs tucked under her, with Rachel sitting cross-legged on the floor beside her. They were surrounded by empty soda cans and snack wrappers, remnants of a night spent trying to make the most of their dwindling time together.
Rachel broke the silence first. “I hate this,” she said softly, her voice tinged with melancholy.
Quinn reached down to take her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Me too,” she admitted. “But it’s not like we’re saying goodbye forever. We’ll visit. We’ll call.”
“Every week,” Blaine added, his tone firm. “No matter what. We’ll make it work.”
Rachel looked up at him, her eyes glassy. “You promise?”
“I promise,” Blaine said, nodding. “All of us. We’ll check in, catch up, and make time for each other. Even if it’s just a quick call or a video chat.”
Sebastian smirked, though it lacked his usual sharpness. “And if you two slack off, Quinn and I will hunt you down.”
Quinn chuckled, though it sounded more like a sigh. “You’d love that, wouldn’t you?”
“Maybe,” Sebastian teased, but his hand absentmindedly rubbed Blaine’s shoulder as if grounding himself in the moment.
“Do you think it’ll feel different?” Blaine asked, his voice quiet. “Not being together all the time?”
“It’ll feel weird,” Rachel admitted. “But we’re not going to lose each other. We’ve been through too much for that.”
Quinn nodded. “Distance doesn’t mean anything when you care about people. We’ll be fine.”
Sebastian leaned forward, his usual cocky demeanor replaced by something softer. “Besides, none of you are getting rid of me that easily.”
Rachel smiled at him, and for once, there was no banter, no teasing. Just understanding. “Same here.”
Quinn glanced at her phone, noting the time. “It’s getting late.” Her voice cracked slightly, and she cleared her throat, sitting up straighter. “But… I don’t want this to end.”
Rachel looked around at all of them, her heart aching but full. “Then let’s make a pact. Right here, right now. No matter where we are or what’s going on, we’ll always come back to this. To us.”
Blaine reached out his free hand toward Rachel, his smile wobbly. “I’m in.”
Rachel took it, then extended her other hand to Sebastian, who rolled his eyes but took it anyway.
Quinn joined last, placing her hand on top. “To us,” she said softly.
“To us,” they echoed, their voices a mix of resolve and hope.
They stayed like that for a moment, the weight of the promise settling over them. Eventually, the night turned quiet again, the sound of crickets filling the gaps in conversation.
Rachel yawned and leaned her head against Quinn’s shoulder. “I’m going to cry so much tomorrow, you guys have no idea.”
“You’re not the only one,” Blaine admitted.
Quinn smiled softly. “It’s okay to cry. We’ve earned it.”
Sebastian snorted, trying to hide his own emotion. “You all are ridiculous.”
“You’ll cry too,” Blaine said, smirking at him.
Sebastian glanced at him, his smirk faltering. “Yeah, maybe.”
They all laughed softly, and for the rest of the night, they shared stories, dreams, and even a few tears. When the time came to finally say goodbye, none of them wanted to leave, but they knew they’d always carry this night—and each other, with them, no matter where life took them next.
-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-
The next morning, the air was heavy with the weight of goodbyes. Quinn, Blaine, Rachel, and Sebastian stood in the driveway of the Smythe house, their cars packed and ready to go. The summer had passed in a blur, and now it was time to face the next chapter of their lives, separately.
Rachel was the first to step forward, wrapping Quinn in a tight hug. “You’re going to do amazing,” Rachel said softly, her voice thick with emotion.
Quinn held her close, fighting back tears. “So will you,” she whispered, pulling back just enough to look Rachel in the eye. “And we’ll call every day. No excuses.”
“Every day,” Rachel promised, her hands lingering on Quinn’s arms before stepping away reluctantly.
Next, Rachel turned to Blaine, who opened his arms for a hug. “I’m going to miss you so much,” she said, her voice breaking slightly.
“Me too,” Blaine said, squeezing her tightly. “But you’re going to crush it out there, Rachel. I know you will.”
Rachel nodded, sniffling as she let go and turned to Sebastian. She hesitated, but he smirked and opened his arms dramatically. “Come on, Berry, let’s get this over with.”
Rachel rolled her eyes but stepped into the hug. “Take care of Blaine,” she said softly, surprising him with the seriousness in her tone.
“I will,” Sebastian replied, his usual bravado tempered by sincerity.
Quinn stepped forward next, pulling Blaine into a hug. “Don’t forget me, okay?” she said, her voice trembling.
“Never,” Blaine said, his own eyes misting. “You’re my best friend, Quinn. Always.”
“Always,” she echoed, holding on a moment longer before stepping back to hug Sebastian.
“Be nice to him,” she said, giving him a pointed look.
Sebastian smirked. “When am I not nice?”
Quinn raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. Instead, she gave him a quick hug before stepping back.
Finally, Blaine turned to Sebastian. They didn’t say anything at first, just looking at each other as if trying to memorise every detail.
The others loaded into their cars, giving Blaine and Sebastian a moment alone before they said goodbye.
Sebastian smiled softly, tucking his hands into his pockets as he watched Blaine fidget with the strap of his bag.
Blaine looked up at him, his chest tightening. He tried to speak, but the lump in his throat refused to budge. Instead, his eyes brimmed with tears, one slipping down his cheek before he could stop it.
“Blaine,” Sebastian murmured, his teasing demeanor melting away. He stepped forward, cupping Blaine’s face and brushing the tear away with his thumb. “Hey, don’t do that. You’re going to make me cry too, and I have a reputation to uphold.”
Blaine let out a shaky laugh, but it quickly dissolved into a sob. He covered his face with his hands, trying to pull himself together, but it was no use. “I don’t want to go,” he admitted, his voice breaking.
Sebastian’s heart ached at the sight of him. He pulled Blaine into his arms, holding him tightly as Blaine buried his face in his shoulder. “I know,” Sebastian said softly, rubbing Blaine’s back. “I don’t want you to go either. But this isn’t goodbye, okay? It’s just…see you later.”
“It doesn’t feel like that,” Blaine whispered, his voice muffled against Sebastian’s shirt.
Sebastian pulled back slightly, just enough to tilt Blaine’s chin up so their eyes met. “Blaine,” he said firmly, his voice steady. “We’re going to make this work. I don’t care how far apart we are, I’ll call you, text you, FaceTime you. Hell, I’ll even write you a letter if that’s what it takes. You’re not losing me.”
Blaine sniffled, his tears slowing as he looked into Sebastian’s determined gaze. “Promise?” he asked, his voice trembling.
“I promise,” Sebastian said without hesitation. “You’re stuck with me, Anderson.”
That brought a small, watery smile to Blaine’s face, and Sebastian leaned down to press a soft kiss to his lips. It wasn’t rushed or heated, it was grounding, a reminder of everything they’d built together and everything they’d continue to be.
When they finally pulled apart, Blaine rested his forehead against Sebastian’s, closing his eyes. “I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you too,” Sebastian replied, his voice low and steady.
With one last lingering hug, Blaine reluctantly stepped back and wiped at his face, his tears under control now. He glanced back at his car, where his mom was waiting patiently, then turned to Sebastian one last time.
“See you later,” Blaine said, his voice still thick with emotion but laced with hope.
“See you later,” Sebastian echoed, his smirk softening into a genuine smile.
Blaine climbed into the car and waved as they pulled away, his heart aching but full. As Sebastian watched the car disappear down the street, he stood there for a moment, committing the memory to his heart.
He stayed rooted to the spot, staring at the empty road. He exhaled deeply, shoving his hands into his pockets as he muttered to himself, “We’ve got this.”
Because they would. Even if they couldn’t see each other every day, even if the nights felt longer and the weeks stretched on, Blaine and Sebastian both knew that love, real love, wasn’t defined by proximity.
It was defined by effort, trust, and the belief that they were building something that distance could never break. And for them, that was more than enough.
Fin