Author's note: Here is the sequel to Give All My Secrets Away. I hope you like this. Once again (as with GAMSA), I'm not in this alone. My bestie actresswithoutastage is helping me out on this. We're exchanging ideas and I even havce a scene that she's physically written going in here, not just the idea for the scene. I've yet to see it, but I know it will be great! And the fun thing is, I've never written around someone else's scene, so I'm pretty excited for this opportunity. And I think you should go check out her work. She just ended an Anderberry sibling fic called The Bells of New York City which is really good. She's going to do a sequel too!
Anyway, if you like this, perhaps you'll like my other stuff. You should go check them out. (There's an AU Brittana fic that I'm very much loving writing.)
Happy reading!
What I See
Sequel to Give All My Secrets Away
By Danielle Cheri
Chapter One
Dave looked at himself in the mirror over the bathroom sink for the thousandth time. He looked fine, he knew he did, but he was still nervous. After weeks of hanging out, mostly at Sebastian's house, Dave had finally agreed to an actual, official date. Sebastian suggested Breadsticks, a popular first-date spot in Lima. But because of its popularity Dave wasn't so sure.
"Everyone goes to Breadsticks. Let's do something different." Dave suggested. "There's this little pizza joint my dad and I used to go to when I was a kid. Still do on occasion. It's kind of out-of-the-way, but the food is fantastic."
"Sounds great." Sebastian had said.
They had agreed that Dave would pick Sebastian up at his place and bring him to the restaurant. But the thought of having Sebastian in his car as he drove through town was a bit frightening. No one knew he was gay except the few people from McKinley and Sebastian and Laird Smythe, Sebastian's dad. Dave still hadn't mustered up the courage to have that conversation with his own father.
"Looking sharp, Davey." His dad, Paul, commented. "What's the occasion?"
"Nothing, just going to hang out with a friend. That Sebastian guy? He's rich, you know. I always feel like a bum when I don't fix myself up." Did he hear the trembling that gave away the lie?
"Well, have fun. Don't stay out too late. You know your curfew."
"No problem, Dad." He rushed out of the house and sat in his car for a moment, taking several calming breaths before he started the car and headed across town.
Sebastian paced the front hall. His feet scuffed his feet on the floor. His father walked through and scolded him.
"Yeah, whatever, Dad." He mumbled.
"Don't do that, son, or you'll stay home tonight. Your friend can go on without you."
"My boyfriend." He corrected.
"Do you really have to do that?"
"Do what? Remind you of what you're sweeping under the rug?"
"Sebastian…" He began, but there was a sweep of headlights that signaled Dave had pulled into the drive. "Just… make good choices."
Sebastian smiled. "You too, Dad. Don't wait up." He bounded out the door, meeting Dave as he came up the steps. He grabbed his sleeve and pulled him away. "Come on, I'm starving."
They drove along in silence for a while before Sebastian slid across the bench seat and placed his hand on Dave's knee. He pressed a kiss to Dave's neck.
"Hey, stop that." He protested. "I'm driving."
"Just keep your eyes on the road."
"Sebastian, please." He lifted his hand of the steering wheel and gently patted Sebastian's cheek. "At least put your seat belt on if you're going to sit there."
He kissed Dave's cheek and then sat up to do as he'd been told. He peeled Dave's hand off the wheel and threaded their fingers together. "So how was work?"
"Boring. It always is." He smiled sideways. "Except for one day went this guy when crazy on his fancy sports car in the parking lot."
"Oh? Anyone I'd know?" Sebastian trailed the fingers of his free hand down Dave's arm.
"Naw. This guy was kind of arrogant." He kissed Sebastian's hand. "You know anyone like that?"
"My dad." He sighed.
"Still having trouble in therapy?"
"Yeah. I don't want to talk about it."
Dave nodded as he stopped at a red light. He looked over beside him and noticed the truck idling in the next lane was familiar. The driver looked over and met his eyes. Recognition flooded between them: they went to school together. Dave gunned the engine just as the light turned green a moment later.
He said quickly, "Move over, Sebastian. Now."
"Why?"
He looked in the rearview mirror. The truck was gaining on them. "That guy knows me. We can't be seen like this."
"You want to call tonight off?"
"No, I don't." He sighed. "Just move over, okay?"
Without a word, Sebastian moved to the passenger side of the car. He put on his seatbelt and stared out the window.
"Sebastian?"
"What?"
"I'm sorry."
He turned his face and smiled. "I'm fine."
The truck turned at the next intersection. Dave breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry." He said again.
They pulled into a small parking lot that only had a few other cars in it.
"This place looks…cozy." Sebastian commented.
Dave laughed. "My dad used to take me here every Saturday. As long as I kept my grades up." He got out and met Sebastian on the other side of the car. "The margerita is really good." He opened the door and ushered his date in front of him.
"Margerita? Really? You don't strike me as the type."
"And what were you expecting? Meat-lovers?" He sat at a table in the back of the restaurant away from the large front window and the few other customers.
"Yeah, actually." He said with a chuckle. "At least something less…I don't want to say 'girly.'"
"Then don't say it." Dave warned. "Want to split one?"
"Sure."
They placed their order and settled into a comfortable silence. Dave folded his hands on the table and sat forward, examining Sebastian as he took in his surroundings.
"So what do you think?"
"It's quaint."
"Okay, Mr. Hoity-toity." Dave scoffed.
He leaned closer over the table. "I didn't mean it in a bad way."
"I know." He smiled. "Just felt like teasing you."
Sebastian dropped his head to hide his smile. He mumbled, "Thanks. Not many people tease me, actually. I like it."
"Good." He got up and walked over to the juke box a few feet away. He fished some quarters out of his pocket. "Any requests?" he asked over his shoulder.
Sebastian walked over and looked at the song list. "Hank Williams? Patsy Cline? People actually listen to that?"
"I do. Sometimes." Dave put a few quarters in and punched in several songs. He moved back to his seat and waited for the machine to power up. Sebastian moved across from him. "I know you're more top 40, but they're not here. Well, Top 40 from the 1950s and 60s." He smiled and leaned back against the wall as the song finally started.
"I fall to pieces,
Each time I see you again.
I fall to pieces.
How can I be just your friend?"
Dave mouthed the words to the song. Sebastian watched him in fascination. He was interrupted by the delivery of their pizza to the table.
Sebastian smiled, "I've never heard this song."
"It's my dad's favorite."
They dug into their pizza.
"Oh my god." Sebastian said as he swallowed his first bite. "This is great."
"I told you." Dave chuckled.
They ate in silence until there was one slice left.
"You take it." Dave said. "It's yours. I already ate half the pizza."
"I'm stuffed, actually." Sebastian said. He reached across the table and put his hand on top of Dave's.
He jerked his hand away. "Don't." he warned.
Sebastian looked around the restaurant. There were no other customers and the staff were currently in the back. He tried again.
"Sebastian, stop. Please." He pleaded.
"There's no one in here right now." Sebastian argued.
"They could walk back in."
"Because it's not already obvious with two guys are sharing a pizza."
"As long as we don't touch…"
"Right."
"What do you want, Sebastian?"
"I want to feel like I'm more than just your dirty little secret. Have you even told your dad? I'm sure he's probably guessed by now with as much as we 'hang out'" he made air quotes around the words, "at my place."
"What are you insinuating?"
"That you're ashamed of me or something."
He leaned closer and whispered harshly. "If I were ashamed of you, I wouldn't be here with you."
"You're not the only on in this, Dave." He reached across the table again. "I want to be more than just—"
Dave turned his hand over and curled his fingers around Sebastian's, "Okay. Starting with this."
They didn't move for several seconds. Dave smiled and then stood, removing his hand. He snatched up the check before Sebastian could look at it and walked over to the register to pay while Sebastian stood just a few inches behind him.
As they walked out the restaurant, Sebastian placed his hand on Dave's lower back. He didn't pull away until they got to his car.
"You want to come inside for a bit when you drop me off? I'm sure Dad wouldn't mind. He never does." Sebastian said.
"I know, but my dad does. I told him I wouldn't be out too late." He smiled apologetically. "Maybe tomorrow?"
He made a face. "I wish. Therapy."
"You can come over to my place after if you need to."
He shrugged. "Maybe. They usually drain me."
"I know. Call at least?"
"Sure. Of course." He smiled. "I wish you could stay. I just really want to make out with you."
Dave smiled and pulled over into an empty parking lot. He stopped under a busted light. He unbuckled his seatbelt and turned. He reached out and pulled Sebastian closer. "Come here." He growled.
Sebastian chuckled and moved closer. His hands tangled in Dave's hair as their mouths connected. Dave slid his hands up Sebastian's arms and came to rest on his cheeks to hold his face close. The kiss went on and on. Dave never wanted it to stop.
Sebastian smiled against Dave's lips and pulled back slightly. "I really needed that. Thank you."
"Any time. All you have to do is ask."
Sebastian kissed him quickly and then moved away. "You need to get home. I don't want to upset your dad. I want to be able to see you."
Dave pulled him closer. "Sit here." He draped his arm over Sebastian's shoulders as he pulled out of the parking lot.