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Trigger warning for bullying and abuse.
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Feel free to give constructive criticism, but please, no hate.
Chapter one.
"Hey Sebby, didn't think I'd see you here!"
I tensed, turning around at the familiar voice, hoping I was wrong and it was someone else. "Hunter." I greeted, a wave of fear clenching in my stomach as I put on my signature smirk, trying to mask up the fear as my nightmares came true.
Hunter walked over to me, then wrapped an arm around me, causing my heart to beat a little faster. "How you doing little brother?" He asked, then pulled me closer, making me bite back a gasp.
I opened my mouth only to shut it. I needed to get away, my chest felt like it was being crushed, it was getting difficult to breathe.
"Oh, come on," he teased, sticking out his lip, "no greeting for your favorite big brother? Even after all these years?"
"Hunter," I begged, my voice barely audible, "please let go..."
He smirked, then let go. "Okay, I see how it is." He told me, backing away and holding his hands up in defense.
"No," I warned, taking a few steps towards him, thousands of alarms going off in my head, I was way too close to him, I should have run, "you don't. You don't get to play the victim. Ever."
He chuckled, grabbing my wrist and digging his fingers into my flesh, I bit my lip to keep back a cry from the throbbing pain that had started pulsing beneath his sharp nails. "Okay Bassy," he whispered, a smile appearing on his face as he dug his nails deeper, causing a quiet whimper to escape me, "if that's what you want. I can play the villain."
He winked as he let go of my arm. "Watch your back, Sebastian." He warned, then walked away, holding his hand up in a way of saying goodbye.
I stood there for a moment, cradling my arm to my chest, and trying my best to calm my erratic breathing. He was back, after all of these years, Hunter Clarington was back.
I walked into the choir room, sitting at the baby grand piano. I ran my fingers slowly over the ivory keys, smiling as the beautiful instrument's sound filled the room, a warm, yet vibrant sound echoing as I played the intro to some top forties song that I had heard on the radio yesterday.
"Hey Bastian!"
I jumped as a hand roughly patted my shoulder, causing something to tell me to run for a second as my run-in with Hunter flashed through my mind. "Hey Jeff." I said, trying to calm my pounding heart beat when I realized I wasn't being threatened by anyone, or anything.
He looked at me, his eyebrows scrunched. "Hey, you okay, Seb?" He asked, putting a hand on my shoulder.
I gave a small nod. "Yeah, I'm fine." I whispered, looking away as I hoped he didn't see through my facade, because if I was honest, the last word I would have used was fine.
Jeff kept his gaze for a moment before shrugging it off and sitting beside me. "So what's on the agenda today, Bastian?"
I smiled, happy that he had let the previous conversation go, I could talk about music all day, everyday, I couldn't talk about Hunter for more than a few minutes, and I needed to get my mind off of him..
"Well," I started, "I've been thinking about us doing the song Change My Mind by One Direction." I told him, it was a beautiful song, very quiet, perfect for an a cappella group, even though a lot of people were singing One Direction these days, this one wasn't the most well known.
Jeff gave a toothy grin. "That one is so good!" he exclaimed, "you'll do a really good job on the lead!"
I smiled at the compliment, opening my mouth to thank him when the doors opened.
"Hey guys!" Jeff greeted, standing up and walking over to Nick.
I looked up at all of them, hoping that they didn't suddenly worry about me the way Jeff did. "Hello everyone." I welcomed, giving a short wave.
They all said their hellos to me, and one another, then we got to business.
I loved being a Warbler, there was something special about it, maybe it was the way we were like family, maybe it was in the way we sang eight part harmony and all the voices melded together into one brilliant crescendo.
Whatever it was, I never wanted to lose it. And there was nothing better than when we start a new song, yeah, we sometimes sounded like screeching cats during our first practice, other boys would run up and shut doors, and we would point fingers at whoever we thought caused the whole thing to crash and burn, but that was what made it good, that was what made it fun.
I pulled out the CD, placing it in the player, and putting on the song.
I stood beside the CD player, watching the boy's reaction. Some of them tapped their feet, others rocked back and forth, a few leaned back and tapped their fingers, and there was one humming along to the song.
They nodded, getting up and getting into a typical choir position. "Ready Seb?" Nick asked, standing on his tip toes to look at me over the tall boys in front of him.
I nodded, rushing over to my place in the middle of the formation as they started the intro.
"The end of the night
We should say goodbye
But we carry on
While everyone's gone,"
"Never felt like this before
Are we friends or are we more
As I'm walking towards the door
I'm not sure"
I winced as the harmonies came in a bit rough, but they quickly got themselves sorted out.
"But baby if you say you want me to stay
I'll change my mind
'Cause I don't wanna know I'm walking away
If you'll be mine
Won't go, won't go
So baby if you say you want me to stay
Stay for the night
I'll change my mind"
I stood up straighter as the drumbeat/beat-boxing came in, and started hitting my hand against my thigh along with the beat.
"Lean in when you laugh
We take photographs
There's no music on
But we dance along,"
The harmonies swelled, making a crescendo leading into the pre-chorus. It was one of the most satisfying things in the world to hear the things our voices could do as we sang.
"Never felt like this before
Are we friends or are we more
As I'm walking towards the door
I'm not sure,"
"But baby if you say you want me to stay
I'll change my mind
'Cause I don't wanna know I'm walking away
If you'll be mine
Won't go, won't go
So baby if you say you want me to stay
Stay for the night
I'll change my mind
I'll change my mind"
"Baby if you say you want me to stay
I'll change my mind
But baby if you say you want me to stay
I'll change my mind
'Cause I don't wanna know I'm walking away
If you'll be mine
Won't go, won't go
So baby if you say you want me to stay
Stay for the night
I'll change my mind."
"Yeah!" One of them exclaimed, causing an eruption of cheering from the rest of us as we fist bumped, high-fived, and there was a little bit of hugging.
We were quieted by the sounds of a single person clapping slowly. I spun on my heel, wondering who had listened to our rehearsal.
My heart skipped a beat, then I looked down at my feet. It was him.
"Great job Warblers," he said, walking up and clapping my shoulder, "good job, Sebby."