It happened a week ago.
His father arrived home from work late on a Friday evening and ruined Sebastian's life. It went a little like this.
"You can't make me do anything I don't want to, I'm nearly eighteen."
"But you're not quite eighteen yet. And whilst you still live under my roof, you'll follow my rules." He paused. "I'm your father. I'm also a state's attorney. I know how you like to use that to your advantage when it benefits you." Sebastian's father looked down sternly upon his son but a smile broke out a moment later. To anyone else, it would have looked friendly, but it terrified Sebastian.
Sebastian scoffed. "I have rights."
"Sebastian don't even try to play innocent, it doesn't suit you. Your behaviour is unacceptable and you're lucky we haven't kicked you out already."
"Oh c'mon it was just one time."
"Don't play the victim either. I'm not stupid." Sebastian looked away, he'd had his fair share of warnings.
"C'mon Seb, look at me when I'm talking to you." Sebastian's father had a tendency to use the nickname right before he was about to drop a bombshell of news. This got Sebastian's attention. "Look," he started, placing his hands on the table and leaning closer to Sebastian. He took a deep breath before continuing. "I've already spoken to Principal Figgins at McKinley High school over in Lima about a transfer."
Sebastian's eyes shot up. He must be joking. Sure, okay maybe his dad didn't approve of his more risqué behaviours but Sebastian was sure he would never sabotage his own reputation by sending his youngest son to public school just to piss him off.
Sebastian's father was extremely thrilled with the look of horror on Sebastian's face judging by the smug grin now plastered across his own. It was identical to the one Sebastian had just after tearing someone down with his charming words.
"Just wait until you get there, son." He laughed.
"You wouldn't dare. You're too proud." He interjected.
"Oh but I would. You see, there's a lot of talk around the office these days and let me just say, it doesn't put you in the most positive light." Sebastian grimaced. "I should have done something about this sooner. It's getting embarrassing, son."
That stung. He'd always had a pretty close relationship with his father, they hardly argued compared to his other siblings due to their mutual respect for one another.
"I'm just at the end of my patience. I've brushed your shameless, outlandish behaviour under the rug one too many times, laughing about it, making a joke. But I just can't do it anymore. Not now that it's starting to affect my life, and your mothers. It's just gone too far."
Sebastian thought he should have felt some guilt at that statement. But instead he just felt angry.
"Look, you know we love you, and we've not been strict unless it was necessary, we're just worried about you." He paused. Like Sebastian, he found it difficult to do feelings thing, he just relied on the implications - a pat on the shoulder here, a point of the finger there. "You're better than this."
Sebastian wasn't sure if he was supposed to feel flattered by that, but he felt the opposite. "Are you expecting me to apologise? Because fine, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that this bothers you so much. It won't happen again." He snapped before taking a moment to calm himself down. "Just please, please don't send me there." He knew was begging now, and the feeling of the word 'please' left a strange taste in his mouth. Sebastian Smythe doesn't ask. He just gets.
"Oh Sebastian it's a bit late for that now. As of Monday, you're officially a student at McKinley High." He said, pushing his chair out and patting Sebastian on the shoulder as he walked out, ending the conversation.
Sebastian didn't respond. Clearly he was getting nowhere. His father would come around when he realised what a ridiculous idea it was.
He didn't.