You see, the thing about Sebastian was that Kurt couldn't completely hate him. He was a reformed jerk, cleaning up his act and all after the whole Karofsky incident senior year. He definitely wasn't one of Kurt's friends now but Kurt knew that he could no longer justify him as an enemy. And apparently neither could Finn or Puck.

That still didn't explain how he had ended up in California and in a band with Finn and Puck. As the lead singer, no less. One thing Kurt prided himself on though, was his ability to remain visibly calm under pressure. No matter how startled he was on the inside.

The awkward silence that had fallen in the room was too much for Kurt to handle and he just had to break it.

"So Sebastian, what brings you to California?"

"Well Kurt, you know everyone isn't fit for that New York lifestyle. I decided to take it easy. Relax a bit."

"Here in California?"

"Why not? Sun, fun, everything I needed. Well, almost everything."

Sebastian sent a smirk Kurt's way and he felt a bit dazzled. The sun was shining in through the windows, after all.

"And California was the place to do that?"

"Look Kurt, go ahead and ask me what you want to ask me. We're kind of in the middle of an important discussion here. You want to know how Finn and Puck ended up here with me, right?"

Kurt can feel his face blush red at the assertiveness of Sebastian's accusation. Which isn't entirely true. Kurt does wonder how they all ended up together in a band and sharing a house, it's just that Sebastian's phrasing seems a bit odd. How did Finn and Puck end up with him? That wouldn't make any sense unless...

The house was Sebastian's. The car was too, if Kurt had assumed correctly. Kurt knew that there was no way that the guys could afford all of this just by singing and cleaning pools. Sebastian's money must have gave them enough cushion to do their own thing. A lot of cushion.

Kurt's mind reeled as he thought of what this meant. He was staying in a house that was being paid for by Sebastian Smythe. Well, Sebastian Smythe's parents. Hell, Finn and Puck had been living here for months. What did that mean?

Kurt cleared his throat quickly, looking for a comeback or at the very least, some sort of dignified response.

"I think I've figured out how they ended up here, Sebastian. It's how they ended up staying is what concerns me the most."

Sebastian smirks again and this time Kurt can't help but smirk back. It's kind of odd how their banter has turned almost friendly. Kurt has matured though, and he's hoping that California has done for Sebastian what New York has done for Kurt.

Finn coughs from the side of the room that he has shrunk into, which is no small task for someone as big as him.

"Have you dudes, uhm, decided what to do?"

Puck sees his opportunity to get frustrated again and wholeheartedly takes it.

"No man, we haven't. York won't even come back for tonight's gig. We're fucking screwed. Nobody is going to be able to keep up with our melodies or key changes. Half the guys who showed up to audition were stoned out of their minds. The other half was just chicken shit. We can't fucking bail on this gig either man. It's at Faultline. Do you know how many record label douche guys hang out there! This could have been our big fucking break! And York just ditched us. For some fancy suit job."

Puck stalks around the room as he speaks and huffs and moves his hands in a very aggravated manner. It's somewhat scary how serious he seems. Kurt never thought that Puck would be the one to take this whole moving to LA to get a record deal thing seriously, but it's obvious that he is dead set on making it.

Kurt steps back and let's Puck pace around the middle of the room. He knows that this is their business and doesn't want to intrude in their conversation.

The quiet guy on the sofa, Rew if Kurt remembers correctly, finally decides to speak up. Rew is small and Asian and reminds Kurt of Tina. His hair has green streaks and his eyes are too bold to not have been enhanced by Maybelline.

"We could always use the house keyboard player?"

Puck turns on Rew so quickly that even Kurt gets scared for him.

"The fuck! No. We can't do that. Only suck ass bands with no talent and no potential do that. That's almost worse than getting a house drummer to step in. We need to find a replacement or find a way to do it without the keyboard parts."

Finn starts laughing and it's the first time that the thought of Finn possibly being high crosses into his mind.

"Without the keyboard parts? Dude, most of the songs have a little keyboard solo while Seb sings the chorus. York doesn't even have those parts written down. He just ad libs them while Seb does his thing."

"That's true. He tells me to sing and he'll keep up with my harmonies. Especially at the end."

Sebastian walks over to a keyboard that is set up on the far end of the room next to the stairs... or Seb as Finn seems to call him, which is odd on so many levels that Kurt doesn't even want to begin thinking about it until he has gotten at least 8 full hours of rest.

The keyboard is closer to Kurt and he doesn't see why he hadn't noticed it. It is the only musical instrument in the room and Kurt remembers seeing the guitars and drums in the car. Obviously, it's staying here.

Pieces of sheet music float off of the keyboard as Sebastian rests his hands down on it. Kurt leans down, curious about what this guys York has composed that's leaving the rest of them in such awe.

The sheet music isn't too complicated. A lot of details maybe, but nothing Kurt couldn't play with his classical piano training. The song's lyrics are nice too, Kurt can see how much time this guy must have put into his music. He doesn't see why someone with this level of dedication to his music would just up and leave the band. Especially if this performance tonight is important as Puck says that it is.

Out of habit, Kurt checks the liner notes and sees who wrote the music and lyrics.

S. Smythe

Sebastian wrote this? Not only the lyrics, but the music as well? Kurt checks the paper again looking for York's name anywhere on the paper in his hands. He can't find it anywhere.

Kurt looks up at Sebastian who is still watching the other three guys argue. They have continued while Kurt was engrossed in the sheet music.

Sebastian doesn't see Kurt looking at him, but Puck does. He stops in the middle of ranting and turns to Kurt.

"What are you doing with York's sheet music?"

"York's sheet music?" With a quick glance to Sebastian, who looks a bit nervous for the first time today, Kurt realizes that nobody knows that Sebastian has written their music. "I was just sight reading it." Kurt finishes hurriedly, looking away from Sebastian and back to Puck quickly.

"Sight reading?"

"Yes, you know. You look at the music and go over how to play it."

"I know what sight reading is, Kurt. You're sight reading keyboard music!"

Finn nods in affirmation, crossing over the room to where Kurt is standing.

"Yeah dude, Kurt plays the pian- OH! Kurt plays the piano!"

Finn's face turns into a gigantic smile and he starts to jump up and down and do some sort of dance that makes Kurt laugh.

"Yes Finn, I play piano. 10 years of classical piano training."

Puck seems to catch whatever disease Finn has because he starts jumping and dancing too.

"That's great! You play piano! You can read sheet music!"

Kurt sees Rew behind the two guys and his face broadens into a huge grin as well. He puts his thumbs up in Kurt's direction and Kurt finally catches on to what the guys are thinking.

"Oh no, I am not playing for guys! That is not happening!"

Kurt's words seem to shoot daggers through the guys happiness balloons and they quickly deflate.

"What! Dude, come one! Just for tonight!"

Finn starts to whine and his face looks like a kicked puppy in desperate need of a trip to the groomers.

Puck's face has turned red with anger, he doesn't feel the need to beg apparently.

"You have to do this. You have to man. Seb, tell him that he has to!"

Kurt scoffs in Puck's direction. Does he really think that Sebastian has any type of control over him? Kurt folds his arms across his chest and looks defiantly from Puck to Sebastian. Sebastian, who has been unusually quiet for this whole ordeal, rubs his neck and shrugs.

"Noah, I can't make Kurt do anything. Although it wouldn't kill him to be nice enough to help us out for the night. I couldn't possibly force him to be a decent person."

Sebastian looks up slyly at Kurt, a smile tugging at his lips. Kurt's mouth drops open. He can't believe that Sebastian is playing him as the bad guy here! That's supposed to be his job.

Finn walks over to Kurt and nudges his side.

"Dude, please. I know this is supposed to be your vacation and all but we really need your help. This could be our big break. We really need you, dude."

Kurt bites his lip and looks between all three of the guys who are standing up. He peeks over at Rew who is still on the couch. Rew's face looks so hopeful and pathetic and Kurt is once again reminded of Tina. He sighs and rolls his eyes.

"Fine. I'll play keyboards for you guys, but-"

Whatever Kurt was going to say is cut off by a massive bear hug from Finn. Puck's shouts of "Yes!" echo though the room and as Finn picks Kurt off the ground and swings him around, Kurt can swear that he sees Sebastian smiling up at him with a look on his face that Kurt has never seen there before.