"So, Sebastian," Rachel began, sitting across from him at the dining table, where he'd been diligently working away at his studies, "Blaine and I were planning on going to the bar tonight with some friends. Kurt has got some studying to do, but we were wondering if you'd like to come along?"
"I don't know if that's a good idea. Kurt is already on edge about this whole thing. The fact that I'm going out with his boyfriend might not be the best course of action." He admitted, turning his head back to his Philosophy text.
"Oh, please. There's an open bar," that sure as hell caught his attention, "And besides, if you don't want to say you're there with Blaine, then you can hang out with me. Come on! It'll be fun!" She urged.
"I'll think about it. Come talk to me when you're getting ready to leave and I'll make my decision then. Right now I've got to get this out of the way. It's the most mundane class. I'm not even entirely sure why I have to take it." He complained, flipping a couple pages back and scribbling haphazardly in a notebook.
"Have you declared a major yet?" Rachel asked, appraising the book, "I was never really one for philosophy myself, either."
"Declared Music Performance." He said, "I figured that it would pretty much leave me to branch out and do whatever it is I wanted to. But my dad insisted I took a minor in Philosophy. As my back up plan if this fell through."
"It won't fall through. I've seen you when you perform, Sebastian. It's pure magic. You belong onstage. So you may as well drop the minor and cut the damn apron strings."
"Wow," Sebastian chuckled, slamming his book shut, "You are definitely not that girl from Ohio anymore." He rubbed the bridge of his nose, slamming his reading glasses down on the table, "I'll be ready in twenty minutes."
"Good choice." She laughed, holding her hand up for a high five.
"Where are we going, by the way? What's the occasion?"
"It's a send-off for one of my professors. She got a role in some new musical or something so she's taking a sabbatical. So, open bar, compliments of NYADA."
"I could go for some alcohol right about now." He laughed heartily, digging through his box for a better looking shirt. As good as he looked in his work-out clothes, he and Rachel both doubted if they were appropriate for a party.
"How about this one?" He asked, holding up a plaid button-down, "Or do I need to look more uppity?" He gave her the tiniest of smirks.
"No, that's fine. Actually -" she couldn't even finish her sentence. He tore his shirt over his head and Rachel had to focus hard to keep her jaw from hitting the floor, "- Oh my."
"What's wrong, Berry? Never seen a shirtless man before?"
Flashbacks of McKinley High came flying back to her. The days of her old flame, Finn. Then, staring at the incredibly chiseled physique that was Sebastian, Rachel couldn't help but feel that Santana had been right. Finn really did resemble a walking sack of potatoes.
"See something you like?" Sebastian chuckled, bringing her out of her reverie, "Normally I wouldn't mind, but you're looking at my like you're about to take a bite out of me. Which is kind of weird and creepy."
"Sorry," she gasped, turning away as he continued buttoning up his shirt, "It's just...its been a while." She sighed, looking for something to keep her busy, settling for reorganizing the pillows on the couch.
"Well, if it helps, I'm here for you." Sebastian offered, running a hand down her side, causing Rachel to flinch away.
Rachel's hands flew into the air, as if to signal that she surrendered, "Look, if it were anybody else..." His smirk dropped and she realized what she had just said. It took all of her power not to break down laughing at her own slip-up, "Sebastian, you're gay." She reminded, cutting right to the chase.
"Correction, I'm bi. Meaning I'll pretty much take it wherever I can get it." His full-blown smirk returned, "Oh, come on, Rachel! We're young! Why not do some experimenting?" He asked, sauntering up behind her and placing his hands on her hips, "What do you say?"
"I say, let's wait until I've got some alcohol in my system and then see what happens." At least that was halfway to an agreement...
"I can work with that."Sebastian agreed, finally relinquishing his grip, and going back to his make-shift "room" to fix his hair and find his toothbrush.
"Dear God, you are one clingy drunk." Sebastian griped as he tried to remove Rachel's grip on his shirt.
At any other given moment, he would've appreciated this, but seeing as he knew it was only because of the alcohol, the act seemed a bit lacking, "You've only had two beers, you lightweight!" He chuckled lightly, just barely managing to pry her fingers away.
"Like you're not drunk?" She snorted, knocking him over the head with the back of her hand.
"Oh, I'm drunk." He laughed out loud, shouting over the booming music, "Just not as drunk as you."
"Aren't you glad you came out with us?" She asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Oh, yes, I am." He cackled, giving her a once-over, admiring her tight blouse and a-line skirt, "Because I have a feeling, I'm never going to see this again."
She jumped up from her stool at the bar, suddenly falling off balance. Sebastian leapt to his feet, giving her a balance for a second to right herself, "You say that as if I don't know how to have fun."
"Well, I'd hate to break it to you, but I've known you for about three years now and never once have I seen you cut loose. Ever. And this barely counts, because I had to beg you to drink as it is."
"Fine. What can I do to prove to you that I'm not a total homebody?" Challenge accepted.
"You've got your pick of any man in this bar, Berry. Go do something about it." He challenged, giving her a light shove in the direction of the dance floor.
Rachel stocked carefully around the floor until her eyes fell on her target. Brody Weston. She pushed past the mass of drunken college students until she was chest to chest with him, grinding their way across the dance floor.
"Let's get out of here." She whispered, her lips brushing against his ear.
"You're drunk off you're ass, Rachel." He laughed, holding her at arm's distance.
"Very well spotted." Rachel replied, taking his hand and guiding him off the dance floor. Before leaving the building, she shot a look in Sebastian's direction. He could've sworn he saw her wink.