Warnings: Anxiety attack, PTSD, car crash, cliff hanger, swearing
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the recognisable characters or places.
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CHAPTER 6:
The gym at Dalton was a mass of dancing bodies. A stage had been erected at one end of the room – thought the basketball hoop still stuck out from the wall, covered in streamers. A band stood on the stage, playing some Blink-182 song that Sebastian vaguely remembered. Jeff disappeared into the crowd as soon as they stepped inside while Nick and Sebastian slowly made their way around the edge of the room.
"I wonder if anyone will recognise me," Nick murmured. "I don't suppose there's many people left that I knew."
"Maybe," Sebastian replied. He reached for Nick's hand, smiling at his boyfriend before someone tapped Nick on the shoulder.
"I'm sorry for interrupting but, are you Nick Duval?" the guy asked. Sebastian thought his name was Thad.
"Uh, yeah," Nick's brow furrowed. "Wait, Thad Harwood, is that you?"
"Yeah!" Thad exclaimed. "Woah, I can't believe you're here, man! I thought I saw you at Jeff's party but I didn't get a chance to ask. What are you doing back at Dalton? Are you coming back for senior year?"
"No, I'm done with high school, got that all finished while I was waiting for a transplant match. I'm here with my boyfriend," Nick answered with a smile, pulling Sebastian closer. "Do you know him? Sebastian Smythe?"
Thad looked to Sebastian. "I think I've seen you around school. How'd you meet Nick?"
Sebastian blushed. "I ordered pizza one night and accidentally said "I love you". He said it back and tucked this little note in between the pizza boxes. We didn't meet until Jeff's party and we've been going out ever since."
Thad smiled. "Good for you two, then."
The music stopped and the singer grabbed hold of the microphone, everyone turning their attention to him.
"This next song is an old favourite of mine and I heard from a friend that it's a bit of a tradition at this school. So get your friends and enjoy this weird-ass song from ten years ago."
"Oh my god, they're still doing this?" Nick laughed. He grabbed Sebastian's hand and dragged him into the crowd where they found Jeff, Blaine and Trent.
Her name is Noel
I have a dream about her
She rings my bell
I got gym class in half an hour
Oh, how she rocks
In Keds and tube socks
But she doesn't know who I am
And she doesn't give a damn about me
.
'Cause I'm just a teenage dirtbag baby
Yeah, I'm just a teenage dirtbag baby
Listen to Iron Maiden maybe with me
.
Her boyfriend's a dick
And he brings a gun to school
And he'd simply kick
My ass if he knew the truth
He lives on my block
And he drives an IROC
But he doesn't know who I am
And he doesn't give a damn about me
.
'Cause I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby
Yeah, I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby
Listen to Iron Maiden maybe with me
.
Oh, yeah, dirtbag, no, she doesn't know what she's missin'
Oh, yeah, dirtbag, no, she doesn't know what she's missin'
.
Man, I feel like mold
It's prom night and I am lonely
Low and behold
She's walking over to me
This must be fake
My lip starts to shake
How does she know who I am?
And why does she give a damn about me
.
I've got two tickets to Iron Maiden, baby
Come with me Friday, don't say "maybe"
I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby, like you
.
Oh, yeah, dirtbag, no, she doesn't know what she's missin'
Oh, yeah, dirtbag, no, she doesn't know what she's missin'
.
The room erupted into cheers and applause. Sebastian watched as Nick laughed, gasping for breath. Sebastian gently laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Come on, let's go sit down for a minute," he laughed. Nick nodded and let Sebastian lead him over to a row of chairs pushed up against a wall.
"God, that felt so good…" Nick murmured as he leaned back. "Haven't sung like that for years…"
"Why do they sing that song? I don't even know it," Sebastian said as he sat down between Nick and the snack table.
"It was something we got taught by the older students at our first Homecoming in freshman year. The song, "Teenage Dirtbag", was the valedictorian's favourite song for some reason and it was just tradition to sing it all together at each dance. We kept up the tradition but I've only sung it twice." He cast a mischievous glance at Sebastian. "We'll have to get you educated on your early two thousands music, Seb."
"Gimme a break, I was five or six."
"So was I but I'm still well-versed in all things Blink-182 and Wheatus," Nick laughed.
Sebastian laughed back at Nick before he froze. Something had smashed and before he could stop it, he felt the anxiety spike. His breathing quickened and his lungs burned, he tried to find Nick's hand but could only tangle his hands in his hair as he tried to block out the noise. Shattering windows, splitting wood, the roar of the wind.
"Sebastian! Sebastian, stay with me! It was just a glass!"
Sebastian could feel Nick's hands on him but he couldn't block the memories that flashed through his head. He heard the screams and the cries and the whimpers, almost muted beneath the sound of the storm. He felt cold and his mind went blank before he came back to himself.
Nick's worried brown eyes peered into his before Sebastian threw his arms around his boyfriend's neck. He felt Nick press kisses into his hair and rub his back. They were on the floor now and Sebastian could only hope that no one had seen what had happened.
A teacher's voice met their ears and they peered up to see Mr Kelley.
"Are you alright, boys? Do we need to call someone?" he asked quietly.
"No, could you just find Jeff Sterling? Tell him we need to go home. He'll understand. We can meet him out at his car," Nick answered.
"Alright," Mr Kelley said with a nod before he disappeared into the crowd.
Nick looked back to Sebastian, gently wiping away his tears. "It's alright, Seb. It happens."
"I'm sorry I ruined everything."
"Hey, you didn't do anything wrong." Nick held Sebastian's head in his hands, looking into his eyes. "There is nothing wrong with anxiety, okay? And I'm always gonna be here to help you, okay?"
Sebastian sniffed before he leaned in, kissing Nick softly. "I love you so much."
Nick smiled as Sebastian pulled back. "I love you too," he whispered before pushing himself to his feet. "Come on, let's blow this popsicle stand and go get ice cream or something."
"Pepperoni pizza?" Sebastian asked sheepishly as he let Nick pull him up.
"Sure, why not?"
They headed out to the parking lot, surprised to find rain was bucketing down. Jeff was standing under the bus shelter and he sighed heavily when he saw his friends.
"Thank god we're leaving. It was so boring in there. What point is there in going to a dance if you don't have someone to get inappropriately close to?" Jeff asked as Nick and Sebastian ran over to him.
"I was thinking pizza, you in?" Nick asked.
"Sure, okay," Jeff pulled his keys from his pocket. The three made the mad dash to his car, Sebastian and Nick sliding into the back while Jeff climbed behind the wheel.
"Just to Westerville Pizza?" Jeff asked as he started the engine and turned up the heater.
"Yeah, gotta love that staff discount," Nick answered as he curled an arm around Sebastian's shoulders. Sebastian laid his head on Nick's shoulder, breathing in his cologne as he tangled their free hands together.
Nick knew that Jeff was driving too fast but he didn't dare say anything in case it set off Sebastian's anxiety again. He kept an arm tight around his boyfriend and breathed deeply as he watched Jeff drive. The radio was quiet, the traffic report warning of crashes in the area.
"Jeff, what else is on the radio? Got any CDs?" Nick asked.
Jeff felt around for the tuner but he only got static. He reached instead for the CD case in the compartment between the front seats. He glanced down, pulling out a CD and pushing it into the player. Nick hadn't been watching the road and when he looked up, he yelled.
"JEFF!"
Jeff looked up and swore, grabbing the steering wheel and swerving to the side, narrowly avoiding a truck. The tyres spun and the car fishtailed. Nick held onto Sebastian who he could hear swearing quietly under his breath. Jeff tried one more time to right themselves but he only lost control again.
Nick barely had enough time to register the tree before the car slammed into it.