Look, guys! I found another chapter! Except I'm still at a bit of stand-still with this one. This requires some serious watching of Burlesque for me to continue, but I've got exams to worry about. I'll be up and running again in a few weeks! THANK YOU ALL FOR STILL LIKING ME (maybe)!
Sebastian fanned himself with his hand as Thad handed him a cool cloth. He pressed the cloth to his face, gasping for air still. Santana was dictating notes to Jeff, giving the boys a short break from rehearsing. Mike clapped him on the shoulder in sympathy.
"How you holding up?" he asked just as breathlessly as Sebastian felt.
"Just a bit out of shape. I used to do this back at school, but working in a coffee shop isn't exactly considered exertion," he said.
"Go get a water. Don't want you pulling a Marley," Mike advised him. He nodded and jumped off the stage. He approached the bar where Finn and Kurt had their heads bent in conversation.
"I can't believe you won't leave him, Kurt," Finn was saying in a hushed voice.
"Don't tell me how to handle my own relationship. You don't see me butting into your and Rachel's screwed up little world," Kurt hissed back.
"Kurt, how long has Blaine put off this wedding?" Finn demanded furiously.
"A year and a half," Kurt mumbled.
"What does that tell you?"
"That he's still doing it, alright? I know."
"So why the hell are you still with him?" Finn asked slowly. Kurt clenched his jaw. "You don't even love him anymore."
"Yes I do," Kurt whispered much too quickly.
"Don't fucking lie to me, Kurt. God. I can see it, Rachel can see it, everyone can fucking see it, Kurt. Just drop him. He'll survive. He clearly doesn't need you anyway," Finn growled.
"And then what?" Kurt demanded. Finn opened his mouth to say something else, but Sebastian decided he'd heard enough of the conversation that clearly was not meant for anyone else's ears. Even as he lamented not hearing what Finn would say, he coughed. Both of them turned to look at him.
"Tired already, Stretch?" Kurt mocked easily, the anger clearing for his voice, "What happened to 'I could fuck a man into the mattress all night and still have enough energy to run a marathon'?" Sebastian remembered boasting to Kurt one night in the apartment when he'd managed to get Kurt to talk about Blaine. They'd laughed over beers and Sebastian had made fun of Kurt for calling sex 'making love'. Thinking back, he could see the storm clouds in Kurt's eyes that night, he just hadn't known why they were there.
"Haven't had the time to fuck anyone recently," Sebastian shot back, "I've been too busy listening to my roommate fuck." Kurt rolled his eyes.
"There's a green monster clinging to your back, Bastian," he replied flippantly. Finn knocked on the bar twice and nodded when Kurt looked at him. Kurt gave an imperceptible shake of his head. Finn headed back to the stage and Sebastian was left feeling, once again, that he had witnessed something he shouldn't have.
"Just give me a water and shut up, Porcelain," he snapped. Kurt pulled out a cold water bottle and passed it to him.
"You think you'll be ready for tonight?" he asked. Sebastian shrugged.
"Maybe if we only do two or three songs live," he told him. "I used to rehearse two musicals a day back at NYADA, but I'm incredibly out of shape." Kurt nodded gravely.
"All those one-night stands must have really paid off," he said. Sebastian grinned cheekily.
"Damn right they did. Or don't you believe me?" he purred seductively, leaning in closer to Kurt.
"SEBASTIAN!" Santana shouted. He turned and ran back to the stage, knowing he was about to be in deep shit since she'd used his full name.
"I'm trying to run a rehearsal here. So stop flirting with our sweet Porcelain and focus," she commanded.
"Yes, sir," Sebastian said breathlessly, "I mean ma'am. Or…" He trailed off at Santana's look.
"Call me ma'am one more time, I'll castrate you with a butter knife," she threatened. Sebastian instinctively crossed his legs. "Get on the stage."
"Yes," he paused, making sure his next word was correct, "Santana." She nodded to the band to start up another song and Sebastian took a deep breath.
The applause was uproarious as the curtain closed on their first number of the night. Sebastian was wrong. He could sing all night long. The adrenaline was pumping good and strong and he felt like he had enough energy to run across the country. The boys were clapping him on the back as girls gazed at him starry-eyed. Even Santana looked impressed.
"Take a quicky, Horse Teeth, the ladies are going on," she told him, nodding her approval. He gave a grin of thanks and headed to the floor.
"Good grief," William Scheuster called from the private table he always seemed to have, "you can sing like that and Santana's got you buried in the kick line?" Feeling on top of the world, Sebastian smiled at Will Scheuster.
"She didn't know I could sing," he said.
"Well you certainly can. Come on, sit down I'll get you a drink," he said, motioning to a chair next to him.
"Thanks, but I'll just have water," he told him, sitting down in the offered seat.
"Okay. One water it is," he motioned to the new waiter and leaned back comfortably in his chair.
"So, have you ever considered advertising?" he asked casually.
"Well, you get straight to the point, don't you?" Sebastian muttered.
"I tend to get what I want," Scheuster said casually, "and I've had my eye on you since you started." Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
"Do you now? And have you accounted for Santana's claws, because they're sunk into me tight, Sebastian informed him.
"I know what I want and I go for it," Scheuster explained, "it's how I've always been. It wasn't easy building one of the biggest ad agencies in the country from the ground up, but I wanted to do it. So I did. I get what I want." Sebastian hummed noncommittally.
"Really, though," Will said, whipping out a business card, "if you ever feel like making some real money, give me a call." He passed the card to Sebastian who felt like tearing it up in front of him just to show how much he cared for the other man. But he politely took it and nodded as Rachel flounced over to the table.
"Seriously, call me," William instructed as Sebastian stood.
"Sure," he said. He heard Rachel begin gushing as he walked away.
"Hey Kurt," Sebastian called. Kurt came over. "Scheuster gave me his card." Kurt laughed.
"Oh, Sebastian, congratulations!" he crowed sarcastically. Sebastian joined in with his laughter.
"Santana is going to kill you if you don't get back there," he told him finally. Sebastian winked and headed back stage just as the boys were lining up for the next song.
"So how do you feel?" Ian asked from the balcony as Sebastian came out of the changing room. Santana had kept him until the others had left giving him notes on his performance and chewing him out on any mistakes he made.
"Exhilarated," Sebastian called. Ian chuckled and started shutting down the lights.
"Kurt, you ready?" he continued, coming up to the bar. Kurt's shoulders dropped a little and he bit his lip.
"I've got to do inventory, I'm sorry," he confessed, "I totally forgot." Sebastian frowned.
"It's okay, I'll hitch a ride with Ian," Sebastian said.
"No can do, Stretch," Ian said from behind him, "I've got a date."
"Who goes on a date this late?" Kurt demanded.
"Desperate guys looking to get off," Ian replied, winking. "You know, your lot." Kurt shot him a dirty look and threw a damp dish rag at him.
"I am not desperate. I have Blaine."
"Blaine's in New York, sweetie," Ian cooed. "See you tomorrow, boys." He winked and strolled out.
"Okay," Sebastian said slowly. "I guess I'll wait for you to finish."
"Don't be ridiculous," William Scheuster's voice called to him, "I'm driving." He grabbed Sebastian's coat from the adjacent bar stool and started for the door.
"What?" Sebastian asked. Scheuster turned around and raised an eyebrow.
"You want this coat?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Then let's go." Kurt raised an eyebrow and shrugged. Sebastian sighed and followed the advertiser out the door.
Will opened the door to a shiny Ferrari and motioned Sebastian into the passenger's seat. He waited until the door was closed to peel out of the lot. Sebastian looked around as he took a left and headed in the opposite direction of his and Kurt's place. Will just smiled serenely as he drove.
"This isn't the way to my apartment," Sebastian finally spoke up.
"I know. But there's a little party I've got to make an appearance at," he replied calmly.
"Are you kidnapping me?" Sebastian deadpanned.
"No, no, not at all," Scheuster assured him unconvincingly, "just showing you a good time." Sebastian snorted quietly.
They finally pulled up in front of a brightly lit beach house. The first floor had a fully glass wall through which Sebastian could see crowds of glamorously dressed people weaving in and out of classy, but cold, furniture. He ran his fingers through his hair quickly and straightened his clothes obsessively as Scheuster led him to the doors of the house.
"This way," he called, nodding toward the kitchen. Sebastian followed in confusion. Scheuster snatched a bottle of expensive wine and a tray of food, pushing two glasses into Sebastian's hand with a conspiratorial smile.
"What are you doing?" Sebastian demanded, completely confused by this behavior.
"Come on," he urged. He led Sebastian out back to a huge balcony overlooking the water. The house was set into a cliff that looked out across the Los Angeles skyline. Part of the balcony was taken up by a huge pool which was lit but had few occupants right now. Scheuster poured them each a glass of the wine.
"Hey, Scheu," one of the swimmers called, "great party." Scheuster waved and the man hoisted himself out of the water.
"Hey, James," he called. The tall glass of water sidled up to him, all rippling muscle and tan skin.
"Hi," the man purred, eyeing Sebastian. Sebastian let his eyes linger on the bulge beneath the swim trunks.
"Sebastian, this is James, one of the actor/models at the agency," Scheuster introduced them, "James, this is Sebastian, Santana's new dancer." They shook hands, James fingers dragging along the inside of Sebastian's wrist as he smiled slowly.
"Pleasure," he purred. Sebastian returned the smile.
"Ditto," he said. James winked and headed back to the pool. As he slid back into the water, Sebastian turned to Will Scheuster.
"This is your party?" he demanded. Scheuster shrugged and turned out toward the view.
"See that view?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Yes," Sebastian muttered.
"That view cost me more than this house." Sebastian raised an eyebrow. He pointed to a beach-side resort below them. "That resort down there almost went bankrupt a few years back. They were going to sell to a developer who was going to turn it into a beach-side hotel. So I bought the company out from under them. I put my models into employment there and I pay them so the owners didn't have to pay as many people. And I gave their employees jobs at the agency to round out their personal income. Those people owe me everything.
"And I could do the same for you," he turned to Sebastian, raising his wine glass and cocking his head questioningly.
"You want to give me a job?" Sebastian asked.
"You would start with small things," he explained, "just appearances, walk-on roles in commercials, newspaper ads and magazines. But it'll be no problem for you to climb the ranks to leading roles in commercials and even billboards." Sebastian sipped the wine and considered.
"You don't have to give me an answer now, but think about it," he requested. "You have my card, you can call any time."
"Sure," Sebastian muttered. He looked out across the skyline and pushed the offer out of his mind. He had what he needed right now.
"I'll take you back to your place," Will said after some time. Sebastian took his coat from the man with a scowl and followed him back to his car.
"Oi, Sebastian," someone called as he opened the door. James came down the steps of the house in a pair of low-waisted black jeans and nothing else. He handed his phone to Sebastian.
"Put your number in," he ordered. Sebastian smirked and passed his own phone to the model.
"I work late," he told him. James shrugged.
"Then you're used to running on little sleep," he replied. They switched phones and James pecked him on the cheek. The slight sting of teeth that followed his lips reminded Sebastian just how long it had been since he'd been with a man.
"I'll see you around," James said. Sebastian stepped into the car and ignored Scheuster's smirk.