Well done to everyone out there struggling with things they don't talk about. Well done to everyone who wakes up everyday even if they don't want to. You can do this :)
Rating: M; 18+ (I can't exactly moderate whether you all read it or not but I hope you read with caution and understand the weight of these topics and the severity following them all)
Warnings: talk of past emotional and physical abuse, self-harm, graphic depictions of self-harm, substance abuse, foul language, talk of depression, anxiety attacks, talk of anxiety, mild suicidal thoughts. (for the whole book not for separate chapters)
Disclaimer: A) All these characters are OOC, I also own nothing. RIB own Glee and the characters.
Please read this with caution especially if you get easily triggered from topics like this.
The plan was simple. Sebastian's father would be invited to McKinley so they could try to convince him to change his mind and pull out of the whole program altogether. That's if he even agreed to come to McKinley at all. First though, they had to get a setlist together. The Warblers and the New Directions were both currently in the Auditorium, both Wes and Mr. Schuster watching from the audience as they spoke about song choices and choreography.
"Sebastian seems a lot happier recently," Will began, jolting Wes out of his train of thought.
"What do you mean?" Wes asked him. After Sebastian and Kurt's talk, Wes had decided to give the teen some space, knowing that overcrowding him was the reason why he was pulling away.
"He seems more energetic," Will pointed out, "I'm quite surprised really"
"Why's that?"
"I remembered what you said the day we found out about Sue finally having her dream happen," Will said, "About how Sebastian was such a good actor that we hadn't noticed he was struggling because he was faking everything.." Wes nodded his head, looking down at the reminder, "But now, he seems better. Everything he's been doing seems more genuine and more real then it did before"
"Yeah, he was going through a lot," Wes said softly, "He wasn't himself for awhile"
"He looks a lot better too," Wes also said, "The change wasn't just mental. He's been a lot better physically too"
Will just grinned, staring at the two groups up on the stage.
"You know Sebastian's innocent in this whole thing, right?" Wes asked him. He needed to know. It had taken a lot of time to get a lot of the New Directions members to understand that Sebastian didn't want this to happen. They needed to know who they could trust during this whole thing.
Will was silent for a moment.
"When I first hears about it, I did think Sebastian was involved in some way," Will admitted and Wes felt anger building in his system, "But, after seeing how much this has affected him mentally, I can't say I think the same way anymore because I don't. Sebastian clearly had no clue what his dad was up to, so blaming him would be a lost cause. Besides, getting rid of the arts would mean disbanding The Warblers and he very clearly loves it, even if he won't admit it"
Wes smiled softly.
"Yeah, I guess he does" Wes agreed, looking as Sebastian, Brittany, Santana and Thad were all dancing and singing trying to get the choreography together. Sebastian had a huge smile on his face as he danced with Brittany whilst Thad and Santana sang back-up. This was what made them all happy and with the threat of it being taken away from them, a lot of them had lost quite a bit of hope but maybe just maybe, they'd be able to bring it back.
They had been working for what felt like hours just trying to sort out the setlist and choreography whilst the others faded in and out of the choreography to the wardrobe where Mercedes and Kurt worked for countless hours to where Mike and Sam helped them learn the choreography put together by Sebastian, Brittany, Thad and Santana. It was only after there when Blaine and Rachel took over for vocal warmups and exercises to help increase their pitch and make them all sound unified and not as if they were singing as two groups rather then one collective. It wasn't until they had just finished their vocal warmups when Wes ordered pizza and they all ate it on the stage. They were sat in a full circle, The Warblers all mixed in with the New Directions as they ate, sharing funny stories from around their schools and with their classmates. Wes eyed Sebastian carefully though as he didn't even touch the pizza. Thad, who was sitting beside the teen thrusted a whole slice into his face, giving him silent puppy eyes until he caved and began to slowly take bites of the pizza.
"So, anyone got any fun stories from Dalton?" Finn asked, smiling at the Warblers.
"In Physics this one time, Mr. Duval and Mr. Smythe over there," Jeff began, smirking at his two friends, "They decided to build a chair fort"
All of the New Directions looked at Sebastian in shock. They didn't expect him to do something like that, especially when they all believed he was a rule-following, bossy man.
"How classy of you Smythe," Kurt began, making Sebastian roll his eyes, "I thought that you prided yourself on being 'above everyone else'"
"Maybe I wanted to be above everyone else in a different way?" Sebastian commented, chuckling softly, "I'm already quite tall so I decided to get even higher up"
"God, the atmosphere change must've been so drastic as it's messed with your brain," Kurt added, "You seriously just made no sense"
"Just like your dress-sense," Sebastian clapped back, making eye contact with the teen for a brief moment before they both started laughing.
"Since when were you two friendly with each other?" Rachel demanded, seeming angry.
"I was the one who personally asked him to help us with this," Kurt argued, backing Sebastian, "Just because you don't approve doesn't mean we care about your opinion"
"Guys," Will warned, cocking his head slightly.
Finn slowly wrapped an arm around his girlfriend's shoulders, pulling her close to his side. Rachel looked down and bit her lip as she backed down. Kurt looked smirk as ever as Blaine beamed at him, finally relieved to see Sebastian and Kurt getting along.
"So, what's Dalton like?" Quinn asked, looking intently at both Sebastian and Thad.
"It's a stable environment," Trent pointed out, getting chuckles out of them, "It's like a second home. They treat you with respect and we treat the with the same amount. It's a good place"
Quinn looked very content with that answer, as did Joe.
"Do you really dorm with each other?" Rory asked, a huge smile plastered on his face.
"Sharing a bedroom with some of your best friends is the best thing ever," Nick began, beaming, "I share mine with Trent and Jeff as we got the room with 3 beds in"
"Some of my favourite moments are with this lug-head," Thad began, wrapping an arm around Sebastian's shoulders, "and those moments happen in our dorm room when we're being complete idiots"
Sebastian looked at Thad with a mischievous grin on his face and Thad couldn't help but grin back. He always knew that Sebastian had a contagious personality but his smile was honestly the most contagious thing about him.
They were all in complete silence afterwards, no-one really knowing what to say next. Will knew he needed to address the elephant in the room regarding the whole plan that happened tomorrow. They needed to talk it out.
"If the plan doesn't work tomorrow," Will began, pausing for a brief moment after noticing Sebastian had flinched, "None of this is anyone's fault but Sue's, okay?"
"I will do whatever I can to keep this alive but I can only do so much so hopefully we have what it takes."
"I think we should all go around the circle and say how the arts has helped us and what some of the people in power have taught us," Wes mentioned, getting nods of approval from everyone.
"I'll go first," Will offered, taking a deep breath, "The arts have taught me that no matter what direction you go in with it, having people around you who are a lot more then just 'yes men' will make your path to fame a lot less lonely then it has to be"
"I learned that no-one will truly understand how you feel like music does," Rachel commented, "It's comforting, especially when you need it the most"
"I thought I had it all before I joined the Glee Club," Finn began, "I was the Quarterback for the Football team and I was dating the head cheerleader," Quinn looked down at the mention of being head cheerleader, "But, I wasn't truly happy. The performing arts made me happy and that's something I'll hold on to for as long as I can"
Will smiled as Rachel pecked Finn softly on the lips. He remembered when he first learned that the teen could sing, he was the reason why after years of being subjugated to harassment and bullying from their fellow students they finally had respect, even if it was from 0.01% of the student body.
One-by-one the New Directions members began opening up about their personal struggles and how the arts has helped them and soon, The Warblers began joining in, explaining their own difficulties. Then it landed on Thad and Sebastian. Thad went first, knowing that Sebastian most likely wouldn't open up in front of this many people without reassurance in the form of his best friend trusting them.
"A couple years ago I thought I was happy," Thad began, seeing the incredulous look on Sebastian's face, "I had everything, a tight-knitted group of best friends and I had a boyfriend but I just wasn't complete. The arts made me feel complete. Without it, I definitely would not be here"
All of the Warblers, except Sebastian and Wes, looked at Thad in concern before turning to the teen beside him. Sebastian was looking down at the stage floor, biting the inside of his cheek. Thad knew he was thinking about what to say. He knew Sebastian didn't even want to be in the room but he had to, he needed to do this for a lot more people then just himself.
"I'm sorry," Sebastian began, putting a smile on Wes' face, "I'm sorry my dad is putting you all through this"
"Why does he hate the arts?," Will began, "I went to high school with your father, Sebastian. He really loved the arts. Sure, he didn't sing or dance but he loved supporting it. I don't understand why he do this"
Sebastian sighed and shrugged his shoulders lightly.
"I don't know why my dad does the things he does," Sebastian admitted, "I don't know anything about him"
"What do you mean? What do you mean you barely know anything about him?"
Just as Sebastian was about to answer, his phone began ringing. He pulled it out of his pocket and excused himself to answer it. Wes and Thad watched him leave the room before the teen followed him. Wes could handle doing damage control whilst he spoke to Sebastian.
"Look, Sebastian really didn't have anything to do with this whole situation," Wes spoke, "This has affected him a lot more then he's willing to let on. Just, cut him some slack. He's trying his hardest. He's already tried speaking to his dad directly but it didn't work out and then his dad appeared at Dalton to talk to him. None of this is his fault, remember that for tomorrow. Please"