Summary: Sebastian has been silently struggling with his inner demons. While Blaine tries to help him find his way, it is someone from outside their inner circle that helps him admit something he has been afraid to say out loud…even to himself.

Note: I said early on that Blaine's life would get ridiculous for a while but that's pretty much over. While how he deals with what's happened will play a major part in the remainder of the story, Sebastian will be more in the forefront than he's been. He needed to spend some time in Blaine's shadow (for lack of a better term) for reasons that will become clear in time.

Well, he could cross professional lacrosse player off his list. Sebastian hadn't taken part in practice because Sierra warned him to not hurt your pretty face before the photoshoot tomorrow, but just being around the team was enough. While he might play recreationally, he no longer had the desire to put forth the amount of time required to play competitively. Hell, he had only used Dalton Lacrosse as a means of exercise the last few months. The exercise was what he missed, especially with the amount of stress eating he had done lately.

It wasn't like he had gained weight (ok, 5…8 pounds) but looking into the 360 mirror during his fittings had been an eye opener. When he asked his sister about it she told him it was his nerves talking. While he took what she said to heart, it didn't mean he wasn't dreading tomorrow.

Something that did go well for him that morning was the talk he had with Mike. He only called to confirm their lunch date but wound up talking for his entire trip to Columbia. He should have gotten the clue that Mike was a great guy when Blaine referred to him as his only Blaine friend and not Klaine friend at McKinley. Sugar didn't count because no one knew they were cousins and Blam didn't truly come together until Blaine was back at Dalton.

Not knowing what to do with his suddenly free two hours, Sebastian pulled out his phone to see if Rachel…well fuck! For a moment he forgot what she had done. That didn't change anything but he still pulled up her name.

From Sebastian: I'm deleting your number. Do the same with mine.

Unfortunately, he still didn't know what to do with his unexpected free time. That was until he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Mike, what are you doing here? I thought you were rehearsing for your Tisch audition tomorrow."

"I was on my way when a little birdy told me you wound up not practicing. I thought you'd like to join me and we can go to lunch from there."

"A little birdy, huh? Let me guess, 5'8'' with curly hair, expressive eyes and exquisite tail feathers."

"Technically, but a big voiced diva bird gave me this to give to you" Mike told him as he handed over a gym bag. "Oh sorry. It was Mercedes not…you know."

"Thanks."

Sebastian knew he didn't have to say what for. Mike knew to let it end there.

"I told you I had a practice room at Julliard until 11:30AM and before you say anything I've had that set up for weeks due to my audition there on Thursday." Sebastian opened the bag to find clothes and shoes he could dance in. "Blaine called me about something completely unrelated but did ask if I would mind you coming with me. He knows that I tend to completely obsess about my routines last minute and have to be stopped from making changes. What's so funny?"

Sebastian wasn't laughing, he was hyperventilating. "No wonder you and B get along so well. The Senior Warblers locked him in an empty office before Regionals until he agreed to stop trying to make changes to our routines." A couple of deep breaths later "Thanks Mike, this is great but promise you'll kick me out if I become a distraction."

"Done."

Once they made their way to Julliard and got started, Sebastian knew instantly that this is what his body had been craving. Mike was the far superior dancer but he was able to keep up (sometimes). It felt good…no, beyond good. Not good enough to make it a career, but dancing was a part of himself he wasn't going to ignore any longer.

Neither of them wanted to end the fun but after 90 minutes Mike said it would be best if it did. The last thing he needed was to pull something with his Tisch audition the next day.

"You're doing the same dance at each audition?" Sebastian asked as he sat next to Mike on the floor and handed him a bottle of water.

"Yes, but depending how it goes at Tisch I reserve the right to make changes before my audition here on Thursday."

"So, the Julliard/Columbia is your first choice over Tisch/NYU?" Sebastian knew Blaine had campaigned hard for Julliard and he had to admit it would be nice to see Mike around campus in the fall. Wes and David would be there but two years ahead. Plus, he'd always be the third-wheel in that dynamic.

"Don't tell Blaine, but yes. And it's not due to him or the fact my parents will throw a parade if I go Ivy League. It's my choice."

"How did your parents take the news that you wanted to dance and not go to med school?" Sebastian didn't mean to blurt the question out like that but Mike's snort/chuckle combo let him know he hadn't overstepped. "That bad?"

Instead of answering, Mike asked a question of his own. "Have you ever heard of the Asian F?"

"No, but it sounds kind of racist."

"Huh, hadn't thought of that. Anyway, an Asian F is an A- and I earned one…in my chemistry class. My dad was at McKinley the next day to see what happened and when he found out I earned the grade he told me I had to drop everything. Football, Glee, even West Side Story and I had busted my ass with singing lessons to get the part of Riff."

"I saw you. You were good. I take it that means he gave in."

"Thanks, but no, not until he saw me perform at Sectionals." Mike took the last swig out of his water bottle and waited to see if Sebastian remembered.

He did.

"Your father sat next to me. I remember he came in late and I got pissed when he bumped leg. God, I was such a douche back then."

"Yes, you were, but I'm glad you recognize it" Mike said with a wink and a smile but Sebastian appreciated the honesty. "So, when I got off-stage he said he wanted to talk to me. I thought that was the end but instead he said that he and my mom would support me. I thought it was too late to apply to dance schools but Tina had learned to forge my signature and sent in applications for me."

"That's…um, sweet?"

"In a totally illegal and creepy stalker kind of way, yes it was. So, long story short, my parents did learn to accept my dream of dancing but they were not happy about it. Neither of them said anything but it was pretty obvious." Mike paused for moment when he realized what this conversation was about. "Sebastian, that's not the reason I'm trying to make this change. I'm the one that came to the understanding that I needed more than dance." When Sebastian's eyes focused toward the floor Mike knew he was right. "Be honest with me. Are you going to Columbia for yourself or are you going because it's what's expected of you?"

"No, I've always wanted to go to Columbia…"

"Just not right now?"

Sebastian felt weeks worth of tension melt away. His secret was now out in the universe. How could a person that had been only a minor acquittance only two weeks ago see something that had taken him months to figure out? "How did...? I mean…?"

Mike put his hand on his new friend's (?) shoulder. He meant it to show reassurance although he might have put it there to prevent Sebastian running off in a panic. "Sometimes it takes someone from the outside to see what's actually going on. Think about it, Dalton sent seniors to on-site college visits weeks before graduation. At McKinley, the New Directions had Disco Week."

"First of all, please don't mention Disco Week to B. It still pisses him off that Schuster didn't go with the theme for Nationals. I have no doubt he wants to put it in ours and that's not a fight I'm ready to have with the guys."

"Thinking back, Mr. Schue would have never went with it. Neither Finn or Rachel would have been able to take lead." That lightened the mood a bit. "You said first of all…"

"Oh yeah, I didn't understand the point you were trying to make."

"You don't want to accept that you're not ready to go to college because the entire purpose of Dalton is getting you entitled rich boys ready for the Ivy League. No offense."

"None taken" Sebastian mumbled. He was not upset with what Mike said only with how true it was.

"And it probably doesn't help that you are surrounded by your super-hyper focused friends. For example, right now my boyfriend is with Artie going over the short films they're showing at the Brooklyn Film Institute tomorrow for at least the 15th time. Today!"

"These are the films that will hopefully get them in the advanced freshman program, right?"

"Yes, and after I help you with your Computer Science project, I'm going to Samuel's apartment and force them to quit so we can go to dinner. Super-hyper focused."

Being focused wasn't the part that caught Sebastian's attention. "Samuel?"

"Yes, Samuel. I can't call him Sam, I refuse to call my boyfriend Beat and I was told Drum is reserved solely for Blaine. Speaking of Blaine, have you talked about this with him? I can see where that might be a problem considering when it comes to being hyper-focused he's in another stratosphere."

"I have, in a way…"

Speaking of Blaine yet again "Hey sexy."

"Ah, Blaine I had no idea" Mike answered much to Sebastian's surprise.

"Yes, Chang. I obviously have a thing for tall gorgeous guys with dancer bodies and long legs to wrap around my waist when I have them pressed up against a wall. Unfortunately, Bas said the only threesome he would agree to was with Sam and only if he wore BDSM angel outfit." Blaine stopped talking because he found Sebastian's lips on his. The kiss was nothing too intense but it was clear each was happy to see the other.

"B, I don't know if Mike's ready for this kind of banter" Sebastian said once he had pulled away and then sat back down next to Mike. "By the way, that last statement of yours was all kinds of wrong considering I was just reminded Beat's first name is Sam."

Blaine managed to wiggle his way in between his boyfriend and one of his best friend's boyfriend. "Are you kidding me? My innuendos have nothing on Puck's cougar stories."

If Mike would have had any water left he would have spit it out. "Oh, fuck! Bad flashbacks!"

He and Blaine laughed so hard Sebastian joined in even though he had no idea what they were talking about. That didn't mean he wouldn't try to find out later. When all of them finally settled down, Mike said something that took the other two by surprise. "Blaine, you know Puck talked to Finn more than once about what a dick he was to you. He just felt he could only push so far not only from what he had done to Kurt but, you know…(he was going to say more but realized Sebastian might not know) Quinn."

Sebastian looked at Blaine who gave him a nod to go ahead. "I know about Beth. When Quinn began dating Wes, she and Puck had a talk and decided it would be best if he, David and I knew the whole story. That includes Finn believing he was the father and what happened when Shelby Cochran came back to coach the TroubleTones." Once he was finished he leaned over and kissed Blaine's cheek. "Now give me credit for not saying anything about what a fucking moron Hudson was for thinking he could get Quinn pregnant from shooting his spunk into a hot tub."

Blaine gave him an over exaggerated eye roll but paid back the kiss. Then he gave one last bit of information. "The rest of the guys, including Drum, are aware Beth exists and that she was adopted by Rachel's biological mother. They don't know about everything that happened when Shelby came back or the poor choices Quinn made when she was suffering from undiagnosed post-partum depression."

"Thanks for saying something. Samuel and I try to be honest with each other about things that happened in the past but sometimes the story isn't ours to tell." Blaine was going to comment on Mike calling Beat by his given name but before he could… "Oh god, remember when Puck had you, me and Finn sing Hot For Teacher with him because he wanted in Shelby's pants?"

"Wanted? You mean got in Shelby's pants. What a fucking Jerry Springer moment…I slept with the woman who adopted my daughter and now my ex is blackmailing us so she can get our baby back. That was one time I questioned wanting to be included as one of the guys. Although the shot glasses Puck gave us prior to graduation were nice even if mine said…"

"Drink until she's hot!" the former McKinley duo shouted in unison before falling over in tears.

"Umm…guys?" Sebastian motioned toward the door as they had been joined by who was most likely student that had the room reserved next. "I think the rest of this particular trip down memory lane should wait until there are actual shots involved."

While Mike stayed behind to talk to the other dancer, Blaine and Sebastian went out to the hallway to speak privately.

"What are you doing here, B?"

Blaine stepped closer and wrapped his arms around his much taller boyfriend even though he was sweaty from dancing. "I got a call from Santana asking me to talk to Mike. I called him before Sam and I started rehearsing but he said this was more of a face kind of talk so I thought I'd crash your lunch. However, I can just see what he needs to tell me and go. It seemed like you two were in the middle of something when I got here."

"Wait, Sam was rehearsing with you?" was all Sebastian got out before Mike reunited with them and agreed to the change in plans. Blaine sent texts while the others changed and then they found a small Bistro right off-campus that wasn't terribly busy and hoped that wasn't a sign for terrible food.

It wasn't, in fact the food was quite good. Before it arrived, Blaine focused on Sebastian (and Mike) asking questions about what he (they) had done that morning. He loved how easily the conversation flowed and how well the three of them got along but could see Sebastian was pulling back every so often. Blaine knew that was from his not wanting to get close to anyone new after what happened with Rachel. Sebastian had taken a huge leap of faith and fell hard. He wasn't going to forget that any time soon.

And neither would Blaine.

When the food came and they finally got around to why Blaine was there it wound up that he already knew what Mike wanted to say. "How did you know?"

"That Chandler stayed with you last night to hide from Kurt? Sam told me, duh. I was with him all morning."

Sebastian dropped his fork and stared at Mike in disbelief. He also somehow lost the ability to form sentences. "Chandler?...It's Not Right…Chandler?...with you?...Huh?"

"Evidently, Santana has been talking to him about Kurt." Mike watched as Blaine reached for Sebastian's hand assuring him that he was fine with it. "He called her yesterday after Kurt got thrown out of the loft. Kurt had been calling and texting him pretty much non-stop but Chandler didn't want to talk to him after, you know."

"Hummel making an ass of himself at Blaine's place yesterday?"

"Yeah, guess he finally got sick of the guy he's in love with mooning over his ex."

"Mooning?" Blaine asked.

"His word." Mike's response answered the unasked question. "Yes, he's in love with Kurt. Santana asked if he could stay in the spare room of my suite since Kurt knew what residence hall he lives in at NYU."

It took Sebastian a minute but he put it together "He was afraid Kurt was looking for a place to stay and he wouldn't be able to say no."

"You got it."

"Do we know where Hummel stayed last night? Is he with Finn?"

Blaine sent out a text and then said "I have an idea of where Kurt is staying and I'll deal with that tomorrow but Finn stayed with Sam last night. Bas, before you say anything, I respect that Sam has a much different relationship with Finn than I do. What Sam said yesterday about dropping to his knees every night and thanking God that Finn got him out of that strip club…that wasn't so people would shut up about Brody. I would never ask him to give Finn up for me although I'm pretty sure Finn asked him to choose sides last night."

"Is Sam ok? Wait, why isn't he here if he was with you all morning?"

Shit! "He's having lunch with my dad."

"Why?"

"Because of what we're going to talk about tonight."

Mike could imagine this conversation becoming a never-ending spiral so he stepped in "Blaine, please just tell him. I have to spend like the next four hours with him and I don't want the conversation to consist of Why wouldn't Blaine tell me why Sam was having lunch with his dad?"

Blaine gave in and began to tell them everything. How the guy that was supposed to be the Present at the concert was in a car accident and couldn't play. How Julliard had already changed venues so they could have 1000 more seats. How they wanted Blaine to play three more songs…and that's when Sebastian realized why Blaine had wanted to wait to tell him. "He wants you to play Let's Hurt Tonight" Sebastian groaned as he dropped his head into one hand and began to massage away the headache he felt coming on. "It's why he asked Sam to come with you."

Mike mouthed I'm sorry but Blaine shook his head. There was no need for Mike to apologize. This was his mess."Yes, but I told him that the reason I took it out in the first place still existed. Unless I can fix it, the answer will be no. That's why Sam is having lunch with my dad."

"What about my dad?"

"Sam thought the whole This is my chance to play at Lincoln Center plea would be more effective if it was just my dad. Then my dad can talk to you dad when he gets back from DC later."

The mention of DC gave Mike an opening he had been waiting for "Ok, I wasn't going to ask (yes, he was) but does this have anything to do with Burt Hummel showing up after the majority of us left your apartment yesterday? Mercedes said Rachel, Finn and Kurt were yelling about it before the rest of us came over to get Kurt and Finn out."

Knowing Sebastian was having trust issues at the moment, Blaine let him take the lead. That way he could have some control over how much they said. "It does and it's not like we're keeping things from everyone. We honestly don't know anything. Our fathers…"

"And don't forget my uncle."

"And B's uncle, are in We don't care that they are 18 and legally adults, we're going behind their backs and make decisions for them without asking their opinions mode. Not that I'm bitter about it or anything." The amount of sarcasm that dripped off Sebastian's last line was telling. Blaine reached around and began to rub his back. It helped. A little. "Mike, can you not say anything? At least until we know more of the story, but even then there will be a lot we can't share."

Mike nodded his agreement and then quickly changed the subject. "Blaine, are you really going to audition at NYADA?"

Since Blaine received a text (hopefully the one he had been waiting for), Sebastian answered the question. "He's going in at 1PM to find out how he's a finalist since he didn't apply. But yes, if he can, he will audition but only to win the full-ride scholarship."

"Why? I mean, is there some reason he wants it when someone else might actually need it?"

"To make sure Hummel doesn't get it. If anyone else comes in 2nd then B will give the scholarship to them. Let's face it, if he got an audition without applying, he's going to win."

The now-upbeat mood changed drastically when Blaine threw his phone onto the table. "That son of a bitch! He's letting his own father take the fucking blame for what he did!" He got up and walked off but left his phone so Sebastian and Mike would understand.

Breaking News: U.S. Representative Burt Hummel of Ohio resigns effective immediately after admitting to his role in the scandal currently rocking Dalton Preparatory Academy in Westerville. More details as they become available.

As always, thank you for reading.