Where Did He Go

Blaine's POV concerning the Summer Away, with a bit of Sebastian insight.

After the wonderful time they had together when Sebastian took him to Columbus for his birthday, Blaine got concerned when shortly after the school year ended, Sebastian seemed to disappear. No more random texts or calls, let alone returning texts or calls sent to him. It was getting to the point where Blaine was more distracted than usual which wasn't doing wonders for his relationship with Kurt.

About a week after hearing nothing but silence, Blaine reached out to the rest of the guys to see if they knew anything. Shockingly enough, the guys were all in the same boat as Blaine, as they hadn't heard from Sebastian either which concerned them a bit, though they all had their own theories. Yet after speaking with Jeff at length, Blaine decided to go and speak with Thad as if anyone had an idea, it would be him. Going to see him was something Kurt didn't understand nor why he had to do it in that moment as he wanted him to come to Lima that day. Having Blaine choosing to spend time with one of the Warblers over him, didn't go over well as usual, leaving him to have to deal with that once again when they saw one another next.

By the time he arrived at the park, Blaine couldn't help but laugh to himself as he took in the sight before him as Thad was coaching youth lacrosse. The moment he reached the field, he was a bit surprised to see how much in his element Thad was given he wasn't necessarily known for his patience. Not wanting to be a distraction, Blaine sat down on the hill just out of view and waited for practice to finish up. Once it did and the kids were on their way, he made his way towards Thad who was putting the last of the gear away. "Here I thought I was imagining things, I guess not." Thad said with a smile as he looked up as he'd noticed a shadow approaching. "What brings you by Blaine?"

"Do I really need a reason?" Blaine replied as he slipped his hands into his pockets. "Can't I have just come by to say hi?"

"The old you, I wouldn't have questioned it." Thad told him while continuing to clean-up. "Yet the Blaine that gets in trouble anytime he plays outside of Hummel's approved list, he does."

"It's not that bad Thad." After he spoke, Thad crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head. "I…forget it." Clearly frustrated that his friend now saw him in that manner, yet part of him could understand, though it didn't make it easier to hear.

"Blaine, I'll stop, promise." Thad replied while softening his stance. "What's going on as it must be important for you to…you know, come by?" Blaine nodded before handing Thad more gear to pack up. "Blaine, what is it?"

"Have you heard from Sebastian since school end?" Blaine asked softly while continuing to help Thad clean up. When Thad stopped and looked at him, Blaine bit his lower lip gently. "So, he's avoiding me then." Once he spoke, Thad reached out and touched his forearm. "It's okay, I mean…I…"

"Blaine, stop before you go someplace with those thoughts that you shouldn't." Thad said to him caringly. "My reaction stems from the fact that Sebastian seems to have fallen off the face of the Earth. No one, has heard from him since we left Dalton for the summer. Part of me thought maybe you had come by because Sebastian decided to have a party at the spur of the moment."

"Wait a minute, so you haven't heard from him either?"

"It's as I said, no one has." Thad said in response. "As of this moment, the running theory is that he went to join his parents in Paris for the summer. Though, that's merely a guess as he was rather reserved as the year wrapped." Thad wasn't too surprised when he saw Blaine's focus go to the ground. "Did something happen when he took you out for your birthday?"

"Not that I'm aware of, I mean, I thought we had a wonderful time and he said the same." Blaine replied. "That's why I'm concerned that I haven't heard from him. It's not like him Thad." He continued. "I've never had to wait longer than half a day for a response from him and that was a rarity." When Thad laughed, Blaine tilted his head. "What's so funny?"

"Blaine, you were the only one he was like that with." Thad told him. "The rest of us were pretty used to waiting for an answer. More often than not, we saw him before we got one. But, considering we were all on campus, it was understandable." The moment Blaine pursed his lips, Thad gave him a nudge. "If it makes you feel better, I will give him an actually call. That way if he doesn't answer, I can at least leave him a more detailed message."

"You'd do that?"

"Yes, I'd do that." Thad said in response. "Especially now that even you haven't heard from him and you are his soft spot Blaine." Instantly Blaine shook his head. "Deny all you want, but you are. Hearing that you haven't heard from him, I'm now concerned."

"You'll call me if you hear anything, right?"

"Of course, as long as you do the same for me." Blaine nodded before picking up one of the bags so he could walk with Thad to his car. "Everything is going to be alright Blaine. For all we know, he's just been extremely busy."

"True." Blaine replied. "I guess I never thought he'd up and leave without saying goodbye."

"You remember the toll Dalton finals take on a person, right?" Thad asked and Blaine said yes. "I know for a fact he was fried, so maybe, he doesn't realize he left in this way. We all get a bit absent-minded do to our focus on our studies."

"Good point." Blaine said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket and his expression spoke volumes as he slipped it back in. "Even if you don't hear back from him, don't be a stranger."

"It's a two way street Blaine, though you did get better second semester." Thad told him as he set one of the bags in the trunk before taking the one Blaine had. "Let me guess, Hummel's wondering where you are."

"He knows where I went, he's just not happy about it."

"Not surprising since he can't stand any of us."

"That's not true."

"I'm sorry, he likes Trent." Thad mockingly replied before closing his trunk. "I'm not one to butt into your life, but…don't live your life the way he wants you to Blaine, live it the way you want. If he doesn't like your friends, that's on him, no one is forcing him to spend time with us."

"I know, it's just…"

"It's hard, I get it. But, don't live your life on his terms Blaine. You're your own person, and knowing you, you don't tell him who he can or can't be friends with." Blaine nodded, as he knew Thad was right as he'd heard the same thing from Cooper, as well as his parents though they were more coy about it. "In case you're free on Friday, a bunch of us are going to Cedar Rapids…come with us."

"I'll think about it." He replied, which was honestly more than Thad had expected. "Where are you meeting, in case I do want to come?"

"Jeff's. Most of us are crashing at his place on Thursday night so we can get an early start. I know he'd love it if you joined that aspect as well."

"It's as I said, I'll think about it."

"Okay. And Blaine…"

"Don't worry, I won't bring him with me if I do." Thad half-heartedly smiled at him, as that was what he was going to ask, but wasn't sure how to word it. "I'll call you later for more details."

"I'll look forward to it." Thad then gave him a hug. "Hate to cut this short, but I need to get going as I've got plans this afternoon and really need to shower before them." Once Blaine turned to walk away, Thad pulled his phone from his pocket to send a text before heading home. While he promised to call Sebastian, he was going to send a text first, hoping maybe this time it would be different. If it wasn't, it gave him a bit more time to think about what he wanted to say to him.

Not that I expect a response, but thought you'd like to know, Blaine's worried about you – Thad

When the text came across, Sebastian's phone was on the island in the kitchen which allowed Lexi to see it go off. "Care to tell me why you've gone completely incommunicado with your friends?" She asked as he ate his breakfast across from her. "Your phone is constantly going off Seb, but you never reply."

"Ever think I have nothing to say." Sebastian replied before reaching for his phone which was snapped from out of his reach. "Lex!"

"No, I told you I would give you space and not push, but this is ridiculous!" She then read the message aloud to him and watch him bow his head. "Seb, talk to me…please."

"What's there to say?" He exclaimed as he threw his hands up. "You want the honest to goodness reason I'm here." She nodded. "Fine! I'm in love with a boy I'll never have!" No sooner did the words come out of his mouth, did she set his phone down and move to sit beside him as he put his head in his hands. "I said that aloud, didn't I?" She affirmed softly as she began to rub his back. While she'd assumed as much, she wasn't going to assume what he was feeling.

"That's an awfully big assumption you made, that he'd never be yours."

"You heard Cooper and I that day in the kitchen, Blaine's too nice for his own good some times." Sebastian said as he lifted his head, but instead of sitting upright, he rested it against hers. "Blaine deserves better than Hummel."

"That's a shared sentiment as Cooper feels the same way. Yet, it's not your decision nor his to make, it's Blaine's." Lexi said sweetly as she hated seeing him like this. "Clearly Blaine cares for you if he's worried, as Thad said."

"That's because he's sweet."

"Seb, don't cut yourself short." Lexi told him. "Sure, he's sweet, but if he's seeking others out it's not general concern."

"Lexi, he's unlike anyone I've ever met before in my life." Sebastian said as he sat up and looked at her, her hand still rubbing his back. "I mean, this is the man that forgave me for putting him in the hospital."

"That's because he knows it was an accident." She replied. "Are you going to text him back?"

"I…I don't know. Just as I know Blaine is worried as he's texted me quite a bit."

"Why won't you answer him?"

"For one of the first times in my life Lexi, I'm not sure what to say. Ever since the night I took him out for his birthday, things changed." He told her before reaching for his coffee cup, and then taking another bite of his breakfast which was a bit cooler. "Right now, considering how I feel, I don't want to say something I might regret. Not to mention, the good friend he's come to know…trust, I wouldn't be able to handle hearing anything about Hummel." Once he finished, she reached up and caressed his cheek. "I hate feeling like this."

"That's because it's an over-powering feeling, that isn't easy to wrap one's head around. You need to either text him or one of your friends so they can relax, as I doubt Blaine is the only one concerned." Lexi said to him. When he rolled his eyes, Lexi picked up his phone once again. "Either you do it, or I will." The directness in her tone let him know she wasn't playing. "And then I'll ask Coop to call Blaine and tell him exactly where you are."

"That's fucking blackmail!" Instantly a smirk crept to her face. "I hate you!"

"No you don't." She then stood and pressed a kiss to his forehead while handing him his phone. "They care about you Seb, don't leave them hanging, especially if you give a damn about them." When he sighed, she took his plate. "You know what you need to do." Sebastian nodded, and then swiped his phone so that he could respond to Thad's text. While he wasn't going to tell everyone where he was, as he needed this time away, he'd let them know he was alright.

After sending a text to Thad, with a sarcastic retort given he hadn't expected a response, Sebastian went to his photo gallery before sighing. While he'd always known he felt things for Blaine, he'd never given them broader thought till after they'd gone out. Looking at the picture of the two of them at the concert, Sebastian closed his eyes before going back to his texts to re-read all the one's Blaine had sent him. Knowing he hadn't opened anything, merely read on his screen, Sebastian knew Blaine would notice his messages had finally been read.

Sebastian hated that he'd caused Blaine to worry, but given how he was feeling he had gone on instinct when he'd left without saying goodbye. So after taking a deep breath, he prepared to finally respond to him.

Sorry I made you worry B, didn't mean to. Just needed to getaway, hope you understand. If I don't respond, don't take it personally, just have lots going on. ~S

FYI, I miss you too Killer. ~S

The timing of Sebastian's response, coincided with Blaine driving to Lima so he wasn't aware of the message until he arrived at Kurt's. Blaine wasn't in a good mood as he walked up to the door as he knew he was in for another lecture. If there was a topic he wished he could call off-limits, it would be his friendship with Sebastian. Yet considering what had happened with Chandler, he knew it would raise all sorts of flags. From the moment Kurt opened the door, Blaine's mood really didn't improve as he waited for the other foot to drop. "How is Thad?" Kurt asked as they headed towards the family room since everyone was out.

"He's doing well, he's coaching youth lacrosse this summer." When Kurt scoffed, Blaine shook his head. "What?"

"I never took him to have the disposition to work with kids." Kurt told him as they each took a seat.

"That's because you really don't know him." Blaine replied as his phone went off. He motioned to Kurt who told him it was okay to answer it, even though he clearly wasn't thrilled about it. After having a brief conversation with Thad, it reminded him to check his messages. The moment he saw it had been Sebastian who'd texted him, a smile crept to his face before he slipped his phone back into his pocket. "He was really good with the kids from what I saw."

"Who was on the phone?"

"Thad, he was letting me know he'd heard from Sebastian." At the mere mention of his name, Kurt scowled. "Can we not do this, please?"

"I don't know why that Meerkat's whereabouts are any of your concern. Personally, I think you're better off not having him around."

"Like it or not Kurt, he's my friend."

"I don't know why considering what he's done."

"People make mistakes Kurt."

"He nearly blinded you Blaine!" After he blurted that out, Blaine leaned his head back and closed his eyes as he could feel a headache coming on. It really should've known it was going to happen the moment he spoke Sebastian's name. "What made you smile?" When he turned his head and looked at him, Kurt got up and stood before him. "It was him, wasn't it?"

"Yes. He simply apologized for leaving the way he did and not contacting anyone."

"I bet!"

"It's true, want to read it?

"No, as I wouldn't believe a word that comes out of his mouth! I…"

"Stop, just stop!" Blaine said as he stood. "I did not drive all the way out here for us to fight about Sebastian. It's up to you as to whether or not I stay, but I will not sit here and listen to you trash him!"

"Why, I bet he trashes me all the time!"

"He doesn't talk about you!" Blaine shouted before grabbing his keys off the table. "So much for us working on things. Call me when you calm down and can have a rational conversation!" Before Kurt could even respond, Blaine was on his way out the door. If this was how their summer was starting, one could only imagine how it might end.