Santana was sat with Blaine in the library, reviewing the set list for Regionals for what felt like the thousandth time. Blaine's sheet music was covered in red pen marking his ad libs and other changes he wanted to make and run by Mr Schue.

"Blaine, you went to Dalton. Did you play lacrosse?" Santana whispered, chewing on the end of her pen.

Blaine's thick eyebrows knitted together. "I was too busy maintaining my grades, heading the Warblers and finding performing gigs. What makes you ask?"

"Did you ever realize how much like Rachel you sound?" Santana wonder aloud with a shrug, before sighing. "Sebastian's invited me to his big game and I know nothing about lacrosse. I'm going to be bored and confused beyond belief and he'll get all offended that I don't care."

Blaine's eyes widened. "Wow. That's a big step.

Sorry," he muttered when she narrowed her eyes. "Have you tried googling lacrosse?"

She shook her head. "I've been too busy thinking about regionals and Karofsky...and colleges. Senior year is just one hundred percent stress."

Blaine patted her arm. "I'm sure he'll appreciate the fact that you even bothered to go. Are you taking Brittany?"

"How on Earth would I explain that one to her? No, I promised him I'd go alone but I'm really nervous. Are you and Kurt busy?"

"Actually no. Well Kurt and his family have something planned but I was considering going to support my friends. If you need moral support, even if I don't approve of you and Sebastian, I'll join you."

•^•

The choir room was quite eerie when no one else was in there, Santana noticed as she sat alone, waiting for the bell to ring for the next period. Even Brad, the oddly quiet piano guy wasn't around.

She wasn't even particularly early. Yeah, she's skipped the previous period, she hated Economics with a passion, but she was never the first one to glee meetings.

"Hello!"

"Crap! You scared me," she scowled looking over at the familiar figure in the doorway. "What are you doing here?"

"Lacrosse team wanted to practice here. Apparently it'll help prepare us for our game, don't ask me; I don't know."

Santana hadn't even realized her school had a lacrosse team. "Okay. So what are you doing here?"

"I figured this is where you'd be. Also it was the only part of the school I could think of to find you in. How are you?"

Santana nodded, glancing towards the clock in fear that she would be caught with the enemy. "A little concerned we're going to get caught and have a lot of explaining to do, other than that, I'm delightful."

Sebastian grinned, finally stepping into the room. "I'm glad to hear it." He paused, frowning before brushing a wayward strand of hair from her face. "Man, I've missed you. Still, I'd better get going, wouldn't want to damage your reputation, Lopez."

She smiled. "You'd regret it if you did, Smythe!"

Santana shook her head as he left the choir room, leaving her alone for a few minutes before Brad and Mr Schue arrived, her former Spanish teacher talking animatedly whilst the odd piano player rushed behind him, looking flustered as he juggled dozens of pieces of what Santana assumed was sheet music.

"Santana, you're early," Mr Schue smiled as he noticed her, taking a long swig of coffee. "No classes?"

She shook her head. "Nope, thought I'd get here early instead."

He gave her a quick look of scrutiny before nodding and moving over to the whiteboard, greeting each other the other members as they came through the door.

•^•

Santana gave herself a quick glance in the mirror, fidgeting as she waited for Blaine to arrive to take her to the game.

"Hurry up!" She hissed, irritated with herself for being so nervous. It was just a stupid lacrosse game. She'd been to McKinley's football games so many times she no longer cared what was happening. What was the difference? That she wasn't a cheerleader tonight? That wasn't it, she quite enjoyed being able to properly watch a game without having to keep an eye on her pom-poms or remember some ludicrously extravagant routine Coach Sylvester had put together.

There was a quick, sharp knock on the door, one she would never have expected from Blaine. "Coming!"

She grabbed her keys, not bothering to leave a note for her parents, they'd long given up trying to dictate her comings and goings.

"You look great," Blaine smiled, nodding in approval as he walked down to her car.

"I should do, I haven't eaten anything all day so I could fit into these pants; I feel like Sandy at the end of Grease."

Blaine grinned at the mention of one of his favourite musicals. "Good thing I brought money for food then. If you'd like we can go for dinner after, there are some great restaurants near Dalton. I'll pay?" He offered with a quick smile.

"Sebastian's welcome to join us," he added, looking almost apologetic.

"Right," she nodded, frowning as she palmed the steering wheel.

"Santana," Blaine started, before pausing, clearly trying to frame his thoughts in a way that he didn't fear would awaken Snixx. "You don't have to go tonight. I know you told him you would, but you don't owe him anything. All this worrying is going to make you ill."

"It's not worrying, it's overwhelming guilt. I know you're only trying to help but please, Blaine, leave it. Please."

He tilted his head, gesturing to encourage her to start the car which she did, grateful for the noise of her still-dodgy engine drowning out her guilty conscience. He began to recline in his seat, arms tucked behind his head. "Did you ever find anything out about lacrosse?"

"No, I looked, I really did but I got bored. There's so many distractions on the Internet."

"So we're just going to sit there looking confused."

Santana grinned. "And cheering when everyone else does."

•^•

Several hours later, and the three of them were sat in an admittedly nice restaurant.

"Did you enjoy the game?" Sebastian asked between chewing his mouthful of lobster.

Santana and Blaine shared a quick guilty glance before they both nodded. "Yeah."

"It's a far more aggressive sport than I'd expected," Blaine admitted with a smile. "I thought boxing was bad enough - that was something else."

Santana chewed on her steak, silently observing the two guys. It was no secret that Sebastian had had something of a crush on Blaine, at least before he'd given him a rock-salt slushie facial. Santana couldn't help but wonder if there was anything there, even after everything that had gone down between them. Hot though she was, Santana couldn't hope to beat out a guy in a battle for Sebastian's affection. Especially one as charming as Blaine.

Yet, as she watched them cheerfully discuss the rules of lacrosse and its merits and shortcomings when compared to boxing, she couldn't see any signs of the former feelings Sebastian had never been afraid to flaunt. It made her cringe to admit that she was relived. She had no right to be; she had Brittany and Sebastian had every right to have a boyfriend or pursue someone.

"Santana?"

She shook herself out of her thoughts before turning to Blaine. "Yeah, sorry, I was in a world of my own. What is it?"

"I've just been saying I was thinking of staying in Dalton overnight, just to spend some time with the guys. I hardly get to see them anymore. Is that alright with you? It's just I don't have a ride if you go back without me."

Santana paused, an edge of worry creeping into her thoughts. She hadn't planned to stay too long. She had come to the realization that she needed to start weaning herself off Sebastian. "I don't have anywhere to stay. It's not like I'll be allowed to stay at Dalton."

Sebastian raised his eyebrow. "I'll pay for a hotel," he stated, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "It wouldn't be the first time, Lopez."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Fine. But I'm not in the mood for any funny business. Keep it PG, Smythe."

He grinned, turning to Blaine. "Is that alright with you? I mean, if you drop one of us a text in the morning Santana can come fetch you or whatever," Sebastian shrugged as Blaine nodded.

"Sure, thanks."

•^•

Santana exited the bathroom awkwardly, toying with them hem of the shirt she had borrowed from Sebastian's collection. "Are you sure it's okay for me to sleep in this?" She asked for what was probably the hundredth time.

Sebastian looked up from where he was standing rearranging the pillows, appraising her outfit. "Yeah. It looks good on you."

She could feel her skin burning from her blush. "Thanks."

He stared at her from the other side of the room, his eyes landing on her almost tentatively, as if he was uncertain of something. Santana couldn't figure out what was going on in his head. But then, when had she ever been able to understand Sebastian's twisted brain.

"You said you wanted to keep it PG tonight, right?"

She nodded, trying not to feel guilty when she noted the sadness in his tone. "Yeah, sorry, long night."

"You don't have to apologise, stupid," He shook his head. "I was just thinking I should probably sleep on the couch; avoid temptation, you know?"

Santana froze, unsure she had ever been that shocked in her life. "Worried you won't be able to resist, Smythe?" She grinned, impressed with how even she had managed to keep her voice.

He didn't respond, only winking as he took two pillows from the double bed. "Have you seen you?"

She rolled her eyes, before flinging herself on the bed. "Goodnight, Sebastian."

•^•

Santana woke up to the sound of quiet sobbing. She stretched across the bed to the lamp on the nightstand. "Sebastian? Sebastian, are you okay?"

There was no reply. She flicked the light-switch, swinging her legs out from under the duvet before walking towards the couch. "Sebastian, talk to me. What's wrong?"

She reached the couch, crouching down by Sebastian's shaking form. She reached out to stroke his shoulder the way her mom always used to when she had a nightmare. As her fingertips grazed his shoulder, he jumped, spinning to face her with wide eyes.

"Santana?" He whispered thickly.

"Hey. Are you alright?" She asked gently, careful not to mention the crying.

"Yeah, yeah. Just a nightmare. Sorry."

She frowned, stroking his jawline as gently as she could. "Do you want to talk about it?"

He shook his head. "It was stupid. I'm an idiot for crying about it. Go back to sleep; I'm sorry for waking you."
Santana set her jaw, unwilling to leave him in the sorry state in which she had found him. "Not without you," she stated, tugging on his arm to pull him off the couch. "Come on, you're sleeping with me."

He didn't even pretend to fight as she dragged him over to the bed.

"C'mere," she whispered, pulling him closer as he climbed in next to her. She met his pale eyes, illuminated by the lamp-light.

"Sorry," he mumbled again, reaching out to smooth her hair, mussed up by her fitful sleeping. "I feel like a total idiot."

Santana smiled before leaning in to kiss his plump lips. "You're not an idiot."

Before she knew it, she was on her back, Sebastian balancing his weight on his arms as he hovered about her, leaning in for another damp kiss before pulling back to meet her eyes.

"I love you."