Hello everybody! Thank you so much once again for all your kind words and support. I truly appreciate it!

In this pivotal chapter, Sebastian explains to Kurt how he lost Blaine. It's a sort of flashback. He also reveals just how important Blaine was in shaping his future. Perhaps I'd better leave you with that. I don't do spoilers. :P

Thank you once again for your continued interest and please enjoy this chapter!

Koffee on Audubon Street was the unofficial happening heart of New Haven's bohemian and collegiate sets. On any given night, flocks of artists and Yale students would form a line, sometimes stretching half a block, all for a double shot of espresso or the café's famous chicken club sandwich. This particular Wednesday night was no exception as Kurt navigated his way through the crowd that had formed outside the establishment.

He was still in partial disbelief that he had even agreed to meet up with Sebastian in the first place. Whatever he wanted to say, Kurt was certain that it would just irritate him all the more. Nonetheless, he had consented and he had to admit that he was minutely curious to learn how Sebastian went about losing Blaine.

Speak of the Devil, Kurt thought when he finally spotted Sebastian.

The young man was sitting alone at an ironwork table outside the café. His green eyes darted about a lit cigarette hung out of his mouth, which surprised Kurt. He gathered that, sometime in the two and a half years since they'd last seen each other, Sebastian must have picked up a few bad habits. He shook his head as he stepped forward to reveal himself, clearing his throat to get Sebastian's attention.

"Hey," he replied, standing up and looking flustered. "You came!"

Kurt took a seat opposite the young man. "What, you thought I wouldn't? I said I'd be here, didn't I? I'm not one to go back on my word."

Sebastian nodded as he took the full meaning of Kurt's inference. "Thank you," he said, sitting down. "It's just that, after all the hell I put you through, I wouldn't have been surprised if you stood me up and never spoke to me again."

"What can I say," Kurt said, sarcastically. "I guess I'm just forgiving by nature." He rolled his eyes. "Let's just get this over and done with. I have costume plans I have to work on." He folded his hands and gazed expectantly at Sebastian, who gave a saddened sigh in defeat before launching into his tale.

The rain fell heavy on the windows as Sebastian paced back and forth, waiting for Blaine to arrive in the senior commons at Dalton. He had received a text from him earlier. "We have to talk" was all it said. Being arrogant and over-confident of himself, Sebastian hadn't put much thought into the message. All he could think about was locking the door once Blaine was there and having a bold and steamy sex session with him in the commons.

The sound of the doorknob turning caused his heart to race. He threw his Dalton blazer aside, quickly rolled up his dress shirt sleeves, and loosened his tie, unbuttoning the first two buttons to show a little chest. He sat on the couch and looked as hunky as possible as Blaine stepped into the room.

Blaine was dressed in a tan, Humphrey Bogart-style trench coat. He looked like something fresh from a film noir movie. He put his red umbrella into a bucket by the entryway and closed the door behind him. "Hey," he said feebly, fixing his hair.

"Take off your coat," Sebastian said suggestively. "And don't forget to lock the door. Wouldn't want anybody walking in on us, now would we?"

Blaine shook his head. "Sebastian, we need to talk."

Sebastian suggestively patted the vacant seat next to him on the sofa. Blaine trudged over and plopped himself down on the cushion.

"Comfortable?" Green eyes flashed wickedly as Sebastian hungrily eyed the boy seated beside him.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Blaine replied. "Listen, Sebastian…"

Before he could continue, the impatient boy pressed his lips against Blaine's. Blaine struggled to push him off, but Sebastian wouldn't have it.

"What the hell are you doing?" Blaine's frustration surprised him.

"Don't worry, we've plenty of time. The Warblers don't come here to rehearse for another hour." Sebastian forced himself on top of Blaine once more, removing his coat, but the boy beneath him wouldn't stand for it.

"Sebastian, stop it!"

Sebastian sat bolt upright as Blaine squirmed out from underneath him. "What the hell's going on, Blaine?" He did nothing to hide his own anger.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe I'm upset because I came to talk to you about the very same thing you were trying to do to me just now!" Blaine's veins visibly bulged, turning his face red, a sight that was quite rare. He rarely lost his temper, but whenever he did, it was a no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners kind of rage.

Sebastian seemed to regain some of his composure and chuckled. "Really? It certainly can't be my performance, can it? Because I'm just raring to go."

"WOULD YOU KNOCK IT OFF?"

Blaine's fury scared him but only for an instant. "What the hell's your problem, Blaine? Not satisfied with everything I have to give? What did I ever do to you but show you a good time?"

"That's ALL you ever do!" Blaine's hands were balled up into fists at his sides. "Whenever we get together, it's some light conversation, then a big fat dollop of sex, just to satisfy your perverse, insatiable appetite for all things dirty! You clearly have a problem!"

"Listen, you prude," Sebastian fired back. He was not about to take any of this lying down. "So what if I enjoy having sex with you? Is that a crime? I thought you'd appreciate all the attention."

Blaine took a deep breath before he spoke. "You don't get it! I'd rather be a boyfriend than a 'friendly' boy, get it? I'm not just some piece of ass! I have feelings and thoughts of my own! You don't own me!"

Sebastian looked him up and down, then walked over and grabbed ahold of his backside. "I beg to differ."

A tense silence filled the room as Blaine venomously spat, "Don't touch me, you disgusting pig." He shoved Sebastian's hand away. "Kurt was right all along about you. I was such an idiot. I never should have left him for a jackass like you."

He held his ground, even after the deadly glares that Sebastian was hurtling his way. "No one will ever love you the way you are now. You better do something about that before it's too late."

Sebastian spoke through clenched teeth. "Get out…"

"As for your obsession with sex," Blaine added. "You'd make great money being a call boy. The way you look, you'd have clients every hour…"

In a flash, Sebastian punched him, and the blow caused the boy to fall to the floor with a split-open, bloody lip. Despite the searing pain, Blaine laughed. He gingerly touched the wound and chuckled even more to see blood smeared on his fingertips. "See," he began, pointing a shaky finger at his attacker. "You wouldn't have decked me if you didn't think there was an ounce of truth to my words."

"GET OUT OF HERE, NOW!" Sebastian was furious and Blaine knew he'd pushed the right buttons.

He tossed his coat back on and bolted for the door. He was about to leave when he noticed just how distraught Sebastian looked. Sighing, he stepped back into the commons and spoke softly. "Look, I'm sorry, Sebastian. But I was being serious when I said that you should change. Despite your rough exterior, I know there's good in you. It's buried pretty deep, but it's there. Why not take the time to let it show? Just remember, there's nothing wrong with being nice." He smiled forlornly and left the room. "Goodbye, Sebastian," he said, closing the door with finality.

Sebastian could have killed himself, he was so upset. His face contorted in anger and self-hatred, he kicked an empty wastebasket and knocked a table aside. Unseen by anyone, Sebastian collapsed onto the sofa, and did something he hadn't done since he was a small child.

He wept.

Sebastian had removed his glasses by the end of the story and covered his eyes with his hand as he began to cry. Kurt watched helplessly from across the table. He was stunned for he had never seen (let alone imagined) that anything would give Sebastian reason to shed tears.

"I lost him," Sebastian said from behind his hand. "But I never would have changed if he hadn't said those things to me. It's because of him that I vowed to become a better person. I owe it all to him."

Sniffling, he gazed up at Kurt with wet, sorrowful eyes. "Kurt, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I just…" He sputtered. "I was such an idiot…"

He started to violently sob and Kurt could feel his heart racing in panic. He rose from his chair and rushed around to the other side of the table and did something he thought he'd never do. He gave the boy a hug.

Kurt gently patted him on the back and cooed softly. "Shh, it's okay, it's okay," he kept repeating. He held Sebastian in his arms, cradling him like a helpless infant.

Kurt, who had been a victim of bullying for years, knew when people were being fake or insincere. From the display before him, he knew that Sebastian was being honest and open. A wave of relief washed over him as he continued to console the sobbing young man, who kept apologizing with every breath he took.

"Thank you for walking me back," Kurt said softly as he stood on the stoop of the building that housed his dorm. "I certainly hope you haven't gone out of your way."

Sebastian smiled and waved it away. "It wasn't any trouble at all. Besides, it's the least I can do for you after all I've done."

The two stood in awkward silence for the better part of fifteen seconds before Kurt was the first to break it. "Well, I guess I'd better head on up. I have to get to bed."

Sebastian nodded affirmatively. "Well," he began, extending his hand. "As promised, I'll get out of your hair now. I won't bother you again, Kurt. Thank you for allowing me to just let it all out and clear my conscience."

Kurt shook the hand but was conflicted about whether he should say something more. The truth of the matter was that he wanted to get to know this new-and-improved Sebastian. He even thought there was a possibility that they could be friends. However, for whatever reason, he kept his lips sealed and simply smiled in response.

"You take care of yourself," Sebastian said with a grin. "You're going on to bigger and better things, Kurt. I just know you'll make it big someday." With that, he turned on his heel and walked off into the night.

Kurt's vision blurred only momentarily, but he was in the lobby of the dormitory before the tears could start to fall.

To be continued…