NOTE: Oh my gosh, sorry for the delay in updating! I have a bunch of people visiting from out of state this month! Forgive me, everyone! It'll take me a little bit to get back into the writing style I had, but the next chapter fits in perfectly. Thanks for being patient!
It's exactly six AM.
Blaine knows because he's been up for an hour already. It's been a week since school began, and he's quickly learning that his roommate is a big fan of sleepovers. He shoots a look to the empty side of their room. How does he do that? Doesn't it bother Sebastian that he has a bad reputation?
Blaine shrugs it off and continues staring at his reflection in the mirror. At least Sebastian doesn't have to wake up to his stupid nightmares all the time. He lets out a little laugh, trying to find humor in his humiliation.
The first time it had happened Sebastian screamed too, he thought they were being attacked and fell out of bed. Blaine was bright red with embarrassment, and after explaining it was a nightmare Sebastian muttered some gibberish and flopped back into his mattress.
Sebastian's a heavy sleeper, so Blaine wasn't sure whether he remembered it or not, but the next morning as Blaine found himself on the receiving end of a million bitch glares he knew Sebastian had.
If looks could kill…
In a sad way it reminds Blaine of Kurt. How he'd glare when Blaine did something embarrassing, only to kiss it all away in the protection of darkness after school. He missed those exhilarating moments, tucked tightly in the corners of McKinley's locker rooms, kissing feverishly as Finn's football practice took place, faint echoes of screaming fans in the background.
Sometimes Blaine felt like he was too careful now. He felt boring and blank, and today- he adjusts his tie in the mirror- today he's going to conquer that.
All thanks to Sebastian.
He and Sebastian haven't exactly hit it off, let alone had any resemblance of a deep conversation, and although he's feeling uneasy about everything a small part of him still claims 'safe' somewhere in the other's presence.
Today, after seventh period honors English, Blaine Anderson will officially be a Dalton Academy Warbler.
He smiles cheekily at himself, scanning the red piping of his blazer, and turns to his side of the room with a yawn. He's decorated now. A plush blue bedspread with matching pillows, small books ranging from travel to biology to randoms he'd found at old bookstores are nestled carefully on his shelves. Everything's neat, well organized. Even the little structures of art on his desk are placed strategically, but he likes it that way. It's… comfortable.
Sebastian had teased him, messing everything up one night while Blaine took a walk on Dalton grounds, but when he'd seen Blaine's panic upon discovery of change he'd apologized and fixed it immediately. Like a child being caught for playing with his parents belongings.
"Nervous?"
A voice startles him into reality.
"Hey Sebastian."
The taller walks up from behind and grins through the mirror. "You'll be great. They've seen what you can do, and I pulled a few strings with Wes so you're pretty much in."
"Oh." Blaine's genuinely surprised. The lack of conversation between them had led Blaine to believe they weren't even friends, let alone friends who pull favors for one another. 'Thanks Sebastian, that was really nice of you."
"Yeah. It was, wasn't it?" He teases.
Blaine rolls his eyes.
Seventh period comes and goes and Blaine's ruined the ends of his sleeves from nerves. Sebastian was right though. They didn't even ask him to audition before accepting him into the group. Having lost at Sectionals the Warblers are done for the year, so Wes- the elected leader- explains how they use meeting times for planning and playing catch up with one another.
As Wes gives updates on new rules and what groups are still in the running for Nationals this year, Blaine looks around the room. There are large leather couches that swallow up most of whoever sits on them, paintings of Dalton's forefathers and old Warbler montages. Blaine feels like he's in a cigar lounge, and as he rounds out to where other members of the group are sitting he catches that green again.
They both look away, but when Blaine tries to focus on what Wes is saying he knows Sebastian's looking again. He side eyes back, and tilts his head in question. The other nods an, 'I told you so' before crossing his arms and looking back at Wes.
For the rest of the meeting Blaine doesn't leave Sebastian's side. He finds comfort in the difference of height, the familiar scent, and Sebastian doesn't work to shy away either. He stands protectively upright, eyes flashing warning signs at Puck any time he tries to roughhouse.
It's comical, and Blaine feels like he's part of something again. He thanks Sebastian later when they get back to their room.
"Huh?"
"I just said, um. Thanks. For having my back and everything today. Helping me get in."
Sebastian doesn't look up, "Yeah."
Blaine's caught off guard. Sebastian always gets so quiet and strange when they're alone, and he takes a deep breath before breaching his comfort zone.
"You're different around me."
It sounds accusatory, and really? He needs to get a handle on himself, because aggressive is something he certainly is not. Sebastian swallows and puts down his French book. He says nothing so Blaine continues.
"You know, why is that?" He struggles, "We're roommates, aren't we supposed to get to know one another?"
"We aren't supposed to do anything if we don't want to. Not that I don't want to know you- I mean. I… like the silence?"
Sebastian looks confused at his answer.
"C'mon, just tell me one thing about you."
The other considers Blaine's suggestion for a moment and scoots so that his legs hang off the end of his bed.
"Do I get to ask a question in return?"
"Sure."
"Fine. I was pretending to study just now," he gestures at his book, 'my parents are divorced and my mom lives in Paris. I'm fluent, but I take French so I can get an easy A, and hook up with struggling classmates."
Blaine laughs at the brevity of his statement, trying to ignore the sexual admission. It's like cheating Dalton is nothing to Sebastian, like he's done it countless times and isn't ashamed. He'd glossed over the divorce so maybe that's something he doesn't want to talk about, but his mother lives in Paris? Does he visit often? Blaine is about to strike up a conversation about the city of love when Sebastian buts in with his question.
"My turn." His face turns serious, like he's breaking a rule, "Why'd you transfer to Dalton?"
"Um." Blaine falters.
Sebastian doesn't blink, like if he makes one wrong movement everything will explode. Blaine listens to the sound of his breathing as he tries to think up lies, but in the end he doesn't have the heart so he treads around the question.
"I needed a fresh start?" He didn't mean for it to come out as a question, but that was why he came here wasn't it? "You're right. I kind of like silence too, and I actually need to study my French, so."
Blaine clears his throat, and steals Sebastian's book. The other looks relieved. Like he'd been hanging on every word Blaine had to offer. Blaine probably would've been rendered uncomfortable by the expression, had he not been caught up in evading the question.
He flips through chapter eight, memorizing vocabulary while Sebastian finds other things in the room to occupy himself with. He should probably have a story worked out, anyway. The Warblers are bound to ask questions eventually, aren't they?
So why did he transfer? For a fresh start?
Sure.
He needed a more challenging environment?
Better, but lacking.
In the end Blaine gives up. He dozes off somewhere in-between how to plan a party and how to ask for directions, fully clothed, and unknowing if Sebastian will stay the night he gives himself up to sleep.