Okay, really sorry about the mix up; my chapters are all over the place, but this should be new. I'm really bad at using this site. Sorry.

"Are you kidding me?"

"Jeff-"

"That is so unfair."

"I've been with Katie since April and nothing; you're friends with him for a month and you get laid? Man, girls are exhausting."

Ned stayed quiet. Nick had persuaded him to let him tell Jeff, just to get him on the right side. They knew after an hour everyone would know that Sebastian was being an ass, and they'd all back Ned 100%. They also knew that as stupidly as Jeff acted sometimes, he could be discreet. If Ned didn't want them to know details, they wouldn't.

"Jeff, can you take this seriously?"

"I am! I take my sexual frustration very seriously! Wait, you know I don't mind, right? Like, I'm not judging you or anything like that. I don't think I could say no to Sebastian. Even if he's a douche" Ned laughed and looked at the floor.

"Douche levels have yet to be determined. Obviously they seem high right now, but…"

"He was good, huh? I mean, I feel like I should be asking you for tips. What was it like?" Ned blushed and chewed on his lip.

"That doesn't matter, Jeff. He could be the best lay in all of Ohio and it doesn't mean he gets to cast Ned aside. It's not a very Warbler thing to do. We'll figure out a way of fixing him later, but we need everyone on Team Ned by English. Clear?" Jeff saluted him. He was grinning, but they all knew he meant it.

"Crystal." He looked at his watch. "Oh, crap! English is in fifteen minutes! I better go, but I'll see you guys in class." He smiled warmly at Ned and put a hand on his shoulder. "We've got your back, OK? Always."

He ran down the corridor, catching Thad and Trent by the arms and whispering to them. He wouldn't even need fifteen minutes.

"So, Measure for Measure. Who do you hate the most?" Ned laughed as he and Nick started making their way to the classroom.

Sebastian was discussing the play with a couple of boys, but he suddenly got much louder when he saw Ned walk in.

"You should have seen his face. It was like I was playing with one of his toys or eating his fucking birthday cake. He actually jumped in front of him to keep me away, like I was some kind of shark. I hope he doesn't think that's going to stop me…" The guys next to him looked confused and disgusted. It was weird enough that he'd changed the subject completely, but if he was talking about Kurt and Blaine, he was making a mistake. He'd have the whole Academy to answer to if he tried to break them up. They laughed awkwardly, inching away to get back to their books as the teacher walked in.

"Sorry I'm late everyone, but if you would all take your seats - I know you're all dying to make up for the time we've lost." The words fell from his lips easily, as if he'd said them a hundred times before, which he probably had. Ned looked at Sebastian as he sat down, but he refused to look back at him. He wasn't even hurt by what Sebastian had just been saying. He just sounded like a jackass. "So, the play… I trust you've all read it?" Professor Harris sighed with exasperation when he saw the room of vacant faces. "Well, as you're so smart you don't even need to read it, you'll know all about Angelo and Isabella?" Silence again. Most of them had read it, but they all had more important things to worry about today. "Greene?" Ned swallowed.

"Sir?"

"What did you make of Isabella?"

"A big Isabella sandwich…" The teacher rolled his eyes at Jeff, and David threw a pen at him.

"Mr Greene?" Ned could feel Sebastian staring at him, making him squirm, and studying a play about sex and corruption wasn't helping. He didn't see how measuring came into it. As far as he could tell, it was just about sex, death and lying. "Did you feel any sympathy towards Isabella?"

"I don't know. I mean, she has to fight for something she doesn't believe in, but she's doing it for her bro-"

"No." Everyone turned to look at Sebastian, who was leaning back in his seat, legs crossed, hands in pockets.

"Mr Smythe, would you care to elaborate? 'No' doesn't exactly qualify as an answer in my class."

"Sure. Isabella doesn't fool me. I know what she is."

"And what is that?"

"She's just like anyone else. At least Angelo doesn't B.S. everyone. We all know he's a douchebag. Isabella's great at acting the nun - she can wear the costume and everybody plays along and believes she's innocent and pure, but Angelo clicks his fingers and she can't get out of her habit fast enough."

"I think you're over-simplifying things, Sebastian-"

"No I'm not." He remained defiant. He made eye contact with Ned for the first time since Sunday, and kept it despite how much it hurt. He could see him breaking, see his eyes watering, but he couldn't stop now. This is what you're good at. This is what you do. "Everyone might think she's an angel, even she does, but the truth is," he slowed down for emphasis, "she's a dirty littleslut."

"Mr Smythe-"

"I'm sorry, was I not clear? She's a whore. If you don't understand, why don't you ask Ned? He knows exactly what I'm talking about. Isn't that right, Neddy?" Ned's mouth fell open. He fought for breath, feeling eyes on him as his face reddened. He hid it well, but Sebastian's stomach clenched as a tear fell down Ned's cheek, off his chin and splashed onto his book. He stood up, shaking his head, still staring, unblinking, at him, his breath coming in short gasps, and turned and ran out of the classroom.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Before Sebastian knew what was happening, Nick had jumped out of his seat, pulled him up by his lapels and slammed him against the wall. "Why are you being such an asshole? He likes you, for fuck's sake! That's the only thing he's done wrong!" Sebastian clenched his jaw, breathing slowly through his nose. Stay in control.

"Nicholas! Sit down!"

"No! He can sit down. He can do what the fuck he likes, apparently. But I'm going after Ned. He should know somebody still gives a crap about him." He released Sebastian and ran out, shouting to Ned. Jeff raised his hand, looking pensive.

"Yes, Walker?"

"Sir, I have no idea what this play is about."

"Well, it would seem you're not the only one-" Jeff looked at Sebastian, who was still in shock, smoothing his lapels and starting to move away from the wall.

"But I know Angelo's a cunt."

"JEFF!" Jeff tilted his head and looked back at the teacher.

"Oh, no. Cunt's a pretty bad word, and now I've gone and said it – twice - in class. That's bad, right?"

"Yes. I think you need to see the principal."

"Do you think he'll call my parents?" Professor Harris frowned, confused as to what the hell was going on. His lessons were rarely this animated.

"I don't know, Walker, why don't you ask him?"

"I was just wondering how much trouble I'm in. I mean, it couldn't get much worse, wouldn't you say?"

"Sounds about right."

"Thought so. Cool." He took a deep breath. "I better take off, then." He stood, swung his bag over his shoulder, walked to Sebastian's desk where he was just sitting back down, put a hand on his shoulder so they were making eye contact and punched him square in the mouth. He toppled out of his seat onto the floor, and for a second everyone froze. They stared at the boy on the ground. Then they started clapping. It wasn't raucous; nobody was whooping or whistling, just applauding respectfully as Jeff stood up for someone they all considered a friend. He straightened his tie and turned back to the dumbstruck man at the head of the class. "Sorry about that. Don't worry, I'll call Dad myself, save you the money. Not your fault." He nodded to his classmates, appreciating their support, and strode out of the room with his head held high while Sebastian scrambled back up, nursing his jaw and his ego. This is good, he thought, you're undoing everything you've messed up. It'll be easier when they hate you. Then you can leave and you won't care. Thank fuck.