Notes: Finally, the Warblers are here! And Blaine kind of makes his first appearance! It's been strange leaving the Paris guys behind, so maybe I'll bring some memories back sometime in the future! Special thank yous well-i-like-to-read, Disney's Darling, . and MusicalEscape for the reviews. You guys make this story possible, and I am so hapy you're liking it so far! I hope this chapter doesn't disapoint.
One can always be kind to people about whom one cares nothing.
The first impression the Warblers get about Sebastian is that he's handsome, fun, and surprisingly easygoing for someone who had just have to leave his life in another country.
Everything with Sebastian is easy, almost too easy. He smiles constantly, he's up to everything, he never frowns or gets mad, and, most of all, he always says yes.
It's as fascinating to them as it is scary.
"Let's sneak out" says Nick one day, as a joke, just to try Sebastian's limits "Let's go to one of those scary looking bars in the middle of nowhere and get drunk!"
Sebastian's eyes light up instantly and he stands up, ready to go.
"That's the best idea anyone's had since I arrived."
Nick, Jeff and Trent remain seated, staring at Sebastian, dumbfounded.
"Are you serious?" Jeff asks, raising an eyebrow.
Sebastian sighs, sits down again and picks up his textbook from the floor where it had fallen.
"Of course not" he says with an easy smile "That would be a stupid thing to do."
The Warblers agree. Sebastian doesn't.
.
"What do you think about him?" Wes asks David, as they watch Thad teach Sebastian one of the Warblers signature moves.
"He seems like a good kid" David examines the boy, thoughtfully "Almost too good to be true. Am I right?"
Wes smiles, eyes never leaving Sebastian.
"As always. I'm certain he was not like this the day I approached him with the offer of joining us. The way he spoke, the things he said..." he stays silent for a moment, pondering.
"What is it?" David turns to look at him with a raised eyebrow.
"He said he was corrupted. He believed that we wouldn't like him once we knew him."
David turns back to look at Sebastian and Trent, who are laughing almost hysterically.
"Well, you can't say he's not trying."
Wes closes his eyes for a moment and sighs, then he opens them again and focuses on Sebastian.
"On the contrary. I'd say he's not trying at all."
.
The Warblers are everything someone could dream of.
They're charming, they're fun, they're talented, and they are genuinely good. No masks, no lies, no fake smiles, just simple and pure goodness.
It's beginning to get to Sebastian.
He can feel them slowly getting under his skin. He can see himself falling into their perfect little world of happiness and songs. Suddenly, he finds his fake laugh and polite smiles turning into something real, and that is the one thing he cannot afford.
"If you want to sneak out, really, you can just use the door."
Sebastian freezes, half of his body out the window, and sighs.
"I was just getting some air."
David smiles as he watches him get back inside and close the window, giving it a last longing look before turning to look at him with a smile.
"What brings you here so late?"
"I like this room at night. Also, as you have obviously already found out, the windows are located in the perfect place to make an easy scape."
Sebastian gives him a crooked smile.
"I needed a drink" he says "And a fuck. Not necessarily in that order."
He's ready for the disgusted look and the disappointed speech and whatever may come next, but David just shakes his head and laughs.
"God, it must have been hard for you."
"I don't know what you mean."
"You know, pretending to like us when all you wanted was to get away."
Sebastian doesn't know what to say, because he's sure whatever comes out will be the wrong thing, it always is, and, as much as he tries to convince himself that he doesn't care, he really doesn't want the Warblers to hate him.
"I'm not like you. Bad things happen when I care."
"Don't be so melodramatic, you're just a kid."
Sea green eyes open wide, outraged. David just laughs.
.
They're all seated in circle on the floor. In front of each of them there's a small shot glass with the Dalton emblem engraved on the front, in the middle lies a bottle of the most expensive Vodka.
"We haven't officially welcomed you to the Warblers, and I must apologize for that." Wes says, as he pours vodka into his glass and passes the bottle around.
Sebastian eyes them all suspiciously.
"If there's alcohol involved, I'm in for whatever it is."
"You can't trust someone you know nothing about, and as a team, trust is essential" David explains "There can be no secrets, and no lies. Once you're a Warbler, you'll be forever a Warbler."
Wes raises his glass, and the others imitate him.
"Remember the rules: Don't lie, and never judge. Let the game begin."
The game is simple. That same Never have I ever that Sebastian has played so many times, yet, it's somehow different. He can see that they all know each other's secrets by now, so it's mostly about him.
It has never been about him before.
They are all a little drunk already, and secrets have been spilled and Sebastian's guard is down again. This guys have been through a lot, they understand, there's nothing to be scared of.
"Never have I ever been in a threesome."
"Never have I ever slept with an older man."
"Never have I ever tried MDM."
He's the only one to drink.
There they are. The looks. They're too drunk to speak, but Sebastian can hear them nonetheless. Oh God. He's done that. He does those things. He's that kind of guy.
But the game continues, and Sebastian keeps drinking every time, because, as he realizes, there's nothing that this boys have done, that he hasn't.
"Never have I ever serenaded someone at a Gap store!"
"Blaine would have drank to that!"
Sebastian notices the change. They're eyes light up suddenly, their drunken smiles grow sadder, the laughter is quieter.
He wonders about the kind of person who's only memory is capable of doing something like that.
.
"You didn't come to rehearsal yesterday."
Sebastian takes a long drag of his joint and smiles as he exhales, and smoke fills the room.
"I don't think it's gonna work."
Nick rolls his eyes and sits in the bed opposite Sebastian's, staring at him with a determined expression.
"You're a Warbler now."
"Do you really want me there after all you heard the other night?"
Nick seems uncomfortable, he looks away for a moment, but then looks back at Sebastian with the same determination.
"Do you regret all those things you did?"
"Don't ever feel ashamed of doing what gives you pleasure" Sebastian quotes with a smirk "I never regret anything."
The other boy smiles slightly.
"We're a family, Sebastian, not a jury. You won't be judged here."
He stares at Nick. He examines his face for some clue, something that gives him away. A mock, a lie, a poorly hidden disgust. He finds nothing. He wants to say the right thing, but doesn't find the words, so, as always, he says the wrong thing instead.
"You'll regret it, I could eat you all alive."
He doesn't want them to regret it. He wants to be good like them. He really does.
"We'll handle it. We're tougher than we look."
They're all just kids, really.