A/N: Warning: don't stop reading halfway through, you won't regret it because it ends okay. Like I said a few chapters ago: Draamaa.
Chapter Nine:
"Sebastian was so practiced, he didn't need to look. This was just like another hookup for him: autopilot. 'Sebastian… Don't.' Sebastian immediately stopped everything he was doing and backed away about a foot and a half. Nonconsensual was not Sebastian Smythe's style. 'Why?' he asked, confused. He thought Blaine wanted him. If he'd read the signals wrong, he was making a really big ass of himself – and he didn't even think he could get any lower on Blaine's approval rating."
"I'm still not talking to you, don't even ask," Nick said, sensing Sebastian come up behind him.
"Okay, Jeffrey, enjoy your handful," Sebastian said, rolling his eyes.
"Sup?" Jeff asked Sebastian.
"Are you ready?" Sebastian asked, grinning.
"I am psyched!" Jeff said. "I mean… before you came along, a solo was this legendary mythical thing that only Blaine got and, oh my God, I'm just… yes, I'm ready." He grinned back.
"Nicholas?" Sebastian asked.
"Still not talking to you," Nick replied.
"We're talking right now, so you might as well tell me if we're going to bomb this," Sebastian said.
"I'm fine," Nick said. "Go away."
"Are you still mad about Trent and plotting to kill me in some particularly ghastly way?" Sebastian asked.
"I might if you don't go away," Nick replied.
"I promise you I have not done anything against anyone's will, and I haven't hurt anyone," Sebastian said.
"This is my team, Sebastian," Nick said, finally looking at Sebastian. "You might have gone behind my back to get control, and you can turn them all against me if you want, but this is my team and I have a responsibility to look after every single one of those eleven guys, plus Jeff. Eight of them, I haven't been able to save."
"I haven't hurt anyone!" Sebastian insisted.
"What about David's girlfriend? You don't think you hurt her?" Nick asked. "How about the ones who liked it so much they're questioning their sexualities? Didn't hurt them? Don't you think it will hurt me if you decide one night that Jeff would be a particularly good dessert choice? Don't you think it would hurt him, knowing he'd cheated on me? Get out of my face, Sebastian, I don't want to see you until we're on that stage."
"What if I think you'll make a particularly good dessert choice?" Sebastian asked, smirking.
"I'll give you one guess as to who'll be hurting then."
Sebastian had the sense to walk away.
Warblers, you're on in five!
"Thanks," Nick threw distractedly at the guy with the clipboard.
"I'm not going to do anything with Sebastian," Jeff said, quietly.
"That's not the point," Nick said. "Inevitably, it'll happen whether you want it to or not."
"He said he won't do anything unless I ask for–" Jeff began.
"And do you really believe that?" Nick asked angrily. "Eight of the rest of them, Jeff. David's been with his girlfriend as long as I can remember. Beats is in a relationship with a guy back home."
"Beats is…?" Jeff half-asked.
"Bi, yeah," Nick said. "Look, I can't get any sleep thinking about what Sebastian might do to you."
"What about you?" Jeff asked.
"I don't care as much about me," Nick said. "I'm not worried about it, I think he's scared of me."
"What do you mean you're not sleeping?" Jeff asked.
"When was the last time you saw me asleep?" Nick asked.
"Well, you slept half of Thursday," Jeff said.
"I was passed out drunk," Nick said. "Besides that."
"I can't remember," Jeff conceded.
"Do you like Sebastian? Please, be honest with me, because I'll love you either way," Nick said.
"N-no!" Jeff said.
"Jeffrey," Nick reprimanded.
"Maybe," Jeff said, cringing. "I'm sorry. He's so dreamy. B-but I Niff you, so…"
"Honey, it's okay," Nick said, pulling Jeff for a kiss. Then he just stood looking at Jeff.
"What?"
"You're just so beautiful," Nick said, sighing. "If… if you really want to catch a ride on the STD-express, I can't stop you."
"Are you going to sleep?" Jeff asked.
"Probably not," Nick said.
"Why won't you sleep?" Jeff asked.
"I don't need to sleep, I'm fine," Nick insisted.
"Why don't you sleep?" Jeff whined. "Tell me, Nicky."
Warblers, thirty seconds!
"Get on stage, let's go," Nick said, a little louder than they'd been having their conversation. "We're on!" The fourteen Warblers took their positions onstage.
"I Niff you, Nicky," Jeff said.
"I Niff you too," Nick said, "my only Uptown boy."
All the way from Westerville, Ohio, the Dalton Academy Warblers!
As soon as the curtains opened, the Warblers all began, Beats in the lead.
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Uptown girl…
Nick was absolutely a rockstar, even without sleep and in a bad mood. That was the easy number. Nick could actually do it in his sleep. Jeff and Sebastian had a song next. They'd had a little over ten days of practice, including learning their own choreography. The rest of the Warblers had it easy, basically just sing. Jeff closed his eyes, waiting for Beats and the others to start.
I'm gonna make it bend or break…
Say a prayer, but let the good times roll
In case God doesn't show
And I want these words to make things right
But it's the wrongs that make the words come to life
Who does he think he is
If that's the worst you got, better put your fingers back to the kiss
One night and one more time
Thanks for the memories
Even though they weren't so great
He tastes like you but sweeter
One night, yeah, one more time
Thanks for the memories
Thanks for the memories
See, he tastes like you but sweeter
It's always cloudy except for
When you look into the past
One night stand…
One night stand, one night
One night and one more time
Thanks for the memories…
They took their bows and got off the stage. They were third slot, now just to be judged.
"What can I do to make you sleep?" Jeff was a persistent little bugger.
"Nothing, forget I said anything," Nick said.
"Nicholas, may I borrow you for a moment? I want to run an idea by you for the victory party," Sebastian said.
"Uh… okay, but I'm not going anywhere alone with you…" Nick said. He walked a few steps away, just out of Jeff's earshot. Jeff hummed to himself, waiting for the call back onstage when the winner would be announced. Nick and Sebastian came back about a minute later. "Hey, sweetheart. When we win, and we're going to, we're gonna have a Warbler party in the practice room. Sebastian's going to get some tequila and Thad's ordering pizza."
"Yeah, whatever," Jeff said, sighing and leaning into Nick. "I'm just worried about you, baby."
"I know," Nick said, tilting his head to push his lips to Jeff's. "Just remember, I'll always Niff you, no matter what."
"I'll Niff you too," Jeff replied.
All competitors onstage for results, please!
Jeff slipped his hand into Nick's as they walked onstage and stood nervously. This was it, this would determine if they went on. The Warblers had never lost at Sectionals. At least if they did lose, Nick could blame Sebastian. Not only was he the Captain, he'd tempted fate by pre-planning the victory party.
And in first place… from Westerville, Ohio, the Dalton Academy Warblers!
"This is obviously your first Warbler Party, so let me get you a little antiquated," Thad slurred. "There is pizza, alcohol, stupid games, and above all else, impromptu performances."
"I think the word you were looking for was 'acquainted', and thanks, Thad," Sebastian said. "Why don't you go sit down, you're drunk."
"Ready?" Nick asked Sebastian. Sebastian nodded. "Hit it Beats!"
Sebastian had had an idea, an idea to give Jeff just enough of a boost that he would never again say he was awkward. It might work, Nick thought it was worth a shot, and if Nick was willing to go along with Sebastian's idea, it had to be a good one.
You're insecure, don't know what for
You're turning heads when you walk through the door
Don't need makeup to cover up
Being the way that you are is enough
Everyone else in the room can see it
Everyone else but you…
Baby, you light up my world like nobody else
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed
But when you smile at the ground, it ain't hard to tell
You don't know-oh-oh, you don't know you're beautiful
If only you saw what I can see,
You'll understand why I want you so desperately
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe
You don't know-oh-oh, you don't know you're beautiful
That's what makes you beautiful!
Nick and Sebastian singing a duet to Jeff, there was something new. They were at least a little drunk. A few of the Warblers singing behind the pair botched the 'na-na-na' part and started laughing hysterically, but the leading men carried on valiantly. Nick pulled Jeff to him, dancing with him as they sang.
That's what makes you beautiful!
"I love you, J," Nick said, breathlessly. "Always remember that."
"Oh, I know," Jeff said. "I love you too." Under any other circumstances, Nick would have done a freezetake, Jeff had never once said he loved Nick, always choosing to use the word 'Niff' instead, but they were both a little inebriated and Nick assumed it had just slipped out. "And I always will." Nick almost started crying into Jeff's shoulder, he was so happy just then.
The party continued, and eventually Nick fell asleep on one of the couches – more like passed out. The rest of the Warblers slowly left the party until just Jeff and Sebastian were left. Jeff was sitting on the floor, stroking Nick's hair delicately.
"Just us now," Sebastian said.
"Yep," Jeff agreed quietly. "I liked his long hair better."
"What?"
"His hair, it used to be longer," Jeff said. "Not like mine long, but longer."
"I think it looks fine," Sebastian shrugged. "Come on, let's get to bed."
"Nah, I'll stay here with Nicky," Jeff said. "You go."
"You can't just sit there until morning, you'll get bored. It's barely 1," Sebastian said.
"He doesn't sleep anymore, you know that?" Jeff asked.
"Why not?"
"Worrying about me."
"Why? That's a silly thing to worry about, I look out for you."
"I don't need looking after," Jeff said, turning a frown on Sebastian. "I'm not a child."
"I know, it's dumb," Sebastian said. "You just remind me a little bit of… well, me. Years and years ago. I just wish there'd been someone to look out for me. Maybe I wouldn't… wouldn't be like this."
"You're not a bad person," Jeff said. "You're a little… misguided, but generally good-natured."
"Yeah, you remember that," Sebastian sighed. "One day, I'll have lit Tweets on fire and the student body will chase me out of here with pitchforks. Come on, we're going to bed."
"I'm staying with Nicky," Jeff insisted.
"Well, I'm taking him to your room, so you'll have to come with me," Sebastian said, leaning down to scoop up Nick. He stumbled a bit, but Nick just snored right through it. "Okay, he's a little heavier than you."
"You're really strong," Jeff said, getting unsteadily to his feet and following Sebastian out of the senior commons.
"Yeah, I like to lift things," Sebastian said.
"How much can you bench?" Jeff asked.
"I don't know, how much do you weigh?" Sebastian asked.
"I'm not telling you!" Jeff exclaimed.
"Well, whatever it is, more than that," Sebastian replied.
"No you can't."
"Yes, I can." They bickered for a while, finally: "Unlock the door, come on, he's heavy."
"See, you can't!" Jeff said, fumbling with the key to his room.
"I'm just gonna get him settled in," Sebastian said. "Here." He tossed Jeff the key to his own room. "I'll be right in."
"I can take care of Nicky…" Jeff said.
"No, I got it," Sebastian said. Jeff left the room and went into Sebastian's. Sebastian laid Nick in the bed carefully, propping him in the right way, getting him a bucket in case he needed to puke and couldn't get to the bathroom. Unfortunately, that's when Nick decided to wake up briefly.
"What… Jeff?" Nick asked weakly.
"No, shh, go back to sleep," Sebastian said.
"Sebastian? What are you doing?" Nick asked.
"Your boyfriend, or about to be," Sebastian said. "Now go back to sleep. Shh." Nick settled back into the pillow, Sebastian's words not registering. He drifted immediately back off to sleep. "Good, sweet dreams." Sebastian turned out the light and went next door. "Alright then! Regionals here we come, amirite?"
"Yeah," Jeff said. "It's great, isn't it?"
"Oh, definitely," Sebastian said. "I'm thinking Maroon 5, but I don't know yet."
"They'll probably assign us a theme," Jeff said.
"Yeah, I was afraid of that," Sebastian sighed. "Oh well." He took off his blazer and hung it on the hook behind the door. "Long day."
"Yeah, I guess," Jeff said. "What are we gonna do? I'm not tired yet."
"I'm going to be doing you in a few seconds here, if that's alright with you," Sebastian replied boldly, unbuttoning his shirt.
"Um…" Jeff said, mind going blank.
"You'll love it," Sebastian said.
"No!" Nick yelled at the wall, pounding it with his fists. It was the next morning, and at some point during the night, he'd managed to recall what Sebastian had said. "No, no, no!" Tears ran down his face. It had happened, and he hadn't been able to stop it.
"Oi! Shut it!" came a voice from the other side of the wall. "We're sleeping in here!" Nick slumped against the wall, still crying, silently, the voices in his head still screaming no.
Sebastian had taken Jeff from him, maybe forever. What if Jeff decided he liked Sebastian more than he liked Nick? Nick didn't have the will to move, he just sat there next to the wall.
Two hours later, the door to the room opened, and there was Jeff.
"I'm sorry," were the first words out of both their mouths. Nick got to his feet and rushed forward to hug Jeff round the middle.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking," Jeff said. "One second we were just sitting there talking about Regionals, the next he was all over me and I was just… I'm so, so sorry, Nicky."
"I'm sorry," Nick said. "I shouldn't have ever left you alone with him."
"But you were right!" Jeff cried. "I was the one swearing he was harmless and that he wouldn't touch me and…and… he did."
"I'm so sorry, I'll never leave you alone with him again," Nick said, equally tearful.
"No, no, it was okay, I'm okay," Jeff said.
"You're… okay?" Nick asked, confused. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"What are you– Did you… You think we did it?" Jeff asked, incredulously.
"You didn't?" Nick asked.
"Of course not!" Jeff said, indignantly, taking a step back from his boyfriend. "I kissed him. Or he kissed me. We were kissing each other, and then I told him to get off me, and he just… did. Immediately, like some kind of no-means-no black magic. I know I'm his best friend so it might be different with me, but there was… something weird. Like… I don't know, he was taken advantage of in the past."
"Can't take advantage of the willing," Nick spat.
"No, I'm serious. He takes 'no' really seriously," Jeff said. "I think he was telling the truth, all those kids were more than willing."
"Still doesn't excuse his behavior," Nick said, hugging his boyfriend tight. "Taking you away from me."
"He can't," Jeff said. "And he won't as long as I have a say in it."
"I lov– I mean, I Niff you," Nick said.
"I love you too," Jeff replied. "But I Niff you more."
A/N: I Niff anyone who reads this. Keep bearing with me and I shall bring you fruit and rewards.
Samantha.