A/N: This is like the worst/best chapter. Because reasons. I mean, like if I was reading it, I would start squealing like the fangirl I am. But I do that anyway. Enjoy the chapter and I'll talk to you at the end.

Chapter Nineteen:

"Blaine punched the wall of his bedroom. It hurt rather satisfyingly. His phone buzzed. He looked at it eagerly, hoping it would be Kurt. It wasn't. It was Hunter, who he could only assume had gotten the number from Sebastian. He'd been texting a couple times a day since the incident at Dalton."

Blaine didn't transfer for a month, but he did eventually transfer. That month was the longest of Sebastian's life – not that he could remember most of it. He spent most nights at Scandals, drinking and fucking. When he got too trashed to stay in the bar anymore (hard for Sebastian to do, since he was usually a pretty good drunk, so just imagine how much alcohol that would really take), the bar would call Hunter to pick him up, every night.

At first Hunter was annoyed, just throwing Sebastian, disgusted, into his bed, telling him to sleep it off. But even Hunter wasn't completely heartless.

"Hunter!" Sebastian exclaimed happily. "I am so glad to see you!" It was the ninth or tenth time they'd met like this.

"Yeah, yeah, I figured you might be," Hunter said, opening the door of his SUV for Sebastian. "Usually are."

"I had this brilliant idea!" Sebastian slurred.

"Oh yeah?"

"You're single, I'm hot," Sebastian said, grinning. "Or was it the other way around?"

"You're drunk," Hunter clarified. "And I'm–"

"Not even remotely bicurious," Sebastian recited. "Sure. Don't knock it til you try it. Give me one night and I bet I can change your mind. Might not even need the whole night." He smirked.

"Sebastian, I'm going to try to reason with you even though I know it's hopeless," Hunter said. "I come from a very strong religious and military background. I do not smoke, I do not drink, even in church, I do not do drugs, I do not swear, I do not like men the way that you do, and I will not have sex until after I am married, do you understand me?"

"I understand that you seem to have an aversion to fun," Sebastian replied.

Still, when they got back to their room, Sebastian made his move, lunging in for a very sloppy kiss on the lips. Hunter pushed him off, though, and stared at him.

"Please do not do that," Hunter said. Sebastian stumbled back into his bed, curled up in a ball, and started crying. "Bas…"

"What do you want?" Sebastian asked. "You already ruined my life, stay away from me."

"What?" Hunter asked. "How did I ruin your life?"

"Blaine and I would have been alright if it wasn't for you. I love him, I've never loved anyone before, but goddammit, I am in love with him. I can't deal with it! He won't talk to me. Help me forget about him. Please," Sebastian blubbered. "No one else has to know. Please, please, let me kiss you."

"There are a hundred other heteroflexible guys in this school, why are you perving on the one that's not?" Hunter asked.

"I thought we were friends," Sebastian said.

"We are," Hunter replied.

"Please, please, please," Sebastian begged. He'd never begged for anything before – except that one time in Paris, okay more than once, and that had just been for fun anyway, so they didn't count. "Just – just hold me. Please." Hunter considered this for a moment, then slowly sat next to Sebastian and put his arm around him. Sebastian put his head on Hunter's shoulder and there they sat until morning.

Hunter awoke with the sun as he always did without an alarm clock, 5am on the dot. Sebastian was still in his arms, tear-stained face huddled into the crook of Hunter's neck, snoring softly. Very carefully, Hunter moved Sebastian into a lying down position and spread his comforter over his sleeping companion. Then Hunter changed from his uniform he'd never changed out of into a Dalton issue tee and track pants, shoved on his sneakers and went for a run.

By the time he got back, Sebastian was groggily awake, force-feeding himself mini-Wheaties.

"Good morning," Hunter addressed him.

"Nnh," Sebastian groaned.

"I hope you learned your lesson last night," Hunter said.

"I don't remember last night," Sebastian said. "Last night doesn't exist because I drank it." Hunter snorted.

"Just so you know, tonight's your turn to lead warm-ups," Hunter said.

"Lovely," Sebastian mumbled, munching on his cereal.

"You need help, Sebastian," Hunter said. "I can only help you so much."

"I don't need any help, I'm fine," Sebastian said. "What do you know about it? So I like to party. It's not my fault you don't."

"Last night you–" Hunter began, but then stopped. He bit on his lip nervously.

"I what?" Sebastian asked.

"Nothing, never mind," Hunter snapped. "I'm going to take a shower." He blew into the bathroom.

Before last night, Hunter had never been kissed. Sebastian had had no right– It wasn't his fault, he was so zonked he couldn't even remember now. Which even more didn't give him the right to… No, never mind. It didn't count. This would be one of those times he never told his future wife about. Like when he accidentally on purpose stared a little too long when Sebastian came out of the shower with no towel. Or those other guys at military school…

Not even remotely bicurious.

It was a statement that he repeated to himself over and over, so much, in fact, that he almost willed it to be true on several occasions. Still… It didn't really matter because he only had one option: attend West Point, get married, bring up a strapping young boy like himself, and hopefully live to become a high-ranking officer. There was no or.

Hunter had already used up his or, at least as far as his father was concerned.

But that was beyond the point. Hunter was more determined than ever to succeed.

Hunter walked back into the bedroom, a towel around his waist. Sebastian was too down to even notice, just slipped into the bathroom passed him. Hunter got dressed in his uniform, dragging his heels a bit. It was Friday morning, and he honestly just wanted to pass out for a few more hours. Knowing Sebastian had gone to Scandals, he'd tried to get some sleep before the bar called – usually around one-thirty, so Hunter was there by two, back in the room by two-thirty, and he woke up at five. Sebastian was staying home tonight or Jeff was going to have to go with him. Hunter needed some sleep.

Sebastian came back out of the shower, towel around his waist (which didn't stop Hunter from wanting to look), and collapsed onto his bed.

"Get dressed," Hunter instructed.

"No," Sebastian said. "Leave me alone."

"What was the point of eating breakfast and taking a shower if you're not going to go to class?" Hunter asked.

"You can't make me, you're not my real mom," Sebastian mumbled.

"Bas, you have to go to class," Hunter said.

"Says who?" Sebastian retorted.

"Says me," Hunter replied. "You need to keep yourself in the black."

"The what?"

"The black. You know, out of the hole? The good side of the administration?"

"Who gives a fuck? Not me, that's who."

"Sebastian, get out of bed this instant, put on your uniform, and get to class," Hunter demanded.

"Jesus Christ, don't yell," Sebastian mumbled, sitting up slowly.

"Don't take the Lord's name in vain," Hunter snapped.

"He may be your 'lord' but he's not mine," Sebastian yawned. "God, it's early."

"I swear you do it just to annoy me," Hunter said, rolling his eyes.

"I thought you didn't swear," Sebastian smirked.

"I thought you didn't remember last night," Hunter shot back.

"Parts are coming back," Sebastian said as he pulled on his various articles of clothing. "Let's never talk about it again, ever."

"Yeah, that seems about right," Hunter replied.

Sebastian went through his classes on autopilot, but by the time Warbler practice came around, he was finally awake and actually feeling pretty good about himself.

"It's Sebastian's turn to lead the warm-up, and I'm sure he has come up with a particularly inappropriate selection," Hunter announced. "Bas?"

"Oh, yeah," Sebastian said. "Trent, Nick, Jeff, wanna help me out here? Beats, hit it!"

Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, flow sister

He met Marmalade down in old Moulin Rouge
Struttin her stuff on the street
She said, hello, hey joe
You wanna give it a go?

Gitchee gitchee ya ya ta ta
Gitchee gitchee ya ya hee…
Mocha choca lata yaya
Creole Lady Marmalade

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?

Sebastian danced around the room, painfully oblivious to the glare Hunter had pointed at him.

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?

It was almost like he was directing the line at Hunter. Hunter was steaming by the time Sebastian had finished leading the warmup.

Sebastian stayed in that night, but Hunter would have almost preferred he didn't. He stayed in their room, commandeered the TV (which did belong to Sebastian, after all) to watch the most depressing episodes of Doctor Who (Doomsday, Journey's End, The End of Time Part Two, The Girl Who Waited, Angels in Manhattan, you know the stuff).

Around one-thirty, after many hours of trying to sleep despite the sound from the TV and Sebastian's constant yelling at it, Hunter finally had had it.

"Sebastian, I know this is difficult for you to understand, but I need sleep," Hunter said.

"You don't understand!" Sebastian wailed. "Melody Williams is a geography teacher, but Melody Pond is a superhero!"

"That means absolutely nothing to me," Hunter said. "But you know what does? Sleep. Do you like sleep?"

"Who needs it?" Sebastian retorted. "Tomorrow's Saturday."

"You probably don't know this, but I get up at five every day to go for a run, then I come back here, take a shower, and go to breakfast, no matter what day it is," Hunter said.

"So, sleep in, it's Saturday," Sebastian insisted.

"I can't reason with you even when you're sober!" Hunter half-yelled.

"Melody Pond is a superhero!" Sebastian screamed.

"Damn straight!" came the yell from the other side of the wall, Nick's voice.

"Sebastian, honestly," Hunter said. "Fine, Melody Pond is a superhero. Can you just turn it down a little? I'm trying to sleep."

"Sleep is for losers," Sebastian said. "Like you."

"Sebastian," Hunter said, grinding his teeth.

"What are you gonna do to me?" Sebastian asked, smirking.

"You don't even want to know," Hunter said, rolling over and pulling his blanket over his head.

The next night, Saturday, Sebastian hit Scandals again, actually passing out before Hunter came to pick him up. Hunter took him not back to Dalton, but to Westerville General [Hospital] for involuntary detox.

When Sebastian came to, Hunter was sitting in the chair next to his bed.

"Hey stranger," Sebastian said, smiling.

"Have you learned your lesson yet?" Hunter asked.

"I think I drank the lesson," Sebastian groaned.

"And so?"

"I never want to drink again," Sebastian said.

"Thought not," Hunter said. "I have to get to mass soon, they're keeping you here for the day. I'll send Jeff in to look after you."

"No," Sebastian said immediately. "Don't send Jeff. I – I don't want him to know. Just between us, please." Hunter looked at Sebastian, he looked so sincere.

"Okay," Hunter said. "Just between us. I'll be back later."

True to his word, Hunter returned a few hours later. It was Sunday morning, he'd gone to church, nowhere else.

"So," Hunter said, settling back into his seat next to Sebastian's bed. "Are you ready to talk about it?"

"No," Sebastian said. "I don't ever want to talk about it. Are you going to talk about it?"

"I don't have an it to talk about," Hunter replied.

"Then we both have secrets," Sebastian said.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Hunter said. "I have told you many times, I'm–"

"Straight? Yeah, so is spaghetti until you heat it up," Sebastian said. "But no, not what I was talking about."

"What were you talking about?" Hunter asked.

"The financial aid office doesn't know anything about a scholarship for you," Sebastian said. "Your father is paying your entire tuition out of pocket, not that he has an issue, I'm sure your family has plenty of money."

"So what?" Hunter asked.

"So, why did you really transfer to Dalton?" Sebastian asked.

"That's none of your business," Hunter replied.

"Cuz I'm here for a stupid reason too," Sebastian continued. "I've been expelled from almost every boarding school in the Midwest. This is the last one my dad is willing to pay for. Basically, I'm in exile."

"What does this have to do with me?" Hunter asked, though he was beginning to get nervous.

"So, you're kind of in exile here too," Sebastian said. "Why did you really leave military school?"

"It's none of your business," Hunter repeated. "We need to focus on you. Why are you trying to give yourself alcohol poisoning?"

"I'm not," Sebastian said.

"Alcohol, funny story, is a depressant," Hunter said. "Ironically, makes you feel even worse about what you're already feeling bad about, and all those nights you can't remember? I was there, listening to you."

"I don't want to talk about it," Sebastian said, folding his arms.

"It's about Blaine, and he'll be joining us soon, so spill," Hunter said. "As Captain of this team, the more I know, the better."

"You're only Captain because I let you be," Sebastian said.

"Your so-called friends voted me Captain," Hunter said, "whether you like it or not. What is your thing with Blaine?"

"I don't know," Sebastian said. "I just act a little crazy when he's around."

"No, you're in love with him," Hunter said. "Just go ahead and admit it, it's the first step to recovery."

"You are not turning Blaine into a 12-step process," Sebastian said.

"I will if I have to, now just admit your feelings!" Hunter roared.

"I may have a small crush on Blaine," Sebastian said.

"That's a start," Hunter sighed. "Why? What about him makes you crazy?"

"The hair, wow, and his eyes, and his smile," Sebastian sighed, dramatically. "And his voice, oh my God. It gives me chills."

"Okay, looks, talent," Hunter said.

"And he's just so nice, friendly, warm, no matter what, really," Sebastian said. "I almost blinded him, and he apologized to me."

"Insane, good to know you like that kind of thing," Hunter said, nodding. "Anything else?"

"It's just Blaine," Sebastian said. "You wouldn't understand. You don't like guys."

'I like you' almost slipped out of Hunter's mouth, but he managed to keep it in, instead saying, "No, that I don't."

"But you do like me, don't you?" Sebastian smirked. Hunter wondered, not for the first time, if Sebastian could actually read his mind. "Was that your first kiss, the other night? Probably was, you seem like the lame kind, not that I'm a stranger to being anyone's first."

"Yes," Hunter muttered, somewhere between embarrassed by the fact and not wanting anyone else who might be lurking in the curtains to hear.

"I'm sorry," Sebastian said.

"Don't be," Hunter replied.

"Is that your way of secretly saying you liked it?" Sebastian asked. Hunter didn't reply to that. "Hunt, I won't tell anyone."

"I can't," Hunter said.

"Right, cuz your dad is a big pile of douche," Sebastian said.

"How d'you know that?" Hunter asked.

"Isn't everyone's?" Sebastian snorted. "I am sorry, though, about the kiss."

"It's whatever," Hunter shrugged.

"No, it isn't, because I had my first kiss and my first time on the same day at the same time when I was twelve, and later that same day, the guy outed me to my family and got me expelled from school, and I had no control over any of it," Sebastian said. "So, no. No means no, and I'll back off. Jeff and I really had something before I fucked that up, and I don't want to lose you."

"Why? We're not anything, we've barely met," Hunter said.

"And here you are, looking after me," Sebastian said, almost flashing a smile. Almost.

"What did you take last night?" Hunter asked.

"One too many shots of tequila, I think," Sebastian shrugged.

"No, it wasn't just tequila. I know you smoke, and it wasn't nicotine either," Hunter said.

"I don't know what you're–" Sebastian began, but Hunter cut him off.

"They did a tox screen, Sebastian, I know what you did, I'm just giving you the chance to tell me!" Sebastian stared at him as if he'd never seen him before, but finally licked his lips to wet them and spoke.

"PCP," he said. Hunter sighed, his head dropping to his chest. He'd been bluffing, they hadn't told him. "I've been hooking up with these two guys the last couple of weeks, and they really wanted me to and…" Sebastian trailed off.

"Sebastian…" Hunter sighed.

"And I never will again," Sebastian promised. "This–" he gestured around "–is not fun."

"I'll let the smoking, the illicit sexual interactions, even the drinking pass as long as you never do drugs again. And show up for rehearsals on time," Hunter said.

"Deal," Sebastian laughed. "Ugh, did they call the cops? Underage drinking, possession of fake identification, illegal drug use by a minor… couple thou?"

"No, they didn't," Hunter said. "You're not the only one who can throw money around."

"I'll pay you back," Sebastian said immediately.

"Yes, you will," Hunter said. "Good gravy, Bas, PCP, are you kidding me? You could have died."

"I don't honestly care," Sebastian said. "I don't honestly care."

"I think you're just saying that, trying to sound all cool," Hunter challenged. "There's no one to impress here, just me."

"Don't care," Sebastian repeated.

"Sebastian…" Hunter sighed. "I can see right through you. I always have."

"I am terrified," Sebastian rephrased himself. "Why do you care so much?"

"You're my Warbler, I have a duty to keep track of you," Hunter said.

"No, you really don't," Sebastian said. "I'm 17, I can take care of myself, been doing it my whole life. Since I was twelve."

"You don't have to be alone anymore," Hunter said. "We can make it work between you and Blaine."

"No, we can't," Sebastian said.

"Actually, yeah, yes, we can," Hunter said. "I'm not Nick and Jeff. I don't have any kind of emotional attachment to this Blaine, I met him once. I'm not impressed by his legendary status. If you want him, you got him."

"He deserves better than me," Sebastian said, shaking his head.

"Yeah, well, he probably does, probably could do better than you too, but if you want him, then who cares?" Hunter asked. Sebastian stared at Hunter for a second. He was making sense, but it was too much for Sebastian to comprehend.

"But…" Sebastian began. Hunter raised an eyebrow at him. "Well, I guess…"

"When he transfers, which I know he will, I'll pull some strings for you," Hunter said. "You've been a helpful minion."

"I'm not your minion," Sebastian muttered.

"Friend," Hunter amended. "But there's one more thing you have to do for me."

"Will it ever end?" Sebastian snorted.

"This is the last thing, I swear," Hunter said.

"Thought you didn't swear," Sebastian said.

"Oh, hush," Hunter said. "No, one last thing."

"Anything," Sebastian said, his desperation for Blaine starting to show.

"Stay sober for me," Hunter said.

"Like… totally?" Sebastian asked.

"Like, totally," Hunter said.

"Even cigarettes?" Sebastian asked.

When Sebastian returned to school, a story fabricated by Hunter in place to explain their lack of presence, he really tried. He gave an honest effort. And he failed. He was doing alright until he saw Blaine again, the Warblers had gone to the Grease performance. Hunter was convinced Blaine would be transferring the next week.

"You are a disgrace," Hunter said, throwing Sebastian in the backseat of his car in the Scandals parking lot. "You may as well grow your hair out and wear ripped jeans and studded jewelry."

"I should be in a band?" Sebastian deduced.

"A vagrant," Hunter replied. "What are you doing with your life?"

"Living too long," Sebastian sighed.

"Not completely trashed tonight, I see," Hunter observed.

"I tried," Sebastian said. "I really only came for the sex. And then I got carried away."

"You need help," Hunter said. "I would seriously check you into rehab if I had the power and thought it would do you any good."

"How about no?" Sebastian suggested. He climbed over the center console into the front seat. "Can we drive through a Mickey D's? I'm starved." Hunter scowled but took the next right into one of the many McDonalds' between Scandals and Dalton.

"We have practice at 10 in the morning, right after I get back from mass," Hunter said. "You will be attending. There will be a short council meeting to discuss song selection for Sectionals and the possibility of Blaine coming back effective Monday, well, tomorrow." He shot a look at the clock, realizing it was well into Sunday. "Then, after you lead warm-ups, we'll begin vocal work on the songs we choose, after which we will break for lunch. You and Jeff will have three hours to begin some rudimentary choreography. Then after your Lacrosse practice, we will begin dance rehearsals so that we can pretend we have a semblance of order for when Blaine gets here."

"I bet you'd be good at Lacrosse," Sebastian said.

"You would know, you're the Captain," Hunter said. "If they haven't decided to boot you for skipping four practices in a row and a game."

"Aw, shit, I forgot about the game," Sebastian said. "Can I say I was sick again?"

"Maybe you shouldn't miss any more practice," Hunter advised.

"Do you do any sports?" Sebastian asked.

"I played soccer when I was a kid," Hunter said. "But not for a long time."

"I bet you'd be good at Lacrosse," Sebastian repeated.

"I probably would," Hunter said. "I need to focus on the Warblers and schoolwork, no time for anything else."

"Like a boyfriend," Sebastian suggested.

"Exactly," Hunter replied. Sebastian smirked.

"You never did say why you transferred here," Sebastian reminded him.

"It was a coincidence I ended up here, really," Hunter said. "I was… politely asked to leave the Academy at the end of last year. Father thought it was best I work on recreating my image somewhere lowkey."

"What did you do?" Sebastian asked.

"I…" Hunter hesitated, not sure he wanted Sebastian to know.

"C'mon, man, I have nothing left to hide from you," Sebastian urged. "Especially since you found that box under my bed."

"It was under my bed," Hunter said.

"They were both my bed before you moved in!" Sebastian exclaimed. "Dish."

"I, sort of, freaked out on another student," Hunter said.

"Like… you got into a bitchfight with another dude?" Sebastian asked.

"More like an actual fistfight," Hunter said.

"It's military school," Sebastian said. "Doesn't that happen all the time?"

"Yes…" Hunter agreed.

"I went to military school for a couple weeks. Got beat the shit out of, Dad pretty much decided that was a bad idea after that. The whole 'gay' thing wasn't too great there," Sebastian said. "Did you win the fight at least?"

"Of course," Hunter said.

"What did he say? Did he deserve it?" Sebastian asked. "Did he call you a bad gay nickname?"

"No," Hunter rolled his eyes. "Nothing like that. I don't… I don't even remember what happened. One second we were just hanging out, the next we were on the floor and I was punching his lights out."

"That's gotta be a black mark on your file," Sebastian said. "You and Nick would get along great. I can't tell you how many times he's banged me against the wall, and not in the good way either. I'd say roid rage but I know better."

"Yeah…" Hunter agreed. Sebastian shot a sideways look at Hunter, then put his Coke down in the cupholder.

"Roid rage?" Sebastian asked. "You?" Hunter didn't say anything. "You've got to be kidding. What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking… It's getting really hard to keep my competitive edge," Hunter said. "Then I punched my best friend in the face."

"Yep, I've done that," Sebastian sighed, picking his Coke back up and sipping it. "Well, not so much punched as seduced."

"You are a rather seductive one, aren't you?"

"Shoulda ordered a McFlurry," Sebastian said. "Starving. And yes, yes, I am. I'll get you."

"No, you won't," Hunter said.

"Yeah, I will," Sebastian said. "You'll crack eventually."

"Not before I hook you up with Blaine. You've got 36 hours," Hunter said. Sebastian looked at Hunter and pouted. Hunter laughed. "So, while we've still got the time and you're sober enough to talk normally, what happened between you and Jeff?"

"We were best friends for a while," Sebastian said. "I guess we are again, but it was different. I guess I sort of came on a little strong when we first met, but have you seen him? He's gorgeous. I mean, he's the one that told me Blaine was basically sex on a stick, and God, he's not wrong, but… I guess you could say I was pursuing him. Took a few attempts to get him to agree. We were at Scandals, of course…"

"And how drunk were you to want to betray your friendship?" Hunter asked. "I assume you knew it would ruin everything?"

"Yeah," Sebastian sighed. "Probably about two shots drunker than I am right now." Hunter finally pulled his SUV into his parking spot between Jeff's Nissan and Sebastian's BMW, shoved the stupid thing into park, and looked at Sebastian. Sebastian smirked. "You're so easy to read." He leaned across the center console to meet Hunter's lips.

A/N: Right, I said no steroids, but I said no steroids for the Warblers, because no way is my Hunter going to hurt my babies. Sebastian's already done enough of that. (ps sorry for chapter 12). My Hunter is reformed, determined, and only a tiny bit bicurious. Did I mention I'm writing a sequel to this that will round out my trilogy? If you didn't know this story is the Niff prequel/inbetweenquel to my other fic My Dark Side you can go ahead and check out that Seblaine sex riot if you like. There are so many things I referenced in this chapter that I don't own. Like Aladdin.

And also, SQUEEHUNTBASTIANSQUEEEEEEEEE EE

Go ahead and leave me a review to express your dis/pleasure.

Love you .