Chapter 47: Safe and Sound
A/N: I'm so sorry if this chapter touches a sensitive subject, because I know that it was a touchy subject when they covered a shooting on Glee. I thought it would be a really interesting addition to my story, so I interpreted the story my way. I hope no one takes offense, and I hope you enjoy reading this chapter. Thank you to the continued support! Reviews are more than welcome.
Have you ever been so frightened…so helpless that it literally makes you sick? Do you know what it feels like when the ground under your feet crumbles with every step you take?
"I need you to promise me you'll stay calm, Sebastian."
How could I? How could I when the one I love is in danger?
How could I when I could lose him? How could I if I lost my will to take every breath that keeps me alive?
I can't. Simple.
"How do you know that Brunettes are better than blondes?" Sam asked taking a bite from his muffin as if he was a grumpy little child.
"I agree. You're clearly still not awake enough." Jeff said crossing his arm. It was funny really how childish these two were acting.
"Oh believe me, I know. It's in our genes." Sebastian said 'as-a-matter-of-fact'ly.
"True statement." Hunter said taking a sip of his coffee. "And Jeff, as Captain you should just accept what I say." Hunter added, probably joking around, but no doubt with some sort of command behind it.
"I have black hair, so I'm not a part of this ridiculous argument." I said standing up and going for my second biscotti of the day.
"Technically classifies you as a brunette." Sebastian said handing me a five-dollar bill. I was going to protest and not accept his money, but I didn't really have the energy because I knew it would only serve to start another discussion on why I should accept it and why it's the gentleman thing to do to offer his boyfriend money yet he wouldn't accept when I offered to pay, yada-yada-yada.
"I don't know." I said turning around in a mocking tone. "Blondes are pretty fun." I high-fived Sam as I walked by him, knowing full well how riled up Hunter, and especially Sebastian, would be. To be honest, I used to have a crush on Sam. But I was not one of the guys who would try to make a straight man gay.
I came back to the table in the midst of a seemingly new argument. "If you say so." Hunter said, causing Jeff to shrug as I walked back to the table with chocolate biscotti in hand.
"You guys really don't give your glee club members freedom at all do you?" Sam asked raising an eyebrow. "Do they have any say at all?"
"We run things differently with the Warblers, Sam." Sebastian started.
"Precisely, which is why our members are the top of the food chain at Dalton Academy, not like certain other glee clubs." Hunter added.
"Now, we give you and your club credit because you are currently the National Champs, but let's just say I highly doubt that your reign will continue for very much longer." Sebastian had that smirk on his face that was borderline evil, a face that I hadn't seen in a while. The Sebastian and Hunter tag team really wasn't one to mess with; they brought out the best, or worst, side of each other. I guess it depends on what side they're arguing for.
Sam opened his mouth to speak but Hunter beat him to it. "Exactly. The seat of Captain in the Warblers has been replaced with an even greater Captain than the year prior."
"Hey." Sebastian said furrowing his eyebrow and glaring at Hunter. "Looks to me like the Captain this year must not be very good if the Warblers made last years Captain, Co-Captain with this said Captain. And because of a certain Co-Captain's talent, they've secured a trip to Nationals and practically guaranteed a Nationals victory." Sebastian said scoffing. Suddenly the argument was between each other.
"Thank you!" Hunter said, a smile on his face. "I'm glad you finally agree that I'm the better Co-Captain."
"Is your glee club always this crazy?" Sam asked Jeff.
"To say the least, I miss the old-old Captain." Jeff muttered, stopping the argument and suddenly becoming the focus of the glares.
"Was the old-old Captain cute?" Sebastian said crossing his leg and leaning back in his chair.
"Technically, I wasn't a Captain." I said sitting down, rolling my eyes at his comment. "And technically I did no better than Sebastian. We lost at regionals, remember?" I reminded Jeff.
"Thanks to my killer voice winning at sectionals that year." Sam said, a bright smile on his face. "I miss Quinn." Sam said sighing. How did him performing at sectionals relate to losing at regionals. Only sam.
"Love makes you lose." Sebastian said lifting his cup. "Blaine lost to Kurt. I lost to Blaine last year, and this year Blaine is going to lose to me."
"At least I lost to Kurt's team and not Kurt, seeing as he was a Warbler that year." I mocked, which might have been taken a little too seriously by Sebastian. "What?" I said shrugging my shoulders. "It's true."
"Well technically we're at a 50/50 chance of losing." Hunter said. "I'm assuming this love of yours is mutual, meaning that we both have a chance of winning and losing."
"True but we have charisma." Sam said breaking off a piece of my biscotti. "and Blaine, who was part of the team that won nationals last year, and the one who wouldn't have lost his year as a Warbler if the New Directions didn't recruit this guy the year they lost." Sam said pointing a finger at himself.
"I'm confused." I said shaking my head. "Anyways, this is the conclusion I've come to." I said standing up, moving my head to the side in order for Sam to get the hint that we were leaving. "The New Directions is going to win Nationals, and the Warblers will come in second, at best." Sam's eyes grew bright at my conclusion, but Sebastian wasn't as amused. Sebastian let out a small laugh but shook his head.
"Challenge accepted." Hunter added, a half smile on his lips. Sam and I waved goodbye and we made our way to my car. Somehow I felt uneasy that Sebastian and I didn't say goodbye to each other, but I shook it off, letting the beautiful day brighten my mood. I wasn't sleepy anymore; I was riled up with the confidence of becoming the National Champs two years running.
"How are we here again Sebastian? I'm pretty sure you've become addicted just like that glee club." Hunter said making a disgusted face at the girl next to us adding Splenda into her coffee.
"It's delicious. Mediocre, but delicious." I said shrugging my shoulders. "Besides, you didn't turn up the offer to skip last period and come here instead."
"I'm pretty sure you could single-handedly support this place. You and Blaine." He said taking a sip of the same coffee he gets every single time. No variety in Hunter, I swear. "Speaking of Blaine, are we still picking him up?"
"Yeah we are." I said leading him towards the back of the café. "I have a lacrosse game that he's coming to see so I told him I'd pick him up. But first, I need to pick up my paycheck."
"I forgot you worked here." Hunter said, and truth be told I sort of forgot too.
"Sebastian!" The manager said as I walked into the office. I don't even remember his name to be honest. "It's about time I see you. You never came to tell us when you could come back to work."
"Sorry. I've been pretty busy." Even though I'm here practically every day. "I can probably start next week."
"Okay awesome, I'll let you know. Oh! And before I forget, this is yours." He handed me a CD with no name on it. Another one? Seriously, after what happened last time I'm pretty sure I'm traumatized.
"Someone came in and gave me this. He said he was your father and to give it to you whenever I saw you." I hesitated slightly but decided that he didn't need to see the reaction that I wanted to have on; my father? How did he find out I worked here? Well that's stupid Sebastian, of course he knows you work here.
"Thanks." I said taking it and smiling at him. I walked out of the office to see Hunter checking out some guy. "I thought you were only gay for me?" I said laughing.
"Shut up. I wasn't checking him out." Hunter said. "What's that?"
"Who said anything about checking a guy out? And some CD my father left for me or something." I said. Hunter furrowed his eyebrow and looked at me.
"Your father? Isn't that kind of a big deal?" He asked.
"Not really." I said, throwing it into my backpack. In reality, it was a pretty big deal. We both got into the car and started the drive to McKinley.
Hunter lowered the volume of the music and handed me my phone. "You're phones blowing up."
"4 missed calls from Blaine?" I said looking at my screen. He didn't send me a text, which was kind of strange. I shut off the music and called him; after two rings he was on the other line.
"Answer it!" I heard someone on the other line say. "I did." Blaine whispered. "Hello?"
"Hey killer, what're you up to?" I said, hoping that the smile in my voice was evident. I hadn't heard from him all day. I was actually worried he took the Nationals dispute this morning too seriously. "We're on o-"
"Sebastian, I need you to listen to me." I could tell from the way he was speaking that something wasn't right. He sounded scared; as if he was crying but was trying to be calm.
"B, what's wrong?" Hunter's head turned to look at me when I said those words.
"I need you to promise me you'll stay calm, Sebastian. Promise me."
"Blaine, what the hell are you talking about?" I could tell my voice was louder, but I wasn't sure how I was supposed to react to being told to stay calm; of course you never stay calm. I could hear Hunter asking me questions but it was white noise.
"Please. Please Sebastian I need you to not overreact." Blaine said. I wasn't sure what to say without giving off the impression that I was overreacting, which I probably was. "Promise me that you won't do something stupid, okay?" Blaine let out a laugh, but the laugh was covered with a choking sob. "Because if I know you like I think I do, you'll definitely do something stupid."
"Blaine..." I whispered, realizing that something was wrong. Horribly wrong. "Tell me what's wrong."
"Promise me."
"Wha-"
"Promise me!"
I didn't know what to say so I didn't say a word. After a moment of silence, the worst possible news I could have heard made it's way to my ears. "There's someone at the school right now with a gun. Two shots have been fired. We're in the choir room and none of us know what's going on, but from what we can tell we're on lockdown." Blaine's voice was breaking and I could tell he was holding back tears. In an instant, all I saw was black. "Sebastian my parents aren't answering their phones. I need you to tell them what's going on. If worse comes to worst,"
"Blaine." I said, tears streaming down my face. "Blaine. Please tell me you're kidding."
"I need you to tell my parents that I love them okay? And you need to tell Cooper too. And Julie."
"Blaine!" I yelled, hoping that somehow it would wake me up. "Blaine, wh-wh-why are you saying this?"
"Sebastian I love you. I love you so much. I need you to know that." Blaine suddenly seemed as if he wasn't crying. He seemed calm.
"Bl-Blaine what do I do? Wh…why is this happening?" I asked myself that question more than I asked Blaine.
"Sebastian. I need you right now. Be strong."
"B, what…what do I do? Do the police know? Are you okay?" So many questions and statements that I needed to make, but I couldn't get any of those out right now. I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe. Blaine. Blaine was in danger.
"We're fine. Everyone's here except Brittany. We don't know where she is. Santana and Finn just went to find her"
"Blaine, I'm on my way. Stay where you are I'm coming to get you." It hit me then that I had to do something. I needed to push aside this fear and do what I could do to help Blaine. I was selfish for freaking out. Blaine needed me. "I'm almost there. Tell me how to get to your choir room."
"No. No, absolutely not. Sebastian, you are not coming here."
"What am I supposed to do? Blaine if you get hurt, I don't know what I woul-"
"Sebastian, please. Listen to me; we just need to wait this out. You cannot come here. You can't put yourself in danger. Know one thing; I'm a better person today because I met you. Tell my parents and Cooper and Julie that I love them so much, and that I am so grateful for everything they've done for me. Everything I am today is because of them. I-I just can't believe I never tell them all they mean to me. I left them a voicemail, but in case som-"
"Blaine, stop."
"Sebastian. In case something happens, will you tell them that?"
"No. No, B. You're telling them when you get out, okay"
"I love you Seb-. Shh, shh! Shut that off! Everyone get down!"
The worst sound you could ever hear is someone hanging up the phone when you know they're in danger. I could feel my body yelling his name and I could feel Hunters hand on me, but I wasn't there. Not completely. Not when half of me could disappear.
"Sebastian!" Somehow my body knew what I needed to do. I knew if the police caught me I would probably be arrested, but I needed to get to McKinley. I would be there in 2 minutes. Just 2 minutes is all I needed. Just wait until I get there.
"Hunter, there's a shooter at McKinley and Blaine's in danger. I need to get there right now, and I know you're going to say no but you're not stopping me."
"What? Is this really happening?"
"I-I wish it wasn't." I said wiping my eyes.
"Sebastian I…"
"It'll be okay." I said, not to comfort him, but to comfort myself. I was telling myself that it would be okay. It would, right? It had to. That's how life happens. You experience something horrible and then you grow stronger. Right? Blaine would be fine. Blaine would be in my arms tonight while we watched some stupid movie and talk about songs that we like and plan our life in New York...
When the car came to a stop I was out of the car in a heartbeat. I parked a little distance away knowing that it would be hard to get in.
"Sebastian, where are you going?" Hunter said as he trailed behind me.
"I'm going inside." I said as I picked up the pace to get towards the back of the school.
"Are you insane? You can't go in there! You're going to be screwed if you get caught, and that's not even considering that you could get shot." Hunter grabbed my arm and stopped me. "I know Blaine doesn't want you in there either. You're not going."
I pushed his hands off of me and started walking again. "You're not stopping me Hunter. Go back to the car."
"Dude, come on, stop. You can't go in there, they have the entire place surrounded."
"Hunter I have to!" All of a sudden I was on the floor with Hunter on top of me. "Hunter, get the fuck off of me!" I was angry. I was furious. I was scared. "Hunter, I'm not kidding!" I knew I looked ridiculous thrashing against Hunter but I didn't care. I blinked rapidly trying to stop the flow of tears escaping my eyes but it wasn't helpful. I could feel my face turn bright red from the mix of yelling and trying to get Hunter off of me.
"Sebastian calm down!" Hunter said in between gritted teeth. "You're going to attract the attention of the police. This isn't a joke, there's someone in there who is threatening everyone's lives. You need to be realistic, what are you going to do if you get inside."
"Hun-Hunter I c-can't just let Blaine stay inside there. He needs me, I need to go h-help him."
"Yeah, and Blaine needs you! What if you got hurt? What would that do to Blaine? Or what if the police find you first and think that you're the shooter? Sebastian you don't even attend school there, you need to think."
"Hun-Hunter I-" Hunter got off of me and let me sit up. He brought my head into his chest, letting me silently cry into his blazer. "Hunter if I lo-lose him, I…I won't be able to... I can-can't lost him."
"Shh, it's okay. You won't lose him, okay? I know everything will be okay." I wasn't sure how long I had been there, but I turned my head at the sound of teenagers running from the school. Hunter and I stood up and ran toward the crowd. There were so many students and I was in such a daze that for a second I felt lost.
"Blaine?! Blaine?! Where are you?" To be honest I probably look like an asshole, I was pushing kids aside in my haste to look for Blaine. If someone didn't know me, they definitely would have thought I was an insane asshole. I felt someone's hand grab me and pull me out of the crowd.
"Dude, you literally don't think at all when you're like this do you? He's over there." Hunter nodded is head in the direction of the only sight that would ease my mind; Blaine was in the arms of his parents.
"Go with them. I'll take your car back and I'll pick you up tomorrow." Hunter said as he helped me catch my breath.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, just go. I'll tell your coach you won't be showing up. You owe me one as a member of the Warblers though." Hunter turned around to walk away but I stopped him.
"Hunter, thank you." I held out my fist to bump fists with Hunter. I turned around to walk over to where Blaine was standing but each step felt as if it took an eternity. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson saw me first, and they let Blaine go. When Blaine turned around it surprised me that he looked completely fine. Besides puffy red eyes, he seemed completely composed.
"Sebastian?" Blaine said when he saw me. Seeing him surprised somewhat hurt my pride. Did he not realize how much I loved him? How destroyed I would be without him? Maybe he'll never know. But the relief that washed over me the second I saw him couldn't be explained.
"Hey B." I really hoped that I was composed enough to at least give off the impression that I hadn't been hysterical a second ago. If it weren't for Hunter I definitely would have done something idiotic.
Blaine ran into my arms and aside from his voice and his eyes, I would've thought this was any other day. Blaine was so happy. So normal that it astounded me. I had never felt a tighter hug than I did at this moment. He hugged me to the point where it hurt, but even if it killed me I would've been okay with it. This tight embrace reminded me that he was here. He was safe. He was alive.
The idea of living what I made him live through when I was in a coma was enough to make me hate myself. Just the idea of not having him drove me to my limits.
"You hung up before I could say I love you. Kind of rude if you ask me." The laugh I got out of Blaine was a sound I desperately needed to snap me back into reality. A sound that I didn't think I would hear in who knows how long.
"My bad." He said shrugging his shoulders. "I guess I had better things to do." Blaine got on his toes to place a kiss on my lips.
The only person who was clearly devastated was Mrs. Anderson, whom Mr. Anderson was trying to comfort. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson both walked over to us and embraced us.
"Sebastian what're you doing here?" Mr. Anderson said as he placed his hand on my shoulder.
"I couldn't not come, sir. I was on my way when he called me." Mrs. Anderson kissed my cheek before caressing her son's face. If I thought I was relieved that he was okay, then I was mistaken. There was no one more relieved than Mr. and Mrs. Anderson.
An hour later and we were both lying on his bed. I had sat there quietly as him and Cooper discussed what had happened. When he retold the story, I hated myself even more for not running inside there and being with him. Yet even when he was discussing what had happened he was strong. It was clear he was shaken and upset, but strong.
"Do you need anything?" I asked after a while of lying there in silence.
"No I'm fine how I am." He said moving his head to the side and smiling. "I'll be okay."
"These two were some of the major power houses last year. Give it up for Finn and Santana!" Everyone in the glee club was clapping, except for Brittany who was on her feet fist pumping and talking about how excited she was.
"Now let me tell you how it's going to be if I may." Santana started. "You all are going to take out a notebook and take notes on how it's done." The funny part was that everyone started taking out a notebook.
Finn rolled his eyes and started playing the drums to start the song.
And then we heard it. Two unmistakable gunshots rang throughout the halls.
"Everyone get down!" Mr. Schuester commanded. Coach Beiste shut off the lights and everything became a blur. We were all on the floor sharing last thoughts into the video when it hit me. This could potentially be my last few moments. I wanted to panic, and to be honest I don't know how I didn't. I called my mom and my dad multiple times but neither of them answered. After leaving a voicemail in each of their phones, I called Sebastian, hoping more than anything that he wouldn't answer so that I wouldn't have to hear his voice. I knew it would only destroy me that much more.
At first, I was happy that he didn't answer. But then I realized that I needed to hear his voice. I needed his voice to even make it past this.
I looked at the faces of my friends; of Marley, Jake, Ryder, Kitty, Tina, Unique, Sugar, Joe, Santana, Sam, and Finn. Mr. Schuester and Coach Beiste were the sole reason we all kept calm. In that moment, I realized that everyone in this room was my family. This room was where I spent the greatest days of my life. It was my safe haven.
"No, Mr. Schuester you don't understand I have to go, Brittany's in the bathroom by herself." Santana was crying, desperately trying to get out of the room to go find her.
"You can't leave Santana, think about everyone in here. You'd be risking all of our lives." Santana calmed down but only enough for them to let their guards down. As soon as their backs were turned, Santana was out of the room.
"Crap." Mr. Schuester said running his hand through his hair. The look of panic on Mr. Schuester's face was one that I would never forget.
"Mr. Schue, I'll go after her. I'll make sure they're safe." Finn said opening the door. Before anyone could say anything he was out of the room.
That's when my phone went off; I thought I had put it on vibrate. I instantly felt my heartbeat quicken, praying that the shooter didn't hear my phone.
"Answer it!" Sam whispered.
"I did. Hello?" I said putting the phone up to my ear.
"Hey killer, what're you up to?" I knew it. Hearing his voice would destroy me. Yet somehow I liked this pain. A pain that reminded me there was someone on the other line that would miss me. A pain that reminded me there was a life on the other line that I had hopefully been a major part of. "We're on o-"
"Sebastian, I need you to listen to me." I said, my voice shaking, but doing my best to stop it from sounding like I was terrified.
"B, what's wrong?" Look's like I wasn't disguising my voice as well as I thought I was.
"I need you to promise me you'll stay calm, Sebastian. Promise me." I needed him to stay calm so that he would help me stay calm, because deep down all I wanted to do was run. Run and pray for the best.
"Blaine, what the hell are you talking about?" Calm Sebastian, I need you to be calm. Help me stay calm.
"Please. Please Sebastian I need you to not overreact. Promise me that you won't do something stupid, okay?" I tried making a joke to ease my nerves and hopefully ease Sebastian's angst as well, but it didn't work. My laugh got stuck in my throat and came out as a sob. "Because if I know you like I think I do, you'll definitely do something stupid."
"Blaine..." I felt a wave of 'inevitability' wipe over me as he said my name. Comforting, yet completely discouraging. "Tell me what's wrong."
"Promise me." I wouldn't go on unless he promised me he would be okay. I just need you to be okay. Sebastian.
"Wha-"
"Promise me!" I said in between gritted teeth.
I took a deep breath before telling him the situation, terrified, as if somehow not orally saying what was going on would somehow protect me from the truth. "There's someone at the school right now with a gun. Two shots have been fired. We're in the choir room and none of us know what's going on, but from what we can tell we're on lockdown." I knew that I couldn't take much more of this act of keeping it together, so I needed to get my message out. "Sebastian my parents aren't answering their phones. I need you to tell them what's going on. If worse comes to worst,"
"Blaine. Blaine, please tell me you're kidding."
"I need you to tell my parents that I love them okay? And you need to tell Cooper too. And Julie."
"Blaine!" His yell sent the tears over the edge and streaming down my face. "Blaine, wh-wh-why are you saying this?"
"Sebastian I love you. I love you so much. I need you to know that." If I needed one thing to be said, it was that. I loved him. I always have and I always will.
"Bl-Blaine what do I do? Wh…why is this happening?"
"Sebastian. I need you right now. Be strong."
"B, what…what do I do? Do the police know? Are you okay?"
"We're fine. Everyone's here except Brittany. We don't know where she is. Santana and Finn just went to find her." I couldn't stop the sob that left my mouth, realizing that my friends were in the halls, even more in danger than we were in this room.
"Blaine, I'm on my way. Stay where you are I'm coming to get you." No. Don't come. The last thing I wanted was for him to be in danger too. "I'm almost there. Tell me how to get to your choir room."
"No. No, absolutely not. Sebastian, you are not coming here."
"What am I supposed to do? Blaine if you get hurt, I don't know what I woul-" This was getting harder every minute. Every word. Every breath. Everything about loving Sebastian made this harder.
"Sebastian, please. Listen to me; we just need to wait this out. You cannot come here. You can't put yourself in danger. Know one thing; I have loved you more than I have ever loved anyone or anything. Tell my parents and Cooper and Julie that I love them so much, and that I am so grateful for everything they've done for me. Everything I am today is because of them. I-I just can't believe I never tell them all they mean to me. I left them a voicemail, but in case som-"
"Blaine, stop."
"Sebastian. In case something happens, will you tell them that?" I need you to say yes. Please. Please.
"No. No, B. You're telling them when you get out, okay" I could hear footsteps coming closer and everything suddenly became trivial. It was over.
"I love you Seb-. Shh, shh! Shut that off! Everyone get down."
I woke up and I had no idea where I was. Everything was black, and for a minute, I thought I was dead. The feeling I felt when we heard someone trying to break through the door swept over me and suddenly it was as if I was reliving it again.
"Blaine. Blaine, it was just a dream, you're okay." I wrapped my arms around Blaine, hoping that he would realize it was just a dream. I kissed the side of his head before turning on the lights, only to see that he was crying, tears literally streaming down his face.
"I-I…"
"Shh, shh, it's okay. You're okay, I'm right here. I'm never leaving you." I held him as close to me as possible; I needed him to realize I was here for him no matter what. I wouldn't leave him. I would protect him.
"Don't leave me." I heard him whisper in between sobs.
I was surprised by how it happened, but I knew that inevitably it would happen. I knew Blaine was strong. I knew he was tough and could handle a lot, but I knew that today was a lot to handle. Blaine was composed all day, and I was here for him when he finally broke down.
I didn't know what to do. I lied down with Blaine, holding his back to my chest whispering sweet nothings into his ear. I would do this all night if he needed me too. I wasn't sure if this would work, but it was worth a try. I wouldn't leave him.
I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, "I'll never let you go"
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, "Don't leave me here alone"
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Don't you dare look out your window, darling,
Everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold on to this lullaby
Even when the music's gone
Gone
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Just close your eyes
You'll be alright
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and sound
I heard his parents coming into the room while I quietly sang him to sleep but I didn't bother opening my eyes to see them; they probably came when they heard Blaine crying. At first it wasn't working, it only seemed to make it worse. But by the end of the song, Blaine was quieter. Still sobbing, but his breathing was back to normal.
The song was right though. He was here. He was with me. I would protect him no matter.
He was safe. He was sound.