Two Steps Beyond
Part 27
Throughout dinner that evening Blaine and Sebastian started to fill Mr. Anderson in on their trip, basically rehashing everything they had told Mrs. Anderson earlier in the day. After cleaning up from dinner Blaine and Sebastian went to take a quick shower before joining Blaine's parents in the family room to watch the slide show with them as well as give them what they bought for them.
They were just starting the slide show when Blaine's phone went off with a text from Dave asking if they wanted to join the guys for a movie. Blaine quickly responded saying they were spending the night with his parents but appreciated the invite. The further they got into the slide show the louder the laughter got in the room which each and every story that accompanied a given photo. "Please tell me the two of you didn't break into song while strolling the streets of Paris." Mr. Anderson said in the mist of all his laughter.
"And if we did." Blaine said while looking at his Dad with a quizzical look.
"I want video."
"There is video of us singing in Barcelona." Sebastian told him.
"What were you singing?" Mrs. Anderson asked.
"It all started because Bas here was doing his best British accent." Blaine replied.
"Which song Blaine?"
"The Rain in Spain from My Fair Lady." Blaine's answer brought more laughter from his parents. "If the two of you keep this up no more funny tidbits from our trip, just straight forward facts." His parents looked at him and just shook their heads before looking at Sebastian who was trying not to laugh.
"You have funnier tidbits than that?" His Dad asked.
"Maybe." While Blaine answered, Sebastian nodded to which Mr. Anderson took notice.
"We'll try to behave, that's all I can tell you son. But can you really tell us that you don't find all of this funny." Sebastian looked at Blaine and nudged him in the side since he had no clue how Blaine had managed to keep a straight face through most of it.
"Fair enough, because you're right it is all pretty funny. Though I wish I had video of Bas imitating our gondolier after our ride."
"Why is that?" His Mom asked.
"That would be because my Italian accent sounded very French while singing." Sebastian replied. "But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Time to finish Paris before moving onto the next country."
"Yes dear." Blaine said with a smile.
The rest of the evening continued on in the same fashion. Quite a few times Blaine and Sebastian just looked at each other since it seemed his parents were truly taken by their antics during their trip. But things took another turn when his parents asked about Jeff and Nick's webpage. Blaine and Sebastian both couldn't stop themselves from laughing when they found out his parents were stranded in Barcelona. "This isn't funny Blaine."
"This is most definitely funny Dad." Blaine was laughing so hard that Sebastian had to hold him up on the couch because he swore Blaine was going to double over in laughter.
"We deserve this dear and you know it." Mrs. Anderson said while watching the two boys laugh. "Could you at least answer one question Blaine?"
"That depends." Blaine replied.
"Has anyone made it to the end?"
"Besides Jeff who labeled the pictures, none that we know of." Sebastian said. "But we can ask Jeff tomorrow."
"And you should probably know we gave them copies of all of our pictures so we're sure it's going to be expanding soon." By the time they headed up to bed that evening Blaine and Sebastian weren't sure what was sorer, their cheeks from smiling so much or their abs from all the laughter. "Do you think we should help my parents escape Barcelona?" Blaine asked while he changed.
"Nope, they need to do it on their own."
"That's mean."
"It's fair. Plus tell me, do you honestly want to help them?" Blaine couldn't stop the mischievous smile that came to his face as he shook his head. "I figured as much. So they need to help Jeff and Brittany continue their journey on their own." Sebastian had just finished speaking when he crawled into bed. "On a different note, are you going to get in on the betting pool?"
"Yes."
"Why Blaine Anderson, what has come of you? You used to be so sweet and innocent."
"I fell for a bad boy and he corrupted me." Blaine replied while curling up next to Sebastian in bed.
"I did not corrupt you; I just nurtured your naughty side. Now in all seriousness, why are you getting in on this because it really doesn't seem like you?"
"Jeff not being involved."
"So if Jeff was involved you probably wouldn't be."
"Exactly. The fact that he's so hesitant leads me to believe he knows something."
"That's what everyone else thinks too." Sebastian then reached for his phone which was on the nightstand.
"What are you doing Bas?"
"Texting Beat. I'm going to have him come by tomorrow so you can check out the odds as well as the rest of the scenarios. For all you know you might want to add your own."
"Speaking of tomorrow, what do you want to do?"
"The same as today, not much of anything, though if a few of the guys come by I won't complain. You?"
"I was thinking the same thing. Bumming around today felt really good and I'd like to get ample use out of the pool while we're here."
"Sounds like we have a plan."
With as relaxing of a day they had prior and no commits ahead of them Blaine and Sebastian finally took advantage of the opportunity to sleep it. It was around nine-thirty when Sebastian's phone started to ring. Cracking his eye open to see if Blaine moved, Sebastian just smiled seeing his was still asleep before answering. "Hello." His voice was rather groggy since he was just waking.
"Sorry man, did I wake you?"
"Yes, but it's okay. What's going on Beat?"
"I was just wondering when it would be a good time to come by."
"Whenever is clever since we don't plan on going anywhere today."
"Well, I'm actually nearby because I just finished a round of golf with Thad."
"How far are you?"
"About fifteen minutes give or take, but I still need to load up the car so if I left straight from here I'd be there in about half hour. If that's too soon I can make a few stops along the way."
"No, that's fine. We'll see you then." After ending the call Sebastian leaned over and kissed Blaine on the cheek before speaking softly near his ear. "Time to get up B, Beat is coming over."
"What time is it?" The fact that Blaine responded so quickly Sebastian knew he had been close to waking since he's such a sound sleeper.
"Quarter to ten." Upon hearing that Blaine stretched before sitting up in bed. "He just finished a round of golf with Thad so since he's basically in the neighborhood he asked if it was okay to come by now."
"Yea, that's not a problem. How'd you sleep?"
"Really well, you?"
"The same. How much time to do we have?"
"He said about a half hour." Blaine then leaned against Sebastian. "I take it you're not quite ready to get up yet."
"Not yet, just give me a few minutes."
After lounging in bed for a bit, they just managed to get dressed and downstairs a few minutes before Beat showed up with Thad in tow. "Hope you guys don't mind that I came with." Thad said as Blaine let them in.
"Not at all, the more the merrier." Blaine replied while they walked towards the backyard. "So, who won the round?"
"I did." Beat replied. "And I won't say by how many strokes."
"That bad, huh?" Sebastian asked to which Thad just nodded.
"Let's just say I had a bad day."
"That's putting it mildly." Beat said. "So, Blaine, how much are you putting into our little pool?" He asked once they were outside on the deck.
"What's everyone else putting in?" Sebastian asked.
"Twenty per guess so that means most of the guys are in between forty and sixty."
"Can I ask what started this whole thing?" Blaine asked.
"Logan saw the two of them kissing after Nationals." Thad told them. "And it wasn't just a "congratulations on winning" type of kiss according to him."
"Why are we just now hearing about this?" Sebastian asked.
"He didn't think much of it. We only found out about it after you two left for New York." Beat replied. "It seems Santana is at Nick's house quite a bit."
"And how does Logan seem to have such timing that he sees them so often?"
"He lives two doors away from Nick. He told us that ever since graduation her little red convertible is in Nick's driveway at least three times a week."
"Is Jeff's car ever there on these days?" Blaine asked.
"Rarely." Thad said. "I asked the same thing. So that leads me to believe either they're now best buds or there is something more going on."
"And if you didn't notice, they both seem happier than usual." Beat added.
"Silly us, I thought they were just happy to see us."
"They probably were and it's not like the two of you were around to see everything we've seen. Now with all this new information, are you two still interested?"
"Absolutely." Sebastian replied. "Considering what you've said I say it happened sometime during spring break and put me down for the shower scenario. What about you B?"
"Agreed. Constantly being around Jeff and Brittany like they were, I'm sure it gave them lots of time to get to know each other." They'd all just finished talking about things when Mrs. Anderson came walking outside followed by Nick and Jeff.
"I'm heading out for a while, so make sure you lock up if you boys leave."
"Will do Mom." Just as Blaine replied, Nick and Jeff sat down next to them. "So, what brings you two by? And where is Britt?"
"Well, I have a few questions about some of your pictures." Jeff told them. "And Brittany is finishing her packing right now with a little help from Santana." Upon hearing the mention of Santana's name, Blaine and Sebastian couldn't help look at Nick who didn't even flinch.
"We can definitely help with the pictures." Sebastian replied. "But how about you guys fill us in on what happened while we were gone."
"Like what?" Jeff asked.
"Well, obviously you and Britt are still together. We're curious about what the rest of you have been doing." Blaine said.
"Not much man." Nick said. "Just hanging, though Beat here has been a pretty busy guy."
"Has he now?" Sebastian said.
"Okay, maybe my spring break hook-up came to town for a visit, but nothing more than that."
"He was absent the entire time she was here. But I can't blame him, she was hot." Thad added.
"Gotta give you props man, you must've done her right for her to fly all the way from Cali to see you." Sebastian told him. Blaine, Jeff, Nick, and Thad all saw something they had never seen before when Sebastian spoke, Beat was actually blushing. "You okay man, you look a bit flushed."
"Fuck off Seb."
"Who knew you were so easily embarrassed. If I knew that I might've done that sooner. What about you two?"
"My parents have kept me pretty busy. I don't think my Mom is quite as prepared as she thought she was about me leaving for school. So, lots of family time." Thad said. "At least my Dad has made her promise to give me time to myself. He told her if she smothered me I might leave and not come back."
"That's cruel, yet true." Blaine said. "That leaves you Nick, what have you been doing besides hanging with Jeff?"
"Not too much. I did make a trip to New York while you were gone with my Mom to check on the apartment renovations."
"How does it look?" Sebastian asked.
"Much better, suits us more now. Though they had to do some repainting after we left, the walls in the living room were the wrong color. Safe to say my Mom wasn't happy."
"How wrong?" Jeff asked, with a look on his face like this was the first time he was hearing this.
"Know how we picked that bluish-grey for it." Jeff nodded. "The walls were a yellowish/cream color. Really ugly!"
"How the fuck do they screw that up?" Thad blurted out.
"My Mom asked the same thing. She was pretty shocked when we walked in."
"Is your place two or three bedrooms?" Blaine asked.
"I'd say two because the third bedroom is more like a closet."
"So, where are you guys putting Wes and Hailey?"
"The living room. The sofa we picked out is actually a sleeper."
"So is ours." Sebastian said. "I think it's almost standard in the city because most people don't have much space."
"Your place is the exception to that rule, it's huge." Thad said.
"It is, isn't it?" Sebastian said with a confident smirk. "Now, Thad. Nick. I don't recalling either of you mentioning any lovely ladies. Don't tell me neither of you have even dated since we left." Blaine just looked at Sebastian and smiled. It was pretty clear that Sebastian was trying to get some inkling of what was going on with Nick.
"Sadly, I haven't had time which has made for some lonely nights." Thad replied.
"Pity, what about you Nick or are you just getting off by being around Jeff and Britt?"
"Eloquent as always Seb." Nick said with a smirk. "And that's not what happens, though…" Nick's words were stopped when Jeff elbowed him pretty hard in the side. "What, it's not like you two haven't gotten caught up in the moment a few times."
"We do not!"
"Okay, so I shouldn't tell the guys about the night I came outside and saw your swim trunks and Britt's bikini lying on the deck and you two were…"
"Nick!" As Jeff yelled out, his face was bright red.
"You busted them having sex in the hot tub?" Thad said, surprised he hadn't heard this bit of information before.
"I did, among other places." At this point Jeff just leaned back and put his hands over his face. "And it's not like I go searching them out. It just happens. Safe to say Jeff's sex drive is pretty healthy as is Britt's. I'm pretty sure there are few spots left at his house where they haven't. Come to think of it, I've busted them at my place as well."
"I'm going to kill you Nick!"
"No you won't, you love me."
"Not right now I don't." The rest of the guys couldn't stop themselves from laughing at the two of them going off on each other. "Should I tell them how you're really spending your spare time Nick?" The rest of the guys stopped laughing when Jeff spoke and just looked at Nick who went pale as a ghost.
"No, that's alright. It would bore them to bits."
"I doubt that."
"Why don't you let us decide that for ourselves?" Beat said.
"Trust me, you wouldn't be interested. So Blaine, Seb, how are Lexi and Cooper?"
"You're changing the subject Nick." Blaine said while crossing his arms on his chest and cocking his eyebrow.
"That's a total Seb look Blaine."
"I learned from the best. Now, Lexi and Cooper are fine as are the twins. What have you been doing in your spare time Nick?"
"Is it getting warm out here or is it just me? Why don't we all go for a swim?" Nick was back pedaling quicker than any of them had ever seen him do before.
"We're all friends Nick, we share everything." Sebastian said.
"Seb's got a point, we do." Thad told him. "So just tell us what you've been doing? Or better yet, who."
"I hate you Jeff!"
"No you don't. And you know they'll find out sooner or later so it's better off if you tell them yourself." Nick looked at Jeff who was now sitting up before looking at the rest of the guys.
"If I tell you, you have to promise me you won't say anything to anyone. I mean it." There was something about the look in Nick's eyes that they guys all quickly agreed. "Okay." Nick then took a deep breath. "I've been spending most of my free time with Santana."
"Any particular reason why?" Sebastian asked.
"We actually have a lot of the same interests. Plus, you don't realize how much time you spend with your best friend till he or she is in a serious relationship and you start to feel like a third wheel. It's been easier for me, but it's been harder for her being around Britt and Jeff all the time."
"So, you two have bonded because of Jeff and Britt." Blaine said. "I can totally see why. I think it's cool that you two have gotten so close." Jeff cleared his throat at that comment which brought all eyes to him. "Is there something else we don't know Jeff?"
"Jeff."
"Just tell them everything, like I said, it'll be easier hearing it from you then finding out on their own. And you'll probably get less crap about it."
"Fine, Santana and I are more than just friends."
"You're sleeping with her, aren't you?" Thad asked.
"Yes." The guys all erupted. "But, it's not what you think and it's not an all the time thing."
"I take that to mean you two aren't boyfriend/girlfriend." Beat said, to which Nick nodded.
"We honestly don't know what it is, it's just…"
"No need to say anything else man, we get it, it's complicated." Sebastian said. Hearing Sebastian so understanding, caught Nick off-guard. "We won't say anything, promise. But can you let us know one little thing?"
"What?"
"When did it first happen?"
"After regionals."
"Regionals?" Thad asked with a bit of confusion in his voice since he was one of the ones that swore it happened over spring break.
"We were all at my house after Regionals." Sebastian said. "When after?" A blush crept to Nick's cheeks. "You guys did it in my house!"
"Guess Lexi's bed wasn't the only reason Santana slept well that night." Blaine chimed in. If it was possible for Nick's cheeks to get brighter, it was happening.
"You have an excellent memory Blaine." Sebastian said with a smile. "Now, since we were all drinking that evening was this alcohol induced or was there more to it?"
"There were lots of elements involved."
"And they finally combusted." Thad said with a smirk. "Now, we know Jeff and Britt have a satisfying sex life as do Blaine and Seb. And since this has happened more than once, I'm assuming it's good for you too."
"Most definitely." The smile that was now on Nick's face was one the rest of the guys rarely ever saw. "So, now that you all know you're not going to say anything, are you?" The guys all just looked at each other. Even though they had a betting pool going on about this very subject there was something about what was going on that they all knew they needed to be quiet. They wanted nothing more than for Nick to be happy and if he and Santana currently didn't know what it was that was going on between them, who were they to screw things up by getting in the middle of it.
"I think I can speak for the rest of the guys and tell you we won't say anything." Blaine told him. "But once the two of you figure things out, we better be the first ones to know."