Chapter 38: Wrap Party, Part One

SEBASTIAN

On Friday, the day finally came.

At long last– after being practically chained to his desk for almost a week– Artie had put the final touches on his short film. Now came the fun stuff: the world premiere and a little party to thank his cast and crew for all of their hard work. Artie had taken special care in keeping his progress under wraps, and to Sebastian's knowledge, nobody had gotten to see the finished product of the movie yet. Sebastian knew that getting to watch it all together was part of the excitement, but his patience was wearing thin.

Coincidentally, Nancy and Harrison were already planning to be out of town that weekend. They'd had a trip to Lake Erie scheduled since the beginning of the summer, sort of a low-key delayed honeymoon. The real honeymoon had been in advance of the wedding– when they'd gone to Aruba back in March. Though, Sebastian considered that to be more of a 'familymoon'. This was a trip just for the two of them. Regardless, they weren't going to be around on the night Artie had chosen for his celebration. While Sebastian's track record would show that he's a fan of asking for forgiveness over permission, Artie was cut from a different cloth. A staunch rule follower, his step-brother was not a fan of breaking the rules. Though it wouldn't have been Sebastian's way of going about things, surprisingly running the party by the parents ended up working in his favor. Nancy and Harrison gave Artie their blessing, saying that as long as everyone stayed safe and slept over, and the neighbors didn't have a reason to call the police for a noise complaint, they were okay with it. They could host the party on two conditions: nobody is allowed to drive to or from their house, and they expect everything to be cleaned up by the time they are back. Griffin and Ella would be home as well, and they trusted their children to make good and safe choices that wouldn't put anyone's lives in danger. Sebastian and Artie thought that those were some pretty fair demands.

"Take all of the chairs from the kitchen table and the island and bring them into the living room," Artie directed his siblings as he loaded a party-sized bowl of Chex Mix onto his lap. His inclination to be bossy did not stop when the cameras cut. Quite the opposite, actually. He had opinions on everything, and his premiere party was no different. "I want everyone to have a place to sit when the movie's playing."

Sebastian fought off the urge to roll his eyes and ignore Artie's demands. Tonight was all about celebrating his hard work, though, and Seb knew it would serve him well not to forget that. After all, it was his vision that got them this far.

As Sebastian, Ella, and Griff worked together to move more seating into the living room, Artie scooped popcorn into twenty individual popcorn boxes he'd purchased at the party store that afternoon. Turning the kitchen table into an area to display all of the snacks, he organized an assortment of munchies, sweets, and crudités on top. The five boxes of pizza that Griffin had picked up were set out on the countertop in a sort of makeshift buffet line. Artie then aligned the footplate of his chair with the leg of the table closest to him and pushed forward on his wheels, finding a rather resourceful (and rather loud) way to nudge the table up against the wall.

Catching this, Sebastian went ahead and picked up the other end of the table to lend Artie a hand in moving the furniture to his desired location without a word about it.

"Thanks," Artie told him, carefully straightening and rearranging the snacks on top with intention so that they were all up to his extremely high standards.

"Don't worry about it," was Sebastian's automatic response, reaching into the bowl of Doritos and taking a handful. "You burned the movie onto a DVD, right? El said she'll set it up when the time comes so you don't have to worry about it. Need anything else?"

"Nope," Artie replied before swatting Sebastian's hand away when he went for a second helping of the chips. "Just for you to quit it. You're gonna eat everything before everyone else even gets here."

Luckily, Sebastian didn't have to wait long for everyone else to show up. Quinn arrived first, of course, followed by Kurt, Finn, and Mercedes not long after that. The McKinley AV club all arrived together, as did Mike and Puck and Santana and Brittany. Everyone else trickled in one after another until the party was finally graced by the collective presence of Blamtina, who didn't seem to care that they were teetering dangerously on the border of being late.

"Okay, y'all, everyone's here! It's movie time!" Griffin called out at promptly nine o'clock, doing his best to corral everyone into the living room.

Sebastian popped the tab on a fresh can of Coke and was preparing to snag a seat before all of the good ones were taken when, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Artie sitting in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. He was nervously wringing his hands in his lap, and the expression on his face was a mix of terror and nausea– a recipe for disaster.

Drink still in hand, Sebastian abandoned his original plan and began to swim upstream against the sea of friends who were eager to finally see the movie they'd all worked so hard on. Whatever hope Sebastian had for securing a prime seat with an optimal view of the television was gone now, but he had bigger priorities at the moment.

"Follow me," was all Sebastian said, grabbing Artie's arm and tugging him back into the kitchen, out of view from everyone else. Artie obediently did as he was told, trailing behind his step-brother until they were a safe distance away from the other room to prevent being overheard. All of the typically available seating in the kitchen was currently moved into the living room, so without anywhere to sit, Sebastian just took a knee in front of Artie's chair. "What's wrong with your face? You look like you're gonna barf everywhere."

Artie sighed, and Sebastian could tell based on the way that Artie's chest was heaving up and down that he was trying to hold back whatever big feelings he was enduring. "I just want this to be perfect. I want… I want everyone to like it."

"Artie, what? Of course we'll all like it. You think we won't?" Sebastian was confused. All night so far, everyone had been buzzing about their excitement to see what Artie had put together. What reason did Artie have to stress out?

"I don't think I'll ever get over this feeling," he admitted, taking off his glasses and rubbing at his eyes with the backs of his hands. "This feeling that I'm never good enough. No matter how proud I am of what I've created, I'm always worried about what everyone else will think. It's an endless cycle of doom. What if… what if I'm not meant for this? Like, as a career? What if I'm not cut out for this life? For-for a life of such instability and uncertainty and rejection? How can I–"

"Okay, whoa, first of all, you need to calm down," Sebastian cut him off, for if he let Artie go on any further he was surely going to make himself sick.

Sebastian stood up and walked over to the cabinet above the fridge where their family kept the alcohol, selecting a bottle of Jack Daniels and a shot glass that Griffin had purchased in Aruba. Artie was hyperventilating by now and stared up at Sebastian with wide eyes as he watched him unscrew the cap of the whiskey and pour the alcohol into the glass.

"Take this," Sebastian said, sliding the shot glass across the countertop over to Artie. "It's Broadway tradition for actors to take a shot of whiskey before going on stage to calm their nerves. You'll feel better afterward, I promise."

Artie didn't even protest– probably desperate for any solution that may make him feel better– before tossing the shot back and wincing at its bitter taste before handing the small glass back to Sebastian.

"Better?"

"Marginally."

"Give it time," Seb told him. He poured a shot for himself and took it out of the same glass before setting it in the sink and kneeling before Artie again. He didn't know why, but it just seemed weird to have a conversation like this on such different planes, forcing Artie to have to glance up at him. Meeting him on his level was the least he could do. "You were made for this, Artie. More than anyone else I know. And, you know, sure, sometimes you get all in your head, but that's only because you care so much. That's why you're so good at it. Because you care, and you don't let anybody give you half-assed effort, or a bad line delivery, or crappy dance moves. You know what we're capable of– what you're capable of– and you don't settle for anything less."

Artie's chronic fear of failure would be his Achilles' heel someday if he didn't learn how to get ahead of those feelings. "You don't need to please everyone. In fact, you probably won't," Sebastian continued. "But that's okay. As long as you're happy with what you've created, why should it matter what anyone else thinks?"

Artie hesitated, twisting his mouth to the side. That expression– 'the Artie face' as Sebastian had dubbed it– could mean many things. Disappointment and sadness were by far the most common, but confusion, anxiety, and thoughtfulness were likely causes of 'the Artie face' as well. It was a shot in the dark for Sebastian to try and pinpoint which emotion– or mixture of several– was causing it this time.

"You said it yourself a minute ago– you're proud of how this movie turned out. Just go in there and show everyone that, alright?" Sebastian told him. "We're all rooting for you, Artie. Nobody wants to see you fail."

The sound of footsteps entered the kitchen, and both boys were relieved when they glanced up to find that it was just Ella.

"Hey," she said, maybe a little confused as to what kind of conversation she'd just walked in on. "I was just coming to tell you that the DVD is all set up. We're ready to go whenever you are." Then, appearing to wonder if she should even ask, but letting her curiosity get the best of her, Ella took a step toward them. "Are… are you okay?"

"He's great," Sebastian answered for Artie, rising to his full height and squeezing his step-brother's shoulder affectionately. "Just some pre-premiere jitters, but that's to be expected. He's good to go now. Right, Art?"

Artie swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down before he nodded bravely, unlocking his brakes in one swift motion. "Yeah. I'm good now."

The three of them went back into the living room where everyone was waiting, excitedly chattering amongst themselves.

"Alright," Sebastian called out, commanding everyone's attention fairly easily. "Before we get this show on the road, I have someone who would like to say a few words. Please give a warm welcome to our fearless director, Mr. Artie Abrams!"

The introduction Sebastian had given was met with thunderous applause, hoots, and hollers, which caused Artie to blush. The boys had rehearsed this part of the evening before everyone had arrived and prior to Artie's slight nervous breakdown, so Sebastian wasn't quite sure how it was going to go over now. Artie was a professional, though, and his ability to switch on and off his emotions was equally impressive and terrifying. Looking at him now, you'd never know he was on the verge of tears just a few minutes before. The whiskey had done its trick.

"Thank you," Artie said once the applause died down. "Thank you, really, for being here tonight, and for your contributions to this project. I don't know how I got so lucky to have some of the best actors, crew, and dancers as friends. Your talent never fails to amaze me. Even you, Finn." That got a laugh out of everyone, as Finn's struggle with choreography was known far and wide.

"That's the hard part about being a director," Artie said, continuing to address the audience of his cast and crew, who were hanging onto his every word. "I can have all of the ideas and visions in the world, but without a talented crew of people around me, they're worthless. Without all of you, none of this would have been possible, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you."

Artie paused and appeared to take in all of the faces staring back at him. Faces of friends and family who believed in the magic he could create on stage and on screen.

"I meant what I said on stage last year on the opening night of West Side Story. The way you all continue to respect and trust me and value my ideas and my dreams means so much to me. Not only as someone in a chair but also just as a nerd whose mom still cuts their hair."

That last line brought some humor and lightheartedness into what would have otherwise been an awfully raw and honest speech, especially for someone as private as Artie. Distracting from potential moments of pity with self-deprecating humor was always Artie's strategy.

"A million thank yous will never be enough to express my gratitude, but thank you for all of your hard work to make this dream happen, and I hope that you're as proud of this movie as I am," he said. "This is for all of us. Without further ado, here's Hollywood Hootenanny."

Cheers erupted again as Ella pressed play and Sebastian dimmed the lights. Having missed the opportunity to get a good seat– or any seat at all– while he was talking with Artie in the kitchen, Seb stood against the wall in the back of the room. He watched Artie maneuver around a few friends, making his way over to where Quinn was perched on the arm of the couch. Locking his wheels in place beside her, she slid down into his lap and put an arm around his shoulders as he kissed her cheek.

The first part of the movie that Sebastian couldn't help but be impressed by was the way that Artie had flawlessly omitted from view the clunky black boot he'd been wearing on his fractured foot. Most of his scenes had been shot from the waist up, but whenever Artie needed close-ups of Quinn and Sebastian's footwork, Mike Chang had stepped in as his dance double. To the uneducated eye, it would be impossible to discern the difference. Artie had created movie magic, and Sebastian was more than happy to leave all memories of that annoying walking cast behind.

Each scene and each dance number felt well thought out and intentional as they continued watching. Everyone involved had the camera focused on them at least once as they spoke the dialogue Artie had written for them, or got a solo dance break co-choreographed by Artie and Mike. Staying true to his word, Artie had given everyone time to shine in his production.

When the ending credits started to roll, everyone cheered at what they'd accomplished. The movie was only about twenty-five minutes long, but it felt so professionally shot and edited that it seemed– at least to Sebastian– like a full-length feature film. Artie was right, this project was a true labor of love from everyone whose name was listed on the screen. Everyone's talent– whether it was acting, dancing, lighting, choreography, camera work, or directing– was on display.

It was only after the screening, however, that the real party started.

"Hey, everybody!" Griffin managed to call over the exuberant congratulatory hullabaloo. "We're moving this party downstairs!"

Due to its inaccessibility, the home's finished basement was rarely used as a hangout zone. Sebastian thought they ought to start doing so, though– a space like this one was too good to go to waste! Tonight, in order to accommodate a party of this size (and minimize the risk of disturbing the neighbors and receiving a noise complaint), Artie had the idea to put it to use.

Artie allowed himself to be carried downstairs by Griffin, with Seb trailing along close behind with his chair, and everyone else following. After setting Artie down safely in his seat, Griffin made a beeline for the storage ottoman next to the couch– where he'd stashed the alcohol he'd purchased for the party– and a few guests had snuck their own cans and handles into their sleepover bags. Sebastian plugged his phone into the speaker system and cranked up the music.

"Let the wrap party begin!"

Roles were pre-determined among the siblings in order to keep the party under control and prevent it from getting out of hand. While Ella fell into her 'eldest-slash-only daughter' role (read: the sober one on damage control duty, making sure nothing and nobody got broken), Griffin bartended, and Sebastian was in charge of controlling the music, reading the crowd and playing what he thought they'd vibe with. The three of them shouldered most of the responsibility, while Artie was encouraged to work the room and 'let go of his control freak nature for once' (Sebastian's words) and let loose tonight to enjoy this party meant to celebrate him and his accomplishments.

A staple at pretty much any New Directions function, Sebastian had learned, was karaoke. Kurt and Blaine kicked the party off with 'Just Can't Get Enough', then Lauren followed with a head-scratching solo rendition of 'Summer Nights' from Grease (she sang both the male and female parts). Artie and Quinn sang an adorably passion-filled duet to 'Time After Time', which had Sebastian rolling his eyes and wondering when they'd just get a room already. After some convincing, Sebastian got Santana to join him for 'Smooth Criminal' ("I was still better," Sebastian had obnoxiously whispered to her afterward), and it didn't take any convincing at all to get Mercedes to take the stage and belt a Whitney Houston song Sebastian had never heard before (a fact he kept to himself, worried that it would cause one Kurt Hummel to go on a rant about him needing his gay card revoked) but would sure be adding to his playlist later. Mercedes' number was such a show-stopper that everyone had paused what they were doing to watch. Artie was waving his hands in the air as he praised her performance, almost as if he was worshipping at church. Nobody was brave enough to volunteer to go next. Even in a friendly round of low-stakes, alcohol-assisted basement karaoke, how could you follow a performance like that?

After Mercedes had effectively ended karaoke, a rather intense game of flip cup ensued, and Sebastian even witnessed Santana doing a body shot off of a shirtless Brittany. Finn and Puck were shotgunning beers and tossing the empties against the wall. Mike and Tina spent an impressive amount of time making out in the corner, while Sam and Mercedes were canoodling on the couch, doing a terrible job of keeping their 'complicated and casual' romance underground. Even Artie was drinking and getting a little messier than usual (at some point– Sebastian wasn't sure when– Artie had donned Quinn's cardigan she'd taken off), and Sebastian knew what a rare occasion that was. This was his party, after all. He deserved his share of celebratory mixed drinks at Bartender Griffin's discretion.

All around him, Sebastian had never seen these public school kids in such a state. He'd greatly underestimated their ability to hang! Especially without the presence of the hard drugs that always tended to show up at any given prep school party. Sebastian had heard his fair share of stories of what conspired at Rachel Berry's infamous 'trainwreck extravaganza' house parties, and he was fairly certain that Artie's wrap party would go down right beside them in history books. These rowdy McKinley kids didn't need blow, addy, or molly to have fun. They just needed each other, a couple of wine coolers, and a good playlist– a simple fact that Sebastian found charming as he observed them and kept the music coming.