Apparently this has been sitting in my drafts for two years. I wrote it when Grant talked about a book he borrowed from Darren and didn’t give back until he was on The Flash with him, so. Yeah. Enjoy! ❤️
It’s been sitting in his room forever.
Sebastian can’t even explain why he’d kept it so long. Granted, Blaine had seemed fond of the thing as he’d gushed over the writing – and the signs of wear and tear pretty much speak for themselves. The way that the pages creased, the spin well-worn, the paper ever so slightly tinted darker.
Yep, this book is well-loved.
He hadn’t been able to fathom the fascination with children’s novels at the time. Maybe he was just stubborn, or maybe he didn’t want to be associated with anything too mainstream. Hilarious, now that he thinks about it, considering his music taste.
Still, he clutches onto the thing like a lifeline as he walks through the familiar halls of Dalton Academy. Six years later, and the place was still impressive – rich colours lining the walls and floors, portraits and landscapes complimenting the décor perfectly. It never fails to take even the richest of the student body’s breath away – Sebastian included. Not that he’ll ever admit that out loud.
There are quite a lot of things he’ll never admit out loud, really.
Like how Dalton was the first place he ever felt like home – a shelter from a less than ideal family life, where he was treated like a trophy rather than a child.
Like how the Warblers made him feel more like a person than his family ever did.
Like how he still, to this day, thinks about the short boy with the bright smile – the one that lent him Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone all those years ago (he’d insisted on the UK version – apparently, a crime had been committed in the decision to rename the book for the US version). How Blaine was the first person to make his heart thump faster than its normal speed – and to make his chest ache with loss when he watched the other propose to someone else.
Heartbreak, he knows now. That’s what he’d felt. It’d taken a copious amount of alcohol and a swarm of nameless faces passing in and out of his bed for him to realise it, but he got there eventually.
He thinks it’ll be different this time. It’s been a long time since they’ve seen each other. Blaine’s been married and divorced by now. Sebastian has had a slew of relationships himself – though none of them really stuck.
But still, as he enters the hall where the reunion has gathered, his chest pangs at the other’s absence. Still, he clutches the book tighter.
He greets his old schoolmates – listens as they recount their lives. Nick and Jeff started a business together – something to do with teaching kids how to play instruments or whatever, he’s not really listening that intently, too busy swirling his wine around in his glass and regretting his decision to come along to this thing in the first place. He’s not sure what he’d been hoping for.
But then the doors swing open, and there he is.
It’s familiar, yet different all at once. His hair is looser, he’s slightly broader, yet he wears the same grin with the same dimples as his eyes land on his fellow ex-Warblers. Sebastian’s stomach tingles, even though he’s fully aware that the smile wasn’t meant for just him.
Fucking Blaine Anderson – how does he still manage to have that effect on him?
He’s minding his own business as Blaine makes the rounds, greeting his old friends – though Sebastian knows that Blaine, unlike him, has kept in touch. Not that he’s been stalking his Facebook – it just comes up on his feed. He can’t help what his eyes see. He can’t help but know these things.
“Sebastian,” Blaine’s voice takes him by surprise as he saunters up behind him. Sebastian spins on his feet to meet his eyes – the bright, warm hazel that he remembers so clearly.
He doesn’t seem like he’s mad. Actually, he looks kind of… happy to see him. Not that Sebastian still thinks that Blaine holds a grudge over high school nonsense. They’ve spoken online since. Not a lot, but the occasional happy birthdays and congratulations never went amiss.
They stand there for a few tense seconds, and Sebastian, for once in his life, is lost for words, until Blaine’s eyes flicker down to the book, and back up to Sebastian’s face, his gaze questioning.
His breath loosens. He can do this.
“I figured you’d want this back,” he quips, lips lifting into an easy smirk as Blaine chuckles.
“You kept that?” He takes the book from his hands, flicking through the pages, a fond smile on his lips. “You know I got another one, right?”
Sebastian shrugs. He knows this. Of course he got another one. It’s his favourite book series. Blaine probably has various different versions. “Yeah, but this was your first one.” First love. Nothing quite like it, Sebastian knows. “Didn’t want to just throw it out.”
He cradles the book close to his chest, grins up at Sebastian – and there’s that familiar fluttering sensation in his stomach again. It really needs to stop that.
Although, there’s something telling about Blaine’s gaze – a small twinkle in his eye that gives Sebastian more hope than it ought to. His eyes flicker down to his hand. No ring.
“Did you want to get a coffee sometime?”
Damn right he does. He still remembers Blaine’s order. “Just like old times, huh?”
Blaine shrugs, ducking his head. “Maybe. Or maybe it’ll be better.”
Sebastian thinks so, too. No guilt on Blaine’s side, and Sebastian can flirt freely. Maybe he’ll get somewhere this time.
It’s definitely the start of something. Sebastian can feel it in his veins.
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