(A/N: Brace for impact everyone. This may be rough.  I apologize in advance.)

My good mood really only lasts until the weekend. Blaine helps me think through my applications, giving me ideas for the essays.  I mailed them all out yesterday.   I'll think more about where to go once I start hearing back from places.  No point in stressing before I need to.

But Saturday we are heading to Dalton, the boys talked with Kurt and Rachel, everyone agreeing to have Blaine's birthday party there.  I stayed out of the planning, I really don't need the added stress.  I just want to have a good time with my cousin and with my fiancé.  Having Sebastian be so far away is starting to wear on me, especially since we are moving towards the end of the school year, only about four more months until graduation.  And Regionals is happening soon as well, not really sure on the set list.  Then again I haven't been really paying attention during glee club anyway.  My mind has been elsewhere...

I'm getting ready for the party deciding on a cute Valentines Day theme, understated because I don't want to draw attention away from Blaine.  Its his day.

I'm finishing up with some light makeup when Blaine knocks on my open door, entering through the bathroom.  He looks rather dapper, wearing dark navy trousers, a white button down and a navy vest with red piping, looking very much the ex-Warbler in his clothing choices. His hair is only loosely gelled, you can still make out some of the definition to his curls.  He is holding two bow ties in his hands, a very confused and quizzical look on his face.  "Belle, can you help me out please?  I need a feminine touch to my outfit and I can't decide between these two bow ties."  I inspect the ties in his hands and give him a small smile.

"Blainey, I don't think either of those are right..."  He frowns at me as I move to my dresser and open up one of the drawers.  I grab out a small box wrapped in white paper with little red hearts all over it.  Turning around I extend the box to him, "But I think I have just the thing for you.  I was saving this for your birthday but you are very much in need of this tonight instead."  He smiles at me, taking the gift from my hand.  "Shanny, you didn't need to get me anything.  And it certainly could have waited until Monday."  I shake my head at him, "Just open it Blaine, its perfect for tonight."  He shrugs and starts unwrapping the present, face breaking out in a wide Anderson smile when he sees what is inside.

"See Blainey, its perfect for tonight, for you. You're my adorable cupid of a cousin, well since your birthday is the day before Valentines Day." He laughs as he puts on the new bow tie, "Shann, you're so cheesy sometimes. You're my girl, my favorite girl." I push his shoulder and giggle as I go to sit down on my bed, watching as he adjusts his tie in my mirror. "Blainey-bear, its a pity that we're related. We would have made an absolutely fabulous couple."

He smiles at me through the mirror, "But then Kurt and Sebastian would be alone and very sad. A sad Kurt is manageable, barely. But Bas... He can be really, really moody.  Although he looks so cute when he pouts." I gasp and cover my face as I giggle even more, "Blaine?!" He gives me a wink through the mirror as he fusses with the bow tie one more time, "What? I can still think he's hot." I stand up from my bed and drag him away from the mirror where he is still preening, "Aladdin, you are too much some time. Come on, lets get going before those boys forget that it is supposed to be YOUR party."

An hour and a half later Blaine and I are waking through the halls of Dalton hand in hand.  Our shoes sound loudly in the hallway as we make our way to the Warbler room.  The doors are thrown open and pulsing music is resonating out of the room. The party is in full swing as we stand in the doorway observing the goings on. He whispers in my ear as we watch David walk by with a giggling girl who can only be his girlfriend hanging off his arm, "How long do you think it will take them to notice us?"

I shrug as I look around the room catching Sebastian's eye in the process. He shoots me a wink and I mouth back a hi as I feel the blush start to creep up my cheeks.  Blaine chuckles in my ear, "Shann that didn't take long at all." I giggle back at him and whisper, what can I say, we have a connection as Sebastian starts to make his way through the crowd to us. No one else seems to notice his movements but I get this weird sense of déjà vu. It reminds me so much of my very first afternoon at Dalton, watching the boys sing 'Uptown Girl' when Sebastian noticed Blaine and I in the doorway.

In no time he is standing in front of me, smirk on his handsome face.  Blaine pulls his hand out of mine and presses a kiss to my cheek before he disappears in to the room.  I look up in to Sebastian's beautiful green eyes as he pulls me closer to him. "You look beautiful tonight Princess." I rise on my toes to press a small kiss to his lips, murmuring against them, "You're not half bad yourself Sebastian..."

I'm giggling as he pulls me in to the crowded room. The music is pumping and we dance for what feels like ages. Someone hands me a glass but one sip and I push it aside. I can't really be drinking if I have dance tomorrow. Hangovers don't mesh well with rehearsals.

But the rest of the party guests aren't really ascribing to my thought process.  Blaine has by far had way too much to drink.  He is currently on stage doing a rather drunken rendition of 'Don't You Want Me' in the front of the room with Rachel. Sebastian spins me around a few more times to the song. Even he is a little tipsy.   The room is feeling quite stuffy and I'm a sweaty mess from all this dancing. I fan my face and grab Sebastian's hand to get his attention. "Bas, I'm going to go over there to grab a bottle of water.  I'll be back soon, I promise." I point across the room to the refreshments table so he knows where I'll be. He nods and presses a kiss to my forehead. "Hurry back Love. I'll miss you. Oohh, and if you bring me back one of those little cupcakes I'll love you forever." I giggle at him, he's so adorable.

I'll try.

I weave through the crowd of people, finally making it to the refreshments area.  It is pleasantly less populated in this corner of the room.  I feel like I can breathe easier without people crowding in on me.  I check out the food options, popping a few potato chips in my mouth and then reach for a small bottle of water.  Everyone looks like they are having so much fun, I smile as I see my cousin bopping up and down in the front of the room microphone in his hand.  At just that moment as pair of arms wraps around my waist.  Lips press gently to my cheek, trailing feather light kisses down the side of my face.

I sigh and whisper softly, "Hunt, have you been drinking?  Because you're growing rather bold with this..."

He chuckles, mouth still very close to my cheek as he whispers in my ear, "No Angel, I'm sober as a judge.  You and I both know that alcohol and morning dance classes don't really vibe."  I take another sip of my water as he moves his hands to sit firmly on my hips, swaying us back and forth to the music.  "Like I said before, aren't you afraid of someone seeing us like this Clarington?  Your classmates.  My friends?  My cousin.  Or even Sebastian?  Because you know he wouldn't be very happy about this..."

Hunter removes one of his hands from my hip, standing up a little straighter in the process.  He points out to the rest of the party, "Anderson, they are all too wrapped up in themselves to notice anything else.  We are the only ones who aren't drinking at this whole entire party.  None of them are going to say anything, because even if they see us they won't remember or be able to comprehend what is going on."  I hum to myself as he wraps his arms back around my waist, pulling me flush against his body.  "And what exactly IS going on Hunter?"

"You know exactly what is going on..."

He moves one hand from my waist to my chin, attempting to turn my face towards his while I am still standing in front of him. At just that moment I hear someone exclaim loudly right in front of us.

"Found them!!"

I turn back to look in front of us with wide eyes, a giddy, rather drunk looking Brittney is standing on the other side of the table. Hunter removes his hands from my waist and steps to stand beside me. She is smiling at us, so sweet. "Shanny, Jamie!! You guys need to come with me. Blainey sent me to find you Shanny." I barely have time to grab my water and a small cupcake for Sebastian before she has grabbed both of our hands and it leading us through the crowd.

In no time we've reached a small clearing in the crowd.  It looks like someone pushed some of the couches aside and I see most of my friends sitting in a rather large circle on the floor.  Puck and Finn are observing from the outskirts.  An empty vodka bottle sits in the middle of everyone.  Brittney plops down next to Santana on the floor calling out in a loud voice, "Found her!!"  Sebastian smiles up at me sweetly and reaches to pull me down.  I oblige as Hunter walks around the circle and takes a seat between Nick and Mercedes.

Before whatever this is starts I hand the small cupcake to Sebastian and he pulls me to his side with his free hand.  A quick kiss is pressed to my cheek and then he turns to address Thad, "My girl is the absolute best. Look!!  She brought me a cupcake!!"  I roll my eyes as I look across the circle, Hunter is trying not to laugh as he mouths a told you so in my direction.

My eyes dart around before I mouth a stop it back across the circle at him. Blaine's voice kicks in at that time, sounding a tiny bit slurred. "Okay, my birthday party, my rules. Spin the Bottle. No questions. You have to kiss. If we're not satisfied we'll make you do it again. And I get to go first! Birthday boy privileges, man."  Blaine reaches for the bottle and spins.  And where does it land.

Me.

Awkward.

Sebastian is bouncing up and down beside me.  I can hear him hissing towards Thad, "Total fantasy fulfillment right here..."  I give him a look that can only mean really?! before I am pulled across the circle by my cousin.  "Blainey, please no tongue.  I don't need that kind of traumatic experience."  He nods at me drunkenly before he presses his lips to mine. The kiss isn't unpleasant but it is weird, because he is my COUSIN. I settle back on the floor, reaching for the bottle as I call out to the group. "Well I hope you are all entertained. I'm pretty sure that was illegal here in Ohio."

The bottle spins and spins landing on.

Thad.

Sebastian's growl of discontent is noticeable to most of the circle and Thad actually recoils because of it. I turn to him and place a kiss on his cheek, whispering in his ear, "Sebby, it's just a kiss. Just a game. It won't mean anything." He sighs, although a pout is still prominent on his face. I move over to kiss Thad who looks really nervous. Giggling I pull him towards me, "Thaddeus, if you can kiss Tana and Britt you shouldn't have a problem. Kay?" He nods nervously but still allows me to kiss him, not quite as tame as when I kissed Blaine. But not a full on make out session.

On my list of guys I've kissed I would probably place this one dead in the middle. Perfectly fine but no sparks at all. He is blushing when we part, "You're a pretty good kisser Shann." Sebastian pulls me to his side and hisses out a mine as I laugh at Thad's declaration. "Well Thaddeus, I pride myself on my skills. But thank you. Although this isn't the first time I've heard that kind of response." I settle back into my seat as Thad reaches for the bottle, catching Hunter's eye across the circle. He is blushing deeply but no one else is paying attention to him. I know his mind is thinking the exact same thing I am.

"Shann, you're a fabulous kisser."  I smile down at him, "Hunt, please don't talk.  Because then I'll have to think about how wrong this all is."  He nods and moves one hand from my waist to pull my face back down to his again.

I shake my head and just watch as the game progresses.  The pairings are so beautifully random.  And my friends are just so drunk.

Thad and Mercedes.

Mercedes and Jeff.

Jeff and Brittney.

Brittney and Quinn.

Quinn and Nick.

Nick and Rachel.

Rachel's spin lands on Sebastian, who has been nuzzling my neck most of the game.  I nudge him in the ribs and he looks up to see the bottle pointing straight at him.  His eyes flicker to mine questioningly and I whisper to him Rachel.  He nods.  Santana calls out in a loud voice, "Finally!!  One of us gets to try him out.  Water Sprite has been hogging him for like FOREVER!!"

I shake my head as Sebastian inches across the circle, "You think you can handle me Berry?" I roll my eyes as Rachel retorts back, "Bring it Smythe." As their lips touch I can't help the twinge of jealousy that I feel. I even find myself glaring at them. The kiss doesn't last long and before I know it Sebastian is back by my side. Rachel has a dreamy look on her face. "Shann, now I understand why you've been keeping him to yourself." He is smirking beside me as he reaches for the bottle. I call back across to Rachel, slight venom in my voice. "Just you remember, I own those lips. Kay?" I raise an eyebrow at her and she puts her hands up in defeat.

Sebastian is chuckling at my side as he spins the bottle, "Isn't she just so hot when she gets territorial?" The murmurs of agreement ripple through our group. My eyes go wide and I try not to giggle as the bottle stops spinning. Pointing at.

Kurt.

I'm not sure who's objection is louder, his or Sebastian's.

"I'm not kissing the CHIPMUNK!!"

"No. Nope. Not a chance. Never gonna happen!!"

I shoot a small glance at Blaine and he looks highly amused as he replies. "What did I say? You have to kiss. No excuses." I grab Sebastian's hand and he looks at me, pleading with his eyes for me to save him. I give a firm shake of my head. "No Sebby. I had to kiss my cousin. You have to do this." He glares around the circle mumbling I hate you all.

He and Kurt meet in the middle. "Okay Hummel, neither of us want to do this but we really don't have a choice. So let's make it quick. On three. Okay?" Kurt nods mutely. Sebastian must be counting softly because the next thing I know their lips press together, so very fast and then they both bolt backwards, wiping their mouths on their hands.

Santana is cackling to herself, "Normally we'd make you redo that but it was just too funny."  Kurt's spin stops on her and she shoots Sebastian a look before she basically lunges at Kurt, "Now this is how it is done."  The kiss is so messy, all tongue.  Kurt looks dazed and disgusted as he pulls away.  Santana looks oddly satisfied.  She takes her turn, spinning the bottle. Stopping on Hunter.

He looks mildly terrified as she inches towards him.  She reminds me of a jungle cat stalking its prey.  "Well, well, well....  I get to try out the new kid.  I'll let you know how your ballroom partner kisses Water Sprite."  His eyes flicker quickly to my own and then focus back on her approaching.  He has to be thinking the same thing I am.

I already know how he kisses.

How he tastes intoxicatingly like cotton candy and cinnamon.

Ranking near the very top of my list of favorite people I've kissed.

Like ever.

I shake those thoughts away and try not to watch Santana kissing him.  I can't help the feeling in my chest.  Jealousy.  She is breathless when they separate.  "Wow....  He is something else."  Hunter blushes and whispers a soft thanks I guess as he spins the bottle.  I watch it turn round and round and round.  Before it stops.

On me.

I blink rapidly as I look up from the bottle to him. He looks quickly around the circle and then back at me. I can feel myself blushing. I whisper towards my cousin, "Blainey-bear, are you sure about this? I mean we dance together." Hunter seconds my thoughts, "This is like really awkward." I nod in agreement.  Complaints start immediately.

"But I had to kiss the MEERKAT!!"

"Water Sprite, don't be such a baby.  Just kiss the new kid."

"Princess you don't have to do anything you don't want to do."

Blaine holds his hands up apologetically, "Sorry Belle, but rules are rules."  I sigh.  I'm biting my lower lip as I move across the circle towards Hunter.  I must be taking too long because I feel Santana's hand on my back shoving me in his direction.  He catches me as I all but fall onto his lap, shy smile on his face.  I whisper to him, "You sure about this Hunt?  Pretty sure they'll remember this..."

He inches his face closer to mine and whispers back, "We'll just blame the alcohol."  I murmur back softly in response before our lips touch.

We're not drinking...

It's intense. And way too comfortable for what should be a first kiss between two people who were just minutes earlier complaining about it being awkward.  I find myself getting wrapped up in the sensation as he pulls me closer.  This is way longer than it should be but it isn't until a loud voice filters through do we separate, practically bolting away from each other.

Puck's voice.

Observing from outside the circle, beer in hand.  "Holy crap Anderson-babe!  That was insane.   Smythe, I think you need to watch your back for the new kid."

Everyone is looking between the two of us awestruck.  I grab my water bottle and stand up.  Barely getting out I told you I didn't want to do that... before I flee the room for air and to clear my extremely confused mind.