**Instagram Post**

PghShann:  Breaking in my new Cali wardrobe.  Feeling very #bohochic as I go to see the boys.  (📷: @BroadwayBerry) #californiadreaming #lovingthefringe #my💙belongstoawarbler #daltonboys #thesmythes💍 #mydancepartner💚 #lifessobright #gottawearshades #headingtowesterville #lovemyboys #💞

BroadwayBerry: wow if NYC doesn't pan out I can always go into photography. I'll miss you @PghShann but Cali will make a great Spring Break destination for sure!! #🏖😎
SexSharkNP: Lookin good @PghShann Btw babe, I plan on hitting up Hollywood while you're out there. Will your place or @hjclarington 's have more room?
hjclarington: @SexSharkNP pretty sure our place is supposed to have two bedrooms. Right @PghShann ?
BlaineWarbler: Our place?? Explain @PghShann ??
Bastian17: You look amazing ❤️💋. Hurry and get here @PghShann ! and wym @hjclarington ? ^^^
PghShann: 🤦🏻‍♀️😳😳😳😵🤐😶☠️

**end Instagram post**

Tuesday's classes fly by in a blur and before I know it the last period of the day is here. I leave all of my books in my locker, not that I have homework anyway. I'm pretty much caught up on everything. My overnight bag is loaded into the car as well as my dance album. I promised I would bring it so Hunter could look it over.  So I leave McKinley with nothing more than a cursory backward glance, starting my journey to Westerville.

To Dalton.

To see the Warblers.

Hunter.

Sebastian.

Why is my life such a mess?  I am surprised that any of these guys, my friends there, want anything to do with me.  Especially after they found out that I blew up the show choir super couple.  And when they find out about mine and Hunter's past...

I'm not even sure what they'll say.

What Sebastian will say...

Oh God, he's going to be heartbroken.

I mean it is bad enough that I am going to UCLA with Hunter instead of going to Columbia with him.  But to find out that his fiancée, that her first kiss, first love essentially is the same exact person that she is forcing you to share her with.

I shake my head, I really can't think about this.

I'm a horrible person.  An absolutely horrible person.

Before I even realize it I am parked in my usual spot, right outside of the gates of Dalton. I must have driven here on autopilot, completely wrapped up in my own thoughts. Thankfully I didn't get in an accident, driving distracted like that. Sighing I pull out my phone to send a message off to Sebastian to let him know that I am here.

To MyWarbler: Sebby, my love, somehow I managed to get here already. Honestly I don't know how I did it because the last thing I remember is leaving McKinely. 🤷🏻‍♀️ But I'm here, safe and in one piece. So where would you like me to meet you??

I get out of my car, grabbing my overnight bag and throwing it over my shoulder with my fringe purse. Phone in hand as I clutch my dance album to my chest, I shut and lock up my car. I'm heading through the gates and up the walkway to the main entrance when my phone vibrates in my hand.

I pause just outside of the doors to check it. Small smile on my face, its Sebastian responding to my text.

MyWarbler: Wow Princess, that was fast! I wasn't expecting you for at least another 20 minutes. I'm in the Warbler room. Please hurry and rescue me. The Tweedles are trying to convince us to let them sing something at the concert. 😒 You NEED to hear this!!!

Hmmm.... I'm instantly intrigued by this. So I hurry into the building, signing in at the front desk. The heels of my ankle boots click on the floor, quickly I push my sunglasses off my eyes to rest on the top of my head. As I near the Warbler room I can already hear faint singing.

Pretty sure I recognize the tune, and I can't help my giggles as I approach the room.

Baby don't mis-understand (don't misunderstand)
What I'm trying to tell ya
In the corner of my mind (corner of my mind)
Baby, it feels like we're running out of time

Let it go
If you want me girl, let me know
I am down, on my knees
I can't take it anymore

It's tearin' up my heart when I'm with you
But when we are apart, I feel it too
And no matter what I do, I feel the pain
With or without you

It is oddly intriguing as I stand in the doorway to watch. Sebastian is perched on the council table, rolling his eyes at the boys in front of him. But I can see his fingers tapping against his leg to the beat, watching Jeff and Nicky, with the assistance of some other members who's names I don't remember, singing and dancing around the room.

My eyes flit further around the room to see Hunter joining in on the dancing.  Trying to get the rest of the boys to perform the backflips from the music video.  I can't help the giggle that I give off when Thad face plants in the middle of the room. This causes the singing to stop as all eyes turn towards me. I know I'm blushing, I can feel the warmth rushing through my cheeks. Especially after seeing Sebastian giving me a wink and Hunter's eyes trailing up and down my body.

I give a little wave and breathe out a soft Hi boys..... before anyone does anything else. Instantly Jeff is pulling me into the room. "Precious you came, you actually came!!" I laugh at his exuberance as Nicky gives me a big hug, whispering a soft I missed you Shann in my ear.

"I missed you too Nicky. And I told you I was going to be showing up Jeffrey, ye of so little faith. By the way boys, interesting rendition of that song. I do love N Sync, although I never quite pictured you two as Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez."

"That's because they're more like Lance, you know cause they're secretly gay for each other."

I giggle softly at Thad's outburst, even though I pat both boys on the shoulder reassuringly. I turn slightly to face the rest of the group. Sebastian has risen from his spot at the council table and both he and Hunter are inching closer to me. Quickly I glance from one to the other, "Now you two, you guys could be Justin and JC. Easily..."

Hunter is blushing as he steps forward and reaches for my hand, but Sebastian beats him to it, no sign of insecurity in his movements. He presses a gentle kiss to my forehead and then turns back to the rest of the room with his arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me to his side. Hunter is pouting slightly as Sebastian addresses everyone. "See I told you, leave the boyband songs to the trained professionals. Speaking of which what about the other one we were working on??"

Murmurs of agreement ripple through the room as he ushers me to a couch, leaning down some as Trent drops into the seat beside me. "I hope you enjoy this Pretty Girl."

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Because of You
(Originally by 98 Degrees)

(All)
You're my sunshine after the rain
You're the cure against my fear and my pain
Cause I'm losing my mind when you're not around
It's all (It's all)
It's all because of you

(Sebastian)
You're my sunshine, oh yeah

Baby I really know by now
Since we met that day
You showed me the way
I felt it then
you gave me love, I can't describe
How much I feel for you

(Hunter)
I said baby I should have known by now
Should have been right there
whenever you gave me love
And if only you were here
I'd tell you, yes I'd tell you (oh yeah)

(All)
You're my sunshine after the rain
You're the cure against my fear and my pain
'Cause I'm losing my mind when you're not around
It's all (It's all)
It's all because of you

(Hunter)
Honestly could it be you and me
Like it was before neither less or more

(Hunter & Sebastian)
'Cause when I close my eyes at night
I realize that no one else

(Hunter)
Could ever take your place

(Sebastian)
I still can feel and it's so unreal
When you're touching me, kisses endlessly
It's just a place in the sun where our love's begun
I miss you, yes I miss you baby, oh yeah

(All)
You're my sunshine after the rain
You're the cure against my fear and my pain
'Cause I'm losing my mind when you're not around
It's all (It's all)
It's all because of you

(Sebastian)
If I knew how to tell you what's on my mind
({Hunter}Make you understand)
The I'd always be there right by your side

(All)
You're my sunshine after the rain
You're the cure against my fear and my pain
'Cause I'm losing my mind when you're not around
It's all (It's all)
It's all because of you

You're my sunshine
You're my sunshine
Oh yeah

I can't help the smile on my face as I burst into applause. "Guys that was amazing. I always loved that song!"

Sebastian smiles in return as he eases into the spot on the other side of me on the couch, wrapping his arms around me as he pulls me to sit on his lap. Trent shakes his head as Hunter then sits in my vacated spot beside him. The rest of the Warblers sit on various pieces of furniture around the room.

"See do I know my Princess or what."

I can barely hear Hunter mumbling something out that vaguely sounds like you think you know her. I just shake my head, finally lowering the photo album from where it was clutched to my chest so that it is laying in my lap. Sebastian hums in my ear a gentle Love, what's that? at almost the same time I hear Hunter gasping. When I turn to him his eyes are wide as he points to the book in my lap.

"Oh my gosh, you did bring it!"

I give him a smile in return, "Sure did Jay. Since when would I lie to you." He just shrugs in reply. Our interaction causes some of the other Warblers to come closer.

"What do you have there Precious?"

"Sterling can't you read? It clearly says 'Shannon's Dance Memories' on the cover. So it must be filled with dance stuff."

"Can we look through it with you Shann??"

"Yea, can we??"

I quickly look around the room and then to Hunter, he's biting his lip nervously. "Hunt?" His moss green eyes meet mine and I raise an eyebrow at him, I can see him relax some as he gives a small nod.

Small sigh as my fingers skim the letters on the cover of the album. "Okay guys, please no judgements. This album, its filled with photos from my ballroom days in Pittsburgh. Competitions I would travel to. Competitors. Past friends and quasi relationships. I'll show you if you'll all be nice. Accepting."

The boys all nod, crowding closer. Some sitting on the floor in front of me, the tables surrounding me or leaning over the back of the couch. All coming closer to see the photos as I flip the album open. Sebastian's arms tighten around my waist, his breath warm on my neck. "Love, you look so cute in these."

Thanks Sebby.

I can hear the pace of Hunter's breathing quicken as I get to the first few pages that include younger photos of him. His eyes move quickly from the book on my lap to my face and then back again. Trent moves to look around him, pointing his finger to a photo of me in my Dorothy costume, hugging a young boy tight. "Shann those shoes are amazing! Was that your ballroom partner?"

My voice is a little unsteady when I answer him, because that wasn't my ballroom partner, that isn't Gabe. But it is my ballroom partner. You know...

"No Trent. That's not Gabe. Gabe is the one in the background dressed in the silver, he was the Tin Man in our dance routine. That boy... That boy was who I had my first kiss with. That night actually. He was there dancing in the competition earlier with his cousin. They did a Disney routine that night."

Jeff's nose is practically in my lap as he gets closer to the photograph to inspect it. "Who was he supposed to be Shann? Prince Philip from Sleeping Beauty?"

Thad interjects, "Sterling don't be an idioit. That clearly looks like a Prince Charming outfit, you know from Cinderella."

The boys in the room are taking sides, volleying their opinions back and forth as I continue to flip through the photo album. Hunter is getting restless by my side as he looks at the pictures, spanning our past 'relationship'. Finally he speaks up in an exasperated voice.

"I was Prince Eric you twits! PRINCE ERIC!! Didn't you see Lina in the background with the mermaid tail? My costume looked nothing like Charming or Philip. It was clearly Prince Eric. God, you guys don't even know Disney!"

I can't help it when my hand flies up to my mouth to cover my smile and giggles.

The room becomes deathly silent after that, Sebastian's arms tightening around my waist as everyone tries to process Hunter's words. Wes's authoritative voice breaks through everyone's thoughts, hushed but sounding rather loud in the quiet room. "Pardon? What was that Warbler Clarington? Did you just say your costume?"

Um..... Yes.....

"Princess?? What is going on?"

I'm about to give some semblance of an answer when there is a collective gasp from most of the boys in the room. I finally reached the page with the photo I showed Rachel on it, the last one I had of Hunter before he left for the military academy.

"What the hell is that?!"

"Holy crap!! That was Clarington!! That IS Clarington!!"

"Is this a joke? Please let this be a joke..."

"What? He looked really cute when he was younger..."

Both Hunter and I turn to look at Trent after he says that. "What? I don't take back my statement. You looked cute Hunter. You look hot now, but back then you looked so innocent and adorable."

Thank you?

I'm shaking my head as I feel fingers moving from my waist to run up my arm, reaching my chin to turn my head slightly. So that I can look at Sebastian, into his sea green eyes. Clouded with confusion. "Mon Bébé, what is going on? Please explain all this to me..."

Deep breath...

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

And then I launch into an explanation, much like the one Gabe gave to us at the diner. Hunter chimes in with bits and pieces as we try to get our story out.

Repressed memories of a lost love and a time gone by.