"Guys, I'm like uber nervous."

One set of arms wind around my waist while another pair of hands reach out to run comfortingly through my hair.

"Angel, your voice is amazing. Just having you sing is almost a guaranteed win for your team."

"Princess, you're one of the most talented people in your poor excuse of a glee club."

Sebastian ducks as a napkin is hurled at his head. "Hey Berry, watch it!!"

I can't help but giggle as I look around the table.  We make a rather odd assortment in this giant booth at Breadstix.  I'm seated between both Hunter and Sebastian.  Seb's arms are looped tightly around my middle while Hunter's fingers are moving delicately through my hair.  Sebastian sticks his tongue out at Rachel, a gesture that she is quick to reciprocate.  I smile at them both as my gaze turns to Hunter, he has a lock of my hair twirling between his long fingers.

Our eyes meet and he winks.  Naturally I blush and wrinkle up my nose at him.

I love you, Shay-Baby.

"Honestly you two are so sweet I just want to eat you with a spoon."

Instantly I turn to see Mercedes and Tina sliding into the empty table next to us.  They have Sam, Artie and Mike in tow.  I'm blushing something fierce right now, having been caught in a rather public, if not insanely G-Rated moment with Hunter.

All while we are sitting in the same restaurant booth with my fiancé, cousin, his boyfriend, their best friend, her boyfriend and his best friend.

For those not up on the lingo that would be Sebastian, Blaine, Kurt, Rachel, Finn and Puck.  I know, I know....  Its sick and twisted but hey, its my life these days.

Sebastian just looks slightly irritated as he picks up his menu again.  "Please, don't encourage them.  Shann, I understand you're seeing us both but I would rather not be witness to you two being so sickeningly gooey with each other."

Sorry Sebby...

Hunter glances up from his menu with a little smirk before looking back down again quickly.  "Angel, don't apologize.  You have no reason too.  And its not like I don't have to suffer through you constantly pawing at her all the time, Smythe."

"Clarington, she was my fiancée first, remember that."

Hunter just laughs softly at that, breathing out in a clear, steady voice.  "Are we really playing the who was first game again Smythe?  Because I thought it was evident that I clearly won that..."

He has his phone in his hands, attempting to pull up old photos to show to everyone at the table yet again.  Blaine, Kurt and Rachel are watching their back and forth banter as if they are at a tennis match.  Finn is willfully oblivious, still perusing his menu, lips moving as he mulls over different options.  Puck just looks so entertained at this point.

That is until I close my menu and set it down on the table in front of me with more force than necessary.

"Boys.......  What did I say?"

My gaze sweeps over both of them.  Sebastian, who is normally on the paler side, he has lost all color in his face.  Now appearing white as a ghost, sea green eyes wide.  Hunter is the complete opposite, his cheeks are blooming with a pink blush, eyes averted, trying to glace at me cautiously through his lashes.  Their replies come almost simultaneously.

"Angel, I'm sorry.  I'll try better, I promise."

"Pretty Girl, I'll be nicer.  I wouldn't want to do anything to jeopardize our future together."

Good.

With that I pick up my menu, giving it one more cursory glance before the waitress shows up to take our various food orders.  Once she takes all of our menus back Rachel and Kurt give me curious looks.  Blaine rolls his eyes as they start with their inquisition, he must know what they're going to ask.

"Shann, what was that??"

"Yea Shann, you've got some sort of hold on these two.  I mean, I've never hung out really with you Hunter, but honestly I don't think I've ever really seen the Meerkat shut up, apologize or backpedal on something so quickly before."

Puck chuckles at Kurt's comment as Sebastian calmly sips some of his soft drink.  Raising his eyes back to look at the boy across the table, he levels a rather aloof gaze, smirk wide on his face.  "What was that Gay Face?  I couldn't hear you over how obscenely loud your outfit is right now."

Hunter snorts out in laughter as he reaches out to slap Sebastian's hand, "Nice one man."  I'm trying to conceal my small smile.  Kurt glares at both Sebastian and then Hunter in turn.  "You know, I was starting to like you, Corporal Jackass.  But now I realize you're just like him.  Shann, how does someone as pretty and sweet as you attract such uncultured swine?  I'll have you know my outfit is modelled after the latest from New York fashion week.  So you Haters, please step to the left and get off my ass."

I work hard to compose myself, reaching my hand out to gently pat Kurt's free one that is sitting on the table, Blaine is holding his other hand, patting it as well.  "Kurtsie-poo, please be nice to them.  They're really sweet, well at least to me.  And have you ever looked at them?  I mean weren't you the one who admitted to me that you thought Sebastian was hot before??  They're both just so pretty..."

Kurt looks completely aghast, whispering across the table in a not so subtle way, "I told you that in strict confidence!"

Sebastian's eyes light up and he begins to giggle uncontrollably.  "Oh my gosh, that is too funny!!!  Killer, your boyfriend wants me!!!  Sorry to break it to you Lady Hummel, but you're not exactly my type, even for a guy."

Kurt's cheeks are bright red and he is trying to hide his face in his hands.  Rachel is trying not to giggle as she pats his back.  Puck and Finn have long ago lost their composure.  Even Blaine is chuckling softly.  "Kurt you have to admit, you set yourself up for that one."

He mumbles through his hands as the waitress comes back to drop off all of our orders, "I hate you all."

Thankfully the rest of our dinner out isn't quite so eventful, which I am endlessly happy for.  I'm still a bundle of nerves.  We leave for Chicago, for Nationals tomorrow after school.  The competition is Saturday afternoon.

It isn't until I'm sitting with a spoon in my hand, getting ready to share a spumoni sundae with Sebastian do we even get back to my statement from the very beginning on the evening.  "Guys.....  Do none of you care that I am like so freaking out about Saturday? Rach, why did I let you talk me into doing another solo?? Last competition on my high school career.  This is like MAJOR!!"

Hunter presses a small kiss to my temple, "Angel, you'll be fine.  You sing beautifully."

Sebastian hums in agreement, placing a small kiss in my hair.  "Princess don't worry.  Clarington and I will be there cheering you and the rest of your rag tag little group on.  We're even bringing along some of the other Warblers with us.  Duval and Sterling would never pass up hearing you sing.  Trent is coming too.  I tried to talk Harwood out of it, but he insisted on coming to see Satan and Brittney.  So you have that going for you, Mon Cherie."

Quickly affirmations start to ripple around the table.

"Belle, I've been listening to you practice for days now.  You'll be fine.  We're all nervous, but you just have to think of it as just another opportunity to sing."

"Shann, I hate to admit this, but your song sounded so much better than mine.  Which is why I told you to take the solo.  Revel in it.  You've earned all of this, you helped us get here this far."

"Anderson-babe, don't get so down on yourself.  You're talented and super hot up there on stage."

Sebastian shakes his head at Puck's remark but Hunter gets agitated by it.  "Puckerman, she's my girl."

Someone's jealous...

I glance at Sebastian as he is trying to conceal his smirk.

Bas...

He sighs, "Sorry Love."

Kurt chimes in, finally over his freak-out from before.  "Shann, I'm going to give you the same advice that your cousin gave me when I first met him.  When I was scared, bullied, afraid to be who I was.  To live up to my potential.  Courage.  Have Courage Shann.  Singing is fun, if we come back with a trophy, then that is just the icing on top."

I smile back at him, at all of my friends at the table.

At Sebastian and Hunter.

Maybe I'll be okay.

Chicago here we come.