Our heels feel like they are clinking much louder on the choir room floor today.  I can't believe sectionals is already here, and being held in our auditorium at that.  Sebastian is holed up somewhere else on this floor in a 'warmup room' with the rest of the Warblers and honestly I hope he is calmer there than I am right now.  So much hinges on today it is not even funny.

Blaine senses my unease as I am sitting too long at a makeup table fussing over my eyeliner.  "Belle are you okay?"  I turn to him willing my eyes not to well up so I don't have to fix my eye makeup yet AGAIN.   I lower my voice some so the rest of the group can't hear me.  "Blainey, I'm so nervous.  Not only are we doing the duet but Sebastian and I were going to tell everyone tonight." His eyes widen at that, "Wow really? How were you planning to do that?" I sigh and nervously pat my hair, knowing I can't run my fingers through it because then I'll have to fix it again. "Well we were inviting everyone to a.... Crap!!"

I jump out of my seat as fast as I can and rush to the bleacher area to get my phone from my purse. A few of the others are looking at me confused but mostly everyone is ignoring me. I stand in the center of the room and clap my hands hoping to get everyone's attention. Finally I address them as loudly as I can. "Hey guys!!" Everyone's eyes are on me now, even the bands' and Mr Schuester's.

"Water Sprite, what's up?" I glance over at Blaine in panic but he just gives me an encouraging Anderson smile. I take a deep breath and begin, "Okay, so Seb and I were throwing a party after the results tonight, you know to celebrate our win over Dalton. It will be at his house, which I've been assured is like huge. I'd really appreciate it if all of you could be there. Its really important to me. So yea.... Let me get you his address, hold on." I pull up the address on my phone, texting it and all of the pertinent details to the rest of the group.

Just then I feel my phone vibrating in my hand.

MyWarbler: I miss you so much Love. Can't wait to finally see you preform. But can you meet me in the hallway now? It's important... I'll be waiting for you. 😘

I look around nervously and head for the door, only to be stopped by Rachel. "Shann, everything alright? Do you need us to bring anything tonight?" I give her a small smile, "No Rach, you don't need to bring anything, just yourself. Please. And try to convince the rest of them as well. Its really, REALLY important that EVERYONE be there..." She leans in and whispers to me, "Are you guys finally telling everyone?" I nod back but don't say anything and she just looks fit to burst with excitement. I sigh and step closer to the door, "Can you cover for me? I'll be right back." She nods and I hurry into the hallway.

I spot a solitary figure leaning against a row of lockers looking down an adjoining hallway.

Sebastian.

I rush up to him and the sounds of my heels in the empty hallway draws his attention as he pushes off the lockers and turns to me with open arms and a large smile on his face. I launch myself at him with a soft Sebastian. He laughs as he spins me around and pulls me into him, dropping sweet kisses in my hair as I wrap my arms around his neck. He pulls back slightly so I can look up at him, and that's when I see them. The older couple standing in the middle of the hallway that Sebastian was looking down before. And now I'm instantly shy and nervous again.

I whisper softly to him, "Sebby, are those your parents??" Like he always does, he senses my unease. He nods as he gently unwraps my arms from around his neck, grabbing one of my hands and bringing it up to his lips for a kiss then interlacing our fingers.  He brings his other hand up to my face, gently running his finger across my cheek before bringing it back down to his side. He leans in closely to whisper back to me before turning towards the couple, "Princess, they heard you were in the New Directions and wanted to meet you before the performance. I hope its okay." I give him a weak smile and start to bite my lower lip. He just shakes his head at me and reaches out with his fingers to remove my lip from between my teeth. Pressing a sweet kiss to my forehead he murmurs softly don't worry Love and then turns us to face his parents.

"Mother, Father, this is the girl I've been telling you about. This is Shannon, my fiancée." I turn to him with wide eyes, instantly panicked, he just chuckles at me, "Yes Love, I told them all about that already. They were a much easier sell on it than your parents, that's certain." I take a moment to look closer at them, the man is just about Sebastian's height, wearing a suit and looking every bit the lawyer. The woman is taller than me but no where near as tall as Sebastian, with light brown hair, an open smile and sparkling green eyes just like Seb. Honestly, I think I like her already. I look at the floor quickly and then back up at them through my eyelashes, feeling a blush on my cheeks and softly let out a hi....

His father steps forwards, still looking somewhat stern and extends his hand for me to shake, "Charles Smythe." I give a small smile back, "Shannon Anderson. I'm grateful to finally meet the two of you." He gives off a small grunt as he releases my hand and steps backwards. I glance up at Sebastian and he is just shaking his head slightly.

Suddenly I feel my hand being ripped away from Sebastian's as his mother pulls me in for a big hug. I gasp softly because I was not expecting this type of reaction at all. She releases me, squeezing my hands just once and then steps back.  I detect a small French accent as she begins to speak. "Darling, you are a vision in white, can you just picture this beauty in a wedding gown Bastian? Oh where are my manners... I'm Madeleine, Sebastian's mom. You can call me Maddie if you'd like. Shannon, its a great pleasure to finally meet the wonderful girl who makes my baby boy so happy."

Her response definitely sets me at ease and I break out into the infamous Anderson smile. Sebastian is so adorable right now, a light blush coloring his cheeks, looking like such a young boy. "Mom..." She waves her hand dismissively at him. "Sebby, don't. Even if you are engaged now you're still my little boy." His dad seems to be growing impatient so we bid them both a goodbye and they hurry towards the auditorium.

He turns to me with his smirk back firmly on his face and pulls me close, backing me up against a locker. "Alone again Pretty Girl."  I smile up at him and wrap my arms around his neck, raising slightly up on my toes to get closer to his height.  Just as he lowers his face to mine we hear a commotion from down the hallway.  Frantic footsteps reaching us.

"Bas!!  Come on man!!  We're on in ten minutes!   Let her get back to her team."

He quickly kisses my lips and then backs away some, straightening out his blazer and tie.  I peer down the hallway to see Thad tapping his watch at us.  Sebastian steps back and gives me his hand so I can move away from the lockers as well.  He kisses my hand and then starts to walk back down the hallway towards Thad.  "Love you Princess.  See you out there."   I smile as I head back towards the choir room, calling back towards him, "Break a leg you guys.  I can't wait to see what you have planned.

Just as I am about to enter the doorway he calls back to me so I look back his way to find him near the end of the hallway.  "Shann, may the best team win."

I blow him a small kiss and wink in his direction, "Don't worry Bas, we will."

And with that I enter the choir room to rejoin my team.