(A/N: warning for strong language ahead.)

Somehow I make it out the door and halfway down the hallway before anyone even thinks to head after me.  I lean against the wall, sliding down until I'm crumpled up into a ball on the floor.  My head is in my hands and I can't help the tears that are falling from my eyes.

The night had so much promise but now I feel like my life, my future has gone down the drain. All because of a stupid game of spin the bottle. But maybe no one will remember...

Who am I kidding. Someone is bound to remember. To question.

My tears have slowed, almost stopped and I'm staring intently at my dress, picking at the hem. Trying to think through the mess that is my life. A male voice filters down the hall, calling out my name.

"Shannon? Shann where did you go??"

I'm not really paying attention so I don't immediately discern who it is. But I can sense them reaching my side. A gentle hand extends out, soft fingertips brushing the tears from my cheeks. Raising my chin so that I can look into their eyes.

Green eyes.

Moss green eyes.

Hunter.

My eyes focus on Hunter, crouching beside me in the hallway. "Angel, everything will be okay. I promise." His words do nothing to appease my new feeling of anguish. I barely whisper out it wasn't supposed to be you.....  He brushes my hair off my face, "What do you mean?" I glance back towards the Warbler room down the hallway, still no one else taking notice of us sitting out here. Taking a shaky breath I try again. "Sebastian.....  Sebastian was supposed to come after me. Not you."

His face falls some and I can see a bit of pain, inner torment reflected back at me through his eyes.  "He will.  He better if he knows what is good for him.  He doesn't strike me as someone stupid enough to walk out on the best possible thing that could have ever happened to him.  Because I know I never would..."

A new wave of tears overtakes me as I collapse into his arms.  I hate anyone seeing me like this but the fact that it is Hunter who for the second time is comforting me like this rocks me to my core. He just holds me, letting me cry. Not caring if his shirt gets completely soaked. My sobs don't last long, slowing to just the occasional hiccup. His hands run through my hair and trail down my back in a gentle manner, trying to make me feel better. "Anderson, you do realize this is starting to become a habit of yours."

His words break me out of my somber mood and I wipe the last of my tears away, sitting back up to look at him. A playful smile is back on his face and it causes me to smile slightly as well. "Why Clarington, what ever could you mean?"  He taps a finger gently on my nose with a smile, "There is that whole bashful thing again Angel.  But no, me having to hold you together because your boyfriend, fiancé is too stubborn to face your problems is becoming a habit.  Not that I don't enjoy being there for you.  It just isn't very fair for any of us here."

I sigh, nervously running my hands through my hair. Internally I'm praising my usage of waterproof mascara today. I glance back down the hallway then look up at Hunter again. "That is IF he even is still my boyfriend, fiancé. He is noticeably absent."  He looks down the hallway as well, just seeing some people lounging near the doorway but paying no mind to us.  "He'll be here.  You wait here Shann.  I'll be right back, I promise."   He places a small kiss on my forehead, squeezes my hand and then stands back up, walking quickly back towards the party.

So I'm left alone once again.  Just looking down at my hands, my ring, Sebastian's bracelet.  Fingers tracing the letters of his name before I take it off my wrist and hold it in my hands.  Just staring off into space...

**third person pov shift**

Hunter hurries down the hallway with only a tiny backwards glance at the small broken girl still sitting in the hallway.  He longs to just stay out there with her, to help her pick up her pieces.  Forget about everyone else.  This could be it.  This could be his shot but he isn't going to take it.

Not yet.

Not now.

He wants her.

Oh God does he want her.

And deep down Hunter thinks Shannon could want to be with him too.  That they could be great together, perfect, so happy.  If they just gave it, them, a chance.  But he doesn't want it to be because the other guy just gives up.  Because he would never give up.  He would fight with everything he has for a chance, a single moment to be with her.

He shakes the thoughts from his head as he enters the room, eyes darting around quickly before they land on his target.  The lanky brunette is seated, alone in an arm chair.  Looking downtrodden and drunk as he nurses a beer.  Bad mood clearly evident, almost radiating off him, keeping everyone else at bay.  But Hunter is not deterred.   He has to, needs to talk to him.  Because of her, because of Shannon sitting alone in the hallway.

The girl they are both in love with.

"Smythe, what the hell do you think you are doing?"

Sebastian's eyes raise from the carpet they were so intently focusing on to register Hunter standing there in front of him. "What?! Clarington, did you come here to gloat? Congratulations, you succeeded in your mission. You have her. Now just leave me the hell alone!"

Hunter laughs bitterly as he sits on the table in front of Sebastian. "Have her? I have NOTHING!! She doesn't want me you idiot. I went out there, I followed her to make sure she was okay. Seeing her upset just about broke my heart but do you know what really hurt? That she didn't want me there to comfort her. She was expecting you. She thought you would be the one to come find her. You! So I have nothing.... She has my heart on a fucking silver platter.  And here I am trying to convince your stupid ass to go out there and fight for her!"

Sebastian's eyes soften just slightly, glazing over momentarily as he blinks and sets the empty bottle on the floor. He licks his lips and runs his hand through his hair. "She's upset..." Hunter nods solemnly, "You thought she wouldn't be? You, your friends, her friends. You all basically forced us to confront our feelings and out them head on in the middle of a party. We both tried to get out of doing that.  Because we knew if we kissed then, in front of everyone, there was no putting any of this back into the bottle. It was easier to ignore when it was hidden, a secret just between the two of us. But now you know. They all know. So yes, she is upset. She is confused. She likes us both, being around us both. But she loves you more for some stupid reason."

Sebastian takes in his words and stands up, towering over Hunter menacingly. "You know I really should punch you. Kick your ass back to that military school for doing this." Hunter stands back up, facing him with his arms crossed in front of his chest. "Dude, do it. I totally deserve it. Come on, fight for her! Be that guy she fell for, not this moody little bisexual bitch who would rather just let her walk away." Sebastian physically recoils from his words.

"You care about her yet you still want me to go out there and prove myself.  To fight for her?  I don't understand."  Hunter shakes his head, glancing down at his own feet and then back up at the taller boy in front of him.  "I want to be with her because she wants me too.  Not just as some consolation prize because her high school boyfriend decided that she wasn't worth the fight.  Smythe, you're 18 now.  So why is it that I'm the one being adult here?"

Sebastian shakes his head and runs a hand over his face, looking so very tired. The words are soft when he speaks them but they are definitely there. "Thank you..." That is not what Hunter expected at all and his confusion is evident in his face. "Why would you thank me? I've been dancing, flirting, and making out with your girl behind your back for weeks, months now. You really should just hit me you know."

Sebastian sighs.  "I know I should but I can't.  I promised her a long time ago, when we were in Pittsburgh and I confronted her ex that there would be no violence.  So no matter how badly I want to destroy your face right now I can't.  Because doing that would hurt her, it would hurt me and obviously it would hurt you.  No one wins in a situation like this."  Hunter shrugs, glancing over his shoulder towards the hallway.  He turns back to Sebastian, "You need to go out there.  Talk to her.  She's all alone.  She's scared.  She thinks you don't love her anymore.  Just go out there.  You can deal with me another time.  Shut me out of Warblers rehearsals, out of songs, I don't really care.  But you need to be there for HER."

Sebastian nods and starts walking towards the door, turning back to talk to Hunter one last time before he leaves.  "Thank you again for talking some sense into me.  I know we both love her, so I guess we'll have to fight for her then."  Hunter nods and extends his hand, "May the best man win..."  Sebastian gives him a wry smile in return and shakes his hand may the best man win.

And then he is out the door in search of the girl, his girl.  If she even still IS his girl.

**end third person pov**

I'm not sure how long I've been sitting here, alone in the hallway.  Hunter left me saying that he would be back soon.  But who knows.  Maybe he abandoned me just like Sebastian has.

I glance back down the hallway towards the Warbler room, the music is still playing.  I can hear it.  But even the doorway is empty now.

I'm alone.

All alone.

Moving to Ohio was a mistake...

I look back down at my hands.  My ring, my big glittery diamond engagement ring.  Earlier today it filled me with so much hope.  So much joy.  But now I don't even know if it means anything anymore.  I clutch Sebastian's ID bracelet in both of my hands, fingers skirting across the engraved letters of his name.

Sebastian...

I'm at a loss.  A complete loss.  My hands just fall to my sides, bracelet slipping out of my fingers and falling to the floor.  I hang my head lost in my own thoughts.

Lost.

So very lost.

I'm not looking up when I hear the footsteps approaching me.  It must be Hunter, finally back from wherever he went.  The footsteps slow when he reaches my side.  I can hear him crouching down beside me, picking up the bracelet I dropped on the floor.  Still I do nothing, I don't look up.

After all it is just Hunter.

A gentle hand reaches out, brushing my hair off my face.  Lifting my chin so I can look up into his eyes.

Green eyes.

Vibrant, clear, sea green eyes.  Swimming with so many emotions right now.

"Sebastian??"

He smiles shyly at me, voice soft, breaking slightly with emotion as he eases to a seated position beside me on the floor.  "Hello Pretty Girl.  I'm sorry it took me so long to come..."