Finn and Rachel rush forward to collect our trophy.  Cheers erupt not only on stage but in the audience as well.  Mercedes and Kurt give hugs to Unique, who looks genuinely pleased with herself.  I can almost make out what they are saying.

Girl......

You were amazing out there.  And those heels, they are absolutely fabulous.

Thank you both for all of your encouragement and support.

I smile to myself as we turn to head off stage.

I wanted to go and congratulate the Musical Cadets for their placement. Third place is really respectable you know. Parker sees me approaching and hurries away, most of his team following diligently after him. All but that Hailey girl, she gives me a cheery smile, coming over to me as I fall in step with Blaine and Puck.

"See I knew you guys would win. From what I heard you were amazing. I mean, our vintage number was okay. Although I kept telling Parker I wasn't sure how vintage a song from the 1990s was, but does he listen to me? No. Why would he listen to me, I'm only his sister. But I'm a girl, they don't listen to me. That all ended when Hunter left. He may have been hard on most of them but deep down he is a sweetheart, I swear, you are so lucky..."

Blaine gives me a rueful look as she rambles on. I grab hold of his elbow, giggling softly as he acknowledges the rather chatty girl. "Belle, she a new friend of yours?" I smile at him and gesture with my free hand to the petite girl, clad in military uniform at my side. "Blainey, this is Hailey. She is on the Musical Cadets, you know Hunter's old team? Hailey, this is my cousin Blaine." She nods and waves his way as I hear someone clearing their throat.

Puck looks at me with a smirk on his face, eyebrow raised in what I've come to realize is his 'amused yet trying to be charming' face. I roll my eyes and then halt Blaine and Hailey in their forward movement. I motion to Puck as he reaches across the take her hand.

"I would be remiss if I didn't introduce you two. Noah Puckerman, this is Hailey...." He raises her hand to his lips to kiss in greeting as she blushes slightly, finishing my poor attempt at an introduction. "Jacobs. Hailey Jacobs. It's a pleasure to meet you Noah."

Blaine and I leave them as Puck starts to speak, she is instantly beginning to blush.  We finally reach the hallway to see everyone else still milling around.  Blaine is immediately pulled away by Kurt.  I wander over to lean against the wall, observing the people around me.   Parker catches my eye at the exact moment Puck and Hailey come into the hallway.  His eyes narrow as he takes in the sight of his sister smiling and giggling at Puck.  I can see some of the girls on their team noticing as well, giggling and whispering behind their hands.

Lost in my own thoughts.

I don't even notice the man standing in front of me until he speaks.

Voice soft.

Sweet.

And that smile.  Those eyes that I would recognize anywhere.

Like my lighthouse on a dark and stormy night.

"Princess, you guys were amazing. You were amazing. I never thought I would be so worried about the results of a competition that I wasn't taking part in. I'm so proud of you, Mon Amour."

I smile at Sebastian as he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me close to him. My hands automatically wind around his neck as he lifts me off my feet and spins me around in the middle of the hallway.

I'm giggling as I cling to him.

I love you Pretty Girl.

I love you too, Sebastian.  More than you know.

He is smiling as he sets me back on my feet, one of those genuine smiles that he only ever really lets me see.

"Okay. This is sickening enough to watch. Smythe can you let her go now?"

We pull apart some to see almost everyone else in the hallway watching us. Most of them smiling fondly. I can only make out three displeased faces.

Thad, looking perpetually pouty lately.

That Parker kid, thoroughly disgusted.

And Hunter, jealous as can be.

He was the one who spoke.

Sebastian just chuckles, wrapping his arms around me tighter.  "Never."

I giggle and move out of his hold, much to his dismay. The whine he lets out has to be one of the most adorable sounds I have ever heard.  Quickly I place a kiss to Sebastian's nose before Quinn comes over and pulls me away.  He calls after me as I head towards our warmup room.

"Love, we'll be waiting for you.  Maybe we can take your team out tonight, since neither of us are heading back to Ohio until tomorrow??"  I nod his way before I am hustled through the door.

Mr Schuester has the trophy in his hands. Making some sort of big announcement. I'm not really paying attention as I sit down at a makeup mirror, running my brush through my hair, pulling it back into a sleek low ponytail. I've got a makeup wipe in my hands, taking off most of my stage makeup and reapplying a lighter, evening variety when I catch the tail end of his speech.

"...congratulations to all of you, especially you seniors. What a way to end your year. We'll be leaving tomorrow by no later than noon. So you kids have the rest of the evening to explore Chicago. Although curfew is at 10:00pm and will be strictly enforced. Lets drop everything back at the hotel and then you're free to have fun."

And just like that everyone hurriedly finishes up and we rush out of the room again, heading to the bus.  To the hotel, to drop off our things, change outfits and such.

I send off a quick text message as I am rushed to the bus.  I don't want Sebastian or the other guys to think that we just left them behind.

To MyWarbler:  Sebby, Mr Schue is giving us the rest of the night off.  With a ten o'clock curfew but it's better than nothing.  Heading to the hotel to change now.

I include the address and hit send.  My phone buzzes almost instantly, he says he will be there in the lobby waiting for me.  I'm not sure if the others from Dalton will be there.  It is really unclear if Hunter will be coming or if he is spending time with his former team.  Sebastian doesn't say, nor do I ask.

Hunter is still a taboo subject between the two of us.  He maneuvered his way into my life, my heart.  Even if that shouldn't have been possible.  Because hello, Sebastian is a perfect specimen of man.

Positively perfect in every way.

At least with me.

And I'm leaving him to go to college with a boy I recently rediscovered.  Who waltzed back into my life, both figuratively and literally.

I've said this before and I still attest that it is true.  I'm a horrible excuse for a human being.

These thoughts follow me, the whole way to my hotel room.  And as Quinn and I change into more casual outfits.  I settle of the black skinny jeans I packed, resurrecting the impossibly soft pink sweater Sebastian bought me for Christmas.  It's not that heavy, enough so if it gets slightly chilly tonight, but not so much that I'll be overheated.  She compliments me before we leave the room.

Once I'm in the lobby is see my friends begin to scatter.  Quinn rushes out the door with Brittney and Santana.  Rachel is holding court on the couches with Finn, Blaine and Kurt.  Mercedes, Tina, Mike, Sam and Artie seem to be coming up with plans for the evening.  I even spy Puck talking to a rather shy looking Hailey, not nearly as confident looking out of her uniform.

A part of me wonders if her brother is hanging out with Hunter when my eyes land on someone else standing in the room.

Sea green eyes fixed on me.

My heart beat speeds up as I approach him, smirk on his face as he fixes the baseball cap he has perched backwards on his head.

I'm blushing. I know it.  How can anyone be so effortlessly attractive??

He kisses my forehead and laces his fingers with mine.  "Ready to take on the town Mrs Smythe??"

(A/N:  hope this is okay.  I feel kind of ehh about this chapter.  But we're almost over.  Three more chapters left.  Until then lovelies. ❤️ Shann)