On Friday, just before the first bell, Sebastian experienced his first slushie.

Gee thanks, universe. he thought bitterly as he headed to the locker he'd been assigned to after spending fifteen minutes in the bathroom, trying to get red syrup out of his eyes.

The transfer had gone smoothly, though he'd thought Figgins might suspect something when he winced as his mother laid her hand on his shoulder.

His new principal had said nothing -- and for that the ex-Warbler was grateful. He'd seen what Blaine was dealing with on TV -- he never spoke about it when they hung out, but he knew the basics: Blaine had a mentally unstable mother who had abused his older brother and neglected him when they were kids, and had kidnapped Blaine mere months ago with the help of their absent father.

The only bad thing about being at McKinley was, he lived at home now. Boarding at Dalton had been heaven.

It had been his escape from his mother. Sure his dad might have struck him occasionally, but his mother was the monster.

She wasn't even mentally unstable. She did it because she wanted to.

That, he supposed, was the main difference between his and Blaine's experiences.

It had been his father's decision to transfer him out of Dalton though:

"I won't have this. Your grades are slipping, you spend more time persuing that...that boy, and you come home scheming on how to win show choir competitions. I won't have that, Sebastian Anthony Smythe. Maybe public school will knock sense into you."

Well, he'd certainly learned not to slushie anyone anymore. That was obvious. It hurt like a bitch.

"No, Artie, I'll see you in Physics -- I'm fine, I promise."

He froze when he heard that voice. Blaine shouldn't know...he couldn't -- not yet. Without thinking, he turned off the sink, tossed the paper towels into the trash and threw himself into one of the empty stalls, throwing the lock.

He didn't move until Blaine left five or ten minutes later, pulled out his schedule, and swore loudly.

First period was Physics.

---

"So he grounded you?"

Blaine nodded moodily and took his textbook and notes out of his messenger bag.

"For two weeks. I can't Skype with Kurt, or text him, and calls are limited to every two days and five minutes only."

Sam winced.

"That sucks, Blaine."

The dark haired boy nodded grimly.

"Tell me about it -- but then again, Kurt said I had it coming when I ran out of her office on Tuesday."

"Forget that, you threw up on Sebastian Smythe." Artie laughed. "What the hell were you doing talking with him anyway?"

"I told you, I moved on, Artie. We're not exactly friends, but I'd rather be on civil terms with him. Besides, the Warblers are competing against us at Sectionals. It'd be nice to go into a competition without a grudge --"

"Regionals was justified, no matter how he changed his tune when Karofsky...you know." said Sam.

"Let's not bring that up again." Blaine snapped. "It was hard enough hearing about it the first time."

"Alright class," called Ms. George, the Physics teacher, " We have a new student with us. Please make him feel welcome. This is --"

Blaine's jaw nearly dropped off of his face. There, standing next to his teacher, dressed in a plain green (apart from the stains -- had he been slushied?) t-shirt, jeans, and loafers --

" -- Sebastian Smythe."

Shit.

---

Blaine didn't see Sebastian after Physics until lunch. He was sitting by himself in the courtyard, picking at his cafeteria tray.

"Blaine, come on, we saved you --" Sugar's voice faded and the other members of the glee club's faces darkened when they saw at whom he was staring.

"Blaine --" Rory started.

"I think I'm gonna go sit with him," he heard himself say. "I'll see you guys later."

If he noticed their disapproving looks as he turned away from the table they all usually occupied, he didn't say anything.

---

"They hurt like a bitch, don't they?"

Sebastian looked up from his, rather disgusting, macaroni salad. Blaine was standing at his table, holding his own lunch tray.

"Hi Blaine." he said quietly.

Blaine set his tray on the table and sat down on the bench.

"You got hit with cherry, didn't you?" he said.

"Don't." the brunette said moodily. "I've already seen the irony and figured out that karma's a bitch."

"You don't know shit until you've gone through what I did because of your petty jealousy." Blaine's voice was tinged with anger. "Don't deny that you weren't going to use that on Kurt because you were jealous."

"Whatever." Sebastian poked at his food again, wary of what looked like meatloaf.

"I know." Blaine's lips actually formed into a small smile this time. "The food sucks. You get used to it. If not, start bringing your own."

The other teen laughed.

"I'll remember that."

Silence. Finally Blaine broke it.

"So...are you gonna tell me why you transfered?" he asked.