A/N: Warning for angst and derogatory remarks.

"Se-bas-tian…wakey-wakey…"

Sebastian groaned at the obnoxious voice singing right by his ear, prodding his brain.

"Go 'way," he muttered, turning on his side and away from the taunting menace trying to wrench him from a not-exactly-sound sleep. It might not have been a restful sleep, he might have cramps torqueing the muscles along his spine, he might have a bruise starting on his left knee from where it pressed against the hardwood floor all night, but it had still been a pleasant sleep, with his new friend lying next to him, silky fur brushing against his skin, and a long feline tail wrapped around his waist. Sebastian didn't need anyone taking that away from him, not yet, especially when Kurt was still snoring gently.

"Se-bas-tian…" the voice persisted, a toe nudging him in the soft skin of his flank. "That was a dick move, not showing up to my sleep over last night." A foot kicked Sebastian in the ribs, harder than playful.

"Hey!" Sebastian cried, bolting upright with a hand massaging the sore spot on his side. "Watch…" Sebastian stopped when he heard the snores beneath the blanket become whimpers, sitting still till they settled back into snores again. "Watch it," Sebastian scolded in a hushed voice. He glared up at the freckled face and copper hair of his best friend Sean, who looked down at him with a raised brow.

"Yeah," came the voice of a dark haired, husky boy behind Sean, "and you didn't even call. What the fuck was that about?"

"I was busy, Don," Sebastian answered, scooting on the floor to keep his body between his two oldest friends and the hybrid boy snoozing beneath the blanket. "Besides, I really didn't think you would miss me with most of the lacrosse team there."

"Well, you know, it's not a real party unless Sebastian Smythe shows up," Sean said, curiously examining the comforter bunched on the floor, the fabric moving rhythmically up and down, up and down.

"How the fuck did you two losers get in here?" Sebastian asked.

"Emily let us up," Sean said, crouching down closer to Kurt's shrouded body than Sebastian liked. "You know, I think she's got a sweet spot for me." He winked, and Sebastian yawned.

"I think she's tired of your pathetic flirting and she wanted to get rid of you," Sebastian said, "and sending you up here was the fastest way to do it."

"I've got a way with women," Sean remarked.

"Since when?" Sebastian asked, plying to keep Sean's attention on him.

"Since forever," Sean said smugly, reaching for the edge of the comforter. "I've been told that I have a certain je ne sais quoi."

"By who? And your cousin doesn't count," Sebastian countered, swinging out and slugging Sean in the arm before he could lift the blanket. Sean snapped his hand back, looking annoyed but in no way deterred.

"So, what's the deal, Sebastian?" Don asked, squatting on the floor in front of his friend. Sebastian unfolded, stretching, recovering from the fetal position he was locked in most of the night. "Why the no show?"

"We had company last night," Sebastian said, thinking quickly, "so my mom asked me to stay." He had wanted to ease Kurt in to meeting his friends, but now that they were here, Sebastian didn't want to introduce them at all. Sean was an intolerant kid from an intolerant family. Being accepted into his 'inner circle' was like vying for membership to an exclusive country club – one that had strict requirements for acceptance. As nice as Kurt was, he probably wouldn't make the cut. Even if he wasn't a hybrid, Sebastian didn't expect that Kurt's father had enough money for their family to be considered important in Sean's opinion. Now Don, he would be cool about Kurt, but he tended to be a follower, and six times out of ten he followed Sean, almost blindly.

Besides, Sebastian couldn't just throw this on Kurt, not after his ordeal, and not without giving him a chance to prepare for the questions they might ask…or the comments Sean might make. Sebastian started to stand, figuring he'd take the two boys out into the hallway and give them some excuse…until Kurt's tail twitched, then slid out from under the blanket.

"Oh ho ho!" Sean cheered when he saw it. "I think I've got this figured out." He pulled the comforter back roughly, exposing Kurt in one swoop. "Oh, how sweet! Did Sebby get himself a pet kitty cat?"

"He's not a pet," Sebastian growled, tugging the comforter back over Kurt and tucking him in it. "His name is Kurt, and he's going to be staying with us for a while. He's transferring to Dalton."

"Really?" Sean said, his lip curling in distaste. Sebastian grabbed Sean's arm and walked him toward the bedroom door, trying to get him out of Kurt's earshot even though Kurt seemed out for the count.

"No shit," Don said, more lively than his companion, following Sebastian and Sean to the doorway. "That's awesome. He can make friends with…with…" Don snapped his fingers as he tried to remember. "With what's his name."

Sebastian scowled but he couldn't really shame Don since he couldn't remember the name of the poor hybrid kid at Dalton, either.

"That's great and all," Sean said, yanking his arm free from Sebastian's grip, "but I've got the whole day planned. My dad's gassing up the ATVs and loading them in the trailer as we speak, so get your ass dressed and let's bail."

Sebastian looked over at Kurt – or the lump that was Kurt snuggled beneath Sebastian's comforter on the floor - then back at his two friends. Sebastian loved riding ATVs with the guys. It was the closest he'd get to driving a real car till the end of the year, which was when his dad promised to take him for his learner's permit. Add to that racing through the mud and, in general, bullshitting with his friends, and it was pretty much his favorite thing ever. But Sebastian knew Sean well enough to know that his invitation did not extend to Kurt. Sebastian couldn't just leave Kurt. Not after everything he'd been through.

"You know," Sebastian said, "I think I'm gonna pass this time."

Sean scoffed in surprise. "Why in hell would you do that?"

"Because I'm going to spend the weekend with Kurt," Sebastian explained, peeking over his shoulder to make sure Kurt was still asleep. "But you guys are welcome to hang here for a while. You know, and meet Kurt."

"Uh…no," Sean said. "I have plans, and I'm not changing them for you or your new pet. So lay out some paper, leave him a dish of kibble, and let's gooooo."

Sebastian cringed at that remark, hoping Kurt, who had had a rough night, was too asleep to hear.

"Look…" Sebastian wanted to believe that deep down, Sean was a decent kid, but Sebastian had been hoping that for years now, and it hadn't happened yet. Sebastian didn't know why, but Sean changed. He was always kind of a conceited jerk – their whole group was to a degree - but Sean's bigoted attitude in particular seemed to soar through the roof once they entered Dalton. "He's a cool kid, and he's going through some real awful shit, so if you don't want to stay, that's fine, but I'm going to hang with him this weekend."

"When did Sebastian Smythe start caring so much about other's people's shit?" Sean asked with as much skepticism as sarcasm.

Sebastian shrugged. He didn't really have an answer for that. To be frank, he didn't know why Kurt moved him the way he did. On the surface, they seemed to have nothing in common, and the likes they did share were shallow at best. And Sean was right – Sebastian was one of the last people who would volunteer to play nursemaid because of somebody else's tragic sob story. He never had before. That was something he and Sean had in common. Sebastian always figured they got along so well because, even though they practically grew up together, they never bothered each other with personal shit.

But looking back at the few times when Sebastian could have used a shoulder to lean on, could have used a best friend by his side, their mutually agreed upon emotional detachment made their friendship feel…empty.

"You know, Sebastian," Sean said, becoming suddenly serious, "if you pick your freak friend over us this time, there might not be a next time."

Sebastian's brow furrowed as he stared in disbelief at his supposed friend. "Why are you acting like such an asshole, Sean?"

"Why are you acting like such a dick, Sebastian? Unless…" Sean put his hands up to his mouth, a grin curling behind them, his eyes growing wide. "Oh…my…God! Are you thinking of hitting that?"

Sean dissolved into a fit of laughter, smacking Don in the stomach, assuming he would follow, and Sebastian clenched his jaw tight. His kneejerk reaction was to vehemently deny it, but somehow that seemed mean to Kurt. His other instinct was to punch Sean in the jaw, but that wouldn't end well, even if he deserved it. Sebastian didn't need to justify himself to Sean, especially since no matter what he said with regard to his feelings about Kurt, Sean would twist his words around.

And Kurt…poor Kurt, huddled on the floor. He shouldn't be subjected to this, even if he wasn't aware of what was going on.

Before Sebastian could come up with a way to defend himself, Sean started up, his voice getting louder till Sebastian knew Kurt had to be awake beneath his comforter on the floor.

"Well, well, well," Sean said, "I have to say, Sebastian, I really thought you could do better. Or at least maybe you could buy better."

"Shut up," Sebastian hissed, Don standing silently beside them, his face drawn.

"Are you really that desperate to lose your v-card that you're willing to fuck a furry?" Sean snickered.

"Shut…up...Sean," Sebastian said, dropping his tone, making it sound like a threat.

"I didn't think you'd swing that way," Sean continued, laughing again in earnest, "but I guess that's one way to get yourself some pussy."

"That's it," Sebastian said, pushing Sean further out into the hallway. "Get out."

Sean laughed harder, but his laughter stopped dead in his mouth when he realized he was the only one laughing. He looked at Don's pale face, his brown eyes focused inside Sebastian's bedroom, and then back at Sebastian. "Are you…are you kidding me?"

Sebastian crossed his arms in front of his chest and blocked his bedroom door. "Does it look like I'm kidding to you?"

"You're really throwing us out of your house?" Sean asked with a fading, incredulous chuckle.

"Nope. I'm throwing you out," Sebastian clarified, glancing at his other friend. "Don, you're welcome to stay."

Don nodded dumbly, finally tearing his eyes away from the spot in the bedroom where they'd been glued.

"Sebastian…" Sean put a hand condescendingly to Sebastian's shoulder, but Sebastian shrugged it off. "We've known each other since kindergarten, man. Are you really telling me you're going to brush me off…for this freak?"

"What I'm telling you is that I'm tired of being friends with you when all you do is act like an ass," Sebastian declared. "And stop calling him a freak. His name's Kurt."

"Oh, really?" Sean mocked, but the expression in his eyes looked vaguely hurt. "When did you become Mr. High-and-Mighty? You've only known him, what? A day?"

"Yeah," Sebastian agreed, "and I already know that I like him better than you, so get out."

The hall became quiet, and two conflicting sets of eyes stared Sebastian down. Sean looked on the edge of screaming or storming off. Sebastian didn't know what would end up coming out of his mouth after this. But Don looked torn. Sebastian and Sean were his best friends, not to mention two of the most popular boys in school, though, in reality, Sebastian's stock would probably take a hit after their friends found out about this – and Sean would definitely make sure they found out. Either way, Don wasn't in a position socially to side against either of them, and high school had already been hard enough on Don as it was.

Sebastian knew that. He knew it wasn't fair to make him choose sides, not this way, so he made it easy on him.

"You know, I had a long night. I'm gonna go back to bed. You guys have fun riding ATVs. You can see yourselves out."

Sebastian saw the look of guilt and relief on Don's face. With any luck, maybe he'll be able to keep Don as a friend after this.

"Whatevs, jack off," Sean said, turning on his heel and strolling away like he couldn't care less. "Have fun fucking your freakazoid."

"Tell Kurt I said hi," Don said quietly. He tried to smile, but he looked dismayed, so he took off down the hallway to catch up with his friend.

"Will do," Sebastian said, watching them get to the staircase before walking back in his room and locking the door. He had planned to sneak back under the comforter and not get up again until sometime around lunch, but when he turned around, there was Kurt, sitting up on the floor, the comforter wrapped around his shoulders, sadness evident in his bright blue eyes. Sebastian sighed, wishing he had had the forethought to take his and Sean's confrontation downstairs before Sean had gotten too loud and insulting.

"How much did you hear?" Sebastian asked, sitting beside him on the floor, smiling when Kurt draped the end of the comforter around his shoulder.

"I think…most of it. Since he…took off the blanket? That's when I woke up." Kurt hung his head in embarrassment. "Sebastian, this isn't right." Kurt picked at the fur on the end of his tail, running his sharp nails idly through the tangles. "I don't want to come between you and your friends."

"Believe me," Sebastian said, inching closer, putting a hand on the floor as close to Kurt's leg as he could get without touching, "kicking Sean out of my house has been a long time coming. Besides, if he's going to act that way, to me and to you, then he isn't really my friend, is he?"

"No," Kurt said, trying not to smile at Sebastian's rationale. "I guess not."

Sebastian side-eyed Kurt, catching a glimpse of the tip of his pink tongue as it slid across the seam of his lips, drawing the bottom lip inside his mouth and nibbling on it. Sebastian swallowed hard. He didn't get it. Whatever this feeling was that he had with regard to Kurt, it was a complete mystery to him. But he had to let it go, at least for now.

"So, what do you want to do?" Sebastian asked before the silence between them could become awkward.

"Um, I don't know." Kurt turned his head to look out the window, at the sunlight shining through the drapes, making a bright spot on the floor. "It looks like such a nice day out, but…I kind of want to stay inside? And play more Assassin's Creed?"

"Yeah," Sebastian said, reaching over the half inch and patting Kurt's hand, Kurt's fur touching Sebastian's skin making his entire arm tingle, "I think that sounds like a great idea."