Told You They'd Freak

5- A Dog Named Ruby

Barry grinned lopsidedly to himself as he woke up to the sight of an unfamiliar ceiling. This could only mean one thing- he was at the Smythe Manor.

The events of the previous day rushed to smack his brain. A recent development jolted itself to the front of his mind.

Ruby.

Leaping up, he skittered across his bedroom and bolted past the dining table, out into the garden with the kennel. Sebastian lifted his head from his toast as he felt wind gust by him. (No, no, Barry isn't the Flash yet, he's two years into high school)

"Barr!" he called out, following his brother into the garden. He halted abruptly the moment his bare feet touched the grass, his widened eyes taking in the sight in front of him. 

-------

The New Directions were having an unlucky morning. They had specifically woken up early and reached Rachel's house to practice hard for regionals, only to realise that they had yet to buy the album which had the song they needed to rehearse.

Which music store would be open this early?

Rachel realised it too soon for her own liking. "One store's 24/7," she grumbled. "Ricky & Richard's."

"Then what's the problem?" Tina asked, noticing her expression. Rachel rolled her eyes.

"It's right in front of Smythe's house."

Dead silence.

Blaine finally spoke. "We can... make it quick?" he suggested. 

"Hell no," Santana objected. "We can give Twink a piece of my mind in front of his rich-ass parents, I can't pass up an opportunity like that."

Many of the members couldn't help but agree. This might be their one golden chance to bring down Sebastian- and possibly get some blackmail on him- properly.

And so they elected Santana, Rachel, Blaine and Kurt to go get the album whilst paying the Warbler a 'friendly' visit. The four wove through the roads in Rachel's car and stopped in front of the store.

Santana stepped out and banged the door shut. She marched straight to a good hiding spot, Kurt desperately chasing after her. Blaine and Rachel looked at each other before following suit.

A little spying before the real action couldn't hurt.

But what they saw was totally unexpected.

Sebastian, beaming, raced through the front door into the garden in a casual summer tee and terribly clashing shorts without a care. He pummelled straight into a kennel and was instantly dragged out by the most adorable dog they had ever set their eyes on. Surprisingly, his genuine smile and littered laughs lit up the surroundings like sunshine.

It was enough to make Rachel blush and promptly slap herself back to her senses.

but then another Sebastian walked through the door onto the grass, barefoot, and the ND had to do a double-take. This one was more elegantly clothed in last night's silk pyjamas, even for a weekend morning. He held himself with the grace and poise of a performer. He stared, horrified at the scene unfolding before his very eyes, before grinning and joining the boy and the dog wrestling on the grass.

This one was Sebastian, no doubt, but he seemed different at the same time.

Happier. Freer. Complete. Content.

Santana, for one, had to repeatedly rub her eyes to remove any sort of hallucination she might be experiencing.

Blaine stood transfixed to the spot, admittedly mesmerised by the beauty of it.