Not As It Seems (Huntbastian) [Discontinued]

VIII

Sebastian was hiding from Hunter.

He didn't know what to say. Hunter's voice rang through his head, clear as a bell.

Please tell me you didn't burn yourself.

How was he supposed to respond? 'No, don't worry, I'm just fucking ugly?'

Ever since he could remember, there had been the red marks on his hips. They expanded with time. At first he thought he was imagining it, but then he realized they actually were. They were nearly connected.

He pulled his legs up to his chest, burying him head in his knees. He had always hated them, as had his parents.

Many a beating had been solely because of the marks.

What did he tell Hunter? Lie and say that he burned himself? Tell the truth and tell him that he was disfigured, that his skin was marred?

"Sebastian? What's wrong?"

His head snapped up, seeing a worried Jeff in front of him. He knew his eyes were probably red from his forced attempts to not cry. "Nothing."

Jeff sat down next to him. "Okay, then why are you hiding at the back of the library?"

"Because Hunter's not in the library," he admitted softly.

"Are you guys fighting? You missed the Warbler meeting. Jack went to get you but came back and said it sounded like an emergency and that you wouldn't be there."

Sebastian sighed, leaning his head back against the shelves. "We kinda were fighting, then we weren't, then he asked me something I didn't know how to answer so I ran."

"What'd he ask?" Jeff asked, worried.

Sebastian paused. "He asked me a... personal question, and the true answer to it is no, but then I'd have to explain what it actually was. But I'm afraid of what he'd say if I explained what it was, so I don't know if I should say yes and move on, make something up, or tell the truth."

Jeff nodded slowly. "What's the worst way he could react?"

"He could break up with me," Sebastian said softly. "I'm so afraid of losing him, this whole situation isn't helping."

"And the best?"

"He could not care, tell me it didn't matter to him and that he loves me anyway. Tell me I'm still beautiful in his eyes. But that's not going to happen."

"And the most likely?"

"He breaks up with me out of disgust."

They were quiet for a minute.

"Can I tell you what I would do?" Jeff asked.

"Please."

"I'd tell him that it's not what he's thinking, but you don't feel comfortable sharing what it is quite yet. You aren't married; you don't have to be comfortable telling him everything."

Sebastian chuckled slightly. "That is not what I thought you would say at all."

"Yeah, most people expect I'd say something like 'if he really loves you he wouldn't care' or 'tell him and if he breaks up with you then he doesn't deserve you,' but nothing's that simple. There are a few... things Nick and I don't know about each other. Well, we hide from each other. Or so we think we do. I know a couple things about him that he doesn't know I know."

Sebastian looked at Jeff for a minute, laughing. "I'm not even gonna ask. Thank you, though."

"Anytime. Now, go solve that little situation and be with your Prince Charming."