SEBASTIAN VAUGHN

bash howard vaughn. seventeen. eastwood prep qb #14.

[jocalynmontgomery]

dated 12/25/1996

when looking through an old box tucked away in the attic with her 3 daughters while sebastian was out for the day with their son, josie came across a small box full of old photos from when her and sebastian were teenagers. the sight of the photos was something that brought a smile to her face as she remembered the absolute nightmare it had been for them to even end up together in the first place. her daughters noticed the box and quickly ran over to look through the vintage photos with bright eyes full of curiosity. one of them held one up which was dated on christmas day which made Josie laugh softly as she took it in her hands and looked at the photo. "would you believe me if i told you we had an argument right after this was taken? we hadn't been dating for that long and i was very dramatic so when he looked at the girl taking the photo a certain way, i got so jealous. technically, we broke up this day too but he didn't take me seriously. he just let me cool down and on new years eve he showed up with flowers and my favorite snacks before we went out to have a peaceful new years eve together on a hotel rooftop." the girls listened with smiles on their faces as josie reminisced. he'd always taken her dramatic nature like it was any other day. and loved her anyways. and all she could ever hope for was that her girls and baby boy found someone who would do the same thing for them.

[bashvaughn]

[bashvaughn]

If there was one thing in the world you could change about Josie, what would it be?

In reality, Sebastian wouldn’t change a single thing. He was utterly and irrevocably in love with Josie, and that was something that was simply never going to change, no matter how much he wished it would sometimes. Sometimes, he hated the fact that he loved her, he hated the fact that he loved a girl who (as he assumed) didn’t love him back. He hated the fact that he loved a girl whose only interaction with him was one of bitterness and pure hatred. But really, deep down, he adored her, with every fibre of his being.

She would just simply never know.

He was in the school library, sat with a few of their friends as they finished up some of their history coursework. Ironically, for saying Sebastian and his friends were such thugs, they did actually take their schoolwork seriously. You kind of had to when your mom was the headmistress. It was almost annoying how smart some of the boys were. Key word, some; Shaun was pretty stupid.

Finishing up a sentence, Bash was beginning to grow bored. He needed a break. Leaning back in his chair, he stretched his arms out wide and let out a yawn, slicking his hair back. As if on cue, Jocelyn walked past their table. She didn’t stop, she was leaving herself with some of her girl pals. He knew by now that her movements were purposeful. She wanted him to see her. But to no one’s surprise, right now, the pair weren’t speaking. They’d had sex on the football pitch a couple of weeks ago but it had ended abruptly when he’d told her he had a date. Then they had an argument. Now they weren’t speaking. Again! She walked past, give him one look over, then snapped her head away in defiance. She was still pissed off.

His friends had noticed the way he watched her, the way he always seemed to slick his hair back and straightening his back a little in her presence. Shaun bore a slightly sick grin at the way his friend turned into a lovesick puppy at the sight of the girl. He whacked his shoulder to snap him out of his trance.

“When’s this shit gonna end, hey, Bash?” He asked, folding his arms over as Seb ignored him. He went back to his coursework, shrugging.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Gimme a break, man. The way you drool on the table whenever the head bitch so much as breathes near you.” He laughed, his friends chuckling in agreement. “It’s kind of pathetic!”

Sebastian stared at his book for a moment quietly, blinking once or twice. Eventually, he just scoffed, “You’re just being dramatic. Not got anything better to talk about?”

“I’m just saying what I see.” Shaun continued, bearing a smug expression on his face. “You can’t help yourself. You look at her like she’s the best thing to ever grace the fucking earth! Tell me —,” He leaned in on the table, placing a hand on the surface, “If there was one thing in the world you could change about Josie, what would it be?”

For a while, there was silence. Sebastian placed his pen down, stared at his friend. He couldn’t think of anything. Not one point.

“I told you.” Shaun nodded, turning to his their friends, “I can think of something — her big mouth.”

They all laughed. Sebastian gritted his teeth a little but did his best to ignore them. This was just Shaun being Shaun, his usual asshole self. “Ohhh! You know what else? Yeah, I got another — her tiny, fucking tits.”

The boys clapped with laughter. Sebastian, however, stared deeply, his eyes welling up with something quite horrified. Something a little disturbed washed over him. Without thinking, the boy launched forwards in an angry flurry, shoving Shaun harshly in the chest, his friend toppling over and falling to the ground with a loud thud.

“The fuck is wrong with you, man?!” Shaun cried aloud, wincing in pain a little from the impact. Sebastian rose to his feat, glowering downwards with his fist clenches. He wanted to punch the living daylight out of his friend for that. He wanted to so bad. He deserved it. He was the biggest douche around these days. But people were beginning to notice, and even though Seb had somewhat of an immunity with his mother being the one in charge, it only went so far. He had to control himself. Keep it calm.

Leaning down, his fists still clenched, Bash lowered his voice, “Speak about her like that again and I’ll break your fucking nose. Got it?”With that, he gathered up his books, tossing Shaun’s own books onto the ground beside him angrily before storming off towards the door, ignoring the shouts of the librarian to stop, not noticing the way all the students parted in fear at Sebastian Vaughn raging in their direction.

He just wanted out before he punched someone in the face.

[bashvaughn]

a few months prior…

A few months prior, Sebastian and Jocalyn as a collective, had been nothing but distant, childhood memories of the past. Sweet and innocent, the budding friendship had come to a sudden and abrupt end when Josie and her family had travelled to Europe and further for some few years whilst her father and his band had completed successful tours after tours. And what was left behind was a particularly gutted 10 year-old Sebastian, having lost his best friend, and though today he didn’t grow so upset when he thought about Jo as he had done in his younger youth, his thoughts often crossed back to those times. He wondered how she was, what she looked like, and where she even was. Had she kept the necklace he’d gotten her? Did she even remember him?

He wasn’t entirely the same as he had been as a child. He was a sweet boy growing up, polite and kind, but after all these years, there wasn’t really much left of Seb Vaughn from 1988. He’d sort of just, well, vanished, one day, faded into the background. His older brother Nathaniel’s death had left a deep and empty wound in the bottom of his heart, still raw and unhealed seven years on. It had left him angry at the world and unable to express his emotions, when really, inside, there was still just that little boy who’d never really grown up, a little boy who just needed some assertion that whatever was going on inside his brain was okay. He didn’t spend much time at home, any opportunity to be out the house, he took; his relationship with his parents wasn’t exactly the best, not since Nate had died. It was hard watching your mother often breakdown once the working day finished.

Out the house. Yes. Being out the house was good. A party! He loved parties, rich kid parties were the best. They had the best sound systems, the most liquor, the biggest pools. The angry teenage boy wasn’t very popular amongst the younger students, amongst those that 1995 would class as “uncool”, as over time had turned himself into quite a bit of a bully, a thug or sorts who enjoyed taunting those less fortunate or lucky as him. But to the majority? He was rather sort after, envied in ways. Guys wanted to be him: he was the tallest kid in school, built strong and toned at 6’5” with a sharp jaw, played quarterback on the school football team, always had his brown curtained locks of hair perfectly swept back at all times. The girls wanted to be with him for all those very reasons. But sure, despite having a fling or two over the years, a couple of nights tangled in bedsheets, he strangely paid them little mind. He paid very few people any mind these days. Or anything.

He arrived as the sun had just set. A final all-out party in the school holiday before they returned back for the new academic year. One last send off. Some kid who lived just outside the city in some sprawling mansion. He walked up the steps of the house entrance with a bounce almost, pack of beer in his hand, his good friend since childhood, Brian, walking beside him. He wore a pair of blue denim jeans, a black belt secured around them, a red plaid shirt tucker inside, sleeves rolled up, top buttons undone, a tiny, silver hoop in his ear, cigarette packet in the pocket. The door wide open, he stepped inside to a house almost bursting full of students. It was loud and chaotic, full of booming music and disorganisation. The perfect party.

He was a presence amongst his peers, that could be said. Idolised in many ways despite the element of fear from some. You had to be when you’d just been made football captain for the new year after the previous one had graduated. He had a pretty intense reputation. Walking inside, he was greeted with happy cheers and welcomes from the students, the owner of the house walking over to him with a wide grin. “Vaughn, you made it!” Sebastian’s smile was never as big as anyone else, it was more of a just an upwards turn. Nodding, he greeted his friend, shoulder tapping him as a hello. “Sup, man.” He responded, ignoring the way people turned their heads a little. Turning to some of the partygoers, the house owner clapped his hands, “New captain himself, ladies and gents!” The teens nearby cheered, some downing their drinks as a toast of sorts.

Laughing quietly, he shook his head, “Touching — lemme get a drink, man.” He beckoned towards the large, open kitchen ahead, beginning to hear over in search of a clean red cup.

Sebastian was, however, obliviously unaware that there was also another big revelation in attendance tonight. A unexpected storm that arrived back with an awestruck greeting from students all around.

[bashvaughn]

Sebastian, really, wasn’t listening. He was, but he wasn’t, he just sort of kept walking, nodding, head in flurry as he wanted out. How stupid of him to make such assumptions so quickly upon return her return, make such assumptions that she would ever feel the same way about him as he might be feeling right now for her. His heart was dripping in both sadness and anger, anger at himself for being so stupid. For think this might be a possibility. What was he even thinking? So he kept walking, racing down the stairs as he noticed the maids walking through the main living room. They said good-morning in off-beat unison but he didn’t care. “Get a taxi booked.” He muttered as he made his way to the bottom of the stairs. The maids gave one another a subtle look only a woman would understand. Most of the time, Sebastian was, at a bare minimum, respectful towards the cleaning staff of his home, but they knew all too well that he could have these moments of arrogance and dismissiveness. This was one of those moments.

They hesitated for a moment, before he added, “A taxi. I need a taxi for my… for my friend. Now. Please.” He was looking at the ground. One nodded. “Certainly!” She scurried off to find the landline. She got a sense he wanted this “friend” gone. As if on cue, they saw a stranger’s face at the top of the stairs. Ah. Suddenly, things made sense. Sebastian had a bit of a tendency to invite “friends” over since he’d rid himself of that snobby ex-girlfriend of his. Many times they’d had to turn the stereo up higher when his “friends” had stopped by. Taking note of the girl at the top of the stairs, the women almost squinted a little; did they know her? She was a stranger… but she looked a little familiar. Like one of those girls they saw in the magazines they read. Regardless, she had a natural air about her that not any other girl who’d graced these stairs had carried before.

Then she called his name. On instinct, he span on his heels, looking up at her from the bottom of the stairs. He hesitated for a moment, before coming clean. “I’ve booked you a taxi.” He spoke a little bluntly, nodding a little and gesturing to the maids. “It can take you back home. It’s cold outside.” A poor excuse but anything to get this situation over and done with. He just wanted to melt into the floor, privately, in peace. “We can, forget, all about… that. Please.” He scratched the back of his neck, before shuffling to the side and pointing behind him. “I’m gonna, uhm…” All he could do was trail off. He had nothing left in him.

[bashvaughn]

a few months prior…

A few months prior, Sebastian and Jocalyn as a collective, had been nothing but distant, childhood memories of the past. Sweet and innocent, the budding friendship had come to a sudden and abrupt end when Josie and her family had travelled to Europe and further for some few years whilst her father and his band had completed successful tours after tours. And what was left behind was a particularly gutted 10 year-old Sebastian, having lost his best friend, and though today he didn’t grow so upset when he thought about Jo as he had done in his younger youth, his thoughts often crossed back to those times. He wondered how she was, what she looked like, and where she even was. Had she kept the necklace he’d gotten her? Did she even remember him?

He wasn’t entirely the same as he had been as a child. He was a sweet boy growing up, polite and kind, but after all these years, there wasn’t really much left of Seb Vaughn from 1988. He’d sort of just, well, vanished, one day, faded into the background. His older brother Nathaniel’s death had left a deep and empty wound in the bottom of his heart, still raw and unhealed seven years on. It had left him angry at the world and unable to express his emotions, when really, inside, there was still just that little boy who’d never really grown up, a little boy who just needed some assertion that whatever was going on inside his brain was okay. He didn’t spend much time at home, any opportunity to be out the house, he took; his relationship with his parents wasn’t exactly the best, not since Nate had died. It was hard watching your mother often breakdown once the working day finished.

Out the house. Yes. Being out the house was good. A party! He loved parties, rich kid parties were the best. They had the best sound systems, the most liquor, the biggest pools. The angry teenage boy wasn’t very popular amongst the younger students, amongst those that 1995 would class as “uncool”, as over time had turned himself into quite a bit of a bully, a thug or sorts who enjoyed taunting those less fortunate or lucky as him. But to the majority? He was rather sort after, envied in ways. Guys wanted to be him: he was the tallest kid in school, built strong and toned at 6’5” with a sharp jaw, played quarterback on the school football team, always had his brown curtained locks of hair perfectly swept back at all times. The girls wanted to be with him for all those very reasons. But sure, despite having a fling or two over the years, a couple of nights tangled in bedsheets, he strangely paid them little mind. He paid very few people any mind these days. Or anything.

He arrived as the sun had just set. A final all-out party in the school holiday before they returned back for the new academic year. One last send off. Some kid who lived just outside the city in some sprawling mansion. He walked up the steps of the house entrance with a bounce almost, pack of beer in his hand, his good friend since childhood, Brian, walking beside him. He wore a pair of blue denim jeans, a black belt secured around them, a red plaid shirt tucker inside, sleeves rolled up, top buttons undone, a tiny, silver hoop in his ear, cigarette packet in the pocket. The door wide open, he stepped inside to a house almost bursting full of students. It was loud and chaotic, full of booming music and disorganisation. The perfect party.

He was a presence amongst his peers, that could be said. Idolised in many ways despite the element of fear from some. You had to be when you’d just been made football captain for the new year after the previous one had graduated. He had a pretty intense reputation. Walking inside, he was greeted with happy cheers and welcomes from the students, the owner of the house walking over to him with a wide grin. “Vaughn, you made it!” Sebastian’s smile was never as big as anyone else, it was more of a just an upwards turn. Nodding, he greeted his friend, shoulder tapping him as a hello. “Sup, man.” He responded, ignoring the way people turned their heads a little. Turning to some of the partygoers, the house owner clapped his hands, “New captain himself, ladies and gents!” The teens nearby cheered, some downing their drinks as a toast of sorts.

Laughing quietly, he shook his head, “Touching — lemme get a drink, man.” He beckoned towards the large, open kitchen ahead, beginning to hear over in search of a clean red cup.

Sebastian was, however, obliviously unaware that there was also another big revelation in attendance tonight. A unexpected storm that arrived back with an awestruck greeting from students all around.

[bashvaughn]

And there it was. A deep, imploding sense of regret. Of awkwardness, an uncomfortable sting in the bottom of his heart. Sebastian felt his stomach drop and his throat close up a little, overwhelmed by the feeling of disappointment that raced through his body. Evidently, this had just been a fleeting moment for her, and she didn’t feel the same. “Right! Right…” He stammered, trying his best to hide the sadness on his face, but he looked like a kicked puppy. A peculiar sight on a boy so tall and looming. “No, no, I get it! I get it, I uh, I shouldn’t have asked, that was s-stupid of me, uhm…” He sort of span on his feet a little, unsure of where to place himself or what to do. Oh God. Oh God, oh God, oh God, why had he ever opened his mouth, why hadn’t he just let things be? He grabbed a pair of navy, cotton shorts, slipping them on quickly. From downstairs, he could hear the sounds of the maids letting themselves in, calling out good morning to him. He didn’t respond. “Just… forget I asked, don’t worry. Friends… is good. I’d like that.” He hated that. He sighed softly, wanting nothing more now than to melt into the floor and never look back. “I’ll… I’ll make a call, get a taxi for you.” He muttered, nodding and staring at the floor, before quickly sliding past her, out the bedroom door and racing down the stairs, searching the house for the phone. Anything to make this quicker. Anything to make being friends easier.

[bashvaughn]

a few months prior…

A few months prior, Sebastian and Jocalyn as a collective, had been nothing but distant, childhood memories of the past. Sweet and innocent, the budding friendship had come to a sudden and abrupt end when Josie and her family had travelled to Europe and further for some few years whilst her father and his band had completed successful tours after tours. And what was left behind was a particularly gutted 10 year-old Sebastian, having lost his best friend, and though today he didn’t grow so upset when he thought about Jo as he had done in his younger youth, his thoughts often crossed back to those times. He wondered how she was, what she looked like, and where she even was. Had she kept the necklace he’d gotten her? Did she even remember him?

He wasn’t entirely the same as he had been as a child. He was a sweet boy growing up, polite and kind, but after all these years, there wasn’t really much left of Seb Vaughn from 1988. He’d sort of just, well, vanished, one day, faded into the background. His older brother Nathaniel’s death had left a deep and empty wound in the bottom of his heart, still raw and unhealed seven years on. It had left him angry at the world and unable to express his emotions, when really, inside, there was still just that little boy who’d never really grown up, a little boy who just needed some assertion that whatever was going on inside his brain was okay. He didn’t spend much time at home, any opportunity to be out the house, he took; his relationship with his parents wasn’t exactly the best, not since Nate had died. It was hard watching your mother often breakdown once the working day finished.

Out the house. Yes. Being out the house was good. A party! He loved parties, rich kid parties were the best. They had the best sound systems, the most liquor, the biggest pools. The angry teenage boy wasn’t very popular amongst the younger students, amongst those that 1995 would class as “uncool”, as over time had turned himself into quite a bit of a bully, a thug or sorts who enjoyed taunting those less fortunate or lucky as him. But to the majority? He was rather sort after, envied in ways. Guys wanted to be him: he was the tallest kid in school, built strong and toned at 6’5” with a sharp jaw, played quarterback on the school football team, always had his brown curtained locks of hair perfectly swept back at all times. The girls wanted to be with him for all those very reasons. But sure, despite having a fling or two over the years, a couple of nights tangled in bedsheets, he strangely paid them little mind. He paid very few people any mind these days. Or anything.

He arrived as the sun had just set. A final all-out party in the school holiday before they returned back for the new academic year. One last send off. Some kid who lived just outside the city in some sprawling mansion. He walked up the steps of the house entrance with a bounce almost, pack of beer in his hand, his good friend since childhood, Brian, walking beside him. He wore a pair of blue denim jeans, a black belt secured around them, a red plaid shirt tucker inside, sleeves rolled up, top buttons undone, a tiny, silver hoop in his ear, cigarette packet in the pocket. The door wide open, he stepped inside to a house almost bursting full of students. It was loud and chaotic, full of booming music and disorganisation. The perfect party.

He was a presence amongst his peers, that could be said. Idolised in many ways despite the element of fear from some. You had to be when you’d just been made football captain for the new year after the previous one had graduated. He had a pretty intense reputation. Walking inside, he was greeted with happy cheers and welcomes from the students, the owner of the house walking over to him with a wide grin. “Vaughn, you made it!” Sebastian’s smile was never as big as anyone else, it was more of a just an upwards turn. Nodding, he greeted his friend, shoulder tapping him as a hello. “Sup, man.” He responded, ignoring the way people turned their heads a little. Turning to some of the partygoers, the house owner clapped his hands, “New captain himself, ladies and gents!” The teens nearby cheered, some downing their drinks as a toast of sorts.

Laughing quietly, he shook his head, “Touching — lemme get a drink, man.” He beckoned towards the large, open kitchen ahead, beginning to hear over in search of a clean red cup.

Sebastian was, however, obliviously unaware that there was also another big revelation in attendance tonight. A unexpected storm that arrived back with an awestruck greeting from students all around.

[bashvaughn]

It was ever so hard not to appreciate how beautiful she was as she stood before him. Sebastian had wondered how he’d feel about Josie with her return, whether he’d still feel the same or whether too much time would have passed, and yet, here he was, feeling exactly the same about her as he always had. The sex they’d shared, the intimacy they’d had and intensity felt had not gone unnoticed, in fact, it was all he could think about. No sex he’d ever had, had ever been as fulfilling as that had been. Surely, that meant something, didn’t it? Surely, they shared something they didn’t with anybody else… she had to feel it too… right?

“Uhm… yeah!” He stammered out, snapping out of his momentary thought for a second, glancing aside to the floor, and quickly shoving on his boxers as he still sat on the bed. He rose to his feet, tall and towering over her, grabbing his shirt that laid on the bedside table, before looking at the bed, admiring the messy sheets just hours before they had indulged in one another with. “That, was, uhm…” That was really good sex, is what he felt like saying, but he held back. He didn’t really have many words, he just knew he had to ask her. He had to! Slipping on the t-shirt over his head, he ruffled his hair a little. “… Jo. I was, I was wondering…” Why was he so nervous? So uncertain? He’d never felt so uneasy when asking a girl this before, but why now? Of all times, why now? He let out a small cough, swallowed hard. Dove straight into the deep end.

“… Let me take you on a date.”

[bashvaughn]

aren't you worried about getting some kind of sti because of jocalyn? i heard through the grapevine christian has crabs! (ooc josie is a clean girl!! i feel like he'd be aware but still)

Sebastian clenched his jaw a little in thought. He was in the school changing rooms after football practice, freshly showered getting ready to head home. And as per usual, he was being pestered by his teammates in relation to Jo. Sometimes he felt like it was all they asked about, what Josie was like, considering the only guys who ever got a look-in were Seb, Christian, and Billy — the latter of which the locker room loved to ridicule, probably out of jealousy. No one else got lucky enough. But these days, they had somewhat of a hateful relationship, constantly bickering, insulting one another, mocking each others’ ways often cruelly and bitterly. He was, in truth, quite upset and hurt by how he she had treated him. And how she didn’t seem to care, or at least that’s what he believed. So, standing there as he slipped on his school trousers, he searched the locker for his shirt, looking at the other teen and giving him a look of slightly sick amusement, “You know, somewhere, I heard that too...” Sebastian knew she was clean. He knew she looked after herself and stayed conscious of these things. But he was in a particularly nasty mood today, having earlier seen her leave school property with William at her side after they had shared a rather sour conversation. So he wasn’t in the mood, you could say. “I mean, why else do you think we haven’t fucked in weeks?… You should stay clear of her, man.” Slipping on his shirt, he slammed the locker door shut, beginning to rummage through his duffle bags. “Who knows what she’s bringing home to her little fucking witch den these days.”

[bashvaughn]

a few months prior…

A few months prior, Sebastian and Jocalyn as a collective, had been nothing but distant, childhood memories of the past. Sweet and innocent, the budding friendship had come to a sudden and abrupt end when Josie and her family had travelled to Europe and further for some few years whilst her father and his band had completed successful tours after tours. And what was left behind was a particularly gutted 10 year-old Sebastian, having lost his best friend, and though today he didn’t grow so upset when he thought about Jo as he had done in his younger youth, his thoughts often crossed back to those times. He wondered how she was, what she looked like, and where she even was. Had she kept the necklace he’d gotten her? Did she even remember him?

He wasn’t entirely the same as he had been as a child. He was a sweet boy growing up, polite and kind, but after all these years, there wasn’t really much left of Seb Vaughn from 1988. He’d sort of just, well, vanished, one day, faded into the background. His older brother Nathaniel’s death had left a deep and empty wound in the bottom of his heart, still raw and unhealed seven years on. It had left him angry at the world and unable to express his emotions, when really, inside, there was still just that little boy who’d never really grown up, a little boy who just needed some assertion that whatever was going on inside his brain was okay. He didn’t spend much time at home, any opportunity to be out the house, he took; his relationship with his parents wasn’t exactly the best, not since Nate had died. It was hard watching your mother often breakdown once the working day finished.

Out the house. Yes. Being out the house was good. A party! He loved parties, rich kid parties were the best. They had the best sound systems, the most liquor, the biggest pools. The angry teenage boy wasn’t very popular amongst the younger students, amongst those that 1995 would class as “uncool”, as over time had turned himself into quite a bit of a bully, a thug or sorts who enjoyed taunting those less fortunate or lucky as him. But to the majority? He was rather sort after, envied in ways. Guys wanted to be him: he was the tallest kid in school, built strong and toned at 6’5” with a sharp jaw, played quarterback on the school football team, always had his brown curtained locks of hair perfectly swept back at all times. The girls wanted to be with him for all those very reasons. But sure, despite having a fling or two over the years, a couple of nights tangled in bedsheets, he strangely paid them little mind. He paid very few people any mind these days. Or anything.

He arrived as the sun had just set. A final all-out party in the school holiday before they returned back for the new academic year. One last send off. Some kid who lived just outside the city in some sprawling mansion. He walked up the steps of the house entrance with a bounce almost, pack of beer in his hand, his good friend since childhood, Brian, walking beside him. He wore a pair of blue denim jeans, a black belt secured around them, a red plaid shirt tucker inside, sleeves rolled up, top buttons undone, a tiny, silver hoop in his ear, cigarette packet in the pocket. The door wide open, he stepped inside to a house almost bursting full of students. It was loud and chaotic, full of booming music and disorganisation. The perfect party.

He was a presence amongst his peers, that could be said. Idolised in many ways despite the element of fear from some. You had to be when you’d just been made football captain for the new year after the previous one had graduated. He had a pretty intense reputation. Walking inside, he was greeted with happy cheers and welcomes from the students, the owner of the house walking over to him with a wide grin. “Vaughn, you made it!” Sebastian’s smile was never as big as anyone else, it was more of a just an upwards turn. Nodding, he greeted his friend, shoulder tapping him as a hello. “Sup, man.” He responded, ignoring the way people turned their heads a little. Turning to some of the partygoers, the house owner clapped his hands, “New captain himself, ladies and gents!” The teens nearby cheered, some downing their drinks as a toast of sorts.

Laughing quietly, he shook his head, “Touching — lemme get a drink, man.” He beckoned towards the large, open kitchen ahead, beginning to hear over in search of a clean red cup.

Sebastian was, however, obliviously unaware that there was also another big revelation in attendance tonight. A unexpected storm that arrived back with an awestruck greeting from students all around.

[bashvaughn]

He tried not to grow smug as he saw her reaction to her body. He really did, that would just do the opposite of impressing her. No girl liked an arrogant boy. But internally, he cheered, relishing the way she hitched her breath, how her perfectly painted fingertips brushed over his toned chest. His bare skin warmed at the sensation. It was silent, the room dark, a summer breeze from the open window whistling through, and all that they shared were glances, little looks, small smiles, touches. She returned the favour, her own shirt vanishing to the floor, her perfectly dark and silky hair falling out of the tie and around her shoulders. Her chest, beautifully round and present, taking his eyes captive. “Wow.” He muttered, unable to resist, almost leaning in a little, but before he could say anything, they fell back into motion. Her hands ran to his chest, his own back on her hips, slowly lying himself down and pulling her on top, into a deep kiss. Where the night would head wasn’t so certain, but there was on obvious route…

THE NEXT MORNING.

If you’d told Sebastian just 24 hours ago that he would end up reunited with Josie at a party that… and also sleep with her, he wouldn’t have believed you. He was actually in a somewhat state of disbelief the entire night, but it didn’t stop him from enjoying every second of it. What had followed after they had removed their shirts, was a night full of rather tender but passionate sex. Well, as much so as that could get for two teenagers, anyway. The room had been filled with the sounds of shuffling bedsheets, soft moans, warmth as their skin pushed against each other. If Sebastian could confess… this was the best sex he’d ever had, it had left the pair out of breath, tired, but elated. And wow, Josie had a fantastic body, he had dreamt that night of how it felt against his. She had fallen asleep against his chest, his arm around her back, but in the morning… she wasn’t there.

It was about nine in the morning. The sun shined through the loft room window. Sebastian, who’d been fast asleep on his back, awoke slowly. His eyes, still half closed, look aside to his left… but found no Jo. Frowning softly, he sat himself up right, covered by his bedsheets, to find her at the bottom of his bed. Mid getting dressed. His hair was a mess, and he slicked it back best he could with his hand, tilting his head slightly. “Good morning.” He mumbled quietly, hoping she wouldn’t run away just yet.

[bashvaughn]

a few months prior…

A few months prior, Sebastian and Jocalyn as a collective, had been nothing but distant, childhood memories of the past. Sweet and innocent, the budding friendship had come to a sudden and abrupt end when Josie and her family had travelled to Europe and further for some few years whilst her father and his band had completed successful tours after tours. And what was left behind was a particularly gutted 10 year-old Sebastian, having lost his best friend, and though today he didn’t grow so upset when he thought about Jo as he had done in his younger youth, his thoughts often crossed back to those times. He wondered how she was, what she looked like, and where she even was. Had she kept the necklace he’d gotten her? Did she even remember him?

He wasn’t entirely the same as he had been as a child. He was a sweet boy growing up, polite and kind, but after all these years, there wasn’t really much left of Seb Vaughn from 1988. He’d sort of just, well, vanished, one day, faded into the background. His older brother Nathaniel’s death had left a deep and empty wound in the bottom of his heart, still raw and unhealed seven years on. It had left him angry at the world and unable to express his emotions, when really, inside, there was still just that little boy who’d never really grown up, a little boy who just needed some assertion that whatever was going on inside his brain was okay. He didn’t spend much time at home, any opportunity to be out the house, he took; his relationship with his parents wasn’t exactly the best, not since Nate had died. It was hard watching your mother often breakdown once the working day finished.

Out the house. Yes. Being out the house was good. A party! He loved parties, rich kid parties were the best. They had the best sound systems, the most liquor, the biggest pools. The angry teenage boy wasn’t very popular amongst the younger students, amongst those that 1995 would class as “uncool”, as over time had turned himself into quite a bit of a bully, a thug or sorts who enjoyed taunting those less fortunate or lucky as him. But to the majority? He was rather sort after, envied in ways. Guys wanted to be him: he was the tallest kid in school, built strong and toned at 6’5” with a sharp jaw, played quarterback on the school football team, always had his brown curtained locks of hair perfectly swept back at all times. The girls wanted to be with him for all those very reasons. But sure, despite having a fling or two over the years, a couple of nights tangled in bedsheets, he strangely paid them little mind. He paid very few people any mind these days. Or anything.

He arrived as the sun had just set. A final all-out party in the school holiday before they returned back for the new academic year. One last send off. Some kid who lived just outside the city in some sprawling mansion. He walked up the steps of the house entrance with a bounce almost, pack of beer in his hand, his good friend since childhood, Brian, walking beside him. He wore a pair of blue denim jeans, a black belt secured around them, a red plaid shirt tucker inside, sleeves rolled up, top buttons undone, a tiny, silver hoop in his ear, cigarette packet in the pocket. The door wide open, he stepped inside to a house almost bursting full of students. It was loud and chaotic, full of booming music and disorganisation. The perfect party.

He was a presence amongst his peers, that could be said. Idolised in many ways despite the element of fear from some. You had to be when you’d just been made football captain for the new year after the previous one had graduated. He had a pretty intense reputation. Walking inside, he was greeted with happy cheers and welcomes from the students, the owner of the house walking over to him with a wide grin. “Vaughn, you made it!” Sebastian’s smile was never as big as anyone else, it was more of a just an upwards turn. Nodding, he greeted his friend, shoulder tapping him as a hello. “Sup, man.” He responded, ignoring the way people turned their heads a little. Turning to some of the partygoers, the house owner clapped his hands, “New captain himself, ladies and gents!” The teens nearby cheered, some downing their drinks as a toast of sorts.

Laughing quietly, he shook his head, “Touching — lemme get a drink, man.” He beckoned towards the large, open kitchen ahead, beginning to hear over in search of a clean red cup.

Sebastian was, however, obliviously unaware that there was also another big revelation in attendance tonight. A unexpected storm that arrived back with an awestruck greeting from students all around.

[bashvaughn]

He hadn’t really felt this way before. Even with Missy, the dates were sweet and loving, but the touches they shared weren’t this tender. This was something different. He leaned in to her hand when he felt each finger trickle softly through his warm, brown hair, smiling up at her in thought. How beautiful she was, was the only thing that came to mind. His smile grew a little more at her words; many girls at their school said the same thing about him when he wasn’t around. Right now, he wore a baggy t-shirt with some band plastered on the front, but all he did was nod a little. “I could say the same for you…” His eyes trailed downwards to her slightly exposed chest, more so in sight as she laid on top and above him. Shuffling upwards slightly, his hands moved away from her waist for the moment, to the end of his shirt below, pulling it over and away from his head. What was revealed was an almost glorious site. His clothes, somehow, had hidden it away, but Sebastian proud bore a toned and muscular body, thick biceps, a sharp torso, perfectly toned and slightly tanned from summer training with football in preparation for the senior year. He tossed the shirt on the floor, eyes cast to her body once more, his arms returning to her waist. Hoping that she might reciprocate somehow.

[bashvaughn]

a few months prior…

A few months prior, Sebastian and Jocalyn as a collective, had been nothing but distant, childhood memories of the past. Sweet and innocent, the budding friendship had come to a sudden and abrupt end when Josie and her family had travelled to Europe and further for some few years whilst her father and his band had completed successful tours after tours. And what was left behind was a particularly gutted 10 year-old Sebastian, having lost his best friend, and though today he didn’t grow so upset when he thought about Jo as he had done in his younger youth, his thoughts often crossed back to those times. He wondered how she was, what she looked like, and where she even was. Had she kept the necklace he’d gotten her? Did she even remember him?

He wasn’t entirely the same as he had been as a child. He was a sweet boy growing up, polite and kind, but after all these years, there wasn’t really much left of Seb Vaughn from 1988. He’d sort of just, well, vanished, one day, faded into the background. His older brother Nathaniel’s death had left a deep and empty wound in the bottom of his heart, still raw and unhealed seven years on. It had left him angry at the world and unable to express his emotions, when really, inside, there was still just that little boy who’d never really grown up, a little boy who just needed some assertion that whatever was going on inside his brain was okay. He didn’t spend much time at home, any opportunity to be out the house, he took; his relationship with his parents wasn’t exactly the best, not since Nate had died. It was hard watching your mother often breakdown once the working day finished.

Out the house. Yes. Being out the house was good. A party! He loved parties, rich kid parties were the best. They had the best sound systems, the most liquor, the biggest pools. The angry teenage boy wasn’t very popular amongst the younger students, amongst those that 1995 would class as “uncool”, as over time had turned himself into quite a bit of a bully, a thug or sorts who enjoyed taunting those less fortunate or lucky as him. But to the majority? He was rather sort after, envied in ways. Guys wanted to be him: he was the tallest kid in school, built strong and toned at 6’5” with a sharp jaw, played quarterback on the school football team, always had his brown curtained locks of hair perfectly swept back at all times. The girls wanted to be with him for all those very reasons. But sure, despite having a fling or two over the years, a couple of nights tangled in bedsheets, he strangely paid them little mind. He paid very few people any mind these days. Or anything.

He arrived as the sun had just set. A final all-out party in the school holiday before they returned back for the new academic year. One last send off. Some kid who lived just outside the city in some sprawling mansion. He walked up the steps of the house entrance with a bounce almost, pack of beer in his hand, his good friend since childhood, Brian, walking beside him. He wore a pair of blue denim jeans, a black belt secured around them, a red plaid shirt tucker inside, sleeves rolled up, top buttons undone, a tiny, silver hoop in his ear, cigarette packet in the pocket. The door wide open, he stepped inside to a house almost bursting full of students. It was loud and chaotic, full of booming music and disorganisation. The perfect party.

He was a presence amongst his peers, that could be said. Idolised in many ways despite the element of fear from some. You had to be when you’d just been made football captain for the new year after the previous one had graduated. He had a pretty intense reputation. Walking inside, he was greeted with happy cheers and welcomes from the students, the owner of the house walking over to him with a wide grin. “Vaughn, you made it!” Sebastian’s smile was never as big as anyone else, it was more of a just an upwards turn. Nodding, he greeted his friend, shoulder tapping him as a hello. “Sup, man.” He responded, ignoring the way people turned their heads a little. Turning to some of the partygoers, the house owner clapped his hands, “New captain himself, ladies and gents!” The teens nearby cheered, some downing their drinks as a toast of sorts.

Laughing quietly, he shook his head, “Touching — lemme get a drink, man.” He beckoned towards the large, open kitchen ahead, beginning to hear over in search of a clean red cup.

Sebastian was, however, obliviously unaware that there was also another big revelation in attendance tonight. A unexpected storm that arrived back with an awestruck greeting from students all around.

[bashvaughn]

It was something out of a movie, almost, how they held each other. Such tenderness and delicate embraces that teenagers so often overlooked in place of raunchy nothingness. But this? This felt like something special. Sebastian’s eyes flickered to her darker ones, smiling as his cheeks turned slightly red when he felt her nose brush against his just slightly, something he reciprocated. It was hard to not. His smile grew sightly, “Mhm, it just seems to have worked out that way.” He repeated. Maybe they were suppose to work out this way. He hoped they would, anyway. “Yeah… ” He hummed, leaning into her touch, his hands sliding further upward away from his thighs and around her waist instead, lingering there comfortably, “… something.” What would something mean? How far was something? The further she leaned inward, the further he leaned backwards, slowly and slowly until eventually, he laid comfortably on his back, the slender girl nestled on top of him as they continued their kiss of delight. The bed was rather large and wide, they had plenty of space to work with, but all he could care about right now was kissing her glossy lips, appreciating the way her body blended almost perfectly against his. It was too good to be true. “Something… sounds nice.” He muttered, feeling the way her body curved and turned rather nicely. Of course, the last time they’d seen each other, they had been young and small, but… things had definitely changed since then. A lot of things.

[bashvaughn]

a few months prior…

A few months prior, Sebastian and Jocalyn as a collective, had been nothing but distant, childhood memories of the past. Sweet and innocent, the budding friendship had come to a sudden and abrupt end when Josie and her family had travelled to Europe and further for some few years whilst her father and his band had completed successful tours after tours. And what was left behind was a particularly gutted 10 year-old Sebastian, having lost his best friend, and though today he didn’t grow so upset when he thought about Jo as he had done in his younger youth, his thoughts often crossed back to those times. He wondered how she was, what she looked like, and where she even was. Had she kept the necklace he’d gotten her? Did she even remember him?

He wasn’t entirely the same as he had been as a child. He was a sweet boy growing up, polite and kind, but after all these years, there wasn’t really much left of Seb Vaughn from 1988. He’d sort of just, well, vanished, one day, faded into the background. His older brother Nathaniel’s death had left a deep and empty wound in the bottom of his heart, still raw and unhealed seven years on. It had left him angry at the world and unable to express his emotions, when really, inside, there was still just that little boy who’d never really grown up, a little boy who just needed some assertion that whatever was going on inside his brain was okay. He didn’t spend much time at home, any opportunity to be out the house, he took; his relationship with his parents wasn’t exactly the best, not since Nate had died. It was hard watching your mother often breakdown once the working day finished.

Out the house. Yes. Being out the house was good. A party! He loved parties, rich kid parties were the best. They had the best sound systems, the most liquor, the biggest pools. The angry teenage boy wasn’t very popular amongst the younger students, amongst those that 1995 would class as “uncool”, as over time had turned himself into quite a bit of a bully, a thug or sorts who enjoyed taunting those less fortunate or lucky as him. But to the majority? He was rather sort after, envied in ways. Guys wanted to be him: he was the tallest kid in school, built strong and toned at 6’5” with a sharp jaw, played quarterback on the school football team, always had his brown curtained locks of hair perfectly swept back at all times. The girls wanted to be with him for all those very reasons. But sure, despite having a fling or two over the years, a couple of nights tangled in bedsheets, he strangely paid them little mind. He paid very few people any mind these days. Or anything.

He arrived as the sun had just set. A final all-out party in the school holiday before they returned back for the new academic year. One last send off. Some kid who lived just outside the city in some sprawling mansion. He walked up the steps of the house entrance with a bounce almost, pack of beer in his hand, his good friend since childhood, Brian, walking beside him. He wore a pair of blue denim jeans, a black belt secured around them, a red plaid shirt tucker inside, sleeves rolled up, top buttons undone, a tiny, silver hoop in his ear, cigarette packet in the pocket. The door wide open, he stepped inside to a house almost bursting full of students. It was loud and chaotic, full of booming music and disorganisation. The perfect party.

He was a presence amongst his peers, that could be said. Idolised in many ways despite the element of fear from some. You had to be when you’d just been made football captain for the new year after the previous one had graduated. He had a pretty intense reputation. Walking inside, he was greeted with happy cheers and welcomes from the students, the owner of the house walking over to him with a wide grin. “Vaughn, you made it!” Sebastian’s smile was never as big as anyone else, it was more of a just an upwards turn. Nodding, he greeted his friend, shoulder tapping him as a hello. “Sup, man.” He responded, ignoring the way people turned their heads a little. Turning to some of the partygoers, the house owner clapped his hands, “New captain himself, ladies and gents!” The teens nearby cheered, some downing their drinks as a toast of sorts.

Laughing quietly, he shook his head, “Touching — lemme get a drink, man.” He beckoned towards the large, open kitchen ahead, beginning to hear over in search of a clean red cup.

Sebastian was, however, obliviously unaware that there was also another big revelation in attendance tonight. A unexpected storm that arrived back with an awestruck greeting from students all around.

[bashvaughn]

Of course, he’d kissed girls before. Sebastian had, unsurprisingly, kissed many girls in school over the years, and then some, but nothing had ever felt as tender as this one. This kiss felt… different. He was too young to think of words to express it poetically, it was just a nicer feeling, one he hadn’t really experienced before. The bedroom was rather silent, filled with something but their shared hums, kind of making him wish he’d put on some music to add a little ambience, but that was teenage boys for you; they never thought of these things. All he could think about right now was little, young Seb, probably dancing with joy over actually kissing Josie. It was all he had ever wanted back then, but had been too scared in case of upsetting her, and the friendship was worth far too much for that. Things were different now. The football player’s hand that rested on her knee slowly slide upwards to her bare thigh, feeling her silky smooth skin against his own, his other hand pressing on the bed beside her so he could lean in a little better. Her soft lips tasted of sweet lipgloss and cheap liquor, something he savoured a little longer, embracing the taste on his own.

Eventually, he pulled away slightly, their foreheads only just brushing one another, eyes opening to look at hers. “I’m sorry if that was too much.” He mumbled, “I didn’t invite you back here for the sole purpose of this, I swear…” But he didn’t complain. He kissed her again, with a slight force this time, wanting to waste the time they were sharing, humming alongside.

[bashvaughn]

a few months prior…

A few months prior, Sebastian and Jocalyn as a collective, had been nothing but distant, childhood memories of the past. Sweet and innocent, the budding friendship had come to a sudden and abrupt end when Josie and her family had travelled to Europe and further for some few years whilst her father and his band had completed successful tours after tours. And what was left behind was a particularly gutted 10 year-old Sebastian, having lost his best friend, and though today he didn’t grow so upset when he thought about Jo as he had done in his younger youth, his thoughts often crossed back to those times. He wondered how she was, what she looked like, and where she even was. Had she kept the necklace he’d gotten her? Did she even remember him?

He wasn’t entirely the same as he had been as a child. He was a sweet boy growing up, polite and kind, but after all these years, there wasn’t really much left of Seb Vaughn from 1988. He’d sort of just, well, vanished, one day, faded into the background. His older brother Nathaniel’s death had left a deep and empty wound in the bottom of his heart, still raw and unhealed seven years on. It had left him angry at the world and unable to express his emotions, when really, inside, there was still just that little boy who’d never really grown up, a little boy who just needed some assertion that whatever was going on inside his brain was okay. He didn’t spend much time at home, any opportunity to be out the house, he took; his relationship with his parents wasn’t exactly the best, not since Nate had died. It was hard watching your mother often breakdown once the working day finished.

Out the house. Yes. Being out the house was good. A party! He loved parties, rich kid parties were the best. They had the best sound systems, the most liquor, the biggest pools. The angry teenage boy wasn’t very popular amongst the younger students, amongst those that 1995 would class as “uncool”, as over time had turned himself into quite a bit of a bully, a thug or sorts who enjoyed taunting those less fortunate or lucky as him. But to the majority? He was rather sort after, envied in ways. Guys wanted to be him: he was the tallest kid in school, built strong and toned at 6’5” with a sharp jaw, played quarterback on the school football team, always had his brown curtained locks of hair perfectly swept back at all times. The girls wanted to be with him for all those very reasons. But sure, despite having a fling or two over the years, a couple of nights tangled in bedsheets, he strangely paid them little mind. He paid very few people any mind these days. Or anything.

He arrived as the sun had just set. A final all-out party in the school holiday before they returned back for the new academic year. One last send off. Some kid who lived just outside the city in some sprawling mansion. He walked up the steps of the house entrance with a bounce almost, pack of beer in his hand, his good friend since childhood, Brian, walking beside him. He wore a pair of blue denim jeans, a black belt secured around them, a red plaid shirt tucker inside, sleeves rolled up, top buttons undone, a tiny, silver hoop in his ear, cigarette packet in the pocket. The door wide open, he stepped inside to a house almost bursting full of students. It was loud and chaotic, full of booming music and disorganisation. The perfect party.

He was a presence amongst his peers, that could be said. Idolised in many ways despite the element of fear from some. You had to be when you’d just been made football captain for the new year after the previous one had graduated. He had a pretty intense reputation. Walking inside, he was greeted with happy cheers and welcomes from the students, the owner of the house walking over to him with a wide grin. “Vaughn, you made it!” Sebastian’s smile was never as big as anyone else, it was more of a just an upwards turn. Nodding, he greeted his friend, shoulder tapping him as a hello. “Sup, man.” He responded, ignoring the way people turned their heads a little. Turning to some of the partygoers, the house owner clapped his hands, “New captain himself, ladies and gents!” The teens nearby cheered, some downing their drinks as a toast of sorts.

Laughing quietly, he shook his head, “Touching — lemme get a drink, man.” He beckoned towards the large, open kitchen ahead, beginning to hear over in search of a clean red cup.

Sebastian was, however, obliviously unaware that there was also another big revelation in attendance tonight. A unexpected storm that arrived back with an awestruck greeting from students all around.

[bashvaughn]

Perhaps, some things were never meant to change. Perhaps everything was supposed to fall right back into place from all those years ago once more. Maybe this was where they were supposed to be, feeling nervous and uncertain around one another. Or maybe… they were still just friends. Always just friends. As a young child, Sebastian could never entirely figure out whether or not Josie had liked it. Sure, she liked his company, she constantly reminded him that they would be best friends forever, that she trusted him with every secret she held close to her heart, but did she… like him? His crush on the girl had been particularly enormous, especially when she wore that one red sparkly dress she loved. He felt a delicate finger wrap itself gently around his, perfect and dainty, encompassing his far more rough and worn hand. Parallels in many ways. It made his skin run hot and his heart jump just a little, what did this mean? Hours ago she had been a distant memory. Now… she sat on his bed, holding him gently, eyes casting over his with intensity. Something longing. What would follow? He mirrored her movements, his irises flickering to her perfectly plump and glossy lips, getting lost in the idea of many, many things for a sweet moment. Is there where they were supposed to kiss? It felt like it. It felt ideal. He twisted his body a little, unable to speak, but he felt washed over by his sense of selfishness and getting exactly what he wanted: a gentle kiss. He leaned inwards, his other hand moving to rest softly on her knee, pale against her more tanned features, eyes closing as he pressed his lips into hers ever so softly. It was rare to see a man as large and as, at times, brutish, be so cautious in his actions, but he’d lost Jo for seven years. He wasn’t going to have any regrets this time around, and he certainly wasn’t going to mess it up with a terrible, boyish kiss.

[bashvaughn]

a few months prior…

A few months prior, Sebastian and Jocalyn as a collective, had been nothing but distant, childhood memories of the past. Sweet and innocent, the budding friendship had come to a sudden and abrupt end when Josie and her family had travelled to Europe and further for some few years whilst her father and his band had completed successful tours after tours. And what was left behind was a particularly gutted 10 year-old Sebastian, having lost his best friend, and though today he didn’t grow so upset when he thought about Jo as he had done in his younger youth, his thoughts often crossed back to those times. He wondered how she was, what she looked like, and where she even was. Had she kept the necklace he’d gotten her? Did she even remember him?

He wasn’t entirely the same as he had been as a child. He was a sweet boy growing up, polite and kind, but after all these years, there wasn’t really much left of Seb Vaughn from 1988. He’d sort of just, well, vanished, one day, faded into the background. His older brother Nathaniel’s death had left a deep and empty wound in the bottom of his heart, still raw and unhealed seven years on. It had left him angry at the world and unable to express his emotions, when really, inside, there was still just that little boy who’d never really grown up, a little boy who just needed some assertion that whatever was going on inside his brain was okay. He didn’t spend much time at home, any opportunity to be out the house, he took; his relationship with his parents wasn’t exactly the best, not since Nate had died. It was hard watching your mother often breakdown once the working day finished.

Out the house. Yes. Being out the house was good. A party! He loved parties, rich kid parties were the best. They had the best sound systems, the most liquor, the biggest pools. The angry teenage boy wasn’t very popular amongst the younger students, amongst those that 1995 would class as “uncool”, as over time had turned himself into quite a bit of a bully, a thug or sorts who enjoyed taunting those less fortunate or lucky as him. But to the majority? He was rather sort after, envied in ways. Guys wanted to be him: he was the tallest kid in school, built strong and toned at 6’5” with a sharp jaw, played quarterback on the school football team, always had his brown curtained locks of hair perfectly swept back at all times. The girls wanted to be with him for all those very reasons. But sure, despite having a fling or two over the years, a couple of nights tangled in bedsheets, he strangely paid them little mind. He paid very few people any mind these days. Or anything.

He arrived as the sun had just set. A final all-out party in the school holiday before they returned back for the new academic year. One last send off. Some kid who lived just outside the city in some sprawling mansion. He walked up the steps of the house entrance with a bounce almost, pack of beer in his hand, his good friend since childhood, Brian, walking beside him. He wore a pair of blue denim jeans, a black belt secured around them, a red plaid shirt tucker inside, sleeves rolled up, top buttons undone, a tiny, silver hoop in his ear, cigarette packet in the pocket. The door wide open, he stepped inside to a house almost bursting full of students. It was loud and chaotic, full of booming music and disorganisation. The perfect party.

He was a presence amongst his peers, that could be said. Idolised in many ways despite the element of fear from some. You had to be when you’d just been made football captain for the new year after the previous one had graduated. He had a pretty intense reputation. Walking inside, he was greeted with happy cheers and welcomes from the students, the owner of the house walking over to him with a wide grin. “Vaughn, you made it!” Sebastian’s smile was never as big as anyone else, it was more of a just an upwards turn. Nodding, he greeted his friend, shoulder tapping him as a hello. “Sup, man.” He responded, ignoring the way people turned their heads a little. Turning to some of the partygoers, the house owner clapped his hands, “New captain himself, ladies and gents!” The teens nearby cheered, some downing their drinks as a toast of sorts.

Laughing quietly, he shook his head, “Touching — lemme get a drink, man.” He beckoned towards the large, open kitchen ahead, beginning to hear over in search of a clean red cup.

Sebastian was, however, obliviously unaware that there was also another big revelation in attendance tonight. A unexpected storm that arrived back with an awestruck greeting from students all around.

[bashvaughn]

Watching her walk over, he only laughed softly, “Ouch.” He placed a hand against his chest where his heart would be, “You call it unhealthy. I call it dedication.” Now he was inside, he pulled off his flannel shirt easily, tossing aside so it was thrown over the chair by his desk, so he now only wore a dark t-shirt instead. “Thank you, I take great pride in it.” He wondered what her bedroom might be like. Judging from her new appearance, he imagine something full of glitz, glamour and luxury. Nothing less for a girl like her. She spoke like it was going to be certain he would be a player for the NFL, and it was strange, but he weirdly didn’t object. He didn’t want to feel otherwise. “I didn’t know you did cheerleading… but don’t make commitments you can’t keep, Jo… or I’ll hold you to it.” He said, leaning in and nudging her gently, before moving back away. And then?

Silence.

He usually could think of a gazillion things to say to someone. But right now? Boy, was he blanking. It was hard to remain focused when in front of you sat the girl he used to tell his big brother he was going to marry someday. It was even weirder that the girl was still making his stomach turn and churn in ways no one else did to this day. All he could do was look at her and smile, smile warmly in a way he hadn’t done in years, his hand resting on the edge of the bed, just next to hers, his finger brushing hers ever so slightly without him even realising.

[bashvaughn]

a few months prior…

A few months prior, Sebastian and Jocalyn as a collective, had been nothing but distant, childhood memories of the past. Sweet and innocent, the budding friendship had come to a sudden and abrupt end when Josie and her family had travelled to Europe and further for some few years whilst her father and his band had completed successful tours after tours. And what was left behind was a particularly gutted 10 year-old Sebastian, having lost his best friend, and though today he didn’t grow so upset when he thought about Jo as he had done in his younger youth, his thoughts often crossed back to those times. He wondered how she was, what she looked like, and where she even was. Had she kept the necklace he’d gotten her? Did she even remember him?

He wasn’t entirely the same as he had been as a child. He was a sweet boy growing up, polite and kind, but after all these years, there wasn’t really much left of Seb Vaughn from 1988. He’d sort of just, well, vanished, one day, faded into the background. His older brother Nathaniel’s death had left a deep and empty wound in the bottom of his heart, still raw and unhealed seven years on. It had left him angry at the world and unable to express his emotions, when really, inside, there was still just that little boy who’d never really grown up, a little boy who just needed some assertion that whatever was going on inside his brain was okay. He didn’t spend much time at home, any opportunity to be out the house, he took; his relationship with his parents wasn’t exactly the best, not since Nate had died. It was hard watching your mother often breakdown once the working day finished.

Out the house. Yes. Being out the house was good. A party! He loved parties, rich kid parties were the best. They had the best sound systems, the most liquor, the biggest pools. The angry teenage boy wasn’t very popular amongst the younger students, amongst those that 1995 would class as “uncool”, as over time had turned himself into quite a bit of a bully, a thug or sorts who enjoyed taunting those less fortunate or lucky as him. But to the majority? He was rather sort after, envied in ways. Guys wanted to be him: he was the tallest kid in school, built strong and toned at 6’5” with a sharp jaw, played quarterback on the school football team, always had his brown curtained locks of hair perfectly swept back at all times. The girls wanted to be with him for all those very reasons. But sure, despite having a fling or two over the years, a couple of nights tangled in bedsheets, he strangely paid them little mind. He paid very few people any mind these days. Or anything.

He arrived as the sun had just set. A final all-out party in the school holiday before they returned back for the new academic year. One last send off. Some kid who lived just outside the city in some sprawling mansion. He walked up the steps of the house entrance with a bounce almost, pack of beer in his hand, his good friend since childhood, Brian, walking beside him. He wore a pair of blue denim jeans, a black belt secured around them, a red plaid shirt tucker inside, sleeves rolled up, top buttons undone, a tiny, silver hoop in his ear, cigarette packet in the pocket. The door wide open, he stepped inside to a house almost bursting full of students. It was loud and chaotic, full of booming music and disorganisation. The perfect party.

He was a presence amongst his peers, that could be said. Idolised in many ways despite the element of fear from some. You had to be when you’d just been made football captain for the new year after the previous one had graduated. He had a pretty intense reputation. Walking inside, he was greeted with happy cheers and welcomes from the students, the owner of the house walking over to him with a wide grin. “Vaughn, you made it!” Sebastian’s smile was never as big as anyone else, it was more of a just an upwards turn. Nodding, he greeted his friend, shoulder tapping him as a hello. “Sup, man.” He responded, ignoring the way people turned their heads a little. Turning to some of the partygoers, the house owner clapped his hands, “New captain himself, ladies and gents!” The teens nearby cheered, some downing their drinks as a toast of sorts.

Laughing quietly, he shook his head, “Touching — lemme get a drink, man.” He beckoned towards the large, open kitchen ahead, beginning to hear over in search of a clean red cup.

Sebastian was, however, obliviously unaware that there was also another big revelation in attendance tonight. A unexpected storm that arrived back with an awestruck greeting from students all around.

[bashvaughn]

SOME TIME LATER…

Had you told him just hours earlier that he’d be taking Jocalyn Montgomery back to his home this evening, Sebastian would have never believed you. And yet, here he was, taking her through his beautiful yet silent house, not another soul in sight. His parents were away for the weekend and all the maids had gone home for the night. So it really was just the two of them, and Josie would feel that sense of aloneness inside — the home was beautiful, a three storey townhouse on the Upper East Side, full of dark oak and equally dark colours. It was a very traditional home, in many senses, fine china, paintings of ancestors on the walls, a piano placed perfectly in the middle of the living room. High ceilings, large windows, and a spiralling, grand staircase that lead upstairs. But it echoed and felt… isolating. Not warm like the homes she might have lived in. He’d shown her around, told her where the bathroom was (the nicest one as there were many) if she needed it, the kitchen if she grew hungry, before leading her upstairs. Most doors were open ajar to varying degrees so you could get a glimpse inside, except for one, with gold plaque on the centre that read ‘Nathaniel’ — that was tightly shut, but Sebastian didn’t even glance in his direction.

“And this…” He reached the last door on the third floor, “… is mine.” Pushing the door open, he held it for her to walk inside. Sebastian’s bedroom, unlike the rest of the house, seemed to have far more character to it. The room was huge, with his bed sat against the wall in the middle, a large desk with all his school work and books to the left side, and a beautiful round window to right where you could look out into the city. In the back corner, was a shrine, almost; all his football gear and dozens upon dozens of sports trophies that he had collected over the years on shelves, posters of his favourite bands scattered on the wall, a large New York Giants poster hanging like an idol above his wall. “The real Jesus.” He joked, pointing to it as he closed the door behind him. The other side, his wardrobe, full of clothes and more football gear, and on a table, a cassette player full of tapes scattered around on the floor. It seemed he was in the middle of a Red Hot Chilli Peppers marathon. It was full, sure, but neat and clean. Moving to the window, he cracked it open carefully to let in fresh air, before looking back at her with a smile. He sat at the edge of his bed, hangs between his legs, looking over at her. “Not the most organised, I appreciate.”

[bashvaughn]

a few months prior…

A few months prior, Sebastian and Jocalyn as a collective, had been nothing but distant, childhood memories of the past. Sweet and innocent, the budding friendship had come to a sudden and abrupt end when Josie and her family had travelled to Europe and further for some few years whilst her father and his band had completed successful tours after tours. And what was left behind was a particularly gutted 10 year-old Sebastian, having lost his best friend, and though today he didn’t grow so upset when he thought about Jo as he had done in his younger youth, his thoughts often crossed back to those times. He wondered how she was, what she looked like, and where she even was. Had she kept the necklace he’d gotten her? Did she even remember him?

He wasn’t entirely the same as he had been as a child. He was a sweet boy growing up, polite and kind, but after all these years, there wasn’t really much left of Seb Vaughn from 1988. He’d sort of just, well, vanished, one day, faded into the background. His older brother Nathaniel’s death had left a deep and empty wound in the bottom of his heart, still raw and unhealed seven years on. It had left him angry at the world and unable to express his emotions, when really, inside, there was still just that little boy who’d never really grown up, a little boy who just needed some assertion that whatever was going on inside his brain was okay. He didn’t spend much time at home, any opportunity to be out the house, he took; his relationship with his parents wasn’t exactly the best, not since Nate had died. It was hard watching your mother often breakdown once the working day finished.

Out the house. Yes. Being out the house was good. A party! He loved parties, rich kid parties were the best. They had the best sound systems, the most liquor, the biggest pools. The angry teenage boy wasn’t very popular amongst the younger students, amongst those that 1995 would class as “uncool”, as over time had turned himself into quite a bit of a bully, a thug or sorts who enjoyed taunting those less fortunate or lucky as him. But to the majority? He was rather sort after, envied in ways. Guys wanted to be him: he was the tallest kid in school, built strong and toned at 6’5” with a sharp jaw, played quarterback on the school football team, always had his brown curtained locks of hair perfectly swept back at all times. The girls wanted to be with him for all those very reasons. But sure, despite having a fling or two over the years, a couple of nights tangled in bedsheets, he strangely paid them little mind. He paid very few people any mind these days. Or anything.

He arrived as the sun had just set. A final all-out party in the school holiday before they returned back for the new academic year. One last send off. Some kid who lived just outside the city in some sprawling mansion. He walked up the steps of the house entrance with a bounce almost, pack of beer in his hand, his good friend since childhood, Brian, walking beside him. He wore a pair of blue denim jeans, a black belt secured around them, a red plaid shirt tucker inside, sleeves rolled up, top buttons undone, a tiny, silver hoop in his ear, cigarette packet in the pocket. The door wide open, he stepped inside to a house almost bursting full of students. It was loud and chaotic, full of booming music and disorganisation. The perfect party.

He was a presence amongst his peers, that could be said. Idolised in many ways despite the element of fear from some. You had to be when you’d just been made football captain for the new year after the previous one had graduated. He had a pretty intense reputation. Walking inside, he was greeted with happy cheers and welcomes from the students, the owner of the house walking over to him with a wide grin. “Vaughn, you made it!” Sebastian’s smile was never as big as anyone else, it was more of a just an upwards turn. Nodding, he greeted his friend, shoulder tapping him as a hello. “Sup, man.” He responded, ignoring the way people turned their heads a little. Turning to some of the partygoers, the house owner clapped his hands, “New captain himself, ladies and gents!” The teens nearby cheered, some downing their drinks as a toast of sorts.

Laughing quietly, he shook his head, “Touching — lemme get a drink, man.” He beckoned towards the large, open kitchen ahead, beginning to hear over in search of a clean red cup.

Sebastian was, however, obliviously unaware that there was also another big revelation in attendance tonight. A unexpected storm that arrived back with an awestruck greeting from students all around.

[bashvaughn]

“The very guy.” He nodded, almost grimacing a little. She had no idea that these days, Sebastian wasn’t such a sweet boy himself. He, along with his friends, had a tendency to… well, be assholes to the entire student body, and they got away with it every time because of who his mother was. Talk about nepo baby perks. Seb’s stature and muscle made him someone the younger kids were quite fearful of, and that was something he found rather amusing and even enjoyer, but Shaun? Shaun was just the worst. Shaun the Impaler! That’s what they called him. Simply for his love of cruelty to others. Him spilling his juice all over Jo’s dress back when they were kids, was not surprising. “Though, I can’t say I ever knew that he did that.” And then there was Missy, an almost opposite of Josie. Short, blonde, lacked a lot of depth. But she was very popular amongst her peers for… well, how exposed she liked to be. “Send her my regards if you do.” He countered in a joke, amused smile on his lips at her words.

For a moment, he didn’t say much. He thought back to weeks that followed after Nate’s death, how lonely he had felt, unable and refusing to express how his heart had broken in two. How he was unable to heal in a healthy way a ten year old boy should have healed. He had missed Jo in so many ways, but she had always been the girl he had confided in with his biggest secrets and worries. With her gone, he had been lost. When all he needed was a hug from his best friend. He still felt rather lonely now, a lot of the time, but seeing her back, stood in front of him, warmed something cold inside of him. Watching her get to her feet, he leaned his side against the railing so he was closer to her height, their heads not too far apart. “How could I ever forget you?” He was quiet. It was all he could think to say, but so true. He was far too busy watching her, watching how she moved and how she held herself, how her face reacted to different things. She was such a presence, even in simplicity, how did she shine brighter than the skyline behind her?

He looked through the glass to the party back inside. Something about it looked so unappealing. “Do… you want to come back to my place?” He asked, turning back to gaze her way. “I have a free place. It’s more quiet there, we can… relax a little more. If you’d like.’

[bashvaughn]

a few months prior…

A few months prior, Sebastian and Jocalyn as a collective, had been nothing but distant, childhood memories of the past. Sweet and innocent, the budding friendship had come to a sudden and abrupt end when Josie and her family had travelled to Europe and further for some few years whilst her father and his band had completed successful tours after tours. And what was left behind was a particularly gutted 10 year-old Sebastian, having lost his best friend, and though today he didn’t grow so upset when he thought about Jo as he had done in his younger youth, his thoughts often crossed back to those times. He wondered how she was, what she looked like, and where she even was. Had she kept the necklace he’d gotten her? Did she even remember him?

He wasn’t entirely the same as he had been as a child. He was a sweet boy growing up, polite and kind, but after all these years, there wasn’t really much left of Seb Vaughn from 1988. He’d sort of just, well, vanished, one day, faded into the background. His older brother Nathaniel’s death had left a deep and empty wound in the bottom of his heart, still raw and unhealed seven years on. It had left him angry at the world and unable to express his emotions, when really, inside, there was still just that little boy who’d never really grown up, a little boy who just needed some assertion that whatever was going on inside his brain was okay. He didn’t spend much time at home, any opportunity to be out the house, he took; his relationship with his parents wasn’t exactly the best, not since Nate had died. It was hard watching your mother often breakdown once the working day finished.

Out the house. Yes. Being out the house was good. A party! He loved parties, rich kid parties were the best. They had the best sound systems, the most liquor, the biggest pools. The angry teenage boy wasn’t very popular amongst the younger students, amongst those that 1995 would class as “uncool”, as over time had turned himself into quite a bit of a bully, a thug or sorts who enjoyed taunting those less fortunate or lucky as him. But to the majority? He was rather sort after, envied in ways. Guys wanted to be him: he was the tallest kid in school, built strong and toned at 6’5” with a sharp jaw, played quarterback on the school football team, always had his brown curtained locks of hair perfectly swept back at all times. The girls wanted to be with him for all those very reasons. But sure, despite having a fling or two over the years, a couple of nights tangled in bedsheets, he strangely paid them little mind. He paid very few people any mind these days. Or anything.

He arrived as the sun had just set. A final all-out party in the school holiday before they returned back for the new academic year. One last send off. Some kid who lived just outside the city in some sprawling mansion. He walked up the steps of the house entrance with a bounce almost, pack of beer in his hand, his good friend since childhood, Brian, walking beside him. He wore a pair of blue denim jeans, a black belt secured around them, a red plaid shirt tucker inside, sleeves rolled up, top buttons undone, a tiny, silver hoop in his ear, cigarette packet in the pocket. The door wide open, he stepped inside to a house almost bursting full of students. It was loud and chaotic, full of booming music and disorganisation. The perfect party.

He was a presence amongst his peers, that could be said. Idolised in many ways despite the element of fear from some. You had to be when you’d just been made football captain for the new year after the previous one had graduated. He had a pretty intense reputation. Walking inside, he was greeted with happy cheers and welcomes from the students, the owner of the house walking over to him with a wide grin. “Vaughn, you made it!” Sebastian’s smile was never as big as anyone else, it was more of a just an upwards turn. Nodding, he greeted his friend, shoulder tapping him as a hello. “Sup, man.” He responded, ignoring the way people turned their heads a little. Turning to some of the partygoers, the house owner clapped his hands, “New captain himself, ladies and gents!” The teens nearby cheered, some downing their drinks as a toast of sorts.

Laughing quietly, he shook his head, “Touching — lemme get a drink, man.” He beckoned towards the large, open kitchen ahead, beginning to hear over in search of a clean red cup.

Sebastian was, however, obliviously unaware that there was also another big revelation in attendance tonight. A unexpected storm that arrived back with an awestruck greeting from students all around.

[bashvaughn]

Taking his first drag from his own, he looked at her and smiled. “Your mom’s right, you’ll get there. You just don’t see it.” He mused, letting out a long cloud of smoke afterwards. There really was something so addictive about them, but he knew he’d have to cut them out once summer was over and training began again, maybe that was why he liked them so much. Sebastian quite liked things he couldn’t have, you see. They always tasted better. “Speak for yourself, we’ll see how you do when you start classes again.” He joked; he was particularly awful at languages, and his French teacher had strong disdain for the arrogant boy due to how he acted in class, but couldn’t express it as she usually would — his mother, the headmistress, was her boss.

Sebastian held the cigarette between his teeth as he brushed his jeans down on the knees, trying to ignore the tight feeling in his chest from how she’d made him feel just then. “Me?” He began, leaning back and thinking for a moment, “Compared to you? Daughter of a rockstar just back from his world wide tour of nearly seven years? You could say my life is unequivocally boring by comparison.” He began in joke. No big changes in his life really… just the tragic death of his older brother that had left a deep and lasting impact on his psyche. Small things. “Mhm, yeah, I suppose things have stayed pretty similar. Still got the same friends from years back, you know, Shaun, Brian, Adam? They’re around.” Girlfriends? He’d had a girlfriend or two. “Girlfriends! Right, yeah. I, uhm, I actually…” He huffed, tilting his head, “I recently ended a relationship. Yeah. Remember Missy?… Or did Missy join the school after you’d left… Gee, it’s all getting mixed up these days. Anyway, yeah, Missy Phillips. If you see her around? She’s my ex. We dated for a year or so.” He folded his arms. He wasn’t always the smoothest talker, he added lots of ‘uhms’ and ‘yeahs’. “Real messy.” He laughed, shaking his head. Missy and Sebastian had simply not worked and were never meant to work, despite nearly a year of dating. Then he’d called it quits, saying he couldn’t commit and needed to focus on football. A poor excuse that had followed with a summer of a handful of girls in his bed.

“So… yeah! Same friends, single, and… and now you’re back.” He smiled, “Everything the same just as you left it.” He paused, looking down at his sneaker a moment. “I… really missed you, Jo.” He grew a little quiet then. “Coulda used your words of wisdom and confidence a few times these past few years.” Or a hug. A hug from his best friend would have really helped a 10 year old boy. “I’m glad you’re back.” He’d already told her that.

[bashvaughn]

a few months prior…

A few months prior, Sebastian and Jocalyn as a collective, had been nothing but distant, childhood memories of the past. Sweet and innocent, the budding friendship had come to a sudden and abrupt end when Josie and her family had travelled to Europe and further for some few years whilst her father and his band had completed successful tours after tours. And what was left behind was a particularly gutted 10 year-old Sebastian, having lost his best friend, and though today he didn’t grow so upset when he thought about Jo as he had done in his younger youth, his thoughts often crossed back to those times. He wondered how she was, what she looked like, and where she even was. Had she kept the necklace he’d gotten her? Did she even remember him?

He wasn’t entirely the same as he had been as a child. He was a sweet boy growing up, polite and kind, but after all these years, there wasn’t really much left of Seb Vaughn from 1988. He’d sort of just, well, vanished, one day, faded into the background. His older brother Nathaniel’s death had left a deep and empty wound in the bottom of his heart, still raw and unhealed seven years on. It had left him angry at the world and unable to express his emotions, when really, inside, there was still just that little boy who’d never really grown up, a little boy who just needed some assertion that whatever was going on inside his brain was okay. He didn’t spend much time at home, any opportunity to be out the house, he took; his relationship with his parents wasn’t exactly the best, not since Nate had died. It was hard watching your mother often breakdown once the working day finished.

Out the house. Yes. Being out the house was good. A party! He loved parties, rich kid parties were the best. They had the best sound systems, the most liquor, the biggest pools. The angry teenage boy wasn’t very popular amongst the younger students, amongst those that 1995 would class as “uncool”, as over time had turned himself into quite a bit of a bully, a thug or sorts who enjoyed taunting those less fortunate or lucky as him. But to the majority? He was rather sort after, envied in ways. Guys wanted to be him: he was the tallest kid in school, built strong and toned at 6’5” with a sharp jaw, played quarterback on the school football team, always had his brown curtained locks of hair perfectly swept back at all times. The girls wanted to be with him for all those very reasons. But sure, despite having a fling or two over the years, a couple of nights tangled in bedsheets, he strangely paid them little mind. He paid very few people any mind these days. Or anything.

He arrived as the sun had just set. A final all-out party in the school holiday before they returned back for the new academic year. One last send off. Some kid who lived just outside the city in some sprawling mansion. He walked up the steps of the house entrance with a bounce almost, pack of beer in his hand, his good friend since childhood, Brian, walking beside him. He wore a pair of blue denim jeans, a black belt secured around them, a red plaid shirt tucker inside, sleeves rolled up, top buttons undone, a tiny, silver hoop in his ear, cigarette packet in the pocket. The door wide open, he stepped inside to a house almost bursting full of students. It was loud and chaotic, full of booming music and disorganisation. The perfect party.

He was a presence amongst his peers, that could be said. Idolised in many ways despite the element of fear from some. You had to be when you’d just been made football captain for the new year after the previous one had graduated. He had a pretty intense reputation. Walking inside, he was greeted with happy cheers and welcomes from the students, the owner of the house walking over to him with a wide grin. “Vaughn, you made it!” Sebastian’s smile was never as big as anyone else, it was more of a just an upwards turn. Nodding, he greeted his friend, shoulder tapping him as a hello. “Sup, man.” He responded, ignoring the way people turned their heads a little. Turning to some of the partygoers, the house owner clapped his hands, “New captain himself, ladies and gents!” The teens nearby cheered, some downing their drinks as a toast of sorts.

Laughing quietly, he shook his head, “Touching — lemme get a drink, man.” He beckoned towards the large, open kitchen ahead, beginning to hear over in search of a clean red cup.

Sebastian was, however, obliviously unaware that there was also another big revelation in attendance tonight. A unexpected storm that arrived back with an awestruck greeting from students all around.

[bashvaughn]

Seb looked away from the skyline and back to her. Wow… Josie really was stunning, more so than any girl he’d ever seen. He remembered as a child having an adorably sweet crush on her, and yet here he stood today, seven years on, still looking at her and getting that same old, slightly uneasy feeling in his stomach. Of excitement and uncertainty and… well, awe. She was gorgeous. He tried to not let his eyes flicker to the way her skirt rode up her thighs now that she had gracefully positioned herself in the only seat free. He noted how she cooed but it seemed that she was blissfully unaware of what Sebastian could be like these days. Rude and thuggish, arrogant and cocky. Hardly the gentleman he was offering himself as right now, at least. “I know what you mean…” He mused, looking up at the tall building above them, “How do you top something like this? When you’ve lived here your whole life.” Nothing beat the Upper East Side.

“Impressive.” He nodded, pointing the cigarette at her as she reeled off her language knowledge. “Couple that with Latin at school. You’ll be a polyglot before you know it.” Raising the cigarette to his own lips, he was about to light it when he saw the look she was giving him. A silent look full of expectations and demands that she needed fulfilling. How did she do that with just one simple glance? And how did he not realise he was obeying so easily. “Oh! Right, sorry…” Quickly, he moved to stand just opposite her, before getting down onto his knees. Even then they were still almost level in height. He’d had a huge growth spurt over the years. Leaning in, their faces grew close, and be carefully lit the cigarette in her mouth with his lighter, seeing a slight orange glow cast on her skin. Without realising, Sebastian hovered there a little longer than he ought to have, eyes cast on hers quietly. They shared a gaze. Then he snapped away, quietly moving back to his feet in a flurry to light his own.