shines like a diamond.

Sapphire Vandervort 21 years old drifter, dropout, delinquent "Darling, darling doesn't have a problem, fooling everyone telling them she's having fun."

[j-akehunter]

At her response, a smile pulled on to Jake's lips and he leaned down to give her a quick kiss before hugging her tightly again. "You've got me." It was obvious that Sapphire had assumed he would be mad, or at least upset about Sam, but it wasn't even a thought that crossed his mind. He knew exactly who Sapphire was and he loved every single part of her. There was nothing he would change and, if he had to, he would spend the rest of his life making sure she understood that. He was about to ask her if she wanted to head home, when the damn phones chimed in again.

Jake was half tempted to just ignore the notification–he'd had enough of Gossip Girl and her antics for one night–but when the eyes around them started to turn towards him, an uncomfortable feeling settled in his stomach. His own eyes dropped to his phone and he almost dropped it. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. This wasn't happening... He had finally opened up about what was going on with him and now he was seeing the words typed out in plain text for everyone to see. He wasn't ready to face this... He couldn't breathe.

[shinebrightlikea-sapphire]

Sapphire wished they'd stayed in each other's arms and tossed their damned phones in the hot tub. Gossip Girl was determined to kick them while they were down, though. Sapphire's brow furrowed as she noticed more and more eyes looking over at Jake. They'd leaned back from each other enough that he could look at his phone but even before he did, the look on his face made her stomach drop. Of all the secrets that could have been spilled tonight, this was one she never could have seen coming.

"Babe..." Sapphire's hand was back in his as she reached for his phone. He looked like he couldn't breathe. She'd only seen flashes of the blasts - it didn't make sense, it couldn't have been true - but she didn't care what Gossip Girl had to say. She only cared about Jake. "Hey, look at me-," she started, just like he had back at the hot tub, "Stay with me." @gigi-sparks

[shinebrightlikea-sapphire]

6. What’s their style like?

[j-akehunter]

"Hey, no. Don't do that." Jake pulled her towards him and wrapped his arms around her. "You don't have to apologise to me." Was he happy that Sam had hooked up with Sapphire? Of course not, but he had meant what he had said before; there was nothing she could do to make her lose him. "You don't owe me an explanation for anything." There was a brief moment of sobriety where he thought that maybe he should tell her about his parents, but that could wait. Jake might not be mad at her, but Juliette was and he needed to clear his mind enough to be helpful. He kissed the top of her head then pulled back to look her in the eyes. "What do you need?"

[shinebrightlikea-sapphire]

Sapphire was confused when he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. Only for a minute, though. After that, she felt her whole body relax and she pressed her face into the crook of his neck. She held him back tightly and tried to stop crying. Jake's words were slowly sinking in and her heart could hardly take it. He wasn't mad at her. She hadn't ruined this already. This. Their chance to... she was still too scared and drunk to think it, but there was no way she was going to let him go now. She couldn't help the tiny smile when he kissed the top of her head, looking back up at him with shining eyes. The answer was obvious. Like, beyond obvious, she could have laughed.

"You. I just-... I just need you."

She could have stayed gazing into his eyes for the rest of the night. She would have stayed in that hot tub with him until they'd both dissolved. Sapphire would do anything or go anywhere with him, that much she knew. And she would have said it too if they weren't so suddenly interrupted by several phones going off. "Oh, god. What now?"

[j-akehunter]

When Sapphire had left the hot tub to go find Juliette, he had wanted to go with her, but due to certain circumstances, Jake had decided to remain until a particular part of his body deigned to calm down. It wasn't long, however, before his phone was lighting up with another damn Gossip Girl blast; this time exposing a hook up between Sapphire and Sam. Seeing his name had him grinding his teeth and almost tossing his phone into the water. Barely a month since Sam had broke his arm and he–... the realisation suddenly hit him that Sapphire would probably be with Juliette right now.

For the first time since the evening began, Jake Hunter exited the hot tub.

He made his way through the party–lowkey frantically–finding her just in time to see Juliette slap her across the face. Anger flared in his eyes and he almost moved to admonish the woman, but thought better of it. She had every right to be annoyed, even if Jake didn't like the way she expressed it. He pushed his way through the gawking crowd to the exit, with only one person on his mind. "Sapphire!" He called after her, reaching her side in an instant. "Are you okay?" His hand was on her face where Juliette had slapped her, making sure it was her only physical injury.

@shinebrightlikea-sapphire

[shinebrightlikea-sapphire]

Sapphire was powerless to stop her selfish tears from falling now and it certainly wasn't helped by the gawking crowd that had formed. She wanted to run but she didn't know where to. Where could she possibly go now? As if fate herself was answering, she heard Jake's voice shouting her name. She turned on her heel, relief washing over her as he was suddenly by her side. She let herself relax into his touch for just a moment. If she wasn't so sure that Jake was going to be just as hurt as Juliette, she would have wrapped her arms around him. She might have even made a joke about him finally being out of the hot tub. For her. "I'm okay," she answered at last, her hand brushing his.

She swallowed back in the lump in her throat, tears still welling in her eyes as she looked back at him. Even now, it felt like they were the only two people in the world. "Jake, I'm so sorry... I should have told you. I should have-," she sniffled, looking down, her voice too quiet when she said, "I really messed up."

[j-akehunter]

As she moved to join him in the hot tub, Jake grinned up at her and wasted no time pulling her to his chest for another kiss. God, she was perfect. He wanted to tell her that– wanted to tell her how much he loved her too, to list all the ways she made his days brighter–but with the amount of ducks he had drank, he wasn't confident in his ability to fully express himself, so he settled for just holding her. "Thanks. If I knew you were coming, I would've got them all little hats."

Jake wasn't sure how much he could fully trust the situation, but he was happy to just live in the moment and be happy. His luck had been pretty dire lately and everything seemed prone to fall apart on him, but if Sapphire woke up tomorrow with no memory of this moment–or worse, regretted it–that would be okay. He would wait several lifetimes for her to choose him; seeing the smile on her face now, he was sure that she eventually would. And if he could make her this happy, then he would have earned the right to be called hers. She kissed him again and Jake melted against her, shifting slightly so that she could snuggle up against him. He hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head. "I'm glad." There was only a slight pause before he added, "I'm so happy too." And for the first time in almost a year, he meant it.

[shinebrightlikea-sapphire]

-fin-

[juliettevanderbilt]

Juliette couldn't believe that she found herself here again, with another best friend who had slept with Sam. Things had been going too well between them for too long, their friendship had grown so much since Sapphire came back. But now, in the back of her mind, there was a voice telling her that it had been about this. That Sapphire had felt so guilty about Sam that she had been trying extra hard to make up for it.

It all felt like too much after William, and now this, she felt like she was suffocating in this house. She was reminded why she had ghosted everyone for so long: no matter how close she felt she got to anyone, it always came back on her. It always blew up in her face, and she was reminded that she never trusted the right person.

"Well, great job on that Saph. It isn't about what you did, it's the lying. I mean, we have talked about Sam, you know everything about that, and you were hiding this from me. Don't you know how messed up that is?" Juliette walked away, Sapphire following behind her, still trying to touch her. She turned around, slapping Sapphire with her good hand. She needed her to just go away. "We are done, Sapphire. Leave me alone. I would be more worried about finding Jake."

[shinebrightlikea-sapphire]

'Don't you know how messed up that is?'. Sapphire should have let her go. There were no justifications, there were no explanations. Sapphire could hardly untangle her own thoughts right now, let alone make Juliette understand. She just wanted her to stay, she wanted it to be okay. She just wanted to not destroy every damn person she'd ever loved. The slap came as a shock, stopping Sapphire in her tracks as she dropped her own hands to her side.

When Juliette said they were done, she stopped trying to hold back her selfish tears. Sapphire had totally fucked this up... Just like always. Juliette tore the knife out of Sapphire's heart with Jake's name before she turned away. How had she been so happy just moments before now? It felt like a lifetime ago. Juliette hated her. And Jake would probably hate her too. A part of her wanted to follow Juliette again, to try again, but she just might have slapped a little sense into her.

Sapphire turned around, practically running out of the house and away from her best friend. @f-reddieredlynn

[a-lexvandervort]

Alex hadn't heard it–the tone of her own voice, the implication of her own words. She had carried on snacking and drinking as if the entire vibe hadn't just shifted and it took her far too long to realise that Sapphire had frozen. "What?" She questioned, wiping her mouth as if the look she was giving her was due to the crumbs of a vol-au-vent. At her question, Alex's brow furrowed, her mouth opening and closing multiple times before she could force a sound from her throat. "Is he my Jake? What does that even–... Like what Jake is to you but... to me? That–... Sapphire. Maybe that's enough peach fizz for you." She inhaled the rest of her drink, letting what she had said finally sink in. "Maybe Jake was a bad comparison."

[shinebrightlikea-sapphire]

"Yeah, that." Sapphire watched her inhale the rest of her drink, quietly pushing the rest of her own towards Alex. It seemed like she was going to need it more than her. Sapphire was thinking about it now - Alex and Jesse - and she just knew in her gut that she was right. Everything had changed after Sophia left. Everything had changed after Lexa was born. Jesse had been everything to Alex, Sapphire had seen that first hand. They were so in sync sometimes. She knew they had been best friends all their lives, but this seemed different. Right? Maybe Jake was a bad comparison but why had she said it? Because Jake was her... He was probably the... Jake was Jake. "Shit, Alex. And I was texting you about whether or not he'd want to hook up with Tabby... Oh my god, you were pissed off, weren't you?"

[a-lexvandervort]

"I think I'll be keeping things from the waist up until I reach menopause." Alex absolutely adored Lexa, but she would be damned if she was going to end up in a similar situation again. Her uterus was too strong to be tempting fate. She let her cousin finish her speech and only rolled her eyes a little as she grabbed the aforementioned peach fizz and took a drink. "Happy?" At her next words, Alex scoffed. "What kind of question is that? Does Jake give you enough attention?"

[shinebrightlikea-sapphire]

"Smart girl," Sapphire laughed, shaking her head at Alex. Okay, everyone adored baby Lexa but it was probably best she not tempt fate. Fool me once and all. Sapphire was about to make a joke about just how much fun you could have above the waist when Alex said that. Sapphire's peach fizz was halfway to her lips but now it was stuck midway, her mouth now hanging open. The realisation hit her like a ton of bricks and now she was thinking it, how obvious it should have been. Like, right? Oh... Oh! And how bad it was. Shit. Sapphire blinked at her cousin, waiting to see if she'd catch on without Sapphire having to say anything. "Is- Is Jesse your Jake?"

[juliettevanderbilt]

Juliette didn't even know what to think right now. She had expected more stuff to come out tonight, clearly Gossip Girl had been sitting on some bombs they had all seen that with the Vanessa stuff. She hadn't considered that something else would be coming her way tonight. Especially not something like this with Sapphire of all people.

"But you also had to try to cover your own ass. You had eight months to be honest with me, and you waited until you knew I was going to find out?" Juliette couldn't believe Sapphire was trying to defend herself right now. They all had messed up before. Intentionally or not. But she couldn’t even admit to it before Gossip Girl revealed it. Even with the truth out there, she was acting she was Juliette's friend.

"Yeah, maybe to you, but to me it does." Juliette pulled her arm back. She needed to move away from Sapphire before she did something she regretted. She turned to walk away. "It's not even about Sam, it’s about us.” That was a separate issue that she would make sure Sam heard loud and clear about. "You are supposed to be my best friend, and yet you lied to me for months."

[shinebrightlikea-sapphire]

Sapphire could only look down at her feet as Juliette rightfully tore into her. She was using all her useless, drunken, energy to not cry but it was getting harder and harder. What could she even begin to say right now? How could she explain herself? And how had she let so much time go by without even trying? There were so many bad things that Sapphire had done, so much about the last year of her life that she would do-over if she could. But there was no going back, there was no magic fix. She couldn't change who she'd been (or who she was) and faced with Juliette now, all she could do was stare hopelessly. All she could do was keep hurting her, that much was clear. Everything she said or did, it was wrong.

When Juliette pulled her arm back, Sapphire should have let her walk away. She hadn't meant that it didn't mean anything. Well, it didn't but didn't... not mean anything. She was way too drunk for this. And she'd barely managed to piece herself back together long enough to even think about making up for all the bad shit she'd done. Sapphire knew too well what Sam meant to Juliette. And she knew far too well what honesty meant to her.

"I know, I know I did. I didn't mean to-... I didn't want to hurt you, Juliette. Please, you have to believe me. I never would have- have done it to hurt you. I was lost, I was... I didn't think I was going to come back here ever again. I just wanted me and you to get to being us again. I am- I am your best friend. You- You have no idea how important you are to me and how much I missed you. I just- I didn't know how to tell you. I messed up so, so, bad and I---," she was rambling now and it wasn't helping at all. Juliette was going to walk away from her and she felt panic rising in her chest. She didn't mean to, but she started after her, reaching to touch her again. "Juliette, please."

[itssvdw]

"tequila has a lot to answer for when it comes to drunken nights out. what's life without a little trouble? trouble has always been fun, i of all people should know." she smirked innocently like she hadn't spent years wreaking havoc in the upper east side "as my mother would say: breaking hearts is like breaking in shoes, sometimes it has to be done." it was the only useful advice lily van der woodsen really had ever provided apart from the number one piece of advise she had bestowed on her daughter which was ice waters your alcohol down "thank you, i swear, if he was any sweeter he'd give me a cavity. he does have that sad puppy look about him at times. it makes me want to wrap him up and save him from the world"

[shinebrightlikea-sapphire]

sapphire let out a delighted laugh as serena played it coy. she would be lying to say that she didn't miss the old serena a little. they'd definitely had their share of messy memories together. it was for the best, though. sapphire would probably be better off taking note from her now. "you're a professional, s. there's still nobody who can take a party up to an 11 quite like you. well, thank you for the wise words, lily van der woodsen. i'm sure there'll be a trail of them after tonight." sapphire smiled as she talked about nate, they were so sweet together. "nate's lucky to have you looking out for him." sapphire paused then, pressing her lips together. "can i ask... how did you, like, know that it was nate? for you, i mean."

[juliettevanderbilt]

Juliette was hoping that Sapphire could distract her, show her the bright side of all of this. They almost always had a good time together, and she needed that right now. She needed her best friend to make her forget that William Huntzberger existed, even if for a little bit tonight. She would deal with all tomorrow, put herself back together, and move on. At least that's what she was telling herself.

She heard the chime go off on both of their phones, she knew who it was. Probably another Gossip Girl post about her, that much she was sure. Tonight seemed like her turn over the coals fully. She read over the post more than once, barely hearing Sapphire's apology. "This is why you came to find me?"

To cover her own ass before Gossip Girl could reveal it to everyone else. "How long did you plan on keeping that little secret?" She pulled away from Sapphire, she needed to get away.

[shinebrightlikea-sapphire]

Sapphire felt her heart drop as she watched Juliette read and re-read the blast on her phone. The shame and guilt churned in her stomach as she watched her poison spread. Juliette's words were like a dagger but she deserved them. She deserved worse. Sapphire didn't know what she could say or do to make this better. Begging for forgiveness was fine, it just didn't feel like it would be enough. When Juliette pulled away from her, Sapphire knew it was over.

"No, I wanted to see you-... I wanted to make sure you were okay. But-," but. No matter her intentions, the truth remained for the world to see. Sapphire hadn't even been brave enough to make the confession herself despite her best efforts. Her throat was dry and her eyes were full of unshed tears. She didn't want to make this about her, she didn't. She never wanted to hurt Juliette, she just didn't know how to make her believe that when she had. She just had.

"It wasn't... It didn't mean anything-," she started, moving to reach out for Juliette's arm. It was a mistake, she knew that as soon as the words left her lips. The answer was never, if she was being honest but it didn't matter now anyway.

[wesley-worthington-iii]

"what's the point of having a chef friend if you can't have great food and desserts" he offered, wiping down the worktop surface while sapphire ate "i'll take that high praise." high praise indeed "i'm thinking of adding these to the menu full time. people have been going mad for them"

[shinebrightlikea-sapphire]

"so true. know that my stomach and i are both very grateful that cupid brought us together, wesley worthington iii." sapphire let out a little laugh before finishing off her plate. it was really was the best thing she'd ever eaten! "yes, do it. they have my vote. i think you'll blow people's jimmy choos right off."

[wesley-worthington-iii]

"and a fourth time expected if i ever have a son" he huffed a laugh. his parents never shying away from their high expectations of him. "we did, i still don't know how nobody slipping on the chandelier shards or rolled their ankle on the broken marble" it had been an injury waiting to happen, or maybe they were all drunk enough not to notice "i don't know if i'd call it my story but it's an ambition. what's yours?"

[shinebrightlikea-sapphire]

"no pressure then, huh? i think we'll need to have a drink if we're going to walk about wesley worthington iv," she joked, reaching for one of the decanters that had been laid out. only the best of the best. sapphire let out a laugh as wesley listed off the health and safety hazards from that party. "it's a miracle we're all still standing. we are truly professionals. an ambition works too and it leaves you room to grow." she considered his question, shrugging a little in response as she handed him over a freshly over-poured glass. "me? i'm just your typical trainwreck. never met a wrong turn i didn't take. but hey, maybe one day i'll stumble onto the road to redemption."

[agnesandrews]

"the jello part is deceiving. makes you think it's innocent and fun, but it's a liar." agnes sighed and dramatically put her hand over her heart "you'd suffer this hangover nightmare for me? i'm honoured." she groaned at the thought of the sunlight without her sunglasses "dear god let this be over quickly"

[shinebrightlikea-sapphire]

"tell me about it! you think anything strawberry flavoured wouldn't be so lethal. we are but humble survivors. of course, i've got you," sapphire announced dramatically. "a-woman. it can only get better, i promise. do you remember what bar we lost zach in again? i thought he would have made it all the way, too. rip."

[camille-hunter]

Camille wanted to be there for her best friend, but she wasn't going to force things with Sapphire. She had tried that plenty of times before, she just had to try to meet Sapphire where she was. Camille took in her words, hoping that she meant it. She wasn't sure how many more times she could handle Sapphire breaking her promises. "I would like to think you girls prepared a little better than that." She winked.

"I do, thank you. I like your dress too. Everything going well? Jesse looks like he is having fun."

[shinebrightlikea-sapphire]

"Good point," Sapphire laughed. If they had one thing under control tonight, it was the tequila supply. Sapphire wanted to keep her promises to Camille this time, she wanted to stick around for good. She had a lot to make up for, she knew that. Not everything could be healed in an evening of shots but it was a start. She grinned at her response - that was her girl. "Thank you, I stole it from Tabby. Well, borrowed depending on how I'm telling it. Yeah, everything's pretty awesome. I don't think Jesse has a clue what's going on here. Maybe that's for the best. Fun and oblivious, a perfect combo."

She paused a moment, a playful smirk on her lips. "And hey, last call for any secret Jesse Walker related feelings. He's free for the smoochin'. Mostly."

[juliettevanderbilt]

Juliette was grateful she had a friend like Sapphire, someone who got her on a level most people didn't. "You are totally gonna fall down that hole one day. Especially if our favorite former football star has anything to say about it. That might be one of the less dramatic love shapes. I mean, where would the drama be in that?" She smirked at Sapphire. "Very much buried the lead. I was paired with Freddie and William for the matchup. We were all together. I kissed Freddie while William watched."

[shinebrightlikea-sapphire]

"There is that," Sapphire mused, a small smile tugging onto her lips as she thought about their favourite former football star. Sapphire was always in danger of falling for Jake. "Good point. They'd probably just like, go for dinners and donate to charity together or whatever. Wait, what? You were paired with both of them?" Sapphire's mouth hung open and she couldn't help laughing - this was too good! Angie must have messed up the keys or she really was a messy mastermind. "Stop. I'm obsessed. And did they...?"

[juliettevanderbilt]

"I have no idea, I can't even guess who would invite her. Sure as hell wasn't me. Sam is too nervous around me to cause any drama, now, Roni. I doubt she is here for anything but trouble." Juliette wasn't going to think too much about what either was doing. Whatever was going to happen would happen. "Aren't you supposed to be a better liar than this?" She teased a smile on her lips. "I just am done playing it cool. I can't keep pretending there isn't something."

"It was weird, but it felt like something was off, and he wanted me gone for a reason. One he never clued me in on." Juliette had never asked why he had been so set on her taking that job. She just knew that she wouldn't get an answer and didn't care too much. "It was so messy, but we were both annoyed, and we did kiss before. Well, I just spent like half an hour in his lap. So take a guess."

[shinebrightlikea-sapphire]

"Must have been a mistake. I'm sure she won't try anything and even if she did, no one stands a chance against you. Yeah, you definitely don't have to worry about Sam flipping any tables." Although, he might have been one more light beer away from begging Juliette for forgiveness. Or Jake, whoever he got to first. They really were more alike than anyone knew. "Nah, I just run away instead," she joked back. Sapphire nodded, Juliette's words hitting a little too close to home. "You did what you had to do. Better you know than just spend the rest of your life wondering what if."

Sapphire rolled her eyes at William's cloak-and-dagger bullshit. Whatever he was messed up in, she was glad he didn't drag Juliette down with him. "Yes, of course. Valentine's Day. Well, there you have it. I mean, unless William rides in here on a white horse and drops down to his knees... Screw him. Freddie's lap is there when you want it."