Sophia had spent the better part of the party waiting for a moment that felt right to just come out and find Jesse. But the longer she had spent in the guest house, the longer she had to think about every way this could all go wrong. She had always felt anxiety at these kinds of parties, especially when Gossip Girl was so active. She knew that the second she was spotted, it would be all over the place.
She wanted to go up to Jesse and tell him every single thought she had over the last couple of months, be back to who they were before she had run. No matter how childish or impossible that was right now, she wanted to just be them again. When she saw the post about Sapphire and Sam, she knew that staying hidden was no longer an option. She needed to find Jesse first. Then, if she managed to survive that, she would find her big sister.
She felt her phone buzz in her hand as she walked around the pool. She had spotted Jesse before he saw her. He looked like he was having fun, enjoying himself probably for the first time in months. For a moment, she considered walking away, just leaving and never coming home again. Letting Jesse move on from her and be happy with someone much better than her. But before she could decide, he had looked up, and they saw each other.
Jesse was convinced that the room was spinning or he must have been dreaming, right? Something. Because there was no way that Sophia was just here. All these months later, all the radio silence later, and she was in front of him. A few steps away. He suddenly regretted every shot he'd agreed to throw back tonight. He regretted ever walking through the front door. He wasn't ready to see Sophia tonight. Why did it have to be tonight? His head was swimming and his inhibitions were gone.
There were so many feelings- hurt feelings- and unsaid words between them and he couldn't focus on any of them. Without meaning to, he'd abandoned his dropped cup and the guest it had hit. His feet were carrying him towards her whether he liked it or not, as if she was a beacon. What was he going to say? What could he possibly say? Jesse's stomach was flipping and his heart was aching. Months and months of denial and distraction, of picking himself up and pretty much gluing back what he could.
This was such a bad idea but he needed to see her. He needed to make sure she was real even if he barely felt that way right now. When he finally made it over to her, he let out a breath, feeling suddenly lightheaded. His throat was going dry and the last thing he wanted was to cry. Jesse wasn't ready for this. "Soph-," he started but even that felt too much, her name on his lips. He tried again. "I- I didn't know you were here."
