Cami Hunter

Latife knew that Camille wasn't going to let her back in easily, she never did. Last time was supposed to be the last time anyways. They never worked out and Latife always fucked up. But after several shots, she could see Cami warming up to her. She was determined to play it cool even if she was grinning like an idiot. "Better the devil you know," she teased, looking around for... ah ha! She grabbed whoever's wallet off the counter and fished around for coins, dumping them out on the table. There was a very convenient red solo cup already out on the counter across from them.

Camille knew that Latife was trouble, no matter how well things started between them. Things always managed to take a turn. "If you say so, I guess I have to trust you on that one." She knew the game well enough, they had played it plenty of times before. And she usually lost badly at this.

"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."

Camille wanted Sapphire to stick around, but she didn't exactly trust it to happen. They had been through this a few times before, and she would have fun with Sapphire again. But she also would keep her distance a bit before she was sure. "Does she know that you 'borrowed' it. Even if he did know, I feel like he might be drunk enough to not care that you guys are trying to set him up."

His hand flew straight to his chest, offense clear on his face. Actually maybe the meanest thing he had heard. "Wow, you hate me. There are easier ways to say that than calling me old." Though he had felt a midlife crisis coming soon. He took the shot, clinking the glass against hers. "Cheers, Camille. Fucking cheers."

Camille couldn't help the smile that appeared on her face. "At least you don't act as old as Logan is right now." Jackson was like another brother. Like with Logan and Jake, there was nothing she liked better than trying to annoy Jackson. "Cheers, old man." She downed her shot.

"Don't lump me in with them, okay? I can still do fun. I've just given up destroying the lives of all the people I love when they hurt my feelings. It's growth. I'm a therapist's wet dream, C. Shut up, new friends. You don't need new friends, you need newly reformed old friends." Gigi grinned at her, letting out a delighted laugh at her wish. Camille was always the romantic. "Above and beyond, babe. I believe in you though... You might need to stay away from Latife, though."

"It is growth, and we love to see it. How many people still have a hard time believing it? You and me both, mine says I am very self-actualized and honest with my feelings. It's mostly some other girls in my design classes. We have a lot in common right now, they are mostly study friends. I promise." Camille was a social butterfly, always around, but she liked to have fun with all different types of friends. She could never stay away from the Upper East Side. "Oh, please, Latife is nothing I can't handle. And if she starts to annoy me, I will just kiss her."

"Outrageous!" Theo laughed despite his best attempt at being outraged. "Bet it's electrolytes. Those little bastards always have a say." He tempted faith with this shot, not able to contain a grimace at the sharp taste. "God, it's like Satan's sweat this stuff." He recovered enough to yet again feign outrage, "those are fighting words, Camille, trust you know that. I'll have you sat one of these nights, mark my words."

Camille shook her head. "Electrolytes are a part of the solution, but there are more components." The shot was strong but she could handle it. She laughed at Theo, he wasn't wrong about that. "I know they are, but I am confident I can win. I mean, would you really take money from me?"

Camille and Latife are speaking again...

Latife watched her and couldn't help the embarrassing smile that hit her face. She was worried now that no amount of time, distance, whiskey or hooking up was going to totally erase the memory of her. Latife wanted her, and she always got what she wanted. Almost always. She tilted her chin, reaching out to grab the bottle of liquor from her and started pouring. How many shots until Cami forgave her?

Camille tried to be strong, but there were only so many times she could avoid Latife or be a bitch to her. She wanted to have fun tonight, it didn't mean they were back or anything. After several shots, she had a moment of weakness. More than likely, she would wake up and be mad at herself for this. But that was a different Camille's issue.

"Sparkling water's not real water." He shook his head as if this was the only other water she could be talking about. Jake pretended to think about it for a moment, even rising a little out of the water, but cackled suddenly and submerged himself in the water.

"Who said anything about sparkling water du.." Camille was cut off by Jake's cackle and diving under the water. He was certainly acting like the youngest sibling right now. "Jacob Hunter, if you don't get out of this hot tub, I am going to get in and drown you in it."

Camille was like a sister to him. Another annoying little sister, but she was still Logan's sibling at the end of the day. Jackson snorted, raising a brow. "Oh Cam, you haven't been gone that long." The doubt really. "I was drinking before you could even spell it. Now pour me some shots."

Camille smirked at Jackson, shrugging at him. "How am I to know? You might have gotten old on me." She teased Jackson. He was barely older than her, but she loved to tease. "Your wish is my command." She poured them both several shots, raising one to Jackson.

Sapphire felt a glimmer of hope at Camille's response. It was an in, at least. The door was left ajar and if she could just get over herself, she could go through it. If she could remember that it was okay to let her best friend love her, even if she felt like damaged goods, they could fix this. "Then you know I won't let you down," she said, holding up one of the shot glasses to her. The wider implication of her words was obvious and Sapphire let it linger between them. "If the summer of '22 is anything to go by, between you and me, they might run out of tequila."

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.

Dean watched from a distance and tried not to laugh as yet another person made an attempt at flirting with Jesse. He wasn't entirely sure what was happening with this party, but he was almost glad he came. "This is too fucking funny."

Camille had seen the many people attempting to flirt with Jesse, but so far it seemed like no one had any luck. "Someone should save him, those girls are going to eat him alive." She shook her head as she watched Tabby Dryden sitting basically in his lap now. "If only it wasn't so funny."

Jake looked around him at the water and shot Camille a confused look. "Camille, this is water." Why would he need to get more? His sister was so silly sometimes. At the suggestion that he should get out of the hot tub, Jake sank lower so that only his head was above water. "No."

Camille sighed as she looked at him. "Not the kind of water I meant." She was sure that he wasn't going to come out easily. He was having a good time, and it had been a minute since he had fun. "Come on, just for a minute. Grab a drink, walk around with your favorite person at this party."

Theo downed his shot with a grimace. "Please share your secrets, Cam-Cam." Theo pleaded theatrically, but he was dead serious. If he could handle his booze and whatever else like Camille, this party might never have to end. "I'm dead serious about this, and I won't leave until you spill," he said with a wink, "I'll even sweeten the deal by letting you in on ten percent of my winnings tonight if it doesn't do me dirty." Perhaps another shot would pursuade her? Only one way to find out, so he got them each another. "God's not looking anymore, we already 'amen'ed."

"Can't let you in too much, Hunter family secrets, Theo." Camille grinned at him; there was no family secret. She had just been drinking long enough to know her limits, and she had learned how not to get too sloppy. "Oh no, I am stuck with you then. If I wanted winnings, I would just join in. Think I could handle you guys. Especially if I got you drunk enough." She grabbed the shot, shrugging.

"You want one of these? I'll get–... Hold on." Ever since he had found his way into one of the hot tubs, Jake had been obsessed with the inflatable birds that were designed to keep your drink floating on the water. He poured–spilled?–champagne into two and proceeded to push the little swan over to the other person. "Are you seeing this? That's a frickin' swan!"

Camille had been watching Jake. He seemed to be enjoying himself, maybe a little sloppy. But lately her brother had been off his game. Besides the injury, something just wasn't right with him. "It is, you should come grab some water with me. Get out of the hot tub for a little bit."

Theo was having an absolute blast as usual, and Camille's return to the scene did nothing but amplify him further. This was his year, her year, hell, it could be anyone's year if they just put their mind to it. Okay, fine, maybe that was 30% the shots talking, but it sure felt good to just own the night. "Hell no, but I'll give it the ol' college try." He passed her a shot, one that would likely not even touch the sides of her, but his one could very well tip him over the edge to becoming obnoxious, assuming that hadn't already passed him by unnoticed hours ago. "Should we say grace? Dear lord, thank you for this sweet nectar, and please don't let Jesse get crabs. Amen."

Camille was happy to be back, even though this circle of friends had caused her headaches over the years. They were still the people who knew her the best, and she had more good memories than bad. It's how she kept finding her way back to all of them. "It's okay, not many people here can keep up. But love the energy." She held up her shot to Theo, letting out a chuckle at his cheers. "Amen." She downed the shot with ease. "Let's hope no one does tonight."

Sapphire had been back since last August now and she still hadn't had the courage to beg Camille's forgiveness. She had seen her in glimpses, in fleeting moments that were never the right time. A part of her had hoped they could reconnect at Angie's annual holiday party, but she chickened out. Then Camille was back at school and doing so well... And Sapphire was left scrolling her socials, pining after her best friend whose heart she broke. Sapphire had to be sure she wasn't going to run again - that's what she told herself. She couldn't break Camille's heart twice, she had to be sure she would stay.

Camille understood the need to leave the Upper East Side. The drama, the betrayals, and the eyes everywhere could be a lot, especially the things Sapphire had gone through. Yet it had still hurt Camille. Her best friend had come back and been around for months now. But she hadn't even tried to say hi to her. She had seen Sapphire around, hanging out with Juliette and others. She wasn't going to approach her first either out of self-respect or stubbornness.