sunshine king;

Wherever gossip girl was it seemed like Sam's mess wasn't too far behind. If the woman didn't actively try to take out everyone else as well, Beth would've assumed that her best friend had done something hideously wrong to piss off the resident secret leaker. Fun. She was actually having funny, granted some of that fun was knowing when to cut off Tess, who knew that girl didn't easily tire of karaoke. Speak of the devil. Beth's head snapped up at his voice, trying to figure out what words to say that didn't involve just cursing him out. "Hey. Hey? That's it?" For someone raised so well, Sam made such poor decisions. Her eyes narrowed at him, "are you just so allergic to having sense?"

"Hey... how are you?" he offered with a perfectly innocent smile but it didn't last long. If there was anyone on this earth that could cut through his bullshit quick, it was Bethany May Levesque. The look she was throwing his way might as well be fatal. "It's up for debate," he answered with a sigh. Damn, his hand was hurting. Sam was focusing very hard on not wincing, he didn't need to give her another reason to kick his ass. Sam didn't usually keep things from Beth, though. "Look, I didn't plan this. I never thought that-... I mean, I didn't think anybody else knew. Me and Saph- Sapphire- we made a mistake."

William was rapidly losing control. If Slater wasn't here - he couldn't be here, given that he'd sent him a video of yet another person he cared so foolishly for from New York - then fine. He could leave. Better he break Juliette's heart than anything worse happen to her. And, well, incidentally she was well taken care of with Freddie. Perhaps they could thank him in their vows for the introduction. He shook the thought, it was far from important. This was the hard lesson now. He didn't get a happy ending, he didn't get to have everything he wanted. William should have skulked back into the shadows long ago. How could he let it get this far?

Tabby had been excited to be invited tonight, mostly because it meant Sapphire had forgiven her for whatever their last fight was. All she remembered was a slap and a drink to the face, nothing new for them. Time healed all superficial wounds; they could always get over their stuff. She had already hit on Jesse more than once, but if she was honest, he wasn't fully her type. Totally gorgeous, he was too nice and always looking for a relationship.

If Sam Watts was staying out of trouble tonight then he'd have to do backflips and somersaults to stay out of Tabby Dryden's way. Because if there was one thing that Sam knew a mile off, it was a dangerous woman. Being here tonight was already a game of chance, you know? So far, so good but it could still turn. He sipped his drink before realising he'd been caught staring at her (him and everyone else, mind you). Sam raised his hand up to wave at her across the room, mouthing, "Hey."

Jake hadn't put much thought into the card he was holding, figuring he had simply been paired with another football fan. His mom–his mom–had been the one to sort out most of the pairings, so he trusted that she knew what she was doing. But the damn 49ers? He should have known she would have opted to try to fix his broken friendships than help him hook up. Sam walked through the door and Jake stood, ready to push past him and leave the room.

Sam's stomach dropped as he watched Jake realise who had walked through the door. He had played this moment in his head a million times before and here he was falling short. There was nothing Sam wanted more than to fix what he'd broken between them. He would do anything for another chance. He didn't deserve it, but he wanted it so badly. As Jake stood, Sam felt a jolt of panic in his chest. This was a mistake. He should let Jake go, right? If he wanted to leave then he should be able to leave.

"Good." Isobel grinned up at him, sliding her hand down his arm to clasp his hand and backed up on to the dancefloor with him. "As Batman, I think it would be a crime to do so." She pulled him close to her, the room spinning ever so slightly around them as she tried desperately to let the alcohol make her forget. Sam certainly wasn't a bad option to help with that–he was hot, athletic... she could forget him. "I'm not stealing you away from someone, am I?"

Sam had been under a strict regime since last summer. No alcohol, no parties, no complications. Staying single had been easier than he thought it would be. Maybe being hung up on the past was good for something. It looked like he was breaking all three of his rules tonight when Isobel Prescott pulled him closer. "No one is saying no to Catwoman... Especially not when she looks like you." Her question caught Sam off guard and it gave him more pause than it should have. No, she wasn't. Before he could dwell too much on the unresolved feelings that came along with that, he leaned in to kiss her. "I'm all yours."

Dan didn't know Sam, mostly just through his drama with Juliette Vanderbilt. He had kept up with Gossip Girl in high school; they all had after all. "Well, if that's the case, not a bad job getting the I love you across." He gave Sam a sympathetic smile.

Sam let out an expected laugh at Dan's comment. "Thanks, man. I wasn't sure how I was gonna find the bright side there." Making small talk had never been a problem for Sam. He was cool, he was popular. He was likeable (most of the time). And they weren't in high school anymore. "What have you been up to these days anyway? You're at school in the city too?"

Zeke smiled at Sam, glad to have someone else his own age to complain with. "I will definitely help you out, but if she tries it on me, I will have to sell you out. I think she might actually think she has a chance with someone our age."

"Normally I'm all about being a team player but that is fair enough. Every man for himself." And it was every man, by the looks of things. Sam couldn't help laughing. "Aw, man. I think you're right and hey, who knows? Weirder shit has happened. Any one of us could lose our trust funds and then suddenly it doesn't start looking so bad. How come you're being punished, though? Having to be here, I mean."

Beth grinned, biting her lip to stop herself from laughing at him. He knew how stupid the offer was when he said it. "I can't think of a worst thing, you fangirling or you telling stories about us as kids and embarrassing me." Yeah, it already sounded like a nightmare. This was different for them. Her in a relationship and him so.... blatantly single. Of course she had to rub it in his face. Her eyes narrowed, staring him down. "Spill. Which someones? And why am I just finding out." She knew she had a lot going on but she hadn't been that distracted. Had she? Why did Sam keep asking. He just needed to leave her alone and mind his own business. Respectfully. "Is 'they' you? Are you reading Teen Vogue? I'm just keeping expectations manageable." Yeah. that sounded. Not better actually.

"You're so right... I do have some pretty gnarly stories about you to share. They should invite me to your next interview," he teased. Sam was only messing with her but he could tell that she didn't want to talk about it. Frankie. Her boyfriend. Sam had known Beth his entire life and there'd never been someone this level of serious before. He couldn't let it totally slide. And then he went and dug his own grave. "Hey, don't give me that look. I meant to tell you! It was just... You know, there weren't double dates or anything. There was-," he started before doing a quick sweep of the crowd- "There was a thing with Rose Haven. Nothing serious and when she was single single, just for the record. And, uh, last summer... me and Nilay Levent were dating. Just for the summer, you know I need to focus on school but yeah. We- She was really sweet. Smart. Way too smart for me." Like all of the beautiful women he'd ever dated. "Hey, I read. You caught me. Manageable... Alright, whatever you say. For the record, my favourite character or not, I'll still kick his ass if he messes this up with you."

"It was definitely a lot, but I don't know. Walking around with a security guard all the time sounds awful. I just kind of want to hold onto my normal life as long as I can. They seem pretty serious to me, I mean, they have been together for a bit. Oh, they are trying. It's part of why I am doing most of my press with Jamie. I can't deal with the shipping stuff." Sienna could tell how sad Sam seemed, she understood the desire to run away. It had worked out well for her, but she still missed home. "Yeah, I get that. Always keeping an eye out for your ex." She nodded her head. "So she knows you still want her? That's rough. I am sorry. But you could move on, too. We are in New York, there are only new chances in this city."

"Unless they're really hot? The bodyguard, I mean," he joked. Sam nodded though, he could only imagine what she was going through on that level of fame. Sam's mom made sure Gracie was sheltered from any of the bullshit online and she'd shut down anyone who even looked at her wrong. Maybe Sienna could borrow her mom-a-ger energy for a while. "Yeah, I can imagine. I'm yet to be invited on a double date-," he could just hear Beth saying 'you and who' and almost rolled his eyes- "So. Not that serious. Getting to hang out with literal legend Jamie Park has got to be awesome though, right? I don't think I'd even get a sentence out around her. I, uh, I think it's a given. I mean, I don't think there's been a time when I haven't wanted her. You think? Second chances are kinda my thing. I don't know if I wanna date anyway, I'm just trying to get through college. Figure stuff out. But hey, if you ever want a charming, sexy, stylish piece of arm candy for the sake of the paparazzi... I'd be happy to make a few headlines with you."

Juliette knew that inviting Sam was dumb. They were in a good place right now, she was trying to move on, and if she could manage to be friends with Sam, it would help her prove it. Seeing him here tonight brought back memories of summers spent in the Hamptons with him. How easy it was before everything had blown up.

Sam couldn't help laughing, it had always been easy around her to do that. "Yeah, I'd hate to have to call any one of our parents. Or your cousin, Slick Nick," he added with a wry smile. If Nick had never arranged a body to be dissolved in acid, he certainly knew where the goop would have been dumped. When she mentioned Sapphire, he nodded along. "We all have our vices, right?"

@tfrstarters

This wasn't the first time Sam had been at Juliette's family home in the Hamptons. That was a lifetime ago, of course. If he was smart, he would keep to himself and leave the party early. He and Juliette had never been on better terms, but every time he saw her again he just... couldn't promise he wouldn't say something he'd regret. Or she didn't want to hear. Because they were friends (or something) and she had moved on.

It had been well over a year since Alex had drank even a sip of alcohol and now it was going straight to her head. With El–Jesse's mom–watching Lexa, her intention had been to have the best time at this party, but with every drink her mood seemed to drop and she couldn't quite place her finger on why. Maybe it was still the hormones?

Sam poorly suppressed a smile as Alex chewed up yet another hopeful, uh, suitor (gender neutral) for Jesse. It was definitely a bad idea of him to be at this party, that much he knew. There was no way Juliette signed off on him being on the guest list (but he hoped she had) and Jake was still so pissed off at him... Suddenly Sam was ready for a stronger drink.

Zeke couldn't believe the turn his life had taken recently. Being truly single for the first time in years, working at Angel Capital, and now dealing with his parents' separation. He had been avoiding anything serious since the separation had become public. Work had been low on his list of priorities, only showing up when he could find the time between parties. He was lucky that his father was friends with Robert Hunter, or else he would have been fired.

"Tell me about it," Sam sighed, taking a long suffering sip of ginger ale before looking back at Zeke. "I feel like my Grandpa Watts in this thing. I must look a lot like him too, 'cause Mrs Fitzherbert has been eyeing me up like I'm next on her hit list. Do me a favour? Fake a major emergency if she comes over here again. I'll owe you one forsure."