untrustworthy. ◢

“ of course i wanted to come back for hannah, she was on my mind the entire time. i mean and viv, too. they’e both going through a lot right now and i just.. left them. “

" my deal ? –– i mean we're exes that keep in touch if that's what you're asking. "

he should have known seb would approach him. he’s acting suspicious to begin with. nikolai wants to tell him, of course, to be honest and try to make amends as quickly as possible, but hannah was adamant that it was better to say nothing. if anything, the explanation should come from her first. so, all niko can do is hope that she changes her mind. “sorry,” he bristles, “i’m just a bit confused as to why you left for so long? with no explanation?” normally, he wouldn’t be mad, but he doesn’t know how else to respond. after all, none of this would have happened if seb hadn’t left and hannah hadn’t considered herself “single.”

niko was acting strange, it was almost an awkward presence with sebastian being next to him and that was odd. extremely odd. then when he finally spoke sebastian could hear the hostility in his tone. “ woah, “ he begins while an expression of confusion is adamant. not only did he have margot down his throat about him leaving but even niko was mad–– his best friend who knew he always did these kind of things. “ am i missing something here ? this isn’t the first time i’ve done this and you know that. what’s got you acting..–– “ then he stops mid sentence. sebastian scratches his forehead, looking down at the floor before back up at the male. he wasn’t born yesterday, sebastian knew what who this could possibly be about. not saying another word, he just stands there looking at niko with disappointment.

“it really isn’t. especially on the upper east side where my life is already under a microscope as it is. honestly i’m surprised no one found out before i made the official announcement. but now that it’s out there i get one of two responses. one; nasty, judgmental looks of pity. or two; sad, sweet looks of pity. like i’m a dying puppy or something,” she explained to him. though she knew full well what consequences would come along with having such a drastic change in the public eye it was still a bit of a shock when people made outrageous assumptions about her as a person based on one thing they knew about her. “but i’ve gotten to spend more time at home with family because of it so that’s one nice perk. plus i have an excuse to eat anything i want.” she brushed a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear as they spoke and caught the end of it between her fingers. twirling the end of her hair back and forth was always her nervous tic and it wasn’t helping that she just wanted to tell everything to him right now. “there are so many things i need to tell you,” viv began, her blue eyes shifting to gaze at the floor instead of at him, “but i can’t. you wouldn’t understand why so it’s just easier to not say it.” but maybe he would? it’s not exactly the easiest thing to admit that you got engaged to a practical stranger because of a baby. “ha, if only,” she mused for a moment, thinking about how easy it would be for them to just leave now. but then thinking about all the things they were leaving behind and would eventually have to come back to. “i don’t have to pretend around you,” she answered simply, “i can just…be me. you saw through all the fake bullshit i put up in high school and you still see through it. that’s why.”

“ i know you and you’re strong. everyday our lives are inspected but you can’t let what everyone thinks get to you. it’s manhattan–– you know this. “ the two had been together long enough to understand someone will always have something to say. it wasn’t exactly like their relationship was one that the upper east side cheered for but they were happy and didn’t think twice about all the criticism. although sebastian could see there was something more than just her pregnancy and views of others that was creating stress. sebastian watched her play with her hair and how she looked away from facing him, something she always did when she was nervous and was too scared to say what she was thinking. he takes a hold of her hand, squeezing it gently as he lifted her chin, “ and what i’m seeing right now is that you’re afraid of telling me what’s going on. there’s nothing that i can’t understand. i’m sebastian. “ he says reassuringly with a warm smile. it was undeniable that they had lingering feelings and the connection was still there but he knew this wasn’t about them. he could see it in her eyes and that’s why she was avoiding any eye contact in that moment. could it be about niko ? was she really in love with him ? sebastian was uncertain but he knew one thing; two people don’t just decide to get married like that. he’s questioned their engagement the day he found out but when niko asked him to be his best man, sebastian dropped all suspicion. the two obviously didn’t seem happy but it could just be anything, right ? “ well you’re not with your husband, right now. you’re here with me and that says something..–– so why don’t you tell me all those things that you said you need to. “

“what are you even talking about?” she asked with a look of confusion forming as he explained himself. “woah, stop…” her hands reaching up to his face, hoping he would look at her, for their eyes to meet and for him to know that everything was okay. “i love you, sebastian, i always have. you really think i love him? babe, the second he said that i left to go and find you, i wanted you to stop him from saying that shit. i love you, not him.” maybe it was because of their most recent argument from when he came over while seb was in the hamptons, but she was feeling anything but love for her ex. “he’s disgusting and a horrible person who thinks he can fuck with my twin and whisper shit in my ear, it’s not okay. i’m done trying to be civil with him or anything, so trust me, there’s no feelings.” she hated how insecure he was with all of this, but she’d keep telling him how much he meant to her as long as he needed. “also, you’re not a monster. you really think i’d cry over you leaving every night if you were? you’re amazing, wonderful, always make me smile, you always make me feel safe, i missed you for a reason.” she gave a small smile to joke, “even if you are an ass sometimes, you’re still my favorite. you do have me, you’ll always have me, just talk to me next time. even though i can be a mess, i will always drop everything and listen, that’s how much i love you.” and that was the truth. sure, she wasn’t sure if she could trust him like she used to, but he needed a break, just like she did. dropping her hands to put them in his, “i love you, only you, you know that it’s still us against the world.”

margot would have liked to say that it had been peaceful since sebastian left, but that wasn’t entirely true. what was true was that now that he was back, her frustration had more than magnified. just seeing the smug expression on his face made her bristle, including the way that he could waltz in there like he’d done absolutely nothing wrong. “i’m in the position to tell you whatever the fuck i want, valmont,” she hisses, turning toward the group he’s with. immediately, she flips the switch, and she’s no longer channeling her inner demon. her lips are graced with a bright smile and there’s a kindness in her eyes. she seems almost gentle. “hey boys, do you think you could wrap this up? sebastian and i need to have a private conversation, and i’d really appreciate it?”

as the boys comply and shuffle off, margot turns back to sebastian with the same dark expression as before. “guess your conversation wasn’t that important,” she muses, leaning back against the wall. “see, isn’t this nice? now we can talk about why you thought it was appropriate to disappear to the bahamas or wherever while hannah needed you most. some prince charming you turned out to be, hm?”

everything could be peaceful between him and hannah but that’s a high wish that couldn’t be granted with how many people involved themselves in their relationship. it was understandable why margot was upset, she had the right to be although, sebastian saw it differently. since the day him and hannah got back together she was making it close to impossible for them to work out–– he wasn’t sure if it was because she hated him or hated him being with her best friend. probably both. his hands are tucked tightly in his pockets, releasing a sigh before clenching his jaw as the beauty queen dismissed the men. now sebastian was keeping his cool like he’s always been able to do but margot was out for blood and she wasn’t stopping until she got what she wanted. 

his eyes fall on the blonde now that he had no choice but to surrender and be trapped into this conversation he dreaded to have. “ listen, me and you both know i’m no prince charming. the entirety of manhattan knows this. “ sebastian raises his eyebrows, his calm demeanor not changing in the slightest. “ what i can’t comprehend is how you think you have the place to put your nose in my relationship. you may be hannah’s best friend but what i do, when i do it and where i am doesn’t concern you. “ he removes his hand from his pocket to fix his tie, no longer looking at margot. “ i’ve spoke with her..–– she was the first person i saw when i got back and we’re fine. she understands and that’s all that matters so keep yourself out of our business. “

@sebvalmcnt​

it’s easy to avoid someone who’s jetted out of the country for a while. but not so much when he’s back. even with sebastian two seats over at the bar, nikolai is avoiding eye contact by the plague. there’s guilt in the pit of his stomach, sinking. after all, nikolai wants nothing more than for hannah and sebastian to be together, happy – right? isn’t that what’s best? but he’s also never been very good at keeping secrets from his best friend, so it made the most sense to avoid him. not so much as a text when gossip girl mentioned that sebastian was back in town. don’t look at him. he tells himself, but it’s not too long before he breaks that tryst and when he does, he realizes that sebastian is staring right at him. fuck. 

being back in manhattan was something he dreaded but craved. it was home after all even with all the shit he knew that he was stepping back into. the only thing that caused alarm was the distance between him and niko. he expected margot to rip his throat out, hannah to be hurt and genevieve to wonder why but he didn’t expect for his best friend to ignore him. sebastian spotted him at the bar, sitting fairly close but completely disregarding that he was there. immediately he knew that something happened –– something that he was ashamed of and if it didn’t involve him niko would have already been spilling what it was. but it was about him wasn’t it ? he gets up from his stool, making his was over to the male. “ no welcome home ? “