stay soft, get eaten

In New York City fashion, she arrived at Grand Central Station. One roller suitcase was in tow and she wobbled it up a set of stairs, while balancing a small bottle of hand sanitizer in her other palm. It was with another clumsy step of her Chloe ballerina shoes that her luggage, hand sanitizer, and her Vandervort self took a nasty spill at the top of the stairs. A single step left, and she fumbled it.

"Oh, leave it to me. And this is why I said I can't be an intern. Not only do I not want to stand in a hot coffee line at 6 a.m., I'd spill it all by the time I reached the office." Her tweed jacket paired with the classic shoes and annoyance under breath, sure made it appear she was job interview ready. She hoped she was not running late.

“You know I’m here?”

Baby: I cannot believe you got married! What kind of friend are you! Don't even try to apologize!

Sophia: I didn't realize I'd have to apologize to so many people for choosing happiness. Life is really funny and not at all what I thought it'd be.

“Missed you, Mrs Walker,” Jesse grinned as he gave Sophia one more kiss for good luck. He felt as if they’d been separated for a hundred years on this beach. When they’d both agreed between excited whispers and barely contained giggles that they would share their news- their beautiful, amazing, life changing news!- Jesse couldn’t wait. Wearing their rings, now safe and sound in their martial bubble of bliss, Jesse was just so happy. “How-,” he kissed the back of her left hand gently- “Is your night going?” @sophiavan​

.

“Well, well, there you are. I had thought you’d been off swooning everyone else. I could never blame anyone falling for that smile,” she scrunched her face in adoration, the only thing from attacking his limbs like he was the most lovable puppy she’d ever laid two eyes on. “My sister knows,” she whispered the news as if it were a trophy, the best prize after the longest year. “It’s about time we share ourselves.” All Sophia’s fingers threaded with his, to hold his hands in hers. “Twice as many honeymoon phases, don’t you think?” She giggled to his lips. Sophia knew they were irritatingly adorable. It was time they heard it, too.

~

The corner of Jake’s mouth tugged up into a smile- Sophia’s cheery vibe was always incredibly infectious, no matter how shit life was. “This feels like more of a joke than a confession, but I can’t let that go without an answer. I have no idea. What’s white and pink all over?”

.

“Well, lots of things, but -- a blushing bride!” Sophia revealed, fanning out her hands around her face for an added layer of pizzazz. This was certainly one way to share the news of her marriage. She wasn’t sure if it’d go over Jake’s head or not, but she would try this first, because she’d never doubt him. “Get it?” She practically stuttered out of nerves. To seal the deal, she offered her left hand and the ring that danced on her finger.

Logan raised both eyebrows as Sophia’s phone was turned towards them. What…? It had been way longer than a hot minute since Logan had last seen a Gossip Girl blast. Wait, was Gossip Girl back? Brow thoroughly furrowed, Logan looked back over at her only for their heart to be hit with the full force of those doe eyes. Just like that, Logan pulled on a reassuring smile, soft and calm just like she needed. “Of course it’s a joke,” they replied, “And a crappy one at that, right? I mean, come on. Gossip Girl? I don’t know her. Gossip Girl might as well be a landline at this point, Soph.” A pause- “Have you talked to Jesse about it yet?”

.

“You aren’t entirely wrong,” Sophia gave them credit where it was due for pointing out the obvious. She’d been so blinded by the very real possibility of everyone’s sworn enemy logging online once more. “Because I haven’t laughed at all. We should scour our yearbooks and figure out who was voted least funny.” It wouldn’t have been a superlative Sophia ever voted for, but she could imagine the cruelty of the category being the funniest thing at their private schools. “That gave me a scare, at the very least. If that’s what they were shooting for--” She rolled her eyes. “No, I’m above saying anything so low.” She gave Logan a look that said but you’re not. Sophia had grown increasingly sassy over the last year. “Um, I’ll tell Jesse later, if it calls for it.”

Jesse smiled into their kiss, heart fluttering in the marshmallow aisle. They could have been the only two people in the world, you know? Jesse would have kissed her for forever (if Alex didn’t really need those cantaloupes). His brow furrowed when she pulled back- something was wrong. She was worried, verging on upset. Of all the reasons why, he never expected what Sophia said next. About a thousand emotions crossed his face at the news- no, he hadn’t known that- but he landed on one: Sophia needs you. So, he swallowed back the shock, the upset and even just a tinge of anger, for her. “No, I don’t… I didn’t know,” he said softly. Jesse leaned forward, gently touching his forehead to hers a moment. “Hey, it’s okay.” Pulling back, he added- “It could be a prank. Some kid trying to mess with everyone because they don’t know better. Some long queued post Gossip Girl made just to try and ruin our day one last time… It could be anything but no matter what it is, I’ve got you. Okay?”

.

Gossip Girl was an infamous legend and would be for, possibly, decades to come if none of their generation ever learned to keep their mouths shut for good. The were the generation of sharing and wanting to be heard. As Sophia grew in age, she realized that could’ve been blamed on their parents lack of giving supervision. Maybe the OG’s home life was sucky, and maybe, so was the owner of the prank. Sophia talked herself off the worrying edge by burying herself in denial. She smiled fondly, because she’d do that for him. He’d slain the dragon once before. She didn’t want it resurfacing when their lives had just become close to perfect.

“I won’t let it ruin mine any longer if we do salted caramel gelato, too. I’m sorry to say to Alex, but that one is for me.”

♥༻✧

Sapphire knew it but she couldn’t bring herself to say it, not yet. It was too precious. Hopeful. What Sapphire wouldn’t have done for a little hope… She couldn’t help but smile when Sophia said with all her might and all her heart that she loved him. Jesse frickin’ Walker. Sapphire didn’t doubt them for a second though. You only had to spend a moment with them together to know that what they had was something special. Magical. The kind of love that made you want to believe in love. The kind of love that had you holding hands until the very end. Her own voice dropped to a whisper in response, excitement building in the air- “I think I know what you’re going to tell me too but I think you’ve gotta say it. I think I need to hear it.” Sapphire reached out for her hand- that hand- and held it tightly in her own. “I could never be mad at you, my beautiful baby sister. When you’re happy, it’s everything. Understand?”

.

Sapphire wasn’t the only one who needed to hear the news word-for-word. It wouldn’t sink in completely for Sophia until she did, too. But first, she gave her sister’s hand a squeeze. The gesture said what she could in public -- you didn’t miss anything and I will tell you all. Once the bravest breath of all was inhaled, the confession came with the quiet exhale, “I’m Sophia Walker now. We got married.” The bombshell didn’t rock the party. The sisters were able to embrace each other out of the spotlight in this special time. Thank goodness. They glowed all on their own, anyways.

♥༻✧

Sapphire was endlessly grateful that Sophia didn’t instantly begin the interrogation. She was well within her right to but Sophia’s kindness had always outshone everything else. It didn’t mean the tough questions weren’t coming but there was relief for now. Time to think of a good enough answer to ‘why weren’t you there’. Her stomach turned just thinking about it. Being momentarily lost in her own thoughts, it had taken longer for her to realise that… What? Sophia was holding tight to her hand, leading them over the sand and towards- naturally- the snacks. As they walked, her eyes were suddenly trained on Sophia’s hand. The left hand. On the ring finger. A beautiful, simple, golden band around that precious finger.

“You’re a total babe, Soph. Your hair is gorgeous and it’s-,” she paused briefly, feeling that lump in her throat again- “It’s so long! You’re the Upper East Side’s real life Rapunzel. Evil step-mother and heart of gold prince included.” Sapphire couldn’t help laughing as Sophia twirled, her skirt spinning out all around her like the ocean. “Hey, princess-,” she started, managing to grab Sophia’s hand again as she was mid-twirl, fighting off the world’s biggest smile- “What is this?”

.

“It’s the new Marc Jacobs-- Oooh,” Sophia’s smile was only sly for a second, because in reality, she’d been waiting to gush all day into the night and over and over and over again. Especially with Sapphire. “I love him, Saph.” Her love did not need to be put on show on a single day for all to see, when their friends and family witnessed the flourished friends to lovers before them every single day. Her ring needn’t be grand, either. And she would’ve been alright without one, but with her finger occupied, she had every excuse to sing from the heavens she’d, without a shadow of a doubt, was with her soulmate. “I think you know what I’m about to tell you.” Her voice had dropped to a whisper, otherwise it would’ve cracked as she grew partially teary. “You can’t be mad at me either, okay?”

“Okay, hear me out.” Jake dropped on to a towel situated near the bonfire, beer in hand. “We all play a big game of truth or dare, but we all pick truth and we out our own secrets before Gossip Girl takes her revenge.”

@tfrstarters​

.

“Okay, deal,” Sophia had no problem plopping down beside her good friend, definitely former crush before someone else had captured her heart altogether. She rose a brow, wagering, “I’ll go first. What’s white and pink all over it?”

♥༻✧

The squeals reached her first, naturally. Sapphire should have known that Sophia would be here tonight, looking like a princess with her fairytale prince in wait. Sapphire had thought about her baby sister every single day that she’d been gone. At first, she’d tried to let Soph know that she was okay but the texts became more and more infrequent. And they were never more than a line or two. Look at her… There was almost instantly a lump in her throat when Sophia spoke through a grin so beautiful Sapphire could hardly stand it.

Avoiding answering her greeting right away, Sapphire laughed before wrapping her arms around Sophia. It gave her time to get it together, mostly. At least enough to try for a reply- “Yeah, me too.”

.

When the sisters pulled apart, Sophia kept Sapphire’s hands nestled comfortably between her own. Sophia hadn’t thought through holding hands, the golden band shining beside dim fire light. There might’ve been a filing cabinet tucked away inside of her head, each and every question she wanted to ask neatly organized. There was a time and a place. She hated to admit it, but as a Vandervort, she had learned the importance of appearances. Crowding her sister and having her seem guilty or dumbfounded wasn’t something she wanted captured on film or by friends. Who knew what could be captured with Gossip Girl possibly breathing down their necks now. But what Sophia also did not do, was offer her sister a drink. They didn’t need that to be close, did they? Casually as possible, Sophia tugged her older sister along with her across the sandy beach to the snacking table. What they both deserved was a good grazing of crackers and grapes.