#jesse07

Mari had known it would only be a matter of time before her father and Donovan Hart ended up side by side, waiting for the sycophants to approach them to resume fawning over them, check books at the ready. They had a way of stroking each other's egos - or at least, that was how it seemed from Mari's perspective, as full of themselves (and each other) they both were. They probably would've shoved her and Jesse together far more often, to impress each other and tie their families together, if they weren't both so busy in being disappointed in their respective off spring and undoubtably complaining about them to each other. At least that meant with Donovan's approach, Mari would be able to hopefully excuse herself soon, the pair busy blowing air up each other's ass to the point that Mari had long since tuned them out, rolling her eyes at Jesse as they continued.

As their eyes settled on Jesse a few tables away, Jacqui’s lips twisted to one side, watching him for a few moments. They hadn’t spoken - not since the time capsule, not since their texts, not since Jacqui had put it out there and he had brushed it off. They hadn’t expected much else - but the repeated rejection still hurt, even though Jacqui knew in some ways Jesse did want her close to him. And maybe that was what drove them to down the rest of their drink, nearly slamming their glass back down onto the table they had been standing out before heading in his direction, full of anger and irritation that he still had that power when most things Jacqui was just able to brush off. 

“Interesting decision from your dad, to pay for all this,” Jacqui said once they reached him, a hand lifting to circle in the air, eyes on Jesse’s with a hint of intensity that belied the otherwise causal demeanor she approached him with. “Throwing money at a problem so it goes away. Seems like he taught you well,” they continued, speaking coolly as their arms crossed in front of their chest.

When Nate received a check from the hospital that week, he was sure there was a mistake. So sure, in fact, that he ended up calling the hospital. He had had no idea how he was going to pay the bill - even though he had brushed off both Sloane and Riley offering to do so. But the fact that they sent him a check? He knew that was definitely wrong. So he had called the billing department, asking them what the fuck was going on...to which they informed him that it had been paid for, and due to a billing error, the check was the amount that had been overpaid.

By his friend.

‘Your friend - the one who brought you in? He dropped off his card on the way out that morning.’

That morning. 

When Nate pressed further, questioning until there was no further way he could pretend not to understand, he was forced to reckon with the fact that it was Jesse fucking Hart who had not only waited the entire night, but had paid on the way out.

What the fuck was that about?

He was still thinking about it when he showed up to the party, beer in his hand as he glowered from his spot in the corner. When he saw Jesse, his irritation already spiking, he was unable to resist - Nate stalked towards him, greeting him with a forceful shove, the hand that landed on his sternum clutching the check. “I didn’t need your pity,” Nate snarled, leaning in so no one else would overhear them.