#jesse12

Jacqui watched at Jesse from across the room with wide eyes, glimpsing him between bodies and conversations and a frenzied undercurrent of dread that seemed to be coating the entire night. Or perhaps that was just them projecting. Because this was going to end badly. Regardless of the reason they were being prompted to do it, Jacqui was under no false belief that any conversation between them would be smooth, let alone one that was about Greer. 

He disappeared for a while, and Jacqui felt a sense of relief - perhaps they could claim they couldn't find him, getting out of this conversation altogether. But of course, they had no such luck, Jesse eventually returning to the party. When they spotted him again, Jacqui knew they may as well get it over - go for it before they could lose the chance again, and not let it ruin the rest of the time till midnight. Relax, and perhaps start the new year with an energy that would prevent any of this from continuing.

Wishful thinking, but it was what carried their feet towards him, Jacqui appearing at his side and beginning to speak with a casual air like it was normal, like their entire relationship wasn't fraught with complexities and anger and betrayal and pasts they hadn't even acknowledged with each other. "You didn't go back to California between term and coming here, did you?" they asked, slipping into the conversation like it had been waiting for them. In a way, the prompting from G had made it so it was - even if Jesse wasn't aware of it. "Did you drive straight here from school?"

Nate stepped outside to smoke, a drink in his other hand, finding himself not as far from the door as he should've when he leaned back against the brick wall of the old building. He took a long swig from his drink, a hint of bitterness appearing over his features as he drained it, dropping the glass to the ground beside him so he could light the spliff he was holding. He hadn't been out there long - only a couple of puffs - when someone else stepped outside. The light from the door lit them in silhouette for a few moments, a slight crease appearing between Nate's eyes as he tried to place them, the door having swung shut and the darkness of the evening having settled back around them before he realized. He watched Jesse, still propped up the wall, his face not revealing any indication of what he may have been thinking or feeling. "How's sobriety?" he asked, the arch of his eyebrow not giving any indication if the question was being asked in good faith or not, propping the spliff back between his lips.