Blair stirred awake to the sound of rain tapping gently against her window. Her limbs felt heavy, her head even heavier. But she was warm—tucked under her blankets, faint sunlight filtered through the blinds, and for once, her mind wasn't racing.
Then she heard the soft shuffle of footsteps. The door creaked a little, and she blinked her eyes open.
James stood in her room, wearing a hoodie and sweatpants, hair slightly damp from a shower. He didn't speak right away. His eyes scanned her, as if making sure she was really okay.
"You're awake," he said softly.
"Unfortunately," Blair mumbled.
He smiled and walked closer. "I brought food, but Caleb ate half of it on the way up. I told him you wouldn't forgive him. He said you'd live."
Blair rolled her eyes. "How generous."
Then James's gaze shifted. His eyes landed on the wall above her desk—where a photo was pinned. The one from the amusement park. The two of them squished into a photo booth, laughing mid-shot, her head tipped back and his eyes on her like she was a punchline and a miracle all at once.
Right below it, the small blue elephant he'd won her at the ring toss sat like a crooked memory on her shelf.
James walked over and picked it up. "You kept this?"
Blair propped herself up slowly. "What, you thought I threw away a perfectly adorable, slightly lopsided elephant?"
"It's hideous," he grinned. "But I respect the sentimental value."
"You're hideous."
"Wow," he said. "Two minutes into waking up and already verbally attacking me. I must be special."
She cracked a smile. A real one.
James walked over, elephant in hand, and sat on the edge of her bed. "You were smiling in that photo," he said, voice quieter now. "Like... properly happy."
"I was," she whispered.
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the last 24 hours lingering, but not suffocating.
Just then, a soft knock broke the moment.
Maddie peeked in. "Hey, you're awake!"
Blair smiled faintly. "Barely."
Maddie came in, holding a little tray. "Lily made tea. And there's honey in the kitchen if you want."
"Thanks."
Maddie hesitated, then sat on the other side of the bed. "I'm sorry I didn't say anything earlier. I should've backed you up."
"You did," Blair said. "Eventually."
Maddie gave her a look. "That doesn't count."
Blair reached out and took Maddie's hand. "It does to me."
James got up, giving them space. "I'll let you two have your girl moment."
"You scared of feelings now?" Maddie called as he left.
James turned with a grin. "Only yours. Blair's I can handle."
Blair threw a pillow at him and missed.
Maddie laughed and leaned her head on Blair's shoulder. "You okay?"
"No," Blair said. "But I will be."
---
Blair sat cross-legged on her bed, sipping the tea her mum had made, when a maid walked in holding a bowl of fruit and a cheeky smile.
"Delivery for the emotionally wrecked," Maddie said, as the maid sets the bowl down on Blair's lap.
Blair gave a small laugh. "Thanks. I needed that."
Maddie plopped beside her, tugging a blanket over both their legs. For a moment, they just sat in the silence, the tension of the morning still lingering.
"I heard what happened downstairs," Blair finally said, glancing at Maddie.
"Yeah. Jazmine… she lost it. But after you passed out, things shifted. James was furious. He actually scolded Jaz for blaming you. Like full-on big brother mode. Then Andrew and Caleb told everyone the truth—about what Oliver did to you."
Blair's throat tightened. "So they know… everything?"
Maddie nodded slowly. "Yeah. And Jazmine—she opened up too. About what Oliver did to her. Her first time… she said he forced it. And she's had three abortions. No one knew. Not even Cass."
Blair's eyes widened. "What the hell… Oliver is a fucking asshole. He seemed so nice."
"It's always the nice ones," Maddie muttered.
They sat in a heavy silence, then Maddie nudged her shoulder. "So… Caleb and I talked today."
Blair's face lit up. "Wait—seriously? Oh my god, what did he say?"
Maddie's lips twitched as she glanced down, suddenly shy. "He apologized. Told me he never stopped loving me. That he broke up with me because he was scared of how much he loved me. Said he thought I'd eventually leave, so he left first."
Blair reached out and squeezed her hand. "That's… actually kinda romantic. Messed up, but romantic."
"i Don't know. But maybe… eventually," Maddie smiled. "I'm gonna make him work for it."
Blair grinned. "Good. Make him sweat."
Maddie laughed, then raised an eyebrow, scanning Blair's oversized T-shirt and shorts. "James's clothes again, huh?"
Blair rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Maddie."
"You like him," Maddie sang teasingly.
"Maybe," Blair admitted, hugging a pillow. "But Cassie likes him too. And we've already had so many fights because of James. I don't want to make things worse."
Maddie leaned back. "I wasn't going to support you and James, but… I see how you two are around each other. So I'll say this: go with the flow. It's not like you stole James from Cassie. She's been in love with him since forever, but he never gave her the green light."
Blair blinked. "Wait, James said they had history. Do you know what happened?"
"Yeah," Maddie said. "In high school, James was super into Cass. But she was dating Dustin then. One time, James and Cass kissed. But Cass claimed she was drunk, said it meant nothing. James moved on. But after she and Dustin broke up, she started clinging to James—like, obsessed."
Blair processed that. "So maybe she doesn't actually love him. Maybe she just loved the idea of him loving her. Or she needed a rebound."
"Exactly. And she hasn't dated anyone since Dustin."
Blair let out a slow breath. "So… me liking James isn't stabbing her in the back. Maybe I'm actually helping her get over him."
Maddie laughed. "That's one way to put it."
She stood, stretching. "Follow your heart, B. And maybe take a real shower this time. You've been living in James's clothes for two days now."
Blair threw a pillow at her. "Out!"
Still giggling, Maddie headed out the door. Blair smiled to herself as she looked around her room—at the photo on her wall, the stuffed elephant James had won her. Her fingers brushed over the soft fabric of his shirt on her skin.
And for the first time in a long time, the thought of feeling something—of letting someone in—didn't scare her.
---