"So, I guess I'll see you when I see you?" Jean asked meekly with her head hung low. She couldn't look at him dead in the eye because she knew full well that this might just be the last time she'll see the Romanian sweetheart for a while.

Sebastian sighed, looking more forlorn than he was this morning. Right before he unloaded the last of their luggage from the cab, he paused for a moment as soon as he noticed Jean fiddling around with her thumbs nervously---a nervous habit he'd learnt about her over the last two weeks of being in Helen.

The sight of her fiddling with her thumbs made him smile a little, much to his surprise. Although, the smile on his face wasn't one that signified happiness because the thought of not being able to see Jean for perhaps another year or so had him crestfallen.

Sure, he had her number and she had his but being the traditionalist he is, he hated having conversations via text messages and Skype and whatnot. He'd much rather have a five-hour conversation with Jean in person than have a thirty-minute conversation via text before either of them had to run their own errands or continue their shoot.

At least, in person, her facial expressions were apparent and he didn't have to think about what facial expression she was wearing if he'd purposefully said something stupid to crack her up.

"We'll see each other soon," Sebastian said, trying his very best to comfort her. "Real soon, I promise."

Jean's hazel eyes finally found Sebastian's and all she could see behind those cerulean eyes was warmth and honesty. Despite knowing that his promise was one that could not be fulfilled, she decided to bite her tongue and accept the empty promise. Usually, she'd call out on the person who was making an empty promise because empty promises will only lead to a detestable degree of disappointment. But this time, she did the opposite of what she'd usually do because she knew that she needed this empty promise to fuel the hope of seeing Sebastian soon and vice versa.

"Real soon," she reiterated his words with her gaze fixed on the luggage at her feet.

They were both going to board their respective flights soon and the thought of that made it harder for Jean and Sebastian to look at one another for what seemed like the last time.

"Will you be coming down to New York anytime soon?" Sebastian asked with an immense of hope laced in his voice.

Jean swore her heart had skipped a beat the minute Sebastian's question was thrown at her. "I'm not sure," she mumbled, avoiding his gaze. "I live in L.A, Sebastian. I hardly come down to New York and when I do, it's usually for work or meetings."

"Can I come see you in L.A, then?"

Jean opened her mouth to say something but decided against it and clamped her mouth shut right away. She wanted to tell Sebastian that she was still trying to get over the heartbreak Terry had caused her, that she needed some time, that she needed to figure out what she needed at the moment but she just couldn't---because deep down, she wanted him to come and see her but she knew they shouldn't, not yet at least.

She's not used to someone wanting to get so close to her after knowing her for only two weeks and the fact that this is unravelling right before her very eyes scares her to no end.

But this was Sebastian we're talking about, the sweetheart of a man she'd met just a couple of weeks ago at that really dingy old pub where they danced and kissed under the mistletoe---though, she's still telling herself that it was purely for the sake of tradition. The sweetheart of a man who'd noticed her swollen eyes immediately when he'd gotten a good view of her face. The sweetheart of a man who was genuinely concerned about her and was always cautious of her feelings and thoughts.

She knew it was remotely and acutely impossible for one to be affected by someone within a mere two weeks of knowing them but their inevitable departure and parting of ways had struck something in her.

"I'll text you, okay?"

Sebastian caught on quick to her cover-up and decided against pushing any further, so he settled with what Jean had proposed. "Okay," he said before quickly adding, "I'll call you."

Jean's eyes travelled all the way up to meet Sebastian's and she couldn't stop the smile that was creeping on her face.

What did I do to have had the pleasure of meeting this sweet man during Christmas and during a point where I had hit rock-bottom? She thought to herself before being snapped out of her thoughts by the mere action of Sebastian tucking her hair behind her ear.

I'm really gonna miss you, mermaid girl, Sebastian thought as he allowed his hand to linger by the side of her face for a moment before the pair had to bid each other goodbye and board their separate flights back home.

. . . . . .

WhatsApp Group Chat 'Sebbers is Finally Home'

Mackie
SEABASS
DID YA MISS ME OR NAH

RDJ
jesus, mackie

Lizzie
i'm pretty sure he didn't miss you at all, mackie

Mackie
i hate you all

Seb
i guess i sorta missed you

RDJ
why do you sound so forlorn?

Christopher
he's having a bad day

Scarlett
evans, what the fuck are you doing driving and texting

Chad
^^

Christopher
i'm not, i promise
we just got back to seb's apartment

Lizzie
where is he now?

Christopher
taking a leak, i guess

Mackie
can i come over
i think my brother needs a hug

RDJ
what happened? why's he having a bad day?

Lizzie
i'm gonna go with my gut and say that it's because of a certain lady friend he made during his stay at god knows where

Paul R.
sorry i'm late what did i miss
I SEE LADY FRIEND AGAIN
SO I'M ASSUMING IT'S THAT JEAN GIRL

Scarlett
god, mackie
what did you do to rudd

Mackie
why is everyone blaming me for everything

RDJ
mainly because it's almost always your fault when it's rudd-related

Paul R.
mean people everywhere

Paul B.
where's sebastian now, chris?

Christopher
just unpacking his things
guys, i think he really misses her

RDJ
well, where does she live? we'll all get in the car and pick her up and drive her to seb's place and then they'll live happily ever after

Christopher
she lives in l.a, rdj

Mackie
oh

Lizzie
oh no

Don
i usually never open up this group chat but when i see a brother down, i open it

RDJ
WHAT ABOUT WHEN I WAS DOWN

Don
that one time you were down is basically irrelevant because you were laughing like 2 seconds later

Paul R.
it's okay, tin man
i gotchu

RDJ
go away, rudd
i need my rhodey

Mackie
chris, serious question
can we come over?

Lizzie
^

RDJ
^

Scarlett
^
we can call hemsworth as well

RDJ
and hiddleston

Christopher
i think it'd be a good idea if you guys came over
he's really down and i've never seen him this down before
and it's only the fifth day of 2016

RDJ
alright, team
it's time for operation 'cheer up sebastian stan' so let's get to it
scarlett, you'll get the happy meals
mackie, you get your ass over to his apartment pronto
bettany, you get tom on the line

Paul B.
which tom?

RDJ
hiddleston
holland might just piss sebbers off more
nah i'm just kidding hah
holland's got some brunch thing going on rn so see if you can get a hold of hiddleston

Paul R.
wow he really is your son
i mean, you even know that he's having some brunch thing rn

Lizzie
^
the fans are gonna love this father & son duo

RDJ
shhhh focus
i'll pick up some pizzas along the way and meet y'all at his apartment

Christopher
door's unlocked so just come on in when you guys get here

. . . . . .

WhatsApp Messages with
Mermaid Jean

Winter Sebastian
fuck, mermaid girl
i really miss you
i never thought things would come to this but i guess i was wrong
i really do miss you and that gorgeous smile of yours
MESSAGES DELETED
i hope you're back in l.a safe and sound, mermaid girl.
SENT 12.01PM

---
a/n; things are gonna get a littleeeee intense 🙃

i hope you guys are liking the story so far! thank you for all the love & support xo

ps. made a new cover yey