Fresh Air - Anthony Bridgerton

Reunions

The next morning, Scarlett woke up with a fire in her belly. She was tired of running away from the past. It was time to face it, head-on.

With newfound determination, Scarlett threw on some clothes and marched down the castle halls. The smell of breakfast greeted her, mingling with the sounds of chatter and clinking cutlery. She spotted Daphne sitting at a table, her laughter ringing out like bells.

"Eloise!" Scarlett called out, striding over to her friend.

Eloise's eyes widened in disbelief. "Scarlett? Is that really you?"

Scarlett grinned, relief flooding through her. "It's me, Eloise. I've missed you like crazy."

Before Eloise could respond, Anthony appeared behind Scarlett, his expression a mix of surprise and something else she couldn't quite place.

"Scarlett," Anthony said, his voice low and gravelly. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Scarlett met his gaze, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yeah, well, life's full of surprises, isn't it?"

"I need to leave this room for no reason at all..."Eloise said as she exited the room. Leaving Scarlett and Anthony alone.

There was a charged silence between them, the air crackling with tension. Scarlett could feel the eyes of the other guests on them, but she ignored them. All that mattered was Anthony, the boy who had once meant everything to her as a friend.

Anthony cleared his throat, his eyes softening with regret. "I messed up, Scarlett. I should have never let you go without a fight."

Scarlett felt a surge of emotion welling up inside her, threatening to spill over. "Is that all you have to say?"

Anthony took a step closer, his gaze never leaving hers. "No, Scarlett. There's so much more I need to tell you."

And as Scarlett looked into Anthony's eyes, she knew that despite everything, despite the pain and the distance, there was still hope for their friendship. All they had to do was reach out and grab it.

With a determined nod, Scarlett turned on her heel and headed back to her room. She couldn't believe what had just happened. It felt like a dream come true, but at the same time, she knew there were still questions that needed answers.

As Scarlett made her way through the corridors of the Bridgerton household, her mind buzzed with a mixture of nerves and excitement. She knew that facing Daphne would be just as important as confronting Anthony. After all, Daphne had been her closest friend, her confidante, through the years of their childhood.

With each step, Scarlett felt the weight of their shared memories pressing against her, urging her forward. Finally, she reached Daphne's door and took a deep breath before knocking softly.

The door swung open to reveal Daphne, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight of Scarlett standing there.

"Scarlett?" Daphne called out to the person in the hall, her voice filled with joy. "Is it you?"

Scarlett couldn't help but smile at the genuine warmth in Daphne's expression. "Yeah, Daph. It's me."

Without a word, Daphne pulled Scarlett into a tight embrace, holding her close as if afraid she might disappear again.

"I've missed you, Scarlett," Daphne whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Tears pricked at the corners of Scarlett's eyes as she returned the embrace, feeling the weight of years of separation lifting off her shoulders.

"I've missed you too, Daphne," Scarlett replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, they simply stood there, clinging to each other as if afraid to let go. But eventually, they pulled back, their eyes meeting in a silent understanding.

"We have so much to catch up on," Daphne said, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.

Scarlett nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude for the friend who had always been there for her, even in her absence.

"Yes, we do," Scarlett agreed, her heart lighter than it had been in years.

And as they stepped into Daphne's room, Scarlett knew that no matter what the future held, she had her friend by her side. And that was enough to face whatever challenges lay ahead.