Inbox • SEBASTIAN STAN

THIRTY TWO

HE RAN UP the stairs to her apartment. He felt a new sense of contentment despite being told he needed to get back to filming. This wasn't goodbye, not yet. He had slowly but surely fallen for Pippa. And he didn't want to go back to what he used to feel. He didn't want to go back to feeling the odd type of loneliness, the one which you don't realize something is missing until you find it.

His muscles flexed and moved as he ran. He pushed the stairwell door open and entered the hallway which lead to Pippa's apartment.

Pippa was by the front door, shrugging of his jacket. She leaned against the door frame, "Here you go," she cleared her throat as Seb reached her side. He looked at her and felt at a loss of words. She was beautiful. She was undeniably beautiful.

Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Pippa looked up. "What?"

"You are beautiful, Pippa," he said. He refused to take his jacket. It was his way of saying that he didn't want to go. Not just yet. "You don't need me to tell you, but you are."

"Thank you. So are you," she smiled, her cheeks slightly becoming blushed. "Anyway, I have to open the shop quite early tomorrow."

"Good night, Pippa," he leaned in to hug her. But the hug turned into a soft kiss. And their soft, quick kiss left them wanting more. And thus, it deepened and changed, and it was no longer acceptable for the two of them to be kissing that way in the middle of the hallway.

And perhaps it was that Seb was leaving, or the drinks they both had that made them both enter Pippa's small apartment. He let her lead her, as it was dark and he could barely see anything but Pippa. They bumped into things on their way to her bedroom. And Seb almost laughed as she hadn't been kidding. Her apartment was really, incredibly small.

From what he could tell, there was a small sofa, no tv but rather a bookcase and a small coffee table. But other than that, there seemed to be very little things in the living room. Though, there were more books than anything else. Her apartment though, smelled freshly of plants. And...coffee. He felt right at home at Pippa's place.

They entered her bedroom. And didn't stop.

...

SHE WASN'T BY his side when he woke up the following morning. He had woken up because he felt cold and upon feeling for her side, he touched nothing. Sluggishly, he got up from the bed and got dressed. He made his way towards her tiny restroom and washed his face. He found some mouthwash and used it, his mouth turning cold and smelling minty.

He wandered out of her bedroom, seeing the first rays of sunshine peek through the blinds. Her apartment looked cozy and even more so like home now with light. He found a note by the coffee table and brought it up. It read:

Dear Seb,

I realize I don't have many things left in the fridge. And thus, I've quickly ran out to buy a few things. Breakfast is on me.

Be back soon,

Pippa.

He put the note down, exactly where he had found it and looked around her living room. He zipped the pocket inside of his jacket and tapped on his phone. To his surprise, it hadn't died and still had 5% left. He quickly checked his messages and found new ones from Lucas and Will.

THE BARCELONA BROS:

Lucas Hillston:
I really hope the date goes well
MAY HE GET LUCKY

William Hillston:
You twat. If he gets lucky it means he slept with our sister

Lucas Hillston:
I'M JUST TRYING TO BE A SUPPORTIVE BRO
AND ALSO YES, GOOD FOR PIPPA

There were a few messages after that Sebastian didn't read. He put his phone away and looked up. The apartment was slowly filling with light. Since there was no TV and he didn't want to spend all of his time on his phone, he looked around. She had a lovely desk by the window. She had a lot of stationery, more so than he had seen have before. There were envelops of all different type of sizes, colors and patterns.

He looked through the envelopes. He was just reading what they said outside, not opening them. In one neat stack, he recognized his own hand writing. Pippa had kept their letters.

Clearing his throat, Seb put the letters back as they had been previously. The front door opened and Pippa wiggled with the lock, bags on her hands. Seb went to help her, taking the bags from her despite her protest. He followed her through a door Pippa pushed open, which appeared to be the kitchen. Flicking the lights on, Pippa started to unload the groceries.

"How did you sleep?" She asked him, slightly turning towards him for a second. Pippa kept unloading the groceries, putting things in cabinets and others in the fridge. He watched and wasn't sure how to help.

"Good and you?" He asked. She nodded her head, folding the empty bags and leaving them on the empty counter. "Pippa," he said her name quietly. She looked up, biting her bottom lip. "You kept my letters."

"I always keep them," Pippa said. "My mom had pen pals through out her time too. And she always kept them."

Sebastian noticed the word had, making his heart ache. "She passed?"

"Five years ago," she replied. Before Seb could ask more or offer his condolences, the intercom buzzed inside of Pippa's apartment. She walked out of the kitchen and towards the front door, pressing the button.

A voice spoke from the other end, "Pippa, open up!"

Pippa did as told and a moment later groaned. Seb reached her side, his hands going on her shoulder. They hugged for a moment, Pippa putting her head on his chest. They let go and stood by each other. Pippa put her hair up and shrugged off her jacket.

"Lucas is coming up in a bit. Do you want to stay and have breakfast?" She asked. He thought about it and realized how awkward it was going to be at first. Lucas would know he had spent the night. And still, Seb nodded.

A moment later, there was a knock on the door. Pippa opened it, Lucas walking in.

"Kat is going to divorce me," Lucas groaned, running his hand through his hair. Upon noticing Seb, Lucas' eyes grew ever so slightly and he pointed his finger. "Seb, you sly dog."

"I'm sure Kat isn't going to divorce you," Sebastian told him. Though, he had no idea what had happened between them to make Lucas said this. Pippa shook her head and turned to leave.

"Don't humor him. He comes home every week and tells me Kat is going to divorce him but she never does. I'm going to make breakfast," Pippa said. She left towards the kitchen and Seb followed, but he was stopped by Lucas.

"I can hear the church bells ringing, ring-gingy-ring-gingy," Lucas sang. "Can I be the bast mate or is that place going to be taken by Cap?"

Seb didn't stop him, there. He didn't say no, Lucas, stop. I will not marry Pippa. There was a light inside of him, ignited by Pippa. And he didn't want it to fade. He also didn't want to say goodbye. Not now. Not ever.