"Guess where Hunter is." Matt smirked, with pure excitement laced in his voice, causing Juliet to look his way in question.
Moments ago Matt had been complaining about being at Sophie's dad's and now it seemed as though he had found something to keep his childlike brain occupied, which involved their son.
"Where is he?"
"I said guess!"
"I don't know, just tell me." Juliet sighed, clearly not buying into whatever Matt seemed so enthusiastic about.
She was feeling highly uncomfortable, missing her baby, and in no mood for his jokes.
"With Phoebe! He went to find her as soon as he got the chance." Matt sang and there may as well have been beams of light shinning from his body due to the excitement he found in this topic. "I told you he liked her."
"You don't know that. You can't just assume, Matt. They're friends." Juliet attempted to rationalise the situation but her husband wasn't having any of it.
Matt had started this new game where he loved to involve Juliet in these bets that she saw as pointless. He was constantly making predictions about their kids and was always encouraging Juliet to put her guesses in too.
Although she was never quite up for playing, she did secretly appreciate his childish manner and the joy he got out of it.
"Nah, they're not. I know my son."
"They don't see each other much anymore, of course he's going to want to catch up with her tonight."
"Yeah and maybe get his charming act in place, that he learned from his dad."
"Oh really?" Juliet couldn't help but laugh at how sure her husband was in this moment. "He got that from you?"
"Yep. So watch out, James might not be the only one with a kid soon." Matt teased while nudging Juliet's side however, he did not get the same amused response back.
Instead, her mouth literally dropped open as she began shaking her head.
"No, Matt. Don't say that, stop it."
"What? James committed to his first real girlfriend, Hunter might too... unless he's like me."
While Matt continued to joke around, Juliet wanted to stop him from speaking. He was easily seeing this as something exciting while she was just filled with dread at the thought.
Juliet still saw Hunter as her baby. It didn't matter how much he was growing up and getting on with his life, she was watching it through a misted lense. Watching James get his own life away from them was a big enough deal, she needed to hold the rest of her kids that little bit closer if she could.
She also loved Phoebe but right now, couldn't think of anything worse than being connected to her family. Occasional family dinners with the Lawrences had been great but imagining them with the Carters seemed a little more daunting.
"Can you please go and find him, Matt? We should probably get going." Juliet sighed, looking down at her phone for the time.
"Oh, so now you say we should leave!" Matt remarked, taking a guess of why she wanted to get out of here.
"We need to get back to Mason, he's been with my mum for hours."
"He'll be fine, anyway you have someone who clearly wants to speak to you." Matt began as he glimpsed up to see Sophie heading this way. "So I'm going to run for it now and make myself a drink to save any awkward conversations."
Before Juliet had chance to argue with her husband, it was too late and he was already gone. Watching him walk away, Juliet's eyes then moved over to Sophie and she was suddenly filled with nerves once again.
It had been years since they had spoken and this woman now felt like a stranger. She didn't know how they could possibly hold a conversation unless it just consisted of the past and that wasn't their best topic to discuss.
"Thank you for being here... I really didn't expect it." Sophie announced as she took a seat beside Juliet.
She didn't want any of this to be awkward but it seemed as though it was already too late for that. She hadn't spoken to most of the people in this room for years yet now here they were and she wasn't sure how to handle it.
"I'm glad I came, I really did want to see you." Juliet replied honestly. Although she was nervous and had been dreading every second, being in Sophie's presence just reminded her of a friendship they once had and some of the good it had caused.
It was clear that Sophie was feeling the same as there was a flash of vulnerability in her eyes. As she looked at Juliet right now, she saw the girl she had always seen as her little sister. She was the girl that Sophie had felt the need to protect and be there for while they were growing up.
Although she had failed her so many times, they still managed to find a way to reconnect. Therefore, Sophie was hoping they would have that chance again.
"I'm sorry about not getting in touch for so long." Sophie muttered, purposely not speaking too loudly. She knew she had to explain herself yet she wasn't exactly sure how to go about it. "I just found that distancing myself from Brighton was the easiest thing to do."
"I understand that. I just wish it hadn't have been that way. I want you to know that we never took Aaron's side, it wasn't like that..." Juliet was attempting to explain herself too before Sophie cut her off.
"I know, honestly you don't have to say anything about it. It all just got blown out of proportion."
Nodding her head, Juliet looked down to her hands that were entwined together through the nerves. It was such a weird feeling sitting here and speaking to her after so long. They were both different people and that made them feel like such strangers now.
"You seem really happy. As much as I've missed you, the distance must have done good things."
Letting a smile form across her lips, Sophie appreciated the outlook Juliet was able to take on it all.
"They did."
"Your business for one? I don't need to ask really, I've seen your face everywhere!" Juliet emphasised with a teasing tone to her voice yet watched as Sophie scrunched up her face.
"I'm proud of everything I've done but the attention is something I don't enjoy... believe it or not." She laughed considering she had never been one to shy away from attention growing up.
Juliet couldn't help but laugh along too at the fact she was able to admit that. She knew that it was always about the work and passion for Sophie yet she did think that she would have enjoyed the perks that came along with it too. Things clearly had changed for this girl who had spent her whole life being the center of attention and loving every second of it.
"I'd love for you all to come and see my offices and that though. They are insane!"
"That would be amazing and FYI I definitely have a few things from your collection hanging in my wardrobe... I couldn't resist." Juliet teased and watched the genuine joy spread over Sophie's face.
It was as though she was surprised by that, yet no matter what happened between them they would always support one another through everything.
"So what about you? How's everything?" Sophie asked and Juliet was pleased to finally be able to answer that question with much more content.
In the past she usually had a long list of problems to share yet now she felt like that list was most definitely reducing. She was much more secure in her relationship with Matt, she had beautiful children that were all doing well in life, and she finally had a calmness she had been longing for her whole life.
"Everything is good... really good."
"With a brand new baby?" Sophie nudged her side playfully and appreciated the genuine happiness falling across Juliet's face.
She hadn't yet met Mason but she knew how badly Juliet always wanted that happy family unit. She loved children and convincing Matt to have more hadn't always been an easy task however, it seemed as though things had definitely changed.
"Honestly, he is the most precious human I have ever laid my eyes on." Juliet mused as she had a sudden urge to have him cuddled into her arms right now.
"I bet." Sophie smiled and as Juliet was about to respond, soaking up this genuine side of Sophie that was so calm and interested, voices suddenly interrupted them.
Those voices belonged to a certain group of individual's who had played such a huge part in Sophie's past, that it would be a real test to see if she remained so composed.
It was difficult to tell if she had genuinely changed into this calmer individual who was truly done with the spotlight and the drama. It could easily be questioned if this was just a cover up she had created to distance herself from the past that would haunt every aspect of her new life if not.
Therefore, being faced with her old group of friends, which just screamed trouble would be a great way to see if the truth broke through.
"Sophie Carter! We never thought you'd step foot in this country ever again." Zaiden called out as he immediately urged her into a hug.
"Hey, it's good to see you all." Sophie replied, while remaining completely cool and it was clear that even this group of friends picked up on it too.
"You're looking good... the years are treating you well. Damn!" Alex added while holding Sophie at arms length to study her body from head to toe.
"Obviously, I do." Sophie remarked with a teasing look over her face, momentarily flashing to that side of her that they all knew very well.
However, it was very short lived as she composed herself once again and attempted to take a seat back down beside Juliet. Unfortunately though, she wasn't quite given much chance when the one and only Kaia Tate came charging through the crowds and straight into her arms.
Almost stumbling back, Sophie was able to regain her balance before being fully enveloped into the biggest hug possible.
"Oh my God, I missed you!" Kaia began before she got lost in her own voice and couldn't seem to stop. "It's been way too long! Too much has happened that I needed to speak to you about. Fuck, I can't believe how well you're doing and your new husband is hot, Soph. Seriously, what an upgrade."
"Kaia." Sophie bit, trying to bring her to a stop and she succeeded for a matter of seconds.
"Sorry, I'm just so excited to see you. This doesn't feel real."
"I missed you too." Sophie laughed before glimpsing behind Kaia to see Corey, Nate, Daxon and Alexis making their way over too.
Everything about this moment was incredibly overwhelming. Although she was genuinely happy to see all of their faces, it was such a strange experience too. Hearing them speaking and seeing them in the flesh once again was making her feel as though nothing had changed.
They were still the same group of sarcastic lads who liked to make comments she didn't always appreciate. They were all still attached at the hip as though they were a group of teenage boys rather than grown up men.
While Sophie had done everything to try and distance herself from the drama of her 20's, she was beginning to wonder if that would be possible.
"I have so much to update you on. Don't worry, you'll be up to speed in no time." Kaia spoke, squeezing Sophie's hands as a gesture of reassurance. However, it wasn't reassurance that Sophie wanted.
She didn't want to be 'updated' because that implied she was still associated with this clique that caused more drama than anyone else she knew. She wanted to keep the distance and look in from the outside while keeping her new life in tact and not allowing any of her past demons to come back and haunt her.
"Yeah, we're going out for drinks on Friday. You should come." Corey suggested and Sophie felt like she wanted to be swallowed up by the ground in that moment.
"Please tell me you don't still go to those shitty clubs."
When the guys began to snigger and playfully nudge each other, Sophie began to panic that maybe that was a discrete way of saying yes. However, Kaia was quick to butt in as she rolled her eyes at their childish ways.
"No. It's just a drink or two at the pub down the road. It's more age appropriate now." She grinned. "But you do have to come!"
Glimpsing over at the guys and back down to Juliet, Sophie noticed that look on her face. It wasn't disappointment but it was pretty close to it. Juliet had been on the verge to believing this new and calmer side to Sophie however, seeing the temptation on her face proved that she was finding it difficult to say no.
"Okay, I might be there. I'll let you know."
While the group appeared incredibly enthusiastic, Sophie seemed a little more unsure. Therefore, when they left to go and get another drink, Juliet was able to make her input.
"You didn't sound so keen about hanging out with them." She observed and Sophie looked back at her in shock.
"It's not that. I do want to." She bit, clearly offended and not wanting Juliet to catch on with what was really going on here. "I was just surprised they are still going out like that."
"I guess a pub isn't like you all did before, you've all grown up. It must be a little more drama free now." Juliet remarked yet was immediately shocked at her own comment, being unable to stop herself.
She was trying to figure out what was going on with Sophie and it seemed pushing her was the only way. The walls she had held up by blocking Brighton out were clearly coming down and she obviously wasn't too pleased about that happening.
"Yeah, well I'll speak to you later." Sophie brushed the comment off as she stood to her feet once again. "But we'll have to hang out sometime."
There was no telling whether that suggestion was genuine or not however, Juliet wasn't given any time to think about it. Sophie was gone within seconds, not taking anytime to finish their conversation.
It wasn't obvious what was going on with this girl but it just confirmed to Juliet that she was the one living the easiest life right now. Jess had been telling her about her dilemma with the gang and now Sophie was back and showing cracks in the perfectly changed cover she had created for herself.
For once in their lives, Juliet could be the one to sit back and appreciate having absolutely no troubles. She was able to enjoy her kids and also her husband, who her relationship with had never been better.
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