Boundless

Chapter7

“I walk into the club like everybody hates me.”

                                         --Chainsmokers, Everybody Hates Me

“Seb, we’re leaving in 5. You sure you’re not coming?” Robert’s voice jolted Sebastian out of his reverie. Robert and Jordan were going out to a party at a friend’s place. Friend being a very loose term because of the kind of “friends” they had. Sebastian had his headphones plugged in, eyes closed, mind some place far, far away from here. He was, unfortunately, brought to the present.

“Seriously, guys. You don’t have to ask me that every time you go out. I’m good.”

“You’re not good, you’re alone,” Jordan said.

Sebastian groaned. “For the millionth time, I prefer being alone.”

Jordan just shrugged before they left him alone. Sebastian didn’t prefer it.

He checked his social media to give him an illusion of company. He opened his public account. People had tagged him in all sorts of fanart. There were hundreds, if not thousands of messages confessing from girls and guys of literally all ages confessing their undying love for Sebastian.

He ignored all of it.

Then he saw another set of posts.

Sebastian clenched his jaw, his hold on the phone almost punishing now.

Don’t open them. Don’t open the. Don’t open them.

He opened them.

Courtney Alexander still claims Sebastian Daniels had his way with her, even after she said no.

Since he was, apparently, a masochist, he clicked on another post on that thread.

A source, who claims to have seen them together in the hotel together late at night, said Sebastian was touching Courtney “inappropriately.”

Screaming, he threw his phone on the other end of the room.

He started rewatching Dark, a show he’s been obsessed with lately, to take his mind off bullshit that was his life.

Not two minutes later, he heard the sound of a notification coming from where his phone was lying on the floor. Since he could only think of one person who’d send him a text on his anonymous account, he quickly put the show on pause, scrambled off the couch to retrieve his cell. He was surprised it wasn’t broken and maybe also thankful. Just a little bit.

Sophie: Hi, DJ Daniel. It’s Saturday night. Where are you partying tonight?

Sebastian would deny it, but if you were there, you’d catch his grin. He had lied about being a DJ, obviously. It was the first thing that came to his head. He didn’t want her to know who he actually was. He didn’t want his work to influence whatever this thing was between them.

Daniel: Having a blast in my bedroom. So much fun.

Sophie: Wait, really?

Daniel: Uh huh. Pancakes at night, Netflix in the background, alone in my room…living the life.

If only.

Sophie: That’s sad.

Daniel: I beg to differ

Daniel: What are you doing?

Sophie: I’m babysitting a neighbour’s kid

Daniel: And you said my Saturday night is sad.

Sophie: Touche. At least I’m not alone!

Daniel: Who said I am alone?

Sophie: You did.

Daniel: Right.

Daniel: Well, I don’t mind being alone.

Sophie: I don’t mind doing a lot of things. Doesn’t mean I enjoy them

Daniel: We’ve barely had two conversations. ON TEXT. And you think you know me.

Sophie: My bad. I don’t think I know you. I actually think it’s very hard to do that on text because we’re putting on our best, extremely refined persona forward. Not the whole thing…not the bits that actually matter.

Daniel: What do you think actually matters?

Sophie: the sucky parts. Everyone likes everyone’s good part. You gotta like the sucky part to actually like the person

Daniel: quite presumptuous of you to think I like your good parts, Princess.

Sophie: You wouldn’t have been talking to me right now, if you didn’t

Daniel: Then you wouldn’t have been talking to me either.

Sophie: I wouldn’t

Daniel: oh

Sophie: yeah

Daniel: Maybe I’m bored. Maybe I’m too lazy to find another show on Netflix and I’m using you to pass my time.

Liar, liar pants on fire.

Sophie: Maybe I’m bored babysitting a little girl who wants to do nothing but munch on carrots.

Daniel: Maybe you are.

Sebastian was maybe a little disappointed hearing that. Just maybe. But what else was he expecting?

Daniel: How was your day?

He sent off the message before he could second guess himself. Then he looked at his fingers in surprise. Sebastian didn’t ask polite questions, people asked him.

It took Sophie a good few minutes to reply. Maybe she was shocked too

Sophie: Not bad. Was hanging out with friends and recording a new cover.

That got him excited.

Daniel: Yeah?

Sophie: Yep, I’m covering Tough Love by Bad For You, since the last song by that band got me pretty decent engagement.

That was one of the first songs Sebastian had written for the band. It was also one of his favourites.

Daniel: That’s cool. When are you posting?

Sophie: Chloe wants to edit it this time, make it more “polished”, so a couple of weeks maybe? She’s extremely busy.

Sophie: I’ve taken your “expert advice” into consideration, so hopefully this one doesn’t suck.

Daniel: Can’t wait.

He genuinely couldn’t.

Daniel: So is Chloe one of your friends?

Sophie: Yeah, she’s my best friend. Her and Emma.

Sophie: What about your friends?

Daniel: Hey, I gotta go.

Sophie: Alright, good night.

Daniel: night.