Julian James,

[Caleb Blackwood]

Oh, I'm sure it had absolutely nothing to do with Ainsley, or the guy who was clearly flirting with her. He was attractive, but I purposely didn't acknowledge his existence because I only wanted to talk to Ainsley. Also, I have never seen that guy around before from what I can recall, so he must have like, already graduated or something. Just thought I'd keep you updated, since apparently you can't stick around for five minutes in the Tamarisk and like the great friend I am, I'll always fill you in on what you've missed in Ainsley's life, even though you don't care. Obviously.

Never again refer to sex as a tour of someone's bed. Merlin, you're such an amateur. I can't even look at you.

Caleb

[Julian Delaire]

It didn't. Get off your high horse. I don't care if Ainsley was flirting with someone else or not. She's free to flirt with whoever she wants. Why would I care?

Blackwood, this is not the proper reaction to hearing your best mate's had sex. You owe me a congratulatory cake next time I see you, to be honest.

Oh, and because I know you're curious - yeah, it was pretty amazing, thanks for asking.

Julian

[Caleb Blackwood]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW You're such a fucking mess.

You can take the non-existent congratulatory cake I give you and go fuck yourself.

I'm just going to leave you to your post-loss-of-virginity bliss, then. Don't bother writing back.

Caleb

P.S. Almost forgot to mention - thanks for the opening, I've been meaning to ask Ainsley out on a proper date for ages.

[Caleb Blackwood]

Dumb-fuck,

I have absolutely no reason to be writing to you again, except for how Ainsley has just informed me that you two hung out earlier today. I don't know happened between you two, and if it wasn't Ainsley, I honestly wouldn't care. All I do know, though, is that she seemed like she was in a pretty good mood when she wrote to me about it, and I think it'd be really great if you could get your act together and stop fucking leading her on. Just because I'm unaware of the details of this afternoon doesn't change how well I know you and what a complete dick you can be. Don't be any more of a piece of shit than you already have been. I’m warning you. You'll regret it.

Caleb

[Julian Delaire]

Look.

I know I can be a dick. But I didn't do anything to Ainsley. We just hung out and talked and smoked and it was really and had a nice time, okay? I know you're protective of her did you ask her out are you guys but I haven't done anything like leading her on. We're just friends. This isn't a hard concept, mate.

If you want a fucking written apology from me for having sex with Astraia, you're gonna have to ask for it.

Julian

[Caleb Blackwood]

How am I supposed to believe you? I'm sure you don't think you did anything to her, but your definition of not doing anything and a normal person's definition of not doing anything are very different. You know why? Because you're stupid and you don't think things through before you do them and then in the aftermath you just pretend like what you did means absolutely nothing. You've clearly forgotten that I know you. It's all going to come back and haunt you, mate I swear. And by 'it,' I mean your brilliant decision of sleeping with Astraia. I have nothing against Astraia, honestly, but if you could engage in some serious fucking self-reflection for a moment and just admit, not even to me, just to yourself, that you might have feelings for Ainsley, this whole life thing might get a little bit easier for you. And me. I'm so beyond exhausted of this denial shit you keep trying to pull. I will do anything to get you to admit that you fancy her I'll even admit that I fancy Addie Except no

Also I I'm sorry for how I reacted Can we be friends again We can fix this

Caleb

[Julian Delaire]

Well, you could maybe believe me because we're best friends but. Whatever. You know, maybe you're right. You probably are. I make stupid decisions and I hurt people and it's awful. Look, I didn't plan on sleeping with Astraia, and if I hurt you or Ainsley in the process, I didn't mean to do that either. And I'm not convinced I could hurt her by that because that would involve her caring who I sleep with, but you're mad at me, so. I'm sorry.

And if Ainsley is mad at me, if she ever finds out about this, well. I mean, you're right. I wouldn't want her to be mad at me. I don't want her to be mad at me. And I'll apologize if she is, but. I don't think she would be. I know you're convinced she likes me, but honestly. You're right about me being a dick and making stupid choices and pretending nothing's wrong, so why would she like me? She could definitely do a lot better, you know.

Julian

[Caleb Blackwood]

Okay, I’m sorry. I really am. Please don't make a big deal out of this, but I’ll admit that I might have overreacted a bit. You have to understand, though, that it’s only because I care about Ainsley, and moreover, I care about you, which I also think you forget sometimes. I just want what’s best for you, and I hate seeing you confusing yourself when I know how you really feel deep down.

I honestly don’t know if Ainsley will be mad, but I wouldn’t go as far as saying she absolutely won’t care either. And I’m sorry to say that she is going to find out, and probably soon. Someone has to tell her and it wasn’t going to be me so I told Addie to Wow please don’t hate me, because I think she deserves to know, at the very least, even if you two are just friends. At least you’ve admitted that you’re more than occasional study partners. That’s progress.

I hope for everyone’s sake that Ainsley isn’t too mad, but whatever happens, we’ll figure it out, I promise. You might think she deserves better, but that doesn’t change the fact that she wants you.

Caleb

P.S. Addie wants me to tell you to sleep with your eyes open. I’ll come over and sleep at yours if you feel like it’s a valid threat.

[Julian Delaire]

A bit? You mean a lot. Thanks for the apology. I know you care, but, you know, I'm old enough to handle the consequences of my own actions. And...I'll figure stuff out with Ainsley. If she finds out. If you told her. I don't know. I'm not going to hurt her if I can help it, though. You should know that.

Ainsley doesn't want Why would she By the way, I see you and Addie have been talking. How's that going? I hope you haven't made too much of a fool of yourself yet.

Julian

P.S. I'm not scared of Adaline Beaumont. But you can come over if you like.

[Caleb Blackwood]

Yeah, but sometimes I'm not too sure about that. You don't even know what the consequences are going to be yet, so I'd stay on the safe side and not assume that you'll be able to easily handle it. Just saying. I didn't tell Ainsley, by the way. I might have told Addie, who will probably tell Ainsley. Please don't get angry Don't hate me. I sure as hell hope you won't hurt her. You're walking a dangerously thin line, mate, let me tell you.

Oh, it's going, you know, we're just planning on me and her and Ainsley meeting for dinner sometime so we can get to know each other better. I mean me and Addie, obviously, because we both already know Ainsley. She actually suggested that you could come along, too, come to think of it, but bear in mind that that was before I told her about your thing with Astraia. However, I suddenly don't care about how she could react to your presence because a) you might deserve some of the shit she gives you, sorry to say, and b) I think you'll definitely need to come with so it's not just me sitting there helplessly third wheeling Ainsley and Addie, as that would be unfortunate and a huge destruction of my self-esteem. I don't know what you're talking about, I never make a fool of myself.

Caleb

P.S. I will probably come over, but as to how soon, it totally depends on whether or not your mum's made dinner yet.

[Julian Delaire]

Fine, if I can't handle it, I promise I'll ask for your advice. Well, that definitely explains Addie's last few letters to me. I don't hate you but look, if you get wind that Ainsley is upset with me, let me know and I'll write to her, okay? I wasn't trying to hurt her or anybody, you know. I was just I don't know what 

Wait, so, you're going to have dinner with Addie Beaumont? The girl you've been crushing on for, like, two years? And you're inviting her best friend oh my god what's wrong with you? Just ask her out already! Especially if you didn't want to third-wheel for her and Ainsley... I'm kind of tempted to let you at this alone since you won't screw up your courage like the wannabe Gryffindor you are. But maybe I'll come as damage control for when you inevitably trip over your own feet or walk into a wall in front of her. Or worse. We'll see if I'm free that day.

Julian

P.S. she's making it right now, so hurry up if you want food while it's hot.

[Julian Delaire]

Okay, so. Apparently, I can't handle it. Ainsley is pissed off and I don't know what to do or say and it feels like our conversation would be better face-to-face but I'm like 110% sure she doesn't want to see me at all right now or ever and help me.

Julian

[Caleb Blackwood]

Wait, what's Ainsley saying? Exactly how pissed off is she? Merlin, what did you do to set her off? Aside from the obvious, of course. Let's not get into that. And just take a deep breath, okay, I'm sure it's not as bad as it sounds. She can't just not want to see you again, that's not like her. Then again neither is the angry letter she sent me when I was over at yours

Also, this might not be the best time for this, but can I quickly say I told you so? Because I did. Tell you so, I mean.

Caleb

[Julian Delaire]

Uh, she's being really passive-agressive about how I...slept with Astraia and then we almost I kinda she and I hung out with her and. The stuff that happend. We might have shotgunned. I don't know I just don't know what to do.

It seems pretty bad, okay? Yeah, she said she would be fine hanging out with me but judging from everything else she said, I kind of doubt that's the truth. Which means she doesn't want to hang out with me. Which kinda sucks. I mean, theoretically, I could live with that but. It would suck. So. Help me?

You're right. It's not the best time jesus fucking christ.

Julian

[Caleb Blackwood]

JULIAN JAMES DELAIRE, WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK? You shotgunned? With Ainsley Rickett? After you slept with Astraia Yaxley? Have you completely lost it? Why am I just finding out about this now? Way to make me seem like an ignorant idiot - what Addie told me about Ainsley's reaction to you having sex with Astraia suddenly makes so much more sense than it did before. Like it wasn't bad enough already, wow, way to give the entire world a confirmation that you're leading Ainsley on. I don't want you to get pissed off with me because I'm saying this now, either, I just need you to understand. YOU HAVE BEEN LEADING AINSLEY ON. That might have something to do with why she's pissed at you.

Well, you can't just ignore her passive aggressiveness forever. You have to make it up to her somehow. Apologize, maybe? But that would involve acknowledging that you made a mistake. I don't know if you're up for that, but it might be a good place to start if you want to hang out with her again.

So I was right, and you were wrong? This is how good communication works, mate, we might be making some progress.

Caleb