Kiara excitedly presses send on the message, smiling to herself as she watches the photo load onto the message before it goes through.
Ding
She hears her phone ping, the digital birthday invitation attached to a "Make sure you RSVP! Can't wait to see you there!" message. She stares at the colorful invitation for a few beats, the giddy child-like excitement rising.
She tosses her phone on the mattress beside her, lying on her back and squealing as she brings her knees to her chest. She's been waiting for this moment for what feels like an eternity.
Her 17th birthday.
From the ages of 13 through 14, you're still considered too young to do anything majorly fun. When you're 15 through 16, you're given a little more freedom, but still watched by your parents.
When you're 18, you're now considered an adult and people expect you to act as one. The fun is over and now you have to find a job, buy a house, and pay bills.
But 17 is the perfect age.
You're not too young or too old to have fun. You can drink without many people batting an eye. Teenage things, they'd say with a shake of their head. You can date without disapproving stares, and you can come home past curfew only to sneak into bed and pretend you'd been there the entire night.
Your parent's eyes aren't on you at all times.
14 is too young to be without parental supervision, and at 18, your parent's voices are always in your ear pressuring you to begin building a life for yourself.
But at 17, no one really cares what you do.
It's a perfect age.
When ranting to Sarah about how excited she was about planning her 17th birthday, Sarah insisted over and over again that Kiara held her party at the Cameron's house. The brunette had been reluctant but the blonde pressed on, not giving up without a fight.
"It's perfect, Kie!" She'd smiled. "My dad and Rose will be out of town next week! My house is really spacious and the wine cellar is fully stocked..."
Sarah had wiggled her eyebrows, and Kiara would be lying if she didn't admit that the wine cellar was the reason Sarah was able to convince her. Kiara had decided, with the help of Sarah, that she wanted to have an all-girls slumber party with a few twists, risky party games, and vodka shots.
But before Kiara had fully agreed with Sarah's offer, she had to check on one thing...
"Rafe isn't going to be home either, will he?" She questioned her best friend with a squint of her eye. "Because you know how much I hate him..."
"Don't worry, he's never home." The blonde merely dismissed with a shrug.
Kiara raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Sarah..."
The blonde blinked once, locking eyes with Kiara. "He won't be there, I promise."
And the brunette left it at that. Sarah had given Kiara her word, and Kiara trusted her enough not to contest any further.
However, no one truly knew the reason why Kiara Carrera and Rafe Cameron hated each other so much. Although many had their guesses and opinions about it, the mystery remained unsolved.
No one had a clue as to why the two never seemed to be able to get along even in the smallest vicinity. But everyone knew for sure that Kiara Carrera and Rafe Cameron crossing paths was never a good thing. Almost every interaction between the two would end in a contest to see who could make the other storm off in a fit of rage first.
