𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈 everyone knows who she is. Worldwide model, covered in many vogue magazines, walked catwalks, and runaway. But people don't know what happens behind the curtains. Despite the many scandals that have plagued her reputation...
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I woke up to the harsh afternoon light filtering through the blinds of the empty dorm room. I blinked, disoriented, my head pounding with the remnants of a rough night. When I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, a groan escapes my lips—I had slept through school. The day was nearly over, and I hadn't even left my bed.
Cursing under my breath, I tossed the phone aside and hurried to get dressed. I threw on a pair of tiny black biker shorts and an oversized hoodie, the loose fabric hanging off my frame as I pulled the hood over my head, trying to shield myself from the world. Without wasting another second, I slipped out of the dormitories, hoping to avoid any curious eyes.
The parking lot was nearly empty, save for a few cars. My gaze landed on my black Porsche, a sleek and familiar comfort in an otherwise chaotic day. I slid into the driver's seat, the leather cool against my skin as I started the engine. The roar of the engine was soothing, and I took a deep breath before pulling out of the lot, my thoughts racing as I drove.
The familiar sight of the nearby diner came into view, and my anxiety spiked as I pulled into the parking lot. I knew the group would be there—they always were after school if we wanted to grab a bite. My grip tightened on the steering wheel, but I pushed the hesitation aside. I couldn't hide forever.
Steeling myself, I stepped out of the car and made my way to the diner's entrance. The bell above the door chimed as I walked in, the familiar scent of greasy food and coffee filling the air. My eyes quickly scanned the room, and sure enough, there they were—Jayden, Travis, Lucas, Chloe, and Bella—sitting around their usual booth, laughing and talking as if nothing was amiss.
I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders before walking over to the table, my expression carefully neutral. As I approached, the conversation at the table slowly died down, and all eyes turned to me.
Chloe was the first to speak, her tone concerned but with a hint of playfulness. "Well, look who finally decided to join us. We were beginning to think you'd run off to join the circus or something."
Bella chimed in, her voice teasing. "Or maybe she just had a super intense beauty sleep session."
I forced a small smile, trying to play along despite the tension coiling in my chest. "Yeah, something like that," I said, my voice a little too flat.
Jayden scooted over, making room for me to sit down, and I slid into the booth next to him, my gaze flickering to Lucas for a brief moment. He was sitting across from me, his expression as unreadable as ever. He didn't say anything, but there was a slight shift in his eyes, something almost imperceptible, that made my stomach twist.
Travis leaned back in his seat, raising an eyebrow at her. "Missed a hell of a day, Winter. You okay?"
I shrugged, trying to seem casual. "Just wasn't feeling it today."
Chloe frowned slightly but didn't push further. "Well, as long as you're alright. You know you can talk to us if something's up, right?"
