Beautifully Wrong - Rafe Cameron

I

Chapter I: life in the country club
warnings: foul language.

The air inside the country club was always stifling. The mix of heavy colognes, perfume, and the constant chatter of Kooks talking about their latest trips, investments, and social exploits was enough to make Indiana Wheeler's skin crawl. She stood behind the polished bar, her hands mechanically polishing a glass that was already spotless. Her eyes flicked over to the group of well-dressed Kooks gathered at one of the high tables near the window, their laughter loud and obnoxious, as usual.

Another day in paradise, she thought sarcastically.

The country club was a place where Kooks—wealthy, privileged, and often arrogant—felt at home. For Indiana, it was just another place where she had to put on a fake smile and pretend she didn't hear the condescending remarks or feel the judgmental stares. It paid the bills, though, and that was all that mattered. At least that's what she kept telling herself.

"Hey, Indie, can you grab me another bottle of Glenlivet?" one of her coworkers, a girl named Molly, called from the other side of the bar. Molly was nice enough, but she didn't have to deal with the patrons as much as Indiana did.

"Sure," Indiana replied, setting the glass down and heading to the back. The walk-in cooler was a blessed relief from the stuffy club, and she took a moment to enjoy the cool air before grabbing the bottle.

As she made her way back to the bar, she overheard one of the Kooks, a guy about her age, bragging to his friends about how he had just closed a deal on a new boat. The way he spoke, like it was the most natural thing in the world to drop thousands of dollars on a whim, made her stomach turn.

She slammed the bottle down on the counter, a little harder than necessary, earning a surprised look from Molly. Indiana didn't bother explaining. The Kooks were too wrapped up in their own little world to notice the annoyance simmering beneath her forced smile.

"Thanks, Indie," Molly said, quickly taking the bottle and heading off to serve the drinks.

"Yeah, no problem," Indiana muttered under her breath, her eyes following the guy with the new boat. He had that smirk on his face, the kind that said he was used to getting everything he wanted without lifting a finger. She'd seen it a million times before.

The worst part was that she knew she'd have to serve him, and his type, over and over again. They never saw her as anything more than a server, someone who was just there to cater to their every whim. It made her blood boil.

By the time her shift ended, Indiana was more than ready to get out of the club and away from the entitled rich kids. She changed quickly, throwing on a hoodie and jeans, and headed out the back door. The fresh air outside was a welcome change from the artificial atmosphere inside, and she took a deep breath, letting the cool breeze clear her head.

She was supposed to meet up with John B. and JJ at The Wreck, the local hangout where they could actually relax and be themselves. No Kooks, no pretenses, just good food, cold drinks, and the people who really mattered.

As she walked, her mind wandered back to the club, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration. She hated that place, hated everything it represented. The Kooks acted like they owned the world, like nothing could touch them, and it was exhausting to be around. But she needed the money. Percy was doing his best, but they both knew they had to contribute to keep the roof over their heads.

When she reached The Wreck, John B. and JJ were already there, sitting at their usual table near the back. They looked up as she approached, and JJ's face lit up with a grin.

"Indie! You look like you've had a hell of a day," he said, sliding over to make room for her.

"You don't know the half of it," she replied, dropping into the seat beside him. She leaned back, closing her eyes for a moment as the tension in her shoulders began to ease.

"Country club Kooks giving you a hard time?" John B. asked, though he already knew the answer.

"When aren't they?" Indiana replied, opening her eyes and giving him a wry smile. "I swear, if I have to listen to one more guy brag about his new boat, I'm gonna lose it."

JJ chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "You're better than me, Indie. I don't know how you deal with them every day."

"It's not like I have much of a choice," she said with a shrug. "But enough about that. What have you guys been up to?"

"Not much," John B. said, leaning back in his chair. "Just trying to stay out of trouble."

"Failing miserably," JJ added with a smirk.

Indiana couldn't help but laugh. "Sounds about right."

They spent the next couple of hours talking and joking around, the weight of the day slowly lifting as they shared stories and teased each other. Being with John B. and JJ always made things better. They were like family—no, they were family. The kind that had her back, no matter what.

By the time she left The Wreck, it was late, and the streets were quiet. She pulled her hoodie tighter around her, the night air cooler now, and started the walk home. The country club felt like a distant memory, pushed aside by the warmth of her time with her friends.

Still, as she walked, she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that always came after a day at the club. It wasn't just the Kooks and their attitudes; it was the constant reminder of the gap between their worlds. They had everything handed to them on a silver platter, while she had to scrape and fight for every little thing.

It wasn't fair, but then again, life never was.

When she finally got home, the house was dark and quiet. Percy must have already gone to bed, and she tiptoed down the hall to her room, careful not to wake him. She was exhausted, her body aching from the long day, but her mind wouldn't let her rest.

She lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, her thoughts drifting back to the country club, to the faces of the Kooks who looked right through her like she didn't exist.

But she did exist, and one day, she'd show them just how much.

A/N:
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and don't worry, rafe will come in soon

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