𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐤|𝟏𝟖+

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓

𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐤 |
𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

𝐀𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐀'𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃 rested in my lap, her dark hair spilling across my legs as she toyed absentmindedly with the edge of her notebook. We were tucked away in the school library, hidden in the quietest corner. It was our little escape after nights like the one we'd just had.

"So, did he live up to expectations?" Adriana asked with a sly smile, her voice low so no one nearby would hear.

I rolled my eyes, fingers absently playing with the ends of her hair. "He was the same as the others. Not even worth mentioning."

Adriana sighed dramatically, draping an arm over her eyes. "Same story, different day.
Why are all the men we meet so predictable?"

I laughed softly, though it felt forced. "Because they're all the same. Just looking for a way to escape their miserable lives." But as the words left my mouth, my mind flickered back to the look on the man's face as I walked away from him. There was something almost pathetic about it. The way he handed me a wad of cash like it could buy back his self-respect.

Before Adriana could respond, movement caught our attention outside the library's transparent doors. My eyes narrowed as I saw Sofia and Rafe standing in the hallway, their smiles too wide, their body language way too familiar.

He had his hand on her hip, pulling her in close, making her giggle like she was the only girl in the world. That went fast.

Adriana propped herself up on her elbows and raised an eyebrow, mirroring my thoughts. "Well, that didn't take long."

I shrugged, trying to appear indifferent, but something twisted in my chest. I wasn't sure why. It wasn't like I cared who Rafe flirted with. He could have all the girls in this school wrapped around his finger for all I cared. Still, something about the way Sofia looked at him, like she thought she had him all to herself, bugged me.

Adriana's eyes flicked up at me. "You good?"

"Yeah," I said, pushing her off my lap gently. "I'm gonna grab that book for English. Be right back."

I stood, smoothing down my skirt as I walked toward the bookshelves, trying to shake off the feeling gnawing at me. It didn't matter. Rafe didn't matter. He was just another arrogant asshole in this school full of them. I needed to focus on what actually mattered—me.

As I trailed my fingers along the spines of the books, searching for the one I needed, I felt a presence behind me before I even heard him speak.

"Running away from something, Catalina?"

I froze for a split second, then turned slowly, already knowing who it was. Rafe stood there, leaning casually against the shelf with that same cocky smirk I was starting to despise. His eyes flickered over me, lingering just a little too long on the spot where I'd tried to cover up the hickeys from last night with makeup.

I lifted my chin, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. "What do you want, Rafe?"

He took a step closer, the smirk never leaving his face. "I was just curious. Looks like someone had an interesting night."

I crossed my arms, my jaw tightening. "What I do with my time is none of your business."

His eyes glinted with something that almost looked like amusement. "Sure, but those bruises on your neck are kind of hard to miss." He nodded toward my throat, where I knew the makeup was starting to fade. "Trying to keep up appearances, huh? What would daddy think?"

The nerve. I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to stay calm, though every word out of his mouth grated on my nerves. "Careful, Rafe," I said quietly, stepping toward him. "You're getting way too interested in my life for someone who barely knows me."

He didn't back down. Instead, he leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Maybe I just like figuring people out."

I scoffed, shaking my head. "You don't know a damn thing about me."

Rafe chuckled softly, the sound sending a shiver down my spine even though I hated that it did. "Maybe not. But I've seen enough. All that perfection—it's all fake, isn't it? You're just as messy as the rest of us."

I stared at him, anger flaring in my chest. He didn't know me. He didn't understand anything about me. But the fact that he even thought he did... that he thought he could see through me... made me want to push him even harder. "You think you've got me figured out?" I said, stepping so close to him that I could see the flecks of green in his eyes. "You're nothing, Rafe. Just another guy who thinks he's got the world at his feet."

His smirk disappeared for a second, his eyes flashing with something darker, something more intense. But before he could respond, I turned on my heel, walking away before the tension in the air could suffocate me.

As I made my way back to Adriana, my heart was still pounding in my chest. I wasn't sure if it was from the anger or something else. Something I didn't want to admit.

𝜗𝜚

A couple of days passed without a word from Rafe. I avoided him, and he avoided me-just the way I liked it. Still, it was impossible not to notice how quickly he'd become a permanent fixture in our group, thanks to Sofia. Everywhere she went, he was right behind her, arm slung casually over her shoulders or whispering something in her ear that made her giggle.

It irritated me more than it should, but I wasn't about to admit that to anyone. Instead, I pretended like I didn't care, even when I saw them laughing together every morning.
I had bigger things to focus on-like getting through school and keeping my life from spiraling any further.

The house was quiet—finally. Sundays were supposed to be my day of peace, a day where I could just forget about everyone, about everything. I had my favorite movie playing in the background, the kind that I could watch a million times and never get tired of. I was sprawled out on my bed in nothing but panties and an old baby tee, just comfortable enough to melt into the soft sheets.

Then the doorbell rang.

I groaned, rolling over and glancing at my phone. Maria probably forgot her keys again. She always did.

Reluctantly, I slid off the bed and padded downstairs, not bothering to change. I'd open the door, hand Maria her keys, and head back to my room. Easy.

But as soon as I pulled the door open, my stomach dropped.

It wasn't Maria.

It was Rafe.