𝐄𝐂𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐘 || RAFE CAMERON

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Gianna stared numbly at the clock hung on the wall in front of her, eyes paralyzed on the longest pointer amongst the three, ticking and tocking the seconds away, in hopes it would distract from the immense tide of nausea that flooded through her.

She took small sips of the black coffee in her mug, the bitter, yet sweetened taste, helped keep down whatever was threatening to jump up her stomach, shoot through her esophagus and spew all over the kitchens counter.

The honey blonde couldn't remember the last time she felt so viciously hungover. Being no more than five foot two, and with a raging phobia of vomit, she'd usually watch herself when it came to alcohol.

Even before she had established the hypocritical bylaws that kept her from touching a bottle of alcohol, she still couldn't get past three drinks without stumbling over her own feet.

But yesterday, yesterday... was much more of a pile of blurred up splotches in her mind than anything else. And if Gianna was being truly honest, she could barely remember how she got home.

She was certain she had seen Alana Brock at some point of the night, yet images of the eldest Brock sibling flashed through her mind. She couldn't tell whether they were real memories, or just one of the multiple dreams she had that night.

She could always just text him, just to be sure he was the one who had brought her home. But Gianna couldn't help but think of how embarrassing it would be if she was wrong.

Her phone vibrated beside her mug, and the honey blonde would be lying if she didn't faintly wish it was Rafe who had texted her.

But, God— why did she hope it was him? After almost digging a hole in the ground and burying herself in it due to embarrassment caused by him? She felt this need, this craving for his touch, a hold she never realized he had over her until she was deprived of it.

He'd text her practically everyday, inviting her to his house. The motive was always the same one, and maybe Gianna would feel slightly bothered by it before. But now that Rafe was practically MIA for almost two days, she knew that, if he were to ask her to go to his house, she wouldn't feel uncomfortable at all.

Though, picking up her phone and glancing at the screen, she felt disappointment creep up on her as she saw a simple instagram notification.

Gianna let out a soft sigh, rubbing her hand over her face. She clicked on the message, the dismay in her slightly dissipating as she actually read the notification.

Adrien Brock had requested to follow her.

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The country club was packed, Gianna and her mother could barely find a place to sit and order their hundred dollar pieces of lettuce the club called a salad.

But, it was Saturday, which meant Gianna could lay back from waking up so early and go to sleep at three in the morning if she wanted to (which was always unlikely unless she had a function to go to).

And even so, Gianna could never fully relax. Especially once her mother ordered a cocktail for brunch, which would most likely be the first of many.

And Gianna knew what happened after her mother drank.

But she plastered on a smile as the waiter brought over her vodka cocktail and swallowed down the anxiety and frustration that came along.

Though she could only keep up her facade for so long, because after the second, the third and final cocktail, Gianna couldn't help but roll her eyes at whatever came out of her mother's mouth.