after hours. | r.c.

ten

-☆-

I SAT THERE, bored out of my mind, surrounded by girls who were too busy reminiscing about high school or blabbing on about their perfect little college lives. as if i cared. i had no interest in joining the conversation, and i couldn't fake it even if i tried. my mind was elsewhere—stuck on rafe, as it always is. that twisted, fucked-up mess of a guy. i'd been avoiding him all night, but it was useless. i could feel his eyes on me like a bad habit i can't break.

"valerie?" caulem or whatever her name was dragged me out of my trance.

"mhm?" i muttered, barely bothering to look at her.

"how's college?" she asked, grinning like she just won some award for perfect teeth or something.

"uh, it's... fine," i said, forcing a smile so fake it could probably shatter.

"did you join any sororities or clubs?" another girl, caspian, chirped. really, who names their kid caspian? like some wannabe fairytale character.

"just volleyball and the surf club. that's about it," i mumbled, feeling my eyes wander, searching for him again.

she gasped, her eyes lighting up like i'd just announced i cured cancer. "i heard you're, like, the best player for the bruins volleyball team!"

i shrugged, trying to suppress an eye-roll. maybe if i didn't smoke so much, i'd actually care. but before i could say something snarky, i spotted rafe slipping out of the club, his buddies trailing behind. then, i saw jj. goddammit. not again. those assholes just couldn't leave him alone.

"excuse me," i muttered to the girls and bolted, not caring if they thought i was rude. my heels clicked across the floor as i pushed through the crowd, shoving people out of the way without a second thought. maybe one of them would fall and break something. that'd be funny as hell.

my heart was pounding, and not in a good way. this wasn't adrenaline—this was pure, unfiltered rage. i just wanted one night, one fucking night, where i didn't have to play babysitter to these idiots.

i searched the halls, every corner, but they were gone. "what the actual fuck?" i muttered.

"mrs. stromfield!" i called out to the old woman at a table nearby. "did you see a bunch of guys run by?"

she looked up, her face lighting up in recognition. "ah, mrs. bouvier! so sorry to hear about your parents. how are you?"

jesus christ. i didn't have time for this. "i'm fine. have you seen a group of boys?"

"uh no, if you ever need anything i-"

before she could continue, i heard shouting from the men's locker room. i didn't even wait for her reply and took off, practically sprinting. when i got there, jj was being dragged out by security, his face looking like he'd been hit by a truck.

"jj?" i gasped, horror washing over me.

"val! you look stunning!" he grinned, even though his lip was busted. "meet me outside!" he shouted as the guard pulled him away, and i stood there, helpless, while all the other boys looked on, smirking like they'd just won a prize.

rafe was standing there too, looking too damn smug for his own good. "come to see the show?" he sneered.

"liar," i spat, turning to follow jj. it hurt, but i'd known the truth all along. rafe hadn't changed. i was just stupid enough to hope he had.