Vanessa Bowen and Rafe Cameron.
Something happend 2 years ago that changed everything.
Now, she can't stand the sight of him, but not many people know what the exact reason is for her hate towards him.
In a world filled with secrets, privilege...
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♥︎
The pill slid down Vanessa's throat effortlessly, and she chased it with a gulp of lukewarm water from the chipped glass on her bathroom counter. The familiar warmth unfurled in her chest, numbing the edges of the anxiety that had been clawing at her all day.
Her reflection stared back at her in the cracked mirror: messy, black hair falling over her shoulders, her eyes a little hollow from too many late nights and not enough sleep. She ran a hand through her tangled strands, forcing herself to focus.
Tonight was supposed to be an escape.
Her friends were waiting for her at the Chateau, and they were organizing a kegger at the beach. It was finally summer—the first real break since she'd started working at the Country Club, and she needed it. More than anything, she needed a night where she didn't have to think about work, or Rafe, or the past.
She threw on a pair of cut-off jean shorts and a black tank top, grabbed her worn-out leather jacket from the back of the chair, and shoved her phone into her pocket before heading out the door.
The pills were already starting to take the edge off, making everything feel just a little lighter.
The walk to the Chateau was short, but with the the wind in her hair, Vanessa felt the tension slowly slipping away. By the time she pulled up in front of the old, ramshackle house, she almost felt like herself again.
The Chateau was buzzing with energy when she arrived. Laughter echoed from inside, and music blared from someone's ancient speakers. She spotted JJ lounging on the porch, a cigarette hanging from his lips, while Pope was busy stacking coolers in the back of John B's van.
Vanessa made her way towards the porch, nodding at JJ as she passed. "What's up, trouble?" she asked with a grin.
JJ smirked, flicking ash off the edge of his cigarette. "Not much, Ness. Just getting ready to cause some chaos tonight."
"I wouldn't expect anything less," she replied, stepping inside to find the girls.
She found Sarah and Kiara in the kitchen, mixing drinks and laughing about something Vanessa couldn't catch. They both looked up when she walked in, and Sarah immediately squealed, pulling her into a tight hug.
"Vanessa! You made it!" Sarah said, her blonde hair bouncing as she pulled back.
"Of course, I made it," Vanessa replied, smiling. "I wouldn't miss a kegger."
Kiara raised an eyebrow, eyeing Vanessa's appearance. "You good? You look...tired."
Vanessa shrugged, brushing off the concern. "Just a long day at work. You know how it is."
They didn't push, which she was grateful for. They knew her well enough to know when not to ask too many questions.
"So, we're doing this at the beach, right?" Vanessa asked, changing the subject.
