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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♥︎
Vanessa stood in front of her mirror, her phone propped up on her dresser as she video-called Sarah. The two were getting ready together for Topper's party, even if they weren't physically in the same place. It was their tradition—talk, laugh, and make jokes while they did their hair and makeup, like they used to when they were younger. Sarah was at her own place with Kiara, who was also going to the party, but they still made the effort to connect.
"Are you sure I should wear this?" Vanessa asked, holding up the blue dress they had bought a few days ago. The fabric shimmered under the light, hugging her body in all the right places, but still, she hesitated. It felt bold, like she was drawing too much attention to herself.
Sarah laughed, shaking her head as she adjusted her own hair in the camera. "Vanessa, if you don't wear that dress tonight, I'm never going shopping with you again. It's perfect! Plus, you're going to knock everyone dead, especially that Paul dude you hooked up with a while ago."
Vanessa rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "I don't know if I'm trying to get his attention."
"Yeah, sure you're not," Sarah teased, leaning closer to her camera. "Just trust me, you're going to look amazing."
With a sigh of acceptance, Vanessa pulled the dress off the hanger and began slipping into it. The silky material felt cool against her skin, a stark contrast to the warmth building in her chest. It wasn't just the idea of the party making her nervous; it was the idea of Rafe, and what tonight could mean for them. Their hug a few nights back still played on her mind, but she pushed it away, trying to focus on something else.
As she adjusted the dress in the mirror, Sarah's voice broke through her thoughts. "Oh, by the way, did you hear about Joyce?"
Vanessa raised an eyebrow, curious. "No, what?"
Sarah leaned back in her chair, a smirk on her face. "Apparently, she's grounded for a whole month. Her parents took her phone too. I guess they finally found out what she posted about you. Serves her right."
Vanessa's heart did a little flip, half in relief, half in shock. A month? That was some serious punishment. "No way. I mean, I'm glad, but... wow."
"Yeah, so you won't have to worry about her tonight. She won't be there, obviously." Sarah winked. "So, no more drama from that front."
Vanessa smiled at that, finally feeling a little more at ease. The thought of running into Joyce at the party had been one of her biggest concerns, but now that was off the table.
"Good," she said, smoothing her dress down and grabbing her makeup brush to finish up. "Honestly, I just want to have a good time tonight. It's been too long since I've gone out and... well, maybe I'll even get laid." She chuckled at her own joke, though a part of her wasn't entirely joking.
