𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐎𝐒 | SPINOFF

CHAPTER ONE

________

AVERY
RAVEN
_________

About one summer. Ninety days. That's all it takes. And everything changed.

Stepping back into my house after being gone all summer was like being stabbed straight in the heart. I could feel the weight of it—this place, this miserable existence—I hated it here. The air inside felt heavy, suffocating, thick with the stench of resentment. Avalina was sprawled out on the couch, sipping a beer like she was queen of this rotting palace.

I forced out a mumble, "Hello."

She didn't even bother to acknowledge me. Just shot me a venomous look, eyes sharp and filled with that familiar disgust, before getting up and walking past me. "Your mom and dad won't be home until nine," she spat, her words as bitter as the stale beer on her breath.

Great. No one here to greet me. No warm welcome. Nothing.

My phone buzzed, pulling me back from the emptiness of the house. I glanced at the screen—a message from the girls' group chat. My heart lifted slightly, the only light in this godforsaken place.

MARCELLA:
OMG! Avery, we can see your location, you're back in town? Manhattan missed you!

LILY:
We're all at Marci's, come over! Please! Don't even think about giving us an excuse, summer was a nightmare without you.

STELLA:
Weirdly, I even missed your dirty jokes.

MARCELLA:
STOP LEAVING US ON SEEN! Come over. My parents are dying to see you. Also, Stella, where are you? Please don't tell me you're with my brother and his friends. You're making me nervous.

STELLA:
Just smoking with your brother. BRB. Aves, come home to us, babe.

I smiled, a hollow thing, but it was something. Shoving my phone in my pocket, I grabbed my bike and pedaled as fast as I could. My body moved on autopilot, navigating the streets to Marcella's mansion—my only safe haven in a city that felt like it was constantly trying to swallow me whole.

When I reached the gates, I hesitated for a second, staring up at the looming Victorian structure. The memories... they hit me like a storm. The night we all met. The things we did. The things we became.

I sighed, biting my lip, pushing away the thoughts that tried to creep in. It's been a whole summer. Get over it.

The guard at the gate recognized me immediately, offering a polite, "Miss Raven, welcome back. Mr. and Mrs. Crist are expecting you." His warm tone felt so out of place, like it didn't belong in my world anymore.

I nodded, offering him a strained smile before running toward the open French doors. Inside, the house felt like a dream, like stepping into something too perfect, too pristine for someone like me.

I grinned when I spotted Marcella's mom sipping wine with her husband. "Your favorite friend is here!" I squealed, jumping beside her on the couch, wrapping my arms around her like I used to. But the joy felt fragile, like it could crack at any second.

"Oh, baby! We missed you. It's been so long," she cooed, pulling me into one of her tight hugs. Too tight. I could feel the air leaving my lungs.

"You're gonna kill me," I croaked, half-laughing, half-choking. But the truth was, part of me didn't mind the suffocation.