Hey, y'all! It's been a while, huh? Sorry about that! Okay, well, before I get into the new chapter I need to discuss something with y'all. Okay, I got a pretty long winded message about my latest chapter and I want to clear something up...in my story, Lauren is suffering from PTSD and depression. The person who sent me the message said that it was "stupid and unrealistic" for Lauren to have a breakdown at school the first day she goes back.
But, actually it isn't. Lauren has so much going on in her life and she suffers from triggers. She suffers from a fear of being abandoned (which we'll see more of soon) and for that reason it's going to take time for her panic attacks and breakdowns to stop. And yes, lovely person who sent me the message, both Camila and Frankie will be helping Lauren through it along with her other friends. So I'd love it if you stuck around for the rest of the journey, I really hope you'll like it.
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Vanessa released a low moan of pain as her back made contact with the lockers behind her, her brown eyes darting upward in terror as she was met with the fuming gaze of Ben Foden, his jaw locked and his nostrils flaring with anger as she swallowed hard and attempted to school her terrified expression.
"Hey, Foden. What's up?"
"Don't you dare fucking hey me right now, you freak." Ben snarled as he stepped closer to her, his palm making contact with the locker beside her head as he glared down at her. "Who do you think you are?"
"Well, I think I'm Vanessa White." Vanessa replied before furrowing her brow as she glanced up at him with a worried expression watching his eye twitch in response. "Wait, are you telling me that I'm not Vanessa White?"
"Shut the hell up, you freak." Ben snarled as he latched his fingers around the lapels of Vanessa's brown leather jacket, whirling her around to toss her against the wall across from them with a scowl. "What are you doing hanging around Una?"
"Why does it matter?" Vanessa grumbled as she stood upright, wincing at the pain in her back before brushing her hands over the front of her shirt. "I would also appreciate if you didn't throw me into walls, Foden. Una probably wouldn't like it."
The feeling of skin meeting skin was something that Vanessa couldn't describe; whenever her skin met with Una's, it was soft and always full of affection. It was a feeling she craved, the redhead was always so gentle with her, treating her like one wrong move could shatter her into a million pieces and moving so slowly around her.
When Ben's skin met hers, her right cheek flamed with pain causing her to release a soft gasp as she raised her hands to cup the swelling flesh. Her eyes filled with tears, tears she didn't want the boy to see as she dropped her head in shame before raising her gaze once more to watch the angered rugby player.
Ben glanced from his hand to Vanessa in disbelief, his hazel orbs softening as he stepped towards her only to have her leap away in response as she continued to rub at her aflame face; a raw fear spread through her once more as she watched him closely, noting the way he continued to shake his head as he glared down at his hand.
"Vanessa, I'm sorry..."
"It's fine, get away from me." Vanessa grumbled as she reached up to touch her swelling cheek, wincing lightly as she narrowed her eyes at the boy. "I didn't do this to hurt you, Foden. I hope you realize that."
"Shut up, Vanessa." Ben ordered, the softness leaving him as he narrowed his eyes at the girl before shaking his head. "I don't know what she sees in you, but I don't care. Stay away from her, she's mine."
"Look, Foden, you can have her." Vanessa assured him with a roll of her eyes as she held her hands up a silent effort to stop his rant. "She picked you anyway, don't worry. We ended our little fling the other day."
