Ragged✔|18+

TWENTY ONE

REYNA

That thing that older people say about enjoying your younger years because they're the best you'll ever get to experience? That's nothing but a lie.

I'm just from a shower, laid out on my bed with a bag of chips, and a bunch of other snacks as I watch a comedic bit on my laptop. A couple of notifications pop up on my insta's window, but it's mostly the celebrity pages I follow. All in all, it's a sad way to spend a Saturday evening.

I'm laughing at something the main lead does when my phone buzzes and lights up with a text. Confused as to who would be texting me right now, I stuff my mouth with a handful of chips and open up the tab displaying Serena's name.

What are you doing right now?

I'm lame enough to admit that I'm rusty when it comes to conversing with friends, let alone forming friendships. So this whole thing with Serena is kind of new. She's peppy and popular, that much is true, which begs the question of why she's even bothering with me? Now, I have to worry about using the appropriate emojis when texting.

I sit up, dusting my hands on the blanket, before typing,

Watching a show

She texts back almost immediately,

Okay, I'm en route from Daphne's, and we're picking you up. Wear something cute

I feel my throat clog up with panic. What does she mean she's picking me up?

What?

Pin your address, we're going out

I can feel a headache starting to form, so I try to come up with an excuse. I type back,

I don't think I'm going to

She calls less than a second later.

"Girl, get up," is her greeting. "You're not getting out of this. Your excuses are outdated."

"I'm not feeling well," I try again.

"Not going to work. Do you want to watch as your youth slips away, watching trashy shows and wishing you had fun when you were younger?"

Okay, she didn't have to say the truth. "No?"

"Exactly. Come on, it'll be fun, I promise."

I gauge my options. The show is still playing on my laptop, and I have enough snacks to get me through the night. Plus, my bed is warm and comfy. However, I have to admit that my life is taking a depressive trajectory, and wallowing in angst isn't going to make time stop.

"Okay. I'll send you my address," I say and laugh when she squeals into the phone.

"Great! I'll see you, then. Bye!"

After she hangs up, I jump into action and raid my closet, trying to find something 'cute', as Serena suggested, to wear. My wardrobe mainly consists of street casual — jean skirts, jean shorts, jeans, oversized button-down shirts, vests, a couple of summer dresses Lexie bought for me. I settle for one of the jean skirts and vests, throwing over an oversized shirt.

Ensuring I have everything in my bag and everything's good with my hair and makeup, I head downstairs, thankful that no one's home, and I don't need to inform my dad about my whereabouts. I'm passing by the family room when someone calls out my name. Or, more specifically, my dad calls out my name.

"Reyna?"

I hold back a groan. I thought he was out of town. At least, that's what Jax told me. I suck in a breath and let it out slowly before walking back and entering the room. Jax and dad are there. So are some staff and outside catering arranging a table full of various foods.