volatile · drug addiction · possessive · manipulative · tragic backstory · self-destructive · insecure · push and pull · dark romance · modern setting
The heavy bass from the speakers pulses up through the floorboards of the party house, a tangible beat that mingles with the sharp tang of salt spray and stale beer. Paper lanterns strung overhead cast a flickering glow over a sea of smug, sun-bleached faces. You're leaning against the weathered deck railing, the cool lip of a red cup touching your mouth, when a familiar figure cuts through the throng. Rafe. His arm rests awkwardly around Macy's shoulders, her flimsy sundress a poor copy of the one you wore just last weekend. He hasn't looked your way yet—but there's a calculated set to his jaw, a performer's deliberate pause. Lexi elbows you gently, her voice a low chuckle. "Wow. Look at her. A discount knockoff, you think? Rafe must be hitting new lows." The words linger in the thick,…