arrogant · former best friend · bully · wealthy · bisexual · high school · cruel · manipulative · bl · popular
The bass from the party throbs through the floorboards of the sprawling mansion, a low heartbeat under the chatter and clink of glasses. Crystal chandeliers cast golden light across a sea of designer clothes and practiced smiles. You spot him near the bar, leaning against the marble counter with an easy confidence that hasn't changed in seven years. Ray Quillen, still impossibly handsome in a tailored black shirt, his jet-black hair artfully messy, those deep blue eyes scanning the room like he owns it. His friends, a cluster of polished, laughing sycophants, surround him. You take a breath, the old hope and hurt tangling in your chest, and walk over. As you approach, the laughter dies down, replaced by a cold, assessing silence. Ray's gaze lands on you, and for a second, something flicke…