"I can't believe you guys did that." Kat said, shaking her head as she sank deeper into the plush chair in the corner. "I'm not even mad at you, Shea, I'm just... I'm in shock."
"All we did was make money." Maddy pointed out, shrugging nonchalantly. "And we deserve it. We've been through enough."
"He's gonna flip when he realizes it's gone," BB added with a grin. "I can't wait to see the look on his face when we tell him we sold it all."
"He might actually beat Shea's ass." Kat frowned, but there was a hint of amusement in her voice. "He's got a temper, you know."
"Nobody fucking cares." Shea snapped. "He deserves it. He got away with so much worse." She reached over and took another shot of tequila, downing it in one go. "I'm just glad we finally did something about it." She glanced over at Maddy and BB, a small smile playing on her lips.
"That was kinda fun." BB grinned, taking a sip from her drink. "I mean, stealing is bad. But like, that was exhilarating." BB giggled, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "It felt good to take something away from him after something he took from us."
"What did he take from us?" Kat asked, her voice quiet. She looked at each of her friends in turn. "I mean, yeah, he cheated on her and lied, but did any of us even actually like Cassie that much?"
Maddy shrugged. "I mean, yeah, she was our friend, but... she always had backstabbing tendencies. We just didn't realize how bad it was until..." She trailed off, finishing her drink.
"I wanna do more." Shea declared, her voice slightly slurred from alcohol. "I wanna keep taking things away from him. I wanna make him feel the way he made us feel. I want him to know what it's like to have nothing left."
"Shea, sit your ass down." Kat sighed, reaching over to grab her friend by the arm. "We're not doing that again. We got what we wanted, and now we need to move on. Don't make this into something more than it is. It's just a stupid guy and some stupid jewelry. We're better than that."
"No. It's more than that. He took my best friend. He lied to me. Made me look like a fucking idiot." Shea yanked her arm free from Kat's grip. "I'm not just gonna let him get away with it. I want him to hurt the way he hurt us. I want him to know what it feels like to lose everything."
"Can we not?" Kat asked, her voice a mixture of exasperation and worry. "Look, I get it. He was a dick. But we can't go around trying to make him miserable. That's not who we are. We can't let him change that about us."
"Says who?" Maddy chimed in, her tone challenging. "Let's do something else. Something like ... we can sneak back into his house and ruin all of his shit." Maddy glanced at BB who was already nodding in agreement.
Kat was panicking. She knew they couldn't keep doing this. They had already gone too far. But she also knew that Shea was on a mission, and there was no stopping her. Maddy and BB were on board with her as well.
So an hour later, they find themselves at his Tarzana mansion. The coast was clear. All they had to do was get inside and wreak some havoc. Shea pulled out a crowbar from her bag and grinned wickedly. "Let's do this," she whispered.
As they walk into his large home, Shea smiles darkly. With a determined look on her face, Shea begins to smash the TV with the crowbar. Glass shatters and pieces of the TV fly everywhere. The others join in, destroying his Xbox and Playstation.
"Damnnn." BB lets out a satisfied laugh as she throws a lamp against the wall. "This feels so good."
"Guys -- we can do this at a rage room or something." Kat suggested, her voice shaking slightly. "We don't need to destroy his stuff."
But there's no use arguing with Shea when she's on a mission. Shea ignores Kat and heads over to his expensive sound system. With a savage smile, she swings the crowbar with all her might. The sound system crumbles under the force, leaving the room eerily silent.
Shea heads upstairs while BB takes the basement and Maddy takes the first floor. They spread out, destroying everything in their path. It's a satisfying rush of power and anger.
But as Shea reaches the bedroom, she freezes. There, on the dresser, is a picture of their unborn baby's ultrasound. The photo she gave him after she got the abortion. She swallows hard, feeling a pang of guilt. Was this really worth it? She looks around, tears starting to form in her eyes.
But the anger comes back up again, and she turns back to the dresser. With one final swing of the crowbar, she destroys the photo frame.
Kat just stands by the front door, going around the large house and making sure nobody's coming. She feels terrible for what they're doing, but she knows there's no stopping Shea now. They've all gone too far.
🌑
Exactly two weeks later, Shea is home alone while her little brother, Henley, is asleep upstairs. She's been unable to sleep herself, her mind racing with guilt and regret. She decides to go downstairs and make herself a cup of tea when she hears a loud thud outside.
Then the door bell rings. She cautiously peeks through the window and sees a large, expensive-looking car in the driveway. Her heart sinks as she realizes who it must be.
As she opens the door, Chris stands there, looking calm and collected. "Shea," he says coolly. "I was hoping to talk to you."
He must know what she and her friends did in his house and to his chains. The anger in his eyes makes her tremble. "What do you want, Chris?" she asks, her voice shaking.
"What did you do?" Is all he says before pushing his way past her into the house. She shuts the door and follows him into the living room, feeling trapped. "What did you do?" he asks again, turning to face her. "Did you really think it was going to make me regret what I did?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." She says, tears starting to well up in her eyes. "I just wanted you to know how much it hurt."
"You are so fucking stupid sometimes, you know that?" he says, his voice tight. "You think I didn't know that?"
"No. You just up and left and took her to fucking Mexico around your kids." She cries out, anger bubbling up.
"You didn't want anything to do with me. There was no point in me begging you to forgive me." He says, walking closer to her.
"So you take her to Mexico?" she asks, her voice breaking. "You think that makes it better?"
"You didn't even give me a chance to explain!" he shouts. "You just jumped to conclusions and then you and your little friends went and did this!" He gestures. "What the fuck did you think would happen? That I wouldn't find out?"
Shea's eyes narrow. "I thought you deserved it."
Chris takes a step back, looking shocked. "Deserved it? You call this deserved? You destroyed my home, my possessions. How could you do that?"
Shea makes a face. "Don't act like you're innocent." She says, pointing a shaky finger at him. "You knew what you were doing. You knew it was going to hurt me. You just didn't care."
"How about I destroy your shit?" He walks towards the kitchen island where her phone is still sitting. Before she can react, he picks it up and throws it across the room. It lands with a sickening crack on the floor. Shea's eyes widen in horror.
"Is that what you wanted?" He asks her, his voice cold. "Well, you got it. You wanted me to hurt, so I hurt you back. You wanted to destroy my shit, so I destroyed yours. Is that what you wanted? Is it enough now?" He steps closer, his face inches from hers. "Because if it isn't, I can keep going."
He snatches her pearl necklace off her neck, throwing it across the room. Shea covers her chest, feeling naked without it. He reaches for the cross she wears around her neck, but she flinches, grabbing it protectively. "Don't," she whispers.
"Don't what?" he snaps. He pulls at the chain, forcing her to let go. He examines it, then throws it after her phone. She watches helplessly as it falls against the wall.
He studies her face for a moment, his expression unreadable. He pauses, shaking his head. "I should have known better than to get involved with someone like you. Always so fucking immature and you don't even know how to take care of yourself." He turns and heads for the door, his steps purposeful. "I hope you're happy now."
Shea looks after him with tears in her eyes. How can he hurt her and then flip this around onto her? He's the one who did all those things. She knows he's lying about not caring. She knows he's just trying to make her feel worse. She can't believe she let herself get so caught up in her anger that she didn't think about how he might react.
She grabs a knife and throws it in his direction. Henley, having just come down the steps, thirsty, screams as he sees the knife hit the wall, getting stuck right next to Chris's head. The older man whirls around, face red with anger.
He knows it's a warning shot. Shea has just made it clear that she isn't going to take this lying down. His blood is boiling, and he feels a surge of adrenaline course through his veins.
He narrows his eyes at her, locking the door behind him. "Don't ever fucking do that again," he growls. "You don't know what you're messing with."
Shea just holds back tears, shaking her head. She doesn't know why he has to be so cruel.
"Fucking do something about it then." Shea yells at him. She's challenging him, daring him to make the first move. "You're the one who always says you're in control. Well, prove it."
Henley stands in the corner, watching this all unfold with a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach. He knows that there's no way this can end well.
"Um ... guys?" He says, tentatively. "Maybe we should just calm down for a second?" But neither of them seem to hear him. All they can focus on is each other.
"Get out." Shea says, pointing to the door. "Get out of my house." Her voice is shaking, but there's an edge of steel there too. She's not going to back down.
His hand flexes at his side, like he's fighting the urge to reach out and hurt her. Then he opens the door and slams it shut, leaving her alone with Henley.
"Are you guys not together anymore?" Henley whispers, feeling like he's intruding. He glances back and forth between them, confused. Shea shakes her head, still staring at the closed door. "He's not the person you thought he was." She whispers. "He's just... not."
Henley pouts, looking at her with sympathy. "Well, he's still your boyfriend, you know." He says gently. "Maybe you should try talking to him again?"
"No, Henley. Just forget about him." She says, her voice suddenly harsh. "He doesn't deserve me." She starts to pace the room, her hands twisting into fists. "I should have never let him in."
🌑
"I want to suck your cock while you look down at me, with your hands in my hair. I wanna feel you throb and jerk in my hands while you moan and pull my hair as you cum all over my titties and my face," Cassie whispers as she sits in Chris' lap, "and I'm gonna keep stroking you as your body shakes, and I'm gonna kiss your tip like this," she pecks his jawline and his cheek, "I want you to fuck me so hard. I want you to push my arms back and grab my hands, and hold them down over my head,"
"I want to hear you breathing hard and grunting as you pump your cock in and out of my tight pussy.
I want you to pull my legs up and place my ankles on your shoulders and give it to me hard and fast," she gives him light kisses on his cheek, "and I want you to fuck me like I've never been fucked before, because I know you can do it," she bites his lip.
They say God puts people in your path for a reason, just when you need them. I say he has shitty timing. Why did he make us meet when he did? Just to be cruel? Just to fuck with us? Just because he could.
Cassie hums a sweet tune while she unbuckles his belt. Her eyes glance up into his, "am I everything you wished for?" She asks, grabbing ahold of his hardness and stroking up and down, slowly but with so much passion, it almost burns them both.
"I would love for you to fuck me, whenever and however you want. You can control what I wear, what I eat, who I walk to," she whispers, laying a gentle kiss on his tip, "I want every guy you know to wanna fuck me, but they can't, because they know I'm yours. I belong to you and I will never complain, because I trust you know what's best."
"Christopher, I'm yours." She declares and he rests his head back, biting his lip as he slips into the feeling of her warm and wet mouth swallowing him whole. But when he closed his eyes, he saw someone else. Someone who he immediately gravitated towards.
He could see her standing there in that dress. And he saw her staring back at him as she let the dress fall free from her shoulders. He could feel himself moving, he could feel himself walking towards her as she smiled at him slyly.
And at the same time, he's moaning and his eyes are rolling in the back of his head while Cassie sucks and strokes him. She notices how much he's into this; how his fingers are gripping the couch.
As the pleasure in his lower half intensifies, he sees Shea's face. Now she's on top of him, bouncing on his dick while he lays there, looking up at her. He can't help but reach up and grip her bouncing breast. He swears he can feel her tightness around him.
"Ah fuck...." he moaned, moving his hips upwards to fuck Cassie's mouth. Cassie feels proud, thinking shes the reason for his pleasure -- but she wasn't. "Ahhhh... Cassie... ahhhh..." he groaned, finally coming in her mouth.
All he can think about is Shea -- Shea and her perfect body and those soft brown eyes. He thinks about how she'd look with his cum on her face and in her hair. He thinks about how she'd taste on his tongue and how she'd feel wrapped around him, moving on top of him.
How she sounds when she moans, her voice so sexy and sultry. He wishes he could be with her, fuck her like he's never fucked anyone before. She's the one he wants. But he can't leave Cassie like this. She thinks she has him... she thinks she knows him... she doesn't even know what's going on in his mind.
Later that night, as Shea approaches her bed to open the white box with blue ribbons, her eyes widen when she sees the Birkin bag sitting there. Her fingers tremble as she reaches out to touch it, but she's afraid to. Afraid that if she does, it'll all be a dream. She carefully pulls the bag open and gasps at the sight of the expensive lingerie inside.
And a note: 'WAIT FOR ME. - Chris 💟'
Shea's heart races, her breath coming in short gasps. She can't believe it. Chris wanted her all along. He didn't want Cassie. And now she has to decide what to do. Should she meet him tonight? Or should she play it cool and wait until tomorrow? Her mind is in turmoil, but her heart knows what it wants.
On the note, his address is there ... so it's obvious he wants her to wait for him at his place. Her heart is aching but she feels so numb all the same. She picks out a matching set of lingerie from the box, making sure to take the tags off. Shea slips into it, wanting to look her best when she finally sees him.
She looks at herself in the mirror as she slips her top on, her fingers tracing over the lace that covers her chest. Her breath catches in her throat as she imagines it's his fingers doing the same. She runs her hands down her hips, feeling the lace of the thong against her skin, and can't help but wonder how it would feel with him inside her.
It's a thought that both terrifies and excites her. She decides that she has to meet him tonight. She has to see him. She has to feel him. She takes a deep breath, gathers her courage, and grabs her keys. It's time to find out if this is all real.
He may have broken her heart, but her legs still force her to drive all the way across the city to meet him. And when she finally reaches his house, she can't help but wonder if he's waiting for her, just as anxious as she is. With shaking hands, she gets out of the car and walks up to the door.
He opens the door, looking her up and down, his eyes lingering on her exposed skin. Shea's heart pounds in her chest as she takes in the sight of him. He's wearing nothing but a pair of jeans, and his chest is bare. He looks so strong and so sexy. She takes a tentative step forward, closing the distance between them.
They don't talk to each other -- just a mutual understanding as he slams her down onto the edge of his bed, his lips finding hers. His hands grasp at her body, pulling her closer, as he fucks her with a brutal force that she both craves and fears.
She can feel his anger, especially when he wraps a hand around her throat and pushes her down onto the bed. She's terrified but also thrilled by the power he has over her. It feels so good to be wanted like this, to be desired so intensely. She clings to him, her fingernails digging into his back as she arches her hips into his movements, meeting him stroke for stroke.
He growls, thrusting harder, faster. She can feel the headboard slam against the wall behind her as he loses control. He's going to come, and when he does, she's not sure if she'll survive it. But she doesn't want to survive. She wants to feel everything he has to give her, all the pain and pleasure and passion that he has locked up inside.
He is persistent in his beating of her body, his thrusts deep and hard. He doesn't seem to care about hurting her, about making her scream in agony. All he cares about is making her his, claiming her as his own. And as he does, she feels herself begin to lose control, her body tensing and shuddering beneath him.
It's a feeling that he's remembered -- carved into his memory, etched into his soul. He knows that she's close. They are at the point where he can practically taste it, feel it on the tip of his tongue. And he's going to be there, waiting, when she finally gives in to the pleasure, when she finally surrenders to him.
Her whimpers are like a drug to him, only making him thrust harder, faster. He wants her to feel it, he wants her to know that he's the one who's in control. He's the one who makes her feel this way, and it's a power that he's not about to give up anytime soon.
The power over her -- over his body, over their emotions -- is intoxicating. It's a drug that he's been craving for years, and now that he has it, he doesn't want to let go. He's going to hold onto this moment, this connection, for as long as he can.
He can just go back to hating her later. Right now, he's just going to enjoy the way she feels beneath him. He's going to enjoy the way she gasps for air, the way her nails dig into his back, the way her hips buck against his. He's going to enjoy every second of this.
Shea on the other hand, is feeling more emotional as she gets closer. Her body is aching, her muscles are on fire, but she doesn't want it to end. She wants him to keep going, to keep pushing her, to keep making her feel like this.
Tears slip from her eyes -- but he doesn't care. He doesn't see them as weakness. He sees them as a sign of her surrender, a sign that she's giving in to him. And with one final thrust, he feels himself release inside her, his body shuddering with the force of his orgasm.
She can feel his warmth flood her, can feel him grow still on top of her. For a moment, there is silence, as they both catch their breath. But then, she hears it. The voice inside her head, the voice that she's been trying so hard to ignore. It's calling her name, begging her to come back.
And she knows that if she keeps giving into him -- the life knows as well -- that she'll never find her way home.
He doesn't say anything as he pulls out of her and drags her to the end of the bed, flipping her over onto her stomach. She can feel him behind her, his erection pressed against her ass. She knows what's coming, and despite her better judgment, she can't help but want it. She needs it.
He sits there -- letting her feel it -- almost like he's taunting her, saying 'I still got you' before finally sliding inside her again. This time, though, it's different. This time, it's rough and demanding. She can feel his teeth scrape against her shoulder as he bites down in anger, in frustration.
She cries out, arching her back as he takes her from behind, claiming her in the most intimate way possible. He's relentless, merciless, and she's powerless against him.
Her nails literally rip the blankets from the bed as she tries to find purchase, something to hold onto. She needs something, anything to anchor her to the moment, to keep her from slipping away. But it's no use. His hands are everywhere, possessive and controlling, as he fucks her from behind, thrusting deep and hard.
She can feel him everywhere. All over her. He's all over her -- everywhere inside her, everywhere outside her. She's drowning in him, lost in him. And she doesn't want to come back up for air.
It's going to be a rough night with him. There's no doubt about that. But she's willing to endure it, if only for a little while longer. Because she knows that once this ends, once he lets her go, she'll be back to where she was before -- alone and lost.
🌑
"I had sex with him." Shea blinks -- the words leaving her mouth like a whisper. "I had sex with him last night."
Maddy, Kat, and BB all freeze at the sound of her voice. There's a pregnant pause, and then Kat slowly asks, "You...what?"
"Bitch! You fucked him?!" Maddy shrieks, her voice high-pitched and shrill.
"It was more of like -- he fucked me," Shea says. She looks down at her hands, remembering how they were held above her head. How he moved inside her, taking her again and again. "It was like -- a goodbye thing."
"Did we miss something? Did he not cheat on you with your best friend for months and lie to you?" Kat asks. "I think she's just trying to make excuses for him, y'all. I mean, she's been doing that since the beginning." She shakes her head. "I'm sorry, Shea, but I just can't believe you."
"I didn't mean to!" Shea defends herself. "It just happened."
"His dick slipped into you on accident?" BB asks, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Girl, come on. You wanted it just as bad as he did. You knew what you were doing."
"I dunno what to tell y'all." Shea bites on her acrylic nail, already regretting what she said. "He was right there. It was like...it was like it had a mind of its own." She winces, knowing how dumb that sounds. "It's just...I don't know. I feel like shit."
"I thought you said you were serious about not going back to him." Kat crosses her arms, clearly annoyed.
"I am -- technically," Shea holds a finger up. "I didn't go back to him because, we're not like boyfriend and girlfriend so -- it doesn't count as that." She shrugs, hoping that they'll buy her lame excuse. "It's just a mistake. It won't happen again."
"That's what they all say. And then he'll come back and you'll just fuck him again and again." Maddy explains, her voice dripping with venom. "You're just his little side piece, Shea. You gotta stand up! Stop being weak in the knees for him."
"I'm not. I-- I mean, I'm trying." Shea's voice cracks, her heart racing as she thinks about what Maddy just said. "I don't want to be like that. I want to move on and forget about him." She looks down at her lap, unable to meet their eyes. "It's just...hard."
"Hard? You know what was hard? His dick when it was in you yesterday." BB leans in, grinning. "I bet you couldn't even breathe. You probably thought you were going to pass out from all the pleasure."
Shea grimaces. "Shut up." She grins a bit, shaking her head.
"Welp. Thats that. They're getting back together." Maddy dusts off her hands and stands up, already moving on. "I'm going to go get some more food. You girls want anything?"
"We're not getting back together-- ever." Shea insists, though she's not entirely sure anymore. "He's just so fucking ... irresistible." Her face flushes at the memory of his body on top of hers. She glances up at them, feeling a twinge of shame. "I just wish I had more self-control."
"Girl -- you're blushing." BB leans over, grinning. "He's so irresistible, huh? I bet he's still calling you baby girl." She grins wider, looking around to see if anyone's listening in. "Or maybe you're still calling him daddy? Hah."
Shea flushes even deeper, looking down at her lap. "It doesn't mean anything anymore." Her voice cracks as she says this, and she wipes at her eyes, hoping they don't notice. "It's just...it's complicated."
"Did you at least use a condom?" Kat asks, her tone accusatory.
Shea sharply inhales before slowly exhaling. "No ... we didn't." Her eyes dart around the room, feeling a knot form in her stomach. "I didn't even think about it. It just happened so fast...I mean, it's not like we were trying to get pregnant or anything." Her voice trails off, and she looks back down at her lap, her fingers fidgeting with her shirt.
"If you end up pregnant with his baby -- girl, I can't believe you." Maddy shakes her head, but she loves her best friend too much to just let it go. "You're going to have to tell him, you know. You can't keep that from him."
"I'm not. I am on birth control." Shea says, hoping this will end the conversation.
"Thats what you said the last time -- and you got pregnant." Kat reminds her. "So you're not on birth control, and you had unprotected sex with him. You should probably get a plan B pill, just in case." She glances at Maddy. "Right?"
"I mean -- unless you want a baby with him." Maddy makes a smug face, shrugging. "He's got a great body. Imagine those little Chris Browns running around..."
"Ew." Shea grimaces. "No." Her stomach twists at the thought. "I just...I don't know what to do." She takes a deep breath, feeling overwhelmed. "I just want to forget about him. I need to forget about him."
"Then DONT fuck him!" All three girls exclaim in unison, laughing.
Shea groans, covering her ears. "Okay, okay. I get it." She glances around, hoping no one else heard that. "But seriously, how am I supposed to just...forget him? He's everywhere I look. He's all I can think about." Her eyes well up with tears again, and she swallows hard. "I just want to move on, but I can't. He's all over the internet. I go on TikTok -- I see edits of him on stage. I go on Twitter -- there's all these tweets about him. It's like I can't escape him."
"Bitch, you're fucked." Maddy says, laughing. "But I guess you could always block him on social media, or just delete your accounts. That way, you'll only have to see him in person, if you're really that unlucky." She grins, trying to lighten the mood. "But for real, though. You gotta cut him loose. It's not healthy to be this obsessed."
"I'm not obsessed." Shea sighs. "Okay, maybe a little. But that's normal. He baited me into fucking him. He bought me a Birkin -- sooooo." She shrugs, not quite meeting her friends' eyes. "I don't know. I just...I wish I could forget about him. But it's like my body won't let me." She lets out a shaky breath. "It's all so complicated."
"Block him on everything. Do not let him have any access to you." Kat insists, her voice stern. "And if you see him out somewhere, just avoid him. Don't give him the satisfaction of knowing he still has power over you."
"He has friends like everywhere -- all over Los Angeles. I can't just avoid everyone who knows him. That's impossible." Shea sighs, leaning back against the wall.
"It's not impossible." BB disagrees, her voice firm. "You just need to be smart about it. You can go places he doesn't frequent, you can hang out with people who don't know him. It's not easy, but it's doable." She looks at her friend, her expression serious. "You can't let him control your life like this."
"And stay away from the Hollywood parties." Maddy adds, nodding in agreement with BB. "Those are just a breeding ground for people like him. You'll just end up running into him again, and it'll just make things worse."
"Don't even have any mutuals with him." Kat suggests, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "He's probably still following you, but if you don't have any mutuals, you won't see anything he posts like on your homepage. That way, you aren't reminded of him."
"Yeah. Don't search anything to do with him. Refresh your TikTok and start watching things you actually like, that way only your interests pop up." Maddy says, glancing at Shea's phone. "You should unfollow everyone you think might tag him in anything, too. That way, you won't see his stupid face in the comments."
"And if he does that online shit where he tried to fight with you -- DO NOT reply. You'll just be giving into him." BB says, her voice stern. "Don't even acknowledge it. Ignore it. Delete it. Whatever you need to do." She looks at her friend, her expression determined. "You can do this, Shea. You're stronger than that."
"Yeah." Shea nods. "I'll just block him on everything." She picks up her phone. "Can you do it?" She hands her phone to Maddy. "I just...I can't look at him right now. I just want to forget about him."
Maddy takes the phone, glances at it for a moment, and then begins to tap on the screen. "You've got it," she says, blocking Chris Brown on all of Shea's social media accounts. "There. He's gone. No more messages or tweets." She hands the phone back to Shea, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "You can do this, girl. You're going to be just fine."
Shea smiles back at her best friend. "Kylie Jenner is having this big party -- it's a pool pa--
"DONT GO!" The three friends say in unison, their eyes wide with alarm. "He's going to be there," Maddy says, her voice laced with panic. "You can't risk it." They exchange worried glances. "What if he tries something? You don't want to put yourself in that situation again."
"Guys, I can't just hide my whole life. Like, I can't stay locked in my room. Lets just all go together and we'll avoid him." Shea says, trying to calm herself down. "I can handle it. He's not gonna win."
"What if you ignore him and he gets pissed odd and loses his temper or something?" Kat asks, a frown on her face. "You don't want to give him that satisfaction, either." She bites her lip, unsure of what to say. "But...you can't just let him control your life."
"He's not gonna do shit." Shea says, her voice a little more confident. "I'm not afraid of him." She takes a deep breath and looks at her friends. "Okay, let's go to the party."
🌑
The party is filled with social media stars and celebrities alike. As Shea, Maddy, and Kat walk in, they're greeted by a sea of flashing lights and the sound of music.
They quickly make their way through the crowd, trying to avoid bumping into anyone. Their eyes dart around, searching for Chris Brown, but thankfully they don't see him right away.
They spend half the night socializing and dancing and having fun.
At one point, Shea dances with a girl on the ping pong table, men surrounding them, cheering them on. She feels a sudden presence behind her and turns around, expecting to see someone else. Her heart drops when she sees Chris standing there, eyes locked on her.
She doesn't falter in her dancing, but she can feel her heart pounding in her chest. His gaze is intense, and she can see the anger and frustration simmering beneath the surface. She tries to ignore him, focusing on her dance partner, but she can't help but feel his presence looming over her.
Maddy and Kat notice this while BB is just getting high on weed.
"Uh--" Maddy starts, her voice wavering. "Maybe we should..." She trails off, unsure what to suggest. "Go get some punch or something?"
"Shea." Kat snaps her fingers in front of her friend's face. "Come on, let's go get some punch. You don't need to deal with that assclown."
But Shea is filled with determination and pulls a random guy up to dance with her, ignoring Chris. She dances close with the guy, feeling his muscles beneath her hands as they grind together. She can feel Chris's anger rising, but she refuses to let him win.
Her hips grind on his, feeling his erection press against her. She wraps her arms around his neck, biting her lip as she moves with him. The music throbs, and the bodies around them sway. Chris watches, seething with jealousy and frustration.
Kat and Maddy are getting nervous but they try to act calm. They are watching Shea dance with the random guy.
Surprisingly, nothing happens. The random guy dances with her and doesn't try to hurt her or make a scene. But Chris's expression turns murderous. He storms off, disappearing into the crowd. Shea feels a little shaky, but she's proud of herself. Her friends surround her, congratulating her on handling it so well.
"He was so mad. Did you see him?" Maddy asks, laughing nervously. "I thought he was going to come over and do something!"
Shea feels alive, adrenaline pumping through her veins. She nods, her breath coming in short gasps. She looks at her friends, a defiant glint in her eye.
He wasn't dumb. He wasn't going to just approach when everyone was around. He didn't care -- but he wasn't gonna do that and risk her friends interrupting. He'd wait. He'd bide his time. And when the moment was right, he'd make her regret every single second of tonight. But until then...
"Do you wanna dance...?" Cassie asks Chris as she sits next to him. They're surrounded by women in revealing bikinis and it's making her feel insecure but she's determined to be the one to make him feel better. She leans into him, her hand resting on his thigh.
She follows his eyes and notices he's looking directly at Shea who is doing a handstand while chugging beer. Her long hair falls over her face as she arches her back, revealing her bare stomach. The beer spills all over her cleavage and down her flat stomach, her nipples hardening from the cold. Cassie wonders if Shea is trying to make him jealous. "You okay?" she whispers.
He glances at her, anger still etched into his features. But he nods, reluctantly getting up to dance with her.
He stands up and pulls her up, practically dragging her onto the dance floor. She's wearing a tight, revealing dress that hugs her curves perfectly, making it impossible for him not to notice her body. Her long hair swings around her shoulders as she moves, and he wants nothing more than to pull it. But he settles for gripping her hips tightly as they dance.
He glances over at Shea again, watching her dance with that random guy. She looks so damn sexy in that tiny bikini, her body moving perfectly to the beat. He can't help but feel possessive, angry that someone else is touching her, making her feel good. He tightens his grip on Cassie, pressing his hips against her, grinding against her as if to remind her who she belongs to.
"You sure you okay?" Cassie asks again, concern lacing her voice. She can feel the anger radiating off of him. "You seem kind of...intense."
He grinds harder into Cassie, his erection pressing painfully against her stomach. "I'm fine," he growls through gritted teeth. "Just need to get this out of my system." And with that, he pulls her closer, his hands sliding up her back and into her hair, fisting it roughly.
He moves his hips in a way that's definitely not dancing, more like fucking against her. Her back arches, pushing her breasts into his chest, and he groans, taking this as an invitation to pinch her nipples hard through the fabric of her dress. She cries out in pain and pleasure, and he thrusts harder, losing control.
All eyes are now on them, instead of Shea, and Chris takes advantage of this. He pulls Cassie closer, grinding against her as hard as he can, his hips moving in a blur. He slides his hands down her body, cupping her ass and squeezing it tightly. He can feel her up, her heat pressed against him.
He yanks her hair again, arching her back further, exposing her neck to him. She gasps, her head thrown back, and he takes this as an invitation to nip at her skin, leaving a mark. Blood rushes to the surface, and he growls in satisfaction.
As Shea wipes beer from her chin, she notices this happening. Her eyes widen and her breath hitches. Something inside her snaps, and she decides that enough is enough. She's had it with Chris controlling her every move, with him trying to make her feel guilty about having fun with other people.
So she rolls her eyes and ignores it -- grabbing the bong from BB and taking a hit, exhaling slowly and looking Chris directly in the eyes as she does so. Then, she walks over to a random guy, slowly but surely, her hips swaying as she moves.
"Wanna swim with me?" she purrs, leaning into the guy. "My name's Shea. What's yours?"
"Uh--m-my name is..." the random guy stammers, unable to form a coherent sentence as Shea's body presses against his. He's never been this close to her, never felt this desired. He nods, grinning stupidly. "Yeah. Let's go swim."
Shea giggles as she leads him over to the large pool. The water is warm and inviting, and as they dive in, she wraps her legs around his waist, her arms around his neck. They start making out, their bodies moving together in the water. Shea feels free, uninhibited, and for once, she's enjoying herself without feeling like she's being watched or judged.
Of course Chris sees this and it pisses him off even more. He's already feeling possessive and jealous, but now he's really losing it. He storms over to the pool, ignoring the wet concrete beneath his feet. When he gets there, he grabs Shea roughly by the arm, pulling her out of the water and onto the concrete.
"What the fuck is your problem?!" Shea yells, trying to wriggle free from his grip. "I can't even have fun with someone else without you ruining it!"
"Have fun? Practically fucking someone in the pool is you having fun?!" Chris shouts back, his voice cracking with anger.
"You're so fucking annoying." Shea pushes him away, her face flushed with anger and embarrassment. "Why do you have to control everything?" She stomps her foot, sending a small splash of water flying in his direction. "Just leave me alone!"
He drags her towards the gate and away from the party, his grip painful on her arm. As they approach his car, he nearly throws her into it, her back slamming against the side of the vehicle. He glares at her, his chest heaving as he tries to catch his breath. "What the fuck is your problem?" he asks through gritted teeth. "Why do you always have to do this to me?"
"I'm not even doing anything to you. You're the one being a fucking asshole. You brought Cassie here. You've been dragging her up and down LA with you. You're the one who won't leave me alone," Shea replies, glaring back at him. "I'm just trying to have fun, and you won't let me."
Maddy and Kat come running up to the car, their eyes wide with worry. "What's going on?" Maddy asks, her voice shaking. "Shea, are you okay?"
"No. He's being a fucking cunt." Shea says, glaring at Chris. "I can't even have fun with someone else without him ruining it."
"Having fun does equal being a fucking whore!" He yells back at her, his face contorting in anger. He slams his fist against the roof of the car, the impact reverberating through the vehicle.
He leans against the car, his hands trembling as if he's holding back from hitting something or someone. He takes a deep breath, trying to calm down. "Look, I'm sorry. I just... I don't like seeing you with him. I thought... I thought we were..." He trails off, not sure what he thought. He looks at Shea, his eyes pleading for understanding.
Shea just stares at him, eyes glossy with unshed tears.
"Lets go." Maddy whispers, glancing back and forth between them. "Maybe we should just get out of here." Kat nods in agreement, her hand on Shea's back.
The two friends guide Shea away from the car, their arms around her shoulders. Chris looks on, his heart aching as he watches them walk away. He wants to go after them, to apologize properly, but something holds him back.
Shea cries as she sits in the backseat with Kat, Maddy driving them away from the party. Her heart feels heavy and bruised, the pain radiating out from her chest. She can't believe how quickly things went from bad to worse.
"It's okay, babe," Kat murmurs, rubbing Shea's back. "It's not your fault. Chris is just... he's just jealous, I think. He doesn't know how to handle it." She glances over at Maddy, who is driving, her jaw clenched tight. "We'll figure this out, okay?"
Maddy pulls the car over to the side of the road, taking a shaky breath before she turns to look at Shea. "Look," she says, her voice strained. "We all love you, okay? And we all know how you feel about Cassie. But we also know how Chris feels about you. It's a mess, and I don't know how we're going to sort it out." She lets out a ragged sigh. "But we're here for you, no matter what."
"I just wanna sleep." Shea lays her head on Kat's shoulder, tears streaming down her face. "I just want this to be over." She closes her eyes, trying to block out the hurt and confusion. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do."
Kat and Maddy share a look before Maddy nods, reaching out to pat Shea's knee. "Okay," she says softly. "We'll figure something out."
🌕
The next morning, Shea is numb. Her head aches from the night before, and her heart feels like it's been ripped out of her chest.
For the first time in weeks, she allows for herself to break down crying as she lays in her bed, on her back, staring at the ceiling. Her phone buzzes with messages from her friends, but she can't even move to pick it up. The weight of everything is just too much.
Her body racks with sobs, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she tries to regain control. Tears stream down her face, leaving trails through the dried mascara under her eyes. She feels like she's been abandoned, that everyone has turned their backs on her. Even Cassie, who she's been avoiding for fear of what Chris might do.
Shea does not like change -- and within the past few months, so much has changed. Her life has been flipped upside down, and she feels like she's drowning in a sea of emotions she can't even begin to understand.
Henley walks into his big sister's bedroom and climbs onto her bed. He's still in his pajamas, and he looks worried. "Shea...are you okay?" he whispers, climbing up to sit next to her. He carefully places an arm around her shoulders, offering her whatever comfort he can.
Shea snuggles into her brother, her face still buried in the pillow as she cries. "No, Henley...I'm not okay. I don't know what to do." She wipes her nose on the pillowcase, making it damp. "Everything's just so messed up..."
"It's okay." Henley's small hand pats her back gently. "I'm here for you, no matter what. I love you, you know." He looks up at her, his big brown eyes shining with unshed tears.
Henley hates seeing people whom he loves cry, so he decides to do something about it. He climbs over her, straddling her hips, and leans down to give her a gentle kiss on the cheek. "You're my favorite person in the world, Shea," he whispers. "You can always come to me when you're sad." He wipes away another tear, using the back of his hand. "Can I tell you something?"
"What is it?" Shea hyperventilates, her chest feeling tight. Her brother's touch is so gentle, it almost makes her want to cry more.
"Well," Henley begins, "he's been really nice to me, ever since you started dating." He pauses, searching her face for a reaction. "I think maybe...maybe he's just sad because ... he doesn't know how to make you feel better." He frowns, thinking. "Maybe he just needs some time to adjust, too."
Shea smiles at how intelligent her brother is, even if it's just a small one. "You're right, buddy. You're so smart." She hugs him tightly, wishing he could fix everything for her. "I wish I could just make it all better."
The two siblings cuddle for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts.
🌑
In present time, the crowd claps and cheers yet again. It was clear that Lexi's play was definitely about the friend group and all that she had been observing. Shea looked down at her lap, biting her bottom lip. The more the play went on, the more uncomfortable she became. The truth was, she had never felt so exposed and vulnerable in her entire life.
Shea has been longing for her friendship with Cassie again -- but it's just not possible.
And Shea is trying to figure out what her next move is. She can't stand to be around Chris anymore, but she doesn't want to lose him. Her heart is conflicted.
And then Cassie had to stumble into the auditorium, hips swaying as if she owned the place. Her gaze immediately locks with Shea's, and she rolls her eyes, coldly continuing down the aisle. Her long legs carry her swiftly. Her lips curl into a smirk as she catches Shea's gaze, daring her to say something.
Cassie interrupts the play, bitterly clapping her hands together. "Brava, Lexi! You really hit the nail on the head tonight!" she practically sneers, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Crap after clap. "Oh, Lexi, you really outdid yourself. I mean, where did she get these knockoffs?" Cassie gestures to the actors, her disdain clear. "I'm so glad you got to live out your fantasies through this little play. It's so important to you, isn't it?" Her tone is laced with venom.
"I had no idea my sister had this in her. She's doing a good job. Isn't she brave? She's up here. Unpacking all of her trauma. I had no idea how hard your life was, Lexi. Can we give a round of applause for how hard Lexi's life is?" Cassie's words are like daggers, slicing through Shea's already raw feelings.
And poor Lexi doesn't know what to do or say as the audience claps and cheers, oblivious to the turmoil playing out in front of them. She just stands there, tears welling in her eyes, her face flushed with shame and embarrassment.
"Come on guys. I know they hack the heads off of women in Afghanistan or whatever." Cassie shrugs, rolling her eyes.
A girl in the audience yells out, 'that's racist!' and several more voices agree.
Shea and Kat share the same look of despair. They both know what Cassie is capable of and how much damage she can do. But they also know that they can't just ignore her. They have to stand up for themselves and for their friend. The question is how.
"God, it is nothing compared to living in my shadow." Cassie scoffs.
"Cassie, please stop," Lexi whispers but Cassie isn't having any of that. "I should stop? I'm not the one putting on a play to humiliate and embarrass you!"
"That's not what I'm doing--
"Oh really?!" Cassie shouts. "Then what is this?!"
"Hi everyone." Suze steps onto the stage. "I'm Suze. I'm the girl's mom in real life. Um, played by Ethan. Where is he?" Ethan walks out and everyone cheers for both him and Suze before he thanks them, gives Suze a hug, and then goes backstage.
"I deserve this right? I deserve this?" Cassie tried to near Lexi but Suze grabs her arm. "Mom stop!" But Suze still tries to pull her back, "stop. Stop it!" Suze glares at Cassie. "You're not here for this. You're not welcome here." Cassie tries to pull away from Suze but Suze's grip is surprisingly strong.
"Lexi, I'm gonna fucking kill you. I deserve this right?" Cassie asks as she watches her sister walk away, "because I've actually lived a life? I'm the one who takes risks?" Cassie faces the audience, "I'm the one who falls in love? I'm the one who gets hurt. Not you, Lexi!" Cassie cries, looking at Lexi who is now standing right behind of their mother. "But you don't know anything about that, do you? You're just too scared to even try."
"You've never even fucking lived! That's why you're able to stand up here and judge all of us!" Cassie screams in a watery tone, "you're just a fucking bystander." That makes the audience began to boo Cassie instead of cheer for her anymore.
Cassie is emotional, and the 'boos' are only driving her over the edge.
She laughs and nods her head. "Okay. Well if that makes me a villain. Then so fucking be it. I can play the fucking villain." Cassie shrugs.
Kat and Maddy share a look while Shea sits next to them, her blood boiling as she watches Cassie steal Lexi's spotlight.
"Lexi? Is this the part of the play where I steal Chandler from Kelly?" Cassie questions.
"No, Cassie, that's not in the play." Lexi responds, her voice shaky. She wipes away a tear as she takes a deep breath.
"Wait, Hallie steals Kelly's boyfriend?" A girl asks.
"I don't how many times I have to say this, but they were not fucking together." Cassie says nonchalantly. It seems she's gotten use to saying it. Like she's been needing to defend herself. "Big deal. Everyone fucks, right?" She looks around for agreement. "Right?"
And suddenly, shea jumps up, her eyes wild with anger, her fists clenched at her sides. "Yeah, not only that, but Hallie was fucking Chandler while Kelly was talking about getting back together with him." Shea's voice is cold, her eyes hard as steel. "And not only that, but whole Kelly was literally peeing out a piece of her baby every time she went to the bathroom, this bitch couldn't even bother to ask her if she was okay. No -- she just fucked her best friend's boyfriend while her best friend was going through the hardest time of her life. So yeah, fuck you!" Shea shouts at Cassie, her voice echoing through the auditorium.
Cassie's eyes tear up as she stands there, shocked.
Maddy grabs Shea's arm, trying to pull her back down to the seat. "No, Shea, don't-" she starts to say, but Shea shrugs her off easily.
"Um ... why?" The girl in the audience asks.
"Because Hallie is a two faced cunt." Shea says through gritted teeth, her voice barely under control. "She's always been jealous of Kelly. Always. And she took every chance she could to make her life worse. She's a fucking liar and a manipulator and a user. And she doesn't deserve to stand up there and try to make herself look like the victim." She glares at Cassie, daring her to say anything.
"I'm not the cunt, you're the fucking cunt!" Cassie screams back, tears streaming down her face.
"Nah, you're the fucking cunt, bitch!" Shea yells, her voice hoarse from anger. "You don't get to come up here and spin your little web of lies and try to make everyone think you're the poor, innocent victim. You don't get to take the one person who ever gave a shit about you and twist them around your finger until they hate themselves and hate you. You don't get to do that and then act like you're the fucking hero!"
"It's not my fucking fault you were neglecting him!" Cassie shouts back, tears streaming down her face. "You weren't there for him either! You were always too busy being the perfect little angel with fucking daddy issues! Always acting like a bitch!"
Shea takes a step forward, her fists clenched at her sides. "Yeah, and that's why I'm not the one who fucked my best friend's boyfriend while she was going through the hardest time of her life! I didn't have to fuck him to get attention or make myself feel better about myself!" She glares at Cassie.
Cassie's face turns red with anger as she yells back, "I didn't have to fuck him to make myself feel better about myself! I did it because I wanted to! And I could have had him if I wanted him!" Her voice breaks, and she tries to compose herself before continuing. "And if you're so fucking perfect, why don't you tell everyone about your little secret?"
Shea's eyes narrow dangerously. "Oh, you want to play that game?" She asks, taking a step closer to Cassie. "Fine. You wanna know my secret? Fine. I'll tell you. I'm not perfect. I've made mistakes. But the one thing I've never done is fuck a friend over. I've never stolen someone's boyfriend. And I've never lied about it."
Cassie's face twists in anger and frustration. "You're such a fucking liar."
Maddy grabs Shea's arm again, her grip tightening. "Shea, stop. You're just making it worse."
"I don't give a fuck! I don't give one flying flipping fuck about your fucking feelings! I don't give a shit that you're such a fucking sloppy ass bitch who can't even keep her lips off a dick!" Shea shouts, her voice echoing through the auditorium. "And you know what? I don't care if it makes me a bad person. I am so fucking done with this! I am so done with trying to be nice to you and pretending like you're my friend when you're just a lying, manipulative cunt! You were waiting for the perfect opportunity to fuck him! Thats what you wanted! Just admit it!"
"Fine!" Cassie yells, tears streaming down her face. "I did want him! I was attracted to him! And you know what, Shea? You're right. I am a selfish bitch. But you don't get to be the fucking moral compass here! You're just as bad as me! You're just as selfish! You're just as much of a bitch! You just get to play the innocent victim because everyone feels sorry for you! Let's not forget, you used to beat on your ex-boyfriend. You used to control him. You're not perfect, Shea. You're not the angel you pretend to be. You're just as messed up as the rest of us. So why don't you just shut up and stop acting like you're better than me?"
"You wanna know who I am gonna beat on?" Shea yells, her voice cracking with anger. "You! You're going to be sorry you ever tried to do this to me! You're going to wish you had just kept your stupid fucking mouth shut and let everyone believe your lies! Because I swear to God, Cassie, I'm going to make you pay for this! I'm going to make sure everyone knows the truth, and then we'll see who looks like the selfish bitch! I'm not perfect, but at least I have some self-respect!"
"You're just a mean girl, Shea!" Cassie screams, tears streaming down her face. She takes a step back, her hands flying to her face.
"And you're just a fuckin' pussy!" Shea spits back, unable to contain her anger. "You're just a pathetic little slut who can't keep her hands off another girl's man! And you know what, Cassie? You can try and play the victim all you want, but I'm done playing nice! I'm done being your fucking friend! You made your bed, now you can lie in it!"
"Fine!" Cassie yells, her voice wavering with emotion. "Fine! You wanna be that way? Fine!" She takes a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "Then here's the truth, Shea. The whole truth. And nothing but the truth." Cassie pauses for a moment, gathering her courage. "I did like him. Yes, I was attracted to him. But you know what? I never slept with him. I never kissed him. I never even touched him." She looks at Shea, her eyes burning with anger and hurt. "But you know what I did? I left him alone. I let him be with you. Because that's what a real friend would do. I LET MY GAURD DOWN ONCE!" She screams, her voice echoing through the auditorium.
"Ah yeah? You let your fucking panties down too." Shea snarls, her face twisted in anger.
Kat and Maddy try to stop Shea as she kicks off her heels and runs towards the stage, lunging at Cassie who quickly runs off the stage and out of sight. The other girls in the group rush to restrain Shea, but it's too late. Shea's anger has taken over and she's swinging wildly, hitting anyone who comes near her.
She follows Cassie backstage and out into the hall, down the steps, grabbing the back of her head and pushing her face into a row of lockers, screaming in her ear. "You fucking bitch! You fucking cunt! I'm going to ruin you for this!" She slams her head into the lockers again and again, the sound of metal on flesh echoing through the hall.
"Beat her ass, Shea! She fucked your boyfriend!" BB cheers, encouraging Shea to continue the assault.
Cassie manages to slip away, her heart racing as tears stream down her face. She rushes down the hall, not sure where to go or what to do. She just knows that she can't go back to the auditorium.
She ducks into a random classroom and slumps down onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Her head throbs where Shea hit her, and she can feel blood trickling down her face.
Cassie cries, wondering how she got here. How did everything go so horribly wrong? She tries to piece together the events of the past few weeks, the moments when she let her guard down and found herself attracted to Chris. She wipes the tears away, forcing herself to stop crying. There's no point in being upset anymore. She has to figure out what to do now.
Shea finds her and Cassie quickly gets up -- the two of them circling the desks, the chairs, anything in the room. She's scared. She's hurt. She's not sure what she's doing anymore. Shea's words echo in her head: "I'm going to ruin you for this."
Kat holds Shea back, telling her that she's overreacting, that it's not that big of a deal. But Shea shrugs her off, still furious. "It is a big deal! She fucked my boyfriend!" She screams. Maddy tries to calm her down, but Shea keeps glancing over at Cassie, who is now sitting on one of the desks, her back to them.
"I'm gonna fuckin' get you! DONT you ever come anywhere near me!" Shea screams, charging toward Cassie. Maddy manages to restrain her, but only barely.
Cassie runs out of the classroom and into the girls bathroom, locking the door behind her. She slides down the wall, tears streaming down her face. Her whole body aches and her head throbs. She wipes the blood from her face, trying to steady her breathing. There's no escape from this. She knows Shea won't let her go.
At the same time, Shea is shaking in anger as Maddy and Kat try to calm her down. "Let go of me! I need to get her!" She screams, struggling against them. "She fucking ruined everything!" Finally, they manage to restrain her and lead her out of the classroom and back to the auditorium.
"Just relax." Kat tells Shea, patting her back. "We'll figure this out. But we need to stay calm." Shea continues to struggle against Maddy, but eventually calms down enough that they can lead her towards the auditorium.
This is a moment of decision for Cassie. She can stay in the bathroom, trying to hide, or she can face the consequences. She knows that running won't help her, but facing Shea might not either. With a deep breath, she unlocks the bathroom door and steps out, ready to face whatever comes next.
Shea wants to cry but she can't at the same time -- all she can feel is anger and rage coursing through her veins.
🌑🌑🌑
"Back To Black," by Amy Winehouse plays throughout Shea's bedroom as she sits on her bed, now numb once again.
"🎶We only said goodbye with words..." She sings. "I died a hundred times ...🎶" Her phone buzzes, showing a text from Cassie. She glances at it, expecting an apology or some sort of explanation, but all it says is "I'm sorry."
But it doesn't even phase Shea anymore. "Sorry doesn't cut it," she mutters under her breath, tossing her phone aside.
"You go back to her ... and I got back to ... us." She sings along with the song.
Numb and empty, Shea stands up, walks over to her mirror, and begins to undress. She looks at her reflection, her eyes glassy and lifeless. Her body feels heavy, as if she's carrying around the weight of the world. Her skin is pale and clammy, her lips chapped from biting them too often. She tries to force a smile, but it comes out more like a grimace.
Shea covers her face with her hands, trying to block out the memories of the night. Her mind flashes back to the bathroom, the feel of his hands on her body, the taste of his lips on hers. It's like a knife in her gut. How could this happen again? And to make matters worse, he's with someone else. Someone she trusted. Someone she thought was her friend.
All that's left is to go forward. She takes a deep breath and climbs into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin. It's not going to be easy, but she's determined to face whatever comes next. She closes her eyes and listens to the music, trying to drown out the voice in her head that keeps saying, "It's all your fault."
🌑
One thing that Shea notes as the months go by is that she feels less angry and more numb. It's almost as if the anger has been replaced by a sort of emptiness. She tries to fill the void with anything she can: friends, family, work, but nothing seems to make a difference. She finds herself missing the person she used to be, the person who had a clear sense of who she used to be.
The days blend together into a haze of sameness. She goes to work, comes home, goes to sleep. The only thing that breaks the monotony is her text messages from Cassie, asking how she's doing and if she wants to talk. She never replies. She can't face her. Not yet. Maybe never. She knows that if she does, she'll have to confront her own feelings, and she's just not ready for that.
And honestly, she doesn't understand why Cassie would even want to speak to her after she chased her and put her hands on her. But Shea just assumes she's brave, or forgiving, or maybe just stupid. Maybe she thinks they can go back to how they were before. But they can't. Not after everything that's happened. Not after what she did.
There is no rebuilding that kind of trust, Shea thinks. It's gone, and it's not coming back. The only thing left to do is move forward. She wonders if that's what Cassie is trying to do too, or if she's stuck in the same place Shea was for months.
Shea just blocks Chris and blocks Cassie, and cuts off all ties with both of them. If they want each other, they can have each other, she thinks. She's just grateful that she doesn't have to see them again. She throws herself into her work, pouring all of her energy into it. She starts seeing a therapist, and finally begins to process her feelings. It's not easy, and there are days when she wants to give up, but she knows she can't go on like this forever.
10 MONTHS LATER -- SPRING. 🃏
Shea is still 19 years old, but things have progressed throughout the past 10 months. She's been working as a CO-CEO for her mother's cosmetic company, and she's actually found a sense of purpose and fulfillment in her life. She's grown closer to her mother, and they've become more like best friends than just mother and daughter. They've even started going to therapy together.
It's been a healing process, but Shea knows that there's still a void in her life that only one person can fill. She thinks about Cassie constantly, wondering how she's doing and if she's okay. Sometimes, she wonders if it's even worth trying to reconnect with her, given everything that's happened. But deep down, Shea knows that she can't move forward without some kind of resolution.
Shea now has her own home in Calabasas, California. It's a beautiful, modern house with a gym, swimming pool, and a home theater. The interior is just as stunning, with an open floor plan that showcases her impeccable taste in design. Her room is spacious and filled with natural light, with a huge king-sized bed and a luxurious ensuite bathroom. Her walk-in closet is organized to perfection, housing a variety of designer clothing, shoes, and accessories. Shea's bedroom is a reflection of her newfound independence and success.
Shea has been working hard on herself, trying to let go of the past and move forward. She's become more self-aware and confident.
And she's become less stoic. She smiles more easily, laughs freely. She's made new friends, and she's even started dating again. It's all good, but it's not enough. She feels like something is missing, like a piece of her is still lost somewhere. And she knows what it is.
But she ignores him, and she ignores the feeling that she's supposed to be talking to him. She can't do it yet. Maybe she never will. She knows she needs to face her feelings about Chris eventually, but she's not ready yet. She can't lose herself in another relationship right now. She needs to focus on herself first.
And that's exactly what she does. She spends her days working at the company, which has grown exponentially under her and her mother's leadership. She relaxes at home in the evenings, sometimes with friends, sometimes alone. She goes to the gym and swims laps in her pool. She tries new recipes in her gourmet kitchen. She decorates her room, changing the color scheme or adding a new piece of art. She goes on dates, but none of them seem to stick.
And all the while, she thinks about Chris.