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CHAPTER TWELVE:
You don't get to sit there and judge me, Kennedy Thornton.
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            When Kennedy arrived at the party, a little past seven—it was already in full swing. There were people on the lawn, making out and sitting on the hoods of cars. Kennedy had pushed her way through the crowds until she found the cheerleading girls—or at least, the three of them that were always together and had invited her to the party in the first place. She had found them playing beer pong, with Lexi losing miserably and having to down a drink each time she missed.

Kennedy had pulled Trinity aside, asking her to borrow some of her clothes so that she could get changed out of the uptight outfit on her body. Loving the idea of using Kennedy as a human Barbie Doll, Trinity had agreed and took her upstairs to her locked bedroom before bringing her inside and going through outfit options whilst Kennedy sipped on a cocktail Lexi had handed her.

In the end, they had opted for a pair of denim jeans with rhinestone hearts on the back pockets, a red crop top and red Converse. Kennedy had thanked Trinity before they headed back to the party, joining the girls in the kitchen.

Where have you been these last few days? I feel like we haven't seen much of you since you came back from the beach house." Chelsea was saying as she sipped on her cocktail.

Kennedy shrugged, "Mostly helping my mom with house renovations after the hurricane." She told her. It wasn't exactly a lie, she had been helping her mom. But Kennedy didn't exactly like hanging out with the cheerleading girls that often, unless it was at parties where she could mingle with other people.

"And you know Kennedy, Chels—she just kinda floats around," Lexi said playfully. She hooked her arm around Kennedy's neck. "This one's a bit of a lone wolf." She sang, her words slightly slurred.

"Could never be me," Trinity said with a scoff. "I'd be so fucking bored."

Kennedy shrugged, tucking her hair behind her ear, "That's because you love the sound of your own voice, Trini." She said, making the three girls laugh.

Someone ran past them, barreling straight through the four girls. Kennedy gestured with her drink, "Hey, watch it, asshole!" She called after him with a glare.

"Topper's on the roof!" The boy yelled back in excitement, making Kennedy's lips part. Surely, he didn't mean her twin brother Topper? Because that would be crazily out of character for her perfect brother.

Kennedy settled her drink on the counter, "This should be good." Chelsea chirped in a sing-song voice as the girls followed Kennedy along with the crowd out to the backyard.

She reached the pool where teenagers were splashing around in, cheering and hollering as they went. When she stopped and looked up, she was mortified to see that her brother was, in fact, on the roof, "Yeah!" He yelled, holding his drink up and sticking his tongue out as he shook his head. Everyone cheered, encouraging his dumbass behaviour.

"Topper, what the hell are you doing?!" Kennedy yelled up at him, her eyes narrowed, hands on her hips like a scolding mother. "Get down from there, you idiot, before you hurt yourself!" Her heart was racing with worry. It was obvious her brother was already drunk and had been in the pool previously—she could see the water dripping from him and she was worried he would slip and fall to the concrete. Even if they weren't on good terms, she didn't want him to get hurt.

Topper completely ignored her and then to Kennedy's horror, Sarah was joining him. Kennedy reeled back as everyone began chanting Sarah's name, "Hi, guys!" The blonde called down to them, a drunken smile on her lips as she gave a small wave. Kennedy hadn't even known either of them were at the party—if she had, Sarah would not have been on that fucking roof.

"Topper, you get her down from there before I fucking kill you!" Kennedy screamed up at him, earning strange looks from the partying kids around her. It was unusual for Kennedy Thornton to not be encouraging someone to do something dangerous—but it was her brother and her best friend, it made the whole situation different.

Topper lifted Sarah up, making her kick and squeal. Kennedy's face paled, "Topper!" She yelled again, but she was too late, he had already stepped off the ledge with Sarah in his arms and went crashing to the pool.

The splash soaked everyone, Kennedy included. She flicked her hands, getting the water off them as Topper and Sarah emerged from the water, laughing maniacally. Everyone was chanting as if they had done something truly amazing.

Topper threw his arms around Sarah. "Can you believe this girl right here? The coolest chick in the OBX!" Kennedy shook her head in disbelief at the look of enjoyment on both of their faces and stormed towards the edge of the pool.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" She exclaimed at her brother whose smile faded at the sight of her—for once, ruining his buzz He rolled his eyes and clutched Sarah tighter, pulling her in by the waist. "You could have killed her!" She yelled as she crouched down, splashing the water at him, making him blink back when it went in his eyes.

He rubbed at them and let out a dark chuckle, "Now you know how it feels, huh?" He countered. She stared at him as he threw out his hand. "I deal with this shit from you on the daily, Ken! You're always pulling some dumb stunt that puts you in danger and you always get away with it." By the way he slurred his words, it was more than obvious that he was drunk and that he didn't particularly give a shit to be yelling at her in front of everyone.

Kennedy opened her mouth to retaliate but he bet her to it, "I'm so sick to death of being in your shadow. Not anymore, I'm done with it. You wanna play the rebellious asshole? I can too." He spat out as Sarah frowned, no longer feeling the adrenaline rush.

Kennedy shook her head, "You're drunk, Top—"

"Yeah, I am! And it feels pretty fucking good," He yelled with a laugh, throwing his hands up. He gestured to her. "So, why don't you fuck off and let me enjoy it a little longer before you start begging for attention?"

Kennedy stared at him, her lips parted before she narrowed her eyes, "Fuck you, Top." She spat out before turning sharply on her heels and storming inside, instantly grabbing a bottle of beer and opening it using the kitchen counter before downing half of it.

    Kennedy shook her head angrily. She couldn't believe him. Who the hell did he think he was? She understood that she had thrown him under the bus with their mother—but that had been in private. He'd just embarrassed her in front of everyone without a single care in the world.

"Kennedy!" A voice called out. The blonde turned, the scowl still on her lips. Sasha Pierce, a girl from the cheer team approached her, wearing a hot-pink dress and her eyes glossed over drunkenly. She extended her arms, pulling Kennedy into a hug, "Where the hell have you been, hot-stuff?" She asked, pulling back as a few other girls from the cheer team approached her, each hugging her hut Kennedy barely hugged them back, her mind still on her brothers words.

Kennedy tucked her hair behind her ear, "Uh, we were at the beach house for a while, we managed to get back just before Agatha hit." She told them, putting a smile on her face. Those girls were her friends—through formalities. She wasn't as close to the rest of the cheerleading girls as she was the dynamic trio; and she wasn't even that close to them either.

"We're so glad you're back," Layla—a tall African-American girl said to her, giving an award-winning smile. Her parents owned a set of restaurants across Figure 8. "How excited are you for school? I can't fucking wait to get back into my cheerleading uniform. Though, I hope it still fits, I lost seven pounds!" Kennedy pretended to be interested in what she was saying to her but she couldn't really care less.

"Hey, Rafe!" Kennedy heard someone call out, making her look up, seeing the boy in the pink and white stripped polo-neck enter the living room, greeting people as he went. He wrapped his arm around a girls shoulder and whispered something in her ear. Kennedy's eyes narrowed as she felt a wave of jealousy hit her.

The cheer girls were still talking to her when she slammed her drink down on the counter and pushed her way towards Rafe and the girl, "Kennedy!" Sasha called after her, throwing her hands up and shooting her friends a 'what the hell?' look at Kennedy's abrupt exit. As if what they were saying was so interesting.

        Rafe saw Kennedy coming and he held her gaze as she marched through the crowd. He was already grinning at her when she nudged the girl out of the way, "Move." She demanded, grabbing onto Rafe who instantly ignored the girl, as if she didn't even exist now that Kennedy was in front of him. The girl listened and left with a frown on her face.

Kennedy put her hand on Rafe's chest, "Where have you been? I've missed you." She said, looking up at him from underneath her lashes.

Rafe grinned, wrapping and arm around her waist, "Have you now?" He teased her, slowly beginning to grin down at her.

Kennedy licked her lips, "Mhmm," She hummed, slowly pulling him through the sea of teenagers. Her heels hit the stairs and she stepped onto one, tipping her chin downwards. "Come on. I'll show you just how much." She whispered, making a mischievous glint sparkle in Rafe's eyes as he allowed her to lead him up the stairs.

She barged by the line of people waiting for the bathroom as a girl existed. She pulled him inside, ignoring the people yelling at them and locked the door behind them. She kissed him instantly, pushing him against the wall and tugging at his shirt. His hands roamed down her ribs and to her hips and then to her legs, his fingers digging into her thighs. He reached up, undoing the button on her jeans before pulling her top over her head, tossing it aside.

     "I love you, you know that, right?" Rafe said in her ear as he kissed her neck, his hands roaming her body greedily.

           She nodded against him, her hands tangled in his hair as she breathed out heavily. Rafe had always been a release for her—as if he were some kind of drug. She could never explain it, but when she was with him, everything felt a little better—especially during the sex part. She could turn her mind off, not allowing herself to think of any of the things that bothered her, and instead, put all of her attention on him.

            She pulled his lips back to hers, kissing him as if she needed air and he were the only available oxygen as her fingers worked on the buttons of his pants. Her brows furrowed when she heard something fall to the ground, momentarily opening her eyes to glance downwards as Rafe kissed her cheek affectionately. That was the exact moment he stopped being a release and instead, anxiety bubbled up inside of her stomach.

"Stop." She demanded, shoving him off of her and hopping off the sink as Rafe stared at her in confusion. He was still heavily breathing, his previously gelled back hair falling onto his forehead, eyes blinking slowly.

Kennedy looked down, hurriedly buttoning her jeans back up, "You said you were done with that shit." She said, her eyes fixated on the bag of coke that had slipped from his pocket and landed on the floor.

Rafe looked down and then scrambled to pick it up but Kennedy bet him to it. She held it away from him, "Give it back, Ken." He demanded but she shook her head.

"You said you were done," She reminded him, holding the bag up. "After the last time shit got rough, you said you gave it up. You fucking lying asshole!" She exclaimed, pushing at his chest.

He stumbled back, running his hands over his hair, pushing it back, "I—I did. I have. I'm just selling it. I need the cash, Ken—"

"You need the cash?" She laughed over him, pulling the red top over her head. "Is that seriously the best lie you can come up with?" She yelled at him, throwing her hand up, her voice breaking in frustration. The last time Rafe had been high out of his mind he had bet up a Touron at a party—for talking to her. It had caused a whole scene and the boy had left with a bloody face. Kennedy had sworn she would never speak to him again but then he came to her with the biggest apology and promised he would stop taking the drugs. Kennedy has stupidly believed him.

Rafe stepped back from her, like she had scorned him and threw his hands up, "You don't get it! You never will get it! It's just like Top always says. You're this perfect little princess and you never do any wrong," Kennedy shook her head in disbelief. She was so sick of hearing that shit. "You don't get to sit there and judge me, Kennedy Thornton. You—You don't get to do that, not when you're just as much of a fucked up snobby little bitch as—" The slap came hard across his face, echoing through the bathroom.

Kennedy glared at the side of his face, her cheeks red, "Don't you ever talk to me like that again," She warned as he flexed his jaw. She threw his bag of coke at him. "Do what you want. I don't give a fuck anymore." She grabbed her top from the floor, yanking it over her head before throwing the door open, gesturing for Rafe to leave, which after a moment, he did—not sparing her another glance.

          Kennedy turned, fixing her makeup in the mirror, taking in a deep breath. Chelsea passed her, taking in her disheveled appearance, "You little minx." She drawled out with a chuckle as Kennedy stood there, staring into the mirror.

Kennedy turned, looking the girl up and down before scoffing, "Fuck off, Chelsea." She grumbled, flicking her hair out of her face before barging by the girl, not having the patience to pretend they were actually friends.

"What the hell, Kenny!" Chelsea yelled after her, throwing her hands up—but Kennedy completely ignored her as she stormed down the stairs.

She paused in the living room, her eyes landing on Rafe and Topper who were spread out amongst a group of people on the couch. He eyes drifted to the table where several lines had been lined up. As if feeling her gaze, Rafe glanced up, holding her eyes before wrapping his arms around a girls shoulder and leaning back carelessly.

Kennedy stared at him before scoffing in disbelief, grabbing a bottle of vodka as she stormed out of the house, planning on getting as far away from her boyfriend and her brother as possible. She didn't give a shit where she ended up—just as long as she was nowhere near them.

( authors note )

           hi🧍‍♀️