CHAPTER FIVE.
champagne for the pain

     DEAR NOVA,

If you're reading this then I'm dead. I know that's so cliche for me to say and something you only see in the movies, but it's true. I'm sorry for leaving you like this. I just couldn't do it any longer. I thought using drugs would help me forget about everything, all my problems, but it only made it worse. I started having these nightmares, and I was too addicted to stop, so the nightmares just continued. All the secrets and the lying drove me to this. I've made peace with my decision, now so do you.

You have to know it wasn't your fault, Nova. I know you'll try and blame yourself, but there was nothing you could have done. I made this decision, and as selfish as it might sound, you and everyone else will have to live with it. You don't have to carry the guilt of my decisions because there was nothing you could have done for me. My death was written in stone the second I decided to fall in deep with the mystery behind The Royal Merchant.

     For the past year, I've been looking for the Merchant. I wanted to find the gold and make dad proud of me because I finally did something amazing. He already saw me as a disappointment because of the decisions I made growing up. I thought that if I found the gold then I could finally get him to look at me the same way he always looked at you — with pride. But I underestimated how dangerous it would be. There are a lot of people with lots of power after this stupid shipwreck too, and I had to see innocent people pay the consequences.

That's why I'm leaving you this letter, hiding it in the one place you would be able to find it. I can't say much because the last thing I want is to drag you into the same mess that resulted in my own suicide. I had to take my own life to escape the secrets and the constant lies. I couldn't live with what I knew, but I won't burden you with those same secrets too. But as your older brother, the last thing I can still do before I'm gone is protect you, even in death. So, all I'm going to say is this. . .

Sic semper tyrannis.

You're the only person I can trust to figure this out. I love you, little sister. Stay safe.

     — Riley.

Nova Van Kirk wiped away the salty tears that rolled down her cheeks, rereading the words scribbled carelessly across the paper — her brother's final words to her before his tragic and untimely death. Nova continued to read the words, a heavy weight in the form of grief and everlasting sadness crushing her chest and suffocating her airways until she was nothing more than a hollow shell because that's exactly how she felt. . . she felt like nothing.

     The girl then folded up the letter in her hand and placed it down on the dead grass next to her, before she lifted her gaze to glance at the gravestone displayed in front of her, a dull ache erupting in her chest when she read the name engraved in the stone. . . Riley Van Kirk, loving son, brother and friend. And below his name was a quote fitted for him, goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean I'll miss you, until we meet again. A quote picked out by Nova, knowing it was one her brother had repeated to her once before his death.

Nova remembered that day like it was yesterday. It was the last time she ever saw Riley alive. He was clearly high at the time and was telling Nova all about how easy life would be if he was just a ghost. Nova ignored him and the warning signs and left to hang out with Juno and Sarah for the day. The words engraved on the gravestone displayed in front of her were the famous last words Riley said to her before she left.

     She also never saw her brother again after that day, leaving Nova with more questions than answers linking to his accidental death, that wasn't so accidental after all, because Riley did this to himself. The real question was why. Which was why she was sitting in front of his grave to begin with.

     Truth is, Nova hated coming to the cemetery. She never visited like her parents did following her brother's funeral. She just couldn't bare the thought of seeing his name carved into the stone like every other forgotten soul who had been buried deep in the dirt to rot away until they were nothing more than some distant memory. Nova never wanted to remember her brother this way.

But she's had a tough few days since coming home from Malibu, and she was in search for some guidance now more than ever. Her father was still out of town, and her mother was at work and she didn't want to burden her friends with her problems, so Nova believed it would be easier if she just talked to a ghost instead. But if Nova was being honest. . . nothing about this was easy. She was talking to her dead brother for christ sake!!

Swallowing thickly, Nova released a shaky breath past her quivering lips, an uneasy feeling erupting in the pit of her stomach as she began to speak. "Hey, Riley." She greeted sadly, her voice barely above a whisper whilst she stared back at the gravestone displayed in front of her eyes.

There was a brief moment when Nova believed she was crazy for thinking this would actually work, her eyes scanning over the words engraved into the gravestone with a sense of regret rising in her chest. Nova felt foolish for even bothering to come back to the cemetery after months of being the disappointment she saw in herself, believing this form of coping was unhealthy for her, especially since it was her brother's death that made her spiral to begin with.

But she decided to continue. "I'm sorry for not visiting often...or at all. I've just had some issues, but you probably know all about that already if you're watching over us like mom said at your funeral." Nova explained, a weak smile ghosting across her lips whilst she lowers her gaze to look down at her trembling hands.

     "I know that you're probably really disappointed in me for going down this path. I know the last thing you would have wanted was for me to start using drugs like you did." Nova pointed out, a bitter chuckle slipping past her lips, before she felt tears prickling at her eyes, her smile fading away from her lips. "It's just...it's been so hard since you died. Mom and dad are never around because of work, my friends don't understand a thing I'm going through. They try and I love them for that, but they just don't get it—"

Nova cut herself off when she realised she was rambling, causing for the girl to let out a heavy sigh and lift her gaze to glance back at the gravestone in front of her eyes. "I just feel really alone these days. I thought that when I came home, I would get my life back together. I would still miss you everyday but I would move on like everyone else did." She explained, coming to a quick pause.

     The girl then looked back down at the letter left by her brother before his untimely death, picking it back up and staring down at it for a moment, rereading some of the words that were written by her brother's hand. Nova couldn't help but wonder what Riley Van Kirk meant when he said he had to die in order to escape the secrets and lies. But it didn't take her long to figure it out either, knowing something pushed him to drugs for comfort the same way Riley's death pushed Nova towards drugs. He died with a dark secret weighing heavy on his chest, and he left a suicide note to help Nova figure it out.

However, all she knew was that it had something to do with the Royal Merchant — a famous shipwreck that sunk to the bottom of the ocean supposedly by the island. Truth is, Nova didn't understand why Riley couldn't just say what drove him to take his own life. But he also said he had to protect her. So maybe being cryptic was the easiest way to keep her safe and get the truth out there into the open.

     "But how the hell am I suppose to do that when I have no clue what really happened to you?" Nova questioned, a stray tear slipping past her eye and rolling down her pink tinted cheeks. "I know you did this to yourself, but why? Why put yourself here when you could have just talked to me? Please, Riley, if by some miracle you can hear me, please, just tell me what I should know." Nova was practically begging for answers at this point, more tears falling down her cheeks.

     However, all the Van Kirk girl got in response was silence. She didn't get a gust of wind, a movement in the leaves, not even a flicker of light. Instead, all she got was a whole lot of nothing.

     Nova shook her head and wiped away the tears streaks staining her porcelain skin, before she felt her phone vibrate in her jean pocket. This caused for Nova to sigh quietly to herself whilst she retrieved the device from her back pocket, now clutching it tightly in her hand and turning it on to reveal the text message that had flashed across the screen. . .

TOPPER.
Party at mine tonight, you in?

     Nova reread the text a few times, her eyes darting all over the screen with uncertainty evident in her crystal blue gaze. She felt unsure about the idea of a party, especially when she was in an incredibly vulnerable state. But then she thought about going home, returning to a vacant space — a broken home filled with the memories of her brother who was no longer around. The thought was enough to make Nova rethink her past decision, knowing that attending a party was a whole lot better than going back to an empty house filled with forgotten memories of the past.

     So Nova text Topper back with her final answer, before she lifted her gaze from the device in her hand and stared back at the gravestone with a dull ache erupting painfully in her chest. Deep down Nova knew what she planned to do was wrong for so many reasons, but she needed a distraction and she was willing to risk it all if it meant having a single moment of pure bliss.

"Don't worry, Riley. If I'm lucky, I might join you tonight."

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A party was the last place Nova Van Kirk should be right now. In her current state of vulnerability and lack of self worth, she shouldn't be surrounded by drunken teenagers drowning themselves in cold hard liquor and munching on designer drugs like it was candy. No one would even care if they caught the known junkie on the block falling apart. Instead they would probably celebrate it and shove more alcohol and pharmaceuticals down her throat because, truth is, Nova was more fun that way.

But despite knowing fully that she should walk out the door and head home, maybe call her mother when she's on break just to talk and distract her from doing something she would eventually regret, Nova didn't want to leave. In fact, she craved nothing more than a simple distraction to make her forget about her troubles, even if it was just for one night because ever since she's come back to Outer Banks, her life has been complete and utter hell, and Nova needed to forget — forget all of it.

That's why Nova did her best to stay clear from people. She remained by a wall alone, standing in a dark corner whilst she watched the party pass her bye, a crystallised bottle of vodka in her grasp, her hand wrapped firmly around the neck of the glass bottle whilst she brought it to her lips and took another swig of the drink, the cold hard liquor burning her throat like acid. Nova already felt her vision becoming blurred with each sip she took of the drink in her hand, the poison running through her veins being enough to make Nova feel like she was floating on a cloud. The only problem was that it wasn't enough.

     Nova craved more than just alcohol.

     Nova continued to watch as the party passed her by, the dozen of drunken bodies dancing and grinding against each other underneath the colourful strobe lights flashing all over the front room. The boys were being boisterous as usual and challenging one another at childish games. As for the girls, some were sipping on their drinks and gossiping in the far corners of the room, whilst others stripped into their bikinis and teased the boys.

     A typical high school party, Nova thought to herself, rolling her eyes before she brought the rim of the glass bottle to her lips again. The girl continued to watch the party unfold from afar. In fact, the sight was enough to make Nova want nothing more than to leave. Anywhere was better than here, especially if Rafe didn't show up with the hard stuff soon.

But before she could, a familiar face began to approach her, snapping Nova back to reality when she saw none other than Juno O'Connell coming her way. The girl wore a heartwarming smile with her dark eyes beaming with excitement when she found Nova lurking in the far corner of the room, causing for Juno to hold out her arms before she brought her best friend into her warm embrace.

"When I passed Sarah and Topper on the way in, they told me you were here and I was surprised. I didn't think you were coming after everything that happened today. John B mentioned you were chased by those guys. I'm sorry you were dragged into that." Juno explained, a devious smirk forming across her lips. "I would also like to add that when I was passing Sarah and Topper they were heading somewhere private."

     Nova knew what her best friend meant. Ever since she had come home from Malibu, there was always big talk between the girls about whether Sarah was actually ready to give all of herself to Topper. The blonde claimed she loved him and when she was ready. . . if she was ready, she would take that next step with Topper. But Nova and Juno had their doubts, especially since they believed the two wouldn't last. They weren't exactly a match made in heaven.

     The very thought was enough to make Nova roll her eyes, a small smile of her own forming across her lips whilst she shook her head in response to Juno's crude statement, before another thought quickly crossed the girl's mind. "I didn't think you would show up either. I thought you would be hanging out with the Pogues as usual." Nova pointed out.

     "I would have, but I had to check on my mom." Juno answered, shrugging her shoulders in the process. "That was when Sarah text me about the party, so I thought I could kill some time." She added, earning a nod from Nova in response.

     That was when Juno noticed the girl seemed a little. . . off. She took notice in Nova's weak smile and the way her mind seemed to be elsewhere during their entire conversation, making Juno feel concerned for her friend's wellbeing. The sight was enough to make Juno stare back at Nova with worry, the girl stretching out her hand and gently placing it on Nova's arm with a comforting touch, rubbing her thumb reassuringly against her soft skin.

     "Hey, are you sure you're okay?" Juno asked, hoping to get some sort of answer to her burning question. "You can tell me anything if something's on your mind. You know that, right?"

     In that very moment, Nova wanted to confess the truth to Juno. She wanted to tell her about visiting Riley's grave and that the only reason why she came to Topper's party was to spiral down the same rabbit hole like he did many months ago. She wanted to tell her about the drugs and how she couldn't stop taking them. But when Nova parted her lips to speak, wanting to speak a thousand words that resembled the truth of how she truly felt, the girl felt an invisible and shadowy hand clasp tightly around her throat, preventing the truth from coming into the light.

     So Nova plastered a fake and reassuring smile across her lips, nodding her head in response to Juno's burning question. "I'm fine. I've just been distracted lately." She lied. Well, it wasn't exactly a lie. Nova just wasn't telling the full truth, not wanting to worry her best friend anymore than she already has.

     However, Juno wasn't too convinced, causing for the girl to raise her brow whilst she stared back at Nova with a twinkle of suspicion evident in her eyes. "Are you sure? Because I know that the stuff with Riley has to be difficult, so if you need anyone to talk to then I'm here for you—"

     "Juno, I'm fine, honestly." Nova interjected, laughing off her friend's suspicions in an attempt to reassure Juno that she was perfectly fine when she clearly wasn't. Nova just hoped she had fabricated a good enough lie.

     Juno sighed in defeat and nodded her head. "Okay. Well, I'm just going to grab a drink." She replied, changing the subject before she smiled at her best friend and wandered off into the crowd of dancing teenagers.

Nova huffed loudly and scanned her eyes over the room once again, the room being practically packed by drunken teenagers. Topper was definitely lucky he had a big enough house to hold this many people. Nova continued to look around until her eyes found the one face she was hoping would make an appearance at the party tonight. This caused for Nova to follow Rafe Cameron through the crowd to see him taking a seat down around a glass table with a few other familiar faces.

     The blonde sighed and took a seat down next to her boyfriend, her sudden appearance surprising Rafe at first whilst the boy stared back at Nova with a confused look plastered across his face. "I thought you weren't talking to me after the other night?" He insinuated, his brows knitting together in confusion.

     "You're a dick for how you treated me that night." Nova replied, slurring her words whilst she laughed bitterly. "But you have what I need, so consider yourself forgiven."

     Rafe cracked a grin in response to Nova's words before the boy took out the clear plastic bag of coke, the sight of the powdered substance almost being enough to make Nova's mouth water. She spent the past two days trying to resist it because she was mad at Rafe and didn't want to grovel in order to get what she wanted. But Nova didn't care about that right now. Now, she wanted nothing more than to get the fix she desperately craved.

     "I won't ask you for payment this time. Think of it as a girlfriend free pass." Rafe told the girl whilst he opened up the bag and tapped some out onto the glass table in front of them both. "I got my hands on the good stuff from Barry. You would not believe how much begging it took to get my hands on it."

     Nova then forced a smile in response to her boyfriend's story. "Well, at least it's worth it." She sighed and took the dollar bill from Rafe before she rolled it up into a thin tube.

Without hesitation, Nova brought the dollar bill to her nose and leaned forward, inhaling some of the power through the tube and up her nose, the burning sensation that lingered in her nostril only lasting for a few seconds before it quickly faded. Nova then threw her head back, a shaky breath escaping past her plumped lips whilst the people around her cheered and Rafe draped his arm over her shoulder. It was like a feeling of pure ecstasy, a small smile breaking out across her face in the process whilst she waited for the high to settle in.

There was no going back now.

     It had taken only three to five minutes for the drug to kick in, the girl growing dizzy as she continued to sit down on the sofa with a laugh escaping past her lips. Nova had been high before, but there was just something about this particular high that she couldn't explain. It was almost like electricity prickling at her skin, stars in her eyes as her gaze began to wonder around the spinning room. It wasn't like anything Nova had ever felt before.

She felt almost unstoppable.

     And in the midst of her dazed and highly intoxicated state, Nova felt Rafe pull her close to him and forcefully pressed his lips against her own, kissing her roughly. Nova kissed her boyfriend back with a smile forming across her lips, lifting her hand and caressed his face with a gentle touch as she melted into the kiss, a mixture of desire and everlasting bliss pulsating through her veins, whilst Rafe moved his hand down to her hip and squeezed tightly.

     Nova pulled back from Rafe for a moment before she leaned closer towards his ear, a smirk creeping across her lips. "Lets go somewhere else." She whispered before she stood up, her hand latching onto Rafe's before she guided the boy throughout the party and down a dark and vacant hallway.

     Rafe urges were quick to take over, the boy being quick to slam Nova against the wall, pinning the hand he was holding tightly onto above the girl's head before he pressed his lips forcefully against Nova's once again. Nova then moved her free hand around to the back of Rafe's neck, bringing him closer towards her and deepening the kiss for a moment before Rafe removed his lips from her's and moved down from her jawline to her neck, nibbling harshly on her skin, a quiet moan escaping past Nova's lips in the process.

     Rafe smirked against the girl's skin for a moment, the boy continuing to suck on her skin before he decided to go a step further. Rafe then removed his hand from the dip in Nova's back before he made an attempt to slide it somewhere else, his hand beginning to slowly slip down into Nova's pants. However, he didn't get very far, since Nova was quick to come to her senses, squirming uncomfortably underneath Rafe's touch.

     "Rafe..." Nova called out his name in a desperate voice. "Stop."

     He didn't.

     "Rafe, no. Not here, not like this." Nova told him in a firm tone, but Rafe chose to ignore the girl whilst he pushed his body weight down onto her body, the boy another attempt to slide his hand down into the last place Nova wanted it to be. This caused for the girl to grab his hand and move it away from her, but Rafe was quick to overpower the girl once again.

Nova squirmed once again, but much more aggressive than before, the girl doing her best to wriggle her way out of his hold on her. "Rafe, let me go." She begged him, but he didn't listen, he just continued to use his hands to pin the girl against the wall.

No one was even trying to help her. She saw many people pass her and Rafe, and they just ignored them. . . they ignored her.

"Rafe, stop!" Nova snapped loudly, before she used all her strength to shove him away from her, his body hitting the wall harshly behind him. Rafe was shocked at first, but he didn't hesitate to square up to Nova, his nostrils flaring in anger. Nova was scared he was going to try and hurt her. . . again.

     "Rafe, what the fuck are you doing?" A familiar voice ripped through the air, speaking over the loud music blaring through the speakers. This caused for Nova to turn her head to see Juno approaching the couple, a red solo cup in her hand with a concerned expression plastered all over her face when she noticed what Rafe was trying to do with Nova.

     Rafe let out a scoff and turned around to face Juno. "This doesn't concern you, Juno." He told the girl.

     "Well, I think it does when you're forcing yourself onto my best friend." Juno retorted, narrowing her eyes into a sharp glare whilst she locked eyes with the boy. "Now, fuck off." She snapped, altering her stance so she was now standing in front of Nova, growing protective over her best friend.

Rafe's eyes flickered between the two girls for a short moment, before he let out a sinister chuckle, raised his hands in defence and backed away from Nova and Juno. "Fuck you, too." He seethed through gritted teeth and turned his back on the pair, leaving the two alone in the middle of the empty hallway. But Nova was just thankful that her friend came to her aid when she did.

Once Rafe was nowhere to be seen, Juno sighed and turned around to face Nova with a look filled with concern burning in her dark eyes. Juno knew better than anyone else how unhappy Nova was in her relationship with Rafe, but stayed with him regardless. She could see Nova's health deteriorating day after day since the moment they started dating, but no matter how many times Juno and Sarah told her, Nova didn't end things with him. It actually hurt Juno to see her friend in such a state over a boy who didn't really care about her.

"Hey, are you okay?" Juno asked, hoping to get a straight answer out from the girl this time around.

A bitter chuckle escaped past Nova's lips, the girl nodding her head in the process. "Just peachy." She answered, her voice dripping in sarcasm.

That was when Juno O'Connell noticed there was something different about Nova and the way she was suddenly acting, causing for Juno to stand closely with her friend and stare deeply into her eyes. Juno then noticed her dazed state, and how dilated the girl's pupils were and the beads of sweat sticking to her forehead. That was when Juno noticed her friend was far from fine, the girl letting out a scoff when she was hit by the realisation.

Juno then placed the red solo cup in her hand down to the ground before she stretched out her hand to clutch harshly onto Nova's chin. "Look at me." She instructed in a firm tone, and Nova locked eyes with Juno, giving the girl all the clarity she needed to kick her ass. "Are you fucking kidding me? You're fucking high?" She questioned.

"Rafe might have given me something." Nova confessed. "But it's seriously not a big deal—"

Nova was cut off by Juno, who quickly grabbed ahold of Nova's wrist in the other, before pulling the girl further down the hallway, anger and fury coursing through her veins. Juno and Nova then made their way throughout the Thornton household until they stopped at the front door, causing for Juno to wrap her hand around the handle and twist the door open, stepping out the house and pulling Nova outside with her. Once the two girls were alone, Juno released Nova's wrist from her grip and began to pace back and forth on the front porch, heavy and frantic breaths escaping past her lips.

     Nova watched as her friend continued to pace, an unbothered look evident in her eyes. "Can you stop pacing? It's making me nauseous." She spoke up, putting an end to Juno's pacing.

     "Is that seriously all you're worried about right now?" Juno snapped at the girl, before approaching her with anger burning within her gaze. "You took drugs, Nova — You're fucking high. After everything that happened with Riley, you would really experiment with that stuff?" She ranted, clearly disappointed with Nova's choices tonight.

Nova rolled her eyes, stumbling all over the place. She could barely keep still. "It's not a big deal, Juno." She reassured her friend.

"As long as this was the only time." Juno sighed, but when she snapped her gaze up to see the strange look twinkling in Nova's eyes, Juno was quick to realise this wasn't the first time at all. "How long?"

Nova swallowed thickly. "A few weeks after Riley died, Rafe gave me some coke to cope with everything. I've been using ever since." She told Juno, being truthful ( which was totally unintentional by the way. Drugs always had the power to bring down her walls and make her vulnerable ).

"You have got to be fucking kidding me?" Juno whispered harshly, the girl beginning to pace once again.

"I don't think this really effects you." Nova told her, shrugging her shoulders.

"It does effect me. It effects everyone that gives a shit about you." Juno argued back, her voice growing harsh in the process. "Earlier this week, I confided in you about the guilt I felt after Riley died. You stood there and listened to me tell you about how much I blamed myself for his addiction, and all this time you were just thinking about when you were going to get your next fix? Did you think about what would happen if you ended up just like Riley? You would be leaving your parents behind, and me and Sarah behind. But that doesn't matter, right? As long as you get high then fuck the rest of us."

Nova shook her head, lowering her gaze to look at the ground. "Okay...maybe I was wrong—"

"Wrong?" Juno questioned, her voice laced with disbelief. "You're fucking selfish. That's what you are. Listen, I get you're hurting right now with everything that's happened with Riley. But so are the rest of us. I lost my boyfriend, your parents lost their son. You don't see us falling apart though. We're not allowed to do that because we have to look out for you. It's not fair on the rest of us—"

"Don't you dare patronise me for making mistakes, Juno. Especially when you're not as perfect as you make yourself out to be." Nova interjected in a sharp tone, becoming fed up with the way Juno was speaking towards her.

Juno furrowed her brows together in confusion. "What the hell are you talking about?" She exclaimed.

"I'm talking about how you always try to be little miss perfect and help other people when you're far from perfection." Nova elaborated, pausing for a brief moment to catch her breath, before she continued to speak. "Your daddy left you with a drunk for a mother and you numb that pain by trying to be something you're not. If you stopped for a second and evaluated your own life, you would see that you are just as fucked up as the rest of us."

Juno was shocked to say the least, the girl blinking in surprise whilst she listened to each and every word that slipped past her friend's lips, the tears in her eyes beginning to roll down her cheeks. Deep down, Juno knew Nova was only saying stuff to hurt her because she was high and she hurt people to push them away. It was what she did best. But there was no denying that Nova's words cut deep like a thousand knives carving into her flesh.

     "That's not fair." Juno replied, shaking her head in the process.

     "You know what's not fair? Ditching me for the Pogues on the other side of the island when I needed you most. If you really cared about me then you wouldn't be running off with them at every chance you get." Nova retorted, taking a step closer towards Juno with a hateful look evident in her bright blue eyes. "But why should I be surprised since you fit in perfectly with them, right? What is it that they say...damage attracts damage?"

     Juno felt her jaw clench tight, staring back at her so-called best friend with a glare in her eyes. "Fuck you, Nova." She choked up, pushing back the devastating sob that threatened to choke the life out of her.

     "No...fuck you, Juno." Nova snapped back at the girl.

"Hey!" A familiar voice interjected, causing for Nova and Juno to turn around and see Sarah stepping out onto the front porch, a bottle of what looked like some fancy champagne clasped tightly in her hand. The two girls then watched as the blonde closed the door behind her, her brows furrowing whilst her eyes flickered between Nova and Juno. "The whole party can hear you guys. What the fuck is going on?"

Juno scoffed, turning her attention back to Nova. "You want to tell her, or should I, Nova?" She questioned.

"Tell me what?" Sarah inquired, clearly confused.

Nova shot the girl a look, but after what she had just said to her, Nova knew Juno wasn't going to try and protect her like before. So, she watched as Juno glanced at Sarah, her lips parting to speak. "Nova is using drugs. She has been for months, and your brother is her supplier." She announced.

     Sarah stared back at Nova, a mix of hurt and shock evident in her dark and luminous gaze. "Is it true, Nova?" She asked.

"And so what if it was?" Nova exclaimed in disbelief, stumbling back for a moment whilst she smiled warmly at the blonde. "I have it under complete control, and I've never felt any better. In fact, this is probably the happiest I've ever been."

"Nova, come on..." Sarah paused, reaching out for the girl with her free hand. "Lets get you some water and then Juno can drive you home." She offered, knowing it was probably for the best to get Nova somewhere safe where she could sleep the entire night off.

Nova slapped Sarah's hand away from her and laughed harshly, almost like she was being patronising. "Oh my god, don't ever get off that high horse of yours?" She snapped at the blonde, her words catching Sarah off guard for a moment.

"Excuse me?" Sarah recoiled.

Shaking her head, Juno warned, "Just ignore her. She has no idea what she's saying."

Nova began to laugh hysterically. "This is the clearest my mind has ever been actually. The drugs might have fucked up a lot in my life, but it did open my eyes to what kind of person you are, Sarah Cameron." She retorted, narrowing her gaze harshly into Sarah's direction.

"And what is that, Nova?" Sarah interrogated further, scared to hear what her friend was going to say next.

"That you put on this whole Princess act like the rest of us, but deep down, you're a broken little girl who's just scared of ending up alone." Nova informed her, her voice laced with venom.

Sarah shook her head. "That's not true." She defended.

"Really? Lets see. . . Did you fuck Topper tonight or not?" Nova asked, the girl getting nothing more than silence in response, causing for Nova to chuckle harshly once again. "No, of course you didn't, because Topper is the overbearing boyfriend who feels too much, whilst you're a stone cold bitch who doesn't feel anything at all. Let me guess, he got too close and now you're pushing him away?"

     "Nova—"

     "But what do I know about love? I mean, my boyfriend is an asshole who gives me drugs and hurts me when he can't get his own way." Nova laughed, shrugging her shoulders, but this time both Juno and Sarah could see the sadness behind her smile. "But, whatever. You and Topper are truly a match made in heaven. That is until you cheat on him with the next guy who catches your eye—"

     "Nova, that's enough." Juno interrupted, snapping harshly at the girl before she grabbed her wrist. "You're lucky I barely touched my drink. Come on, I'm taking you home."

     Nova was quick to rip her wrist out of Juno's hand before she shook her head and scoffed. "Don't bother, because I don't need you..." Nova then turned around to glance over at Sarah. "Or you to tell me what to do." She grimaced, shooting the blonde a glare.

     Suddenly, Nova lowered her gaze to see the bottle of champagne was still clasped tightly in Sarah's hand. This caused for Nova to reach down and snatch the bottle away from the blonde before she took a swig from it, the girl beginning to walk down the steps, making the decision that it was better to leave the party and venture out somewhere else into the dark and lonely night. Nova didn't exactly care where. As long as she was alone with the bottle of champagne in her hand to numb the pain she already felt, then she could end up in a ditch and she would still be fine.

     Or maybe Nova Van Kirk would cross paths with someone else on this hot summer night. Little did she know, it would be the last person she expected.

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authors note.
So this was such a heavy chapter to write. I honestly struggled in places because of certain parts, but hopefully it paid off in the end. And this might be the last chapter I post for at least a week or two, because I want to try and focus on other stories as well. You guys got 5 chapters in a row so you've been spoiled enough awkskskskdk

Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I'll update again soon!! Until then, anymore theories since I dropped a few more clues in this chapter???

Here's a clue:
Sic semper tyrannis is a Latin phrase for "thus always to tyrants," which pretty much means a tyrant will soon meet their end. . . can you guys guess who the tyrant is in this story?