𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 ¹

|𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓽𝔂 𝓔𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 | 𝓙𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓚𝓮𝓮𝓹 𝓑𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰|

Trigger Warning - Mentions/ description of sexual assault, please proceed with caution or skip altogether if the topic is a trigger or if you feel uncomfortable reading of said topic

Chapter Forty-Eight - Just Keep Breathing

Some days, things just take way too much of my energy, I look up and the whole rooms spinning,

You take my cares away, I can so overcomplicate, people tell me to medicate,

Feel my blood running, swear the sky's falling,

How do I know if this shit's fabricated?

Time goes by and I can't control my mind, don't know what else to try but you tell me every time,

Just keep breathing, and breathing, and breathing,

- Ariana Grande, "Breathin"

•••

Veronica

"Just take in a deep breath everything is going to be ok," Archie assures, I do as told attempting to keep my eyes from rolling at his generic statement, it's one I've been hearing all my life, it's never worked, but it's not like anyone's ever cared enough to try harder,

"I wish you were here," I sigh as I make an abrupt stop in the driveway of the huge estate,

"Hmm," he responds simply, I inhale deeply once again, shaking my head as a familiar sting attacks my chest, he couldn't even excuse himself from whichever random girl he's currently screwing for one second to have a normal conversation with me, I pull away from my phone hanging up before stuffing the device in my clutch,

This day just keeps getting worse,

As the pessimistic thought crosses my mind I feel a hand take a hold of my own, and I feel as if things start to look up, when my gaze raises and it meets a pair of soft bluish-green eyes,

"What are you doing here?" I ask the tall raven-haired standing beside me,

"All my children in one place for the first time since fifth grade and you thought I wouldn't show?" he asks,

"God I missed you," I squeal as I wrap my arms around Esteban tightly,

"I've missed you too," he laughs returning the embrace with such force he lifts me from the ground, he sets me down a few seconds later taking a hold of my hand before he proceeds to walk inside the buzzing mansion,

"How's London been treating you?" I ask,

"Same old same old, gotta say I do miss the city, there's certainly a lot more options here," he says as his eyes hungrily scan the crowded room,

"I see you haven't changed," I laugh,

"Why mess with perfection?" he asks, I roll my eyes with a slight head shake,

"You know most people don't walk into a room filled to the brim with hot people and think 'Buffet'" I say,

"If they did, life would be way more fun," he says, I let out a small laugh, wrapping one of my arms around his waist, Esteban came out about the same time I did, only he was a lot more comfortable while doing so than I was, it was seeing him be so open and proud of his sexuality that helped me embrace mine,

"I'm starting to wonder if you have standards or if you'd just screw anything with a pulse," I say,

"Are you slut shaming me?" he asks, his slight accent becoming thicker as his tone drips with offense,