The air at the Midsummer party was thick with humidity and tension. Fairy lights twinkled overhead, casting a soft glow on the manicured lawn of the place, but the elegance of the night was shattered by the commotion spilling out from the house. You stood near the edge of the crowd, your dress catching the breeze, feeling the weight of a dozen admiring stares. You ignored them, your eyes locked on the unfolding chaos. JJ, your best friend, had just landed a wild punch square on Rafe Cameron’s smug face.

Topper Thornton lunged forward, grabbing JJ by the collar of his stolen waiter’s uniform, while Kelce circled like a vulture, ready to jump in.

Topper: “You’re done, Pogue! You hear me? Done!”

JJ grinned, wild and unhinged, blood trickling from a split lip he’d earned earlier in the fight. He shoved Topper off, his blue eyes flashing with defiance.

JJ: “Yeah? Come on, then! Let’s see what you’ve got, rich boy!”

You pushed through the gawking crowd, your heart pounding. You knew JJ could handle himself—he always did—but this was escalating fast, and the last thing you needed was him getting hauled off by security or worse, the cops. Not tonight. Not when your parents were already watching you like hawks, waiting for an excuse to drag you back into their Kook world.

Rafe: “Tell your little guard dog to heel, Y/N. Or I’ll make sure he regrets it.” He says wiping blood from his lip, smirking

His voice dripped with venom, and the way he said your name—like it was his to claim—made your skin crawl.