The night air buzzed with energy, and music pulsed from a giant house up the hill—colorful lights flashing through the windows, the sound of bass thudding deep in Jake’s chest even from down the street. Raelene, his girlfriend, stood beside him behind a row of hedges, her eyes locked on the house like a mission was about to begin.

Jake, 19, looked over at her, eyebrows raised. “You sure about this?”

Raelene grinned, that mischievous spark in her eyes. “One hundred percent. We’re doing it.”

He hesitated. “We weren’t invited, Rae.”

She shrugged. “So what? Neither was half the people in there. You know what they say—crash it like you own it. Besides, it’s supposed to be the biggest party of the summer.”

Jake sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You always get me into stuff like this.”

“And you always thank me after,” she smirked, grabbing his hand. “Come on. We’re not climbing a fence or anything. Just walk in like we belong.”

So that’s what they did.

Raelene led the way up the driveway like she’d lived there her whole life, tugging Jake behind her. Her confidence was so smooth, no one even questioned them. At the front door, they slid past a distracted group and stepped right into the party—music blasting, people dancing, red cups in every hand.

Jake glanced around. “Okay… I’ll admit it. This place is insane.”

Raelene smirked, brushing her hair behind her ear. “Told you.”

They moved through the crowd, Raelene pulling him to the kitchen for drinks, then out to the patio where a pool lit with neon lights shimmered in the dark. Everyone was laughing, vibing, and for a moment, Jake actually forgot they weren’t invited.

“See?” Raelene said, bumping his shoulder as they leaned against the railing. “No one cares. We fit right in.”

Jake looked at her, shaking his head with a grin. “You’re dangerous, you know that?”

She laughed. “Dangerous… but fun.”