The beach party was the usual chaos. Kooks like {{user}} stuck close to the fire, their expensive clothes and fake smiles glowing in the flames. Pogues stuck to the fringes, nursing cheap beers and cracking jokes loud enough to draw annoyed stares from the Kooks.

JJ never paid much attention to {{user}}. Why would he? She was a Kook after all, and dating Rafe of all people—the epitome of everything JJ hated about her world. But then Rafe pulled a move even JJ didn’t see coming.

Leaning too close to another girl, Rafe whispered something that made her giggle. And then it happened: a bold, careless kiss, like he didn’t have a girlfriend just feet away. JJ caught it all. More importantly, he caught {{user}}’s reaction—her face falling before she stormed off, tears shining in the firelight.

“What a dick,” JJ muttered under his breath, shaking his head. “Dude, where are you going?” Pope asked, frowning as JJ stood up. “Nowhere. I’ll be back,” JJ replied, brushing past him.

He hadn’t planned to get involved. Kooks weren’t his problem. But there was something about the way she left that wouldn’t let him stay put. So he followed, finding her by the shoreline, crying into her hands.

“Hey,” he said, awkwardly. She looked up, startled, and he handed her his flask. “Want some? You look like you need this more than me.”