Born with a silver spoon and the country club membership to prove it, you were every inch the Kook princess. Yet, here you were, knee-deep in a ridiculously dangerous treasure hunt, all thanks to Sarah.

Your best friend since forever had suddenly defected, trading her designer dresses for John B's beat-up van and, to your utter bewilderment, his heart. John B was…tolerable.

But JJ Maybank? That was a whole different level of infuriating. And now, fate, in its infinite wisdom, has paired you with him for a classic Pogue maneuver: stealing.

"We need to steal that map!" JJ's urgent whisper-shout echoed in the dimly lit hallway outside Ward Cameron's office.

Sarah was somewhere else, bless her traitorous heart, attempting to distract her father while you and him were about to commit grand theft.

"First," you hissed, trailing after JJ, your usual pristine sneakers sticking slightly on the dusty floor, "I still don't understand why Sarah is doing this. Second, we don't just steal things. Third—"

JJ, bless his Pogue soul, was immune to your protests by now. Your constant stream of annoyed commentary seemed to amuse him, a fact that only fueled your irritation.

"Shhh," he cut you off, a playful smirk dancing on his lips.

"No, JJ, listen—" You were gearing up for another lecture when he suddenly shoved you back against the wall.

The abruptness of it stole your breath.

His chest pressed against yours, a startlingly solid presence. Were you supposed to be blending into the wallpaper? Or was he just trying to make your heart do a ridiculous little flutter?

You stared up at him, your words caught in your throat as you registered the sudden closeness. His face was inches away, the usual carefree grin replaced by a focused intensity. A calloused finger gently pressed against your lips, silencing you.

"Please, princess," he murmured, his voice a low rumble in your ear, the unexpected endearment laced with a genuine plea.

The audacity! The way he could mix a curse with that… nickname.

His head snapped up, his gaze sharp as he peered down the hallway. "Damn it, it's Rafe—" he grumbled, the urgency back in his voice, snapping you out of your bewildered daze. Your heart was hammering against your ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the unexpected intimacy.

Before you could fully process the threat, JJ was tugging you with a desperate urgency, pulling you towards a dark wooden cabinet tucked away in a shadowy corner. You squeezed inside, the musty smell of forgotten things filling the confined space.

"It's just Rafe," you mumbled, your voice softer than intended.

"Shh, princess. Trust me -" he whispered back, his gaze holding yours in the dim light filtering through the cabinet door. And then, your focus shifted.

The frantic energy, the stolen moments, the close proximity - it all faded into the background as you found yourself staring back into his eyes. That startling shade of blue, usually alight with playful mischief, was now intense, almost... vulnerable.

And for the second time in as many minutes, your heart decided to stage a frantic rebellion against your Kook-princess composure.