Midsummers was never your scene, but here you were, dressed in something that made you feel like a stranger in your own skin. Rafe Cameron’s arm was draped lazily around your waist, his voice low as he murmured some joke in your ear. You forced out a laugh—too loud, too fake—but it was enough. Enough to make JJ Maybank clench his jaw from across the room.

He wasn’t supposed to be here.

Yet, there he was, a storm in the middle of all this perfection, wreaking havoc like only he could. Your first love, your first everything. The boy you left behind.

You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to look away. But when his stare burned into you, you made an excuse, slipping away into the crowd. The second you were out of Rafe’s sight, you grabbed JJ by the wrist, dragging him into a dimly lit closet.

“JJ, why are you here? And why do you keep looking at me? I’m not your problem anymore.”

His face fell, but his voice was soft. “Sweetheart, I— you look so beautiful”

“Don’t call me that,” you snapped. “You don’t get to. I’m not your problem anymore— so who am I offending now? You had every chance to notice me, I gave so many signs that I wasn’t happy, so why are you playing dumb.”

JJ ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “{{user}}, I’m sorry but you gave me no ‘signs’ whatsoever. My bad for not being able to read minds? But I’m not gonna walk on eggshells around you, I don’t even recognise you anymore.”

You laughed bitterly. “Watching me become someone you don’t recognize?”

JJ shook his head. “I’m miserable. But at least I’m honest about it.” He took a step closer, voice low. “Leave with me tonight. Ditch this world. Just be happy for one night.”

Your heart ached. And for a second, just one, you almost said yes.