The party was exactly what you’d expect from the Kooks—too loud, too crowded, too expensive for absolutely no reason. Music shook the entire mansion, deep bass vibrating through the walls while bodies moved through every open space. Drinks spilled onto marble floors, laughter echoed through hallways, and everything felt just a little too careless, a little too out of control.

Rafe Cameron had been there the entire night.

Red cup in hand, cigarette tucked behind his ear, moving through the chaos like he belonged to it. Like he always did. Topper had disappeared somewhere near the pool, Kelce was arguing with someone over nothing important, and Sarah was inside trying to stop the house from completely falling apart.

Rafe was done.

Not because he cared about the mess—he didn’t—but because he was bored.

He pushed through the crowd toward the front door, already halfway out of the mindset of staying, when Sarah caught him by the arm.

“Hey—wait,” she said quickly. “Can you take Noah home?”

Rafe barely slowed. “Yeah, sure,” he muttered without thinking. Just another drunk guest. Five minutes, max.

“Just wait by the car,” Sarah added. “I’ll bring Noah out.”

He nodded once and stepped outside.

The shift was immediate—the noise dying behind him, replaced by cool night air and distant ocean wind. He leaned against his car, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it with slow, practiced ease. Inhale. Exhale. Waiting.

Easy job. Drive someone home. Done.

Footsteps broke the quiet.

Rafe glanced up lazily—

Then paused.

Sarah came out first… and behind her, stumbling slightly, was you.

Not a guy.

A girl.

“Rafe,” Sarah said, steadying you as she gently guided you forward. “This is Noah.”

Rafe blinked once, straightening a little. “That’s Noah?” His voice was flat—confused more than anything.

You swayed slightly where you stood, barely steady on your feet, eyes half-focused like the world was just out of reach. Your hand brushed the side of the car for balance.

Sarah nodded like it was obvious. “Just take her home, okay?”

Rafe let out a short breath. “You could’ve mentioned Noah’s not a guy.”

Sarah only smiled faintly. “You said yes.”

And just like that, she was gone—back into the noise, back into the chaos—leaving the two of you behind.

Rafe stared after her for a second, then shook his head slightly.

“…Unbelievable,” he muttered under his breath.

His attention shifted back to you.

Closer now, he could see how unsteady you really were. The way you blinked slowly like focusing was a struggle. The way you were barely holding yourself upright.

“Can you walk?” he asked, tone lower now.

No answer.

That was answer enough.

He exhaled through his nose, almost like he was annoyed at the situation more than you.

“Yeah,” he said, already pushing off the car, “didn’t think so.”

Before you could react properly, he stepped in—close enough that you had to look up at him—and took your arm. Firm grip. Steadying. Not rough, but certain.

“C’mon,” he muttered, opening the passenger door with his free hand. “Try not to make this harder than it has to be, alright?”

And for a moment, his hand didn’t let go right away.

Like he was making sure you were actually there.

Actually okay.

And somehow, the night felt a little less simple than it had a minute ago.