Everyone is scattered. Pope is taking care of the barbecue, Kie is with her family. Sarah is dancing with her little sister Wheezie, and Henry and Max are laughing by the minibar. Kathryn is leaning against the counter, downing her soda. She spiked it, but it's not enough to make her head fuzzy.

So she just stands, scanning the crowd for blonde hair and a boyish demeanour that'll tell her JJ is here and safe, and nothing bad happened. Nothing bad ever will, because she knows.

Instead, she's greeted by bleached hair and a red tie that she doesn't recognise. "Hi."

She stares at him. He has the kind of face you could spot in a crowd – brute features, carved from stone. He's handsome, there's no denying that, but he has the kind of stand-offish attitude that sets her off. She has the same.

"Hi," she greets back, dubious.

"How are you doing on this fine obnoxiously luxurious and pompous evening to celebrate the richest people on the island?"

She arches her brow. "Randomly political, I like that in a stranger. Did you just come here to make a statement?"

He turns his light brown eyes to her, and his plump lips stretch in a smirk. "Coming from the one who flipped off Ward, that's got to mean something."

It gets a huff out of her. "Touché." She's intrigued now. "No offence, but who are you?"

"None taken. I'm Josh Hill. No need to ask who you are."

This time, she scoffs, and steps to the side. Of course, the guy her mom fixed her up with. He notices the shift in her demeanour, and sighs.

"I don't like this any more than you."

"I beg to differ."

"I can assure you, I'm not here because I wanted to."

She turns to him, almost smiling in amusement. "Right, you're just here to do what mommy says. That's embarrassing."

She expects him to get angry, but Josh barks out a laugh. "You're funny, I'll give you that."

"Yes, I am." Kathryn doesn't know how to react, so she just stares him down. "If you think this is going anywhere, you're mistaken."

"I know, I gathered that," he tells her. "I don't want anything out of this. I just want to make friends."

Josh seems sincere, as far as a stranger goes. It makes her frown. She'd much rather the kind of hypocritical conversations she usually has with people like that. "I'm supposed to believe that?"

He laughs again. "You should know, your mom has been desperately trying to set you up." She forces herself to remain stone-faced. "I'm the only one who said yes."

"You want a medal for that?"

"You're kind of a myth, Kathryn Elizabeth Darcy," he says. "I was intrigued. I wanted to make friends, that's all there is to it."

She doesn't believe one word of this. She quite literally has been there before. Rafe wanted to make friends at first too. That ended well.

Kathryn looks away. As she does, she spots blonde hair and a side profile she knows by heart. "If you'll excuse me now."

She almost runs through the crowd, leaving Josh behind. JJ is disguised as a waiter, wearing a three-piece suit with the coat, and a flowery bow-tie that no one on this Earth could pull off. He's walking away from the barbecue – he must have just talked to Pope.

She grabs his arm, and he squeaks in surprise before seeing her. She yanks him away from the crowd, until they reach a quiet spot.

"Dude you're pinching me–"

She doesn't even know what got into herself before she tugs him closer into a hug. Kathryn realises just how scared and worried she was for him, and seeing him again and knowing that he's fine burns her brain in the best way, and she finds herself hugging him so hard he might not be breathing.

JJ is not particularly used to being hugged, but he lets her, and puts his arms around her, his heart hammering in his chest, for some reason. Maybe he just missed her. Maybe he dreads what's coming.

"I take it they told you." he can't help but say, to try and lift the mood. "Did I scare you that much?"

She lets go of him, pushing his shoulder lightly and sniffling. He did, she realises. He really, really did. She was getting sick with worry over there, to be fully honest.

And he sees it on her face, the way she pinches her lips and frowns to herself, looking down and holding back any and all emotion that would rise to the surface.

He doesn't think all that much when he puts his hands on her cheeks, and kisses the top of her head. "Hey, 'm fine, you see?" She sighs and nods. He lets go of her face.

It doesn't have to mean anything. In fact, it doesn't. He just wants to reassure her. That's believable. It's not like he's losing his whole mind since he saw her in that dress. It's not like he doesn't remember why they're here. Why are they here?

Kathryn is still looking down, which is good for him. He wishes she could just stay that way, it'd save him a lot of trouble and explanations, and worry on her part. She has enough to worry about.

She rubs her forehead. "I was worried sick about you."

"You're sick too?" He's overreacting. He's going to give himself up. "Did Pope pass it on to you?" He touches her forehead, fakely taking her temperature. "You don't seem sick."

She swats his hand away. "Don't be a smartass, JJ, and accept the compliment, alright."

She rolls her eyes, and looks up at him. He pales, because he knows what she's seeing. From his left temple to the corner of his lips, he's covered in bruises. The busted lip is courtesy of Topper, she knows it, but his cheek? His eye? His cheekbone and eyebrow were punched so hard the skin broke.

She takes his chin in her fingers, tilting his face towards her. He blinks, mouth slightly dry. This is barely hours old, not even really blue yet, just sort of red and purple-ish.

"What happened to your face?"

He frees himself from her grip, and points at his bruises, swallowing down the sinking feeling in his stomach. "Oh, this? No. This is – It's my dad." A shadow passes on her face. "You know? Has that right jab. Can really snap it off at times."

He expects anger out of her, and he's served. She scowls, jaw clenched. "He did this? That's way more than a jab, JJ." It's gnarly. It's awful. It makes her sick. "Do you want me to get Max?"

His eyes blow wide, and he immediately shakes his head. "What? No, no! Don't. It's nothin' that hasn't happened before."

It doesn't seem to make her feel better. "I can just go there myself. I can take him."

She could beat up Luke Maybank. She could give back every bruise he's ever given JJ, and some more, for good measure.

"KD."

She closes her eyes tightly. "I'm sorry – god, I'm the one who insisted for Max to take a day off, if he hadn't, I would've told him to not call your dad, I'm so, so sorry, it's my fault–"

"No it's not." How the fuck did she even come to that conclusion?

"Yes it is, I should've been here–"

"Shut up."

"And I could've bailed you out." She nods for herself. "As a matter of fact, I'll pay for whatever you owe in restitution. I can pay for everything, I'm so sorry–"

"Shut up, KD! Shut up." He takes her face back in his hands to force her to stop. "I swear, sometimes, you're worse than Pope."

His cold hands feel good on her warm cheeks. But she looks away, distraught. "How much do you owe? I can help."

"You have 30K to spare?"

"I can find something," she says. "I can ask Henry."

"No," he cries out. "I'm not letting you do that."

"JJ..."

"You have to stop trying to take care of everything," he tells her. How many times did it take her mom telling her that everything is her fault to make her think it is? "For once in your goddamn life, don't worry. Trust someone else. John B and I got it all sorted out. We're gonna be filthy rich."

She lets the whole 'trust someone' else bit fly over her head because she doesn't have time to delve into why she would never. She'd rather focus on the whole getting filthy rich bit.

"John B and you got what sorted out?"

"We're back in the G-game, baby."

Ignoring the 'baby' part, she narrows her eyes at him. "But the gold wasn't in the boat – we lost the game, it's over."

"Yeah, well, we're in overtime now. Fourth and one, baby."

Yes, because that makes so much more sense. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

"I'll explain – I'll explain later." Oh, great. That clears it up. He takes hold of her hand. "Wait, actuall, you know what? Come here."

She lets him guide her through the crowd, JJ leading her to the dance floor.

He stops and puts his hands on her waist. She can feel the heat coming from them through the fabric of her dress, giving her goosebumps. She can feel her heart beating faster.

"JJ, what are you doing?"

He begins to sway, making her sway too. "What? Just dancing."

"Right."

With a determined sigh, she puts her hands on his shoulders. "Anytime you start feeling bad, just tell me."

She didn't even think that this could happen. That she'd feel bad and nauseous, because she doesn't. Even with what happened the night before. She just... enjoys his company. Feels safe with him. Maybe it's because they've been friends for a long time. But she can trust someone else, she finds.

She notices that he's slowly leading her to Sarah, dancing with Wheezie still. He taps lightly on her shoulder, still pretending to dance with Kathryn.

Right. This is all a means to an end, of course. The plan him and John B have, how could she forget?

"JJ? Kathryn?"

He holds a finger to his mouth, telling her to stay silent. "Yep."

Sarah stares at them, confused. "What?"

He puts a small note in Kathryn's hand, and makes her spin, forcing her to extend her arm towards Sarah.

Kathryn scoffs. "You watch too many movies.."

"Yep. That's a, uh, note from Vlad.

"Vlad?" Kathryn repeats.

JJ brings her closer to him to whisper in her ear. "Name code for our friend John B."

Kathryn can't help but shiver and blush. "Right – yeah, uh okay, I see." JJ thinks that's the first time he's actually heard her stutter.

Sarah smiles and walks away with the note. JJ backs away from her face a bit, still holding her close.

She smirks. "You know about John B and Sarah?"

He gapes. "You know?"

"Of course I know! Sarah told me."

"What? John B told me!"

She snorts, as they share the knowing silence that Kiara is going to be less than pleased about everything.

He leans back a little, and she looks up in his blue eyes, almost worried for a second. His face is really messed up. Half of it is just swollen and purple, and she feels guilty again.

"You know, I like that dress." JJ has something else on his mind, evidently. That dress is making him slowly go insane, and he wants to scream.

Her cheeks are hot. "Thank you." It's a good kind of fire, she thinks.

Kathryn can feel her heart missing a beat when they stop swaying. He's filling the entirety of her field of view. Something makes her stomach churn. But that's just stupid. JJ is her friend. He was always her friend, her best friend. Her blood boils when his eyes fall on her lips. Oh.

Oh.

She feels something on her hands, and her eyes snap back up. It's Rafe. She yelps and yanks it away.

JJ immediately turns around, and puts Kathryn behind him. He makes them walk backwards, away from Rafe. "Don't freeze," he asks her.

The only thing she can do is take his hand and squeeze, like she did in Big John's office. She's not sure she can promise anything else.

"I'm wonderin' if you could get me a mai tai, my friend," asks Rafe, his eyes staying on Kathryn.

"Yeah Pogue," says Kelce, appearing next to him. "How about you make that two?"

"Or just Katy." Kathryn feels bile rise at the back of her throat.

"Don't call her that," JJ immediately lets out, blood running cold. "And I'm on the clock right now. You guys look spiffy. You know, uh, I got a couple of orders ahead of you, so why don't you guys just go ahead and wait by the bar?"

Kathryn grips JJ's hand tightly as they walk up the stairs backwards, backing away from Kelce and Rafe. "And maybe drown there," she lets out under her breath.

"Until then," adds JJ, "help yourselves to hors d'oeuvres."

"Oh yeah." Rafe turns around, calling out other friends. "Guys, JJ's gonna serve us some hors d'oeuvres. I'm sure Katy can help too."

JJ grips his shirt. "Don't you call her that."

She shakes her head frantically, scanning the crowd for Henry or Max, but they're probably off somewhere. "JJ, let it go."

There are two of them but she doesn't feel like fighting Rafe again. Not in those heels anyway. Thought they would do some damage if driven right to his nuts.

She just had to think about that for four of Rafe's friends to show up out of the blue. JJ hurries the pace. The entrance to the house is right behind them. He gestures to his left.

"Well, here are the hors d'oeuvres," JJ says, gesturing to a table as they get closer to the door of the hotel. "We'll be right back, okay?"

"We're actually gonna follow you in here just to make sure..."

Rafe doesn't have to finish his sentence, because Kathryn and JJ opened the door and are running as fast as they can inside. Her heels click rapidly on the floor as JJ leads her inside, gripping her hand. If it wasn't for him, she'd probably be frozen.

They pass Josh. "Kat...?"

"Not right now, Josh!" Or ever.

"You know him?"

"JJ!"

They keep running until they reach the bathroom doors, next to the changing rooms. Well, more like JJ stopped and she ran straight into him.

He points to the bathrooms. "You go in, okay?"

Kathryn shakes her head. "What? No, I'm not leaving you."

"Yeah, not asking. In. Now."

The sound of Rafe and his friends coming after them is growing louder. She's not sure JJ is even giving her a choice.

She squeezes his hand before letting it go. "You better be in one piece when I catch up."

"Yes ma'am."

She gets inside.

"Kathryn Elizabeth?"

Fuck me. This just keeps getting better and better. Kathryn presses herself against the door, silently wanting to disappear. "What?"

Her mother gestures to her. "What are you doing?"

"It's none of your business."

Caroline nods slightly, as if to say 'fair enough'. She starts washing her hands. "You know, I'm sorry for not telling you about my deal with Ward–"

She can hear Rafe and the others going after JJ. She has to do something. "Alright, mom, I don't have time for this." She gets out of the room, before poking her head back in. "Also, fuck you."

She slams the door behind her, and rushes to the front door to find Max or a security guard. She finds the latter, and runs up to him.

"Sir, there's a fight in the men's bathroom, you have to come." He frowns. "Now, please?"

Without questioning her, he follows her inside, hurrying, going as fast as she does.

When they arrive, Kelce is choking JJ, and Rafe is about to hit him in the face. There are five of them now, because of course Rafe would never do it alone.

Kathryn's nails dig into her palms. She feels like punching his teeth in.

The security guard turns the light on and off to startle the boys. "Gentlemen! Is there a problem?"

Kelce lets go of JJ when the security guard gets there. He turns around to see Kathryn, fury written all over her face. He gasps for air, but still tries a wink to reassure her.

She has to purse her lips to stop herself from laughing.

"Pardon me, officer. No, there's not an issue. I just – Actually, yes. No, there is an issue. Uh, we got a criminal trespass in progress here." He holds up a finger. Kathryn literally has no idea what he's doing, but she hopes he does. "Beep! Call it in, right? Blatant disrespect for private property. I'm in violation of all kinds of shit, sir, but these young gentlemen..."

He tries to fix Kelce's bow tie. "Don't touch my shit," he seethes, swatting his hands away.

"...Uh, caught me, sir, and they're about to take me away. And that's what you should do, escort me out of here." He holds up his wrists, as if the security guard was about to cuff him. "You got me."

'Escort me out of here'. Kathryn nods at him, gesturing that she understood his plan. He's found himself an escort to make sure he'll get out safely. "Yeah," she tells the guard. "Better hurry now."

"All right. Fix that tie, son," he tells Kelce as the man escorts him out, taking him by the arm. "You're lookin' spiffy, too. You Powerpuff Girls have fun."

And they're about to leave, the guard having his hand on JJ's arm, and JJ and Kathryn looking smug. It should have ended there.

"Hey Kathryn you look pretty hot for a slut."

Kathryn turns pale. JJ feels white hot anger get to his head.

Without a single thought even making its way to his brain, he yanks his arm away from the guard and walks straight back towards Rafe, ready to hit him in the face.

"JJ!" Kathryn yells out. "Stop it. Let's go!"

There are three people trying to prevent him from killing Rafe. And one's a trained security guard. And he's struggling.

"You think I'm afraid of you?" JJ calls out as the guard takes him away. "I'll cave your face in!" Again.

"Come on!" the guard grunts.

"Hey, safe travels back to the cut. This ain't over!" Rafe answers. "Hey, hey, it was really nice seein' you again, Kathryn!"

JJ is forced out before he can even think of doing anything.

She turns on her heels. "You too Rafe. Nice bruise on your cheek, did you tell anyone how you got it?"

Rafe blinks and stutters out something she doesn't care enough to understand what he's saying. She walks out.

Only to walk in on the dumpster fire that is JJ being forced out of the place. The music has stopped. Everyone is staring.

"Look – look, man, I can walk myself. I got legs," JJ provokes the guard. "Can you see that, brother?" Well, this is going well.

Kathryn can feel a hand take her arm, and she yanks it away, afraid to see Rafe behind her. It's her mom. Which, surprisingly, is no better.

"Kathryn Elizabeth, please," she begs. "Look at him." Kathryn turns around to look at JJ downing the drink of an old man.

But she only sees the boy that stuck to her since fourth grade. The boy she fights with about as much as she would beat up anyone who hurts him. The boy that went to jail for his best friend and now owes 30K in restitution so that Pope could keep his scholarship.

"I am, mom. Trust me, I am."

She scowls, because clearly this isn't going the way she wanted it to. But the truth is, Kathryn is past caring about her opinion.

"It's okay, everybody!" JJ screams at the crowd. "Do not panic. Leave it to the men and women in uniform. Let's hear it for them. No actually, let's hear it only for Max. You make killer pancakes dude!"

Max's sigh indicates to Kathryn that he and Henry just came up next to her, the second they saw her mother. "What is he doing?" he asks her.

Kathryn doesn't answer, shaking her head.

"Let go of him! You can't boot him!" Kie screams from her left.

"Excuse me ma'am?" the security guard asks.

Kathryn walks up next to her friend. "We're members of the club, and we invited him!" she screams too.

JJ pushes the man away. "Sorry about that." He points at Kie. "Hey, mandatory power hour at Rixon's, Kie." He points at Pope in the crowd. "Pope, you as well, all right? Rixon's Cove. Let's roll." And now at Kathryn. "Did I tell you you look beautiful in that dress? Let's go now, baby!"

Kie looks at Kathryn with a scoff of disbelief. Kathryn can't help her smirk.

"Kathryn Elizabeth, you can't hang around him--" tries her mom.

"Oh just shut up, why don't you," Henry stops. "No one wants to hear you talk." He looks at his niece. "Go."

From afar, she can see John B walking up to JJ. He makes finger guns at her. Kathryn starts running towards them, Kie and Pope behind her.

"Come on KD!"

Her heart is hammering in her chest, the feeling of freedom and sheer happiness overcoming her.

At the edge of the place where the party was settled, JJ holds out his arms. Kathryn jumps into them, and he holds her close to him, spinning around. She giggles.

He sets her down, and she shakes her head. "You're insane."

He seems dazed. "I know."

He lets her go, and she rushes towards John B. "You better tell me everything."

He offers her a two-fingered salute. "Will do, chief."

"Alright, enough with that shit, we gotta go!" JJ screams at them.

"Hop on, bug!"

Kathryn, without questioning him, jumps on his back and he starts running, carrying her like he did when they stole juice boxes in middle school.

This is exactly the way it should be.

Introducing...

Archie Renaux... JOSHUA HILL

Author's Note: The way this chapter was the one I wanted to write since the beginning—
I can't okay, KD and JJ oWN ME

Editor's Note: Rereaders of the first version are going to hate this one!