TWELVE NIGHTS LIKE THIS

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Sarah Cameron's party wasn't exactly the worst social event Helena had ever attended. However, she was starting to regret attending mainly because they kept playing the same three songs over and over and they didn't even have good alcohol. They were some of the richest people on the island, but they couldn't afford anything good? Surprisingly, Helena found herself wishing she had just stayed home. Still, that wasn't going to stop her from getting as wasted as possible.

"Can you stop looking so miserable? You look like someone just died," Tanya commented, grabbing the blonde's cup from her hand as she refilled it. "Everything okay, Hels?"

Helena nodded as she took a sip from her newly-full drink. It was bitter going down her throat, the chaser mixed with it wasn't enough to completely eradicate the feeling. "Yeah, yeah, mainly just bored. You know how these parties are."

"True, true," Tanya nodded before her eyes found something above, she pointed up, "Speaking of someone dying, look who's about to."

The blonde looked up where the other teenager was pointing as some of their other friends joined them, Maude wrapping her arm around Helena's shoulders as they observed. Sarah Cameron and her infamous douchebag boyfriend, Topper, were on the roof of the mansion, gearing up to jump into the pool. Sarah looked terrified out of her mind and Helena almost felt bad for her. Then again, she'd feel bad for anyone that had to be in love with Topper. Seriously, what kind of name was Topper? Helena rolled her eyes and took another sip from her drink.

"Why did we come to this again? Is this really going to be the most entertaining thing of the night?" Hailey approached next to her sister, looking bored as she chugged the rest of her drink. The crowd around them was chanting for the couple to jump and Helena had to admit she was a little curious as to how this was going to turn out.

Topper took another step with Sarah in his arms and they leaped into the pool. A couple of moments later, they both emerged from the water perfectly fine. Of course, Helena had been stupid to think something actually interesting might happen.

"Can you believe this girl?" Topper shouted. "The coolest chick in the OBX! That's what I'm talkin' about!"

"Oh, yeah, that's Sarah, just so crazy," Evie came up behind them with her sarcastic drawl, "Just saw Rafe walk in, wanna leave before he busts out the coke?"

"Ugh, yes, so lame," Hailey scoffed as she poured a drink for the road, "Evie, you driving us home tonight?"

The girl nodded, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder as she rounded up the girls and started leading them towards the door, "Yeah, yeah, I got you. You guys hungry?"

"Yes!" Helena exclaimed as they piled into Evie's car, stumbling over each other. Truth was, Helena hadn't had as much to drink as everyone else, but she was feeling pleasantly buzzed. "Is The Wreck still open? I want some fries."

"Shrimp and grits sounds divine right now," Tanya gasped from next to Helena, "Can we please?"

Evie laughed as she started the car and began driving towards the restaurant, "All right, all right, but I think Mr. Carrera is starting to get sick of us eating all his food, if I'm being honest."

"Who cares? I want french fries," Hailey muttered from the passenger seat as she slowly sipped what was left of her drink. Hailey normally didn't drink this much when they went to parties and Helena found herself wondering if everything was okay with her sister. Things had gotten a little better with them lately, but that didn't mean they were suddenly open books for each other.

As soon as they entered the restaurant, Mr. Carrera was behind the bar talking to his daughter. When he heard the door open he said, "We're closing so-- oh, hey girls, come on in. I'll whip something up for some of my favorite patrons."

"You're my hero, Mr. Carrera," Maude greeted, "Hey, Kie."

"Hey, Maude!" the girl exclaimed, "Where are you lot coming from?"

"The Cameron house," Helena explained as she walked over to lean on the bar, "Rafe busted out the --" she tapped her nose quickly once, "so we dipped. The boys here?"

Kie nodded over to where the three of them were standing and Helena's heart warmed up at the sight of JJ. He and his two friends were settling at a table and they hadn't seen her yet. Carefully, as not to alert any adults in the room to her current state, she walked over to JJ and loosely wrapped her arms around his neck from behind him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Hey, Hels," the boy greeted her, turning around to press a kiss to her cheek amid mocking gagging noises from Pope and John B. "You smell like jungle juice."

"You can blame Tanya for that one, she spilled her drink on me earlier," Helena explained with a small chuckle, "I've only had one or two. Perfectly steady and sober."

"Heard that one before," the boy teased, pulling her around to sit next to him. Her friends settled in next to the boys since they were at one of the big tables already and it was an interesting sight. Five Kook girls in varying stages of drunkenness mixed in with four Pogues was definitely a rare mix. Still, as Helena leaned her head on JJ's shoulder, it felt natural.

"Boys, I don't know if you know these lovely ladies all that well," Helena began as Kie began grabbing food for them, "Other blonde is Hailey, that's Tanya, Maude, and the sober one is Evie. Girls, you know JJ, and then there's Pope and John B. Great, introductions done."

"She says as if we all haven't lived on this island together our whole lives," Kie joined the conversation as she placed plates of leftover food down on the table, "Good to see you girls, though. Swear you guys are the only Kook Academy kids who don't hate my guts."

"How could anyone hate you?" Maude exclaimed, sounding offended. She seemed to realize that she said this out loud when she didn't mean to and her cheeks instantly went pink as she shoved a fry in her mouth.

Music played softly in the background as the group ate, long after The Wreck had officially closed. Kie and John B were dancing playfully as Helena sat next to JJ, munching on a fry.

"I missed you," JJ whispered in her ear and Helena had to fight to contain her smile. Her initial response was to toss a fry at him which he attempted to catch in his mouth. He failed, of course, and the fry ended up in his lap which didn't stop him from eating it.

"It's been like a day," Helena shrugged, but secretly his words made her heart feel warm. "So needy."

"Oh, come on," he mumbled, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. She was acutely aware of Hailey's eyes on them, but she didn't care. "When are we gonna actually try this again?"

"You broke up with me," Helena shot back, mildly irritated. Why was he acting like them not being together was her fault? "Thought I was too spoiled for you these days."

JJ sighed, "There may be a slight chance that I acted too harshly. I think I was just jealous of you."

Helena couldn't do this right now. Not here, where the ambiance was warm and welcoming and she was buzzing with the leftover alcohol in her veins, and surrounded by their friends. She turned and grabbed his face in her hands gently, her nails lightly scraping the skin of his cheeks just enough to make him shiver. There it was, the control over him she craved. Her need for it was still there and she knew, she knew she couldn't be with him if she still needed to have that power over him.

She gulped, forcing herself to push away everything she wanted, "Let's talk about this another time, okay? When we can be alone and really think about what we're saying? Until then, let's just keep things as they are. I think there's some serious thinking and growth that needs to go into any decision we make about our relationship. Understand?"

He nodded, "No, yeah, I understand, you're right. I shouldn't have brought it up right now, I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry," she shook her head, a small smile forming on her face as she let go of him and looked away.

"Is it okay if I still do this?" JJ whispered as he pressed a lingering kiss to her cheek. She scoffed, turning her head to catch his lips with her own.

"People are eating!" Pope exclaimed as he threw a fry at them, causing them to break apart.

JJ just laughed and flipped the boy off, but they stopped for the time being. Maybe for just a moment, Helena could let herself imagine getting back together with JJ. If they had more nights like this, she would take him back in a heartbeat.