𝟎𝟏𝟓.  𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡

she's so lovely       ──── scouting for girls

☀︎ 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐥𝐲𝐧'𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐯

𝖨 𝖲𝖳𝖠𝖱𝖤 𝖠𝖳 𝖬𝖸 𝖱𝖤𝖥𝖫𝖤𝖢𝖳𝖨𝖮𝖭 𝖨𝖭 𝖳𝖧𝖤 𝖬𝖨𝖱𝖱𝖮𝖱，𝖠𝖭𝖣 𝖨 𝖠𝖭𝖭𝖮𝖸𝖨𝖭𝖦𝖫𝖸 𝖥𝖨𝖭𝖣 𝖬𝖸𝖲𝖤𝖫𝖥 𝖳𝖮 𝖡𝖤 𝖳𝖧𝖤 𝖯𝖱𝖤𝖳𝖳𝖨𝖤𝖲𝖳 𝖨'𝖵𝖤 𝖤𝖵𝖤𝖱 𝖡𝖤𝖤𝖭．A soft yellow adorns my body, cascading all the way down to my ankles in one fell swoop. The dress is held up by these tiny, very pointless straps. It matches the sun bracelet on my wrist that JJ gifted me years ago. My hair is pulled up into a ponytail── like always. Sarah pushed a giant yellow bow to hold the ponytail up, and while I'd usually be opposed to it, I think it matches the outfit. Sarah insisted that I wear heels, so I'm wearing, like, one inch black heels, but they're still difficult for me to walk in.

Sarah steps up behind me, as beautiful as ever, and she smiles at me. "You secretly love it, don't you?" I scoff, pulling my eyes off my reflection.

"I look like a Kook." That words sound sour on my tongue, but it best describes how I look regardless of how gorgeous I am dressed as a Kook.

I stumble towards her bed, and I sit myself down, afraid I'll break my ankle if I continue to stand. "Well, I think you look great, Brooke." She moves towards me, taking a seat alongside me.

"Thanks," I utter, fingers fiddling with the yellow material of my dress. God, it's soft. I've never known any kind of material to be this luxurious. Damn the rich, I want this shit.

Sarah let me shower in her en-suite bathroom, and it was the fanciest bathroom I've ever set foot in. Oh, and the shower was so warm. There were all these different kinds of soaps and shampoos and conditioners. I had so many options, it was a little overwhelming. I even put this oil in my hair after the shower, and now my hair feels like literal velvet. It's incredible.

Sarah and I haven't shared many words since we arrived at Tannyhill. She directed me to the bathroom, offered to blow dry my hair── way better than blow drying it yourself, by the way. I don't have a blow drier at home so I just let it air dry usually. She gave me this dress, let me wear her shoes── thank God we're the same size. She's been very accommodating, and it's very sweet, but I still feel a little awkward. I don't know what to say to her giving that we're, once again, two very different people.

I didn't expect my day to start with JJ being arrested, and then me being in Sarah Cameron's house shortly after I saw her and my brother kissing on the dock. I'm unsure on what their relationship is, and if I'm being honest, I don't really want the details.

"This is weird, isn't it?" Wow, it's like she can read my mind.

I exhale softly. "Yeah, just a little bit."

"What you saw──"

"You don't have to explain," I insist, really not wanting to go into it. "You and John B are free to do whatever you want."

"Yes, but I want you to know that I do like him." She sounds genuine, she really does, but I also don't know her well enough to know if she really is telling the truth. "He talks about you a lot. I take it you two are close?"

I nod, staring down at my feet. "He's the only family I've got left," I say, my throat itching with each word. I hate saying that he's the only family I've got left giving that Dad could be out there. Well, I hope Dad is out there.

"I'm really sorry about your dad." There's nothing to be sorry about because, until I find out the truth, I will continue to believe that my dad is alive. "Do you miss him?"

"Everyday," I reply, slapping my hands on my knees, wanting to move on before we indulge in a deep conversation about my father. "Anyway, you were saying..."

"Oh, right." She turns to face me, and because I am god awful at eye contact, I continue to stare at my feet as she talks to me. "I like John B── I really, really do. Topper and I are breaking up. He's not my splinter bean, you know?"

My eyebrows furrow, and I turn my head towards her, utterly confused. "I'm sorry?"

"Splinter bean," she repeats. "You know, like two peas in a pod. I'm in the pod but Topper isn't." A smile touches my lips, and a laugh bubbles out of me because I've never heard such an obscure metaphor, but I like it. "Therefore, Topper isn't my splinter bean."

"That's a..." I laugh again, and Sarah starts to laugh too. "That's ridiculous, but I understand it." It makes sense that when you're a couple, you need to be able to exist in the same pod as it were. If you can't exist as a whole bean, then you aren't suited for one another. It sounds stupid, yes, but it makes all the sense in the world.

"Do you have a splinter bean?" Sarah asks once our laughing dies down.

I shake my head, still a trace of amusement in my voice as I say, "No."

"Really? Not even JJ?" Her tone is teasing── like she knows something that I don't.

"Not even him, no."

"But you do like him?" I scoff, lost on how she could possible know this. Is it that obvious to everybody but him?

"I-I don't──" I swallow my words. "dislike him."

Sarah beams, obviously enjoying the friendly gossiping── if it can be called that── we're doing. "I knew it."

"Is it really that obvious?"

"Uh, yes. The two of you at that keg party the other day── God, you were this close to sealing the deal in front of everybody." I stare at her, disturbed by her choice of words, but more disturbed that she knows. If she knows, does everybody else on the island know that I have a giant, embarrassing crush on my best friend?

I think about Kiara, and how she sensed I had feelings for JJ, but my heart now feels conflicted. It's still longing for something with JJ, but after last night, I don't know how to feel. I mean, what Kiara and I have is painfully electrifying. I mean, that kiss was life-altering, but I'm not about to share those details with Sarah. I have to figure out what I want on my own, without the help of anyone. Also, if Kiara knew I was confiding in Sarah of all people, I don't think she'd be thrilled.

"Are you ever going to tell him?" Sarah asks.

I shrug my shoulders. "I-I don't know. We're friends── best friends. We have been for eight years, I don't wanna ruin that."

Sarah stands up, moves to stand in front of me, and she holds her hands out, snatching mine to pull me up. "The feeling is mutual," she says, and I stare at her strangely.

"What?" I'm pulled up, my feet wobbling.

"JJ. He likes you. The feeling's mutual," she repeats, emphasising the word.

I shake my head, and I swear my heart does too.

Sarah and I head downstairs, and I take the time to admire the Cameron Mansion── Tannyhill. It feels surreal to actually be in this house after years of staring at it and resenting it with every bone in my body. This house is the definition of Kook, and I'm the definition of a Pogue. I don't belong in here, but Sarah has welcomed me into her home, and now I don't want to leave.

It's not everyday that somebody like me gets the opportunity to be in a home like this.

"Brooklyn Routledge?" I snap my head to the kitchen, surprised to see Ward Cameron despite it being his home. Ward and I don't know each other too well, but I think he's a nice enough man. He employed my brother when nobody else would, but he also fired my brother, so my thoughts on Ward Cameron are skewed. However, I am in his house, so I can be friendly.

"Hi, Mr. Cameron." I smile politely, stepping forward to shake his hand as that seems like the correct thing to do. I have no idea.

He shakes my hand, firmly squeezing, and he nods his head to me. "Brooklyn," he addresses.

While I know my name is Brooklyn, I hate when I have to hear people say it. I've always preferred to be called Brooke── even as a child. I always told my teachers to call me Brooke as I refused to answer to Brooklyn. That might be why I was told off repeatedly in school.

"She's my date to Midsummers," Sarah tells, stepping up beside me.

Ward looks to me, and then to his daughter, his hand leaving mine. I thought he was going to strangle my hand, so thank God he let go. "What about Topper."

"I just..." She moves to sit down at one of the many barstools that surround the giant, marble kitchen countertop. "...don't feel like Topper is my splinter bean." A grin touches my lips, but Ward looks utterly confused. If she explained it, trust me, it would even make sense to her father.

Now it has me thinking about who my splinter bean is.

I've gone crazy, haven't I?

"I don't exactly know what that means," Ward says, and I suppress a laugh when Sarah peeks at me, wide smile and eyes amused. "But it sounds to be like you should probably dump his ass, maybe, huh?" Sarah nods, humming in response. "Maybe just not tonight, though. Maybe you could, I don't know──"

"I just don't want to go with him."

"I know, I know." He sits next to his daughters placing a hand on her shoulder reassuringly. I stare at this picture, and my chest tightens because I don't get to have this father-daughter relationship that I long for because my father isn't here. I want him here so we can go back to normal, but he's not, and that devastates me more than I realise.

I guess seeing Sarah and Ward just reminds me of what I don't have.

"What if you just paste on a smile and you go, and we have a good time, alright? And deal with your love life mañana?" He suggests, peering over his shoulder at me. I stand awkwardly, fiddling with the material of the dress. "You still have Brooklyn. You girls have fun."

I smile, feeling a little excited about going now.

Oh, my God. I've been Kooked.

──────────────────────────

𝖧𝖤𝖠𝖣𝖲 𝖳𝖴𝖱𝖭．𝖬𝖮𝖴𝖳𝖧𝖲 𝖦𝖠𝖯𝖤．𝖤𝖸𝖤𝖲 𝖶𝖨𝖣𝖤𝖭．It's like watching a horror movie unfold where the killer is finally revealed at the end. But instead of a horror movie, it's a bunch of rich folk at Midsummers, and instead of a killer, it's me walking headfirst into the horror with Sarah Cameron. She doesn't acknowledge those who stare and gape, probably because she simply doesn't care, but I can't take my eyes off it.

My eyes scan over the area, searching for my friends, but I don't see them. They are so going to have a thousand questions, especially Kiara once she realises that I came to Midsummers with Sarah Cameron. The only way to explain why I'm with Sarah would be to out my brother and his relationship with her which isn't my thing to do. If John B wants to tell everybody, it's up to him to tell everybody.

"You okay?" I hear Sarah's voice, and I remember where I am, and I now don't feel so excited about being here. No, I feel sick.

"I-I don't belong here," I utter under my breath so only she can hear as we begin to walk through the crowd, moving past a lot of nosey Kooks. It must be outrageous for them to see a Pogue dressed like this at such an extravagant event. Usually, we're at this party because we're severs, not because we're guests. I imagine I'll be the gossip on their tongues the next morning.

Sarah tugs on my arm, linking our arms together like we're the best of friends, and that causes a few more heads to turn. "What are you──"

"Brooke, you need to act like you belong even when you think you don't." She moves us to the bar, and if I could drink alcohol, I absolutely would. Damn being sixteen at the biggest event of the year. "Half of the people here don't belong."

"What?" We turn, arms still linked as we lean against the bar.

"See that couple there." She tilts her head to a couple dressed head to toe in blue. She wears a gorgeous baby blue dress that is far too big for her while he wears a navy blue suit that is far too tight for him. She looks pissed, like she might hit him, and he seems unbothered by his wife's presence, his eyes wandering elsewhere. "He was having an affair with the maid── the male maid."

My mouth pops open, shocked. "What? Does his wife know?" I ask, keeping my voice low.

"Yep." Sarah grins, nudging me. "So does the entire island," she adds, and my jaw fails to pick itself up and off the ground. "They had to pay a large sum of money to be allowed into the party, and now they're doing everything possible to act like the "rumours" aren't true."

I look back to the couple, now seeing them in a whole new light. The husband is watching a waiter serve drinks, and now it makes sense why his wife is glaring daggers at him as she keeps a death grip on his arm.

"Wow," I exhale, a laugh crawling out of my throat. "You got anything else?"

"Oh, loads."

She turns us, and we face a new angle. "Mrs. Holt." She points to a bleach blond lady who's dressed in burgundy. "She has a gambling problem, and it's rumoured that she's going to rehab later this month after she gambled her husband's cars."

Sarah continues, pointing to somebody else── a man, decked out in a designer black suit. "Mr. Phelps was arrested last week for drunk and disorderly. Apparently, he ran through the neighbourhood stark naked, humiliated his wife, and now she's leaving him." Sarah directs my attention to his wife who is chatting with a man half her age by the looks of it, but go her.

Sarah continues to talk about the partygoers, telling me their worst secrets, and I must say, she's making me feel a hell of a lot better about myself. I forget that I'm not supposed to be here, and I start to ignore the glares and scowls because they have no right to look at me in that way── not when I've done nothing wrong.

She keeps her arm hooked around me, and we now have two glasses of Diet Coke. Before, I thought it was awkward between us, but now this doesn't feel so wrong. Sarah's talking to me easily, and we're laughing like we've been friends forever. She's a nice person, and I wouldn't actually mind being friends with her.

"If you ever feel like you don't belong, just remember that there's people out there that have done far worse than you will ever do," is the last thing she says to me after listing off all the partygoers who have been accused of being apart of some drug ring. It doesn't sound real, does it?

I choke out a laugh, still revelling in all the gossip I got to hear. I didn't realise how badly I wanted to hear it. "Thanks," I say, genuinely meaning it. "You know, you're not so bad, Sarah Cameron."

"Thanks," she replies, and I realise how I probably sounded.

"I just mean──"

"No, it's okay," she interrupts, shaking her head.

"I guess I just thought you were this..." I pause, sighing loudly. "Kook princess, I don't know. I always thought you'd be stuck-up, and, well, a bitch, frankly." A laugh ripples out of her, and I feel my chest loosen. I don't want to upset her, not when I think we can actually be friends. "I was too quick to judge, and I'm sorry, but I really do think you're pretty cool."

She nods, smiling widely. "Thank you. You're not so bad yourself, Brooke."

"Well, yeah. I know." She rolls her eyes, and I bite back a laugh as I take a sip of my Diet Coke. "Seriously, thanks for inviting me. You have no idea how badly I wanted to hear about that sex scandal between Mrs. Goldstein and her stepson." That story had been disturbing, and I refuse to retell it. I'll let your imaginations run wild.

"You sure make a better date than Topper."

Ah, speaking of the frosted-tip freak, he's scowling at me like I've swooped in and stolen his girl which, if we're being literal, I kinda have. However, he might be looking at me like that because last night I had a gun pressed to his head. Sarah doesn't know that, and I certainly don't want to tell her even though I don't think she'd be all that mad or surprised.

"I'm much hotter too," I say, holding my hand up and Sarah slaps her palm against mine.

"Preach." She glances at me. "Although, you are wearing my dress."

"Yes, but I'm naturally beautiful unlike..." Topper is making his way towards us. No, thank you. "And that's my cue to leave. I'll be sure to catch up with you later."

Sarah grips my arm. "Don't you dare."

I steal my arm back, nearly stumbling backwards because I don't wear heels. "Sorry, sweetheart. Gotta dash." I wink, waving to her as I rush away to find my friends who should be here by now. Pope and his father always provide food for the event, and Kiara always attends with her parents, so they're probably──

My eyes land on Kiara and Pope. I move towards them, ducking past a tray of food. When I reach them, they both look at me like I'm a ghost. "What?"

"Have you seen yourself?" Kiara asks, eyes moving up and down.

"Uh, rude."

"N-No, you look beautiful, just you're..." Her cheeks flush a shade of red, and I can't hide the smile that forms. "...dressed like a Kook," she finishes. "How? Why?"

"Long story. I'll explain later," is what I choose to say because that is the safest option. They don't drill me with more questions, so I instead choose to ask a more suitable question, "Have either of you heard from JJ?"

"No, we thought you would've. Didn't you go to the station?" Pope asks, moving a tray of food from the back of his dad's truck.

"Uh, yeah, but he wasn't there. He'd already been discharged," I say, heart squeezing at the thought of him being trapped in that house with him.

"He'll be alright," Kiara says. "He's got the survival instincts of a cockroach."

"It's all my fault," Pope says, and I hate how guilty he sounds. It's not his fault, not in any kind of way, and I hope he can realise that.

"You didn't do this, Pope. Topper almost killed you. Remember?"

Before Pope can respond, people start to clap and cheer, and I divert my attention from my friends to the Ward and Rose Cameron who are walking in, dressed to the tens. Well, Rose would be dressed to the tens if she wasn't wearing that hideous headdress.

"Here come Lord Capital and the Exploiters."

"She's gonna poke somebody's eye out with that," Pope says, and I exhale a laugh.

"She looks like Lady Liberty," I comment, finding myself to be pretty funny. If she was green and made of copper, she'd be the Statue of Liberty.

I look back to my friends, and I find Pope to be looking at my outfit, eyeing it suspiciously. "What, Pope?"

"You look beautiful, Brooke."

I smile, stepping forward to wrap my arm around his affectionately. "Well, you do too, Pope."

"Seriously, what's with the outfit, and how did you even get in here?"

"I promise I'll explain later," I say, hoping that'll be enough to tide Kiara over for now.

I peer over my shoulder to see Sarah storming away from Topper. I should go and check on her as I'm supposed to be her date. If she wants me to punch Topper in the face, I'll do it with a smile on my face.

"I, uh..." I start to back away, smiling kindly. "I'll catch up with you guys later, alright?"

I'm already gone before they can ask any questions.

I find Sarah nearby, tucked away in her own private corner, away from the party. She's sat under the gazebo, a bottle of vodka in hand that's just appeared from thin air apparently. She doesn't look up when I step into the bubble she's buried herself in, but I know she knows I'm here.

I move to sit down, relieved to be off my feet, and she silently passes me the bottle of vodka which I take a swig at.

"You okay?" I ask, offering her the bottle of vodka which acts as an olive branch in this case.

"I don't know what I saw in Topper," she says, answering a question I've had for a very long time. "I mean, he's an asshole── a huge one. He's like a sheep with the way he follows my brother around. God, it's pathetic," she exhales, bringing the bottle up to her lips.

"You're right. He's an asshole."

"A huge one," she clarifies, and I nod, laughing.

"Yes, a huge one. It's very clear that you're far too good for him. I don't know how you're with him." In my opinion, you have to match your partner. Topper and Sarah never matched one another, but perhaps Sarah and John B could. "Can I ask you a question?"

She nods, taking another swig.

"Why John B?" I ask just as she finishes drinking. "I mean, you've only ever dated Kooks, so why the sudden interest in my brother?" In a way, I think I'm asking out of sisterly protectiveness, but I also think I'm asking because I'm genuinely curious how she can go from dating somebody with the status and the money to wanting somebody with, well, nothing. John B and Topper are nothing alike.

"I know it seems that I like all that stuff── the money and stuff." She sighs, staring at the tilting bottle in her hand. "But I don't really care about it at all. I don't care about the expensive dates or the big parties. I-I just want to be loved." There's something so raw about that confession that I feel like I'm taking advantage of her in her drunken state, but I don't stop her talking. "I want to go on adventures and have fun. I don't want to be some rich housewife like Rose."

"You can have whatever you want, Sarah."

"I-I think John B's exciting and fun and different. I like that he's different." She swallows, pushing the bottle towards me. "I like that he isn't just that standard, rich guy that I go for. John B has character, Topper doesn't. I want somebody to excite me everyday, not bore me half to death."

I understand her even in this vulnerable state. She wants the kind of love that is sweeping and exciting, not the kind of love that is boring and lonely. She deserves that everlasting type of love, I realise. I may not know her all that well, but I find that we're similar in the sense that we both want that big, beautiful declaration of love to come around one day.

Sarah peers at me, and I place the bottle back in her hands. "I-I really do like him, Brooke."

"Good." I nod, clearing my throat as vodka doesn't sit right with my already dry mouth. "I know we don't know each other all that well, but I trust you, alright? I trust that, if you're serious about him, you won't hurt him." I don't usually trust this easily, but there's something about Sarah Cameron that has me placing all my trust into her basket. "He's a really great guy."

A smile touches her lips. "Yeah. Yeah, he is."

"Just don't share any, uh, details with me, okay? I really don't need to hear anymore than what I saw today."

She chuckles. "D-Does that mean we're friends?"

"Yeah." We smile at one another. "Yeah, we are."

──────────────────────────

𝖲𝖠𝖱𝖠𝖧 𝖠𝖭𝖣 𝖨 𝖲𝖭𝖤𝖠𝖪 𝖲𝖨𝖯𝖲 𝖮𝖥 𝖶𝖨𝖭𝖤 𝖶𝖧𝖤𝖭 𝖶𝖠𝖱𝖣 𝖨𝖲𝖭'𝖳 𝖫𝖮𝖮𝖪𝖨𝖭𝖦．We've been dancing poorly in the midst of the crowd, but I'm starting to stumble away so I can find Kiara and Pope again. I'm sure they've seen me with Sarah now, and if they have, they must've put two-and-two together. Sarah turns to dance with her sister, Wheezie, while I move through the crowd to get away.

Just as I find an opening, I feel a hand close around my wrist to pull me backwards. I stumble, nearly slipping across the grass as my back is pressed against somebody's chest. I yelp, surprised by the sudden manoeuvre.

I'm about to scratch the shit out of this bastard until I hear him say, "Hey, Sunshine."

I relax immediately.

"JJ, he──" When I spin around to face him, all the words die on my tongue. Standing before me, as charming as ever, is a bruised JJ. Yesterday, he had a cut upper lip and some bruising on his jaw, but now... now a black eye is forming and his upper lip is swelling. However, despite the swell of his face, he's still... smiling. Classic JJ.

I open my mouth, trying to find the words, but I can't say a thing. I just reach a tentative hand out, brushing my fingers across his cheek. He pulls his face back, grasping my hand. "It's not as bad as it look, Sunny. It's──"

"JJ." I sigh loudly, pulling our hands down.

"It's not that bad," he repeats, obviously not wanting to relive it. His father hurt him, and instead of running to his house to save him, I stood back and refused to get involved.

"I'm so sorry," I mutter, intertwining our fingers. "I tried to find you at the station but you'd gone. I-I didn't──"

"Brooke, stop." He squeezes my hand.

"But──"

"You look beautiful," he interrupts, snatching my words again. His eyes scan over the dress, that refreshing smile I love so much still etched on his face. "Like, really, really..." He exhales, eyes finding mine once again, and all my worries are taken from me the second he just looks at me. "Where'd you get that?"

"Long story," I reply, cheeks a blazing red.

"Does it maybe have something to do with Sarah Cameron?" He holds up a small piece of paper, waving it in front of me.

"You know?"

"That John B is macking on the Sarah Cameron?" He nods, smug as ever. "Yep. I know."

"I got the dress from Sarah."

"Well..." He hooks an arm around my back, and if I wasn't already bright red, I am now. "She better let you keep it."

I stare at him, a smile on my face. "And if she doesn't?"

He leans close, tugging on my ponytail with his other hand. My head tilts back, watching his eyes flit between my eyes and my mouth. "Well, I guess we'll just have to steal it." There's something of a teasing tone behind his voice, but he still sounds dead serious.

"You really like it, huh?"

"Oh, yeah. That colour suits you, Sunshine." His hand grazes across my lower back, and his other hand twirls around the ends of my tied-up hair. "Yellow like the sun."

"Exactly," I chirp, patting my hand against his shoulder.

"I gotta go deliver this note, alright?" I nod, watching him step away. "But don't go anywhere. I'll be right back, Sunny." He winks, saluting to me. I salute back, taking a few steps back while he steps away to find Sarah dancing with Wheezie.

Five minutes later, JJ hasn't returned, and I look around cautiously, looking for any sign of him. He's not with Sarah. He's not with Kiara or Pope. He's── My eyes latch onto Rafe and his buddies. I see them running inside the building, and I put two-and-two together, assuming they're running that fast because they're chasing somebody.

Perhaps they're chasing JJ.

I go and investigate, knowing that if this doesn't lead me to JJ, I'm basically screwed, but whatever.

I move through the building, smiling to the guests who scowl at me. I move down the hall, passing a few drunken partygoers on the way to the male bathrooms. A man leaves the bathroom just as I enter, and he does a double take as I wave to him, acting like I belong in this bathroom.

I enter the bathroom, hearing yelling and scuffling down the hall. Another man leaves his stall, rushing out without washing his hands when he sees me. Can we all say EW!

I round the corner, coming to a stop when I find JJ in a headlock, standing in front of Rafe and three other minions. Rafe has his fist clenched, ready to "line up the shot" or whatever bullshit line he's spewing when he sees me standing behind. 

I smile, pressing my side against the doorframe. "Very Rafe of you. Five on one."

Rafe tuts, shaking his head. "Brooke."

I wave my fingers, still smiling. "Hello, boys. Lovely night, don't you think?"

"What are you doing in here?"

"Oh, well, I was bored. Felt like walking into the men's bathroom for a "good time". Shame I walked into you." I cross my arms over my chest, leaning my head into the doorframe. "So, what are you boys up to?"

JJ squirms, grasping the arm wrapped around his neck. I don't recognise this guy, but then again, why would I recognise one of Rafe's minions? "Unless you want to try and shoot me again, Brooklyn, I suggest you leave."

I step into the room, heels clicking against the bathroom tiles. "No, I think I'll stay."

Rafe huffs. "Fine, you can watch me hit your boy again, and this time..." He stares right at me. "you won't have the gun."

"It's a real shame I don't."

"Why, 'cause you'd shoot me?" He laughs, and his buddies start to laugh too. They're like sheep.

JJ grunts behind me as I step closer, now standing beside JJ and the boy holding him by his neck. "Brooke, don't──"

"If you could please stop talking?" Rafe looks to JJ, completely ignoring me as I glare daggers at him. "It's very disrespectful." His eyes shift to me. "I'm trying to hit a ball. Learn your etiquette."

I scoff. "Oh, Rafe. You sound pathetic."

"I told you to stop talking."

"Let him go," I say, ignoring him as I step closer, standing in front of JJ. "You need to get over it, Rafe. Just because you didn't "win" or whatever doesn't mean you can just keep hitting us."

He stares down at me. "I will do whatever I want, Brooke, and you won't──"

"Gentlemen!" I snap my head around, finding a security guard to be standing behind us. Somebody must've said something. JJ is freed and pushed towards me, and I grasp his arm, pulling him towards me.

The security guards eyes flit to me, confused on why I am standing in the men's bathroom. "And... lady?" He shakes his head, shrugging it off. "Is there a problem?"

"Pardon me, officer. No, there's not an issue." JJ peers at me, stepping away for a quick second. I nod at him, urging him to take this opportunity. "I just── Actually, yes. No, there is an issue." He pushes his hair from his face, moving towards the guard. "Uh, we got a criminal trespass in progress here. Beep! Call it in, right." JJ laughs, reaching out to snatch my hand."Blatant disrespect for private property. I'm in violation of all kinds of shit, sir." I nod, selling the lie as best I can. "But these young gentleman..." He steps to Kelce, touching his bowtie to straighten it out.

"Don't touch my shit." He shoves him away.

"...uh, they caught me, sir, and they were about to take me away. And that's what you should do, escort me out of here." The security guard steps forward, snatching JJ's arms. "You got me."

"Come on." He begins to pull him away, and I smile over my shoulder at Rafe. Ha! Bastard.

"Fix that tie, son." JJ calls out, pointing to Kelce as he gets pulled out of the bathroom "You're lookin' spiffy, too. You Powerpuff Girls have fun."

We start to leave, but Rafe just has to get in one final blow. "Hey, Brooklyn, you're looking pretty hot for a Pogue." JJ snaps, and he spins around, heading straight for Rafe once again. He's running on fumes, angry as ever, and I rush to grasp his arm.

"JJ, don't." I yank on his arm, pulling him back before Rafe hits him. "He isn't worth it."

The guard pushes us out of the bathroom, and we move out. Rafe says a final parting, "Hey, safe travels back to the cut. Really nice seein' you two again!"

I really, really hate him.

We're pushed outside into the party, and all the attention lands on us. This feels exactly like it did when I first walked into this party with everybody staring at me like I didn't belong. Now I definitely feel out of place, especially with a security guard pushing me out of the building like I'm some kind of criminal.

JJ crashes into my side, leaning past me to snatch a strangers drink. He downs it, slamming it back down onto the table as the security guard follows behind us.

His arm then comes swinging over my shoulders. "Rose!" He yells, snapping his fingers towards her. "You look like Lady Liberty!"

"That's what I said!" I say, guiding him away from the guard.

"Hey, you can't just boot them," Kiara yells, stealing all the attention which I'm very grateful for. "I invited them here. I'm a member of this club." JJ spins us around and uses his free hand to shove the guard back, pushing him into a waiter walking past with a tray of drinks.

Oh, the chaos we've somehow caused.

"Hey, mandatory power hour at Rixon's, Kie." JJ points to her, and she nods back, his arm still securely around my shoulders. "Pope, you as well, alright? Rixon's Cove! Workers of the world unite. Throw off your chains!"

"Whoo-hoo!" John B cheers, waving his arms to us from the far edge of the party, away from everybody else.

JJ moves us towards John B, and he salutes. "Colonel."

"Captain." He nods back.

"Mission accomplished, sir." They salute, and I roll my eyes, swinging my arm around JJ's back as Kiara and Pope come barrelling towards us. We quicken our pace, rushing away from the shit that is Midsummers.

Get me out of here.

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❀ soph speaks

sarah and brooke >>

i always love the midsummers episode