✧*̥˚RUlE BREAKER *̥˚✧ J.M 1

thirteen

THE NIGHT AIR was thick with heat, the kind that clung to your skin even after the sun had gone down. Strings of twinkling lights were hung between the palm trees, casting soft glows over blankets and lawn chairs.

The outdoor movie night was the most civil thing that had been pulled off all summer for the Kooks and Pogues. People lounged across the grass with sodas and candy, pretending for once that the island wasn't divided by class, blood, and tears of resentment.

But even as I sat wrapped under Rafe's arm, nestled in his shoulder, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

He was too still. Too quiet.

Topper and Kelce were sitting just in front of us, muttering to each other and barely watching the screen. The glow of the projected flickered across their faces, casting shadows that made their expressions look even sharper.

I didn't know what the movie was. I wasn't watching it, I was watching JJ.

He sat a few rows down on the grass, near Pope and Kiara, the three of them squeezed together like they weren't completely surrounded.

Every few minutes, JJ looked back. And every time, he looked right at me. It wasn't a glare, it wasn't flirtatious. It was just like a question.

Like he didn't understand why I was still here. With them. And the worst part, I didn't have an answer.

The tension snapped when Pope stood and nudged JJ. They said something to each other, then headed toward the back, away from the crowd, toward the trees.

I saw Topper rise before I heard Rafe move. His grip on me tightened, like he was grounding himself, or gearing up.

"Where are you going?" I asked, my voice low. He didn't answer, and Kelce was already following.

"Rafe." I said again, sitting up.

"Just stretching my legs." He muttered but my chest tightened. I knew that tone, and I knew him. 

I stood up, slipping on my sandals, ignoring the look Topper shot me. The moment I stepped off the blanket, I could hear it; raised voices, a crash.

Then a shout, Popes I think, and suddenly I was running.

The projector flickered behind me, the movie was still playing, like nothing was happening. But in the trees, behind the screen, hell was breaking loose.

I found them mid-fight. Topper had Pope on the ground, fist pulled back. Rafe had JJ shoved against the wooden fence, and Kelce was circling like a damn vulture.

"Stop." I shouted, pushing through the brush. "What the hell are you guys doing?"

No one heard me, or maybe they just didn't care.

"Rafe." I gritted through my teeth, rushing forward. "Stop."

I grabbed his arm, trying to pull him off JJ. And in a blink, he shoved me - hard. I stumbled back, landing on the dirt, wind knocked from my chest.

The word blurred.

"Aria!" JJ's voice rang out. He twisted, tried to reach me, actually tried, but Topper yanked him bank, driving his shoulder into JJ's ribs.

"Leave him alone!" Kiara screamed from the grass, digging into an old backpack.

I watched through blurry eyes as she launched toward the projector screen, lighter in hand. And then, flames. 

The fabric caught fast. Orange light exploded across the field, the fire roaring faster than I thought it could.

People screamed, chairs toppled, soda spilled. The party turned to chaos in an instant.

Pope scrambled up, blood on his lip, pulling JJ with him. Kiara grabbed his arm, yanking him back toward the trees as people ran in every direction.

Topper helped me up in a hurry, my mind dizzying.

I looked across the clearing, through the panic, through the fire, toward JJ.

He was standing there, blood on his cheek, fists clenched, chest rising and falling. His eyes locked on mine, and in that moment, everything stilled.

Even with the fire crackling behind us, even with people screaming, even with the night falling apart, he saw me.

And I saw him. I didn't move. I couldn't.

His mouth parted like he wanted to say something. But then someone grabbed his arm, Pope maybe, and he was gone.

Swallowed by smoke and fury and the heat of everything we couldn't say. Behind me, Rafe was shouting. Topper was running.

Someone was already calling the cops.

Kelce cursed under his breath as the screen collapsed in flames. "Ari, let's go!"

Rafeeeeww