Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

24

"Babe!" I chuckled as I walked towards the group of hooligans outside of the Château.

"Kie!" I tried to match her enthusiasm as she ran and wrapped me in a hug. A small grunt left my lips as I staggered backwards, giving her a tight squeeze before letting her go.

She led me over to the other guys, smiles on their faces as I went and greeted them all. Except one.

"Hey, B, where's your boyfriend?" I asked sitting down in the open chair next to John B.

"WHAT?" I couldn't help but laugh at his outburst.

"WIFEY!"

"Oh, there he is." I said turning to face the blond who held beers in his hands as he sashayed out of the swinging screen door. "How many has he had?"

"You see those empty ones?" Pope asked pointing towards the pile near the metal trash can. "He's had half of that pile." I just shook my head. There was ten empty bottles and he had about five more in his hands.

"Y'all know you're supposed to pregame the day of the party... not the day before." Kie and John B just laughed while Pope made a gestured to show he agrees.

"Wifey." JJ sighs coming to stand beside me as he sets down the beers and wraps me in a hug.

"Hi, JJ." I shook my head as I pat his back. "Let's sit you down, okay?" He nodded into my shoulder making me laugh.

I rise from my seat and move to get him to sit down in the chair. His hands holding mine as he lands on the chair.

"Can I- uh. Can I have another beer?" I was going to regret this.

"One. Then you're done." I handed him one of the beers immediately regretting my decision as I went to go sit back down.

"Well, John B's dad isn't here so we were just going to spend the night." Pope informed me as he tossed me a capri-sun. It was one of my favorite things we've bonded over.

"Sounds fun. You staying Kie?"

"You can bet your red headed ass I am." I snorted laughing at Kie's obvious slur in her words. Two out of five of us were intoxicated, John B was nearly there.

"Well I guess it's a sleep over." I leaned back further in my chair as I looked around the group a smile on my face.

"More like babysitting." Pope grumbled as he sipped on his capri-sun.

I laughed and set a hand on his shoulder.

"Some of us have to be responsible."

"Hey, Wifey?" I turned towards the blond who was standing up from his chair.

"What can I do for you, JJ?" If he wasn't drunk he would have said something mildly inappropriate. But I've found that he has a soft side when intoxicated.

"Can we dance? John B said no."

"Oh, JJ- I," I went to protest but Pope's phone started blaring a song.

"What happened to some of us being responsible." I sassed as JJ pulled me out of the chair.

"You still are. Got to make sure he doesn't fall!" Pope shouted as JJ began swaying away from him outside of the circle made by the chairs.

"We miss you during school. And your always working." JJ mumbled as he spun me around.

"I miss y'all too. I promise that I'll try to make more time. But I've got a lot of training that's going to happen come spring semester." I told him as I swayed with him.

"This is nice." JJ mumbled as he laid his chin on my head. I smiled as I let my eyes close.

I hadn't known these guys for long, but I felt at home with them.

"You mind if I cut in?" I turned to see John B with his hand outstretched and I could help but grin.

"Of course. Here JJ." I set JJ's hand into John B's. The later having no such luck at getting out of dancing with him as JJ was too quick to grapple John B into dancing with him.

The three of us spectators clapped as JJ grinned and John B rolled his eyes. The two dancing as I went and grabbed Kie and Pope and pulled them up to dance with me. The song changed to something more up beat and eventually the five of us were jumping around in the soft lights hanging up in the trees.

Tomorrow would come too soon - but at least I had the day off.

_______•*•*•*•_______

After nursing the three back up to normal health we were back at it. Loud music and alcohol, only difference was now there was a hundred more people and definitely some drugs floating around.

"Xena! Xena!" I turned to face Pope who ran up to me frantically.

"What's up Pope?" I set my water bottle on the counter.

"I think JJ and John B are about to get in a fight." My eyes grew wide as I moved towards him.

"Where."

"Guys! Stop!" Kie shouted as Pope and I neared the crowd of people.

"Pope, you get to Kie. Let me handle this. Just make sure she isn't in the cross hair." Shouts of encouragement overpowered her yells as I pushed through the crowd. Pope squeezing with me as he went to pull Kie from between the guys.

"Pope, what are you doing!" She wriggled but Pope pulled her to stand with the rest of the crowd as I stepped forward into the circle, my head shaking as I looked at the males in the circle.

"Are you serious?" I interrupted the crowd and the males furious gazes. "What the hell is this pissing match about? Did someone steal your liquor Topper? Kelce?" I moved in between them and JJ and John B.

"You're really siding with them?" Kelce asked furiously.

"Wow. So hostile. Y'all need to act mature and cut this shit out. All of you." I glanced behind me to see JJ and John B snickering only to stop when I have them a glare.

"Yeah, well tell your boys that. Tallen." I looked behind Topper and Kelce to see Rafe come through the crowd as they parted for him. Asshole didn't even have to push anyone out of the way.

"I just did, Cameron. But maybe you couldn't hear me. Did the coke get in your ears?" The crowd made noise at the burn, everyone silent waiting for Rafe to respond.

"Oh don't be like that babe. I thought we made a truce."

"Babe?" JJ piped from behind me.

"Truce?" John B spat the word out.

"Hey- wait, that's my nickname for her." Kie spoke pointing at Rafe. The intoxication affecting her.

The crowd murmured before going silent as I took a deep breath.

"Well done, you've officially done something stupid, Cameron. I should have predicted it would have been so soon." Rafe only gave me a smirk. Cocky son of a bitch.

"Oh, was I not supposed to tell everyone after you gave me a rid-" I knew exactly were his sentence was going to end and the lack of information he was going to share. So I didn't hesitate.