: ̗̀➛ 𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇 Victoria Miller's world is upended when she learns her life as the Pogue Princess is over. No longer surrounded by her group of friends, she's forced to adjust to a new, unfamiliar reality as a Kook. After a year of her not so...
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VICTORIA'S HEART DROPPED when she realized it was John B at the center of the chaos. Topper stood above him, a menacing figure as John B rolled in the shallow sea water. "Hey, John B, don't make me drown you like your old man, alright?" Topper sneered, glaring down at the boy before kicking him once more, sending him deeper into the water.
The crowd around them chanted, their voices loud and almost mocking, egging John B on. He couldn't back down now. He couldn't let them see him as weak-not in front of the Kooks, not in front of Sarah. The pressure was suffocating, but he gritted his teeth and scrambled to his feet, determined not to lose face.
Topper, looking smug, turned his back for a moment to celebrate, but that's when John B surged forward. With a grunt, he wrapped his arms around Topper's waist, pulling him to the ground with an audible thud.
"Give it to him!" someone from the crowd shouted, their voice filled with encouragement. Sarah Cameron, her hands tightly clutching her hair in distress, stood frozen, torn between the boy she loved and the violent spectacle unfolding before her. The tension was unbearable, and it was clear that things were only escalating.
"John B, let him go!" Victoria yelled, her voice laced with worry, but it barely reached him over the cacophony of the crowd. The fight was clearly unequal-not because of strength, but because of everything else. Topper's wealth, his social standing, his family's power. Topper could sue John B for just brushing against him.
But John B wasn't thinking about that. He couldn't. All he knew was that he had to keep fighting, had to keep his pride intact.
The fight raged on, both boys out of the water now, trading blows. John B landed a punch to Topper's jaw, and Topper retaliated with a fierce uppercut.
The crowd roared with excitement, egging them on even more. Sarah continued to scream, trying to get Topper to stop, but her pleas were drowned out by the cheering.
"Come on, John B!" Topper taunted, balling his fists. "You gonna quit like your daddy?"
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" the crowd chanted in unison, and John B's determination hardened. He wasn't going to give up.
Victoria's heart raced in her chest as she turned to JJ. "JJ, do something!
Stop them!" Her voice was frantic, her eyes pleading with him.
JJ, however, was grinning, fully invested in the fight. "Go, John B!" he cheered, pumping his fist in the air. Victoria slapped his elbow in frustration.
"JJ, stop encouraging him!" she snapped, her voice rising. "This isn't just a fight. It's dangerous!"
JJ shrugged, not taking his eyes off the fight. "It's fine. John B can handle it."
