𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞- 𝐣𝐣 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤

17.

🦋☀ 🌊 - 17

Olivia pushed through the crowd, weaving past dancers and chattering party-goers, her heels clicking against the polished floor. She wanted as much distance from Rafe as she could get. His smug grin and the memory of their awkward dance made her stomach twist. She had never wanted anything to do with him, not really, and tonight confirmed it.

Spotting Sarah a little further away, Olivia hurried over. The note in Sarah's hand caught her eye immediately.

"Hey, watcha doing?" Olivia asked, trying to keep her voice casual, though her pulse was racing.

"JJ dropped this off to me," Sarah said, holding the paper like it was a secret treasure.

"Wait... JJ? Where is he? Is he okay? Where'd he go?" Olivia's hopes surged as she scanned the room, eyes darting from shadow to shadow.

"He's... uh-he went that way." Sarah pointed to the direction JJ had disappeared, then quickly added, "I have to go," and darted off, leaving Olivia with a flutter of worry and anticipation.

Her gaze followed Sarah's gesture, and relief hit her like a wave: JJ was there. But of course, trouble never came alone-Noah, Kelce, and Rafe blocked his path. JJ backed up cautiously, then bolted through the house, the three Kooks hot on his heels.

"JJ!" Olivia shouted, stumbling slightly in her short heels, cursing under her breath as she followed. Her sneakers would have been much better for this. She barely cared. Her only thought was to reach him. She found the locker room and didn't hesitate, shoving the door open and mumbling hurried apologies as she ran in.

"Keep his head still! I'm gonna line this up," Rafe sneered, brandishing an imaginary golf club.

"It's not fair! Five against one!" JJ struggled in Kelce's tight grip, his face red with exertion and frustration.

Noah leaned against the wall, laughing, thoroughly entertained. Olivia's stomach churned at the sight-her brother watching JJ struggle and feeling amused.

"JJ! Oh my god, JJ!" Olivia cried as she pushed through, her voice full of panic. "Let him go!"

Rafe smirked at her arrival. "Look who joined us," he said, still salty from the earlier rejection. "Why don't you get in on some action?"

Before Olivia could react, one of Rafe's friends grabbed her arms, holding her back. "Let me go! Stop it! Rafe, let him go! Noah, stop this! Please!" Her voice shook with desperation.

Noah's grin faded slightly as he watched, conflicted but ultimately unwilling to intervene.

JJ twisted and kicked in Kelce's grip, his movements frantic. "Rafe! Let her go! It's just you and me, man. Leave her out of this!"

"Can you be quiet? Very disrespectful when I'm trying to hit a ball, alright?" Rafe said, pretending to line up another invisible shot.

JJ spat in Rafe's face, earning a laugh, but the flickering lights of the room distracted everyone just enough.

Kelce shoved JJ to the side as a security guard entered. "Gentlemen! And lady? Is there a problem in here?"

JJ grabbed Olivia quickly, pulling her behind him. "Pardon me, no, there's no issue. Well... actually, yes! There is an issue. We got a criminal trust pass. Beep! Call it in, right? Disrespect to private property. Violations of all kinds, sir. These young gentlemen were about to take me away, that's what you should do. Escort us out!" He held up one arm while keeping his free hand tightly on Olivia's.

"I'm sorry, sir, I was just tagging along with my friend here," Olivia chimed in, playing along.

"No, no, she's fine. She's my date here," Rafe tried to intervene, but JJ pulled Olivia further aside.