Despite Linus practically being the host of this thing, the grounds seem full of people as we all walk in. Some of the Kooks in the crowd turn and clap, congratulating Ward and Linus on their achievements.

Sarah very quickly gets pulled away from me, Topper pulling her aside for a conversation. I decide to keep my distance from whatever argument is about to unfold, but close enough for her to rejoin me once it's over.

My mum grips my arm, leading me off with Linus to introduce me to other families at the party. Every other name lost in the midst of blah blah blah Gabi, blah blah blah, Robin and so on until I've shaken the hands of everyone in the area.

The second my Mum loosens her grip on me, I slip away from them and over towards Pope. He doesn't notice me, his apron proudly supporting his Dad's shop as he works on the catering for the party.

I smile in relief when I approach him, feeling a sense of comfort for someone not rich or stuck up to be here. "Hey, Pope,"

"Pheebs," He nods, smiling once he sees it's me and not some prick here to treat him like a servant, "You look nice,"

"Could say the same for you, the oyster juice really brings out your eyes," I tease, falling into line beside him as we stare out at the crown. A silence falls between us, my fingers tapping on my arm before he speaks.

"Have you heard from JJ?"

My stomach drops, a sickness filling my throat and threatening to spill as the memories return. I feel guilty for leaving, but I know it was the right thing to do. If I stepped in when his Father was that angry, I would have only made it a lot worse. But, I can't tell Pope that.

Instead, I shake my head and grip my arms tighter, "Nope,"

He sighs, lowering his head as if he's wearing a heavy crown of shame, "It's all my fault,"

"Don't think like that, Pope. JJ will be fine. It's not like you threw him under the bus and walked away," I reassure, looking at him with pity.

"It feels like I did," He admits, still looking down at the grass around our feet.

"JJ wouldn't have let you go down for it. You didn't have much choice," I reply, wishing I could somehow fix the whole situation for them, "Topper almost killed you, Pope. Be angry at him, not yourself,"

He nods, finally turning to me with a small smile of appreciation. He looks back over to the crowd, nodding his head in the direction, "You should probably get back to the party. I think Kie's looking for you, said something about hating everyone here,"

I snort, taking a brief scan of the crowd for the girl in question, "I'll see you later,"

A gush of wind mixed with perfume hits my senses, Sarah enters my view as she grabs my arms and pulls me away from the dancing crown. I steady my balance from the rushed movements, looking at her stone-cold face.

"What happened?" I question. Her hands leave my bicep, my feet carrying me beside her until we reach the bar.

"I can't believe Topper! Interrogating me like a criminal," She seethes, reaching for two wine glasses and handing one to me before taking a big sip of hers, "I told him I was with you at Chapel Hil yesterday, I hope that's okay,"

"Yeah, yeah, that's fine," I nod, studying her carefully as I take a sip from my own drink, "Who were you really with?"

She looks at me quickly, darting her eyes away as if she's scared they'll give away her secret.

She quickly shakes her head, downing the rest of her drink before grabbing another from the table, "Forget it, let's go dance!"

A grin plasters itself on her face, her hands grabbing me once more as she leads us back to the dance floor. I hold my drink in one hand, both of us joining her little sister, Wheezie, in the crowd.

The live band plays loudly into the crowd, the music serene paired with the slight ocean breeze. I find myself tilting my head back and finishing off my drink in one gulp, happily taking the rest of Sarah's from her once she hands it to me.

I make eye contact with Rafe through the crowd, his stone stare turning me to ashes underneath it. Finishing the last sip of my drink, I place the glass onto an empty table and walk away, leaving Sarah to dance with her sister.

Approaching the drink table, it takes me mere minutes to down glass after glass. If everyone's planning on getting shitfaced, I might as well join them.

Rage bubbles in me unexpectedly, all the events leading up to tonight starting to burn me from the inside out.

Marching over to Rafe, I'm quickly stopped by my Mother who gestures me over to her, Linus and some other high-class socialites. I sigh, landing one last glare at my ex-friend as I make my way over to my Mum, planting a sick smile on my face.

"And this is my daughter, Phoebe!" My mum introduces me to the conversation, opening her arms up to allow me a spot at the standing table, "She's top of her robotics and socioeconomic class,"

I zone out the rest of her bragging, feeling like a painting on display for the elite to judge or worship depending on how they view my worth from the outside glance.

The thought makes me giggle, not realising the sound vocalises until everyone at the table stares at me with confusion. I can't help but imagine myself behind the glass, plump pigs in dress suits and rolex watches staring at me like a possession. My mum's voice drowns out, her brows knitting together as she looks at my laughing frame.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, continue," I laugh, unable to control the bitterness overcoming me at everything, including the two people around me. I want to forget everything and I want to see my Mum in the same light as I did before, but I can't help but see the woman so desperate to keep her Husband she'll risk losing her daughter. I hold my hands together, separating them only to gesture between Linus and my Mum, "Please, go on, tell them all about my achievements and both of your parts in them,"

"Phoebe," My Mum warns lowly, her lips practically sealed together as embarrassment heats her cheeks, the same way mine do when her Husband humiliates me over and over again. "What's wrong with you?"

Linus steps around my Mum, separating us as he glares down at me, his knuckles turning white around the whine glass, "Maybe you should go for a walk, Phoebe. I'm sure Rafe would-"

"Rafe can go fu-"

My words get caught in my throat as Linus's drink comes splashing down over my dress, dripping down the front until it reaches my waistline. My mouth forms an O shape, my hands away from me as I attempt to stop the white wine from spreading to my arms.

"Oh, Crap. My bad, honey, I am so sorry," Linus's voice seeps with sickening sweetness, the kind of sweetness that turns out to be rotten and sour. He drops the now empty glass to the table, his eyes not conveying the same apologeticness as he looks at me. "You should really get yourself cleaned up before this stains, sweetheart,"

I look from him to my Mum, her face something of neutrality as she looks away from me, purposely avoiding my gaze. I turn back to Linus, sending the glare of a thousand suns his way before childishly storming off.

People bump against my shoulders as I bee-line for the stained glass doors, some of them telling me to 'watch it' as I ignore them and rip the door open. My chest heaves in anger as I walk through the inside venue, the smell of wine following me while my eyes well with tears.

I reach the bathroom in no time, a sob coming out like a hiccup as I close and lock the door behind me. I don't want to cry, I don't want to give him the satisfaction of upsetting me. But, he's just the mouldy cherry on top of the overbaked cake.

I grip the corners of the sink, aggressively flicking the tap on and ripping paper towels from the dispenser. I sniffle, keeping my tears of anger in as I wet the paper and scrub at my dress. Considering Linus's money went into the expensive fabric, I make a point of not being gentle with my movements.

At least it's white wine and not red, the stain would be far more noticeable if I were walking around with a bloodied corset.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I force my anger to the pits of my mind, washing it away for the night. I just need to get through tonight. If I find Kiara or Sarah, I'll be fine.

Nodding to myself, I brush my hands over my sides and head to the door, gripping the handle and pulling it wide open to allow me to exit. My movements are slower now, like the longer I drag my feet along the carpet the quicker the night will go.

I hear a commotion coming from the boy's locker room down the corridor, voices echoing as if the culprits are speaking at a high volume.

Sneaking closer to the door, I quietly lean my ear against the wood and listen out for any distinct voices or words.

"...Blatant disrespect of private property--I'm in violation of all kinds of shit, sir, but these young gentlemen," A familiar voice fades into my ears, the words pausing as I hear a slap and someone else tell chime in with 'don't touch my shit'. I furrow my eyebrows, leaning closer to the door.

Is that JJ's voice?

"Uh, caught me, sir, and they're about to take me away. And that's what you should do, escort me out of here. You got me," I hear who I'm pretty sure is JJ, an authoritative voice chiming in to say 'come on'. Assuming it's a security guard, I step back from the door to avoid any awkward situations.

"Fix that tie, son!" JJ speaks once again, clearly not being able to avoid adding to the conversation. "You're lookin' spiffy, too. You Powerpuff girls have fun,"

His voice gradually gets closer to the door, letting me know within seconds he's going to be escorted out of the room. Just as I'm about to step away, I hear another familiar voice join the conversation.

"Tell Phoebe my bed's getting cold without her," Rafe.

I can't help the sickness that manifests in my gut over his vulgar words, even more so when I hear JJ grunt, his voice steps retreating from the door as if he broke out of the security guard's hold and lunged at Rafe.

A commotion ensues behind the door, one I have no business being involved in. Even if I wanted to, I hear the security guard reach the fight and the sounds of violence stop.

So, I take this opportunity to retreat away from the room, my cheeks puffed in annoyance over this whole night as I run my hands through my hair. I wish I could burst through that door and punch Rafe right across his spoiled jaw, but I've pushed enough of Linus's buttons for the night.

I push through the door, the cold air hitting my alcohol-heated cheeks in much-needed relief. I spy Kiara for the first time tonight, bee-lining for her where she sits unamused in the crowd. She spots me quickly, smiling before her grin drops at the sight of my expression.

"Bad night?" She questions, looking me up and down and lingering on where the wine darkens my dress.

"Yours any better?" I reply sarcastically, falling into line next to her as we watch the crowd.

"Definitely not. I hate these country club people, no offence," She grimaces, nudging me slightly with the last of her words.

Before I can reply, the sound of voices erupts from the area I just came out from. Kiara and I turn to watch as JJ is pushed out of the venue, a guard close behind him.

"Look--Look, man! I can walk myself! I got legs, can you see that brother?" JJ comments, unable to stop himself from his smartass comments as the guard pulls him behind us. Kiara and I turn with their retreating bodies, watching the scene unfold with a level of concern and amusement. "I really appreciate what you did back there, let me just walk out by myself--Oh! Mr Dunleavy, I see you got your drink-"

"Should we step in?" My voice overlaps JJ's rambling, my eyes focused on him as I whisper to Kie.

I watch with widened eyes as he picks the old mans drink up and downs it in one swing.

"Nah, I wanna see this play out," Kie replies, my head nodding in agreement as we move to get a better angle.

"It's okay, everybody! Don't panic. Leave it to the men and women in uniform, huh? Let's hear it for them!" He yells out to the crowd, everyone previously dancing now pausing their movements to watch him as he claps aggressively. JJ turns, his eyes meeting mine for a second before he looks me up and down, something in his expression that he quickly covers up with mock amusement. The guard grabs him rather aggressively, yanking him in another direction to the point that it looks like it hurts.

"Let go of him!" Kie yells, her words coming out like word-vomit. "You can't boot him!"

"Excuse me, ma'am?" The guard pauses, looking at Kie with curiosity. His eyes settle on me, recognising me as an associate of Linus.

"I invited him," I join Kiara, feeling a drunken hiccup leave my lips. I don't need to look at Linus to feel his piercing glare at me from across the crowd. "My Father owns this club, I'm a member. You don't have to be so aggressive with him,"

The way JJ looks at me as I speak makes it seem like the whole crowd is melting away, even Kie and her parents as they stand beside me. He defended me only moments ago when he didn't think I was around to hear. Linus is going to rain hell on me anyway, I might as well do something worthwhile.

Rafe appears on the balcony beside his, smugly grinning and laughing into his drink. I grind my teeth, turning to him with a fury as I snap, "Something funny?"

Before Rafe can reply, JJ tears his eyes away from me only to turn to the guard and shove him with all his strength. The worker falls onto a table, "Sorry about that. Hey, mandatory power hour at Rixon's, ladies! Pope, you as well, all right?" He points at each of us.

"Rixon's cove?" I turn to Kie in confusion, watching her nod in confirmation. We turn from the balcony and move to the stairs as JJ speaks once more.

"Phoebe! C'mon girl, I know you want to!" He singles me out in the crowd, his hand open in invitation as he smiles at me.

I turn to my right, making eye contact with my Mum and her furious husband. I look at the grip he has on her arm, a tightness I feel pressing down on my limbs every day. Then I look at her face, her expression understanding and not angry in the slightest.

JJ grabs my attention once more, my head swivelling as John B appears beside the blond. John B grins at me, gesturing me to follow, "C'mon Pheebs! Kie, Pope, let's go!"

My gaze moves to my mum, his grip on her loosening as she mouths, 'I'll be okay'

Maybe, for the first time in a long time, she's protecting me the way I've been protecting her. The way she should have been from the start. Linus cares for her more than me, if I go home, it'll only make it worse.

Smiling sadly at her, I turn back to JJ as his grin widens. I pick up the skirt of my dress and run towards him as Kie joins the group. JJ opens his arms, picking me up when I reach him just to spin me around. He drops me to my feet, both of us running along with the group.