A/N: Hiya! 😊 Here's another chapter, I hope you'll enjoy. I know that this story's a bit of a slow burner, but hopefully you'll stick with it. As always, thank you so much for reading and commenting! Enjoy!

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He shouldn't have drunk all that beer. It was bad and mucky and he was bound to have a terrible headache. In fact, one was already blooming somewhere behind his eyeballs. All his muscles felt like burnt rubber, thick and hot and almost liquid. He slapped himself mentally. Shut up and suck it up.

"So, it's cool you brought Kim along," Jared said to Paul, trying desperately to distract himself.

"Mhm."

"Does she like parties?"

"How should I know?"

"You're her friend?"

"So? We're not Siamese twins. Anyway, why are you so interested in Connweller all of a sudden?"

"I'm just trying to make conversation. Jesus. I'm not interested."

"As long as you're not planning anything with Connweller while you're still with that fucking Teletubby."

"Don't fucking call Sophie that! I mean it! What's with the attitude, man?"

They stopped in the middle of a narrow path and glared at each other. As Paul said nothing, Jared continued.

"No, I mean, seriously, what is your problem? I've been nothing but nice to you since you moved here and you're constantly behaving like a jackass. What's with the insults?" Jared's muscles grew hotter with every word.

"I'm just sayingthat you're showing an unusual amount of interest in Connweller's personal life and well-being. Which would be, you know, fine, if you didn't have a girlfriend. So, what's up? You say you're not interested. And yet, you're constantly hanging around Connweller. So, help me puzzle this out, because I feel like I'm missing something."

"What?! I was being friendly, you ass. You should try it sometimes. Wait… are you… are you jealous?" Jared taunted.

"Oh, way to change the subject. If I liked her, trust me, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

If I liked her, you'd know."

Paul seemed to be telling the truth, but it felt good to bother him, to make him uncomfortable and annoyed, so Jared pressed on.

"It's ok, Lahote. Maybe you'll get out of the friendzone eventually. Until then, you can continue lying to yourself."

Paul's nostrils flared and Jared felt a fresh surge of adrenaline. How good it would feel just to swing his fist and plant it into Paul's face. He could almost feel the tension alleviating with every imagined punch. Crack, crack, crack.

"Well, even if it was true, it's still better than being Jackson's lap dog," Paul spat out. "You are a fucking pussy, Cameron, too scared to think for yourself, so you just hang around like a mall mannequin, waiting for Jackson to snap her fingers. You probably don't even know if you like her. She must've told you that you do."

Jared's eye twitched. It felt like his whole body was shutting down to make way for something bigger and stronger. He wanted to hear bones snapping, right now. But, no. He couldn't. He knew Paul. He couldn't hurt him. Right? What? What was happening to him? He clenched his jaw and shook his head. He should make an excuse and leave. Right. His aching muscles were making him crazy. It wasn't Paul's fault. It wasn't anybody's fault. He just had to lie down. Yeah.

But then a pungent smell reached his nostrils. Cheap alcohol and cigarettes. Unwashed hair, but relatively fresh clothes. Four guys. Drunk. Possibly high. How did he even know that? It didn't matter, because they were coming over. Lahote must've heard them too, because he was now glaring in their direction.

As Jared predicted, four guys stumbled onto the path laughing. They didn't notice Paul and Jared until they almost collided. Jared recognized one of them at once. Ricky Akuna. Ricky smiled when he noticed them.

"Gentlemen, we come bearing gifts," he patted a keg two of the others were carrying.

"That's our keg," Jared spat out.

"Well, I didn't say whose gifts we were bearing," Ricky hollered and his buddies laughed. "Anyway, don't be so serious, little man. We come in peace. And also, to take a look at some high school girls. Fresh meat and whatnot. You feel me, right?"

For a second, Jared thought his head would turn into a whistling teapot and just explode. His body was expanding, like rising dough and he could feel everything. Most of all, he felt Lahote's presence; he could feel it almost as well as his own and it gave him comfort. It was good to have Lahote as an ally. He was strong and fast and, most of all, he never backed down from a fight.

"Yeah, but this is a private party. Sorry," said Paul, who didn't seem sorry at all.

"Well, it's a public beach, boy. It's a bit hard to have a 'private' party here," Akuna's eyes narrowed. "I think these boys need a lesson in hospitality, am I right?" He turned towards his crew.

"And I think you're too old to crash a high school party and you should leave. Am I right?" Jared turned to Paul, their previous argument pushed to the side, insignificant when faced with a greater threat. It was comforting to know this, too. That, despite their differences, the two of them would have each other's back.

"Ok, boys, I think I'm done with this shit," said Ricky and swung towards Jared. It was a powerful blow, Jared would give him that, but it also seemed to be in slow motion, so he easily blocked it and pushed Akuna away. He must have underestimated his own strength, because Akuna staggered backwards and fell down with a thud. It was so sudden and fast that all of them just stood there for a moment. Then Paul started laughing and it kicked everybody into motion. Two of Akuna's buddies jumped on Paul. Ricky got to his feet and one of his boys rushed to his aid. Then they rounded on Jared.

On a normal day, Paul and Jared wouldn't stand a chance against four guys. But that wasn't going to be a normal day, apparently. Akuna was going to strike with his left, that was obvious. He probably thought it would be an element of surprise. The other guy was trying to get behind Jared's back. Jared could feel it. It was strange. His body moved in ways he'd never experienced before, prepared for blows and changes even before his brain could register them. It felt as if he could close his eyes and still do everything right, protect himself. His hands blocked and pushed and hit of their own volition. His body wasn't his own. He clenched his fists and punched Akuna in the face. It was amateurish and not well placed but it was strong enough to send Ricky to the ground again. It only took an elbow strike the shake off the guy who got behind his back; he grunted and slid to the ground clutching his stomach. Jared then grabbed one of the guys that circled Paul, resisting the urge to pick him up and fling him into the nearest tree and only pushing him hard into the direction they'd come from. He did the same with Akuna and the other guy. The guy fighting Paul got the message and started moving on his own, suddenly eager to leave.

"This isn't over!" Akuna shouted as his friends led him away.

"Yeah? We'll be here," Jared shouted back and regretted he couldn't think of anything cooler to say. Akuna and his crew went away fast not looking back.

"For fuck's sake," Paul sighed, inspecting a giant rip on his jacket. "This was not the day to wear this jacket." He was sporting a gash on his lip and a scratch across his cheek. He looked at Jared.

"Cameron, tell me the truth, man. Are you on steroids?"

Jared wanted to laugh and make a joke about being superhuman, but his knees buckled and he almost fell. Paul caught him just in time.

"Bro, are you alright?"

"I don't know. Not really. I should go home," Jared mumbled and tried to walk away, but his body wouldn't cooperate. Only then did he realize that he was shaking all over.

"Must be the adrenaline," Paul offered.

"Yeah. Must be."