A/N: Hey, everyone. Thank you so much for reading and commenting, you are awesome. Once again, I'm really sorry about the delayed update. I hope you'll enjoy!

All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

A minute turned into much longer. Kim was standing alone, pretending to text someone and hoping Paul would come back soon so she didn't look like an idiot. But maybe he wouldn't come back at all. Or maybe there wasn't a keg and they actually went to bring a bucket full of pigs' blood to spill on her, like in Carrie? Or maybe (a more reasonable part of her brain decided to contribute) Paul met a girl and decided to ditch Kim. After all, he wasn't her mother. He wasn't her boyfriend, either. He'd done plenty when he brought her along. And she wasn't a baby. She was perfectly capable of-

"Hey, Connweller," a saccharin voice made her skin crawl.

"Sophie."

Sophie smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "So, how's it going?"

"Um, fine. I- "

"Great, so listen, I was wondering. What's the deal with you and Lahote?"

Kim blinked at her. "No deal. We're friends."

"Right," Sophie snorted. "Did he tell you to say that? You know that Lahote doesn't have friends, girl or otherwise?"

"He didn't tell me anything. I'm just saying it as it is. We're friends."

"If you say so. Where's your drink?"

"There wasn't any beer so-"

"Oh, please, don't drink that poison. Trevor brought it; that fact is enough to make me stay away from it. I have something better, just for us girls," Sophie reached into her pocket. She took out a small flask and offered it to Kim. Her eyes shone with a light Kim couldn't quite decipher; there was something feverish and hungry in her expression and Kim almost shivered. It reminded her of Snow White and the witch offering her an apple. She opened her mouth to refuse.

"Kim, you can't say no. I stole this from my grandmother's stash. It's the good stuff. I haven't shared it with anyone else," Sophie batted her eyelashes.

Was this a test to see whether Kim was a coward? To mock her if she failed? Maybe she should try a small sip, just to get Sophie off her back. It seemed that refusing wasn't the best option. Kim took the offered flask and sniffed. A sweet, fruity scent filled her nostrils. Berries.

"Good, huh?" Sophie prompted. "My grandma makes it."

Maybe she should have had Sophie try it first, but it was too late now and she wasn't going to back down. Be a bad girl, Kim. She took a small sip and it glided down her throat like honey. Her mother had let her try raspberry wine once, but it was nowhere as good. The drink was sweet, oh so sweet, and it warmed Kim's insides immediately. She tried another sip.

"See? I told you. Us girls should have each other's back, right, Kim?"

"Yeah. Yeah, we really should," Kim mumbled as the warmth started spreading from her belly all the way to her fingers. The drink was delicious, and her entire body became light and warm, like fresh pudding.

"Take another, I've had plenty. It's not strong, so it's fine."

Kim nodded and took another sip.

Lahote insisted that they bring the keg back to the party. As they were hobbling down the path, he was half dragging, half carrying both the keg and Jared.

"Look at you hulking out. Feeling threatened by my absolute superiority, so you need to show off?"

"Pffft. You wish, pretty boy. If I hadn't been there, those assholes would have broken your face," Paul grunted, but he kept a steady pace. Jared wondered when he'd gotten so strong. Was it possible that Paul had always been like that and he hadn't noticed?

"As if. I saved our asses and you know it."

"Only because you're on steroids."

"Sure, keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better."

"Well, there's no other logical explanation for your sudden growth and strength."

"All natural, baby, all training," Jared patted his abs and winced at the touch. His muscles were cramping badly. "Maybe you should just accept my absolute superiority."

"Maybe you should shut up," Paul grunted at him.

They were progressing at a snail's pace, but the party soon became visible. Somebody was singing; a gentle, high-pitched voice. The person was definitely not a singer. The others thought it too, if the snickers he managed to pick up were any indication. As they came closer, it became clear there was some sort of a performance. Everybody was gathered around a huge driftwood, watching the person who was standing on it. A girl.

"Yo, is that Kim?" Jared squinted.

"Where? Oh, for fuck's sake, what is it with this fucking night?! How did she even get up there?" Paul cursed and picked up the pace, Jared struggling to keep up.

"Is she... singing?"

She was. Swaying lightly, eyes closed and jacket unzipped, she was belting out a song he didn't know. The whole scene might have been funny, but then she slipped on the wet, rotting driftwood and almost fell and Jared felt himself tense. Paul cursed again.

The snickers were becoming louder, but Kim didn't mind them. She was in her own world, up there, on her rotting island, looking brave and free. Jared smiled. He had never seen Kim like that, or maybe he had never noticed. There seemed to be many things that just went past him. But he was seeing this now. For a second, he thought about taking out his phone and snapping a quick picture, just as a memento of a crazy night, of a shy girl taking the spotlight and doing something unexpected, but then he decided against it. He didn't want to embarrass Kim. Not everybody felt the same way. Trevor was just about to start filming.

"Yeah, take out your phone, press 'record', see what happens after," Paul growled at Trevor as they approached him. The phone was promptly put back in the pocket. Nobody else dared attempt the same.

"That's what I thought, asshole," Paul grumbled as they passed Trevor.

They finally got to the tree.

"Where have you been? You have got to see this!" Sophie squealed. "Connweller is wasted!"

"How? There wasn't anything to drink, we've just brought this," Paul put the keg down.

"Say hello to my little friend," Sophie smiled devilishly and shook her flask.

"No, Soph, why would you give her that?" Jared sighed.

"Oh, please. It's just a fucking syrup. Don't be a pussy, Jared."

"There are at least 3 different white liquors in it, Sophie."

"So? I didn't make her drink the whole damn thing."

"You're such an asshole," Paul waved her off. He left Jared leaning on the tree and went to get Kim.

"Don't blame me because your girlfriend is such a lightweight. And maybe clean yourself up before you leave the house, you trash!" Sophie yelled after him. "But seriously, where have you two been for so long? And why are you so sweaty?"

"I'm not feeling well. I think I'm gonna head home."

"Now?! But the party has just started!"

"I really need to lie down, I'm feeling si- "

"I told you not to drink the fucking beer! I told you. But do you listen? No. Nothing Trevor brings can be trusted, you know that and you still didn't listen."

"Maybe you're right, but can we just- "

"No, we can't 'just', Jared. I was really looking forward to this party!"

"I get that, but I really want to go home right now! Jesus!" he snapped.

"Don't yell at me!"

"I'm not. Sorry. Ok? I'm just… my whole body hurts and I… I just want to lie down. Ok? Can we just go home?"

"Fine. Go. I'm staying. "

"Sophie…"

"It's fine. I'll go home with Lola later. Maybe your new BFFs, the drunk nerd and the loser, can go home with you. I don't even know why you invited them," Sophie spat out, turned on her heel and left.

Jared rubbed his face to try and relieve a bit of tension. It didn't work. Lahote was right, what was it with the fucking night? He was currently trying to get Kim to come down from the driftwood. Jared dragged himself there to try and help.

"Connweller, I left you alone for five minutes. How the fuck did this happen? And come down already."

"Nooo, it was…like…an hour, not five minutes. You were gone forever. And you know what? You should come up here, Paul. It's sooo cool! I can see all the stars when I look up." She then looked up and almost lost her balance. Both Paul and Jared winced.

"Connweller, just come down so we can go home."

"But I'm having fun," she pouted. Paul's eye started twitching a little, so Jared decided to try.

"Hey, Kim. Can you come down, so I can tell you something?"

"Hi, Jared," she waved. "Tell me what?"

"A proposition, let's call it. If you don't like it, we'll leave you be."

Paul rose an eyebrow at Jared.

"Don't worry, there's no chance she'll be able to climb up there again," Jared whispered.

"Well, I wouldn't have thought she would be able to climb it at all, but there she is. What's your plan?"

"I don't know, we lure her down and drag her home? Hopefully, she sobers up until we get there and her parents don't kill us all? I'm just winging it, man. Let's just make sure she doesn't fall down and break something."

"God, no one tells you that having friends can be so fucking shitty," Paul muttered making Jared chortle.

"What do you say, Kim? Wanna hear me out?"

"You're going to trick me somehow, I know, but ok," she sighed, but decided to come down. It wasn't very graceful and, in the end, Paul had to help her down, but she was finally on the ground.

"Hi, Jared," she beamed at him. Then she looked at Paul. Her eyes dilated with horror at Paul's appearance.

"What happened to you? Oh, my god, you're bleeding! And your Shaft jacket!" she fussed over him.

"It's nothing, just calm down, ok?"

"Shaft jacket, huh?" Jared snorted.

"Yeah, Paul likes- "

"Do you want me to leave you here, Cameron, and let you crawl home alone? Because I can do that," Paul hissed.

"Sorry, Shaft."

"I'll beat the shit out of you if you don't knock it off; I'll use your current weakness to my advantage."

"As long as you acknowledge it."

"What are you two talking about? Why are you weak, Jared? Are you guys ok? Did you get into a fight? Paul, should we go home?" Kim frowned in confusion and, for the first time, Jared actually saw her, a cute, caring and warm-hearted girl. Even drunk, she was aware of other people's needs and feelings. He finally got why Paul hung around her so much.

"We should, yeah."

"Ok then, let's go."

The journey home was painfully slow. Jared had to hold onto Paul's shoulder and Kim kept stumbling in the darkness. Unavoidably, she fell down and was now lying on her back on the ground.

"People destroyed everything; I can't even see any stars from here because of the pollution," she complained.

"Or maybe you can't see them because we're in the fucking forest and there are trees above you," Paul grumbled and pulled her up.

"Oh, right," she laughed.

"This is no use. At this pace, we'll get home in two weeks," Paul rubbed his chin. "Kim, get on my back."

"A piggyback ride? Yay!"

Jared couldn't help but laugh when Kim tried to climb onto Paul's back and kept sliding down his jacket. It took three tries for them to succeed.

"Connweller, I swear, if you barf on me…"

"I won't. I promise."

"Just warn me if you have to, ok?"

"Roger that."

It took them awhile get used to the weird formation, Paul in the middle, like a pillar, Jared on his left, with his arm around his shoulders and Kim peeking from behind Paul's head. They were probably a sight but it helped them speed up a little.

" We are going really slowly," Kim stated.

"Well, Connweller, maybe you and I should switch places, maybe that would speed us up," Paul grumbled.

"Ok, gee. No need to get so upset. Shaft."

Jared started laughing so hard that he almost fell.

"Look at you two comedians. Maybe you can tell each other jokes when I leave you here for the night."

"He's just messing with us, Jared. He would never leave us," Kim wrapped her hands tighter around Paul's neck.

"No, he wouldn't, would you, Shaft?" Jared snickered.

"Both of you can go fuck yourselves."

Jared was drenched in sweat when they finally reached Kim's grandmother's house. Everything hurt and he was contemplating sliding onto the ground and just staying there forever. Maybe he should have called his parents, but then he would have to explain about the party and the drinking and he really didn't have the energy. Maybe the beer was really bad and he would be better tomorrow.

Kim slid off Paul's back clumsily and wavered a little.

"Connweller, are you sure you're going to be fine?"

"Scout's honor," she saluted.

"Kim, you are looking a little pale, maybe you should- "

"I'm really fine, Jared, I – "she managed to say and then hurled into a nearby bush, just missing Jared's shoes.

Jared grabbed her hair to keep it out of the way, but the vile smell was like an attack on his nostrils. The sweet and sour berry smell and a mixture of food… he had to turn away from Kim. Paul went green.

"Don't you start, too, man, I'm begging you," Jared pleaded.

"Will this night never end?" Paul squealed.

"I'm so sorry, so sorry," Kim said, wiping her mouth with her sleeve.

"No worries, Kim. It happens to the best of us," Jared smiled, trying hard not to breathe through his nose.

"Well, this… huh. Well. I'm sorry. I… I should head home. So. Good night. Thanks. Sorry," Kim squeezed out and ran into the house.

Jared and Paul started moving away as quickly as they could.

"So, Kim's like…"

"Super weird?" Paul suggested.

"I wanted to say pretty cool."

"Oh. Yeah. That too."