"Take my hand, we'll make it I swear"

Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi

THE FOLLOWING NIGHT, Sevyn, Marko, and Paul piled onto the giant rollercoaster, the pink-haired girl crowing with delight. Adrenaline was her drug of choice, and with the ability to teleport out of danger, heights didn't scare her.

They stumbled off the ride, exhilaration coloring their laughter. Since Sevyn turned eighteen, she'd spent both summers in Seaside, New Jersey, practically living on the boardwalk. Maybe the movie had inspired her beach bum phase.

The sights, sounds, and the smells (well, maybe not all the smells) all contributed to the infectious energy of the place. Out of all the fictional worlds she could've landed in, this wasn't so bad. As the others headed off for food – she knew what that meant – Paul lingered with a mischievous grin.

He was excited to spend some alone time with Sevyn. She seemed to blush under his gaze every time he flirted with her, a reaction he found endlessly amusing. After sharing a joint, a pleasant buzz settled over them. Paul slung his arm around her, inhaling her sweet, fruity scent.

"What now, babe? Up for some more fun?" he purred, his voice a touch husky.

An uncomfortably pleasant feeling settled in her stomach, his voice did things to her. "Absolutely," she replied, the infectious grin returning – she hoped it didn't look manic.

There was something undeniably appealing about her. Paul hoped they could keep her around; her energetic vibe would be a welcome in their pack. He playfully tugged her towards the bumper cars, a night of boardwalk fun stretching before them.

Throughout the evening, Paul's touch lingered, a constant reminder of his presence. Sevyn didn't mind one bit. While a bit awkward at flirting back, her reactions only seemed to fuel his amusement.

Exhausted but happy, they settled into a booth at a pizza place, sharing a large meat lover's. Paul, unsurprisingly, took the seat beside her instead of across. He'd strategically chosen to sit close.

"So, about that villain shirt," he began with a sly smirk, referencing her outfit from the other night.

The unexpected closeness sent a pleasurable shiver down her spine. "What about it?" she managed, her cheeks warming.

"Just wondering if you really have a thing for bad boys," he teased, his voice a low rumble. "Because, well, I'm a bit of a villain myself." Paul waggled his eyebrows playfully, a wide grin splitting his features.

Sevyn couldn't help but laugh at him but knew how true it was. "A good villain can be compelling, more interesting than heroes sometimes. They're usually much sexier, too. I appreciate someone who gets what they want, doesn't hold back, someone who gets something done by any means necessary – real Machiavellian stuff. Violence doesn't bother me," she admitted, babbling a little.

Paul's eyes gleamed. "Damn, that's hot, babe. Maybe you can patch us up after our fights," he suggested playfully.

A delighted giggle escaped Sevyn's lips. "Now that would be fun! I wouldn't miss it for the world. I love watching a good fight."

"Looks like we have a little bloodthirsty streak in you, huh?" Paul chuckled, playfully tugging a lock of her hair.

She swatted at him lightheartedly, secretly enjoying his teasing. "I am who I am."

Paul winked. "Just messing with you, babe."

Their pizza arrived, momentarily stealing their attention. Paul, however, couldn't resist regaling her with stories of him and his brothers, careful to avoid revealing anything.

"This dude wouldn't shut up, spouting racist shit at Dwayne," Paul recounted, his voice fired up. "Marko wasn't having it, clocked the dude good – sent him flying! Security showed up, chasing us down the boardwalk. Totally worth it, though. No one messes with us, ya' know?"

"Ugh, what an asshole. Good on Marko for shutting him down," Sevyn agreed, her fists clenching. "Seriously, who talks like that? Bigots, that's who. If I'd been there, I would have punched him myself!"

Paul chuckled, leaning in for a quick peck on her cheek. "I bet Dwayne would've loved to see his little defender in action," he teased with a wink.

"Hey, I'm not little!" Sevyn scoffed. "Just because I'm short doesn't mean I can't pack a punch." It was true, though. At barely over five feet tall, she was the shortest of the group but she could throw a punch.

Maybe.

"Okay, killer," Paul teased with a chuckle, hands held up in surrender.

"Seriously, you guys are so lucky to have each other," Sevyn said with a smile and a touch of wistfulness in her voice. Sevyn had always been a loner. Sure, she'd had a girlfriend once, but that relationship barely lasted three months. Even then, they weren't exactly joined at the hip.

"Yeah, those guys are like the brothers I never had," Paul said, bumping Sevyn's shoulder playfully. "We've been through a lot of shit together. Wouldn't have it any other way. Before I met David, things sucked. But hey, that's all water under the bridge now. You'll find your tribe, Sev, no doubt about it." A sly grin tugged at Paul's lips.

He already felt a connection with Sevyn, and he wouldn't mind her sticking around. He just needed to convince the others she was worth keeping.

Paul couldn't resist draping his arm over the seat behind Sevyn as he devoured his third slice of pizza. He was seriously struggling to keep his hands off her. How long could he resist the urge to sweep her off her feet and throw her onto the nearest surface or maybe against a wall. The hunger wasn't just for pizza anymore.

He stole a glance at her while she focused on her food, taking in her delicate features and the surprising mix of feminine charm and sheer adorableness. He even liked her pink hair – it was like bubblegum come to life, and it totally suited her.

They polished off the entire pizza, with Paul putting a significant dent in it. He paid the bill, and they stepped back out onto the boardwalk. This time, his arm snaked around her waist, his fingers brushing against the bare skin above the waistband of her shorts possessively. She stiffened initially, unsure how to react, but eventually relaxed a little.

At the end of the night, she announced it was time to leave, causing Paul to pout.

Sevyn, ever the quick wit, playfully swatted at his arm. "Some of us need our beauty sleep and have responsibilities, unlike certain guys who can party all night."

Paul threw his head back and laughed, a booming sound that drew stares from nearby people. "Ouch, that stings, babe. You wound me deep," he called out dramatically, holding his chest. "Will I see you tomorrow night then for more fun? You know I'm gonna miss you."

His warm breath tickled her ear, and Sevyn couldn't stop a small smile from curling the corners of her lips. "Maybe I'll be around," she replied, a touch of shyness coloring her voice.

Paul raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk twisting his lips, his hand lingering a touch too long. "Come by tomorrow if you're free. I promise to show you a great ride." His eyes flickered down to her lips, a heated promise in their depths.

Sevyn's cheeks flushed a rosy pink. "We'll see," she mumbled, unable to meet his gaze directly. The playful banter had ignited a spark within her, leaving her torn between amusement and a surprising flutter in her chest.

Paul, never one to miss an opportunity, swept her up in a tight hug before releasing her and spinning her towards the stairs. He pushed her towards the exit and landed a playful smack to her ass. "Night, beautiful," he purred, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers dancing down her spine.

Sevyn practically bolted off the boardwalk to the sounds of Paul's laughter behind her. She tried to appear nonchalant, but a smile tugged at the corner of her lips despite her best efforts. Paul's advances were bold, bordering on inappropriate, yet somehow… charming. She couldn't deny the thrill that raced through her veins.