We'd spent the next hour jamming to the music and playing a casual game of volleyball. Most people were drinking and smoking, though I chose to refrain. However, I suddenly wished I hadn't, because it would take a whole lot of alcohol to get me through what happened next.

Romano, Lily and I were lounging around the bonfire, aimlessly chattering among our peers. Empty solo cups were discarded onto the sand, and our faces were illuminated by the flames in front of us. Though, the relaxed atmosphere quickly disintegrated when Romano slowly looked up.

"Hey, who's that heading over here?" he asked.

We all followed his line of sight across the beach. I squinted my hazel eyes.

Lily spoke in a confused tone. "Is that...?"

She didn't even have to finish the sentence. Clad in polo shirts and neat hair, a large group of the private school kids were steadily approaching us. Leading them all was Buzz, and next to him were his two minions, Finn and Lance.

Benny had scared the three of them off about an hour ago, but I realized they hadn't actually left. They'd merely gone to recruit some back up. A handful of girls were with them as well.

"What are they doing here?" I asked in disbelief.

"Isn't it obvious," Romano winced, chugging the remains of his cup. "They're crashing."

And with those final words, we all straightened up in preparation of what was bound to be an ugly confrontation.

Antonio and Benny had been loitering off to the side among their other friends, oblivious to what was happening. However, Buzz's shout promptly alerted them of the incoming threat.

"Hey, pretty boys," he hollered sarcastically.

His friends behind him snickered. The air immediately became hostile, and someone lowered the music. Everyone shut up, and those playing volleyball quickly stopped to survey the scene. Meanwhile, Benny put out his cigarette and took a threatening step forward. Surprisingly, Antonio placed out an arm to stop him.

"What are you doing here, Buzz?" Benny glowered.

"I'm here to party. Was I not invited?" He falsely pouted.

As if Buzz's head needed any more inflating, the small group of girls behind him giggled. His arm boastingly wrapped around the curvy blonde next to him. Despite her innocently twirling her hair, there was a conniving smile on her face. Outrageous whispers erupted within our group.

"Beth, what are you doing with them?" Marcus Jones stood up from the log he was sitting on next to the bonfire. I remembered Lily telling me he was captain of the Burnsley High football team, which explained why he looked so betrayed to see a fellow cheerleader hanging with our rival school.

Never mind that—I realized that the familiar blonde was Beth, the same girl who had called Lily and me losers at the first party of the year, in jealousy that Antonio had been with us.

"I thought Beth had a thing with Antonio," I whispered to Lily next to me.

"Well, they never actually got together. It was more of a one-sided thing," Lily muttered back. "This must be her revenge against Antonio for blowing her off—screwing his enemy. Although, it doesn't exactly look like he cares."

We looked at Antonio. True to her words, he looked as uninterested as ever.

"Do yourself a favor and leave," one of Antonio's many friends declared. Others voiced their agreement.

"I mean, this is an open beach," Buzz retorted with an annoyingly pleasant smile, raising his arms. "Anyone can come if they want."

We all watched with baited breath, waiting to see if the situation escalated. Antonio clenched his jaw. Although he remained still, I could tell Buzz's presence was beginning to get on his nerves.

Buzz faltered a bit by Antonio's look, but his friend took over for him.

"You're awfully quiet tonight, Brown," observed Finn in amusement.

He was the British boy who'd been ogling at me earlier–specifically, at my chest.

It soon became clear to me that Antonio's tactic was to do absolutely nothing. I could tell the Downsview Academy boys were getting annoyed by this. After all, they were only here to look for trouble.

"Say what's on your mind!" Finn demanded, kicking sand at Antonio's shoes.

Half of us gasped as we watched the brown dust come in contact with his white shoes. However, Antonio merely crossed his arms and quirked a brow as if to say, am I supposed to care? He probably had a hundred more shoes at home anyways. Nonetheless, I was impressed by his ability to remain so calm.

While Finn looked around at all of us, his eyes landed on me, and then he winked. I was disgusted by the flirtatious action and shivered. The interaction was so small that no one else noticed—no one but Antonio. His dark eyes landed on me and a stormy look flashed across his face. Not a moment later, he landed a sturdy punch on Finn's face, knocking him backwards.

Chaos quickly ensued.

"He was doing so well!" Romano wailed, wincing while he covered Lily's eyes.

It was a multi-fight. Finn's friends jumped in to defend him, while Benny and the others were quick to help Antonio. Horror overtook me and I frantically looked around. Some people pulled out their phones to record, others ogled or cheered, and a few brave ones even jumped in. Though, no one was doing anything to stop the madness.

I had to do something. Gulping, I ran in the general direction of the chaos.

"C'mon guys, stop it!"

No one was listening, too engrossed in the fight. I desperately looked at the center, specifically at Antonio, who relentlessly pummeled Finn.

"Antonio!" I called out.

Like a miracle in heaven, my voice struck a nerve in Antonio and he actually stopped. With a look of finality, he shoved a panting Finn away and gazed at his bloody palms. Then, his head snapped in my direction.

I stiffened when I realized Antonio was marching in my direction. Without a word, he snatched onto my wrist and tugged me away. Déjà vu.

I hurriedly glanced back at everyone else, who each watched in bewilderment as Antonio led me away from the beach. Lily, however, had a little smile on her face. Eventually, we reached the vacant parking lot.

"Are you serious, Antonio?" I snapped, wrenching my wrist away from him.

He looked a little stunned by my harsh movement and turned around. "What?"

"What?" I repeated. "You just got in a fight!"

My hazel eyes roamed over his face in worry. A horrible bruise was already taking form around his eye, and a deep gash on his forehead trickled blood down the side of his face. Other than that, there were minor cuts and bruises.

"My goodness, look at you," I tensely murmured.

"The little jackass was wearing a ring," Antonio winced as I gently touched the cut on his forehead.

"This is no good, you're hurt." I worriedly shook my head. "You need to go to the hospital."

"Relax, the blood on my knuckles is Finn's," he cockily grinned.

I gave him a deadpan look. Even through his clear pain, a smirk danced on his face.

"So you admit," he confidently stated, "you care about me."

"Of course I care, you idiot!" I erupted. "I'd smack you if you weren't bleeding."

"Whatever," he eventually chuckled and shook his head. "Let's just go."

"To the hospital," I concluded.

"No," Antonio firmly repeated, beginning to walk towards his motorcycle. "Too much of a hassle. It's no big deal. I've gotten in more fights than I could count on my fingers and toes."

"So then what's the plan?" I scoffed. "Go back home and bleed to death?"

"If I say yes, will you lay off?" He sarcastically smiled.

"Idiot," I shook my head, curly hair moving with me. "Why don't we go to my house? At least I can treat your wounds there."

Antonio looked a little surprised by the suggestion, but eventually relaxed and nodded.

"If you say so."

He grabbed the helmet off his bike and placed it on for me. With that, we were off.

"Hey," Antonio said after a moment's silence. "Why'd Finn wink at you like that?"

"Huh?" I played dumb.

Antonio persisted. "I saw Finn wink at you."

"Didn't notice," I lied.

"You must've," he insisted.

I didn't reply, and I could tell Antonio was a little irked by my silence. Nonetheless, the conversation drifted with the night. We allowed ourselves to be calmed by the roar of the motorcycle.

• • •