TW: attempted rãpe. Please proceed to read at your own discretion.

The inside of the house was packed with people. The music was blaring, and the smell of alcohol was strong. I pushed my way through the crowd, trying to find someone I knew. After a few minutes of searching, I spotted Ruby near the kitchen. She was wearing a short, sparkly dress, and her long hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She looked amazing. I hurried over to her, grabbing her arm. She jumped, startled. Then, she saw me and grinned.

"You made it!" she yelled over the music, her voice barely audible. She grabbed my hand and dragged me to the kitchen. She handed me a plastic cup and gestured to the table of drinks. "Drink up! The night is young!" She was clearly already drunk.

I took the cup from her and examined its contents. It was some kind of pink liquid. It smelled fruity. I shrugged and took a sip. It was sweet and tasted like cherries. It wasn't bad. I drained the rest of the cup and tossed it aside.

Ruby grabbed my arm and dragged me to the dance floor. "Come on," she shouted, "let's dance!"

I grinned and followed her, losing myself in the music. I forgot about everything else. The people. The house. The alcohol. Everything faded away, and all that mattered was the music and the movement of my body. I closed my eyes and swayed to the beat, letting the rhythm wash over me. It was intoxicating. It was thrilling. It was liberating. I was finally free. No rules. No boundaries. No limitations. Just me and the music. It was pure bliss.

After a few songs, Ruby dragged me over to the drinks table again. "Drink up!" she urged, refilling her cup. "You gotta keep your energy up if you want to stay on the dance floor." She winked at me and took a sip of her drink.

I smiled and grabbed another cup, filling it with a clear liquid this time. I didn't know what it was, but it smelled like rubbing alcohol. I drank it down in one gulp, ignoring the burn. It wasn't as sweet as the first drink, but it was still good. I filled my cup again and followed Ruby back to the dance floor. She grinned and began to dance. I joined her, letting the music move my body.

I lost track of time. We danced, drank, and laughed. It was the most fun I'd had in ages. I felt alive. I felt free. I felt like a new person. I felt invincible. Nothing could touch me. Not now. Not ever. I was unstoppable.

I was in the middle of dancing when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned and saw a guy standing behind me. He was tall, with blonde hair and brown eyes. I recognized him as one of the boys from the football team. I'd seen him around school, but we'd never spoken. He was cute.

He grinned at me and leaned in close, his lips brushing against my ear. "Wanna dance?" he asked, his voice low and husky.

I turned and looked at Ruby, who grinned and gave me a thumbs-up, before turning back to the boy. "Sure," I replied, grinning. "Let's dance."

The boy grabbed my hand and pulled me closer. His body was warm and solid against mine. He wrapped his arms around my waist and began to move, his hips swaying in time with the music. I rested my hands on his shoulders and followed his lead, letting the rhythm flow through me. He was a good dancer. He moved confidently, his steps sure and fluid. It was easy to follow him.

As we danced, the alcohol began to take effect. My head felt light, and my body tingled. Everything seemed brighter, sharper. The music seemed louder, the lights brighter. It was a euphoric feeling. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced.

The boy leaned in close, his lips brushing against my neck. "You're beautiful," he murmured, his breath hot against my skin. I shivered, and my heart skipped a beat. "You wanna get outta here?" he asked, his voice low and seductive. His hands slid down to my hips, his fingers digging into my flesh. "We can go somewhere more...private." He nipped at my earlobe, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin. "What do you say?" he asked, his voice a whisper.

I looked up at him, my mind racing. This was it. This was the moment I'd been waiting for. This was my chance to finally let loose and have some fun. To do something reckless and wild. To live a little. My parents were never going to find out. They'd never have to know. I'd be back home by morning, and they'd be none the wiser. I'd tell them I was with Ruby. They'd believe me. Besides, what was the worst that could happen?

I looked into the boy's eyes and nodded, a mischievous grin on my face. "Sure," I replied, my voice barely audible over the music. "Let's get out of here."

He smiled and took my hand, leading me towards the front door. As we walked, I caught a glimpse of Enzo standing by the stairs, leaning up against the wall with his hands crossed over his chest. Our eyes met, and his expression was unreadable. But his gaze lingered on mine, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. Was he watching me? Why did it matter? I was doing nothing wrong.

But for some reason, I felt guilty. Like I was doing something I shouldn't. Like I was betraying him. It was ridiculous. We weren't friends. He wasn't even my boyfriend. He was just a guy who was staying in my house. But there was something about him that made me feel...something. Something I couldn't quite put my finger on. Something that made me feel safe. Something that made me feel like I was worth protecting.

I tore my gaze away from his and followed the boy outside. He led me around the side of the house and to a small clearing behind a line of bushes. It was dark, and the only sounds were the muffled music and voices coming from inside the house. The boy turned to face me and smiled, his teeth flashing white in the darkness.

"Now, where were we?" he murmured, his hands cupping my cheeks.

He leaned in and kissed me, his lips warm and soft against mine. His tongue flicked against my lips, and I opened my mouth, welcoming him inside. He tasted like alcohol and smoke, and his stubble scratched against my skin. He pulled me closer, his body pressed against mine. His hands roamed down my back and over my hips, his touch possessive and demanding. He broke the kiss and trailed his lips down my neck, his teeth grazing my skin. I gasped and clutched his shoulders, my body trembling.

"Take off your clothes and lie down on the ground," he commanded, his voice low and husky.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. This wasn't part of the plan. We were just supposed to make out, maybe feel each other up a bit. But this was something else entirely. Something more. Something I wasn't sure I was ready for. Something I wasn't sure I wanted.

"I said, take off your clothes and lie down on the ground," the boy repeated, his voice firm. His hands moved lower, grabbing my ass and squeezing. "Or I'll do it for you." His breath was hot against my neck, and his lips were wet and sticky. "What's it going to be?"

Before I could reply, he shoved me onto the ground and began tugging at my jeans. I tried to fight him off, but he was too strong. He pinned me down, his body weighing me down. I struggled and writhed, trying to break free, but it was no use. He was too big. Too strong. He was going to do whatever he wanted, and there was nothing I could do to stop him. Panic surged through me, and tears welled up in my eyes.

Suddenly, a figure appeared behind him, a large shadow looming over him. A hand grabbed the back of the boy's shirt and lifted him off me, tossing him aside like a rag doll. The boy hit the ground hard and grunted, the air knocked out of his lungs. I scrambled to my feet, backing away, my heart pounding.

Enzo stood over the boy, his expression dark and dangerous. He was breathing hard, his fists clenched at his sides. The boy tried to get to his feet, but Enzo grabbed him by the throat and slammed him into the ground. "She's drunk, you idiot. You ever touch her again, and I'll kill you," he snarled, his voice low and menacing. He released the boy, and he scurried off, disappearing into the darkness.

Enzo turned to face me, his eyes flashing. "Are you okay?" he asked, his tone gentle. He took a step towards me, and I instinctively backed away, my eyes wide with fear. "Hey, it's okay. It's just me," he said softly, holding his hands up in surrender. "I'm not going to hurt you." His voice was soothing, and his words were reassuring. "It's just me." He reached out, his hand hovering in the air.

I hesitated for a moment, then took a step towards him, placing my hand in his. His fingers closed around mine, his skin warm and rough. His grip was firm, but not painful. It was protective. And then he pulled me close, his arms wrapping around me, enveloping me in a warm embrace. His scent filled my nose, and his breath tickled my neck. I buried my face in his chest, letting his warmth wash over me.

"My god, Peyton," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have brought you here." His hands rubbed my back, comforting me, as I started to shake. I wasn't crying. Not yet. But soon, I would. Soon, the reality of what had almost happened would set in, and I'd have no choice but to let the tears fall. "I'm so sorry." His voice cracked, and I could hear the pain and guilt in his words. "I'm so sorry."

As he held me, the reality of the situation hit me. If it hadn't been for Enzo, that boy would have taken advantage of me. He would have had his way with me. He would have done whatever he wanted to me. He would have hurt me. He would have violated me. He would have broken me. I'd come here to have a good time, and it almost ended in the worst possible way. What was I thinking?

Enzo pulled back and looked at me, his expression concerned. "Peyton, look at me," he commanded, his voice gentle. I did as he asked, my eyes meeting his. His gaze was intense, but not threatening. It was reassuring. It was calming. "You're safe. Nothing is going to hurt you. Not while I'm around. I promise." He touched my cheek, his fingers brushing against my skin. "Do you trust me?" he asked, his voice soft and low.

I looked at him, taking in his strong jaw, his piercing eyes, and his full lips. I nodded, and he smiled, his expression warm and kind.

"Good. Now, let's get you home." He kept his arm around my waist, supporting me as we walked.

My legs felt weak, and the ground was spinning. I was dizzy and nauseous. I wasn't sure how much of it was from the alcohol, and how much was from what had just happened. Enzo held me tight, guiding me back to where everyone was. There was no sign of the boy. The party continued as if nothing had happened. As if nothing was wrong. But everything was wrong. Everything was different now. I wasn't the same person I was when I arrived.

As we walked through the house, Enzo kept his arm around me, shielding me from the curious stares and the loud conversations. No one dared approach us. It was like they were afraid of him. Like he was a dangerous predator. Like they knew something was wrong. Like they could sense it.

I stopped and looked up at him. "Ruby," I said, my voice hoarse. "I have to find Ruby."

Enzo frowned, and his brow furrowed. He shook his head, his eyes darting around the room. Then, his expression cleared, and he nodded. "I see her. She's with Kenji and the boys. Let's go."

We made our way over to where Ruby was sitting on the couch, sandwiched between Max and Alex. They were talking and laughing, oblivious to what had just happened. Ruby was still drinking, her eyes glazed and unfocused. When she saw us approaching, her smile faded. She stood up and stumbled over to us, her expression concerned.

"What's wrong?" she asked, her words slurred. "What happened?"

Enzo shook his head and took Ruby by the arm. "I'm taking you both home," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Now."

The guys looked at each other, their expressions uncertain. They didn't know what was going on, and they weren't sure what to do. Finally, Max shrugged and stood up, his expression resigned.

"Yeah, we should probably call it a night," he said, running a hand through his hair.

Kenji and Alex nodded in agreement, their faces somber. "Come on, let's get outta here," Kenji said, his voice tired.

With that, the group made their way towards the door. Enzo kept a firm grip on my waist, supporting me as we walked, while his other hand kept ahold of Ruby's arm. I glanced at him and saw a flash of anger and concern on his face. He was pissed. And I wasn't sure if it was because of the situation with the boy, or if it was because of how much we'd had to drink.

As we left the house, the cold night air hit me like a slap in the face, sobering me up instantly. My head began to pound, and the ground started spinning. I staggered, and Enzo tightened his grip, keeping me upright.

Ruby stopped walking and started fumbling around in her purse, her eyes glassy and unfocused. "Shit," she mumbled, "where are the keys? My dad's going to kill me if I lose his car keys." She started digging deeper, her movements frantic and erratic before squealing and pulling them out with a triumphant smile. "Got 'em!" She waved them around, the keys jingling in the night air. "Let's get outta here."

She started stumbling towards the car, but Enzo stopped her, his grip on her arm tightening. "You're not driving anywhere," he said, his tone stern. "Give me the keys." Ruby stared at him, her eyes narrowing. She looked like she was about to argue, but then her shoulders sagged, and she handed the keys over without a word.

Enzo took the keys and led the way to the car, muttering a quick goodbye to the guys as they continued to Kenji's car. He opened the back door and helped me into the backseat, making sure I was buckled in before closing the door and getting into the driver's seat. Ruby slid in beside me and slammed the door, her head hitting the window with a thud. She groaned, her eyes closed, and mumbled something about "hating everything." Then, she passed out, her head lolling onto my shoulder.