Danny

I can sense trouble before we even pull into the parking lot of the school’s dorms, and sure enough, as the lights flash over the asphalt and I pull my car to a stop, we catch sight of a group of people hovering around an SUV in the otherwise near-empty lot. I recognize Xander immediately. He’s sitting on the hood with his arm around a girl that isn’t Sasha, and he has a brown paper bag in one hand that he keeps taking a swig from. There are five people who flank him, and each of their steely gazes lands on us as Mark, Theo, and I exit the car.

“Well, well, well,” Xander muses as we approach. “If it isn’t the three amigos here to save the day.”

“Fuck off, Xander,” Theo seethes. “Where’s my sister?”

“I have no idea,” he says, offering the girl next to him the bottle of liquor. “We got into a little squabble, and she told me to leave. So, I did.”

“What kind of a squabble?” Theo demands. “Did you hurt her?”

Xander’s eyes narrow and he shrugs. “Whatever dramatic crisis your crazy sister is going through isn’t my problem, man. Now fuck off.”

I put my hand out to stop him as Theo steps toward Xander. At once, all five of his crew jump to their feet, flanking Xander like he’s some sort of king they’re sworn to protect. On the other side of me, Mark’s lip curls up in a snarl that sends a shiver of apprehension down my back. My friends are ready for blood, but we can’t just come in here and start swinging. Not for the sake of our careers.

“We’re taking Sasha home,” I say steadily, stepping in front of Mark and Theo. “Is she in your room?”

“I’m here,” says a tired voice from behind the SUV, and a second later Sasha appears, looking tired, worn, and ragged, as though she hasn’t slept or eaten a proper meal in days. At first glance, she otherwise appears untouched, but I catch sight of the hand marks and bruises up and down her lower arms before she can hastily cover them when she catches me staring.

“Jesus,” Theo says, his eyes on his sister. “You look like shit, Sash.”

“Thanks, bro.”

“Get in the car,” I tell her. “You’re spending the night with us.”

“Well, hang on now.” Xander finally rises from the hood of the SUV and jumps to the concrete, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his jacket as he wheels around to look at Sasha, and then at us. There’s a glint in his eye that almost makes me squirm. Fuck, I hate this guy. “Sasha is our girl,” he says. “She stays with me, and she dances with us.”

“Not while you’re putting your douchebag hands all over her,” Theo snarls, his fists clenching and unclenching by his side. “Sasha, get in the car.”

“Stay where you are, baby,” Xander says as Sasha steps towards us. She freezes at once, her tired eyes conflicted, body tense with anxiety. She swallows a lump in her throat and looks at Theo.

“It’s okay, brother,” she says softly. “I’m—I’m fine. I’ll stay here tonight. I was just a little angry earlier, I didn’t mean to freak out.”

“Get in the car,” Theo says, ignoring her plea. “We’re not leaving you here.”

A moment of tense, eerie silence settles over the small crowd of people, but a second later, someone who has been sitting inside the SUV smoking a joint this entire time flicks on the stereo and turns the music up. A loud, jarring bass rattles from the speakers, drowning out everyone’s voices.

I see what’s happening here. We all do.

“Fuck,” I mutter, and Theo and Mark step back, just a little bit, as the rest of Xander’s crew rise to their feet and step forward, flanking him once more.

“You want to fight?” Xander spits, shrugging his jacket off and letting it fall to the cold ground. “Then let’s fight.”

I glance over my shoulder at Theo and Mark as the bass of the hip-hop beat thrums through my body. My eyes scan the lot as I face the opposing team once more, taking in our opponents, all skilled dancers with fierce expressions on their faces. As the beat picks up, I feel my adrenaline spike, and I begin to move, my body responding to the rhythm as I let the music guide me into the chaos of this battle. My arms fly up, my legs kicking out in a series of sharp, precise movements. Xander steps back, his eyes glinting, watching me. A moment later, Mark and Theo join in, jumping in right on time, their bodies moving to the beat, swaying, jerking in precise movements that would leave the average person blown away. A sheen of sweat settles on my forehead as my blood begins pumping like crazy through my veins.

With a sudden scoff, Xander responds with his own series of moves, his body fluid and controlled as he matches me step for step. We circle each other, our eyes locked in a heated stare-down that sends a prickle of rage through my body.

The crowd behind Xander cheers us on, urging us to go harder, faster, better. Sweat drips down my face as I push myself to the limit, my body moving in ways I haven’t attempted in months. With each passing second, the intensity grows. We dance harder, faster, each move more explosive than the last. The beat drops, and we both hit the ground, executing a series of lightning-fast spins and flips.

As the song comes to an end, we both freeze in place, staring each other down. No one speaks, but we all know who won this battle. I can feel the energy coursing through my veins as I step back from Xander, victorious. Mark and Theo high-five me, and behind Xander, Sasha is beaming.

Xander and I face off for a moment, our bodies glistening with sweat. The tension is palpable as the parking lot falls silent, the only sound the low hum of the music. Finally, I tear my gaze away from Xander and look at Sasha.

“The car,” I tell her. “Now.”

She doesn’t argue this time, and her head droops as she passes by us and slides safely into the back seat of my car. Xander’s eyes are on her back the whole time, and I don’t like the way he’s looking at her, but I try to ignore it. The quicker we can get out of here unscathed, the better.

“Until next time, assholes,” Xander says through gritted teeth. Before I can react, let alone stop him, Theo whirls back around and swings his fist forward, hitting Xander square in the jaw. The guy stumbles backward with a shout, blood seeping between his fingers as he scowls at us. I tense, ready for a fight, but he doesn’t advance on us. Thank God.

“That’s for my sister,” Theo snarls. “Keep your filthy hands to yourself next time, asshole, or a bloody nose will be the least of your worries.”