Fin raises his fist a second time and I make my legs move faster until I push past the circle of spectators and insert myself between them, crouching over Kieran.
“What thehellare you doing?” I yell at Fin.
“Move out of the way, Jasper,” he says tiredly.
I ignore him and look at Kieran, my hands hovering above him. I’m scared to touch him, because what if I hurt him more?
The obvious injury’s his bloody nose, but I don’t know if there’s more. I was sitting in the lounge room, feeling sorry for myself when the shouting started outside, I figured it was just people partying, going a little crazy.
By the time I mustered the courage to go outside, Fin and Kieran were already wrestling on the lawn, and a thick circle of people had surrounded them. I ran as fast as I could, pushing through bodies, and now —
Now, Kieran opens his eyes and blinks slowly, his long eyelashes brushing his cheeks.
“Get out of the way, Jasper,” Fin repeats.
“No!” I shout. “Look at yourself. What are you doing?”
Fin takes a step forward, and I tense. I don’t want to fight, but if it’s the only way to get Fin away from Kieran…I ready myself to get hurt. I’m going to lose, there’s no doubt about it, but maybe —
“Look at yourself, Jasper,” Fin says, voice low enough that the crowd can’t hear. “Why are you defending him? We’ve wanted to do this all year.”
I don’t move.
“He started it. He punched me twice.” Fin flexes his fist. “I have the right to hit him again.”
“No.”
He narrows his eyes and we stare at each other. My body is taught like a pulled string. I don’t know how to fight, but if I have to to stop Kieran from getting more hurt, I will.
Maybe that resolve shows in my face, or maybe it’s something else, but after a long minute, Fin drops his fist. He turns and marches away, shoving through the crowd, ignoring the murmurs. As soon as he’s gone, I forget about him and focus on Kieran.
“Hey,” I murmur, helping him sit up. “You okay?”
He blinks at me. “Mm.”
I float a hand above the blood on his nose. “Is your nose broken?”
“No.” He grunts and brushes the grass and dust from his palms.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
How the hell is he so nonchalant? Before I can reply, someone arrives beside me.
“Keep still,” Trinity says, using wet wipes to clean the blood off. It’s dripped down to his lips, and Trinity dissolves the brown-red flakes. My fingers itch to take the wipes from her. I should be the one looking after him.
“Is he seriously injured?” Zaina asks, appearing on the other side of me. She has the Uber app open on her phone.
“I’m fine,” Kieran mumbles. “I just want to go home.”
“What’s your address?”
“I know,” I say, taking Zaina’s phone and booking a ride. “It’ll be here in five minutes,” I say, passing the phone back.
Zaina’s eyes linger on me, but she doesn’t say anything. Good. I don’t have the energy to answer their questions. “Let’s get you to the front,” I say, helping Kieran up.
Trinity and Zaina accompany us to the front driveway. We’re dead silent, ignoring the stares from others. There’s so much to say, and yet nothing at all.
