#protective!5sos

She had to get some air. Fighting her way up from the basement, she slipped out into the backyard and let herself drift away from the smokers to lean against the oak tree. It was far too cold for her to be wearing this crop top, but the vodka kept her warm enough as she leaned her back against the bark.

She was gonna give Mikey another half an hour of her time, and then she was going home and taking a shower and going to bed.

She heard the door to the house open, and the sound of expensive sneakers on the boards of the porch behind her. She didn’t bother moving. She didn’t have the energy to entertain a drunken business major tonight. The smell of their smoke (and someone’s green apple vape) drifted over to her, but she didn’t glance over until she heard someone coming across the grass towards her.

“Hey, uh, sweet- sweetheart, hi.” Y/N turned her head to take in the boy. His movements were loose. He wearing a self-consciously scruffy hoodie with the school logo on, face lit up by the cigarette in his hands. When he leaned against the tree next to her, she could smell whatever jungle juice he had been drinking on his warm breath, right in her face, ugh.

“Hi.” She said, short as possible.

It didn’t seem to deter him. “So I was just- I saw you over here, and I just thought you were too pretty to be out here alone, so now I’m - I’m Jace.” He said, sticking out a free hand to shake. Y/N didn’t want to, but she reached out and shook his hand, trying to ignore his sweaty hands. “So d’you want a smoke?”

“I’ll be alright, thanks, I was actually just about to head inside.” Y/N covered quickly, but Jace still hadn’t let her hand go and suddenly she was struggling in his grip.

“No, come on, you haven’t even given me your name.” He pouted, maintaining a polite facade even as she tried to shake her hand free.

“I don’t- look, it’s cold out here, I’m gonna go in.” Y/N is not sober enough for this. This drunk fratboy didn’t seem to have violence in his eyes, but she did not want to take that chance.

Jace lets go of her hand, just as she hoped. What she didn’t expect was for him to throw down his cigarette and sling an arm around her shoulder. Jesus. “Alright, I’ll go with you.” He said, cheerful in a dangerous, drunk way.

Y/N has let this go far enough. If she lets him stick around, he might not let her go at the end of the night. Fuck, she hates frathouses. “Get your arm off me or I’m gonna make you.” She warns. She hates how small she feels.

Jace smells like sweat and margarita-in-a-can. “I’ll get you a drink. You like tequila?”

Y/N elbows him, but the blow gets lost in his sweater. Fuck. “I’m not kidding. Jace, I’ll scream-”

“Hands off, Jace.”

Jace freezes, and Y/N takes her chance to squeeze herself out of his grip. As soon as she’s out of his reach, she looks up at her apparent savior.

He might have been on the porch smoking when she had come out, Y/N couldn’t remember. If she wasn’t so scared, she’d say he was a tall fucking drink of water. This boy has great curly blond hair and a face she could only describe as chiseled, but more importantly, Jace is looking at him like he could break his jaw with his pinky.

It was quiet enough in the backyard that Y/N could hear the cars at the intersection down the street. Like birds, all of the smokers has fallen silent. Y/N is glad she’s not caught in the stranger’s stare - Jace looks frozen in this man’s blue eyes.

Finally the stranger jerked his head at the door. “Next time you treat a girl like that I’ll break your wrist, you hear me? Get out of here.” He said. Y/N thought she’d take her chances, too. She tried to duck around the man to head out front, but he’s watching her, not Jace’s retreat, and he follows. If he tries anything, she swears she’ll-

“Hey, wait, are you alright?” He didn’t grab her. The courtesy calmed Y/N down enough for her to stop and turn to face him. The porch light was really flattering on him (even shaken, she could see that).

“Yeah, I’m fine. I mean, thanks for scaring him off.” Y/N said, shrugging. She still felt shakey, but she couldn’t smell anything but cologne off this guy, and he hadn’t tried to stop her. 

“He shouldn’t have touched you like that. I’m just sorry I didn’t stop him sooner. I should have- anyway. I’m Luke.” Up close, he’s not as dangerous as he seemed to Jace. His shoulders curled in a little, like he was trying not to be so tall. He doesn’t try to shake her hand, either - Y/N appreciates that.

“Y/N.” She said. She felt more like herself already.

Luke nodded. It was a pretty nod. Was his hair incredible, or was she just tipsy? “You’re Mikey’s friend, right? Where is he?”

Y/N shrugged and tried not to feel hot under his gaze. “Downstairs? I ditched him. I had to get some air.”

“Hmm.” Her savior pursed his lips. Y/N hoped she hadn’t just gotten Michael in trouble. “Are you going back in? I can stay with you, for a while, if you want.”

Any other night of the year, Y/N would have said yes, danced up on him, tried to take him home. Tonight, she thinks she’s had quite enough excitement. “You know what? I might just head home. I appreciate the offer and all, but it’s just-”

“No, no, I understand.” Luke said. He looked a little let down, and against her will, Y/N thought good. He was beautiful. She kind of wanted him to keep looking at her like that. “Well, I could - I could walk you home?”

It was easy for Y/N to put on a brave face so close to him, in the light off the porch, but she knew if she headed home alone she’d be seeing creeps around every corner. “I don’t want to take you away from the party - “ She started.

“No, no, I- if it’s alright with you, I’d like to make sure you get home okay.” Luke says, taking a little step in. Not close enough to be threatening, but closer. It’s nice. And he’s handsome, and he seemed really nice - Y/N would stupid to give this up.

“That would be really nice of you,” She said, and found herself meaning it. 

Luke’s face lit up. “Okay, great, I’ll just text Mikey that I’m takin’ you home and we can head out.” He said, tugging his phone out of his jean pocket. Before long, he’s leading her through the laneway out on to the sidewalk, elbows brushing as she starts towards home.

“Here,” She heard, and before she could turn to look at him he was arranging her jacket around her shoulders. She tried to protest, but he just smiled at her and told her he ‘always ran hot’. And for the first time since she’d been dragged over the threshold of that house, she felt good. Almost cared for.