"New Faces, Old Troubles"

After engaging in a delightful conversation with a guy, I convinced myself that the night couldn't possibly get any better, and my confidence soared. However, that confidence plummeted when he downed what I assumed was his fifth drink. "Do I only attract jerks or something?" I mused internally. His demeanor took a sharp turn as he began swearing and encroaching on my personal space, his gaze lingering a bit too provocatively on my chest. Fed up, I decided it was time to make my exit.

Abruptly, my body jerked backward. "Where are you going?" he demanded, his fingers clamping around my wrist.

I winced from the pain. "Let go," I said, attempting to free my hand, but his grip only tightened.

"I asked you a question, b**ch," his voice grew more aggressive.

Determined to escape, I summoned all my strength and swiftly planted the heel of my shoe onto his foot. "f*ck!" he swore, quickly releasing my hand to check on his injured foot.

Without hesitation, I turned to leave, searching for Rae and the others. That's when I spotted Maria seated by the poolside. I hurried over, calling out her name. She turned her head in my direction, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

As I got closer, her initial concern intensified. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, I just went through a not-so-pleasant experience just now," I replied, providing her with a detailed account of the situation.

The look of concern on her face shifted to one of determination. "Where is that son of b*tch? I need to give him a piece of my mind." Right on cue, Rae appeared, and upon seeing Maria's expression, she promptly inquired about what had happened.

We explained the situation, and Rae offered a solution. "Wow, what an a**. We can leave if you want to, you know."

"Nah, I came here to have fun; I just have to avoid that jerk," I replied with a smile, grateful for their concern.

"That's right; don't let one person ruin your mood. Enjoy yourself," Maria chimed in.

"Come on, let's go," she said, pulling me toward the dance floor. Initially, I was hesitant but ultimately decided to immerse myself in the moment. We danced for what felt like an eternity, and I reveled in it—the wind in my hair, the music coursing through me. In that moment, I felt more relaxed than I had in a while.

But as they say, all good things must come to an end. Just as I heard shouting, I turned to see what was happening, and there he was the jerk. Before I could react, he grabbed my wrist.

"Think you can get away after pulling that sh*t?" he snarled, reeking of alcohol.

Maria and Rae immediately objected, both urging him to release me. This time, he had backup. Two of his friends swiftly seized Maria and Rae. The commotion began drawing the attention of those around us.

But before matters could escalate, a stranger intervened, swiftly tossing him to the floor. I turned to see the figure, but the dim lighting and my teary eyes obscured their face. Behind this stranger, I spotted Casey and Tyler, confronting the guys restraining Maria and Rae, and ultimately knocking them out

Behind me, I heard footsteps, and a husky voice inquired, "Are you guys okay?"