RULES WE BREAK

Karaoke bar

All of a sudden, Jasper yanks me forward, breaking the moment of stillness.

"What the-" I yelp, stumbling slightly as he begins to drag me away without a word.

"Hey! What are you doing?" I demand, the frown on my face deepening as I struggle to match his brisk pace.

"Taking you somewhere," he says over his shoulder, his tone light but offering no further explanation.

"Somewhere?" I repeat incredulously, tugging against his grip. "That's not helpful! At least tell me where we're going!"

He looks back at me, his expression a mixture of amusement and determination. "You'll see."

I huff in frustration and attempt once again to free myself, but his grip on my hand is firm - not rough, but just enough to make it clear he is not going to let go. "Jasper, I swear-"

"Relax," he cuts me off with a smirk. "You'll thank me later."

"I doubt it," I mutter under my breath, though I stop struggling and let him lead me. I'm more curious to know where he's taking me, more than I want to admit.

We weave through the ship's quiet corridors, the din of laughter and chatter from the deck fading into the background. When he finally stops, I blink at the sight before me - a dimly lit karaoke bar, tucked away like a hidden gem. The neon sign overhead buzzes faintly, casting a playful glow on Jasper's face.

"Karaoke?" I ask, my brows furrowing.

"Karaoke," he repeats, his grin widening as he turns to face me fully.

My jaw slackens, the absurdity of the situation making me momentarily speechless. "You're kidding, right?"

"I'm dead serious," he says, releasing my hand at last and gestures towards the entrance. "What better way to make your ex squirm than by having a ridiculous amount of fun?"

"That's your plan? Singing?" I ask, skepticism dripping from my voice.

"Not just singing," he corrects, stepping closer. "Singing with flair." His voice lowers conspiratorially. "You could even dedicate a song to him if you're feeling bold."

I gape at him, unsure whether I should just laugh or slap him.

"You're insane," I finally say.

"True," he admits with an unapologetic shrug. "But I'm also right. Come on. What do you have to lose?"

I hesitate, my heart still tangled in the mess of heartbreak and confusion. But as Jasper's mischievous grin dares me to defy him, I feel a flicker of something unexpected: Freedom.

"Fine," I say, surprising myself, again, with the conviction in my voice.

Jasper's smirk widens into a full grin, the kind that borders an infuriating and exhilarating all at once. He leans in slightly, his voice dropping just enough to make my skin prickle.

"Knew you'd come around," he says, his tone brimming with self-satisfaction. "You try to act all composed, but deep down, you're just as ready for some chaos as I am."

I roll my eyes, crossing my arms. "Don't push it."

"Push it?" he straightens up, his laughter soft but undeniably smug. "Sweetheart, this is me holding back."

I glare at him, but there is no bite behind it - not yet, anyway.

"Well," he says, spinning on his heel and gesturing toward the karaoke bar with an exaggerated flourish. "Your kingdom of catharsis awaits. Let's go make some bad decisions."

I hesitate for a fraction of a second, but Jasper doesn't wait. He reaches back and grabs my hand again, pulling me toward the bar like it's the most natural thing in the world.

"You might regret this," I warn him, though my voice lacks the conviction it had earlier.

"Regret?" He glances over his shoulder, his grin still firmly in place. "Nah. I don't do regrets. But if you're lucky, you might just have the time of your life."

The heavy bass of the music hits me first, a rhythmic thrum that pulses through the air and into my chest. Then the lights comes, flashing in bursts of neon red and electronic blue, which paints the crowded room in shifting hues. The bar is alive with noise - laughter, the clinking of glasses and the hum of voices weaving into the music. It's overwhelming, chaotic and nothing like I've ever experienced.

My steps falter as Jasper leads me inside, his hand still wrapped around mine. I blink rapidly, taking it all in. The scent of spilled beer and citrusy cocktails mingles with something smoky and faintly sweet. I've read about places like this in books, watched them in movies, but standing here, in the middle of it all, it's something else entirely.

"This...is where you wanted to go?" I ask, my voice barely audible over the noise.

Jasper turns back, his grin as sharp as ever. "What, never been to a bar before?"

I shake my head, trying not to cringe as a group of rowdy men burst into laughter at a nearby table. "No. This is - well, this is my first time."

"Perfect," he says, steering me toward an empty table near the back. "You're about to have your second first of the night. Bartender!"

Before I can protest, Jasper has already flagged down a server and ordered two drinks. When the glass is set down in front of me, I eye the amber liquid suspiciously.

"I don't drink," I say firmly.

Jasper leans back, his elbow resting on the back of his chair as he studies me. "Oh, come on. One drink won't kill you. Live a little."

"I'm serious," I reply, pushing the glass slightly away from me.

"Fine," he says, picking up his own glass. "But I'm warning you now - if you're planning on sticking to this fake dating thing, you're gonna need some liquid courage. If your ex shows up here, you will want to look like you're having fun."

I frown, my gaze flickering between him and the glass. "I don't need alcohol to fake a relationship."

"Maybe not," he replies, a devilish spark lighting up his eyes. "But it might make you care less about what people think. And you might actually enjoy yourself for once."

I hesitate, my fingers brushing the cool edge of my glass. The noise around us seems to fade as I consider my options.

"Fine," I mutter, grabbing the glass and taking a hesitant sip. The bitterness hits my tongue immediately, and I grimace. "That's awful."

Jasper laughs, a deep genuine sound. "Takes a bit of getting used to. Try again."

And just like that, one sip turns into two, and before long, we are laughing at the ridiculousness of it all, my initial discomfort melting away as the drinks flow and the night carries us deeper into the bar's electrifying energy.