https : *⋆❝ sadiesinkhergf ! ❞
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🪷 . . . chapter eleven
┈➤ 𝗚𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗕𝗢𝗫,  jj maybank
❦༄

🪷 chapter eleven !
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VALENTINA SAT CROSS-LEGGED on sarah's bed, fiddling with the hem of her skirt as she listened to her friend, who was explaining her sudden disappearance yesterday, and about the gold john b is desperately looking for.

"so, you're saying you went to chapel hill... with john b?" valentina asked, raising an eyebrow, and sarah rolled her eyes playfully.

"it wasn't exactly a planned vacation, val. john b and i were chasing leads- about the gold and denmark tanny."

"denmark who?" valentina asked, tilting her head.

"denmark tanny," she clarified, leaning forward with excitement. "he's this key figure in the royal merchant story. he was a freedman who helped smuggle the gold. we found out so much more yesterday."

"that's insane."

"i know," sarah said with a soft laugh. "john b has been talking about getting you involved."

"what?" valentina furrowed her brows at that. "why?"

"i don't know, he wouldn't tell me." sarah frowned, and valentina felt guilt flood through her body, remembering she hasn't told sarah about her mother yet.

she took a deep breath, her hands fidgeting in her lap as she avoided sarah's gaze.

"sarah, i've been hiding something from you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

sarah's brows knitted together, her head tilting slightly. "i know," she said with mock seriousness. "you're secretly in love with me. it's okay, babe, everyone is."

"shut up, i'm serious." she let out a soft laugh before her face turned somber. "it's... about my mom."

sarah's playful demeanor immediately dropped, her eyes widening. "oh," she said softly. "what about her?"

valentina swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet her gaze. "the night after the party... i went to the chateau. i- pope asked me to come, said it was urgent." she paused, the words feeling heavy in her chest. "my mom didn't commit suicide."

sarah's jaw dropped. "what?" she whispered, her voice laced with disbelief. "wait, what are you talking about?"

"she died looking for the gold. with big john." her voice cracked, and she let out a shaky breath. "they were in this together, sarah. she didn't just... kill herself." she whispered the last part.

sarah stared at her, frozen in shock. "holy... valentina, are you sure? how do you even know this?"

valentina nodded, her fingers twisting around the fabric of her skirt. "the pogues gave me a tape," she explained. "a tape my mom made for me right before she went off with big john."

sarah blinked, her mind racing to process the revelation. "a tape?" she repeated, her voice faint. "your dad- does he know about this?"

"he knew. he's known this whole time, sarah. he's been hiding it from me. i confronted him about it, and we had this huge fight. he said he was trying to protect me, but... i don't know. bow do you protect someone by keeping them in the dark?" she let out a bitter laugh, and sarah sat back, completely stunned. "you can't tell anyone."

"no- no of course not!" she assured her, frowning. "i don't even know what to say. that's insane."

"i fucking know." she hummed in thought before a memory sparked. "wait a second," she muttered, her gaze drifting to the window. "i might have something."

"what?" sarah's curiosity piqued.

"i, uh..." she hesitated, tapping her fingers together. "i took some stuff from my dad's office. you know, just in case it was useful for... anything." she glanced at sarah sheepishly, and a small grin spread across her face. "there were some old maps, letters- honestly, i didn't even read most of it."

sarah's eyes lit up. "are you serious? that could actually help!"

valentina shrugged casually, though a flicker of pride warmed her chest. "maybe. i'll dig it up for you later."

"please do," sarah muttered, holding her best friends hand. "i feel like you and john b can help each other with this- find clues about their disappearance."

"yeah, because i know for a fact that i saw my mom lifeless body in a casket," she grimaced, closing her eyes when the imagine of her mothers dead body wouldn't leave her mind. "so there's no way she got lost at fucking sea with big john."

"i'll help you, with everything." sarah chimed in. "and who knows? maybe your dad has been hiding more than we realize."

valentina snorted. "well, that's a given." but despite her sarcasm, a small part of her couldn't help but feel intrigued. she tilted her head, narrowing her eyes playfully. "alright, enough emo shit. spill. how was it with john b?"

"it was fine." the blondes cheeks flushed a light pink as she rolled her eyes, and she raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.

"fine? you two ran off to charleston for an entire day, and all you have to say is fine? c'mon, girl. details."

sarah laughed softly, shaking her head. "okay, okay! we... snuck onto a boat."

"oh you dirty, dirty pogue," valentina teased with a smirk, poking her best friends cheek who giggled, pushing her hand away.

"and after that, we went shopping. i forced him into actual clean clothes, and you should've seen him. he looked so uncomfortable, like he thought a collar and buttons were going to kill him."

valentina burst out laughing. "let me guess, he started fucking complaining about how 'this isn't him'?"

the girl nodded, grinning. "oh, a hundred percent. he called it a 'costume' the whole time. but we had fun. we made up these stupid nicknames, vil and vlad. we spent half the day pretending to be spies."

"sarah cameron. are you telling me that you and john b routledge fucking role-played? i didn't know you were into that." valentina leaned back on the bed, throwing her head back in laughter,

"shut up! you had to be there." sarah swatted at her, giggling as she covered her face. "it was so stupid, but honestly.... i don't know. it was kind of fun."

"clearly," valentina said, raising an eyebrow as she studied her friend. "so what, you're fucking him now?" valentina asked, her voice dripping with exaggerated accusation.

"what? no, we're not fucking! but, we did... kiss." sarah confessed, her cheeks reddening as she looked away with a shy smile.

valentina froze for a moment before letting out a high-pitched squeal. "wait- what?!" she grabbed her best friend aggressively by the shoulders, shaking her like she was trying to get the information out faster. "what the actual fuck? how? when?"

sarah giggled softly, hiding her face behind her hands again. "after we got off the boat," she mumbled, almost embarrassed. "in the rain."

valentina's jaw dropped, and she screamed quietly into her own hands, practically vibrating with excitement. "in the rain? oh my god, sarah, that's so sexy!" she dropped her hands to look sarah dead in the eyes. "okay, i fucking need details. how good was it? like, rate it right now."

sarah hesitated for a moment, her lips twitching as if she was trying to hold back a smile. then, she burst into a squeal, grabbing valentina's thighs.

"so fucking good, val! like, i can't stop thinking about him. he's all i've been able to think about all day."

the two burst into laughter, their giggles echoing through the room,  but valentina's playful expression quickly shifted to something more curious. she leaned in, her eyes narrowing. "wait, wait, wait. what about topper? "

sarah's face fell slightly, and she let out a guilty groan, burying her face in her hands. "ugh, i haven't told him yet."

valentina's jaw dropped and she let out a laugh in disbelief. "oh my god, you bitch!"

"i know! i know!" sarah exclaimed, throwing her head back in frustration. "i didn't mean for it to happen, okay? It just... did. and now i don't even know what to do."

"who cares about him? you got john b now." valentina dismissed with a wave of her hand, and sarah groaned again, though a small, guilty smile tugged at her lips.

"i'm such a bitch."

"self aware queen," she agreed, flopping dramatically onto the bed. "but anyways, was there tongue?"

"yes," sarah cut in with a laugh, her cheeks turning bright pink. "val, it was so fucking perfect."

the two girls squealed together, their excitement bubbling over as they laughed loudly, valentina cheering over the fact that they were finally gonna get rid of topper.

"how was your day yesterday?" sarah asked when they calmed down, and valentina's heart immediately dropped. the question caught her off guard, and a grimace tugged at her lips as the memories of the fight flashed through her mind.

"okay, i need to tell you something," she started, her voice low and hesitant. she glanced at sarah, chewing on her bottom lip. "i saw jj and pope sink topper's boat two days ago."

"what? are you serious?" sarah's eyes widened in shock.

"i promised them i wouldn't tell anyone," valentina admitted, before giggling. "but you're my best friend, so i don't really care."

sarah shook her head, still processing the revelation. "oh my god, that's insane. does he know?"

"that's the thing," valentina sighed, running a hand through her hair. "i don't know how, but he found out. and yesterday at the movies, he went after pope. like, really went after him. it turned into this massive fight—jj and pope against rafe, topper, and kelce."

"jesus christ." sarah muttered, laughing slightly. "did you fight too?"

"a little," the girl lied. she wasn't about to tell her best friend she had beaten her brother until he was bleeding, and decided to play it safe. "but i backed out, you know i can't fight for shit."

the two of them laughed and joked for a while, but eventually, valentina realized she needed to get ready for midsummers. normally, she would have gotten ready with sarah, sharing the excitement and chaos of choosing outfits and perfecting their looks. but this time, sarah had to stay home with her father, as ward had asked them to arrive as a family. that meant she was on her own for the afternoon.

after she arrived home, she headed straight for the bathroom. the warm water hit her skin as she took a long, relaxing shower. the scents of various soaps and body washes filled the air, and she took her time, savoring the moment of peace. each scent seemed to calm her- vanilla, rose, and a hint of lavender- giving her the space to think as she carefully worked through each step of her routine

after drying herself, she slipped into a silk pink dress that hugged her figure perfectly, its delicate details making her feel prettier than ever. the excitement bubbled in her chest as she admired the way it fluttered around her legs when she moved.

her dolly-inspired makeup was her favorite part of getting ready. she carefully painted her face with precision and joy- rosy cheeks that made her look alive, soft pink gloss that shimmered with every smile, and thick lashes framing her sparkling eyes. dainty pearls glinted at her ears and wrists, their subtle shine complimenting the tiny bows on her white heels. each step of the routine felt like a small celebration, bringing her closer to the night ahead.

she couldn't help but grin as she sat on the edge of her bed. midsummers was always her favorite event. the thrill of dressing up, twirling on the dance floor with sarah, and sneaking stolen champagne made it feel like magic. the long, flowing dresses, the glow of lanterns, and the warm summer air always left her feeling like she belonged in a fairy tale.

in moments like these, valentina couldn't help but think of her mother, and a small smile crept onto her face at the memories. every year, her mom had been a, absolute force during midsummers preparations. she'd sweep into valentina's room with a knowing grin, armed with makeup brushes, jewelry, and a bottle of sparkling body spray.

"alright, ladies!" her mom would declare, dragging sarah into the room as well. "let's turn you into the most gorgeous princesses!"

it always ended in chaos. her mom was a whirlwind of hairspray and compliments, flitting between the two girls, fixing stray curls and smoothing out imaginary wrinkles in their dresses. she'd tell them the same thing every year: "every boy is going to fall down on their knees."

the three of them would laugh until their stomachs hurt, her mom cracking jokes about how the event was really just an excuse for adults to gossip and show off. once, they accidentally spilled an entire bottle of blush across sarah's dress, and instead of panicking, her mom had turned it into a creative challenge, crafting a floral sash out of leftover ribbon to hide the stain.

and when it came time to leave, they'd always be running late because her mom insisted on taking endless photos, adjusting their poses to capture every possible angle. "one more!" she'd say, despite their groans of protest.

"valentina, we're leaving!" louis's voice rang out sharply, breaking the memory, and she let out a quiet sigh, grabbing her purse with a small smile.

descending the stairs, she kept her gaze straight ahead, refusing to meet her father's eyes as she brushed past him. louis seemed unfazed by her cold demeanor, opening the front door with a huff.

the car ride was silent, the kind of silence that was heavy and suffocating. she stared out of the window, her hands clutching her purse tightly in her lap. her father didn't attempt to speak, and she didn't have the energy to fill the void. words felt pointless anyway. she had nothing to say that he would want to hear.

the car came to a gentle stop, and valentina reached for the door handle, ready to slip out into the chaos of midsummers, but before she could, her father's voice cut through the tense silence.

"you look like your mother."

the words hung in the air, surprising her enough to make her freeze. she turned to look at him, her eyes wide with shock, but he didn't meet her gaze for long. instead, he shot her what could barely be called a smile- an awkward, fleeting attempt before opening his door and stepping out.

he was immediately swallowed by a group of people eager for his attention, leaving the girl alone in the car with the ache of his unexpected comment. she stayed seated, her hands trembling slightly as they rested on her lap.

it was the first time he had willingly brought up her mother, without the girl having to beg for it first.

she finally pushed open the car door, the humid evening air wrapping around her like an unwanted embrace. she smoothed down her dress, steadying her breath as she stepped onto the gravel driveway.

valentina's smile widened as she spotted pope standing awkwardly near his fathers little booth, tugging at his apron as though it was strangling him. she couldn't help but giggle as she crept up behind him and threw her arms around his shoulders.

"boo!" she whispered, and he flinched, spinning around quickly. when he saw her, his expression melted into a big smile, and he pulled her into an actual hug.

"oh my god- val! i'm so glad you're here. i feel so stupid in this apron," he grumbled, looking down at himself in embarrassment.

"you look like a cutie." valentina waved her hand dismissively, and pope's cheeks tinted slightly.

"so do you- i mean, your dress, it is very cute." he stumbled over his words, glancing nervously around.

"come on, pope, you can just say it. i look good, don't i? i know i do." she laughed brightly, stepping back and doing a playful spin. before pope could respond, heyward chimed in from behind the bar.

"you look like a princess, sweetheart. pope better learn to appreciate you more."

pope groaned, rolling his eyes as his face flushed red. "dad..."

valentina just burst into laughter. "thank you, pops," she said with a dramatic curtsy.

pope leaned in toward her suddenly, his voice lowering as his gaze shifted across the room. "hey, uh... topper's here."

"are you okay? i mean, he got you pretty bad the other day..." valentina tilted her head in concern, and pope shrugged, brushing it off with a shake of his head.

"i'm fine. but... there's something else." his expression grew serious, and valentina frowned. "jj took the fall for the boat. he got arrested."

her eyes widened, and she gasped. "what? when? is he-?"

"i don't know," he interrupted, worry etched across his face. "i haven't heard from him since. i'm really worried, val. it's all my fault."

"hey," she muttered softly, grabbing his shoulder. "it might feel that way, but he took the fall himself, right? he was being a good, dumb friend."

"i should've told the cops the truth." he muttered with a frown, his voice cracking a bit, but before she could reassure him, heyward called from the bar.

"son, get back to work before i dock your pay for flirting!"

pope sighed, muttering something under his breath, and valentina gave him a teasing smile.

"bye, cutie, it will be okay. don't worry too much." she said, giving him a wave as he retreated with a shake of his head.

pulling out her phone, she quickly sent a text to sarah, letting her know she was here, and she made her way towards the main tent, stopping dead in her tracks when she saw rafe out of the corner of her eye, breaking off from kelce and topper to walk towards her.

"val!" he called out, his tone surprisingly soft, and she groaned loudly. she didn't even turn her head. her heels clicked against the ground as she walked straight past him, her gaze locked on the bar area like it was her lifeline.

"val, wait!" he tried again, his voice closer now.

her fists clenched at her sides, but she kept walking, not trusting herself to speak. if she turned around, she knew she'd crumble, and she couldn't afford to let him- or anyone- see her like that. rafe hesitated, standing in the middle of the walkway as he watched her retreat.

without sparing him another glance, valentina reached the bar, her movements sharp and purposeful. she didn't bother with pleasantries or discretion, grabbing the nearest bottle of champagne off the counter. ignoring the shocked looks from a few partygoers, she popped the cork with practiced ease, letting it hit the ground as she poured herself a glass.

the burn of judgmental eyes around her didn't faze her, nor did the whispers starting to spread through the crowd. she took a long sip, savoring the sharp tang on her tongue, and then poured another without a second thought.

"wow- babes. you've been here for five seconds."

valentina nearly choked on her drink, spinning around to face the familiar voice. her heart lifted when she saw lucas standing there, his trademark grin firmly in place, dressed impeccably in a tailored suit that only he could make look both classy and sexy.

"lucas!" she exclaimed, her fake smile melting into a real one as she threw her arms around him in an impulsive hug. "i'm so glad you're here!"

"missed me already?" he teased, pulling back and looking her over dramatically. "well, well, the alcoholic can dress! you look sexy."

"shut up, i am not an alcoholic." she smacked his arm playfully, rolling her eyes. "you're lucky i like you."

"yeah, yeah, everyone does." he leaned casually against the bar, gesturing to the glass in her hand. "you looked miserable as fuck. drowning your sorrows?"

"maybe," she giggled, swirling the champagne in her glass. "but honestly, i just like drinking."

"I'm going to need a drink myself to keep up with you tonight." he waved to the bartender, ordering something strong.

"ugh, as if," she scoffed, a playful edge in her tone. "you can never keep up with me."

"please, babes. i can outdrink you any day," lucas countered with a wink, taking the drink that was handed to him. "so, are we drinking together, or are you too busy being dramatic and mysterious?"

she leaned closer, smirking. "depends. can you keep up?" she leaned closer with a playful smile, and he laughed, clinking his glass against hers.

"with you? for sure."

"oh my god, i cannot stand topper," sarah suddenly groaned, striding up to the pair with an exasperated look. she gave lucas a quick wave and smile,  before focusing entirely on valentina, who raised an amused eyebrow.

"welcome, girlfriend." she sighed in content, sipping her drink. "what made you realize?"

"he's just... everywhere! like, why is he all up in my business? i'm so over it," the blonde huffed, crossing her arms. without a second thought, she grabbed the glass from valentina's hand and downed the rest of it in one go, glancing over her shoulder to make sure no one noticed.

"hey! give it back, bitch."

lucas looked between the two girls with a curious expression, his brow raised in surprise. "wait, guys. do we not like topper anymore?" he asked, leaning in like they were sharing some juicy secret.

"i never liked that thing." valentina scoffed and leaned closer to sarah with a mischievous glint in her eye. "honestly, john b is better anyway."

sarah's face instantly turned red as she tried to stifle a shy laugh. "shut up," she muttered, swatting valentina's arm, while lucas gasped dramatically, clutching his chest as if he'd been personally scandalized.

"john b?!" he exclaimed, turning to sarah with a teasing grin. "you naughty girl."

valentina burst into laughter at the deep blush spreading across sarah's cheeks and lucas' words, clutching her stomach as she tried to catch her breath.

"stop it!" sarah protested, her voice a mix of embarrassment and laughter as she lightly slapped lucas's arm. "no one can know yet."

"oh this just made my fucking night." lucas grinned, clearly enjoying himself. "topper's gonna kill him for sure."

"not helping, lucas!" sarah said, though she couldn't keep a straight face.

valentina tilted her head, giving her a playful look. "i say we reveal it tonight. invite johnny over and have a wet, sloppy make out with him right here, on this bar." she dragged out the words, and lucas spit out his drink in his glass, letting out a snort.

"valentina rose archibald!" sarah's eyes widened, letting out a loud laugh in disbelief. "you're the worst person ever! what is wrong with you?"

"me?!" valentina gasped, placing a hand over her chest as if deeply offended. "excuse you, you are the one cheating, not me."

sarah threw her hands up, exasperated but smiling. "okay, true! but you're the one encouraging me, you should be stopping me."

"typical," valentina muttered with a sigh, shaking her head. "throw me under the bus. i'm literally innocent."

"debatable," lucas quipped, earning a sharp but playful glare from valentina. "oh, don't give me that look. didn't you tell me you fuck guys for fun, and then dip?"

"since when is fucking someone considered a bad thing?" valentina shot back, crossing her arms. "and you're exaggerating. i had sex like... three times, maybe four- but that's not the point. focus on the cheating blonde slut right here."

"hey!" sarah slapped her arm, and valentina just shrugged, a sarcastic smile displayed on her lips.

"aren't you sixteen...?" lucas asked, grimacing slightly and valentina rolled her eyes while sarah stiffed a giggle.

"who cares? can't a girl have needs?" she scoffed, narrowing her eyes. "like i said, three times. i didn't say they were different guys."

"wait until people hear she's not a kook princess, but a kook slut." lucas snickered towards sarah who nodded along with a laugh, and valentina groaned loudly. "they would lose their minds over their innocent queen being a sex machine."

"ooh, that was a rhyme!" sarah, giggled, and valentina rolled her eyes.

"okay, first of all," the brunette started, holding up a finger, "it's not my fault people find me fascinating." she smiled proudly, and now it was sarah's turn to roll her eyes.

"here we go."

"oh, fascinating is what we're calling it now?" lucas grinned, earning a smack on the arm from valentina.

"careful, lucas," she warned playfully, narrowing her eyes. "you're dangerously close to losing your bitchless privileges of sitting with the sluts."

"what the fuck!" lucas gasped dramatically, throwing his hands up in surrender. "fine, fine. you're fascinating, majestic, and a total sex queen. better?"

"much," she said with a satisfied nod, her lips curling into a grin. "that's what i like to hear."

the three of them burst into laughter, their banter echoing through the air, and before they knew it, they were on their feet, dancing.

the night had settled in, the soft glow of fairy lights casting a warm glow over the venue. wheezie had joined them, now hand-in-hand with sarah as they moved through the crowd.

lucas had taken it upon himself to twirl valentina around like they were the stars of a grand ballroom, and her giggles bubbled out as her dress swirled with the motion, while he grinned proudly.

"see? told you i could lead," he boasted, taking her hand again for another dramatic spin.

"barely, fuckface" valentina teased, playfully rolling her eyes as she caught her breath. "you keep stepping on my toes."

"you're just mad that i'm the dominant one now," he shot back with a smirk, dipping her suddenly and earning a delighted squeal from her. wheezie and sarah watched from the sidelines, laughing at the spectacle, while Lucas offered a wink.

"you two are embarrassing," wheezie joked, though there was no bite to her words.

"oh, please," the boy quipped, pulling valentina upright again and glancing at her. "you're next, little cameron."

"absolutely not," wheezie replied, raising her free hand in mock protest. "i like my toes unbroken, thanks."

valentina laughed, shaking her head as she ruffled the younger girl her hair before slipping her hand into lucas's once more, but he was smirking at something behind her, mischief glinting in his eyes.

"what are you-" she started, but before the words could fully leave her mouth, she felt steady hands on her waist. she gasped when someone tugged her back, her back pressing lightly against someone's chest.

"mind if i borrow her for a sec? thanks, man," came jj's familiar voice, his tone casual but confident.

her eyes widened as he twirled her around, looking up at him, his smirk making her heart skip. he didn't wait for a response, already sliding one hand to the small of her back while the other captured hers.

"seriously?" she muttered, though the hint of a smile betrayed her mock annoyance., and lucas scoffed, though his tone was nothing but playful.

"she's all yours," he said with a dramatic flourish, stepping back but not without teasing her one last time. standing just behind jj, he fanned his face with exaggerated flair, his mouth forming a silent ooh la la.

valentina's cheeks flushed as she sent lucas a sharp glare, mouthing, go away!, but he only winked at her, grinning wickedly as he slowly backed into the crowd.

jj's low chuckle brought her attention back to him, and she realized they were already swaying gently to the music.

"hi," valentina breathed out, a soft smile playing on her lips. jj's eyes casually trailed down her figure, a playful glint in his gaze.

"hey, princess," he mumbled with a grin, not breaking eye contact as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a note. he glanced towards sarah, handing her the folded paper with a quick gesture.

"i, uh... i got a note from vlad," he said, his tone low and almost amused, as if he couldn't help the chuckle that slipped out, and valentina stiffled a laugh as she remembered the stupid nicknames sarah told her about.

the blonde girl raised an eyebrow, a shy grin on her face. "from vlad?" she asked, trying to contain a giggle.

"yeah, just read the note," jj urged, nudging the paper towards her.

valentina snickered at the expression on sarah's face as she took the note, unfolding it quickly. her best friend's smile softened as she scanned it, her eyes darting arounf the room before they landed on valentina, asking silent permission with her eyes.

"go!" she giggled, immediately knowing what was in the note, and sarah's eyes widened and she laughed, before practically sprinting off towards the side of the venue, no doubt headed for john b. she shook her head, laughing as she looked at jj.

"she's macking on john b," he said, his tone light and teasing.

"i know, it's so cute," she replied, her smile never faltering as she watched sarah take off, before looking at him in confusion. "wait- what are you doing here? i thought you got arrested?"

"what? who told you that?" he asked, his eyes widening.

"pope?" she clarified with an eye roll. "duh."

"oh." he paused for a moment, before shrugging with a nod. "well, i did, but i escaped." he stated proudly, and valentina laughed in his face.

"liar." she scoffed, and jj's jaw dropped in offense, poking her waist.

"what- you don't think i can escape a cell?"

"hm," she pretended to think for a moment, before her lips pressed into a thin line. "nah, you're too fucking stupid for that."

"ouch, valentina. you wound me." he muttered, before his eyes suddenly widened in realization. "wait, i gotta tell you something."

"what?" she asked, and jj leaned closer, bringing his lips to her ear.

"we found the gold," jj whispered,  and her eyes widened in shock.

"wait, WHAT?" she gasped, nearly too loud.

"shhhh," he mumbled, glancing around quickly at the curious onlookers. she grimaced, realizing how loud she'd been. "it's at tannyhill," he continued, his voice low as he twirled her around gently to keep the moment casual. valentina's heart raced as she processed the news, before breaking out in a laugh.

"oh my god, that's incredible!" she exclaimed, smiling brightly as she pulled him into a tight hug, nearly knocking the breath out of him. jj was caught off guard, his arms instinctively wrapping around her lower back to steady her.

"i know," he chuckled softly, holding her close, and she pulled back slightly to look at him, still grinning.

"i'm so proud of you guys!" she laughed, her excitement spilling over.

"thanks," he replied, smiling down at her.

"and now?" she asked eagerly, still keeping her arms loosely around his shoulders, wanting to know what came next.

"you've got to meet us at hawks nest at midnight," he said, his voice a little more serious now, a glint of mystery in his eyes. "we'll tell you everything then."

"okay, yeah," she nodded quickly without even hesitating, her heart pounding with excitement. "of course. is sarah coming too?"

"mhm," he hummed. "jb is telling her about it right now."

the two continued to sway in a comfortable silence, unaware of the furious glances from both louis and rafe, who were watching them from a distance. suddenly, jj surprised valentina by dipping her, his hand steady on her back as she gasped.

"did i already tell you how pretty you look?" he teased, his voice low and playful when he pulled her back into his chest.

she pretended to think for a moment, a mischievous glint in her eyes before she shook her head. "no, not yet."

"well, this dress..." jj cut himself off with a low whistle, his eyes scanning her figure appreciatively. "there's a bathroom inside we could use..."

"jj!" valentina scolded, slapping his chest playfully, a smile tugging at her lips as she shook her head in disbelief. "do you ever stop thinking with your dick?"

"can't help it. happens when i'm looking at you." he only shrugged with a grin, and she narrowed her eyes at him, a teasing glint in her expression.

"you'd have to try a little harder before that would happen."

jj's eyes widened slightly, then he smirked. "all i'm hearing is that i have a chance." he laughed, before his playful smirk turned into a small smile. "you do look really pretty though, like really pretty."

she smiled at the compliment, a blush creeping up her neck as her hands moved to adjust the little bow around his neck.

"you don't look too bad yourself," she muttered, not taking her eyes off the bow as she made sure it was perfect. "cute bow."

jj chuckled, raising an eyebrow at her. "you callin' me pretty?"

valentina shrugged, meeting his eyes with a smile. "you can interpret my words however you want, maybank."

"and i will." he smiled proudly. "the kook princess just called me pretty."

"you're fucking ridiculous," she mumbled, before her eyes suddenly found her father's, and he did not look pleased. "fuck."

"what's wrong?" jj followed her gaze, and gulped when he made eye contact with louis, waving awkwardly.

"it's my dad," she mumbled, grimacing. "you have to go, i can't be dancing with a waiter- especially not in public. he'll kill me."

"what? i'm not a waiter?"

she let go of his shoulders to point at his clothes, and jj blinked, suddenly realizing what he was supposed to be doing.

"fuck, i forgot," he muttered, grinning sheepishly. "the sight of you dancing, looking all pretty and dolled up, distracted me, angel."

she pushed his chest lightly, rolling her eyes with a grin as his hands slowly slid over her waist before letting go. "shut up. now, get me a glass of wine." she joked, and he winked at her with a smirk.

"yes, ma'am." and with that, he retreated into the crowd, looking back at her once more "midnight!" he yelled, causing some weird looks and a small smile from valentina, followed by two thumbs up.

🪷 . . . MAISSA !
hi angelssssss

i almost finished the midsummer episode which means the story finally starts i cheered 😭😭❤️

i also changed 'val and vlad' to 'vil and vlad' bc.... well 🤣🤣🤣

i'm so sorry if some things don't make sense i wrote this in the middle of the night so cut me some slack

i love you allllll!!!!!!!