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

🪷 chapter nineteen !
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VALENTINA PATCHED HERSELF UP, grateful she'd thought to bring her makeup bag before leaving- she'd figured after her stupid encounters with the pogue's it was a smart thing to take with her. carefully, she smoothed over the tear-streaked remnants of her breakdown, blending her foundation until no trace of her emotions remained. she exhaled shakily, fixing her hair and using her phone camera for a final check. satisfied enough, she took a deep breath and stepped out of the driveway, waiting impatiently for the gate to creak open.

her mind was a swirl of nothingness- emptiness punctuated by sharp pangs of self-doubt. she wasn't even sure what she was doing anymore, but the clarity to care was long gone. she rounded the corner to where the twinkie was parked, the rumbling filling her ears like an unspoken reminder of what was waiting.

as she slid open the van's side door, john b was the first to greet her, though his tone carried more irritation than warmth. "jesus, val, what took you so long?"

neither boys noticed the strained look on her face as she climbed in and carefully seated herself with her back facing them, her posture rigid and defensive. "i'm sorry," she murmured, her voice scratchy and quiet. "i had to... take care of a few things."

the clipped response made jj turn in his seat, his brow furrowing as he glanced over his shoulder. valentina being short? quiet? not teasing john b? that was so unlike her. she wouldn't even look at them. she just sat there, tense, her hands gripping her knees like she was bracing herself against something.

"what do you mean 'a few things'?" john b pressed, his impatience flaring. "we've been sitting here for twenty minutes."

"bro, calm down-"

"i said i'm fucking sorry." the girl snapped, her tone sharp and final as she interrupted jj. the bite in her words silenced john b instantly, his wide eyes darting to the blonde next to him in bewilderment. jj caught his best friend's expression and shrugged subtly, equally thrown off by her demeanor.

the silence stretched for a moment before john b awkwardly cleared his throat.

"you okay, val?"

"mhm," she hummed, still avoiding their eyes. her voice was quieter now, the sharp edge gone. "yeah... sorry. i didn't mean to sound so harsh."

that only made the boys more concerned. jj turned again, leaning toward her and reaching out to touch her shoulder in a familiar gesture of reassurance- but she flinched. the reaction was subtle but unmistakable, and his hand froze midair before he slowly withdrew it.

his chest tightened, the rejection stinging more than it should have. just an hour ago, she'd been laughing and leaning into him, her head resting on his chest, and now she wouldn't even let him get close. what the fuck?

john b didn't push any further, though his frequent glances at the rearview mirror betrayed his worry. he exchanged wordless looks with jj, but neither of them could make sense of the shift. instead, the van remained silent, the usual banter and teasing replaced by a heavy, uncomfortable quiet.

valentina sat unmoving, staring out the window but seeing nothing. for the first time in her life, she felt drained. no teasing comebacks. no sarcastic comments. no playful energy. just a hollow, aching numbness that clung to her like a second skin.

her thoughts, however, weren't empty. they circled back, again and again, stopping on pope. she needed him. his presence, his ability to calm her down with a simple look- it was what she craved in this moment more than anything.

when the twinkie finally rolled up to the chateau, she didn't waste a second as she practically bolted out of the car, ignoring kiara and sarah, who were busy setting up equipment to retrieve the gold from the well. her eyes locked onto pope, who sat on the porch, engrossed in a map- probably something related to the royal merchant.

john b and jj exchanged baffled looks as they watched her storm off. they had never seen valentina like this. she was always the confident one, carrying herself with grace and a smile that seemed untouchable. but now, that version of her was nowhere to be found. this was a girl breaking right in front of them, and they didn't know why.

the hurried sound of her footsteps on the porch broke pope's focus. he looked up, his brow furrowing with concern as he caught sight of her red-rimmed, glossy eyes. his fingers stilled over the map before he tossed it onto the couch and rose to meet her, worry etched into every line of his face.

"val?" he called out, his voice sharp with alarm. "what's wrong?"

before he could say another word, she closed the distance and threw her arms around him, catching him completely off guard. he stumbled slightly but recovered quickly, wrapping one arm around her back and the other cradling the back of her head. he felt the damp warmth of her sniffles against his shoulder and instinctively began stroking her hair, his voice low and soothing.

"hey, hey," he murmured, trying to calm her. "what happened?"

she didn't answer right away, her hold on him tightening as if letting go might break her even further. pope glanced over her shoulder, exchanging a confused look with john b and jj, who were hovering by the twinkie, just as lost as he was. this wasn't like valentina at all, and it made pope's chest tighten.

"i don't know," she croaked, pulling back just enough for him to see the tears streaming down her face. his eyes widened, and his heart shattered at the sight.

"talk to me," he pleaded gently, his voice steady despite the confusion he felt inside. he rubbed a comforting hand up and down her arm, trying to offer her a sense of grounding, while she shook her head, her body trembling as another sob broke free.

"i- i can't. i don't know why i feel like this." she choked out, the words tumbling from her lips in a broken attempt to explain. pope's gaze flicked toward the rest of the pogues, who had stopped what they were doing to glance over in confusion. they couldn't hear the conversation or see valentina's face, but pope's worried expression alone was enough to spark their curiosity.

"come on." he murmured, gently guiding her inside the chateau. he knew she hated being watched, especially in moments like these. once they were inside, he led her to the couch and settled her down, quickly grabbing a glass of water, and his hand shook slightly as he handed it to her, his concern evident.

she took it with a shaky smile, tears still streaking her cheeks. "i don't know what's wrong with me," she whispered, her voice cracking before a broken chuckle escaped her lips. "it's like... i don't fucking know."

"hey, hey." he crouched down in front of her, his hand resting on her knees, his eyes searching hers. "there's nothing wrong with you. you hear me?" he paused again for a moment, looking off towards the side with a frown. "i want to help, val, but i can't if you don't let me in. please, just tell me what's going on."

she stayed silent, her lip quivering as her mind scrambled to find the words. it wasn't just one thing- today had simply been the breaking point. her father, her mother's absence, rafe, her own insecurities- it was too much for anyone to carry alone.

pope stayed quiet too, patient as he waited for her to speak. the look on his face was a reminder that she didn't have to face this alone, even if it felt like it sometimes. he didn't care how long it took. he would sit there all fucking day if he had to, because all he wanted was for her to feel safe enough to let go of the burden she'd been shouldering by herself.

"i'm just tired," she finally whispered, her voice barely audible as her gaze dropped to the floor. shame filled her expression, her thoughts running too fast to settle into words.

"is it your dad?" he asked cautiously, his voice tinged with hesitation. he knew how sore the topic was for her.

pope understood more than most just how much the girl struggled with her father. valentina had never painted him as a kind man, but things had spiraled after her mother's disappearance. she used to be so open, even about the ugly parts of her life. when her father would lash out- whether with words or with actions- she used to tell pope. sometimes through a shaky voice, sometimes through forced jokes, but she told him. she let him in.

now it had turned into vague remarks or outright silence, but he wasn't oblivious- he could see how much it hurt and changed her. since the night amelia archibald dissapeared vanished, a part of her daughter had disappeared too.

"yes, that too," valentina replied finally. she paused for a long moment, her lips trembling as she searched for the courage to continue. her glossy eyes met his, and her voice cracked. "i miss my mom, pope."

his chest tightened at her confession. this was the first time she had willingly spoken about her mom to him, and hearing those words broke something in him. a lump formed in his throat as he fought to steady his voice.

"i know you do," he said, his own voice cracking despite his effort to stay composed. "i do too."

valentina let out a small hiccup, her breaths coming in uneven gasps, and he didn't hesitate as he pulled her into a hug, wrapping his arms around her tightly. the angle was awkward, him kneeling between her legs as she sat on the edge of the couch, but neither of them cared.

"i just want things to go back to normal," she muttered into his shoulder, her words muffled but filled with despair. "i want my mom."

"i know," pope murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "i know. i've got you."

he held her tighter, his own eyes blurring with unshed tears as he silently wished he could take her pain away. they stayed like that for what felt like hours, the girl finally managing to calm her thoughts down in his grip.

just as her breathing began to calm, the moment was interrupted by the sound of a loud voice booming through the house. both of them jolted, their heads snapping toward the source of the sound, their temporary calm shattered.

"pope! we need you for the- oh." kiara's voice faltered as she entered the room, her gaze landing on the scene in front of her. her wide-eyed expression quickly turned to one of panic. "i'm so sorry, i didn't mean to interrupt-"

"no, you're fine, it's good," valentina cut in quickly, turning her head away as she discreetly wiped at her tears. her voice was unnaturally chirpy, and pope watched her in defeat, seeing how she was able to snap back just like that.

abruptly, she stood from the couch, plastering a bright, fake smile on her face. "i'm sorry. really."

both kiara and pope remained still, watching her retreat toward the bathroom. the soft click of the door closing echoed through the room, and kiara turned to pope, her brows furrowed in concern as her confused gaze searched his face.

he shook his head subtly, looking helpless. his heart ached knowing there was only so much he could do for her, and kiara nodded slowly, understanding his unspoken words. without another glance at the closed bathroom door, the two headed back toward the backyard where the rest of the group waited, giving her a moment to herself.

"what the hell were you doing in there, man?" jj's voice boomed as pope and kiara emerged outside. he looked between them with an exasperated wave of his arms before narrowing his eyes. "wait, where's vee? she was with you, right?"

"uh, uh-" pope stumbled over his words, clearly scrambling to find an explanation, his eyes darting nervously between kiara and his friends.

"she went to fix her makeup," kiara lied smoothly, her tone steady and sure. "pope accidentally smudged her mascara."

jj blinked, taking a second to process the excuse. while the others seemed to accept it without question, he frowned slightly, his suspicion lingering. "but she-"

"jj." the curly haired girl cut him off sharply, her tone firm. her eyes locked on his, sending him a warning look. "she'll be back in a second."

jj's jaw tensed, but he let the subject drop with a curt nod, though the worry in his eyes didn't fade.

sarah wasn't stupid, and she scoffed quietly at the way the pogues tried to act secretive about her best friend, as if she didn't know the girl better than anyone. without a word of explanation, she pushed past them and stormed inside, ignoring kiara's sharp whisper of protest as she passed. her hand found the door handle in an instant, and she swung it open.

"babe?" she called softly, her voice gentler now.

valentina appeared almost immediately, her movements careful, her face a mix of calm and fragility.

kiara hadn't been lying when she said valentina was fixing her makeup- again. the brush was still clutched in her hand, but sarah's eyes instantly caught the redness around her best friend's swollen lips and tear-streaked cheeks.

"what happened?" she had asked, her tone low, but full of concern.

valentina hesitated for just a second before muttering, "my dad found out about the gold."

sarah stepped closer, wrapping her arms around her without waiting for permission. she felt the tension in her friend's body ease as she melted into the embrace, breathing in the comforting scent of sarah's perfume.

"it's only a matter of time before your dad finds out too- if he doesn't already know," valentina added, her words muffled against the blonde's shoulder.

sarah pulled back slightly, her brows furrowed as she searched valentina's face. "i don't care about that. i care about you. what did he say?"

"he said that if he saw me with one of the pogues..." valentina hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line "he'd rip them apart one by one."

the words landed like a blow, leaving sarah stunned into silence. her mouth opened and closed as she blinked rapidly, grasping for the right thing to say.

"i- what- uh-" she stammered, her usually quick wit failing her. after an awkward beat, she blurted out, "well, at least i'm not a pogue?"

for a second, there was nothing but silence between them. then valentina's lips twitched, and she burst out laughing, her giggles spilling out as sarah looked down with a sheepish grin, her cheeks flushed.

"you fucking bitch!" the brunette gasped through her laughter, swatting her best friends shoulder playfully.

"sorry! i panicked!" sarah exclaimed, trying to muffle her own laughter with her hands. "i didn't know what else to say!"

their much needed laughter filled the small space, and valentina wiped her eyes as she shook her head, her smile lingering.

sarah gave her a warm, knowing smile and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek before the two made their way back outside. the air smelled of burnt wood and molten metal, and the sound of hushed chatter mixed with the crackle of the fire where kiara worked to melt the gold. valentina's steps were slower now, less hurried, her chest lighter after the emotional storm she'd weathered inside.

as they neared the group, jj's gaze immediately snapped to her. his expression, usually marked by a smirk or a grin, softened into something almost unrecognizable- concern. sarah caught the shift and gave valentina's arm a reassuring squeeze before stepping away to join the others. jj, however, moved toward valentina, blocking her path with his tall frame.

"hey," he called softly, his blue eyes scanning her face. "hold up a sec."

she blinked up at him, her lips twitching into a smile so practiced it almost fooled him. "what's up?" she asked lightly, as if nothing had happened.

jj frowned, leaning down slightly, his voice low. "you okay?"

"yeah?" her head tilted, feigning confusion, though there was a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. "why wouldn't I be?"

jj stepped closer, his brows knitting together. "because you didn't look okay," he murmured. there was no teasing lilt to his tone, no smug grin, just quiet, genuine worry.

his words caught her off guard as she stared into his eyes, finding vulnerability, maybe even tenderness. it was a side of him she wasn't used to. her defenses wavered, but she forced a smile, one that felt more real this time. "i'm fine, jay, don't worry your pretty head about me."

her words and the nickname sent his heart stumbling over itself. he swallowed hard, looking away, trying to ignore the sudden heat creeping up his neck. this wasn't the time to freak out over a dumb nickname.

still, he wasn't convinced. "you know," he started, his voice dipping quieter, "if you, like... i don't know, need someone to talk to or whatever..." he trailed off, suddenly self-conscious, and he scratched the back of his neck with a nervous laugh. "i mean, i'm not just good at, like, fixing cuts and scrapes. i'm pretty great at other stuff, too- like listening when you need me."

valentina's lips curved into a laugh, soft and warm. "i bet you are," she teased, the glint of amusement in her eyes sending his heart racing again.

jj couldn't help but grin, leaning closer. "oh, i'm serious. i'm a jack of all trades. got a problem? i'm your guy."

valentina giggled, the sound light and warm. "i'll make sure to keep that in mind," she teased, her eyes sparkling in a way that made jj's heart do a ridiculous little flip. he swore he nearly let out a squeal, because valentina had a way of making him forget about playing it cool.

"thank you, maybank," she added, her tone softer now, a genuine warmth lacing her words.

she playfully aimed a punch at his chest, but jj caught her fist effortlessly in his hand, but instead of letting go, he held it there, his fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary. when valentina didn't pull away, he took the liberty of intertwining their fingers, and she felt her heart practically catapult into her throat.

out of all the ridiculously attractive things jj had done, this- the simple act of holding her hand- seemed to top it all. it was such a small gesture, but it sent a strange, exhilarating warmth flooding her chest.

jj, meanwhile, was having his own internal crisis. "anytime, princess." he mumbled, his usual confidence wavering slightly as he started walking toward the group, pulling her along. he glanced down at her just once, catching the sight of her wide eyes and rosy cheeks. she was biting her lip, clearly trying to suppress a smile, and it nearly did him in. he quickly looked ahead again, his own grin threatening to take over his face.

valentina made him feel things he couldn't quite explain. she made him act in ways that felt entirely foreign to him- like this. jj maybank, the biggest player of the cut, walking around with a girl's hand in his? people would lose their minds if they saw it.

he'd had girls beneath him, breathless as they gasped his name, hanging onto every meaningless word he whispered. his tongue had been tangled with theirs in countless fleeting moments that meant nothing. he'd done it all- the hookups, the smirks, the entanglements. but holding a girl's hand? that had never been on the list.

because that wasn't who jj maybank was. or at least, it wasn't who he thought he was- until now.

by the time they reached the others, jj gave her hand one final squeeze before reluctantly letting go. he wasn't quite ready to lose the contact, though, so he draped an arm casually over her shoulders instead.

"it's actually working," she said in amazement, her gaze fixed on the pan of melting gold in front of them.

"i know," jj replied with a grin, tilting his head toward the glimmering metal. "if all of this works out, i'm buying you a tiara."

"a tiara?" she repeated, looking up at him with a mix of confusion and amusement.

"uh- yeah?" he scoffed, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "every princess deserves one."

her laughter rang out, light and genuine, and jj couldn't help but join in.

"just make sure it's gold, maybank," she teased, her smile wide. "i don't wear anything less."

"gold it is," he said with a wink, giving her shoulder a squeeze. "consider it done."

she smiled up at him before she continued to watch kiara in awe, not noticing kiara glancing nervously at her until their eyes met. a soft, understanding smile spread across valentina's lips- warm and reassuring, the kind that spoke volumes without a single word. kiara's cheeks tinged pink as she gave a small nod, her own lips curling into a grateful smile in return.

jj gave pope a high five in pure excitement, and the two boys grinned, valentina taking this as a chance slip away from jj's grip and walk over to kiara to watch from close up. she peered into the pan, seeing the previous chunks of gold melting together in one big one, and she looked up, biting her lips to contain herself from squealing at the sudden rush of excitement. seeing this made it all the more real- they really found the fucking gold.

"this is so cool." she whispered, and kiara put all the supplies away, a proud smile tugging at her lips.

"you think i melted it enough?" she asked shyly, and valentina nodded

"yeah, you did a great fucking job." she praised, and kiara's lips twitched into a grateful smile as she nodded.

"thanks," she whispered, the words barely leaving her mouth before she straightened up, raising the pan for the rest of the group to see. "so," she called out, her voice gaining attention from john b and sarah who were perched against a tree. "are we making money or what?"

the group erupted into a mix of cheers and laughter, the excitement palpable as they circled around kiara. jj whooped loudly, throwing an arm over valentina's shoulder as she glanced up at him, her grin wide and contagious.

it wasn't just gold in that pan- it was possibility. for the first time in a long time, the pogues could taste freedom. and for valentina, all the doubts she'd harbored about her friendship with them earlier, the gold, and the chaos of their adventure, seemed to dissolve like the gold in kiara's pan.

her father's cruel words now felt like a faint echo, a distant whisper that no longer had power over her. in his place was the sound of laughter, of hope, of a bond that couldn't be broken.

"let's go fucking get our money!"

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🪷 . . . MAISSA !
hi angelssss

i apologize for this corny ass chapter but it feels like it was very much needed for the girl to sob uncontrollably 💔 besides this is how i act after every minor inconvenience

i was debating on jj x val angst by her shutting him out butttt i was like hm not yet, later ❤️ enjoy them while it lasts

i love you allllllll