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

🪷 chapter twenty two !
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THE THING ABOUT VALENTINA ARCHIBALD was that no matter what storm she was caught in, no matter how chaotic or painful her life got, she had to feel clean. polished. untouchable. it was the one thing she had control over.

even if it meant sneaking around her own damn house, moving like a fugitive through the halls just to avoid the man who had the power to ruin her with a single glance.

she knew every creaky floorboard, every shadowed corner that kept her hidden. she had mastered the art of silence, of slipping through the cracks of her own home, of making herself invisible when she needed to be. it was second nature now. survival.

today, the universe seemed to cut her some slack, since she found out with a wave of relief that her father wasn't home. it gave her just enough time to take a hot shower, scrub the bacteria and her frustration off her skin, and pack everything she could possibly need. two suitcases lay open and half-zipped on her bedroom floor, bursting at the seams, while she pushed down on them with all her might, huffing as stray strands of hair clung to her damp face.

if she was leaving, she wasn't planning on coming back anytime soon- not with the mess her life had become. packing felt like an escape plan, and though it felt ridiculous to pack so much, valentina didn't care. better to overdo it than regret it later.

her first thought was to go to sarah- sarah would always be her safe place. but tannyhill wasn't an option. not with her father lurking there half the time, not with ward cameron being the closest thing to the devil she had ever known. she needed somewhere far away from him, somewhere quieter, somewhere safer.

after loading her bags into her car, she grabbed some cash her father stashed in the house- money he wouldn't even notice was missing- and hit the road. her heart raced, torn between a sense of liberation and the lingering unease of leaving things behind. but she already knew where she was going, had made her decision the moment she packed.

that's how valentina found herself standing in front of kelce's house, knocking softly on the door and hoping for a little bit of luck. she shifted her weight anxiously as the sound of shuffling footsteps grew louder behind the door. her lips twitched into a faint smile when the door finally creaked open- only for her expression to shift into confusion as she furrowed her brows, caught off guard by what- or who- she saw.

"topper?!"

"shhh!" topper hissed, shoving her out of sight. his grip was firm, urgent, like he was shielding her from something, but she ripped her arm from his grasp, stepping back with a look of pure disgust.

"don't touch me. ew." she wiped at her skin as if he'd left something filthy behind, but he barely reacted.

his expression was tight, his posture stiff, and when he spoke again, his voice was edged with something almost like concern.

"you can't be here right now."

she blinked at him, unimpressed. "uh, is this your house? didn't think so-"

"val, i'm serious. listen to me." his tone sharpened, and something about the way he said it made her stop mid-sentence.

she took in his expression- tight jaw, flickering eyes, like he was debating how much to tell her- and a small knot of unease formed in her stomach.

"rafe is here," he muttered, voice low, like even saying the name out loud was dangerous. "and he's fucking pissed."

the knot twisted, but she didn't let it show. instead, she scoffed, crossing her arms. "what the fuck does that have to do with me?"

"everything." topper let out a dry, humorless laugh, stepping closer. the space between them vanished in an instant, and for the first time, his expression wasn't just irritated- it was warning. "since when do you go around stealing twenty-five grand from drug dealers, huh?"

her face faltered. the casual indifference slipped for a split second before she caught herself, her lips parting slightly as realization sank in.

barry had gone to rafe.

her pulse stuttered, but she forced a frown. "how the fuck do you know about that?" her voice was steady, but her hands clenched at her sides. then, shaking her head, she let out a sharp laugh. "and i wasn't the one who stole barry's money, dickhead."

"doesn't matter," topper shot back. "you were there, and rafe knows, so if i were you, i'd leave."

he tapped his temple slowly, like she was too dumb to keep up, and she rolled her eyes.

"since when do you suddenly give a shit about my safety?" she asked, forcing another laugh, even as a pit in her stomach grew.

"since you decided to screw around with pogues and drag half the island into your bullshit. what the hell were you thinking, val? going after barry?" topper's jaw clenched, and valentina's eyebrows shot up.

"half the island?" she repeated in disbelief, shoving his shoulder like he'd said the dumbest thing ever. "baby, rafe is not half the island."

"can you not?" his voice rose despite his earlier attempts to stay quiet. "you think rafe's just gonna let this slide? you're fucking delusional if you think he won't come after you- or your little pogue boyfriend."

and that was when valentina snapped. her entire demeanor shifted, her teasing gone in an instant as her face twisted with rage.

"jj has nothing to do with you, or rafe, so keep his name out of your disgusting fucking mouth," she hissed, stepping into his space. her finger jabbed toward his lips like she wanted to rip them clean off his face. "though, i'm surprised you can even talk with how full your mouth already is from rafe's dick-"

topper lost it, inhaling sharply before interrupting her with narrowed eyes.

"shut the fuck up for once in your goddamn life!" he yelled, shoving her backwards.

she stumbled slightly, gasping as she clutched her chest, more shocked than anything. her expression was blank for a moment, before she smiled in disbelief, a scoff leaving her mouth.

"oh, i know you did not just do that."

"oh, i did." he taunted, crossing his arms like he was daring her to do something, and she did, not even hesitating as she shoved him- hard, and topper barely had time to react before he slammed into the door with a loud bang.

before she could savor the moment, before she could open her mouth to rub it in, she heard heavy footsteps, and then, the door swung open. kelce stepped out first, his face twisted in confusion. but it was the second figure that made her stomach drop.

rafe.

his sharp blue eyes flicked from topper to her, narrowing as a slow, sinister grin spread across his face, and then he moved. valentina barely had time to take a step back before rafe was in front of her, grabbing her arm too tightly- too familiar- and yanking her into his chest.

her heart stopped.

for a second, she wasn't on the porch of kelce's house. she was back at that fucking party.

his breath was warm against her ear, his grip was unbreakable, and no matter how much she knew she could fight back, her body reacted before her brain could catch up.

her entire body locked up.

"well, well, well," he murmured, his voice dripping with mockery. "there she is. little miss perfect."

something in her snapped her back. maybe it was the sound of kelce muttering 'don't touch her, bro', maybe it was the way topper wouldn't even look at rafe, and she forced herself to breathe.

"get the fuck off me." she spat, twisting her arm, but he wouldn't let go. his fingers dug into her skin, tightening just enough to remind her he was stronger.

"i just heard about your little home invasion," he continued, ignoring her struggle as his voice dropped to a whisper. "i wonder what daddy would say if he knew his perfect little princess was robbing drug dealers?"

valentina forced her face into blank indifference, shrugging, and rafe tilted his head with wide eyes.

"oh, you don't care?" he mocked, voice laced with faux surprise. his grin widened as he suddenly pulled her back. "let's call him right now, see what he thinks-"

"yo, hey, man-" kelce's voice wavered slightly. "let her go. it wasn't her."

for a moment, rafe just stared at him. then, out of nowhere, he laughed. it wasn't normal. it wasn't amused. it was manic.

"god, kelce, you're such a fucking pussy." he shoved valentina toward him like she was nothing, and kelce caught her before she could fall, but her pulse was hammering in her ears.

rafe took a slow step forward, his gaze burning into her.

"your little bitch needs to find a way to pay barry back," he sneered, tilting his head. "who, by the way, has been nothing but good to you. do you remember, val? the old times? when we would-"

"shut the fuck up!"

"hit a nerve?" rafe just grinned wider, and valentina felt kelce squeezing her in a warning manner, but she ignored him. "jesus, valentina. you really are pathetic, huh? slumming it with the fucking pogues like a desperate little charity case."

he saw the way she tensed, and his smirk grew wider, predatory.

"oh, don't look so surprised. you think people aren't talking? kook princess letting the island's favorite trash put his filthy hands all over her? come on, val. at least try to have some self-respect."

valentina scoffed at this. "you really wanna talk about self-respect? you, of all fucking people?" she let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "what, did i hurt your feelings by not letting you shove your tongue down my throat at that party? still bitter?"

rafe's jaw ticked, and she felt a small sense of victory.

bingo.

kelce and topper exchanged a look, both frozen in confusion as they watched in silence while rafe's smirk flickered. just for a second, but then he recovered, his expression twisting into something meaner.

"please," he scoffed, rolling his eyes. "like i'd ever want a used-up little whore who lets a pogue of all people-"

"-fuck me?" she finished for him, tilting her head, her voice laced with pure, vicious mockery. "oh, rafe, you don't have to be shy about saying it. we both know that's the part you're really pissed about. that it was jj between my legs and not you."

she hoped her lie was believable enough, and by the way rafe's expression changed, it seemed to be working well.

kelce let out a nervous laugh, and even topper looked unsure now.

"you know," he started, his tone turning cruel. "it's funny, really. you ditched all of us for that dirty pogue, and for what? some backseat fucks in that piece-of-shit car? thought rich girls had standards."

valentina's blood boiled, but rafe wasn't done yet.

"he probably can't even afford condoms," he laughed, slapping topper's chest. "what do you do, val? let him fuck you raw and hope his broke ass can scrape together enough for plan b?"

"what, you jealous?" she taunted, her voice laced with pure amusement. she fed into it, knowing damn well it was eating rafe alive- knowing that it was absolutely crushing him that she had ditched him for the pogues. and for other obvious fucking reasons.

rafe let out a sharp, humorless laugh, throwing his head back dramatically like she had just told the funniest joke he'd ever heard. "jealous of what?" he scoffed, dragging a hand down his face as if the mere thought was exhausting. "that you're throwing yourself at some broke-ass waste of oxygen? that you downgraded from kook royalty to..." he let out another short, cruel laugh, shaking his head. "fucking jj maybank?"

"last i checked, you're still sucking barry's dick for a quick fix." valentina leaned in just slightly, lowering her voice. "so if you wanna talk about downgrade..."

his hand shot out so fast she barely had time to register it, grabbing her by the collar of her shirt and jerking her forward again, his face so close she could see every vein in his forehead pulsing with rage.

"you wanna play this game with me, valentina?" he seethed, his voice low, dangerous. "fine. let's play."

"oh my god, here we go." valentina let out a long, exhausted sigh, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"you like playing savior, like it makes you special. like it makes you different from all the other rich bitches on this island." he let out a low, mocking chuckle. "but you're not different, sweetheart. you're just desperate. desperate to be needed. desperate for someone- anyone- to want you, because god knows your daddy never did."

"bro don't fucking go there." kelce mumbled, but both of them fully ignored his poor attempt to stick up for the girl.

valentina's fingers twitched, nails digging into her palm, but she kept her face neutral. she knew exactly what rafe was trying to do. he was testing her, trying to get under her skin, to make her feel stupid for caring about jj, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"funny coming from someone with a raging coke problem and daddy issues the size of this whole fucking island." 

rafe's jaw clenched, but his lips curled back into a grin, though this one was sharper, meaner. "quit acting like you're better than me, val," he spat. "as if you weren't a fucking crackhead yourself. probably why you and jj get along so well, right? both fucked in the head."

valentina's entire body went still, and for a second, her mind blanked, but then white-hot rage filled the space it left behind.

slowly, she tilted her head, blinking as if she misheard him. "what the fuck did you just say?"

"oh, you heard me," rafe taunted, his smirk widening. "i'm just fascinated. really. because you had everything. you had me. and yet you threw it all away for a pogue who would sell you out for a six-pack and a pack of smokes." his lips curled in disgust. "face it, val. that kid is fucking worthless. the only reason any of you keep him around is because you feel sorry for him."

"you're right," she said smoothly, and rafe's brows lifted in surprise. "i probably will leave eventually." she hummed, pretending to think. "i mean, i'm a kook, right? he's a pogue. he's reckless, a little unhinged, totally self-destructive." she let out a soft sigh. "but damn, if that isn't what makes him so fucking good in bed."

kelce's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he shared a look with topper.

"oh, fuck."

rafe glanced at the other two boys who stood by, frozen, unsure whether to intervene or just watch the escalating tension between them. his eyes flicked from one to the other, but the grin that tugged at the corner of his mouth never faltered. then, suddenly, he let out a laugh, low and mocking.

"jesus, louis must be so proud," rafe muttered, shaking his head like he was disgusted. "his daughter whoring around. no wonder you got your ass tossed out like trash." he exaggerated a gasp, clutching his chest in feigned shock. "what's wrong, princess? daddy finally got sick of your shit?"

valentina's breath caught for just a moment. how the hell did he know? it had only happened that morning, and she'd barely processed it herself. her mind raced, trying to piece it together, before the realization hit her- he must have overheard her father talking to ward earlier. the thought made her stomach churn, but she didn't let it show.

she quickly regained her composure, the mask of indifference settling back into place as she cocked her head, her eyes narrowing in calculated fury. her nails dug into the palm of her hand, her fingers trembling slightly, but she forced the tension down.

"oh, i don't know, rafe," she said, her voice cool but edged with a sharpness that cut deeper than any insult. "what's worse- getting thrown out? or going to barry's so you don't have to sit at the dinner table with a father who looks at you and sees nothing but a fucking disappointment?"

the words landed with a sickening finality. the sharp sting in her tone left no room for doubt- she wasn't just talking about family politics; she was talking about everything rafe had ever been.

his expression darkened, his jaw clenching so hard she thought it might snap. his hands curled into fists at his sides, his whole body taut like a wire about to snap. but instead of reacting, he did what rafe cameron did best. he deflected.

"yeah, keep telling yourself that while you shack up with that piece of shit maybank. what's the plan, huh? you think you're gonna fix him?" his voice dripped with amusement, but there was something sharper underneath. something bitter.  "or maybe you just get off on the fact that he needs you. that for once, someone's more fucked up than you are."

"oh my god." she sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes. "you sound so obsessed. seriously, should i be worried? you talk about him more than i do. you sure i'm the desperate one?"

kelce choked on a laugh, but quickly shut up when rafe shot him a death glare

"please," rafe scoffed. "you think i give a fuck about that dirty little stray?"

"you wanna talk about dirty little strays?" valentina hummed, tapping her chin like she was in deep thought before an innocent smile tugged at her lips. "didn't your daddy throw your ass out too?"

rafe's smirk twitched, his fingers flexing at his sides like he was physically restraining himself from lunging at her. valentina could see the way his shoulders tensed, the way his jaw clenched so tight she swore she could hear his teeth grinding together. she had him. and he knew it.

his eyes flickered, just for a second, and that was all the confirmation she needed.

"what, you getting all quiet now?" she asked, her voice sickly sweet. she tilted her head, furrowing her eyebrows in mock confusion. "that's funny, considering all the shit you just spewed about jj." she shrugged. "but hey, at least he's got people who actually give a fuck about him."

rafe's chuckle was low and sharp, like he was savoring some twisted inside joke. his tongue darted out to wet his lips before he cocked his head, amusement flickering in his cold blue eyes.

"oh, does he now?" he repeated, his voice dripping with mock curiosity. "and who would that be, exactly? his deadbeat drunk of a father? his runaway mommy?" he let out a cruel laugh, shaking his head. "god, val, you really do love a fucking charity case, huh?"

her manicured nails dug into her palms-harder this time, but she kept her face carefully blank, refusing to give him the reaction he wanted.

"you think he's gonna be there when shit gets hard? newsflash, sweetheart- he can't even take care of himself, let alone you." he let out a cruel laugh, his voice dropping to a whisper. "he's gonna turn out just like his old man, and you'll get sick of it, just like everyone else does. just like his own fucking mom did."

something inside her exploded, and before she could think- before anyone could stop her- her fist swung. her knuckles crashed into rafe's jaw with full force, the crack of impact was sickeningly satisfying as he stumbled back, blinking in shock, touching his lip as blood pooled from a fresh split.

"oh, shit." kelce muttered, while topper stayed frozen in place, his eyes comically wide.

for a second, everything was dead silent.

then rafe turned back to her, his tongue darting out to taste the blood at the corner of his mouth, and to her horror- he laughed.

a deep, guttural, unhinged laugh.

"you fucking bitch," he snarled, lunging forward, but kelce and topper were already stepping between them, holding him back.

valentina shook out her hand, ignoring the sharp sting in her knuckles as she stepped back, her chest heaving. "say one more fucking word about him, rafe. i dare you."

she didn't wait for him to say another word as she spun on her heel, marching toward her car, her hands shaking with fury while rafe shoved past kelce and topper, storming after her like a fucking maniac.

"where you going, princess?" he chased after her, his voice ringing out behind her. "you running back to him now? gonna go play house with the broke-ass bitch?" he let out a mocking gasp. "oh wait, no house, right? what is it this time? sleeping in his busted car? or is he crashing under some dock like the stray dog he is?"

valentina yanked open her car door, but before she could slam it shut, rafe was there, his hands gripping the window frame. "you think he actually gives a shit about you?" his face was twisted with something almost manic, his chest rising and falling rapidly. "that he won't toss you aside the second he gets bored? just like your old man did?"

"fuck you rafe!"

she slammed the door so hard it nearly caught his fingers, her tires screeched as she tore out of the driveway. in the rearview mirror, rafe was chasing her car, his face contorted with rage, his fists swinging wildly in the air.

he continued to chase after her for a few feet before finally stopping, watching her taillights disappear down the road. his chest rose and fell rapidly, his jaw clenched so tight it ached.

"dude. she clocked the fuck outta you." kelce let out a low whistle, and rafe's eye twitched, pushing both topper and kelce aside.

"she wants to act like a fucking pogue?" he muttered darkly, flexing his sore jaw. "she'll get treated like one."

meanwhile valentina's hands were gripping the wheel so tight, her entire body shaking with pure, unfiltered anger, but she didn't look back. she just kept driving.

her mind raced with frantic energy, each thought more troubling than the last. if there was one thing she understood about rafe cameron, it was that nothing good came from him finding out things he wasn't supposed to know. he didn't just let things slide- he used them as weapons, twisted them, manipulated them into whatever shape suited his need for control. and now, in the aftermath of their fight, that nagging fear gripped her like a vice, squeezing every ounce of comfort from her body.

but it wasn't just fear; it was frustration, anger, and exhaustion all mixed together. her stomach twisted, the adrenaline in her veins making her feel slightly nauseous as she thought of what rafe might do. would he come after her? jj? the pogues? the possibilities were endless, and none of them ended well.

she was fucking pissed, and not just on her own behalf, but on jj's, too. rafe had always been a bad person, but the way he'd snapped today? that was different. that was next-level crazy. she couldn't shake the image of his eyes- wild, unhinged, like a man teetering on the edge of losing whatever grip he had left on reality. the way he'd looked at her, with that manic gleam, like he was ready to explode. the memory of it replayed in her mind, over and over, a broken record she couldn't stop.

she exhaled shakily, dragging a hand through her hair as she tried to calm herself, but it was impossible. her pulse thrummed in her ears, and her jaw ached from how tightly she'd been clenching it. she hated feeling like this- on edge, helpless, as though she was caught in a web she hadn't even realized she'd stepped into

she had no idea how, but she needed to find a way to stay ahead of this. because if rafe cameron had even the slightest reason to turn his attention to her, she knew she was in for hell.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

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after driving around aimlessly, her previous anger slowly curdled into something worse- panic. the realization hit her like a gut punch. she had nowhere to go. no bed to crash in, no safe place to breathe, no doors that wouldn't eventually lock her out. she could call pope, maybe even sarah, but neither option felt right. not when she needed something else. something stable. something familiar.

her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly before she finally made a turn, heading to the only place that never failed to bring her a temporary sense of normality.

arthur's bar.

the parking lot was fuller than she expected for this time of day, and even through the closed car window, she could hear the hum of overlapping voices, bursts of laughter rising over the sound of clinking glasses. the moment she stepped out, her heels clicked against the pavement, but the lively atmosphere swallowed the sound whole.

pushing open the heavy wooden doors, she let the warmth of the bar wash over her. the scent of aged whiskey and fried food filled the air, a stark contrast to the sterile luxury she was used to. her eyes flickered to her usual spot at the bar, and a small, relieved smile tugged at her lips when she saw it was still empty.

she slid onto the stool, resting her elbows on the counter, and rapped her knuckles against the wood with exaggerated flair before clearing her throat dramatically.

arthur, busy with a glass in his hands, turned around at the sound. his thick brows lifted in surprise, and for a split second, he just blinked at her like she was a damn ghost. then, as if something clicked, his eyes lit up as a warm smile settled on his lips.

"well, i'll be damned," he exclaimed, setting the glass down with a clatter before throwing his hands up. "thought my eyes were deceiving me for a sec there. hey, sweetheart."

"hi, arthur," she greeted, smoothing her hair down. her gaze flickered to the pile of dishes behind him, and she gestured toward them. "need help?"

he scoffed, blowing a raspberry as he waved a dismissive hand. "nah, just sit there and look pretty, will ya?"

her eyes widened playfully as she raised her hands in surrender. "alright, captain. my apologies," she teased, flashing a grin.

arthur chuckled, shaking his head before leaning on the counter, his observant gaze scanning her face with a little too much familiarity.

"now, tell me- what are you doin' here, huh?"

her mind raced, trying to formulate the words, but they just wouldn't come. what could she tell him? that she was chasing after a treasure with a group of people she wasn't supposed to even be near? the same treasure that got her own mother killed? that she almost shot someone- her old dealer who had tried to steal from them, all over some gold? or that her life had turned into one long, messy series of bad decisions?

and then there was rafe- she could barely even think of him without her heart racing in anger and fear. and what about her father?

"can't a girl just visit her favorite old man?" she tried for nonchalance, giving him a playful smirk, but arthur's expression remained unimpressed. he knew her too well, so she let her shoulders sag and let out a heavy sigh. "dad kinda threw me out."

she figured that response was the safest, but boy oh boy, how wrong she was.

the words had barely left her mouth before arthur reeled back, his expression darkening like a brewing storm.

"WHAT?!" his voice boomed through the bar, rattling glasses and bringing every conversation to a screeching halt, causing Valentina to groan, dragging a hand over her face as she felt every set of eyes in the bar turn toward them.

arthur glanced around at the stunned crowd, then cleared his throat loudly. "my bad! carry on, folks!" he gave them all a sheepish grin before turning back to her, eyes still blazing.

"attention seeker." she muttered, shaking her head. arthur, however, was still fuming, his large hands flexing as if he were barely restraining himself.

"that son of a bitch." his voice was quieter this time, but no less furious. "what'd he do, huh? put his hands on you?"

she hesitated for a beat too long, and arthur cursed under his breath, standing up straighter.

"you know i'll kill him, right?"

valentina gave him a small, tired smile, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes- gratitude, maybe. "that won't be necessary." she muttered.

arthur's expression darkened, and for a moment, he just stared at her, something unreadable flickering in his gaze. "where're you staying?"

"i- i don't know yet." she hesitated, and his nostrils flared.

"jesus christ, kid."

"i can figure it out, okay?" she rushed to say, holding up a hand. "i always do."

"ain't right." arthur exhaled, running a hand over his bearded face. "you know this place is always yours, sweetheart."

she swallowed past the sudden tightness in her throat. "no, arthur its not a big deal-"

"the hell it ain't a big deal," arthur shook his head, pacing behind the bar as he muttered curses under his breath, his frustration making his movements harsher than usual. he grabbed a glass, filled it with her usual drink, and slid it in front of her before slamming the bottle down on the counter, hard enough to make her jump.

"that motherfucker," he hissed, shaking his head as if even saying the words weren't enough to get the anger out of his system. "throwing out his own daughter like some goddamn stray. who the hell does he think he is? just because he's got money, he thinks he can treat people like trash? fuckin' coward, that's what he is."

valentina swallowed hard, staring at the drink in front of her, her fingers tracing the condensation on the glass. arthur had always seen through her, never let her bullshit her way around the truth, and right now, she wasn't sure if she wanted to hear it.

"i'm fine." she mumbled, though even she didn't believe it.

arthur let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "yeah? and i'm the goddamn queen of england." he rested his hands on the counter, leaning in slightly. "you ain't fine, val, and you don't gotta pretend you are. at least not with me."

"the queen of england is dead..." she trailed off, and the man rolled his eyes.

"don't change the subject."

"i'm not." she exhaled through her nose, pressing her lips together before sighing. "i just need to figure out where i'm staying, that's all."

"no you don't," he shot back, shaking his head. "you're stayin' here. end of discussion."

valentina rubbed at her temples, already knowing arthur wouldn't let it go, but she needed to get out of here. needed to make sure jj was okay.

"i might," she admitted, glancing up at him. "but first, i have to go to the chateau."

"the hell you need to go there for?" arthur frowned, his thick brows pulling together. "doesn't the routledge kid live there?"

"i need to see if jj's there," she said finally, her fingers tightening around her glass. "the group had a little... fight."

"luke's kid?" his eyes widened, his stance shifting, his body tensing.

she nodded, pressing her lips into a thin line. "i don't know where he is. i don't know if he's okay."

arthur let out a deep breath, muttering something under his breath that she didn't quite catch before shaking his head. "that deadbeat bastard." his voice was low, tight with anger. "luke maybank don't deserve to have a kid like jj."

valentina scoffed. "he really doesn't." her voice was sharper now, her own anger flaring in her chest as she thought about all the bruises she'd seen on jj's skin, the busted lip he'd shrugged off with a joke at midsummer's. "jj acts like he doesn't care, but i know he does."

arthur's jaw clenched, his fingers flexing as if he was fighting the urge to hit something. "kid's got a heart too damn big for his own good. and that sorry excuse of a father? i'd break his goddamn nose if i ever got the chance, same goes to yours."

"get in line."

the man exhaled sharply, shaking his head again before looking at her, really looking at her. "how the hell did you even get mixed up with those boys anyway?"

"what do you mean?" valentina blinked, caught off guard by the question.

"i mean," arthur said, crossing his arms. "how does a girl like you end up runnin' around with a bunch of pogues? john b, jj-  thought you kooks didn't mix with them."

"you know i'm not like that. and i've been friends with pope for years- you know this." she laughed, shaking her head as she leaned against the counter.

arthur let out a small chuckle, shaking his head as he wiped down the counter. "yeah, i remember when you first told me about him. you were, what, ten? came runnin' in here with your mama, talkin' my ear off about some kid you met at the math team."

"yeah. pope was one of the first real friends i ever had, i think. he got along with mom really well, too." valentina's expression softened, a small, genuine smile appearing on her lips. "one of my best friends. always has been."

"that boy's got a good head on his shoulders. unlike some of these other knuckleheads you hang around." the man nodded, a proud grin pulling at his lips, and valentina scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"oh, please. you're just biased because pope's dad delivers you food."

"damn right i am," arthur shot back with a laugh. then, his expression softened again, and he gave her a knowing look. "that boy's sharp as a damn tack, always thought he'd end up doin' somethin' big. and he's got a good heart. stuck by you all these years, huh?"

she nodded, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on the counter. "yeah. even when it didn't make sense for him to."

arthur scoffed, shaking his head. "well, i'll tell you what, val- pope's got more sense in his little finger than half the folks on this island. he knew what he was doin' stickin' by you."

"i don't know about that. i think he just saw something in me that i didn't." she chuckled, though there was something bittersweet in her eyes.

arthur studied her for a moment, noting the way her expression flickered between nostalgia and something heavier, something unspoken, and he sighed, reaching for a clean glass. "well, i'd say you got yourself a damn good friend in him."

she hummed in agreement, but her mind was already elsewhere, drifting toward the people who had come into her life more recently- the ones who had made everything more complicated, yet somehow made her feel more alive than she had in years.

arthur narrowed his eyes slightly, setting the glass down with a knowing smirk, purposely deciding to change the subject to something lighter in the hopes it would get her mind off all the things that weighed her down.

"you keep talkin' 'bout pope like he's the only pogue in your life, but i got a feeling there's another one who's got your attention lately."

"what are you talking about?" valentina furrowed her brows, feigning confusion.

arthur let out a deep, amused chuckle, shaking his head. "oh, come on, sweetheart. don't play dumb with me. i've been around long enough to know when a girl's got a boy on her mind." he leaned forward, resting his arms on the counter. "and i hear people talkin'. folks can't stay quiet on this island."

valentina's posture stiffened for a split second before she scoffed, shaking her head. "what do you mean 'talking'?"

arthur smirked, tapping a finger against the counter as he watched her squirm. "i mean, people see things, val. they talk. and lately? all anyone's been saying is how little miss archibald has been runnin' around with a certain blond troublemaker."

"oh, please. jj? you think- no. that's ridiculous." valentina scoffed, shaking her head, but arthur merely hummed, clearly unconvinced.

"mmm. so it's just a coincidence that every time i hear your name lately, his ain't too far behind?"

her jaw dropped. "excuse me?"

"i call it like i see it. and from what i hear? he ain't exactly subtle." arthur shrugged, completely unbothered.

"jj and i are just friends. that's it." she rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest.

arthur let out a slow, exaggerated "mmm-hmm," wiping the counter with a smirk.

"what? why are you looking at me like that?" valentina narrowed her eyes.

"because you ain't foolin' nobody. not me, not this town, and sure as hell not yourself." arthur set the rag down and leaned in. valentina stiffened, her fingers pausing in their idle tracing on the counter.

"oh, please," she scoffed, rolling her eyes. "jj is just- he's stupid, i barely even know him like that, and- "

arthur barked out a laugh. "yeah, yeah, keep goin'. he's reckless, irritating- what else? handsome? got you all flustered just thinkin' about him?"

"i'm not flustered." her cheeks burned as she straightened her posture, crossing her arms while arthur raised a brow, grinning like he had just won a bet.

"sure you're not. that's why you're sittin' here, all stiff and defensive. come on, val, i may be old, but i ain't blind. you got that look in your eye- the same one your mama had when she first started talkin' about your daddy. all wide-eyed and stubborn like you got somethin' to prove."

valentina huffed, shaking her head as if that would shake off the heat creeping up her neck. "jj is just my friend." she muttered.

arthur smirked. "uh-huh. and i suppose that's why you're sittin' here worried sick about whether or not he showed up at john b's." arthur smirked, and valentina pressed her lips into a thin line.

"i just need to make sure he's okay," she admitted quietly. "he's my friend, it's normal to be worried about a friend."

"you can empathize on the word friend all you want, but you still ain't fooling me." arthur sighed, leaning on the counter again.

"whatever." valentina rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched. "if you tell manny or joe about this-"

"hey, i ain't sayin' nothin' to nobody, my lips are sealed." his smirk widened, watching valentina with that all-too-knowing glint in his eye. "but just so you know," he began, voice slow and deliberate, like he was savoring the moment, "i ain't just been hearing stories about you two."

valentina, who had been reaching for a napkin to fidget with, stilled. her head snapped toward him, brows furrowed in confusion.

"what?"

"what, what?" arthur tilted his head, feigning innocence as he laughed under his breath.

"what the hell are you talking about?" she narrowed her eyes as arthur chuckled, shaking his head as if she were the biggest fool on the island.

"oh, sweetheart. don't tell me you already forgot?"

"forgot what, exactly? you're being cryptic." she scoffed, though her heart was beating out of her chest. had he seen something?

arthur's smirk only grew. he tapped his fingers against the counter in rhythm, dragging out the moment. "the last time you were here."

valentina's lips parted slightly before pressing into a thin line, quickly looking down, pretending to be interested in the rings on her fingers, but arthur saw the flicker of recognition in her expression, and he let out a low chuckle.

"aha. there it is. that little look." he pointed a finger at her. "you do remember."

"nope. no idea what you're talking about." valentina shook her head too quickly.

arthur let out a long, dramatic sigh. "princess, you left here drunker than a sailor on shore leave. and guess who was already with you when i came lookin' for you?"

"i have a lot of people who care about me." she shrugged, trying to keep up her act. "could've been anyone."

arthur let out a short laugh, raising an eyebrow. "oh, sure. anyone." he leaned in slightly, voice dropping like he was sharing a juicy secret. "but it wasn't just anyone, was it? you wanna tell me who it was?"

her mouth opened, then snapped shut.

"go on. say it." arthur tapped his fingers on the counter.

"i don't have to say shit." she glared, and arthur laughed.

"i'll say it for ya, then. jj damn maybank."

valentina sucked in a slow breath through her nose, tilting her head in feigned boredom, though she could feel her heart pulsing from just hearing his name.

"okay? so?"

"oh, so she does remember." arthur shook his head, utterly delighted, while she groaned, rubbing her temples.

"arthur, what's your point?"

"my point," he said, dragging out the word, "is that that boy seems to be coming into your life when you need it the most. that night is a perfect example. "

"that doesn't mean anything." valentina rolled her eyes so hard they nearly got stuck. "it was just a coincidence."

arthur let out a deep, exaggerated sigh. "you know, i might've believed that- except for the part where i stepped outside and saw that boy with his arms wrapped around you like you were the damn crown jewels."

valentina's face burned, but she quickly masked it with a scoff. "you're so dramatic. i was a little tipsy. he was just making sure i didn't trip and eat pavement."

"oh, sweetheart, he wasn't just making sure you didn't trip. that boy was holding onto you like he was afraid you'd disappear if he let go." he let out an amused snort, and valentina waved a dismissive hand, though her heart was pounding.

"you need glasses, your sight is getting worse." she pressed her lips into a thin like. "probably because you're so old."

arthur ignored her. "had his arms all tight around you, whisperin' somethin' to you, real close." he squinted as if replaying the memory. "i swear, he looked like he was about to carry you to your damn car."

"well, he didn't. because i walked there myself." valentina crossed her arms, exhaling sharply, while the man grinned.

"only 'cause he had you tucked up against him the whole way."

she let out an aggravated sound. "oh my god, arthur, it was not that deep!"

"sweetheart, i've been a bartender longer than you've been alive. i know when a man is gone for a girl. and jj?" he shook his head with a grin. "that boy is gone for you."

"you don't know anything." valentina sucked in a sharp breath, tilting her head back in frustration. "why are you like this?! why can't you just let me live?!"

"it's my job to know things, sweetheart." arthur chuckled, clearly enjoying every second of her suffering.

"it is not your job to be the island's biggest pain in my ass!"

"tell maybank to come inside next time! i'll pour him a drink, on the house!" he just grinned wider as valentina's eyes widened.

"arthur!" she groaned, reaching for a stray napkin just to throw it at him. he dodged it effortlessly, laughing as she glared at him.

"what?" he asked innocently, though his grin told her he was anything but. "you got it bad."

"i do not have it bad," she argued, crossing her arms. "if anything, jj has it bad for me."

"so you're admitting he's into you?" arthur grinned in victory. valentina's mouth opened, then immediately snapped shut as she realized she had walked right into his trap.

"oh, for fuck's sake," she groaned, throwing her hands up. "this man is delusional, everyone."

"sure, honey." he shot back. "now, you gonna sit there and keep lyin' to yourself, or you gonna go check on your boy?"

"i hate you." she let out a dramatic sigh, standing from her stool, and arthur chuckled, shaking his head.

"no, you don't."

she shot him a playful glare before turning for the door, but before she could leave, his voice stopped her.

"hey, sweetheart," he called, and when she turned, he gave her a rare, serious look. "you be careful, alright?"

"promise." she smiled, her eyes softening while arthur sighed, rubbing a hand down his face.

"you go check on him, but after that? you come back here. no runnin' around in the middle of the night like you got nothin' to lose."

she hesitated, but the look he gave her left no room for argument. "yeah," she murmured. "i'll come back."

"good." he pointed a finger at her. "and don't make me come lookin' for you, valentina."

"we'll see."

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

🪷 . . . MAISSA !
hi angelsssss

i love arthur a lot actually, so i decided to bring him back, and lucas will be back soon #trust. so much is happening in this story rn & i lowk forgot about him oops...

also don't mind how corny this is getting but it felt unrealistic for me to not make it corny if that makes sense???

anyways i love you allll!!!!