❝ You can be the most beautiful person in the world and everybody sees light and rainbows when they look at you, but if you yourself don't know it, all of that doesn't even matter. ❞
ADALAINE AIROLDI spends every second doubting her worth, spending...
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Jj Maybank is an emotional hurricane in full force. But the blond Pogue had been there for Adalaine in more ways than she could count on ten fingers, so in her mind, helping him was the least she could do.
Though now it was much later in the evening, and after convincing Kiara and Pope who were incredibly concerned for their friend that she would be okay to handle it on her own, they went back to getting prepared for the next day. It took a little bit of convincing on Adalaine's part to get him out of the hot tub and into the shower, but after a multitude of reassuring kind words and a dozen kisses on his forehead, he agreed.
"Aren't you curious?" Jj mumbles as the brunette strokes his damp blond locks. It had been awfully silent in the guest room, but Adalaine wasn't sure what to do or say- she wanted him to be comfortable starting the conversation.
"Of course I am," Adalaine voices quietly, the softness in her tone is enough for Jj to close his eyes in contentedness.
"Then why aren't you asking me?"
"It's not my place to ask," she says with a simple shrug. "I want you to know that I'm here to listen to you Jj, but I'm not going to force you to tell me anything. That's- that's just not fair,"
"My dad's a druggie and alcoholic," he says, with a bitterness in his voice. "I-I went home to show him that I could get my shit together and pay for the restitution. But he wanted to spend it on a fucking car Nia. When I tried to take it back he beat the shit out of me,"
Adalaine doesn't mean to tear up, but the reality of Jj's life is so horrid- and unfortunately, the brunette can pull pieces together. The blond boy had done his hardest to keep the horror from Adalaine, but frankly, it was bound to happen.
"Oh Jj," she speaks softly, placing a delicate kiss on his forehead. "You don't deserve that, I'm so sorry,"
"It's just been me and him for years," he continues, "I've just gotten used to it I guess,"
"So the bruises the other day... always staying here..."
"It's to try and stay safe," Jj confirms with a short nod.
"Thank you for telling me," Adalaine says sincerely, interlocking their hands together. "I- I want to do everything I can to help, okay?"
"I don't deserve you," Jj says distractedly, alcohol sits in his system and his mind goes into an inward battle of how much to say. But this wasn't the time, and though the guilt was beginning to be far too much to handle- the alcohol would do the talking and Adalaine deserves more than that. Even in his distracted mind, he knows that much. "I've really messed up Nia,"
"You're fine Jj," she says reassuringly, rubbing his back as he sits up straight. The brunette couldn't help but feel determined to brighten his word- despite the curiosity on what he meant. "Come on... one day you are gonna get off this island, we'll go to Italy!"
