✧*̥˚RISK TAKERS *̥˚✧ J.M 3

012

┊͙✧˖*°࿐
Because love can burn like a cigarette
TV Girl

Aria kept her gaze away from his as she stared down at her feet, "Hey, look. My parents didn't even wanna let me out of the house, but I told them I had to come check on you."

"Well, it's not me you have to worry about." JJ exhaled with a strong tone, throwing his wrench down onto the makeshift table.

Aria snapped her head up towards him, furrowing her brows as a line creased her forehead, "J, what's up? Something's bugging you. Did something happen with Kie?"

JJ lifted his hat and fixed his thick blond hair, something he did when he was frustrated, placing the hat back on his head with a shrug, "No, Aria. I mean, like, what are we doing? You know? Like... Look at you. You got your new threads on. Look at me. What do I got? This? This piece of shit?"

JJ threw the metal workshop tools to the ground, the metal clanking loudly making Aria jump as he panted madly, "Getting kicked out of this place in three weeks anyway. Shit, I don't got parents right now. Why would you care? Why would you care? I'm just some loser that..."

Aria put her hands up in plead, "JJ."

"You don't do care. No, you don't!" JJ screamed, as if he was internally trying to convince himself of it.

Aria cringed at his words, "Yes I do! I do care!"

"No, you got parents that live in Figure Eight, you know? You know..." JJ shook his head, his mouth in a deep frown as his chest heaved.

Aria stood in front of him, a good distance between them, "That's not my fault."

"That's your future." He breathed, panting even more, "You got that."

Arias expression and tone softened, watching him pace around his front yard, "Look, if you need us, we're gonna help you. I'm... I'll help."

He whipped around like she had just insulted him, pointing his finger directly at her with a loud voice, "It's that right there. Okay? Like... It's so easy for you to say that. You know why? Because you're a Kook. You're a Kook, Aria."

Aria rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I'm a Kook. I'm a Kook, JJ! I was a Kook when I first met you on the dock, right? I was a Kook when you told me loved me, right? I was a Kook when I choose you over my family, right?"

JJ's face scrunched up as she yelled, her emotion tearing him into pieces, "That's not what I'm talking about. God!"

He got on his bike, Aria hurrying to step in front of it, pressing her palms over his knuckles, "Stop trying to run away from your problems."

"I'm not running away. I just don't want to talk to you." JJ responded coldly, almost as if he didn't even care that he said it.

Aria could feel her bottom lip quiver, stammering back at his harsh words, "Fine, JJ. But then that's it. We're done. Why don't you go mack Kiara."

She could hear him grunt as she turned away from him, quietly sobbing, holding her hands over her face as she struggled to pick up her bike, hearing his motorcycle rev off in the distance.

The street was a blur as she peddled, feeling the tears burning her eyes, the feeling of regret making her throat tight. She wiped her tears as she glanced up at the large white house owned to the Cameron's.

Ari assumed no one was home, thinking there was no way Rafe would make it back this quick. She placed her back against the side of her house before crossing lawns onto the Cameron's property.

She picked up the fake rock disguised with other rocks, sliding out the bottom as the key sparkled in her hand, she closed the rock, dropping it to the floor as she unlocked the door.

It was completely silent, a small sigh of relief leaving her lips as she crept up the spinning staircase, she juggled the doorknob to Wards office, pushing it in with her hip. The door hadn't been opened in so long, it was nearly glued shut. She shut the door with her back, realizing her dad never gave her a complete description of what he was looking for.

She opened draws, maneuvered through stacks of papers, dust flying around her. Her brows furrowed as she stared at the painting surrounded by bookshelves, she lifted her fingers to the side of it, the front of it coming out like a small secret door. Her eyes widened.

Thinking there was a code, she rolled her eyes and stupidly just turned the knob, she stepped back when it started to beep, green lights flashing. It had unlocked.

Aria breathed deeply, not knowing what could be inside, she walked closer, her eyes falling to the folded up piece of paper inside, she tilted her head, reaching for it. She closed the safe and heard it click, then she closed the portrait. Her hands working to unfold the crumbled paper.

She gasped lowly as the map was displayed on the old paper, revealing a map to the so called, El Dorado. Her heart sank, now knowing her father had to have some connection to Singh. The same man that would've put a bullet through her skull if he got the chance.

She faced the window, her fingertips trailing along the map lines until she reached the top, the thin but sharp corner of the paper slicing her fingertip.

Aria hissed at the sting, dropping the map on the table.

"Papercut?" A voice taunted, making her jump and spin around.

Only to be faced with someone she wanted to avoid for the rest of her life, she grabbed the edge of the table hard, remembering their last encounter.

"Rafe..." Aria swallowed as he stepped closer.

authors note!
not the cliffhanger 🤭