𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐓 ― rafe cameron

ογδόνταδύο ; 82

song of the chapter:
HOBBES ; tyler burkhart

Hours had slipped away in the cool night air, and Margarita hadn't realized how exhausted she was until sleep had pulled her under. The distant hum of laughter and music from inside the Chateau faded, and she found herself drifting off on the old couch outside, the stars twinkling above her like silent witnesses to her thoughts.

When she woke, the sky had shifted to a deep, velvety black, and the sounds of the night had settled into something softer. Margarita blinked, adjusting to the dim light from the porch, the warmth of her body slowly returning as the chill of the night hit her.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes. Her head felt heavy, and for a moment, she wasn't sure where she was. Then the voices from inside pulled her back to reality. Through the open door, she could see Sarah, John B, and Pope still sitting around the living room, deep in conversation. But something was off. JJ and Kie were nowhere to be seen.

A knot formed in her stomach.

She stood, stretching her legs and trying to shake off the drowsiness as she stepped quietly toward the door. The laughter had died down, and the mood inside felt more subdued, like the remnants of a night winding down. Margarita hovered in the doorway, unnoticed for a moment, taking in the scene.

John B spotted her first. "Hey, sleeping beauty," he teased with a grin, his voice still light, but his eyes flickered with something unspoken. "You missed some wild stories."

Margarita gave a tired smile but didn't respond right away. She glanced around, her brow furrowing slightly. "Where's Kie? And JJ?" she asked, her voice casual, but she couldn't hide the tension creeping in.

Pope shifted in his seat, glancing at Sarah before answering. "They took off a while ago," he said, avoiding her gaze. "Not sure where. Probably to cool off."

"Cool off?" Margarita repeated, her heart skipping a beat. She stepped further inside, leaning against the doorframe. "What do you mean?"

Sarah sighed, her eyes full of sympathy. "Things got a little heated after you fell asleep," she explained softly, setting her beer down. "JJ's been... I don't know, acting weird. I think he's been picking up on the vibe lately, you know?"

Margarita's heart sank. She knew exactly what Sarah meant—the vibe between her and JJ hadn't been right for days. He'd been so patient, so understanding, but there was only so much he could take before noticing that something wasn't adding up. She had tried to keep things steady between them, but JJ wasn't oblivious. He could feel the distance she'd been putting between them.

"I didn't think he'd..." Margarita trailed off, her voice barely a whisper as she tried to piece together what might've happened. "What did he say?"

John B rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "It wasn't a fight or anything, but he definitely wasn't himself. Kie pulled him aside, and they left together to talk, I guess. Didn't say much before they took off."

Margarita's stomach twisted. The thought of JJ and Kie alone, talking about her, about the state of things, filled her with a sense of dread. Kie had always been close to JJ, and though she trusted her friend, she couldn't help but wonder what was being said behind closed doors.

Sarah stood and walked over to Margarita, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Maybe you should talk to him. Clear the air," she suggested gently, her expression soft with concern. "I know he cares about you, but if something's off, you gotta figure it out."

Margarita nodded, her mind swirling with the weight of everything. "Yeah," she murmured, though her voice didn't carry much conviction. She wanted to talk to JJ, to set things straight, but a part of her feared what he might say—what she might have to admit to herself in the process.

Pope stood up, grabbing his jacket. "I'll go check if they're still around," he offered, his tone reassuring. "Maybe they didn't go far."

Margarita watched as Pope disappeared out the door, her heart thudding in her chest. She couldn't ignore it anymore—JJ had felt the shift between them, and now the choice she had been avoiding was creeping up on her. Maybe it had already been made for her.

Minutes felt like hours as she stood there, waiting, unsure of what was to come. Her mind raced, a swirl of thoughts and emotions tangling together. She cared about JJ, but the truth she'd been pushing aside was becoming undeniable: she didn't love him the way he needed to be loved.

After what felt like an eternity, Pope returned, his expression unreadable.

"They're gone," he said simply, hands shoved into his pockets. "Took JJ's bike. I don't think they're coming back tonight."

The room fell into a heavy silence. Margarita's heart sank further, the weight of everything pressing down on her. JJ had left, and maybe that was all the answer she needed.

--- end of chapter