𝐢𝐢𝐢. throuple goals! ( p + a )

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CHAPTER THREE
❝a tornado flew around my room before you came, excuse the mess it made.❞

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚


ARIANNA DASHED through the bustling camp, her heart pounding as she scanned the area for Rio. She'd already told Estelle about her departure, but leaving without saying goodbye to him felt wrong.

Plus, she needed something important from him before she left.

After a few frantic minutes, she spotted him by the archery range, chatting with two familiar girls. Even from a distance, Arianna recognized them—Keke and Carmen. She identified them instantly—She'd spoken with them several times, and knew from those encounters that they were leagues above Rio.

"Well, you'll have to teach me sometime then," Rio grinned, flashing his signature dimples and white teeth. Keke and Carmen laughed and nodded, clearly charmed by his easy going demeanor.

Arianna rolled her eyes, amused at his efforts to woo two girls at once. Clearing her throat, she lightly patted Rio's arm. The girls looked over and waved, greeting her with genuine smiles. "Hi, sorry to interrupt. I just need to borrow Rio for a moment."

With a slightly annoyed glance, Rio reluctantly followed her to a patch of grass further from the range. Behind them, the pair of girls resumed their animated conversation, seemingly unaffected by Rio's absence. They definitely didn't need him to have a good time.

Once they were alone, Rio crossed his arms, raising a brow in playful annoyance. "What's up, Ari? I was kind of in the middle of something."

Arianna shot a teasing look over her shoulder. "Oh, I saw. In the middle of two girls way out of your league."

"Shut it," he scoffed, glaring at her. "They're into me, okay?"

"Totally," she replied, feigning a serious expression. "Are they close?"

He looked puzzled. "Uh, yeah, I think so? They seem pretty tight. Why does that matter?"

Arianna couldn't hold back a laugh and clapped her hands in excitement. "Perfect! You can be a throuple!"

Rio groaned, throwing his head back in frustration. "Shut up, keep your dating advice to yourself. Just tell me what's going on."

Her laughter faded, replaced by a more hesitant look as she bit her lip. "I'm going on the quest."

His face shifted from irritation to shock. "Wait, what?"

"The quest I told you about earlier," she said, her voice quieter now. "It's happening."

He exhaled sharply, a mixture of pride and worry crossing his face. "Damn, Ari. I'm happy for you." He pinched her side playfully before resuming. "But uh...are you good?"

She offered him a small, hesitant smile. "I'm terrified, honestly."

Rio's expression softened. "I figured. How are you planning to handle...you know?"

Arianna took a shaky breath. "I'm not really sure. I'll have Annie with me, though, so hopefully that helps."

"Just...promise me you'll be careful," he said, his tone protective. "If things start getting overwhelming, back off. Don't try to be a hero, It won't help anything."

Arianna nodded, giving him a more confident smile. "I won't, promise. Oh, and I need the necklace now."

Rio raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Now? I thought that we hadn't fully understood its abilities."

𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋!¹ p. jackson Where stories live. Discover now