𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 ~ 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 , 𝐣𝐣 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five: 
Mastermind
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

"No," Fallon let her arms fall to her sides as she pulled her eyes away from the horizon as Pope walked down the dock to talk to Kie. "No, John."

"What?" John B rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. He scanned her face, an annoyed glint in his hazel irises as he followed her movements. "Seriously, what?"

"This isn't just 'no big deal'," She pointed out, her eyes narrowing in a harsh glare. "This is Kie's feelings, my best friend, no, our best friend's feelings that we're talking about here. I'm not about to let this slide, John."

JJ let out a low whistle, rustling his hair as he turned his attention onto anything other than Fallon's scolding gaze she forced onto John B. Somehow, he felt sheepish and as if he were the one on the receiving end of her fast-paced scolding, yet it was John B. "Busted.."

"You know what?" John B rolled his eyes, a mix between a scoff and a laugh escaping his lips as he dropped his hands to his sides. "I deserve to be happy too!"

"Yes, you do!" Fallon agreed, her cold stare flashing with a look of warmth and understanding, A brief moment, John B had barely caught sight of the look before it was gone again, replaced with the cold and unforgiving look from moments before. "I never said you didn't, John." 

It was rare to see Fallon in this state. She'd usually keep her opinions to herself, hardly ever launching into an argument with someone, let alone any of her friends. On the rare occasion she did, it was usually directed towards Rafe or Topper, even Kelce. 

JJ was used to seeing love and warmth in her eyes whenever he looked at her. It was part of the reason he was drawn to her in the first place. With his harsh conditions at home, and how his dad looked at him. 

He'd begun to believe what his dad said. But when Fallon looked at him so tenderly, and smiled so kindly, when she whispered to him that she believed he was good, and that he could be good, he knew his dad had to be wrong. He knew it in his heart that she was right, and no matter how hard his dad would try to make him feel small, he would always come out on the other side.

"You just did!" John B argued, throwing his hands up in exaggeration. "Kie's happiness isn't any more important than mine! I deserve it too, Fallon."

JJ rose his eyebrows, blowing out a puff of air as he glanced up at Fallon. "I don't think she did, bro."

"You deserve it the most right now, especially after everything you've gone through. But that doesn't change the fact-"

"What fact?" John B interrupted harshly, crossing his arms. He followed her actions as she hurriedly pulled on her tie-dye sandals, biting her lip to  prevent herself from saying something she would regret later. "What fact, Fallon?"

"Kie's hurt, John. And if Sarah's in, Kie's out. So, I'm out too." Fallon interrupted, gesturing loosely to the window, her other hand resting on the chateau's door handle,  "Put yourself in someone else's shoes for once."

JJ grimaced as the door slammed behind Fallon, shaking his head as John B let out a loud groan, covering his face with his hands. "Jesus Christ!"

"Good luck with that one, bro." JJ laughed to himself as he stood from the couch. John B shot him a sharp look, "Kie and Fallon.. both mad at you, sheesh. You are an idiot."

"Thanks, JJ, really." John B scoffed, "Real helpful."

"I'm not the one who lost two Pogues in the span of what," JJ paused to look down at his his wrist, "Thirty minutes? If that?"