Maddy and valerie sat next to each other on the sand of the dark, windy and quiet beach. they seemed to be the only ones there, which was understandable due to the time being midnight.

valerie hugged her flowy, comfortable pajama pants closer to her body, listening to the waves crash against each other and the wind that sounding like whistles.

maddy looked at her younger sister, her eyes lowly squinted. earlier in the day when she had texted her and found out she had left school early, she had guessed she went with ashtray, like usual. but when she saw ashtray walk out of the school alone, and then came home to find valerie laid out on her bed, her face deep in her pillow and a show playing on her tv, she assumed something was wrong.

a couple weeks ago maddy had overheard her parents talking about her little sister, one thing in particular that made her stomach feel icky and made her even a little angry, but nothing more than upset. she chose to not believe it was true, her mother worried a lot, and was very dramatic. but maddy couldn't help but wonder if that's what was wrong with valerie.

"you okay?" maddy nudged her with her knee.

valerie felt she was battling with her thoughts. so many things went through her mind, and no matter how much she tried to stop them, they stayed there. the bad, and the good ones. they made her feel like she was just creating problems that weren't actually there, because of the fact that half her bad thoughts weren't caused by anything, they were just... there?

"do you know about the rumor at school?" valerie asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"the rumor? no?" maddy furrowed her eyebrows.

at that point, people valerie didn't even know, knew. telling her sister wasn't going to change anything. so with a sigh, she told maddy was almost happened to the day she went to that park not too far away from their house, along with the fight between xander and ashtray and then yesterday, the last day of school when valerie found out people knew.

maddys heart dropped a little, heading valerie say those things. what she didn't want to believe, was true. she hated thinking that almost happened to her sister, or that a guy would even think about doing something like that to someone like valerie, and the fact that she didn't have a clue about it.

"val..." maddy whispered, not knowing what words to say.

valerie gave her a small smile, "it's just the fact that people know, and think more happened than it actually did, i guess." she shrugged, pausing. "but, i'm okay."

maybe if maddy and valerie were still as close as they used to be, maddy would've been able to tell that valerie was lying to her, but maddy believed that she was okay. "i'm so sorry." maddy told her, wrapping her arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer to her.

valerie let out a sigh, almost a sigh of relief. she needed comfort, at that moment it didn't matter who gave it to her, but she was glad it was maddy. "maddy?"

maddy hummed, "hm?"

valerie let silence fill the air for a second, before saying, "do you think i should forgive victoria and dani?"

maddy wasn't the one to tell anyone about forgiving people, but she tried her best to give good advice to her little sister, anyway. "i don't know, val. do you think you should?"

bitting onto her bottom lip, she thought about how lonely she would be all summer. she had ashtray still, which she was more than grateful for. no matter how many problems ashtray had on his own, he always made time for valerie and was there for her, he protected her, and she fell in love with him for it. but even though she deeply missed her friends, and found herself wishing she would've just pretend she never saw the two hanging out without her, her decision had already been made. "probably not." valerie answered her own question.

———

collecting their things, both of the sisters walked off the beach and to maddys car. she left the windows down, as valerie rested her head by the window, letting the wind blow her hair everywhere.

just before they left the conversation somehow switched into valerie and ashtray, how they're relationship was going.

valerie told maddy about how their two months was coming up, and how she truly believed she was in love with him. and maddy was happy for her, she was happy valerie wasn't going through what she was.

maddy understood how valerie felt at her happiest when she was with ashtray, and because of that, that's where maddy was taking valerie.

not even asking her mom, maddy said she's cover for her, and valerie only responded with a smile and head nod.

valerie made sure to text ashtray first and ask for permission, of course. and ashtray responded with a yes faster than he should've, he was worried about the girl. after she had left school early and then didn't respond to any of his texts until many hours later, he had been checking his phone non stop through the hours she didn't answer, worried.

once they arrived to ashtray and fezcos house, valerie got out of the car, grabbing her charger and phone, not bringing any clothes because she wasnt prepared. she waved by the maddy, telling her that she loved her and walked up to ashtrays front door.

maddy watched her sister walk up to the door, a small smile appearing on her face as she saw ashtray open the door, the two exchange a few words and then kiss. it reminded her of her and nate's relationship in the early stages, and more than anything she wished it had stayed there.

that night changed her whole perspective on her sisters relationship with ashtray, and she was actually happy. instead of ashtray putting valerie in danger like maddy thought he was going to, he was protecting her the best he could.

maddy drove off once the door closed, and sighed to herself.

"nah, you leave school and don't answer my texts for hours, had me worrying and shit, and then ask to come over?" ashtray joked, wrapping her arms around her waist.

valerie playfully rolled her eyes, "yeah, i wasn't feeling good and then i went home and slept."

she only lied to him because she had mentally decided not to put any more of her problems on him, she assumed it would have to be tiring eventually.

although ashtray didn't believe her, he shrugged it off and lead her to his room. valerie sat her stuff down on his night stand by his bed, before laying down herself.

ashtray followed her actions, laying down close by her and wrapping his arms around her to bring her closer to him. "i'm tired." he spoke.

"okay, clingy." she got comfortable in his grasp, feeling relieved and finally at peace.

"you are not one to talk about being clingy." ashtray pointed, making her laugh.

AUTHORS NOTES:

important things in the past and next few chapters, hope y'all are paying attention 🤨