~Ronnie~

It was hard not to react when Alvin started screaming. I've been sitting here pretending to be asleep, reading her frantic text to Alva. I knew she heard me! Damn it. Val sits up quickly, trying not to wake me up. She groans from the strain on her stitches and falls back down.

"Fuck Alva! You're gonna wake up Ronnie! Shit. I gotta go..."

I instinctively wrap my arms around Val after she hangs up.

"Ronnie?"

Shit.

"Yes?"

"We need to talk."

"About what darling?"

"Don't play dumb. You were faking weren't you?"

Fuck.

"Okay, fine I was."

Val reaches her hand up and gently touches my face. For a moment we just look into each other's eyes. Normally I wouldn't be down for this corny shit but it's different with Val. I am different with Val. I really love her. Just as I'm about to lean down for a kiss, Michael sprints down the stairs and Valentina drop her hand.

"Baby sister, you're awake! Morning Ronnie."

I nod, slightly irritated at the interruption.

"Hello Mikey. Uh, Rob is coming today."

Michael lifts up Val's legs to sit on the couch.

"Hmm I don't know. How are you feeling Valentina?"

She's been smiling wide, trying to contain her excitement at the simple mention of one of her four best friends.

"I'm absolutely spectacular dear brother. I'd be even better if Zakk and Jacky were tagging along."

"Val, you just got out of the.."

"Please Michael!"

Val gives Mikey the most adorable puppy dog eyes I've ever seen in my life besides Willow's. Michael crumbles at her begging.

"Fine! I'll tell them or Ronnie can ask Rob to pick them up."

Val sets her phone back on her chest and smiles widely. She has to contain her excitement so she doesn't strain herself too much. She hasn't seen any of them since she went to the hospital. She probably misses them a lot. If she didn't know better she'd probably ask Michael to put Max on a plane so she can see him too.

"Already done!"

Michael laughs and heads into the kitchen to make breakfast. I help Valentina up slowly.

"Val?"

"Yes Ronnie?"

"When you start feeling better uhh... Nevermind."

She just looks at me curiously. I keep forgetting about her 'boyfriend'.

~Michael~

As I go into the kitchen, I mentally pat myself on the back for interrupting whatever was going on with Ronnie and Val. It's obvious they love each other. I'm pretty sure J.J. is the reason why Val ended up in the hospital but until she says something, we're stuck. As far as we know, she's still in a relationship. Plus, I don't completely trust Ronnie with her yet. He's drove her out more than once.

"Hey sweetheart! What do you want for breakfast?"

Valentina slowly walks up behind me.

"Just a smoothie."

"What are you doing up?!"

"Relax. I was getting water."

"Why can't Ronnie do it?"

She rolls her eyes and grabs a water bottle from the fridge.

"He's not my servant. And he's taking a shower before the guys get here."

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

I pull her into a hug and begin to get emotional.

"I was so scared, you know?"

"Aw Mikey, come on! The guys are gonna be here soon! I'm gonna have to deal with an upset Robert, a sad Jacky, and a crying Zakk."

I sigh and release her, turning back to the blender.

"Michael don't do this."

I pour chopped strawberries in the top.

"Big brother? You know I love you."

I sniff and toss some spinach in. She sighs and hugs my side.

"I just don't think you realize how much I care about you. How much everyone cares about you. It's no secret that I was a mess. Zakk refused to leave his house and Jacky kept having panic attacks."

She buries her face in my side and hugs as tight as she can without hurting herself.

"Michael I know it was hard. I'm so sorry. I've broken promises. I've hurt the only people that care about me. I'm a constant fuck up. I'm not good enough, I never am."

Before she can start crying, I move her face up so she's making eye contact.

"I never want to hear that come out of your mouth ever again! It's not true Val. I know it still bothers you Valentina, but fuck the past. All that matters is the present. You have people that care about you and love you."

She smiles up at me and her blue eyes light up.

"Now can I get you to eat some toast with this smoothie?"

"I can try."

After she eats I send her on her way back into the living room.

~Valentina~

I nearly screech when the doorbell rings. I get to see some of my favorite people.

"Come in!"

Jacky and Rob come in smiling. Zakk comes in last and starts sprinting towards me. Robert grabs the back of his shirt and stops him from tackling me. Ronnie comes down.

"Yo Rob! Zakk! Jacky!"

The three come inside, Zakk still being held by his collar. I frown.

"Do you have a spare dog leash for Zakk?"

"Aw let him go see his best friend Rob."

Ronnie laughs, shaking his head. Before he lets go, he warns Zakk.

"Be gentle Zachary. She still has the stitches. Do not tackle, do not squeeze, do not goof around."

Zakk groans at Robert's protectiveness. However, as soon as Rob let's go, Zakk sprints to me and gently lifts me up as I squeal. Everyone else in the room shakes their heads.

"I can't believe you actually thought that he'd listen."

Jacky pats Rob on the back laughing.

"Oh please. I gave you the same speech in the car."

Just then Michael comes out of the kitchen.

"Zachary Sandler! Release my baby sister!"

Zakk sets me down. I hug Robert and Jacky. My phone notification goes off. JJ.

"I told you that you'd regret breaking up with me you stupid bitch. Hide with those faggots (AN: I APOLOGIZE. I hate using this word.) all you want, I'm not fucking finished with you yet."

"I know you're reading these! Answer me or something bad will happen!"

"I came to visit you in the hospital but those 2 guys were always there. Sometimes there were more."

"JJ, I said what I had to say, it's done. Please just leave me alone. You're the one that said I was ugly and worthless and good for nothing... Move on."

I hand Ronnie my phone after responding to JJ and sit next to him. He unconsciously throws an arm over my shoulders. Michael, Jacky, Robert, and Zakk all argue over who gets to sit on the other side of me. Before anyone can win, my phone beings blowing up with texts.

"Whoa, Val."

I reach for my phone but Ronnie holds it to where I can't reach. He goes to unlock it.

"No! Ronnie! Let me just put it on silent!"

He begins looking at the screen, joking around at first.

"Nah I'm gonna tell whoever it is that you're with family and friends. Uhh, this isn't Max..."

I begin to panic.

"Ronald! Those are my personal texts! You have no right to read those!"

I see the anger flash in his eyes as he reads through a few of the texts.

"Michael. Can I request your presence in the kitchen for a second?"

I internally groan. I'm in fucking trouble. Fucking Ronnie. Fucking nosy. Michael gets up and follows Ronnie into the kitchen. I'm not going to get my phone back anytime soon. Asshole. I'm about to get fucking interrogated.

~Ronnie~

I scan through a few of the messages from the bastard and read them out loud to Michael. It's no surprise that he beat the shit out of MY precious Valentina. But these threatening texts are a shock.

"I fucking knew it! God fucking damn it!"

"Michael calm down."

He looks at me like I'm fucking insane and honestly it terrifies me a bit. Maybe I might go a bit crazy when it comes to Valentina.

"What in the fuck do you mean calm down Ronald? He did this to Val. The girl you love. He beat her and left her for dead in a fucking alley to go back to drink like the piece of shit he is!"

I know he's right and remaining calm is an internal struggle but I need to maintain my composure. She's in pain. Hurt flames through my body when I read the messages that caused this mess.

"JJ, I'm so sorry. You are a great person and have treated me so well."

Michael scoffs at the text. I hold up my hand to stop him. There's more.

"However, I can't continue this relationship. My excessive drinking is worrying the people that I'm lucky to have care about me. I keep pulling away and hurting people. And most of all, I'm still completely in love with Ronnie. I waited for the feeling to pass but it just consistently increases. Even if he doesn't feel the same. I can't continue to stay with someone I'm not happy with. I'm sorry if this hurt you in any way but I can't do this to myself anymore."

Tears form in my eyes as I look up at Michael. Deep inside this feeling boils to the surface. I'm a mixture of pure happiness with a bit of guilt for being the underlying cause of the situation.

"She broke up with him because she's still caught up in you. I.. Wow."

Michael stands there a bit shocked and has surprisingly calmed him down. Honestly, I'm shocked too. There goes the only thing that was stopping my flirting. I smile to myself. I'm going to do it right this time. We'll take it slow.

"So Mikey. What do you want to do?"

"Besides beat the shit out of this guy?"

I give Michael a serious look. Not because I don't think he'll do it. He'd do anything for the people he cares about. But because it's not like we can track this guy down. Shit, Val won't report it or press charges. Plus we only know this guy's dumb ass nickname. Michael sighs as if his thought process has completely betrayed him.

"You know Ronnie? Let's just be here for her."

I lean in closer. Surely I hadn't heard him right.

"Say again?"

"You heard me asshole. She's terrified and just wants to move on. We'll block his number from her phone and help her heal. Mentally and physically."

I smile at Michael's sudden maturity growth. I pat him on the shoulder on the way back to the living room.

"Stop looking at me like that. If we ever see him I'm still gonna beat the shit out of him."