Bad Timing - Jiara (JJ Maybank & Kiara Carrera)

Chapter 8

📍 Psych Ward, Outer Banks

 I couldn't believe it. Not now, I can't. I can't leave right now. 

"Yes, you are! Your mother told me that you're starting college soon, and I am convinced that you are mentally healed and ready to get back out there," Doctor Salem spoke with enthusiasm but I couldn't find the joy in existing in a world where JJ doesn't. 

But they've taught me, the staff, they put information in my brain. It was useful, they made me look at life in a new light. I now know how to cope. I know how to deal with pain effectively, but I don't even want to. What I want to do is drink. That'll help me forget. Or maybe I could study every second of the court session I never got to watch, maybe I'll catch something that'll get him out. Or perhaps the best thing to do is go to college, and live my life like he wanted me to. I'll guard his soul and we can live our lives as we imagined, him and I. I'll live his life for him. 

📍 The Chateau, Outer Banks (Day 1 of existing in a world where JJ Maybank doesn't) 

"Kiara? W-what are you doing here!" John B widened his eyes as slid his backpack off his back to the floor. 

"I got discharged! Yey!" I playfully did jazz hands as I faked my enthusiasm, while he pulled me in an involuntary hug. 

"Does your mom know you're out?" He spoke with a surprised tone, which I didn't understand. I followed him to sit facing him on the couch. 

"Nope, I came directly here," I said, which sort of was compliant, but really I didn't want my freaked out mom to be the first to see my stable self. 

For some reason, my brain was picturing JJ coming out of the guest room, acknowledging me with a wink or a smile. But that was the pain of visiting places we used to be in together...I can, but he can't. He can't envision anything but the same tiny room for six damn years.

"The-the court session happened a long time ago," John B stated when he noticed my zoning out. He was scared to talk about it. 

I tried to be lighthearted, gentle, fun, just that so he wouldn't think I was some psycho who was obsessed with his best friend, so I said, lightly, "I know! But the freaking doctors there wouldn't let me talk to you guys, or access the freaking internet." 

"So...you don't know what happened?" I seemed to have scared him more, as his eyes widened again, in fear, not in surprise. 

"I do, I do know, I kinda figured it out," I corrected him, however, which led to him dropping his shoulders in relief. He didn't want to carry the burden of telling me JJ was found guilty.

He apologized. People like to apologize even though they've done nothing. I guess it's their way of telling you that they feel for you, they're sorry that you are in pain. 

"Also, um, we're surfing in two hours, my wound is finally healed. I can't wait, it's been so long. Bring Pope and Danny." I almost said Sarah's name, but I didn't think of mentioning JJ, I've been thinking about him in jail for too long to just mistakenly think he's still here. With Sarah, though, I was ready to call her. We've gone separate ways, and even if we didn't have a fallout, we would've still drifted apart, but making peace with her was something I wanted to do for a long time.  

"Danny's in Connecticut, with Sarah...in Yale," John B corrected me, but it wasn't necessary, for I've already figured it out. 

Danny and Sarah are together. JB, Pope, and I are together. And JJ's all along. Yeah...I've figured it out. 

📍 Kiara's house, Outer Banks 

"So they just discharged you out of the blue?!" I thought mom would be the one who freaked out, but I was immensely wrong, dad won the prize of over-worrying this time.