𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲

sixty-four: Wrong Guy.

     

      THOSE THREE words weren't exactly what Kai wanted to hear after such a long day. First JJ's dad, JJ being annoyed at him for something, Raphael and his mom. Now this. What the fuck else could happen that's worse?

"Don't say that..." Kai said, looking at the other who's staring at him. "But I do... And I can't hide that." Sterling said and sighed, looking away. "I'm gonna tell you something... I never told anyone." He said suddenly and Kai just glanced at him, slightly curious.

"My grandma... before she died, always wanted me to go off to the college she graduated at, meet some girl there... and get married. Problem was... I leaned towards guys more. And I knew even if I dated a few girls or... hooked up with them, here and there, I'd end up with a guy because that was better for me. Relationship-wise... And because I don't wanna disappoint her, like... she was my everything, I wanted to... shut out anyone I ever got serious with. Those guys that you saw me staring at? They knew... and they thought I was shitty for how I treated you." He said as he looks at Kai, sighing.

"And I know, trust me, sounds... shady, Kooks worried about how another Kook treated a Pogue? But... they did like you. Because you made me happy. You were all I talked about. And instead of telling you they were my friends, I let you think that... because I was starting to actually really really like you... Like so much, it started scaring me. And I thought it was my only chance to push you away." All of this was just adding more and more to the pile up of shit on top of Kai Lynch. And he was sick of it.

"No. I-I can't do this, Sterling." He said suddenly, standing up as he shook his head. "Kai, please," Sterling stood up, grabbing his arms. "I-I like you. Like to the point I... think I love you." He said, sliding his hands down to Kai's hands, holding them gently in his.

"Stop it!" Kai pulled his hands back, shoving Sterling's away. "I can't do this, okay?! I already have John B to think about, my dad is back in OBX and I'm pretty sure my boyfriend is still in love with someone else before he started dating me." He said, and took a deep breath. "I can't also have you on top of all my other problems I already have to deal with. Okay?!"

He walked away and Sterling stayed there on the dock, staring at Kai walking off towards the Chateau. Inside, Kai went to the room where he left his backpack, sitting down and lighting a cigarette, shaking his head.

Fuck.

When he hears Kiara and Pope talking, he sat there for a bit, until he heard them talk louder. "Holy shit!" Kie exclaimed. "I know, right?" Pope said back in excitement making him scrunch up his face. "Holy shit!" Kie said as he walked out of the room and entered the livingroom where they were.

"Wait! Kai, you gotta see this, do it again, do it again, Pope." Kie said when she saw him walk in. Kai sighed, walking over as Pope was holding up a flashlight, a couch pillow over the pair's laps and a key in Kie's hand.

He leaned down to their level and Pope hit the pillow, causing dust to cloud the air before them. And then the words were reveal, path to the tomb begins in the island room. Kie read it aloud, "what does that even mean?" Kai asked, looking at Kiara and Pope. "So, I'm... I'm pretty sure that it has something to do with Denmark Tanny and an angel." Pope explained.

"Cause I... I remember Limbrey saying something about an angel and how the key lead to the cross." Pope says and Kie looks at him. "Pope, this is insane. You're a freaking genius." She says as Pope looks at her excitedly. "Thank you." He says with a flattered smile.

Kie exhales deeply as Kai looked at the key in her hands. "Kind of makes you wonder what the island room is." Kie says, softly shaking her head as Kai got up. "Yeah..." He said and began pacing back and forth. As the two talked about the key, Kai kind of zoned out.

He wanted to tell someone, at least one person, about Sterling showing up and about what he said to Kai, but he also didn't want someone judging him for how he feels about what Sterling said despite being with JJ.

While they discussed the key, Kai got a message and he checked right away. "Kie, JJ says you're not answering his messages... he needs help." Kai said as he looked up at the girl who quickly took out her phone in confusion.

"Shit. He sent an SOS..."

They were quick to get on their way to the last location JJ had messaged, where Kie had to think fast, and her only solution was to go in front of the speeding ambulance. She stopped quickly and looked out the window, opening it. "Get out of the way! Go!" The man in the drivers' seat was waving his arm rapidly.

"Sorry! I'm so sorry!" Kie apologized as Kai looked around, his brows furrowed. Three cop cars? What the fuck did JJ do? "Move! Get your car out of the road!" The man shouted. "She just got her license!" Pope says.

"It was an accident."

"There he is, he's good." Kai whispered to Kie who nodded and waved at the driver before she drove off, groaning when she was away from the cars and ambulance. They went down on the road opposite of where JJ had run off to, "come on!" Pope shouted. "Open the door," Kie says and Kai rushed to the other side.

He opened the door and JJ jumped in. "Go!" He shouts and Kai sighed. "Are you okay? Did anything happen to you?" He said as he put his hand to JJ's shoulder. "No, I'm fine. Just... busted the wrong guy out of jail." He said, throwing his hand up as Kai simply shook his head, looking away.

"What?" Kie exclaimed after giving a confused look. "At least I was trying." JJ said, looking at Kai who just simply rolled his eyes. "Why are you always doing stupid things?" Kai asked him, looking at him and JJ shrugs. "I'm gonna end up in jail, anyway, so... why does it matter?" He said and Kai gulped. "Don't say that..." He whispered and scooted closer to JJ.

He put his arms over JJ's waist and the blond sighed, leaning against him as he put his arms around Kai's shoulders. The dark haired boy raised his hands up to JJ's upperback as Pope glanced back, "you okay, man?" He asked and JJ sighed. "Yeah..." He nods.

"I am now..." He whispered and Kai just held on tighter, closing his eyes. "Everything will be okay, JJ." He whispered to JJ and pulled back, taking his boyfriend's hand in his.

AUTHORS NOTE
when shoupe finally did something good for once and set john b free 🙄