𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲

seventy-four: Backflip.

     

      AFTER HE left, Kai sat outside the hospital, on a bench when he heard someone walking up to him. "I'm a Pogue, I don't have money on me if you're about to mug me." He looked up and saw Sterling standing before him, with JJ at his side. "What the fuck?" He stood up quickly and Sterling glanced down.

"I've been... nothing but shitty to you. And I know that. So, I wanted to make things right by bringing JJ to you. If he makes you happy, then I'm happy, Kai... even if you're not mine." He said and JJ glanced at him, clenching his jaw before looking at Kai, walking over to him. "Why didn't you just talk to me?" He asked, grabbing Kai's hands. "You know you can talk to me, right?" He said quietly and Kai nods.

"Thanks, Sterling..." He glanced over JJ's shoulder before he brought his boyfriend into a hug, holding him tight. Sterling walked away and Kai kept his arms around JJ, "she's okay... so far." He whispered softly, frowning and JJ just held onto him even tighter.

"What happened? Sterling only told me you were here for your mom... your dad didn't try to kill her, right?" JJ's tone has some sort of joking manner to it and he just chuckled, glancing down as he shook his head. But the thought crossed his mind again. What if he did? "No... no, this happened before. And like all those other times, she'll be okay." He says, reassuring himself and JJ raised his hands to his face.

"Your mom's a fighter, she'll be fine." He whispers then leaned in, kissing Kai's forehead. "Do you wanna head back to the Chateau?" JJ asked and Kai glanced up. "To get my mind off of everything, yes. I need a beer." He sighed and JJ laughs softly, putting his arm around Kai to lead him over to his dirt bike.

"That's my boy."

But when they get there, it's quiet. No one but Kie laying on the couch bed, listening to music on her earbuds. JJ reached down and rips one out, "hey, where are Pope and JB?" As Kie recovers from the slight scare the boy gave her, she sat up with a soft sigh.

"Pope just headed off to the dock, John B hasn't left from there since Sarah came by and left... I think they broke up." She says, glancing up at Kai and JJ. "I hope you guys didn't..." She added, noticing Kai's red and puffy eyes. "Oh, no... my mom only tried to kill herself." He said and she quickly stood up. "Oh, my God, is she okay?" She asked him worriedly.

"She's fine... just unconscious." He said and she nods softly, wrapping her arms around his waist. He hugs back, feeling a bit numb as he just glanced at JJ. "Get the beer?" He asked and Kie pulls back. "What? What do you mean get the beer? You just said--" "and I don't wanna think about it... J?" He glanced to his boyfriend and smiled at him. "Hand me a J." He says, meaning a joint which JJ excitedly took out from his little box, handing it over.

"Fine. Only because it's how you cope."

"You so get me, Kiara Carrera."

Kie was worried, naturally, of all the shit going on with Kai as the boy lights up the joint and JJ grabbed the beer. "Let's go see what those losers are up to," he said and began leading the way out of the Chateau, Kai and Kie following behind. Kiara being worried went away when the boy handed her the spliff.

This was just his way of coping with it all, unhealthy and worrisome, but nevertheless, it helped anyway. They walk down the dock, towards the boys on the boat, "hot potato, hot potato!" JJ shouted and tossed a beer to them but neither of them catch it.

"Impressive catch." Kie says, clapping her hands. "I need another one." John B says, standing up and JJ tossed it to him, then one to Pope. "What are you guys doing down here?" Kai asked, raising the joint to his lips. "Having a good cry?" JJ asked and Kai laughed.

"Cry?" Pope says as he and John B look at one another. "Cry? What are you talking-- we don't cry." John B says as he looks at JJ, pushing his hair back. "You know it's not your fault, right?" Kie asked as Kai handed her the spliff. "You think she'll come around?" He asked now, looking at Pope then over at Kiara.

"Yeah, dude, she's one of us." Kie says and Kai smiles as JJ handed him a beer. John B smiled, looking off. "Hmm..." He hums and scratched his head, smiling wider. "Sarah's a Pogue." He says and Kai looked over at his friend. "She'll come around. Yep. You know, she'll come back to me. Right." He then added on.

JJ looks at Kai then over at Pope who now watched John B who spoke up again. "You know, I was just thinking. I'm gonna do a backflip." He says, looking at them. "You're lying." Kie says, point at him. "You won't do it." Kai says as he shook his head. "Oh, I won't do it?" John B asked. "You won't." JJ says.

"You got any money?"

"Hold my beer that you already dropped."

"I wanna see you do it!"

The group's talking over one another wnds as John B does a backflip right into the water and they all ahout in joy, cheering on their friend. "Yeah!" The three still standing on the pier shout as John B comes up to the surface. "That's my boy!" JJ shouted.

"Woogity-woogity, baby!"

They spent the rest of the night drinking and smoking weed until all of them began to pass out, JJ and Kai laying together on the couch bed with John B at the foot of the bed. JJ nuzzles his face into Kai's neck, "I love you," he says and John B chuckled softly.

"I love you too, JJ." He said and JJ kicks him. "I was talking to my boyfriend, but sure, I also love you, bro..." He says as Kai is just laughing at them. "I love you guys both..." He said as his arms wrap tightly around JJ.

  

AUTHORS NOTE
their friend group > any other friend group