Jiara: My Mistakes Were Made For You

Part 8: Charleston

JJ woke up to find Kie behind the kitchen counter, putting all the trash in a bag. 

"Hey, I'm saving them for the shitheads that will buy the house!" JJ said and straightened up to sit on the couch. 

"Do you really have to live in trash until then?" Kie asked smiling. She took a few steps and came out from behind the counter. She only had one of JJ's baggy t-shirts on. JJ couldn't take his eyes off her for a moment, then looked down at the floor clearing his throat and ran his hands through his hair.

"No, no, no. I don't have to." He got up and walked around, still not looking at Kie. "So... You want coffee?" he asked. 

"Yeah sure," Kie said. JJ walked to the kitchen and he almost bumped into Kie. Kie took a step back letting him pass, but she was watching him move awkwardly with a smile on her face. 

Kie sat on the counter by the stove, bracing herself from his hands, while JJ rummaged through the drawers.

"What are you doing, J?" she asked.

"I'm looking for coffee." said JJ.

"On the shelf above me." said Kie, watching JJ's bare back.

JJ turned to her, looked up and down once more, and waited for a moment for her to pull away. But Kie was just sitting there, slowly waving her feet in the air and smiling. JJ approached her, put one hand right next to Kie's leg, and reached for the shelf above her head. The necklace on his bare chest was dangling right in front of Kie. Kie looked up at JJ's face, and JJ looked down at her. JJ's arm was stroking Kie's hair, Kie's wobbly feet were touching JJ's legs. Kie didn't look away. It was JJ who looked up again, smiling. He picked up the can of coffee from the rack and set it on the counter, both hands on either side of Kie.

"You're really cruel, princess." JJ said looking into her eyes. Kie's smile didn't go away, it was almost like she enjoyed making this harder for JJ. They just stared at each other for a few seconds. With a few inches between their noses and playful smiles on their faces. When Kie leaned vaguely toward JJ, they heard the voice coming from the door and JJ instantly backed off and ran his hand through his hair. Kie got off the counter and took the coffee can in her hands trying to look interested.

"Hey, JJ!" they heard Val. 

"Val! Really?" Kie asked, just moving her mouth. JJ raised his arms in the air and scoffed.

"Hey, Val. Over here." JJ said. Val came into the kitchen and kissed JJ on his cheek, ignoring Kie. Kie just rolled her eyes.

"What's she doing here?" Val asked looking up and down on Kie.

"Don't talk to her like that, Val. "JJ said. "She's my friend." Kie looked at Val and smiled. 

"Dad wants to see you, you free?" Val asked. JJ turned to Kie and she looked directly back at him kind of angry. But then she saw how confused and hesitant he was and felt sorry for him, she had no reason to be stubborn on that.

"I'll meet you at the  château, cool?" Kie said. JJ turned to her and smiled. 

"Kie, actually I can drop you with my bike and come back." he said. 

"I have my dad's van." Val suggested. "We'll drive you."

"No." Kie said. She didn't want to spend any more time with Val. "I'll walk." 

She walked to JJ's room to change her clothes and Val turned to JJ.

"Is she jealous or something?" Val asked. "Why can't she stand me?"

"Why would she be jealous, Val? She's just cold to some people."

"It's not that I need her to like me, I'm not a fan either. But she could stop acting like a little bitch when I'm around."