Things Aren't the Same •JIARA •

7

Kie's POV:

I woke up sweating and my heart was racing. I looked next to me and JJ wasn't there, his phone charger was still on the nightstand. I got up and walked out to the living room and he was fast asleep on the couch. It was just a dream... Holy shit, it felt so real. I went back to his room and I couldn't fall asleep. It was 6 am and I decided to just stay up. I watched tiktoks on my phone and then I got dressed for the day as I was flying home with Quinn. Fuck... She was coming over today to say goodbye to JJ anytime now.

I walked to the couch and woke JJ up, he was half asleep and I said, "Get up, your girlfriend is coming over"

"My girlllll friendddd is waking me up" He said which made me question if my dream was really a dream

"Shut up, I'm not your girlfriend just get up and get dressed" I said like a complete bitch but he listened

I was cleaning everything up and he asked, "Why are you being such a bitch today?"

"Don't act like you care... This was a mistake coming here for Christmas. You never cared, it was about trying to hook up with me" I said feeling stupid

"What are you talking about, Kie?"

"Boarding school!" I yelled

"You think I didn't care? Fuck, I missed you so much... I wrote you letters ever week but you never bothered to respond"

"I never got a letter from you" I yelled back and we got into this huge fight and then Quinn walked in

"Good morning boyfriend and roomie, you two sound happy" She said hugging JJ

JJ hugged her and then he kissed her and he broke away and he said, "I'll be right back, I just need to take Kie home since she walked over here"

"I can take her" Quinn volunteered

"I got it" JJ said and I didn't want to go with him but he grabbed my arm and brought me outside. He handed me his helmet and I put it on and he drove me back to Figure Eight. My arms were wrapped around him and he pulled up to my parents house

I got off the bike and handed him his helmet back and I asked, "JJ, did you come into your room last night?"

"No, why would I?" He asked

"No reason" I said feeling relieved it was just a dream

He left and went back to Quinn and I went inside and grabbed my suitcase asked my mom about the letters. She said they weren't important and my boarding school wouldn't allow them. We got into a huge fight. Then my parents took me to the airport. I got out of the car and my mom stopped me and said, "Kiara, he's just some stupid pogue from the cut. Please remember that when you read these"

She handed me a handful on envelopes that had been cut open and the letters put back inside. I put them in my backpack and I walked into the airport. I got through security and on the plane and I sat down. I was one of the first people on the plane. I pulled the first letter out and saw it was dated the day I left. I started reading it and my eyes were filled with tears.

Kie,

So this is pretty fucking stupid, I know but I don't know how else to talk to you thanks to your evil mother. Sorry... I know a letter from the one who you say can't read. But I just cant stop thinking about that night in the hammock... I know there have been so many girls and so many flings but that wasn't that. It was different... In a way that I never thought was possible... I've never kissed someone with that much passion or desire before. I can't help but wonder what would have happened if your parents wouldn't have shown up. It drives me crazy thinking about it.

I miss you, Kie. Not in the way that John B, Pope, and Sarah do. In a way that I didn't know existed. I don't miss my mom or my dad in the way that I miss you... I miss your lips on mine. I miss our bodies touching... I miss the way your hands felt in my hair, the way you pulled me closer. I need to finish what we started. I don't just want it, I need it just like I need air to breathe.

JJ

Quinn sat next to me and asked, "Whatcha reading?"

"Nothing" I said but what was I supposed to say that I was reading a love letter to me from her boyfriend

We got back to our dorm and I immediately hid the reamining letters. Suddenly, the door opened and Cole came in and he kissed me. We were causually kissing when he said he was taking me to dinner. We went out to dinner and I missed Cole so much, but I couldn't stop thinking about JJ and the letters and Christmas and my dream about him. It was ridiculus that I cared so much.

I pushed it down and ignored it and I spent the next few days with Cole and Quinn. I was alone in my room and I binged the rest of the letters. The next few were still sweet, then he got pissed at me for not responding. There wasn't anything personal in there but I still couldn't believe my mom had read every single one. It was humiliating that she knew these existed.

Cole came over tonight and spent the night since Quinn was gone at a friends for tonight. I really needed a night with my boyfriend. alone. if you know what I mean.