Away From You | Jiara

Chapter 1

The Outer Banks... Paradise on Earth.

    Funny how that's all I could think about the moment my parents told me they were sending me off to boarding school. I didn't even try to fight them on it. I knew it was coming and I could tell they were tired of my bullshit.

    It's my last night with the pogues before I'm shipped off to God knows where, with people I have no interest in getting to know. Sarah decided not to join us today because she thought I'd like it to be just me and the boys, our last hoorah before I leave for the rest of the school year. No matter how many times I told her she was more than welcome to join us she insisted she'd stay behind. In a way I'm glad she gave us this time together. I'm going to miss us goofing around, drinking beers, and getting high together. I don't even want to think about how weird it's going to be not being able to just show up at the Chateau whenever I need a breather from my parents or just for me and JJ to get high when we both skipped school. 

    "Whatcha thinkin' about?" JJ inquired, effectively interrupting my thoughts.

    "Oh nothing, just how happy I am to leave you guys."

    He smiles and says, "Love you too, princess."

He passes me the blunt and I take a hit letting the smoke fill my lungs, ridding my body of the stress as I exhale. I would never tell JJ this but I'm going to miss him the most. Not only is he my best friend, but he gets me in a way that John B and Pope don't. There are some things I'd only ever feel comfortable telling him with no fear of judgement. Not to mention he's my smoking buddy. There's no one else I'd rather smoke with and talk about all the stupid shit that comes to mind while I'm extra giggly. 

    "I've got to get going guys. I promised my parents that I'd be home at a decent hour to have dinner with them. I don't want to face the wrath of pops by being late." Pope then looks at me and says, "It won't be the same without you Kie, who is supposed to help me keep JJ in line?" I just smile and hug him extra tight before he leaves.

    "Hold on Pope, I'll give you a ride!" John B yells on his way out the door.

    "And then there were two," JJ and I laugh as we both said it at the exact same time. 

    "Pope was right Kie... it won't be the same without you. We're not the pogues without mama bear to protect us."

    I lightly punch his arm, "Oh shut up, it's not like you listened to me anyway when I tried to talk some sense into you. Besides I'll be back for Spring Break and for the summer. Mom said I'll have to go only for this school year and I'm holding her to that. If all goes as planned, the pogues will be walking across that stage together next year."

    "I don't know if I'll be included in that. I've skipped so many days just because, school is the last thing on my mind. No one expects much of me anyway."

    "J, you have to know those things your dad said to you aren't true in the slightest. He was just a drunk piece of shit who took his anger out on you for no reason. You're capable of so much... you just have to believe in yourself."

    He didn't say anything after that. We just looked at each other and I gave him my best "I believe in you" smile which he returned. We continued to sit in silence for a few minutes, but it wasn't awkward. We're comfortable enough with each other that not every silence has to filled with meaningless conversation. It's not awkward with JJ. There are times when I just want to sit and think and he lets me do that, he doesn't pressure me to talk. 

    I lay my head on his shoulder and he then wraps his arm around me. I love when he does that. In times like these I'm the most comfortable and feel so protected. I close my eyes and enjoy this moment just a little bit longer. God, I'm going to miss him.

    "Do you want to take me home? I didn't drive here, and I thought John B would be back by now."

    "Yeah, just give me a sec."

    He went to go use the bathroom while I stood up and stretched my muscles. He came out of the bathroom just as I was putting my jacket on. 

    "Ready whenever you are," he said.

    I just nodded and we walked outside to his get on his bike. He started the engine, and I wrapped my arms around his waist. As we made our way to my house, I relished in the feeling of the wind in my hair and the feeling of just being free. I gripped his waist a bit tighter as he made some sharp turns.

    Before I knew it, we were pulling up in front of my house. As he cut the engine, I looked up at my house in disbelief. I was going to leave the only place I called home for a year and there was nothing I could do about it. 

    I realized my arms were still around JJ so I quickly unleashed him and stood up. I gave him back his helmet and fixed my hair back to a decent state. He looks at me and says, "How are you feeling?"

    "I don't want to go J, but I guess I brought this on myself. I feel like I'm backed into a corner, and I hate it. I know I've put my parents through hell lately, but this is a bit overkill. They feel like the only way they can get me to see they are serious is to send me away."

    "This isn't all on you Kie and you know that. We all knew you were on thin ice with your parents, and we still asked you to help us. So don't blame yourself."

    "I still feel like shit."

    He then gets up and hugs me. I put my arms around his neck and bury my face in his chest. His arms, which are around my waist, pull me a little closer to him. I don't want this moment to end. I love the feeling of his arms around me, but I know this is just my emotions talking. He's just comforting his best friend... this doesn't mean anything to him. 

    I pull away and look into his eyes. Those blue eyes that never fail to draw me in, that gets all his groupies to agree to anything he asks of them. I'm not naïve to what goes on at parties with those girls he drags away for a moment alone. But I am confident enough in our friendship to know that I mean more to him than those girls. He would never treat me how he does them. I'm also smart enough to know that I can never go there with him. I doubt that he even sees me like that, and I'm not brave enough to test my theory.

    At the last second, I lean in to give him a kiss on the cheek and one last squeeze. "Don't be late in the morning JJ, set an alarm if you have to. I want everyone here in the morning to see me off. Don't kick a girl when she's down."

    He smirks and says, "I wouldn't dare miss it. See you in the morning, Kie."

    I smile and wave at him as he drives off. I walk in the house and go straight upstairs to my room. I place my hair into a messy bun and sigh. As I walk over to my dresser to pick out a t-shirt and some shorts to sleep in, I think about how I'm going to feel saying goodbye to all my friends. I keep the shower quick since I'm tired and have a long day tomorrow. After I'm out the shower and dressed for bed, I lay down and place my phone on the charger. 

    As I turn over and decide to get some sleep, I hear my phone ding and check to see who it could be. I smile as I see it's a text from JJ sending me a screenshot of the alarm he set for himself. "He's a dumbass," I say to myself as I giggle and drift off to a peaceful sleep.