Heated Lies (Jiara)

Partial Exposure

Sarah wasn't stupid, she knew JJ didn't like her. He masked it with the whole Kook thing, but she was sure that wasn't it. He seemed almost disgusted. The reason remained a mystery until John B said something.

"Is it because of Ward?"

"No, no one judges me based on that prick." Sarah grumbled, laying on his bed. He moved to to sit next to her.

"Something to do with Rafe or Barry?" He continued, taking her legs on his lap. She chuckled a bit before the smile died.

"Those people don't have anything to do with me. It's not like I told them to be assholes."

"What about the thing with Kie?" The girl froze and he panicked. "I mean, could be anything really... JJ is JJ..."

But he'd already said it. Sarah knew they had a thing going. Could JJ really hold a grudge over that?

"Oh, shit." She put two hands over her face. "That makes so much sense."

John B shook his head. "Nonsense. Like... she forgave you, right?"

"Yeah, but I still hurt her. Any man who's actually a man is gonna hold a grudge." She face palmed. "Fuck, what if that's why he doesn't want to go to the dance?"

They both thought, and it actually checked out. It was a valid explanation. Sarah practically melted at the idea of it. She had to make it up to them both.

"Look, theres no way this all falls on you." He assured her, taking her hands in her own. She forced a sad smile. "It'll be okay, anyway."

She nodded, kissing him gently before pulling away.

***

"So you're sure we have a good number? If Louie and Chris can't come then we should really get back up." John B fumed over the phone.

JJ wasn't sure who he was talking to, but it had been heated for the past hour and a half. It started to sound like Pope when John B asked the caller to rephrase himself a couple times. The blonde boy wasn't sure if he even wanted to know what was going on. He had enough on his plate.

So he went home. Luke wasn't at the house, giving JJ the most relief he'd had in ages. When Kie called, his grin lit up every inch of his body.

"Hey, JJ can I come over?" She said as soon as he answered.

"Yeah, absolutely. No ones home. I'll send you the address."

He was in a good mood by this point, even cleaning his room and rolling a few blunts for his special guest. Things were always easier when Luke wasn't around.

"Open up, dude!" She suddenly called from the front door. She must've lived closer than he thought.

When he let her inside, she acted a little strange. She was extremely subtle, but they both knew she didn't miss the beer bottles and stray pill containers. He could've bothered to pick it up, but he was used to these things by now. Besides, he could just say they were for him.

John B's house was a mess too, right? This was no big deal.

And it wasn't. Kiara planned to ignore it as well as the split on his lip. There was a growing fear in the pit of her stomach that she chose to pass on. If it was important, JJ would tell her, right? There was a reason John B had called her earlier anyway.

"I don't think I've been to your house before, J?" She broke the silence, relieving JJ of his overthinking.

"No?" He gave a neutral expression. "S'kinda cool. We should watch movies or something like we do at your house." He suggested next, trying to stifle the uneasy vibe about the whole thing. He knew he wasn't the only one who felt it.

Kiara agreed, willing herself to find the remote while he went to make popcorn. She chose a romantic film, which was both expected and shocking for the boy. He decided if it was a sign, she would have to make the first move. He wouldn't assume anything because Kiara wasn't quite like every other girl he's met.

Then he started thinking again, I mean really thinking. He scanned her entire body from start to finish, movie be damned. She was gorgeous, and he knew that, but seeing it so close like they were now? Totally different.

He scooted a little closer to her on the couch, and she rested her head on his shoulder. JJ froze, beaming on the inside and worrying on the outside. Slowly, he relaxed into it, and tentatively put an arm around her shoulder. He really was clueless when it came to the movie itself, but it didn't matter.

He was beginning to realize something he hadn't really thought of yet. Before he could analyze the attraction, the door burst open. Luke stumbled inside and stopped abruptly to slam the door shut.

Both Kie and JJ stared wide eyed at the man as his frown grew. He took a step forward and she flinched. JJ's hand left her shoulder and he stood, immediately trying to calm things down. The popcorn fell out of his lap, spilling all over the floor. Not a single person stopped to look at it.

"The fuck are you two doing?"

Her expression would've broken JJ into a million pieces, but he didn't have the luxury of paying attention to it. Instead, he ran by Luke's side, quietly pleading with him to relax.

"The fuck are you doing?" Luke pointed at Kie, and her mouth dropped.

He didn't even acknowledge his son's presence. He took another step toward Kiara, eyeing her like a piece of meat. That was around when JJ lost it, gripping his red hat with white knuckles before distracting him with the first direct comeback in probable history.

"Don't fucking touch her!" His voice was rough, shifting the attention focus of both Luke and Kie.

Luke looked like he was ready to throw hands. Kiara had never seen seen JJ move so fast. He grabbed her hand, yanking her off the couch and running them both back to his room where he locked the door.

Next, he ripped open the lock on the window, shimmying it upward like he'd done countless times before. The Carrera was beginning to feel sick. The way his eyes were buggy and scared and fucking traumatized. He moved quickly, little tremors following him everywhere he went.

And then the footsteps grew closer and JJ's frantic expression locked with her. He pointed to the window, staring at her with genuine anxiety. She stood rigid, unable to move.

"Fucking run!" He yelled, and she snapped back into place, stepping over the ledge and booking it back to her dads truck.

JJ watched as she pulled out of their parking lot. She looked completely frazzled. Seconds later, Luke kicked the door open. His son was absolutely disheveled and sweaty.

He felt the blows, but not as much as the choking fear in his throat. His chest was burning again, only getting worse when his father delivered kick after kick into his sides. He knew he was bleeding from somewhere, but his only thought was Kiara.

Who would she tell about this? How much had she seen?

How the fuck was he going to explain this?

Well he wouldn't. Not for a while anyway. He lost consciousness before he could form a cover plan.

Thoughts? 💀