Heated Lies (Jiara)

Don't Worry Kie

When Kie knocked on the door, it was completely unexpected. She's been impatient, shifting from one foot to the other as she waited for someone to answer.

She prayed it was JJ as apposed to his dad. That would've been bad. Said boy appeared awkwardly staring out of the window next to the door. After realizing it was Kiara, he quickly unlocked it.

"What are you doing here?"

Something broke behind him, and he shut his eyes. She noticed his wince. Trying to peek past him, to put a face on the incoherent yelling, she stood on her toes.

"I wanted to see you." She answered honestly. "Everything okay?"

She felt like she knew the answer, especially since his eye was still bruised, but she wanted to ask anyway. His eyes opened, immediately blocking her path of eyesight.

"Yeah, it's fine. Do you wanna go somewhere else?"

It was a question, but he didn't let her answer, practically dragging her away by the hand when he heard another glass shatter. If this bothered her, she didn't say it.

They walked in silence to her dad's truck. She had many questions but she had to be cautious about the way she asked them. JJ still felt jumpy to her. So she waited. She drove him around the Outerbanks, glancing at him from the driver's seat. He glanced back at one point, smiling to prove an invalid point.

"Where are we going?" He finally asked. "I mean, I have to be back before dark."

Her heart caught for a moment. "Can we go to my house?"

"Oh, yeah, sure."

***

Shoupe hated his job sometimes. It was to be expected, as a police officer. Kiara was a stubborn person, and he knew she'd be back. He couldn't help but wonder what was going on with JJ.

Someone doesn't randomly think of abuse when describing someone's parents. But there was no evidence. She didn't even say thats what she saw. That's when Shoupe realized, there was no record of JJ's mother on file.

He even double checked, beginning to break into a cold sweat. If this is what he thought it was, he'd have a lot of paper work to do.

***

When they arrived at Kiara's house, her mother greeted them at the door. The change in emotion was easily detected as she scanned the blonde boy. He waved in a mildly uncomfortable manner, following right behind Kiara to her room.

As soon as she shut the door, his whole body relaxed. Her room, like always, was decorated in a way that perfectly showed off her best features. Flowers painted the walls, blue curtains covering a white windowsill, pictures of her and the Pogues on her mirror and dresser top.

It was so much different than his room, and he loved that about it. He'd never worry about tripping over a broken beer bottle here. She may have been his comfort, but so was her house.

"So, you're okay?" She tried to fill the silence, also visibly relaxing at the looks of his smile.

He flopped onto her bed, pushing a grin through the shocks of pain it initiated. A nod followed as he discreetly massaged a small area near a bruise he'd angered.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

She couldn't answer that. So instead, she grabbed a deck of uno cards, planning on easing him into it. Unfortunately for her, JJ was ahead. He wouldn't allow his mind to stay calm for that long.

"No, that's boring, we should go somewhere." He quickly sprang up before she could propose the idea. "Can we go to the beach? O-Or the Wreck? I'll pay."

Now her eyes were wide. He moved the same way he did before. This almost confirmed her thoughts. No one acts like that! Even JJ wasn't sure why he spoke like that because A, it was too obvious, and B, he couldn't even afford John B's mirror yet.

Still...

"Beach. But I have to be back by six." She mumbled, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Though now he had a new problem. He was just glad he'd worn the makeup that day. Even as they arrive near the waves, he figured it was easier to get out of this than the previous situation.

But he didn't have to.

"Do we have to surf?" She asked. She actually sounded timid, which made JJ watch her for several seconds.

"Uh, no." He paused, fidgeting again. "You wanna just... sit?"

She pointed to a nearby tree. "Yeah. Hammock."

So they did. At first, it was strange. Kiara settled in first, resting her hands on her stomach as she stretched across the fabric. JJ climbed in second, facing her from the other direction.

Then it was quiet again. Only this time, his thoughts didn't catch fire and swallow him in the flames. This time is was sweet. The air was salty and cool, Kiara was warm against his side, and his life actually seemed in order.

"I love the ocean." She mumbled, staring out into the water.

He nodded. "Yeah, who doesn't?"

She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.

"I don't mean 'cause of surfing or swimming. I mean just 'cause it's so pretty. I feel like even if I got lost in it, I wouldn't be scared."

He glanced at her. "You writing poetry, Kie?"

She chuckled, letting him join and fade back into the silence. When she looked back at him, locking eyes and pressing her lips together, there was something else there.

Admiration on both sides. But there was also worry, JJ noticed.

"You're worried." He deadpanned, unexpectedly blunt. "There's nothing to worry about, Kie."

He said her name again, sounding a little like a disapproving teacher. She looked down at her hands, noticing she'd scratched her own nail polish off a few fingers.

He followed her gaze, hating her nervous movement. It wasn't the anger he experienced with his dad, it was more a protective worry. She began chipping away again, and his hand grabbed hers, immediately stopping her from ruining the rest of the manicure.

"Yeah, but Sarah-"

"I swear." He interjected. He knew he'd fucked up with Sarah. "Please don't worry about it. I..."

He ran a hand over his face. "I'm sorry about her. I'll apologize, okay?"

She was quiet now, taking in the way his thumb rubbed over her knuckles. He finally tore his eyes away to look back out at the ocean.

"I think you'd be scared if you were lost in the middle of a big ass ocean." He whispered. "It's no fun."

"You say that like you know." She chuckled and he took that as a good sign, though his lips didn't move. She sniffed a little.

Then things became tense. He wasn't stupid, he knew what was going on, as if his red cheeks didn't make it painfully obvious.

"J..." It was so damn quiet, barely audible, but he definitely heard it.

He turned to answer, letting out a short gasp when she got closer. Her free hand caressed his cheek, and he swore it felt like fucking flower petals. It reminded him of his mother. He'd never admit it, but this was starting to feel emotionally uncontrollable. Kiara had him in a tight grasp.

And then she kissed him, and everything vanished. His tensed shoulders relaxed, releasing the ache of multiple weeks. They moved in sync, quietly pressing against each other under the tree leaves. His heart beat faster, parts of him beginning to wonder what any of it meant.

Then her arms reached around his shoulders, and his mind went totally blank again. This was right. It had to be.

Author- Me writing this : the hoes gon loooove this 🤣🤣🤣 (tik tok reference for those of you that don't know)