Heated Lies (Jiara)

Shoupe's Suspicion

Don't stare at the clock. It only makes time go slower. At least that's what happened for JJ... and the other four boys waiting in Shoupe's office.

Kelce had a bloody nose while Topper could barely see through his swollen eye. JJ definitely fought back well considering the added damages done to himself.

"None of this would've happened if you kept your damn mouth shut." Barry growled from the seat across from him. "What if I get busted, huh?"

JJ knew he was talking about drugs. His dad bought from the prick, so he didn't hesitate in his reply. "Then good."

The older man could've added another charge to the conflict at hand, but Rafe shoved him back in his seat murmuring something about fixing it himself.

"Mr. Maybank, would you come back here, please?"

All eyes focused on him. His legs felt like jelly, and he wasn't all that confident they could carry him to the desired destination. Kelce pushed his shoulder, and JJ immediately smacked his hand away.

"I'm going, I'm going. Don't touch me, you fuck."

He finally stood stiffly, walking toward Shoupe in a seemingly endless hallway. It wasn't the first time he'd been at the station. He hated the bustle of criminals and handcuffs.

Once he entered the room, he noticed Shoupe's look of disappointment.

"JJ... come on." He sighed. "Alright, this is your third assault offense which means the bail money will be pretty high. Topper and Kelce's parents are pressing charges. Do you know if you can pay that off?"

His eyes watered a little. He opened his mouth to speak, but not a sound came out. His brain only replayed John B's broken mirror, and the feeling of the scars still painting his knuckles.

"JJ?"

He took a deep breath, trying his damnest to form a sentence.

"Boy, are you hearin' me?"

And then he straightened up, quickly blinking away the tears and clearing his throat. Shoupe practically flinched at how quickly that got him a response.

"Yes, sir." But it sounded so quiet.

Shoupe sighed again. "Can you tell me in your own words what happened tonight?"

He tried to form a story, but there was no way to tell the truth without exposing himself.

"Uh, T-Topper jumped me... I lost my temper. That's all."

Shoupe tilted his head to one side. "Son, I'm not that stupid. You gotta give me more than that."

The son is what caught him off guard. He grew silent, playing with his fingers the same way Kiara had done earlier that day.

"Alright, well since you wanna play dumb there's only one other way out of this. Settle something for me."

The blonde boy looked up at him questioningly. "And that is?"

"What's going on at home? You live with just your dad, right?"

He could've been sick on the spot. "Nothing, yeah. He's cool." He said, simply. "Uh, so Topper and I made up, so I think-"

"So things are okay with you and Luke?" Shoupe interrupted him. JJ's voice became a whisper.

"Yeah, we're chill..." He hesitated. "I mean we fight a little, but-"

"You fight a little?" His tone could've snapped the boy in half.

"Like all parents do!" He quickly reiterated. "N-Not my mom, she's not there, but... but everything is fine is the point."

"Listen, J, I received a tip from someone that suggests otherwise."

"No, that's ridiculous, let's go back to the goons in the back. That's why I'm here, right?" The silence was deafening. "Right?"

Shoupe had begun clicking his pen. For the sheriff of OBX, he looked extremely uncomfortable. "That is part of the reason."

JJ scooted back in his seat a little. Shoupe saw this, and thought up a plan. JJ was one of the kids who would run at the drop of a penny. He'd seen them before, and none of them were ready to leave if they didn't have anything to hide.

He hated that Kiara might've been right.

"JJ where did the others get you, tonight?" He decided to switch the subject, hoping it would take away some of the qualm.

"Uh... just my face. Barry got me a couple times and he kicked me once." His answer was a lot more confident.

"So not that bad?"

"Not really, no." He was biting his lip, worrying it between his teeth at the change in topic.

"So then that's not of importance right now." Shoupe leaned forward on his desk, making JJ sink further into his chair. "I think we have bigger problems here. I'd appreciate your cooperation."

"Oh my god, SHUT UP!" He screamed, furiously wiping away tears that had brimmed against his will. "I can handle it, Shoupe! I'm not some bitch in need of rescuing!"

"Then lift up your shirt."

The blonde boy blinked. "W-What?"

"Lift up your shirt. Prove the anonymous tipper wrong. Easy peasy, right? Hurry up, so I can kick you out of my office."

He'd left the makeup at home. They were gonna find out. He looked to the door, then to Shoupe. His hands were tearing at the ends of his shirt, loosening the threads one by one. He wondered if his previous application had worn off yet.

His bitten lip had since begun to bleed. He was sweating like it was million degrees in the office even though it was quite cold to Shoupe.

"Son, it doesn't have to be so-"

That "son" was about all he could take. He made a run for it, booking it out of the office and shoving an officer down on his way out. He paid no attention to the eyes or the way people began screaming his way.

He didn't even hear Rafe mockingly cheering him on, or the siren that went off as his feet continued to pound against the floor. Though, he didn't know where he was going, he knew he couldn't be there. He was too close to game over, and he'd be damned if he got to that point.

***

Kiara had been at home in bed, dreaming about the night she'd had with him. It didn't cease her worrying necessarily, but being close with him in that way certainly took a weight off her shoulders.

A feeling she didn't know she'd been suppressing until she went for it. His intimacy was what she enjoyed; the way he let his guard down even if it was just for a little while.

It was the genuine happiness she craved from him. She'd do anything to see it again.