Heated Lies (Jiara)

Oh, Shit

It was around 8pm when JJ noticed Kie was gone. He remembered John B and Sarah having a few drinks, and then making out in the hot tub.

That was nice and all, but JJ was about ready to leave. Pope was already home, judging by the vague message he saw on his phone screen.

So the blonde boy grabbed a towel, dried himself and his hair, and padded off to find his girlfriend. He didn't think John B or Sarah noticed he wasn't there anymore.

Inside the Chateau, Kiara was dozing on the couch in a white and blue flowered towel. JJ couldn't help but marvel for a few seconds. Even though her hair was wet, it defined her curls perfectly.

He, on the other hand, had hair that resembles a wet dog. He wouldn't even deny it.

"Kie?" He gently nudged her shoulder, causing a groan and then a small smile.

"Sup, J?"

"Were you drinking with JB and Sa-"

"Nah, I'm sober." She sat up, running a hand through her hair and patting the seat beside her.

He quickly followed. "You seemed kinda down tonight."

Her smile fell as she began picking at the sides of her bikini bra. "Sorry." He shook his head, clearly wishing she hadn't apologized. She felt the same soon after. "I'm trying not to keep worrying."

His blue eyes showed that of understanding, but it was paired with protest and fear. He began to feel like he'd given her too much.

"I get it." She quickly said. "I'll do whatever it takes, I just... it sucks sometimes."

He nodded, looking down at his hands. "Fair." His thumb was subconsciously rubbing her knee. "That's okay."

A silence fell over them both, until Kiara pulled him back down with her onto the back of the couch. It earned a grin, and it let them both know things would get better... eventually.

"So what are we doing about your dad's truck?"

JJ immediately stiffened. "I'm gonna bring it here tonight... try to fix it before he finds out."

***the next day***

Luke was not a patient man. When Pope never came back with information, he knew something was up. He also knew it almost had to be connected to that girl.

Corruption was something he didn't want to become familiar with.

His typical coping skills didn't change despite his anger toward the blonde boy. Beer and pills still littered half the house. That would've been fine, had he foreseen an unexpected cop visit.

Shoupe was on his doorstep with official looking papers. Luke wasted no time shoving everything in various places before answering as casually as he could.

"Hey." His tone was low and mellow. "Can I help you?"

Shoupe saw his bloodshot eyes, and had to fight the urge to react. "You're the father of John Jacob Maybank?"

Luke seemed confused. His ears were stuck, almost like he'd just gotten off a plane without popping them. His tank top was torn and dirty, and his hands were undoubtedly sweaty.

"Who?"

There was an officer behind the Sheriff, folding a few papers. "Goes by JJ?" She reiterated, choosing not to stare at the dirt underneath his fingernails.

"Thank you, Plum." Shoupe turned back to Luke. "He's your son, correct?"

"That depends on what he did to have the cops knocking on my damn door."

Plum looked at her papers again, reading the printed copies and sighing. "Assault of a police officer and injuring more than two other teenager boys."

Something flickered in the Maybank's mind. Shoupe didn't have a single thought telling him that smile was good news.

His fists would clench and unclench in an unspoken anger. He hated that he'd seen it before. He hated that he didn't have enough on Luke for prosecution.

"Again." Luke gritted through his teeth, leaning to the left to see an empty lot where his truck used to be. "Fuckin' kid."

Shoupe was staring now. "You mind if we take a look inside?" It was a passive question, but he couldn't give less of a fuck.

"I reckon you need a warrant for that, Sheriff." The smug smile returned, and Shoupe bit his tongue.

"Yeah." Shoupe scanned every inch of his being. "We'll be back." He walked off the creaking porch with Plum trailing behind.

Luke didn't bat an eye. "Bye bye, now."

As soon as they left he stormed back inside to grab a beer. It wasn't anything special, just a bud light, but he wasn't drinking the beer just because.

He was drinking it to down the opioids he's just taken out of hiding. Barry had a high price for them, and they were Luke's go to when he was angered.

He texted one last message to his son, a warning to come home before things got ugly. There was no reply, not yet.

***

At least she knew this time. At least JJ told her. But what now? He looked terrified all over again. Kiara reminded him to take deep breaths, and he did, but she could feel his body shaking.

"I should've fixed it yesterday as soon as I got it! I gotta go back." He panicked. "I fucked up the truck, I owe it to him!"

"Are you out of your goddamn mind?!" Kiara's voice was completely out of character.

JJ's stare told her just that. "Shit, I'm so sorry." She quickly said, lowering it and trying again. "JJ, you can't go back there. He's clearly angry. What happened wasn't your fault. Not at all. There's no way anyone could fix a keyed car in that amount of time. No place was even open by the time you came back."

"Then I should've brought it back sooner!" He slightly pulled on his shirt to create a short wind to cool him down.

She glanced back at his phone with the message still on the screen.

Dad- I'm warning you son. Get home.

"He's warning me." JJ corrected, voice slightly softer. "What if he just wants to, like, talk? What if he's just worried?"

Kiara couldn't believe her ears. He couldn't be serious. He was refusing to see the danger of this.

"Babe..." The nickname caught his attention rather quickly. "I just... I really think this is a bad idea. I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I can handle him."

Ah, fuck, fuck, fuck

Her mind wasn't usually so vulgar. She sighed. There was no changing his mind.

"Okay. Just check in, all right?" She deadpanned, face entirely serious.

He nodded, looking away from her at a random painting JB had up on the wall at the Chateau. She wouldn't allow it.

"JJ, I'm dead serious." She turned his jaw back toward hers with just her thumb and index finger.

His cheeks were pink now, but he knew she meant business. So he finally formally agreed.

"Okay. I'll check in, I promise."

And then she was pulling him forward to kiss him, eyes closing as soon as she met contact. He didn't hesitate to return the action.

Author- a couple of these last chapters are unedited so i'm gonna fix them soon. just felt like i gotta post them while they're fresh in my mind.