Heated Lies (Jiara)

Unlikely Alliance

Now JJ didn't wonder where Kiara's parents were. He didn't have the mindset for that due to previous events, but it was a reoccurring thought in her mind anyway.

"They left." She said bluntly. They'd say in silence for a while, letting JJ recuperate. Now she had to fill him in. "You can stay at my house for as long as you need, and you won't have to hide until they come back."

He did seem confused for a while. She would gently massage different parts of his hands and arms as he thought. He had an epiphany just as she got to his shoulders, where a lot of tension nested.

"Oh shit..." His hand made it to his forehead as he shut his eyes. "The fucking boarding school thing."

She looked away from him. "Yeah."

He moved to stand and she sprang into action. "Jesus, J, I just said you should rest."

"I'm fine, Kie. Seriously, he's done worse." She felt a horrified expression coming on and quickly bit her tongue. "I'm sorry about your parents."

A wince made her sling his arm around her shoulder. "It's fine. But..."

He stopped attempting to walk when she trailed off. "But?"

"What will you do if I'm not here? Will you go to Pope or JB? What about Sarah, she's patched John B up before." Kiara was trying to reason with.

"You know they can't know."

A particularly sharp pain stabbed through his stomach. It countered his play in the game. He could pretend all he wanted, but Luke heavily affected him, and Kiara knew it.

It wasn't just physical either. She knew that when he ran a hand over his face, stopping at his mouth and then shaking his head. Suppression.

"I need to know you'll be okay. You know they can help you, right?"

"What if they tell someone?" He said, voice getting lower.

"We'd figure it out." She promised him, but he shook his head again.

"No, Kie, alright? Hell no."

She huffed a breath, trying not to get angry about it. The last thing they needed was a fight.

"Where will you go then?"

"I'll figure it out."

She rolled her eyes. That wasn't going to fly.

"JJ, what's your plan?"

"Don't have one yet."

"You need one!"

"I'll deal with it like I always do!"

"By getting your ass kicked?!"

Well she'd done it now. JJ's jaw dropped and a blank expression took over his features. He was staring at her, as her hands clasped over her mouth. It was an instant regret.

"JJ, I'm so sorry." He was still shocked. "That's not what I meant to say! I wasn't thinking."

He broke eye contact, staring at the floor and then to the wall. "Damn."

He leaned against the bed, trying to steady himself. He should've been angry. What she said was heartless. For some reason, though, he understood.

He was used to anger. Everyone responds that way after dealing with him for too long. He knew now that she was no different.

"I'm not mad." His voice was extremely quiet, using the same tone as the night on the bathroom floor. "I get it. I'm being stubborn."

"JJ, I really didn't mean to say that. That's my fault, okay? I fucked up. It's on me." She was pleading with him. Kiara knew she'd just damaged his trust in her.