Heated Lies (Jiara)

Iffy

"It's so beautiful here, honey! You're gonna love it here!"

Kiara could've choked, but she kept a cold heart. "Sure, mom. If you really decide to send me, I'll try my best."

"You get a roommate! They have a surfing class!"

"Cool." She was extremely nonchalant. In was a low hope, but it was still there. Her parents couldn't send her there could they?

"I think we've made a decision." She heard her father speaking beside her mother. "It's perfect."

Silent tears fell down her cheeks. She hung up, slamming her phone on her passenger car seat and covering her face with her hands. While her parents didn't know she heard, there was a fair chance that was the mutual decision.

She had a hatred for their impulsive behavior at times, but it wasn't like she was innocent. She only hoped her parents didn't think naively. She'd still do anything for "those boys." She'd still do anything for JJ.

Speaking of which, he was still sleeping when she got home. He looked so peaceful, and it was calming her considerably. Most of the time he looked stressed, it almost made seeing his face so relaxed concerning. She hated that there was almost nothing she could do to counter that.

It was his father, they'd have to work that out on their own, if ever. She found herself curling up beside him, one arm around his chest as if to shield him from harm. He would stir for just a moment, humming contently, and instantly warming her from the inside out.

***

John B was a typically clueless person. Pope hated that now more than ever. Something was seriously wrong, and if no one else knew, he wasn't sure what he could do about it.

For one, JJ's father was an asshole. That much was clear the very first time he'd seen him, years ago as that was. But now, remembering the split on the blonde boy's lip and the way he tried to cover the inside of his home.

Why had he never wondered why they'd never been in JJ's house?!

Shoupe definitely had a hunch, and it was too obvious. It was going to drive him mad.

"Pope, chill the fuck out." John B had taken a glance at the boy, and he didn't like what he saw.

"I can't. I have to figure out a way to help!"

"Help what?!"

Pope stopped pacing to face John B and his video game controller.

"You seriously don't wonder about JJ's house." It wasn't a question.

Pope could've thought JB was deep in thought, but he looked a lot more focused on Waluigi.

"Nah. His dad's always been a little quirky. You're the only one in the group without daddy issues, dude."

Pope's face softened at the realization.

"Fuck, you're right."

***

JJ woke up first for once, but he didn't wake Kiara. Much like himself, Kiara looked so peaceful when she was sleeping. It was a nice change of pace, and he found himself smiling at her comfort.

Getting around the house was relatively hard without her help, but he wasn't about to wake her up, so he made deal. It was strange how quiet everything was.

He knew her house was nice because she was rich, but it was also nice because it was homey. He felt safe here, and that wasn't a feeling he was used to.

Which sucked. But he found that if he didn't dwell on it, he could actually enjoy it. Still, moving from place to place wasn't the easiest thing in the world because the pain in his chest and abdomen loved to make themselves known.

But he counted it as a victory anyways. It was replayed in his mind over and over again that next time was what he had to worrry about. Not now. Now he's made it out with a lot less than he'd expected after the blatant attack at his father's emotions.

But anyway...

When his phone rang, he quickly took the ringer off and listened to see if he'd woken his girlfriend. After a few seconds of silence, he sighed, and put the phone to his ear.

"JJ?"

"Hey! It's Pope. John B is at my house. You're on speakerphone. Are you okay?"

Well, fuck. Kiara hadn't gotten around to a cover up yet.

"Totally fine." He reassured his friends, leaning on the kitchen counter top. He would rock back and forth while they exchanged their respectful relief.

"What happened?"

"Uh..." He wasn't good at speaking on the spot. Not when he was still hurting, and worrying about where Kiara would be next week. "Nothing it was no big deal."

John B grabbed the phone. "Was it Topper again? I'll kick his ass I swear to go-"

"NO!" Silence followed as they processed the loud interruption. "Sorry... no it wasn't Topper. I just got into an accident being a dumbass."

There was an audible smack of the forehead, and JJ just knew it was JB. Pope, however, would take more convincing. He'd seen Luke and the beer. He'd made the connection, but he had to find a way to get it out of his friend.

Unfortunately, since he just made up another lie, now was not the time.

"Alright, feel better dude. We'll be by later."

JJ hung up as fast as he could. He'd finally settled on the couch when he noticed Kie walking down the stairs with tired eyes.

"Hey, babe." And now his cheeks were pink. "Feeling any better?"

"Peachy." He patted the seat beside him, and she got them each a glass of water before joining him.

"Hydrate. Doctor's orders." She joked.

"You mean Pope's orders."

She shrugged. "Same thing."

That made him laugh for a second. At least until that laugh began to hurt. Then Kiara's smiled died, and she wondered if he really should see a doctor. A real one.

"Can we roll a few blunts now?" JJ hated seeing her worried, deep in thought expression. Her features looked so scared and that was the last thing he wanted.

"Let me try to patch you up first." She took his hand, gesturing to help him up, and his cheeks grew red again. Except this time he wasn't blushing in a good way, he was nervous and embarrassed.

It hadn't seemed like a big deal, but he'd been extremely vulnerable with her in the last few weeks. She's quite literally seen him at his worst, and there was no way she'd forget it.

"You okay?" She'd asked him because he wasn't smiling. He was in pain, no doubt, but there was something else there.

"Fine, do you think he broke a rib?"

She didn't have to ask who he was. It's like mentioning Voldemort. Kiara nearly dropped him. "N-No."

What she really meant was that she seriously hoped not. But she'd have to check him out soon anyway. When they finally made it to the bathroom, JJ leaned against the counter top.

It never got emotionally easier to lift his shirt for her to see his entire story. So he just discarded it into the bathtub. It stayed there the entire time.

"This okay?" She'd ask him, again and again every time he made a noise. When things were bad, JJ enjoyed it, but in times like these, when he really was trying his hardest to shut up, he felt like a baby.

"S'fine."

Author here- sorry my posts have been so inconsistent. got that seasonal depression but writing is my therapy so i'm here im just slow. TRAILER DROPPED!!! Like 97% sure they're gonna kiss this season but i really think Pope will be sad or mad and i don't really blame him. There was a lil bts scene kind of where JJ has cuts on his face and Kiara is carressing his cheeks and it looks like a major hurt/comfort moment!!! JJs dad getting ready to come back and thicken the plottttt!!! Like three different jiara hugs coming up!! but the comments were sayin it was fake so idk but i need kiara to help him through a bad time again. IM SO FUCKING EXCITED!!!!!