Heated Lies (Jiara)

Bad Trip

Pope wasn't a patient person. He found himself calling JJ once, twice, and then three times. Of course none of his calls were answered, but it wasn't because he was at his father's house enduring some ungodly action.

It was because he was on Kiara's front porch step high as fuck.

"Haven't done this shit in a good minute." JJ laughed. It was more of a wheeze, but Kiara was too gone to overreact about it.

"Missed this." She sighed a white smoke. "But... what is 'this' exactly?"

"No clue. Cousin dropped it off. Never got a chance to use it till now." He took another hit, blowing smoke in the opposite direction.

"You're reckless, you know that?" She was giggling though, watching him flip it between his middle and index fingers.

"Is that why you like me?" He was facing her now, grinning like a child. "I mean I know I'm charming but-"

"Okay, getting cocky." She was laughing against him, allowing him to pull her in between his legs and wrap his arms around her waist.

This was the fuzzy feeling she loved. She'd had none of it since the confession. Constant worrying was terrible for them both, so maybe she needed this joint more than she thought.

For JJ, holding her was like holding a charged rocket. Usually, Kiara was the one keeping him upright. She would reassure him when things were low and helpless.

But now? She would look back at him with a longing smile, let her hands brush against his legs wether it was on purpose or just because her body needed his touch.

The pain in his stomach was slowly leaving just as it came. She was the remedy. Her, the crickets, the ocean, and the night sky.

"Dude, I'm so high." It was the way she said it that had them both cackling. At least until Kiara's phone rang.

She looked at her father's caller ID, lips spreading into a thin line. JJ bit his own lip before canceling his old tactics. He knew Kiara would be upset if he broke the split on his lip a fourth time, not that he had a replacement.

But his anxiety wasn't going away. She stared at it until it stopped ringing, and the screen faded into black. Then she was leaning back just the slightest onto JJ.

"I need another one." She looked to her boyfriend, who had to take his hand off his chest before she saw.

"Yeah, but Kie-"

"Let's just roll 'em up." She interrupted, faking a smile.

He could've been concerned about her avoidance, but he quite literally did the same thing. Then his heart was beginning to feel tight. So an extra joint it was.

***

It was obviously a mistake. Kiara's eyes were wide and glassy. JJ had stopped smoking long before she did.

"Do you even smoke like this?" He suddenly asked, to which she replied with giggles and laughter. That gave him his answer.

But then she put the blunt down in the ashtray with shaky hands. Her hand reached her forehead, slightly clammy as she winced. When she brought it back down, the slight tremor made her panic, and then everything felt too weird.

"JJ?" Her voice was weak and scared. She was trying to take a deep breath of fresh air, but she couldn't. Everything was contaminated. "Fuck... J, I don't like it anymore."

His concerned expression didn't help matters. "It feels weird." She repeated. Her eyes were struck with shocked fear, her hands suddenly gripping his leg. "M-Make it stop."

JJ glanced at what she'd smoked and sighed, pulling her closer. "Oh, baby."

She mumbled something incoherent. "It'll pass, give it time." His head rested on her shoulder as he whispered into her ear. "Just a bad trip."

He wouldn't say he enjoyed her discomfort, but being able to cradle her with reassurances and love was a nice change of pace. He didn't feel so helpless. Though he did wish she would stop squeezing his leg so hard.

Either way, he found himself helping her to stand despite the pain in his own body. They were back upstairs in no time, Kiara getting settled in the blankets while JJ found the remote to put on some background noise.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize how much you'd taken." He continued to whisper behind her. She was quiet, probably trying to get the room to stop spinning.

He gently kissed her lips and she smiled into it, which helped him relax a little. Next, he's rubbing the side of her shoulder until the tension leaves.

They're left with an exhausted form, and although JJ had just napped, they're ready to sleep again. It's dark outside now, and their night was coming to an end.

Their night. Pope was still wide awake at his own house, observing small things he'd never thought about.

Heyward was the ideal father. He made sure Pope was in bed on time, made sure he did his homework, stuck his neck out for his son's scholarship, even got him a paying job!

Now that he was thinking, he hated how terrible that looked in front of the rest of his friends who longed for the same love and affection. It made him feel horrible.

"Shit." He'd whispered against his hands.

But he wasn't ready to pity them. Instead, he gathered his things and set off toward the very station Kiara had been to. There, he found Shoupe in the exact same spot.

"JJ-"

"I know."

I know this chapter is kind of short. I'm going through it right now i swear i'll get back on it soon.