Heated Lies (Jiara)

Inmate

He'd been silent during the ride. The officer driving didn't even try to initiate conversation. His mind certainly wandered.

First, he'd stare at the bruises. He'd discreetly lift his shirt from the back, just enough to view a new blueish wound near his waistline. It had been yellowish before, healing from the original damage done by Luke.

Cops don't play. It only made his anger worse. He hadn't felt rage like it in a long time, not since he'd been staying at Kiara's house. Now he felt nothing but fury toward everything and everyone within a ten minute radius.

It didn't get any better when Shoupe pulled him by his shoulders out of the car. JJ sulked into the station, glaring at the man. He wasn't afraid of Shoupe. He was afraid of Luke.

In that sense, he was untouchable. He kept the same leveled look as they printed his thumb and pushed him in front of the camera.

It was the face he gave, flashed only for a second just as the click of the camera sounded. It dropped Plum's grin.

Seconds later, someone's hands were on him again, pushing him into a cell. He was reluctant, but he didn't protest. Things were starting to hurt again, and he knew he wouldn't have access to a first aid kit for a while.

His brain would've continued thinking like that; rationalizing, but the pain clouded everything else. He found himself sitting on the metallic looking bench and bending forward.

His hand would alternate from clutching his stomach, to eventually holding his head downward. He couldn't stop a steady flow of tears, but he could stop them from seeing.

Besides, it wasn't for them and it wasn't for him. It was for Kiara. Because now they were both in deep shit.

***

When the Carrera parents arrived home, their daughter moved robotically. She hugged them both as if she were happy to see them, and parked in her room straight after.

Nobody questioned her, and she was grateful. She needed to collect her thoughts. It didn't do her any better, though. She could hear their whispers as she settled under the covers.

It really seemed like they'd made their decision. It took less than thirty seconds to realize she'd gotten far too used to JJ's arms around her waist at night.

So when the sky turned dark, she didn't eat or sleep. She didn't even try. It was almost a given. She was going to struggle big time.

***

The next morning JJ awoke with an ache in his back. He swore up and down he'd dreamed the whole thing until he saw the bars locking him in the small room. Then he was gasping for air, hand flying to his chest to keep from panicking.

Not that it worked, because there were so many more people in the station than before. He didn't even realize he was biting his lip until he tasted the crimson liquid. So he'd split his lip all over again.

fuck

Then Shoupe rapped on one of the bars. He didn't move a muscle.

"You alright, son?" The anger in his voice has completely vanished.

JJ couldn't help but look at him in confusion. "What kind of a fucking question?" But he still sounded scared. His anxiety was getting the better of him, and he knew that when he had to force himself to unclench his fists.

Shoupe looked from JJ to the officers in the other rooms. He sighed. "I know it looks like you're in trouble, but it's not as deep as it seems. I'm here to keep you safe."

"Safe from what?!" JJ had yelled at him, rage boiling over any sane tactic he could've had.

"From what we talked about last time. I know you're pissed. I'll give you time."

And then he was gone, letting JJ process exactly what 'last time' was. When he came to the realization, his heart caught in his throat. In what world was jail safer than his own father?

***

When Kiara woke up, she had several messages from Pope and John B. Each of them wondered if she was doing okay. She also noticed Sarah had texted her to meet at her house with the rest of the boys.

She wondered if Sarah had a single clue what went down. For some reason, it didn't seem likely.

"Good morning, Kiara!" Her mom was way too enthusiastic. "Pancakes or waffles?"

She sat down at the kitchen table and put her head down. "Same thing."

To Kiara's mother, she was only upset about leaving. That much made sense, though she hadn't actually said Kiara was going yet.

"Hello, honey." Her father said next, taking a sip of his coffee.

She didn't respond. Expecting him to have her back didn't do her any favors, so she stopped depending on it. She had bigger things to worry about anyway.

"Kiara, you okay?" He asked her, and it actually made her mad.

How could she know if he genuinely wanted to know the answer? What would he do if she told him hell no?

She look up at him, unamused.

"Is this about the boarding school?"

Her mother whipped around, smile completely gone. She looked like she way trying to tell him something with her eyes.

"No, we should talk about this as a family." Her husband waved off her concern, focusing on Kiara instead.

Said girl rolled her eyes. "Talk about the decision you already made?"

Both her father and mother sighed. She didn't dare lift her head. Her mom turned the fire on the stove completely off, turning to sit next to her daughter.

"Honey, we think it's what's best for you." She tried again to make Kiara understand, but she only stood, planning to walk back to her room.

"You leave tomorrow! It's a Friday!!" Her father called after her, ignoring his wife's glare. "Pack tonight, please!"

Kiara slammed her door shut, locking it, and taking several deep breaths. Tomorrow she was leaving, with no clue of when or if she was coming back.

She could only think of JJ. Then of John B and Pope. She seriously hoped they would take care of him. They had to.