Heated Lies (Jiara)

Group

The blonde boy lay awake in Pope's makeshift bed. He was just thinking, just imagining even for a moment, that things were normal. But his normal wasn't even normal.

It was broken dishes, the smell of weed, checking on his father every half hour because if he wasn't snoring there was a chance he was dead. It was constant fear, patching himself up and then keeping it all inside so no one would ever find out.

But he'd already hit Game Over, right? He'd quite literally snitched on himself because Kiara was there. She was warm, and sweet, and she smelled like his mother before she left.

She was his happy place, and now that she was in some mental asylum, he was lost all over again. Pope was an awesome friend, he couldn't deny it, but he still felt like an outcast.

What's worse is John B, his best friend, felt the same way. You can't hide one secret with another secret. JJ could almost feel their awareness. They knew something and the more he thought, the more he panicked.

That was another thing; panic. He'd had anxiety all his life. He knew that when he couldn't breathe correctly in his father's presence. That had started at age twelve, when his mother first left.

But panic attacks? Confiding in Shoupe of all people? Feeling like crying all the time?

He couldn't help but feel like a pussy. These were things he'd engraved into his mind to be wrong. Or at least Luke had engraved it into his mind. So why did he miss him?

And there it was, the thought that triggered his tear ducts. He found himself digging his palms into his eyes once more.

No one was checking in on Luke, which meant anything could've happened to him. He had no one to tell. His anger only grew, making him bite his tongue.

His hand slowly made its way to the split on his lip, feeling the dried blood and squeezing just a little. It didn't bleed, and he was mad that he wished it had. He needed some kind of release.

Things were getting too confusing. He almost wished he'd told Pope, Sarah, and John B already. That had to make things better, but he knew an easier way.

With that, he was up again, tiptoeing toward the Heyward's kitchen. There, he found two beers and padded back off to the couch. Without weed, this would have to do.

***

"How do you know all this if you're new?" Kiara asked when Nora left the bathroom stall.

None of them had locks, and they quickly found themselves holding the door for each other. It was a mutual friendship despite being somewhat apprehensive.

"I'm not completely new. I'm a common guest." She laughed but it was humorless. "My parents dipped, but they keep paying for this place so I come every summer. They're technically my legal guardians."

"But... What do you do when you're home alone? You ever look for them?" Kiara suddenly felt terrible.

"They don't wanna be found. 'Sides, it's kinda fun doing whatever I want with my
friends."

Nora shrugged, washing her hands and following Kiara back to the common area. There were large sofa looking chairs everywhere in a larger gray room. Three security guards stood by the doors leading to the separate rooms.

"You remind me of my friend, John B."

"No shit, the one on the news?" Nora gasped. "Didn't he kill a man?"

"No. They thought he did. Sherif Peterkin was shot by someone else.." She tapered off, and her new friend pushed her glasses up.

"Sorry." She apologized. "Not trying to get down on you. I don't know John B, but I'll take your side. I don't think you'd be friends with a murderer."

The Carrera's smile returned.

"No, you're good. I just miss him, and everyone else back home." Her eyes became soft, and Nora didn't miss it.

"Hey, you got a man back home?"

Then the speaker cackled and they both winced.

"It is 8:00 pm on the dot. Get to group! You have four minutes."

Kiara wasn't planning on answering that particular question anyway, but now she had an excuse. So she nodded to Nora and the girl showed her the way.

This room was full and kind of freaky. Everything from the walls to the ceiling and tile floor were black. There were little streamers of blue and yellow hanging from the vents, and duct tape covering what was obviously the thermostat.

She could faintly make out what looked like splattered red paint on only one of the walls. There were rows and rows of white and green chairs in the room, and Kiara quickly took her place by Nora. Everyone else was laughing and cheering like they'd just been admitted into a concert. Kiara didn't understand, and it frightened her.

"Quiet down, everyone!"

This woman sounded an awful lot like the lady from the intercom.

"Yes, Ms Jenkins."

Everyone was speaking like robots again, and it told her her hunch was correct.

"We'll start at the left row. As usual, state your name, age, and reason for your stay. Then you may share your current life's circumstances." The woman smiled, but she still looked mean.

"My name is Stacy." A shorter girl spoke up, braiding her hair as she did so. "I'm seventeen, and I'm here 'cause I lit my brother's truck on fire and it nearly burned our house down."

Snickers were heard throughout the room. Kiara didn't find it very funny.

"My life's circumstances? Uh... well my little bro's out the hospital now. He's acting a little dumb-"

"Uh uh."

"Different. He's acting different." Stacy rolled her eyes. "But I love him anyways. My momma still thinks I've lost it so here I am."

Kie bit her tongue. The more she stayed here, the more she felt betrayed. Her parents really thought she belonged among these damaged few.

"Your turn." Nora nudged her shoulder.

Author- unedited!