Enemies to Lovers • JIARA•

7

Kie's POV:

So, I ended up going home the next day from Lucas' and my mom was waiting on the porch for me. She smiled at me and said, "I'm happy you're home. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, sorry but that was humiliating"

"I know, but I really don't think it was on purpose. JJ apologized to both your father and me at the Wreck and he came looking for you at the house later on"

"JJ came over here?" I asked confused

My mom said he just wanted to apologize to me and I didn't really know what to think about that. She told me that I needed to be back at the Wreck working next week. I agreed and I made her promise me that I wouldn't be scheduled with JJ and she agreed.

I went back to work and it was nice not having to deal with JJ. However, tomorrow night was different. Our shifts were going to overlap for two hours. I wasn't happy about it, but it wasn't the end of the world either. I could handle two hours. I got off early and he had to stay and close which sucked because it was so busy.

I didn't even look at him as I didn't want to talk to him. I was so over fighting with him. Lucas was right, it's annoying and it's becoming exhausting. The restaurant was packed and suddenly some guy came in causing a scene. It was Luke, JJ's dad. He was super drunk and he was making all the customers uncomfortable.

Luke grabbed JJ like he was going to hit him after telling him that he was worthless. Luckily, my dad stepped in and kicked Luke out and JJ rushed into the office as everyone was looking at him. Now he knows how it feels. My dad went back to the office and I followed him and so did everyone else working. My mom apologized to the customers.

I didn't hear what my dad said to him, but I heard the last part.

"You can have the night off. I'll pay you as if you were working. Kiara will cover your shift"

"What? No, I have a date tonight with Lucas" I protested

"I'll stay" JJ said looking at the ground

"No, you won't. You're leaving. I'm sorry that happened, JJ. You deserve the night off. Kiara will cover for you because you covered for her last week"

JJ walked by me and he didn't even look at me. I hated them. Both my dad and JJ at this moment. Since when were they best friends? My dad looked at me and thanked me for staying late.

"Not like I had a choice" I said under my breath

"Kiara, the whole restaurant just watched that happen. The least I can do for that boy is to treat him like a human being. Luke Maybank is a drunk who treats his son like a piece of trash. He doesn't need that from us at work." My dad said in a way that he sounded upset with me

We had closed for the night and I was stuck cleaning by myself. The place was trashed, dishes were stacked high, tables were dirty, and the floors needed to be mopped. It was going to be a long night. Lucas was already upset that I missed our date because he bought these expensive tickets.

There was a knock on the door and it was JJ. I opened it and he came in and locked the door behind him.

"Why are you here?" I asked

"I'm here to finish cleaning. You can go and be with your boyfriend. I know I already ruined your night. Besides, it's not like I have anywhere else to be"

"It's fine, I'm almost done" I lied as I didn't want him here

"Let me help. I feel bad for leaving but I just couldn't stay and watch everyone just look at me with those eyes"

"Fine, you can stay but we aren't talking. You can do the nasty dishes and I'll mop the floor"

"Kie, I know I do a lot of shit to you but the whole tray falling was an accident. I was distracted by something my dad said and I wasn't paying attention. I'd never intentionally do something like that in public. Now, if it was just us... That's a different story" He said in a serious way but ended it with a joke to lighten the mood

"I might have overreacted just a tiny bit" I said in a way that he knew I meant I way overreacted

"Hey, I'd rather drop a tray full of food in front of everyone than have my dad show up like he did tonight. But anyways, you're free to go. I'll finish up here so you can go on your date"

"It's fine, I'll stay. We already missed the game anyways"

He just gave me a look and said, "Get to work before I tell the boss you're slacking"

JJ and I were busy getting everything done and I went into the kitchen and grabbed the leftover fries and put some ketchup on the plate. I went to a booth and sat down and JJ walked by and stole a fry off the plate and I said, "You can have some"

He sat down and I said, "I swear the ketchup better not end up in my hair"

He tossed a fry in my hair and said, "You didn't say anything about fries"

I threw the fry back at him and we finished the plate of fries and finished turning off the lights. It was kinda nice not fighting with JJ tonight. I mean, of course, he made a few comments and so did I but it wasn't anything serious. I was tempted to ask him about his dad, but he was a pretty private person and I didn't want to pry as it was none of my business.

I walked to my car and realized that JJ was going to walk home. The cut from the Wreck was probably about a mile or so. I don't know why I was being so nice tonight. I yelled, "Want a ride?"

He was almost shocked that I asked as I've driven by him countless times walking home. I'd usually flip him off when I saw him. He accepted the ride and he gave me directions to his house. I guess I never realized where he lived before. He thanked me and I drove myself home.

I sat up in bed thinking about the night I just had with JJ. Yeah, it was work but it didn't suck, he didn't suck to hang out with. I just wouldn't ever tell anyone that.

JJ's POV:

My dad showing up to the Wreck was humiliating and I was really happy with the way Mike handled it. I didn't want the Carreras to hate me so I went back to close once the customers were gone. But Kie stayed and we closed together. It actually wasn't so bad. We even sat and shared fries together and then she offered to drive me home.

She was being nice to me, I mean this has never happened before. But I know why, because of my dad. I gave Kie directions to my house and she had no idea where I lived but now she did. She can truly see the filthy, disgusting, tiny shack that I call home.

I watched her pull away. I didn't even want to be here because my dad was probably waiting for me to get home to punch me. I didn't go inside, instead, I spent the night outside in the hammock. I was thinking about the events that happened tonight. I don't know what I was feeling but there was something tonight closing with Kie, I just felt safe.

I've never felt that was with another person before. I felt like even though she knew something was going on between me and my dad. She had no idea how bad it was but I think she knows it's bad. Being with her tonight, I just didn't feel judged. I felt like I could be myself. We were laughing and joking like friends would, not enemies.

She didn't ask a million questions. She just treated me like a human and so did her parents. I don't understand why they are so nice to me. I'm just a fucked up kid from the cut with no future. They've had countless opportunities to fire me and they haven't.