soul ties - jiara

Chapter 22

JJ's POV

It was almost 9:30 am when I and Kie finished teaching the surfing lesson. I could see some of the parents gathering close to the sea as their kids finished getting out of it. I and Kie dismissed the kids with high-fives and big smiles. Once again, they seemed to love Kie. I get it. What's there not to love in this girl? Emily the adorable little girl who was crying at the beginning of the class came up to me and hugged me.

"Thank you, JJ." she kissed my cheek. I know that I might have despised this behavior in the past but since I began teaching these kids I have grown very fond of them. Teaching them truly changed my life. I already knew that I loved surfing but once I started instructing the classes I felt like I had truly found my passion. I looked at Kie and her eyes softened. Suddenly, the little girl lunched at Kie and hugged her too. I could tell Kie was caught by surprise.

"It was nice to meet you, Kie." Emily tells Kie.

"It was nice meeting you too, sweetie." Kie told her back.

"I want to be as pretty as you when I grow up." once again Kie was not expecting the words Emily professed. But, damn. You knew it was heartfelt when a kid was the one telling you something. It was true. She was fucking stunning.

"Thank you." Kies's eyes soften. "Well, you already are as pretty as me, Em." she tells the girl who hugs her again thankful. And then it hits me. I find myself thinking about having kids of my own for the first time. Kids were never in my plans, I never intended to bring someone of my species into this world too afraid of following my father's footsteps. I didn't want any person that came from my blood dealing with that type of shit. But, standing here looking at the girl who I was damn sure was going to be the only one I would ever love, I thought about. A thought about cooking breakfast with her and our children on Sunday mornings and going surfing together. You always hear older people saying that eventually having kids begins to come to your head once you feel like you're with the right person. I thought it was bullshit. Turnouts, that now being 22, financially stable because of all the fucking gold, and looking at Kiara Carrerra holding a little girl, they proved themselves to be right.

All of the sudden, a woman who I believe is Emily's mother comes up to us. She seems very approachable and sweet and I think I've already talked with her on other occasions. Sometimes, I talk to some of the parents to give them feedback or because they have some questions to ask me. At first, some of them weren't very amused with me being the instructor to their kids. I mean my reputation proceeds me on this island. I am Luke Maybank's son and I am known for committing some shitty and even illegal stuff here. But I'm not that reckless teenager anymore. Yeah, I'm still a pain in the ass and I'm still in love with the same girl but I didn't need to commit those felonies anymore to survive.

"Good morning, JJ." The woman greets me with a handshake. "Good morning, love." she greets Kie, and Kie smiles at her.

"Good morning, Ms. Miller." I greet her back.

"Please for the love of god call me Laura. Don't make me feel old." she laughs and I appreciate her easy approach.

"Good morning, I am Kiara. I was here helping JJ teach the class today." Kie shakes her hand while introducing herself.

"It's nice to meet you!" the woman tells Kie. She now directs her speech to her daughter "Hey sweetie why don't you go over there and play for a while with Katie? Mommy needs to talk to JJ and Kiara, for a minute." the child agrees.

"Oh, I can go." Kie makes sure to say.

"No, Kiara, stay I can Em loves you." the woman reassures Kie.

"I was just wondering if you knew what could have happened with Em. She said she didn't want to come to class today. She didn't tell me why and got worried. She only told me that it was nothing with you. She loves you, JJ. Seriously she's always talking about you. Maybe some kid made a mean comment or something? I was wondering if you were aware of something happening?" the woman worriedly asks me.