Heated Lies (Jiara)

Steal Away

Outside, Sarah pretended to sulk back to the car. She sat in the passenger seat, sighing like she'd run a marathon. It was getting cooler outside, and it reminded her of JJ's first reappearance.

The hand on his shirt, and the way everyone knew exactly why.

"Status update?"

"He's in." She mumbled.

John B grinned, clapping once. Then he checked the gas tank, which they'd filled before arriving. Things seemed to be going to plan. He glanced at his girlfriend, who didn't look pleased.

"Hey, you alright?"

She opened her mouth to speak, and then closed it. He turned to face her, and she finally met eye contact.

"I just feel so bad for him. You can tell he's hurting wether he shows it or not."

John B nodded. "Yeah... but he's a tough guy. He'll be okay."

"Have you checked on the human calculator?" She wondered next, and JB pulled out his phone.

***

Kiara's phone was at 13 percent by this point, and she knew she didn't have long. Her charger was with the rest of her stuff, and it wasn't like she had the option to grab it.

She could only hope, pray that Nora didn't get into any more trouble. It seemed like one double down after the other. She needed a win. Her hands fisted the sheets the way she'd seen JJ do it before.

At this point, she was copying his motions. It wasn't just him. Thoughts about the rest of the Pogues flooded her mind. She suddenly missed them more than ever.

John B's stupid bandana, Pope's homework answers, Sarah's way of loving her like a sister. It was too much for all of sixty seconds, and then she took a deep breath. She couldn't think about those things.

Meanwhile, JJ tip toed closer to the end of the stairs. His hand searched his pockets for something to throw as a distraction. He came up empty, and groaned quietly.

***

"This is ridiculous! Could you guys take any longer!" Pope shouted from the iPhone. "Asshole told his guys everything was fine. Still weird as shit holding a grown man hostage!!"

John B ran a hand through his brown hair. "Yeah, sorry. If JJ told me to do it, I would've. It's kind of his gig."

"I am in so much shit if we get caught!!" Pope yelled, making Sarah frown.

"Just hang on. JJ is in. He's gonna get Kie. We're real close." She told him cautiously.

Then Pope hung up with a thud. The couple shared a look, and shrugged.

***

It was his shark tooth necklace that he'd thrown, landing on the tip with a small clinking sound. He backed into the shadows as the guards came down.

As soon he caught a glimpse of their back, he dashed upward. For a Maybank, he was quiet as he ran. The blue walls spooked him a little. Even upstairs, there were numbers on each door, and it added to the uneasy feeling in his stomach.

He was blanking, trying to find a way to coordinate. He didn't understand the labels. He did, however, hear sniffles in the opposite direction.

"Kie!" He whisper shouted. "Kiara! It's J!"

He followed the sniffles, half hoping it was her. He was already ready to fight, but if he knew she was crying too? He wasn't sure what he'd do.

He came up to a room, blocked with a metallic door and one single window. The room was dim, and padded. This was more like a psych ward, and he'd never been more pissed at his girlfriend's parents.