Heated Lies (Jiara)

Best Friend

The first day back was more than awkward. Kiara stayed in bed well after everyone else woke up. That was JJ's first sign of a mistake.

"Hey, where's Kie?" John B sat up with red lines denting his face. Sarah couldn't help but laugh at that. The sofa had not been kind to him.

"Probably in bed. Girl's been through it." Nora said, immediately going for the fridge.

Pope made a mad dash for the bathroom, which had everyone dazed for a minute. JJ came down last.

"So, Nora..." He began, eyeing her playfully. "Care to introduce yourself to the Pogues?"

"I don't even know what a Pogue is." Her laugh made everyone smile. "I've been in that place for um... most of my life. Then my parents passed away. Kiara is probably the closest friend I have."

Pope emerged from the bathroom readjusting his hat. "I'm sorry for your loss."

Everyone else seemed to have the same idea, but Nora held up a hand to stop them. "It is what it is." She then grabbed a french press from the cabinet, and held it up.

"Is that...?"

"Coffee anyone?"

***

For Kiara, she felt as though she couldn't be upset with him. Of course, she still was. She'd done too much for him. At the same time though, she had promised.

"Fuck." She grumbled into her pillow. She knew everyone else had gotten up by now, but she didn't have the energy to do the same.

"Knock knock." Nora finally found her bundled in the blankets. "Dude, your hair is a mess."

Kiara had to chuckle at that. "I know."

Her voice was still shallow, so Nora sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. She took a sip of her coffee before wishing she'd brought her friend a cup.

"C'mon, if you get up, I'll style it for you. Got some cool product." She nudged the girls leg. "We can talk about whatever has you besties with the mattress."

***

"JJ, go check on your girl! She's been up there all morning." John B exhaled like he'd never been more frustrated.

JJ avoided eye contact, grabbing more coffee from the pot. Pope didn't miss it.

"Aye, what's with the spy act?" He bounced back into the couch where John B had the same questioning expression.

"We're not a thing." His voice was barely audible. "Should we make actual breakfast?"

"Why the fuck not?!" Pope groaned, ignoring JJ's attempt at a distraction. "I was just starting to like you guys together."

The Maybank could've popped a blood vessel. His hands gripped the counter before he exhaled a shaking sigh. It was getting harder and harder to control his impulse.

He wished they were back in obx so he could find Rafe, or Topper, or someone to provoke.

"I don't wanna talk about it." He dismissed them both.

***

Kiara had finally gotten up to meet Nora in the bathroom. She sat on the bar stool inside, gazing down at the endless bottles of product.

"Nora, don't forget my hair isn't... it isn't-"

"White? I know. I got you." The shorter girl grinned. "My mom was a hairstylist. She did everything."

"She made that much money being a hairdresser?"

"Side hustle." Nora clapped her hands together before grinning. "Alright!"

"So what's the plan?"

She started with a plain spray bottle, dousing a good portion of her friend's curls. "Despite your hair, why are we here?"

Kiara had hoped she'd forgotten. "Must we?"

"No, you don't have to. But I'd like to help if I can." Nora brushed through the defined springs, grinning at her work. "Your hair is so pretty, by the way."

"Thank you."

***

"J, come on. What's up?"

"You guys wouldn't get it." He told them. "It's not an easy fix."

"Then let it be a gradual fix." John B offered. "You can't stay mad at her forever."

"I don't even know how mad I can be at her! I know I like her! But she just..." He bit his tongue. "I have to figure this one out on my own."

Pope took one look at him, and elbowed John B before he said anything else.

"So what's the plan for today? We laying low?" He tried to change the subject, deciding the blonde boy didn't need any more pressure. "Or can we go surfing?"

"Sounds good." JJ barely heard his suggestion, but he wanted out of the house, so he agreed. "I'll get a shower first."

John B waved goodbye in his exaggeration while Pope gave a small salute. As the Maybank made his way up the stairs, a small chatter became evident.

He wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but a certain someone opened the door before he could try to decipher their words. They practically slammed into each other mid sentence.

"Do y-"

"Shit!"

He quickly pulled back to look at her, defined curls and all. In her checkerboard pajamas, JJ just about zoned out.

"Sorry..." She didn't look any more comfortable than he. "You got a charger?"

It took everything for him to snap back into reality. "A what?" He panted.

"Phone charger. Mine is kind of locked in an asylum for crazy people."

His face dropped, memories flooding the empty space her outfit had created. Then he was unable to smile, rubbing his forehead and looking away from her. They both stood in sync before he gave her an answer.

"In my room. Closest outlet to the nightstand."

She nodded. "Thanks."

It was awkward when he left, shutting the bathroom door a little too tightly. He turned on the water, cranking it to the highest setting and hoping it would
do the trick.

Meanwhile, Kiara felt a chill run through her. The carpet underneath her feet gave her a strange fuzzy sense throughout her body. Nonetheless, she followed back where she'd seen him go yesterday.

The room just smelled like him. It almost made her mad. She'd missed him more than she'd like to admit. Then it was the way he didn't make the bed, and she knew why, because he didn't care nearly enough for a neatly tucked bedsheet.

His suitcase lay completely open for anyone to see. She wasn't proud of it, but she did sneak a peak. It was nothing but tank tops and swim shorts. It was kind of disappointing, but something did catch her eye.

His shark tooth necklace. She wondered how he got it back after their perilous escape from the guards. One minute it was in her hand, the next it was in her pocket.

She swiped the charger after that, running back to Nora and the curling iron.

"So you took a while. Thought you were just grabbing a charger?" The four eyed girl grinned knowingly. "I heard your little encounter."

"He's still mad." She stretched before sitting back down on the chair. "I think I've become a thief..."