Heated Lies (Jiara)

Settle

"What's that mean?" Nora watched her pull something out of her pocket, and she set the iron down as soon as she saw it. "Alright, no. Kie, please."

"I know!" She covered her face. "I just saw it there a-and I figured he wouldn't miss it..."

"Oh, you figured?"

"Yes!"

Nora laughed. "That's sweet. I get that you like him, but you should give him back his shit. You still have time before he gets out of the shower."

Kiara frowned. "But Nora... what if this is all I have left of him?"

The bitch face is what snapped her out of her ways. It was a mix between understanding and disapproval. Either way, it reminded her of her mother. The good side of her mother, at least.

"Kiara, I get it, but we're not obsessing over him. We all make mistakes. Yours was to help him. You can't make him forgive you, and if he won't on his own, you can't cling to things he has like a friggin necklace."

Kiara fiddled with the string she grabbed off the counter. She barely felt her friend actually fixing her hair. The conversation was too important.

"You have a point." She admitted, and Nora picked up the iron again. "Do you really think he'll never forgive me?"

"I can't say. But that necklace?" She shook her head. "Gotta go."

***

"So we need groceries. You guys go surfing, we'll gather supplies. Any requests?"

"Uhm... Not to be that person..." Pope says. "But do we even have enough money for requests?"

"Leave it to me." Nora sounded so sure. None of them knew her that well, so it was kind of hard to trust her. It seemed as though the Pogues didn't have any other option. "Meet here at eight. I'll make dinner."

Kiara rubbed her shoulder, a silent mental note to herself. She had to remind herself that Nora had barely been out in the real world. She needed to know she wasn't required to do so much.

The others weren't even thinking about that. They did, however, show gratitude... in their own way.

"Preciate it, Nora!" JJ called from upstairs.

It was a five second glance, but JJ in a towel definitely did something to Kiara. That was probably why Nora hooked her arm with her own and led her outside.

John B snorted while Pope smacked his arm yet again. This time, John B hit him back and they both laughed. JJ seemed oblivious, rolling his eyes and padding back to his room to get dressed.

***

The car ride might've been boring. Kiara didn't say a word. Her face had been red for a good three minutes, hating that everyone had seen that.

"Are we gonna talk about it?"

"No, we are not." Kiara hid her face. "I cannot right now."

"It's cool. It's better than the necklace."

"It is?!" She was staring out the window now. "How is that better?"

"Well you put it back, right?"

It was the lack of a response that gave Nora her answer. She'd finally made it to the market, parking and then glaring at her friend.

"I know, I know. I'll put it back when we get home." Then Kiara starts to think. "Wait, circle back. How are we living in that house? Is that one of the extras you told me about?"

Nora was out of the car by then, half conveniently dodging her question. Kie doesn't let her get away with it. She's sprinting to catch up with the grocery cart she'd managed to nab.

"Nora..."

"Yeah, it's an extra." The sliding doors let them in. "I was in the will, but I missed the funeral. I think people just forgot I existed cause I never claimed anything."

She started to regret what she'd said. "I don't mean to push you away, I just don't like talking about it. Cuz now I have to figure out where Ima live."

"With us."

"Yeah, but for how long?" She tappered off toward the end, voice sounding like a hurt twelve year old.

Kiara had an apologetic look. "If it makes you feel any better, me and JJ are just as homeless as you are. My parents won't take me back if they know I escaped and JJ has his situation."

Nora sniffed, rubbing her forehead with her thumb.

"Thanks, Kie."

Then she pulled out the list.

"Why does JJ want surf wax if we don't even have a surfboard." She looked to Kiara. "I may have money but I'm not wasting it on a surfboard."

The chuckle made them both feel warm. It was a mutual connection to have each others back. Nora prided herself in her friendship with Kiara. This was a good thing.

***

It didn't take long for the boys to realize their surfboard dilemma. They each sat playing in the sand.

"Well that was a bust." JJ kicked a particularly annoying looking kid shovel.

"We could make a sand castle." JB suggested, blocking the sun with his hand. "Or I mean, plain swimming is fine. It's hot out here."

Pope was making his own creation. A simple motion that consisted of dunking sand in the ocean, coating it with dry sand, and repeating it.

At one point, it was as big as his hand. He gave a mischievous look to JJ, who had been watching. Shirtless, they could see the fine scars and nearly healed bruises.

JJ was glad none of them pointed it out. Pope even looked like he was going to-

"Hey!"

The sand ball hit his shoulder, and the blonde boy quickly began forming his own. John B was the last to catch on to their game. Pope ducked for cover while the other boys created their ammunition.

"I'm gonna get your ass for that!"

"Wish you would!" Pope called back, laughing.

"You guys are animals!" The Routledge slicked his hair back with water.

The mathlete watched JJ do the same. "All humans are animals! I read in science class once that you're actually-"

"Pope!!"

Hey guys the author is finally writing another end note yayyy. I wanted to ask you guys about the story. You like it so far? Anything issues you see? Constructive criticism is appreciated. Love you guyssss