Heated Lies (Jiara)

Mental and Media

"On a more important topic..." Kiara cleared her throat. "How long are we staying here? Anyone have a route back to Outerbanks?"

JJ went quiet. Eyes focused elsewhere, and now she wished she hadn't asked.

"How'd y'all get here? Just use that to get back." Nora said, and continued eating like normal.

"Uh... we got here via JJ's dad..." Pope explained, conveniently choosing that time to bring his plate to the sink. His footsteps were the only sound for a good minute,

"Oh..."

JJ looked around. His friends seemed mildly uncomfortable, and that only added to his discomfort. So he spoke up.

"What, he didn't offer a ride back?"

John B did a look a little surprised at his question. "Um.. Pope said he did. It's paid for but he didn't want to use it if you didn't want us to. I second that."

JJ chuckled, which made Kiara take his hand in hers. She couldn't tell how he was feeling. His face showed near happiness, but she knows he's good at hiding pain. Sarah's eyes followed her attempt in comfort.

"Alright, guys, it doesn't have to be so awkward. We all know the deal with my dad. Unless we have a second option, this is our only way back."

His voice had no base. Pope had taken plates from the others as a distraction. Nora sighed.

"If JJ is cool with it, I'm in." She stood, squeezing Kiara's shoulder once and then going to help Pope in the kitchen.

The blonde boy nodded. "I'm cool."

"So when's the plane leave?" Sarah asked. "We should pack up."

"Wait..." His voice was soft, but everyone definitely heard it. "We just bought groceries. We don't want that money to go to waste."

"Plane leaves tomorrow..." Pope muttered, walking past them all to busy himself with another chore.

"Dude, stop cleaning. You aren't our mom." John B told him, causing a glare to come from the other boy.

"I was enjoying that, actually."

JJ rubbed his forehead with two fingers. Then his eyes narrowed down at the first person he saw. That happened to be Pope Heyward.

"Would y'all relax?" He breathed. "Please?"

"We're trying, J." Kiara chimed in from behind him, and he finally started to feel her hands massaging his shoulders.

The mathlete discreetly sat down while JJ took a deep breath a sighed. Then he was up again.

"Alright, last night here. We're in freaking California. We could make a night of it." Kiara suggested.

JJ smiles at that. "Yeah. A movie night or something."

Nora immediately lit up. "Oh, please lemme pick the movie! Haven't seen Studio Ghibli since I was super young."

No one seemed to object, and Pope was typing in his parents Disney+ information on the screen. Kiara watched the blonde boy's shoulders drop. She nodded to him shortly after.

He wouldn't say it, but he was scared to go back. It was a given. He knew the rest of them had something to go back to, but everything he wanted was right there. Kiara was right there.

Going back would complicate everything. Luke was likely fuming at home. Kiara's parents had probably been notified of her perilous escape. He didn't want to mess anything up. He felt the same anger as their last encounter at her house.

When he knew she was leaving. When the cops were after him. So mad that things were the way they were. He cherished the moments he had to marvel in her character and body. He hadn't taken the time to appreciate her before she left then.

If he had to guess, that's probably why he caught her off guard with a deep kiss in that moment. It barely gave her time to register the skin on skin action. His arms found her waist seconds later, while everyone else sort of averted their gaze to the tv.

He finally pulled away, proud that he'd managed to surprise her for once. She was blushing, looking down and then back into his eyes.

"What was that for?"

He shrugged. "Just in case."

She grinned, quick understanding nodding at his desiring gaze. Then she's taking his hand again, leading him to the couch to get comfortable. For a while, it's a content time.

His head is on her lap, eyes drifting in and out of consciousness as her fingers work their magic through his hair. Pope has found a nice spot next to Nora, who had started giggling at a memory of him sleeping at her feet.

John B takes his respective seat by his girlfriend, who prides herself in the new Pogue relationship. They're all breathing in the silence before whatever they'll encounter in the OBX.

No one bothers to check on their phones in that minute, all charging in the same spot upstairs. It's a constant buzzing from friends and family. Some were expected and wanted, others were dreaded and worrying. Specifically, messages from Rafe to JJ.

R***- Dude i'm sorry

R***- I'm serious. I'm sorry about your dad. I wasn't thinking.

Meanwhile, Kiara's phone was a mess of reassurances and anger.

Mom- Kiara, we've tried a lot with you. This is absolutely crossing the line

Dad- You're my baby girl, but you aren't acting like it. I don't know what's gotten into you

And more still from the Maybank.

Luke- Come home, son. I just want to talk.

Luke- You're not in trouble. I promise I'm sober.

The others had near similar caring messages from their families. Heyward had messaged Pope dozens of times, to which Pope replied with his own calming messages. Sarah's father and sister had expressed their concerns. She wasn't surprised to hear absolutely nothing from her brother.

The difference was, everyone but JJ had actually read the messages from before and tried to reply. He'd simply refused after finding Kiara. It was like nothing else mattered. He knew he wouldn't find anything good on that phone. Why worry before he has to?

Besides, he wanted to remember the opening credits of Spirited Away as a good thing.