Jiara // One Shots

Story 16

If I was dying on my knees, you would be the one to rescue me.

Kiara and Pope decided to spend the afternoon together at the beach, Pope was nervous about it as he considered it as a romantic date while Kiara was just happy to hang out with her best friend. As the sun cast its warm glow upon them, they were laughing together and just as they settled down on a cozy spot, Kie's phone buzzed urgently, flashing the name "JJ" on the screen.

Surprise flickered in her eyes and she didn't even bother to excuse herself to Pope when she took the call. Sensing something amiss, Pope's heart filled with unease. Little did he know that this seemingly innocent interruption would unravel hidden emotions and spark an unexpected turn of events.

Kiara, answering the call, found JJ's voice trembling with distress. The urgency in his voice was palpable. Kiara's heart raced hearing JJ struggling to breathe. She knew him, he was having a panic attack. He didn't even need to explain. "I'll be there in 5, take deep breath Jayj." The connection between them ran deep, rooted in years of friendship, love and shared experiences. In that moment, Kiara's mind was only focused on JJ and she forgot Pope was there.

Pope anxiously waited, his thoughts swirling with a mixture of concern and jealousy. Minutes felt like an eternity as he watched Kiara getting ready to leave still on the phone with JJ. He felt the sting of abandonment, realizing that she had chosen JJ over him without a second thought.

"Really Kie?" he asked annoyed.

"He needs us Pope!!" she replied.

"He always got himself in trouble, that's just the way JJ is, Kie." Pope was hurt.

"So what?? We're his best friends. C'mon!" Kiara was getting angry at Pope, he was so selfish.

"It's always about JJ, Kie!"

"He's not fine, Pope! So yeah, of course it's about JJ."

"You know what I mean, Kiara." the annoyment turned into sadness.

"You're an ass right now, your best friend needs you, your brother needs you!" Kiara said firmly.

"No, Kie. He needs you, you're the one he called, not me."

"What the fuck, Pope?"

"Everytime I try to have a moment with you, he has to call! We're on a date, Kie, you can't just bail on me like that."

"A date? Pope, you're my best friend, I.."

"Yeah, I mean we kissed."

"Pope..." Kiara was confused, she really thought Pope was on the same page. "It just happened once and I was..."

"I get it, Kiara." he smiled trying to hide his feelings.

"I'm sorry Pope, it's..." Kiara didn't finish her sentence and started to run. She'll deal with Pope later.

"Kiara?" Pope called a last time so she turned "It's always been him, isn't it?" Pope felt anger at his best friend, he felt betrayed.

"I have to go, I'm sorry." the girl smiled awkwardly before leaving the beach in a hurry, of course it's always been JJ. It will always be him. She was just too afraid to admit it.

Arriving at JJ's house, Kiara rushed up to his room, his father was gone. Her heart pounding in her chest. She knocked on the door, calling out his name softly, "JJ, it's me. Open the door."

The door creaked open, revealing a disheveled and anxious JJ. His eyes were red, his breathing rapid, his hands trembled and his knees were up to his chest. Without hesitation, Kiara rushed over and dropped down beside him, she enveloped him in a comforting hug, holding him tightly.

"Shhh, it's okay, Jayj. I'm here now," she whispered soothingly.

"I can't-" JJ tried to drag in a breath again and the girl held him even tighter. Never letting go of him. "I can't breathe." he let out in a desperate whisper.

"Just listen to my voice. Listen to me Jayj." Kiara's heart twisted seeing him like this. "You're safe, I won't let go of you."

And so, they stood there, their bodies pressed close, as Kiara guided JJ through the breathing exercises. With each breath, the tension in his body began to ease, and the panic slowly subsided. Kiara's calming presence, her familiar touch, and the tenderness in her voice worked like magic. She held him, feeling his rapid heartbeat and the warmth of his body against hers.

Kiara whispered soothing words, reminding JJ to breathe deeply and slowly. Her voice was a gentle lullaby, drawing him back from the edge of his overwhelming emotions. Gradually, his breathing steadied, and his trembling subsided.

Once JJ's breathing calmed, he looked into Kiara's eyes, gratitude and vulnerability shining through his gaze. He noticed Kiara's phone buzzing, Pope was calling.

"I'm sorry you ditched him for me..." JJ finally said. Kiara rolled her eyes, she didn't care about Pope calling her, she was just glad JJ was okay now. "It's just...you're the only one who can calm the chaos inside me, you know." he added.

A smile slowly spread across Kiara's face "Don't say that Jayj...you've just been through a lot. But I'll help. You're not alone."

"I'm sorry you had to see me like this..." JJ sounded so defeated and embarrassed.

"Don't. Don't apologize. It's okay. You're safe with me, we are safe with each other."

Kiara didn't even need to ask him what happened, she knew. Luke was always making JJ's life miserable and this time it was too much. When he didn't suffer from his dad's physical violence it was because of his words.

JJ wrapped his arms around Kiara's waist and buried his head on her neck.

"I feel broken, Kie. My dad's right, I'm a piece of trash, I don't deserve to be happy." he admitted.

Kiara started to run her hands through the back of his hair. "You know that's not true."

"It is. I'm nothing, I'm just like him."

Kiara slowly let go of JJ to be able to face him and look into his eyes. "Listen carefully, JJ Maybank." she cupped his face with her hands. "You have the biggest heart and the prettiest soul. You have this ability to shoulder everything everytime, you're so loyal and brave. You're kind and selfless, and these are just a tiny part of the qualities that make you valuable. I have to admit though you're annoying and you piss me off sometimes but you're far from being like your dad." she paused. "Do you think I would have fell in love with a piece of trash?"

"What did you just say?" JJ's blue eyes shoot up to Kiara and she smiled.

"What? That you're annoying as hell?" she replied sarcastically, she totally knew what he wants her to say again.

"No, after that."

"Oh, I said I'm in love with you dumbass. I love you. So don't ever say that you're not worthy because you are, you always will be to me."

Kiara reached out, gently caressing his cheek before leaning in, their lips meeting in a tender and passionate kiss. In that single moment, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them. After a minute, they broke apart, still staring deeply at each other.

"I'm in love with you too." JJ finally whispered, his thumb dashing across her cheekbone. "I love you Kiara."