Heated Lies (Jiara)

Not Okay

"JJ, you alright?"

The blonde boy mumbled something incoherent. He took his hand away from his stomach, letting a grimace take over his features.

Then he was sitting down again, slower this time. Kiara was by his side in seconds. "JJ?"

And then he chuckled. No one liked that.

"I'm good." He said after a minute. He licked his lip once, letting his face fall seconds later. Kiara watched him crumble, and then he was back. "Sorry."

"Are you hurt?"

His instinctive response was, "Nothing he hasn't done before."

There's a steady wince, though. She can't ignore it. Shoupe is beginning to see it too. They're thinking JJ's adrenaline has masked his injuries.

"JJ, let me check you over."

He doesn't even grunt disapproval. "Saw that coming."

"They didn't check him over when they brought him here?!" Kiara sounds angry now, and if JJ could feel his ribs, he would've found it hot.

***

Pope awoke to a text message from Kiara. Seconds later, there's a knock from Nora who had received the same message. She's quiet, small jittery movements making themselves known. She knows Pope's father wasn't too keen about her staying.

"Yes?"

"You get a message too?"

Pope opens the door with a small nod. Her eyes follow his hand as the message illuminates her facial features.

Kie- shits going down. i'll send you my location. check on me

Nora sighed. "We haven't even been back a full day."

***

"Can I see your chest?" JJ groans at that, reluctantly lifting his shirt. He's done it many times by now, but it never gets easier. He's still embarrassed, his cheeks still grow red at the thought of them seeing him like that. His bruises felt like nothing during said actions, but now he's having a hard time breathing. "Oh, shit."

Shoupe doesn't look happy. He swallows hard, letting his eyes fall on a worried Kiara and then the floor. JJ chuckles, which just about destroys his ribs.

"I can't do anything for him here." The Sheriff sighed. "We gotta take him to a hospital."

JJ rolls his eyes at that. "Alright, come on. It's not that bad."

The air is cool, and the bustle of papers and officers has died down. It's forcing him to feel everything in real time. He wants a distraction, and that's why he grabs Kiara's hand a minute later. A part of everything still feels like a dream. Like it didn't actually happen.

"Come on, JJ. We have to make sure you're okay." Kiara wants to convince him, but she can see he's exhausted. He's not even crying anymore, he just looks tired.

"Yeah, sure, whatever." He reluctantly follows Kiara back to her car. Shoupe gives a short wave, telling him they'll sort everything out when he gets back.

The drive is painful. Each bump jolts his insides. He almost feels sick, but without the fear. He's going through the motions without acknowledging it.

When they arrive at the hospital, nurses are telling him he shouldn't have been on his feet in the first place. Kiara can see it on his face, he's scared, but he's quiet.

Soon, they're in a waiting room. JJ has attempted to fill out paper work even though he knows he doesn't even have insurance. He puts his head back in his hands when Kiara takes the pen from him.

"Talk to me, J..." She whispers.

He looks up at her for a moment, forcing the smallest of smiles and then nodding. "Just trying to wrap my head around it all." He admits.

He moves to lay his head on her lap, and she immediately starts to card her fingers through his hair. "Relax, JJ."

"Trying." He says again, but his voice cracks. "I'm trying."

"I know." She's rubbing his back now, watching his eyes close as he leans into her touch. "Everything is going to be okay. I promise."

He looks like a child in her arms. "You promise?" He actually sounds unsure, so she nods. 

"Yes, I promise."

The rest of the night goes by in a blur. Someone leads him to a room full of expensive equipment. Kiara attempts to follow him, but the doctors aren't allowing it. JJ remembers trying to protest, but he was losing consciousness before he could do much of anything to stop them.

Kiara asks them about his operation several times during the night. Meanwhile she's finally getting questioned by the police about JJ's father. Pope and Nora show up later, followed by a nervous Sarah and John B.

"Saw your location change on your phone." Nora says when Kiara asks.

They share their respectful hugs, each not quite looking forward to the wait.

"Any news?" John B asks her.

"Something about being stable." Kiara replied.

It had gotten cloudy outside. It was clear it would rain, but no one made a move
to leave. In fact, John B looked like he was setting up for the night.

It wasn't until then that Kiara started to tweak out. She's constantly asking the nurses for an update, refusing the snacks the Pogues try to give her. They can see it in her eyes now, she's afraid.

She's consistently moving, tapping her foot, fixing her hair, rubbing her hands on her thighs. It's worrying her friends. Soon after she starts to break into hysterics. It's slow. She's sitting in yet another uncomfortable waiting room chair, and her eyes begin to sting.

She rubs her eyes once, twice, and by the third time her hands are coming back wet. She's almost mad about it, trying to quickly dry her eyes with her shirt. Nora is the first to notice her face turn pink.

"Kie?"

But she doesn't hear her. She's too focused on eying to get the liquid to stay in her fucking eyes. Then the first sob comes out, and the Pogues take notice.

John B walks closer to her. "Kie, chill..."

He's cautious. He knows all too well she can get violent when she's emotional. Her protests are weak, though. She still trying to wipe her tears away, though it's half hearted. Sarah takes her hands in her own, softly telling her to stop fighting it.

It doesn't make things any easier. It's Nora's hug that breaks the final effort. Kiara wails, clutching her shirt with painful fists. John B follows Nora, gently petting the Carrera's hair as he does so. Then Pope is there as well.

"It's okay, Kie." The mathlete tells her. "He's gonna be okay."

She's aware that's she's repeating herself. Over and over again "I know" even thought she doesn't, and it's killing her. Her sobs don't die down until she's too tired to continue. None of them leave her side.

Thoughts? School starts soon guys