Together

21. What are your choices?

     I'm out of my head, out of my mind, oh, I
                         If you let me, I'll be
Out of my dress and into your arms tonight
                    Yeah, I'm lost without it
               Feels like I'm always waiting
                 I need you to come get me
  Out of my head, and into your arms tonight,
                                 tonight
                      -Witt Lowery, Ava Max

Kiara didn't believe a word out of JJ's fucking mouth. With every step she took towards him she just grew more confident. When she saw his eyes dart to her lips, she knew he was full of shit. He didn't mean any of the crap he was saying. It was easy then, to just slip her mouth up to his. It took him by surprise at first, but not for long.

She pulled him closer to her as she felt him wrap his hands around her waist, snaking his hands under her shirt and across the expanse of her back while his tongue demanded entry into her mouth. She did not deny him.

She feels light as her longing need to embrace him becomes a reality. The heavy knot in her gut evaporating under his touch. He feels just as desperate for her, gripping her tightly as their lips become numb from the intensity and aggression being put into the experience.

As quick as the momentum swung towards reconciliation, JJ suddenly yanked it back. He ripped his lips from hers, pushing her away like he just realized what they were doing and turned his back to her to collect himself.

"Kiara, we can't," he breathes out, though his tone sounds more like fear than regret.

She suddenly felt cold without his body pressed into hers. He was still breathing heavily, running a hand anxiously through his hair as he faced away from her.

"Why not?" she asked him defiantly.

"Please, just trust me," he said. "Just, just go."

What the hell does that even mean? He knew she trusted him. That doesn't change how wrong this feels though. She pulls him around to face her. His expression is pained but he doesn't let his eyes leave hers. He's looking at her like he won't see her again and it's breaking her heart. She can see it's breaking his as well.

"I can't trust you if you don't let me know what's going on. You're acting like this is all up to you and it's not," she conveys. "I'm in this with you JJ!"

He shakes his head while she's still speaking, eager to cut her off. "No," he says. "This isn't your decision, it's mine, alright. I'm the one that has to decide."

"Alright, tell me then," she says, as the arms she had outstretched fall to her sides. "What are your choices?" she huffs out.

"I only have one, Kie!" he lets out frustratedly. He puts more distance between them, sitting on the bed while she remains in the middle of the room. "It doesn't matter, I've already told you. It's done, I'm not staying."

They hear a knock on the door and they both snap their heads towards it.

"Yup," JJ calls from the bed, already knowing who it'll be.

Shoupe opens the door and half enters. Kie hugs her center and chooses to face away from the two men in the room. She wonders how much he's heard and what he actually thinks. Part of her is upset that Shoupe is letting JJ leave. Maybe Shoupe doesn't want him there and it's his fault JJ is going. She withholds a glare on the likely chance that's not the case. He's been good to JJ thus far, she doubt he's the reason.