𝑾𝑯𝑰𝑺𝑷𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑾𝑨𝑽𝑬𝑺 /𝑗𝑗 𝑚𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑘

𝟎𝟎𝟓.

___________________
𝑺𝑪𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑫𝒀 𝑪𝑨𝑻𝑺
𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑤𝑜，𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒 𝑡𝑤𝑜．
𝟐𝟒:𝟓𝟔 — 𝟑𝟓:𝟑𝟕
___________________

I WOKE UP to an empty room, JJ's absence a heavy weight on my chest. The soft glow of the alarm clock on my nightstand cast an eerie light on the quiet space. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, trying to shake off the lingering fogginess. My phone is laid beside me, its screen illuminated with missed calls from Pope, and a text from JJ.

Pope's messages were brief and to the point, instructing me to meet him and Kiara at the north drain to find the murder weapon. JJ's text was more cryptic, saying Pope had called him and he was heading to his house to grab his bike. He promised to return and pick me up. I sighed, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety wash over me.

As I lay there, my mind replayed the events of the previous night, my fingertips on my lips as I remembered the way JJ's lips had melted against mine, the way our bodies had pressed together in a desperate attempt to get closer.

I had wanted to give in, to let go of all my inhibitions and surrender to the passion.

But something held me back. Fear of ruining everything? Fear of hurting JJ? Fear of being selfish?

The truth is I'm in love with JJ. And it was because of that love him that I couldn't be selfish with him. I couldn't give in to my desires without considering the consequences. JJ deserved better than a girl who would only bring destruction into his life.

I tossed off the covers and swung my legs over the side of the bed, my feet dangling in mid-air. The weight of responsibility settled heavily on my shoulders. I knew what I had to do.

I took a deep breath and pushed aside the tangled sheets, deciding that I had to focus.

I stepped into the warm water of the shower, feeling the tension of the previous night's events slowly wash away. I couldn't help but think about JJ's lips on mine, the way our bodies had pressed together in a desperate attempt to get closer. But I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. I had to stay focused on why I was doing this, on the promise I had made to John B to get evidence that he is innocent.

I quickly got dressed in a pair of worn-out shorts and a simple crop top, opting for comfort over style. The thought of getting dirty and messy was all too real, and I didn't want to worry about staining or damaging my good clothes.

My hair was a tangled mess, but I tied it back into a ponytail, feeling a sense of simplicity and ease with my hair off my face.

As I left my room, my gaze fell on the bandana tied around my wrist. It was a constant reminder of John B's lack of presence, of the promise I had made to him that he would come back home.

The memories of our times together flooded my mind, and I felt a lump form in my throat. I took a deep breath, pushing back the emotions.

JJ arrived just a few minutes later, his bike parked outside my window.