Heated Lies (Jiara)

Complications

"Pope..." Nora says as he leads her outside. "Can I ask you a question? Since we're alone?"

He grins, tugging on his shirt a little. She can tell he's nervous, but she can't quite tell why yet. "Don't call me weird, all right?" It was a joke, but there's no humor in her tone.

"I promise." He holds one hand up, sitting them both down on a bench near the hospital balcony.

"Do you think I'm crazy?" She's twirling her curls as best as she can as she asks this, even though her hair might be shorter than Pope's.

And he laughs. "Now, why would I think that?"

She pushes her glasses up. "Because... You literally rescued me from a school for crazy people."

"Yeah, but we did the same for Kiara, and she's not crazy."

"But you knew her beforehand."

Pope quickly takes her hand in his. "And I know you now." He grins, nudging her shoulder.

She can't help but giggle at that, even if it's short lived. Her heart beats faster then, and Pope definitely notices. He can feel it, can feel the way she gets warmer, the way her fingers start to twitch like she doesn't want to be restrained by his. Like they want to be elsewhere... all over his body.

"N-Nora." He suddenly says, willing his mind to go blank. "Is it my turn? Can I ask a question?"

She's seems shy, but she nods anyway. "Fire away."

"Is this... Are we... I'm not delusional, right?"

Nora didn't think he'd be so straightforward. She slowly shook her head, eyes going back to their hands.

"Let's see how it goes, yeah?" She says.

***

"You are so not innocent." He moans, voice tickling her ear. "Kie, seriously, we're in a hospital. There isn't an ounce of privacy."

"We're alone, aren't we?" She smiled against his neck, and everything is suddenly very warm.

For a moment, JJ looks shocked. He's only seen this side of Kiara once. He wants to debate, but with her lips on his neck, he hasn't got much of a choice.

"Oh- Alright, alright." He turns her chin back toward him, giving into the kiss and sighing.

She can tell he's into it now, but a knock sounds on the door and completely changes their tune.

"May we come in?" Someone says, and JJ quickly pulls the blankets over his legs. Kiara looks a little annoyed.

"Fuck!" The blonde boy is silently panicking, while Kiara chuckles.

"Hey, relax. No one is trying to stare you down."

"Kiara open this door right now!!" Her heart drops, eyes snapping back toward the door with so much fear and hatred, it almost scares her boyfriend.

"Mom?" And she's walking toward the voice.

"Mom?!" He could've died on the spot.

She slowly walks toward the door, opening in for a quick peek at an angry woman. It's definitely her mother. If she squints, she can see her father behind the woman and he's just as angry if not more.

Shit

"Hey..." She quickly steps outside of the room, closing the door behind her. "Mom, I can explain..."

Well, Kiara has seen her mother upset before, but this was different. Even her father wasn't sure what to do. The continuous shouting, the way the vein on her forehead popped out. At one point, nurse notified her of the patients in other rooms. A noise complaint.

"Get your things. We're leaving. Now!"

JJ chose not to say anything, though he could feel his heart sink all the way into his stomach. It was then that Nora and Pope emerged from outside. One look told them all they needed to know.

"Ms Carrera..." John B voiced from the side. "I understand you're upset, it's completely valid, but there's been a lot going on. It's not really what you think."

Sarah cocked her head to one side. "It kinda is what they think though..."

"For good reason!" Pope took over. "She'd never do this if the circumstances were normal."

"So what are the circumstances?" Mike chimes in. "Don't tell me it's about the blondie."

The group fell silent.

Because if that silence, someone heard JJ open the door. He wasn't struggling as much as the nurse said he would, but he was definitely in pain. Kiara wasted no time running by his side to sling an arm around her shoulder.

"This is what I paid for?" Her father mumbled.

JJ actually laughed, though he winced seconds later. "Hey, Mr. Carrera, Mrs. Carrera..."

Pope scratched his neck, looking unsure if his friend would make things better or worse for his girlfriend. John B had the same look, staring at the hospital tile as if it would help them all out of the situation.

"May I?" JJ whispered, and to his surprise, Anna gestured for him to go on. "Kiara did it for me. I've been going through some shit-sorry stuff, with my dad, and she was there for me. I really needed her... like seriously."

"What stuff with your dad?" Her mother's voice was still laced with spite.

Kiara quickly looked to him, trying to let him know he didn't have to say anything. JJ saw her, and for some reason, it made him smile.

"My dad was abusing me. I had a fight with him yesterday. Waiting on a trial date and release date."

"Release date?"

JJ just looked down at his bandages.

"Shit..." Mike said, but his tone had changed.

He felt even worse. It looked like someone had repeatedly gut punched him, and JJ might've been smiling, but it was obvious what he'd been through.

"Wait, Kie-" JJ turned toward her, looking mildly confused. "You paid for my shit with their money??"

Heyyy school started again. me and my bf broke up after the first day which was a lot funnier than it was sad. anyways due to said break up, ima have inspiration for days. and i'll probably go back to crushing on fictional characters. toodles 🥴