Heated Lies (Jiara)

Preparation

"Mr. Maybank-"

"JJ... please."

"Uhm... JJ, do you remember what we last spoke about?" The woman pushed her glasses up. "How about my name?"

"Uh..." fuck, fuck, fuck "No, ma'am. Sorry."

"That's alright." She offered him a smile, which let him relax as best he can in the metal chair. "I'll remind you. During trial, the judge will ask you a series of questions regarding your father."

JJ nodded quietly.

"More than likely, he will ask about proof." She continued. "It would be helpful if you had a scenario or story. Maybe some sort of evidence?"

"Uh..." He swallowed, looking from her glasses to the curls in her hair. "I thought they had enough evidence."

"What do you mean?"

His words weaved together as he spoke. "Like the house... With the beer bottles and shit everywhere. It's like, unfit for a kid, right? Why isn't that enough?"

She looked a little confused at his response. The room only seemed to get colder. Kiara was outside waiting for him. He wished she could come with him to these things. He didn't like being alone with this woman.

"Ah, well, unfit is the simple way of putting it. But I think we know there is more to the story." She took out a pen, clicking it once, and then writing on a small notepad.

"But why do I have to, like, say it. Like everyone already knows right? My girl is a witness, why can't she do it?"

"She saw it??"

He felt quite nauseated at that moment. "Uh... no. She didn't see him, uh... you know. But she knows it happened."

"We can talk about her testifying but the bulk of it must come from the source, Mr. Maybank."

"That's not my fucking name." He repeated firmly. "Just JJ."

She looked up at him again. He cleared his throat and then shrugged, running a hand over his face and stopping at his mouth.

"I think we can reconvene at a later date..." She sighed, beginning to put her papers away.

"No, okay, I'm sorry." He held his hands up. "I just want you to call me JJ, that's all."

"Where do you see yourself at the end of this case?" She said, and he sighed. "Genuinely."

He was quiet for several seconds.

"I don't know." He admitted. "I guess with him behind bars?"

"I think you should figure out what it is you want me to fight for. Then we can talk closely, like we are on the same page." She took his hand and squeezed it. "I want what's best for you, Mr Maybank."

His fingers twitched beneath hers. "Sorry... JJ."

When he made it back to his girlfriend's car, she was waiting with a hug. He was practically trembling under her touch. She didn't say a word. Her hands made it to his hair, where she carded them through each blonde strand.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I can't fucking relax."

"It's okay. We're working on it remember?"

He nodded, smiling a little. "So how's Nora doing? I know she and Pope have been talking."

Kiara grinned. "So you saw that too!" He chuckled, which only gave him a slightly
painful twinge, but not enough to show.

"Yeah. I think it'll be great."

Kiara watches a woman leave the station from behind JJ, and her smile falls. It's Plum, and she doesn't really do much, but she's glaring at both of them pointedly. JJ averts his gaze but Kiara doesn't allow him the luxury, pulling him in by the shirt to kiss him.

It catches him off guard and he smiles into the kiss. As soon as it's over, his body wants more, barely registering her hand ruffle his hair. The distraction worked, and now she's in the driver's seat waiting for him to hurry up and get in.

***

Back home, Kiara is attempting to help him out with his homework. School was such a low priority for JJ, she's not sure they'll be able to bring his grades up, but it doesn't stop her from trying.

"So, you know how to solve for x?" She wondered. "Whatever you do to one side you gotta do to the other."

"What's dividing the sides?"

Kiara stared at him and then back at the paper. "An equal sign..."

"Oh."

He says it like he understands, but Kie doesn't buy it. "Okay!" She clasps her hands together. "Break time."

As if on cue, a knock sounds on her bedroom door. JJ quickly gets off her bed to stand by the window. Her father walks in without a second thought.

"JJ..." Mike begins. "Heyward requests your attention down at the dock."

Kiara smiles, patting JJ's shoulder. "You'll be with Pope."

JJ looks up at Mike who dangles the keys above. "I'm sure you need a ride. Kiara has to finish her homework."

The Carerra rolls her eyes and stares back at her papers, and JJ's with his crooked writing and frustrated crinkled ends. Mike had left the room by this point, and JJ sprang up going to follow the man and catch up. The blonde boy doesn't necessarily like being alone with Kiara's dad but it didn't look like he'd have much of a choice.

He closed the car door and Mike turned the ignition. They drove in silence for a while, and then Mike spoke up.

"So... how long have you two been together?"

JJ swallows. "A little bit. I-It was her idea."

"Relax, JJ, I'm not here to lecture you." Mike tells him as they approach the dock.

"No?"

"No."

"Oh..." The Maybank glances at him as the older man smiles.

"I just want you to know she really likes you. To do everything she's done? She's probably in love."

The boy isn't sure wether he should tell
Mike they've already established their love for each other. He decided to keep quiet.

"I also wanted you to hear it from me... I'm sorry."

JJ just about snapped his neck looking back at him. "What?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize the... severity... of your situation. We thought Kiara was acting out based on infatuation and it worried us. We never would've imagined you were going through something like that."

The street lights dimmed as they drove, casting shadows over both men.

"Yeah... b-but I'm okay now." He insisted.

And Mike nodded, pulling into the driveway. Just as JJ left the car, he called behind him, "Thanks for the ride Mr. Carrera!"

"Wait, JJ!" The boy froze, looking back at the open window and his girlfriend's father's calm expression. "You can call me Mike."