Heated Lies (Jiara)

Round Trip

Having a small amount of money made him feel valued, even if it was short lived. It was his, and it was earned. But he had to take care of something before he could enjoy any of it to himself.

JJ met John B back at the chateau later that day, cash in hand. When JB answered the door, he wasn't sure why the green was extended toward him.

"Remember...?" JJ insisted. "Your mirror."

The older boys mouth dropped. "Dude... I'm not worried-"

"Just take it. It'll clear my conscious." The blonde boy pressed it to his chest before walking past him. "So... have you asked Sarah to the dance yet?"

"Dance? What dance?"

He followed the blonde boy to the couch, where he was handed a PS5 controller. "The winter thing Pope mentioned forever ago. It's in December isn't it?"

John B plopped on the couch beside him, holding the power button. "Probably. You really wanna go to a dance?"

"Why do you guys keep acting so shocked?"

JB quickly started the game. "I'm not... I'm just... I find it interesting."

He wouldn't say this was so out of character for JJ. He did, in fact, remember Pope telling them when and where the dance would be, but he also remembered JJ being absolutely hell bent against it.

"I know I wasn't all for it before, but I wanted to do something for Kie. To pay it back."

2k loaded itself onto the tv screen, momentarily distracting both boys. After a few minutes, his friend responded. "Alright, what's the plan?"

***

Rafe wasn't exactly a friend of the Pogues, but he knew that he had some changes to make. After the scene with JJ, he'd left as discreetly as possible. No one even seemed to notice he was there. He went back home and marinated, shot with thoughts that consumed his very being. JJ wasn't all that different than he was.

Then there was the rest of them that stood by his side. Always, they protected him like he was their damn blood. Kiara, Sarah, Pope, John B, and some girl he had never seen before. It didn't matter. He longed for a friendship like theirs, but with his actions, there wasn't much of a chance that he would get that.

Rafe, being the person he was, didn't exactly blame them. The closest thing he'd had to a good friend, was Barry. But that was a mutual, and sometimes terrifying, leverage they both battled between on the regular. And where was he now? Covering his own ass, because if Luke was caught, he couldn't be all that far behind.

***

"Nora!"

A softer voice rang out that night, startling her against the sheets. "Pope?"

"Yeah... you awake?"

There was a short silence and then a chuckle. "Pretty sure."

"Can I come in?"

"Yeah."

Pope muffled his own laughter before sliding through the door. Heyward had agreed Nora could stay with them much like JJ was staying with Kiara. It wasn't a forever solution, but it was something. Pope let her settle in the guest room as he, too, got comfortable with her back home.

Something about her was intriguing to him. She was a collected soul, but also determined in her own way. She was an amazing friend to Kiara, and collectively the rest of the Pogues as if she had become one in the process. Then there was the way she treated Pope.

Tentatively, following short giggles and genuine smiles. There was no doubt that she felt comfortable with him. However, once they got to his house, they'd put their situation on hold. Pope wasn't sure if it was because she was worried about how he felt, or Hayward's reaction, or if she'd simply lost the feeling altogether.

It was probably the first time he found himself overthinking, and based on emotion rather than logic at that. He'd been up that particular night, knowing he had to do something before their previous meeting was forgotten. Except now that he was in her room, he was at a loss for words.

She'd swung her legs off the bed, grinning at him with a pink lips. Her glasses were on the nightstand, exposing the voids that so often lay beneath them. Her gown was purple and long, swaying as she lightly kicked her feet.

"I-I was just wondering how you were doing." He whispered to her, sitting on a nearby chair. "We don't really talk all that much."

"Oh, I love it here. Your parents are so nice. They remind me of my own when I was younger." She spoke with dying excitement as her sentence finished.

He didn't miss it. "What were they like? Your parents, I mean."

She didn't answer immediately, and it instantly made Pope wonder if he should've asked.

"If you don't mind me asking..." He quickly added.

"No, it's cool. I just haven't spoken about them in forever. They weren't really the greatest, but saying that sounds so wrong... since they're..."

"Yeah... I get that that." He nodded. "It makes sense."

"I still love them." She said, offering him a smile.

He returned it without hesitation. The way she was looking at him made him want to ask her right then and there.

You wanna go to a dance with me?

There's a dance...

Have you been to a school dance? Cool, come to mine

Do you know what a school dance is??

He wasn't quite sure how to approach it. He wasn't sure if she would even want to go. Then his mouth was moving without consent.

"My school has a dance coming up. Would you... I would like it if... Can I-"

"Yes."

TO BE CONTINUED 😂😂 sooo sorry to do yall like this, i jus had to post today