everything about you •• jj maybank

thirty four

My two friends stare at me, their wide eyed gaze and stunned reactions not having any sort of effect on me. I stood there in place, confused and hurt. I didn't have any words. I didn't know what to do, or what to say.

"Josie?" Kiara asked softly, breaking the silence between the three of us.

I blinked a few times, causing the tears that had welled up in my eyes to trickle down the sides of my cheeks.

"Sorry if you heard any of that," I chuckled awkwardly and began to walk forward, pushing between them. "I should get going."

I cleared my throat roughly as I stumbled through the house, trying to contain myself until I could at least get into my car. Pope and Kiara were hot on my heels as I made my way to the front door.

"Wait up, what's wrong, dude?" Kiara questioned, grabbing my wrist and pulling me back.

Her hand let go of my wrist and I shrugged, wiping my tear stained cheeks.

"I don't know, I just wanna go home, Kiara," I cried out, my head falling back. I ran my hands down my face, feeling the tears streaming down against my hands. "I need to go, JJ doesn't want me here and I don't know what to do, I just want to leave-"

"Okay," she affirmed, her hands reaching out to grab my arms. She rubbed up and down on my skin comfortably and nodded. "Okay, you can go home but will you let me drive you?"

I looked up and met Pope's concerned face, him giving me a half smile, "I'll stay with JJ. Make sure he doesn't do anything dumb."

I smiled weakly at him, thanking him silently. I had to leave, but some reassurance was all I needed.

Kiara ushered me out of the house and took my keys from me, making sure I was buckled before driving off towards the other side of the island.

The drive was quiet for a few minutes, the sound of my engine and the hum of the radio filling the emptiness in the car. My head was pressed against the window and I tapped my fingernails against the middle console.

Eventually, Kiara cleared her throat.

"Do you need anything?"

I needed lots of things. I needed a family that actually cared for my wellbeing and happiness. I needed to go back in time and never agree to go home for lunch. I need Toby Lancaster to fall off the face of the earth. I needed JJ talk to me. I needed JJ.

"No," I responded quietly.

She glanced at me for a moment before sighing.

"Do you want me to stop anywhere before I drop you off? You want icecream or anything?"

Her voice was calm and sweet. Kiara could come off a bit intimidating to a lot of people. She was outspoken, had a crazy case of Resting Bitch Face, and she didn't like being told what to do. But at the end of the day, she was one of the sweetest girls in the entire world. She had one of the biggest hearts I've ever known, and she'd stop the world for the people she loved. She was incredibly loyal, and all she wanted in the world was peace, at the end of the day.

"I'm fine," I lied.

I watched out of the corner of my eye as she hit the power button on the stereo, cutting the music off, and pulled the car over. When we came to a halt, I removed my head from the window and wearily looked at her.

"Josie. I'm going to put this as nicely as possibly. You look like crap. I mean, you look like you haven't slept in days, your breath reeks of alcohol, and you're all pale. You look sick and you clearly have had a shitty day. I'm not asking.I'm going to stop somewhere and get you coffee or... a gatorade or something. This is your last chance to tell me what you want before I make the decision myself."