Bruises ~ Jiara // obx

10 - Dead or alive?

JJ POV

"JJ!" A harsh whisper filled my ears as someone shook me awake lightly.

"JJ! Wake up man!" I opened my eyes slowly to reveal Pope standing before me, who appeared seriously panicked.

"What dude? Where were you last night?" I mumbled as he begun to attempt to lift me into my chair.

"Dude stop I can walk..." I protested, leaning my arm around his neck in order to help support my weight. An ache spread throughout my entire body, but I ignored it. I needed to be back on my feet. Last night had been too much; I couldn't have people jumping us just because they thought we were vulnerable. Kook idiots. I added it to my mental bucket list to get them back when I had the chance.

"Come on dude!" He whispered frantically, shushing me as we crept past Kiara. What was his deal?

"Dude what are you doing? Chill out man we literally got jumped like 5 hours ago..." I reminded him as he helped me down onto a seat outside, placing himself beside me. It suddenly came to my attention that his hands were stained with blood, presumably due to the encounter last night. His breathing was heavy and everything about his demeanour seemed uneasy.

"Dude what is up with you?" I placed my hand on his forehead and he brushed it away swiftly.

"I did something bad JJ, something really bad..." he muttered, peeking over his shoulder every few seconds to check Kie was still sleeping. Wait did he ... oh no he didn't. I felt a smirk playing on my lips.

"Did you fuck someone else?" I giggled, because it seemed like something Pope would absolutely lose his shit over. I don't blame the dude, he's new to all of this dating stuff; or should I say attention from girls.

"No! No of course I didn't..." he replied quickly, but I wasn't buying it.

"Mhm.." I smirked.

"JJ! This is serious! It's not that..." he scowled at me.

"What is it then? What could innocent little Pope have possibly done?" I mocked, which clearly irritated him.

"Forget it. I can't deal with your stupid sarcasm right now." He snapped, getting up quickly and storming back into the chateau.

"Hey come on dude, I was just messing, how am I supposed to get back inside? You want me to come crawling along the ground like some seal?" I shouted as he slammed the door behind him.

"You do that bro," he replied bluntly. Sighing, I buried my head in my hands, wondering what on earth could be bothering him so much. A few minutes later however, he came trotting back.

"Pogue meeting. Attendance mandatory," he announced, and had apparently calmed down a little.

"Ok..."

"Oh and JJ," he popped back around the doorframe.

"That's my name," he rolled his eyes at this.

"Forget what I said a few minutes ago, it doesn't matter," his words were quiet and rushed, prompting me to dig deeper. I wonder if it had been something to do with another girl; I didn't want Kie getting hurt.

"Dude if it's something to do with another..." I begun, but was cut off by Kiara peeking round the door, her fingers interlocked with Pope's.

"JJ what are you doing without your wheelchair?" She sighed, helping me up and back into the house.

"Honestly I'm fine, and I'm not having people think we're vulnerable just because my ass can't walk. Which I can, by the way," I smirked, placing myself on the big sofa to annoy the both of them.

"So what's this mandatory meeting about then Kie?" Pope asked, placing his arm around the girl. Much to his dismay, she brushed it away, shooting him a look of disapproval.

"This is serious stuff guys, no messing around,"

"Alright mama..." I couldn't help myself.

"JJ!" She snapped, glaring at me.

"Ok ok I won't..." I smirked, motioning for her to go ahead. She took a deep breath.

"We need to prove Rafe and Ward guilty, if it's the last thing we do for John B and Sarah," her words echoed through the chateau and settled in the air. Damn, that was unexpected. Pope and I were both too stunned to speak, in fact neither of us were really sure how to reply.

"Kie look, I know we are all pissed about last nigh.." Pope started, but I cut him off.

"No she's right, we can't just let Rafe and Ward get away with this. Especially after all the shit they put us and John B through." Everyone sighed as a silence settled in the air, before I reached over to switch the tv on. A picture of one of Rafe's friend popped up on the screen and I stared in horror as the news reporter spoke and words flashed up on the screen: 'Kook teen found dead in the street in the south of figure 8'. I gasped aloud; we had been there last night.

"Holy shit..." Kiara whispered, yet Pope remained completely silent. Suddenly, my phone begun to ring and I wondered who the hell would be interested in speaking to me this early in the morning. Hopefully not my dad.

"Who is it?" Kiara asked as I picked it up.

"Unknown number..."

"Put it on speaker." As I answered, there seemed to be some sort of commotion on the other side of the phone before a span of silence. I looked up to see Pope and Kiara intrigued, so didn't hang up just yet.

"JJ, JJ are you there dude?" A familiar voice spoke through the phone, causing my heart to leap out of my chest. A lump formed in my throat and I could discern a strange sensation begin to take over me. The other 2 gaped at the phone, a mixture of disbelief and confusion settling on their faces.

"JJ, you there dude?"

"Y... y.. yes .." I stuttered, unable to believe in what I was hearing. It was John B.

"Listen JJ, we don't have much time so I need you to listen carefully." His voice was rushed and laced with fear.

"I'm listening."