𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞- 𝐣𝐣 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤

20.

🦋☀ 🌊 - 20

John B told the group to meet up at his house, though he never explained why. He didn't want the entire friend group to get heated when he brought up Sarah. Kiara's obvious dislike for her was bad enough, but he feared she could influence everyone else against Sarah before they even had a chance to understand the situation.

JJ and Olivia lingered in the kitchen for a while, the quiet a temporary reprieve from the storm that would inevitably erupt outside the front door. Olivia decided to make a sandwich, figuring her stomach deserved at least a small victory before the chaos started. As she spread peanut butter on the bread, the comforting routine settled her nerves.

"Does the bread have mold on it?" JJ asked, sneaking up behind her, peering suspiciously at the loaf on her plate.

"Not at all. I bought some fresh stuff this morning. Want some?" Olivia tossed the loaf toward him, playful but with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

"Duh." JJ grinned, stepping in to help. He always liked the small rituals, the simple acts that grounded them both when the bigger problems seemed too much.

Olivia sliced the bread into neat triangles, the habit almost meditative. She studied him quietly, noticing the faint bruises and the tension in his jaw. "You never told me how you got those cuts and bruises on your face," she said softly.

JJ froze mid-motion, the knife hovering above the counter. He had never been one to share, especially when it came to his own struggles. "The whole fight with Rafe... remember?" he muttered.

Olivia shook her head, disbelief etched across her features. "They weren't that bad. And I helped you clean them up. They should be healing by now."

JJ sighed, setting the knife down. He knew she wouldn't drop the question no matter how hard he tried to change the subject. The silence stretched, uncomfortable yet full of unspoken understanding.

Olivia's face softened, and without another word, she pulled him into a tight hug. She could feel the tension radiating from him, and her chest tightened at the sight of him struggling silently with his pain. "It'll be okay," she whispered.

JJ hugged her back immediately, though he fought to hold back the tears he had been bottling up for days. "It's whatever, I guess," he said quietly, though the tone didn't quite mask the hurt underneath.

"It's not whatever, J. You don't deserve what's going on back at your house," Olivia murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

JJ shook his head, pulling away slightly. He wasn't sure if he deserved comfort or relief. Trouble seemed to follow him like a shadow, and letting his friends down had become almost second nature. Olivia noticed the shift in his mood and went back to finishing her sandwich, letting him watch in quiet solidarity.

"Don't you want one?" she asked, breaking his train of thought.

"I'm not hungry," JJ replied, shoving the plate aside and retreating into his own thoughts.

"You have to eat something," Olivia pressed, handing him half her sandwich. He pushed it away again.

"It's fine," he said, trying to sound casual. "We should go. John B will be here soon."

Olivia nodded, carrying her plate outside while JJ and Pope settled into the two-seater couch. Olivia leaned against the wall, watching, while Kiara's impatience made her foot tap rapidly against the porch floor.

"Oh my God," Kiara muttered under her breath as John B walked up the stairs with Sarah beside him.

"Hey guys," John B greeted, offering a small smile as he perched on the edge of the bench. Sarah followed him, her expression calm but alert.