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"I can take care of myself, JJ!" Kiara yelled as she walked into the chateau.
Heard that a million times. Probably like, two million times. The rest of the Pogues were slowly climbing out of the Twinkie, no one super excited to go into the house with a pissed off Kie.
"Come on man," John B says to JJ. "Just like, one fucking night?"
JJ scoffed. "What does that mean?"
"Dude, the last three parties we've been to you've gone ape shit on some dude macking on Kie," he confronts. "Is something going on?"
Mild panic sets in when the words no Pogue on Pogue macking flash across his mind like a neon sign. A solid reminder of where he stands with Kie.
"What?" he breathes out, attempting to feign ignorance but fails. He sounds like a kid with his hands caught in the cookie jar.
John B just fixes him a look that says it all. I don't believe you and you obviously know what I'm talking about. Cut the shit.
One hour earlier
They had been at the bone yard, simple kegger, nothing out of the ordinary. It was one of the last before the end of the summer. The Pogues were all around the fire. The boys sat in a row, drinking and passing a joint back and forth. Kiara stood talking to a kid from the Kook Academy (strike one) on the other side.
JJ could feel a prick of jealousy raise on the back of his neck. Of course, that feeling isn't justified even a little bit. They weren't together, not even close.
He'd been hitting on her all summer but she always rolled it off, acting like it meant nothing and that he was just being stupid. Hell, maybe he was. In all actuality he knew he was lucky she was even fucking talking to him, let alone calling him one of her best friends. So for him to even push it mildly in the other direction was a huge risk.
He swallowed hard when he saw her laugh at something the Kook kid said. He wanted to throw up. Obviously his casual and incessant flirting was less than innocent if you went below the surface. He'd been mad crushing on her for a year now and it was getting extremely hard to not act on it.
The Kook took her laughter as an invitation to connect with her physically. He reached his hand out and stroked her cheek(strike two). It was so fucking corny JJ didn't even get upset. He knew Kiara wouldn't be into that.
And she wasn't. She stepped away slightly, not being rude, but politely excusing herself from the interaction.
JJ took a sip of the beer from his solo cup. His eyes did a double take when he watched the Kook pull a face when Kiara walked away. JJ might have been fine but this dude. He was upset. He grabbed her arm(strike three) and she turned to face him.
JJ was on his feet in an instant. Kiara had just opened her mouth to speak when JJ turned the Kook around and punched him in the face. The kid fell instantly. Wasn't even a real fight.
When he met Kiara's eye, she was not pleased.
"Dude," John B pleads, pulling him from his thoughts. "Get a hold of yourself or she's gonna figure it out."
That sent a line of sweat down his spine. Fuck. If Kiara found out he liked her like that he'd never recover. She obviously didn't feel the same way and it would be ridiculous embarrassing to have that secret uncovered. Bad enough John B knew.
The Pogues enter the chateau and can hear Kie noisily getting undressed and changed. How you can do that loudly is still a mystery but three witness can testify to the incident having occurred.
"Your fault," Pope whisper mouthed to him as he side stepped him to head to the kitchen.
He rolls his eyes but stops when he spots Kie coming out of the bathroom. She glances up at him but doesn't stop, pushing past him, and heading out the door. He obviously follows.
"Yo, Kie," he calls, tripping over a step as he heads down after her. "Wait up, where you going?" he asks.
"I don't need you to protect me JJ, I can do that myself," she spits.
"Hey, hey," he says, reaching for her arm so she'll stop a minute and talk to him. "What did you expect, alright, he just seemed a bit aggressive."
She gawks at him. "Do you seriously wanna have a conversation about aggression levels?"
He looks up, contemplating his answer as he gives it thought. "No..." he says slowly.
She rolls her eyes. "I'm going home, I'll see you later."
"Do you want a ride?"
"I'm fine," she says, continuing to walk away. Her mood could not be more dismissive. She does not want him to follow her. She definitely does not want that. She just wants to walk to her house. Three miles away. In the dark. In fucking yoga pants and a baggy sweater.
Fuck his life.
"I'll walk you," he pushes out, taking a few long strides to catch up with her.
"I said I'm fine," she snaps.
"Listen, I'm not gonna just let you walk back to figure 8 by yourself."
"Oh really? Why? Because I'm a girl?" she accuses.
"Yes, Kie, that's why," he says, exasperated. "Have you never watched date line? Hot chicks walking country roads alone at night are always murdered first."
Kiara fights to keep her face in an angry line but JJ catches her lips twitch and he smirks. "I mean, unless you're into the cereal killer scene," he teases. She relents, punching him playfully in the arm as they continue walking.
"You do need to stop though, Jay."
He keeps his head down as she talks, hands in his pockets, head nodding.
"I'm more than capable of handling handsy douche bags," she says. "I hang out with you, remember?"
He huffs a laugh, conceding. Yeah, that's all he was ever going to be for her. An annoying over protective friend that had a tendency to flirt shamelessly at her. God, he was pathetic.
"Handsy?" he throws back. "Hardly." Something about the way she responds, her disbelieving laugh, or teasing tone made him a little bolder.
"Believe me, Kie," he says. "You haven't seen what handsy me is."
Kiara slows for just a second and he swears he's hallucinating the look she gives him. Almost like she was thinking about what it would be like to have his hands on her. Innocent tickle fights on the pull out and a helping hand to her get in the Pogue is not at all the same thing. Not even close to what he wants to do to her.
Oh fuck, does she know that?
He clears his throat when she doesn't say anything, feeling the need to change the subject before he says anymore dumb shit or gives her a chance to ask questions that lead to him saying more dumb shit.
"So, you really wanna walk all the way to figure 8 or am I forgiven enough for you to stay at the chateau?"
She hums. "You haven't even apologized."
He takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry I stepped where I shouldn't." He's not sorry. That guy was a dick and if his face said anything, his hand on her arm wasn't where his threat ended.
"And?"
He fights to not roll his eyes. "And, I will let you handle your shit yourself," he pushes out. "Happy?"
"We'll see at the next party," she says, heading back to the chateau.
Two weeks later
Kiara is unfortunately at the Island Club. Her mom was making her attend the charity auction for some project they wanted to complete on the island. Probably a bigger parking lot or something equally stupid. Couldn't ever be for turtles or the environment.
She was wearing a slim black dress and had her hair up. She was leaning against a pillar, just observing all the obnoxious finery and people there. Her eyes find the Heyward's food stand. They were catering tonight and she was grateful for that. She'd at least have a couple friendly faces to talk to in between awkward dances and boring conversations.
She lets her eyes wonder around the area. There's a chance JJ may be here tonight, not that she was expecting him to be. He hated these events, whether he was invited or working. And he never was invited.
Kiara makes her way to the food stand and greets the Heywards. Pope gives her a nod and they converse a minute before he notices her eyes trailing again through the crowd.
"Looking for someone?" he asks, surveying the area as well.
"What? No, I-" she cuts herself off when her eyes land on him. Dressed in his waiters uniform, holding a drink tray as he hands them off to a table. JJ was working tonight then.
She could have asked him that earlier. She didn't actually need to see him in person to confirm he'd be here. But asking him that would have put her in a position to where he could tease her about wanting to know his whereabouts and why. Insinuating she had a preference for him or wanted him in some way.
And God, he'd be right.
She wasn't sure when her feelings crossed the line from friendship to something more. It happened, she thinks, so gradually that she was suddenly in over her head before she knew what happened. Like every playful touch and innocent flirt was a small unnoticeable step closer to that imaginary line until it was crossed and she couldn't go back.
Of course, that feeling wasn't mutual.
JJ always acted like an overprotective big brother when it came to her, it was annoying. Especially since she knew he didn't mean to take it seriously. Sure, he flirted with her constantly, along with any other girl he came into contact with. She knew at the end of the day that's all it was.
Their conversation from two weeks ago was confirmation of that enough. He basically told her she'd never know what it'd be like to have his hands on her like he's obviously done with other girls. Nope, he just didn't want her to end up on some true crime tv show or the victim in a serial killer podcast.
She had been hoping his outbursts at certain events when she was with other guys was because he liked her, but he never followed up with any action or expression. Just "he was coming on too strong, Kie" or "he likes to brag about his conquests." Always a reason to intervene and none of them having to do with him directly.
She turns back to Pope, who is giving her a curious face that turns into a quiet smirk when he becomes aware of her line of vision before she can avert her eyes. Great.
"Find what you're looking for?"
She rolls her eyes. "I wasn't looking for anything."
"Anyone?"
"Pope, stop," she warns and he puts his hands up in mock surrender. She breathes easier then, happy he was dropping it. JJ has disappeared during the interaction and she doesn't want to be caught seeking him out again.
She decides to get some air and heads outside. She inhaled a long breath of sea air as she walks down the steps and heads towards the beach. The night is warm, sun having set just a few moments ago.
"Kiara Carrera," a voice says from behind her.
Her blood runs cold. A familiar slithering voice that makes her go ridged immediately.
Rafe.
He'd always had a thing for her. He was more than clear about that during her kook year and since she returned to the Pogues a year ago he's been making advances any chance he got. She turns around, eyeing the party over his shoulder.
She doesn't talk to him, having worn that approach thin. Instead she starts to make her way to the club, wanting to be close to the crowd and very much away from him.
Rafe rolls his eyes as she passes him, turning to follow her, grabbing her upper arm to stop her. "What's your problem?" he hisses into her ear.
"Get off me, Rafe," she spits.
His grip only tightens, feeling like a vice and she knows she won't be able to break free easily. He's got a height and weight advantage, not to mention she's in heels and a dress. Still, she's a Pogue. That means something.
She reminds him, responding to his accelerated aggression by making a fist and slamming it into his eye. His grip releases enough for her to make an escape while he brings his hand to his face, no doubt his eye is swelling.
She heads into the main area of the club, shaking her hand. Punching someone, contrary to movies, does hurt. She scrunches her face in pain, holding her hand to her chest as she makes her way to the bathroom.
Before she can make her entrance she feels a gentle hand on her shoulder, and if not for the familiarity in the touch she would have shuttered. She blinks a few times before turning to him.
"Hey, what happened?" JJ asks, concern etching his features as he looks her over. He clocks the way she's holding her hand. The hand that had been on her shoulder brings notice to a forming bruise in the shape of a hand print on her arm. His face flies from concern to recognition.
"I'm fine, JJ," she says, pushing past him. She knows he'll react if she tells him who it was. "I took care of it."
When Kiara goes to the bathroom JJ's eyes search the crowd. Whoever grabbed her is here. It's not long before he sees the bartender making an ice bag. That was telling. He heads over and asks what table needs it, such an odd request at a party.
"Not a table," he says. "Rafe Cameron. I don't know why, kinda too busy to ask."
JJ nods, keeping composed. He fucking knew why.
"Hey, I can't find the server he asked to grab it, you mind taking it to him?" the bartender asks, looking overwhelmed with the drinks he's supposed to be making.
JJ flashes his bright smile. "Of course, man."
"Thanks, he's near the beach I think."
JJ makes his way with the ice bag towards the beach. He can feel the anger run hot through his chest. Rafe was an asshole but in large he's only been verbal with Kie. This escalation wasn't something he could ignore though. That shit needed to be stomped out.
Rafe's not hard to spot, standing with his hands on his hips, blinking back tears that came unbidden due to the placement of Kiara's jab. JJ feels a swell of pride, that's his girl. He taught her that punch, thank god.
Rafe turns when JJ is close enough for his steps to be heard on the sand, thinking it's the server he asked to grab him the ice.
"Thanks--"
JJ ends the appreciative comment when his fist collides with Rafe's nose. Still holding the ice bag, he uses his knee to slam into a hunched over Rafe's stomach.
"Jesus Christ, what the hell!" he yells, loud enough for the guests on the deck to hear. A small crowd starts to form, drawn in by the ensuing conflict. He gives him another punch to the face before tugging at his collar, his threatening voice dark and deep.
"Keep your fucking hands off Kiara or I swear to God you'll need more than a bag of ice."
He pushes him into the sand and tosses the ice bag in front of him. When JJ turns around he sees the crowd, his employer included. He pulls at his bow tie and yanks off his name tag handing them to his former boss.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," he says. He passes Kiara, "Worth it."
He continues his walk up the beach. The longer he stayed the greater the chance the police would be called.
JJ looks at his busted hand, flexing it out a few times as he makes his way into the chateau bathroom to clean up. He hears a car roll up and he thinks it's John B so he doesn't make a move to leave the room.
Kiara walks into the chateau, steam coming out her ears. Not only had she successfully handled the situation and JJ taken it upon himself to be an idiot, he got himself fired over it. Over her.
"What the fuck did you do that for?" she fumes at him. He's standing in the bathroom and she's quick to enter, getting in his face. She can smell his cologne and she curses herself for getting distracted.
He scrunches his face like his reasoning was obvious. "Are you serious, Kie? He fucking grabbed you!" he says, gesturing to the bruise he saw earlier. "Didn't have that mark when you showed up tonight."
She falters. Obviously he was right but she didn't know he saw her first. Or that he paid enough attention to notice that.
"It doesn't matter," she says, getting back on track. "I handled him, and you promised you'd back off."
He chuckles darkly.
"What's so funny," she snaps.
"God, Kie," he says, shaking his head and tapping his finger tips on the counter. "I'm not gonna let a guy do that to you."
"Stop with the over protective big brother act, alright, I don't need your help."
He balks. "Big brother? That's what you think this is?"
Kiara pulls a confused face. What else would it be? He couldn't be feeling what she was feeling, could he? Her face softens in realization but he's moving on from the comment. Taking her silence as confirmation.
"Never mind," he says, averting his eyes like he's already said too much.
"No," she says. "What is it?"
JJ feels his skin run hot. Shit, she's not letting it go. Wait, did she just look at his lips?
"Jayj, what is it then?" she says, taking a step towards him. She feels like she needs to control her breathing, but it's hard when her heart is pounding in her chest. She fights to keep her eyes on his. He returns her glance at his lips with his own.
"Not brotherly," he whispers, taking a step of his own. His hand takes a bold advance, gently resting on her hip.
"Definitely not," she breathes.
Their lips graze tentatively, neither wanting to be wrong about what they believe the opposite of brotherly affection is. When JJ feels Kiara's hand coming up to his face he dives in. The simple gesture all the convincing he needs that she wants this.
He pulls her into him, touching her in ways he's only allowed himself to dream. Kiara does the same, hands exploring hair and body presses up against him as she feels him edge his tongue into her mouth, deepening the kiss as they continue to explore each other.
There's a slam of a screen door and they can hear Pope and John B talking as they enter the chateau.
JJ meets her eye when they pull apart. She's still breathing heavily. Them being in the bathroom at the same time wouldn't be weird, especially with the first aide kit out, which they both still needed. Being in there with the door shut, that would be different. That would mean something.
JJ shuts the door.