༄ 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗍𝗒－𝗍𝗁𝗋𝖾𝖾 ༄

JJ, THALIA AND Kiara started arranging food for John B and Sarah a few minutes later. Thalia tossed a bag of bread to JJ, who placed it in the carton Kie had found. The three had yet to discuss Thalia kissing Pope. "Is that enough food for them?" Kiara questioned, wanting John B and Sarah to be prepared. A recent text from Sarah to Kiara revealed that Sarah had gotten out and was with John B. Thalia was using Kie's phone to confer with her. Sarah would be leaving the island with John B.

"I mean, for a couple of weeks, and that's all they need, so..." JJ shrugged, packing the crate tightly.

Kie and JJ looked at each other as Thalia put Kie's phone down, her conversation with Sarah concluding. "Was it good?" Kie asked, JJ rolling his eyes at the question.

JJ put his backpack on as Thalia looked up, brows furrowed. "Was what good?" she questioned tentatively, placing a thing of crackers into the crate as JJ held it.

"The kiss, dummy. It looked good." Kie said as she and Thalia walked in front of JJ to the door of the restaurant.

"Oh," Thalia limped down the steps as she spoke. "Yeah, I guess." the redhead said casually. She wasn't used to having friends to talk about boys with. She always had Sarah, but Sarah wasn't always the easiest to talk to.

"Are you gonna date him?" Kiara wondered, eager to know as much as possible.

Thalia rolled her eyes, rolling up the sleeves of her shirt, moving towards Kiara's car. "Can we talk about anything else?" she asked awkwardly. Thalia was still working on being open and unguarded.

"Please." JJ added, placing the crate in Kiara's open trunk.

"Where you been?" said a new voice out of nowhere, and Thalia looked up to see Kiara's mother standing in front of them.

"Uh... I'm fine. I slept here." Kie said quickly, pointing to the restaurant.

Anna scoffed. "Well, we were up half the night, scared to death, lookin' for you. Were you even gonna tell us?" Thalia stood slightly behind Kiara, hands clasped in front of her, hoping Anna didn't know her and her reputation. That would make things much worse.

Kie glanced at the uncomfortable brother and sister behind her. "Well, I'm telling you right now." the brunette brushed off.

Anna then noticed Thalia. "What the hell are you two up to?" she asked Kie and JJ. "And now you're messed up with Whitney's kid? No way." Anna said, and Thalia was expecting this.

"I'm sorry, Miss Anna, we just gotta go." JJ said, Thalia's eyes still happily rooted to the dirt beneath her converse.

"No. I'm sorry. Absolutely not. Have you heard what's going on?" Anna said quickly, alarmed.

"Mom, I'll explain later." Kiara said as JJ crossed to the other side of the car, Thalia and Kie opening their doors.

"Have you seen the storm? This is not safe." Anna continued.

Kie and Thalia got into the car, Thalia sitting in the middle seat in the second row.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I have to go!" Kie shouted.

"These cops are armed, Kiara. You'll get shot." Kiara turned the car on over her mother's shouting. Thalia didn't have to wonder, she knew her mother wouldn't care about her safety the way Kie's mom did.

"Mom, John B needs me! I understand. I'll be careful." Kie shouted strongly, shutting the door and leaving her mother's screams merely an echo in the wind. As they drove away to hell, Anna continued shouting, and Thalia frowned. A loving mother. New for her.

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KIARA DROVE THROUGH the Cut, arriving at the rundown Maybank home. The house of horrors, that held so many horrid memories. Thalia's body tensed just seeing the hammer in the lawn and the torn up porch screen. She wished Pope were there with her. "Home sweet home." JJ joked to distract himself, the chickens clucking in the background.

"Do you want me to come? 'Cause I'll come." Kie offered sweetly. Thalia didn't have to be close with her brother to know he liked Kiara.

"No. This will only take a second," JJ said, opening the car door with his backpack. Thalia opened the backdoor and slid out, landing on her good knee. JJ turned to face Thalia with a quiet sigh. "I don't want you coming." the blonde said suddenly.

Thalia frowned. "Why? He's my dad, too, dumbass." Thalia reminded JJ, appalled that he was trying to bench her.

JJ rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I know, Thalls, but the last time we saw him he blew out your knee. You still have a black eye. I'm not chancing him killing you this time. I got this." JJ said, trying to convince his sister that he was fine.

"If that's what you want to tell yourself to make yourself feel better, fine. Don't come crawling to me when he hits you again." Thalia said angrily, pulling herself back in Kie's car, slamming the door shut.

So JJ left, walking into the house. Thalia was secretly glad he was taking this one so she didn't have to, not that she would ever come close to admitting that. Kie glanced at a frustrated Thalia in the rear-view mirror. "Scale of one to ten?" Kie said, a knowing smile tugging at her lips.

Thalia deflated, arms crossed as she pouted. "Uh, six. It was kinda awkward. And you and JJ were watching us." Thalia muttered, plopping her swollen knee on the seat beside her. She shouldn't have been walking on it.

Kie smiled brighter. "He really likes you. Like, really likes you." she emphasized, and Thalia tried to hide her own smile.

"I think he'll stick around for a while." Thalia said, heat rising to her cheeks, turning them as red as her hair.

"Is this you being nonchalant?" Kiara wiggled her eyebrows at her friend.

Thalia's eyes widened. "How much of it did you hear, you freak?" she asked, slightly embarrassed.

Kiara shrugged. "Pretty much all of it." she laughed, and Thalia hid her face in her hands, debating on going to check on JJ. She was worried about him, obviously.

A minute later, when Thalia was sitting up to open the door, JJ stomped out of the house, tears in his eyes. "Finally." Thalia muttered, exhaling.

JJ got back in the front seat as Kie turned the car back on, quiet and sad. "How'd it go?" Kie asked delicately. JJ just held up the boat key, and that was a good enough answer. Thalia patted him on the shoulder, and it was enough.

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