Living with the Pogues is a lot more stressful than what Kiara would have ever imagined. She may have lived with JJ for five years, but she never had to live with the rest of them. Pope bunks in the Chateau almost every night and Sarah and John B have nowhere else to go. Kiara should love spending time with the Pogues saying that John B and Sarah have only just returned to her. But she can't love spending time with them when they are so needy.
John B finds a job working on yachts in Figure Eight so is not in the house as much as expected, Kiara's problem is annoyingly Sarah. She doesn't mean to get annoyed at her best girl-friend but she can't help it. Sarah likes to moan and groan about John B and gossip about every little thing that life has to offer. And Kiara just has to sit and listen to it. She has to listen to everything that John B had done during their five years in the Bahamas and Kiara has to listen to Sarah explain every detail of their sex life. Sarah even finds an urge to ask Kiara what her sex life is like.
They haven't told the Pogues about getting engaged. They just haven't found a need to say it. And Kiara is not about to just out their secret just because Sarah wants a good gossip session. Sarah is exactly as Kiara remembers, a girl that is the complete opposite of Kiara. But that's what makes them best friends.
Living in a full house has made it hard to have any privacy. Whilst Pope normally takes the pull-out and Sarah and John B take John B's bedroom, there are no boundaries when it comes to the nights. Therefore, it is completely their fault if they all of a sudden walk into JJ and Kiara's room to something that friends don't want to see. It is definitely not Kiara and JJ's fault. JJ normally jokes it off whilst John B automatically gags at the sight. Kiara on the other hand, yells to hide her own embarrassment whilst Sarah jokes about how they can't get enough of each other.
And the mere amount of people that are in the chateau annoys Kiara the most. Every morning, she falls over Brownie or a sleeping body of a hanging Pope or John B. Her anger cannot be held back when they make her fall over.
The issue with living with all of the Pogues is that she shouldn't be shocked when anything out of the ordinary happens.
It's the morning after the Pogues- apart from a working Kiara- go drinking until three in the morning. Kiara wakes up normally, seeing that JJ is already gone on the probable dog walk with Brownie. The normal sound of birds chirping fills the chateau just like the light of a brand-new day. With the light, Kiara thinks that it probably is the perfect day for a morning walk along the sea. She is quick to head out of the bedroom before realising her mistake. Kiara falls to the ground when a knocked-out Pope is sleeping in the corridor connecting the bedrooms to the bathroom. Pope can sleep anywhere- this is proof. "Too early, Kie." Pope groans out before turning over and heading back to sleep. It makes Kiara angry as she leans over the sleeping body and shakes him.
"Get the fuck off of the floor!"
"Lower your voice, I'm not ready for that shit this morning." Pope struggles to say.
"Yeah Kie, your voice is too loud." JJ's voice fills the corridor as he steps out of the kitchen with a glass of water in his hand.
"Well, maybe you guys should grow up and stop drinking until the early hours of the morning." Kiara accidentally snaps, she doesn't know why she snaps.
Kiara is quick to turn back into the corridor to make her way to the other bedroom. She needs to wake these twenty-three-year olds to realise that they are not acting their fucking age. She ignores the muttering as she hears JJ say "Mama's mad" behind her back. Kiara ignores everything as she moves to open the door. Maybe she shouldn't ignore everything though as when Kiara opens the door, Karma is a bitch.
On the bed, Sarah is lying underneath a very naked John B. It makes Kiara shriek before stepping out of the room, slamming the door shut in the process. "Why can't we be fucking normal for one morning!" Kiara screams out, making sure that Sarah and John B can hear her through their door. Kiara knows that Sarah will want to gossip about her new sex life later with Kiara but Kiara no longer needs the fucking description of what she saw in that very room. When Kiara steps backwards, she almost falls over Brownie who has decided to lay down directly behind her. "Get out of the fucking way, Brownie!" Yet again, Kiara doesn't mean to snap.
It takes a moment before they are all sat around the kitchen table. John B and Sarah have barely put up an effort to even pretend they weren't fucking only five minutes ago. Pope has his head on the table, obviously trying to catch his sleep. JJ just watches Kiara with a mix of concern and confusion planted on his face. Kiara has her arms crossed whilst her face tells the story of an angry Kiara.
"Well, I'll start." JJ begins as he sits up straight and looks around the group. "I think we are all gathered here today to talk about… breakfast?" JJ looks at Kiara, questioning her.
"Shut up, JJ." Kiara mutters before rolling her eyes. Is she the only one getting annoyed with living with everyone?
"Okay, I'm wrong about talking about breakfast. Lunch?" JJ smirks.
"We're not here to talk about food, JJ." Kiara barks. "We're here to talk about boundaries." They all look at her, still confused with the situation. Yep, it looks like Kiara is the only one annoyed with living with everyone.
"So, we're here to talk about how many times we've walked in on you and JJ?" John B asks, stupidly. God, Kiara is going to have to spell it out for them.
"No!" She practically shouts. "We're here to talk about every boundary from you guys sleeping on the floor of the chateau to you guys just walking into rooms without knocking to just filling the chateau with all of your shit." Kiara rambles on. "If we have boundaries, I don't have to walk in on you two again." Kiara motions to John B and Sarah.
"You didn't knock." Sarah just shrugs.
"I didn't know that the room was going to be filled with horny teenagers."
"We're not the only horny people in this chateau though Kie." John B cringes when he looks at a laughing JJ.
"That's the problem!" Kiara stands up, not holding back anything anymore. "Pope, you don't even live here so why are you here all the time?"
"Kie…" JJ tries to warn.
"And you two, are we going to have to fight over the chateau or something?" Kiara motions to John B and Sarah once more, as if they are only one person.
She knows she is being unreasonable. They don't have anywhere else to go. But something in her can't hold back her tongue any longer. She can't take one more day of having to hop around the other Pogues. "Well it is my house, Kie." John B half snaps out and it only makes Kiara roll her eyes.
"Fine. We'll be out of your hair in the next week." Kiara storms to the bedroom, ignoring the calls from all of the Pogues behind her. It's as if she cannot control herself. But in this moment, Kiara can't find herself to care.
JJ finds her in the bedroom as soon as she leaves the living area. "What the hell was that?" JJ half-jokes as soon as he shuts the door. Honestly, Kiara doesn't know what it is going on.
"We're fucking trapped here with them not taking boundaries." Kiara screeches.
"Kie…"
"It's John B's house, like he said. So, we'll go."
"We're not going anywhere, Kie. That's just fucking stupid."
"I can't stay here with them any longer."
"Okay. Where are you going to go?" Kiara doesn't even think that far. Her brain is very heavy on the now. "That's what I thought Kie." JJ takes her silence. He knows her too well that she can't stay mad whenever he is around.
"I don't know what's going on." Kiara admits, feeling herself shake. JJ just smirks and pulls her into a tight hug.
"You're just jealous that we're not the only ones getting caught making too much noise now." JJ snorts out at the cost of Kiara pushing him away, playfully before laughing with him.
…
Of course, they don't move out of the chateau.
The chateau is the home to any Pogue. Sure, it is under John B's name, but the Chateau takes place to home anyone that needs it. The chateau provides what every Pogue needs- safety from the painful world that they keep facing. Kiara has used the Chateau for five years to avoid the gossiping Kooks that she used to know so well. Maybe the other Pogues need to use it to find sense in Outer Banks once more.
When Kiara wakes up on her birthday, she is pleasantly shocked to not trip over a sleeping Pogue or walk into a room where Sarah and John B are going at it. The entire chateau is completely empty. The only living thing in the entire chateau is their pup, Brownie. Brownie is in his own little world chewing on the end of the pull-out. "Brownie." Kiara breathes out before running over to the pup. "Stop." She tries to pull the pull-out covers out of his mouth but Brownie quickly thinks it's a game of tug of war. Brownie pulls back with the same amount of power as Kiara pulls. "Brownie! This isn't a game!" She yells at the pup that is still tugging on the covers.
He keeps pulling at the cover so much that Kiara can feel herself spiralling. Confused tears flood her vision as she keeps pulling at the pup. "Brownie!" She screams one more time before yanking the covers completely out of his mouth. A small yelp comes from Brownie as Kiara realises that she probably pulled too hard. She watches as Brownie hops backwards until he is in the corridor. Kiara just watches in shock for thinking that she hurt him. "I'm sorry, pup." Kiara cries out before bringing Brownie into a hug. "I didn't mean to hurt you." Waterworks begin as she sobs into his coat. She doesn't know what's going on. All that Kiara knows is that she can't control it.
She cannot control herself.
Her sobs fill the chateau as she buries her head against Brownie's head. The pup's pants help Kiara calm herself down. Maybe her emotions are out of control because of the pressure of the Pogues. Maybe it's because it's her birthday. Maybe it's because she's engaged to her best friend and is keeping it secret. A lot has happened in the last few months that everything is spiralling for Kiara now. Spiralling so fast that Kiara has not been able to catch up with the life that she is living.
When JJ comes back from the shop, Kiara has run out of tears. She doesn't want to make him think anything is wrong because truth be told, she doesn't entirely know what is wrong. JJ comes in with a massive grin planted on his face. He carries a grocery bag which confuses Kiara straight away. "You're awake early." JJ mentions as he walks through the door.
"And you've been shopping?" JJ is not the normal boy that just goes to the shop without Kiara telling him to.
"It's your birthday Kie. So, I'm making dinner."
"Oh, no you're not."
"Yes I am."
"You don't cook."
"I cook doggy brownies for Brownie."
"Exactly. You cook dog food JJ." In the five years that they have been living together, Kiara has not allowed JJ to cook anything. One of her fears is that she will burn the chateau down and they would be forced to move in with her bitch of a mother.
"Do you not trust me, Kie?" She can tell he's joking as he moves closer to Kiara with the JJ smirk planted on his face. "Because, if we're going to get married, I think you should learn to trust me."
Hearing those words make Kiara flutter. 'if we're going to get married.' Kiara remains scared that JJ will wake up one day and realise that he has literally signed himself over to Kiara. Marriage is a big step for any relationship. Marriage for JJ is the biggest step in his life. Marriage is a Kook thing in Outer Banks. With the cut, people are lucky to even find a forever relationship. Pope's parents are the only people that Kiara knows to work so, Kiara can't help be worried that JJ will run as soon as he realises that this all means commitment.
"My brownies are the best, aren't they Brownie." Kiara is brushed out of her thoughts by the sight of Brownie and JJ. JJ has leant down to Brownie's level and Brownie is pressed completely into him. They always say that a dog is a man's best friend. Maybe that really is true with JJ and Brownie. When Brownie shakes, JJ shakes with him, mimicking the pup's moves. Something in Kiara makes her almost melt at the sight.
"He's still a dog, JJ." Kiara shakes to return to their conversation.
"But he has better taste than you." JJ doesn't look up from Brownie.
Something in Kiara can't help but wonder where they would be without Brownie. Sure, JJ and Kiara would have still slept together after John B and Sarah disappeared but what would have happened after that. Would JJ have stayed with his dad? No. Kiara can't think about that. He should have escaped his demons a lot earlier than he did.
A few days ago, news travelled around Outer Banks about the death of Luke Maybank. Outer Banks looked like it was celebrating his death with laughter and parties all whilst Kiara had to hold JJ through a particularly bad nightmare. The nightmare made JJ argumentative. "You shouldn't be stuck with me!" JJ had shouted at her. He spat as if he was venomous, but Kiara just blamed his dad.
"I'm not stuck with you, JJ." Kiara remembers trying to calm him down.
"But this isn't what you want." They argued the night away until Kiara had to literally shake him to come back to her. The rest of the night, JJ kept tearfully apologising to her. He did nothing wrong. That night made Kiara wonder how many times Luke Maybank made JJ beg for forgiveness even when JJ did nothing wrong. JJ has never done anything wrong.
They joke the day away with Kiara trying to avoid anything that may make her tear up. She doesn't want to cry anymore. JJ jokes about what they would be doing if they ever do find the gold. JJ jokes that "We'll get a maid to do all the cooking for us." And Kiara laughs with him. The gold is another tricky conversation. She once mentioned about travelling the world with the gold. But her dreams have changed. Travelling the world was the decision of a Kiara that already had riches from her family. Now she doesn't have the riches, her only thing that matters is that they keep each other safe and she finds a way to protect everyone no matter of race, sex, sexuality and age. She just wants to save the world.
Whilst JJ cooks that night, Kiara can't help but watch closely over his shoulder to make sure that he doesn't set fire to the curtains or some JJ shit like that. Kiara is relieved to see that JJ is only going as far as making a basic stir fry. "Quit hovering over me, Kie." JJ jokes at one point as he knocks into Kiara.
"I'm just making sure that you don't burn the place down."
"Trust, Kie. Trust." JJ smirks before returning to the stove.
"More like hope." Kiara returns a joke.
Some would say that JJ is nothing but a commitment phobe, stereotypical Maybank but in this moment, JJ is a fucking hopeless romantic. He lays the dinner table out and even manages to put some flowers in a vase. Kiara watches him and has to sit tight forcing back the sudden need to rip off the cute little apron along with the rest of his clothes and lay him across the table to completely forget about dinner altogether.
JJ is hurriedly rushing through the living area where the table is arranged out and the kitchen. He hums a little song that sounds too much like the It's a small world theme song as he moves between the rooms. He ends with a slight skip in his step as he moves the food to the table. Don't pull him over the table, Kie. Kiara has to mentally tell herself. "Shit." Kiara almost laughs at his sudden murmur from the kitchen. "Forgot fucking beer." She doesn't know if he is talking to her or just to himself.
"Dude." Kiara laughs out.
"I can run to the shop quickly and get it." JJ even heads to the door but Kiara is quick to stop him by kissing him sweetly.
"We don't need fucking beer, JJ."
"Good because I don't really want to go back to the shop again."
"Then don't." Kiara pecks JJ one more time before letting him go before she loses her control.
The meal goes to plan. Kiara actually complimenting the chef, then regretting it straight away. The entire time that they eat, JJ makes comments about how he should be the chef from now on. The chateau is filled with the normal atmosphere created through JJ and Kiara. Pure happiness. Brownie's small whimpers are also heard as he keeps begging for the food on their plates. JJ giving in every time that Brownie makes a sound. "You need to stop falling for that." Kiara tells JJ as she watches him pass Brownie yet another piece of bread.
"He's still growing, Kie."
"Oh, he's definitely done growing, JJ." She may moan when JJ passes food over to Brownie, but seconds after Brownie whimpers by Kiara's feet she gives in and gives Brownie exactly what he wants. Maybe they can spoil him together.
There are no games between JJ and Kiara this night, Kiara is too far gone in JJ's quicksand to play the whole 'how long can we go without jumping each other' game. Kiara pretty much jumps JJ as soon as they finish tidying the table. She lets her emotions take over as she lets him do everything that he wants to do. The night is long and perfect in every way that is humanly possible.
The night is more perfect than anything else in life.
In the morning, perfection is broken.
Kiara wakes to a sudden twist in her stomach. It leads her to run to the bathroom to avoid puking all over the floor. "Morning, Kie." Sarah says as she leans against the bathroom door. Kiara wants to move but worries that if she takes her head out of the toilet, she won't be able to hold anything back. "Big night?" She can hear the smirk on Sarah's face.
"Don't… just don't." Kiara speaks into the toilet.
"Hangover?" Sarah puts simply.
"Nope."
"Too much sex that your stomach is paying the price?" Of course, now is the time that Sarah wants to gossip about sex.
"Sarah." Kiara achingly lifts her head up, groaning at the girl stood by the door. Sarah gets the message as she laughs before turning to head into the living area of the chateau.
Back to normal chateau rules it seems. Whilst her stomach keeps squelching, Kiara knows that she can't keep her head in the toilet for the entire day. The Pogues want to do the tradition tonight, she can't be sick for the tradition. She blames JJ. Food fucking poisoning. She knew she shouldn't have let the hopeless boy cook. How can a boy as clueless as JJ make that many mistakes on something that is as easy as stir fry?
To make matters worse, when Kiara crawls back into bed to try and sleep away food poisoning, her phone wakes her up from her restless sleep. She thinks about ignoring it as she throws her head against the bed once more but the phone lights up again. "Fuck." Kiara breathes out when she looks at the text on her phone.
Mom: Remember your party tomorrow night. 7pm. Do not be late, Kiara.
Sent at 9:25am.
Kiara had completely forgotten about the party. "What the fuck mom?" Kiara lets out before falling back onto the bed.
This is going to be fun.
…
The night after Kiara's birthday, JJ finds himself on the pull-out bed as punishment for giving Kiara food poisoning. Kiara spent the entirety of the day being sick, so sick that they couldn't take part in the Pogue Tradition. So, JJ understands when Kiara tells JJ that he will never cook for her again. JJ will stick to dog food from now on.
It doesn't help JJ's matter on getting on Kiara's good side after he finds out that Anna Carrera has invited Kiara and JJ to a party for Kiara's birthday. Kiara didn't stop swearing the day before from her idiocy from saying yes to her that day where JJ was pleased to be pulled into the bathroom of the Wreck by Kiara. Carrera parties have always been a tradition between the Kooks where the Kooks would get together to spread the gossip of Outer Banks. JJ knows that this party won't be any different, especially considering the new developments with the Camerons.
When Kiara tells JJ that he has been invited to the party, JJ can't hide the smirk that earns him a glare from an angered Kiara. Even though JJ has technically been to the Kook galas before, he has never technically been invited. He used to work the scene all the time. JJ would be the basic waiter that would often end the night either under the sheets with a Kook girl or in a fight with the Kook boys. Like the last time where JJ crashed the midsummers gala where he ended up being cornered by Rafe and his bitches. JJ vividly remembers Rafe snarking about Kiara which set JJ off even more than he had expected.
Kook galas are something that JJ hates crashing. Even when it is one of those nights in which he ends with a Kook, the Kooks often says that he has to go through with them because JJ only has a job at the gala due to their money. Fucking Kooks only ever care about their money. It's why JJ is in hysterics when Kiara tells him that he got an invitation. Because it is laughable that after all the years that JJ has been friends with Kiara, the Kooks are actually inviting a Maybank into their world.
The night of the party, JJ is sat on the bed where he is trying to work out how to put his bowtie on. It embarrasses JJ how he had to ask Sarah to find him a suit. He would ask Kiara but he knows that she will make a joke out of it. "You know, we don't have to go." Kiara storms into the bedroom wearing a purple slip on dress. JJ feels like a horny teenager boy as his eyes catch her figure.
"It's for your birthday, Kie." JJ shakes off his teenage thoughts.
"I know but we don't have to go."
"Kie…" JJ begins as he gives up on the bowtie completely. "Your mom is trying to say sorry."
"And what a stupid way to say sorry. We shouldn't have to go to her materialistic, bullshit of an apology Kook party where having money is more important than the truth." Kiara paces in front of him. "We're not going."
"They're your parents Kie."
"No. This is just an idiotic party where my parents- no my mom- can show her Kook friends that she still can control me." Kiara stops in her tracks. "They can't control me."
"I know. No one can control you." JJ murmurs under his breath, hoping that Kiara doesn't hear him. When Kiara rolls her eyes, JJ knows she heard him.
He thinks about giving into her. JJ doesn't exactly want to go to this party either. But it's her family. The family that Kiara never sees anymore all because Kiara chose to live with JJ instead of them. "I'm not going." He watches his stubborn girlfriend as she puts her hands on her hips.
"Kie. We have to go. And besides, it's the first time I've ever been invited." JJ snickers. "I mean they have actually invited JJ Maybank to a Kook party."
"Lucky you." Kiara snarls.
"Thank you. I'm just saying Kie, your mom must really want you to forgive her if she has put up an effort in inviting me to her party." JJ watches as Kiara's eyes look to the ground- a classic cue for Kiara to start breaking her hard shell. She knows he is right. Now, JJ just has to wait to see if she will own up to it. "And it will be fun." JJ adds. He doesn't believe those words but the Kook parties must be better now that the fucking Cameron boys are behind bars and he has Kie to fend off the thirsty Kook girls.
"We could just have fun here." JJ's smile drops when Kiara begins to move closer to Kiara. Sensing her actions, JJ begins to shake his head frantically knowing that he is terrible at saying no to Kiara.
"It won't work Kie." His voice accidentally goes high. His backstabbing voice. Kiara senses his uneasiness as she keeps moving closer to JJ. JJ looks at her as if it is the first time, he has seen her. Her beauty shines through even with her unnecessary makeup and the Kook dress that she has on. Any type of Kiara can turn him on.
When she moves to lean over JJ, she begins to fiddle with the buttons of his shirt. JJ is sure his heart skips a beat. "Oh, I think it will work." Kiara keeps fiddling until she undoes his top button. JJ wonders if Kiara notices his eyes darken as he feels himself get tighter.
"Fuck." JJ unintentionally breathes out.
"We can stay here." Kiara's voice is low and full of seduction as she moves to peck the skin below his ear. JJ can only gulp as she presses further into him. He wants to stay strong for once. Wants to get his point across and go to the party to try and make nice with his future in-laws. Wow, that sounds weird. Her lips ghost his and he unconsciously shuffles the slightest bit forward, still making sure to not give in and close the gap.
Her eyes are fire as they remain close with Kiara standing in between JJ's legs. His eyes accidentally move to her lips and it is all Kiara needs to close the gap between them. JJ kisses back with the same intensity as she moves to hover over his lap. Kiara is back to the buttons of his shirt before JJ notices what is happening. Today, JJ needs to be the good guy. "We have to go, Kie." JJ moves away from Kiara's lips making her groan in annoyance. "Make nice with your mom."
"No." Kiara swings off of JJ with an eye roll. "Fine. We'll go to this fucking party, but I'm not talking to her."
"Kie…"
"She tried to ruin my life JJ! I can't forgive her just like that." He understands her. It's why he just nods and agrees to go but to not speak to her mother. Maybe it's for the best for them two to not speak any longer. If a woman brings hell to Kiara, the woman is not worth it.
"Now. Can you teach me how to fucking do this bowtie thing?" JJ lightens the mood, pulling Kiara into a hug. Kiara just leans her forehead against his and lets out a soft laugh.
…
When they arrive, JJ feels Kiara clutch his hand and hold on tight. The plan to avoid Anna Carrera looks like it is going to be easy as they see the number of guests piling into Kiara's old house. JJ ignores as he hears the Kooks whispering and ignores when he is sure he hears his name and then his dad's name. Kiara must hear them as well as she leans to JJ's ear and whispers. "You're not your dad." He needs to hear it.
"And you're not your mom." JJ just replies simply as they make their way into the house.
JJ has only been to the Carrera residence a few times in the entirety of JJ and Kiara's relationship. But it doesn't look any different than what he remembers of it. The living area has a massive television pinned to the wall that JJ bets has hardly ever been used. All the guests seem to be outside where the main part of the party is. "We don't speak to my mom." Kiara reminds him which JJ just nods along with.
Kooks force Kiara away from JJ as they begin to talk about what Kiara has been up to. The awkwardness gets to JJ who decides to leave Kiara to catch up. He ends up walking into the main part of the party. But there is something in which JJ cannot ignore. It's the rumours about the Camerons in which catch JJ's attention.
"Those Pogues put the blame entirely on the Camerons and are getting away with everything."
"The Routledge kid worked for Ward, that's how he spun his manipulative web."
"I just feel sorry for Rafe. That boy has a heart of gold."
"I'm sure the Cameron girl just has Stockholm syndrome or something. It's the only reason why she would stay with a murderer that framed the Camerons."
None of the Kooks believe the truth. They fill the silence with their gossip that is all related to the lies spread by Rose Cameron. JJ knows it's Rose that is spreading the rumours. She can't stand to have her family's reputation tarnished by the truth that her boys are murderers.
…
Pope isn't sure why he ends up at the Kook party. His invitation came from nowhere saying that he knows that John B and Sarah were never invited. Pope wonders if maybe Anna had just forgotten about John B and Sarah being alive but then remembers that Anna listens to the gossiping Kooks.
The party is filled with Kooks and Kook kids in which Kiara may have been friends for during her Kook year. It's not Kiara. That is why he spends the party just standing in the corner to avoid the racist Kooks from asking if Pope can fill up their refreshments. "Can you fill up my drink?" A drunk woman approaches Pope.
"Not staff." Pope blankly states for the fifth time that night. The woman just walks away.
Fucking racist Kooks.
"Fucking Kooks." It takes Pope a moment to realise that it is not his voice that says those words. He looks around to see JJ picking at the food on the table nearby.
"Tell me about it." Pope just nods along. It looks like Pope and JJ are the only two Pogues in a sea filled with Kooks. If Rafe were still here, Pope would be running in fear.
"They think Ward is innocent. Fucking Ward Cameron."
"They also think I'm staff just because I'm black."
"Shit."
"Yep." It's the twenty-first century and people like the Kooks still only see black people by their colour and just suppose that they must be fucking staff. Pope hates these types of parties. It's the twenty-first century and Pope knows that he still has to be careful with what he says and does when he is with the rich, white folks. It's never-ending at the parties and it is never-ending in his day to day life where he is just seen as the black Pogue from the cut.
It doesn't make sense to Pope. He's not the only black person in Outer Banks but just because he is associated with the cut, he has to be treated differently than the guys in Figure Eight. "Where's Kie?" Pope changes the conversation.
"Off avoiding her mom." It makes Pope laugh. Of course, the stubborn Kiara doesn't talk to her mom even at her own mother's party. "I'm also avoiding her mom to avoid the fucking awkward conversations." Pope turns to JJ, confusion written on his face.
"Awkward conversation?" Pope asks. JJ just nods as Pope keeps looking at JJ in confusion. Sure, Anna has always hated JJ but he got invited. It can't be that awkward.
"Shit." JJ gasps as if he has just remembered something. "I forgot to tell you. I proposed to Kie."
What?
He tries to say that out loud but Pope is stunned, his mouth hanging open and his eyes remain wide. JJ Maybank proposed to Kiara Carrera? No. No way is the first Pogue to propose going to be JJ Maybank. No. No he must have heard wrong. No. JJ proposed? JJ. The same JJ that freaks out at any chance of the day. JJ. The same JJ that once told a girl he was dying just to avoid committing to her. No. There is no way that JJ proposing is possible.
Pope goes to say something but is quickly cut off by JJ. "Shit I see Anna Carrera. Got to go." And with that, JJ runs away leaving Pope completely confused.
What the fuck?
No. Pope can't think about this any longer. There is no way he proposed to Kiara. Maybe he's just high or some shit like that. Pope can't shake the obvious confusion from his face as he heads further into the party to find the girl JJ supposedly proposed to. He ignores the Kooks as he continues on his mission. Now, Pope knows that JJ is kind of an idiot. Maybe he said it during sex or as a joke that he thinks means the same thing as asking. Or worse, JJ is just playing Pope to see if there is a reaction. Oh, there is a reaction.
The girl in question walks out of th bathroom right at the time that Pope walks past. Pope is quick to grab Kiara by the arm and pull her into a quiet corner. "What the fuck, Pope?" Kiara shouts as Pope keeps pulling at her. "What's going on?" Kiara asks obviously concerned by Pope's confusion.
"JJ proposed to you?" Pope just simply lets out, wanting to get to the get to the end of the conversation as fast as humanly possible. He watches as her face turns red. Did it really happen? Did JJ really propose?
"Oh my god that idiot told you?" So, it did happen. JJ proposed to Kiara. Never in a million years would Pope predict that JJ would be the first to ask a girl to marry him. To be honest, Pope always thought it would be either Pope or John B. John B is the hopeless romantic that would make a perfect date into a perfect proposal. Pope thinks of himself as someone that cannot hold anything back. Pope would feel the need to propose and just do it.
"It's true?" Pope's shock only grows.
"Yeah. We just weren't telling people yet."
Wait.
Shock turns to confusion once more. Because Kiara's words… no. There's no way that Kiara Carrera would say yes. Shit. These last five years have confused everything. Every dynamic is changing with JJ finding the balls to propose and the girl that always said that she hates wedding actually said yes? Nothing makes sense to Pope. And Pope thinks of himself as the smartest Pogue.
The confusion gets to Pope as he eventually bursts out. "You said yes?" It comes out louder than expected.
"Oh my god Pope, keep your fucking voice down." Kiara's anger boils over.
"But you said yes, Kie." It's a statement more than a question because the confusion sets down now. Because it is clear that when JJ asked Kiara, Kiara said yes. Maybe Pope is now the oblivious one.
"Yes Pope. I said yes."
"When were you going to tell us?"
"I don't know." Kiara snaps. "Maybe we just didn't want you guys to fucking judge us."
"It's just a lot to take Kie."
"I know."
"I mean, you're going to marry JJ Maybank." Pope lets out an airy laugh. JJ and Kiara Maybank. That's different.
"What did you just say?" A new voice enters the conversation and hell practically freezes over.
…
"What did you just say?" Her voice is evident. Kiara knows who is stood behind her even before she turns. Kiara watches as Pope looks at her mom with wide eyes because
Yes Pope, you just told Anna fucking Carrera.
"You're marrying JJ Maybank?" Kiara can see the disgust in her mother's eyes that Kiara feels a sudden urge to hit her mother all over again. Kiara is in no mood to be judged by her own mother all over again. "Kiara." Anna pleads.
"Yes. I'm marrying JJ Maybank." Kiara almost snaps. Kiara knows the new rumours around Outer Banks but she ignores them, she knows her mother could never ignore gossiping Kooks.
"Pope. Can I speak to my daughter? Alone." Her voice is tense as if she has a leg to stand on for being annoyed at Kiara. Kiara keeps thinking over and over again that she hasn't done anything. Even if her mother thinks she has. Pope awkwardly walks away but not before Kiara can stare daggers into him.
She knew it was going to happen eventually. She couldn't just keep an engagement a secret forever. But at her own party? To her mother of all people? Kiara is distraught. As soon as Pope is far enough away, Anna grabs a hold of her daughter's wrist and pulls her into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. "I don't need to explain myself mom." Kiara snaps.
"You're marrying a Maybank."
"No. I'm marrying someone I love." Kiara is bored of having to defend JJ against the hypocritical people of Figure Eight. But as Kiara tries to leave the room, Anna blocks the exit.
"I'm just worried about you, Kie. We all know that his father scared away his wife and the word is that JJ is just like his dad."
"No!" Kiara can't take it anymore. "JJ is nothing like that monster."
"He gets into fights, Kiara."
"To protect his friends." Her mom needs to understand.
"Are we arguing over JJ again?"
"Only because you're still judging him because of his surname." Judging mother. Kiara knew they shouldn't have come to this fucking party.
"I only judge by what I have seen. And I have seen that bruised more times than not."
Anna's words rile up Kiara's emotions. Bruised? JJ hasn't been bruised in years yet he is still tarnished with Kooks thinking he's this violent monster- when it really is his father. "Have you seen bruises on JJ since his dad died?" Kiara snaps before really hearing what she means.
"No but it's only because he has been busy proposing to you." Anna snarls only building Kiara up more.
"Oh my god mom! Those fucking bruises were from his dad!"
It's as if a pin just dropped. Kiara watches as her mother's expressions lighten up. Kiara feels bad for a moment that she just outed JJ's biggest secret, but it's the only way her mother will understand. JJ is not the monster of Outer Banks.
"That's a big assumption, Kiara." Of course, Anna doesn't want to believe it.
"It's true and you know it mom. His dad hit him whenever Luke Maybank was high, drunk or just bored. And JJ blamed himself for every hit. Luke Maybank broke JJ!" Tears prickle her eyes.
"I didn't know about that."
"Nobody knows. They just judge JJ and don't ask questions about what he has been through." Kiara takes a deep breath to try and soothe herself. Count Kie. "I know he won't hurt me because he is nothing like that abusive man." Her mom just looks down in obvious guilt. "And I won't just toss him aside like everyone else does."
"Kiara…"
"I think it's my time to leave." Kiara announces before trying to push past her mother once more.
Kiara doesn't make it far however as she feels a rush of sickness come over her. Dizziness overtakes Kiara as she quickly runs to the toilet before making an embarrassment in front of her mother. She doesn't hold back as she feels a second wave coming. It comes as no surprise; Kiara is going to kill JJ when they get home. Kiara has no energy to push her mother away as Anna holds her hair back.
When she is finished, Kiara sits down against the toilet and avoids eye contact with her mother. "I get what's going on now." Anna just nods at her daughter.
"It's food poisoning." Kiara's words make Anna laugh which only confuses Kiara.
"Did JJ get sick?" Kiara just shakes her head, only because JJ could eat anything and not be affected in any form of way.
"Kiara. It's not food poisoning." It makes Kiara look up at her mother. "Anger. Stubbornness. Unavoidable vomiting. I was just the same."
"What are you talking about?" Kiara snaps.
"You're pregnant Kiara."