AU based on the idea that instead of Kiara having her Kook year, Sarah joined the Pogues.
Sunlight streamed through the windows of the Chateau living room, bathing everything it touched in a pale, golden light. Everything was quiet, peaceful. Outside, cicadas chirped merrily, their song and the leaves rustling in the gentle summer breeze creating a tranquil melody. On the lawn, red solo-cups were strewn about, a reminder of the chaos that had preceded the calm.
With a deeply content sigh, JJ slowly opened his eyes. Beside him, Kiara shifted a little, moving closer to him for warmth. A soft, love-struck smile played on his lips as he watched her through half-lidded eyes. He'd been stunned the first morning they woke up together after a party, finding that he preferred mornings with her to nights spent drinking and laughing. They'd only been together for a couple of weeks at the time, barely long enough to be sure that what they had was more than just a fling. Yet, it had felt completely right, both falling asleep with her and waking up with his arms around her. It was a rare thing for JJ to rouse from sleep before Kiara, and he cherished the moments when he did. That first morning, he'd immediately noticed how relaxed she looked. Since then, he relished in seeing her like that.
Running his fingers gently along her spine, JJ contemplated the beginning of their relationship. For the most part, it had been John B's doing. He'd hassled both JJ and Kiara, begging them to be buffers on his first date with Kiara's best friend. While neither of them had been thrilled about it, they'd agreed. It had been fun though, easy. They'd gone to a fair on the mainland, spending the entire night flitting between different rides and food trucks. The night had ended with John B and Sarah locking his bedroom door behind them while JJ walked Kiara home. He'd almost walked away from her, thinking she wasn't interested, but she shocked him by pulling him down for a kiss. Against his lips, she whispered that she'd had fun but wanted their next date to be just between them. JJ hadn't been able to resist kissing her again and again, not leaving until they were both out of breath and on the verge of going further than either of them were ready for.
It became a game, pushing Kiara as far as he dared to, just to see when she would push back. She'd snapped at a party about a month after their first kiss. Or rather, she made him snap. All it took was a few calculated touches and a suggestive smile and he'd barely been able to think straight, let alone keep his hands to himself. It had been Pope who had shoved them into the bedroom at the Chateau, telling them sharply that they didn't need an audience.
The small smirk on his face dropped as he recalled the first time he'd met Kiara's parents. As her boyfriend, that is. They had always kind of accepted him as a part of the friend-group their daughter spent time with, likely thinking that his bad influence was balanced out by Pope and John B's generally good manners. JJ had been nervous, knowing that the reaction wouldn't be a good one. He'd been right. The meeting sparked the biggest fight in the history of their knowing each other, be it as friends or as a couple. He broke up with her, trying to get her to reconcile with her parents, while Kiara called him a coward for not fighting for her. It all came to a head when she, hurt by his actions, accepted an invitation to go out with Sarah's brother, Rafe. Her parents were delighted. JJ was not. He showed up at her house the night of the date and begged for her forgiveness. Needless to say, she'd dragged him inside, giving her parents the finger as they passed, and he'd ended up spending the night. Since then, they hadn't fought much. If they did, they made a conscious effort to figure it out rather than storming off, even though it went against both of their instincts.
JJ was pulled from his thoughts by Kiara sleepily tracing the lines of his abdomen. He looked down at her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Morning," he muttered, voice husky, "You sleep okay?" She nodded and pushed closer to him, burrowing her face into his chest. He chuckled, feeling her smile against his skin. "Wanna sleep some more," he asked quietly as he continued to lightly trace her spine, "Or do you want to get up?"
"How about we just stay here without going back to sleep?"
Chuckling, he brushed a stray lock away from her face. "Sure," he agreed, "Anything you want." Kiara grinned playfully, stretching up far enough to kiss him deeply as her fingers teasingly dipped just below the line of his boxers. He groaned and tugged her hand away. "I meant anything so long as it doesn't end up with John B banning us again," he grumbled as she laughed into the kiss, "It was only funny the first time." Kiara silenced him with another kiss, moving to straddle him. JJ sat up and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist as he deepened their embrace. He grinned against her lips when a moan tore from her throat.
"You two are sickening."
The couple tore apart, turning in the direction of the voice. John B shook his head, equally amused and exasperated. Behind him, Sarah giggled behind her hand. The number of times they'd walked in on their best friends since they got together six months prior was ridiculous. While their happiness was sweet and heart-warming, there was a limit to just how comfortable they all were with each other. And since John B loved them both as siblings, he took it the hardest. In fact, Sarah was rather proud of him for not banging his head on the closest hard surface like he usually did.
Kiara rolled her eyes. "You are such a hypocrite, Routledge," she retorted, climbing off JJ's lap, "Need I remind you about that time at the country club when you and Sarah…" She trailed off, seeing the panicked look on his face. That was one of her favorite memories, especially since he always turned a spectacular shade of red whenever she mentioned it. She had been looking for somewhere to get a moment alone with JJ, and they'd caught Sarah and John B in an unlocked bathroom. As luck would have it, Rafe had walked by at that precise moment, and when he saw what was going on he proceeded to chase John B, who still hadn't gotten his pants up, through the country club.
"Whatever," John B muttered, covering his face with his hands as the others laughed, "That was one time, we walk in on you guys all the time."
"Yet, we've never been caught by Kie's folks," JJ pointed out, smirking as both Sarah and John B paled significantly, "Didn't think I knew that, did you?" Kiara faced him, brows furrowed in confusion. He winked at her and turned back to their friends, the grin on his face spelling trouble. "I overheard Kie's parents talking about how I apparently am not the bad influence," he boasted, eyes sparkling with mirth as he pointed at John B, "No, after how many times you have gotten caught by the Camerons, they figured they should be glad Kie's not with you."
Eyes widening with understanding, Kiara laughed. "So that's why my mom and dad stopped harassing me about you," she concluded, shaking her head in amusement, "They decided you were the lesser of the two evils." JJ nodded, clearly pleased with himself, and Kiara just had to kiss him again. His tongue flicked against her bottom lip as he deepened the kiss, drawing another moan from her. Suddenly, he bit her lip too hard, both of them yelping.
"What the fuck, man," JJ cursed loudly, glaring at John B, "What was that for?" He rubbed the sore spot on the side of his head where Sarah's sandal had hit him. Quickly checking that Kiara was okay, he chucked the shoe right back at his best friend, grinning when it hit its mark. Sarah was leaning against the nearest wall, laughing so hard she was almost doubled over. Rolling his eyes, JJ gave both his friends the finger before reluctantly getting up from the pull-out. "You better watch your back, Routledge," he muttered, stretching, "You too, Cameron." He moved towards the bathroom, only to stop as he was about to turn the corner. Biting his lip suggestively, he turned back to Kiara. "You coming or what?"
Pope entered the living room a few minutes later, finding Sarah eating breakfast while John B glanced contemptuously at the bathroom door. Shrugging, Pope went to use the bathroom, like he always did first thing when he woke up. Before he could, Sarah tackled him to the floor. "What the—" he looked between John B and the door, coming to the slow realization that they were missing some people— "Oh, come on, not again!"