So, it's been a very long time since I've updated and that's because real life has been very, very, busy and I haven't had much time to write. However, things have calmed down and I've finally been able to work on my writing again. This chapter might be crap because half was written almost a year ago and the other half over the last few days. Hopefully you like it. I have only a couple more chapters planned for this story and I hope to have the next chapter up within the week.

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Twilight.

Chapter Sixteen

"Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined that I'd get a call from the vice principal about you punching a classmate, Johanna Marie," Elise said as she paced the floor of the living room in front of where Johanna sat on the sofa, toying with the hem of her shirt out of nervousness.

"I know, Mom, but-," she started but didn't get to finish.

"No buts young lady," Elise said as she came to a stop in front of Johanna, the coffee table in between them, and put her hands on her hips. "If it was anyone else you practically broke the nose of, I would feel fit ground you for an infinite length of time because you got suspended for the first week of classes."

"Wait, what?" Johanna asked when her mother's words caught up with her and Elise fought back a smile as she lowered her hands from her hips.

"I've never liked Ian," she said. "Even when he was eight he was a brat. Back then he was already taking heavily after his father, who I don't like even more. What Melissa sees in that man I will never know." Hearing her mother talk bad about Ian and his dad was strange but that was only because her mother rarely, if ever, spoke badly about anyone.

"I'm confused," Johanna said as she shook her head and Elise did smile that time before she walked around the coffee table and sat down on the sofa next to Johanna.

"I shouldn't be proud of you, but I am. You stood up for yourself and from what your father and I gathered you never really did that before," Elise said and Johanna subtly shook her head. Elise took Johanna's left hand into her right before she gave it a gentle squeeze. "Even though I am proud of you, I do have to punish you," she said and Johanna nodded. "You're grounded for the week, until you suspension is up, but that's it. If JJ is able to or if your other friends are able to, they can visit, but you're stuck in the house; understood?" she asked and Johanna nodded once again, her eyes never leaving her mother's face. Elise kissed Johanna's forehead and sighed before she stood up. "Now, I've got a few errands to run. Do you think you can manage to stay out of trouble?"

"Yeah," Johanna said as she nodded and Elise nodded her head in return before she grabbed her purse and keys from where she had sat them on the coffee table and headed for the foyer. Turning back to look at her daughter, Elise gave her a small smile before she waived and walked out the front door leaving Johanna on her own. Frowning, Johanna shook her head and let out a heavy sigh. She was very confused by her mother's lack of punishment and seemingly unexpected pride in Johanna's action, but Johanna wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth and rolled with it. Sighing she stood, grabbed her backpack from the floor, and headed up to her room. As she walked upstairs she pulled out her cell phone and called JJ since she knew Sarah and the girls were still in school since it wasn't even eleven yet. She wasn't the least bit surprised he picked up on the first ring however.

"Jo, is everything okay? You should be in class, why are you calling?" came his rushed voice over the line and Johanna couldn't help but smile a little at the slight panic in his voice. She hated that he worried about her, but it also warmed a part of her heart to know that he cared so much about her. It was still a strange concept to her, but she was certainly getting used to it.

"Well, I . . . I'm at home right now actually," she managed as she walked into her room and sat her backpack down by her desk before she walked over to her window. Thankfully, Mr. Johnson had allowed her to get her textbooks, syllabuses, and coursework for the week she was suspended so she wouldn't get behind by missing the time.

"Why are you home? What's wrong?" JJ asked and she could hear shuffling around in the background before she faintly heard the sound of a drill or something. "Dad," JJ said before she could even respond. "I've got to take off and head to Forks. Something's going on with Jo."

"JJ, wait, you don't have to leave work, everything's okay," she quickly said.

"Then what's going on; why are you home when you should be in school?" JJ asked and Johanna rolled her eyes.

"If you'd give me more than a second to answer, I could tell you," she said, before she laughed softly. Her tone hadn't been the least bit stern, but she hoped her laugh clued JJ in on that.

"Sorry," he said and Johanna could just picture him scratching the back of his neck while he grinned.

"No need to say you're sorry," she said as she sat down on her window seat before she opened it to air out her room, which felt a little stuffy. "You worry about me far too much."

"Jo, don't leave me hanging here," he said and she ran her hand through her hair.

"I got suspended for the first week of classes," she said and her words were met with silence for several long beats. "JJ? You there?" she asked after counting to ten.

"Why are you suspended for a week?" he finally asked and Johanna bit her lip.

"Because I punched Ian in the face and broke his nose," she said.

"You what?!" JJ exclaimed and Johanna winced. "Jo, what in the hell happened?" Quickly, Johanna told him of her encounter with Ian and the rest of Jon's friends in the hallway and how Brandon Newton had stood up for her when no one else did. When she was finished she ran her hand through her hair once more and sighed heavily.

"I'm grounded for the week, but my mom said that you, Sarah, or anyone else can visit if you want. Mom left a few minutes ago to run some errands, but maybe when Sarah and-," she made to continue, but JJ cut her off.

"I'll be there in ten minutes," JJ said before the line went dead. Sighing Johanna lowered the phone from her ear before she stood from her seat and walked over to her dresser where she sat it down and took off the dark green cardigan she had worn over a simple black v-neck t-shirt that day.

If JJ was going to be there in ten minutes that meant that he was running and would likely be there sooner than that if he went at full speed. Taking a deep breath Johanna left her room and headed to the bathroom because she needed to use the facilities. Once she was done, and had washed her hands, she washed off the makeup she had put on that day even though JJ was on his way. He'd seen her sans makeup more times than he had seen her wearing it and he had told her more than once that she was beautiful without it. Plus, most of it was smudged from the tears she'd shed while talking with Mr. Johnson, her school counselor, and her mother. After drying her face she left the bathroom and started for the stairs to wait for JJ in the living room but a soft thumping sound that came from her room made her pause. Frowning, she quickly walked down the short hall and looked into her room only to see JJ standing in her room by the window, shirtless and wearing only a pair of weathered jeans.

"How in the world did you ge-," she started to ask as she walked into the room only to have her words cut off by JJ grabbing her and searing his mouth against hers. Johanna whimpered against his mouth but returned the sudden onslaught as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders/neck and kissed him back.

With his usual ease, JJ lifted Johanna from the floor, their kiss never breaking, and carried her over to her bed. He laid her down and only when she was lying back with him on top of her did he break their kiss. Johanna was breathless as she looked up at him and smoothed her hands over his shoulders to rest on his chest as his dark eyes bore down on her. His intense body heat surrounded her and she was flushed from not only it but from the rush that was coursing through her as a result of that rather intense, and unexpected, kiss.

"Did you really break his nose?" JJ asked, his voice low and husky to Johanna's ears, and she blinked at the seemly random question given the moment, but she nodded her head.

"He had to go to the hospital for them to reset it," she whispered and JJ grinned as he looked down at her.

"Is it bad that I find the fact that you broke that ass' nose incredibly sexy?" he asked, grin still in place, which made Johanna laugh softly before she bit her lip. JJ smiled at her, however, his smile was quick to slip away. "Wait, you're not hurt are you?" he asked before he started to pull away from her, but Johanna instinctively wrapped her legs around his hips and her arms went around his neck once again to keep him in place.

"No, I'm not hurt," she said. "My shoulder was jostled a bit, but it doesn't hurt anymore. I'm fine."

"You sure?" he asked and she nodded.

"More than," she said softly, her cheeks darkening even more as she realized the position they were in. As his dark eyes swept over her face, Johanna was sure he'd put two and two together because he just smiled softly at her before he leaned down and kissed her softly. However, when JJ made to break their kiss Johanna kept him in place before she moved her hands to hold his face as they kissed. Her heart was hammering away as JJ supported his weight above her with his left hand and used his left hand to move along her side. Johanna felt herself go slightly ridged despite her best efforts and JJ sighed as he pulled his lips from hers.

"What's wrong?" he asked as he looked down at her, his hand firmly grasping her hip as she sighed and lowered her legs to rest on the bed once again; however, her knees were bent and her feet were on the outside of JJ's knees.

"Nothing, it's just . . . old habits are hard to break," she said softly as she ran her right hand across his shoulder and down his chest. "Even though you've held me and touched me a thousand times I can't help but react and be a little self-conscious." After the events of that morning Johanna certainly hadn't expected to find herself lying on her bed and making out with JJ, but then again whenever they were completely alone they'd ended up in similar positions more and more those days. She watched as his concerned filled eyes softened and Johanna felt her blush deepen even more at the heated look he was giving her.

"You've got nothing to be self-conscious about, Jo," he said as he squeezed her hip. "I love you and I love your body. I love holding you, the way you feel in my arms, and touching you," he said as he ran his hand back up her side to rest along her ribs; however, his hand was pretty much cupping the underside of her left breast over her clothes and he ran his thumb along the soft flesh. "I especially love touching you," he added in a whisper and Johanna didn't know what to say to that as she felt her lower abdomen tighten and swirl. She couldn't help but glance at his lips and JJ took the invitation because he leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers. Johanna moaned quietly as she raised her arms to wrap around his neck and returned his heated kiss.

Soon, JJ was in his element as Johanna's touch started to wander over his body, however, he was so caught up in the feel of her underneath him and her hands leaving trails of fire against his skin that he didn't notice she had unfastened his jeans and slipped her hand inside the waist band. With a startled gasp he broke their kiss as he felt Johanna's right hand wrap around his hardening member and opened his eyes to look down at her.

Johanna opened her eyes slightly as JJ pressed his forehead to hers and she kept her hand wrapped around his penis before she gently stroked him. She watched as he closed his eyes tight and for a second she was worried she had hurt him when she gently pulled at him, but he took a shuddering breath and she felt him jerk slightly in her hand which led her to believe that he wasn't in any pain at all. She hadn't the slightest clue what she was doing but had the sudden urge and desire to make JJ feel as good as he had made her feel that night in his bed, which honestly felt like a lifetime ago despite the fact that it was only a few short weeks earlier. She had no reference to compare him to, but JJ felt long and heavy in her hand, and he felt almost like velvet against the skin of her palm which sparked a tingling sensation deep within her.

"Jo," he panted, "we should stop."

"Do you want to stop?" she asked and he lifted his head from hers but his face was still a breath away. JJ was torn in what he should say in response to her simple question. He had had no intensions of ending up in that position with her when he had raced for her house. He had only wanted to make sure she was okay after what had happened with Ian and the rest of her douche bag brother's friends, and while he wanted nothing more than for her to continue he knew she shouldn't. JJ knew that he should tell her that he wanted to stop and move away from her; that he should pull himself away from her and put some distance between them until he got himself under control. However, his heart (and lower anatomy) won the battle with his brain and before he could think twice he finally answered her question.

"No," he breathed as their eyes locked and as Johanna gave him a soft smile JJ's control broke before he kissed her hard. Returning his kiss Johanna, unsure as to what exactly she was doing, continued the movement of her hand. He broke their kiss with a heavy sigh before he buried his face in her neck and placed a wet kiss against her skin.

"Tell me what to do," she whispered as her left hand rested on his waist and JJ kissed her neck again before he lifted his head slightly.

"You're doing . . . you're doing just fine," he said softly in her ear and Johanna shivered as he panted against her neck for a beat. She ran her thumb over the tip of him and JJ growled quietly before he raised his right hand from her side and took hold of her face as he kissed her hard once again. Johanna kissed him back and did her best to keep the steady pace she had going with her right hand; emboldened, Johanna slid her left hand down his side and slipped it under the loosened waistband of his jeans and grabbed a handful of his bare muscular backside.

JJ's hips bucked into her and Johanna gasped into their kiss as her hand stilled and he ground his hips, and her hand, into her for a beat while his hand left her face and took hold of her left breast. The heat of his touch was searing even though her clothes and Johanna's body felt like it was on fire as she resumed her ministrations against him, her left hand leaving his backside and moving to rest on the side of his neck. She ached in between her legs and as if he could sense her need, JJ's hand left her chest and made quick work of the button of her jeans before he slipped his hand inside.

JJ knew he wasn't going to last much longer and he wanted her to fall over the edge with him. He broke their kiss as he rubs his fingers against her and Johanna gasped once again as she opened her eyes and looked up at him. They were both panting as they stared at each other and JJ slipped a finger inside of her causing her hand to tighten on him in a wonderful way as she gently pulled at him.

Soon, Johanna could feel the coiling in her stomach and she quickened the pace of her hand as she felt herself starting to come undone. JJ's fingers began to match her pace and Johanna's left hand moved to the side of his face as she whispered his name before she went tumbling over the edge, gripping him hard in her hand and in doing so JJ easily followed after her. Johanna felt him jerk and throb in her hand before something hot hit her wrist/forearm and JJ had growled quietly before he kissed her hard once again and as Johanna came down she gently tugged at him again, spreading the liquid along his length and all over her hand in the process. He slipped his hand out of her pants and gently took hold of her wrist to stop her movements and he broke their kiss, his dark eyes meeting her green in an instant.

Johanna gave him a small smile as she looked up at his flushed face and sweat laced forehead and he smiled at her in return before he let go of her arm and kissed her softly but chastely. Johanna pulled her hand from his pants as he pulled back slightly and looked at her hand and arm which was covered with semen before she looked at him.

"Guys are a bit messier than girls," he said and Johanna laughed softly.

"I knew that already," she said, sounding breathless, and JJ smiled at her in return. However, the smile slipped from his face as he watched her bring her hand to her mouth and lick a bit of the liquid from her palm. "Not bad," she said with a grin and JJ groaned before he tucked his face into her neck.

"You're going to be the death of me, Jo," he whispered against her skin and she bit her lip before she smiled.

"I can say the same about you," she said back softly and he lifted his head once again to look at her. He smiled before he kissed her softly once again and lifted his body away from hers.

"Come on, let's go get cleaned up," he said and she nodded before the two of them climbed from the bed. They both left their jeans unfastened but held them up as they walked to the bathroom, Johanna simply because she needed to wash her hand, and JJ because he needed to clean himself and his jeans before he fastened them.

They stood in the bathroom together, each cleaning themselves up without issue in the small space together. Johanna couldn't believe she'd done that, especially after the events of that morning, but she wasn't ashamed of it. In fact, she wanted to do that again and even more with JJ and she hoped that it would happen sooner rather than later. Just thinking about it had her flushing with excitement once again as she buttoned her jeans and pulled at the hem of her t-shirt.

"Do I want to know what you're thinking about?" JJ asked as he looked at her and she looked up at him, cheeks darkening a bit more as she laughed softly and shook her head.

"Probably not," she answered truthfully and JJ chuckled before he turned to her and kissed the crown of her head. She closed her eyes at the contact and smiled before she opened her eyes and looked up at him as he pulled back. JJ opened his mouth to say something, but closed it quickly as he stood up a little straighter. "What's wrong?" she asked, but the question was no more out of her mouth when she heard the front door slam.

"Johanna!" came Jon's voice and Johanna's eyes widened. She hadn't realized how much time had passed between the time that Johanna had gotten home with her mother and that moment. Obviously, school was out and Jon was home after getting the keys to the car from the office since she'd left them there for him, and he did not sound the least bit happy. "Johanna!" Jon yelled again as he jogged up the stairs and a glare settled on JJ's face before he moved to step around her. However, Johanna raised her hands to his chest and shook her head.

"No, stay here," she whispered and JJ raised an eyebrow at that.

"If you think I'm going to let him,-," he started in a whisper but Johanna shook her head.

"If it gets bad, intervene; but let me handle it first," she whispered and with that Johanna turned and stepped out of the bathroom just as Jon reached the top of the stairs. He looked at her and Johanna took a deep breath as she squared her shoulders and took a few steps forward. It took all of JJ's willpower not to march into that hallway, so, he just stood in the bathroom with his fists clenched and his jaw tight. "Before you lay into me, I'm not sorry for what I did and no matter what you say is going to change that. Your friends are assholes and so are you for letting them treat me the way that they do; and you're just as bad as they are. In fact, you're worse!

"You're my brother, my twin, and you treat me like I'm lower than dirt. Sure, you've backed off lately but you made good on your promise that your friends wouldn't. Does it make you feel good to know that they just attacked me this morning? Does it make you feel good to know that Ian kept slamming me into the lockers again and again and no one did anything to help me? However, I bet it irks you that Newton stood up for me when Mr. Johnson came around and the guys were trying to get him to believe that I just punched Ian unprovoked."

"Johanna, listen," Jon said as he took a step towards her and Johanna glared at him.

"No," she said. "I'm through with letting you and your friends make me feel worthless because I'm not. I'm not worthless, Jon, and nothing you can say or do is going to make me think that anymore. I've got friends that actually care about me and a boyfriend that loves me; despite what you think of me I matter to people other than Mom and Dad." Tears had started to fall as the words continued to pour out of her and JJ closed his eyes as he stood in the bathroom and heard them in her voice as she spoke, her tone still defiant. He wanted to comfort her, but he remained in place because she had asked him to and because he knew this was something she needed to do no her own.

Johanna stood in the hallway no more than four feet from Jon who was staring at her with an unreadable expression and clenched hands. The relaxed and happy feeling she had had after her time with JJ was gone and her entire body was tense, waiting for whatever blow Jon was going to deliver. Fearing the worst she had braced herself not only physically but mentally, however, she certainly wasn't expecting what came at her. In two strides Jon closed the distance between them and with a gasp Johanna found herself in a tight embrace. She was as stiff as a board as Jon hugged her, her arms hanging awkwardly at her sides and eyes wide.

"I'm sorry," he said into her hair but Johanna didn't move to return his unexpected hug. "I really am, Johanna," he said as he slowly let her go and Johanna, blinking away the remaining tears, looked up at him.

"I don't believe you," she said and Jon nodded.

"I don't expect you to," he said and Johanna frowned. "Look, they guys . . . they're going to back off. Piper too."

"Why?" she asked and Jon sighed.

"You weren't the only one that gave me a speech today," he said before he ran his hand through his hair and it was then that Johanna noticed that his left eye was slightly swollen and red, a black eye likely only hours away from forming, and that his lower lip was split but not bleeding.

"Who beat you up?" she asked and Jon rolled his eyes.

"Newton," he said and Johanna's eyebrows rose in surprise.

"JJ, who is a lot bigger than Brandon, threatens you and you don't bat an eyelash, but Brandon throws a few punches and you're all of a sudden seeing the error of your ways?" she asked.

"No, it's not . . . it's not just that!" Jon said.

"Then what is it?" she asked.

"I'm an ass, that's a well-established fact, but . . . you're right. You're my sister and I . . . I treat you like shit. I guess . . . when I heard what happened with the guys this morning, I'm not going to lie, I laughed; but then I realized that they could have really hurt you."

"You never thought twice about it before because today wasn't the first time," she said.

"I know, I know," he said before he ran his hand through his hair. "Look, I don't want to talk about this anymore. Just know that I'm sorry and that they're going to leave you alone, okay." With that Jon turned and went into his bedroom, closing the door hard behind him. Johanna just stood in the hallway, tear tracks drying on her cheeks, and stared at his closed bedroom door with a frown on her face. After a few quiet seconds, JJ walked out of the bathroom, took her hand, and walked her into her bedroom, closing her bedroom door behind them.

"This has been a rollercoaster of a day," she whispered as she looked up at him. JJ nodded before he reached out for her and pulled her close. She turned her face into his bare chest and sighed as she hugged him back. JJ kissed the top of her head and pulled back from her, but kept his hands on her upper waist. "I wasn't expecting him to say any of that," she said as she looked up at him and JJ shook his head.

"Me either," he said, "but you handled it well."

"Maybe, but . . . is it bad that I'm tempted to be cautiously optimistic about this?" she asked.

"No," he said as he raised his hand and tucked her hair behind her ear, "but tread lightly." She nodded and he sighed softy before he leaned down and kissed her chastely. "I don't want to, but I should probably go before your mom gets home." She nodded her head. "I'll be back a little while with Sarah."

"Okay," she whispered and he kissed her chastely once more. "Love you," she said as he pulled back and he smiled at her.

"Love you too, Jo," he said. "I'll see you soon." She nodded once again and he let go of her before he walked around her. She turned and watched as he disappeared out her window leaving her own.