It was a beautiful day outside, not too hot not too cold, the perfect summer day.

Lolla was driving to JJs house, she wanted to talk to him about what happened at midsummers.

Even though she really didn't want to talk to him, she hated being in a argument with other people, it really brought her whole mood down.

That's why when she woke up, she asked JJ if she could go over to his house so that they could talk about what happened, to which he agreed.

Lolla also felt really guilty about falling asleep on Rafe the other day, even though she shouldn't have felt guilty, Rafe was there for her when JJ wasn't.

So when she arrived, she took a deep breath before walking out of her car, to JJs house.

The couple never really hung out at JJs, mostly because he was ashamed of his house, but he claimed that his dad had friends over and stuff like that.

Lolla never minded JJ being a Pogue, what his house looked like, or what he had been through. She never cared about that stuff, especially since she grew up poor.

The reason her argument with JJ hurt that much, was because she had opened up to JJ about how her life was back when she was a Pogue. She didn't share all the details, like how her father abused her, or how she had to do illegal stuff for money, but she did mention some of it.

She hated talking about her past, so to open up meant a lot to her.

When she reached the front of the house, she saw JJ sitting on a hammock, the same place she saw him when they made it official.

"Hi" she said, taking a seat next to him on the hammock.

"Hi" he said, taking a hit from the weed he had rolled.

"Pass me some?" she asked, which he handed her the blunt immediately.

She inhaled the weed deeply into her lungs, while looking out at the ocean.

"This is where we made it official remember?" she said, passing him the joint.

"How could I forget" he said, also looking out at the ocean.

The teens just sat there in silence for a little while. There was so much that needed to be said, so much that Lolla wanted to get off her mind, but she didn't know where to start.

Thankfully, JJ made it easy for her.

"I'm sorry about midsummers. I really shouldn't have talked to you like that. It's just, sometimes I feel like you are too good for me, like you deserve someone better"

"If that was the case I wouldn't be trying to fight for us. I will keep telling you for as long as I need to that I don't care about status."

She took a deep breath before holding his hand.

"You make me happy JJ, you really do. That's all that matters to me"

"Why don't you wanna have sex? Is it because of me?"

"No not at all. I just, I had a really bad relationship back in New York and I'm just not ready for that"

"Can I ask what happened?"

"He was addicted to drugs, like really heavily to the point where he changed. He was abusive, and when I told him that I wasn't ready for sex, he uh you know" she didn't have it in her to actually say the word.

"Did he force you?" he asked quietly.

"And commited suicide after, writing me a letter blaming it on me"

"God I'm so fucking sorry Lolla"

"Yesterday marks one year since he died"

"Are you okay?"

She thought about the night before, with Rafe, he didn't even have to ask if she was okay, he just knew.

"As okay as i can be" she replied, taking a deep breath.

A few moments passed of JJ fidgeting with his lighter and Lolla looking out at the ocean.

"Im sorry" he quietly said

"Not your fault"

"I'm sorry for trying to pressure you then, I should have never done that"

"Well I should have never screamed in your face"

"I kinda deserved it"

"Yea you kinda did" she replied making both teens smile.

"So are we okay?"

"Yes we are okay" she replied before leaning in and kissing him.

It wasn't a hungry kiss, it was a kiss symbolising commitment.

"And don't worry, I have been thinking about us having sex, and I think I'm ready"

"Really?" he asked

"I mean I don't want to plan out everything but if the moment comes"

"That makes me so happy Lolo" he said, giving her another quick kiss. "You wanna hang out with me and the others tonight?"

"Who are the others?"

"Kie, Pope and John B"

"I feel like Kie doesn't like me"

"What, why would you think that?"

"Every time I hang out with you guys she's just kinda cold towards me"

"Don't overthink it I'm sure she likes you" he said, avoiding eye contact with her.

"If you say so"

"So is that a yes?" he said, cupping her face in his hands.

"Yes it's a yes" she said before leaning in and kissing him again.

——

"Alright alright I'll go next, never have I gotten blackout drunk, like fully blacked out" John B said.

It was nighttime at John Bs house, and the group decided to play a drinking game, Lola was sat next to JJ, with her legs over his lap.

JJ, Lolla and Pope took a sip from their drinks.

"Really Pope you out of all people? I would've never thought" Lolla said in surprise.

"It was one time, literally worst mistake of my life" he replied, making the group laugh.

"Alright I'll go next, uh never have I ever shoplifted" Kiara asked

"Easy" John B said while taking a sip

"Been there done that" JJ added while also taking a sip.

Lolla also took a sip, making the group a bit surprised, but no one decided to ask anything.

"Wait JJ remember that time where you literally stole a whole tub of ice cream while you were high?" Kiara asked while sitting up

"Oh my god I had totally forgotten about that!" Pope said.

"That was so much fun. But what I remember is how Kie you stole a pair of sunglasses just because you thought they would match your outfit" JJ said while laughing.

"It was literally one time!" Kiara said.

Lolla had started to feel a bit out of place in this 'remember when' conversation. She didn't have anything to add into what the others where saying.

To be honest, Lolla didn't even really like the whole vibe of the group. She liked each person individually, but together she felt like it was all too chaotic, and she just felt uncomfortable.

"Hey guys, I better get going" she said, gathering her things.

"So soon?" JJ asked, not looking that sad about it.

"Yea I just, I gotta wake up early in the morning and I'm pretty tired so I'll go crash"

"Oh bye then Lolla!" Kiara said.

"Thanks for having me guys, this was fun"

"Anytime" John B said.

Lolla took her things and walked out the door. She didn't know why she reacted like that. God she felt awkward though. The only people she knew there were JJ and John B.

She knew Pope and Kiara mutually through the others, but she wasn't really close with them. It's not that she's isn't like them, just their personalities didn't watch that well.

"Lolla wait up!" she heard John B say as she was walking to her car.

"Where are you going?"

"Gonna hang with Sarah" he replied, while finally catching up to her.

"She really likes you you know?" Lolla reassured him.

"Yea I really like her too" he replied, a smile appearing on his face. "I stopped you because I wanted to ask if you were okay? You seemed pretty down"

"I just felt out of place that's all. Like when you guys were talking about your memories together I just didn't have anything to say and I felt a bit out of it"

"Oh I'm sorry Lo" he said while pulling his best friend into a hug.

"No don't worry about it, it's fine just happens sometimes" she said, pulling away.

"I still haven't visited Penelope, we should organise something soon" John B said.

"Oh my god please do, she has been talking about you all the time, asking me how you are and stuff, she really loves you"

"Yea I've missed her" he said, with a smile on his face.

Penelope was like the mother John B never had. When his mom left, Penelope was always there. It was weird, they were like a family even though they weren't related.

"We'll definitely organise something. Shit." She said while tapping her pockets.

"What's wrong?"

"I think I forgot my phone inside, I'll go get it real quick."

"I'll wait here"

As she was walking towards the house she stopped and walked back to her best friend, giving him a tight hug.

"Thank you for being my best friend John"

"Always Lo, now go get your phone."he said pretending to Cent he her away

"Alright then" she said giggling, while walking towards the house

When she walked in the house, she froze, like physically froze. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. It was as if she was in a different universe, like she want there experiencing this.

She wished she wasn't there experiencing this, because her heart broke seeing what was happening.

Her boyfriend making out with Kiara Carrera.