Jiara week - story #1 - 18 months later

It's been 18 months since JJ and Kie broke up. After the whole I love you kiss at Kitty Hawk, the two were in their honeymoon stage on Barracuda Mike's plane but once they landed in South America, they kept what just happened a secret from their friends. Then Ward and Big John died and that was a lot for all of them, especially John B and Sarah.

JJ and Kje were secretly dating. It lasted about four months before the whole thing blew up, just like JJ said it would. It was the same shit, different day. JJ didn't think he was good enough for her. The farthest they've gotten was third base and usually JJ would run out or say he wasn't in the mood. The night before they broke up he said some shit about if they have sex it means they'll be tied together forever, soul tied or something like that.

Kiara was confused because he's been with so many other girls and he never seemed to have an issue with the physical side of a relationship. The next day, they got into a fight and called it quits. The pogues knew something had happened but JJ and Kie never spoke about it. They went their separate ways and didn't their own things. They stopped talking and didn't hang out with the pogues anymore when the other was there.

After a year, Kiara started solo traveling and she stuck the States at first. She was trying to do this as cheap as possible, pogue style. But she got bored quickly as most of the United States was pretty much just the same. She wanted to experience new cultures. She booked a ticket to Iceland where she spent two weeks enjoying the Blue Lagoon, hiking, seeing the Northern lights, and so much more. She got a cheap flight to Ireland and then went to the United Kingdom and she took a train to Paris and spent a week in the city. She almost hooked up with a French guy.

They had been hanging out all night at a local pub. They were making out and were waiting on an Uber when Kiara had a panic attack. She knew this wasn't a good idea. She played it off and told him she couldn't do this as she had a boyfriend. She got an Uber for herself to head back to her hostel.

She ventured around France for almost a month. She loved Southern France, it was so peaceful. She took a train to Spain and spent the first day surfing. The waves were incredible. It was a dream come true, almost.

The whole point of her taking this trip was to forget about him, but lately he's all that she could think about. This was his idea. He wasn't here. This was his dream, their dream. But she was here alone. She couldn't stop thinking about the past year and half and how miserable she's been.

It was late and Kiara couldn't sleep. She tried everything. She did some light yoga, got up and walked around, read a book, and even listened to calming music but nothing helped. Instead, she picked up her phone and called JJ. It was early back home and she didn't expect him to pick up but he did. It's been eighteen months since the two have spoken.

"Hey" JJ's voice spoke and he sounded half asleep

"Hi... I'm sorry if I woke you up"

"It's okay, I figured it was probably important"

Kiara paused... She didn't know what to say. It's been a year and a half since they've last spoken or even seen each other. They left things on awful terms and said not only was their relationship over, but so was their friendship.

"Are you okay?" JJ asked as Kie stayed quiet as he was concerned that something was seriously wrong

"Yeah. I'm fine. Are you okay?"

JJ chuckled and said, "I'm great, you don't sound fine"

"I just couldn't sleep"

"And you called me"

"I did" Kiara answered again with a short answer

"Lucky for you, it's basically time to get up. I'm actually shocked you aren't already up" JJ said not knowing she was across the world in another country

"Jayge..." She said softly

"Yeah?"

"I'm in Spain and I miss you and it doesn't feel right being here without you... It's everything we talked about but it isn't the same without you here"

"Damn... Spain, huh?"

"Yeah, just like we talked about"

"Just like we talked about" He echoed her as he thought back to the day when he told her about his dream of going on a surf trip and she wanted to go with him

He was so surprised that Kiara actually wanted to go with him. At first, he thought it was a joke but he realized she was serious. There had been a few minutes of silence on the phone before Kie broke it and said, "Don't say anything. I'm going to text you my hotel info and if you want to come you can. If you don't want you, then don't. You do whatever you want. Goodbye, JJ"

Kie had texted him the address for the hotel and said her last day in Spain was going to be on May 8th. It had been four days since made that late night call to JJ and she hasn't heard back from him. She took it as a no, he wasn't coming. That night, she went to a local bar and got wasted. She just wanted to numb the pain of missing JJ. She never thought she would be that girl that is sad for months, years after a break up but here she was, unable to function.

She went back to her hotel and passed out. She was woken up early the next morning to her stomach making awful noises. She ran to the bathroom and threw up from being drunk the night before. She went sightseeing, surfing, and shopping just hoping that JJ would show up one of these day. May 8th was getting close and closer and Kie realized he probably wasn't coming. It was totally over.

All those years she ignored his flirting, pushed her feeling down and pretended they didn't exist. She regretted it so much. Tomorrow was May 8th and she didn't have any plans. She was going to head to the train station or airport and just buy a cheap ticket somewhere.

Kiara was ready to leave the next day and was opening the hotel door to head to the airport when she saw him. There stood JJ Maybank. She was frozen. She couldn't move, all she could do was cry. She walked up to him and hugged him and her pain started to disappear.

"I didn't think you were coming" She whispered

"Of course, I was going to come. I just had to get a passport first"

Kiara laughed as she forgot that JJ didn't have one. He must have spent a ton of money to put that much of a rush on his passport. They were awkwardly standing half in the hallway and half in the door. They were both smiling and enjoying the moment. JJ wasn't sure if they should talk first or if he should just kiss her.

He decided to play it cool and not kiss her, at least not yet. He didn't want her to send him home for doing the wrong thing.

"What's first on the agenda?"

"Surfing" Kiara smiling confidently

They changed into their swimsuits and hit the waves. After many hours in the ocean, they sat on the beach and Kie said, "It's so much better now that you're here"

JJ tucked her hair behind her ear and she looked at him.

"I'm not good at the emotional shit or talking. There's so much I could say but I'm gonna start with I'm sorry for the fight, I'm sorry for letting you go, and I'm sorry for not coming after you"

"Me too, I'm sorry for all the same things... We don't have to talk, not right now" Kie said wanting to kiss him

JJ had the same idea because he was ready leaning in. Their lips met and Kie let a few tears fall. JJ pulled back and asked, "Am I really that bad of a kisser?"

Kie couldn't hold it back anymore. She fully broke down crying and said, "I've missed you so much... I haven't been sleeping. I can't ever lose you again"

"You won't ever lose me again, I promise. I'm here. I'm right here, baby" JJ comforted her as he let her cry on his shoulder as he lightly rubbed her back

Kie eventually stopped crying and JJ wiped her remaining tears with his thumb and Kie asked, "Are we going to be okay?"

"Yeah, we're going to be just fine. I promise" He said kissing her lips softly

"Are you sure you're ready to just jump back into this?"

"Yes, I'm ready for our soul to be tied together forever. I'm ready to date you. I'm ready to have sex with you. Im ready to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you"

Kie kissed him and the two made out on the beach. It was like the pain of the last eighteen months had disappeared for both of them. They were no longer broken, they were healed because they were together again.

While JJ might have fallen first many many years ago, Kiara fell harder. They sat on the beach watching the waves together. Kiara rested her head on her JJ's shoulder. He kissed her head whispered, "I love you, so much"

"I love you too"