"Now what do we do with him?" Kie says jutting her chin in JJ's direction, who was asleep with his head on Nathan's lap. They had just dropped off John B who was out of it the whole car ride to his house.

"We take him home." Pope deadpans.

"You know for a fact we can't do that." Kiara says crossing her arms.

Nathan looks up confused.

For some reason leaving JJ at his house at the state he was in didn't sit right with him, and he guesses there was a reason for that based on Kie's reaction. But she can't take him because of her parents and Pope's mad at JJ. Nathan doubts he'd be willing to take care of JJ at the moment. Technically Nathan couldn't take in JJ either, so the real question was if JJ's worth the risk? Nathan looked down at JJ and moved a stray hair from the boy's face. JJ looked innocent when he was asleep. There was no hint of the anger or the playfulness Nathan was used to. Instead the boy looks at peace; Like nothing was bothering him. Yup. He's definitely worth it.' Nathan thinks.

"He should come with me." He speaks.

"Are you sure? What if you're mom finds out?" Pope says.

" I'll sneak him in. Besides, I'm already gonna be in trouble for staying out so late. Might as well break another rule while I'm at it."

Kie gives a soft smile and turns around, starting the van.

JJ stirs at that, but he stops moving a few seconds later.

'Why the hell did he have to fall for his first real friend?' Nathan wishes he didn't have these feelings. They just complicate everything.

The van comes to a halt. This time JJ opens his eyes and sits up rubbing them.

"Where are we?" He rasps.

"Heyy. We're at my house." Nathan says softly. He puts his hand on JJ's back. "Do you think you can get up on your own?"

JJ nods his head and they make their way out of the van towards Nathan's front door. Before he opens it, he turns to JJ.

"I need you to be really quiet. Okay?" JJ nods again. "Cool. Stay behind me."

They enter the house quietly. Nathan could see the soft light of the tv in the living room. He signals for JJ to wait where he is and walks into the living room, expecting the worst. He walks in front of the couch and lets out a breath of relief. His mom was fast asleep. He knows that he's probably gonna be in huge trouble tomorrow, but it's better than having to deal with her now with a drunk JJ in the room.

He looks to JJ and signals for him to follow. Once the door to his room was closed behind them, the lump in Nathan's throat disappeared. While Nathan leaned against the door, JJ jumped on the bed.

"Have I told you how comfortable your bed is? Feels like I'm lying on a cloud." He says with a smile.

Nathan shakes his head and makes his way to JJ. "I bet it would be way more comfortable if you took your shoes off." He chuckles and takes off JJ's right shoe.

"Thanks, Nate." JJ's eyebrows raise. "Woah! That rhymed."

"No it didn't." Nathan laughs and takes off his own shoes.

He stumbles a bit on the last one, but manages to take it off without falling on his ass. The beers he drank definitely still had an effect on him. He raises his shirt over his arms and takes off his pants.

Now in boxers he makes his way to the other side of the bed and plops next to JJ who was laying on his side staring at Nathan in silence.

Nathan faces JJ and smiles sheepishly."What?" He whispers.

"Why can't I get you out of my head?"

Nathan was surprised at how serious JJ looked. "I don't know. You tell me."

JJ lets out a sigh and lays on his back. "Ever since I saw you on that beach you're all I think about."

"I can say the same thing about you."

At that JJ turns his head to Nathan. "Really?"

"Yeah. It's always JJ this and JJ that. It's a little irritating actually." Nathan shut his mouth at that. He's talking too much. He can tell. 'Fuck getting drunk. You just say crap you don't mean to say.' He thinks.

JJ stays quiet. Nathan could tell he was thinking about something, but JJ was always so hard to read.

Suddenly, JJ places his hand on the side of Nathan's cheek. His thumb touches Nathan's lips and traces the length of them, but he doesn't meet Nathan's gaze.

Nathan feels heat pool in his stomach. He was confused, but he didn't want JJ. However, a few seconds later, he does and finally meets Nathan's gaze.

Nathan opened his mouth to say something, but JJ shakes his head. Nathan shuts his mouth at that.

JJ sits up with one hand supporting him. He hovers over Nathan and pauses for a second, but before Nathan could ask what he was doing, JJ crashes his lips against Nathan's.

Nathan doesn't know what to do at first, but he catches on and moves his lips against JJ's.

The boys sit up, their lips still locked in a passionate kiss.

Nathan pulls back reluctantly with a hand on JJ's chest. "Wait. Wait." He says catching his breath. "What are we doing?"

JJ rubs his thumb on Nathan's cheek and meets his eyes. "I don't know. But I don't wanna stop." At that Nathan pulls JJ to him and kisses him passionately. JJ moves his hands to Nathan's waist and tries to get as close as possible.

A few seconds later, JJ pulls away only to take off his shirt, and plants his lips back onto Nathan's and guides Nathan onto his back.

Nathan pulls away again and JJ lets out a low whine. "Are we really doing this?" He whispers, his voice shaking.

"If you're ready. We don't have to. Just say the words." JJ answers softly.

Nathan shakes his head. "I wanna do this."

JJ smiles and softly kisses Nathan. Then he reaches behind and pulls a condom from his pocket.

"Of course you have that there!" Nathan chuckles.

"You never know when you might need it." JJ laughs and then turns serious a second later. "You ready?" He says softly.

"I'm ready." Nathan says and smashes his lips against JJ's hungrily.

'I could do this forever.' He thinks.

——————

The next morning, Nathan woke up to the light coming from his window. The events from last night rush to him. He reaches his hand out, but he didn't feel a warm body like he thought he would. He lifts his head and sees an empty bed.

He looks to the floor for JJ's clothes but they weren't  there either. He couldn't help but feel disappointed at the fact. He assumed JJ left through the window based on the fact that it was slightly opened.

A knock to his door made him jump, and he made sure he was covered by his blanket.

"Yeah?" He calls. His voice wavering.

His mom's voice answers from the other side of the door. "Get dressed. We need to talk." She says in a harsh tone.

Nathan swallowed nervously. There was so much she could get mad at him for, but he hoped it wasn't about JJ.

After getting dressed, he made his way downstairs. His mom and Katelynn weren't eating breakfast like they usually would be. Instead his mom stood in the living room with her arms crossed and his sister wasn't around.

"Sit." His mom says.

Nathan sucks in a breath and takes a seat. His mom stayed standing which unsettled Nathan even more.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was last night? I thought you were in trouble or worse! What the hell were you doing out so late?" Elizabeth exclaims.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry mom, I was at a friends house and fell asleep. I didn't wake up till it was late and when I came home I didn't want to wake you up." Nathan was kind of proud that he thought of a lie that fast.

"At what friend's house? JJ Maybanks?!"

Nathan's heart drops to his stomach. But before he could say anything, Elizabeth speaks again.

"Yeah that's right. I know you've been hanging out with him. I saw you leave with him and his friends yesterday morning. I have to say, I've never been more disappointed in my life! How could you be spending your time with such trash?!" She spits.

With those words, Nathan feels his blood boil and he stands on his feet. "Yeah, well those are my friends, mom! The only friends I've been able to make since YOU became mayor and ruined my life!!" He yells, waving his hands frantically.

Elizabeth steps back in shock. "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean that ever since you became mayor, you've kept me on a tight leash. Every kid at my school thinks I'm a joke! Have you really not noticed that I had no friends up until recently?" He seethes. "JJ and his friends are the only people that have treated me like I actually belong in this town. So YOU..." he points "do not talk about my friends like that!" He turns around, making his way to the door. He didn't even want to look at her. He hadn't realized how much resentment he had for his mom. It was all just piling up, waiting to come out.

"I FORBID YOU FROM SEEING THEM AGAIN!!" She yells from behind him as he was gonna turn the doorknob.

He stops in his tracks and turns to her. "You can't stop me." He says calmly and walks out the door.

He runs and grabs his bike. Tears were running down his cheeks.

He'd never fought with his mom before. Already, he was regretting talking to her the way he did, but at the same time he felt a major weight leave his shoulders. In fact, he felt liberated. He hops onto his bike and makes his way to John B's place. He could tell that things were about to change, he just didn't know if it was gonna be good... or very very bad.

Hey, lovelies!! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I had a lot of fun writing it. I had been looking forward to writing this chapter for a really long time. Well anyways, y'all have a great day! Byeeee!!!😊💕