title : don't wait up, i'll be alright
oc / pairing : stuart johnston and
january "jj" johnston
trigger warnings : none!

DAY EIGHT : " don't wait up . "

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" YES , I'LL BE FINE . NO , WON'T NEED A
TASER ... I DON'T THINK . "

SHE CURLED HER LAST STRAND OF HAIR before completely turning off the curling iron and unplugging it. She let it cool off at least for a little bit before putting it away. Phone up to her shoulder as she attempted to neaten her eye-liner. Her patience is running thin with it, and eventually she gives up. It still looked decent anyhow. Besides, she couldn't concentrate without Pippa talking her ear off about being careful.

"You call one of the theatre peeps if anything goes wrong, okay?" Pippa asked through the phone, "we don't need any more mishaps with you. Not after what happened with your last boyfriend."

"Relax," JJ said back, "I'm not gonna kill Marsh like I did Connor. And technically, I wasn't the one who killed him."

JJ was right. If it hadn't been for that entity that was stuck in her body, no one would've died. But Connor deserved it anyhow. Did she remember the events? Well, barely. But right now, that was something that she didn't want to worry about right now.

"Sometimes, Marsh needs a lesson to learn," Pippa mumbled.

"Pippa," JJ huffed.

"Sorry, sorry," Pippa replied back, "I know you like him. But sometimes him and his actions can be ..."

"Questionable? Unruly?" JJ asked.

"Something like that," Pippa answered, "he's on drugs, you sure you know what you're getting into?"

"It can't be worse than what I dealt with when it came to Connor," JJ told her.

JJ then looked at the clock that sits on her nightstand. The clock reads seven o'clock on the dot. A sigh escaped her lips. "I'm gonna be late if I don't leave now," she said through the phone.

"Okay," Pippa said back, "good luck."

"Thanks," JJ said back, before she hung up the landline.

JJ took one last look in the mirror. Christmas-y. Was it too much? She didn't know. She felt like she lost a little bit of that Christmas spirit when her mom died. She shook her head, not wanting to worry about it any longer. She made sure to grab what she needed before she headed downstairs.

When she hit the living room, you could see red and green Christmas lights surrounding the living room. The Christmas tree is near the staircase, already decorated. Her father looking for one of the Christmas records to play. Maybe it would make the house a little more lively. Not that she would be here to listen to it.

She hopped off the last step. JJ tried to make her way to the door. "Dad, I'm heading out!" She said, "don't wait up, i'll be alright."

Stuart glanced behind him. "Okay, sweetie, have fun," he said.

He then fully turned around. "Hold on," he said, before motioning her over, "come here."

JJ sighed. She closed the door that she had opened just a few moments prior. She walked over to Stuart, crossing her arms.

"Dad, I'm already late," she told him.

"You're all spruced up," Stuart said, "your hair is curled. You're ... Wearing a dress?"

"Dad ..."

"You're going on a date," Stuart replied, "and you didn't tell me?"

"I'm ... Telling you now?" JJ said back.

Stuart motions her over to the couch. JJ sighed, immediately sitting down afterward. She wasn't surprised. She knew that she would have to go through the interrogation process eventually. Especially after what happened the last time.

"So. Who are you going with and where are you going?" He asked.

"'m gonna be with Marsh," JJ told him, "we're goin' to see that new Christmas movie, and then we're going to the Cozy Crumb. Then afterward, we're gonna hang with Chester and Tammy."

"I see," Stuart said back, "when do you plan on coming back?"

"Dunno, dad. I'll call you when we get to Chester's," JJ answered back.

"Even though Chester's is literally down the street?" Stuart asked.

JJ chuckled, "yes dad, even though he's down the street."

Stuart eventually sat down next to her. He's quiet for a moment. His daughter hadn't gone out in a while, let alone a date. He's a little surprised. Not because of her going on a date, but who she was going on the date with. It made him curious.

"So ... You and Marsh, huh?" Stuart asked, "didn't know you liked him like that."

"I didn't either," JJ told him, "not until he threatened to kick Tommy's ass for disrespecting me."

"God, you are just like your mother," Stuart snickered, "It took me beating up her older brother for her to finally fall in love with me."

JJ giggled. "That's what it took?"

"Yeah," Stuart answered, "your uncle was a piece of shit though. Glad your mom cut her side of the family off. I wouldn't want you to go through what she did with him."

"Yeah, mom told me they weren't really good," JJ said back to him.

She then looked back at the clock. Fifteen past seven. She then looked at her father. "I'm gonna be late, Dad," she chuckled, "I don't wanna keep Marsh waiting."

Stuart chuckled. "Where are you meeting up?"

"Chester's house," JJ answered.

"That's only a ten second walk," Stuart snickered, "What time does the movie start?"

"7:30. We decided to meet at Chester's cause it was easier. He still has to drive from Cherry Lane. So he's gonna pick me up at Chester's since it's at the end of the street," JJ explained.

"Oh, okay," Stuart replied back, "That makes a little bit of sense, now."

JJ finally stood up from the couch. She ran a hand through her hair, making sure the curls weren't too tight. Stuart stood up not too long after. His daughter had been growing up right before his eyes. He knew she's been on dated before, but for some reason, this one seemed different. It's a blossoming relationship that he definitely held hope for.

"I really have to go. I don't want him to show up at Chester's and I'm not there," JJ said to him.

"Alright, alright," Stuart said back, walking her to the front door before opening it, "you two lovebirds have fun. But not too much fun."

JJ laughed. "No promises," she joked, "I'll see you later, okay?"

Stuart gave a kiss to his daughter's cheek. "Yeah, I'll see you later. Call me when you get back to Chester's house."

"I will!" She told him, before going down the stairs of the porch.

Stuart watched her along the way. She walked on the sidewalk in the snow. He could see the shoe prints on the sidewalk as she quickly made it to her destination. Stuart could see her in front of the Murphy household. He could see Tammy and Chester, too.

It's not long before a car rolled up. His guess is confirmed when he sees another familiar redhead get out of the driver's side of the door. Stuart watched as Marsh opened the passenger side of the door for his daughter. He couldn't help but to smile at the sight. The last thing he sees is the car driving off, watching it as it turns the corner. When the car disappears, that's when he closes the door to her house.