CHAPTER TWELVE
THE MEDIATOR

"You lack of spelling skills actually concerns me," Theo says as he opens up the door, JJ grinning on the other side. The blonde boy simply moves his way around the other, inviting himself into the expensive home. "Do you not have autocorrect on your phone?"

"I mean I do but it was annoying so I turned it off," JJ shrugs, sitting down on the couch and leaning his head against the back.

"I-you turned it off? You know what? Let's just move on from that. What did you want my help with?"

"Why do you assume I wanted your help?"

Theo looks at him incredulously before pulling his phone back out and bringing up the last of many messages he had been sent — probably the only one with an ounce of proper spelling. "Yo I need your help. I'm coming over,"

JJ grins cheekily, shrugging his shoulders once again. Theo sits down beside him and raises his brows, trying to prompt some sort of answer. "Okay so we sort of need your help with Sarah and Kie,"

"What about them? I think it's pretty obvious they can't stand each other," Theo responds, turning his head so that he can properly look at the blonde. "Why don't you just keep them away from each other?"

"That's way too much effort and John B's plan is better," JJ says, a mischievous glint in his eye which Theo knows cannot be a good thing.

"Alright, I'll bite, what do I have to do with this?"

"Are you a fan of overnight trips on boats, Theo?"

"This is such a stupid plan," Theo comments in annoyance, his eyes staring daggers into the back of John B's head. "Why can't one of you mediate this whole thing? You're literally Kiara's best friends,"

"Which is why we can't. You're the only person here who wouldn't be biased," John B points out, earning a short nod from Pope who is leaning against the railing on the boat.

"JJ," Theo says his name in a tone that can almost be seen as pleading. "The last thing I want to do is spend my night listening to them argue. Why can't you send them alone?"

"Because then nothing will be solved. Come on, man. You're the best hope,"

"Yeah okay, and the other day you weren't exactly happy with my presence. Only want me around when you need something?"

John B opens his mouth to respond but quickly closes it, knowing that there is some truth to his words. Theo can't help but be a little smug at that, admittedly a little proud of himself for it too. He feels JJ's hand on his shoulder a moment later, turning his gaze to the blonde.

"Come on man, we'll owe you one," JJ says.

"Yeah? I'll use that favor right now. I don't want to do this," Theo responds.

"You haven't even done anything yet,"

"I listened to your stupid idea, I think I've done enough here today,"

JJ, John B and Pope all look at each other before exchanging a quick nod. JJ gives him a look of apology that Theo would almost believe if it isn't him who grabs him, tugging him towards the lower deck portion before practically shoving him. Theo has to steady himself and it gives the other boy enough time to lock him in.

"JJ! You motherfucker!" Theo exclaims, banging on the door above his head. He can hear the boy's chuckles from above and he knows that when he gets out of here, he's going to slap the smug smile off his face (he can't see him but he knows it's there). "This is the last time I listen to any of you,"

He bangs on the roof for a while longer before it opens up again. He's getting ready to push his way out and throw JJ into the sea, when Sarah is forced down there as well — the boys wasting no time locking them in. Sarah is about as happy as him to be there, being even louder than he had been.

There's a few more voice above them moments later and Theo knows they've managed to get Kiara here as well. Theo is sure that if he doesn't kill the three of them, she will.

"Uh is this a joke?" Theo hears Kiara question in disbelief.

"John B! John B, let me out!" Sarah exclaims from behind him, banging the overhead door as hard as she can with her hands.

It's then opened up by Kiara who looks the furthest thing from impressed at the sight of the blonde girl. "What the hell?"

Sarah and Kiara both scramble to the edge of the boat where they watch the trio swim off to their other one. Theo walks up behind them, aiming his sharp glare at JJ who has the audacity to grin at him like nothing is wrong. Oh I'm going to kick his ass.

"Get your asses back here!" Kiara yells to the amused group.

"We can't, not until the two of you figure it out!" John B calls back.

"I will kill every single one of you!" Kiara exclaims.

"Yeah, I'll help," Theo mumbles grumpily, arms crossed over his chest in a stance that he hopes displays his utter annoyance.

"You can't just leave!" Sarah is now yelling as well.

"There's food in the cabin and JJ rolled a blunt!" Pope, who Theo would've trusted to help him out before today, calls.

"Hydroponic!" JJ adds with a grin.

"Hydroponic," Theo mocks before sticking his finger up at the blonde who waves as they begin to move away from the bigger boat.

He's so preoccupied that he doesn't even notice Sarah is trying to make an escape before she's jumped into the water. She won't be able to catch them, she likely knows that, but it doesn't stop her from trying. She's still yelling at John B from her spot in the water but they continue on their way without even bothering to look back.

"Ow!" Sarah suddenly exclaims and Theo is leaning over the edge almost instantly, holding his hand out for her. Kiara watches the two of them, rolling her eyes when the blonde begins to complain about a jellyfish sting.

Theo is helping her as best as he can, allowing her to sink into his embrace as a couple of tears fall from her eyes. Kiara watches them for a few moments before walking off to who knows where, coming back not too long after with the blunt JJ and Pope had been talking about earlier. She lights it up takes a few puffs before handing it over to Sarah.

Theo moves away slightly to avoid the smoke blowing into his face. They sit with one another in relative silence as the night slowly begins to settle around them, Theo leaning his head back so that he can look at the stars. A small smile crosses his face as one shoots by, reminding him of the times he, Emmy and his dad used to come on their old boat and do this. Emmy and he used to name the stars, he's lost count of the amount of Theo's there must be — he'd started at Theo 2 and continued on from there.

"W-would you rather have nipples for eyes or eyes for nipples?"

Sarah's question brings him out of his little daydream, looking at her incredulously.

"Imagine if you get really old and your nipples— your boobs get saggy, and your nipples, if they were your eyes, could see if your shoes were untied,"

Sarah chuckles at her own words, clearly feeling the side effect of what she's been smoking. An amused smile pulls at Theo's lips, not even knowing what to say back to her. Kiara, on the other hand, is not amused.

"Is this your first time smoking or something?" Kiara asks the girl.

"No," Sarah responds. "Hey, Kiara..."

"Enough of the 'Hey Kiara' bullshit. Why'd you do it?"

Sarah looks at her again. "Why'd I do what?"

"We were best friends. We stole beers from your dad's fridge, we watched movies together, we cried about boys. The next thing I know, I'm watching your birthday party happen from Instagram,"

"It was one party,"

"You invited everybody except me. And then you told everybody I was the reason it got busted,"

Theo watches the two of them, staying out of the issue for now. He told those idiots he wasn't needed here.

"Okay, well, who else would have called the cops?" Sarah asks and Theo supposes it's a good point.

"You never asked, you just let the rumor go that I was a rat," Kiara responds. "You were my best friend and you ghosted me. What did I do?"

"You liked me," Sarah settles on, her voice soft and a little vulnerable. "When people get close to me, I feel trapped and I bail. Then I blame them for it,"

Theo can't help but let that resonate with him a little bit. All he's done all his life is push away people who tried to show him an ounce of care — merely keeping those he knows he can count on close (those being his father and Emmy, and at one stage Maisie). It's part of the reason he's had such a hard time making and keeping friends, the after effects of his mother's abandonment causing lingering scars.

"I'm really sorry and I miss you," Sarah admits. "Do you thinks there's a chance that we could be okay again?"

"Honestly, I don't know," Kiara replies quietly.

They allow the quiet to wash over them again before Kiara breaks it. "Hey Sarah,"

"Hey Kiara," The girl responds.

"Promise me you won't bail on John B. He's not just some other guy, he really really likes you,"

"I won't,"

"Promise me,"

"I promise,"

They exchange a small smile.

"And I'm sorry I called the cops," Kiara adds which causes the two to laugh.

"I knew it, I knew it you bitch!"

The scene of the two giggling with one another is enough to make Theo feel a little happier with the current situation. That's until they turn their attention to him.

"And what did you do to get stuck on here?" Kiara asks Theo who groans.

"Indulged your stupid friends who then decided to lock me below deck. Remind me to never follow them onto a boat again," Theo grumbles.

"Why did you follow them in the first place?" Sarah questions.

"Well, JJ—"

"Hmm," Kiara interrupts with a small, smug smile pulling at her lips.

"Hmm? What do you mean, hmm? And what's with that face you're pulling?"

"Oh poor, clueless Theo," Sarah giggles, the two girls sharing a glance that the boy can't quite figure out.

"Can you two stop that?"

"Stop what? We're just listening to you," Kiara says innocently, Sarah nodding along.

"Can we just go back to when you two didn't like each other?"

Theo rolls his eyes when they once again look at each other, pushing off the chair only for Sarah to grab his arm and pull him to now sit between the two of them. The blonde lays her head on his shoulder, an affectionate way of saying that she's willing to listen to what he has to say whilst Kiara has now given him her full attention — her version of what Sarah's doing.

"Tell us about him," Kiara speaks which causes Theo's eyebrows to scrunch together.

"You know him better than—" Theo starts.

"Theo," Sarah's voice is soft, understanding rather than teasing as it had been before. "We want to hear about him from you,"

Theo sighs and leans his head against her's, allowing the two girls to offer him support. Kiara must see that it's a little harder for him than expected, grabbing his hand in her's whilst Sarah grabs his other.

"He's pretty great, isn't he?" Theo says quietly, an emotion he can't explain, washing over him. "It's stupid, allowing a boy I hardly know make me feel like this,"

"No, it's not. I mean, look at John B and Sarah — they've known each other for like two days," Kiara comments, earning an eye roll from Sarah.

"What she's trying to say is that there is no time frame for this kind of thing. If you like JJ, then you like him. There's nothing wrong with it," Sarah squeezes his hand.

"Besides, I've known JJ for so long that I know he wouldn't just invite anybody on one of our little adventures. He also wouldn't have taken a punch to the face for just anybody either,"

"Huh? Think I missed something there,"

"Your brother swung on him and JJ took the hit,"

"Of course he did,"

Theo can't help but appreciate the two of them, Maisie likely wouldn't be overly fond of the fact he had a thing for JJ Maybank of all people. Not if her behaviour recently is anything to go by anyway.

"He told us that he stayed at your house," Kiara comments, looking to drag some more information out of him. "And that your dad drove him home,"

"Hmm, dad was quite impressed he managed to get arrested between then and he saw me at home. I was ready to call him when I went to the station but—" Theo begins only to be cut off.

"You went down to the station?" Kiara asks, the new information sinking in.

"Yeah, I mean Pope came and asked me to help so I went to bail him out but he was already gone," Theo shrugs.

"No wonder he likes you so much, Theo. You went to bail him out?"

"I don't think he knows that? I mean, he was already gone when I got there. Didn't see much of a reason to bring it up with him after the event, especially when he turned up to Midsummers with bruises on his face,"

"Maybe you should tell him," Sarah says.

"Nah, no need to. I'm just glad he's okay,"

Kiara smiles and affectionately rolls her eyes. "You're so smitten, it's cute but also kind of gross,"

"Yeah? What about you and Pope? Something going on there?"

"I think it's time we go to sleep,"

Theo laughs in response but nods his head in agreement.

When the three boys turn up in the morning, Theo still isn't impressed with them. Despite the fact he ended up enjoying his time with the girls, he's still pissed that they had left them stranded out here.

"You guys need a tow?" John B calls out mockingly, that stupid, smug smile on his face yet again. They join them on the boat and Theo has to contain his blush at the fact JJ moves to stand beside him. "You have to admit it was pretty funny,"

JJ nudges Theo lightly with his elbow, effectively bringing in his attention. There's a grin on his face, his eyes sparkling in the light of the sun. "What about you, rich boy? You forgive me?"

"You're lucky I don't push off this boat for what you did," Theo replies, his annoyance half hearted and not believable in the slightest. "How did you explain this to my dad?"

"He was totally cool with it. Told him something about you wanting to get to know Sarah and Kiara better,"

"So you conveniently left out the part where you left his only child stranded in the ocean?"

"Hmm yeah, may have forgotten to mention that,"

"Go figure,"

The conversation dies down, Theo ready to leave the boat when JJ gently grabs his wrist. Looking over his shoulder, Theo gives him a questioning glance.

"You're not really mad at me, are you?" JJ asks.

Theo allows his eyes to search the boy's face, detecting the slightest bit of worry etched into his expression and decides to ease his mind. "Of course not, JJ. It's fine, I promise,"

JJ nods his head and Theo pretends not to notice the way relief washes over his face.

NOTE

It's been so long and I'm so sorry for that! Hopefully you liked this chapter! I've been so busy lately but hopefully I'll have time to update more often!

Thank you for reading!

made by fireandbloods