2003 - 2020

JOHN B ROUTLEDGE

⚡︎ P4L ⚡︎

Elora stared at the words JJ had burned into the heart Pope and Tyler had axed off the tree outside the Chateau, trying not to cry again.

She was holding one of his bandanas, Kie a box of his posessions, and JJ a flask of beer. Tyler and Pope stood silently.

"To John B," JJ spoke quietly, raising a shaky hand with the flask in it.

Kie nodded, her voice even smaller. "And to Sarah."

Their eyes were all teary, all five of them, as Kie placed the box into the hole they'd dug that morning, Elora putting the last bandana on top before they all started shovelling dirt on top.

'So, I guess life went on.

It's been a week since John B and Sarah went missing.

They've officially been ruled as dead.

It's not been the same without them. And it never will be.

They didn't get a proper funeral. Peterkin did. We didn't show up, though, cause we didn't want to see Ward and Rafe sat there, the picture of innocence, as if her blood wasn't on their hands.

Tyler's been living with us at the Chateau. His mother's only tried to speak to him once, and he didn't engage. When we go back to school in a couple days he's not going anywhere. In his words 'they'd have to drag me back to the Kook Academy if they want me to go there'.

In other words, we're managing.

We're not living, and surviving is probably the wrong way to put it, but we're managing.

Tyler's getting me through it more than anyone, but I'm ignoring what I'm feeling towards him. He doesn't want to fall for someone as fucked up as me, and all I need to do is suppress whatever I feel for him.

It's fine.

I can manage to do that.

This is my life now.'

𔓘𔓘𔓘

She felt satisfied as she and Kie finished grafitting the wall, stepping back to admire their work.

MURDERERS was now written in red paint on the Camerons' garden wall.

"Okay, I think they can definitely see us from here," Pope, who was standing behind the girls with Tyler, said worriedly.

"I don't give a shit," Elora answered honestly.

"Yeah, who cares?" Kie shrugged. "They should be lucky we're not burning the house down."

"Doesn't it piss you off, Pope, even a little?" Elora demanded.

"Of course it pisses me off, I just- I'm just trying to channel my rage into different vectors right now, okay?"

"Oh, well, that helps," Elora rolled her eyes, standing up and looking into the garden to see somebody watching them, up on the balcony.

"Shit, it's Rafe," Tyler said, noticing at the same time she did.

But unlike him, Elora was rebellious. And so, she put both hands on the top of the wall and screamed at the top of her lungs.

"WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID, YOU FUCKING MURDERER! YOU-"

"Elora-"

"YOU SON OF A-"

"Elora, come on! We have to go!"

Elora wasn't angry at Tyler, but she was acting like it as the boy put his arms round her waist and carried her away, along with Kie and Pope who ran after them.

"Fuck you!" Elora yelled, rounding on Tyler as he let her down.

And then her stupid fucking cheeks went red at the insinuations of that phrase, the heat in her cheeks filling her whole body.

There had been quite a few reactions like this over the past week, Elora finding that as time went on, Tyler was having a bigger and bigger effect on her.

But every time it happened she shoved it deep inside, reminding herself again and again that she was a worthless piece of shit from the Cut, and he was a boy from Figure Eight with his whole life ahead of him, who was going to realise sooner rather than later that slumming it with her wasn't what he wanted to do.

Because let's be honest, she wasn't the most desirable girl around.

𔓘𔓘𔓘

"This is going to be terrible," Elora complained as she looked at herself in the mirror of her mother's small car that she'd hijacked. She was riding shotgun whilst Tyler was driving, given the fact that he wasn't going to school.

"Well, if you need me, drop me a text," he replied drily. "That is, if my mother hasn't come to the Chateau and murdered me. Or worse yet, dragged me back to the Kook Academy."

"Shut up, she might do that," Elora fought back, looking sideways at him.

Tyler sighed. "I'd like to see her try."

She didn't really want to chuckle, but she couldn't help it.

"This day's still gonna be hell, though," she told him. "Everyone knows us now, it's weird."

"Just ignore them, and stick close to the others. It'll be fine," Tyler told her honestly, his expression becoming more solemn. "And... don't talk about them if you don't want to, alright? Knowing you, if you start things might get... messy."

Elora smiled despite herself, not needing to ask what 'them' he was referring to.

"Okay," she said, extending a hand. "Agreed."

Tyler grinned, completing the Pogue handshake with her. He'd learned it a few days ago from JJ, and had announced something to the whole group as it happened.

"I know I'll never replace him," he'd said, his face a picture of sadness and grief. "And I hope you guys know that that's not what I'm trying to do."

JJ had smiled grimly at him, saying. "We know that's not why you're here, Ty. If it was, we'd've kicked you to the curb a long time, y'know."

Tyler had chuckled, and Kie had piped up. "We like you for you, Ty, we'd never think you were trying to replace him."

"Agreed," Pope had grinned. "You're a Pogue in completely your own right."

Tyler, looking like he was going to cry from gratitude, looked around at the three of them. "Thank you guys so much."

Elora hadn't said anything as she watched them, perched up on the kitchen counter, a smile playing on her face.

But as that memory flashed through her mind right now, the same smile flashed on her face, completing the handshake just as Luke Maybank's car, containing JJ, and Mike Carrera's cad, containing Kie and Pope, pulled up.

"I've gotta go," she said to Tyler, flashing him a sarcastically happy look. "Wish me luck."

"Good luck, Elle," he replied with a small smile, as the girl opened the door, shouldering her backpack and shutting it again. She gave Tyler a half arsed middle finger as she left, and she wished she had stuck around long enough to hear his laugh.

"Hey," she said, her tone very bored as she met up with JJ, Pope and Kie.

"Hey," they all replied, just about as enthusiastic as her.

"Come on, let's go," she said, looking around. "Before the vultures swoop in."

But it seemed that as soon as they started walking, the whispers started.

"Is that them?"

"Oh my god, that's them..."

"I didn't think they would show..."

"I heard they got arrested-"

"That wouldn't surprise me."

"Think they have something to do with it...?"

But none of the Pogues were even looking at any of them. They were too busy looking at the memorial on the yard; pictures of him around his name, painted on in big black block capitals.

JOHN BROOKER ROUTLEDGE

"I feel like people are staring at us," Kie said, all their eyes locked on it.

Elora scoffed. "Yeah, no shit."

"Guys, I can't be late," Pope told them, making to walk past the memorial.

"Hey, hey! We gotta stick together," Kie called after him, making him turn as she held out a hand. He took it slowly, and Elora sighed, threading her arm through JJ's to do the same thing.

"This is gonna be fucking bullshit," she heard her blonde friend mutter underneath his breath.

She nodded, looking briefly around before muttering back. "Most likely."

𔓘𔓘𔓘

"...and the slave becomes the new ruler. Now, Diocletian spits the sprawling roman empire-"

Elora was about to scream from how boring this lesson was. Her arse was hurting due to too long on the plastic chairs, her hands were hurting because of all the writing, and her head was hurting because of all the knowledge.

She was about two seconds from punching something when her phone dinged.

But not just her phone.

Because in that classroom, several phones went off. Four, to be exact.

Her's. JJ's. Kie's. Pope's.

Elora frowned slightly, turning her phone over to see what was so important.

Incoming Text
Unknown Number

Elora, who sat next to Kie, in front of JJ and behind Pope, frowned around at them, trying to find out if they had the same. Pope had switched his off already, but the other two looked just as confused.

"Did you get it?" Kie leaned forward slightly to speak to Pope, who nodded.

"Now, before his reign, he served as commander where..."

As the lesson went on, JJ, who was the furthest away, got out of his seat and sneaked forwards so he was sitting in between Elora and Pope. The redhead had her phone out, the screen tipped so only the four of them could see it.

When she clicked on the notification, she thought she might faint.

Because it was a selfie of John B and Sarah.

They were both smiling, Sarah with her hands over her mouth and JB looking happier than ever. They had on the same clothes they had last been seen in.

And as Kie, JJ and Pope all raised their phones up as well, showing the same photo, they knew it had to mean something.

Because maybe this wasn't a prank.

Maybe John B and Sarah were alive.

The Pogues looked amongst each other, eyes wide, mouths half open. Then JJ, who always acted first, got up and ran out the classroom.

Elora followed him without a second thought, running after him. Kie and Pope didn't take long, either.

"Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit-" Elora was almost jumping up and down by the time they got outside to the courtyard where no one was around, the photo still on all their phones.

"I mean, is that even possible?" Kie demanded. "I mean, Shoupe said they didn't make it, he said that!"

"Okay, but I- I think we're overreacting, cause we can't rule out the possibility that this could all be some kinda weird, cruel hoax," Pope said, as they got to the benches and sat down, JJ on the ground against the wall.

"I'm just gonna ask," Kie said, making to type back to the number.

"What if it's actually him, though?" JJ said, smile on his face palpable.

A notification lit up Elora's phone. Kie had texted back to the group message WTF is this you???

Once sent the three typing dots appeared on the screen almost immediately.

"He's typing!"

Elora sat, gripping her phone tightly as another message from Unknown showed up.

Is JJ there?

Her eyes flicked down immediately to the boy himself, sat against the wall with a shit eating grin on his face. Elora, meanwhile, had tears in her eyes, because maybe, just maybe, John B and Sarah were alive.

JJ typed back his message quickly.

I'm here Bree.

She still didn't really know the story behind that name. But the next message that popped up made her explode with laughter and relief and joy.

Did you pimp my short board?

JJ was laughing, Elora and Kie were both crying as they giggled, and Pope was in shock, a smile lighting up his face.

"It's him!" JJ announced, tipping his head back as he rested against the wall, a light Elle hadn't seen in a week returning to his eyes.

"It's definitely him," grinned Pope, doing the Pogue handshake with JJ.

"It's him," echoed Kie.

"It's so fucking him!" Elora added with a grin, typing her own message.

You fucking bitches!

John B's message was short, but had so much love behind it.

Wouldn't expect any less from you, Elle.

And they were all laughing and crying and hugging and handshaking each other, and they were all just so fucking happy.

"YEAH!" JJ roared, jumping up and down in glee as they laughed.

Then another message came.

Laying super low in Nassau

"Oh my god," Elora covered her mouth. "How the hell did they get to the Bahamas?"

"I'm gonna be honest, Elle, I don't give a shit right now!" JJ grinned. "Whoo! Ya can't kill a Pogue, dude!"

"Especially John B," Pope agreed.

Can you clear my name? Wanna come home came next.

"Hell yeah, we'll clear your name boy," grinned JJ.

Elora grinned, typing back quickly.

We're counting on it

She could practically see the grin on their brunette friend's face as he typed back.

Be in touch. P4L.

They were all crying, all four of them, as they put their phones down and stared at each other.

"P4L, man! That's what I'm talking about!" JJ hooted, as Elora sat back shaking her head in absolute disbelief.

He wasn't dead. He and Sarah were alive, and they were clearly in good enough condition to be sending jokes and smiling for photos.

"P4L, BABY!" JJ roared, climbing up on the bench.

"Holy shit, dude!" Kie put her hands on her head.

"JJ, get down here so I can hug you!" Elora joked, the boy rolling his eyes slightly and he reluctantly jumped down.

But there was nothing reluctant about the hug the four Pogues shared once was down.

And for the first time since Elora saw John B with blood on his hands, she felt like everything was going to be okay.

𔓘𔓘𔓘

"Holy mother of fucking god."

That sentence didn't even make sense, but to be honest, Elora had had the same reaction.

She was in her house with Tyler, her phone in his hand, and he was reading through John B's messages.

"I know," Elora said, her eyes sparkling with tears. "I know it's fucking crazy, and weird and confusing and just downright impossible, but- it's true. John B and Sarah are alive."

Tyler looked sideways at her raising his eyebrows. "Did you really think I'd doubt you?"

Elora smiled slightly, her eyes lighting up with mirth.

"You should've seen JJ," she murmured, shaking her head. "And Kie, and Pope, I mean... fucking hell, we thought they were dead."

That word lay between them for a second, before Tyler said. "So now all we have to do is clear his name?"

Elora chuckled wryly, sliding her eyes to him. "Can't be that hard, can it?"

Tyler shrugged slightly. "I mean, my grandfather's a judge, my mum's dad, and he was always pretty good to me growing up, so he could be of help, but..."

He trailed off, and Elora finished his sentence for him. "But you don't know how keen he'd be now you're hanging around with a bunch of Pogues?"

"Well, there is that," Tyler sighed. "But let's be honest, I've become a way better person since hanging round you guys, so I don't know what the big deal is."

Elora looked at him meaningfully. "You know what the big deal is."

"Yeah," Tyler sighed, looking down slightly as he handed the girl her phone back.

Elora took it, turning it off and placing it on the couch. She sat back, her leg bouncing slightly.

"Are you okay, about all this?" Tyler asked her.

"Yeah, of course," Elora said, turning to him with a small smile. "They're alive, Ty. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Yeah, of course you're okay about that, I just mean..." Tyler took a deep breath, looking down. "What with y-your mum, and all."

Elora looked at him, half of her wanting to slap him for knowing her so well and half of her wanting to reach forward and k-

Shut up, Elle.

"Well..." her voice was slightly shaky as she turned away from him, eyes pointed down. "Well, I-"

"You don't have to tell me," Tyler backtracked. "If, I mean-"

"No, it's fine, I..." Elora's eyes welled up. "I just don't know where she is," she turned to the boy, a tear slipping down her cheek. "And if I knew, then- then I guess it'd be easier, but- but with John B and Sarah... I'm so glad they're coming back. And if I heard that she was coming back then..."

She trailed off, wiping her eyes furiously.

"I'm sorry, I-" she cut herself off. "This is so stupid-"

"It's not," Tyler murmured, shaking his head. "I understand what you're saying. You feel guilty because you wouldn't be as glad if she came back, and you should be."

Elora nodded, absolutely shocked at how well this boy knew her.

"I should love her," she muttered, looking down. "I- I do love her, but... but I hate her, as well."

Her fingernails cut half moons into her palms, and she didn't care.

She couldn't help but direct her eyes towards the mantlepiece. The picture of her mother that was sat there. She was smiling up at the camera, her teeth white in the sun and her eyes as blue as the sky behind her. She didn't look at all like a betrayer.

What really made Elora's heart stick in her throat, though, was the visible rip on the edge of the picture, and the way that her mother's arm reached out the photo.

Because the full photo wasn't on display. Elora vividly remembered her mother ripping it about a week after her father died, cutting him out the frame completely and disposing of all photos of him around the house.

She had screamed and cried so hard her throat had bled, but she hadn't managed to save any photos.

"Elle? You okay?"

And now, blinking back to the future, she realised where she was, next to Tyler in her house. Her house that her mother didn't inhabit anymore.

"Yeah," she said, turning to Tyler with a small smile. "Come on, we need to meet the Pogues near the Wreck. Discuss what the plan is."

"Okay, but if we're going to Figure Eight you better hide me, otherwise I'll be going missing next, and you won't be able to find m-"

"Idiot," Elora rolled her eyes, hitting him on the arm lightly. "Come on, let's go."

𔓘𔓘𔓘

"So we going to the Bahamas or what?" JJ asked as they all sat on the edge of a boat on the one of the Figure Eight jetties.

"Dude, there is no way we're going to the Bahamas," Pope told him flatly.

"John B will get nabbed sooner or later, so if we wanna clear his name we need to have done it like yesterday," Kie commented.

"Alright then," Elora shrugged. "I say we get the gun, kidnap Rafe Cameron, hold it to his disgusting head and threaten to shoot him if he doesn't-"

"Elle, that's not going to-"

"Whoo! I'm in on that one!" JJ hooted, hi fiving Elora as Tyler, Kie and Pope shook their heads.

"You know, torture's a war crime," the brunette girl told them.

"And? So's murder," Elora didn't even care anymore.

"I'm just agreeing with everything Elle says," JJ grinned.

Pope rolled his eyes. "Right, so how exactly do you plan on clearing John B's name from a prison cell? Cause that's a felony."

"Alright, well what do you got, Pope?" JJ demanded.

"Guys, all we need is a witness," Tyler spoke up.

"Yes, Tyler!" Pope's eyes were wide. "Listen, we saw Ward's plane fly over our heads, right? And it had the gold inside it. He didn't fly it. If somebody else flew, they would've seen what happened on the tarmac. They saw Peterkin get murdered."

JJ took his red baseball cap off.

"So we just have to find whoever that was and get them to confess," Tyler said, his face transforming into a grin. "On record."

"How do we do that?" Kie frowned.

Pope shrugged. "A little light espionage."

"A little ghost recon," JJ added, grinning as he put his cap back on.

Elora smirked around at all of them. "Let's fuckin do this."