As soon as the girls got off the boat to look for food, the boys started to talk about them.

"So you're getting with Elle and you're getting with Kie?" John B pointed at Tyler and Pope in turn, both of them nodding with a sigh.

"Yep, and I'm the lonely old man over here," JJ said, holding his hands up in an attempt to make the situation funny.

"Shut up, JJ, what's up with all that?" John B said, looking at the blonde and black haired across from him. 

Tyler looked down, shaking his head. "Don't even ask, man."

"Why? What's up?" John B frowned.

"She pretty much blew me off and went on this whole rant about how I was too good for her and how she was gonna turn out just like her mum," Tyler summarised, scoffing slightly. "As if she could ever be anything like that monster. She thinks she's not good enough for me, like- in what world is that a thing?"

John B frowned slightly. "She really said all that to you?"

"Yeah," nodded Tyler, his voice annoyed yet soft at the same time. "It's fucking bullshit. And then she's been self sabotaging ever since, trying to get me to turn around and go back to Figure Eight, as if becoming a Pogue isn't the best decision I ever made."

The three boys around him digested this before John B shrugged. "Just give her some time, Ty. She'll come round."

Tyler raised an eyebrow. "Sure about that?"

"Yeah," nodded JJ. "She'll realise she's being stupid sooner or later."

"How would you know?" JB teased. "You never have."

"Hey!"

Pope sighed as John B laughed, smiling slightly as JJ swatted at him. He still hated their stupid shit, but it was nice to see it after two weeks of missing it.

"So what's going on with Kie?" John B asked once JJ stopped trying to hit him.

"I don't know," he said in true Pope fashion. "I mean, I really like her, and she seems to really like me, but... I don't know. It's not really going anywhere? Like, I'm trying to gather all the data and put it into a folder in my mind-?"

"Folder?" John B asked, smiling slightly.

"Alright, man, just look, women, they are not consistent," JJ started, but John B shut him down immediately.

"Okay, we're not gonna take female advice from JJ," John B shook his head.

"Nah, I agree after the past couple day's experiences," Tyler put in darkly.

"Too right!" JJ grinned, reaching over to hi five him.

"Alright, so what's the deal with this Limbrey chick?" John B changed the subject, looking at Pope. "You think she knew my pops?"

Pope nodded. "And Elora's mum."

The mention of Elizabeth made Tyler tense slightly, but not noticeably enough for the other boys to see.

"But I also know she has the information that could exonerate you. Elle and I heard it," Pope told him.

"Yeah, well, I could do with that," John B shrugged.

"Not to throw a monkey wrench in this entire situation, but she did just try to kidnap you," JJ informed Pope. "Listen, why do we have to go back? Why don't we just go south? We could easily get to Yucatan-"

"No! I'm not running anymore, alright?" John B said firmly. "Look, OBX is my home. Plus, if I go back... I get another shot at Ward."

Tyler chuckled. "Amen to that."

"Hi."

All four lads turned in sync as the three girls appeared back on the boat, holding two watermelons, one of which was cut in half.

"What are y'all talking about?" Sarah asked, scrunching her nose.

"Uh... fishing," John B said immediately.

"Dropping lures," nodded JJ.

"Gotcha breakfast," Elora said to him, holding up her watermelon.

"Gimme, gimme!" JJ grinned, extending his hands as she smiled slightly, passing the giant fruit from her hands to his.

Tyler couldn't help but feel a little lighter as he watched Elora and JJ fight over who got the first bit of watermelon, just like little kids on the playground.

They'd make it out of this. He was sure of it.

He just needed to prove to her that she deserved him.

𔓘𔓘𔓘

They were all laughing and joking again by the time they got back to Outer Banks, opting to tie the boat up at the jetty outside the Chateau so no one saw it.

Tyler and Elora hadn't really talked much. This hadn't escaped Elle's notice, but she also knew that she wasn't ready. She also wasn't ready to accept that he loved her, or that she deserved him.

So she just sat back in between JJ and Sarah as they pulled in, John B looking with twinkling eyes up at his house. "There she is."

JJ smiled. "Bet it's good to see her old bones, right? Welcome home, guys."

Elora smiled, slinging an arm around Sarah as she looked at the Chateau. She knew it had only been about a day and a half since she'd been there, but it had been about two weeks since she'd been there with her whole family.

"You know, I gotta be honest, not exactly looking forward to a check in at home," Kie announced as they all got off after tying the boat up. They all stood on the jetty, facing each other. "My parents probably already arranged my funeral."

"Same. My mother's probably already bought the casket," nodded Tyler. "I really don't care at this point. The only way she'll get me back to Figure Eight is if she's dragging me."

Pope joined in. "I also predict unpleasantries at the Heyward household, after I left the truck in Charleston."

"Hmm," nodded John B.

It didn't escape Elora's notice that these three were the only ones that complained. She supposed it was only natural. She and John B didn't have parents, and the ones JJ and Sarah had were deadbeats. No complaints, just the way it was.

JJ, meanwhile, was looking around at them all. "No one knows we're here, right?"

"Yup," Elora nodded.

JJ looked at JB and Sarah. "And you two aren't gonna get into anymore trouble for showing up twelve hours later. Am I right or am I right?"

"You're not wrong," Pope informed him.

"So that means we have twelve hours to do fuck all and piss around," Elora smirked.

"Bingo! Right on the money!" JJ grinned, hi fiving Elle, looking at all of them. "Huh? A little Pogue fellowship, how does that sound?"

"Yeah, let the shit hit the fan tomorrow," smiled John B.

"Too right," Elora grinned.

"The cops could be looking for us," Sarah shook her head. "It could be really stupid."

"Sarah Cameron," JJ walked up to the girl, grinning. "Have you ever heard my analogy?" He rattled it off, all the Pogues except Tyler and Sarah mouthing along. "Stupid things have good outcomes all the time."

"Yeah!" Elora grinned, running up the jetty. "Come on, let's get a J and some beer!"

"Whoo! There she is!" JJ joined her, the both of them on their way back up to the Chateau.

So yes, maybe it was a fucking stupid idea. And maybe it wouldn't pay off.

But as Elora, JJ, Kie and John B got beer and weed and lighters and all of them hopped aboard the HMS Pogue, Elle couldn't help but feel amazing. She was laughing and giggling and just being an idiot with all her friends.

And to be honest, when the weed started to hit she forgot all about what was going on with Tyler.

So screw it if this was a bad idea. It seemed pretty damn good to her at the moment.

It would all come back in a few hours anyway.

𔓘𔓘𔓘

As night fell they ended up back at the Chateau in the Cat's Ass (JJ's hot tub). The lights were all around the trees and the three girls were all in bikinis, lazing about and drinking more and more beer.

Elora was in a daze. She was high on not just weed and alcohol, but also on happiness.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" JJ yelled as he jumped in, John B and Pope shotgunning beers just behind.

"Yeahhhhhhh!" John B yelled, raising his arms up as he discarded his beer can on the grass, jumping in himself.

Elora laughed, turning on the water jets as she and the others yelled and splashed and made noise and had fun.

And when she looked over at Tyler, she didn't try to self sabotage or roll her eyes, or avert her gaze. She just stared at him, her gaze softer than ever.

He was so... pretty. I mean, this was definitely the weed talking, but he was. His hair was blonde and his eyes were blue and his skin was bronze and his chest was toned, and he was really really pretty.

"Hey, Elle!" JJ interrupted her daze as he chucked her a beer. "Shotgun it! Come on!"

"Race?" Elora asked, grinning widely as he made to cut his own.

"Hell yeah!"

The beer was cold and fizzy and good as it hit her throat, the others yelling and chanting for her and JJ as they chugged the cans as fast as they could.

And in the end she won, something she could never do against JJ, screaming in joy as the last drop of beer dripped off her lip.

"Fucking hell!" JJ yelled as he finished, throwing his beer down and doing the Pogue handshake with her as a congratulations as everyone around them laughed.

By the end of the night they were all sat around a fire they'd made, the hot tub in the background as they watched Pope and John B wrestle for fun.

Elora sighed, sitting back next to Kie as she smiled. "I've really missed this, guys."

The brunette beside her grinned. "Me too."

"Me three!" Sarah giggled. "I love you guys."

"I love you t-"

"Right, I'm outta here!" Pope announced in a joking tone, heading away from the Chateau towards the HMS Pogue. Elora chuckled slightly, leaning back as who should get up but Kie, soft smile on her face, heading in his direction.

"Really?!" Sarah exclaimed in a squeal.

"Oh yeah, way to be discreet!" JJ rolled his eyes.

"Keep it down, please! Some of us want some sleep!" Elora joined in.

"Seriously? I leave and this is what happens!" John B laughed.

"Yeah, you leave and this whole place falls apart cause JJ's in charge," nodded Tyler.

"Are you blaming me?" JJ raised his eyebrows.

"Just a little bit," Tyler smirked.

"Okay, your boy's out," John B shrugged. "Beer time."

"Okay, you guys are the ones that died, alright?" JJ pointed at him then Sarah.

"Literally one job, JJ," Sarah shrugged. "Elle and Tyler could've helped you."

"Scuse me, don't bring us into this!" Elora said with a laugh.

"Come on-"

"Liteally one job, no Pogue on Pogue macking-"

"Sarah, I swear to god-"

But all their voices faded out as John B went to go and get a beer, looking down at the tree to see their memorial to him. Elora's heart clenched as she watched him, tears in his eyes, then before she could think she was getting up and following him.

As soon as she left JJ cottoned on, the both of them heading to John B, who was sniffling.

"It's a cute art project," he told them in a quiet voice. "Killed the tree, though."

Elora shook her head, her own eyes going glassy. "Who gives a shit, man?"

"Yeah," JJ chuckled slightly, all three of them sniffling now.

"Er..." Elora looked at John B, biting her lip. "I mean, I... we really missed Sarah, like a lot, but... we missed you so much, JB, so much."

John B nodded, welcoming her into a hug.

"I friggin missed you, man," JJ also added, joining in the hug. Elora giggled tearily, crying slightly as she let herself stay here, wrapped up in the embrace of her two favourite idiots.

"So, uh..." John B asked hesitantly as they all pulled apart, looking at Elora. "What's going on with, er- Ty? He seems to really like you, huh?"

Elora shook her head slightly, chuckling slightly. "JB, I'm high as fuck and I've shotgunned about five beers. I don't wanna talk about love."

"Okay," JJ chuckled as he put his hands up, grinning as he began to walk back to the fire where Sarah and Tyler were.

John B, however, looked at Elle scrutinisingly. The girl rolled her eyes, asking. "What?"

"Nothing," John B shrugged, stupidly smug smile on his face. "Just... who said anything about love?"

𔓘𔓘𔓘

As the Pogue sped past the Chateau, both Kie and Pope on it, JJ called. "Oh, alright!"

Elora giggled watching them, Sarah waving and calling. "Have a good time!"

"Yeah, don't be up all night!" Tyler added.

"There he goes," JJ shrugged, turning to face JB. "He jacked your boat, dude."

"Pope's poking on the Pogue," said John B with a shit eating grin.

Elora cupped her hands around her mouth and wolf whistled, grinning widely.

At least one couple was coming out of this.

JJ clapped John B on the shoulder. "You should probably-"

"Wait, wait, wait, wait," John B held a hand up. "What was that?"

"The chickens?" JJ shrugged.

JB shook his head. "I heard a car door."

They all went silent, the only noises heard being the chickens clucking in the background. Elora was frozen, looking in the direction John B's eyes were pointed, confused about whether there actually was someone there or if it was all just imaginary.

But it wasn't.

Because that second, just out the corner of her eye, Elora saw movement.

Her head jerked to the side, her eyes narrowing as she spotted two figures speaking up the hill towards them.

"Shit," she hissed, turning to the others. "We need to go! Go! Go!"

As John B rushed to put the fire out, she, Sarah, JJ and Tyler frantically searched for a place to hide, knowing running wasn't really viable. They knew the house was a stupid option, and quite frankly, so were many of the others running through Elle's head.

So, when Tyler pointed up at the trees, his twinkling blue eyes connecting with her fear riddled cloudy ones, she made no attempt to hide the relief she felt inside her as she nodded.

Climbing the trees was hard. Having to sit next to Tyler on a limb, crouched together in fear as they watched the figures grow closer was impossible.

JJ, Sarah and John B were just across from them, their fear all mirrored in each other's expressions. Elora and Tyler, however, had ended up in the same place, their sides pressed together as they stared down at the ground.

It was ironic, really; how much comfort he brought her. How he was calming her shaking body with not so much as a word. How he was the boy she could never and would never have, yet he could make her feel so so safe.

That was until she saw who the two fuckers sneaking up the hill were.

Barry.

And Rafe.

To be honest, Elora didn't even really feel scared anymore. She felt angry. She felt angry because Rafe was clearly hunting them down to frame John B and put him away for a crime he committed. He was a fucking psycho, and fuck, she wished she could slap it out of him.

She watched as Barry and Rafe sneaked up the hill, surveying the house, the hot tub, and the fire's ashes. She silently cursed as she saw the gun glitter in Barry's hands, the man heading into the house whilst his blonde sidekick stayed outside.

"Where the hell are you?" He muttered, loud enough for all five of them to hear it.

Elora was breathing heavily, her heart hammering against her chest as she slowly heaved in breaths. Everything in her told her not to do it, but she looked sideways at Tyler, meeting those blue eyes. He was looking back at her, her own concern mirrored in his face, an unspoken message pulsing between the two of them.

We're gonna be fine.

But how do you know that?

SMASH!

"URGH!"

Elora jumped violently as the sound of glass smashing travelled to her ears, turning to see Barry, marching out the house after having smashed a bottle through the window.

"Yo!" Rafe shouted in surprise. "Anything?"

"No. Ain't shit in there, bro."

"No? Nothing?"

"No, nothing, Rafe."

They were right below them. Just one look up and they'd be able to see-

"They were obviously just here based off the smoke!" Rafe yelled, gesturing to the fire they'd just put out. Shit.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, great observation, boy scout!"

"Shut up! They've gotta be around here somewhere."

All five Pogues were now looking between each other, eyes wide and full of worry.

Then Rafe and Barry caught sight of the memorial carved into the tree, laughing loudly about it.

"P4L!" Barry laughed.

Rafe grinned as well, directing his gun at the tree. "Well, shit."

"Your sister's a Pogue for life, huh, Rafe?" Barry smirked. "Now who would've thought?"

Elora looked to Sarah, who was gasping, eyes wide, teary and fearful.

Rafe just nodded, clenching his jaw before he collapsed, screaming. "SHIT!"

They all jumped up above, Elora shifting further into Tyler's side.

Barry chuckled lowly. "Alright, chill."

Rafe didn't chill, instead raising his gun and shooting the memorial once, twice, three times before Barry got him away, leaving considerable holes in the middle of it.

Then he shot up at the tree, a bullet hitting the limb JJ was resting on and the trunk, about a millimetre from Elora's head.

The girl gasped in fear, ducking to the side to see the bullet, lodged in the tree, right next to her. If Rafe had had just a tiny bit more shit aim, she could've been d-

Tyler grabbing her hand and squeezing it silenced those thoughts. He let go a second later, mind, but it didn't matter because he'd offered her all the comfort in the world.

Meanwhile, on the ground, Barry was yelling at Rafe.

"You're gonna get our asses busted, man! Let's bounce! Let's bounce, let's go!"

Elora was all locked up as she watched them run, subconsciously reaching for Tyler's hand and clutching it for dear life. She deliberately didn't look at him. She couldn't take those blue eyes.

Because although tonight had been amazing and terrifying all at the same time, it hadn't changed anything between them.

She still wasn't good enough for him.

Not by a long shot.

𔓘𔓘𔓘

"Guys, stop! Don't tie up! Don't tie up!"

The next morning, as soon as Kie and Pope showed up on the HMS Pogue, the others were ready. They ran down to the jetty, John B helping Sarah, all their stuff with them.

"What's going on?" Kie asked, very confused.

"We're dipping," JJ, who had ran down with Elle, answered.

"What?!"

"Where'd you guys go? What happened last night?" John B questioned, due to the fact they'd been up the whole night waiting for the Pogue to come back with Pope and Kie.

"We slept on the break, what's up?" Pope questioned.

"Oh, slept," JJ scoffed, looking between the two of them. "We were up all night."

"We gotta get the hell outta here," John B said.

"Rafe knows we're here," Elora summarised.

"Yeah, so we have to leave, like, now," Sarah added.

"Wait, you saw him?" Kie demanded.

"Saw him? He almost shot Elle and JJ!" Tyler fumed.

"Wha-?"

"Later! Come on, Kie! Help me with this," Elora leaned down and began to untie the ropes on the Pogue.

They ended up out in the marshes, all off the Pogue and in the bushes, sitting around and making a plan.

"Look, if Rafe and Barry know we're here, it's only a matter of time," Sarah laid out.

"Before everyone knows," Pope finished.

"I told you!" JJ snarled. "We should've just gone south, man!"

"Just stop it-"

"Why does nobody ever listen to m-?"

"JJ, shut up!" Elora yelled sharply. "Listen, us two may have deadbeat parents and John B's dad may be- y'know, but everyone else has family here. We can't just leave!"

She held JJ's gaze, trying not to feel the way Tyler's was ripping into her.

She knew what he would say if he was to respond. That his family was deadbeat, too, and that he was in the same category as them.

He wasn't.

However, Sarah spoke up before any of them could say anymore.

"I have an idea."

She was looking down, biting her lip and squeezing her teary eyes. "With me back, my dad's going to have to choose between me and Rafe," she explained, looking around at them.

John B shook his head. "Sarah- Sarah-"

"He's going to choose me!" Sarah told her boyf- no, her husband.

"Just please listen," John B implored. "Ward keeps lying to you, Sarah."

Kie nodded. "Sarah, he's not gonna agree after all that's happened."

"No, I- I know it sounds crazy," Sarah said.

"Sounds fucking insane," Elora nodded.

"I know!" Sarah yelled, tone desperate. "But he's my dad. And I- I know he loves me."

She looked up at all of them. "I'm just asking for two hours."

JJ put his hands up, John B shifted slightly and Elora bit her lip.

Nobody objected.

So Sarah got up slowly, tucking her hair behind her ears and leaving. Elora didn't watch her go, instead opting to bite her lip. John B followed her, calling her name.

"This isn't gonna work," JJ was muttering.

"It might," Tyler said.

"No," Elora shook her head, looking up at him with a harsh expression. "No, it's really not."

𔓘𔓘𔓘

Two hours had come and gone.

They were halfway through the second when Elora, who was sitting on the beach, looking out at the waves lapping against the sand, felt a body sit down next to her.

She didn't have to look around to know who it was, and her voice was shaky and unfocused as she said. "Hey, Tyler."

She wasn't yelling anymore. She wasn't going to fight.

But she wasn't going to give in, either.

"Er... hey," Tyler said, glancing at her. "I just... I just wanted to say that I know we haven't talked in a bit, but-"

"Tyler, did you know Sarah and John B got married?" Elora turned to him, her eyes full of some emotion he couldn't decode.

"No?" Tyler sounded very confused.

Elora just shrugged. "Well, they did."

She was shaking her head, biting her lip to stop the tears coming. "She's just committed to being a Pogue, and look where that's got her. She was fucking shot, Tyler."

She was being mean again. She didn't care.

"Elle, I'd take more than just one bullet if it meant I got to be with you," Tyler admitted, his voice getting lower and lower.

Elora just stared at him.

"But why?" She asked, shaking her head. "Why would you do that? I-"

"Guys! Guys, it's Sarah!"

Both Elora and Tyler stopped talking at the sight of their friend, speeding to the beach on the Pogue. Sarah was shaking, a few tears on her face as she stopped the boat, getting off. They all ran to her, Pope asking. "What happened?"

Sarah just shook her head. "You guys were right. It didn't work. I'm sorry."

"No, we're sorry," Elora said, giving the girl a small hug. "We shouldn't have acted like that, it was worth a try."

Sarah's lips twitched. "Thanks, Elle."

"Well, that settles it, guys!" JJ announced. "Now, y'all need to load up in the paddy wagon and get the heck outta Dodge right now."

"JJ-" Tyler started.

"Right, and you'll need supplies," Pope, however, was jumping on JJ's bandwagon. "You'll have to split as soon as possible."

But Kie was shaking her head, looking out at the sea in front of them. "Guys, I think it's too late."

And she was right.

Because out on the water were three police boats, lights and sirens on. And at the head of the middle one was an SBI officer, leaning out the front, megaphone in hand.

"They followed you here?" John B asked Sarah.

She shook her head.

"Must've been Ward," Elora said, the name tasting bitter on her lips. "Come on, we need to find a way outta here!"

"STAY ON THE BEACH WITH YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR!" The SBI's command floated in from the megaphone.

"Go now! GO!" Pope shouted at John B, as Elora dragged Sarah and all seven of them made a run for it.

"Go! We've gotta outrun them!"

The SBI was quick behind them, reaching the beach in record time and taking their guns with them.

They got up into the woods, all screaming and yelling and panicking because shit, it was almost over-

"Sarah, you good?" Kie yelled behind them, because Sarah was gasping in pain, tears on her face.

"Yeah," Sarah's voice was shaky and wobbly, but it was still there.

"Go! Go!"

They looped round back to the water, all getting in and beginning to wade round to some sort of escape.

"Freeze!"

"STOP!"

"GUYS, GO!" Elora screamed, bringing up the rear as the SBI appeared in the water, scrambling up out the water with the rest of them as they ran back round, finding a decently sized tree that they all barrelled behind.

But as if the SBI wasn't bad enough, the county sheriff's department was now showing up. Elora knew Shoupe would be there, determined to catch John B, and to be honest, she didn't know who she hated more at the moment, him or Ward.

"We're trapped, they surrounded us!" Pope hissed, looking at the SBI on one side, and the sheriff's department on the other. "What do we do?"

"There's no getting outta this, we gotta make a stand," JJ said determinedly, pulling the gun from his pocket.

"JJ..." Tyler shook his head, his eyes going wide.

"No," Elora silenced him. "No, let him do it."

But there was one person in the group that wasn't going to let him do it.

And that was John B.

He ran up to JJ, grabbing the gun and making direct eye contact with him until he stopped struggling. Then, he took the weapon and deposited it on the ground, looking around at all of them with wide and teary eyes.

"It's gonna be alright," he whispered, emotion filling his every syllable.

He touched JJ's cheek before he turned. "Here we go."

Elora squeezed her eyes shut as she watched JJ cover the gun with the dirt on the ground, the police cars skidding in right next to them. She watched, burning with anger as Shoupe got out of it.

"John B!" He yelled, pointing his gun right at him. "Step out into the clearing!"

John B put his hands up, the others behind him all in shock. Sarah was crying, Kie and Elle not far behind. JJ was tensed, and Pope and Tyler were in shock.

"Get down! Do not move-"

"I'm surrendering!" John B announced as he did as Shoupe said.

"Hands up, John B! Right, the rest of y'all stay where you are!" Shoupe ordered. "Keep your hands where I can see them!"

"Listen, Shoupe, I wanna testify!" John B shouted as he neared the sheriff, hands still up.

"It's about time! Get down! Do not move a muscle, everyone else, do not move!"

Elora watched, shaking her head as John B got pushed to the ground, hands on his head.

But then one of the deputies - Thomas, Elora remembered from when he was working with DCS, came forwards, slamming John B to the ground and punching and kicking him.

The Pogues screamed and cried for him, but to no avail.

"STOP IT!"

"LET HIM GO! LET HIM GO!"

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HIM!"

"SHERIFF WHAT IS THAT? YOU GONNA LET THAT HAPPEN-?"

"STOP, PLEASE!"

"GET AWAY!" Elora, who was shaking with sobs, made to move forwards until the barrell of a gun was pushed to her head.

"Don't. Move."

"Thomas!" Shoupe yelled, but the deputy did not listen, hauling John B to his feet and looking him directly in the eye.

"This is for Peterkin."

THUMP.

"NO!"