Tyler walked down the dock of his Figure Eight house, sitting on the end of it, dipping his toes in the water.

It was the morning after the anniversary party, and he had a lot of feelings to work through.

'Kooks... and Pogues.'

He thought about the beginning of the summer. The first time he'd seen Elora Easton in ages, at that Boneyard party, back when he'd been a dickhead.

'Two tribes.'

She'd slapped him that night.

'One island.'

He thought about their time on the boat, when Pope, John B and JJ had trapped them all and made them make up.

'I thought it was obvious. When I started that hunt for gold, when I fell for Elora Easton... I gave up my Kook card.'

He remembered the adventures they went on, the way he fell for Elora so easily. The way he felt when she almost drowned in that sewer. The way he told her he loved her, and she said it back. A while later, of course.

'The deal was done. It was Poguelandia forever.'

That fucking island... he'd had the times of his life there, with his seven best friends, one of whom just so happened to be his girlfriend. He thought about the stargazing, the races, cooking fish over a hit fire, going hunting for more wood. He'd loved it.

He thought about Elora. About how they'd defined their relationship there. About all the places they'd kissed each other there. About the way he'd realised she was it for him there.

And then just like that, all that was broken.

'When we got back to Kildare... it was all reversed. Suddenly, her mom was back, and I was being forced back to mine.

Her family may be shit, but... she had something to fight for.

And me... I had nothing left.'

He thought about facing his mom, about her bribe for him to become a Kook again. He thought about how that had changed him, how he was so distraught, yet so one-minded.

'I had my family, and I had the Kooks.

Waiting to take me back'

He thought about being on that beach at Mase, about all those girls talking to him, wanting him. Wanting him as if his heart wasn't already taken, given to his golden girl with red hair and blue eyes.

'But none of them were worth anything.

Not compared to her.'

He didn't know what to do anymore. He didn't know what would work.

'Born a Kook. Became a Pogue.'

"You're the love of my life, Elle," he'd told her on that island.

"You're the love of my life too, Ty," she'd replied.

He'd loved her even when she was drowning in a sewer. Even when she had punched his brother. Even when she pushed herself into danger, to avoid others from facing it.

And he had enjoyed being a Pogue. He had enjoyed smoking weed and shotgunning beers. He had enjoyed parties in the Cat's Ass, laughing until his chest hurt. He had enjoyed loving them, and being loved by them.

"We really thought you were a Pogue, dude," JJ had told him last night, his eyes narrowed with anger for what he'd done to Elle.

He didn't blame him. He'd really thought he was one, too.

'So which am I really?

Kook?

Or Pogue?

I want to be a Pogue.

But I'm being forced to be a Kook.

So honestly, at this point... I don't even know myself.'

𔓘𔓘𔓘

John B had gone through it almost worse than Elle had last night.

When he'd gone back to get Topper, he'd punched him, and even when he was done, he'd continued to. And whilst Elora agreed that was wrong, Topper was a fucking dick.

So, the next morning, whilst she sat in the armchair in the corner at the Chateau with one of JJ's shirts on and mascara stains under her eyes, icing her busted lip, JJ and John B angrily discussed last night.

"It's something about the dude's face, y'know?" John B ranted, quoting what he had said. "Like the whole, 'not hard feelings, bro', you know what I'm saying?"

"'No hard feelings', it's kinda hard not to have hard feelings about that," JJ rolled his eyes.

"It's just that- that look, that Kook look, you know what I'm saying?" John B growled.

"It was clear provucation-"

"-provocation-"

"Provocation, and, uh, I mean, you did what you had to do," JJ shrugged. "No choice about it. Just like Elle here- wait, Elle? You alright?"

Both boys turned to Elora, who was staring off into the distance.

"Yeah," she nodded, her head snapping round. "Yeah, I'm fine, I mean... Ruthie deserved it, right?"

"Absolutely," nodded JJ. "And to be honest, I'm kinda annoyed I didn't give Tyler a pop whilst we were at it."

"I'm glad you didn't," Elora said dimly. "Ruthie's not gonna take this lying down."

"Well, you roughed her up pretty bad," JJ chuckled. "Amazing right hook by the way, Elle. Someone taught you well."

Elora rolled her eyes, remembering his self defence lessons on the Chateau lawn in eighth grade. "Well, that's Tyler finished with. He can go and fuck off with her whilst we find a way to South America. How are we doing that, by the way?"

"I don't know, but we need to figure out a plan, like, yesterday," John B said, heading inside the house, the other two following him. "I mean, they've got my dad."

"You got any food real quick, though?" JJ asked.

John B ignored him. "So I was thinking passports, right? We don't have those, therefore we can't fly commercial, so we need other ideas."

"Okay, well, why don't you use the money we took from Portis?" JJ asked as they entered the kitchen, looking in the fridge.

"I gave that to my dad," sighed JB.

"What about a boat?" Elora asked. "If we get a boat we can maybe get down there cause the HMS won't."

"Oh, Limbrey!" JJ yelled. "Limbrey has a boat! What if we took that one down?"

"She took that back," sighed John B. "So we're out of boats."

"So what you're saying is," JJ sighed. "We don't got any money, and we also don't got a boat that can make it to South America."

"Great," Elora rolled her eyes.

"Unbelievable," JJ muttered. "Wait actually, I might know a guy. I'm onto something!"

Yeah, he was onto something, but that was just as a cop car pulled into the drive.

"Uh-oh," John B let out as he and Elora ducked.

"What do you mean 'uh-oh', dude? You're so negative-"

"JJ, get down!" Elora hissed, pulling the guy down. "Shoupe is literally out front right now!"

They heard the door of the car slam and Shoupe's voice carry through the house.

"Alright, John B, alright, Elora!"

"Shit-" the three of them crawled through the kitchen as the shouting continued.

"Yoo-hoo! Anybody home?"

"Under there, get under there-" JJ pointed at a table which John B and JJ crawled under, leaving Elle to get under the kitchen one.

"Alright, John B, I know you're in there!" Shoupe's voice was louder this time. "And Elora, I checked your house and you weren't there, so you'll be here too, I expect!"

Elora cursed everything as they heard the knock on the door.

"If he sees you two, this is game over," JJ whispered.

Elora could only say one word. "I know."

"I know you can hear me in there!" Shoupe shouted, banging on the door again. "You two need to come out and talk to me, it'll be a whole load worse if you don't!"

"Like hell we're talking to him," Elora hissed, as the noise fell silent.

For about ten seconds, it was silence, and nothing could be heard.

Then Shoupe shouted. "Okey doke, have it your way. You both know where you can find me."

Elora was confused as she heard the sound of the cop car pulling out the drive and heading away from the Chateau. She knew why Shoupe wanted her and John B, of course. Because of what they'd done last night to Topper and Ruthie.

"Alright, let's peel!" JJ whispered when the car could no longer be heard.

Elora chambered out from underneath the table, saying. "Alright, Jayj, what's your plan?"

"Well, it's a little sketchy, but I think it might work," shrugged JJ.

"No, no, no, no, wait. What plan?" John B asked.

"If I tell you both now when the plan is half baked, you'll be negative!" JJ protested.

"Look, I would settle for a quarter baked plan right now, JJ-"

"I would go for an a hundreth baked one," Elora snorted.

"Blah blah blah, come on!" JJ said, leading them out the Chateau. "Let's go!"

𔓘𔓘𔓘

"...some derelict named John B. He hit him, and hit him even after he was unconscious! Can you believe that? Thank god the CT scan and the BTI both came back negative. Oh, and whilst I'm on that subject, Ruthie Gordon, one of my best friends' daughter, was also struck down by the little minx, Elora Easton! She was completely unprovoked, just looking for a fight..."

Tyler was done with this shit.

Sure, Topper had had to get stitches, and maybe Ruthie's bruises were gonna take a while to heal, but this was uncalled for.

He didn't know who his mother was speaking to on the phone, but what he did know was she'd been going on and on for ages, and it was all bullshit.

"She's completely right, Ty," Topper said, coming into the kitchen, gesturing to their mom. His cheeks were both purple and the stitches just above his eye were very prominent, but Tyler couldn't find it within himself to care. "You did well to not get involved, as well."

"Did I?" Tyler asked sarcastically, looking down.

"Of course," chuckled Topper. "From what I've heard, your ex-girlfriend was on the warpath last night. Bet you're glad to be rid of her now."

He and Topper used to have conversations like this all the time. Thinking about that made Tyler hate himself even more.

"Yeah," he lied through his teeth, nodding.

"You know I could've taken John B, right?" His brother changed the subject. "But, you know, I... I took the high road. Didn't wanna ruin Mike and Anna's party."

"Yeah, okay," nodded Tyler.

"But now I look like I couldn't even take the guy, so unfortunately for John B, I'm getting even another way," Topper continued. "I'm gonna get mom to help me press charges, just like Ruthie is, then I'm gonna get Sarah to testify against him-"

"What did you just say?" Tyler asked, backtracking.

Topper frowned. "I'm gonna get Sarah to-"

"No, before that."

"Oh, Ruthie, she texted this morning," said Topper, shrugging. "Said her mom's helping her and they're pressing assault charges on Elora. Serves her right, in my opinion, did you see what happened?"

"Yeah, uh-" Tyler came to a stop as their mom came into the room.

"They're going in this afternoon," she said, looking between her son's. "You saw the whole thing, Tyler. Actually, Ruthie's mom was asking me this morning if you'd come in and testify."

Tyler looked between Cynthia and Topper, knowing there was no way out of this apart from going to Kansas.

But also, he couldn't. He couldn't testify against the girl he loved, because he knew she'd been provoked and he also knew that Ruthie had fought back.

But he had to.

"Uh, sure," he said, with a nervous look back at Topper. "Er- could I speak to her? Y'know, before it happens. Just so I know what I'm saying."

Just so I can beg her not to press charges.

"Yes, of course," Cynthia smiled at her son. "I'm so pleased you're beginning to turn your life around, Tyler. These Pogues mean nothing but trouble and I'm glad you've dropped them."

I'm not.

But right now wasn't time to start a fight about the Pogues.

He needed to find Ruthie, and tell her to not press charges.

Elora may hate him right now, but he still loved her.

And he'd never ever stop.

𔓘𔓘𔓘

Elora didn't know what to think as JJ drove the Twinkie round to a Pogue diner called Rockfish.

"Oh, perfect! Rockfish, the place you go to bash beer bottles into people's heads," John B said to JJ, sarcasm dripping in his tone.

Elora rolled her eyes. "Love that for us, JJ-"

"Okay, listen, there's a guy here, that's always here, moves a lot of weight. My dad used to work for him, let's go!" He got out the car, and Elora and John B exchanged one glance, thinking the same thing.

"JJ, wait," Elora called JJ from the window. "Please don't say Barracuda Mike."

"Okay," JJ shrugged. "I won't."

"Oh, shut the fuck up!"

As they marched inside Rockfish, John B and Elora both tried widly to discourage JJ.

"Come on, there's gotta be a better option than this," John B said desperately.

"No, there's not," JJ said firmly. "We don't have a lot of time and your dad needs help, so this guy is gonna be the key to getting down to South America ASAP."

He pointed to Barracuda Mike, who at a first glance was a seemingly okay guy, gutting a fish on the other side of the bar.

"He sells weed and he's a jackass, JJ," Elora muttered. "He and my mom had like a- a fling back in the day. And whilst I know she flings with everyone, this is-"

"Alright, I understand that, so then you just need to let me do the talking," JJ said, tapping her on the shoulder as he advanced forward. "Yo, Mike! You remember me, right? It's on the tip of your tongue, J-"

"Luke's son!" Barracuda Mike lifted the machete he was using to gut the fish, his gaze sliding from him to Elle in a second. "And my goodness, is that Elora Easton?"

"Yep," Elora said, biting her lip.

"Alright, uh, well I also go by JJ, and this here is our good friend John B," JJ told Mike, pointing at the guy in question.

"Routledge!" Mike said.

"In the flesh, yep," nodded John B.

"Heard stories about you three," commented Mike, pointing at JB. "I mean, he's a stone cold cop-killer."

"No, I'm not," John B told him.

JJ sighed. "Mike, I'm gonna be honest here, okay? We're in a little patch of trouble, and we're trying to get down to South America-"

"Well, I'm sorry, slick, but I done sold the travel agency," said Mike.

JJ's face split into a smile and he chuckled. "Well, I mean, we're not looking for a free handout here, alright? We understand it's a two way road, alright? Symbiotic relationship, that's what we're trying to get at, so we just need to parlee-"

"Parley," Elora cut in.

"Parley, um... in private," JJ finished. "If that's cool with you."

Mike sighed and chucked down his cloth, coming round to speak to him.

"Just stay here-" JJ began.

"Hell nah, you're not leaving us here," Elora said instantly.

But that's exactly what he did, heading off in the direction Mike went, calling behind him. "Just stay here, alright?"

"Fucking hell," Elora growled, holding a hand up to her forehead.

John B nodded, looking down. "You can certainly say that again, Elle."

Elora looked up at him, saying. "Your knuckles still stinging too?"

"Sorta," John B chuckled, trying to make light of it. "How was your first fight?"

"Second, now, actually," Elora sighed. "Rafe, a month ago," she added when John B frowned.

"Well, they both deserved it," nodded John B, sighing. "I just- I can't get Topper out my head. Like, why the hell did he have to go and say that?"

"Well, I can't get his brother out mine, so... fairs fair, I guess," Elora sighed, shaking her head. "God, how did this get so messed up?"

John B sighed, both of them smiling despite themselves.

When JJ came back looking immensely pleased with himself, they wasted no time in getting out of there, JB immediately asking. "Okay, so what do we have to do?"

"Just a little something," smirked JJ.

"Yeah, that's bullshit JJ, what is it?" Elora demanded.

"Alright, it's literally the easiest job in the world, Elle," JJ said. "We just need to unload some weed from one of Mike's planes, and then we get a space in the cargo hold, that's all we're doing, okay? Once we do that, we punch our tickets, get on to South America, sipping on some pina coladas, alright? It's gonna be a piece of cake."

Elora scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, and I've got no interest in eating it."

JJ just shrugged, chucking the keys at her. "You're driving, Elle, get in!"

𔓘𔓘𔓘

The Gordon household was just like the Thornton one, and Tyler fucking hated it.

"Oh, thank god you're here!" The moment he got there, Ruthie pulled him upstairs. Her face was swollen and purple, and her eyes was black.

"Can you believe what that bitch did to me?" Ruthie demanded, pacing when they got to her room, allowing him to sit down on the bed. "I mean, she's so jealous of me that she had to insult me, and then she starts punching me-"

"And now you're pressing charges?" Tyler cut across her, looking up.

"Well, yeah," Ruthie said. "Why wouldn't I? You saw what she did to me!"

"Yeah, uh... yeah I did," Tyler wasn't sure what he was doing right now, all he knew was that he could not stand by and watch the love of his life get arrested.

"Yeah, well, she's gonna be locked up by tomorrow, and you won't have to worry about her any longer," smirked Ruthie, looking at Tyler, who wasn't smiling. "What's wrong, aren't you happy?"

He wasn't.

"Listen, Ruthie, uh..." he didn't know what he was doing.

"Yeah?" Ruthie asked, peering at him suspiciously.

"Well, whilst I sympathise that Elora did, uh... overstep, would you consider, um... dropping the charges?"

He knew as soon as he said it that he'd made a mistake.

"What?" Ruthie's angry tone cut through him like a knife.

"It's just, uh- Elora's been in a bit of a rough place at the moment, I don't know if you've heard but her mom's back, and-"

"And why do you care?" Ruthie demanded. "You broke up with her, you shouldn't care."

"I don't-"

"Really? It sure seems like it!" Ruthie snapped, gesturing to her face. "Tyler, look at what she did to me! I would've thought you'd care a little more!"

"I do, I- I know," Tyler sighed. "Just- just listen, please-"

"I'm not dropping the charges," Ruthie snapped. "If Elora Easton wants to cry about mommy not loving her, she can do it from a prison cell."

And as she left the room, presumably to go and speak to her mom, Tyler felt a little bit of himself deflate.

He wasn't sure what to do anymore.

All he knew was that by day's end Elle couldn't be in prison.

And he was willing to do a lot to make sure she didn't end up there.