She was thinking of Tyler when she left the Twinkie with John B and JJ, walking up to where they'd meet Barracuda Mike.

Where was he?

What was he doing?

Was he thinking of her?

Did he really hate her?

"I... I don't know about this," John B voiced as they walked towards the site.

"Me too," Elora said, being pulled out of her thoughts about Tyler.

JJ sighed. "Guys, you're doing too much worrying about this, okay? It's just farmers who brought organic seeds from South America that we're gonna unload."

"No, it's weed that we're smuggling," Elora rephrased.

"I agree with Elle," John B spoke up. "This isn't a good idea, JJ-"

"Do you wanna get your dad or not?" JJ asked the boy.

"Yes I do! Okay?" John B asked. "Look, this has to work out, alright? I doubted him and I blamed him, and all this time, he was just trying to protect me."

"Yeah, well, for all we know, my mom's already trying to get him, so we need to hurry the fuck up," Elora said.

"Right, okay, the two of you listen, okay?!" JJ shouted, getting in front of them and laying a hand on each of their shoulders. "You know who you're gonna have to trust right now? Papa J. Okay? I got this, one hundred percent."

Elora shrugged. "I'll give you forty."

"Well, sixty percent would be good, actually," shrugged John B.

When they got to the cargo plane, all they saw was a rusted old junk plane, and a car next to it.

"Holy shit, look at that thing," John B commented.

"Yeah, dude, it's like an RV with wings," added JJ.

Elora rolled her eyes.

However, when they got up round the plane, they saw that there was already a bunch of people unloading the weed bags. Their job.

"Fuck, they're already unloading," Elora cursed

"Oh shit," JJ's eyes widened, strolling up to Mike and raising his voice. "Yo! We aren't late, are we?"

"No," Mike replied. "But there was a change of plan, though."

"Oh," JJ frowned. "Uh, okay."

"You three are gonna drive the truck up to Elizabeth City and make the drop," Mike strode forward and pressed the keys into JJ's hands. "The address is in the truck. There'll be a dummy car for you to use to come back. The plane'll still be waiting."

"Wait, what?" Elora asked. "You want us to... drive the truck?"

"Correct," nodded Barracuda.

"Alright, let me just borrow them for a second," Elora pulled John B and JJ aside, hissing as soon as they got there. "This is not what we talked about, this is illeg-"

"It don't matter what we talked about," Mike jumped in. "In for a penny, in for a pound. You do this, you get your ride."

"Yeah, it's just that-" John B started.

"If not," Mike leaned close to JJ. "You know how this works, right?"

They looked around to see two of his buddies, the ones that had been unloading, staring them down harshly.

"Now, Highway Patrol is changing shifts as we speak," said Mike, holding out the keys. "This is the window. Take it to the drop house on Prospect. Directions are in the truck. Any luck, we'll have you back before sundown. Come on. Take the key."

JJ looked from him to the key, then took it. "Yeah, no problem. Get in the truck," he added to John B and Elora.

Neither of whom were enthusiastic.

𔓘𔓘𔓘

"Do you have any idea what's in the back?" John B demanded from the side of the truck.

"Yes, John B, I know what's in the back!" JJ shouted from the driver's seat.

"Really? Cause it sure doesn't seem like it!" Elora snapped from where she was squished in between them.

"It's gonna be fine, it's gonna work out, alright?" JJ said firmly.

"I am sick of your bullshit plans, man!" John B shouted.

"Yeah, this is illegal!" Elora added.

"And I'm just saying, this might actually top the time you told me to fake appendicitis in jail," John B finished.

"Yeah, and that almost worked!" JJ shrugged. "Get the map out. I have no idea where I'm going."

"Alright, we need to get to one fight eight, okay?" Elora said, hauling the map up onto her lap.

"Alright," JJ stole it from her. "This is gonna be a nice-"

"Cop," John B muttered. "JJ, JJ there's a cop."

And yes, there was. Just up ahead of them, pulled in at the side of the road with a crashed car.

"Oh, shut the fuck up," Elora covered her face with her hands.

"Shit," JJ agreed, cursing under his breath.

"Okay, play it cool," John B said.

"I am cool-"

"No, you're not cool-"

"You both look like you're on-"

"Don't finish that sentence, Elle, I'm cool-"

"I'm as cool as it gets-"

"I'm just gonna wave," announced JJ, miming a small wave.

"Please don't," Elora tried to discourage him.

"I'm just gonna wave, Elle, it's fine!"

So, as they rode past, he looked out the window, waved and said. "Hi, officer."

"JJ-" John B darted past Elora and tried to stop him, causing the truck to swerve slightly before getting back on track.

"Why'd you touch me?!" JJ yelled after they were out of range.

"Don't wave at cops! Rule number one of driving a U-haul!" John B shouted back. "Five minutes, we've been in the car for five minutes-"

"Oh hell no, he's getting in," Elora slapped a palm to her forehead, watching in the wing mirrors to see the cop JJ had just waved to climbing into his car.

And then the sirens started.

"Shit!" JJ shouted, accelerating faster. "He's coming! Shit! Damn it! Right come on, goblin mode, alright? We gotta lose him, okay?"

"Goblin mode?! What does that even mean, JJ-?"

"That's what we gotta do! Hang on! Hang on! I got this!"

Elora and John B held on as the blonde went faster and faster, their surroundings blurring into one around them as they sped into a forest area and JJ turned off the road, into the bushes, stopping onto a few metres off the road.

"Get out! Go! Go! Go!"

They hurriedly jumped out the U-haul, John B shouting. "I swear to god if we get out of this, I'm gonna kill you!"

"We're gonna kill you together!" Elora helled.

"Well, you won't have to cause Barracuda Mike's gonna kill us first," JJ replied as they ran through the forest, unsure if they were evading the cops or not.

When they eventually got back to the Twinkie, they were out of breath and panting, the three of them all harbouring stitches.

"My dad is somewhere in South America right now," panted John B, his tone angry. "Probably with a knife to his throat, and what are we doing? Moving weight? In Goblin mode-?"

"How many times will you complain about me trying to help you SAVE YOUR DAD?!" JJ shouted, his tone angrier than ever.

Elora, who was in between the two boys, shook her head. "Guys, listen-"

"Help is the exact opposite of what you're doing right now!" John B ignored her, his eyes locked on JJ.

"You know what? You're right," the blonde spoke, bitterness in his tone. "You're absolutely right. But you know whose fault that is? You and your treasure obsessed father-"

"JJ, stop," Elora snapped, turning his gaze to her. "Just st-"

"You know, you could take some responsibility for this as well, Elora!" JJ's bitterness cut straight through her as he turned, his blue eyes filled with anger. "Cause if your mom hadn't been the maniac she is, then maybe we wouldn't be here right now either!"

Anger tore through Elle, and before she could even fathom what was happening she was advancing forwards, both hands outstretched, shoving him backwards with all the anger coursing through her.

"Shut the fuck up about my mom."

JJ stumbled back, chuckling slightly as he did. "Oh, okay! That's where we're going, huh?"

"Yeah, that's where we're going-" before Elora could stop him, John B darted forwards and shoved JJ himself.

"Yeah, and it looks like we just went there too-"

"Come on, man-"

"That's it! I've been waiting for this-"

And Elle just watched as the two boys she would call her bestest friends at the moment fell to the ground, scrabbling and scrambling into a fight.

"Stop it!" She shouted, her voice loud. "Guys, stop!"

And everything just got so much fucking worse when the cop car came speeding round the corner, and Shoupe got out of it.

"Howdy, you three!"

John B and JJ stopped immediately, scrambling upwards.

"Uh..." escaped JJ's mouth.

"Sup, Shoupe?" John B played it cool.

"How you doing?" Elora added, small smile on her face.

"You guys okay?" Shoupe asked as he approached them.

"Yeah, they were just, uh... y'know," Elora shrugged. "We're- we're all good."

Shoupe shrugged, coming round the back of the Twinkie and unsticking a small black box device from the back.

"Tracker," he explained in one word. "Makes it a lot easier to keep an eye on you hoodlums."

"Well, uh, now you've got us and you can see there's nothing wrong... we wouldn't wanna hold you up," Elora shrugged.

JJ nodded. "Yeah, we'll just get outta your hair-"

"Hold on a minute," Shoupe stopped them. "We just found a U-haul full of drugs out near one five eight. Y'all wouldn't happen to be involved in that, would you?"

"You see that?" JJ turned to them. "That's profiling, and we really don't appreciate it. Like, just cause we're Pogues, you think we're drug dealers? No, no, we're not that desperate, Shoupe!"

"Nah, you've been too busy beating people up and breaking up parties," Shoupe's eyes slid off JJ and onto Elora and John B.

JJ frowned. "Okay, Shoupe, there's an explanation-"

"I hate to break it to you two, but I've got a warrant."

"A warrant?" Elora demanded. "What the f-?"

She cut herself off.

"Yeah," Shoupe nodded. "Both Topper and Ruthie have decided to press charges."

"For what?! No, they started it!" John B protested.

"That is true, they did!" Elora joined him.

Nevertheless, Shoupe took it upon himself to position Elora and John B side by side, hands up against the Twinkie as he searched them.

"Shoupe, this time, I promise I didn't do anything," John B said.

"Yeah, Shoupe I swear on my life, I shouldn't be here," Elora nodded.

"Shoupe, do you know what Ruthie did to Elle and what Topper did to John B?" JJ demanded.

"No, but I know what your guys here did," replied Shoupe, guiding Elora's arms down and shoving her wrists into handcuffs. "They both beat someone up in front of the whole town."

"No, in front of the Kooks," Elora snapped.

"Well, you both kept beating them after they were down, and listen, I know Topper and Ruthie can be douches, but you both know better than that," said Shoupe.

"

Shoupe, come on, man!" JJ protested. "I was right next to Elle for the whole thing, and Ruthie provoked her, she was messing with- with-"

"Tyler Thornton?" Shoupe raised his eyebrows as he put John B in handcuffs. "Yeah, I've heard about that whole situation. We're getting his testimony soon."

What?

Tyler was... he was testifying against her?

Elora didn't know what she felt more of in that moment. Sadness or anger. She could feel the tears pricking her eyes, but she also couldn't believe it.

"Well, Topper was messing with John B's girl, and you'd do the same!" JJ continued fighting Shoupe as the man began to lead both of them over to the car.

"Shoupe, I get it, okay?" John B muttered as they went. "But we cannot be locked up right now."

"Well, you two should've thought of that beforehand," shrugged Shoupe as he opened the door and put John B in, leading Elle round the other side.

And she knew she should be fighting. She knew she could be.

But all she could ask was. "Is Tyler really testifying against me?"

"Last I heard, he was," shrugged Shoupe. "Listen, I get it, Elora, alright? But I can't deny what I've been told."

Elora shook her head. "You don't get it. Not one fucking bit."

As they got into the car, JJ appeared at the window, saying. "Listen, you two, we're gonna fix this, alright? We're gonna get down to South America and save your dad. I promise, okay?"

Elora just looked up at him, biting her lip as the first tear fell down her cheek.

She wanted to fight, to kick, to scream.

But she knew she couldn't do any of that.

So she just silently went with it, glancing at John B as the first tear slid down her face.

South America had just got even further out their reach.

𔓘𔓘𔓘

Ruthie had told him to be outside the courthouse for six.

But he was here at five fifty, due to a last minute request from Sarah Cameron.

"Tyler!"

The blonde in question came running up to him, face a mixture of worry and confusion. Tyler sighed as she approached, saying. "Hey, Sarah."

Sarah dived in immediately, asking. "Have you heard what's happening?"

"Yeah," Tyler nodded, saying bitterly with his eyes on the ground. "Elora and John B are getting arrested."

"Yeah," Sarah let out a breath, her eyes big and wide and full of fear as she looked up at him. "But they can't be locked up, not right now, not when Big John's in South America."

"I know, I went to Ruthie to try and get her to drop the charges, but she's not going to," said Tyler hopelessly.

"Did you tell her to wait?" Sarah asked desperately. "Cause I'm gonna try and get Topper to suspend his for a day, just so they can get away, and then he can press them again."

Tyler shook his head. "I didn't, but she's never gonna agree to that either."

"Just please try," Sarah begged him. "Topper and your mom are coming at six, right?"

"Yeah, and so is Ruthie," nodded Tyler.

"Okay, so you've got ten minutes to come up with a plan," said Sarah.

Tyler was understanding most of this so far, except for one gap in her plan.

"Wait, but they don't have a way to get down," he said. "How are they gonna get to South America without-?"

"I spoke to my dad," Sarah said, her eyes shining slightly. "He's letting us use the plane."

Holy shit.

"Holy shit," muttered Tyler.

This changed everything.

"I know," said Sarah, biting her lip. "I'm gonna try and get everyone together at the Chateau tonight, because I have something to say, and by any luck, Elora and John B should be there."

"Wait, what?" Tyler frowned. "Everyone?"

"Yeah," nodded Sarah. "Everyone."

"So... we're on this list, too, then?" Tyler asked, raising his eyebrows. "The going-to-South-America one?"

Sarah shrugged, still looking conflicted herself.

"I am," she said finally, biting her lip. "If he'll still have me."

He took he to mean John B.

"But with you..." the Cameron girl shrugged. "That's your choice."

Tyler sighed heavily, looking down.

This was it. This was the moment where he decided. The moment he made his choice. Was he going to decline this offer, and go back to his Kook house with his Kook family and live happily ever after in Kooklandia?

Or was he going to go the Chateau, to hear what Sarah had to say, to catch a flight to South America on the Camerons' jet before his mom could realise where he was and ship him off to Kansas?

Easy choice.

He smiled slightly at her, raising his eyebrows. "Did you think you could keep me away?"

Sarah grinned up at him, holding out a hand. "To going full Pogue again?"

Tyler grinned, completing the Pogue handshake with her.

"To going full Pogue again."

𔓘𔓘𔓘

Ruthie Gordon had never looked so terrifying, Tyler decided.

She was smiling at him, standing way too close, and she was just fucking terrifying.

And on top of that, his mom and her mom and Topper and Sarah were standing just a few metres away.

"So, I don't know if you heard but they got her," said the girl before him, grinning smugly. "She's in the station right now."

Tyler faltered for a second. "She's in there?"

"Yeah, Elora's here, Shoupe tracked her and John B down somehow on route twelve," nodded Ruthie. "Thank god, right?"

This was the moment he needed to do it. He needed to just get it over with, and tell her he wasn't going to testify, and that she needed to suspend the charges for a day.

"Hey, uh... can we talk?" He asked. "Like, in private?"

"Yeah, uh... mom? Can you give us a sec?" Ruthie called behind her.

"Ruthie, we're late!" She protested.

Ruthie ignored her, taking Tyler's arm and leading him round the corner into a small secluded area with a few benches. She turned, facing him and asking. "Alright, come on."

She crossed her arms, and her tone was a mixture of bitterness and anger. "It's not like I can't guess what you're about to say. But why? I thought you broke up with her?"

The question was to the point, and it hit him right in the chest. Not physically or anything, but it sure felt like it. Ruthie was looking at him, her gaze piercing and harsh, her arms crossed.

Tyler chose not to answer her question, saying. "Ruthie, I need you to listen to me, okay?"

To make it seem more real, he offered his hands to her, and she frowned slightly, but took them albeit hesitantly. They didn't feel right in his, but he ignored that.

"I'm about to say something really crazy, but I need you to hear me out, okay?" He asked. "I may not have any feelings for Elora anymore..." lies "... but I still care about the others. And right now, John B's dad, Big John, is in South America. And he's in a lot of trouble, and John B and the others need to go and save him, but he and Elora can't do that if they're arrested."

This was his plan, the one he'd made in those ten minutes with Sarah. It wasn't the best, but he was relying on it.

"Okay, um..." Ruthie frowned up at him. "Okay, so it is that-"

"No, no, Ruthie, listen-"

"You want me not to press charges," Ruthie took her hands out of his, but he seized them back again.

"No, that's not what I'm saying," he said quickly. "I'm saying, just wait a day. And then after a day, you can do whatever you want cause Elora's gonna be off the island. D'you see what I'm saying? Like, maybe forever."

And he'd be with her. But he didn't say that. Because he needed the next part of the plan to work.

Ruthie sighed, scoffing slightly. "Forever. Wow."

She sat down on one of the benches and Tyler followed her, sitting next to her.

"Alright, so if I just wait a day, Elora Easton will be gone," she said, looking up at him. "Yeah?"

Tyler nodded. "Yes."

Ruthie took this in, looking down at the ground, and then back up at him. "And what? You'll go with her?"

Tyler looked at her, exercising his now wonderful ability to keep a straight face as he said. "I'll stay here," a playful, fake flirtatious smile came onto his face as he said. "I broke up with her, remember?"

Ruthie flashed him the same smile back, saying. "You promise me that?"

No.

This is all a lie.

"Of course," Tyler smiled. "In fact, how's about we make a little deal?"

This was it. The last part of his plan. The bit with the least planning that was most likely to work.

Ruthie raised her eyebrows, asking playfully. "A deal?"

"Yeah," Tyler smiled. "Tomorrow night, after she's left the island and the charges are pressed... we can have our first kiss."

She'd wanted to kiss him at the party. Had made hints about it. He'd ducked out of it, just as he was going to do this time.

Ruthie smiled slightly, her cheeks flushing. "Alright, deal," she said, extending her hand.

Tyler shook it, relief flooding his body. "Thanks, Ruthie."

"No problem," Ruthie smiled back. "There's something in it for me now."

Except there wasn't.

There was nothing at all.

Yet he didn't even feel a shred of guilt, as he watched his mom and Ruthie's shout at the girl and Topper, unable to comprehend why they were suspending the charges, as he shared a small glance with Sarah, both trying to hide their elation at how their plan had worked so smoothly.

All he felt was relief, as he watched his mom and Topper drive off, both of them assured by the fact that he was sleeping over at Kelce's tonight, not knowing that this was maybe the last time they'd ever see him. Relief at the fact it was all over, relief at the fact that finally, finally, things were starting to turn round.

And as night fell, and he and Sarah waited outside the station, talking and wondering if they'd ever be forgiven, he began to realise that it wasn't all over.

He hadn't got the girl he'd lost back yet.

'Outer Banks. Paradise on earth.'

He and Sarah got noticeably more sombre as the night went on, wondering where the hell their- their friends (lovers) had got to. Wondering why the hell they hadn't been set free yet.

'One side for the Pogues.

The other for the Kooks.'

He thought about his mom. About his brother. If he died in South America... would they even care? The last thing he'd have ever done was defy them, so he honestly didn't know.

'From the moment you're born, you're told what side you belong on.'

He thought about the girl he was in love with. About how only a few walls were separating them, yet how when she got out, he didn't know what she was gonna do.

'But I think it's not what people tell you you are.'

And when she finally came out, she didn't run at him. She didn't hug him. Didn't do anything except stare.

But he'd rather have that than no Elle at all.

'It's which side you choose.'

And he'd chosen to be a Pogue.

'It's which side your heart's on.'

So he could only hope that she'd choose him to be one, too.

𔓘𔓘𔓘

They'd dropped the charges.

Both Elora and John B were walking out free.

And Elle didn't know how or why, but she knew it had happened.

Well, she didn't know how or why until they got out, and saw Sarah Cameron and Tyler Thornton standing up, waiting for them.

They did it in opposites. Whilst John B walked closer to Sarah, Tyler approached her.

She was just looking at him, her body locked up, her mind confused. For the first time in days, he was looking at her. But he wasn't just looking at her, he was looking like he used to. His blue eyes were full of awe and wonder and happiness and (dare she say it) love, and it was all for her.

But did she even want it anymore?

Her voice was devoid of emotion when she asked him. "Was it you or your girlfriend that got us out?"

Tyler just looked at her, saying. "I only bought you a day, actually, and, uh... she's not my girlfriend."

Elora scoffed slightly, rolling her eyes. "Anyways, isn't it past your bedtime? What's dear old mommy gonna say when you walk in late?"

Tyler shrugged slightly, saying. "She's not gonna see me. We're all going to the Chateau."

Elora frowned, because he was still in his Kook outfit, and his hair was still gelled back. "What?"

"It's where everyone is," Tyler replied, raising his eyebrows. "Oh, and Sarah can get you to South America, so come on."

And she still had no fucking idea what was going on, but she followed him. And Sarah, and John B.

She'd once said that she'd follow Tyler Thornton anywhere.

And whilst that not be necessarily true right now... she could still feel the trust for him pulsing through her, telling her that he was alright, that he was changing.

And this time, she didn't ignore it.

𔓘𔓘𔓘

"Hey, guys! Look who we got!"

Tyler hadn't been wrong.

Everyone was here. Kie, JJ, even Cleo and Pope, who she hadn't seen in ages, all waiting in the back yard of the Chateau as Tyler and Sarah brought she and John B in.

"Hey!" Kie grinned as she saw them.

"Welcome back!" Cleo added.

"Whoa!" Pope commented.

JJ just looked shocked. "No freakin way!"

Elora and John B approached the group slowly, and Tyler watched them, smiling slightly.

'I made my choice. What I didn't know is if the Pogues would take Sarah and I back.'

Tyler sighed heavily, because this was it. The make or break moment. Sarah and him didn't have that much time to discuss this in their ten minutes, what with him trying to work out his plan with Ruthie, but they had tried to plan it at least a little.

"Hey, uh... Tyler and I have something to share with you guys," Sarah announced, as they all stood in a circle. "I can get us down to the Orinoco."

This hit hard.

"Are you serious?" Pope asked.

"Yeah," Tyler smiled.

"Okay, and how's that gonna happen?" Cleo asked.

"My dad's gonna let us use the plane," smiled Sarah.

"Ward?" JJ asked.

"Your dad?" Elora added.

"Yep," nodded Sarah.

"Yeah, uh... we lay low tonight, then wheels up first thing," Tyler said, smiling at his fellow Kook-turned-Pogue.

"Okay, that's a lot to process," Pope voiced.

"Yeah, you're telling me," Elora nodded, looking at Sarah. "Your dad's actually helping us?"

"I talked to him," she nodded. "He'll do it."

"So we trusting Ward now?" Cleo looked around them..

Kie corrected her. "Trust Sarah."

"Well great, that's all I needed to hear," smiled Elora.

"But wait, I actually have one more thing to say, um..." Sarah started, looking sideways at Tyler for support. She started, her eyes going a bit cloudy. "Since we've gotten back from the island, I've done some things that I regret. A lot."

"Yeah," Tyler nodded, his own eyes going glassy, feeling Elora's eyes on him and looking anywhere but at her. "Me too."

"Yeah, uh..." John B nodded. "I feel- I feel like I have, too."

"I think we've all done a thing or two we regret," Elora finished, biting her lip. She could feel the tears coming, and swallowed hard to stop them.

"But, er..." Tyler started again, remembering what he had wanted to say to them. "I don't- Poguelandia, guys. It's all I can think about. We were all together on that island, and we- we were happy. Weren't we?"

He looked around them all, his gaze even reaching Elora as he did, and even then he couldn't stop the small smile on his face.

"Yeah, it was a good thing," Sarah agreed, smiling knowingly at him. "And we don't wanna ruin a good thing. And I... I just wanna know, are we still all in? Are we still all together? Cause I am."

"So am I," nodded Tyler, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah," Kie agreed.

And there, right there, Elora felt everything fixing itself again. She watched as Cleo laughed, as Sarah cried, as Kie hugged her, and as Tyler... well, as Tyler lived.

"I love you," she murmured to Sarah as she hugged her.

"I still can't believe you got that plane," Pope voiced as he did the same a second later.

"Let's go get Big John, alright?" JJ said, as they all came round into an embrace, arms around each other, only Elora and John B standing out of it. He looked at them both, asking. "What'd you two say, dumb and dumber?"

Elora scoffed slightly. "You're dumbest."

JJ chuckled but Pope said. "How long you two gonna pretend like you're not coming over here?"

John B sighed, smiling slightly as he walked over and into the arms of JJ.

"Come on, Elle!" Sarah called. "You're the last one!"

Elora sighed, her gaze flitting round each one of them until it finally landed on Tyler.

His grin evaporated as soon as they set eyes on each other. He was looking at her sort of cautiously, as if she was the one that needed to set the tone.

And when she smiled, he smiled to.

"Eyyyyyy!" Cleo called as she finally came over, finishing the circle as she looped an arm round Sarah and John B and pulled them all in tight.

"Now we woogity!" Pope grinned, swaying them side to side.

John B chuckled. "Oh, we're really doing this, are we?"

"Mm-hmm," Sarah grinned, looking up at Tyler. "I still can't really believe they took us back."

Tyler smiled right back at her. "Me neither."

𔓘𔓘𔓘

The Chateau was filled with a gentle happiness. The buzz of eight Pogues reunited.

Cleo and Pope were playing dominoes in the living room. JJ was slugging a beer next to them, and Kie was playing her ukelele on the sofa.

Sarah and John B had sneaked off as soon as they'd got in, and Elora knew it was only a matter of time before noises were going to be heard from the room next door.

Speaking of Elle, she was off to the side of the whole proceedings, sitting on the armchair in the corner opposite Kie. She was drinking a beer of her own, her eyes slightly unfocused.

She didn't know what she was feeling right now.

She was happy, of course, that the Pogues had had their reunion. And she was beyond elated to know they'd found a way to get to South America.

The only problem was-

"Hey."

Him.

There wasn't much space on the chair, but Tyler didn't care. He sat down on the arm of it, looking down at her.

This was the closest he'd been to her since that night they'd kissed outside his house, and it didn't escape either of their notices.

Tyler wanted to tell her. To explain everything. To kiss her again, to tell her he loved her. But instead, he just stared down at her, so glad she wasn't screaming at him this time.

Elora just looked up at him, unsure of what to say. She wasn't sure why he was here, or why he'd said what he had outside, or why he wanted to go to South America when his Kook life was just beginning.

She realised she'd been silent for too long when Tyler spoke again, nervous look on his face as he asked. "Are you okay?"

She snapped out her daze, nodding. "Yeah, I'm fine, I..." she didn't know whether to admit it or not, but she decided to, looking up at him. "I just really thought that might be the end."

Tyler had never wanted to kiss the perfect girl in front of him more.

But. He. Couldn't.

"It was never the end," he instead reassured her.

"Well," Elora scoffed slightly. "You didn't scrap someone the other day."

She deserved everything you gave her, ran through his mind.

"Well... what she was saying was pretty bad," he instead said. "I can understand why you did it."

Elora raised her eyebrows at him. "Really? She's your girlfriend, Tyler, you're supposed to be on her side."

How many times?

"She's not my girlfriend," he told her, shaking his head at her disbelieving expression. "She's not, Elle."

He hadn't meant to call her that.

But she didn't object.

Elora was just so confused. First Tyler broke up with her to be a Kook, then he danced with a practically kissed Ruthie the other day, and now he was becoming a Pogue again? And looking at her like that?

She sighed, closing her eyes for a second before looking up at him and asking. "Why are you here, Tyler? Stop bullshitting me for a second and just tell me."

Tyler looked back at her, biting his lip.

He didn't want to tell her.

Didn't want to sit there and explain why he wasn't good enough.

But also... he really did.

He wanted to show her that he was forgiveable.

He wanted to tell her everything.

He wanted to be able to hold her, to kiss her, to love her again.

So he just looked at her, his eyes all soft, and said. "Elle-"

"Elora! Tyler! Look!"

The redhead and the blonde jumped, eyes wide as they looked round to see JJ and Kie, both tense and wild eyed, looking out the window.

Then JJ shouted something Elora never thought she'd hear.

"The Chateau's on fire!"