𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒, 𝗉𝗈𝗉𝖾 𝗁𝖾𝗒𝗐𝖺𝗋𝖽

9: 𝚁𝚎𝚍𝚏𝚒𝚎𝚕𝚍 𝙻𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎

The group of five all sat in the campervan together as John B drove, like he always did, once they left his house, almost immediately. Y/n sat beside Pope, head rested on his shoulder as he looked at the compass in his hands.

"I mean, it's obvious, right? A family heirloom. What better place to hide a message? He had to know it was gonna get back to me, right?" John B rambles.

"Yeah. It's possible." Kie responds, shrugging a shoulder.

"It could also be possible that you're concocting wild theories to help, you know, deal with your sad feels." Pope suggests.

"Bro, you know how I process my sad feels. Dank nugs and the stickiest of ickies, that's how I do it." JJ speaks up.

"I'm not concocting, okay? My dad's trying to give me a message." John B insists.

"If it helps you believe, John B." Kie says softly.

"Look, I don't need a therapy session, okay? I'm not tripping out." John B tells them.

"It's okay to trip, bro, but-" JJ begins.

"Look, my dad is missing, okay? Missing." John B interrupts. "You don't know what it's like to have the person closest to you vanish and then have no idea what happened. Just wake up every morning wondering."

"It's been almost a year." Kie reminds softly.

"Hey, he could have been kidnapped. That's definitely a possibility." Y/n speaks up, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, could be in a Soviet sub getting interrogated by the KGB somewhere." Pope agrees.

"Absolutely." JJ nods. "Or Atlantis."

"JJ. Look, what do you think the message is?" Kie asks.

"Redfield. Redfield Lighthouse." John B responds. "That's my dad's favorite place."

***

Soon enough, the campervan came to a stop in front of a tall, old lighthouse with cracks on the side of it. The five Pogues hop out of the vehicle together, looking up at the lighthouse. Almost instantly, John B turns to JJ.

"Right, here's what's gonna happen." John B begins. "You're gonna post up and look out for bogeys, okay?"

"Wait... Why me?" JJ questions.

"Because you're not coming." Pope replies.

"Why?" JJ asks.

"Look, JJ. There are independent and dependent variables. You're an independent variable. We don't know what you're gonna do." Pope explains.

"Shut up!" JJ exclaims, repeating it as Pope was talking.

"Listen to me for a second." John B interrupts. "Pope and Y/n, you two stand look out with JJ. Okay? If we get split up, we meet back at JJ's house."

"Great." Kie replies.

And with that, John B and Kiara leave their three friends behind as they hop over the fence, making their way to the old lighthouse.

"I'm gonna work on my merit scholarship essay, and I'm trying to keep felonies to a minimum." Pope says.

"Alright, would you just shut up already?" JJ replies.

Pope glances at Y/n, who shrugs a little. He rolls his eyes at her, but holds a small smile as he walks to the campervan, doing as he said he was and working on his essay, while Y/n and JJ toss the blonde's hacky sack to one another.

"So what's going on with you and Pope?" JJ suddenly asks, using his foot to throw the hacky sack to her.

"What do you mean?" Y/n questions as she tosses it back.

JJ gives her a look. "Girl, you know exactly what I'm talking about."

"There's... nothing going on between us, JJ." Y/n states, letting out a small chuckle. JJ couldn't help but notice it sounded forced. "We're just friends. He doesn't like me like that anyway. Besides, the rule."

"Really, Y/n/n? The rule?" JJ groans. "Man, screw the rule. Have you seen your sister and John B lately?"

"Trust me, I know. I've been trying to get Kiara to say something about it." Y/n informs with a nod. "She's been so weird with him lately."

"Tell me about." JJ chuckles. "Now back to you and Pope."

"Seriously, JJ?" Y/n rolls her eyes.

"Whenever you two are together, or just even talking to each other," JJ continues, ignoring her groans. "I can feel the sexual tension, you know?"

"Sexual tension? There's sexual tension between me and Pope?" Y/n questions, raising a brow, receiving a nod in response. "Okay, you're crazy."

JJ raises a brow at her. "Oh, really?"

"Yeah, like, really, really crazy." Y/n replies, making JJ hum. "Like, super mega crazy."

As she continues listing how crazy the blonde was, she didn't even notice JJ throwing the hacky sack at her until it hit her right in the face. The Carrera girl gasps slightly, looking to the blonde with wide eyes. JJ holds a small smirk, raising his brows at her. Letting out a small laugh, Y/n throws the hacky sack at him, the two continuing to play back and forth with the hacky sack, laughing loudly.

"I'm bored." Pope announces, exiting the vehicle.

"Here, catch." JJ says.

Next thing Pope knew, the blonde's hacky sack hit his face just like what happened to Y/n earlier. Pope flinched slightly when the hacky sack nailed him in the forehead, making Y/n let out a small laugh at his reaction. Walking over to him, she grabbed the hacky sack from the ground, patting Pope on the shoulder.

JJ didn't miss the part where she placed a kiss on Pope's cheek, causing the boy to smile at her brightly. Making a triangle like shape, the three continued to toss the hacky sack to one another. After a couple minutes, their small game was interrupted by the sound of police sirens heading their way.

Glancing over to the sound, the teenagers saw a police vehicle driving their way. Frantically, Pope grabbed Y/n's hand, them and JJ sprinting towards the campervan. JJ was quick to climb into the driver's seat, Pope in the passenger's and Y/n leaning against the two seats in the back.

And with that, JJ quickly started the vehicle, driving off as they started to make their way to his house, hoping to meet John B and Kiara there soon.