Light the way

ELI ALWAYS LOVED TO SIT OUTSIDE HIS FAVORITE lighthouse, watching the trees and how beautifully the leaves flowed. Yes, he liked those types of things, it was rare someone on the island didn't. There were times where he hated people assuming he was shallow, then there was times when it worked in his favor.

It never worked in his favor with people who were important to him though, they hated it.

Upon hearing the sound of rocks crackling underneath some tires, he looked to the side to see something he was dreading. The vehicle coming his way was the Pogues signature van, he couldn't remember what they always call it though. The cupcake? The macaroon? It was some type of dessert he couldn't quite think of.

"I can't have anything to myself, can I?" The boy asked himself, running a hand over his face as he watched the car park in front of the otherwise deserted lighthouse, why did they have to be there now of all times?

When the Pogues got out of the van, Pope immediately made eye contact with the Kook, turning around quickly to face his friends. Eli rolled his eyes at that, closely watching as the group argued with something. Most likely who would stay outside and who would go in.

Pope and JJ were the ones to stay outside, figures.

"Please don't tell anyone you seen us here." The Heyward boy begged, his feet bringing him towards Elijah in a quick and desperate manner. "It's really important that you don't."

"You have a shit ton of nerves to me asking me any favors, especially with what your boy pulled." The Worthington boy narrowed his eyes slightly "Nobody has ever held a gun to my head but I can say i'm not a fan of it after his little scene."

"I'm not asking for him, i'm asking for me." Pope's eyes looked directly into the other boys brown ones, practically pleading, speaking to the Kook in a way he had never seen.

He didn't understand Eli would probably never hurt him, not in a million years.

"Why does it matter? You're just visiting a lighthouse and frankly? I don't give a shit." The Worthington boy shrugged his shoulders, leaning backwards slightly.

"Let me talk, Pope." JJ walked up, a smile on his face as he waved. "Hey, man."

Eli stared blankly at the blonde, not saying a single word.

"Hm, tough crowd." The Maybank boy nodded his head, folding his arm across his chest. "I am willing to extend an apology to you, because you seem to mean a lot to P—"

The Heyward boy punched his best friend in the stomach, making the Pogue stop saying the words that he originally wanted to.

"What I mean is, nothing that happened was your fault so i'm sorry for pointing that gun at you." JJ finished, looking to the side to confirm with his friend if what he said was acceptable.

It was good enough for now.

"See? He's sorry." Pope looked at the boy, tapping his foot on the ground. "Want to hang out with us till Kie and John B come back maybe?"

"With you two? You two Pogues?" Eli raised a slight brow, not completely understanding why they decided to an extend an olive branch.

"That's what he said, yeah." JJ nodded his head. "We have a hacky sack, pretty cool stuff, dude."

"A hacky sack?" The Worthington boy sighed, realizing he couldn't say no to a good competition against a Pogue. "Fine, but if you two tell anyone we were all together, a gun is the last thing you'll to worry about."

"I can agree to that." The Maybank boy nodded, his arms going up in the air harmlessly.

"Sounds good to me." Pope extended his hands, Eli grabbing them firmly as the Heyward boy helped him off the grass and onto his feet.

The Worthington teen felt a sting when their hands touched, his face heating up slightly.

"What are you guys doing here, anyways?" Elijah asked once he was up on his feet, the trio heading towards the... Donut?

The two Pogues exchanged worried glances, both of them not knowing how to respond without raising suspicion.

"Uh, what are you doing here?" Pope questioned, trying to divert the conversation elsewhere, his eyes darted to the lighthouse entrance before turning back to the other two with him.

"This is my favorite lighthouse on the Island, my parents used to take me." Eli shrugged. "Are you guys getting drugs or something from here? I literally wouldn't care if you are."

"Favorite lighthouse, you say? This was Big John's favorite lighthouse, that's why we were here!" JJ replied, as if this was new information even to him as he picked up his hacky sack from in the car. "A little memorial type thing."

"Right." The Worthington boy furrowed his brows before shaking his head slightly. "I used to see him here every once in awhile.. before, well... you know."

"Yeah.." Pope nodded, the air becoming thick around the topic of Big John, the man who just vanished entirely.

Even if you didn't know him too well, you knew about him, especially after he disappeared. Missing posters of him were displayed all over the island after he disappeared, and everyone was looking for him. Kook, Pogue, Touron, it didn't matter, for a moment in time, everyone just wanted him to be found alive.

As crazy as it sounded, him going missing sent temporary peace to the war that was the rich versus the poor, key word, temporary.

"Come on, guys." Eli clapped his hands together competitively. "I'm waiting for this round of hacky sack, show me what you Pogues have got."

The boy backed up, the trio forming a
half circle.

"Bring it on, Kook." JJ grinned widely, throwing the small bag up in the air. Elijah caught it on his foot, kicking it back upwards to where Pope was standing.

He let it fall to the ground, damnit.

"You messed it up, Pope!" Eli shouted, pointing both hands towards the hacky sack. "Come on, what was that!?"

"I wasn't prepared, you didn't give me a warning!" The Heyward boy defended, him pointing down towards the ground at the same area.

"Prepared? How the hell do you prepare for hacky sack!" The two boys were so wrapped up in the argument, they didn't hear the car that was coming up the road towards them however, a certain blonde did.

"Guys." JJ said out loud, trying to gain the attention of the two of them, trying and failing.

"I don't know, maybe you tell me you are kicking it my way and I would actually look at it!" Pope defended, waving his hands in the air.

"Guys." The Maybank boy said yet again, louder this time.

"You should always be looking, I thought you were smart enough to comprehend that! It's literally a game!" Eli snapped back, his arms flailing.

"Guys!" JJ yelled, over both of them loudly, just now gaining their attention.

"What!?" Elijah and Pope screamed at the same time, both of them turning their heads towards the scared blonde Pogue.

"Cops!" The Maybank boy replied, running towards the van.

"Come on!" The Heyward boy took Eli's hand roughly and pulled him towards the vehicle, both of them jumping in before JJ peeled away in a hurry.

The Worthington boy looked out of the window where the police parked outside of the lighthouse, his heart racing. He was slightly relieved he hadn't brought his car, but also kind of pissed he had no cell service to call Kira and let her know he was okay. However, there was one thing more important than that in that moment.

"Are you guys going to tell me what the hell is going on now?" He questioned, holding a hand to his chest.

He figured this would be a good time to fill him in.

AUTHORS NOTE—
The trio that is Eli, JJ, and Pope is so absolutely chaotic but Eli and Pope eventually act like JJ's dads lmfao.

A character trait to define Elijah?

Hope you enjoyed!