LXXIII. tall and tan and young and lovely

      Everybody knew Dylan's heart was as big as the ocean.

A girl that smiled at the sun and who dreamed of dancing her life away with her friends. Dylan's whole life was surrounded by sunshine. She was considered cool, her name known by everyone, a gentle soul. To Dylan, there were four most important things to her: love, forgiveness, protection, and loyalty. It's what she lived by.

But forgiveness is a hard thing when it's for her, but for John B. Whatever John B felt, she felt. Whatever he went through, she went through. Their souls were tied. Dylan loved Sarah Cameron, they'd been friends for so long. She knew she loved John B. How much, she didn't exactly know that part.

She laid in the hammock waiting for Sarah with the others, her arms crossed her eyes. JJ was sprawled out against her legs. "This is beyond shitty," he muttered while staring at lights hanging from the tree.

"I just can't believe Shoupe tagged the Twinkie. That's beyond scummy," Dylan commented with a grimace on her face. "You think that'd be illegal."

"Is it not?"

She shook her head. "No, he had a warrant. Still scummy, though. Now my dad's gotta fight to keep JB out of jail again."

"Yeah. At least we have him." JJ looked over and grabbed one of her arms, taking it from her face. Dylan lowered her arms and titled her head so she could look at him. "John B told me what happened between his dad and yours."

She narrowed her eyes, confused at what he was talking. "What happened?"

JJ blinked and sat up slightly. "You don't know?" Her blank stare was confirmation. "They had a fight about John B."

Dylan was up, JJ adjusting so she could move her legs. "What do you mean they had a fight about John B?" She repeated, the information news to her.

The blonde boy scratched his forehead. "He said, uh, that Logan was pissed that Big John was dragging John B into all his bullshit, that he was putting him in danger again."

"Well yeah, he is."

"And then Big John said that it was none of his business because John B's not his son."

Dylan's heart deflated. She looked away from him, a frown appearing on her face. She imagined her father's hurt when Big John said that to him, how heart broken he must've been that he couldn't even tell her or his family about it. Big John saying that John B wasn't his son was like saying that Dylan wasn't his daughter even though they all grew up together. She loved him like a second dad.

JJ watched her become sad. "It's not true though, D. Logan loves John B." He told her and reached over, rubbing her knee. "Blood doesn't make a family."

The corner of her mouth curled up. "Love does." She finished.

Finally, Sarah made an appearance. "Hey, thanks for waiting," she said when she came out the back door; a smile on her face.

JJ got out of the hammock and helped her out.

"Look who decided to come home."

Dylan could have dropped to her knees and prayed to God when she saw John B come out of the Chateau. In fact, she did look to sky and throw her hands up, rejoicing. "You are a cat with nine lives."

"You gotta be kidding me," said JJ with a smirk curling on his lips.

The group stood together and smiled, welcoming John B home. Dylan walked up to him and punched his arm. "You just saved my life another headache," she joked, making him laugh and he threw his arm around her.

"I have something else to share with you guys," Sarah continued. "I can get us done to Orinoco."

Dylan's eyes widened out of her head.

JJ sputtered at the news.

"Are you serious?" Pope asked her.

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

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

Then she lost her. "Your dad, Ward Cameron? The man wanted and tried taking the cross from us? That Ward Cameron?" Dylan spoke sarcastically, not believing it.

"I know how it sounds, but, we lay low tonight, then wheels up first thing in the morning."

Even the term wheels up couldn't make her happy.

"Okay, uh, that's a lot to process. Your dad actually helping us," Pope voiced her skepticism.

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

"So we're trusting Ward now?" Cleo asked, unsure of the situation.

Kiara looked at Sarah softly before nodding. "Trust Sarah."

The other seemed to agree with that statement, but for Dylan, she didn't trust the situation at all. Ward Cameron helping them after all the shit he's done, everything Rafe did to them. Now he was letting them use his plane? No, she didn't believe it.

"But wait," Sarah stopped them. "I also just have one more thing to say. Since we've gotten back from the island, I've done some things that I regret. A lot." She looked back at John B.

Dylan tensed up. She glanced at him as well, her eyes trained on the side of his face.

"Yeah, uh. . ." John B cleared his throat. "I-I feel. . .I feel we've all done a thing or two we regret."

"I haven't," she mumbled, ignoring the look he shot her.

"And I don't. . ." Sarah continued. "Poguelandia, guys. It's all I've been able to think about. We were all together on that island and it was a good thing, and I don't wanna ruin a good thing."

The mention of Poguelanid made her frown. Dylan thought about the island all the time. They didn't have any responsibility, they didn't worry about being chased by cops, about losing each other. They didn't have to worry about treasure. They just had each other. She thought all the time about what life would be like if they just stayed on the island.

"I just wanna know, are we all still in? Are we all still together? Because I am."

Kiara inhaled a breath. "Yeah," she muttered softly and the two girls hugged.

"We pon road!" Cleo changed, making them all.

Sarah turned to Dylan, who stood there with her arms crossed, still completely on the fence. Her happiness died down in the slightest.

John B looked between them. He dropped his arm from her shoulder as faced her. "Hey," he spoke gently, Dylan looking up at him. "You've been on my side since day 1. You've protected me. Your whole family has. There's nobody else I want to have on my side more than you. None of this means anything if you're not with us."

His words carried weight. Dylan thought about the weight of everything that was happening. They had to go to South America. She thought about her family, about what happened the last time she disappeared. She couldn't do that to them again. She would tell her father, let him in on everything. They would be in serious danger. They were just kids.

She thought about her four livelihoods: love, forgiveness, protection, and loyalty. That's what made her a Pogue. Sarah was a Pogue. Dylan walked past him and her eyes locked with Sarah, the girl nervous as she approached her. "Wheels up, baby."

Sarah's wide smile returned and they hugged, making the others cheer happily.

"Let's go get Big John, all right?" JJ joined the huddle. "What do you say there, shit bird?"

"I think this deserves a woogity," said Pope. "How long you gonna pretend you're not coming over here."

"You're stuck with us forever, JB." Dylan declared, flashing him a smile.

John B finally showed a smile.

"Come over here, funny man."

"We don't bite."

Dylan giggled and John B joined the group. The seven of them held each other close. "Now we woogity?"

"We're really doing this, aren't we?" John B proclaimed, staring above all of them.

"We're totally becoming the BAU."

"Wheels up, baby."

"So, what kind of plane is it?"

They gathered in the Chateau, having a small party of their own. Cleo, JJ, and Pope brought out the dominos while Kiara played her ukulele on the couch next to them. "Well, it's Ward's, so I'm guessing it's something lit," Pope answered.

Dylan stood in the kitchen, her back pressed ancient the counter, and her phone to her ear. After four rings, she heard her dad's voice. "Hey, baby girl. Where are you?"

"I'm at the Chateau. We're having a little party, just us six. . ." She explained. JJ came into the kitchen and looked through the fridge. "Daddy, I have to tell you something."

There was a small pause. She heard shuffling in the background. "What is it, honey?"

JJ grabbed a beer and closed the fridge but he didn't leave. He leaned against the refrigerator and listened.

Dylan inhaled a deep breath. "We have a way to get to South America. Ward's letting us use his plane," she told him.

On the other line, Logan inhaled a breath like she did. "No, honey. I can't let you do that."

She squeezed her eyes shut. "I know, dad. But I have to."

"Dylan—"

"I need you to trust me, daddy. You've trusted me so far. I have to do this." Dylan continued and opened her eyes, revealing the tears.

"Honey, you don't understand. Ward's a dangerous man. You can trust me."

"You think I haven't figured that out?" She scoffed a laugh and scratched her cheek. "But this isn't about me, dad. It's about Big John. We have to save him."

"DJ, baby girl. You have to understand—"

"I do understand, dad. I'm scared, too. But I have to believe this is the right thing. You do, too. I love you."

"Dylan—"

Dylan hung up the phone and she inhaled again, her breath shaky. She looked at JJ again, the blonde's lips pursed. "What am I doing to him?" She whispered vulnerably.

"Logan gets it, D. He's not gonna be mad at you for saving his best friend and John B's father," JJ told her and stood beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "Don't sweat it, alright?"

"I'm trying," she muttered and rubbed her face and tired eyes. Dylan looked up at him, seeing him glancing toward the living room. She followed his line of view and grinned. "Hey," she spoke softly and slapped his chest. "Remember that conversation we had before?"

JJ nodded slightly, pursing his lips again. "Yeah, yeah. I remember."

"Alright then. Let me give you another piece of advice, stop being mean to her." Dylan said and patted his chest again. "Being able to feel this way about a person is a blessing, okay? Don't be the one that ruins it."

She left him to ponder that. Dylan walked into the living room and put her hand on the back of Pope's neck. He looked up, smiling at her. She sat on his lap and circled her arms around his neck, laying her head against his.

JJ came back into the room and looked behind him, watching Kiara play her ukulele softly while they played the game. He sat down with her.

Dylan smiled at them. She kissed Pope on his temple, making him look at her with soft eyes. "You okay?" He whispered.

"I'm okay." She whispered back, brushing his cheek with her one of her hands. "I love you."

Pope grinned. He patted her leg, signaling for her to get up. Dylan stood to her feet and let him stand from the chair. He grabbed her hand and led her away from the living room to the outside area of the home. She exhaled tiredly and laid down on the couch. Pope looked down at her and smiled. Her hair was thrown up, stands of curls framing her face. Her large brown eyes were tired but sweet. Her lips were picked out from her nerves being shot. The boy laid on the couch with her, right on top of her. "You're definitely not okay. So just tell me what's up."

Dylan rolled her eyes, forgetting that he had the ability to read her like a book. She rested her arm on top of her head, her other arm rubbing up and down his back. "Are we doing the right thing?" She thought out loud. She saw him become confused. "Risking our lives by going all the way to South America? Risking not coming home this time?"

Pope's furrowed expression softened. "I think the question is if we don't go, will we be able to still look at ourselves in the mirror?" He thought logically.

Dylan hummed.

"We just have to remember who this is for, y'know? It's for John B, it's for us to find El Dorado. This will change our lives forever, D."

"I know, I know," she agreed, nodding slightly. She continued to rub his back. "I have to tell you something, P."

Pope raised his eyebrows.

"I emailed John Jay back. They said they'd love to have me after graduation." She told him, growing a soft smile. "I want to go to college, Pope."

"And you will. We both will, I promise. You and I'll get everything we want." Pope told her, smiling confidently. "And more, hopefully."

Dylan laughed. "Definitely more. This isn't gonna be easy, is it?"

"Pogue life's never easy, baby." Pope leaned down and kissed her.

She removed her arm from above her head and pressed them to the sides of his face. She closed her eyes and moved her lips against his. Pope shifted his body weight on her and put his knee between her legs, then he grabbed her hands that were on his face and held them above her head. Dylan shuddered, keeping her eyes closed and she felt his lips slide of hers and trail from her cheek down to her neck. She smiled.

When he smelled the sensation of smoke, Pope pulled away and opened his eyes. He sniffed the air. "Do you smell that?"

Dylan furrowed her brows together. He sat up and she followed him, looking around. She then started to smell smoke. "It smells like—" she stopped when she caught sight of orange flames developing outside. "Pope, there's a fire!"

"DJ, Pope! There's a fire!" Kiara screamed inside the house.

"Shit!" Pope yelled and they scrambled off the couch.

"Fire! There's a fire!" Dylan started screaming and they rushed back into the home.

"Sarah, get away from the door!" John B yelled when Sadah tried grabbing the door knob.

The hot metal burned her hand and she quickly pulled it away. The fired grew bigger and the orange flames illuminated the house. "What do we do? What do we do?" They all started yelling.

Dylan looked around. She viewed the fire from all of the windows. Panicking, she quickly ran over to the table and grabbed one of the chairs. "All of you back up!" She shouted.

"DJ, what are you doing?" Cleo yelled over the commotion.

"Move!" She ordered loudly and they spread out. Dylan grunted and threw the chair against the door, the glass shattering. "Okay, go! Go! Go! Go!" She screamed and motioned for them to run out.

They sprinted out of the broken door and JJ grabbed her on the way, dragging her out with him. "Be careful! Watch out!" She continued to yell. They avoided getting burned and ran off the deck.

The Chateu held so many sweet memories. She grew up there, it was John B's home. They made sail boats on the floor together. She slept on his couch. They had cook outs. Dylan helped John B with his homework. They fished in the marsh. Big John built her a tree swing. Her, John B, and JJ used to climb the trees all the way to the top. Every childhood memory was spent in the home and now she stood there in horror, watching it burn to the ground.

Logan and Ainsley couldn't believe their eyes when their daughter and her friends showed up to their home covered in soot and ash from head to toe. "What the fuck happened?" He bursted out, examining all of them with wide eyes.

"Uhh, the Chateau kind of—" JJ made an explosive noice and motion with his hands. "—burnt down."

"Honey, are you okay?" Ainsley asked her daughter, cupping her face.

"I'm fine, mom. None of us got hurt," she assured.

Braxton came down the stairs. "What's going on—" he paused upon seeing all of the dirty teenagers. "Whoa, what the hell happened to you guys."

Ainsley scoffed. "Braxton."

Logan stood there with his hands on his hips, dressed in his night robe, obviously having been asleep. He looked between his daughter, JJ, and John B, the three of them standing in that order. Then, he pursed his lips. "Well. . ." He spoke, taking a glance at his wife. "Looks like our guest bedrooms are gonna fill up, Ains."

Dylan started to smile.

"What do you think?"

Ainsley opened her mouth to say something but she paused. She threw her hands up. "Welcome to Hotel Jennings, kids."

Dylan stepped forward and hugged her tightly.

"Now please go shower before you crawl into those beds. JJ, soap and body wash, please!" Logan yelled as he sprinted towards the stairs.

"You got it boss!" JJ yelled back and Pope followed after him.

Before she went upstairs, Sarah turned to Dylan and grabbed her arm. "Thank you." She whispered.

"Just don't do it again, Sarah." She whispered back seriously.

She nodded. "Never again. I promise."

The rest of the girls went to go shower. Dylan looked at her family. "Thank you."

"What the hell do you mean the chateau burned down?" Her father questioned, his arms crossed.

"I-I don't know. None of us do. We were all just chilling around the house and started to smell smoke. Next thing I know, there's a fire all around the Chateau. I had to break the glass door just for us to get out."

"Oh, my god." Ainsley gasped.

"Holy shit."

"Braxton!"

The boy held up his hands. "Sorry. I'm going back to bed."

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Right after I have a bath." Dylan said and headed towards the stairs.

The siblings walked up the staircase. "You disappear to an island for a month and then survive a house fire. What's next, you win the lottery?" Braxton said and laughed.

Dylan wished she could tell him it wasn't that far fetched. "You never know, buddy." She muttered and patted his back.