A Chapter| Chapter Five

"You mind if I just relax on this one? It's been a long day." JJ sighed that night as John B drove the van down the empty road, a soft tune in the background. Lila was slumped in the backseat, her legs across Popes lap as she leaned against the window.

"A lot of weird stuff has gone down. I'm just gonna lay low. Oh, did you want a hit of this?" JJ asked as he looked toward Pope who blinked at him.

"I keep the signal clear." Pope answers him as Lila sat up better, looking at JJ who was in the seat behind her.

"Gimme one." Lila said as she opened her mouth while he held the rolled blunt between her lips for her while turning to Pope one more time.

"Dude, okay. Do you understand that your problem is that you don't get creative?" JJ asked his friend as Lila inhaled as JJ pulled it from her lips, the faint chapstick sticking to his thumb in the slightest.

"Look, I-I know I was wrong about the lighthouse, all right? And wrong about everything else going on. But I-I was right about one thing. Okay? My dad is trying to tell me something." John B said from the drivers seat as he looked at Kie and then at the three in the back before turning. Lila grabbed JJs wrist again to take another inhale, knowing she'd probably end up needing it before the night ended.

"Come on." John B rushed them out of the van quickly just a few minutes later.

"This place is scary." Kie said as she looked around at the location John B drove them to.

"Boo!" Lila said as she snuck up behind Kie making the girl jump. Lila laughed before Kie slapped her in the shoulder with a glare.

"Ow, Kie." Lila whined as she held the spot on her shoulder.

"Wish it would have been your face." Kie said as Lila walked by her side now.

"John B, what are we doing?" the girl now spoke as she looked at her friend with a odd look, over it already.

"You know how you're trying to remember a song and you can't remember who sings it?" John B asked as he looked to Kie. Lila looked behind her, stoping as she waited for JJ and Pope to catch up with her.

"Yeah." Kie answered with a shrug.

"So, Redfield. This whole time, I thought it was a place, right? But it's not a place. It's a person." John B said as he held the hand lamp up infront of a metal statue, that stood taller then all of them, the name at the top.

"Voi-effing-lá." JJ spoke up with a chuckle, staring at the name.

"See, my great great grandmother, Olivia Redfield. That was her maiden name." John B spoke toward them as Lila patted his back.

"Props to John freaking B, smart worm you have there." Lila said as she poked his forehead before dropping her arms and looking at the large door before them.

"Help me with the door." John B said as he passed Lila the lamp while him and Pope went over, counting down as they tried to get the door open.

"Are you pushing?" John B grunted as he pulled.

"I've got it." JJ said as he walked over to help.

"This doors like seven hundred pounds." Pope groaned as Lila clapped her hands together.

"Come on, push with your legs." she encouraged them with a whistle.

"We didn't come this far to get this far, all right?" JJ said toward Pope as Lila gave Kie the lamp before walking over.

"Welcome to the gun show." she said while holding her arms out to flex her muscles before trying to push the door open with the three boys. Pope was right, it was easily seven hundred pounds if not more. The hissing sound was heard as they all jumped back with a yell.

"Snake, snake!" Pope announced as a large snake crawled from the crack in the door, all of them jumping back. Lila jumped onto John B quickly, getting her feet off the ground.

"I don't do snake, I will never do snakes!" she announced, pulling the boy down slightly as she hung on him.

"That's a moccasin, all right? Ye olde Dr.Cottonmouth." JJ spoke as the large snake slithered off making Lila let go of John B, adjusting the pink tank she had on before looking around at any sign of any more.

"He might have some kids on the way, maybe even a few cousins." Lila said as she spun around for any sight of them, grabbing JJs head to use the flashlight tied around his forehead for light. JJ began to bark like a dog as Lila spun with him, looking in every direction.

"JJ shut up!" Kie yelled at him annoyed.

"You're gonna wake the dead, man." Pope said, slapping his shoulder.

"They're afraid of dogs." JJ shrugged as Lila began to bark herself, stopping as Kie threw a smaller flashlight at her.

"Kie, you're gonna put bruises on me!" Lila said to her as she threw the flashlight back at her, hitting her leg.

"Wait hold on, hold on." JJ stopped John B from going to the door again.

"If theres one, there's probably dozens." the blonde boy pointed out as Lila hummed with a nod.

"Cousins." she said with a point as Pope slapped his forehead.

"Stop! You guys are scaring me!" Kie said to JJ and Lila as John B sighed.

"Sorry, Kie, sorry, i'll shut up about our safety." Lila announced as she put her hands up in surrender. JJ began to bark again as he circled around everyone.

"Stop barking at the snakes." John B said to his friend with a insane look, pulling him back toward them.

"I'm just making sure it's clear." JJ argued back.

"Shut up, shut up. John, look. We're not gonna get in there, all right? It's not budging. We should probably just go." Pope spoke, trying to be the peacekeeper between them.

"I can get through." Kie said as she shined her light onto the hole.

"What? No, no, no. You think you're gonna fit through the hole? That hole?" Pope asked her in disbelief.

"Look, this is about your dad. And honestly, I really don't believe in it, but you deserve to know the truth." Kie said as she looked to John B, her eyes soft as his were as well. Lila watched the two interact, a sweet moment.

"I'll do it." Kie said as she walked forward.

"Just be carful Kie, a kiss for good luck." Lila said as she pressed a smooch to the girls cheek as Kie gave her a smile. Lila backed away to stand with John B as Kie, JJ, and Pope bickered slightly as to how to get her up there.

"I believe in it." Lila said as she looked to John B as he looked down at her.

"Your dad and the gold. I totally believe in it, and thanks for letting me be apart of it. This is like the coolest thing i've ever done." Lila said with a small chuckle as a grin spread on John Bs face, putting a arm around her.

"I'm gonna boost you, seen it in movies several times." JJ said as he bent down slightly.

"Make sure you bark if you see any snakes." Lila spoke to her with a nod as Kie rolled her eyes.

"Remind me what we're looking for." Kie said as she looked to John B, the light illuminating her face just enough to see slight worry in her eyes.

"You'll know when you see it." John B said as Kie heisted, looking to Lila as she gave her her flashlight before stepping into JJs hand, ignoring him trying to talk her through it.

"Okay, flashlight!" Kie called out as she got up there. Lila handed it to Pope as he passed it up toward the girl quickly.

"You alive? You got like a heartbeat and everything?" John B called out as Kie was silent for a moment.

"So far." Kie answered honestly, Lilas sandles tapping slightly on the ground below her, worried for her friend.

"That's good, that's good." John B nodded even though she couldn't see him.

"Uh, I need some more light." Kie spoke up, her voice echoing off the walls slightly.

"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I gotchu." he spoke again, passing the lantern up to her. Lila didn't say it out loud but his obvious worry for the girl was cute in a way, their friendship seemed so strong, so perfect. Lila thought the same about JJ and Pope, how they were so bonded together, something Lila wondered if she'd ever have. She only had two friends back at home, they weren't even her friends for long. But that's something she wasn't ready to talk about, especially not now, not with anyone, not about what happened.

"Kie, you okay?" Lila called out after hearing it fall to silence for a second.

"Find something? Is there gold?" JJ added in with her.

"Oh my god." Kie said as she passed her light back through, holding a white envelope.

"That's not gold." Pope said with a sigh as him and Lila helped the girl down. Lila brushes the girls shoulders off, fixing her hair in the back as Kie gave her arm a small squeeze.

"Holy shit." John B said as he stared down at the envelope with a blink, his lips pursed as his chest heaved slowly.

"This is from my dad." John B said as he looked back at them, hope dancing in his eyes, much like it did when they found the compass.

"Always is." Lila said with a shrug, joining John B's side as she looked down at it as well. The faint smell of weed lingering in the air as JJ lit another.

"Code red! Cope red! Square groupers! Square groupers!" JJ said quickly as he backed up, bumping into Lila as she made sure he didn't fall.

"Oh man, what if they're with the snakes." Lila said as they all began to run off.

"The guys that robbed your house." JJ added in, talking to John B as Kie and Lila took the lead in their run back to the van. They all squatted down quickly next to a few rocks, knowing they wouldn't make it back in time.

"Lights, lights!" Kie repeated as they all messed with their flashlights, turning them off quickly as it fell silent. Lila felt someone grab her hand, she couldn't make out who it was exactly but she gave them a squeeze back anyway.

"Do you think it's them?" Kie questioned as they heard faint chatter.

"Homies got a gun." JJ stated, his voice echoing on the rocks slightly.

"Screw this." Kie said as the five all stood and ran, the hand letting go of Lilas as they all took off once again, not sitting around like waiting ducks.

"Go Kie, go." Lila said as she girl jumped the fence, waiting on the other side as Lila jumped over the same time John B did. JJ was next, landing next to the three as Pope crawled over, getting stuck at one of the point at the top.

"Guys, guys, i'm stuck!" Pope said in a panic, the light from the golf cart getting closer then they would have liked.

"Pope, don't move okay?" JJ asked as they all rushed over toward the gate again for their friend.

"You're gonna ripe it, you're gonna ripe it!" Pope said over and over as they all yanked at him, his shorts being ripped off and left on the gate as he was left in tighty whiteys. Lila busted out laughed as she felt John B drag her along as Pope shielded himself, JJ mocking him while they all ran back toward the van.

"That bread had mold on it three days ago. " Pope said later that night as he watched JJ spread peanut butter onto the bread.

"Yeah, i'll just pull off the bad parts. Plus, mold is good for you. It's just a natural organism." JJ said as he dropped the butter knife and brought the sandwich to his mouth, gagging as he did so, making Lila cringe.

"I've got some noodles at my place, it's literally like one minute away." Lila said as JJ washed his mouth out.

"Ouuu, only one minute away? John B, you get a free peep show all the time then." JJ said as Lila slapped his arms.

"Mhm, mhm, mhm, lets do the noodle thing after." JJ nodded with a disgusted look still on his face, John B tearing the envelope open quickly. He pulled a map out, laying it on the table as all of their eyes widened.

"Holy shit." John B said as he looked down at it with wide eyes.

"Holy shit is right." Lila repeated with a nod of her head.

"X marks the spot." Pope pointed out the obvious as he laid his finger on the small x.

"Longitude, Latitude, wait theres something else in there." John B said as he noticed something in the envelope, reaching inside and pulling out a small tape recorder.

"What's that?" JJ questioned confused as he stared at it.

"It's a tape recorder, dumbass." Kie said to him with a judging look. John B pressed the side, the static sound coming through before a unfamiliar voice was heard.

"Dear Bird." the deep voice said before JJ cut in again.

"Who's Bird?" the blonde boy asked confused as Lila sat down next to John B, not knowing how this was gonna go.

"It's what my dad called me." John B said in shock, staring at the tape recorder, waiting for the next words to come through.

"I hate to say, 'I told you so', but I told you so. And you doubted your old man. I suspect at this moment, you're filled with guilt and self-loating over our last fight, but don't kill yourself just yet, kid. I didn't expect to find the Merchant either. You were probably right to call me out. Wasn't exact Father Of The Decade. What can I say, kid? I could smell the barn. And hopefully, we're listening to this in our brand new sugar-shack down in Costa Rica, living off passive investments and pulling on permits. If not, and you find this for less then optimal reasons, well that's what the map is for. There she is, the wreck of the Merchant. If something happens to me, finish what I started. Go for the gold, kid. I love you Bird, even if I didn't always act like it. I'll see you on the other side." the tape came to a end, John B's dads voice no longer echoing in the four walls. Lila has reached over half way through the tape to hold John B's hand, his grip becoming tighter and tighter with each word before it flattened once the tape ended. He let go of her hand as he stood up, a loud sigh from his lips as he walked a few feet away.

"Holy shit he did it! Big John- he found the merchant!" JJ announced in shock and disbelief. Lila watched John Bs body shake slightly as he looked away from his, his quiet sobs loud enough for them to hear.

"Can you- can you please?" Kie asked JJ annoyed to silence him as John B cried louder, a pain forming in Lilas chest. Kie walked over first, putting her arms around him in comfort.

"How much was it again?" JJ asked after they all sat on John B's front porch, Kie strumming the ukulele while Lila joined them on the porch again, two large bowls of noodles and five sandwiches in her arms. JJ smiled at her as she gave him the bowl, John B doing the same before she threw the sandwiches toward Pope and Kie before sitting down.

"Five hundred mil." Pope answered as it was silent for a moment, the only sound was the crickets.

"All right, lets talk the split. Now, before we say 'evenly' may I remind you that I am the only one that can properly defend us from those groupers who were after us. Protection? Not cheap, okay?" JJ announced as he looked around at each other them.

"Doesn't matter, gotta wrap it before you tap it." Lila said as Kie slapped her forehead.

"You haven't trained. You've done zero training." Pope pointed out with a roll of his eyes.

"Youtube, bro." JJ said back as Lila looked at John B, slowly reaching over and whipping the stray eyelash under his eyes. He looked her way, a small smile in thank you her way.

"What are you gonna do with your hundred mil, Pope?" Kie asked the boy curiously.

"Pay for college in advance. And also textbooks. Those are expensive." Pope said as Lila cracked a grin at his statement.

"Lila?" Kie asked curiously as Lila looked over quickly, crossing her legs with a small sigh.

"Firstly, donate some money to these families back at home, for sure. Secondly, buy somewhere close to the water around here so I don't have to leave once summer is over. And lastly, buy advanced ghost hunting shit, get my one tv show or something." Lila said with a nod as Kie smiled at her, liking the idea.

"Jesus, I forgot you're leaving at the end of the summer." JJ said as he looked over, the statement making everyone frown or look down, they seemed to forget as well.

"Well maybe not, maybe you guys will be stuck with me." Lila said with a smile, hoping to brighten the mood again.

"Hopefully." JJ said her way with a smile.

"What about you, Kie?" JJ asked with a raise of his eyebrow toward the girl.

"Yeah, what does a socialist do when she's rich?" Pope asked as Kie gave him a look before she chuckled.

"Just wanna make a double album." Kie said with a shrug, a smile on her face.

"About OBX, the Pogues, a newbie." Kie said, adding in the last part as she looked at Lila.

"You know the way Catch a Fire is about Kingston. Record it in Marley Studios, Peter Tosh producing." Kie said as Pope gave her a odd look.

"Peter Tosh is dead." he said as Kie nodded her head.

"I know that, Pope. Spirit of Peter Tosh will never die." Kie said as she held her sprite can up as Lila did the same.

"I know what i'll do. I'm gonna get a big ass house on Figure Eight and go full Kook." JJ spoke with a nod of his head.

"You're gonna go full Kook?" Pope asked him with a laugh.

"Yup. Gonna get a marble statue of myself, and then i'm gonna get a koi pond." JJ answered honestly before Lila cut in.

"I'll support whatever you do till the day I die, JJ. But please, don't ever wear button up shirts with khakis." Lila said as the group all laughed as JJ shook his head.

"Why not? Then you'd wanna mack on me, ouuu." JJ said as he held his hand up as Pope high fived him. Kie couldn't help but laugh as Lila gave the three a raise of her eyebrows.

"I hate all three of you, truly. John B is the only one I stan, the only one." Lila said as she shook her head, putting her arm around the boy next to her.

"You love us." Pope protested as Lila huffed.

"If I have to." she said as Kie threw her empty sprite can at her.

"What are you gonna be, JB?" Pope asked as he nodded toward the boy under Lilas arm. He was silent for a moment, looking out before at each of his friends again.

"To going full Kook." he said while raising his can.

"To going full Kook!" they all announced while clinging their cans together.

••••
so ik their was no lila and rafe in this chapter but this whole chapter was just like, the softest thing ever.
lila is so attached to all of them at this point.