XXI. a good life

      The last thing Dylan expected to see when she walked into the Chateau was Sarah sitting on the couch. The boys were already there, Kiara wasn't, which led Dylan to believe that she had no idea Sarah was there. She glanced at JJ and then to Pope, both of them waving at her. She turned to John B. "This was your idea, wasn't it?"

John B threw his hands up. "Why do assume that?"

"Because they—" she pointed to Pope and JJ. "Aren't stupid enough to face the wrath of Kiara Carerra."

JJ nodded. "She's right."

"She's not lying." Pope agreed.

John B groaned. "DJ, please, I need you on my side." He begged.

Dylan's dark eyes shifted to Sarah, who was sitting there silently. She smiled slightly at her, feeling slightly nervous about what was to come. Sarah and Dylan were friends but she knew that she was also a Pogue. She was loyal. She was loyal to Kiara.

Dylan didn't respond to him and squeezed beside JJ on the chair that he in. "Hi there, m'lady." He smirked.

She smiled back. "Hi, lover."

Pope silently gaged to himself and rolled his eyes.

When Kiara came walking into the Chateu, Dylan held her breath. The girl took one look at Sarah and all hell broke loose. "No effing way!" She glared at John B. "You brought her here? So what, she's in on this now?"

Dylan whistled awkwardly under her breath and tapped her nails against her bare thigh. 

"Look, all I care about is her cut comes off your share." JJ announced, pointing his finger between John B and Sarah.

Dylan hit his shoulder. "Now is not the time, JJ."

"You know, I don't remember taking a vote," Kiara shot in anger. "This is our thing. A Pogue thing."

Dylan had a lot she wanted to say. They all did. But she was hesitant because she didn't want to hurt anybody's feelings. Sarah already knew everything. John B clearly was not going to keep her away. At the same time, Dylan knew how Kiara was feeling and she felt terrible.

"I gotta say, I'm just a tad uncomfortable with all of this," Pope spoke with hesitation.

"Thank you!" Kiara exclaimed.

Dylan gave him a look and nudged his leg with her elbow, making him shrug.

"When are you not uncomfortable?" John B retaliated.

"Well, I dunno. I rode here on the back of JJ's bike pretty comfortably!" He said back.

JJ nodded. "It's true. Most relaxed I've ever seen him."

Dylan grinned. "Aww."

"That's cute, guys."

"You know, we are all extremely comfortable until you brought her here," Kiara raged, glaring at the Kook who hadn't said a word.

"Stop talking about me like I'm not here!" Sarah finally spoke out of frustration.

"Then leave!"

Dylan felt dizzy looking back and forth between them. She felt very out of place. She turned her head and looked at Pope, see that he was looking back at her and they shared the same nervous expression.

Sarah scoffed and looked at John B knowingly. "I told you."

John B only looked away, knowing she was right.

"Told him what, exactly? That you're a lie?" Kiara taunted.

"No, that you're a shit talking bitch!"

Dylan's jaw dropped in complete shock. JJ pulled money out of his pocket. "My money's on Kie—"

"No, stupid!" She hissed and slapped his hand.

Kiara and Sarah started yelling at each othe.  JJ and Pope were arguing over a bet. "Kie,  stop!" Said Dylan.

Kiara turned to her. "Why are you yelling at me? You're supposed to be on my side!" She shouted.

"I am on your side!" She retaliated, her voice going high from the pressure.

"Everybody shut up!" John B shouted over their bickering.

The arguing died down but the tension between Sarah and Kiara was high. If looks could kill, everybody in the room would be dead. Dylan's leg bounced up and down anxiously, the feeling of annoyance and frustration radiating off of her as well. She just wanted the drama to be over.

"Kie, you are my best friend, right?" John B said to Kiara, only getting a shrug in response. He looked to Dylan. "DJ, you too, right?"

Dylan narrowed her eyes but nodded anyway.

He looked at Sarah. "And Sarah, you're. . ."

He couldn't get the words out. Sarah gave him a tiny smile. "Say it." She whispered.

"You're my girlfriend."

Though she wasn't surprise, Dylan still made a noise of discomfort. "Okay, wow."

"Ohh. . . that's new." Pope muttered, feeling very uncomfortable and JJ cringed as well.

"Didn't see that one coming."

"She's your girlfriend now?" Kiara scoffed like she couldn't believe it. "What was all that talk about you were just using her for information? Get a map, cut her loose." She brought up out of bitterness.

"Kie." Dylan warned.

Sarah glanced at the man of the hour. "You said you were using me?" She asked, feeling betrayed.

"No." John B denied.

Pope nodded. "Yes, you did."

"You said those words."

"Low blow, JB." Dylan mumbled and scratched the back of her neck.

"Look, love just walked in, okay?"

Kiara let out a noise of disgust. "Oh, vomit."

"I didn't expect it. It just–it kind of happened. And I'm not gonna deny it. Right?" He directed the last statement to Sarah.

"Oh, that's corny," Pope whispered and Dylan gave him a look. He shrugged. "What? It is."

It went quiet in the room. Any other day, under different circumstances, Dylan would be happy for John B that he found someone. He deserved to have someone. Unfortunately, this was the worst possible time and he was only making it worse on himself. "Look, cut the bullshit, John B," Kiara spoke. "If she's in, I'm out."

"Kie, I'm not doing this," John B sighed.

"You are going to decide."

"I can't-"

"I'm very interested, actually. Me or her?" Kiara nearly shouted.

"Both." He said without hesitation.

Dylan's eyes widened in shock and JJ whistled. "Went for the Hail Mary."

Pope cringed again.

Dylan stared at John B. She could never imagine herself making him choose between her and an outsider because she knew John B would always choose the Pogues,  until now.

The same thought showed on Kiara's face and she left the Chateu without saying a word. It went silent again until Dylan stood up from the chair. "You're an asshole." She said to John B.

"DJ." He said with regret.

"Dyl, don't go." JJ pleaded as she headed to the door.

"Dylan!" Pope called her name.

Dylan chased after Kiara. "Kie!" She shouted. "Kiara!"

When she reached the girl, she called out her name again and Kiara turned around, showing her tear streaked face. "Dyl. . ."

She pulled her into a tight hug. "Don't cry. Don't cry." She whispered.

Kiara wrapped her arms around her and cried into her shoulder. "How could he do that?"

"Because he's a boy and boy's are stupid," she declared. "You know he loves us, Kie. He's just. . . lovestruck, I guess? We're his best friends, Kiara. He can't do this without us. He can't do it with you."

Dylan knew John B better than anyone. He was never the best at deciding things. But he loved his friends more than anything. Nothing would ever change that, not even Sarah. Perhaps Dylan had too much faith.

Dylan rode her bike through the marina where Pope told her to meet them the next morning. She saw him tying the bow to the dock. "Good morning,  handsome!" She announced.

Poor looked up and saw her riding her bike in his direction, smiling widely. He waved at her. "Hey, DJ."

She parked her bike and Pope helped her climb into the boat. "So, why'd you want me here?" She asked.

"The guys and myself have a plan to get Kiara and Sarah to get along and we need your help." He explained to her.

Dylan shook her head. "I don't think that's a good
idea—"

"No, no, no, just hear me out," he quickly said with a wave of his hands. "We're going to tell Kie that JJ and John B conked out in the marsh and we have to go get them. Then we're going to leave her and Sarah on the boat."

Her eyes went wide. "Leave them? Pope, that's like putting two lions in a cage together!" She said quickly.

"I know, I know! It was John B's idea."

"Figures."

Pope clasped his hands together and pouted his lips. "C'mon DJ, what do you say?" He gave her the puppy eyes.

Dylan groaned. "Don't do that."

He started blinked his eyes, fluttering his lashes. She felt her stomach do what she could only describe as a flip. He always did the puppy eyes. Since they were kids, he knew exactly what to do to make her give into things. It was that one, stupid look. She groaned loudly and rolled her eyes. "Fine, okay. Just stop doing that!"

Pope smiled widely. "Works every time."

"Yeah, yeah." She mumbled and walked around him to sit behind the wheel.

Kiara's wild curls blowing in the wind caught their attention. She came running down the dock. Dylan waved like crazy. "Hey, Kie!"

"What the hell is going on?" Kiara shouted when she reached the boat.

"JJ and John B conked out in the marsh. They need a tow," Pope explained. He looked over his shoulder at Dylan. "Right, DJ?"

"Right." She nodded, smiling nervously.

Kiara rolled her eyes. "Uh, okay, well, what does that have to do with me?" She questioned with annoyance.

Dylan blinked rapidly, looking for an excuse. "Um. . . because you always know what to do?"

Pope discreetly gave her a thumbs up.

She sighed and climbed into the boat. "Okay." She gave in.

"Okay, great," he quickly said and sat beside Dylan.  She scooted over so he could take the wheel.

She pointed at her nose. "You see this? Does it look any longer? If it does, it's cause of you!" She hissed under her breath.

Pope smirked and nudged her with his elbow. "Shut up, drama queen."

Pope drove the boat through the marsh and Dylan sat criss crossed across from him. Her chin was rested in the palm of her hand and she was watching the sunset start to form. The sun glowed orange, reflecting off of the orange and pink clouds. It was a silent boat ride. The breeze blew through her free curls. She glanced at Pope and watched the way his eyebrows scrunched together from concentrating. The sun was shining on him, making his skin gleam. He was wearing a pink cap, the one Dylan bought him for his birthday.

Pope looked to the side and saw her staring at him. His eyes went wide. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

She blinked rapidly and shook her head. "Sorry. I'm sorry."

"No, no, no, it's okay. I don't mind."

She looked back at him. "Yeah?"

He slapped himself in his head. "Y-Yeah." He answered, his voice going up an octave. Pope looked back at the water sighed under his breath. "I'm such an idiot."

They saw JJ and John B's boat in the middle of the marsh and Pope started to slow the boat down. When he got close enough, he allowed Kiara to jump to the other boat. "John B and JJ are up in the Alpe." He told her.

Kiara sighed and climbed onto the boat. "Can't you guys doing anything without me?"

"We'd be lost without you, honey," Dylan commented.  She glared at Pope. "You better hope this works."

He held his hands up. "Yes, ma'am."

A minute later, JJ and John B jumped off the boat and started paddling to theirs swam to theirs. "They are so stupid." Dylan said under her breath.

The boys climbed onto the boat and water dripped onto the floor. JJ smiled brightly at the girl. "DJ, darling, good to see you again."

Dylan smiled back, the gesture full of sarcasm.

Upon seeing the group on the boat, Kiara and Sarah rushed to the front of the deck. "Are you serious?" Sarah voiced in disbelief.

"Are you joking? Get your asses back here!" Kiara shouted out angrily.

An amused smile curled on Dylan's lips and she stood beside John B with her arms crossed. "We can't! Not till you two figure it out." He called out.

Kiara let out a frustrated sigh. "I will kill every single one of you! DJ, that includes you!"

She cupped her hands around her mouth. "I'm rooting for you, honey!" She hollered.

"You can't just leave!" Sarah yelled desperately.

Pope stood behind Dylan and blocked his eyes from the sun. "There's food in the cabin, and JJ rolled a blunt." He explained, also smiling.

"Hydroponic!" JJ added.

Dylan giggled loudly. She felt an odd sense of happiness in the moment. It was always like this. These people, her friends, they made her so happy. They were wild and crazy and goofy, but she loved them. She wouldn't trade this life for anything. "Have fun! I love you!" She shouted at the girls.

John B began to drive the boat away. "Wait!" Sarah shouted and took off her top. She jumped into the water and started swimming towards them. "Wait! John B! You asshole!"

"Godspeed!"

"Don't kill each other!"

The group of friends bursted into laughter while driving away. Dylan covered her mouth while laughing a string of giggles. She touched Pope's arm briefly, making him look down at her and smile. "You good?"

Her arms wrapped around his waist affectionately, making his eyes almost pop out of his head. He looked to John B and JJ, the two of them simultaneously giving him a thumbs up.

Pope looked down at Dylan and saw her smiling at the distance. His heart beat against his ribcage. He slowly felt himself relax and he smiled. His arms wrapped around her shoulders and felt her lay her head on his chest. It was a good life.