The demeanor on the island was sad, at least for some people. The wind was blowing in the air, adding to the sound of wood being chopped. The chirps of birds and crickets could be heard throughout the island in the backyard of the Chateau, the waves of the ocean crashing against the rocks as the wind blew it back and forth each minute or so that passed. The sun was slowly rising, showing it was morning time as everyone, most likely, was starting to wake up from their deep sleep that they had after everything that had been going on on the island.
With an axe in his grip, Pope Heyward found himself chopping the wood of a tree, creating a heart with the smooth surface that had been found after some of the wood was chopped away. When was finished and placed himself beside his friend, Kiara, or Kie, Carrera, JJ Maybank walked forward with a blowtorch and a metal tool in his hands. On the other side of Kiara, Y/n Routledge held a box of her brother's belongings in her hand, staring down at them with a frown, trying to hold back the tears.
Using the one end of the tool that had been heated up by the blowtorch, JJ begins to create words and numbers for the memorial they had created for their best friend and Y/n's brother who died out at sea with someone who was to become their best friend. The memorial said, '2003-2020, John B Routledge, P4L'. Soon enough, the blonde finished and placed himself back beside his girlfriend who glanced up at him, frown still very evident on her face as she thought of her brother.
"To John B." JJ says while holding up his drink.
"And to Sarah." Kie adds quietly.
Y/n and Kiara watch as the boys of the group lift up their drinks before taking a gulp of them. When they finished that, the only Routledge left on the island stepped towards the small hole her and Kiara had dug up earlier. Crouching down, they watch as she places the box of her brother's belongings inside. She caught sight of a picture of her, her brother and their father in the box before the others were crouching and, closing the lid and helping her bury it. John B Routledge wasn't able to have an actual funeral, so they made this memorial instead. The same with Sarah Cameron.
"Here's a fun fact. You ready? Here we go. Everyone you know... will die. And by everyone, I mean everyone. Your mother, brother, sister, father. All your friends. And all your enemies. Everyone. I mean, of course, there's another way of looking at it. Since it's all so short and over so quickly... that makes everything meaningful. Everything's just one time."
***
In the kitchen of the Chateau, the fridge door was open and Y/n was grabbing a bottle of water before closing the door shut. Venturing towards the living area, she twists the bottle of the cap off while seating herself on the couch, head resting on the pillow that leaned against the arm of the chair as she laid there. Beside her on the floor, a box of pictures and objects laid inside. Most of the pictures were of her and John B and, at times, their father when they were kids. The objects were old toys that her and John B used to play with.
Placing the bottle of water down onto the floor beside the box, Y/n leans down and grabs a picture of her and John B. She remembers that day as clear as gold. It was her sixth birthday, hence why there was a cake with a number six candle on top in the picture. John B was about seven and both were smiling up at the camera that their father had taken at the time since it was just them three. Both Routledge siblings were so short, but Y/n was shorter in the picture.
The six year old Y/n was wearing a pink sunflower dress, her h/c hair in braids at the time while the seven year old John B wore a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, just like how he dresses... dressed now. And both wore bandanas around their necks like they both did now. In the picture, John B had his tiny arms wrapped around his sister from behind, a bit around her neck and shoulders as he hugged her tightly. Y/n's tiny hands were holding his bare arms as they both held bright smile. The candle on the cake was blown out, meaning she had already been sung happy birthday and made a wish.
The sound of the front door to the Chateau opening caught her attention, hearing the voice of JJ calling out to inform her it was him. Y/n looks up a bit, seeing the blonde coming into the living area in his work clothes. The two share a smile as he leans down, pecking her lips for a couple seconds before he sits back up, taking notice of the box full of pictures and the one in her hand of her and John B.
"What are you doing?" JJ asks with furrowed brows.
Y/n shrugs, sitting up. "Found this in my dad's office. Figured I'd look through it. Why are you back from work so early?"
"Got fired." JJ replies, seating himself on the sofa she still sat on.
"What? What happened?" Y/n questions, swinging her legs over the couch and onto the floor.
JJ clenches his jaw. "They wouldn't stop talking about him, saying he deserves it or whatever."
Knowing he didn't wanna talk about as she didn't wanna hear the rest of what the island was saying about her brother, Y/n wraps her arms around her boyfriend, him doing the same as they held each other tightly.
"Let's look through these." JJ suggests, looking down at the box.
Nodding in reply, Y/n watches as the blonde lays himself down on the couch, opening his legs a bit and letting her come between them, her back to his chest as he wraps his arms around her from behind. Both lean down and look through the pictures like Y/n had been doing earlier. JJ couldn't help but smile at the one he grabbed, him, John B and Y/n being in it. He remembers this day like he always did.
Y/n was about eleven years old while him and John B were about twelve. Both boys were wearing swimsuit shorts, no shirts on their torsos as they sitting on a surfboard, legs crossed together. In-between them, Y/n sat the same way as she wore a rash guard and a pair of swimming shorts. Unlike the boys hair, Y/n's was in a nice braid that went down her back while the boys hair was all messy.
All three of them were facing the camera that Big John had taken, their arms linked together and JJ remembered they all fell backwards into the ocean after that picture was taken. Meanwhile, Y/n looks down at the picture in her hands. She was about twelve or thirteen while John B was about fourteen. In the picture, she was wearing swimming shorts and the top of a bikini top on her torso.
A baseball cap sat on top of her head, her long h/c hair in a ponytail. Like now, a bandana was around her neck, rope bracelets on her wrists and a bandana on her wrist as well which is exactly how she currently wore them now, just like John B as well. The said brunette was also in the picture, wearing his usual t-shirt and shorts, the bandana around his neck and the baseball cap turned backwards on his head. Both Routledge siblings held fishing-rods in the picture as Y/n recognized they were in the marsh or someone close to there which is where they usually went fishing.
Y/n was sitting on the edge of the boat, her legs and feet dangling off the side while John B was standing which Y/n remembered he had a hard time balancing and had fallen in later. Both were looking at the camera, holding up the peace sign as Big John Routledge was on the other side, taking the photo. Deciding to look at a few more, Y/n picks up another of her and John B which they were younger.
She was about eight or nine and John B was about ten. Both were flexing their arms as best as they could, sticker tattoos on their skin. One happened to be on John B's forehead in the picture. Y/n frowned, remembering how her and her brother talked about wanting to get matching tattoos when they were older. And now, that would never happen.
"I miss him." Y/n blurts out, staring at the picture.
JJ frowns. "Me, too. But at least... At least he's not running anymore."
"Yeah, you're right." Y/n agrees quietly. "You know, we always wanted to get tattoos. We'd talk about getting matching tattoos all the time."
"Why don't we get some?" JJ suggests.
Y/n furrows her brows. "What?"
"Tattoos. Let's get some. I know John B would still want you to get them, even if he's not here." JJ states, giving her a small smile.
"But we're not old enough." Y/n reminds, sitting up a bit.
"I never said anything about going to a shop, baby." JJ recalls, standing up from his spot on the couch.
With furrowed brows, she watches as he walks out of the room, but a smile was still on her face. Eventually, he came back with a small needle-like object that would be enough to give them tattoos. Looking to his girlfriend, the blonde raises a brow as if to say if she was in for it or not. A chuckle escaping her, Y/n nods in reply, watching as he excitedly jumps onto the couch in front of her.
After a couple minutes, Y/n was carefully putting JJ's tattoo by his ankle, his sock half pulled down so she could do so. One of the blonde's hands were on her arm, the pad of his thumb gently caressing her clothed arm. When she finished, he went on with hers, being as careful as he could as he held her wrist which is where she wanted hers to be. As he did so, Y/n was staring at him with love in her eyes.
Now, they had 'P4L' printed on their bodies.