GLITCH.
024 | she's alive!

RENEE WAS NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE. Especially after spending the whole day off of the radar, not answering her phone and barely answering any of her brother or mums thousands on questions.

All about what had happened, sat in the doctor's office as Renee toys with the material of Lennon's college sweatshirt that she was given to change into after she was stitched up. Although Renee's word gave no more explanation than,

'nothing I just fell.'

She was silent on the drive to the mainland, and then silent in the waiting room of the emergency room at the closest hospital. She was silent except a few seethes that escaped her mouth as she was seen by a doctor and stitched up.

Giving antibiotics and pain medication, and when he asked what happened, not buying what it said on the incident report.

she simply answered "I fell".

Renee sat in the back of the car —  her legs huddled to her chest whilst her fingers toyed with the unthreaded and loose material at the end of the sweatpants she had no other choice but to change into, her lower stomach bulged abnormally at the amount of bandaging she applied to her torso before she left the hospital.

Renee felt nothing less than violated, a feeling that was abnormal and extremely foreign to her. She had been caught in the midst of the battle between the kooks and pogues for years now — She had been positioned on both sides. Her and whoever her challenger's was their weapon was merely the exchange of insults and childish comments.

But Rafe and Topper's decision to make the battle physical did nothing but brought the rivalry to an entirely higher pedistal — it wasn't a fight like he and John B had on the beach. What happened to Renee and Pope was an attack. An unprovoked attack.

She would cringe, the reminder of the grime of Rafe's hands feeling as if they were still continued to crawl over her body like they had managed to a few hours prior. It wasn't real but yet it still managed to haunt and taunt her relentlessly.

Renee had to sneak out of her house whilst her mother showered, driving to the chateau as she tried to park as quietly as possible, her tires squeaking as they hit the gravel almost inaudibly. Her stomach becoming habitat to a cage full of metaphorical butterflies as she let herself out, grabbing her overnight bag as she did so.

The laughter and talkative voices coming from the dock area indicated that no one was in the house — giving her the green light to shower and wash away the dirt that Rafe left traced on her skin.

Renee crept up to the back porch, opening the door and sneaking in. Putting her bag amongst the mass of backpacks that sat on the couch, her fingers unzipping it and bringing out a pair of cotton shorts and a oversized tee — most likely belonging to JJ.

Somehow sneaking into the bathroom and beginning to run the shower was easy enough to do without making too much noise.

she sighed, peeling the clothes off of her skin and letting them  fall to the floor — using her foot to
Kick them aside, soon being joined by her bra and underwear.

When Renee eventually stepped into the shower — the water ran down Renee's bare body as she had her head lifted to the face the water from the shower head.

the vicious stinging sensation that was caused by the fresh water hitting the cut was almost unbearable as she grunted through gritted teeth every few seconds from the pain. Even under the padding of the gauze and bandages it still hurt.

letting her head fall, her fingers moving to delicately and precautionary press the slight purple of bruising that sat around the left side of her body.

" fuck." her voice mumbled almost in an inaudible whisper. the sound of movement from outside the bathroom send slight shudders down Renee's back.

still not ready to face any of her friends — she cut the shower a few minutes short. Stepping out and using the towel to pat down and dry her bandages before changing as quickly as humanly possible without slipping on the water droplets falling off of her and onto the floor.

" Renee is that you?" JJ's voice bellowed out — his tone one of concern on why it was taking her so long to answer. His fist colliding with the bathroom door.

" yeah, just a second!" her words rushed out, pulling down the shirt to hide her bandaging and fiddling with the lock to open the door.

She barely had time to take a look at him before his arms were roughly wrapped around hers. His hands moving up her wet skin and pushing the tips of his fingers into her lower back to support him.

He moved his head and began to kiss her — There was a hunger and lack of delicacy that they shared last night. Their lips colliding in almost a perfect synchronisation like they had done this millions of times before.

" JJ." she gasped, using her hands to collided with his bare chest to push him back slightly — taken aback by the suddenness of his actions.

" you can't just do that you know!" his desperation of kissing the girl was seemingly the only thing that was holding him back from arguing with her.

" no! Renee- you can't just go off the grid, not answer any of my calls or my texts." he seemed angry with her, which conflicted with his past actions.

"Especially after what happened." Renee felt a pit guilt burrow in her as she nodded, bowing her head slightly like a guilt ridden puppy. " I was so fucking worried."

" I'm fine, I went to hospital and I've got to take antibiotics but I'm fine." she attempted to calm him down.

" you shouldn't of had to go to the hospital in the first place!" he said, almost confused by her relaxed mind set " why aren't you as angry as I am?"

Renee scoffed " you don't think I'm angry? I'm fucking furious!" she snapped " I can feel his fucking hands on me every time I move, I can feel his finger's tightening over my arms and so much fear I want to scream!"

" but I know nothings going to happen, even if I went to anyone and told them they wouldn't believe me!" She told the blonde " and even if I did, Topper and Rafe would get a slap on the wrist and that's it, they'd pay no consequences for their actions."

There was silence between the two of them. JJ watching the rate that Renee's chest rose and fell with stemming anger. Anger that was soon replaced by hurt as she exhaled and bowed her head.

" let me see it ." he faked a cough, choking on the small gaggle of tears pricking in the corners of his eyes. His eyes glancing down to her lower abdomen.

" no." she stated " I'm not showing you." her tone was powerful but JJ once again wasn't listening to her and was persistent.

" Ren, for fuck sake I just want to make sure you're okay." his words inflated with concern and a slight desperation to be shown what he was fearing.

The blonde sighed, admitting defeat as her palms gripping the end of her shirt and scrunching it up, revealing the cut and bruising surrounding the left side of her stomach which was covered by  plasters and bandaging.

JJ honestly didn't know what he was expecting— but it wasn't what he was looking straight at. It wasn't anything little, it was big and it looked violently inflicted — intentionally inflicted upon her.

The feeling of guilt burrowed further into both the blonde teenagers; JJ's being a matter of being stupid enough to let her out his sight on figure eight of all places, whilst Renee's was purely based the look on JJ's face as he stared at the spot on her stomach.

" the doctor says it'll make for one hell of a scar." she tried to lift the mood slightly, dropping the material of her shirt. forcing JJ's eyes back up to her — her mouth opening as JJ interrupted before she even had the chance to speak,

" Ren, listen to me ok." His voice breaking with each word that left his mouth " I'm never going to let anything like that happen to you again."

" I'm never going to let anyone hurt you like that ever again." Renee rested her forehead against his, clutching her eyes shut as JJ continued to hold her in a close proximity to him.

Releasing the shirt, it dropped back down to her mid thigh — JJ's eyes finally looking back up to her. stepping closer to once again kiss her, their lips melding into each other.

Both of them panting for breath in the very rare moment they were passionately kissing. Although JJ seemed to let Renee regain her breath, moving his lips to attach to her neck — most likely leaving lip shaped marks as his own personal branding.

Knowing tomorrow the right side of her neck would practically be screaming ' JJ Maybank was here'

And as much as Renee was currently indulging in the pleasure currently spreading through her body — it would have felt better if she knew why JJ was being so spur of the moment with his actions.

" JJ wait-" she spoke, looking at him as he pulled away from leeching on her neck to face her, equally as breathless — a sheen of sweat covering his forehead, a few strands of his hair in front of his face

" what, is something wrong?" he words spoken in pants as Renee shook her head, using her fingers to push back those stray hairs that stopped her from seeing JJ's blue eyes fully.

" no." she spoke wearily, not convincing JJ as he sighed and nodded.

"JJ...I just want to know what you're thinking?" she asked, her hands travelling to rest on his cheek. Her thumb stroking his stubble gently.

JJ decided not to answer truthfully, " whatever you're thinking about babe." Renee smiled slightly but shook her head at his blatant lie of an answer.

" JJ, please." she mumbled, using her other hand to loop around his waist and pull him into the space between her legs as she continued to sit on the counter. " talk to me, what's going on?"

" I'm thinking." he began, sighing in distress "if I don't stay here with you, there's nothing keeping me from going to figure eight and ripping each one of those kooks heads off."

his answer had a less violent depiction than Renee preempted. She nodded and hovered in to kiss him gently.

" please don't do anything JJ." she whispered against his lips, putting him in a comatose state, one stopping him from arguing with her.

" please just promise me," Renee spoke, breaking their kiss once again.

And as much as he wanted to promise he couldn't. It was too late to be making promises to remain civil with the kooks , as soon as the two boys looked at each other on the boat ride back. Both had a mixture of Renee's blood on their hands, their hearts heavy but eyes dark.

it was beyond both JJ or Popes common sense to just let it go.

But Instead of telling Renee this (which he probably should've) he instead made the promise he inevitably knew he already couldn't keep.

" I promise." a small upturn of her lips formed as JJ spoke.

" alright carry on then." she told him, and for once, he was really thinking exactly what she was thinking about.

His fingers lingered with the edges of her shirt hem. Instead of pulling it up fully his flattened palms slipped under her shirt borrowed from him. Her body still damp as it travelled up until reaching her breasts.

His kisses still hard and a flurry of passion and slight aggravation on JJ's side who was using Renee as any release for keeping away from figure eight, Tanny hill or where else the kook cowards would be hiding tonight.

JJ's movements all over her body inflicted euphoric feelings for Renee who was still firmly placed on the counter top of the chateau bathroom, but from the sounds exiting her mouth conveyed the feeling she had forgotten that all her friends could possible be in this very house along with her and JJ.

It was the secret that thrilled her, the supposed forbidden love that her and JJ shared due to pogue rules that made it all the more fun — that made each secret touch of fingers or hands, each kiss and make out session in their best friends bathroom all the more pleasurable.

Because god only knew how much more complicated it would get once their relationship was unveiled from the shadows and forced to the light.

AS RENEE AND JJ WALKED towards the dock that JJ had told her that the three of them were hanging out on before he left to go to 'see' her.

Their hands intertwined but was hidden from the others as JJ trailed along behind her, making it almost unnoticeable.

It was Kiara who first caught glances at the two of them, dropping her beer in an instant and began a speeding pace of between a heavy jog and run towards the blonde girl.

" oh my god you're okay!" Kiara couldn't help but hug Renee tightly — forcing her to let go of JJ who strolled by back to Pope and John B.

The two girls squeezed their eyes shut as a wave relief washed over them both . Although the collision of their two bodies stung the cut again, Renee clenched and tried to tear her mind away from the thought of the pain that once again clouded her eyes.

" yeah, I'm okay." As the two girls pulled away, Kiara couldn't help but smile at her best friend.

" I was so worried, you just went off the grid,please don't ever do that again!" she scolded Renee, who was well aware she deserved worse from Kiara.

she didn't know. Nor Pope and JJ had told her and seemingly John B anything,

" I won't." Renee told her deciding to keep the golf course issue to herself, their gazes drifted from one another as John B and Pope had finally reached the three of them.

Before letting go, Kiara quickly pecked her lips on Renee's cheek, " love you." she spoke into the skin of her cheek before pulling away.

Renee repeated Kiara's actions and kissed her cheek also, " love you too idiot." her voice almost came out in a whisper.

The two pulled away and in a matter of seconds, Kiara and JJ began to bicker over something whilst Renee made her way towards Pope and John B, both had grins on their faces.

" She's alive!" John B hollered, opening his arms as Renee walked further onto the decking — Renee smiled as she walked other to the brunette, hugging him despite him being sat on the wooden beam.

" thank god, the person who can deal with JJ's winey ass is back!" Renee laughed as John B's words, side hugging him momentarily.

JJ looked defeated as his eyes caught onto John B who playfully winked at his best friend, " no hard feelings JJ." It was his twist on an apology, JJ rolled his eyes and continued to talk to Kiara.

Renee scoffed, " so you didn't miss me John B?" she asked as John B shook his head " always." he hummed.

Renee pulled away and looked at Pope, he looked better than the last time she saw him. his cuts were less bloody and looked more like little scratches on his skin. " how you feeling P?" she asked softly, earning a small shrug from Pope.

" I've been better." his humbled response was one of the reasons Renee had always gotten on with him so well. Although the closer and longer she looked his bruising face, the more guilt that consumed her.

" don't." Pope told her, obviously being able to read the emotions off of her face, " this isn't your fault Renee."

Renee didn't say anything but nodded, accepting the fact that she couldn't have done anything to prevent the attack, and she even had visible proof of her attempts to defend Pope.

Deciding not to fight him but instead move to hug him, her cheek turning to sit in his upper chest as she mentally apologised to him thousands of times. Guilt drowning her as Pope ( shockingly to everyone ) hugged her back. His chin sitting on top of her head as the two of them just stood in a mutual silence whilst the other three stood bewildered that Pope Heyward could show any affection whatsoever.

The remainder of the light hours of the day were spent on the dock, Renee sitting with Kiara's arm running over her shoulders. Her hand continuing to hold the beer she had barely drank as it turned lukewarm.

Soon enough, they were all huddled into two hammocks. Pope and John B spread out on the sun loungers on the grass  whilst Kiara, JJ and Renee managed to take up the hammock.

Conveniently, the two blonde teenagers managed to persuade their friends that them sleeping practically on top of one another was just a coincidence.

" do you think it's out there, like no bullshit." Pope asked, breaking the comfortable silence that was previous surrounding the group.

" my father thought it was." John B told him.

" so did mine." Renee added,

" yeah, but do you guys?"Pope reworded his question, Renee lifted her head slightly in a curiosity to hear his answer.

" after hearing his voice on that tape, I think I do." he answered shortly, Renee humming " my dad would've of spent so much time on something he didn't believe in."

Pope grinned and began to speak again, " only one way to find out." his hand reaching out to do the handshake with John B who willingly accepted.

" we're gonna find it you know." Kiara told them, to which Renee gave agreed hum to.

Her arm wrapping around JJ's waist and cheek sitting on his chest whilst his fingers ran gently through her hair.

" even JJ believes." she commented further.

John B seemed shock, " oh my god, JJ do you really believe?" he asked, tearing his attention away to the half asleep girl currently lying on his chest.

"totally, wait are we talking about four mil?" he inquired to which Kiara and Pope corrected him.

" four hundred mil." their told him simultaneously, earning a sly 'jinx' from Kiara who was smiling at the coincidence.

" I'm going to dream about ship wrecks." JJ shuffled slightly — trying his hardest not to wake Renee who by now was completely out of the conversation.

" goodnight Bird." JJ almost mocked John B's nickname as his eyes closed, him too beginning to fall asleep.

" goodnight birdshit." John B remarked back, forcing a small and unconscious smirk to form on Renee's lips.

AUTHORS NOTE.
I don't know how I feel about this chapter but it's just a filler for the events of episode 3 & episode 4