GLITCH.
026 | law of the jungle

" WHAT DO YOU EXACTLY MEAN WHEN YOU SAY THE GOLD ISN'T THERE?" Renee was beyond confused as her eyes sat staring blankly at the screen that was still showing the wreckage of the merchant yet not a single sign of a trace of gold was there as she was told by both Pope and John B.

" the gold could be buried, we don't know!" Kiara stated, looking between a confused Renee and JohnB  who looked on the verge for distraught as he paced the floor of the boat clutching his hair in his hands — his head shaking.

" If it was there it would have been caught on the metal detector!" John B snapped back at Kiara to which Renee furrowed her eyebrows, not liking the way he spoke to her.

" calm down John B, why don't we just do what Pope said," she spoke softly although his attitude was beginning to annoy her "charge the drone up and come back out."

Her suggestion was swiftly being cut down by John B who had seemed to loose the last tether of his patience, " what are you missing Ren!" Kiara and Pope looked wide eyed from where they stood at his sudden outburst of rage.

" someone has already beaten us to it!" Renee rolled her eyes at his current attitude — although she couldn't help but be a little hurt. she was only trying to help, she found it difficult to believe this theory about the gold but was still willing to waste her summer looking for it.

" you don't have to be such a asshole John B, I'm only trying to help!" Renee grumbled back, turning her back to him and walking into the control room.

" that's all we've done since this royal merchant shit came up, so you know what?" she turned back to face him.

" would a thanks for entertaining my wild theories about finding a ship wreck from like hundreds of years ago fucking kill you?" She snapped, John B staring at her — the two continued to bicker between themselves, truly to any outsiders it would look nothing less than two siblings arguing over anything they could disagree on.

It ended with a 'oh fuck you John B' from Renee who soon left the situation— well as much as she could being on the same boat. Leaving John B, Kiara and Pope on the main floor whilst she stood in the drivers room with JJ.

JJ's eyes lingered on her as she leant against the wall away from him. Her arms crossed and body language overly closed off, it was clear she in some sort of mixture of annoyance but still she was hurt.

" you can come to mine when we get back if you want?" JJ kept his eyes on the water as he began to drive away, " my dads probably high and lying in a ditch somewhere."

Renee shook her head, "me and Kie were going to hang out, they're having this picture show at the park later." she told him quietly her eyes wandering to one of the woven bracelets that sat on her arm where her fingers played with with the small charms.

" am I not invited?" he asked cockily, to which Renee chuckled and shook her head.

" it's not really a couples thing JJ." her short words made his lips curve into a smile — finally clocking his head to look at Renee, still be known to the meaning of her words.

" so we're a couple now ay?" he asked in a sense of curiosity — neither of them putting a label on anything since whatever it was had started.

Renee looked out the small window to see Kiara and Pope talk whilst John B continued to stay silent and stare out to the ocean.

" well, I mean." she spoke in the midst of a breath, "we did make out in John B's bathroom yesterday." a shyness took over Renee whilst a cocky laugh left JJ's lips.

" and, you did call me your girl as well." she told him, eyes lingering up to the blonde boy as a bashful blush bruised his cheeks.

" which I didn't mind to be honest."

A small silence took over the two of them — Renee was waiting for JJ to speak but he hadn't exactly prepared himself to ask her to be his girlfriend, especially at a time like this. Emotions being so high and it was mostly stress related, it just didn't feel right.

" but I'm sure if Pope and John B come as well it would be fine." she faked a cough, her final hopes of JJ continuing the conversation of their relationship failing as he gave her a Curt nod.

THE REST OF THE RIDE HOME was beyond awkward. For Pope and Kiara anyways. John B and Renee barely spoke to each other and when they did it was bickering small comments and childish insults directed at one another — truly embracing the sibling dynamic they had with the way they conflicted.

JJ and Renee had seemed to be taking part in a lack of conversing also, it wasn't as if they didn't want to speak to each other but it was the lack of knowing what to say and Renee's continued annoyance with John B which was seemingly affecting her relationships with the other pogues.

Finally parking up outside Heyward's shop, John B barley conversed to any of the remaining four pogues as he jumped on his boat and swiftly left back for the chateau .

Kiara and Renee walked off, getting into Renee's car and driving off to Wreck to waitress.

The hours the two girls had spent wiping down tables and placing freshly washed cutlery neatly side by side was considered a hoot compared to Pope who was now aching for his breath considering he had ran all the way to JJ's house after being hunted down by Topper and Rafe.

A thin coat of sweat sat in the pores of his t-zone as he approached his blonde best friend who was currently intimidating an old and now wounded teddy bear of his which was sat on the stump of a tree whilst holding his gun in it's direction.

" JJ!" Pope called out, then noticing the large Orange ear protectors on the blonde's ears to why he wasn't answering and still was mumbling at shooting at the bear.

after a few more failed attempts of Pope calling after his friend. JJ turned his head and noticed the shine of sweat formed fear on his friends head.

" they know!" Popes words were muffled with the after vibrations of the gun shots in JJ's ears. He pushed the protectors off of his ears and furrowed his eyebrows,

" what?"

" they know!" Pope emphasised, his words earning a roll from JJ's eyes before a shake of his head,

" alright chill bro alright?" JJ spoke almost emotionless " they don't know shit."

Pope began to pace — anxiety filling him whilst JJ perched a seat and reloaded his gun again.

" Topper knows I sunk his boat."

" how do you know they know?" JJ asked, still not believing whatever Pope was saying especially with his reputation in the past of being unexplainably paranoid.

" Because Topper and Rafe posted outside of Heyward's and mad dogged me!" He told him, still the feeling of their eyes pinned on him making shudders crawl up his skin.

"Will you calm down and get a grip, man?" JJ spoke almost mockingly " they don't know shit." He repeated,

Pope still opposed to JJ's confidence shook his head continuing to pace around his friend,

"They have cameras, they could've seen me." His words were rushed, the feeling of anxiety becoming more predominant as the moments passed.

" there was no power Pope, how could they have seen you?" JJ asked as if the boy panicking in front of him hadn't already asked himself that multitude of questions whilst on the way here.

" it's figure eight!" Pope exclaimed " they got generators!"

He let out a miserable groan before turning back to pace towards JJ once again,

" they don't give scholarships to kids who vengefully sink boats!" JJ continued to uselessly try and comfort Pope " it's not a good look on my transcript."

JJ seemed to finally loose his least thread of restraint — he stood up abruptly and faced Pope.

" enough of the regret bro." he told him, using his finger to point at pope's still visible cuts no matter how well the hats he were wearing hid it, " they caved your face in, and we both saw what they did to Ren."

" they hit us, we hit it them, it's the law of the jungle!" He seemed to squint his eyes to try and emphasise his point further " if any kooks ask if you had anything to do with it." he stepped forward " you walk up to them, look them right in the eye, and?"

It took a few seconds for Pope to answer " deny the living shit out of it."

" that's right." JJ encouraged "deny,deny,deny."

JJ them flickered his eyes to the gun sat on the stump " and just for safety, we don't go anywhere without protection."

MEANWHILE, RENEE WAVED HER HAND To Kiara who she had just dropped home a few houses down from her own — blowing her a multitude of air kisses before finally turning around to let herself into her empty house. since her parents were still at the wreck prepping for what they hoped would be the evening rush.

Renee's drive back home was only a few yards before she was pulling onto the drive — mentally groaning at the sight of Topper's car and Rafe's bike sat in her drive.

Walking into the house, she tip toed as the loud booming music echoed from the gym down the hall. Not wanting to bring any attention to herself especially when Topper and Rafe were in the house — the thought of having to merely look them in the eye made her throat close up.

Her mind rapidly thought out a strategy, it consisted of grabbing a glass of water and then proceed to run upstairs before anyone could realise her car had even pulled into the drive way.

Renee kept her steps quiet, reaching the kitchen and opened one of the cabinets before slowly clutching her fingers around the length of the glass.

She began filling it with water, and a sigh of relief had washed over her until all hopes that she had wormed her way out of the situation ended as she heard creaking of footsteps.

" Ren!" Topper's voice called out, her eyes widening slightly before she turned her body to face the four boys that were now exiting the gym — Topper followed by Kelce and slacking behind was Lennon and Rafe.

"leave me alone Topper-" she spoke shortly, feeling her heart beat faster just by his voice, not even having looked up to the others.

The blonde girl tried at all costs not to look at Rafe again today, although the sensation of burning on her skin as result to him looking at her made it difficult to.

" you'll never guess what happened this morning?" Topper ignited the conversation again. Renee shook her head, " no I do not." she told him " but I'm going to this movie thing so I need to get dress-"

" my boat was found submerged in the water." Toppers tune instantly changed, his teeth gritted together and tone rough.

Renee tried her hardest not to smile at the information, instead her lips curved ever so slightly.

Karma was a bitch,

"ok?" she said, the boy sat infront of her practically sending daggers with his eyes shook his head.

" you upset you got caught?" Renee furrowed her eyebrows at his words, looking around to the others who also looked slightly confused except Rafe who was also scowling in her direction.

" you really think I'd sink your boat?" she asked, "I mean I know you deserve it but I wouldn't get my own hands dirty."

" hey!" Lennon spoke hitting his hand on Topper's chest " don't accuse her of shit, she was at the hospital."

Renee hadn't really spoken to Lennon since having to go to the hospital but when he eventually came home and their mom gave him the rundown on what had happened, it was clear he didn't believe her story of falling.

" alright bro, I just wanna know if she knows who did?" Rafe once again aimed his gaze at Renee who shook her head.

" I don't know." she began to walk away, breezing past the boys — hoping her lack of information would be enough to just let her get on with her evening.

Although she was stopped by Rafe's hand pushing rather harshly against her lower stomach, only a few inches underneath the cut he had inflicted her with yesterday.

The tingle of her bruises weren't as painful considering nausea filled her body at the thought of Rafe currently touching her. Once again too paralysed in fear to even move away.

Her throat felt like closing in as her cloudy eyes looked at his, her body was between the aches of freezing and shaking. Her clasp on the glass of water become suffocatingly tighter.

" we think it was your pretty little pogue boyfriend and the Heyward kid."

Renee didn't feed into his accusations, her lip still trembling and eyes watering from Rafe's hold on her. Lennon's gaze flickering between his friend and the look on his sister face. His jaw tightened.

"get off of me Rafe." she couldn't even sound threatening, her voice was made out of fear.

His fingers tightened, " answer me." he warned.

Renee felt like she couldn't breathe, her chest was heavy and her eyes were close to releasing tears. Terror rippling through her body at being so close to him.

" they wouldn't." she spoke lowly, not believing the words leaving her mouth.

"Cameras caught Heyward's old man's boat, Topper's pressing charges." Renee wanted to shake her head again, he had promised her.

JJ was aware of how much promises meant to her although others saw them as childish — she believed they were the purest instalment of trust. He wouldn't break it...would he?

And Pope, he wouldn't shut up about his scholarship and he hadn't since he found out about it months ago — Renee couldn't imagine him jeopardising it, even after what happened at the golf course.

It was just a threat, an empty one at that —Renee shook her head, they were intimidating her to give them the information she didn't have and she was sure of it.

" even if they did." she stepped closer, glaring at Rafe with a disgust before shifting her gaze to Topper

"you more than deserved it asshole."

" or do you not remember what happened yesterday at the golf course, need a little refresher." Renee asked gripping her fingers on the material of her shirt and went to pull it up before Rafe stopped her by tightly clutching his fingers around her wrist and forced her to stop moving.

She knew what would happen if she even mentioned what Rafe and Topper had done, if not to Pope than their best friends little sister.

Lennon and Kelce were both beyond confused whilst sweat began to release out of Topper's pores as it did with Rafe too.

" what are you talking about Renee?" Kelce questioned — Lennon flickering his eyes between the panicked faces of Topper and Rafe.

The blonde shook her head, " you were all at the country club yesterday weren't you?" she questioned, she could sense the tension between her and the two boys. The power having been transferred into her hands.

She didn't let Kelce or Lennon answer before speaking again "all I'm saying is." her words clearly a warning "it's the law of the jungle." her words echoes of JJ's.

Pulling herself out of the boys grip, " and if you fucking grab me like that again, I'll make sure everyone knows what kind of person you are Rafe Cameron."

" is that a threat?" Rafe questioned, furrowing his eyebrows as Renee shook her head.

" it's a promise." she replied. beginning to walk away — quickly beckoned back by her brother who was still remained confused.

" where are you going?" Lennon called out as Renee reached the landing of the second floor.

" film with Kie and the boys." she told him, Topper looking at Rafe — silently asking him the question as if they were going to go too.

Rafe nodded his head and let out a breath, before mumbling " like she said, law of the jungle"

" and boys, we just got hit."

ELLIE SPEAKS🪄
I kinda loved writing a bit more of bad bitch Renee and am happy to say she's just going to get better.