GLITCH.
030 | me and my girlfriend

SUNLIGHT FLOATED THROUGH THE LOWE HOUSEHOLD. With Renee not having been able to sleep since the seven am mark of the morning — and although how much she loved watching JJ sleep and how relaxed it made her at the peacefulness of the rhythm he breathed in , it could only keep her entertained for so long.

So she left, although she hadn't gone far: one of JJ's tops covered her top half whilst cotton shorts grazed until the higher thigh of her leg. Hair tied up using a claw clip as the smell of the bacon she had just pulled out of the grill making her empty stomach roar even more.

Cooking for JJ was possibly one of the most domestic things she had ever done for a boy; as shameless as it was, most of her late night hook ups ended up in her leaving before the guy (or on the occasion...girl) could even wake up and realise she was even ever there.

Yet she enjoyed playing the part of the doting lover if it were for him, JJ Maybank had changed her even in the small period of time they had been seeing each other.

Two plates sat by the side of the stove top — accompanied by one empty glass and one filled up to a third with orange juice that Renee had been sipping on whilst cooking.

" And here I was thinking you'd ran away." JJs voice spoke softly, slightly disgruntled from how long he had been up. only in his shorts as his mid-driff as he wandered down the staircase and towards the kitchen.

" nope, just making you breakfast blondie." she smiled, beginning to plate everything up for them both " look how good I am at being your girlfriend already."

Her smile radiated across the house as JJ sat down in the bar stool opposite her — his cheek collapsing into the palm of his hand, silent as he watched her further impress herself before placing the plate in front of him.

" you look hot being all girlfriend-y." he smirked, admiring her lack of makeup, messy hair that was most definitely tangled although it was pushed back behind her ears.

" don't I look hot always?" she queried, furrowing an eyebrow before accompanying him as she perched in the seat next to him — not sparing time to begin eating like JJ who out of his ravenous state had only silently saying thank you before devouring the eggs she had made — the silver fork being his weapon of choice.

" yes ma'am." he chuckled, Renee humming and beginning to eat. A comfortable silence filled the room, both listening to the external sounds of the world around them and despite whatever chaos they were in, for once they felt at peace.

" this is how I imagine it, you know?" JJ hummed breaking the momentary silence between them, Renee furrowed her eyebrows. Turning as she swallowed her food, her lips opening before speaking.

" imagine what?"

" our life together." his words caught the girl off guard, although it still managed to bring a smile to her lips and a heat to her cheeks.

" our life together?" she continued to ask, JJ humming as he spoke with each breath he took where his mouth wasn't full with food.

" you know? that house off the island..obviously we'd move in after we came back from our surfing tour of Hawaii and Yucatan." he seemed pretty adamant that's how their lives were going to pan out, certain that from this very moment that he and Renee would be together for a very long time.

" obviously." Renee chuckled, JJ finally turning to look at her as she smiled " you've got it all figured out haven't you mr maybank?"

JJ leant in, his lips gently brushing hers for a few seconds before pulling away only far enough to rest his forehead on her own.

" I've only just got you miss Lowe," his voice like some sort of intoxication, Renee losing all will power she had not to kiss him again " I don't plan on losing you any time soon."

Renee pushed her lips back in, kissing JJ slowly her hands moving up his body until her fingers began tasseling in his hair. JJ's hands sitting riskly up the higher part of Renee's thigh as she grinned into the kiss.

didn't plan on losing him anytime soon either, this was just the beginning of what she hoped would be forever.

BEING RENEE'S BOYFRIEND WAS ALREADY proving a challenging job for JJ who was  currently lying on top the covers of the bed having come back from their beach trip almost an hour ago.

He had already showered and changed, ready to leave the house for around an hour now — although Renee still had her towel wrapped around her body holding up two choices of outfits — her expression the definition of contemplation

" why are you trying so hard to dress up?" he asked in a curiosity yet in slight mockery " you realise we're only going to Heyward's to help Pope and his old man out?"

Renee who lowered the clothes hanger that had a pair of worn denim dungarees as well as the one in the other hand that had high waisted mom jean shorts. A replica of exhaustion on her face also,

" doesn't mean I don't want to look good, anyways it might help telling Kiara we've been sneaking around behind their backs in a relationship for the last few days." she exhaled at the lack of breath she inhaled whilst in the midst of her ramble.

" and John B if he decides to show his face and comes out of depressed incognito mode." Neither of them had heard from John B since the failed attempt at finding the gold.

Renee grew concerned at the state her best friend was last in but JJ was the first to assure her that John B could take care of himself as he had been for almost the last year.

" so your plan is that you're hoping that if you look good, she'll just be too dazed to be annoyed at us for breaking a rule?" JJ cut her off slightly, earning a timid nod from Renee.

" exactly."

" I know it sounds stupid but it's just-" she placed the hangers down onto the bed and sighed, " I can already picture the shit Kiara is going to give me for keeping this from her."

" Kiara can't be annoyed at you." JJ stated, " she has no reason to be."

His words earning a scoff from Renee who then followed it up by a quiet chorus of laughter.

" we obviously do not know the same Kiara." She snorted, gazing back down at the two clothing options.

As much as Renee did love Kiara — and she did wholeheartedly. Kiara did seem to have this idea that she must be involved with everything Renee was, and I mean everything from the small things to driving to the grocery store and surfing, to her relationships.

"I think I'm going to go with the shorts." She decided, going to pick up the hanger with the dungarees draping off them with the intention to place them back in her closet.

" really?" JJ asked, keeping himself up with his arms, " I think you'd look good in the dungarees."

Renee groaned and placed the item of clothing back down — exhaling heavily as she placed her hands on her towel covered hips.

" I should not have said that, should I?" he grumbled, noticing her bite her lip in concentration although her eyes momentarily flickered back up to JJ as she hummed and shook her head at him.

" no blondie." she told him " no you shouldn't have, you should probably text P and say we're going to late."

THE TOWN WAS SWARMING. a mixture of locals, tourons doing touron-y things and the kooks seeing the cut as a charity case to help them get into those Ivy League colleges as they participated in helping rebuild businesses after the storm.

It was so busy in fact , Renee had to park a three minute walk from Heyward's store. Not that it was necessarily a bad thing as it gave her and JJ the opportunity to stroll along the harbour with their hands intertwined and her cheek sat on his shoulder.

Their conversations light hearted as the boiling sun beated down on them and a slight relief that Renee still chose to wear the shorts.  Both were amused at the simultaneous scold they gave one another for not having any sun cream with them.

The air conditioning of the shop that was finally back up and running was refreshing as they both strolled into the shop — it too being busy, luckily for Renee keeping Kiara preoccupied as she assisted a older couple who were inquiring about the seasons of the fruit and vegetables.

" guys!" Pope hollered, waving them over to the counter as the last costumer in the queue left. The two blondes made their way towards Pope both with oddly bright smiles, especially after what had happened the night before.

" hey P." Renee used her free hand to wave at him, letting out a small giggle — JJ turning his head and grinning even more at her.

" okay." Pope huffed, looking between the two loves up teenagers who eventually tore their eyes away and looked at him.

" what the hell is going with you two?" his eyebrows furrowed whilst Renee bit her lip and gazed back at JJ, clearly being able to read his emotions to know what he was about to do — especially when he nodded his head and looked back at a curious Pope.

" oh there's nothing going on." he faked a small cough at his poor acting attempt, " me and my girlfriend are perfectly fine." turning as a small prideful smile worked on his lips looking at Renee.

Pope's reaction was slight anti-climatic as he just flickered his eyes between the two of them as they impatiently waited for him to say something.

" oh I already knew that." His voice monotone whilst the couple screwed up their faces.

Renee talking first  " what do you mean you already knew!" she said, looking as Pope rolled his eyes.

" oh." Pope continued after reading their expressions , "I saw you two kissing on my dads boat the other day.

He looked at Renee who subtly shook her head "and she told me you were seeing each other ."

The blonde huffed " ok, so maybe i did."

Renee huffed as JJ shook his head and looked at his girlfriend " and you were the one so shook up on not telling anyone." he told her.

" you know I can't lie to Pope," Renee hummed "he's like human truth serum to me, I can't lie to my best friend."

JJ faked a look of sadness " I thought i was your best friend?" he pouts his lip as Renee rolls her eyes.

Shaking her head " no sorry, JJ you're the best friend who I have sex with-"

Watching JJ smirk as he hums a ' oh', both ignoring pope as he imitates a gagging sound at the girls words.

" and It doesn't take me that long to tie up my shoe laces dumbasses." he remarked  " I mean we all put a bet on it at the boneyard-" his voice quietened as he repeated the information.

Clocking his head towards the brunette who waved goodbye to the older couple — casually glancing around the room until she reached Pope's beady eyes staring back at her.

" what?" her tone was mixed with confusion before Pope clicked his fingers and pointed in her direction.

" I owe you ten dollars." he told her, Kiara had obviously forgotten about their exchange of words — it was clear as her eyebrows furrowed and she wondered closer, hands pushing against her hips.

Pope catching on recapped the bet, " you know, the whole JJ and Ren will be together within the summer thing?"

Kiara had to keep all her composure not to look so bad. her eyes hastily moving to look at Renee and JJ stood uncommonly close — her gaze eventually falling to the hands that were intertwined with one another.

She swallows dryly before plastering a smile on her lips — although Renee could see its blatant fake ness. Kiara seemed planted in her position and It was obvious by the expression on her face that her emotions were conflicting.

JJ leaned into Renee, his lips brushing the top of her ear, " yeah I think you were right."

Renee let go of JJ's hand, looking straight ahead towards to Kiara who caught her glance — pushing her head to the side, silently gesturing to talk outside with out the prying ears of their best friends.

Renee nodded and turned to JJ — " We'll only be a few seconds." she slid past him and shimmed out of the store where Kiara stood, her arms now changing position as they crossed over her chest.

" you and JJ huh?" she asked — her tone slight patronising which Renee let slip aside although it was unreasonable.

" Kie, I know that I shouldn't have kept it from you." Renee spoke in a guilt ridden honesty.

" about what? you and JJ breaking one of the only pogue rules or Rafe and Topper jumping you at the golf course?"

shit.

Renee opened her mouth in a slight gaped way whilst her best friend continued to stare her down waiting for her to make up some way to justify herself .

" Pope told you, I'm guessing?" Renee's tongue clicked in her mouth as she glanced her head back into the shop — not surprised by the two boys staring right back at her, their scrambles to look like they hadn't spent the entire time attempting to read their lips to figure out what they're saying.

" at least he's a good enough friend to, not like my apparent best friend who is running around breaking one of the pogue top rules, one of the only pogues rules and keeping secret relationships !" Kiara scolded the blonde who furrowed her eyebrows at the contradiction of her last words

" I didn't want you getting involved in it all, I tried telling you last night but then the fight happened!" Kiara opened her mouth to talk back,

" you can't date him! what if something happens and we're all forced to choose sides?" she asked, with a slight fierceness to her " or where you too preoccupied with having your tongues down one another's throats to think about how it'll impact the rest of us!"

"No I didn't think about you guys because it's nothing to do with any of you!" Renee gave back the annoyance that Kiara was giving " but at least Pope was supportive about it, and not lecturing me like he's my parent!"

"And as for mine and JJ's relationship, that's exactly what it is mine and JJ's." Renee snorted, slightly becoming more infuriated with each moment passing  " I don't have to consult you every time I want to kiss him and every time we have sex!"

She exhaled, " and if me and JJ ever break up then we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

Kiara's eyes widened at her words " so you're already planning on breaking up with him then?"

The blonde let out an exasperated breath before her hands palmed her face, knowing she has misconstrued her words.

" Kie, you know that I love you! " Ren exclaimed, stepping closer. "you're my best friend and I love you so much." Kiara felt heat burn into her as Renee rested her hands on her shoulders.

" but me and JJ." A small smile breaking on her lips as she finished her sentence " it's the first thing I've been sure of for a while, and I don't want- I can't mess this up."

Kiara nodded, wetting her lips and smiling almost invisibly at the look of glee on her friends face, " you can't pretend you didn't see it, it's different with me and him. It's never been like it has been with Pope or John B-"

" look, it wasn't fair on me and it wasn't fair on JJ who felt I now know exactly the same."

" you really like him don't you ?" Kiara asked, although she ignored it — Renee was right. It was clear that they liked each other, a bit of them always had.

Bowing her head, suddenly all sheepish — Renee nodded, " yeah I really do." her head turning to look at JJ who smiled and gave her a small wave from the inside of the store.

Turning her head back, Renee fixated her attention back onto Kiara" things won't change between any of us now that things have with me and JJ." Renee attempted to reassure her best friend as she silently nodded. " we're still the pogues right?"

"And we're still best friends Kie."

Renee leaned in to peck Kiara's cheek — the stickiness of her vanilla lip balm a slight familiarity as the scent lingered even when Renee pulled away.

" ride or dies right?" the small pact her, Kiara and Sarah had made when they first became friends — as childish and naive as it sounded it still managed to stick with even after they lost one of their founding members.

Kiara smiled at Renee "ride or dies." she repeated — releasing she had to let go of every romantic feeling she had bottled up for Renee for the last three years. She had missed her chance.

leading them both back inside, hands intertwined  — Kiara eyed up JJ and scowled at him.

" hurt her and I hurt you, understand?" she pointed her finger in his direction— Renee scoffed in the midst of a chuckle and jj poorly attempted not look intimidated by Kiara's threat not so empty threat.

" love you too Kiara!" JJ hollered out, Renee tilting her head back as she and Kiara entered the small counter area.

Noticing more customers heading up to pay and Pope beginning to help restock the produce was quickly running low — meanwhile JJ had found entertainment in throwing and catching an orange, useful as always.

" are we all not even going to talk about last night?" Renee asked, looking around at the group that all shook their heads at the idea.

JJ nodded " oh yes, I almost forgot my girlfriend's now an arsonist." Renee scoffed at the words that were practically tripping with sarcasm as they left JJ's mouth.

JJ then smiled to himself, " fuck I like saying that- my girlfriend." He stood up, walking over and looping his arms around her waist.

" my girlfriend, Renee Lowe my girlfriend." he repeated, ignoring the pleads from their friends to ' get a room'.

Momentarily turning to look at him — a amused smirk as she realised he was getting on her nerves. His expression only making her heart quicken. 'Oh how I want to kiss that smug look off of his face' she thought to herself.

" what if they come after us again, what do we do?" Pope asked, approaching the counter.

" don't let it get in your head bro." JJ comforted "there's three of them and two of us, that's some typical kook shit right there."

" hell yeah." Kiara agreed, nodding her head before smiling at the costumer as she handed him the receipt.

" Hey P?" Renee asked, earning a gazing look from Pope who was acknowledging he had spoken to her.

"what was your thought process with using your head, you know instead of your fist?" her tone slightly teasingly but yet still curious.

Pope turned and scowled at JJ " you told her that!" he groaned, earning a smirk from JJ.

" can't keep secrets from my girl Pope, relationships are built on trust bro." Pope ignoring JJ's comment purely meant to tug at Renee's heart strings although she rolled her eyes at it.

" you've been dating for a like a day."'Kiara interjected.

" I don't know Ren, I kinda just acted off instinct alright?" Pope said as Renee nodded at his answer whilst withholding a small amount of laughter.

" yes." Kiara encouraged, looking at Renee and instantly having to restrain the same laughter she was. " I was a cornered animal."  Renee nodded, now biting her tongue to withhold her amusement.

" hey Pope!" Heyward called to his son, but grab the attention of all the pogues and a majority of the customers, " someone here to see you."

Renee sighed in a slight relief, her mind betraying her on who it was, " about time JB showed his face around here-" she was cut off by the sight of Officer Shoupe stepping in.

His face riddled with guilt and a slight look of betrayal. All four of them shared looks releasing exactly why Shoupe was there. And more specifically, why he was looking for Pope.

" Evening officer." Pope spoke as he swallows dryly.

" I have an arrest warrant for felony destruction of property." he spoke casually, handing the piece of paper to Heyward whilst Pope looked at JJ — secretly pleading him for help.

" Keep your hands on the counter ,where I can see them ." Renee stood in a state of shock, clearly standing in the way of the officer who she felt burning on the parts of her body he touched trying to get past her.

" young lady, out of my way." Renee felt Kiara pull her out of the way. Both realising they were still processing what exactly was going on.

" woah, Shoupe what'd he do?" Heyward questioned, looking at his son who seemed shocked that this too was happening.

" take a look at the warrant." Shoupe spoke so casually, as if he hadn't known Pope all of his life. As if he was just some petty criminal.

" I'm sorry? you're arresting him?" Kiara asked as Shoupe presented a pair of handcuffs, pinning popes hand behind his back.

" you're just gonna arrest my boy." the hurt in Heyward's voice was clear, all eyes turning to Pope who remained silent meanwhile the pogues began to defend him.

" where's the proof?" JJ asked although his questions were ignored.

Renee shook her head at the harshness of the officers actions " Shoupe, be careful you're gonna hurt him!" The blonde called out as Kiara spoke out her concerns in a familiar way.

" shoupe are you listening?" Heyward continued, his amount of respect levelling down to the three teenagers as too was ignored.

" anything you say can and will be held against you in the court of law ." Pope stood almost paralysed from realising how he was pretty much loosing evening in those few moments.

" how much did they pay you man!" JJ spoke in frustration, urging forward before Renee placed her hand on his chest — not wanting him getting arrested too.

" he hasn't done anything wrong!" Renee called out, her heart aching for her best friend who was now being escorted out of the store.

The hollers for Popes innocence continued as the small group followed him outside and towards the cop car.

Heyward at one point having to push JJ away from Shoupe — his anger getting the best of him once again.

Renee and Kiara continued to campaign for their friend alongside his father — JJ lagging behind a bit before he eventually spoke again.

" it wasn't him!" Renee turned her head, looking at JJ along with everyone else. Her heart now beating a million times faster.

" it was me!" he continued, Renee shook her head as silent pleads for him to shut up filled her conscious mind.

" he tried to talk me out of it." he told them, stepping closer as Pope shook his head at his friend

" but I was mad because the kooks jumped him and Renee." The officer along with Heyward looked towards the blonde, noticing the slight tinges of dark colours peaking from the gap of material on her shirt.

" and I was so sick of those assholes from Figure eight that I lost my shit." He kept moving forward until he eventually stood close to Pope and looked at him. " I can't let you take the blame for somethin' I did." he spoke casually.

" you've got too much to loose."

Pope, being the only one knowingly aware that JJ was lying finally opened his mouth to speak.

" JJ, what are you doing?" he asked as if JJ had no idea what he was doing. The severity of this situation.

"I'm tellin' the truth." he lied once again " for once in my goddamn life I'm gonna tell the truth."

" I took his old mans boat too." Earning a disappointed look from Heyward,

" JJ, what the hell?" He asked the blonde who couldn't answer.

" JJ, come on." Pope pestered, hoping his little facade of acting like the criminal would wash away.

" just shut up Pope!" JJ finally lost his temper, knowing if he kept questioning it Shoupe wasn't going to believe him, " just shut up."

Turning to look at shoupe, his spoke to him " he's a good kid." Shoupe met his eye line before JJ continued " you know were I'm from."

" yeah." Shoupe nodded, the tone of disappointment JJ had grown used to whilst Renee continued to shake her head from the sidelines.

" it was all me." JJ finally finished, looking back at Pope who's emotions were conflicted.

Shoupe sighed and turned to Pope " is that the whole truth?" Pope couldn't answer, his lips parted but no sound coming out.

" whole truth swear to god." JJ continued, not knowing it Pope was going to crack or not.

" I know what you think, damn it, I'm asking Pope!" Shoupe barked at JJ who remained quiet.

Pope kept his eyes on JJ — the blondes head nodding giving him the green light to throw him under the bus.

" yeah." Pope spoke quietly " that about covers it."

Renee watched in a silent suffer as JJ got put in handcuffs — exhaling as she trailed as close as she could to the car without shoupe getting mad.

" I'll call my mom ok? JJ don't fucking say anything to anyone." she told him, and he nodded — noticing the sadness in her eyes as she took out of her phone.

Kiara grabbed Renee's hand momentarily as the car drove off — JJ in the back of it.

As soon as the vehicle was out of her sights, Renee let go of Kie's hand. Clicking on her mom's number — listening as the rings played and the hope she would pick up dimming with each one.

" fuck!" she exclaimed, beginning to pace away from the store and towards the area her car was parked.

" Ren, where are you going?" Kiara called out, in concern for her best friend who didn't even turn around as she spoke.

" To the Police station and bailing JJ out before his dad does!" she told her , picking up her pace even more.

Renee had to get to JJ before his dad did. She just had to.

AUTHORS NOTE
finally finished episode 4!!episode 5 is my favourite episode and I can't wait to write midsummers!!