GLITCH.
042 | do I look Swiss to you?

AFTER A FULL NIGHT OF CELEBRATING, The only thing that could wash all the grime off of Renee the next morning was a shower.

It was too late for her to go home last night and she especially was too intoxicated to take herself there, never mind any of her friends who too were also drunk. Luckily having left clothes behind from her period of time
roomie-ing with John B so that she didn't have to wear all suffer wearing her black clothes from last night in the blazing sun.

Renee arched her back as the cold water ran down her spine — finding refreshment in the ice temperature of the shower and not just because it was her only choice since John B hadn't paid his heating bill that month.

Everything seemed different that morning, first and foremost because one hundred and forty thousand dollars worth of gold was currently in her shared possession. All the shit that they'd been through was finally resolving to something.

She was given a simple good night kiss from JohnB's bed where they were sleeping as John B and Sarah were still expected back at Tanny Hill that night — and JJ simply flipped over and slept. No cuddling or playing with her hair when he had woken up and  instead when she woke up that morning , he was just gone.

The ice cold shower gave her the brain stimulation to think about everything, and she had no idea what had gotten into JJ in the last few days. He wasn't the same, he was different — cold, distant, He just wasn't himself.

Stepping out of the shower, changing into her outfit and exiting into the kitchen stroke living room she was greeted with the now lukewarm coffee that Pope had made her with the intentions of her shower lasting ten minutes and not the thirty that it actually did.

Taking ahold of the coffee cup by wrapping her palms around it and stepping onto the front porch to the sight of Kiara and JJ hovered around the small makeshift table for melting the gold in one of the few saucepans John B hadn't ruined since his newly forced independence.

She exhaled as the sun radiated instantly warming the areas of her exposed skin from the crop top she was wearing — relishing in the vitamin D that soaked into her tanned skin for a few moments that contained peace and quiet. Although it didn't last long, it never did.

" morning Ren!" Sarah broke the tranquility of the morning peace — Renee looked towards the other blonde who was receiving affection from her boyfriend from under the tree. A slight jealously stinging at her skin as she noticed everyone else look over to her acknowledging her presence.

A influx of various greetings were spoken to the girl who continued down the steps towards the others, b-lining towards JJ and Kiara who had continued with their melting pot process although it didn't stop them from their normal sibling-like bickering.

Deciding to stick it out with her stubbornness — she placed her free hand on Kiara's shoulder, both of them watching as JJ held the blowtorch to the gold that slowly began to lose its solid state.

" morning." JJ hummed, taking a momentary break from his blowtorching — pressing his lips ag isn't Renee's as she smiled into the contact.

" the goggles are a look." Renee told her boyfriend as they pulled away from one another, JJ smirked " should I keep them after this all over?"

" oh definitely." Renee nodded her head, although slightly exaggerated. The couple grinning as a faked gag left Kiara's mouth at the exchange she was forced to listen to.

" why didn't you guys wake me up?" she asked, rubbing her eyes as she glanced at the time on her watch that just passed mid-day — it was clear they had been up for a while as they were all dressed, " I could have helped with all this."

Kiara looked at Renee, resting her head on her shoulder " it was a long night, plus your boyfriend here was persistent that we should let you get your-."

Looking at JJ who sheepishly avoided eye contact with both of the girls,

" oh yeah, beauty sleep was it?" it was clear Kiara was mocking JJ's words to talk about Renee in.

The couple looked at eachother briefly, Renee curving her lips into a slightly cocky smile whilst JJ just shook his head and tried to deny the contagiousness of the energy between them.

" so what's the game plan now?" Renee looked back, noticing John B and Sarah were now walking towards them — especially catching the Cheshire Cat resembling grin carving itself on the brunettes lips.

" we become filthy rich."

MUSIC RANG OUT FROM THE RADIO
As the van approached the pawn shop that sat on the opposite side of the cut — a place Renee had only ever passed through and never had actually spent any of her time in.

JJ was the first to hop out of the van, cradling the poorly melted down gold blob that was swaddled in a piece of cloth,

" hell of a job melting it down Dr. Frankenstein." JJ insulted Kiara's attempt after her constant criticism and petty comments towards JJ who beforehand was tasked with melting it.

" like you could've done better." she scoffed, Renee and Pope both finding amusement in the friends childish bickering as the two of them shared smiles whilst hoping out of the van.

" I could have done much better, if you'd let me continue." he fought back, earning a snort from Kiara who obviously didn't find any truth in his claim.

" I took a welding class!" Sarah, Pope and Renee all looked at each other, all keeping their laughter at bay all knowing it would only annoy the two teenagers more — although it was entertaining to watch John B be forced to play peacemaker.

" woah, woah, woah." he hovered his palms over each of their chests, breaking up any close contact between the two of them.

" chill out okay?" he spoke in hushed tones, Renee nodded before looking at JJ and pushed her thumb and index finger together before putting it to her lips — obviously signalling the smoking of a joint, knowing JJ always had a few on him.

" no." John B said, noticing Renee's gesture and soon pointing his finger at her too " no smoking until this is all over, got it lovers?"

The blonde girl huffed in a slight defeat, looking at Sarah who curved her lips up at her and hovered her arm over the back of Renee's shoulders.

" it's easy for you to say calm down," JJ grumbled to John B " you're not the one that has to pawn this piece of shit off."

Renee raised her hand up in defence " hey! You've got me."  JJ looked at John B who smirked at shrugged his shoulders " god help us all."

Renee furrowed her eyes brows " what does that mean?" She asked, clearly slightly offended by her boyfriends comment.

" Ren, I lov-" all of them stopped at JJ's choice of words, even JJ himself who noticed the stun in his girlfriends face " I really like you, but you're a terrible liar." he restarted.

Renee just nodded " fair enough." It was clear she was still recovering from his slip up, a very big slip up at that.

" how did I even get this job anyway?" JJ asked, heading towards the front of the door, everyone loosely following behind.

" because you're the best liar." Pope informed him,

All six of them shuffled into the store, Renee and JJ heading towards the counter together whilst the others scattered themselves around the rest of the store, failing to go incognito mode.

" afternoon ma'am." JJ greeted her, Renee already feeling on edge by the judgment that fuelled in the older woman's eyes as she looked at the young couple.

" afternoon?" her voice was drenched in skepticism, to the point that her return in greeting almost came out like a question.

" so we see you buy gold." Renee said, momentarily stopping to point at the sign in unmissable shades of golden yellow and green that was hanging above another little doorway — to which stated in bold writing

' CASH FOR GOLD.'

" that what the sign say don't it?" Renee nodded, strolling towards the counter top beside JJ ,who had already tossed his backpack on top of it — not wanting to ponder around but instead get straight to the point.

"'Well I sure hope you buy a lot of it because I'm about to blow your mind." he smirked, unzipping the bag and putting his hand inside, beginning to search for the familiar touch of either the linen cloth or the bitter coldness of the gold bar.

" I ain't got much mind left to blow so have at it." the woman commented, earning a smile from Renee who watched as JJ placed the solid gold puddle in her eyeline.

" how about them gold apples?"

It was clear that she didn't believe it, her mind concocting that this was a summer prank that some kids were pulling on her — she chuckled and smirked looking up to the couple who were staring back at her.

" that ain't real." she proclaimed during her chuckling " it can't be."

Renee's sly smirk was contagious, although unlike JJ who too had a cockiness present in his attitude, she tried to hide her growing ego by pressing her tongue against the inside of her cheek,

" uh, why don't you feel how heavy it is?" Renee suggested, hovering forward and crossing her arms against her chest.

The lady nodded, soon her smirk faltered at the unexpected amount weight that pushed itself against her palm. Almost immediately reaching for the switch of the small rim of light around a countertop magnifying glass.

" let's get some light on that." JJ commentated, although no one was sure if it was for the benefit of the others not so slickly hiding in the back or not.

" spray-painted tungsten." she told the two blondes who immediately scoffed, although the woman lacked her perky attitude as well as an unnerving feeling pitting in her stomach.

Renee pursed her lips and shook her head " you think we'd waste our summer spray painting tungsten?" Renee questioned — the lady looked up and looked around at all the following eyes.

" wouldn't put it past you, I've heard all about you pogues." she tutted, Renee just nodded and instead move position to lean on the the counter.

" okay, why don't you see how soft that spray painted tungsten is then?" Renee egged on, once the lady had given her a decent serving of side eye she reached for some more instruments that looked like small dust particles were beginning to pile on them.

It couldn't have been everyday that someone came in claiming to have a gold bar.

" does your boyfriend mind?" she asked, looking at JJ who nodded.

" no, go for it." JJ encouraged, giving his approval for her to continue.

Hitting the piece of gold — her expression only thickening with confusion as she was once again proven wrong by the group of teenagers.

" well, would you look at that?" JJ hummed as Renee turned her head and smiled at John B signalling a thumbs up.

" hold your horses." the prawn broker sounded slight deflated " we ain't got to the acid test yet."

Renee's  grin had spread ear to ear, looking at JJ who faked excitement to use some of the pent up adrenaline in his system.

" ooh! The acid test!" he looked to Renee who if possible let her smile grow wider "my favourite guys!"

The two blondes watched in anticipation as the lady dripped a few drops of what they could only assume was acid onto the gold bar — they were even more excited when her confusion became more prominent in her face.

" well it ain't plaited." she concluded " and it ain't painted."

" ma'am im telling ya, This is as real as the day is long." JJ smirked, to which the lady rolled her eyes at before glancing back down at the gold.

" it looks like someone tried to melt it down." her gaze soon falling to Renee who looked at JJ. Beginning to feel a layer of sweat sit on her forehead not finding confidence to lie.

" my mom." JJ answered, taking the attention away from his girlfriend and instead letting it focus on himself.

" she had all this jewellery laying around the house." it was almost enviable how slickly the lies fell off of his tongue " and she thought it was best to-to melt
it down."

" to consolidate it." his words accompanied by air quotes as well as snickers from his friends scattered around the shop who knew he was speaking fictionally.

The lady picked up the metal, transferring it to a pair of scales — turning her head to look back at the teenagers who pursed their lips and confined them to a smile.

" seven pounds?" she asked to which Renee just bobbed her head in a nod " that's a lot of earrings."

JJ once again detecting her skepticism, decided to open another can of lies to deceive her with,

" okay to be honest ma'am." he began, clearing his throat " it's really hard to see my mom fall apart with Alzheimer's."

Renee nodded, placing her hand on his shoulder in a fake comfort to which he rose his own and placed over hers — bowing his head and sniffles soon erupted,

Ushering fake comforting mumbles to JJ, the woman excused herself — Renee kept her eyeline with her until she finally disappeared out of sight and into another room.

Smirking, she leant in closer, the skin of her lips almost brushing JJ's ear to which sent shudders down his skin, " Alzheimer's, is that the best you could think of?"

JJ scoffed lowly, looking up to his girlfriend who smiled back at him — he felt his lips curve slightly " in my defence, I didn't see you speaking up."

Renee turned to look back up to the lady who re-entered clutching a piece of paper. Sliding towards the two teenagers once she reached behind the counter — JJ looked at her in slight idiocy, furrowing his eyebrows,

" fifty thousand?" He questioned, scoffing whilst Renee just looked at her " you think I walked in here not knowin' the spot price?"

" ma'am what game are you trying to play here?" Renee asked, slightly annoyed " I know for a fact that this is worth one fourty, bare minimum."

The lady leant in closer to the girl who swallows dryly " well, sweetie if you hadn't noticed you in a pawnshop."

" this ain't Zurich, do I look Swiss to you?" Renee grinned, not wanting to let her know that the lady's words were faltering her confidence.

" ninety, or we walk." JJ brought back the attention to him, renee exhaled and look towards the interaction between the two others,

" seventy, half price." she suggested leaning forward " and um...I don't ask questions about were you got this."

Not so subtly looking over to John B who also not so subtly gave him a thumbs up, approving of her offer.

" I'm going to need that in large denominations please."  A large chorus of exhales of heavy breathes filled with relief and slight disbelief filled the shop —Renee was grinning ear to ear as she looked to Kie and winked confidently.

" here's the snag, I don't have that much denominated." she told them honestly, their faces falling momentarily  " not here anyway I can write you a cashier's check."

JJ shook his head in a thorough disapproval " cash? No ma'am I want the cold hard!"

Pointing towards the sign that Renee noticed earlier, anger laced in his actions " that's what that sign says, cash for gold and that's what I expect!"

" I'm gonna get it in cold hard!" he continued,

The lady sighed " well, I have to send you to the warehouse, I have money there is that all right?"

Renee nodded on behalf of all of them who were silently egging her to do so,

" where exactly is this warehouse?"

ON ROUTE TO ' RESURRECTION DRIVE' ,
Renee couldn't help but feel slight uneasy — leaning her cheek on Sarah's arm as it hung behind the passenger seat. Having kept slightly vocal about how she didn't have a good feeling about this.

" so they keep money out here?" Pope asked, as barely nothing was down the dirt road they were driving down except a few abandoned houses.

" that's what she said." JJ said, registering his words before smirking and chuckling " that's what she said."

" I've never even heard of resurrection drive." Sarah turned around and told them, obviously triggering a nerve in JJ.

" cause you're rich." JJ spoke back snottily, his attitude only irritating Renee who furrowed her eyebrows and squinted her eyes at him,

"JJ leave her alone , you've never heard of it either." she snapped back, earning a smile from Sarah who placed her hand on the bare skin of Renee's arm.

" thank you." she said gently, Renee nodded and deterred her eyes to look out the windows, noticing the same lack of nothingness.

"JB, are you sure you're following the instructions properly?" Renee asked, " it's all just weeds and well nothing-ness ."

" just because it's just  weeds doesn't means it's not-" JJ started, not really knowing what to say to her.

All heads clocked back at the sound of a police siren emerge from behind them, noticing the correlating red and blue lights flash in the direction of the van,

" what the hell?" Renee sat up, suddenly feeling more uneasy. " I told you, I didn't feel good about this."

" cops out here?" Kiara seemed more confused if anything else, unlike JJ who couldn't seem to find any luck,

" are you kidding me?" he exclaimed, with Sarah questioning what they had done to deserve being pulled over and the others advising jj to stash the gold only one question sat in Renee's mind.

" JJ, did you bring the gun?" Renee asked, knowing if he were caught with a loaded weapon the twenty-five thousand restitution for Toppers boat would have been seen as a easy way out.

" no, okay." he said whilst wrapping the gold in a piece of cloth " everybody told me to leave it back at the place."

A heaviness felt lifted off of her shoulders knowing that JJ wasn't placing himself voluntarily in anymore hot water with the justice system.

Although that heaviness was soon placed back on ten times more viciously as she noticed a man clocking a gun in John B's face. His features concealed with a Skelton mask from his nose downwards — his black hair greased back. He struck familiarity yet no eyes we're watching him instead the weapon was pointed at John B.

" JJ." Renee whispered almost silently, reaching out for the comfort of her boyfriend for in the first time in a while he accepted — intertwining her fingers with his as they sat on his thigh.

" why don't I go ahead and see them hands in the air, all of y'all's hands in the air right now!" he shouted, Renee broke the connection between her and JJ and raised her hands up.

Taking John B first as he got him out of the car — instructing him to help the others out as well.

Simply opening the door, Renee could feel tears slipping silently down her cheeks as she watched all her friends fall victim to his threats.

" Let's get out of the car, let's go!" He instructed them, Sarah leaving first, then Pope followed by Kiara and finally JJ and Renee.

Her hands shaking as she exhaled heavily climbing out of the van.

" look we're broke." JJ told him, although his pleads for them to be left alone weren't acknowledged by the man in the mask.

" shut up the hell up!" Barry screamed, pushing the gun against JJ's chest — only installing more fear in the rest of them who continued to cower.

" all right! Just relax!"

" shut up!, I'll blow your damn head off!" the man continued to threaten, his voice louder as she closed in on the group of teenagers.

" JJ stop!" Renee cried out, only deterring away the attention away from one blonde and to another.

" ayo, what the hell did I just say about talking!" Barry's words were spat in fury, edging towards Renee with the metal pointed towards her chest — the feeling of the cold metal colliding with the skin of her upper stomach. Her chest heavy as she whimpered — not opening her eyes. Instead it was left to her boyfriend to watch her, a feeling that wrenched at his gut and would do every time he would think about it afterward.

Her heart felt heavy, her eyes flickering between the gun and the eyes of the masked figure, opening her mouth hoping her words would appease him.

" I'm sorry, I'll be quiet I pro-" her sobbing pleads were bitterly cut off by heat striking her left cheek where Barry's open yet tensed palm hit her — Renee winced and felt the burning sensation as she felt her head swish to the side violently.

" Lay down in the ditch!" He screamed at them, grabbing Renee's arm as she still was realising what had happened — violently yanking her to stand in line with the rest of her friends.

"Lay down in the ditch!" He continued to scream at them " on your goddamn hands and knees! Down!"

He instructed them all, repeatedly until all six of them had laid themselves stomach first onto small pile of dirt on the side of the road — Renee still clutching her cheek in her hand as she silently whimpered and cried whilst reaching her other hand out for JJ.

" put your face on the ground." everyone was silent, seeing first hand from Renee what happened if you got on the man's bad side.

With everyone in the positions he wanted them to be in, he finally began to play out what he actually wanted to happen " stay here just like that', don't let me see you look up all right?"

JJ didn't listen, turning his head that was supported by his hands to turn and look at Renee who was still processing it all — she look slightly numbed.

" hey," JJ tried to be as quiet as he could " it's okay." His words reassured her, as she nodded but still couldn't stop the tears as they continued to fall.

The man didn't seem to notice emerging into the van to see what he could find to steal from the teenagers.

" it's a setup guys." Kiara told them, as if they all didn't know already.

" that old bat shanked us!" soon enough his fist heavily collided with the ground, bits of dirt and gravel lifting into the air only to fall back down on the backs of both Renee and JJ soon after.

" wait, no, no, no." Renee tilted her head, noticing John B slowly stand himself up — Sarah whimpered after him, releasing his punishment would be much harsher than Renee's.

" John B!" Pope whispered, loud enough to get his attention but not the robbers " don't be a hero man."

Although, John B's hero complex overruled his sanity and common sense — begging to creep away and towards the car parked behind the van.

Renee stayed silent, watching as Barry exited the van clutching the same cloth that JJ had wrapped the gold in and soon exited the van. Her glossy eyes meeting his cold ones which showed no remorse for what he was doing.

" alright, y'all stay like that." he told them, still threatening the gun " unless you want your brains blown out all over this road"

" don't move your godamn heads, okay?" Renee pushed herself up from ground as she watched him walk away, back turned to them all.

The sound of grunting and rattling rang out from the car — only lodging Renee's heart further in its position in her throat.

" guys I got the gun!" John B called out to them all, the five of them getting on foot and running towards the two fighting boys. Some quicker than others.

Renee was the last one out of the six of them to get involved with the violence, watching as her friends defended themselves until the boy his aching body fell in front of her feet.

The only weapon available being the motion of the drivers side door — grasping her sweat and dirt covered hands over the rim and pushing it to collide harshly with his body that eventually rolled to sit against the closed door, his breath heavy and eyes barely open.

" you fucking coward!" Renee shouted through gritted teeth . John B pulled down the face covering, revealing Barry — the notorious drug dealer for both the kooks and pogues.

" I know this piece of shit!" JJ proclaimed " he's a basehead!"

Renee shook her head " he probably knows Lennon." Crossing her arms against her chest as she continued to look at him,

" he sells coke to my dad." Renees eyes looked to JJ who spat his words at Barry — an obvious and very well deserved hatred for the boy clear from his tone of voice.

Barry finally growing the energy to talk began to threaten them again " listen, I could hurt any single one of y'all-"

He was cut off by JJ's violent action of bashing the end of the gun into Barry's stomach — the guys instantly trying to pull him away, not liking the way this was turning.

" JJ!" Renee scolded, not being able to say anything else.  Reaching towards his shirt pocket, JJ pulled out a ratted wallet — reaching for some sort of licence that clearly had Barry's address written on it.

Pushing John B away who like everyone else was trying to figure out what he was looking at, JJ began to walk away.

" we got one last stop."  Renee watched as he walked past, his anger once again turning him into the person she could barely recognise with the exception of appearance.

" let's go see where this son of a bitch lives."

AUTHORS NOTE
hope you enjoyed this chapter, because you're going to hate the next one but I won't say anymore of that.

don't forget to comment and vote if you enjoyed,

- elle <3