GLITCH.
003 | dumb and dumber

"HEY, WHERE WERE YOU LAST NIGHT?" Kiara looked to Renee as, both sat on the edge of Kiara's dock on figure eight.

Legs dangling over the edge as they waited for the boat with the boys on it for a what was being called a 'mandatory meeting' after storm Agatha. Although as expected, they were running late.

And now Renee had been to enough of these mandatory gatherings to know it was just an excuse to drink and smoke weed in the marsh without the police being there to catch them.

Her eye's diverted from the water, having been sat in a silence with her best friend for too long. Her mind still thinking about JJ, ( although she was always thinking of him one way or another) and the mess last night was going to make of them.

She had visions of it. Having to return to figure eight as the disgraced kook queen — having been usurped by some other spoilt silver spoon teenager which Renee was once. She'd be a loner — wouldn't have any kooks want to be her friend after she was rejected from being a pogue and the pogues would take JJ's side in it all. It was a mess Renee didn't want to deal with.

Renee look at Kiara, a soft smile working on her lips as she entered reality once again —
" I stayed at John B's," Kiara nodded with a small hum.

" what did your mom say?" she asked because although the girl practically lived there at this point.Kiara still presumed Renee would with her own family. Summoned like her back to figure eight.

" threatened with exile, ' you're dad would be disappointed' blah blah blah." Renee tried to find amusement of the situation, a soft laugh exiting from her mouth as Kiara gently smiled in some sort of pity. Hand resting on Renee's leg.

Renee was always reminded by the shittiness of the reality of her own family whenever she'd see the Carrera's and how close they were. And yes Renee would encounter screaming matches between Kiara and her mom, but hours later they'd be hugging in a silent reconciliation. It wasn't perfect, but it was normal — which made it perfect to Renee.

Renee's family used to be the only think she really cared about, yeah her friends were okay and she liked hanging around with them. But nothing was as nice as coming home after a party  to her parents curled on the couch — how she'd be able to rest her head on their laps and just talk to them. 

Sitting in her dads office as she ranted to him about anything and everything she could, now she only told things to those willing to listen and her dad's office remained untouched from the day he died,

Nothing would beat the weekends when she'd come down stairs to her dad cooking, how he'd use the wooden spoon to sing in to. She missed having secret conversations with her brother in French when they were with their friends — at a time when they seemed to get along with each other.

But now they were all like strangers — people who use to know her secrets pass her by without a second glance. It had been a year since she last spoke to Sarah Cameron — the girl she was convinced would be by her side until her last breath.
Nothing ever mended after her dad's death, not her relationship with her friends or her family either. — and it didn't look like it was going to happen anytime soon either.

" but lucky for me, I found company in JJ and a six pack of beer." She grumbled, attempting a small laugh to turn the sour mood of the conversation lighter.

" six pack of beer meaning a rom-com?" Kiara spoke, chuckling softly,

"We got to the third Bridget Jones movie before the power went."

Kiara furrowed her eyebrows, " anything else happen, you seem a bit weird today." she spoke in honesty, Renee turned her head

' me and JJ kissed and I want to do it again, although I know I shouldn't and I'm scared if we do it'll ruin the pogues and I'll lose everything again.'

Kiara reached her hand for her friend, silently comforting her.

" yeah I'm ok, seriously you guys are the only family I want now anyways." Kiara smiled at Renee's words which she shrugged off as if it were nothing.

Both of them looked away from eachother as the roars of the HMS POGUE engine snuck into their sound waves, meaning the boys would be here soon.

Kiara stood up and put her hand out for Renee to take, which she did, thanking her as she did so.

She bent down to pick up her infamous khaki tote bag, tucking her phone into the pocket of her fresh white shorts — paired with the stolen formal white button up which sat open as a jacket or sorts, her green bikini top covering her top.

Threading her arm into the straps as it rested against her back as the familiar faces of her friends appeared on the boat — their self proclaimed bat mobile, each of them seemed to be in a relatively good mood but JJ foremost as he was the one tasked with helping the girls on, one particular girl being more excited to see then the other.

" top of the morning to ya!" JJ attempted an Irish accent to greet the two girls (key word attempted)

Kiara let go of Renee's  arm, walking down to the end of the dock, All eyes watched them as John B slowed down the boat, it's speed slow enough for them to step on.

" good morning boys." Kiara and Renee spoke at the same time, slowly trailing down the dock.

" whatcha got, some juice boxes?" Pope inquired, lounging against the bow of the boat, his bare feet brushing against the water.

" ya know just some yoghurt and carrot sticks." Kiara said simply, taking the hand JJ held out for her immediately letting it go as she dropped her feet onto the boat floor.

" you better have not forgot the apple slices." Ren seriousness wasn't hidden well by the act of casualness she put on.

" and my type of juice boxes?" JJ asked, letting go of Kiara before grabbing ahold of Renee. Who pretended as if she didn't notice the way his touch lingered longer than it should have.

Avoiding the gaze she knew was on her as she gently smiled at him. A soft ' thanks' leaving her lips as she let go off his hand and walked towards Pope and the cooler.

" yeah, to the beer and apple slices that is " Kiara answered, turning her head to wink at her best friend who had finally planted both feet onto the boat. Yet let her hand still linger in JJ's for a few more seconds, giving their interlocked hands a squeeze before letting go.

Kiara's tone was sweet as she reached into the cooler I question that was packed with ice to grab four of 'JJ's juice-boxes' to pass around to her friends.

Renee let a soft sigh out, as the crisp coldness of the beer collided with the warmth of her hand sending a refreshing sensation down her arm that still made her shiver.

" brace for impact." JohnB spoke, imitating the boat radio once again.

Renee let her eyes slip to the brunette before chuckling, lifting her beer up to him since he declined the offer of a beer whilst he was driving the boat.

John B smirked lightly at her teasing as he nodded at her, her eyes flickered back to JJ as he flipped of the cap from her drink.

" Salud!" Kiara cheered, raising her beer bottle, followed by the other three, the glass clinking together.

" Salud!" Ren and Pope spoke simultaneously, forcing a small amount of laughter to tumble  out of her lips as she looked at him.

" skoal!" JJ spoke instead, the all four of them attached their lips to the rim of the bottle, swigging the alcoholic drink — that ran down their throats in a refreshing way that seemed to just hit the spot more in the summer.

" oh yeah." Renee hummed "that's the good shit." Renee chuckle as she swallowed another mouthful of the liquid, tilting her head back to face the slowly appearing sun.

RENEE HAD SAT HERSELF BY JOHN B, on the opposite side of Kiara at the front of the boat.  She had sorely missed the pogue outings as she called them, the hours of doing absolutely nothing and just lounging in the middle of the marsh, drinking beer that Kiara would have taken from the wreck or pope who would had stolen from his dads shop, both having to face the repercussions later on.

They didn't happen as much in the fall, Renee busied by the workload that the kook academy faced her with. College transcripts and working her up her application with extra curricular activities and internships.

She missed the summer nights also. Returning back to the chateau inebriated as they had the late night conversations squished  on JohnB's hammocks. They spoke about the the future and what they wanted to do with their lives after they graduated. Or the nights Renee would be helping Kiara at the wreck, just to spend some time without the chaos of the boys following behind them, although they'd come after they'd finished their shift — imitating seagulls for any leftover food.

The moments like right now. She lived for the moments like this one.

" bullshit! you can't pull this off." Renee claimed, locking eyes with JJ who hadn't shut up about the party trick he wanted to practice since they reached the middle of marsh.

John B had sided with Renee on this one, clinking their beers together as he also looked up at the blonde surfer boy who just rolled his eyes at their lack of faith in him.

" yep I agree with Ren, you can't." He told him, JJ showed the two amused teenagers on the side of the boat his middle finger , uprooting both John Bs and the blonde girls fake shock mixed with laughter as Renee looked back at JJ

" hey stop doing that!" she pointed at him " that's my thing!"

" you're gonna tell the world right?" JJ asked genuinely, ignoring Renee's past comment and focusing on the trick — loosing his grip on the side where pope sat in control of the speed the boat was going.

" tell the world about the party trick you can't even do?" Renee was use to relentlessly teasing him, JJ snarled at the cockiness in her voice

" yep, it's definitely one for the history books Jay,"

He raised his arm and pointed his finger at Ren, a devilish look took over his face. She felt her cheeks heat up as they both looked at one another. The tension between them more direct than before and more noticeable by their friends.

Renee tried to squash it down, hiding her smile with another sip of her beer.

" yet." He furrowed his eyebrows, giving her mischievous look, one she knew of too well " can't do it..yet."

" you can't do it blondie, just give up already." Renee sighed, taking another swig of the now slightly Luke warm beer. " we'll let you off if you just admit defeat!"

" let's see about that then." He staggered towards the front of the boat, brushing his finger tips against Ren's chin.

" if I do this, you-" JJ started before Renee cut his words off with a scoff.

" kiss you, seriously? you've been trying to get me to kiss you since we met JJ." She said cockily, raising her eyebrows at him, he just shook his head and moved to the edge of the bow.

" I was going to say, give me your beer." he smirked, the rest of the pogues snickering whilst Renee's faced dropped in embarrassment " but sure, a kiss will do baby!"

Renee shook her head, glancing over to Kiara who was looking between the two bickering teenagers — her mind wondering places Renee didn't want to know where.

" Pope, can you go a bit faster?" JJ turned away as he asked the boy driving.

Renee looked back to pope " P, you're going to advocate for this idiocy?"

Pope humming " I do love to see JJ make a fool of himself." Renee shaking her head, turning back to the other.

" come on Heyward, a bit faster." As the words left JJ's lips, everyone edged back, knowing that for the millionth time he was going to try it again.

" oh shit, here we go." Rene chuckled, moving backwards a bit, unlike John B who had taken a seat.

" he's tried this like six thousand times, it doesn't work." John B was slightly fustrated as he once again lifted the beer rim to his lips.

" I've got this, it'll work this time." He turned his back from his friends.

" it better, I don't give kisses out for nothing JJ." Renee caught him off guard. Smirk curving on the edges of his lips.

JJ looked at her as he mouthed ' you did last night' — Renee looking around to notice that John B and Kiara were talking and not paying attention to the conversation between her and JJ.

Pope began to speed up, the boat arched upwards slightly.

Everyone had their eyes on JJ as he once again attempted this particular party trick he was yet to master, Renee had a small pit in her stomach that she actually wanted him to do it, not only so he could rub in her face which without a doubt he would, But in all honesty since she unknowingly put the proposition of them kissing, she couldn't help but think about it.

The feeling was slowly muted as she felt the beer that had missed his mouth was raining on Renee's face, she almost immediately turned away from him.

" Jesus JJ, you're getting beer on my face!" She spoke in disgust as well as Kiara who grunted in agreement , most likely getting beer in her hair or on her face too.

Soon enough the contents of JJ's beer was pouring everywhere except his mouth which was the whole purpose of the party trick.

" alright, alright." Pope held up his hand to block the beer from his eyes, as well as JohnB who had turned his head away from his best friend just like everyone else

" alright JJ, you're done!" John B raises his voice to try and reach him at the end of the boat. Everyone seemed to be getting more annoyed with JJ as the seconds passed.

" JJ, stop!" Pope once again raised his voice, in an attempt for the boy to hear him, which he didn't, be it intentionally or not.

In the second, the world felt like it slowed down. The engine jittered as if it had hit something, the entirety of them forcefully moved from there place.

JJ fell into the water with what sounded like a crash, meanwhile the girls were pushed against the top of the boat, Renee catching her leg on the beer that had been forced out of her hand during the impact that was now shattered into thousands of glass shards.

" fuck." She grumbled to herself, pressing her hands against the floor to push herself up.

Her eyes wearily looked up, noticing JJ no longer stood on the edge of the boat or was on the boat in general.

"JJ?" Her voice called, the pain from her leg subsided from the ache in her chest at the unknown whereabouts of JJ especially at the impact that the boat stopped.

Ignoring the sharp shards of glass that were under her hands as she began to move towards the edge of the boat. " JJ!" her voice rose, the panic in it more prevalent than before.

Her hands latched onto the edge of the boat, followed by John B and Pope. Her stomach dropping at the sight of the blonde got floating in the water.

" you okay JJ?" John B spoke, still stuck in the same position he was in when he fell into water.

" I think my heels touched the back of my head," he spoke, continuing to cough up water that had entered his mouth during the impact.

"  Kie, you okay?" John B asked once again, the moans and growns of everyone could be heard from figure eight probably.

" y-yeah I'm good," she grumbled, moving herself up, the pain aching her bones slightly.

" Ren?" John b spoke, edging over to the girl who was swiping shards of glass off her skin.

" y-yeah, it didn't cut me or anythin'" she told him, smiling to try and reassure him she was fine.

" Pope what the hell did you do."  JJ spoke, clearly fustration and annoyance in his tone.

" sandbar, the channels changed." He said in clear discomfort, just like everyone else who was still slightly dazed.

Renee moved and lent herself over the edge, her legs dangling above the water — making sure to put all the glass that fell off her into the water and not where someone else could hurt themselves.

Her gaze wandered up to  JJ who swam back to the boat, his words getting caught up in his throat as he watched the shards of glass fall from the girls leg.

" shit, you okay ?" He said lowly, as he reached the boat, she nodded and sent him a smile to assure that she was truly okay.

" I'll kiss it better if you want me too." he spoke, Renee's eyes widened " can you please keep your thoughts about last night to yourself?" She spoke with slight vigour.

" says the girl who clearly wants to kiss me again." JJ replied, Renee rolled her eyes yet her silence gave JJ the answer he wanted.

Everyone slowly stood up, regaining the balance they had lost as pope moved forward whilst JJ still hovered in the sea.

" ugh, this is probably gonna mess this whole place up."John B spoke groggily, leaning against the side of the boat, whilst kiara ruffled her hand into her hair.

" I saved the beer though." JJ's attempt at trying to make the best out of a bad situation made a small laugh leave Renee's lips.

" congrats JJ, at least I can steal yours now." She said sarcastically, he felt his eyes slowly move back up to her, as she just looked upon the sea around them. Her widened as she doubted if she was actually looking at what was buried into the marsh.

" oh my fucking god." She said breathlessly, pushing her hands towards the edge more, to get a better look at what she thought she'd seen.

" what is it?" Pope asked, although everyone was intrigued by the sudden cursing outburst.

" there's a boat down there!" She pointed her hand in the direction she was looking frantically, Pope edged closer to get a glimpse of what she was apparently looking at." Holy shit!"

" shut up Ren, what?" John B said tirelessly, whilst Kiara clocked her head around to look in the same direction.

" no, I swear it's a boat."she rose her voice, swiftly clutching the material of the shirt she was wearing and pulled it off her body , aswell as the shorts underneath.

JJ couldn't help but admire the view from the water, even if he wanted to advert his eyes — not paying a single care to the boat and instead the girl in front of him.

" no guys Ren's right, for real there's a boat down there." Pope joined in. Renee kept her eyes on it as she lowered herself into the marsh also.

The cold water sent shocks through her body and she began to tread the water with JJ who was also looking for the boat.

It only took a few seconds of Kiara and JohnB to look over the edge to notice too— the same expressions Renee and Pope had painting into their faces.

" oh shit,she's right" Kiara announced " come on!" soon the both of them has  repeated the same actions Renee only did a few seconds prior,

JJ followed as Renee began to swim, soon being followed by John B and Kiara.

" you guys think there's a dead body down there?" Pope called out, being the last into the water. Although it only took him a few seconds to reach his friends.

" god I fucking hope not." The girl sighed, paddling in the water to keep herself afloat. " dead things creep me out."

" but...there's only one way to find out I guess." Renee took a breath before fully submerging herself under the water, her body arching downwards as she began to dive closer to the body of the fully submerged boat.

The remainder of the pogues followed her actions, all five of them hovering around what was clearly a sunken boat.

Renee began looking around to make sure all her friends were all seeing exactly the same as what she was.

Everyone pushed themselves back up to the surface, gasps for air were the first things head before anyone had decided to talk.

" you saw that right, the boat!" Renee spoke, looking around as everyone nodded, a small laughter of shock emerging from them all.

" that's a Grady white, a new one of those is worth five hundred G's easily!" JJ said in shock, whilst everyone else began to paddle back to the boat.

Everyone slowly climbed on, JJ and Renee being last, he held out his hand for her which she obviously accepted.

"That's a promo rig." JJ further explained whilst pulling Ren onto the boat.

" yeah, that's the boat I saw when I was surfing the surge." John B said, taking everyone except Pope, JJ and Renee by shock.

" maybe it hit a jetty or something-" John B started before being cut off my Kiara.

" wait, you surfed the surge?" Kiara sounded disappointed slightly, catching Renee by surprise as she looked at her with furrowed eyebrows.

" yeah." John B nodded, as if it were no big deal.

" that's my boy, pogue style." JJ's words made both Kiara and Ren roll their eyes at him.

" Ren, why did you let him surf the goddamn surge?" Kiara asked her best friend speechless to how she would let John b put himself into that much danger.

" you think I would have let him and Pope go if I knew about it?" she asked, " I would have told them exactly what idiots they were," she looked over to the two boys.

" which you are by the way— you're both idiots." She said, looking to John B with a pointed finger.

" and you fucking wonder why I call you and JJ dumb and dumber?" She snorted, naturally Kie nodded in agreement.

JJ took Renee's arm and pulled her up to the edge of the boat where he was. His arm slinging over her shoulder as she huffed.

" do we even know who's boat that is?" Pope asked changing the situation , which lead perfectly into John B explaining his next ploy.

" no, but we're about to find out!" John B announced, lifting the flap to where the anchor was.

Renee shook her head, letting a sigh slip from her lips before looking at her friend — able to tell the mischievous look in his eyes

" please don't be an idiot JB." She sighed, looking at JJ hoping he would back her up " you're not going down there."

"Uh...yeah it's too deep bro." He agreed with the girl who turned back to John B,

" for the week and feeble, JJ." He groaned as he lifted up the anchor in his arms before placing it by him.

Renee crossed her arms, " yes but for those with a superiority complex and a death wish," she hummed — John B rolling his eyes at the girl.

" well I'm not resuscitating you, just making that clear." He announced, as Renee nodded her head agreeing.

" yeah I'm out too, you're like my brother it would be weird to kiss you." The thought of kissing John B make her body shake, the physical sign of disgust made JJ snicker. 

John B stood holding the anchor to his chest on the edge of the boat — clearly ready to jump in.

" John B-" Kiara looked at him with her doughy eyes, a look Ren noticed she had never given anyone before, causing her eyebrows to furrow. Had she missed something?

" diver down fool." Pope chuckled as John B nodded his head.

" diver down." He repeated, looking around to everyone, JJ shuffled closer and opened his mouth to say something.

" yeah he is." He joked, pressing the palm of his hands on JohnB's chest, pushing him into the marsh. The viciousness of the drop made Renee jump

" JJ." Renee's hand collided with his shoulder as he felt a small amount of pain rush through his body and let an 'ouch' leave his mouth.

Almost thirty seconds had passed with all four of them peering over the edge, as the seconds past their heartbeats becoming more rapid.

" JJ...I swear if you've just killed him." Renee looked to the blonde boy crouched by her also, who swallowed harshly.

Luckily, John B's head bobbled back up to surface. And as they suspected he  was once again breathless but a wave of relief hit the four observing teenager.

" any dead bodies?" Pope questioned, a sense of fear in his tone, John B silently shook his head.

" looting potential?" JJ cut in, Renee just shook her head at dumb and dumbers antics.

" I found a motel key." He raised his hand to show the familiar logo of a local motel business that was owned by fellow Kildare south-siders.

" so you just risked your life for a motel key?" Renee spoke, almost disappointed " you're such a dumbass."

" yes a key Renee." John B said fustrated as he climbed back into the boat. "and thank you for that."

"Great, we salvaged a motel key." JJ spoke in a clear mix of disappointment and sarcasm as he reeled in the anchor.

ELLIE SPEAKS 🪄
John B is the poster boy for the ' superiority complex and death wish' group

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