GLITCH.
006 | kegger?

THE FIVE TEENAGERS COULDN'T SEEM TO SHIFT THE CONVERSATION FROM SCOOTER GRUBBS. having relocated to John B's room after the boys unsuccessfully ended their post storm fishing session. And after JJ almost snapped the fishing rod in aggravation from the lack of fish he had caught in comparison to Pope.

Renee had her back pressed up against John B's headboard, her slender and already tanned arms gripped around one of his pillows as her head tilted to one side as she attempted to listen to what was happening without falling asleep.

She felt her eyes widen ever so slightly as Pope pushed himself back after snatching the stack of stolen hundred dollar bills out of JJ's hands the same ones which had been taunting Pope for the last few minutes.

" for the record, if that is a smuggling ship. With illegal contraband on it." Pope kept the money securely in his left hand as he tried to explain to his friends why keeping the money was still a bad idea.

JJ pushed his body forward, resting his arms on his thighs and connecting his hands together. Everyone seemed to listen to Pope for once which was rare.

"It probably belongs to someone else." Pope continued, a small amount of passing comments thrown in the air.

" correction, it most definitely belongs to someone else." Renee's tired words tumbled from her lips without hesitation.

" minor details." Kiara's choice of words couldn't help but cause an small eruption of laughter from the left side of the bed also leaving a child like grin on Renee's ever so slightly chapped lips.

" and they could come looking for it." Pope couldn't help but roll his eyes slightly at Kiara's comment. Starting to flail around the money in his hand as he spoke also.

" meaning taking it would be catastrophically-" Pope spoke once again, his sentence cut short by Renee as she slowly lifted herself back from the wooden headboard, crossing her legs as she sat beside Pope. Instead choosing to lean her head on his shoulder.

" stupid." She finished, sending him a smile of reassurance that she was on his side with an extra sly nudge of their shoulders.

JJ moved back towards Pope, once again snatching the money from his hands, a slight tinge of jealously ran through his actions as both Renee and Pope flickered their eyes back to the boy.

" right, well stupid things have good outcomes all the time." JJ spoke smugly perching back into his seat against JohnB's window.

His fingers crawled as he sprawled the money against his fingertips, in attempt to emphasise his much money there truly was.

" like..what exactly JJ?" Renee questioned, moving her body slightly closer to the edge of the bed.

" when you decided to begin slumming with us." He announced almost dumbfounded, his body shrugging as he spoke.

Renee shook her head, trying to stop the grin on her lips by tugging her bottom lip between her two rows of teeth.

" all we need to do right now is figure out a way to get into the cargo hold of that wreck." JJ changed the subject whilst he gathered up the money but continued to hold it in his hand as he pushed his body back slightly to sit in the corner of the window ledge.

Renee threw the pillow she was holding in her arms behind her, letting out a small sigh knowing the boy still planned on stealing from the boat which was very much still sunken on the marsh floor.

" until them we just lay low, act normal." He couldn't help but chuckle at the clear unamused look on the blondes appearance.

" and how do we plan on doing that?" Ren couldn't help but question the boy, tilting her head in a slight patronisation as a cocky grin formed on her lips.

" no offence, but we're not really the most low key group on the island." She sighed, momentarily breaking her eyes from JJ's intense gaze.

Kiara let her eyes roam around the room, catching almost everyone's attention, minus the two blondes who were still in the midst of an attempt of a stare down, which neither could do without smirking.

" Kegger?" She spoke finally, her eyes fixating on her best friends

" Kiara Carrera, have I ever told you that I love you." Renee grinned girlishly, Kiara couldn't help but laugh as she playfully blew a kiss to her only other female pogue friend from the other side of the room.

THE BONEYARD, The notorious scene in the outerbanks for hosting parties, especially hosted by the pogues and others teenagers belonging to the cut, it was the place to be.

It was legend amongst tourons. They'd go back to their city lives and talk about the beach parties which went all night and normally got out of hand.

The kooks tended not to willingly mix with southside kind, but not even the kooks could resist a free beer from a keg stolen from the Heyward stock or two. It was the only place the three groups of Kildare county ( kooks, pogues & the tourons) would willingly mix.

" this is best idea you've had all summer Kie." Renee repeated the phrase once again, engulfing her friend by her side.

Her arms wrapping around Kiara's small body as she mockingly pressed her lips into her cheek once again.

" summer only started like a few weeks ago." Kiara chuckled, using slight force to push the girl off her, both knowing the boys needed help with sorting out the keg.

" doesn't make my words any less valuable." Renee joked. Renee crept to the opposite side of the van, letting her hand grab the edge of the van door before pulling herself out, her chuck converse sneakers hitting the gravel, making her jump slightly as her legs shook from the unsteadiness of jumping onto a non smooth landing.

Her hands were taken ahold of by JJ , her eyes flickering back up to the blonde haired boy who couldn't help but feel his stomach flip as she sends him a kind hearted smile.

" thanks." She chuckled, feeling slightly bashful that she always seemed to falling into a loop of having to rely on him from keeping her from falling down.

This was the third time in the past two days and she didn't want it to become a habit as much as she knew he enjoyed it, being her knight in shining armour — because truthfully..she didn't need one.

" no worries ,you need a ride down to the boneyard?" He asked, Renee rolled her eyes knowing what he was suggesting, but was once again unable to stop grinning at his obvious attempt to swoon her.

She tilted her head back to look at the slowly setting sun for a few moments, debating if she were to let him carry her on his back like he had done many many times before.

After Kiara questioned her and JJ's so called 'relationship' she couldn't help but let her mind run rampages on how such a Outlandish accusation could leave her mouth.

She knew she was way closer to JJ compared to Pope and JohnB, not in favouritism terms of course. They were all her best friends but JJ had a drawer of clothes at the bottom of Renee's closet — they spent more time together apart from the other pogues than they did with anyone else. They had kissed one another.

But she had always felt different around JJ, there was no ounce of jealousy when watching Pope or John B strike lucky at parties — but watching a girl JJ had hooked up with exit from John B's room the day post the party as Renee slept with the three other pogues piled on the pull out. She didn't know what the feeling was, but she didn't like it.

The reason for this being that John B was more like a brother to her than a friend, Pope the weird best friend she couldn't help but adore all his weirdness and quirks with all her heart.

But when concerning JJ maybank, she was just simply different.

" wait JJ, can we talk?" she asked, grabbing his hand to keep him for walking away. Turning to notice the flatness of her face, he knew exactly what topic they would be discussing " the kiss?"

Renee nodded " what was that?" is all she asked, rubbing her hands over her head " I mean why-why did you kiss me?"

JJ shrugged " I guess spur of the moment," he pretend as if he hadn't thought about doing it multiple times before " no reason particularly."

The girl felt her stomach drop slightly, crossing her arms " so it didn't mean anything to you?" she couldn't hide the feeling of disappointment as she asked him.

It took a few seconds until JJ shook his head, yet another lie, Renee just nodded — not really knowing what to say, what she could say.

The idea of being another one of JJ's conquests made her feel slightly grimey. She had walked on them before — entering the chateau in pursuit of John B and would open his bedroom door on a half dressed JJ undressing a girl from the island.

" right, so you wanna hop on or?" JJ could feel the coldness of Renee's change in demeanour — she shook her head and turned back to the van to grab her bag.

" um-I'm actually going to go home and get changed." she hummed, her words short. JJ furrowed his eyebrows " hey,  did I say something or -" he started, Renee shaking her head.

" just tell the others where I'm going ok?" She didn't even wait for his answer as she began to walk back to figure eight.

His eyes watching her as futile attempts at calling after her exited his lips. Only interrupted by John B's hand which sat on his shoulder.

" yeah, you messed that one up."

THE WORD OF THE PARTY SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE across both sides of the island, soon enough the entire boneyard was filled with teens, some kooks, mostly kids belonging to the cut and the tourists, tourons as everyone called them, ( but behind their backs.... obviously) .

Renee and JJ hadn't really interacted the entire night. Despite the outfit she had changed to making it almost impossible for JJ to stay away from her. A long sleeves thin knitted dress with a variety of blues and greens cut off at her higher thigh and a neckline which left little to the imagination. JJ struggled from afar.

She dressed up for him ( although she would never ever admit it) to punish him in her own subtly way — her hair naturally wavy the way he knew it was after she washed it and a gold pendant necklace on her chest falling lower than the beaded jewellery. A true pogue princess if he has ever seen one.

They hadn't really spoken at all, Renee had spent the night making her way around the crowd and dancing with randoms to try and distract herself from JJ who was not so subtly at hiding his eyes from watching her from the piece of driftwood he had been sat on with the various other girls trying to get his attention, yet when they found out it was undivided and focused on the kook turned pogue princess. They'd soon wondered back off into the crowds of people.

She had spent the majority of the night with John B, not wanting to get in the way of Kiara and Pope who were flirting with some people.

" Hey, John B?" the girl spoke, twisting her head to look at the brunette who's eyes were set on the crashing waves, " can I ask you something?"

"hmm," he hummed as an answer, the girl let out a small chuckle of embarrassment, her ring covered fingers tracing around the rim of her empty cup positioned in the gap between her thighs.

"do you think JJ likes me?"  stumbled on her words sheepishly, slightly embarrassed to even been asking, " I just wondering and your his best friend-"

" like you?" John b finished her sentence, ren nodded swallowing dryly, " you know JJ, he has a crush on every girl that breathes." the words hurt the girl who wasn't expecting that answer specifically.

She knew what reputation JJ had for girls, she had walked into the chateau many times to the blonde boy straddling some girl on his legs, it was unsettling mostly but it was just JJ, she grew use to it as much as she didn't like it. And she didn't want to one of the many, she wanted to be the exception.

" so, it's no biggie and I shouldn't overthink it like I am right now." the girls voice was filled with self pity, she felt relieved but slightly disappointed.

" yeah, it's probably just a phase. He'll wake up one day and you'll just be Ren again." John b knew it wasn't his place to tell the girl about his jj felt about her. " I mean- you're his best friend Ren, of course he likes you...just not in that way."

In all honesty, JJ himself didn't really know how he felt about her — hence why for the last two and half years he had been plucking up the courage to talk to her, still he had not yet found it.

The brunette registered the slight sad pout on Renee's lips as he wrapped his arm over her shoulders.

" that's what you were hoping for, right?" he asked, furrowing his eyebrows at the girl who just suppressed her disappointment with a wide smile.

" y-yeah, I just didn't want to break his heart if he really did feel something for me." Renee said, convincing herself she was telling the truth — still lightly butt-hurt.

she coughed fakely and glanced down to JohnB's cup — breaking the tension of silence after noticing it was empty.

" hey, you want another beer?" she asked, earning a nod from the boy and a 'thank you' as he passed the cup in her other hand.

The walk to the small keg was one where she swerved between various people — until one knocked into her.

" shit, sorry." he hummed, Renee smiled " don't worry about it." Moving away to continue her venture to refill the cups before his hand stuck out.

" I'm Harry by the way." his smile was contagious, she didn't recognise him, which was obvious by the way she was looking at him.

" I'm here on vacation, that's probably why you look like you can't seem to place me." he laughs as she hums.

Renee nodded and smiled " I'm Renee, I'd shake your hand if I was currently holding two cups." she let a small laugh leave her mouth, gesturing to her full hands.

Harry nodded and looked down to the cups " if you need a hand, I'm not really doing anything."

shaking her head, " no I think I can co-" Renee started to dismiss him, accidentally letting her eyes move to around the beach — noticing JJ sat next to a girl who was practically sitting on him.

And despite the girls puppy gaze, the blonde was looking straight at Renee. Clearly wanting to evoke some jealousy out of her.

Oh he wanted to play that game with Renee?

" actually," her eyes drifted back to Harry who had a small light gleam in his eyes " that would be a big help, if you don't mind."

Harry nodded, taking one of the cups and the hand Renee held out for him leading them through the crowds of teenagers. Eyes glancing back to JJ who still wasn't paying attention to the girl, offering him a sarcastic smile.

Well, Game on!

A few strays stood around the Keg as Renee and Harry approached — he was nervous and it was obvious. But it was cute, mousey brown hair with pushed back with slight curls rippling through the strands.

Renee turned her back and began to fill up the two cups — " so, you live on the island." Harry said, sputtering his words slightly. Wondering how he had managed to get this girl alone, to be the one she smiled at and laughed at his his jokes.

" yeah, I live on figure eight." she tells him and he nods his head — acting as if he knows what or where that is.

" that must be fun, like a twenty-seven vacation."

The blonde shook her head " I wish, but it is nice to always have the beach on your doorstep-" cut off by the swinging of an arm around her waist, grip tightening as she stopped filling her cup.

She knew it was him, she could smell his cologne and the slight smell of weed that clung to his clothes. It was beyond her conscious mind to lean back into him.

" oh hey, sorry I'm late." JJ'a words directed at Renee, whose cheek he'd kiss. his eyes looking up and down the boy who was now regretting his decision to follow Renee

" thanks for keeping my girl company-" he started before the blank space where the other boy was supposed to fill in his name.

" H-Harry." he stuttered, JJ smirking slightly as he looked down at the less than pleased expression that covered Renee's face.

"sorry Henry was it-" JJ faked an apology, moving his arm off of her waist and instead taking the hand of the blonde girl " Im just gonna borrow her for a second."

Renee faked a smile " one second." she said to Harry who just smiled awkwardly as she was pulled from the party, further and further away.

The music fading and the light from the fairy lights strung in the trees diminishing. Until they reached a group of trees — so far that their friends looked like ants compared to them.

" if you're planning on killing me-" Renee joked, before her back was pushed up against the trunk of one of the trees, the cup of beer in her hand tumbling from her hand and spilling onto the sand.

JJs hands pressing into her waist as she looked up at him " bit handsy tonight aren't we?" she commented, slurring ever so slightly.

" you need to stop." he told her, with seriousness as Renee furrowed her eyebrows " I need to stop what exactly?"

JJ rolled his eyes " don't act like you don't know what you're doing and don't act like you don't know that you're driving me fucking insane Ren." Renee shook her head.

" don't flatter yourself, I don't do it for you." she replied, trying her hardest to keep her face flat, "anyway you're the one who said the kiss meant nothing so I don't know what you're pressed about."

his tongue pushed against the inside of his mouth, shaking his head as Renee tried to remain as composed as she could, " cat got your tongue?" she dared to inquire.

" I shouldn't have kissed you." he rose his voice, taking Renee by surprise and her mood dimmed as she nodded. JJ's eyes still firmly pinned on her "because now that's all I can fucking think about, it's all I want to do."

" God! it would be so much easier if this situation wasn't as shit Ren."

Renee listened, and nodded — if only the circumstances were different. It would all be so much different — if she were still a proclaimed kook they'd walk back into the party holding hands, they'd dance and kiss with eyes watching and as much as people would stare, no one would be hurt, no rules would be broken.

The girl stood up straight, " so what we either forget that the kiss happened or play cat and mouse for the rest of our lives?" she mocked. " I don't want to do either JJ." she hummed

"And I don't think I can be just your friend again." she said, practically leaving JJ with an ultimatum.

JJ grunted, " what about that film you made me watch?" he asked, Renee's eyebrows furrowing

"you're gonna have to be a little bit more niche JJ-" she exhaled.

" the two friends who fuck each other." he spoke abruptly, Renee almost scoffed as she let out a laugh

" you want to friends with benefits our relationship?" she asked as he nodded with a stern look.

" Jesus! how much have you had to drink?" she asked. His eyes rolled " I'm not joking Ren."

The girl slipped away and shook her head " I am way too sober for this discussion JJ." she finished the conversation, not listening for his calls for her to come back as she paced herself towards the party.

The closer she got, she found Kiara and the rare look of anger stained her normally smiley face. B-lining for her friend.

" woah, Kie you okay ?" Ren asked, shocked on the bitter look on her friends face.

" why are they here?" Kiara finally spoke, Renee furrowed her eyebrows turning her head to almost immediately roll her eyes.

The sight of Sarah Cameron and the rest of kook royalty in general made an intolerable annoyance build up in both of the girls. Closely behind the queen followed her royal subjects: Topper Thornton, ( the most intolerable person she had ever met) , Rafe Cameron (the biggest asshole she had ever met) and the familiarity of her brother Lennon who seemed too high on life for it to just be on the beer from the keg.

Her eyes focused again on Sarah. It hurt Renee more than Kiara who just always seemed angry about what had happened.

after all Renee and Sarah had been best friends since the age of three until the age of fifteen. Their families were inseparable — Sarah had found a mother figure in Caroline after her own had left and Renee found a father in Ward after her own had passed.

Both pogue girls vowed never to speak of what happened between the three of them to any of the boy's, and they were still yet to break the promise.

" fuck sake, I'm getting away from here." Renee's scoffed, walking around the branch to link arms with Kiara who obliged, equally wanting to get out of there.

" why does she always ruin everything, hasn't she done enough." Kiara sighed,

Ren rested her head on Kiara's shoulder as they leisurely strolled across the beach, keeping to the outskirts of the beach.

" I know." The blonde, squeezing Kiara's hand in an attempt to comfort her of sorts.

" and bringing Rafe here, when he still has that fascination with you." Kiara huffed, another thing that the girls neglected to tell the boys.

The summers Renee ended up staying at the Cameron's which was only a few minutes from her own started as fun and careless — but over the three months in the numerous years they spent together in his constant company ended up with Rafe Cameron falling in love with Renee.

It was organic almost, they had grown up alongside one another — it was bound that one day glances at each other from opposite sides of the room would be more than just coincidences.

And Rafe making her laugh would be more than an ego boost. Or pushing hair from her eyes would be more than just helping her see, he liked finding excuses to touch her. He always had done, until last summer.

The summer before he went off to college — where he seemingly lost sight of himself, the same person Renee had spent her childhood falling for. Maybe it was more due to the fact she was ' playing pogue' which is what she had heard her mom and brother referring to her new friends as. Rafe didn't like pogues, never had and apparently Renee becoming one wasn't going to change his mind either.

" as long as I avoid them, I'll be fine." Renee let her eyes linger on Rafe a moment longer although she pulled them away before he noticed.

" fuck Sarah Cameron" the brunette seethed, making laughter tumble out of Renee's lips.

" yeah fuck Sarah Cameron." Renee chuckled lowly, continuing their stroll down the beach.

ELLIE SPEAKS🪄
think John B took that last line a lil too genuinely 🤷🏼‍♀️