GLITCH.
012|  pretty girl

"LOOK WHO'S FINALLY BACK." Caroline asserted, noticing her youngest child wondering into the house at yet again another late hour in the night — deciding to leave John B alone tonight, as when she left he was still processing the compass situation that had unfolded.

She turned back to John B who still was sat hunched over the table. The compass in front him and his gaze unwavering on the piece of metal.

Her lips downturned " you sure you'll be ok? I can stay, make us some food and—"

He looked up to her, his eyes teary yet he wouldn't spill them in front of her. His small smile unconvincing — " no, no I'll be fine."

And she still stood there, as his eyes drifted back down to the compass. She exhaled " I just- you shouldn't be alone. It's not nice doing this stuff by yourself JB."

He didn't look up this time " doing what stuff Ren?

" Grieving." she mumbled, barely a whisper but it still reached him. He didn't believe that his dad was dead, she knew that. Although as the months passed on without anymore options being accessible to John B, it's what he was being left to face.

" I'm fine." he sniffled,

Renee dropped her bag down, walking over as she looped her arms around him. Bending down to hug him — chin sitting on his shoulder. His own arms lifting to hold hers. He didn't want her to stay so she wouldn't.

" call me, if you need anything or even if you want nothing." she whispered, " I'll come right back."

John B didn't say anything, but just nodded as Renee squeezed him a little tighter. A silent ' I love you' that she wouldn't speak to him through actual words.

And he curled his fingers over her arms, a silent ' I love you too' that wouldn't exit from his lips either but was understood by the girl.

Renee automatically had noticed her house was receiving company, if not by the sickening sweetness of her mother's tone as she called to her which was only heard when Caroline put on the caring mother act in the company of her rich, country club trophy wives she called her 'friends' . It was the smell of a mixture of over priced pungent perfume that stung her nose and made her cringe.

The girl looked up, planting the fakest of smiles onto her lips. Noticing Rose Cameron curled up on the couch holding a glass of wine on her gold jewellery covered fingers.

"Oh Hey Rose." the blonde smiled softly at the women who couldn't have helped but send the girl looks of judgement, noticing the dirt on her clothes.

" hey doll, I haven't seen you around the country club for a while." Rose stated in her usual snobbishness By a 'while' she meant over a year. The one and only exception being midsummers last year.

Although she didn't actually see any of the Cameron family members that night or at least remembered seeing them.

Considering she and Kiara had managed to sneak JJ and John B in from through the kitchen and pull away Pope from working with his dad. The five of them locked in an empty hotel room smoking and occasionally sneaking in beers for the duration of the party.

" yeah.. but I mean I've got new friends so." she tried to play off her judgey looks with a nod of her head " they're not really the country club type."

Rose looked at Caroline, sending her a 'seriously' look. Knowing exactly which friends she was on about. Her mother only sending back a roll of her eyes and a sigh like she had been defeated,

" you should really come to tanny hill one day for lunch, Wards got a new grill." Rose looked back to the girl, "and I bet Sarah misses having you around."

Renee fought the urge to scoff and roll her eyes, knowing it was an idea her own mother most likely put into the poor women's head to bring up.

Knowing Renee would have just shot her own my mother down if she were to suggest anything of the sorts. Like many people, parents weren't even aware of the broken up friendship until months had passed since Sarah's name was even mentioned, and vice versa in the Cameron household.

" I mean.. she hasn't missed me enough in the last year to speak to me after she cut me out of her life." She told them, blunt in her tone.

Caroline cut off her daughter with a abrupt noise of disappointment. Whilst Rose took a sip of her wine humming a sarcastic 'charming' as she did so.

" Renee, I will not have you talk about Sarah like that!" she scolded her daughter who felt numbed to the sound of a punishment. " apologise to Rose now."

Renee shook her head, crossing her arms defensively over her chest.

" I'm sorry Rose, it's just been a long night and to be completely honest I'm exhausted." she lied, following her excuse with a fake yawn and stretch of her limbs which was obliviously orchestrated.

" I apologise for my language."

Rose nodded, accepting her apology despite the lack of sincerity in her dulled tone.

Caroline burned her eyes into her youngest child. Her head shaking side to side in disappointment whilst her lips attached themselves to her lips. Renee just rolled her eyes at her mothers reaction.

" it's okay sweetheart, we all say things we don't mean when we're tired." Rose brushed it off,

The teenager had no doubt in her mind as soon as the women stepped into her home of tanny hill. She would spill what the girl had said about her step-daughter to her husband.

Renee just nodded, biting her tongue not to tell the middle aged women she had meant everything she had said about Sarah.

" well, why don't you go to bed darling, I can see the bags under your eyes from here." Renee felt her eyes widen at her mothers snide insult, to which she chuckled at afterwards and Rose forcing herself to press her lips together to contain her own amusement.

'fuck you guys' was the only thing Renee thought over and over again.

She excused herself, lying to rose that it was a pleasure to see and even more or lie that it was nice to speak to her.

The girl curled her ring covered fingers onto the staircase railing, jogging up the staircase. Careless to the fact that she was spilling dirt on the carpet running down the middle of the stairs.

The lids of her eyes felt heavier, it wasn't a lie when she told them she was tired. She was; having been up at eight in the morning after falling asleep with JJ in the early hours of the morning wasn't the best sleep schedule ever.

she reached her bedroom door, noticing the soft groans and grunts that were leaving her brothers from slight gap he had left open of his at the end of the hallway.

" at least close the fucking door?" She grumbled under her breath in disgust. Speaking her thoughts which she often did when she was alone.

Renee slowly pushed the door open, shuffling into the dimly lit bedroom; the only thing keeping it from being consumed by the darkness was the small street lamp positioned outside. She kept her eyes on the hardwood floor, using the tips of her feet to flick off her shoes, carelessly letting them position themselves.

Renee almost collapsed onto the crisped sheets of her bed. She had rarely dreamt of her bed. Usually on the long days of school where Kiara would catch a cold and not be in school , leaving her to be the front face of Sarah and Stacey's torment.

Her arms sprawled against the material of the duvet. A heavy groan leaving her lips as she closed her eyes, wanting to floor to eat her up like it does in the sci-fi movies she's watched.

" Ren." the girl wearily opened her eyes, tilting her head to get a clearer view of who was currently watching her at ten o'clock at night.

she let out a small sigh noticing JJ stood on the balcony, his hands awkwardly holding his red hat. His lips smiling at her softly.

" JJ what are you doing here?" she asked, helping herself up from the bed, breezing over to the french inspired doors.

Twisting the key that she had always kept in the lock. Knowing too well If she were to move it anywhere else, she'd most definitely lose it.

JJ opened the door before she had the chance too, she tilted her head to look at him. her lips curving into a gentle yet tiresome smile.

" I was going to stay at the chateau when I dropped Pope off-" he started, earning a hum and nod from his friend. " I know, because I literally offered for you to stay the night here and you said no." she spoke lowly.

" I know okay- but then he just kept concocting these wild theories about his dad still being alive and the compass coming back to him being a sign" JJ made air quotations with his fingers as he uttered the word sign.

" and he was just driving me insane. I just had to get out of there." he seemed worked up. Renee placed one of her hands on his exposed forearm; moving it up and down to comfort him.

" don't you think he wants you there though-" she asked  before he cut her off abruptly.

"I don't know Renee but I felt like if I stayed any longer I would have lost all my fucking sanity ." his voice was drenched in tension, Renee just nodded, deciding it was best for their relationship not to fight about it.

" hey- hey it's okay."she cooed gently, wrapping both of her arms around his back. Her head turning to the side to rest against his chest due to how much taller he was compared to her.

He accepted the hug with little to no hesitation , draping his arms over her shoulders and resting his chin on the top of her head of hair. The stress he felt like being pushed down by flourishing from his shoulders as the smell of her vanilla perfume burnt his nostrils.

Warmth worked its way into both of their stomachs, it felt as if JJ's intestines were twisting and knotting together. In a good way of course.

It was foreign what JJ was currently feeling. He had never had whatever this was in his life with someone — nothing as deep-rooted or as meaningful as whatever he had with Renee was. Even if she hadn't seen it yet.

JJ moved away to kiss her, a gesture she accepted graciously. Looping her arms around his waist as the kiss deepened. " god I missed this." he murmured, sending vibrations against her lips.

Renee smiled to herself, feeling the heat rush to her cheeks more vigorously every few more seconds she'd keep holding JJ in her arms.

" it's been like ten hours since we kissed." she told him with a smile as he shook his head " far far too long."

" hey, do you want me to play for you?" she asked, pulling away — referring to the blue spray painted placed ukulele on top of her dresser, " ease your mind or some shit like that?"

" really, I thought you only play for Kiara?" he mocked her shyness when it came to performing the ukulele to anyone except Kiara.

Renee pulled herself away from JJ, moving towards the musical instrument.

" I'm making you an exception for tonight, but only-" she began to strum the ukulele with random chords aimlessly . Looking up to JJ as he finished her sentence.

" If I let you have some of my blunt." He furrowed his eyebrows, giving her a look knowing he was right.

She nodded with a grin on her lips. Using her hands to indicate for JJ to sit on the bed. " what a lucky boy I am." His words were more sarcastic that anything else

But still he obeyed, kicking off his own shoes before propping himself up against the headboard. Keeping his eyes on the girl who swayed herself side to side whilst she continued to play for him.

A girlish giggle leaving her lips as her dancing became more over exaggerated. Her eyes flickering between where her fingers were strumming and JJ's smug smile.

" can you take this seriously?" JJ chuckled, crossing his arms casually. Renee nods, walking towards the bed before crawling to the opposite side of where JJ was.

She crossed her legs before letting out a loud breath, smiling widely as she looks at him. Her nervousness taking over her posture.

Using two fingers, pushing her hair back. Feeling JJ move closer to her.

Her eyes look up, noticing the boy holding a scrunchie of hers in between two of his fingers.

" here you go pretty girl." he winks playfully . She felt a slight embarrassment as she took the hair tie from his grip. She silently thanks him shoving her hair into a messy low ponytail.

" okay, I only started learning this a few days ago so you can't bully me if it's terrible." she told JJ who just sent her a faked offended look.

" I would never." he played off a fake offence at the idea, Renee shakes her head to turn the attention away from the wide smile she had on her  lips.

" okay, here goes nothing." she mumbled to herself. Beginning to strum the chords to a piece herself and Kiara had tried to learn together on the dock of the chateau a couple days ago.

The soft music filling the quiet room. JJ looked at her in pure awe, the way she bit the edge of her lip to keep concentrated and her eyes fixating on the ukulele, making sure she wasn't messing it up.

she giggled softly to herself, knowing in her gut that JJ was staring at her with the big goofy grin on his lips he always had. Which in fact she was right about.

Renee hummed to the rhythm of the lyrics Kiara would usually be singing so she knew to be in time with the original musical piece.

JJ pulled the pre-rolled blunt out of his shorts pocket, reaching for the lighter he had previously left on the girls bed side table.

She continued to play, not focusing on the background noise of the flickering of the lighter or the lightning of the joint.

her eyes looked up as JJ placed the blunt between his lips, inhaling heavily to soothe the craving he had for the past hour.

" fuck that's the good- oh shit sorry." JJ soon realised Renee's eyes lurking on him as he heavily exhaled the smoke.

she shook her head dismissively, slowing down the strumming of the chords as she eyed up the blunt.

" want a hit?" he asked, instead of speaking Renee nodded, parting her lips for JJ whom just rolled his eyes.

He hovered his body closer, placing the end of the blunt between her lips before she closed the space.

she nodded, inhaling the illegal substance gentler than JJ did considering he wasn't as dependent on the drug as he seemed to be. she swayed her hips side to side, grinning noticing her friend opposite her had joined in.

She stuck her head out, indicating to JJ she didn't want the blunt anymore.

" no offence but..those chords look easy." JJ said slyly. Placing the blunt back inbetween his lips as Ren furrowed her eyebrows.

" you're fucking kidding me right JJ?" she laughed in disbelief but also the weed hitting her mental state already.

" I mean, you move your fingers around a little and strum. How hard can it really be?" he raised his hands in the air.

Renee couldn't tell if he was intentionally trying to piss her off, either way he was still succeeding.

" If you think it's just that easy, have a go dumbass." Renee had a bitchiness in her tone, shuffling around to lie opposite JJ, placing the instrument on his stomach as she did so.

" hit a nerve have I?" he asked, as Renee crossed her arms against her chest leaning her head back against the abundance of pillows piling up behind her.

She looked at JJ who kept still, shocked she had reacted that way.

" what you waiting for blondie?" she mocked him with the pet name. Furrowing her eyebrows hoping he would admit defeat already.

" fine." JJ grumbled, using his tongue to move the spliff to the corner of his mouth so he could still smoke it.

he placed his fingers in the places he thought he had saw Renee place hers, yet when he strummed the strings no angelic noise came out like it did when the girl did.

JJ cursed under his breath, continuing to find the correct to strum a single cord. Knowing his friend who sat opposite him would tease him if he couldn't.

After a few moments of failure, he grunted contemplating the defeat and mockery he would be receiving shortly from Renee.

" shit, you make this look so simple Ren." he chuckled, briefly turning his head to the girl before back to the ukulele. he felt his heart skip a single beat, forcing himself to look back at her.

She had fallen asleep, her body on its side and curled slightly as she inhaled and exhaled softly. How beautiful JJ thought she looked when she was sleeping.

Her lips parted ever so slightly and eyes squeezed shut. she looked so peaceful and angel-like.

JJ felt a small smile creep on his lips. Hovering over her as he ran his fingers to scoop the hair from in front of her eyes to place it behind her ear. Noticing a small blanket sitting on top of the sheets — picking it up and unfolding it to cover her as she moved slightly, shuffling to sleep on her side.

" night Ren." he mumbled gently, stroking the pad of his thumb over her cheek and pressing a small kiss to her forehead.

His hands peeling the material of his shirt off of his body. As he peeled back the duvet from the side of the bed that Renee wasn't on, sliding in between the sheets as he prepared for some decent sleep.

Turning to look as the blonde flipped over. Her arm reaching out for JJ to come closer, which of course was a demand he obeyed. Soon finding themselves in a position where her left cheek sat on his stomach and JJ's arm wrapped around her as their fingers interlocked.

The smile never leaving his face. Even as he slept.

ELLIE SPEAKS🪄
thought I'd give you some JJ & Ren fluff before I move onto the events of episode two.