GLITCH.
031 | the truth

" MA'AM PLEASE CALM DOWN." The police officer on the opposite side of the desk called out in a sterner tone as Renee continued to shake her head.

" I really don't see what the problem is, I have money to cover his bail why the hell won't you let me bail him out!" her voice was rougher as she continued to persist.

" because as I've already said." the woman become more aggressive at the blonde " you're not his parent or his guardian and you're still a minor meaning you can't bail him out either way."

Renee swallows dryly as the woman continued "we have contacted his father and he is on his way." The words the officer hoped the teenager would find comfort in didn't exactly work.

" no, you can't tell him!" she panicked,

She couldn't trust JJ's father, knowing he would cause more pain and problems than he would solve, especially with JJ's mom being out of the picture and as much as JJ was be tormented by his father and hated living in that house. he still managed to find some love for the monster that was Luke Maybank — and Renee thought that was one of the worst parts of it all.

Renee had only had only ever had one encounter with Luke Maybank. it was one of the first times JJ had confided in her about what had happened instead of his overused excuse of a 'surfing accident' — it was also one of the only times Renee had ever been to JJ's house in the  years of knowing him. Although after she managed to comfort him it was sweet enough. Her attempts of cheering him was turning his bedroom into a hot box and made pieces of beaded jewellery for each other.

Although it ended up with Renee escaping out JJ's window and running back home before Luke could even realise that she had ever been there — although he must not have approved of her cheering up techniques as the next time she saw JJ he had even newer cuts and grazes.

" now miss, would you like me to call someone to pick you up?" She asked, beginning to tap her fingers against the keyboard.

" you need to call his lawyer, Caroline Lowe- explain the situation, she'll come and help him!" Renee's lies were transparent, but a bit of her hoped that her mom would come to her aid.

The woman exhaled " I'm only allowed to ring his legal guardian." she told her, slipping the teenager into a deeper pit of desperation.

Renee shook her head at her, " please, can't I at least know what he's facing, jail time?community service, probation?"  her tone coming out as a plead as she placed her palms on the desk — her tone calmer.

" please, he's my boyfriend...and he's a good guy I just want to know what he's looking at."

" I'm sorry." as the words left the officers mouth, Renee nodded, plastering a fake smile on her face.

" yeah, thanks for all your help." the sarcasm of her words almost dripping off of her tongue, turning her body around and heading out of the station. Her fingers tasseling in her hair as she let the urge to let out a deep groan as passers by looked at her in a strange manner before continuing.

Although as she let her eyes settle on the sun that had just began setting — she found some sort of peace. Although right now her life was nothing but chaos and confusion — with being in the midst of a treasure hunt, not being on her best terms with her mom, brother and now even John B.

The only thing that felt a certainty was JJ and now she couldn't even see him and probably wouldn't see him for at least twenty four hours and hopefully not any longer. But not much hope seemed to exist right now.

Driving home — Renee chose silence as her rampaging thoughts about almost everything decided to make noise. Occasionally having to rub her fingers on her tremble at stop signs to try and ease her brain — her breaths unsteady not helping as she pulled into the drive and both her brothers and moms cars were also there.

All hopes of spending the rest of the night without any more stress slipping away at the sight.

" Renee! Just in time for dinner!" Her mother spoke as the front door closed and her youngest child trudged into the house. Slipping off of her shoes and using her toes to push them to align neatly.

" do you not answer your phone?" she quizzed the older woman who furrowed her brows at her.

Renee exhaled " mom, please you need to go down to the police station and bail him out!"

Caroline Lowe exhaled, " Renee-" she breathed out, not needing to put a name to the person Renee wanted bailing out of jail.

The blonde shook her head again, stepping closer " look, he didn't do it? I mean he did but he had his reasons mom- please."

The older woman looked at her daughter, the desperate look that was etched into a face that looked like her own. The hopelessness that Renee hadn't looked at her in for a long time.

The toyed with the stem of her wine glass, " Renee- I'm not a defence attorney, I'm sure it'll be sorted by restitution or community service."

Renee scoffed, " you think JJ has a spare thirty grand lying around to pay restitution? mom please, I'm asking you for help here."

Caroline shook her head, " well maybe JJ should have thought about that before he did whatever he did."

Watching as her daughter's face fell, betrayal etching into her disappointment as she just nodded. Tears gathering in her eyes as she hummed.

Caroline took a seat at the table, " now, come and eat. I made your favourite."

The blonde shook her head, looking up at Lennon sat at the dining table, " I just lost my appetite."

She turned around, walking up the steps until she reached her bedroom. She had her escape routine mapped out since she was around thirteen but only if she had someone to escape to right now.

Someone who wasn't stuck in a jail cell in the middle of town or someone else who she hadn't spoken to in over twenty four hours to confide in.

Making her way to the mirror, her eyes wondered to the reflection of her stomach — the dark colours that littered on her skin poking under the cut off of her shirt. Her hands lifted the shirt up to reveal all the bruising — her teeth gritting as her fingers feel over the skin, realising it was still sensitive to the smallest of touches.

Continuing to examine her bruise in the mirror — she let out a muffled sigh. Tears stinging her eyes as she continued to gently press on the skin covered in dark colours, it was healing — it was taking a long time to do so but it was healing.

" Ren?" the light streaming in from the hallway widened as Lennon looked at his sisters who was examining himself in the mirror. The wincing look on her face falling away as she dropped her shirt and turned around with wide eyes at her brother.

" what the hell do you think you're doing?" she rushed her words " Ever heard of knocking, god Len I could've been changing!"

" who did that to you?" Lennon spoke, ignoring his sisters last scolds.

Renee faked a sense of confusion " did what?" placing her hands to sit on the dips of her hips as Lennon continued to enter his sisters bedroom further.

" you know exactly what I'm fucking talking about." He spat, pointing at her lower stomach " don't play dumb, who did that to you?"

Renee continued to stay silent — as much as Rafe deserved it as well as Topper, she knew it would only break her brothers heart further to know the only people who had been there for him after their dad had died.

Walking past her brother, and towards the closet she shook her head again " I told you already, I fell." the lies dripping off her tongue and staining the carpet.

Trying to distract herself from being skittish, she picked out pair of sweatpants and an oversized tee that belonged to JJ.

" you may be able to fool mom with the whole i fell bullshit!" he told her, his teeth gritted " but I see right through it, and I want to know who the hell did that to you?"

Lennon, eyeing up the masculine look shirt furrowed his eyebrows as his mind connected up the dots.

" Was it him?" Even asking the questions made Lennon feel sick, Renee abruptly turned around. Not yet understanding what he meant.

" was it who Lennon?" she asked him

" JJ maybank?" Renee felt sick to her stomach at the pure insinuation that JJ would be capable for doing something like this.

Although her plan was to deny everything, her protective instincts over her boyfriend kicked in before her mind could react with her original plan.

" for fuck sake" Renee spoke, more disgusted every time she repeated herself " no it wasn't him!"

Lennon raised one hand to run through his hair, not believing his little sister despite the rawness of her emotion each time she denied it.

Renee shook her head, " Lennon!" she rose her voice although her brothers mind seemed to be practising every way to murder JJ without leaving any of his blood on his own hands.

" I'm gonna fucking kill him." he nodded as if creating a plan in his head " how about I bail your boyfriend out, and then we have a talk."

Renee felt bewildered by her brothers lack of understanding. He wasn't stupid, so why wasn't he listening?

She stood close to him " I swear to god if you fucking touch him-"

" No Ren." He spoke in a roar of a voice looking at his sister who still feared to tell him the truth " I'm really going to kill him."

" oh don't worry, I believe you!" she snapped back.

Ignoring his sisters continuous pleas for him to stop, her heart aching and tears beginning to well up in the corners of her eyes. The truth looming over her,

Her failed attempts to reach out and grab the baggy material of Lennon's sweater that wasn't clinging to his arm as he was about exit the bedroom, and mostly likely beginning his wild hunt for the teenage pogue.

Renee felt her hands turn clammy, time managing to slow as her two consciousnesses fought for control over her next actions.

" it was Rafe!" she called out, her chest rising and falling heavily watching hopelessly as her brother turned around. " ok! Rafe did this to me."

His face a mix of confusion and pain — his mouth opening to question his sister something she preempted as Renee began to speak again.

" when him and Topper jumped Pope at the golf course." she breathed out heavily " I was there too, I went with Pope because it was the quickest way back here."

Lennon shook his head, not wanting to believe his younger sister. " and I tried to help Pope, but Rafe got a hold of me and pushed me to the floor."

She hated this. Retelling the instance for the first time since it had happened and to someone who would most likely be effected by it also. Watching hurt engrave itself on his face with every syllable she spoke.

" I'm sorry Lennon, but it was Rafe." she sympathised with her brother, stepping forward to reach out for her brother who stepped away. Leaving his sister caressing the air before falling back down to her side.

" you're lying." he spoke in a whisper. Renee's eyebrows furrowed at her brothers words.

" what? why the fuck would I lie?" She spoke breathlessly, cocking her head as she looked at her brother who stared back at her wide eyed. " you can't be serious?"

" I don't know, b-but Rafe he wouldn't do this." Lennon most definitely saw a different Rafe opposed to everyone else — he was his best friend, in Lennon's eyes he had faults but then again, nobody was perfect.

" Len." Renee once again tried to reach out, this time succeeding, her fingers gently clutching around his wrist. Lennon looked up and met the sad smile of his sister. " look at me."

" I'm not lying." she told him again. " I'm sorry that he's your friend but I'm not lying."

Lennon nodded. Licking his lips as his gaze diverted to the ceiling of Renee's room — slipping out of her grip and walking towards the door as he exited into the hallway and down the staircase.

Renee let out a breathe, placing her fingers to the temples of her head,

" fuck...I really need a joint."

FAMILY DINNER WAS BEYOND AWKWARD.Which Renee was coerced into. Between Lennon ignoring his sister's attempts to get him to look at her and the signs that would leave her mouth every time he avoided her.

Her fork jabbing pieces of pasta, not evening eating them but instead moving them around her plate as she tried not to let her emotions overwhelm her. She would have rather died than cry in front of her family.

" this is nice." Caroline hummed, somehow finding comfort in the company of her two children " it's like we're finally a family again."

Renee's actions stopped, she tensed at the words that came out of her mouth. Her fingers clenching around her utensil as she exhaled and lowered her head. Trying to keep herself together, for at least another twenty minutes. Until she could excuse herself and lock herself in her room for the rest of the night.

Lennon looked up, noticing and watching his sisters sunken expression. His mind was consumed with conflict over wether he should believe her over her accusations of Rafe. They had always had a weird dynamic after Renee and Sarah stopped being friends — Lennon often finding Rafe stood too close to his sister when he entered a room for him to be comfortable with it. But Rafe had a crush on her, and aren't crushes meant to be harmless?

And he knew Rafe wasn't exactly a peaceful person. Often using conflict to dominate people — the pogues included. He needed to be powerful, he needed some people to fear him. But Renee? Rafe wouldn't hurt her, he had spent the majority of his life having pined after her. Her rejection hadn't hurt him that much and it? To go to those extreme lengths.

" JJ's in jail, probably cold and I'm sat here, trying to play happy fucking families." she stifled a pitiful laugh " this is so fucked up."

Lennon watched, silently observing the blonde who turned her head to look at her brother. Watching him as he did her whilst she continued to speak.

" he sunk Topper boat because he was defending me, and I'm just sat here." she said to herself, although it was obvious she wanted her family to hear.

Renee stared at her brother who was silently warning her not to speak.

" he was defending me because Topper and Rafe jumped me and Pope." she spoke, nonchalantly whilst Lennon rolled his eyes and leant back in his seat.

" god you're such a fucking liar!" Lennon snapped as Renee too felt the single tie to her sanity break as she stood up. Her fork tumbling onto the floor as she pressed her flat hands against the table top. " they didn't do shit to you!"

" I am not lying!" she shouted, Caroline realising this was a much bigger issue than she had anticipated it to be. " you know what he's that psycho is capable of, why can't you see that he did this? Why can't you believe me Lennon!"

The other boy stood up and pointed his finger to his sister who watched him as he began to pace slightly " because he's my best friend, because he knows your my sister and that I would kill him if he hurt you!"

The image of his sister coming in that day stayed with him. Covered in blood, in pain. It haunted him — god knows he and Renee didn't have the best sibling relationship. But he wouldn't wish someone seeing their little sister in that way on anyone.

" guys, please-" Caroline exhaled, as Renee continued to add fuel to this argument.

" I know you were at the country club when it happened!" She said " tell me, was there not a minute or two that Rafe and Topper disappeared off of the golf course at all?"

Lennon couldn't answer. Because he had watched them leave to find a golf ball and then return no longer than four minutes later mumbling and whispering to one another the rest of the day. Topper struggled to look at Lennon whilst Rafe only got higher than he already was.

" that's what I thought." She exhaled, releasing the pressure of her body off of the table and exhaled and Lennon continued to stare at her. " I wouldn't lie to you, not about this."

Shaking his head, he slid out of the table area and began walk away and towards the door. Renee watching hopelessly as she began to leave.

" Lennon, where are you going?" Caroline called out as the oldest snapped back from the opposite side of the house " Tanny Hill,"

AUTHORS NOTE
shits going to hit the fan soon.
Wasn't planning on telling Lennon about Renee being jumped by Rafe but I can smell a character arc on the horizon