GLITCH.
045 | you trust me right ?

IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING. Before Renee and JJ left the hot tub.

the hours that the warm water soaked into their now pruned skin they just spoke, JJ told her the truth about what was happening back at home. And Renee just listened, trying to comfort him and put him back at ease with her fingertips tracing his skin.

But now she smiled sadly , watching as JJ slept with his body curled on top of the sheets of John B's bed — he looked at peace finally, with his chest gently rising and falling with each inhale and exhale — his tears glistened where they had ran down his cheeks and created little puddles on the unders of his eyes.

She ran her hand over his head of damp hair and smiled to herself — he was so beautiful, how could anyone treat him as badly as his dad had managed to, to hurt him without remorse or any sense of guilt. Not only JJ, but his son — his own blood.

Renee couldn't make sense of it, but despite that she had to be there for him without questioning his fathers actions — unable to even begin thinking of falling asleep she got up, gently and as quiet as she could not wanting to wake him up.

Grabbing the same towel that she had left from her shower earlier that day, she exited into the main living room which seemed to be the centre of everything in the house — noticing Kiara and Pope too crashed out on the pull out sofa, a sheer blanket covering them both.

Stepping into the bathroom — Renee stepped towards the shower, gently pulling at the tap so the water release was built up and not sudden which she suspected would wake up JJ.

It didn't take her long for her clothes to fall to the floor — kicking them aside as she stepped into the stream of cold water and pulling the shower curtain across. Tilting her head back as she eased into the chill, beginning to wash the chlorine and whatever chemicals JJ had put in the hot tub out of her hair.

It wasn't long after the relaxation of the cold water soaked into her skin — she was broken out by the door opening, her first guest being that it was either Kiara or Pope needing to use the bathroom.

" you have a minute to do your business until this situation becomes weird!" she called out, although when she heard no voice in return she couldn't help but wonder if the sound were a figure of her imagination.

" Ren?" Renee peered outside of the shower curtain, noticing JJ rubbing his eyes as he familiarised with the light of the bathroom that was different to the pitch darkness of John B's bedroom.

" shit fuck!, did I wake you?" she asked genuinely concerned, JJ shook his head and stepped closer but yet noticing his girlfriends naked body — somehow still managing to smirk.

" I could get use to waking up to that view." his eyes lingered around the lack of clothing covering his girlfriends body — she rolled her eyes but couldn't help but feel slightly bashful as a dark red painted on her cheeks .

" you know?" he pondered " I think I could use a shower too." he murmured, beginning to tug his fingers at the hem of his shirt.

His eyes travelling back up to Renee as he stepped closer, " want some company?"

Renee didn't want to pressure him into anything, as it was extremely self explanatory what would happen if she was to accept his request.

" it's up to you, I'm going nowhere." she told him, leaning back to let the water fall back down on her — steering her eyes away although from the fast paced rustling it was clear JJ had made up his mind.

The shower curtain opened up again, jj climbed into the shower, keeping close proximity to his girlfriend who had moved her hands to cup his cheeks.

His kiss was soft, yet he pushed hard against her lips — Renee was his medicine, he took her as an antidote. Anything that happened could be cured by simply her presence. She was that addictive, the way she could make you feel was something you never wanted to lose.

JJ's lips travelled, sloppily leaving kisses on her neck and then on her collarbone travelling downwards on her top half — the sensation forcing small moans to exit from her mouth as she relished in the moment.

The lower he got, the more guilt that piled in her stomach at the possibility of taking his vulnerability for granted.

Pushing him back up so that they stood eye to eye, Renee placed her hands on his shoulders whilst JJ looked confused on why she stopped him from exploring her any further.

" we don't have to do this, it's been a long night JJ." Renee spoke softly, keeping her hands cupped on his cheeks as he shook his head.

" I want this." he assured her that in no way was his emotional state being taken advantage of " I will always want this, I will always want you."

Renee nodded her head and smiled " ditto."

JJ leant in, softly kissing her lips despite the pain that pierced his freshly bruised ones — pain mixing with pleasure whilst Moving his hand to sit on the back of her head, his fingers tangling in the midst the wet locks of freshly washed her hair.

Renee's hands fell from his cheeks, beginning to wander his body — the sensual strokes of her fingers in his sensitive areas concluded in jj lowly moaning into his girlfriends ear between breaths for kissing.

" Ren?" JJ muttered against her lips the girl pulled away from the kiss and looked at him, not even being able to ask what was wrong before he spoke.

" I love you." Renee couldn't help but grin, pushing another kiss on his lips,"I'm so fucking in love with you."

" and I'm so scared that I'll fuck this up, because I always do"

" and I'm sorry, for being-" he stopped " what did you call me earlier again?"

" an asshat?" JJ stifled a small laugh, nodding as he continued " I'm sorry for being an asshat, but this whole being in love thing it's like..super new to me and it's even more tough because-"

" well..because I don't want to ever experience it with anyone else like ever."

Renee couldn't help but smile at his slight panic, using her hand to swoosh his hair back,

" you won't fuck this up." she told him, finding reassurance in the confidence her words were spoken in.

" you and me it's a forever kind of thing, remember?"

" I love you too blondie." JJ found clarity in her words, beginning where he last left off to explore every inch of the top half of her body with the use of his lips.

"say it again." his request would vibrate into the skin of the area he kissed — Renee giggled at the playfulness of his attitude but also the tickle that the vibration sent.

" I love you." she repeated, noticing the widening of his lips each time she repeated those three words each and every time he asked her too — which was a lot.

"again." he murmured, his lips attaching to the skin of her neck, leaving multiple sizeable purple lip shaped bruises for Renee to panic over later.

" Johnathan James maybank-" she started as JJ looked back up to her, standing so their faces were aligned as JJ moved to rest his forehead against her own, smiling

" oh god the full name, must be serious." he whispered as he smiled at her.

Looping her arms over his shoulders, her lips hovered his own — so much so the heat of breath was warming up the shower. They're eyes staring into one another

" I am completely and utterly in love with you."  she declared.

Seemingly to loose all control as the words tumbled out of her mouth, one of his hands grouped her wrists together tugging them to sit above her head — whilst the other one cupped around her neck that he detached his lips from.

" Renee Camille Lowe," he hummed, Renee grinning ear to ear as JJ looked at her " you have no fucking idea what you do to me." Renee could feel her heart beat against her rib cage, the thrill of the intimacy sending energy pulsing through her veins.

" why don't you just show me, yeah? "

"WE NEED TO GET UP."

Renee told JJ who continued to keep her in his hold with his arm over the duvet cover — the morning  was bleeding into the middle of the afternoon and they both yet to leave the bed — their rendezvous last night was tiring to say the least.

" Pope's smart, I'm sure he can figure it all out himself." he murmured, pushing his lips against the girls head again as she scoffed and finally pulled away to get out of bed.

JJ groaned, opening his eyes as he watched Renee begin to change. Pulling her shirt over her chest and soon pulling up her denim shorts — not helping but to notice JJ's lingering gaze.

" you're so beautiful." he told her, his elbows supporting him as he looked at her from the bed — although Renee just his sweet talk as another ploy to keep her in bed with him. " have I ever told you that?."

" many times....now c'mon romeo." Renee huffed, grabbing his arm and pulling it along with the rest of his body out of bed "we've got four hindered mil to retrieve."

Rubbing his eyes as he hunched over the end of the bed, " once we get this gold, can we finally stay in bed past twelve?" he grumbled in his rasped voice.

going to cup his cheeks, moving her hands to
Slide down his chest from his shoulders — Renee pressed a kiss into the top of his head,

" we can do whatever, a lot is achievable with eighty mil to your name." Renee told him, although he shook his head and ran his arms around her lower back.

" I don't care about the money, I just want to be wherever you are."

Renee nodded " how about that house on the mainland?" JJ looked up at her, not remembering the conversation that they had shared at the construction sight at the start of summer.

"come on, you know?  the one with the Japanese toilets....and the pretty sunset?" JJ let his lips curve into a smile as he finally found some recollection of his words.

" where the trees don't block it like they do here?" Renee nodded, both of them fantasising about the house that they had both decided to move into in the future, even when they were unaware of the gold's existence.

Finally exiting the bedroom and the chateau entirely, it was clear Pope and Kiara had been up for a while. Especially as Kiara was sat in the bucket whilst Pope spoke what Renee interpreted as white noise when explaining the ins and out of the mechanism.

" look who's finally awake, only three and a half hours after we all planned to wake up." Pope was first to criticise as Renee rolled her eyes, feeling JJ peck her cheek before leaving her to head towards the hot tub, although he was up he still wasn't planning to help.

" sorry, we couldn't really sleep last night." She lied, scratching the back of her head awkwardly, Kiara scoffed.

" insomnia, that's what you're calling that now?" Kiara piped up, Renee looked at her and squinted her eyes.

" I'm not getting sassed by someone who's literally sat in a big bucket." Kiara playfully flipped off the blonde from her current position although Renee who only blew kisses back at her.

" talking of the bucket girl." Pope said, looking back at Kiara " how's it feeling?"

" feels good." Kiara nodded, shuffling around in her makeshift seat.

" taking you down." Pope began turning the handle to the mechanism, lowering Kiara until she reached the ground.

Renee looked around, noticing the absence of her curly haired brunette friend " hey, where's John B I figured his fishing trip with Ward would be over by now."

Pope and Kiara shrugged their shoulders, both weren't sure on the whereabouts of their friend who had been radio-silent since yesterday.

" he's pullin a Houdini." JJ chuckled to himself, chilling with his feet sitting in the hot tub.

" I've got my scholarship interview tomorrow, we've got to get this done." Renee rose her finger to point at Pope.

" P, as much as I adore you and trust me I do." she huffed " what have I said about the mentioning of the 'S' word."

Pope scoffed in a slight arise of attitude, meanwhile all attention fell to John B who seemingly appeared out the thin air.

" speak of the devil, hey!" JJ was brimming the edge of excitement to see his friend along with everyone else who glad to see him alive.

" hey jb, got anything drum for me?" Renee's attempt at a finish joke went poorly, John B staying silent and his eyes not shifting anywhere else but the direction where he was walking.

" dude, I set up the entire winch to pull up the gold and everything!" JJ proclaimed to impress his friend although it was a complete and utter lie.

Renee stood, scanning his expression as his abnormal silence was sending her the wrong signs,

" Hey John B, you okay?" Renee asked, her hand that was reaching out to sit on his shoulder easily avoided by John B's swift pace and staggered movements.

All his friends looked at eachother as he entered the chateau, " what's that all about?" Pope asked, hoping someone had the faintest clue what was going on.

" I was going to ask you the same question." JJ said, exiting the hot tub and following his friends who entered the chateau via the front porch, slightly weary of the loud clattering and rapidness of his actions.

He searched every draw, every cabinet, every little hiding place, for what? none of them knew.

Pope was the only one confident enough to approach him, although John B didn't take a single glance at his friend.

" you all right man? What— what's up?" Pope stuttered, although John B confined them all so silent treatment — continuing to tear the living room apart as he paced towards the couch.

" John B, can you please talk to us?" Renee pleaded, not even the slight beg in her voice could stop John B's rampage.

" Bro, what's going on!" JJ questioned, John B continued to pull at the couch — the next thing renee saw was JJ's gun sit in John B's grip.

Her eyes widened, unlike JJ and Kie who were verbally shocked Renee and Pope stayed quiet with the feeling of their heart jump into their throats at the sight.

" John B!" JJ called out, walking closer to him " what do you need the gun for?!"

JJ's hand sat on John B's shoulders trying to calm him down — although the contact although it was meant in a comforting manner managed to send a shudder of malice in John B,

" talk to us!" JJ called out, only for John B to push him viciously onto the sofa bed — startling the three others who stood at the other end of the room.

" what the fuck JohnB!" Renee snapped, managing to avoid him as she went to check on JJ who luckily was fine except the sting of his past bruises at the contact.

" Blondie , you okay?" Renee asked, noticing JJ begin to get up although he seethed through winces — he nodded confirming that no other injuries had made their way onto his body.

The two blondes were startled again, snapping their heads back noticing Pope too become the victim to John B's new found violence as he was pushed into the dining room table.

The four of them shared a brief look at one another, all of their expressions the mix of confusion and bitterness. Soon beginning to chase after him before he could do anything too rash, especially now with the gun in his possession.

" John B, what the hell are you doing!" Kiara shouted out to him, although as expected he didn't answer.

As they exited out the side door, Kiara continued to pester her friend with questions,

" John B what the hell!" she continued to yell after him, who was now sat on JJ's bike as he revved the engine.

" Ward knows about the gold!" his voice was broken as he told them in a screech, although nobody was expecting was left his mouth next.

" he killed my dad!"

Renee stood planted to the ground paralysed in shock whilst the others attempted to chase after him and ultimately failed.

John B looked at Renee, focusing on her as he swallowed dryly " and he killed yours too."

That was the feeling. The ground falling from around her — staring at John B as she shook her head.

" my dad- he drowned." Renee hummed, John B shook his head, " W-Ward didn't kill him."

" around the same time that everything went to shit with the royal merchant, you think your dad— a man who went out to sea almost everyday just drowned? no storm, nothing." John B asked her, walking closer to a shocked Renee as he looked at her. " and only a few months before my own dad  disapp-died."

Renee's head became suddenly to heavy for her to hold as she blinked " I don't know what you saying." she told him as he exhaled " Ward wanted the gold all for himself, and he was willing to kill my dad and his best friend Vincent Lowe for it."

It didn't make sense. Ward had filled the void of father figure once Vincent passed — he would come to her school volleyball games, be the one cheering her on when her mother was too sad too.

he'd be the one to pick up the pieces of her hurting heart whenever she thought of her dad. But then again? Was it all to throw people who were skeptic of Vincent's death off of Ward's scent.

" you're a sister to me, you know that right?" John B asked, Renee nodded staying quiet " and I love you like a sister."

" and you trust me don't you?" He looked at her as she parted her lips this time as she nodded,

" with my life." she mumbled,

" so trust me when I say I know that Ward Cameron had everything to do with your dad's death."

And with that, he got onto JJ's bike and soon enough he was out of sight. Unlike the others who tried to chase him down. Renee turned around, quickening her pace towards the dock where the boat was parked — the others confused called after her,

" Ren where are you going!" Pope hollered out to her, the blonde continued to pace herself.

" to go and get JohnB!" briefly turning around as concern was her predominant facial expression.

" because if we don't soon, I'm pretty sure he's going to kill ward cameron!"

AUTHORS NOTE.
the fact I'm on the last two episodes actually makes me emotional ( not like I'm going to writing a sequel based on series 2)

IVE BEEN WRITING THIS BOOK FOR OVER A YEAR AND I AINT EVEN DONE YET!!
anyways, vote + comment if you enjoyed x