CRUEL SUMMER
025, normality

NORMALITY IS SOMETHING RENEE HAD TAKEN FOR GRANTED.

For the last sixteen of her life, Renee had seen her day to day as 'boring' — getting out of bed, swimming in the water before breakfast with her family. All she wanted before was adventure, thrill, a daily dose of adrenaline.

But now, at the age of seventeen as her body resurfaces from her morning plunge, she feels the need for her 'boring' life to return. Her flat palms slicking back her hair, the sun scintillating the water that sticks to her skin.

The reality of her life now still sits heavy on her chest, stood with her feet easily able to touch the sand. Unable to wade deeper in like she used to do without a second thought — taking it all for granted and not realising what she had until it was all gone.

Even if she could get it all back, it wouldn't be the same — she would still have all the things from the last few months in her mind. She never could escape it.

Shuffling back into the house with a towel wrapped around her. Caroline Lowe looking up from the breakfast table, a slight shock on her face noticing her daughter was already up.

Renee did believe that maybe one day things would be ok again. That she wouldn't have to constantly look over her shoulder or double take every action she made. That maybe one day soon, she could be a teenager again instead of being pushed into a world she didn't understand.

She showers and changes, the soft music from her playlist reverberates against the wall her speaker of her phone has been pushed against.

Breakfast is peaceful enough, giving her mom the paternal safe version of the bonfire last night. Which including drinking much less than she did and some randoms got into a fight ( definitely not JJ and Fletcher and definitely not over her.)

They eat those pastry's that Caroline had promised she'd get the night before. And for a second, Renee felt like a normal person. She felt like a teenager again, just a teenager.

Although it's only for a split second, the doorbell rings and Renee insists on getting it. Standing in the doorway with wide eyes as the pogues fill the steps porch in front of the door.

Sarah stands at the front, summoning me along with the rest of the pogues to Tanny Hill. Her mom lets her go despite the slight desperation in Renee's eyes to make her stay. Caroline doesn't understand the extent of what is happening and she doesn't noticed the deflating of both her daughter's chest and sense of normality.

Renee grabs another pastry that she has to fend JJ from taking from her, still tearing him off the edge and giving it to him on the walk.

They act like last night didn't happen, at least the bonfire. Keeping their vow to be friends, only to be in each other's life's in some sort of capacity. 

The rest of the pogues glance behind to the two blondes who walk together — who laugh when one the other cracks a joke. Soon reaching Tanny Hill, Sarah rushing to get her friends upstairs.

Although she falls into a bicker with John B who hadn't reached civility like the two blondes who watch them had.

Renee had been the island room hundreds of time, it use to be her go-to hiding spot of the house. But it looked completely different, ripped wallpaper under her feet and some still managing to cling onto the wall.

Instead poked out pictures of the island, illustrations by hand.

" it's been here this whole time." Sarah hums as everyone takes a look.

" no freaking way," John B chimes in as Renee traces her fingers against the wall, face contorting into a mixture of awe and confusion.

" Is this a map of the whole island?" Renee asks, looking around to the rest for assurance although they only give a shrug in reply. JJ soon appearing next to her as his finger points to something on the wall we're facing.

" Yeah, Ren I think you're right because this is Rixton's right here." he hums and points out the window " and there's the lighthouse."

" Guys look, Parcel nine and the well." her head turns as the pieces of the kildare county puzzle begin to piece together in front of the five of them on the wall.

watching as John B walk around the room, pointing out each of our own revelations " so, if that's parcel nine and then if that's Rixon's-" he says, Renee's eyes drifting to JJ who moves around the table to where John B ends up standing.

" then that's gotta be the surf break at Mase." Renee hums, following behind the blonde boy as he too points something out " right, and look."

" Pope come here; this is Denmark's handwriting for sure." He lifts up a photocopy from the diary, looking as the two photos match up. Although not identical, it's obvious they're drawn by the same person.

" the drawings, they match up." Pope confirms, taking the rest of the photos from JJ as his eyes scan the room. Renee folds her arms and watches her best friend and the bemusement that covers his face.

" these are all his drawings, he...he painted this entire room." Spinning on her heel, drawing her eyes to yet another one of Denmark's paintings.

" yeah, but what exactly was he trying to show us..or-or even tell us?" Renee hums, looking to Pope who shrugs his shoulders back at her,

" it's gotta have something to do with the key right?, right?" JJ says, looking for confirmation to his theory as the girl tilts her head slightly with an unsure look painting her face.

" how did you know to uncover this?" John B asks, Renee's eyes flicking to Sarah who is question is targeted to.

She briefly looks at him " I didn't. It was like this when I got home."

Beginning to step forward , " what? why didn't you text me or something?" Renee asks, Sarah turns her head and gives her a look.

" I did try your window, but you weren't there." She tells Renee who soon is looking at JJ, swallowing awkwardly at the prospect of Sarah seeing them at the beach. A look so fleeting luckily nobody else realises.

Kiara breaks their gaze " Okay, then who did it?" All eyes watch Sarah as she passes by Renee " I don't know."

The reemergence of an unknown voice makes the six teenagers jump slightly " the freaks."

Renee looks at the young brunette who stands in the room, for however long I don't know. "freaks? who are the freaks?"

Wheezie looks at her with a tilt of her head like
She's been out of the loop " that...sick lady and her scary attack dog." she tells me as the blonde nods her head.

" they...they showed up last night and they wanted to talk to Rafe." Renee lightly taps JJ's arm as he stands up slightly " wait? pale blonde lady?"

Wheezie nods.

" did she have crutches?" Kiara asks, as Wheeze nods her head again with an accompanying " uh-huh."

" well what happened when they were here?" Renee speaks up, looking at the young girl.

" first, they searched the whole house looking for something and then Rafe told me to go upstairs.."

Her head tilts as she continues " but I didn't want to miss out so I listened through the grate."

" and they were talking about getting across the sand flamingo." Renee's eyebrows furrow as she looks at her friends, witnessing as everyone scatters about what exactly it means.

" the cross of Santo Domingo?" Pope says as Wheezie nods her head " yeah, that's it. Oh and they were talking about angels."

Renee looking to Pope " Angels? You know anything about Angels P?"

His eyes widen as it's quite obvious he does "Guys, Denmark's famous last words."

Everyone's eyes turning to look at him " He buried the real treasure at the foot of the angel, they're looking for an angel. We have to find the angel in the room."

A commotion arises as the teenagers spread out in search for any sort of religious or angel signification.

Renee staying close to JJ as she keeps aimlessly pointing things out in hopes that he'll be able to link it to something he's seen or read about before.

Although, her rifling stops as she notices how he quietens down in front of a painting of a tree — "J, what is it?" She hums, trying to follow his eyes to what he's seeing.

" Hey yo! Hey guys, I think I found something," he calls out, eyes catching her as he does so. It doesn't take long before the others hover around us and what exactly JJ thinks he's found.

" come here. This humongous tree is still on Goat Island." He brushes his fingers over the painting, a light smirk coating his lips as he says " you know what it's called?"

A small smile curves on her lips as Renee looks at JJ as pope answers " Angel Oak."

JJ moves to take her hand, gently pressing it against the wall " look there, there's the keyhole."

" wait, that means the cross of buried at the foot of the angel." JJ smiles at his mere genius " wow that must be where he put it."

" that must be where they are right now! We have to go!" Pope says, the others beginning to move out of the room.

all except Renee and JJ. Who don't realise JJ is still holding her hand even after it's no longer resting on the wall.

" shit sorry, force of habit." JJ hums as Renee shakes her head with a small smile, lifting her hand to mockingly toy with a fictional brim of a top hat.

" no problem Mr Holmes." She jokes, watching his face screw up slightly.

" Mr Holmes?" he asks as a small laugh leaves her mouth.

" Holmes as in Sherlock Holmes? The world's greatest detective?" She says as he nods his head as he pieces it together.

" what are you two still doing here!" Pope's head around the corner of the doorframe brings
Renee and JJ back " come on!" He ushers.

Although, still pacing down the hallways of Tanny hill, Renee looks at JJ " you didn't know who Sherlock is?"

He shrugs " I thought he had just a one name thing going on, you know.." he starts " like Beyoncé or someone like that.."

AUTHORS NOTE.

I hate hate HATE writing scenes directly from the show but I love writing JJ & Ren so....