CRUEL SUMMER.
003 | international number

THE WALK TO CLASS WAS QUIET

Renee didn't really know what to say to Fletcher. What do you say to your ex boyfriend who you haven't seen since you're breakup.

So she kept walking, eyes steadied. Trying to ignore the looks she was getting as Fletcher met her pace.

" so.." Fletcher turned slightly eyes looking to Renee as she awkwardly turned too and smiled " so you and Maybank huh, when was that a a thing?"

Renee exhaled " since the summer, but we'd been friends for a while before." Fletcher nodded, " god the Renee I knew wouldn't be caught dead being friends with a pogue."

" yeah well." The blonde hummed " the Renee you knew doesn't exist anymore."

And the silence ensued for a moment or two, until Fletcher sighed again " why is it weird between us, I haven't seen you in years Ren."

The blonde scoffed as she turned into another corridor " that's probably because you broke up with me to date aspiring broadway actors in New York."

Fletcher clicked his tongue, slightly annoyed "hey, that's not true, come on Ren you painting me out as some sort of villain here."

Renee nodded, " we were what? Fifteen." he added " as much as I wanted to stay together, I was too young to be in a long distance relationship."

Renee looked at him, throwing glances between him and the road " but if you spent the last couple years thinking I did that, I'm sorry." he apologised.

Renee let her lips curve into a small smile. Not saying anything more as they walk towards the classroom— the door creaked open, students nudging each other to look at the blonde who stood in the doorway

She didn't want to go in. She would put it off as long as she could. That's why she turned around, beginning to walk back down the hallway. Entering a small courtyard area that bridged two parts of the school.

Feeling Fletchers gentle grip on her arm, turning her around, Eyes slightly widened as she started at the old stone building which was in her own embodiment of hell.

" hey," the sound of Fletcher's voice made the blonde turn to face him, " what's up?"

Renee shook her head " nothing, you head in." she told him " I just need a little longer."

Fletcher shook his head " I'll wait for you." he hummed, " I haven't spoken to these people for probably as long as you have."

Renee snorted " but the difference is your best friend isn't accused of killing people," she tells him "and you aren't the person they see as his accomplice." she huffed, as Fletcher nodded.

" these people don't know you the way I do." he said " and don't you standing here is just going to feed them more suspicions?"

Renee hummed, " I don't have anything to prove to them, I know the truth." she declared " even if they don't."

After a second or two, Fletchers hand was out for her — Renee's gaze looking up from his open palm to his eyes that smiled at her.

" come on, don't let them get the better of you."

Renee stayed silent for second, and despite her mental pleas just to return home. She nodded, momentarily interlocking her hands with Fletcher's with a small smile " fine." she huffed.

The whispers weren't well concealed, Renee could feel her fingers wrap tighter around the handle of her bag as she felt her breathing becoming uncomfortably heavier.

A mixture of questions were bounced around, about Renee, about Fletcher who some people didn't even know had come back to Carolina  and why the hell were they walking together, especially when Renee had a boyfriend.

IF TODAY COULDN'T HAVE BEEN ANY WORSE FOR RENEE.

Of course when she strolled into her next class she noticed Fletcher sat in a seat by himself, luckily his eyes glued to his phone so he didn't notice her walk in.

She couldn't talk to him, she wanted to but didn't have the energy to plaster a smile on her lips for the next hour and act like internally she wasn't falling apart as they discussed about his life in New York and her change of lifestyle back in Carolina.

She hasn't seen him in years, the last time they saw each other she was still the kook princess and her father was very much still alive.

Renee Lowe was a completely different person to who Fletcher remembered her being. But that was evident when he found out she was dating JJ Maybank — the coined pogue prince.

She tried her best to avoid his eyeline completely and moving towards the brunette girl who looked friendly enough and that Renee didn't recognise and looked as if she didn't recognise her.

" hey." the blonde smiled, grabbing the girls attention fully " mind if I sit here?"

She was almost ecstatic that someone had asked to sit by her, nodding and smiling at Renee who was relived that at least one person wasn't staring at her.

" oh thank god some one actually wants to sit next to the new girl." she chuckled, clearly in admiration of Renee who softly smiled as she sat down.

" you're new?" she asked, the girl nodded and her smile didn't falter almost glad that she was finally talking to someone.

" yeah, me and my family moved in a couple weeks ago." she told her " I'm Jaylee by the way."

" Renee." Renee replied, Jaylee seemed slightly different in her emotions after Renee introduced herself.

" oh." Jaylee slipped out, realising that was the name that was spiralling around town ever since she had gotten here " I- Iheard about your friends, I'm so sorry."

Renee's less than genuine smile faltered even more, she felt stupid for thinking that she could have a fresh start with someone who knew nothing about the summer beforehand. Everyone was still talking about it.

" t-thanks." she stumbled, before the conversation could become anymore awkward Mrs Pearson entered clutching her bag and a stack of exam papers under her arm — sending a course of groans through the class.

" hope you weren't too busy to study for your annual quiz this summer!"

LUCKILY, THE QUIZ DIDN'T LAST LONG.

although it was definite that Renee had flunked it, she wasn't in the right mindset to be sad about going down a grade right now.

Renee was now learning about the use of glucose in the body, heavily trying to concentrate and write usual notes down , it didn't help that she was stuck with the burning of Fletchers eyes in the skin her neck from the desk behind her — it wasn't the best way to make amends with your ex, if she could even call him that.

They had been seeing each other for a few months at maximum — their was no official label that they shared and before they could even get there , Fletcher was being shipped off to New York for his dads new financial position on Wall Street and it was almost certain that they wouldn't ever see each other again.

And he told her himself to move on. God knew he did, a week into his move and Renee was watching him taking girls on dates in the village and him making out with those same girls at parties later that night via his Instagram. It broke her, it really did.

But she moved on. Cursed his name so many times because hey! she wasn't ever going to see him again. or at least that's what she thought.

Renee was vigorously pulled out of her Fletcher fuelled thoughts by the buzzing of her phone on the desk. Everyone's eyes looked at her, hoping it was a one off Renee ignored it and tried to focus on the board of vital information for her SAT's.

But when the phone continued to buzz against the desk, Jaylee looked at Renee who was still persistent with ignoring it — her leg bouncing up and down. Mrs Pearson looking at her with a slight annoyance,

" can you please put your phone away Miss Lowe, or take your distractions outside." she sniped, Renee swallowed dryly — everyone was now staring at her if they weren't beforehand.

" sorry." Renee bashfully picked up the cellphone, expecting it just to be a few texts from her friends who were now stressing their annoyance of their separation via text instead of verbally.

instead it was an unknown number that caused the harassment on Renee's phone. An international number at that. Her eyebrows furrowed as she soon realised the number had a chain of numbers belonging to each of her friends. Their contacts providing some kind of comfort.

Opening the chat, the photo that stared back at her send a shiver down her spine and an instant drastic cold sensation through the entirety of her body.

It was John B and Sarah. Big smiles on their faces as Sarah's hand cupped her mouth to conceal laughter and most shocking of it all they weren't dead.

It had to be someone's taunted idea of a joke, a sick prank. Her eyes scattered around to see if anyone else was also looking at their phone, disappointed when she couldn't pin point anyone.

They couldn't be alive, it seemed impossible — she had been told by the police that they were dead, spending the last two months in despair. It all felt too real for it suddenly to be a lie.

" Ren, you ok?" Jaylee asked, reaching out to place a hand on the blonde girls arm. Renee pursed her lips turning to momentarily look at Jaylee, her eyes glossy and lips quivering.

Without saying a word and grabbing her backpack, Renee soon exited her seat. The scraping sound of the stool legs against the tile flooring send shivers down the spines of her peers.

Despite the questioning from both Jaylee and Fletcher if she were ok and her teachers threats of detention and calling home. The blonde staggered out of the room. Her phone clutched in her left hand which was now in a heavy shake and secreting sweat.

Her other palm fell to her stomach as she attempted to control her breathing as the nausea was more and more aware as the moments passed.

" shit, shit, shit." she mumbled, the only word she could verbalise as the burning of her throat was becoming more intense as well as the the tears pooling in her eyes.

exiting the questionable chat, she soon clicked on JJ's contact and began typing a short text.

CONTACT: BLONDIE <3

RENEE ❤️‍🔥
where are you guys & wtf is up with these messages?

it only took a few seconds for JJ to type a response, almost like he was waiting for her.

BLONDIE <3
no clue, we're in the courtyard .

RENEE
give me 5 & I'll be there

She placed the phone in the back of her blazer pocket, picking up her pace as she walked by the windows. Students staring as she got into her car and began to drive off.

The floor of her foot pushing down on the accelerator so much that the ten minute journey only took five, as she promised.

Not paying any attention to the Kildare high students who watched the girl in her uniform begin to walk through the hallways. She had only been here a couple times, once for the high school prom where John B took her as his (platonic) date.

A cold relief running through her veins as her three friends were sat around in the courtyard. Which she eventually found.

opening the door, JJ was the first to walk over, fingers naturally grazing the flushed skin of her cheek. As he pressed his lips to her other cheek.

" hey? You ok?" he asked, although it was stupid question he felt obliged to ask.

" do you think it's real?" she asked, JJ swallowed and his head didn't move — indicating that he wasn't sure.

" is it even possible?" Kiara looked around, Renee and JJ edging towards the bench that she was sat on top of.

" I mean, shoupe said that they didn't make it. He said that!" Her voice harsher, too conflicted with confusion " he wouldn't say unless he was sure."

Pope shook his head " there have been no bodies." he told them, Renee looking at him.

Pope exhaled " it's been what? two-three months now?" he asked them " there has no been no washed up bodies here or anywhere that fits John B and Sarah's descriptions."

" maybe it's just a cruel joke, isn't that a possibility?" Renee looked around,

" kooks hate us, they think John B is a murderer. This is the type of shit they would do."Pope nodded clearly agreeing with the blonde girl.

" yes, cause we can't rule out the possibility that this could all be some kind of weird, cruel hoax."

Kiara pulled out her phone again, disassociating from her friends, " I'm just gonna ask." she told them.

JJ pulled away from Renee to hover by the wall, clearly agitated by all of this. If it had hit anyone the hardest out the four of them, it was JJ. Watching JJ grieve over John B was far more heart wrenching than anyone else. Because they all had other people to rely on, parents, siblings. JJ had neither.

" what if it's actually him though?" JJ asked, too pulling out his phone as well as Renee and Pope.

" I'm not sure, is it even safe for them to come home?" Renee looked at Pope who shrugged his shoulders.

" I don't know okay, I don't know."

Renee looked at the message Kiara sent asking if it was actually them.

" has he responded?" pope asked to which Renee shook her head, looking at the three little bubbles forming inside a text.

" he's typing."

She looked as the message was sent, once again dinging her phone.

CONTACT : UNKNOWN

UNKNOWN
is JJ there?

Renee looked to JJ who took no time in typing a reply back.

BLONDIE <3
I'm here Bree

once again the little bubbles formed, only for a few seconds until the message was sent.

UNKNOWN
did you pimp by short board?

" it's him."  JJ looked up, smiling widely through the tears of happiness that were now dripping from his cheeks. Renee let out a small sound of shock, disbelief.

" they're alive?" she sniffled, tears threatening to fall from her eyes but these ones were happy for once. Putting her phone back into her pocket as she walked over to Kiara and hugged her tightly, neither of them didn't say anything but just relished in each other's comfort.

" holy shit they're alive," Renee let the revelation sink into her stomach as her and JJ switched places, her pace picking up as she jogged towards Pope.

The two best friends hugged each other tightly, pope swinging them both back and forth as they both laughed through their pooling of tears in their eyes.

Soon breaking away, Renee hovered towards JJ who had a bright smile on his face that expelled any past pain of John B and Sarah's death beforehand, cheering whilst pumping his balled fists to the air.

The phone buzzed again, Kiara took it upon herself to read it out.

" laying super low in Nassau." Renee's eyebrows furrowed but the pure serotonin cancelled out her confusion.

" how the hell did they get to the Bahamas?" she chuckled, looking at JJ who had sat himself down on the side, his gaping smile not faltering for a second.

" you can't kill a pogue dude," he stated, pope nodded in agreement,

" especially John B."

The phone buzzed again, Renee looked at her phone and smiled at the message.

UNKNOWN
can you clear my name? wanna come home

" hell yeah, we're clearing your name boy." JJ sniffled as Renee smiled and read out the next text that buzzed through,

" be in touch." she looked up to her friends who were now all looking at her " p4l." Renee finished and tucked the phone back into her pocket.

" P4L, man thats what I'm talking about!" standing up and moving to stand on the seat of the bench Kiara was still sat on.

"P4L Baby!"

All four of them stood up, soon creating a group hug and chuckled through their sniffling as Renee looked up to her friends and smiled.

" operation bring JB and Sarah home is now a go!"

AUTHORS NOTE.

happy weekend! don't forget to vote and comment if you enjoyed <3