CRUEL SUMMER
010 | Tiffany box

THE HOT WATER THAT HIT HER SKIN

━━ made a small panic dance in her mind whenever she closed her eyes, even after a few hours and being in the safety of her home, hiding under the square shower head she couldn't get the sewer out of her mind.

Renee didn't speak whilst they were dismissed by shoupe (once again) despite having the murder weapon in their hands. She stood at the back arms crossed — her friends annoyance with the police officer blurry sound until she was eventually brought back into reality by JJ tugging at her arm when she didn't follow behind them out of the office.

He was worried about her, I mean what boyfriend who had watched their girlfriend duel death wouldn't be?

Hence why he sat on the closed toilet lid, watching as his girlfriend showered. He didn't sexualise it, he was looking out for her. It took minimal effort for a panic attack to hit her, if a car backfiring could, maybe a stray sounding thud of the water could take her back to this afternoon. A place she would never want to revisit.

The water; a place of one comfort that she could float in for hours was not taunted by the fear of experiencing the same dilemma as today. The feelings of helplessness, you couldn't even scream — the water made you truly and utterly alone.

She could still feel the grasp on the metal lid of drain as she held onto it. Sobbing, pleading with her friends as JJ desperately tried to get her out, her last draw of breath was telling him she loved him and the promise that she would get out of there.

" Ren?" JJ's voice caught her out, the memory on repeat in her head as she bowed her head and sobbed into her bare arms.

She was too deep in the recollection to realise she was safe, that she was home. Instead she sobbed, her breaths staggered and heavy — the fictional weight on her shoulders growing more strenuous as the seconds passed.

JJ stepped into the shower, despite still wearing his shorts he didn't give the damp clothing a second thought as he turned his girlfriend around, the sound of his cries aching his heart as she just held onto him. Her tears mixing with the water from the shower head that hadn't been turned off yet.

" I'm here." he spoke in a whisper, Renee only clenching onto him tighter as his voice began breaking the barriers of her mind " you're ok, you're home and you're safe." he relayed to her what she already knew.

What she trying so hard to remind herself to believe. " come on." JJ hummed, using one hand to reach for the shampoo bottle " let's get you out of this shower."

Renee felt his fingers tassel in her hair, gently running the product through the lengths of her hair — his touch comforting as he began to wash her hair.

She stands still, staring at the floor. Eyes closed as she reminded herself that she as safe for what felt like the millionth time that hour. Her hands pressed against the torso of the man who grounds her in reality.

a gentle kiss pressed into the top of her head, the taste of the shampoo she was yet to wash out remaining on his lips.

Renee felt broken, but with JJ she felt like the pieces were being glued back together again.

" I WONT BE LONG."

━━ Renee said to JJ as he sat on the bed watching as she pulled her hoodie over her head. he looked hesitant to let her go — having taken the responsibility of looking after his girlfriend upon himself after a non successful visit to the police station again.

She had been quiet, and not a slightly distressed quiet just mute — even whilst the pogues fought back and forth with the sheriff Renee who was still covered in sewage and reeling from having almost drowned stood in the background. A slight numbness overtaking her.

" I can come with." JJ offered once again, Renee shook her head " I'm fine J, I just think I need to go for a walk."

JJ hummed, looking at her " if you're sure." he says as the girl smiles softly at him and nods her head. Walking to the edge of the bed where JJ sat, a hand running through his slightly damp hair as she moves down to kiss him.

" I'll call you if anything happens." she said, and he nodded — knowing that until she would come back he'd be staring at the screen of his phone.

, her hands gently cupping his cheeks and tilting his head upwards to look at her " I'll see you in a minute." she spoke before hovering down to kiss him again gently.

" miss you already." he spoke against her lips, making Renee smile " cringe." she grinned before pulling away and towards the door, and soon she was out of sight.

THE FRESH AIR WAS NEEDED.

It was calming when Renee inhaled and exhaled the salty scented air that lingered from the ocean that surrounded the island. The pen state T-shirt she had stolen from her brother sat large on her upper body whilst the white shorts underneath were barely even visible.

She hadn't walked up here in a long time. She avoided this part of the island as much as possible. For obvious reasons now.

The last she walked up this lane being when her and Fletcher had broken up, the faint memory of that afternoon still lingered as she approached the closed gate towards the house.

She stood there for a second, looking over the house which was behind it. She spent a lot of her youth between here and Tanny Hill. Christmas Parties, New Year's Eve parties, dinners.

" if my eyes don't deceive me, Renee Lowe at my front door." The voice spooked her, as she turned around. Fletcher's eyes gleaming slightly at the fact she was here. Fletcher had the same casual attire on, a simple sweatshirt and a pair of gym shorts, his hair pushed back. He looked good, and Renee could see that.

Renee exhaled as she folded her arms " Jesus, you scared me." she said as she lowly apologised.

" you wanna come in?" he asked, Renee looking down the expanse of low lit road she was going to walk down.

She shrugged " sure, why not?"

He tried not to smile too much at that, the fact she was coming to his house. As he walked closer — punching the four digit code to the gate as it opened.

Renee followed him in, taking in the surroundings that had only merely changed in the years that he had been gone.

Fletcher moved to lean against the bannister to watch the girl who was looking up at him from ground level, still hovering.

" what can I help you with Miss Lowe?" he hummed, the smile on Renee's face not faltering as she closed some distance between them, too leaning one of her shoulders on the bannister.

" just a little thank you for your help today." she told him, as Fletcher chuckled.

" you don't have to thank me for being a decent human being Ren," he hummed as Renee shook her head and looked at the sky.

A breath exhaling from her lips, turning her head to look at the stars. Thinking of Sarah, although her emotions were less sorrowful now that she knew the reality of the situation. But it was nicer here, her house had too many trees that the stars were hidden. But here, stood on Fletcher's porch, it was nice.

" you thinking about her?" the soft tones of the boy beside her spoke, Renee turned her head and nodded. He was as talking about Sarah.

" all the time." she smiled sadly, noticing the slight sympathy that sat on Fletchers face. " and your dad?" he asked again, Renee once again nodding but with a shaky breath exiting her lips.

" I don't think I've ever stopped thinking about him since that night." She breathed out, noticing fletchers continued gaze on her " sometimes it doesn't even feel like he's gone, just that he's not here on this island but not completely gone."

There was a minute or two of silence, Fletcher moved back to a small potted plant — Renee's eyes following him as he pulled out a small bottle of vodka from behind the pot.

He smiled gently before his hand sat on her back — where turned to look at him noticing the bottle of vodka in his hand as he gently smiled at her

" then I say we toast to them." he suggested.

Renee let her lips curve into a smile as she nodded, watching as Fletcher used his teeth to unscrew the bottle as he let it drop to the floor. Renee growing more fond of his company by the second as he passed the open bottle to her.

" if you would do the honours." he said as she took ahold of the bottle and smiled.

Her bare fingers clasped around the stem of the bottle as she lifted it up slightly " to Sarah, to John B and to my dad." Fletcher watched as the blonde brought the bottle to her lips, taking a glug or two of the liquor before passing it back to the brunette with a sense of disgust on her face.

The boy tried to withhold his laughter as he took the bottle back from her; as he too repeated the girls actions before taking a sip of his own but with less repulsion than Renee.

The blonde girl wiped the back of her hand over her mouth as she looked up to Fletcher who was smiling at her. " that stuff is horrible." she claimed, her eyes scrunching closed as she opened her mouth and poked out her tongue; trying to rid the taste off of her tongue.

Fletcher swallowed and handed the bottle out to her again " so no more for you then?" He was almost challenging her.

Hence why Renee snatched the stem of the bottle from him with a wide smile " I never said that did I?"

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS

━━ Renee felt like a normal teenager, her body huddled as she sat on the porch swing of the Matthews residence. Half a bottle of vodka later and a half smoked blunt Fletcher had found whilst grabbing her a bottle of coke to chase their chosen beverage down with. Renee felt at ease, with someone who didn't know enough about the summer to judge her.

Laugher was almost foreign to her now, joy was. Everything that she used to be had seemingly ceased until tonight.

Her head tilted back, in the midst of another cloud of laughter from something so minuscule that either her or Fletcher had done to create such amusement. Something that even as Renee laughed, she couldn't remember what it was.

A teenager that's what she felt like after so many months of premature adulthood, so many times she had to put logic over her feelings which at the age of sixteen was foreign.

But now, as Fletchers legs pushed against the floor of the porch to swing them gently — she felt alright for once. All her cares so far she couldn't even feel the weight on her shoulders.

" oh," Fletcher lifted his finger, making Renee stop her small fit of laughter as his hand reached into the pocket of his hoodie and pulled out a blue box, a Tiffany box.

" wow, that's magic." the high of the weed hitting Renee as she went to reach for the pocket " I want a tub of mango sorbet." she told him.

Fletcher grabbed her hand " I got it when I went inside." he told her, only making her laugh even more. As she pulled her hand away and rested it on her stomach.

" thought I'd give this to you now." he hummed, handing the prestige palm sized cube in the girls hands. The blue colour iconic and the small silver lettering on top ' Tiffany and Co'  which stood out.

as she furrowed her brows on why she was being given this, Fletcher continued" didn't know if your mom had planned anything and I know how you hate attention so couldn't give it to you at school."

Renee looked up, trying to fight a smile "  what's this for?" she asked, Fletcher furrowing his eyebrows even more so after a few seconds when she realised that she wasn't kidding.

" your birthday?" he quizzed " god, you used to be hyped about anything Renee day related, things really have changed around here."

Her birthday, a day Renee had forgotten was even happening in a mere day before this exact moment. Seventeen wasn't the biggest birthday but Renee had always adored the celebration. A day she had coined 'Renee Day' at the age of seven  probably would have been forgotten without Fletchers reminder.

" shit, yeah it is isn't it." she chuckled, trying to play it off " I guess a lot of things have been on my mind lately." he furrowed his eyebrows at her comment prompting a 'what' from the blonde.

" JJ things?" he hummed, Renee couldn't help but roll her eyes at his comment.

" god, you two really have a fascination for one another." Renee hummed " maybe I should just step out of the way and let you guys tap into those feelings."

Fletchers free hand gently nudged her, causing her to smile " I know I'm meant to mind my business, but—"

" yes you're meant to be." Renee told him " obviously you're not doing so well at that."

Fletcher's smile fell a bit " I care about you Ren." he announced " and I know boys like JJ, I know what kind of people that they are, and they're not good for you."

She shook her head, " you know people like JJ, that doesn't mean you know him Fletch." she told him, " he's kind and sweet and not many people know that but I do- and I love him."

Fletcher scoffed, " you love him? Jesus Christ Ren." he said, not noticing the sour look on his friend's face.

Her head tilted back " yeah, I'm not doing this tonight." she said, beginning to stand up although the amount of drink she had weighed her down before she stumbled into the railing as she exhaled and lifted her head.

" Ren." He said, reaching out to her as she shrugged him off with one movement

" you don't know him Fletch!" she slurred with annoyance, " ok? you don't know him the way that I do."

she told him, her annoyance flickering " you see a pogue who gets in trouble and you just judge him off of it."

" that's all that you kooks want to see of him!" She pushed her finger against his chest.

The brunette scoffed, staring at her " us kooks? Hey news flash Ren- you may dress like a pogue and act like one." he said, his voice rising " but you're a goddamn Kook."

Fletcher scoffed and stood up, walking towards her " and can you blame me when I hear the shit that's been going on here?" his voice boomed, as Renee looked at him.

" he almost shot topper in the head, he sunk his boat and caused chaos at midsummers!" he listed, none of which Renee wanted " so when I come back and hear that you're dating him, sorry if I'm just a little concerned!"

The blonde pushed one of her hands to lift up her shirt, enough to see the scar which after two and a half months had healed into a scar diagonally against her lower stomach. Fletcher watched her with bemusement on what she was doing.

" did your oh so viable sources tell you that the only reason why JJ threatened topper is because he was drowning John B in the ocean?" she asked, not leaving enough time for him to answer before she continued

" did they tell you that Rafe did this to me and beat up Pope all whilst Topper watched, and that's why JJ sunk his boat?"

Fletcher just watched, his mouth open to speak but no words were coming out. Renee exhaled and shook her head,

" so before you judge my boyfriend, maybe you should get your fucking facts in check." she spoke, Fletcher reaching out for her before she pulled away.

There was a silence between the two of them, as Renee ran her hand over her hair and shook her head " it's late, I should go home." she stated,

Fletcher stepped forward " I'll walk-"

" I'm more than capable Fletch." she snapped, turning away, before placing the blue box only giving to her minutes ago on the bannister.

He watched as Renee began to walk away, back down the steps and towards the gate. Fletcher still facing the ache in his chest due to the fact she admitted she loved JJ Maybank.

He planned to change that, because in his mind the only person fit for the job of  loving Renee Lowe was him.

AUTHORS NOTE
Renee = JJ's #1 defender

yeah that's all I have to say.