𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐄𝐋 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 | outerbanks²

𝟢𝟣𝟥，EDGE OF SEVENTEEN

CRUEL SUMMER
013 | Edge of Seventeen

SEVENTEEN. Renee hated feeling of  another change in her life looming over her. Even if she didn't feel different physically and it was practically a simple written change in her life. She despised it — hence why she wasn't as happy for her birthday as she once used to be.

Her mind couldn't falter from this time last year, the simpler time where she was woken up to a poorly decorated boxed vanilla cake made by John B whilst he sung to her crouched by the bed until she had conjured up enough sleepy strength to blow out the few candles that John B had managed to find in the drawers of the kitchen.

How she walked into the kitchen where a homemade banner sat over the beam into the living room, and the few balloons all blown up in different sizes sat on the pullout.

The two were soon accompanied by the other pogues who had all been persuaded (some taking more than others) to skip school and spend the day on HMS pogue in the marsh drinking beers and dancing to the music that came out of Renee's phone.

The night ended with everyone asleep except Renee and John B in the hammock, her head on his shoulder as he promised with the impossible task of making her seventeenth better than her sixteenth.

And where was she now? lying in the back of Heyward's truck, no where near home — using one of the jackets that they had found on the floor  of the truck as a way to keep her warm whilst JJ's head rested on her shoulder and Benji slept down by her feet. Staring at the blank blueness of the sky, just knowing if her phone wasn't out of battery and if this place in the middle of nowhere had service she would have been receiving an abundance of calls and messages from both her mom, brother and maybe even Fletcher.

She was at least a day late than she said she would be. in her head, her mom was already packing up her belongings and would be taking her to boarding school the next time she stepped back into the house. It was a fate she had accepted but was not ready to live through.

JJ turned over, facing away from her. Another snore leaving his lips — Renee smiled, sitting herself up before pushing his hair out of his face.

Another thing she was not ready to leave, not being able to comprehend nor seeing his face everyday. Having to remember what he smelt like or hold he held her of kissed her.

Renee quietly slipped her shoes back on, woke Benji and began to walk down the strip of grass that lined the road they were camped out on for the night. Not straying far from the others as she watched the dog run up and down the grassy area.

A yawn escaped her lips as she crossed her arms, feeling her skin tingle as a pair of hands cupped over her eyes. " guess who?" he asked.

Of course she knew exactly who it was, the scent of their faded cologne had been inhaled by her all night. It was a scent that was home to her, taking over the smell of the ocean when she woke up. Because most mornings she woke up with JJ now.

She leant back, her back gently colliding with his chest " Harry styles, have you finally decided you're in love with me?" she fakes an exclaim.

JJ's hands moved from her eyes, and slipped down to wrap around her waist, pulling her closer and allowing his chin to sit comfortably on her shoulder.

" happy birthday pretty girl." he whispered, pressing a kiss to her cheek as Renee moved her own hands to sit over his, intertwining their fingers.

" I'm surprised you remembered." she grinned, JJ faking a scoff " it's a shame we're stuck here, I had a whole day planned."