Seven whole weeks had passed since Gerard’s ladder had taken its maiden voyage into my tree, and we were still going strong. Better than strong. We were titanium.
Sure, our mothers had turned into a pair of tag-teaming ninjas hell-bent on foiling any and all plans of teenage debauchery, but as the saying goes, where there’s a will, there’s a willy, and Gerard and I had found ways of being together.
The best part of it all? Mother nature had visited me on time as per our arranged schedule for the past four years.
Every twenty-eight days for five days, she liked to stop by to let me know my eggs were capable of hatching.
The first time she visited after we were intimate was the most welcome visit of all because it reassured me that Gerard’s pierced ladder hadn’t pierced any holes in our protection. The second time was a glorious reassurance that I could have my cake and eat it, too. Not that I didn’t want to have babies with Gerard. I did. I just wanted those babies to arrive many years into the future.
Today was Wednesday, and the last day of our dress fittings before the winter ball on Friday night.
While today was technically a school day, the light dusting of snow outside meant that our school had sent out a message to parents to let them know that due to adverse road conditions, attendance was optional.
Of course, the moment we heard the good news, Gerard and I had opted to spend our snow day at the manor, building snowmen and throwing snowballs around with our besties.
I loved when it snowed, even more when it snowed in December. It filled me with all the warm, festive fuzzies, and knowing that Christmas break was almost upon us, and I was about to spend it as Gerard’s girlfriend, well, that just sent my good mood soaring to new heights.
“He never asks for anything when we’re being intimate,” I told my bestie, as we tried on our dresses for the final time. “Is that normal?”
“I don’t know,” Shannon replied, turning around to catch a glance of the back of her dress in the full-length mirror. We were in Edel Kavanagh’s coveted office/dressing room, surrounded by designer labels, and waiting for her to return with a measuring tape. “I’m not the best person to ask. Lizzie would probably have way better advice than me, Claire.”
“Lizzie would rather scalp herself bald and offer her hair as a sacrifice to the devil before she helped me with my relationship.”
Since Gerard and I had gone public with our relationship, my friendship with Lizzie had cooled to the stage where it felt like there was an iceberg between us. She barely spoke to me at school anymore, she no longer sat with me in class, we rarely hung out, and if Shannon wasn’t there, she didn’t even acknowledge my presence.
I would be a liar if I said it didn’t hurt, but I would be an even bigger one if I said Gerard wasn’t worth it. Because he was. He so epically was.
“When you’re with Johnny, does he have anything in particular that he enjoys you doing to him?”
“Claire!”
“What?” I huffed. “You’re my best friend, and best friends are supposed to dole out wisdom to each other.”
“What if Edel hears?”
“But she won’t, because she’s still not back with her tape, so spill your beans, Lynch.”
“Well.” Shannon seemed to think about it for a long time before saying, “He’s big into neck kisses.”
“Neck kisses?”
“I think Claire was hoping for something that pertained to his package, Shan,” Aoife laughed, appearing from behind the curtain of the changing area in her dress. “Woo, I am rocking this milf look,” she said, gazing at herself approvingly in the mirror, while adjusting her giant boobs. “I know ladies are supposed to be modest and all that jazz, but honestly, girls, if I was a cake, I’d eat myself.” Cackling to herself, she added, “And, let’s be honest, I am no lady.”
“Ask Aoife,” Shannon blurted, pointing at her sister-in-law. “But just don’t do it while I’m in the room, okay? Because I really don’t need to know the ins and outs of my brother’s sex life.”
“Your brother puts the sex in life, period,” Aoife tossed over her shoulder. “My man is gifted, girls. He puts the D in BD energy.”
I stared blankly. “BD?”
“Big dick,” Aoife explained, and then, waggling her brows, she used her hands to illustrate in detail what I presumed was the length of her boyfriend’s willy, which sort of resembled that of a giant cucumber and mildly terrified me.
“Oh my God.” My eyes widened in horror. “He could touch your appendix with that thing.”
“I know!” Aoife nodded gleefully, looking like the cat that caught the cream. “I’m a lucky girl.”
“And now I’m going to go cry,” Shannon groaned, hurrying off with her hands over her ears.
“Come to momma, pretty girl,” Aoife coaxed, gesturing for me to come closer. “Let me tell you how to seduce a man.”
Armed with a world of general knowledge of the male appendage, courtesy of Aoife Molloy, and the dress of my dreams courtesy of Edel Kavanagh, I practically glided on air through the doors of Tommen the following morning.
It was still snowing outside, but it wasn’t nearly heavy enough to garner another optional snow day. Not that I minded either way. I was happy at school or at home. Besides, we only had today and tomorrow left and then we were free for two whole weeks.
“Morning, family,” I called out in a lyrical voice when I pirouetted into the sixth-year common room, stopping underneath a rogue piece of hanging mistletoe to smack a loud kiss to Patrick’s cheek.
“Morning,” everyone chorused back at me.
He laughed, wiping my lip-gloss from his cheek. “What was that for, Baby Biggs?”
“Check where you’re standing, pretty boy.”
As soon as Patrick looked up and noticed the mistletoe, he took three safe steps to the left – and out of danger. “Thanks for the heads-up.” Pulling on the sleeve of his jumper, he shifted around in discomfort. “Those two girls from your year have been following me around all week with the stuff.”
“Helen and Shelley?” I laughed. “Aw, see, Pa, I tried to warn you about the trail of girls following after you.”
“Hm,” was all he said in response.
“How’s my second favorite mam and dad?” I cooed when I reached Joey and Aoife who were eating toast in the kitchen area. “I would say my first, but clearly that title goes to my own mam and dad.”
“Clearly,” Joey drawled, looking like he didn’t quite know what to make of my Christmas cheer. “You know, you’d make a killing as one of Santa’s elves,” he surprised me by saying. “Or kids’ birthday parties.”
“She really would, right?” Aoife laughed. “Slap a princess costume on her, give her some face paints for the kids, and she could easily make two hundred euro an appearance.”
“I could?” Excitement bubbled up inside of me at the thought and I bounced from foot to foot. “Really?”
“Oh, yeah.” Nodding, Joey turned his attention back to his girlfriend. “She would make a killing.”
“Oh my God.” My eyes widened. “I’m going to be rich!”
“You’re already rich,” they said in unison before Aoife turned her attention to the quiet redhead sitting alone on the couch. “Hey, pretty girl! Did you get your dress sorted for the ball tomorrow night?”
Katie’s face flamed with heat from the compliment. “Uh, yeah, eventually.”
“Yeah?” Interest piqued, Aoife strolled over to the couches and sank down beside Katie. “Is it the green one you showed me in the picture?”
The door flew open then and Gerard stalked in, grumbling about showoffs and passports, followed by a delighted-looking Shannon, who had a pair of mouse ears perched on her head. “I’m going to France!” she practically screamed, and then she barreled towards me, waving around a pair of tickets. “For three nights, Claire!”
“Omigod,” I screamed, joining her on the bouncing, as I studied the tickets in her hands. “Whoa, you’re not just going to France, Shan,” I squealed with excitement. “You’re going to Paris!”
“That’s still France,” Lizzie said in a lifeless tone, shoving past me on her way to the kitchen area. “Read a fucking map sometime.”
Choosing to ignore her, I smiled brighter for Shannon’s sake, and focused my attention on the mouse ears perched on her head. “That must mean you’re going to the happiest place on earth?”
Beaming with delight, Shannon nodded eagerly. “I’ve never been on an airplane before.”
“Don’t get the hump, Gibs,” Johnny said when he strode into the room a moment later. “It’s my girlfriend’s Christmas present, lad. I couldn’t exactly bring you along, could I?”
“Ah, I don’t fucking see why not?” Gerard huffed, moving to my side. “Heads up, Claire-Bear, these two inconsiderate bastards are jetting off to Oui, Paris without us.” Huffing out a breath, he swiped Shannon’s mouse ears and perched them on top of his head before turning back to me. “See this? Take a good look, baby, because unfortunately, this is the closest you’re going to get to Mickey this Christmas, because unlike mister limitless cashflow over there—” he paused to jab a thumb in Johnny’s direction before continuing “—your stud muffin can only afford to take you to see Santa.”
“Aww!” Swooning, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “You’re taking me to see Santa?”
“Ho, ho, ho, Claire-Bear.” Waggling his brows, Gerard hooked an arm around my waist and pulled me closer. “And if you’re really good, then maybe we can … ”
“Oh my God!” Releasing a furious scream, Lizzie threw the glass she was holding, causing it to smash to pieces the moment it connected with the wall. “Can you both shut the fuck up!”
You could have heard a pin drop.
The entire room went deathly quiet.
“Gibs,” Johnny said, offering Gerard a subtle nod when he opened his mouth to speak. “Not worth it, lad.”
“I know that,” Gerard ground out. “She’s the one who won’t make peace.”
“Peace?” Lizzie choked out, voice thick with emotion. “You honestly expect me to make peace with the brother of my sister’s rapist?” She sneered. “The same brother with blood on his hands?” Narrowing her eyes, she spat, “You supported him. You backed him up when I was supposed to be your friend. I would rather slit my wrists than ever make peace with you!”
“I didn’t back him up,” Gerard roared, losing his cool. “Believe me when I tell you there is no one on this planet who despises that bastard more than me.”
“Keep telling yourself that, Thor. See if it’ll help with your guilty conscience.”
“I’m not listening to this.”
“Because you’re guilty.”
“And you’re wrong!”
“I’m right and you know it.”
“Fuck you, Liz.”
“Fuck you right back. I don’t care if there wasn’t enough evidence for the DPP to make a case against him. I know the truth. I read it with my own eyes. So, don’t you dare stand here and lie to my face. Unlike you, I have the ability to read a fucking letter, asshole.”
Whoa.
“Hey!” Johnny snapped. “Don’t fucking go there.”
“Oh, that’s right, Captain Fantastic,” she choked out. “Protect your lapdog.”
“Johnny, wait. Please don’t. She’s hurting so bad right now,” Shannon said, trying to plead her case, but Johnny shook his head.
“Shan, I love you, baby, but I’m not the audience for her narrative.”
And that was that.
Our leader had taken sides.
The line was drawn in the sand and after months of trying to keep the peace and appease his girlfriend, Johnny Kavanagh had taken his rightful place beside his teammate.
“You need to stop talking,” Johnny warned, taking a defensive stance in front of Gerard. “And back off.”
“You started this, not him,” I threw out there before Lizzie could change the narrative. “You shouted, you threw the cup, and you brought it up.”
“Why are you always siding with him?” she screamed. “I’m supposed to be one of your best friends.”
“And I’m supposed to be one of yours,” I shouted back at her. “But you’ve spent the past two months dictating how I should live, and then talking down to me like a child for making decisions that don’t fit your perfect narrative.”
“You know what happened.”
“I know it didn’t have anything to do with Gerard.”
“My sister is dead!”
“So is Gerard’s sister!”
“Yeah, but see here’s the difference, Claire. I didn’t drown his sister, but his brother sure as hell drowned mine!”
“Guys, can we not?” Shannon tried to interject but it was too late to be brought down. The pot had come to the boil and confessions were spilling over the rim.
“No,” Lizzie cried hoarsely. “Because I’m never going to be okay with you going out with him.”
“And I’m never going to start asking for your permission!”
Looking like a wild, cornered animal, Lizzie shook her head and bolted for the door. “You can all go to hell.”
“What the … ” Hugh muttered, looking around then down at the crying girl pressed against him. “What happened?”
“Ask the rapist-protector!”
“Gibs?” Hugh asked, turning around. “What happened?”
“You know what, Liz?” Gerard replied calmly. “One of these days, you’re going to have to make peace with the fact that the only person responsible for your sister’s death is your sister.”
The minute he said it, Lizzie snapped. She lunged for him, and that’s when it all went to hell.
Moving like lightning, Hugh intercepted her before she could reach Gerard.
“Let me the fuck go,” she screamed, banging and hitting at his chest with the fury of a thousand demons. “I don’t need you to save me!”
Hugh didn’t let go.
Ignoring her slaps, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, using his free hand to cradle her face to his chest.
Eventually, she grew limp against him, hands reaching up to clutch the fabric of his school shirt, as he talked heatedly to the boys.
“Get her out of here, Hugh,” Johnny warned, as he kept a protective stance in front of his friend, looking less in control of his emotions than I’d ever seen before. “Go now, lad.”
Meanwhile, Katie stood quietly looking on, with an unreadable expression on her face.
Keeping her tucked up against his chest, Hugh continued to speak to his friends, while he doled out instructions and caught a set of flying car keys midair.
He flicked his gaze to his girlfriend, who simply nodded before turning away from the drama and packing her lunchbox into her schoolbag.
Shielding her face from the view of dozens of our peers when he opened the door to the main hallway, Hugh walked Lizzie in one direction, while Johnny steered Gerard in the other. Keeping a supportive hand on his shoulder, he walked his best friend away from the carnage.
“She needs a doctor,” Pierce, who was standing in the hall, came into the fray and declared. “That girl is seriously unwell.”
“Don’t fucking say it like that,” Patrick snapped back. “Jesus!”
“Hurt people hurt people,” Shannon offered. “I’m not excusing it, but please don’t vilify her for not using healthy ways to cope with her trauma.”
“Shannon, we all have trauma,” Katie replied. “Not everyone projects it on other people.”
“I think it’s because there were so many unsaid conversations,” Patrick offered, shifting in his seat. “One day she was here and the next she—”
“Wasn’t.”
“Exactly.”
“Nothing was cleared up,” he added.
“Exactly,” Shannon agreed, nodding eagerly. “So, for Lizzie, she’s still living that day on repeat.”
“Kind of like the film Groundhog Day.”
“Yes,” she beamed at Patrick. “Just like Groundhog Day.” She turned to the rest of us. “The years are passing by for the rest of us, but she’s stuck in that moment.” Shrugging, she added, “Time can’t heal when it doesn’t pass by.”
