Chapter Three

Frank Reynolds was awoken by his cell phone beeping at him. He grumbled in a slightly incoherent manner from having been drunk the night before. He fumbled for his glasses, swearing because he couldn't see shit three feet in front of his face. He had no clear recollection of having taken them off but didn't really give two shits. He found them, not a hand grab away from him, and shoved the thick black glasses onto his face. His eyes blinking back since the sun was shinning through the parted curtains. He fumbled for his phone, which was in his pants pockets. He had a missed message from Erin, about two hours ago now. Charlie was asleep on her couch and she told him not to worry. Well that answered his question about why he didn't hear Charlie up and moving around nor the kid's snoring or making breakfast. But his stomach grumbled idly and he really needed to take a piss. And he couldn't very well eat before he did so. Not taking any chances of wetting the bed, Frank did the only sane thing he could think of and went over to one of the trash bags and took a wiz inside of it. Squirting the urine into a tuna can that happened to be facing him. He chuckled at making a nice bulls-eye shot. He tied the trash bag up so the urine would stink up the place and decided to drag it out into the hallway until they could get rid of it later. The hallway ranked already, so it didn't matter.

"Now to find out what the gang is up to, I'm starvin'!" He thought to himself and decided to try Dennis first.

He didn't have to wait long after finding the number. Two rings and that was it. Dennis was in hysterics on the other end when he picked up. Yelling and muttering about wanting to bash in both Dee and Charlie's brains because they won't answer his texts and something about wanting to set Mac on fire because he was furious. Frank waited out Dennis's drama queen tantrum before even saying anything.

"Dennis, you sound like a crying woman. Slow, down. What's the problem?" Frank asked patiently, mostly because he was now bored without Charlie. All thought of food dying low, for now. He would eat later, maybe Erin could hook him up with some hot dogs or something. Her and Charlie were good kids, they'd help him out.

"Maureen is in my fucking apartment! Mac just left me alone with her and I can't get a hold of my whore sister or Charlie", Dennis told him.

"Charlie's over at Erin's. Sleeping on her couch", Frank told him as though he was telling him the weather.

"What?! How is everyone getting laid but me?!" came the feminine sounding gasp. Not even registering what exactly the older man had said.

Frank laughed into the phone, "Wow. You must wanna bang Erin more than I thought. I just said, Charlie is sleeping on her couch!", he paused, "Besides, what does that broad want with you anyway?"

"How should I know?! She won't leave me alone", Dennis's voice became a mutter now.

Frank may be getting old but his hearing hadn't lost it's luster. He heard Dennis's mutter trail off, which meant Maureen must have come into the room. The dial tone was in his ear a second later. He sighed and decided to go find Charlie. Well, his ten minutes of fun was over. Now to find something to eat. He decided to get dressed in cleaner clothes since he smelled of booze. Not that wouldn't have stopped him before but he didn't feel like walking around smelling that way right now. Pocketing his phone and placing his wallet in the clean pair of pants, he left the apartment.

Charlie woke up, for the second time that morning, to the sounds of talking. Hushed talking. His eyes blinked slightly as he sat up. His back felt much better than it had laying on the floor. Of course he didn't mind either way, he just felt great though. He sat up, rubbing his left eye and noticed that Erin was sitting in the kitchen area with Liam. She was sitting on the kitchen counter and he was leaning on her legs, chin resting in his hands. They were talking to each other so intently that neither seem to notice him on the couch. Charlie wasn't exactly sure what the attraction was but he never judged such things. He thought they were really cute together and it was kind of adorable how Erin's face seemed to wrinkle up when she laughed. He liked seeing her happy. He didn't know much about girls to the exact description but he knew it was a good thing when she was blushing and smiling and acting giddy. This made Charlie chuckle to himself and he put his hand to his hip and then grabbed his phone. It was a cheap phone, he had tons laying around that he used if he remembered to. This one in particular had the gang's contacts in them. He had several miss messages from Dennis. All of them were in caps. Charlie, however, was not good at reading. At all. But he knew it was bad when Dennis was basically yelling in text.

A second later, Dee came into the apartment, unaware of Erin and Liam, until the blond girl nearly tripped over herself and then looked up. She waved at the two. It was then they even noticed Charlie was there, maybe the first time since Liam had arrived thirty minutes prior. Charlie got up to meet Dee half way. She was waving her phone.

"Charlie, did you get Dennis's texts?" Dee asked.

"Yeah, just now. I don't know what he said but he seems upset", Charlie told her.

Dee sighed and then looked towards the couple in the kitchen. Well, if you could call them a couple. Dee wasn't sure what they were. They never had proclaimed themselves boyfriend and girlfriend. It was like some weird ritual of courtship. One she didn't want to think about, mostly because her gag reflex was easily triggered.

"Thanks by the way, I wanted to sleep in this morning and my brother is text raging at me because Maureen is in his apartment", Dee stated.

"Dee, I didn't tell Maureen to go to Dennis's apartment", Erin exclaimed.

"She realllly likes Dennis huh?" Liam wanted to know. He was amused. Inwardly laughing about this.

"Yeah", Dee said firmly, placing her hand on her hip, "And we all have to listen to his whining because she is stalking him or something".

"Look, it's cool. We'll just go rescue him or whatever", Charlie waved his hands.

It was Mac's arrival two seconds later that jumped everyone. He had a doughnut in his hand, breathing deeply from having ran up to that floor. They all stared at him as he tried to catch his breath. Despite his physique, he wasn't in the best shape. After finding his breath, he glanced around at them, holding his hands up in alarm.

"Guys, we got a situation", He said before his eyes fell on Erin and Liam, "Please tell me they weren't banging on the kitchen counter".

Dee's mouth open and she looked utterly disgusted, "NO! They were not banging on the kitchen counter!" She shook her head before any mental images made her vomit, "Look, we know about Dennis's situation".

"Alright, Dee, you take Mac to go get Dennis. And I'll take Charlie to go open the bar", Erin stated, now glancing at her phone to see what time it was.

"Wait, why does Charlie get to go with you? I don't want to go and help Dennis", Dee whined.

"You could always come with me and Liam back to the bar", the redhead shrugged as she went to grab her car keys.

The silence in the room froze like someone had just announced someone had died. Dee tried to keep her gag reflex in check at the very thought of being left alone with Erin and Liam. She'd seen the two in high school. Not that she cared who her friend dated but it was just disturbing. She long ago stopped wondering how the redhead even stood to be around him and instead in the back of her mind she was actually wondering "Lucky bitch gets to have sex".

"Oh yeah, no. Your right. Charlie should go", the blond decided.

Erin just smiled that things were settled. With Liam close behind, she shouldered her purse and the group stepped out into the hallway. Mac and Dee gave the couple a wide birth. Charlie following just after them and rolling his eyes at the other two. Mac and Dee followed, closing the door behind them.

"Don't let them do any weird shit in the bar", Mac told Charlie.

Charlie sighed and tried very hard not to roll his eyes a second time as he followed the couple up the street towards Erin's car. Mac and Dee heading to Dee's car in the opposite direction. Charlie didn't care much for being a fifth wheel. On their way to the bar, they came across Frank who was sitting on a bus bench eating a doughnut and reading the paper. Erin pulled over so he could to get into the car.

"It's about fucking time. I was just on my way to see where Charlie was", Frank said.

Nobody said much as Erin drove towards the bar. The very little conversation was in the backseat between Frank and Charlie, they were sharing the doughnut that Frank had started eating.

Dennis was relieved when Maureen had left to go rent a movie and now paced back and forth, wondering if any of his friends were going to come and get him out of this jam. He was quickly wondering which ones he could get rid of via the mob's in Philly, excluding Erin and Frank. The other three could be easily replaced, he figured. As he was on the verge of on ways to get rid of three members of the gang, Dee and Mac arrived a few minutes later. Dennis was on them like a deathly murderous hornet.

"Where the hell have you two been? And where is Charlie?!" Dennis wanted to know, "I have left messages and texts and nobody...nobody has gotten back to me?!" His screeching of rage was high pitched now.

"Dude, calm down. Charlie and Erin went to open the bar", Mac told him.

"Where is Maureen anyway?" Dee wanted to know.

"She went to rent a movie. Hopefully she got hit by traffic", Dennis muttered, "Come on. Let's go before she gets back", he grabbed his wallet and put in his pants pocket, along with his phone. He grabbed his car keys on his way out.

Mac and Dee followed him.

"Dennis you can totally blame Dee for this. She was whining about all sorts of shit", Mac replied.

"What?! I did not!" Dee shrilled, glaring at him.

They argued back and forth all the way out to the cars. Dennis's annoyance for both of them was making his head throb. He didn't usually care, they did this on a daily basis and it was always easy to drown out. He could have left them both there but he was afraid they would be too terrified of Maureen to be able to do anything smart or intelligible. Mac ran for Dennis's land rover as an attempt to get away from Dee even though part of Mac didn't really notice Dennis not giving any shits and starting the car with or without him in the passenger seat. Dee was still yelling at him even as Dennis and Mac pulled away from the curb. The blond just swore and angrily went back to her car. Mac however wished he had gone with Dee because he didn't fair any better with being in the same car as Dennis. Dennis complained all the way to Paddy's. Mac sighed, resting his forehead against the window, playing with the window button and nodded now and again.

"Are you even listening?!" Dennis wanted to know.

"Yeah, bro. Totally", Mac answered, it was truly a lie. He had half heard what his best friend was saying. Although, if he were to tell the truth. He perfectly didn't give a damn that much. Dennis's whining was getting to a new low these days.

They and Dee, who had caught up to them after hitting a few traffic lights, pulled up to Paddy's only a good twenty minutes later. Erin's car was always parked, the lights were on and the door was unlocked. Dee and Mac exchanged looks as they followed Dennis inside. Dennis moved quickly into the bar, ready to pop open a beer even though it was still early afternoon. He stopped twenty steps into the bar however. Mac and Dee coming to stand on either side of him as he stood stock still. The other two moved to follow his gaze after a second or so. Mac had looked confused as to why Dennis had stopped and Dee made a scrunched up look, wrinkling her nose. The blond looked at her brother for a second now, noticing Dennis's face was trying to figure out what expression it should make. Dee glanced back to where Dennis's eyes were narrowing towards. In one of the booths, Erin and Liam were making out. There was no beating around the bush of they were doing. Liam was sitting on the booth seat, back against the wall, one leg stable on the ground, the other out in front of him. Erin was sitting in his lap, hands against his chest. His arms were around her. Mac frowned in disgust, muttering something along the lines of "Gross" and wandered over to where Charlie and Frank were watching TV. Dee followed Mac, shaking her head. She knew shit was going to hit the fan. Dennis finally found the ability to move his legs, having stood there horroifide for a good few seconds.

"Hey", He abruptly remarked, going over and hitting the table.

Erin and Liam stopped kissing aggressively and looked up to see him standing there. Neither seemed that upset that he had interrupted them.

"Hey Dennis", Liam said coolly, giving him a rather disinterested look.

"Liam", the bitter remark before turning to glance over his shoulder, "Charlie how could you let him in the bar?!"

"What?! I am supposed to babysit everyone now?! I'm just the guy who kills rats and cleans toilets! I am not in charge of them!" Charlie yelled across the bar, getting stressed out about being put in the middle.

"Frank!" Dennis yelled, hoping for someone to back him up.

"If she wants to bang a McPoyle, I'm not gonna stop her", the older man shrugged, not really caring.

Dee nor Mac came to his aid either. Making this rather awkward after a few minutes but Erin and Liam just went back to kissing as though nobody had said anything. Ignoring the fact Dennis was still standing there by the table. Dennis's face fell flat into disgust and he went numbly to the bar counter to grab himself a drink. He definitely needed one. Beer in hand, he went to the back office and promptly decided to sit in there since he now couldn't very well sit comfortably with his friends. After an hour or so Dee came into the office. Dennis was sitting behind the computer desk they had set up forever ago, feet propped up on the desk as he leaned back in his chair. His beer was almost gone.

"What do you want?" Dennis asked.

Dee stared at him, "Are you really going to let this continue to bug you? Normally I wouldn't give a shit but you should just...I don't know...go ask out some skank or a girl with low self esteem and make her life miserable. Erin and Liam are not going to stop seeing each other and I don't know what that's all about and I don't wanna know", she paused, scrunching her nose again, "All I know it's driving all of us up the wall and I want Erin to keep hanging out with us".

Dennis had his beer half way to his lips as he went to take another swig, "So your saying I should ask her to marry her right?"

"What?!...NO! That's not...no! Your not even listening to what I'm saying!" Dee snapped.

"Yeah...yeah that's exactly what your saying", Dennis waved his hand at her, "She's always wanted to get married and be happy! What? Is Liam going to ask her to marry him?"

Dee's mouth fell open, "How in the hell did you get that out of what I said?!"

"Shut up Dee, I'm thinking", Her brother remarked.

She was confused because one beer wouldn't get him drunk or make him think like he was. Nine beers...maybe twelve but not one! Or was he hoping the taste of alcohol was going to numb his brain, make him forget he saw the make out session in the booth? She wasn't sure if he was being stupid on purpose or if he was just as egotistical as ever. She sighed and decided to leave him alone, hoping he wasn't going to do anything too rash. She wanted to laugh at her brother but at the same time, she wished she could smack him upside the head. As Dee left the office, she stopped to watch Erin and Liam playing pool. Ryan had shown up and the three of them were playing. Erin was laughing at something one of the brothers had said as she racked up the balls. Charlie was still watching TV with Frank and the two could care less about the three at the pool table.

"How's Dennis?" Mac wanted to know as Dee went to stand near him at the bar.

"Not good Mac. Not good", Dee muttered, still looking a bit annoyed about Dennis ignoring her when she was trying to help him.

"He say anything?" He wanted to know.

Dee wasn't sure if she wanted to tell him her brother's crazy statement or not. She shook her head "no" and left it that. Mac just took it that Dennis had yelled at her to leave him alone and didn't push the subject.

Not wanting to stay at Paddy's due to the weird vibe and awkward tone, Dee decided to go see Artemis. The other woman gladly welcomed her into her apartment and Dee took one of the chairs that didn't smell of vomit of night's passed from her friend being drunk and vomiting on the fabric.

"What's on your mind Sweet Dee?" Artemis asked her as she sat down.

"You remember our friend Erin Burke? Red hair? Really attractive?" Dee asked her.

"Runs around with those two weird guys?" Came the next question.

"Yeah", Dee nodded quickly.

"I don't get her taste in men but I like her. So what's wrong?" Artemis wanted to know.

Dee launched into the story about Dennis and Maureen, the whole secret plan about the fake wedding that ultimately got Dennis in bed with Maureen again and would keep Dennis away from Erin. And then obviously a recap of Erin's relationship, for lack of better term, with Liam.

"Wow. Sounds like your brother really likes her", Artemis said after the blond had finished, "But, he's an asshole, so", she shrugged.

"I always thought she was out his league", Dee exclaimed, thinking about it more, "But what do you think?"

"I think", the other female said, taking a sip of her rum and coke that she had made, "You should sit back and watch all of this play out. Could be funny".

Dee thought about it. She wasn't sure if it would be really funny or just really sad, in a pathetic way. She would just have to wait and see.

Erin decided to leave the car at the bar. She didn't have to be at the counter tonight but she would be back eventually to get it. Liam was carrying her piggy back as they and Ryan went up a few streets away just to get away from the group and get some fresh air. The several streets up from the bar were coffee and food places. The various restaurants were sending waves of cooked and baked goods. Making her stomach rumble and the smell of coffee consumed her sense of smell. She was laughing, blushing out of embarrassment. It was a thing they used to do in high school. One of them used to carry her piggy back for fun. They came up to the street with the cafe and she climbed off of him.

"Gotta pee", She muttered, laughing.

The two brothers followed after her, Ryan running quickly in front of Liam to hold the door but Liam ducked under his arm after the redhead. The Waitress rolled her eyes and crossed her arms from behind the counter as they came in.

"You know your not allowed in the bathroom after last time", She said.

"Oh come on! I gotta pee like a race horse", Erin said through her teeth so the customers didn't hear her.

The Waitress wanted to tell her to leave but decided against it. The redhead was on the few decent people in the world.

"Fine. Two minutes but they stay out here", The Waitress remarked.

The redhead nodded and gave a slight run towards the bathroom. She had snuck Liam into the bathroom with her about a month ago. They had gotten caught by one of the other customers who had heard her moaning in one of the stalls. She hadn't meant to moan so loud. Erin did her business quickly before coming back out to the front. The Waitress making a rather disgusted face as though she had smelled something awful under her nose as the three left.

"So what's on tonight's agenda?" Ryan wanted to know though he made a smirking gesture in his brother's direction.

Liam just sent the gesture back, placing his arm around Erin's shoulder. She burst out into laughter as though the three of them had just telepathically shared an inside joke. Their place was closest but Erin and Liam were all over each other before they were even in the door. Ryan could barely get by them, he laughed rather hard as the two fell on top of each other in the open door way. Not caring they were undressing in the open. He found safety on the couch where he knew he wouldn't trip trying to get past them, as they were now using the very closed space to throw shoes and clothing.

"Let me know when I can join in!" Ryan shouted.

But neither seemed to hear him and he burst out laughing again.

A few hours and about six beers later, Dennis found himself laying on the empty pool table. A seventh beer open. Mac, Frank and Charlie were standing around him. Wondering what to do. It would be a few hours before the crowd would be coming around again. Dee and Erin were both gone, so it just left them to run the bar. Naturally, neither of the three really liked working the bar. They felt they were more busing and talking to the customers. And of course drinking while on the job.

"What are we gonna do?" Charlie asked, gesturing to Dennis.

"Dunno bro but we can't leave him to lay here", Mac replied, "At least let's sit him up in one of the booths".

The three looked between each other again, they weren't the strongest people in the world. And moving Dennis would prove dangerous.

"Guys", Dennis spoke up, waving the bottle he was gripping loosely, making them all jump as he been pretty quiet for hours since coming out of the office, "I have this brilliant idea".

"Are you gonna move yourself?" Frank asked, looking relieved.

But Dennis didn't seem to be listening. He went silent again.

"Well, what is it? What's your brilliant idea?" Mac wanted to know.

Dennis turned and grinned, "Charlie, call Erin and tell her she has to work tonight", he paused, "Mac, make sure nobody comes in once she gets here".

"Why?" Mac scrunched his face in confusion; Charlie and Frank exchanged glances.

Dennis just continued to grin.

"What?!" Erin sat up, looking annoyed as she held her cell to her ear.

She and Liam were on the living room rug now, having pushed the coffee table aside. Liam had his head in her lap, her fingers running through his hair, though she had stopped once her phone had rang. Now both him and Ryan were looking at her, wondering what had gotten her pissed off. The phone call was from Charlie. And apparently the guys had let Dennis get wasted, leaving her to have to work the bar counter by herself.

"Come on Charllieeee", She begged.

"Sorry dude, Dennis is intoxicated and you know Mac, Me and Frank are incapable of running the bar. Do you really want Frank to start a gambling ring or something?" Charlie asked.

The redhead sighed, rubbing her temples with her free hand. She couldn't very well leave Charlie with Mac, Frank and a drunk Dennis. And where the hell was Dee?! It looked like her night off was not going to be so relaxing after all.

"Alright, alright. Give me fifteen minutes, I'll be there", Erin decided.

Apologizing to Liam, she dove for her clothes and got dressed. Though that didn't really stop Liam from helping her, which prolonged the fifteen minutes a little. She smiled, kissing him back and promised she'd be back when Dee got to the bar to handle things. Which she figured why Charlie had called. Maybe once Dee got there, she'd be off scott free.

"This better be worth the fucking walk", She thought as she headed back to the bar.

AND THAT...Is chapter 3.

Oh fuck xD the next chapter is going to be hilarious & horrible!

May be a bit before I update again. But I will start chapter 4 when I can!