Chapter 7

Oisín

"Deal," she looked absolutely terrified for some reason. He would never admit it but it hurt slightly that she didn't trust him. Her hands were clutched under the table, her dark red hair falling over her bowed head. Tearing his eyes away from her he tried to shake the feeling of helplessness that came over him. It was like he was being sucked into a black hole with no way out.

BANG

He shot out of the chair whacking his head off the low ceiling. Willow giggled as...

"OISÍN KEVIN MCCAFFERY IF I GET MY HANDS ROUND YOUR NECK, I SWEAR BY GOD..."

Uh-oh. She was taking this worse than he thought she would. This would be his first time in trouble. He couldn't help being a goody-two-shoes. It must be hereditary. The kitchen door slammed open and Buffy the Yorkshire terrier bounded into the room his tartan coat flapping behind him.

Willow dived onto the floor, "aww he's so cute!"

Granny Fíona froze in the doorway staring open-mouthed at the girl on the floor. Her brown eyes widened then softened as Willow cradled Buffy in her arms like a baby.

"Wow granny was that a smile?" Oisín joked hoping that he was off the hook.

"Aye, away with ye," she sighed settling herself into Willow's empty chair, "I'm getting too old for this," She rubbed her calves moaning quietly.

"Ack, granny you're only what 94?" He dodged the handbag that was aimed at his head.

"Enough of your cheek, I'm not finished with you laddie," She wagged a bony finger at him, "Now make me a cup of rosy lee and introduce me to your wee friend."

As Oisín busied with making the tea again, Willow grinned at him making his hands shake. Tea spilled down his trouser leg. Buffy sprang from Willow's arms lapping at his leg. Oisín began laughing uncontrollably as the dog tickled him.

"Stop acting an eejit Oisín and sit down," his granny scolded trying her best not to laugh.

"Go away Buffy!" he shook the dog off his leg and collapsed at the table. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Willow and his gran share a private glance.

"They're hopeless, aren't they dear?" Granny Fíona smiled, "now move over boy and give her a seat. I want to see her properly,"

He slid as far over in the seat as he could without falling off. She sat lightly, her toes barely touching the ground. She seemed so small and fragile but he knew better than that. Somehow he thought she was stronger than him. It didn't make him any less protective of her though.

"And who are you now and why have you got my Oisín all in a fluster?" her suspicious eyes probed Willow's widely innocent ones.

"Gran!" Oisín groaned. This was going to be one long and painful conversation.

"Shush Oisín, I'm trying to listen," she inclined her ear towards both of them looking almost comical. There was a moment of awkward silence where all Oisín could hear was his own breath and Buffy whining from under the table. He squeezed Willow's hand.

"Hello ma'am. I'm Willow Redfern," she said brightly flashing her white teeth, "It's all my fault, not Oisín's. I'm a bad influence," she bowed her head in shame sniffing quietly. God she was good. Granny Fíona sat back watching him as he patted Willow lightly on the back trying to look sombre.

He barely saw his gran tap her watch then raise one finger. They had one hour. One hour of freedom and then he would probably be grounded for life. His heart pounded and every nerve-ending in his body screamed at him not to let her leave. The bad feeling from earlier that he had almost forgotten about drenched him suddenly. It was ice cold. Shivering violently he watched as his gran left the room Buffy trailing behind her.

Willow was frowning at the very same door twisting a piece of her auburn hair around her fingers. Warmth flooded his body destroying any doubts of running for his life, which he had been seriously considering as the door had shut. 'I love you' he thought desperately. Her head snapped in his direction blue eyes fierce with determination and brimming with emotion. Then it faded into...nothing. Her blue eyes clouded over becoming hard and impassive. Simultaneously he was mesmerised and terrified.

"You first," she spoke steadily but he could tell how hard it was for her to keep calm. The chasm between them widened as she continued to stare through him. He was suddenly self-conscious.

"What do you want to know?" he asked shyly not even attempting to hide the quiver in his voice. The icy blue eyes melted slowly, the tears that she refused to shed welling up. Eyes are the windows to the soul. 'That's what she's doing,' he thought dimly, 'She's stealing my soul.'