Love You Like a Sister:
Thought that Johnny's perspective near the end is ironic, given Kate's sexuality in the modern day.
Playing Around:Michelle PoV
It had been weeks since the party and everything had hopefully blown over. Dean had been very mature about the situation and surprisingly hadn't gone and blabbed to his mates, which I thought was what most guys did.
Carla was back to her usual grumpy self, having had a blip of compassion and was particularly put out because I hadn't agreed to come to the pub with her tonight. Instead, I was being dragged to my cousin Kate's party by mum, whilst my brothers got to slump on the sofa. I would have objected if I hadn't been asked to sing and if it meant I'd spend the night lost in song then I was there.
Aidan had invited Carla to his sisters party, against my mum's will, but she had already confirmed she wouldn't be coming. Instead, she was spending the night with Paul, probably kicking flowers or drinking themselves into oblivion, either way it was not going to be the most romantic of nights out and I was actually glad to be rid of them both for the evening.
I knock on the door of number three loudly, hearing music from inside. Kate answers it immediately and grins up at me. She was a pretty girl, with dark hair like the rest of us, in fact people said she looked a lot like me. She was probably the best behaved of us all but I suppose that was perhaps because she was the youngest. She was very protected by her dad, my uncle Johnny as was Aidan, hence why he wasn't one of the toughest kids from the estate. Considering they lived on here, they earned a decent wage and so were living better off than our family and definitely Carla's, so it made a nice change to step into their flat in comparison to my best friends.
"Hi Chelle!" She exclaims, clearly excited about the night ahead. It was going to be a very neutral party, with just a few of her school friends and then family.
"Hiya." I pat her on the head softly as a greeting and then she steps aside to let me through. Johnny was sat in his arm chair with a pipe as usual, whilst Aidan sat with his feet dangling off the kitchen surface. My mum was already here; busying herself in the kitchen.
"The star has arrived." Johnny mutters, not looking up from his paper. I can't tell whether it's sincere or not because he never seems to convey emotion. I force Aidan a smile, hoping to avoid him most the night if possible. Then again, I was pretty sure I would be alone, so his company may come in useful, as unappealing as it may be.
"Michelle dear, come and help me with the sandwiches." Mum calls me over and reluctantly go to join her. Johnny had really shelled out for Kate's birthday; three different fillings was like tea at the Ritz for us. I was hoping there would be leftovers so I could give some to Carla tomorrow, she was looking thin as ever at the moment and it worried me.
"So Michelle." Johnny finally looks up from his lap. "Aidan tells me you're still hanging around with Carla ey?"
"Yes." I reply bluntly. I had been hoping the subject of Carla wouldn't come up, but it seems it was a name that couldn't be forgotten.
"Unfortunately." Mum chips in, sighing to herself as she layered sandwiches up on a cardboard tray. I was pretty certain it had just been cut from a cardboard box. "There's no stopping that one."
"Hmm, so I hear." He nods out of the corner of my eye. "Aidan also tells me you might be... More than friends?"
I freeze and I feel my mother go rigid too.
"No." I deny, instantly, a lump forming in my throat, but my voice is shaky. I didn't know why because I had nothing to hide, it was the truth. It was obvious Aidan had just picked up on the events after the fight.
"Michelle?" Mum turns to me, shock woven into her expression. "What's he talking about?"
"Aidan, you little snitch!" I suddenly yell at him. "We were just playing around; he's just too gullible to believe it."
"What do you mean 'playing around'?" Mum raises her voice hysterically.
"It's just a stupid game! It's nothing, seriously." I object, my urge to punch Aidan's smug face in was intensifying.
"Not what she was saying." Aidan smirks.
"Why do you feel the need to tell your dad everything?" I spit at him.
"Oh trust me, I don't." He grins. "Just the things he'd find interesting."
"Does George know about this?" Johnny interrogates me in a gruff voice. He was good friends with George and I knew if anything, he was the last person I wanted making assumptions.
"No because it's not true!" I retort, slamming my fist down on the kitchen counter which makes Kate jump.
"Oh come on!" Aidan exclaims, a glint in his eye. "It's written all over her face. Surely you must have noticed Helen? They're always together, never letting go of one another, bunking off school to go kiss in the bushes. You've probably heard the rumours too? Everyone knows it!"
I throw myself at Aidan then, pushing him off where he was casually sat on the counter. His wide smile immediately changed to a look of worry, fear in his eyes. He was all talk, Aidan, weak as a baby. Without thinking I punch him clean across the face, blood spurting instantly from his nose. I hear Kate's screams as she sees what's happened. Johnny gets up instantly and runs to the scene, my mum in pure shock as she watched, terrified to the core at what her darling little angel was doing to her nephew. I pin him down as I feel Johnny's hands on my shoulders. I force my arm across his throat as he gasps for air.
"MICHELLE SINEAD CONNOR!" Mum screeches, holding Kate as she cried into her.
"COME 'ERE." Johnny bellows, pulling me up harshly by my arms and restraining me from lurching back at my cousin. I try to catch my breath, breathing heavily as I stare at Aidan who is reeling on the floor like a worm that has just been stamped on.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!" I scream at him, fighting Johnny off. Once he has let go, I brush my hair out of my face, observing the scene around me. My breathing was still ragged, my eye stung from the black eye Aidan had given me when he attempted to fight me off. My arms were bruised from where my uncle had forced me up and my make up was a complete mess, not that it was the main issue right now...
Everyone stood in shock, with only Kate's sobs and Aidan's painful whimpers filling the silence. What had I done? Mom was staring at me, her mouth partially open. A look of both anger and bewilderment written over her powdered face. I glance down at Aidan, who is keeled over, one hand on his nose, another on his side where I had kicked him harshly before I had been removed from his body. He is gasping for air but still manages to make a final witty comeback; "the lengths you go to in order to protect your girlfriend." He chokes on his words, blood running into his mouth. "I thought she was the brutal one... Did you pick that up in the bedroom? I suppose it's good for her to have someone to love her, since no one else will."
Without thinking I run at him again but Johnny has me gripped by my arms.
"SHUT UP!" I scream, tears pouring down my face. Why was I so angry? I'd heard people say these things about Carla and me before and they never seemed to wind me up. I knew why, it was because he had said the words which would have stung through Carla's tough exterior had she been here and no one, ever dared say anything about her when I was around. "SHUT UP YOU LITTLE SHIT!" I am screaming and screaming and Johnny is dragging me away towards the sofa. I am thrown down onto it, kicking and screaming, everyone looking at me as if I had gone insane. Perhaps I had. Perhaps I was on the brink. I felt it.
I lie face down on the sofa, crying my eyes out, punching it with my fists. I could feel all the eyes on me, burning through my curled up form. I had given Aidan the satisfaction of pushing me too far. Right now I just wanted my best friend, but I knew that was something I would be far from getting right now.
"We need to get Aidan to the hospital." Johnny announces suddenly.
"...Um, yeah." My mum's voice was shaky. I finally sit up, making eye contact with the people who stand around me. The door bell suddenly rings out and it makes us jump. Shit, the party. I had officially ruined Kate's birthday, score Michelle. "Home. Now." She directs at me sternly, releasing Kate from her grip and she runs into her bedroom, slamming the door.
I know I have no choice. I pull myself up from the sofa, everything aching, seeing Aidan's pained but gloating expression shining up at me.
"Get rid of those guests Helen." Johnny orders and she instantly goes to the door to answer it. I hear a few mutters before my uncle turns to stalk over to me, leaning down so he was in my face. His breath was warm against my cheek, breathing the scent of smoke and mint imperials over my skin.
"I will not let you be a... A lesbian." The words hit me hard as he hisses them, his eyes level with mine. "Now, you ever, ever, try anything like that again and I'm telling you now girl, you will wish you'd never been born."
I gulp as he moves away, tearing his eyes away from me to go and see to his son. This had got extremely out of hand. Never had I got this angry and it didn't help that it was around my family. I had lowered my expectations further than possible and I hated myself for it.
Mum hesitates before coming back into the room. She just gives me a disappointed glance before ushering me to get out the house. I obey her, not wanting to get myself into anymore shit. Damn I was in trouble now.