Beautiful Stranger
The next morning, Erin and her sister Bernadette where making breakfast.
"So, who was the beautiful stranger who brought you home last night?" Bernadette asked. Erin smiled as she served one of her younger siblings a pancake.
"He's no stranger," she whispered to Bernadette.
"No stranger? I've never seen you with him," she said. "He's a stranger to the rest of us, including Da. If Da finds out about him…." Bernadette started, but was stopped by the look Erin gave her.
"Bernadette Ann, if you know what's good for you, you won't be saying anything about him to Da or Mum," she said in a fierce whisper. Bernadette nodded her head, for she knew what would happen if her parents found out about Erin and this mysterious boy.
"His name is Jack Kelly and he has a decent job at the docks," she whispered. Bernadette stared at her.
"It sounds like the perfect boy. Da and Mum would have no objections there," Bernadette whispered. Erin rolled her eyes at her sister.
"It's not like we're getting married. He's just a boy who walked me home from work last night," she said. Bernadette hit her arm gently.
"When you told me about him, it sounded like you were," she giggled. Erin rolled her eyes once again. Erin looked up at the clock that hung on their kitchen wall.
"Jesus Bernadette, it's almost a quarter to ten! We've got to get going!" she yelled. Erin, herself, and their younger sister Fiona got up, gathered their things, and flew out of the door to their destinations.
Jack barely knew where he was going. He had just rolled out of bed, gotten dressed, and started on his way to work. No matter how far he had to travel to the docks, he would never leave Manhattan. But he did know one thing he was thinking about: Erin.
As his head was in the clouds, he felt someone punch his arm. He turned to see Race.
"Hey Jacky, didja get lucky last night?" he asked. Jack just smiled.
"Naw, not in dat way," he said. "I did walk her home, though."
Race looked shocked.
"Da infamous Jack Kelly didn't get any last night! He just settled for walkin' a goil home?" he asked. Jack laughed. "Jacky, are ya okay? Da yous got a fever?" Race continued.
"She's just, I don't know. I guess she means more ta me dan the goils I just sleep wit," he said. Race made a wooing noise.
"Jacky boy is fallin' haaaaaaarrrrrdddddd", Race said in annoying voice. Jack punched his arm.
"Hey, Jacky, between us two, I would've tried ta woo her too before sleepin' wit her," he whispered. Jack stared at him and laughed.
"Whatever, Race," he said as he opened the door to the office.
Erin sat down, exhausted. Being a bartender by night and a waitress by day was wearing her down and she wasn't even twenty yet. Thank God Mrs. Rafferty always gave her Thursdays off.
"Yo Erin, looks like we got a couple guys comin' in," Tony, the cook said. Erin looked out and sure enough, there was a group of guys coming in. They looked like they were dock workers, maybe a steel mill. She sighed. Another round of cat calls and dirty jokes.
As soon as they walked in, Erin knew that they were different. She saw Jack Kelly among the crowd.
"Hello. How many are there," she asked. Jack pushed his way through the group to her.
"Erin! I didn't know that yous were a waitress too," he said. She smiled.
"Hey Jack," she said back.
As she led them to her table, he walked up to her.
"Waitress by day, bartender by night. You never cease to surprise me," he whispered in her ear, sending shivers down her spine. She barely knew the boy and he was having this effect on her.
"I never knew you came to this restaurant," she whispered back as the group piled into the booth.
"My buddy suggested it. I have a feeling it wasn't about the food though," he mumbled to her as he sat down. She stared at him and felt a slow blush creeping up her face.
"I'll be back in a minute with your drinks," she said to the group as she glared at Jack. He looked right back at her, somehow sensing her anger.
As she filled the water, she found herself rethinking about Jack. Was he really worth it? If he made those kinds of comments, he surely could make more.
"Here you go," she said, handing each of them water. She glared at Jack when she handed him his water. He glared right back at her.
"What can I get all of you," she asked, while taking out her writing pad. She took each of their orders. The whole time, Jack stared at her more. As she walked back, Jack stared at her back.
"Hey Jack, da you know da broad?" someone asked. Jack turned to the group.
"You could say dat," he said back. Someone nudge Jack's elbow and nodded over to Erin, who was glancing over at Jack from her should while taking another customer's order.
"Jack, You're gonna marry that girl someday," he said. Jack laughed and smiled a crooked smile.
"How'd ya figure dat one out?" he asked
"Any woman who ever looks at you like dat, you know dat she's worth keepin'," he said back. Jack looked over at Erin, who was smiling at another customer. She looked up from the customers at Jack and held his glance. He held hers.
"Aw, maybe," was all he said back.
A/N: Alright, "Beautiful Stranger" is by Madonna. And I got a comment from someone asking about the last chapter's song. Truth is I just got it off a website, so I don't know if it's Floggin' Molly or Dropkick Murphy's. But I do know for a fact that Beautiful Stranger is Madonna's. And speaking of reviews, you know I love them. And in the week this has been up, I got one. One! I love you all very much. Can I please get some more? It would make my day.
Just remember how much love I hold for you all.