Chapter II: A Surprise

Feryal walked out of the movie theatre, surrounded by a seething mass of acne-covered thirteen-year-olds.

God, she thought, what is this? Middle school movie night? I bet half of those kids weren't even old enough to get in there!

She held her half-full cup of Mountain Dew over her head as she tried to maneuver through the crowd. Is it just me, or are teenagers getting shorter? I feel like I'm at a Chuck E. Cheese.

She finally broke free of the crowd and made her way over to the corner table in the food court. She curled her left leg under her body and leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. She played with her straw and watched as the middle school monsters swarmed the McDonald's like a plague of locusts. I just wanted to see the new Orlando Bloom flick and I get bombarded by the Harry Potter crowd!

As she sucked down the rest of her drink, a flash of something green caught her eye. She looked around, trying to locate the source of the attention-grabbing color when she spotted him. He stood outside of the electronics store, leaning against the wall. He was tall; she guessed about six foot one. He was wearing a tight ribbed green sweater, khakis, and brown sandals. His short auburn hair was spiked up.

He looked around, checked his watch, and then walked away. Feryal was one of those people who didn't place too much stock in old wives' tales, and the adage 'curiosity killed the cat' held absolutely no meaning. She had never seen him before in Bayville… plus he was hot. So why not follow him?

She stood up from the table, tossed the empty cup in the trash and proceeded to stalk the sexy redhead up and down the mall. She followed him into Spencer's, American Eagle (God, she hated that store), Hot Topic (that was better), and J. C. Penny. After exiting Penny's, he took a seat on a bench next to the monster bubble gum machine.

Feryal smoothed her hair and strode over to the bench. She sat down on the other side, checked her watch, and crossed her legs. They sat in silence for a few moments before Feryal's curiosity kicked in again.

"Hi," she said, turning to face him. "My name's Feryal. Are you new here?"

He turned his head and smiled. "Aye. Just got into Bayville yesterday. By the way, name's Sheridan O'Reilly."

"Cool. Visiting family or something, or just on vacation?"

"A wee bit a'both."

"Oh… so where are you staying?"

"Actually, lass, I haven't quite secured a dwelling just yet. I'm in some sleazy ole motel on Main Street."

"Well, that sucks." Feryal thought for a moment. "How about you come 'n stay with me and my friends? We've got plenty of room and I don't think they'll mind… much."

"Well, that's right kind of ye. I thank you fer yer hospitality."

"No problem. Wanna go back to your place and get your stuff?"

"That'd be all right… But, ah, I've got a dinner appointment at seven t'night."

"That's fine. It's only six o'clock. You'll have plenty of time. I promise."

"Come on, Remy," Jennie pleaded, "let's go out tonight. We'll go bar-hopping and play pool and do a whole bunch of other stuff."

Remy leaned the recliner back farther. "Not t'night, chère. Gambit don feel like it. He had a rough day."

Jennie glanced at the clock. Six p.m. They were running out of time. "But what better way to unwind after such a hard day than having a nice tall glass of beer and playing a little pool to ease your mind?"

Remy closed his eyes and stretched his arms over his head. "Non…"

Jennie pouted. This was going to be harder than she thought. She walked into the kitchen where Piotr, John, and Aidan were seated around the table. "I give up. He won't budge."

"Mebbe I oughta light a fire unda his arse." John was half sarcastic and half serious.

"I'm thikin' about lettin' ya." Jennie was completely serious. She sat down next to Aidan and her head hit the table with a thud. "Now what?"

"I phoned the Boston Market," Piotr said. "Dinner should be here in ten minutes."

"You're startin' to get lazy in the kitchen, there, Pete," Aidan said.

Piotr's face turned red. "For the two millionth time, my name is not Pete. And I would like to see you explain to everybody's favorite Ragin' Cajun why the Russian is preparing a four course meal on a Tuesday night. I'm sure that would have gone over like a lead balloon."

"No need t'bite the sheila's head off, mate," John said, jumping to his girlfriend's defense. "We're all a bit jumpy."

Piotr huffed and puffed. "I am sorry."

"No problem, Petey," Aidan smirked.

"I swear to God if you were not a girl, I would hit you…" Piotr muttered under his breath.

"So now what?" Aidan asked.

"Hey, everybody!" Feryal's voice echoed from the living room. "Look what I found!"

Aidan, John, Jennie, and Piotr walked to the archway that separated the kitchen and living room.

Feryal stood in the doorway with a tall, auburn-haired, green-eyed, handsome man. Remy was still in the Lay-Z-Boy, his eyes still closed.

Aidan half-smirked and waved at Sheridan. He mouthed the word 'hi' and waved back.

"Everybody," Feryal stated, closing the door, "this is—" She was cut off by a blast of water to her face. "Jennie! What the hell'd ya do that for!" she snapped.

Jennie walked across the room and grabbed Feryal by the elbow. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" Jennie demanded, ushering Feryal to John's room.

"Well, 'at's a right good way t'start a party," John said.

"Aye, right," Sheridan agreed.

At the slightest hint of Sheridan's accent, Remy's eyes shot open. "What in da—"

Remy stood up from the Lay-Z-Boy, and turned toward the voice. "What're you doin' in Remy's house, homme? Y'know betta…"

Well, g'd eve'nin t'ya, Remy," Sheridan smiled. "Long time, no see, eh?"

"Remy gon' give ya ta the count 'a three t'get your lyin', cheatin', no good Irish ass outta his house." Remy pulled a card out of his trench coat pocked. "One…"

"I see y'din'na take me advice 'bout tryin' a new look, Rem. That trench coat…" He shook his head.

Remy's eyes began to glow with anger and he charged another card. "Two…"

"I can'na imagine what such a scoundrel like ye are doin' with three lovely young lasses. I'm sure they'd all up 'n leave ya like the first."

Remy bared his teeth and pulled out another card. "Thr—"

"Hang on a second, Swamp Rat," Jennie said, grabbing Remy's arm. "This is our house, and I don't appreciate you blowin' the hell out of it."

"Yes," Piotr chimed in, "especially since I just got done redecorating."

"Now's not da time, chère," Remy said, his eyes still glued on Sheridan, who hadn't moved a muscle.

"If Gambit gonna beat some ass," Jennie half-mocked, "he gon' do it outside."

She released his wrist and he lowered the cards, un-charging them in the process. "Da fille's right," he said to Sheridan. "We be men 'bout dis t'ing and not fight in fronta da ladies. Step outside, mon ami."