"Set Me On Fire" by Flyleaf

I was too enraptured in my own thoughts to notice the dark clouds rolling in above the streets of Boston. And I was certainly too distracted to notice the shift in the air right before it began to downpour. As soon as the rain hit me, I began to cuss under my breath. There weren't many places open on the street I was on since it was so late. But there was an Irish Pub that would likely go into the early hours of the morning. That would be a safe place to wait out the storm.

Once I was inside, I pushed my slightly damp red hair away from my face and scanned the bar. There was an empty booth. It became my booth as I flopped onto the bench, throwing my messenger bag on the table, and put my forehead down on my arms. I had been trying to go home after spending the last few hours at the library doing research for my term paper. Tired was an understatement. I was in my last year of graduate school for European archaeology. I loved the subject matter, but it was a lot of work.

I was also a bit out of sorts from breaking up with my fiance. It's been a rough year. All of his things should be out of the apartment though. That had been his plan for today at least.

A glass was set down in front of me. I looked up curiously, narrowing my brown eyes slightly. A man a bit older than me was standing there. He was watching me, his blue eyes curious.

"You looked like you could use a drink," he said. He had an Irish accent. It was thick. That took me by surprise a bit. In Boston, almost everyone has a Boston accent. I'm not from here, my ex is, so I don't have that accent.

"That's an understatement," I smiled slightly. I shivered a bit from the draftiness of the bar and being wet. I motioned to the seat across from me. "Thank you, I'm Cecilia."

He sat. "I'm Murphy." A waitress came over, asking if we needed anything.

"Coffee, please." She immediately brought a cup over, pouring some into the cup. I drank enough of it to put the shot of whiskey into it. Murphy's lips twitched into a smile, approving of my decision. "Are you from Ireland?"

He nodded, "I am. Are you from Boston?"

"No," I laughed. "I'm from Pennsylvania. I moved here for," I paused, "I guess school." I had only gone to this school for my ex so that I could afford to move in with him. But now that that's over, being here is pointless, isn't it?

"You don't seem very certain of that," he leaned forward slightly, studying me. I shivered again, though not from the cold this time. There was such an intensity in his gaze. It was like he was seeing more than what was physically in front of him. I was drawn to it.

"It wasn't the original reason, but it's the reason now. I'm almost done. Might as well just finish here." He nodded, curious, but decided not to press any more.

"What're you in for?"

"Archaeology," I smiled slightly. He looked surprised and I laughed, pulling out one of my textbooks. "It's not a very common answer. I'm here for my master's degree. I'm specifically studying European archaeology. I've always wanted to travel Europe."

Before Murphy was able to respond, a slightly more drunk man his age stumbled over, plopping down in the booth across from me. He leaned against Murphy heavily, fixing me with a stare before grinning.

"You made a friend, Murph! Introduce me," he said, taking a drink of his whiskey.

"I don't think she wants to know yer name," Murphy rolled his eyes, pushing the other man off of him slightly.

"I'm Connor."

"Cecilia," I laughed, enjoying their antics.

"See? She wants to know my name." He saw the book in front of me and slid it to him. "Archaeology? Ye like old things," he grinned. "Explains why you're talking to us." I furrowed my brows.

"I don't think you're much older than me."

"I dunno, how old are you?"

"I'm twenty-seven."

"Yer just a baby!" Connor laughed. Murphy rolled his eyes.

"We're thirty, that's hardly a difference." Connor looked at Murphy, before speaking Russian. They were clearly speaking about me, though I don't speak Russian. I tuned them out, instead looking around the bar. It was decorated with a lot of clutter. It was homey. I like it, I decided as I finished my coffee and whiskey. The waitress came over to refill my coffee but I stopped her.

"Tullamore Dew, double, neat," I requested. She looked impressed, smiled, and nodded before going back over to the bar.

"Your girl's a whiskey drinker!" Connor said excitedly. "Guess you chose right."

"My dad was Irish," I said, pointing to my hair. "I color it brighter, but I am a redhead. My last name's McCarthy."

"An Irish lass from Pennsylvania all the way up here in Boston," Murphy mused. The waitress brought my drink over along with refills for Connor and Murphy. They're regulars.

It finally stopped raining a few hours later, just a bit after midnight. I was fairly drunk by then, still amused by the McManus twins. They had been drinking more than I was but they seemed less drunk. Then again, I guess I don't drink very often and I'm a good bit smaller than both of them.

They insisted on making sure I got home safely and after stumbling a bit, I agreed. Murphy helped me while Connor carried my bag. "You got bricks in here? This is heavier than you," he asked, surprised by the weight.

"Now you see why I'm so tired. I just have to lug all of those books around all of the time," I said with a giggle, clutching onto Murphy's arm. He helped me outside, the cool air making me feel a bit more steady. I caught a glimpse of myself in the window when I turned to look at Connor struggling to keep my books steady. My hair was out of its bun, my curls having returned to normal with the humidity in the air. I looked and felt the most free that I had in a long time.

Connor did most of the talking on the way to my apartment, which was about a fifteen minute walk on the outskirts of the Irish neighborhood.

"This one," I pointed to the building. "I'm on the top floor."

"'Course you are," Murphy grinned. We took the elevator up. As soon as I got to my door, I knew something was wrong. Music was playing inside. I ran my hand through my hair.

"He's not supposed to fuckin' be here," I mumbled, trying to sort out my keys. The door opened.

Aidan looked furious, but I pushed by him angrily.

"You're not supposed to be here anymore. You don't live here," I said, motioning to the apartment. He had packed nothing. But he wasn't paying attention to me, he was sizing up the twins, who had gone from friendly and relaxed to sizing him up. Men.

"She asked you to leave and you're still here," Connor said, setting my bag down inside the door.

"She's my fiance," Aidan said gruffly.

"Ex, I gave you the ring back!" I yelled helpfully from the hallway as I staggered back to the bedroom. If he's not gonna pack his shit, then I will, I thought to myself defiantly. My name's on the lease, I can just throw him out. He'd be fine. He can go sleep in someone else's bed like he always does. I started throwing shit in bags. If it reminded me of him, it went in the bag.

"Cec, what the fuck are you doing?" Aidan growled angrily, trying to reach for me. Connor pulled him back as Murphy stood in front of me protectively. I only half noticed as I continued to pack for him. I shoved a bag at Aidan, he clutched it indignantly.

"Did you think I was kidding? I literally want you gone and out of my life. Just go stay with Stephanie or Carol or whatever the fuck their names are," I waved my hand, grabbing another empty bag with my other hand. Every last thing that was his would be out of this apartment or so help me. The bedroom was clear. I tried to leave for the bathroom. "Move, please!"

Aidan gave little resistance, mostly thanks to the twins. While Murphy stared down Aidan, Connor began to help me gather his shit and finish stuffing it in the bag. Aidan took it when I gave it to him, finishing by giving him his jacket and hat. I struggled to take my key off of his keys before throwing those into his arms. Wallet, too, after I removed the picture of me he kept in it.

I stared at him, daring him to say anything. He said nothing, clenching his jaw, and then left. Murphy and Connor began talking to one another, using much more hushed voices than they probably needed to. I was just ready to sleep. I fell onto the couch, curling up with one of the pillows. The apartment was a mess from me shoving things out of the way to get Aidan's stuff but it was all my stuff now. Within minutes, I was asleep.