Chapter 6

"Hello?" I groused, slightly angry that I had been awoken after falling asleep with the aid from one of my pain pills.

"I tried everything I could to get my friend to cancel but he just refused to take no for an answer, I even tried to tell him it was your time of the month and he wasn't having it. We're outside your door now and have been knocking for a good five minutes."

"Charlie."

"Yeah?"

"Go to hell, I'm not answering the door." With that I hung the phone up and completely shut the damn thing off.

A persistent knock continued at the door until Aoife finally grew tired of it and began yelling at Charlie to knock it off. Her door slamming against the wall was what drew me out of bed and piqued my curiosity enough to watch everything unfold through the peephole.

"Ya leave da girl alone! She said 'no' and if ya don't quit that damn knocking I'll be calling the boys down here ta get rid of ya! Do ya understand me?!"

"But-"

"No buts! She said 'no' and I said ta leave her alone! She's hurting and wants ta be left alone so if yer friend can't take 'no' fer an answer he needs ta move on! Now, get out of here!"

God bless this woman! I owe her a steak dinner when my shoulder is healed up.

Once I was sure that Charlie had left, or at the very least had gotten back on the elevator, I crept out into the hallway and knocked on Aoife's door. I'll admit, I was nervous since I had never knocked on her door before and our prior meetings always took place in the hall when one of us was coming home from somewhere.

"Oh, it's only you dear, t'ought it was dat boss of yers again. Come in, come in, no reason ta be standing out here lest ya want him ta catch ya and drag ya off ta where ya don't want ta be."

"Thank you Aoife, I owe you more than you realize." I said, stepping just inside and shutting the door behind me.

"No need ta t'ank me lass, I heard ya on da phone saying no. Hope ya forgive me, I don't mean ta be eavesdropping but I hate when folks can't take no fer an answer. C'mon into da kitchen and sit a bit, I've gotta finish getting dinner ready if ya want ta stay fer a bite."

"No need to apologize, I honestly don't know what I would do without you. You've been such a lifesaver since I moved in. I know I need to grow more of spine and-"

"It comes with time. Yer a long way from home and da only family ya have are an hour away in da parts of town most of us wouldn't be caught dead in. How's da arm feeling? Ya t'ink anymore on Connor's offer about later tonight?"

"Still sore, but that's to be expected. I'm going back and forth on whether or not to go to the bar. It's nice that they invited me but I almost feel like they were obligated to say something because they don't want to see the bar fail."

"Maybe but ya never know unless ya go. If I were yer age lass I'd say ta hell with da pain and just go. Ya don't need alcohol ta have a good time, especially not with Connor and Murphy. Da two of 'em alone can show ya how ta have fun on a Saturday night if yer ever interested. Just give 'em a chance and if t'ings don't work out like ya want it to at least you'll have made a few new friends."

"Why does it seem like you always know the right things to say? I wish I had a grandmother who offered such sage advice when I was growing up."

"Well you can consider me yer Granny fer time being, as fer da growing up part we're all still growing. Now, go get ready. I'll call da lads and tell 'em ta meet ya downstairs, don't want anot'er incident like last night if I let ya go out on yer own."

I nodded and left Aoife's wondering how in the hell she managed to get me to agree on going out with two (near) total strangers to a place I had only been to one other time. Walking back into my own apartment I sighed as I flipped the hall light on to find a puke pile next to the door and a crash coming from around the corner in the living room.

"Okay you two, break it up." I started, picking up one of the cats and separating the pair. As I made my way into the kitchen I set the cat down on the table and made an awkward reach for the paper towels I kept hidden in a cabinet when an unexpected knock at the door came, sending the cats skittering across the kitchen for the safety of a hiding place.

"Who is it?"

"Murphy."

"Come in, just watch where you step!" I called out as I heard the door slowly begin to creak open.

"Where are ya?"

"Kitchen."

"What da hell are ya doin'?!"

I was stretched out over the counter, standing on my tip-toes trying to reach the elusive paper towels when Murphy rounded the corner and paused in the doorway. Before I had the chance to respond I found myself being bumped to the side and the paper towels waving in front of my face.

"Thank you."

Tearing a few of the towels off the roll I retreated back into the hallway to clean up the mess the cats left me, a relatively simple task that took a little longer than I would have liked. With both arms working properly I could carry the roll of paper towels under one arm, the can of carpet cleaner under the other and juggle a myriad of other things in both hands all while drinking a cup of coffee. But that's not exactly possible under the current circumstances.

"Ya didn't answer my question."

"I thought it was obvious, but ask me again."

"What da hell are ya doin'?"

"Cleaning cat puke and after I'm done with this I'm gonna go get ready. What are you doing here? Thought Aoife was asking you two to wait downstairs."

"Connor's got a wild hair up his arse about ya going with us."

"What, he doesn't want me to go?"

"Nah, he's getting himself all dressed up."

"Oh please, there ain't no reason to get all gussied up just to go to a bar."

With a wad of paper towels full of cat puke cleaned up I stood as best I could to carry the foul smelling thing to the trash. Truth be told, I probably looked like a newborn baby giraffe trying to walk for the first time. The fun part would be having to do it all over again when I brought in a fresh set of towels, the scrub brush, and carpet foam then trying to get back up.

"I told him just as much but once he's got a hair up his arse about shit, kinda hard ta talk him down. So, ya ever been ta Doc's before?"

"Once, I usually stay in on the weekends with all the homework I have especially right now with mid-terms and finals coming up in a few months. You and your brother must think I've got some sort of stick up my ass or something."

"Nah, some folks just don't really like going out. We've got a cousin back home who's kinda da same way, doesn't really like ta go out on da weekends. She finds more happiness in staying in with a movie, cup of hot tea, and a book. Last time we talked ta her she mentioned somet'ing about picking up a random guy at da bar and taking him home. She got an earful from both of us but we mostly teased her about being a late bloomer."

I nodded as I took in what he was saying knowing full well that he was trying to get me to loosen up a bit and realize that, like his cousin, I was a late bloomer as well and to not put so much thought into it. Once I was sure that the stain would not set into the carpet, I sat back on my heels and put the lid back on the carpet foam and patted the spot dry.

"You wanna do me a favor while we're waiting for your other half to finish up?"

"Depends, what do I get in return?"

"How about…" I thought not really believing that I was getting myself in this situation, "…I buy you a drink, your choice, as long as you keep it under ten bucks? I still have bills to pay this month and my paycheck won't clear until Monday."

I watched from the corner of my eye as his lips took a downward approach and he put on a look that said he'd definitely consider my offer.

"What's the favor?"

"Check downstairs and make sure Charlie's actually gone. I don't want him harassing me anymore tonight."

"And if he's not?"

"Tell him to fuck off and if he asks you're just going out to run an errand and you haven't seen me since this morning."

"Ya got yerself a deal. I'll be having a shot of da good stuff when we get ta Doc's."

Murphy took a couple of quick strides along the short hallway and was out the door in a matter of seconds. The door to the stairwell slammed shut a few seconds later and I figured he'd taken the quickest route down to the first floor. Quickly, I leaned over to shut the door to ensure the cats didn't try to make an escape and made a struggle to stand so I could put away the cleaning supplies before Connor came down. As I was rooting around in the pantry putting things away, another knock sounded on the door and I groaned internally hoping it wasn't Charlie.

"Anyone home? Ya decent lass?"

I exhaled the breath I was holding and closed the pantry door, poking my head around the corner just in time to watch Connor step inside and close the door behind him, his hands finding their way into the pockets of his coat as he looked around.

"I've gotta go get changed real quick and brush my teeth, it should only take 10 minutes if you wanna have a seat and watch a bit of t.v."

"Where's Murph? Did he not come down?"

"He did, asked him to check downstairs to make sure Charlie was gone; he took the stairs down just a minute or two ago."

From the corner of my eye I saw Connor nod his head and remove his hands from his pockets, quietly making his way from the hall to the living room where the t.v. was still tuned to the channel I was watching early this morning. The remote sat on the couch where it could be easily accessed without question. A pair of digits flashed at the top of the screen and then the channel changed in the blink of an eye to a John Wayne movie.

"Green Berets is good but I'm more partial to McClintock and Big Jake." I commented as I watched the various characters make their way uphill towards their destination.

"Ya like the Duke?" Connor sounded almost surprised, the excitement and giddiness in his voice making me chuckle a bit.

"I grew up watching John Wayne; every weekend my dad would always find some excuse to put one of his movies on. He's got just about all of his Westerns on VHS."

"What about Charlie Bronson? Ya like his movies too?"

I dropped my head in embarrassment, feeling my neck and cheeks suddenly bloom red. "I've never seen Death Wish or any of his movies unless you count House of Wax and I only saw that one because I love Vincent Price."

"We'll have ta fix dat later. What about Clint Eastwood?"

Before I could answer, the door burst open and just as quickly slammed shut with Murphy huffing and puffing his way into my home, a cigarette clenched tightly between his lips.

"T'ought ya were gonna get ready?"

"I was, got slightly distracted. Connor, ask me again on our way down. Be out in 10."

I quickly disappeared into the bedroom to get ready, not being able to help myself from hearing the boys talk through the thin walls.

"Bloke's still downstairs waiting by da lift fer her ta come down. He's persistent I'll give him dat but if he sees her leaving with us…"

"We may have ta go out t'rough da fire escape and take da back way. Don't want her ta hurt herself even more so we'll have ta help her down da last bit. He say anyt'ing when ya went down?"

"Just if I've seen her, had a phone ta his ear going on about trying ta reschedule a double date. Told him ta beat it if he knew what was good fer him, just waved me off. Popped out fer a bit ta get anot'er pack, came back, and he was still by da lift."

"Ya ever seen any of dese fellas pick her up?"

"Nah, if any of 'em come from money we won't catch 'em 'round here."

I sighed in defeat as I attempted to button my jeans single-handed knowing full well that Charlie wouldn't give up so easily. Another sigh escaped at the realization that these two were absolutely right every way imaginable – these failed blind dates all came from money, would never be caught dead in this part of town, and have no idea what it means to just relax with a beer and some friends on a Saturday night after a stress-filled work week where everything that could wrong did. If the fire escape was my only means to freedom then so be it. These jeans on the other hand were proving to be more of a challenge and I huffed, feeling my hair flutter a bit with the up flow of air.

"Could one of you come in here for a second?" I called out, flopping down on the bed as I continued to try and fasten this damn button.

An almost too quiet knock on the other side of the door caught my attention followed a head of dirty blonde hair. "Almost ready?"

"Connor, I need help," I whined in frustration not really believing that I was acting this childish over a pair of jeans and in front of someone I literally just met the night before.

"What's da matter? Can't find anyt'ing ta wear ta show off yer new battle scar?"

"Very funny smartass, I can't get my jeans to button up. Every time I try my shoulder decides to spasm and it just fucking hurts. Can you please just help me without giving me any shit about it?"

"Alright, can't leave a damsel in distress fer too long. Gimme yer hand, I'll pull ya up." He didn't bother to close the door behind him, just walked in like it was an everyday occurrence. Reaching my right hand out, I was swiftly pulled to my feet with Connor standing directly behind me, his breath tickling the hairs on the back of neck as I attempted to remain neutral (though I must say he smelled so damn good!)

"Ya know, usually when I'm in dis position da girl I'm with is losing her pants, not trying ta get 'em on."

I felt the smirk work its way across his face as his hands slid across my hips to fasten the button. In seconds flat the button was fastened but his hands remained at the front of my jeans, not moving until I turned around to face him.

"And I'm sure the girls you usually bring home are sloppy drunks looking to get their kicks before realizing the next morning that you were just another mistake in a long line of bad decisions. But I'm sure it's the same for you; wake up with a hangover the next morning wishing she'd just go so you can go to confession like a good little Catholic school boy and mark her down as another who just couldn't get enough Irish in her last night. It's a cycle with you, and Murphy as well; just a shame that the cycle repeats itself week after week."

"Are ya some sorta fucking psychology major or somet'ing? The fuck did you come up with all of that?"

"Tell you about it on our way there. If I'm not mistaken I do believe Murphy said that Charlie was still downstairs. And thank you for helping me with this button."

"Murph! Let's fucking go!"