Minor A/N: Treasa ("TRA-sa") is a Gaelic name that means "strength" and can also be the Irish form of Theresa.

1988

Murphy tapped his pencil against the table in the school's biology lab, glancing up at the clock on the wall. Nearly 3:00. Treasa, the senior girl who volunteered as a teacher's aide for the class, looked up from some homework she was doing and gave him a small smile. Murphy returned the grin and swallowed hard; the classroom suddenly felt stifling.

He couldn't believe that he was actually considering going to a school dance, let alone asking the girl sitting across the room from him to be his date. Murphy had been nursing a secret crush on Treasa for several months. There were certainly prettier girls in the school, but to Murphy, Treasa was entrancing: thick blondish-brown hair to her shoulders, soft gray eyes, a sprinkling of freckles across her cheeks, and (quite frankly) one of the most perfect asses Murphy had ever seen. Treasa stood up from the table at the front of the room and said something in an undertone to Mrs. O'Leary, who'd probably been teaching since time began; the teacher nodded to the aide. Treasa picked up her books and exited the room, giving Murphy an excellent view of how her sweater hugged her curves and the way that denim miniskirt complemented her ass.

The bell rang at that moment, jerking Murphy out of a fantasy about making out with her in a dark corner of the gym. He knew Treasa's locker was down the hall from the biology lab, so he hurriedly collected his things; it was now or never. He stepped out of the classroom and ran a hand over his head, trying to make the back of his hair lie flat. Murphy looked around, but didn't see Treasa anywhere. Dejectedly, he thought that she had probably put everything in her locker already and gone home.

Murphy was about to start walking home himself when a sound from the opposite end of the corridor got his attention. Laughter. Definitely a girl's...clear and almost musical. Murphy's heart pounded, realizing that laugh could only belong to Treasa. He headed down the hallway in the direction of the laughter, fighting the tide of students leaving the building. Murphy turned a corner and saw something that made his blood boil.

Connor was standing by his locker with Treasa. Her cheeks were pink and Connor was offering the girl his most charming smile. The grin became roguish as Connor wrapped an arm around Treasa's shoulders and whispered something in her ear, something that made her giggle. Murphy shunted a small freshman out of his way and stood in front of his twin, trying to keep as much anger as he could off his face. Maybe this wasn't what it looked like...

"'Lo, Murph," Connor greeted, arm still draped over Treasa, who, Murphy noticed, looked very pleased about something.

"'Lo, Conn. All right, Treasa?"

"Aye," she answered, her gaze flicking up to Connor's face.

"O' course she is," said Connor. "The best-lookin' bloke in school's gonna take her t' the spring dance."

"An' who's the best-lookin' bloke in school?" asked Murphy. Maybe Connor had asked her out for him...

Treasa's grin faded and she bit her lip.

"Well, it's me, innit?" said Connor with a chuckle.

"What the fuck, Conn?" Murphy exploded.

"Pretty little lass like her, 'snot right fer her t' go alone," his twin's tone was calm. "B'sides, I didn't know ye fancied Treasa."

"Yes, ye did!" Murphy was even more pissed now, his hands clenched into fists.

Treasa's gray eyes widened. She clutched her books tighter to her chest; as she took an automatic step backward, Connor's arm slipped off her shoulder.

"Murph's not gonna hurt ye, love," Connor said in a low voice.

Before anyone realized what was happening, Murphy drew back his right hand and punched Connor in the stomach. His twin doubled over, gasping for breath.

"Stop it," begged Treasa. She sounded on the verge of tears.

"I'm fine, love," Connor choked out. "Jus'--jus' stay outta the way, all right?"

Treasa turned on her heel and ran away up the corridor.

"Treasa, wait!" Murphy called after her.

Connor regained his breath and took advantage of Murphy being distracted by landing a sneaky left hook on his jaw. Murphy fell hard to the linoleum floor. By now, a small crowd had gathered to watch the fight. Murphy shakily got to his feet, grabbed Connor by his shirtfront, and slammed him against a locker. Connor grunted in pain as his lower back collided with the combination lock; he stomped hard on Murphy's foot to make him let go. Arms free now, he put his fists up to defend himself. He blocked Murphy's first wild swing but missed the second, which connected painfully with his eye. The fight raged on, punctuated by the twins cursing at each other in every language they knew. The crowd was beginning to cheer now.

Connor punched Murphy in the ribs and tried to get him in a wrestling hold. Suddenly, two strong pairs of hands were wrenching the battling brothers apart. The school's soccer coach and one of the English teachers had evidently heard the commotion and come to investigate. Each seized a MacManus by the scruff of his neck and marched them in the direction of the headmaster's office. The school nurse, who was about to lock up for the day, tutted at the boys, went into her office again, and came out with two ice packs. Murphy held his to his jaw, which was throbbing steadily now that the adrenaline had worn off; Connor iced the bruise he could feel forming on his back.

After several minutes of sitting on the headmaster's discipline bench in angry silence, the twins heard the door to the headmaster's office creak open.

"Everything's fine, m'dear," Headmaster Garrity said in a soothing tone. "Have a nice strong cuppa tea when ye get home, all right?"

Treasa, who had just exited the office with the headmaster, nodded tearfully. She dabbed at her eyes and nose with a crumpled Kleenex. Connor and Murphy both felt sick to their stomachs at the sight of her. Murphy had just wanted to get his frustrations out on his brother; Connor had just been trying to defend himself. They had never intended to traumatize an innocent girl in the process. Treasa gave a small gasp when she spotted the twins on the discipline bench, then narrowed her eyes at them.

"Listen, Treasa," Murphy started, "I can explain everythin'."

"Don' bother," she said coldly.

She walked out of the office without another word. The headmaster crossed the room to pour himself the last cup of coffee that remained in the pot.

Connor sighed. "Looks like we're even, Murph. I reckon she won' go out with either of us now."

"An' we're both goin' ta bed hungry when Ma finds out. Total fuckin' wash all around." Murphy shook his head disgustedly. "We're such fuckin' retards."

"Speak fer yerself." said Connor.

Headmaster Garrity made his way over to the discipline bench. "Murphy, I'm startin' with you," he said.

Murphy stood up and entered the headmaster's office. The door closed with a sharp snap. Connor sat alone outside, nursing his various injuries and ruing both his stupidity and the fact that he would never have a chance to make passionate love to the beautiful Treasa.

THE END