A new arrival: Derry Girls

Within Season 3.

Chapter 1: Going Away.

James' mind pondered about the home he had left behind for a short visit to see his mum in London for the summer holiday. He peered down at the polaroid of himself with his best friends. He smiled as his eyes panned from left to right across the photograph. He thought about how they all, individually and collectively, had made him one of their own. Despite the English accent, along with the constant torments and "gay" insinuations from his cousin, Michelle, the eccentrical cack attacks of his "wee lesbian" friend, Clare, the cuckoo existence that was Orla, another eccentric from a parallel dimension "She'd be a great character on Doctor Who" James thought to himself. Just then, his eyes clapped on the smiling face of Erin.

James swallowed hard as the knot in his stomach seemed to tighten. He then smiled at the angelic face with sparkling eyes. He almost felt guilty of the feelings that began to swim in his head whenever he thought of and saw Erin. When they first, they didn't speak much, but as time went by, incidents like him saving her from her embarrassment by taking her to the prom, and her saving him from that Ukrainian girl Katya, Erin and James had formed their own bond, as she did with all members of the group.

Flashback 2 weeks prior

James was standing on the pavement as the taxi driver loaded his case into the boot. It had only been 2 weeks since he left Derry, but he remembers the loving words from his friends as he departed. Clare could barely get a word out, but just managed to tell James to look in his wallet after he drove off.

"Just a little reminder…well, a good luck charm, keep it with you at all times and no harm will come to ye, and als—"

"I will Clare, don't worry, I will." James stopped her and hugged her tight. Clare barely held her tears as she walked away, blowing him a little kiss.

"Will you be back soon James?" Orla asked.

"Of course, I will." James chuckled.

"Are you going back to England because Fionnula's chips make you want to boke THAT bad?" She asked.

Erin scoffed "Oh Christ!"

"No." James said and laughed "Not even THAT would make want me to leave for good. I'll be back in 2 weeks, and I'll bring you back a big bag of pick n mix if you like. Deal?" He asked.

"Ach Cracker! Thanks James!" Orla exclaimed loudly and leapt into his arms, like she had done so many times before. She hopped down and bounced away.

Michelle was next, James held his breath. Michelle's stance did not give much away. She then proceeded to pull him in hard and threw her arms around him, James reciprocated gently.

"Don't you fucking stay there, I know you were born there, but this is your home now, ye hear? She stated.

Michelle was just able to hold back her tears.

Now fuck off before I stop you from going, Ye' English prick!" Michelle whispered.

"No worries. I'll be back." James couldn't help but laugh at that. Somehow, he knew he was going to miss those insults,

Michelle stood aside, and James' gaze was on Erin. She walked forward slowly, at first, she was looking at him, and then her eyes met the ground as she got closer. She presented him with a small white book. Their fingers gazed each other's as he took the gift.

"Just something to read, for the journey, ye know?" she stammered.

James opened the book and recognized it.

"This is... YOUR book of poems?" he said. Smiling.

"Aye, it is so. I didn't know what else to do...she stammered again.

James didn't even have time to answer because Erin ran into him and gave him a long hug. James threw his arms around her and hugged her back, and Erin buried the side of her head into his chest. James's chest beat hard as he held her tight. Erin pulled his head lower to her height; she went up on tip toe and she whispered to him. Close to tears herself….

"Hurry back, alright?"

James tightened his grip around her, giving her reassurance without words that he would. He hated seeing all the girls so emotional. As the taxi drove off, he waved back at them all goodbye.

Chapter 2: Coming Home.

"James!" a voice said.

James was brought out of his dream, and he turned to look at the other passenger. Another English fella his own. His name was Marco, a funny name for an Englishman, I know. Marco had been James' best friend through primary and secondary school before he moved to Derry. Marco was slightly shorter than James, with a dark brown crew haircut, with dark brown eyes. Marco was broader than James. But Marco was more into weight training. Both lads shared similar tastes in movies, Marco also liked football, but wasn't too keen on Doctor Who. Marco had an ace in the hole as he was raised catholic, his dad's side was Italian. However, James knew what awaited them as soon as they walked through the door of the Quinn household. He grinned at the thought of this. Marco's personality was like James, quiet, but cheekier, but then again, James had spent the last 2 years being toughened up by 4 feisty Derry Girls, and Marco had remarked how different James was. Almost impenetrable. Marco admitted to James that he was never like this at their old school.

"What is it?" James asked.

"We're docking, come on." Marco replied.

James looked out of the ferry window, and smiled, a familiar sight beheld him, he was closer to home, and to his friends. James packed the polaroid inside Erin's white book, and then made sure that it was safe in his bag. As they began to ready themselves to disembark. Marco spotted that James' face was slightly flushed. James was unaware that Marco had already spied what he'd been doing. So felt the need to interrogate him, teasingly.

"So… What were you doing?" Marco asked.

"When?"

"Just now."

"Nothing, just reading." James said.

"Reading? Hmm, I didn't know you could read a picture?" Marco remarked, cracking a smile.

Realising he'd been caught. James blushed but still readied himself. James put on his denim jacket, while Marco put on his tracksuit jacket. They disembarked and walked down the gangway; Marco decided to start up the conversation as they walked together.

"So…. What, or who were you thinking about?" Marco asked teased.

"No one!" James said.

Marco shot a quick glance at James.

"So, how do spell Erin again? E….R…I….LOVE…." Marco said, half laughing. Teasing his friend.

"Piss off, she's…. just a friend." James said, stopping in his tracks.

"I'm sorry mate, but I can't understand how you save a good-looking girl like that from being stood up, you abandon Doctor Who to take her to prom, and there's nothing going on?" Marco said.

"God, I wish I never said anything now." James said.

"It's alright mate, I'm gonna find out the full story one way or another." Marco said.

"There is no story." James exclaimed.

Marco put his hands up as they walked. Throughout his visit, James had told Marco practically everything about the girls, the Quinn Family, Granda Joe, his school situation, Derry, how he ended up there, how he almost left, but chose to stay. The situation with James attending an all-girls school had Marco laughing loudly, as well as the whole clan constantly making claims that James was gay. But couldn't help noticing that James' demeanour changed whenever Erin was mentioned.

"You have to admit though, you do give off that vibe." Marco teased.

"What vibe?"

"The Gay vibe!" Making a camp voice.

"Oh Shut up!" "Don't you start!" James said, half annoyed.

"Just joking."

"You know, Michelle just might get on with you. If you keep on like that." James said.

Marco smirked. There was a small silence. James brought himself to speak again.

"Marco?"

"Yeah?"

"Remember what I told you."

A slight pause came, Marco pondered what James was referring to. Sighting the different flags flying outside, the Union Jack and the flag of Ireland. Remembering what James had told him about the troubles. He nodded. He had no idea about the situation as it wasn't taught in school.

James saw that Marco suddenly become distant. Something was different about his friend too. He was still the joking, cocky lad he last saw before he came to Derry but couldn't help to spot that Marco was a bit "sensitive" around his back.

"Are you sure you're, ok?" No answer.

"You're sure that you're actually allowed to be here?" Still no answer.

"I mean, I start back at school in a week, shouldn't you be home ready for the start of term?" silence.

The two friends went through passport control. Marco still hadn't answered James's questions. They walked side by side with their bags slung over their shoulders. Marco attempted to give James an answer.

"Look, James…." He started. But couldn't bring himself to carry on. James saw the struggle on Marco's face.

"It's alright. Don't worry. I'm glad you're here. Really, I am. But you know you can tell me if there's…. problems, right?" James asked.

"Thanks mate." Marco replied.

The two friends fist pumped and continued walking. James spied an opportunity and started smirking.

"You're not gonna tell me YOU'RE gay, are you?" James barely managed to say the words before laughing.

"Fuck off!" Marco said. James laughed loudly.

"I'm sorry, you were just giving off that vibe." James joked using the same camp voice.

"I will fucking kill you." Marco said, half laughing himself.

Marco tried to swing his heavy bag at James, but James was already running ahead of him towards the taxi rank. Stopping at its door, James spun round and halted Marco before he could strike. Telling his friend to behave. They placed their bags in the boot, and James started to step into the passenger seats, then Marco shoved him in, and dove in after him. Laughing their heads off, the two friends gave their destination, and the taxi began to make its way towards the Maguire house. James' home.