I wanted to thank you all for the reviews; it's good to know you guys enjoy the story. This is chapter 5 it's call Bray another town in Wicklow. I hope you enjoy this chapter, I see it as a step forward I think the story is evolving just fine and I think I'm making progress.
Disclaimer: Riverside Pub, Liam, Galvin, Patrick, Colleen and Regan belong to me nothing else belongs to me in this chapter.
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Riveside Pub B&B
It was 6 of clock and the pub was half full, people always came to eat there, plus the guest always ate there. Billy went to the kitchen in search of food since the guys were hungry. They all sat together eating while making plans for the other day.
Tom wasn't paying attention to what they were saying, he was upset, Kim wasn't coming tomorrow with them and he wanted to spend more time with her, he found it comforting to have her next to him. He wasn't even interested in going out with the guys but he considered that if he spends more time with them he could learn more about her and if she saw he was making an effort to get along with her friends she'd be more willing to accept him.
Jason interrupted his thoughts "Tom."
"What?" he asked
"I asked if you want to go to Bray?" Jason said.
"What's that?" he asked.
"The place we've been talking about for the last 15 minutes." Jason said.
"Why are you asking me? I don't know the place." Tom said.
"It's a seaside town. So, do you or do you not want to come?" Jason asked again getting desperate.
"What are we going to do there?" he asked.
"Are you serious? We just talk about that. Boy you really are distracted." Zack said
"I'm just thinking about work and all the stuff I have to do once we get back." He lied.
"I'm sure that's it." Zack said sarcastically.
Rocky interrupted their conversation "I was telling them we could go hang gliding."
"You mean as in a hang glider?" Tom said incredulously.
"Yeah but is ok if you don't want to you know, we are all scare of something." Rocky said maliciously.
"You think I'm scare?" He said menacingly.
"I was just saying. You seem to be afraid of a lot of things." Rocky said with his arms cross he didn't like Tom at all, his attitude bothered him.
"I'm not afraid and we are going hang gliding tomorrow" with that said he got up and went upstairs.
"That was interesting." Zack said "what time are we leaving tomorrow?"
"11 so we can be there at 12. Well, we have work to do guys, if you need anything we'll be here till midnight." Rocky said.
"See you guys tomorrow then and thanks for everything." Jason said.
"You're welcome" Billy said and went to the kitchen to help there, while Rocky took his place behind the bar.
"Well it surprised me to see Tom let Rocky's comment slide." Zack told Jason after the others were gone.
"Yeah but I'm pretty sure this is not the end of it. I think is clear Rocky doesn't like Tom." Jason commented.
"That's nothing new apparently we are the only ones that like him." Zack said.
Jason laughed "well I'm going to take a shower, see you later."
Zack stood after a while and sat at one of the couches and watch TV with some of the locals and guests.
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Kim's grandparents place
Kim was eating breakfast; she was staring blankly at the newspaper.
"Kimberly?" Colleen called.
"Huh?" Kim suddenly reacted.
"Are ye alright sweet heart?" Her grandma asked concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine" Kim lied.
"You seem a bit distracted did you have fun yesterday?" Colleen asked.
"Yeah it was fun." She answered plainly. It really was fun it was the Tom part that disconcerted her.
"Those lads were pretty handsome. Especially the one you were drinking coffee with, he's a very nice fella, don't ye think?"
"Well I don't know, I don't really think he's that great, he's just a guy, not that much to look at." Kim lied again.
"If ye say so, if I was your age…" her grandmother wasn't able to finish because Kim interrupted.
"I really don't want to hear the rest of what you are going to say, so please don't finish that sentence."
Colleen decided not to push her she knew her granddaughter and Kim would go to her when she was ready to talk about whatever was bothering her, but she knew that the youngfella had something to do with it "Alright, I need you to go to the supermarket with Aisha to get some yoke for the Pub and the house, Patrick and I are walking there so you can take the van.
"Oh I forgot to ask you, can Rocky and Billy borrow the car? They are taking the guys somewhere today." Kim asked.
"Sure, here" she gave her a list "that's what we need and don't forget the bag of taytos."
"Ok don't worry, we'll get everything. I'm going to my room to change, guess I'll see you guys later." She hugged her grandmother and left to her room.
When she entered the room she saw Aisha getting up "morning" Aisha said.
"Good morning. We have to go to the supermarket, so you should get something to eat right now." Kim said.
Aisha nodded and went to the kitchen to fix breakfast. After she ate she went to her room and changed her clothes. Kim and she got in the van.
"Where do you think the guys are going today?" Aisha asked.
"I have no idea" Kim replied.
"It wouldn't amaze me if they do something extreme, I'm pretty sure Rocky will want to annoy Tom." Aisha said.
"Yeah that's Rocky for you" Kim said
They arrive at the supermarket and each got a cart.
"So I overheard part of your conversation with Tom." Aisha said pushing the cart.
"So?" Kim said playing dumb.
"He asked you if you had a boyfriend" she said picking a couple of boxes of eggs.
"I know I was the one he asked the question to." Kim said guarded.
"You know what that means right? He likes you!" Aisha said excited, it was time for Kim to find someone and Tom seem like the kind of guy she needed.
"He hates my guts, I'm pretty sure he doesn't like me." Kim said afraid she was wrong "maybe he's like a lawyer, he likes to ask question so he can later use what you say against you."
"Kim I know you are smarter than that."
"Well maybe playing dumb for once in my life will do me some good." Kim said.
"I know you are nervous and knowing you that probably means you might be interested, otherwise you wouldn't care so much and you wouldn't deny the fact that he likes you."
"You are talking nonsense; I'm not interested in him! I can't be, he's not my type, not that I have a type but he definitely is no it and I just met him and I say I don't like him and that's it! Besides he likes rich classy ridiculous elegant women and I'm not any of those things and I don't want to be!" Kim said agitated.
Aisha laughed "see if all those things you said were true you wouldn't be this mad. You are just afraid you like him and you know what that means, if you ever get together with him you might have to let go of your lifestyle because we know in this world women are always the ones to make changes in their lives to accommodate man and with him that requires a big change."
"I don't know why we are talking like I'm marrying him, I just met him! Is not like I'm dating him or even intending to, we don't even know if he really likes me and I don't like him like that! Besides I don't plan to change for a man." Kim repeated.
"I know he likes you, I can tell by the way he looks at you. All I know is that it wouldn't surprise me to see you walking down the aisle with him one of these days and of course I'm going to be the maid of honor."
"You are so wrong about that."
"We'll see. I think you finally have met your match." She left Kim panicking with a bottle of milk in hand.
Kim didn't say anything else for the rest of the trip. They arrive at the pub at 12; luckily the guys had already left when they got there.
"Hi Patrick" Aisha said "do you know where the guys went today?"
"They went to Bray." He said.
"To Bray? They decided to take them there? Rocky doesn't like that beach, I'm pretty sure they aren't going there for that." Kim said as a matter of fact.
"The only thing that occurs to me is hang gliding." Aisha concluded.
"Oh this is going to be a disaster; he definitely did that to annoy Tom." Kim said.
"I think they will like it, it's so much fun and so peaceful." Aisha said.
"Yeah" she said not saying more about that "gramps the things are in the van I'm going to tell Aidan and Liam to get them.
"Alright I'm going to help in the kitchen; you girls can stay here in the bar if you like." He said leaving them.
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Bray
"We are here! Nice isn't it?" Rocky said
"Yeah if somber is nice to you." Tom said sarcastically.
"This is a good place for what we are doing today." Billy interrupted before Rocky could replied, he knew Rocky didn't like the place but that didn't matter because he knew he just wanted to irritate Tom.
"I'm ready to go hang gliding! We have never done this before." Zack was exited.
"Since is the first time you guys do this, they are going to teach you how to fly from a training hill and then you will progress to a higher flight, sometimes it takes two days to master the apparatus." Billy said.
"I can do it in one day" Tom said sure of himself.
"You are too sure of yourself aren't you?" Rocky asked a bit annoyed.
"Yeah I am" Tom said proud.
"Well is not as easy as it looks you could end up killing yourself if you don't take your time to learn properly." Rocky said.
"I'm sure I can learn it all in one day." Tom said again.
"Whatever you say pal is your life." Rocky said.
"I think you have a problem with me" Tom said standing in front of Rocky.
"Well you're not wrong about that, I don't like you at all." he said looking him in the eyes.
"May I ask what have I done to you?" Tom asked.
"Is not what you have done to me is what you are; I don't like your attitude or the way you treat others." Rocky said
"I don't think the way I treat people is of any concern to you."
"Guys we came here to have fun so let's forget our differences for a while ok?" Zack said
They both agreed. They went to meet the instructors.
"Hi Galvin" Rocky said to a tall skinny guy with red hair.
"How's it goin', sham? I see Kim and Aisha didn't come today" he said looking for them.
"They had to work." Billy said
"Pity, I'm always happy to see them; maybe I'll go to the boozer later." Galvin said.
"You know you are always welcome there" Billy said.
"So these are the 3 lads you talked about?" Galvin asked.
"Yeah, they are from NK also, they are staying at Riverside. Guys this is Galvin and Regan" Billy said pointing at Galvin's companion a tall broad blond guy "and this are Tom, Jason and Zack."
"Well welcome to Bray, this is your first time hang gliding right?" Galvin addressed the guys.
"Yeah" they replied.
"No worries, I'll give you training, you'll learn the techniques and how to control your body. If you guys are ready follow me." They walk up the hill.
"This will be your hang gliders" he said pointing at three hang gliders. He talked for a while of how the hang glider worked and other things. When they were ready to start he assigned each a hang glider. The first to jump of the training hill was Zack fallow by Jason and Tom. Tom learn how to control the apparatus fast and he ask Galvin to let him fly from a higher hill, he decided to let him but he had to go first with one of the other guys that were properly trained and Galvin not knowing he didn't got along well with Rocky told him he should go with him, Tom didn't like that idea at all but didn't say anything.
"It seems I have to apologize, after all you did learn how to fly fast. I have to admit I'm impressed." Rocky said walking to a higher hill with Tom behind him.
"I told you." was all he said.
"Boy aren't you humble?" Rocky asked sarcastically "is it in your genes? All that pride?"
"I'm not proud" he said fiercely "I'm self assured that's all."
"Yeah self assured, if that's what you think."
"I really want to know why you hate me so much." Tom asked he really needed to get along with this idiot he was one of Kim's friends and to top it all they lived under the same roof which means he is an influence on her and she may listen to him.
"Don't deny that you don't like me either, I know you hate my guts, the only reason you try to be nice to me is because of Kim." Rocky stated.
"Excuse me?" Tom said stopping in the way.
"You think I'm stupid? I know you like her and I want to warn you that if you are looking for a toy you are wasting your time with her she is not the type of girl you date." Rocky warn him.
"I'm not playing with her and what do you know about the type of girls I date?"Tom asked.
"Believe me; guys like you only date the same type of women. Kim doesn't belong in your world why don't you go and find someone like you?"
"What do you mean like me?" Tom asked.
"I mean a proud superficial selfish woman that thinks money is everything. Kim is none of those things it would make me mad to see her turn into a bimbo just because of a rich boy's whim.
"First of all I'm not selfish or superficial, I won't deny I'm proud but I don't think pride is that bad and I wouldn't turn her in any of those things, I like her just the way she is. That's the reason I like her."
"She will never be accepted in your world and you know that. Why don't you leave her alone? In the end you will make her suffer." Rocky practically beg him.
" I'm a grownup I can make my own decision and I'll date whoever I want; I don't have to ask permission to you."
"Fine destroy her life, why not? I don't even know why I'm worried I don't even know if she will accept you."
"Why wouldn't she accept me?" Tom asked concerned.
"Are you kidding me? You represent all the things she detests."
"If you all give me a chance to redeem myself from this image you have made of me I could show you I'm not that bad, there are a lot of good things about me."
"Listen I don't really know you, maybe deep inside, very deep inside, you are a nice guy, who knows? but all I have seen from you is arrogance and If you want me to see you as for what you say you really are I recommend you to start showing your true colors right now otherwise you're screw and I'm warning you, you're intentions towards Kim better be good, or I'll hunt you down and kill you."
"That's fair; I promise my intentions are not bad."
"They better not be. We reach the hill I'm going to hang in the left you can hang in the right just do as I say and no one will die." Rocky gave him instructions and after a while they jumped from the hill."
After a couple of hours of hang gliding the guys decided they had enough so they went to eat in front of the beachfront promenade in a small restaurant they found there and then they headed back to the pub.
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Riverside Pub B&B
It was already 8 o'clock when the guys arrive at the pub. Kim was behind the bar with Aidan and Liam serving the crowd.
She saw the guys come in and saw they all look exhausted. Rocky approach her and greeted her "hi Kim how's everything?"
"Hey! Everything's great, how did it go?" Kim asked him
"It was…great. We went hang gliding." he said.
"Yeah we figure it out, you hate the place why other reason would you go there? So please tell me you guys got along just fine." She implored.
"Well at first me and Tom had an argument but it's over for now. The other guys are cool though I wouldn't mind hanging out with them once we are back in NK." He admitted.
"Well I'm happy you got along with them." She said happily.
"Kim I just wanted to say… "Rocky said without finishing what he was going to say.
"What?" Kim asked worried.
"Never mind, is not important." He decided that she was smart and intelligent and she didn't need him telling her how to live her life. "Where's Aisha?"
"She must be in the kitchen she is serving food." She said.
"Well me and Billy are heading back to the house we are exhausted."
"You are not going to eat?" she asked.
"No we ate on our way here. Well I'm going to look for Billy, see you back at the house."
"Okay see you guys later" Kim said.
After Rocky and Billy left, Jason, Zack and Tom went to greet Kim. Jason and Zack just went to say hi and left to their rooms, Tom stayed he wanted to talk to Kim and now was the right time. He waited until she had a break from all the people that were at the bar.
"Hey Kim, could I talk to you for a second?" Tom asked her.
"Um yeah sure." She said nervously "Liam could you cover for me for a while?"
"Yeah don't worry, go ahead" the sandy blond hair guy said.
She walked with him to a table and they took a seat "So what's up?"
"You know I'm leaving on Friday and I was wondering if you would like to go out with me tomorrow" he said not looking nervous at all.
"You mean like on a date? Just the 2 of us?" she asked starting to panic.
"Yeah" he said.
"You want to go on a date with me? Why?" she asked confuse.
"Because I'm attracted to you and I want to get to know you, I'm really interested in you." he said going straight to the point.
"Why would a guy like you go out with a girl like me? If you just want to have some fun with me you have the wrong person!" she warned him.
"Why does everyone think that? I don't want to play with you I really like you!" he insisted.
"You just met me, you don't know me that well to like me!" she said exasperated.
"It doesn't matter! I feel the way I do I can't help it! We live in the same city, is not like we won't see each other ever again, that's why I'm taking this chance, I plan to see you again once we are back there and I want to go out with you tomorrow or on Thursday is all I want! Just give me a chance to see if there could be something between us!" he begged her.
"But I don't want to have nothing with you! I don't want to have nothing with no one!" she claimed.
"Why not?" He pressed her.
"Because is not what I want right now." she replied.
"Just give me an opportunity, please I beg you. I will not leave you alone until you say yes." He urged.
"Why do you insist so much?" she saw he was really desperate.
"Because I'm afraid that I will never find someone like you ever again, I can't let you say no, I need to know… I feel like we belong together and I have never felt like this before, it's just one date and if after that you don't want to see me again then I… well I can't really promise that I will leave you alone because I can be very persistent." He said without hesitating.
"Yeah it seems you always get what you want, don't you?" she said with her arms crossed, she looked down and didn't said anything for a while after she considered his request she said "I'll go on a date with you, somehow you convinced me but I can't promise you more, I told you I'm not looking for a relationship and I mean it."
"I understand that but sometimes we change our minds just like I have on this trip." He said hopefully.
"So since you asked me out is up to you to plan the date." Kim said.
"I already did." He replied
"You don't waste time do you? You didn't wait for me to say yes." Kim said smiling. The guy was really too sure of himself, nothing stopped him and it was that determine attitude that made her say yes.
"Like I said I wasn't going to give up until you said yes." He said smiling back.
"It has to be after 6 because I have to work tomorrow." She said.
"No you don't." he stated.
"Yes I do!" she exclaimed. "This guy really is something else." She thought.
"No you don't, I talked to your grandfather and I asked him if he could give you the day free and he said yes." He had in fact talked to him when they arrive at the pub.
"You really work fast." She said impressed.
"Yeah well I'm use to think ahead."
"So now that you have everything plan where are you taking me? And at what time am I suppose to be here?" she asked anxiously.
"Oh you are not coming here, I'm going to get you and I don't believe in surprises so I'm taking you to the only place I know in Ireland, we are going to Dublin since is not that far away from here and I'm going to get you at 10."
"You are really bossy it's scary, I don't think I like that." She said.
"I'm sorry, I know I sound like I'm giving orders I'm just use to it because is all I do" he said
"Well I better go help the guys and you should go to sleep you look tired." She pointed out.
"Yeah I am very tired, thanks for saying yes." He said gratefully.
"Is not like I had a choice you were planning to hunt me until I said yes." She went behind the bar again.
He just went upstairs to take a shower and rest. He had never felt so happy in his entire life.
Aidan told Kim she could leave with Aisha it was late and he, Liam and the others could handle the crowd.
Kim was driving the van when Aisha started asking questions.
"So what was that all about? What were you guys talking about? You seemed angry at first."Aisha asked eagerly. She saw the whole thing, she couldn't hear their conversation because of the noise but she suspected he asked her out.
"You are so nosy" Kim said laughing.
"Oh come on, I tell you everything!"Aisha pushed.
Kim looked at her and decided to tell her "He asked me out."
"He did? I knew it! What did you say?" Aisha asked urgently.
Kim looked embarrassed "I said yes" she said wanting to hit herself.
"You did?" that was something she wasn't expecting at all.
"I know you are surprise, I'm surprise to, he is very persuasive he convinced me to go out with him I told him I didn't want to but he insisted and in desperation I said yes."
"Oh come on you like him."
"Even If I like him, I still don't want nothing with him right now." she didn't deny the fact that she liked him "I must be going crazy or something, I have a perturbed mind. How can I be attracted to him? He is the kind of person I avoid and here I am ready to go on a date with him!" They arrive at the house.
They arrive at the house and descended the car Aisha went to her side and interlocked her arms with Kim's and said "don't worry about it Kim, sometimes life doesn't go the way we plan and sometimes is for good maybe this is something good for you. See it as a new chapter in your life; change is what makes life interesting monotony is boring. Just give him a chance and give yourself a chance."
Kim looked doubtful; change scared the crap out of her. She had a deep conflict with herself and it wasn't just one thing that bothered her but a lot of things. Things that on the outside seem ridiculous but at the end they were things she had to take into consideration.