Chapter 23: Morning Showdown.
Erin awoke on Monday morning to find she was by herself in her bedroom. Incredibly, this felt subnormal to her. She always wished for moments where she could have her own privacy. She would normally have seen Orla sitting at the end of her bed reading her diary for the thousandth time. But Orla was nowhere to be seen. She couldn't bring herself to enjoy this one moment of tranquillity because she'd had a hard time falling asleep last night; she couldn't get the image of the kitchen phone being off the hook out of her head. She retraced the phone conversation she'd had yesterday with James and wondered if her Mammy had heard anything. Again, in her mind, her privacy had been violated. She then started wondering if her parents were deliberately trying to make her crack under pressure and confess. As if her new relationship with the wee English fella was something prohibited.
Erin scoffed and brought herself to get ready. The familiar school uniform was once again donned on the petite Derry girl. As she straightened her blazer, she spotted that her fists were clenched. Her mind then flashed back to two nights previously. She looked down at her right fist, and remembered the gratification she felt when she gave Katya that one good shot to the gut. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled at herself with satisfaction. Granda's advice paid off; she thought to herself.
"Erin, are ye up, Love?!" Mary called.
"Aye, coming Mammy." Erin came back to reality.
She gulped nervously as she walked downstairs. Mary, Gerry, and Joe were sitting at the table. All three of them turned to see Erin walk in. Erin could feel the three pairs of eyes spying her as we said good morning, watching her every move.
"Toast, love?" Gerry asked.
"Cup of tea, anyone?" Joe asked.
"Morning Erin. Morning Everyone" Orla said as she entered the house.
"Morning love" Mary said.
"And where were ye this morning, Orla!?" Erin asked, attempting to distract herself.
"What do ye mean?" Orla asked.
"Well, ye normally round here first thing, sitting on my bed and reading my diary. I wake up this morning, and ye weren't there!"
"Aye. I had to get myself ready for school. Your diary isn't the centre of my whole universe, Erin." Orla stated.
"Subnormal dimension more like." Erin shot back.
"Not this early, ye two." Mary stated.
"Are there any pop tarts, Aunt Mary?" Orla asked.
"Aye, ye know where to find them, Orla love." Mary replied.
"Class. Ye want some Erin?"
"What?"
"Do ye want some pop tarts for breakfast?" Orla asked.
"…Aye ok." She replied.
Erin marvelled at her cousin as she bounced towards the kitchen cupboard to find the chocolate pop tarts. There she was without a care in the world, while Erin felt like the earth was set to swallow her up. She was convinced that her parents knew she was dating a fella, and they were just waiting for the opportune moment to chastise her and place a roadblock in front of her from seeing James again. At least in her mind, that's what was happening. Orla was also implicated in this as well, as she was also dating a fella. Surely Granda Joe would have something to say about it; not only were the two cousins dating fellas, but they were also English fellas! Orla placed a plate of pop tarts in front of Erin. She tilted her head and leant on Erin's shoulder as she ate. At this, Erin cracked a half smile. Despite everything, Erin adored how Orla approached life. Secretly, she wished she possessed that same innocence that Orla emitted. Anna caught the girls' attention, which helped distract them from the usual bickering between Gerry and Joe. Orla took Anna from her highchair, and bounced her up and down, while Erin made funny faces at her. Erin spotted a chance to question Orla.
"Orla? Has ya Ma said anything to you about Marco?" She whispered.
"No, nothing." The reply came.
"Nothing at all?"
Orla shook her head; they were distracted again by Anna. Erin chose to leave it for now, heeding what James had said yesterday. The time came for them to head to school. They said their goodbyes and walked to meet up with Clare.
"Morning, ye two. OK… What's the lowdown? Did ye parents say anything?" Clare linked her arms between the cousins as they walked. Like some secret meeting was taking place.
"Why are ye whispering?" Erin asked.
"I'm not sure. But anyways, come on, did they say anything?" Clare asked again.
"No, they haven't." Orla said.
"Are they ill, or something?"
"Don't go on, Clare. Let's just get to school." Erin answered.
As they neared Dennis' wee shop, they heard a familiar voice.
"Wassupp Motherfuckers!?" There was Michelle. Strutting towards them.
James and Marco weren't far behind. Shaking their heads but smirking at Michelle coarseness. The two fellas smiled as they spied Erin and Orla, who had gone to stand behind Erin. James passed a comment to Marco as the group joined up, Orla was walking closely behind Erin, who went straight to James. Orla then made a beeline to hide behind Clare.
"Hi." James said. Smiling at Erin.
"Morning." Erin said with a smile and planted a peck on his cheek, which James reciprocated. Her worries seemed to melt away in seeing her wee English fella.
"Oi! What did I say?" Michelle barked.
"Just saying good morning, Michelle!" James said.
"Aye it's not like we're snogging or anything."
"Just mind! Alright?" Michelle barked.
"Morning Marco." Clare said, feeling Orla hiding behind her. "Orla, what are ye doing?"
"Hey Clare…. You know I can see you back there, right?" Marco teased Orla.
"Hi." Orla said sheepishly.
"What is it?" Marco laughed.
"I think she's a bit embarrassed about ye seeing her in her uniform, Marco." Erin teased.
Marco shot an amused look at Erin and smiled as he felt Orla grab his arm. The group then made their way to school. Soon enough, they stood outside the gates of Our Lady Immaculate. Marco regarded the building he'd so much about; Orla was still holding his arm.
"It's gonna feel weird… you not being with us." James admitted.
"Oh, shut up you tart! What do you want me to hold your hand and walk you in?" Marco quipped.
"Well, yeah actually I do." James feigned sadness, which made the group chuckle.
"Go on. I'll see ya later." Marco said.
"Ach, what ye doing later?" Clare asked.
"I'm gonna go to the gym with Marco." James declared.
Michelle and Clare burst into hysterics as they walked towards the entrance, Erin clenched her lips together, trying not to laugh, she immediately took Orla by the hand, who was hiding her mouth with laughter. Marco began to snigger as well.
"What? What's so funny? What?" James asked the girls as they walked on, he turned to look at Marco.
"What?!" He asked hysterically.
"Would you get into school, ya twat! You'll be late!" Marco mocked.
"Oh, sorry Dad!" James laughed, putting his hands up in protest before giving him the middle finger.
"You too!" Marco returned the gesture.
They laughed and slapped each other's hand. James began to walk in as Marco started to walk away. James was almost bowled over as Orla ran past him, out of the gate.
"Marco?!" She called.
"Yeah?" Marco turned to see Orla running towards him.
Orla gripped him tight for a hug goodbye. Other pupils noticed and turned their heads in astonishment. Their astonishment turned to shock as Orla planted a light kiss on Marco's lips.
"See ya later." Orla said.
"OK." Marco replied. Orla went to walk back into school.
"Hey! Did I tell you that you look beautiful this morning?" Marco called. Making Orla turn back to face him.
"No." Orla said, her cheeks started to blush with shyness.
"Well, you do." Marco said. Orla smiled.
"Bye."
"Bye." Marco replied, as he watched Orla run back into the school. He then turned and walked away.
The five friends soon found themselves sitting in Sister Michael's office, again. The meeting was strangely brief. A simple message of intolerance for violent, anti-social behaviour when outside school, and that she expected better from them. James took responsibility but informed Sister Michael that he was protecting Erin, as it had been David Donnelly who instigated the scuffle by grabbing her. While Sister Michael half-heartedly commended James for his reasons, she still condemned his actions. Meanwhile, Michelle smirked as she recalled seeing Donnelly squirming as he ran for the toilets at the party, not to mention her previous rendezvous with Jason. While Erin smiled at James for taking a stand for her. Sister Michael then moved on to another subject.
"As you know, I shall be meeting your friend later today. Mr Maguire, how is Marco this morning?"
"Yeah, he's fine, thank you, Sister Michael." James answered, curiously.
"Very well. On your way now."
As the group began to leave the office, James whispered to Erin why Sister Michael would ask such a question, to which Erin shrugged her shoulders, unsure herself.
"Just one moment! Miss Quinn and Mr Maguire, I wish to talk to the pair of you."
The pair stopped and stared nervously at each other, James turned to Michelle, who shrugged her shoulders, Orla and Clare looked back and saw them walk back into Sister Michael's office. As they stood side by side, Sister Michael wrote silently, making them wait. She then looked up at the pair of them.
"So, is there anything that you two wish to tell me?"
"Not really sure what ye want us to say, Sister?" Erin replied nervously.
"Really, so should I assume that seeing you two kissing each other in Primark on Saturday was just a figment of my imagination?"
"Ye…. Saw us?" Erin said, almost dying from embarrassment.
"It goes without saying that quite a lot of people saw you, Miss Quinn!"
"We're not trouble for that, are we?" James asked.
"Not in a direct sense, Mr Maguire, but I need to understand what…this situation is before I act appropriately and impartially. So, let's get to it; are you two…. DATING, officially?" She managed to ask.
"Aye, we are sister." Erin declared confidently. Looking at James.
"And do your parents know?"
"Well…. we think so, but we're not sure." James said.
"What, you mean they haven't spoken to you?" Sister Michael asked.
"No, they haven't." James asked, becoming more confused.
"Well, this is awkward. They said they would."
"How do you know that sister?" James asked.
"Well, when I saw you two…. SNOGGING…I felt it right to inform them."
"You told them?!" Erin asked. The pieces were now falling into place.
"Of course, I did. I have a moral obligation to you both while you attend this school. As I explained before, you represent this school inside and outside these walls. And this is a unique and…. delicate manner, Miss Quinn, to say the least."
"But we're not doing anything wrong, Sister!" James protested. Glancing at Erin.
"I am aware of that. But you must try to see things from where I am sitting, Mr Maguire. The school board permitted you to attend this school due to your situation of being…"
"I'm NOT gay!" James shouted.
There was a brief pause, Sister Michael shot a confused look at James.
"I was going to say because you are English! Mr Maguire."
"Oh, sorry." James turned to Erin with an awkward look.
"Ye great Dose!" Erin whispered.
"Besides, all of those rumours were quashed after what I saw in Primark anyway." Sister Michael quipped.
James pulled a bewildered look, as Erin bit her lower lip.
"The situation I now face is how to tackle this new relationship between the two of you. This is something I admit, I did not anticipate. Now; no one is going to stop you from having a relationship, knowing that Miss Quinn's family approve of this union, gives me a vote of somewhat confidence."
Erin and James both shot looks at each other. Erin's suspicions were confirmed, but she felt a sense of elation, her parents were ok with her and James being together. They both beamed smiles at each other at the in-direct news.
"This enables me to lay down a code of conduct that I expect you both to follow while you both attend this school, while together as a… couple; So, therefore, holding hands will be permitted…. And nothing more."
"Is that it?... Just holding hands?" Erin asked, sounding somewhat disappointed.
"Precisely, Miss Quinn; I do not wish to see a reenactment of Basic Instinct or 9 and half weeks every time I walk down a corridor of this school; Or do you wish me to send Mr Maguire to the boy's school and make it easier for you both?"
Erin felt a shiver shoot down her spine. While James had an uncomfortable look about himself when hearing Sister Michael's movie references.
"That is the code of conduct, and I expect you both to adhere to this, is that clear?"
"Yes Sister Michael." They said together.
"I expect you to inform your parents of this code of conduct as well. Now, on your way."
"Yes Sister Michael."
The couple left the office to make their way to their first class. James reached down and held his girlfriend's hand. It was out in the open now, Erin jumped at his touch. She then looked up and saw James smile at her, which made her melt, she smiled affectionately at the wee English fella. She was reminded of how she saw him now, not just a friend, but her boyfriend, her protector. She knew she could face her parents with more confidence now that she knew that her parents knew. Their fingers intertwined and they walked happily to class.
