Chapter 1: Dinner Date Night.

Erin beamed happily at the reflection of herself in the mirror. 'The Cranberries-Dreams' was playing in the background as she finished applying her makeup. 'Subtle but seductive' Aunt Sarah coined the phrase as Erin practiced her seductive expressions, raising her eyebrows, pursing her lips, and attempting to smile alluringly.

Erin was preparing herself for a dinner date with James. She was meeting him round the Mallon house where he was cooking her dinner, along with a rented movie afterwards. Unfortunately, they wouldn't be alone; Michelle had been put under strict orders from Deidre and Mary to chaperone their date to make sure there was no funny business going on, much to Michelle's chagrin. Erin had spotted that James had been preoccupied over the last couple of weeks, but truth be told, they all had. It had been a month since Marco had gone back to England. Normal business had resumed at school now that they were all focusing on tackling their A-Levels.

Erin and James had especially been working hard in school solely for keeping in line with the ground rules that Sister Michael had laid down with their blossoming relationship. They hadn't realized just how hard it would be to not show any grand signs of affection in public, even though the whole school now knew they were dating.

However, with James being busy, Erin had been able to lend a shoulder for Orla to lean on, who had not been her usual chirpy, quirky self since Marco had left. But there had been moments where the old Orla emerged, whenever she had her Walkman on, she smiled at the selection of songs that Marco had mixed for her. But then where were moments where even the music brought her to tears. She would sometimes sit right next to the telephone, hoping for it to ring. As annoying as her cousin's antics would normally have been, Erin always poised herself when gently reminding Orla that Marco also needed to focus on passing his GCSE resits.

Ironically, it wasn't the lack of calls from Marco that upset Orla. It was outside influences; Marco had managed to call James sporadically, which had become the only reliable alternative when it came to pass on messages to Orla and the gang. Somehow, there had been a scourge placed on every time Marco tried to call the Quinn house. As if some force of nature was always preventing Marco from getting through to speak to Orla. The scourge was in the form of Uncle Colm. The most overbearingly boring member of the Quinn/McCool family had been laid up at home with a broken leg and had been told to ring whenever he felt the need for any company. The only problem was that it had become as regular as clockwork, sometimes on the hour, every hour. With the conversation sometimes going on for an hour.

Erin walked into the kitchen and saw Mary looking up at the ceiling, rubbing her eyes with despair; Uncle Colm was on the phone to her again, melting her brain with his latest nonsensical monologue about nothing.

"Ye look nice, Erin." Gerry said.

"Ach, thanks Daddy." Erin replied. Gerry smiled proudly.

Erin then investigated the lounge and saw Orla lying on the sofa. Erin felt a sincere sense of guilt as she regarded her sad cousin. Orla had always been a beacon of cheerfulness, whatever the situation. Erin walked towards her.

"Hello, love." Joe said. Catching her attention.

"Alright, Granda?" Erin smiled as she regarded him.

"Ye look lovely." Joe said with a smile.

"Thanks." Erin smiled again.

"Aye, ye do look cracker, Erin." Orla croaked slowly. Erin turned to see Orla looking up at her.

"Ach, Thanks, Orla…. Anything ye want me to do?" Erin implied.

"Aye, ask James for me." Orla replied.

"Aye I will. Any messages to pass on?" Erin suggested.

Orla didn't answer. She shook her head, she knew that there weren't any words that could magically make Marco appear, as much as she wanted there to be. Erin frowned, she walked over and kissed Orla on the forehead.

"See ya later, ok?"

"Alright…. have a good time." Orla replied with the slightest smile.

"Thanks Orla…. See everyone later." Erin called out as she headed out.

James placed a pair of small candles onto the table and surveyed the dinner. Everything seemed to be in order, and he nodded in approval. Then Michelle bounded into the kitchen and scoffed at his appearance.

"Fucking hell! Are ye seriously wearing that t shirt to ya date?" Michelle asked, appalled at the food stains.

"Oh yeah! I thought she could just eat the food right off me." James shot back. Michelle wrenched at the thought, which made James chuckle.

"Sicko!" Michelle replied mockingly. She then walked into the hallway, and quickly doubled back towards the fridge, holding a bottle of wine.

"What's that?"

"Just some wine. Thought it might go well with ya dinner." Michelle placed the bottle into the fridge.

"What?"

"Ach, Wise up James, if you're going all in with the candles, and the nice dinner, don't ya think Erin'd be expecting a bit of booze as well? or were ye just gonna give her coke or orangeade or some shit like that? Christ James! She's not 12 ya know!" Michelle snapped.

"Yeah…. I guess…. But what if Aunt Deidre finds out?! She isn't gonna be thrilled if she finds out we're drinking on a school night."

"Well so am I. Listen, if they're gonna stick me with watching yas, at least let me do it my way."

James nodded slightly in agreement. Michelle was still Michelle, but at least she was making a decent effort towards making things unawkward for Erin and James. For all the ground rules that everyone had laid out, from Sister Michael to the parents; it was Michelle, of all people, who had been the one to give Erin and James the space they needed to be a couple. A-levels were racking enough, but the two counted their blessings that this dinner date was allowed to take place on a school night. James went upstairs to change his top. No sooner had he gone upstairs, the doorbell rang. Michelle went and answered the door.

"Alright?!" Michelle asked Erin.

"Aye, where's James?"

"Get inside, he's upstairs."

"Hi Erin!" James called down.

"Hiya!"

"Just go in the living room, I'll be down in a minute."

"OK, fine." Erin called up.

Erin and Michelle both made their way into the living room, Erin glanced towards the kitchen, but Michelle quickly grabbed her attention.

"Looking nice…. Handbag."

"What?"

"Handbag, hand it over." Michelle ordered.

"What for?"

"Just do it."

"Ok…."

Erin handed her handbag over and Michelle rifled through the little contents inside.

"Ok. Clean."

"What were ye searching for? did ye think we were gonna be doing drugs or something?" Erin joked.

"Uh… more like searching for rubber johnnies."

"Ach, for god's sake Michelle!"

"OI! Not my rules, but I don't object to them."

"Jesus Christ! Romeo and Juliet didn't even have to go through this shite!" Erin scoffed.

"Yeah, Well, I could always change my mind about yous two altogether." Michelle suddenly said severely. Erin squinted at her friend.

"…. Ach. Good steever, Michelle!" Erin shot back.

"Catch yourself on, I'm only joking." Michelle said.

Michelle shook her and chuckled at her friend's nervous disposition. At that point, James walked in from the kitchen.

"Hiya."

"Hi." Erin spun round and planted a cheerful peck on James's cheek. "Bout ye?"

"Yeah, good. You look nice."

"Thanks. You do too." Erin said.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing. Dicko. Just chatting." Michelle assured him.

"Well, shall we go through?"

James held out his hand to Erin who smiled and offered her hand in return, as James led her into the kitchen, Michelle rolled her eyes and smirked at the loved-up couple. She then followed them. Erin beamed happily at the lit pair of candles and the aroma of dinner. James poured out the wine into three glasses. Michelle quickly swiped the first poured glass.

"Cheers!" Michelle then swiped a plate of pasta and chicken that James had made ready for her. "See you two eejits after."

"After? What she gonna do? Sit in between us for the film?"

"Don't worry about it." James then handed Erin a glass. He slid the chair out gallantly and she sat.

"See, I never would have known how to do that." Erin said sarcastically.

James chuckled as he walked over and placed dinner on the table. Erin smiled at the single rose on the table. Her gaze then turned up at the wee English fella. Her eyes never left him as he walked around the kitchen, tidying as he went before sitting next to her at the corner of the table. Erin slid her hand onto his leg, and stroked it gently, at which James's face blushed. He then noticed her dreamy gaze.

"What are you thinking about?" James asked politely.

"Nothing." Erin replied, her gaze and smile unflinching.

"Nah, Come on. I know when you've got something on your mind."

"How do ye know?" Erin teased.

"Your eyes go all… distant."

"They do not!"

"Yes they do!"

"…. All I was doing was just savouring everything. Ye know? Observing and absorbing." She remarked as she leaned in slowly and they kissed.

"Urgh! Boke!" Michelle wrenched as she watched from round the corner.

Erin and James shot an annoyed look as she laughed back to her seat in the living room. With the moment lost, they rested their foreheads on each other's and sniggered. They turned to their food and began. Erin's eyes rolled as she tasted. James knew it was her favourite plate from the previous dinner party he and Marco had put together. James smiled broadly at his facially passionate girlfriend. Erin's facial language was always a sure sign of a very good or very bad thing. This was certainly a good thing. As they ate, the two briefly discussed their A-levels, and then the subject of Fat Boy Slim came up. Erin cringed at the thought having to ask her Mammy for tickets, money was always such an issue in the Quinn household. Erin had still not gotten over the fact that there was no trust funds available. -Fecking Jenny Joyce.

"I can always ask my mum for the money?" James suggested.

"No. Ye don't have to do that." Erin quickly shot that idea down.

"Wise up, Erin! That's a grand idea!" Michelle called from the living room.

"Michelle, do you mind?" James protested.

"I am not going to get James to ask his Mammy for the money?" Erin called back.

"Why the fuck not?" Michelle suddenly stood in the doorway.

"Because I don't want ANYTHING from her! Ye said so yourself, she's a selfish- " Erin stopped herself.

James turned and engaged Erin, who was looking at Michelle, but then turned to James, hoping she hadn't upset him, she frowned nervously. James assured her by taking her hand, gripping it gently.

"Sorry. Hope I didn't- "Erin started but James shook his head, letting her know without saying a word that he was ok with her opinion. Michelle's blunt honesty about Cathy Maguire had been a regular jibe of hers since James had arrived in Derry, and he understood that Erin was taking a stand for him, as Clare and Orla had also done.

"How about we only ask her, only if it's ABSOLUTELY necessary?" James attempted to balance the situation. Erin and Michelle glanced at each other and agreed.

"Right! So that's settled then." Michelle said. Who went back in the living room again.

They finished their dinner, and now Erin and James began to clear the plates over to the sink. James washed and Erin dried. Erin suddenly grabbed James and turned him towards her, and she pulled him in for a snog. James carefully wrapped his arms around her, but kept his hands at bay, as they were still wet. As Erin came away, she smiled as her lipstick had left a smudge on James's lips. She tided him up and he stood there smiling broadly.

"I've been waiting all day to do that." James admitted.

"Not as much as me." Erin admitted quietly, gasping in relief.

"You look beautiful tonight. Not that that's anything new you know? I mean, you always look beautiful." James said nervously.

Erin smiled and stroked his cheek gently, they leaned in and kissed again, and again. James had managed to dry his hands and pulled Erin closer. She wrapped her arms around his neck and they met for another snog.

"OI! You two! Enough of that!" Michelle shouted.

"Sweet Jesus!" Erin moaned.

"How did she even know?" James whispered.

"I know cos you two snog like a cow chewing the curd!" Michelle shouted.

Erin gawked and marched into the living room. James rolled his eyes and blew out the candles on the table, following Erin into the living room.

"Can ye not give my head peace, Michelle! There's really is no need!" Erin scoffed.

"I'm just doing my job. No funny business!"

"Yeah, but you could be just a bit more lenient, Michelle!" James argued softly as they sat on the sofa.

"….. So, what's the film?" Michelle asked.

"Bad Boys!" James revealed. "It's got Will Smith in it."

"Ach, class. Proper ride so he is." Michelle claimed.

"What's it about?" Erin asked.

"It's a cop comedy kind of film. You don't mind. Do you?"

"No. I got pick last time." Erin replied.

"That must have been a right Melter for you, Ach James?" Michelle joked.

"No, I thought Pride and Prejudice was really good." James replied, Erin smiled at his approval.

"Fecking Wuss." Michelle smirked.

"Oh. Before I put the film on. There's something I want to show you." James got up and headed towards the TV.

"What is it?" Erin asked.

"Well, I know I've been a bit…. Busy. Well, this is why." He said, holding up a video cassette.

"What? You haven't been making dirty videos or something?" Michelle asked, sniggering.

"What!? NO!" James shot back as he slid the tape into the video recorder.

"Michelle!"

"It's…. just something I've been working on at school. It's like a music video." James remarked.

Erin smiled with intrigue as James sat next to her and pressed PLAY. Michelle glanced between them and the TV as it started. 'Bryan Adams-Everything I do' started to play as slow-motion video footage began to play. Footage from the past two years that James had captured on his camcorder.

The girls standing amongst the walls and the guards within Derry.

The view from the hills.

The messy aftermath from the prom.

The group together after President Clinton's visit.

Footage from Barry's amusement park in Portrush.

The group together getting ready before they took to the stage for the talent show.

The girls buzzing after the Take That concert.

Erin began to spot the multiple zoom-in shots on her, at both funny and sad moments. She gazed at the film and took in the words of the world-famous song from 1991. Michelle began to spot newer footage from the dinner party, the group hanging out, Orla enthusiastically dancing her steps for the camera, with Marco catching her every time she jumped on him. Clare shying away from the camera, being chased by Michelle herself, along with herself teasing to put the camera down her top, of course of which she didn't.

The final shot was of all five of them looking out on Derry from the walls, the footage was from Marco's camcorder. The final zoom-in was on Erin and James as the film faded to black in sync with the final lyrics.

"You know it's true; Everything I do….. oohhhhhh….. I do it for you…."

Erin and Michelle sat silently. James awaited some kind of feedback. Erin's eyes were glazed as she turned and smiled broadly at the wee English fella. James eyes met hers. Michelle stayed quiet as she turned slowly and looked at her cousin and best friend. Erin leant in and kissed James. They were both lost in the moment. James felt extremely proud of what he had pieced together, and this was the vindication of his labour. But then….

"WAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH

YA

BAAAAAAASTAAAAARDDDDSSSSSS!"

Erin and James's lives flashed as a masked figure shot up from behind the sofa, waving a giant machete. James and Erin screamed and fell off the sofa in utter panic! The figure made its way round the sofa towards Erin, causing her to scream and run behind Michelle's chair. The living room lights then came on, they turned and saw Clare at the light switch, holding a camcorder. Michelle's cackled a maniacal laugh as they came back to reality.

"Fucking Hell! What the actual fuck?!" James shrieked. Looking at Michelle in blind panic.

"Clare?! How could you?!" Erin claimed as she saw her wee lesbian friend shaking with laughter with the camcorder shaking in her hands.

"GOTCHA MOTHERFUCKERS!" Michelle shouted hysterically. Who bounded out of her chair to stand with the now unmasked figure, who Erin and James saw was none other than Orla, sniggered uncontrollably with Michelle.

"Great craic, isn't it you guys?" Orla exclaimed happily, still wielding the machete high. Causing Michelle to suddenly flinch for the size of the weapon.

"Jesus! Alright Orla! Put it down!" Michelle said, still laughing. Orla expertly slid the machete back in its scabbard whilst beaming with pride.

"Or…La!" Erin whispered, shaking her head slowly. "Where in God's name did you get that?"

"Jim from across the road." Orla replied.

"And he just lent you it?" Erin asked, gawking at Orla.

"Aye. Told them I needed it for hunting."

Just then, while Erin and James were reeling from what just happened. The phone started to ring.

"Ach, I wonder who that could be?" Clare teased. She walked over and picked up the phone. Erin went to stand by James, his face was white as a sheet as he shook his head unbelievably at Orla and Clare.

"You two! Why?" James asked, gawking awkwardly. But Clare was too busy talking on the phone to notice what was being said.

"Aye! It was cracker!" Clare said, laughing down the phone to the caller.

"Who is that?" Erin asked.

"Aye, we're grand thanks…. Aye ok, talk soon. James it's for you." Clare looked at James.

James walked over curiously to the phone; his mind still digesting what just happened. He cleared his throat as he took the phone.

"Hello?" James squeaked.

"Did you shit yourself?" The voice asked. James then squinted his eyes inquisitively. He knew what it was.

"Yoooooou Baaaaastard!" James cried, unable to stop a half smile cracking across his grimaced face which grew as he heard a familiar hysterical laugh echoed in his ear.

"Who is it?!" Erin asked, still frazzled, but annoyed.

"Who d'ya think? I swear mate, sometimes…" James laughed as he motioned Erin over, she snatched the phone from James, spying who the laughing hyena was.

"Marco! I swear to God!- " Erin couldn't begin her tirade as she heard the rest of the group laughing.

"… I fucking hate ya!" Erin shouted down the phone whilst looking at the girls, starting to laugh herself.

"I'm sorry mate." Marco managed to say through his giggling.

"NO! I am not fucking talking to ye now!" Erin tried to sound upset but sounded more soppy than serious. She was fooling no one.

"Oh, come on! I'm weally weally sowwy Ewin!" Marco claimed with a childish voice.

"…. Shut ye fecking bake ya great dose! Orla! Come talk to this fella of yours." Erin smiled as she shook her head.

Orla bounded over and took the phone while the others chatted amongst themselves.

"Hiya Marco!... Aye, they proper shat themselves, so they did!" Orla beamed a large smile as she laughed along with Marco through the phone. Erin and James rolled her eyes but they were also actually happy to see Orla smiling.

"It's good to hear you laughing, Orla." Marco said.

"Aye…. I still miss ya though." Orla said with a slight frown.

"I miss you too. But at least we got a laugh outta this, right?" Marco replied.

"Aye, we did so." Orla smiled.

"Just keep smiling. OK?" Marco said.

"OK."

"Talk to you tomorrow?"

"Aye. I'll call you, hi?" Orla asked.

"Yeah. After 6 o'clock." Marco replied.

"OK. Bye!"

"Bye!"

Orla covered the mouthpiece up and blew some kisses down the phone and hung up.

"Marco said bye to everyone." Orla said.

"Oh, isn't that nice." Erin said, sarcastically.

"Wanker!" James quipped, finally recovered from the shock, Orla sniggered as she hugged the wee English fella. James, always with a soft spot for one of his best friends, could never stay mad at Orla.

"Ach, you miss him, really, ye soppy English prick!" Michelle quipped back to him.

"…. Yeah, of course I do." James admitted. He knew no one would believe him really being angry at Marco.

"So, what are we doing now?" Orla asked.

"Well, ye might as well all sit and watch the film with us?" Erin proclaimed.

"No way! I wanna see James's video!" Clare stated.

"Ach, that'd be grand." Orla said happily.

Erin and James acknowledged the request, and they sat down and played back James's music video. They smiled at James's work, and felt contented, the sixth member of the group may not have been there in person, but was certainly there in spirit.