Chapter 2: Fight for this Love.

Marco's POV: Date October 15th 1997 5:50pm

Marco lay propped up on his bed, he leant against the wall as he read his book. The small bedroom that had been his home for the past month or so was ideal as it had very little distraction. The only main features were a very small kitchen counter which had a kettle and a box of PG tips on top. The second being a single bookshelf over the bedside which Marco had used as a shrine to his friends in Derry. More specifically, it was the only place where he could line up all the Kinder Surprise Toys that Orla had sent him in her letters, along with the now small, framed polaroid. The safe house had a community kitchen and lounge area two floors down, which had a pool table and a TV, but Marco scarcely ventured down to socialise, he was more resided to passing his GCSE resits. Marco had also gotten a part time job as a waiter not too far away in an Italian restaurant. The job was a nice escape from classes, as it was easy work, the people who ran the restaurant were nice, he could speak both Italian and English to the other staff members, during the past month, Marco had become friends with the restaurant's head chef, a mature man in his mid-50s called Alfonso who had taken Marco under his wing.

Even though he desperately missed Orla, and the rest of the gang; Marco had finally started to see things clear inside his own mind for the first time in a long time. The probate for his Nanna's estate was now complete, and the read out for the will was only 1 week away. He had seen his mum, who attempted to coax him again to come home, but when she accidently slipped that her on/off partner Billy Foreman was once again back in the fray. Marco refused point blank to come home. To him, that wasn't home anymore. The newfound friendship with Alfonso, along with the advice from Sister Michael had helped Marco gain an idea with what he wanted to do with his life.

Unfortunately, Marco's clarity had also come at a cost. Two weeks previously, he finally received a phone call from Sister Michael's friend, a priest and tutor at Belfast College called Father William Ashton. However, the phone call did not bring Marco the news he wanted to hear. As much as he wished to help, Father Ashton was unable to offer Marco anything without the relevant GCSE qualifications in order to get into the college. Marco felt compelled to keep this sad news from Orla, as much as he didn't want to keep anything from her, he worried that the news would crush her. However, Marco had just begun to read Steinbeck's story 'Of Mice and Men' as part of his final GCSE English Literature coursework paper. Marco knew that he couldn't allow himself to be distracted by the sad news, so he cast it aside and chose to stay focused on the task at hand.

Marco sighted the time; 5:55pm. He was due to start his shift at 6:30pm, and he was due to give Orla a call before he started work. They may have been apart, but 6pm had quickly become their favourite time of the day. Marco was already dressed for work; he locked up his room and made his way down to the payphone that was in the reception area. Marco smiled as he heard the phone ringing, he looked up as he counted his blessings for managing to get through this time.

"Hello, Colm?" Joe answered, with a sense of dread.

"Hello, Joe?"

"…. Ach, Is that you, Marco?!" Joe asked, relieved.

"Yeah, it's me!"

"By Christ! How bout ye, lad?" Joe asked, smiling.

"I'm good thanks, how about you?"

"I'm grand, thanks. How's college treating ye?"

"Pretty good, thanks."

"Aye? Good lad. I take it ye rang because ya wanna talk to Orla instead of me, hi?"

"Well, yes…. Not that I don't like talking to you, Joe." Marco laughed embarrassingly.

"Ach, catch yourself on." Joe joked, Marco chuckled.

"So is Orla there?" Marco asked. Joe didn't answer.

"…. What's wrong, Joe?"

"Well…. bit of bad news, Marco. Orla isn't here."

"…. Oh, what? Is she out?"

"Not exactly, son. She's in detention." Joe answered grimly.

"Why? What happened?"

"I was gonna ask you the same thing, son." Joe replied. Marco swallowed hard.

Orla's POV: October 15th 1997 3:00pm

Sister Michael stared sternly at Orla and Shannon. The nun then rose from her chair and walked round to the front of her desk to engage them both as closely as possible. Sister Michael surveyed them both. Both girls had earlier been involved in a tumultuous fight during the lunch break. Shannon sported a black eye, while Orla nervously ran her tongue over the swollen lump on her lower lip.

James and the other girls stood near the office door. They were not involved in the fracas, but they had tried to calm things down. Michelle paced on the spot, adrenaline flowing through her like electricity.

"Well…. Need I ask why this…. Happened?" The nun asked quietly, with no answer from either girl.

"Am I going to have to ask again?!" Sister Michael raised her voice.

"She started it, Sister Michael." Orla answered quietly. Looking up at her.

"No! You started it! you hit ME!" Shannon shouted. Orla stayed quiet.

"That's a lie!" Michelle snapped. "Ya couldn't just leave it alone!"

"Shut ya bake Mallon!" Shannon cried.

"That is ENOUGH!" Sister Michael yelled.

"Sister, it's true; Shannon started it all!" Michelle protested.

"Get out of my office now! All four of you!" Sister Michael ordered the group of friends.

Orla spun her head to look at them, she was going to be alone on this one. She shot a look of fear towards Erin. Who mirrored her own fears for her cousin.

"Miss Mooney, send in Miss Joyce." Sister Michael requested.

The four turned to see Jenny Joyce walk in, they then began to reluctantly move out of the office, Erin being the last to go, she couldn't stand seeing her kind-hearted cousin so isolated, but she had no choice but to leave with the others. They opted to stay right outside the now shut door. Erin breathed heavily with apprehension, James stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her in support. Erin gripped his arms strongly.

"Now! Miss Joyce. I want to hear from you exactly what happened." Sister Michael ordered.

"All I can remember, Sister, is there being a lot of heated words between Shannon and Orla, the others were talking too. Most of the insults were coming from Shannon. Mostly about Orla's…. 'friend' Marco, and then, Shannon shouted Your fella must be… fucking demented for liking a…. fucking retard like you!" I then saw Orla throw a punch. Then it all went a bit mad." Jenny answered.

Sister Michael gazed Shannon's angry filled face, that stared a hole through Jenny.

"Am I right in assuming that you have some sort of issue with Orla's… relationship with the English fella, Shannon?" Sister Michael asked. Shannon's jealousy came to the surface.

"Issue! Aye. I hate the English! And he was over here, acting all luvvy duvvy when he hasn't got a single fucking clue about the crap that his lot put our lot through! He doesn't belong here! And for her to have any kind of thing for someone like that isn't right in the head, Sister!"

"Ya weren't saying that when ye batted ya eyes at him, and asked him if he'd dance with Anna though, did ye?" Orla said, defending her fella.

"That was before I knew he was as retarded as you!" Shannon scowled. Orla grimaced her face and went to stand.

"Orla, sit down!" Sister Michael ordered. "Shannon. Whatever you opinion is of Mr Galluci, and his relationship with Orla, inside these walls, it is certainly NOT your place to voice such repulsive language and behaviour. However, Orla, despite your reasons for standing up for yourself, and Marco, I will not tolerate any physical entanglements in this school. I will draw a line under this right now. You shall both have one week's detention. And I shall hear no more of this, is that clear?!"

"Yes, Sister Michael." Both Orla and Shannon answered.

Sister Michael ordered them to leave. Shannon stormed out, slamming the door shut before Orla got close enough. Orla then stopped and turned towards Sister Michael. She walked towards the desk and tried to catch the Nun's eye. But Sister Michael did not look up.

"Sister?" Orla began, awaiting a response.

"Yes, Orla?" Sister Michael answered. Her gaze did not budge.

"…. Have you?" Orla stalled. Her head began to throb. She grabbed her head and breathed through the pain.

"For God's sake, Orla. Out with it!" Sister Michael spoke loudly.

"Have ye heard from your friend in Belfast?!" Orla blurted out. There was a slight silence.

"I have." Sister Michael answered, she still didn't look up.

"Is it good news?" Orla asked hopefully. Sister Michael finally caught Orla's eyes.

"…. Orla. My friend, Father Ashton did all he could, but… I'm sorry."

Orla's heart sank. She frowned sadly at the harsh truth that Sister Michael had just hit her with. Her head throbbed harder, and her eyes began to sting.

"Does Marco know?" She managed to ask. Her voice cracking.

"He does. Father Ashton spoke to him a couple of weeks ago." Sister Michael said.

Orla stood shell shocked. She then turned and walked out of Sister Michael's office as if in a daze. The group spotted her dishevelled demeanour as she walked out.

"Orla? What's wrong?" Erin asked. Concerned for her cousin.

"Orla?" James asked.

"OI, Orla!" Michelle asked as Orla walked past her.

"What's happening, Orla?!" Clare asked. But Orla just walked on, she slammed the door hard behind her. The group stood in astonishment.

10:40pm

Joe McCool gently stroked his granddaughter's hair as her head lay on Sarah's lap. Sarah regarded her daughter sadly. Orla had been crying ever since she came home from detention. She now lay asleep with exhaustion. Erin sat on the stairs and leant on James's shoulder. James kissed her forehead and leant his head on hers. Erin's sadness matched Orla's.

"Why didn't he say anything James? Why?" Erin asked quietly.

"I don't know, Erin. I can only imagine… it must have been too hard for him?" James guessed.

"But he's our mate. We're not supposed to have secrets from each other." Erin said sadly.

Suddenly, the phone rang. Joe shot a knowing look towards Sarah and Mary. Joe walked into the hallway, he acknowledged Erin and James as he picked up the phone. The couple listened intently to the only side of the conversation.

"Hello, son." Joe said. Already knowing who it was.

"…Aye. She knows, She's not been good." Joe said.

"… She's been asleep for about an hour now. It's best to let her rest, lad."

James took Erin by the hand and led her into the kitchen towards the other phone. They gently picked up the phone and just heard Marco talking.

"Can you just…. Tell her I'm sorry." Marco asked.

"I will, son." Joe sighed.

"Thanks, Joe." Marco said, his voice full of regret.

"Bye for now, son."

"Bye."

James shut his eyes with regret. He felt the same sense of ineptness as he did when he found out about Marco's troubled past. Erin placed the phone down and hugged her boyfriend, sharing his sadness.