Morning classes at Our Lady Immaculate College went along like usual. The only real issue was Orla receiving various stares from her classmates, many of them unfriendly looking. By lunchtime, it seemed everyone was glaring at Orla and company. The quirky Derry Girl was taking it all in stride, but the others not so much.

"Ach! Take a fuckin' picture!" Michelle shouted, which got some to look away. "Nosy wee bitches, the whole lot of 'em! Why the fuck did Sister Michael have to open her hole?"

"It's not like we didn't know this wasn't gonna happen," frowned Clare. "Sister Michael was basically yankin' the bandage off."

"Well it's none o' their fuckin' business," groaned Michelle.

"Holdin' up ok, Orla?" Erin asked.

"Aye, cracker, I am," Orla smiled in reply. "Why wouldn't I be? After school I'll get to go see Niall at the park, I will!"

"Have ye not noticed all the shites given ye the stink eye?" Michelle asked.

"Course I have," Orla shrugged as she ate some of her lunch. "No different from usual. We get stared at constantly for various reasons."

"That is... actually a very valid point," said James.

"This shit is different though," retorted Michelle. "This is a bunch of judgmental dickheads not bein' happy for Orla, just cuz my brother is..."

"A Provo?" someone suddenly said.

"Fuck's sake," groaned Michelle.

The person in question was Myra Callahan, a Queen Bee (or Bitch depending on you asked) of the school. She was tall, slender figure, nice complexion, straight chestnut hair, and chocolate brown eyes. She was from a well off family, and took no issue showing off her popularity and designer clothes and accessories. She stood at the Girl's table, two lackeys standing between her, giving a smirk and a wicked glare.

"Just fuck off, Myra!" Michelle exclaimed. "I don't wanna deal with your shit!"

"What's wrong, Michelle?" Myra asked condescendingly. "Upset with me speakin' the truth about yer Provo brother?"

"His name is Niall, ye dumb bitch!" Michelle hissed.

She stood up from her chair to face Myra, making her two lackeys step back slightly. Myra kept her smirk.

"What happened back then was a terrible accident," Michelle continued. "Niall has served his time. So just back the fuck off!"

"Ye gonna do somethin' 'bout it, Mallon?" Myra asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Ach! I would fuckin' love to, I would," smirked Michelle. "But I know someone else who'd love to even more."

Myra seemed confused at first, until she noticed Orla had at some point snuck up behind her. She turned to face her now, Orla giving off a more wicked grin than anyone was used to. Myra attempted to keep her composure, no way she'd let this lot intimidate her. The other Girls stood there with deer in headlights looks, but Orla was totally calm looking.

"Hello there, Myra," Orla greeted with that wicked grin. "Bout ye?"

"Somethin' ye wanna say, McCool?" Myra asked, her voice cracking a little.

"Not feelin' well there, Myra?" Orla asked, they're pretty sure sarcastically. "Voice has a wee crack there, it does."

"Didn't think ye had the mental capacity for sarcasm," Myra chuckled.

"An' I didn't think ye had the mental capacity beyond what accessories ye'll wear today," Orla retorted, making the others gasp.

"Might just wanna step back there, McCool," Myra hissed.

"I'm just standin' here, I am," Orla shrugged, still grinning. "Not even touchin' ye. Plenty o' space to move 'round me, there is."

The standoff was then joined by the ever chipper Jenny Joyce and her best friend/crony, Aisling.

"Hey, guys!" she exclaimed like usual. "How's everyone doin' on this grand day!?"

"Shoot me in the fuckin' face," Michelle groaned under her breath.

"Aye, but it is a grand day, Jenny," Orla replied, never taking her eyes off Myra.

"That's cracker, it is!" Jenny exclaimed.

"The fuck do ye want, Jenny?" Myra asked with clear annoyance in her voice, also never taking her eyes off Orla.

"Well, as a prefect, it's my duty to make sure things are goin' smoothly," Jenny answered. "I couldn't help noticin' ye, Myra, disturbin' Orla and her friends's lunch."

"What makes ye think I did anythin'?" Myra asked, side eyeing Jenny.

"Well, ye are the one that approached their table first," Jenny pointed out. "Most, if not all of us, saw that. An' ye seemed to be givin' off a certain... hostile tone towards them, for no adequate reason. They've certainly ruffled some feathers b'fore, but I can't think of them doin' anythin' today. Can ye, Aisling?"

"I can't think of anythin', Jenny," Aisling agreed.

Myra took her hateful gaze off Orla and onto Jenny and Aisling.

"Ye wee eejits fail to hear what Sister Michael said at mornin' assembly!?" Myra hissed.

"Ye mean the one 'bout Orla havin' a date for the dance this Saturday?" Jenny asked rhetorically. "I admit, it was a rather strange thing to announce."

"The part where her date was a Provo, ye feckin' moron!" Myra exclaimed.

"I seem to recall hearing that Niall was no longer associated with any paramilitary groups," retorted Jenny. "Isn't that right, Orla?"

"Aye, it is," replied Orla, who's eyes were still on Myra. "Niall is a good man, he is."

"I would also assume his sister, cousin, and other new friends would agree," said Jenny.

"Aye, Niall has himself a proper job at Brooke Park," replied Michelle. "My whole family has welcomed him home."

"He showed no hostility towards me, despite my unfortunate happenstance of being English," quipped James.

"He was very supportive of me bein' out an' open," smiled Clare.

"Orla may be a bit... different at times," Erin began awkwardly. "But she knows good people when she sees 'em, an' she never judges."

"I s'pose that should settle things then, Myra," Jenny said in typical cheerful tone. "Might want to go an' finish yer lunch now."

Myra's eyes went wide with anger for a brief second, but then she simply huffed and walked away, her cronies following.

"Well, that was quite the ordeal," sighed Jenny.

"Fuck-a-doodle-do, Jenny! Didn't expect that from ye!" Michelle exclaimed.

"I don't like seein' anyone needlessly harassed," said Jenny. "Ye lot weren't doin' anythin'... this time at least."

The Girls reluctantly snickered at Jenny's quip, who was then surprised by a hug from Orla.

"Ach! Thank ye, Jenny!" Orla exclaimed. "That was class, it was!"

"Not a problem at all, Orla," Jenny replied, gasping slightly from the strength of the hug.

Orla finally let Jenny go from the hug, she was still smiling big at her.

"Well. I hope ye lot have a cracker rest of yer day," Jenny smiled, waved, and walked off, with Aisling following.

Orla and Michelle finally sat back at their table with the rest of the Girls, Michelle let out a huge sigh.

"Fuck me, that was annoyin'," she groaned.

"Thank God we're almost done with school," said Clair.

"Aye, that's grand," said Erin. "Hopefully university is more pleasant."

"At least it'll have fellas," smirked Michelle.

"Not happy with Fin?" James asked.

"Course I am, Dicko!" Michelle exclaimed. "Doesn't mean I can't look, does it!? I don't expect my Fin to look only at me! He's still a fella, after all! An' if any of ye claim otherwise, I'll call ye a liar to yer fuckin' faces!"

"So, Niall looks at other girls too?" Orla asked with a frown.

"Very nice, Michelle," Erin eye rolled.

"Wise up, Erin," said Michelle. "Listen, Orla, just cuz a fella, or girl for that matter, is with someone doesn't mean they don't have a look. As long as they don't go beyond that shit ye don't have to worry. Niall never really got the chance to have a girlfriend, an' he was never some lothario. So don't shite yer tights over this, is what I'm gettin' at."

"Aye, I think I understand, I do," Orla smiled softly. "Thanks, Michelle."

"No bother, Orla," Michelle smiled back.

Niall was thankfully able to get a few hours of sleep after his visit to Our Lady Immaculate College. He began his first day of work at Brooke Park around noon, with his boss/landlord, Seamus. The older fella was giving him the basic rundown at what his job entailed.

"It's nothin' complicated," he explained. "Just need more help pickin' up rubbish off the ground, maintainin' the trimmin' of various topiaries, waterin' plants that may not get water from the sprinklin' system so easily. Most of 'em don't need waterin' everyday, just check the soil with a finger. If it feels particularly dry, give it some attention. Make sure screws aren't loose on playground equipment, plus oil things when needed. Toilets will need attention on a fairly regular basis. Most days it's nothin' too bad, but I'd be lyin' if I said you don't see the occasional scoots or boke in there."

"Nothin' I haven't seen before," Niall chuckled.

"Graffiti is an occasional problem here," Seamus continued. "Hard gettin' that shite removed from certain surfaces, so I don't expect ye to get it all off in one day. Be a feckin' miracle if ye removed it by the end o' the week. Got any questions?"

"I think I got it all," shrugged Niall.

"Take a break every couple hours or so," said Seamus. "No need to work yerself to exhaustion. Keep yerself hydrated too."

The next few hours went by pretty quickly for Niall. The odd jobs he did around the park weren't too difficult, even with his slight limp. He'd kept up a fairly regular fitness routine in prison, it was ideal for keeping his mind focused on other things. It was around 4 that he got some visitors.

"MOTHERFUCKER!" Michelle shouted with glee and she and the other Girls walked towards Niall, who was resting on a bench.

"What are ye lot doin' here?" he asked with a chuckle, standing up from the bench.

"Ye should be more grateful to see us, ya prick!" Michelle chuckled as she gave her older brother a hug. "B'sides, Orla was beggin' to see ye!"

"Was she now?" Niall asked with a smirk.

"Ach! This was Michelle's idea, it was!" Orla exclaimed, brushing brightly.

"So ye didn't wanna see me?" Niall feigned disappointment.

"I didn't say that!" Orla exclaimed, hiding her face in Erin's jacket sleeve.

"Just havin' some fun with ye, I am," Niall chuckled. "I'm definitely glad ye came by, includin' the rest of ye."

James gave Niall a handshake and a hug, Erin and Clare went in just for handshakes, but Niall pulled each of them in for a hug as well.

"What are ye all gettin' up to?" Niall asked.

"I got work at Dennis's Wee Shop," sighed Michelle. "We actually stopped by there first to grab some shit, an' I told him I wanted to see ye at yer work first. He can hardly object, seein' as nobody else'll put up with his shit."

"So, he's aware that I'm out now?" Niall questioned.

"Aye, he was strangely civil about it," said Clare.

"Probably cuz he knows Michelle would give 'em a good steever if he said somethin' in front of her," quipped Erin.

"I certainly would," Orla retorted quietly, but still loud enough for them all to hear.

"An' what are the rest of ye gettin' up to?" Niall asked.

"Well, some general schoolwork," shrugged James. We're gonna head back to Erin's house."

"But, Orla was hopin' she could spend some time alone with ye," Erin chimed in.

"Erin!" Orla exclaimed, a rare role reversal for the two.

"Sounds grand, it does," Niall smiled. "I don't think Seamus'll mind, long as I keep up with things."

"That shit's settled then," said Michelle. "Catch yous all later than. Ciao, motherfuckers!"

The rest said their goodbyes, leaving Orla and Niall by themselves.

The two were still a bit nervous around each other, as this was all still very new for both of them. Niall had never really had a proper date, having been fairly introverted during teens, and then of course there was the anger that built up from the Troubles. There were some obvious reasons for the attraction to this quirky young woman. Beyond the physical reasons, she didn't judge him for a second, no matter what confessions he made about his past. She made him feel happier than he had in a long time, even before running off from home.

Orla meanwhile had never felt feelings like this with anyone before. She felt friendly towards pretty much everyone she met for the first time, she didn't exactly have a filter, but this was very different. It wasn't just that she felt comfortable around Niall, he made her chest feel tight and her heart beat like mad! A fella had never given her this feeling before. What was it that made him so special, she wondered.

Being Michelle's brother didn't seem to be a factor. Apart from the colorful language, the two were pretty different. Maybe it was because he was the first random person to prevent her from having a bad fall? Calling her beautiful? Defending her from those thugs definitely left a positive impression of him. When he confessed who he really was, she felt not distrust towards him. She just felt she needed to comfort him, because he'd been through so much.

They're not sure how long they walked around the park without speaking, but it suddenly donned on Orla she had some Pick n' Mix she'd purchased from Dennis. She reached into her coat pocket for the bag.

"Do ye like Pick n' Mix?" she asked with a big smile.

"That shit is cracker, it is," Niall chuckled. "First thing I bought when I came back to Derry."

"Really?" she asked with a giggle.

"Honest," he replied with a warm smile. "Had a bag with me when we met. Kinda forgot about it after that bit o' commotion."

The two shared a laugh at that fateful encounter. Orla held the bag towards Niall and he happily took a few pieces out. He made a very pleased sound as he ate them.

"These and the ones I had Saturday were the first I'd had in 5 years," he said.

"Catch yerself on!" she exclaimed. "Nobody ever smuggled the stuff on the inside!?"

"Not that I was ever made aware of," he chuckled.

"No wonder prisoners are so angry," she chuckled. "Give 'em some sweets an' I betcha they'll be in a much better mood, they will!"

"I can't argue with that," he continued to laugh.

"Ye got a cracker laugh, ye do," she smiled warmly.

"Thanks," he smiled back. "Yers is also cracker, it is."

The two continued to move around the park, as Niall checked for anything in particular that needed attention.

"How's 'bout we ask each other questions an' answer them honestly?" Orla suggested.

"S'pose that's a good way to get to know each other better," Niall shrugged. "Who goes first?"

"Doesn't really matter," she shrugged.

"Favorite color?" he began simply.

"Stripes," she answered immediately.

"Any particular color of stripes?" he asked arching an eyebrow.

"I s'pose purple n' blue," she shrugged. "But I think all stripes are cracker. Ye?"

"Green and gray," he replied.

"Interestin'," she said. "Favorite animal?"

"Bears, I s'pose," he answered with a shrug. "Ye?"

"Monkeys," she answered with a smile. "Monkeys are class, they are! But... bears are also nice."

"Monkeys are definitely class," he chuckled. "Favorite holiday?"

"Ach! Any of the ones with plenty of sweets!" she exclaimed.

"I can't disagree there," he smirked. "Favorite food outside sweets?"

"Coco Pops," she answered.

"Pretty sure that counts as a sweet," he chuckled.

"Cheese flavored crisps then," she answered. "Ye?"

"Chicken ball special," he sighed. "Need to get me some of that soon as possible. Favorite film?"

"Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls," she answered with a big smile.

"Hilarious film, that one," he chuckled.

"Showed that on movie night, did they?" she asked.

"Aye, first one as well," he answered.

"An' what's yer favorite movie?" she asked.

"Ye won't laugh?" he asked with a wince.

"Catch yerself on!" she exclaimed.

Niall knew Orla wouldn't make fun of him, he had just never said this one out loud to anyone before. He took a bit of a deep breath and sighed.

"My favorite movie is Babe," he answered.

"The one 'bout the wee talkin' pig that herds sheep?" she asked.

"Aye," he answers nervously.

"Ach! That's a cracker film, it is!" she exclaimed. "Why would ye think I'd laugh at ye fer that?"

"Just seems like an odd one for a grown man to like," he shrugged. "Specially one who's done time."

"Oi, ye're free to like what ye like," she said. "What is it that made it yer favorite?"

"I guess... cuz it has the message that ye can be more than what others expect of ye," he explained. "If that makes sense."

"Aye, it does," she smiled warmly at him.

They spent the next couple hours talking and walking around the park, when Orla figured it was time to go home.

"I should probably be gettin' home for dinner now," she sighed.

"Probably a good idea," Niall agreed, also with a sigh.

"Would ye... mind walkin' me home?" she asked with hopeful eyes.

"Not sure that's in my job description," he chuckled. "But, I doubt Seamus'll mind me doin' a polite gesture."

Orla just smiled, took Niall's hand, and they made their way to the Quinn/McCool households.

Sarah was standing outside, having a cigarette like usual. She knew Orla was staying at the park for a bit to spend time with Niall. Brought a smile to her face, her daughter finding someone to be interested in romantically. It certainly seemed romantic, the way Orla blushed at the mention of the young fella she affectionately called her Champion. She didn't expect to see Niall walking Orla home again, but it was a very sweet sight.

"Evenin' there, Mr. Champion," she said with a wink and smile.

"Mammy," Orla groaned, but smiled and blushed.

"Evenin', Sarah," Niall greeted as they made their way to the front porch. "Bout ye?"

"Grand, I am," Sarah replied. "Bout ye?"

"Grand as well," replied Niall. "Just takin' a break from work to walk Orla home."

"S'pose that means ye can't join us fer dinner again?" Sarah asked with a frown.

"Unfortunately, no." Niall shrugged. "I work kinda late. Hopefully I can join ye all sometime soon though."

"That would be cracker, it would," Sarah smiled. "Don't ye agree, Orla?"

"Aye, that would be nice," Orla blushed.

Orla gave Niall a quick hug and he gladly reciprocated.

"See ye tomorrow," she smiled as she walked towards the front door.

"Aye, see ye then," he smiled and walked back towards the park.