The day had not gone the way that Patrick O'Driscoll had wanted. The stance made by Clare, as well as Father Peter's support had caused him to cave to the student's demands. He removed himself from the premises of Our Lady Immaculate College with great haste just before the bell sounded for the end of school. Not even waiting for Shannon to come out. After a short anxious drive, he pulled over at a telephone box. After speaking his piece, the news of any potential boycott from the Valentine's disco was not the sort of news that his caller wanted to hear. The large man could feel distinct beads of sweat slowly cascade down his balding, domed head as the caller advised him that he would have to adhere to any other demands from the other schools for the sake of making sure that the other fund-raising discos he had organised would still go ahead without fail.
He swallowed hard as he loosened his tie, he paced on the spot inside the confides of the small telephone box, the door was just about closed off from any passersby. Patrick took short breaths of anxiety as the caller's words stung him like a scorpion. He was now on the receiving end of a verbal thrashing of his own from one Mr. Stevenson, who had a voice that bit harder than his own. For all his audacity, and egotistical attitude towards everyone around him, this was a phone call where Patrick O'Driscoll was made to keep his ego in check. These people may have been reliant on him for financial assistance in the past, but one word could land him in as much trouble as them, and he knew it. For once, he stayed silent as the man shouted at him, taking a slight pause before starting up again.
"I thought ye said you had everything under control, Patrick?! My boss is gonna lose his fucking shit if these Charity events don't take place, do ye understand?!... I thought ye were supposed to be there just to rob the place! Not waste your time trying to convert these Schools into fecking Convents…. Do ye think I give a shite about who these wains go with?!... My boss says we need to have the cash from these things, we can't allow any room for suspicion... Now he's asking for yer word that we will not have any further disruptions, is that clear, Patrick?!"
"Yes, Mr. Stevenson. You have my absolute word. All the events will go on without any other problems. Once the money's collected from all of them, you will get yer share. Ye have my word! I've not let ye down yet, have I not now?" Patrick insisted.
"…. No, I guess ye haven't…. But we're only as good as your last performance, Patrick. You know how much we rely on your support…. as much as you rely on our discretion." The voice coughed down the phone. "Excuse me…. Now, remind me just one more time… altogether, how much are ye set to receive?"
"Well, according to my spreadsheet, with the ten events taking place on the same date…. At 100 students at each event…. at £50 per head, if all goes well, we're looking at a nice juicy sum of £50000 to play with, Mr. Stevenson." Patrick said proudly, reading from a piece of folded up paper.
"Excellent…. Fucking excellent!" The man's voice coughed hard down the phone again.
"If ye don't mind me saying, Mr. Stevenson…. Your voice still sounds…. Rather off?" Patrick said, puzzled.
"….. Well…. if ye spent a lifetime smoking as many fags as I have, yer voice would sound very different too, would it not?"
"Very true… always said cigarettes were bad for your health!" Patrick chuckled nervously.
"I wasn't asking for a fecking health check, yer one to talk anyway, yer fat bastard! Ye just make sure everything goes through without anyone getting wise! Do ye hear?"
"Of course."
"Patrick…. given the grander scale of things…. My boss has said it would be to your benefit if ye consider…. Increasing his share?" The voice asked.
"Well, Mr. Stevenson…. have ye ever heard of the saying… give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile... it would be very difficult to explain away the absence of such a large amount of money without people arousing suspicion…. Even for an accountant as good as myself."
"…. With all due respect, Patrick. I'm not trying to toot your horn…. but ye do talk out of yer arse a lot of the time! We know how much money you've stashed away in the past. Have ye not? Who else would be smart enough to shift the amount of funds you've taken for yourself this past year or so, and still send funds our way with no one suspecting a thing?"
"Well, that is true, Mr Stevenson. The school board do trust me indefinitely. How else do ye think I was able to convince them that Sister Michael was a detriment to Our Lady Immaculate? The fecking eejits fell for it! Christ, but those pricks couldn't find their ways out of a…. well, a telephone box, shall we say?" Patrick chuckled to himself; he began to calm himself with his shameless boasting.
"So, are ye saying we may be able to receive a larger sum of the money this time round?"
"I'll see what I can do, Mr. Stevenson. Tell yer boss I'll try to increase it... to 10% this time, on the provision that, if needed, I can depend on you?"
"Grand! THAT IS JUST GRAND! God bless yer, Patrick. And yes, ye can rely on us, always. Ye have no idea what that's gonna do for us. Until then. You just make sure you keep yer nose clean if ye know what I mean. We'll be in touch." The phone line went dead.
Patrick breathed out heavily as he hung up the phone. He stumbled back to the car, he slammed the door shut and tilted his head back, exhaling loudly.
"Fucking dose, in his dreams!" He laughed to himself. He looked around and reached for his laptop. He powered it up and reached into the satchel's pocket compartment for the floppy disc. Sliding the disc into the drive, Patrick's face contorted with panic as he gawked at the screen.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!" Patrick shrieked inside his car.
He bolted out of the car and ran back to the telephone box and dialled in a frenzy. Miss Mooney barely said a word before Patrick barked his orders for her to put him through to Father Peter.
"Mr. O'Driscoll, what is the problem now?!"
"Curb yer tongue, Father Peter. There should a disc there on the desk! Is it there?!"
Father Peter glanced about the desk "…No. There's no disc here!" He said.
"Don't gimme that! It must be there, I had it earlier today, but now I've got some sort of psychology paper thing staring back at me!... Father Peter?" Patrick felt the hard pounding in his chest.
"Oh…. You know something, I think I might have given your disc to someone else by accident…." Father Peter admitted, gritting his teeth, awaiting the explosion on the other end of the phone.
"OH, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE! Ye stupid fucking eejit! Who in God's name did ye give it to?!" Patrick screamed.
Orla walked the pushchair in a playful zig zag fashion down the hill with Anna. She asked her wee cousin what her favourite sweeties were as she walked towards Dennis' Wee Shop with Marco, Michelle, and Clare, along with Coco Pops. Erin and James opted to stay back at Erin's house to hear more news about Joe. Mary and Gerry had just about managed to inform them that Joe was down at the Police Station, but they weren't sure why. Michelle was indifferent to the situation as she raged, and power walked in front of the group. There was a chill in the air, so they were wrapped up.
"Can ye not slow down, Michelle?!" Clare called; her request was ignored as Michelle marched on.
"Alright… What's got her raging?" Marco asked.
"She wouldn't say. She just sat in the car and put the music up full blast! My ears are still ringing." Clare said.
"So, do ye like Chocolate buttons, or white chocolate mice?" Orla asked Anna. She'd pulled the pushchair onto its rear wheels to see her face.
"Buttons!" Anna replied loudly. "Yay, Me too!" Orla replied. Coco Pops barked.
"Oh, you too, boy?" Marco asked, which made Anna laugh. Orla took off down the hill with Anna.
"What do you think's bothering Michelle? I mean, it must be some right proper bars for her to not say anything about leaving Erin and James alone? I mean, I know we need to know what's happened to Joe, but they could have still come with us! What if Mary and Gerry come home and they're up to some funny business? Sweet suffering Jesus, Marco! Maybe ye should go back!" Clare began to shake.
"OK….. Clare…Shhhhh!" Marco whispered. "Breathe… OK?" Clare took a deep breath. "Just let them have a moment. Let's face it, they don't get many, do they?" He asked, pointing at Michelle.
"Aye, that is true…. Maybe they do deserve a moment to themselves. I mean, I'm sure they can be trusted to be sensible…. I hope. Then again, they're not as sneaky as you two. Are they now?" Clare joked suddenly, pointing at him and Orla.
"We're not sneaky!" Marco smirked. Clare shrugged her shoulders and walked ahead. "Oi! We are NOT sneaky!" He insisted as they arrived at Dennis' wee shop, where Dennis was in the middle of an argument with a young regular, then he sharply spotted Coco Pops in Clare's arms.
"Oi! What yer game? This is not a fecking dog kennel! Read the sign! No dogs allowed in here!" He barked.
"So, how come you're allowed in here, Dennis?" Michelle shot.
"Ach, come on Dennis. It's foundering out there. It's only Coco Pops. He's harmless." Clare said, cradling Coco Pops. Dennis didn't have a chance to reply.
"Ye said this were 26pm only yesterday!" The young lad shot at him.
"Well, it's 28p today! And this isn't yesterday, is it now, Smart Hole!" Dennis shot back.
"Ye know, Yesterday was tomorrow the day before yesterday, Dennis." Orla said, confusing everyone.
"Christ! What do ye think this is? Fucking Blockbusters, or something?" Dennis scoffed.
"Will ye mind yer language, Dennis?!" Orla shot an annoyed look, pushing Anna away towards the Pic n' mix.
"Ach Christ! Are ye still here?" Dennis asked, looking at Marco. "I would have thought Immigration would have caught yer by now!" Dennis smirked.
"Yea, nice one, Dennis? …. How'd your brain implant go, good?" Marco shot back.
"WHAT?!" Dennis raged.
"Ahhhh!" Marco chuckled, stopping him.
"…..Ach, really fucking funny!" Dennis scoffed sarcastically.
"Look, I'm giving ye 26p! My mammy can't wait!" The young lad said, taking the bag of food seasoning.
"Aye, I bet she were thinking that when she were giving birth to yer! NOW GET OUT!" Dennis shouted. The young lad flashed his middle finger at Dennis and calmly walked out.
"See ya later, Marco!" The young lad called as he left.
"Yea, laters, Owen!"
"Here ye go, Dennis, how much?" Michelle said, gruffly placing her stuff on the counter.
"What's yer problem?"
"Why do you give a shite?!" She shot back.
"Good point. I guess I don't." Dennis scoffed.
"Have ye ever thought of seeing a Psychiatrist, Dennis?" Clare asked.
"Be better just to stick 'im in the padded cell!" Michelle shot.
"What are you talking about now?" Dennis asked, scrunching his face.
"Aye, ye can get rid of all those wee nasty Dennis' running around inside yer head." Orla smiled. Placing their supplies on the counter.
"That's £12 ye mouthy shites!" Dennis groaned.
Coco Pops then started growling and barking, shocking everyone, including Dennis, who flinched back, slamming himself against a stack of jarred sweets and crap toys. He reached round and grabbed the nearest thing he could grab; he raised his hand to show himself armed with a green squeaky phone toy. The gang, including Anna started laughing while Clare contorted her face with fear as she held on to Coco Pops for dear life.
"Come on then, yer little shite! I'll kick yer arse!" Dennis shouted. Coco Pops snatched the squeaky phone away with his teeth. Dennis backed away again comically, his face was white as a sheet. Coco Pops chewed the toy playfully
"Coco Pops! Oi! No! Calm down, boy!" Marco said sternly, taking Coco Pops from Clare. Anna laughed hysterically. Making Michelle laugh as well.
"Stall the ball! Are ye scared of dogs, Dennis?" Michelle laughed.
"Of course, I'm not!" Dennis shot.
"Aye I think ye are, Dennis!" Orla pressed.
"GEEEEEEET OUUUUUUUUUT! AND IF I SEE THAT DOG HERE AGAIN, I'LL SMASH HIS LITTLE HEAD IN!"
"How much for the toy, Dennis?!" Marco called as the girls walked out. Amidst the hysterics. Marco doubled back to go and pay Dennis for the squeaky toy. Michelle and Clare calmed themselves and glanced yonder. They saw something that froze them still. They could see Gerry in his car with the entourage of Mary, Sarah, and Joe driving in the direction of home.
"Oh fuck!" Michelle shouted.
"Jesus f'ing wept!" Clare echoed.
"What is it?" Orla asked.
"Yer Uncle Gerry just drove past!" Michelle yelled, panicking. "Oh, those two better not be up to anything!" Realizing the consequences for herself as much as Erin and James. Orla looked confused.
"Why is that bad?" Orla asked.
"Are ye serious, Orla! What if they're having se…." Clare stopped herself, remembering Anna was with them. Orla's eyes widened.
"What's going on?" Marco rejoined them.
"Gerry just drove by! They're on their way home, and it's all your fault!" Clare shouted.
"What'd I do?" Marco cried.
"Oh Fuck! Now they're gonna find them doing the nasty, I'm gonna get in shit cos of this as well!" Michelle despaired.
"Calm down Michelle. They're gonna go through the traffic lights. There's a way we can get back before them. Ye know how Uncle Gerry drives." Orla said.
"How?!" Michelle asked, perplexed at Orla's claim.
"I know a back street route back to the house. If we run, we can get in through the back door. I've done it before." Orla claimed.
"Orla…. ye better have yer fucking running shoes on! You two get back there and make sure they're not doing anything! GO!" Michelle shouted.
"Come on!" Orla took Marco's hand.
Orla ran on with Marco in hot pursuit. Michelle and Clare walked back as quicky as they could go with Anna and Coco Pops. Orla led the way through street lit roads, and dark alleyways. They sprinted neck and neck down a road, bounding as fast as possible towards the Quinn house.
"Bet I can beat ya!" Orla smiled.
"I just hope we beat them!" Marco laughed.
In the kitchen, Erin fidgeted at the table while James took up the duties of washing the dishes. She tried to distract herself by listening intently to her Dictaphone but the situation with her Granda prevented her from concentrating. She was so annoyed; she pulled her headphones off and threw her Dictaphone across the table and folded her arms. It wasn't just her Granda she was thinking about. She kept glancing over at James who had his back to her. She bit her lip nervously. Turning round, seeing she was tense; James walked over right on queue and slid a mug of hot tea in front of her. She was frowning at first, but looking up at James' warm smile, her frown broke, and she smiled back.
"Thanks, James." Erin said.
"I'm sure everything's fine, Erin."
Erin paused, gripping his hand. "Why couldn't we go with them?"
"Maybe they thought we'd get arrested again?" James joked, but the quip went without a reaction. He gently stroked Erin's back. "Hey, I doubt your Grandad has actually done anything illegal. He said he's thought about it once or twice, but he's never gone through with anything, has he?" James suggested.
"Well, then what's he doing down the Police Station?" Erin asked.
James could only shrug his shoulders. He moved in and gave her a kiss. Moving back to the sink. Erin sat and pondered some more before looking over at James. His back to her, Erin stared at him, his ample frame, his kind aura. He was hers, and they were alone in the house. Familiar yearning built up inside Erin as she stood and walked slowly over to him. James felt electricity flow up his back as her fingers travelled slowly up to his neck. He smiled, and felt his chest tighten. His feet went numb, and his heart pounded hard and fast as he felt Erin's hands grip and stroke his shoulders. He turned to face her.
"Erin…. Are you sure about…" James asked but Erin shushed him.
She stretched up and their lips met. James pulled her towards him, their kiss deepened, wrapping his arms around her. Erin ran her hands through his curled hair as his hand travelled down to her hips. Erin let out a moan of ecstasy as James picked her up. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he placed her on the kitchen table. They explored each other, tasting their lips with each kiss. The sight of seeing James' name next to Jenny Joyce's has lit a fire in her and that burned inside her all afternoon. They smiled at each other as they relished this rare moment of complete privacy. Still in their uniforms. Erin pulled her jumper off and then pulled James's off. He reached for Erin's tie, and quickly pulled it off. He picked her up again and took her to the sofa. They lay there as James began to unbutton her shirt.
"James?" Erin said suddenly.
"Yeah?" He answered, breathing heavily.
"….. Let's go to my room." Erin gasped.
"ERIN WE'RE HERE!" Orla burst in from the back door. Followed by Marco.
"JESUS FUCKINGCHRIST!" Erin screamed as she rolled off the sofa with James. James groaned as she landed on top of her. Orla and Marco walked into the living room and saw them on the floor.
"Are we… interrupting anything?….." Marco gasped to catch his breath. Erin and James looked up at them from the floor. They were leaning on each other to catch their breaths.
"ARE YE FUCKING MENTAL?!" Erin shouted, tucking close to James.
"What the actual cock are you two doing?" James moaned.
"Not what you two were doing, that's for sure!" Marco answered, still panting. Erin and James shot a look at each other.
"Listen… Erin. We just rushed back to tell ye…." Orla started.
The front door then opened. "Ye really put her foot in it, this time, didn't ye Joe!" Gerry shouted.
"WHO ARE YOU TO SAY THAT TO ME? YE SOFT BASTARD!" Joe shouted back. The foursome looked at each other in shock.
"SHIT!" Erin pushed James off. She ran into the kitchen, buttoning up her shirt while the two men argued in the hallway.
"Why's yer shirt undone, Erin?" Orla asked, scrunching her face. "Were ye showing James yer bra?"
"Shut up, Orla! They'll hear you. It's not like yer wear your bra on a regular basis now, is it?" Erin whispered, buttoning up her shirt.
"She does have a point there." Marco admitted. Orla's eyes widened as she shot a look at him.
"Marco! Behave!" Orla laughed with embarrassment, slapping his arm.
"I'm sorry. What did he just say?!" James asked, walking into the kitchen.
"Not now James! Marco, get over there!" Erin shoved Marco towards the sofa. Orla bounded into the hallway to give Erin and James a chance to sort themselves out.
"Ye alright, Granda!" Orla ran and hugged him, running past Gerry.
"Ach, hello love. Ye feeling better now?" Joe said, hugging her warmly. Orla nodded.
"So, why were yer at the police station, Granda?" Orla asked.
"Orla, can ye not broadcast it, we don't want the whole street knowing!" Gerry protested.
"Ye mind yerself! It's not like no one else ever had run-ins with the law once or twice!" Joe argued.
"Can we not get inside? I'm foundering out here, so I am! It's doing murder to my curls, so it is. That's not why ye were arrested was it Da?" Sarah asked.
"Lord have mercy, Sarah! They don't let suspected murderers go home!" Mary shouted.
With the parents stopped in the doorway. Erin and James quickly re arranged and straightened their uniforms. James went back to the sink while Erin casually awaited them.
"Are ye alright, Granda?" Erin asked as he walked in.
"Aye, I'm fine. Thanks, love. Got ye working hard there, has she James?" Joe chuckled as he walked in.
"Yeah, training me up." James quipped.
"You alright Joe?" Marco feigned a yawn as he walked in from the living room.
"Aye. I'm good, lad, you just wake up or something?" Joe asked.
"Yeah, dozed off a bit."
"Uh, do ye think we can get back to the matter at hand, Joe?!" Gerry said.
"What are ye crying about, ya wet fecking lettuce?"
"Ye still haven't said why ye were down the Police station!" Gerry pointed out.
"And I told you, it's none of your business!" Joe shot back.
"Hold on a second…. Where's Anna?" Mary cried.
"Hiya, Mary." Clare and Michelle arrived right on queue. Marco let out a big breath of relief.
"Mammy!" Anna called.
"What's all this?" Mary asked.
"Well, it's like this Mary…" Michelle started.
"We just took Anna for a walk with Coco Pops, Mary! He was getting all excited, and we didn't want him to wake Marco, seeing as he was asleep from being up all night. And Erin and James wanted to wait and see if you'd ring. So, Yes! Me and Michelle, JUST Me and Michelle! took Anna down to Dennis', and we bought some chocolate buttons, and Orla stayed here with Erin and James too, so there's absolutely nothing to worry about!" Clare squeaked, her voice breaking with panic. Mary stood still, shocked at the flurry of information that was just fired at her without asking.
"Alright, Clare! Calm down! I wasn't interrogating yers!" Mary answered.
"Seriously, Clare. Yer have as much stealth as a pished elephant." Michelle whispered.
"Ah, Coco Pops has a new toy, has he?" Sarah asked. Seeing him chewing on to the squeaky phone.
"…. Oh yeah! Where'd you get that from?" Marco feigned.
"Ach, Marco… ye know here that came from…. It came from Dennis' shop." Orla said. Mary suspected something.
"How did you know that Orla. I thought ye were here?" Mary asked.
"Aye! That's right, Orla! Just before you chose to stay here with Erin and James. Ye mentioned that Coco Pops needed a new toy to play with. So, while ye stayed here, we got him one from Dennis' wee shop…. Right?" Michelle intervened, nodding toward Orla with her eyes wide open, hoping desperately she would clock on to what she was implying.
"….. Aye. That's right." Orla slowly nodded along with her. Mary squinted her eyes as the room fell silent. What is going on here? She thought suspiciously.
"James! Tell me the truth…. Was Orla here with you, Erin and Marco?" She asked. All eyes were on James.
"…. Yeah…. Absolutely, Mary." James answered.
"Marco?" Mary turned to him.
"I'd take James' word for it, Mary. I was flittering in and out…. Oh sorry." He yawned.
"Right…. Well, ye better get on with your homework." Mary said. The gang agreed and made a hasty exit.
"Yep! Come on. Let's get out of their hair, girls." Erin said as she led the way. The gang moved towards the stairs.
"Just a minute!" Mary called. The gang froze, they shot looks at each other and turned back.
"… If yer all staying for tea, it'll have to be chippy, cos I don't have time to cook…. Clare? Call Laurie to see if she fancies it, but she's gonna need to chip in." The gang agreed collectively and made their way up to Erin's room. The parents watched them go.
"…. Ye know they're lying out of their holes, don't yer?" Joe quizzed.
"Well, yer one to talk!" Gerry answered. Joe flashed an angry scowl at Gerry, making him flinch from fear. Mary raised an eyebrow, still suspicious. The gang practically barricaded themselves in Erin's room. Erin and James collapsed onto the bed. Michelle quickly snatched James by the collar.
"You fucking owe me, yer randy English Prick!" Michelle snapped. Pointing at him.
"You what?" He asked.
"Don't give it the innocent act, yer fucking pervert! I'm done being your fucking chaperone! I expected yer to behave yerself!"
"Ach, that's rich coming from yerself, Michelle!" Erin shot at her.
"Yer just as guilty, Miss Inside Out School Jumper! What were ye up to?" Michelle said, tugging on Erin's inside out jumper, Erin blushed.
"Well…. we were just…. we only…. Actually, that is none of your business!" Erin argued.
"Erin was showing James her bra." Orla revealed.
"You guys, shush, they'll hear yer!" Clare protested.
"Why are you raging, all of the sudden, Michelle?" Erin asked.
"Don't change the subject! Yer the ones who's horniness is raging!" Michelle shot.
"No, she's right, Michelle. You've been OK with us for the longest time, now you're losing your rag over it. What's happened?" James asked.
Everyone waited for Michelle to spill the beans. The feisty Mallon, threw her blazer off and stomped around the room. Finally sitting in the chair. Michelle spoke.
"Jenny Joyce spoke to Mr. O'Driscoll about choosing me as the DJ for the disco…. It turns out the mouthy cow told him I was…. in so many words…. a questionable person. Like I'd be trying to ride anything that moves at the disco." Michelle said.
"No…. Where would she get that idea?!" Erin said mockingly.
"Erin!" Marco shot.
"But ye auditioned, Michelle! Ye must have done something right for them to choose you."
"There was no them, Orla. It was just Jenny Joyce. She's obviously used this as a chance to suck up to O'Driscoll. She didn't choose me cos I was good or anything. She chose me to keep an eye on me."
James scoffed. "Michelle! Why didn't you say anything?"
"Aye, Michelle. That's discrimination!" Clare claimed.
"It's also bullshit!" Marco shot.
"What do yer mean?" Michelle asked.
"Alright, OK. It's well out of order that she did that…. But you still got the gig, didn't you?" Marco asked.
"Yeah?" Michelle answered.
"Yeah, So…. Just take the chance. It's your gig, Michelle!" James said.
"Aye, that's right! So what if Jenny Joyce had other reasons for choosing ya? Ye can still show everyone you've got skills." Erin said.
"Aye. That ye do, Michelle!" Orla chimed in. With Orla's arm around Michelle. The feisty one began to mellow.
"Yeah, I suppose yer right." Michelle shrugged. "But that doesn't mean you two are off the hook!" Pointing at Erin and James. "Ye need to be more tactful. Ye know yer would have been caught doing the nasty if it weren't for Forrest Gump's twins over here!" pointing at Orla and Marco.
"I must admit. That was a miracle ye two got back here before Gerry." Clare said.
"Aye, that was a right craic running back here!" Orla chuckled, sitting on Marco's lap.
"…. Mama always said Stupid is as Stupid does!" Marco mimicked.
Michelle shot a look at him. "Yeah. That IS true, yer fucking weirdo!" She laughed. The others all laughed with her. Marco smiled.
They got on to the task of homework. The odd discussion about the subjects they were all doing, and then things went quiet when they focused on their individual A-Level subjects. Orla moved on to her Psychology homework. She switched on the school laptop, inserted the floppy disc and opened the file. Her face then glared with confusion at the screen. She couldn't make out what she was looking at. Michelle glanced over by chance and was just as confused.
"Oi! What sort of Psychology homework is that, Orla? I haven seen any of this!" Michelle said. Orla shook her head, still staring at the screen.
"I have no idea what this is!" Orla said.
"Looks like a spreadsheet." James said, now looking at the screen.
"We know it's a spreadsheet, Dicko... What's it a spreadsheet of?" Michelle queried.
"Are there any names on it?" Marco was now looking.
"…Stevenson account." Orla said.
"Stevenson? Where have I heard that name before..." Erin thought. "Hold on! That must have been who he was talking to!" She said.
"Who was talking to who?" Clare asked.
"Mr O'Driscoll. He was talking to someone called Stevenson earlier today." Erin explained.
"How do ye know that?" James asked.
"Well… I happened to be at Miss Mooney's desk at the time…. and I…. eavesdropped a little bit…... with my Dictaphone." She revealed.
"ERIN! YE CAN'T DO THAT! OH JESUS! WE'RE REALLY UP THE FUCKING FOYLE NOW IF THEY FIND OUT YOU BEEN EAVESDROPPING ON OTHER PEOPLE'S CALLS! DO YOU REALIZE YE MIGHT BE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE FOR DOING THAT, ERIN?!" Clare grabbed Erin and screamed in a panic. The others stared in disbelief.
"Bloody hell. Can someone get her some fucking oxygen?!" Marc o shot.
"Will I go get some from the hospital?" Orla got up.
"Sit down, will ya?!" Marco said. Pulling her back down by the shirt.
"Mr O'Driscoll's an accountant, right?" James asked.
"Yeah, so what?" Michelle said.
"Well, maybe this is just this…. Mr. Stevenson's business accounts. That's all?" James suggested.
"Whoever he is, he's a rich fucker! Look at this." Michelle pointed at the column of numbers. Showing thousands in each box.
"But what's all this? Our Lady Immaculate? St Joseph's? St. Vincents? College of the divined? It goes on!" James said, scrolling down the list of schools with different figures next to them.
"What are they?" Marco asked.
"They're all schools. Other schools. Just like ours." Orla answered.
"….. What ARE we looking at?" James quizzed. The others all shook their heads as they peered into the screen. Just then, there was a knock at Erin's door. The door opened and Laurie popped her head in.
"Hiya everyone. What's the craic?" Laurie smiled.
"Ach, Hiya!" Clare mellowed.
"Alright, babes?" Laurie answered, pecking each other. "Yous lot! Ye better get down downstairs. A mammy said chippy's here, and Danny's at the front door with that Shannon girl!" She said.
"MADSTAB'S AT MY FRONT DOOR?!" Erin shouted.
"Let me fucking at 'im!" Michelle shot up and bolted down the stairs. The others followed quickly. Michelle saw that Joe was standing outside on the porch, looking sternly at MadStab with Gerry at his side. Michelle tried to get in front of them. She saw that Shannon was also there, along with Sinead.
"What the fuck are yous doing here?!" She shouted. The gang filed outside.
"Can ye please calm down, Michelle!" Gerry barked.
"If ye've come here for trouble, boy? I'll give yer trouble!" Joe said sternly.
"Tell 'em Granda!" Orla shouted from the doorway.
"There is no need for this, Joe." Gerry asked.
"Ye better calm ol' Saint Nic down, Daddy." MadStab taunted.
"Who do you think you're talking to?" James stepped up.
"Ach, that's a good move, James. Sucking up to yer future father-in-law?" Michelle joked.
"Not now, Michelle!" Marco shot sternly.
"Danny, don't… We're not here for trouble!" Sinead said.
"Oh aye? Trouble always seems to find you, doesn't it, yer mouthy scab!" Michelle shot at Shannon, who stayed silent.
"We just wanna talk to the dopey one there!" MadStab said, Joe's eyes lit up.
"You mouthy little shite!" He went to move forward but Marco grabbed him. Gerry stepped in and took Joe back inside as he swore angrily. Marco turned and stepped forward with James and stood toe to toe with MadStab.
"I dare you to say that again!" Marco said angrily through gritted teeth; his eyes burned a hole through MadStab.
"How's yer eye, AYE-TIE?" MadStab chuckled. His face bore a maniacal grin.
Marco then feigned a punch, MadStab flinched back, covering his right rib. "Better than your ribs!" Marco said.
"Yer little shite! Come on LET'S GO!" MadStab shouted.
"I'm calling the Police!" Clare ran back indoors. Mary then came charging out.
"IF YE DON'T GET YER ARSE OFF MY FRONT DOORSTEP! I'LL SHOVE THIS WOODEN SPOON RIGHT UP YER ARSE, BOY!" Mary shouted, brandishing her infamous wooden spoon. MadStab stepped back.
"Ye better do what she says, Danny! She never bluffs!" Erin warned, her face contorting.
"Danny, stop! Look…. We just came to get something. Some work that belongs to my Da. It's confidential apparently. It's on a floppy disc. Do ye lot have it?" Sinead asked.
"Aye… we have it, Sinead. It's ok…. I'll go get it." Orla went back inside. James kept his arm across Marco's chest as he stared at MadStab until Orla came back with the disc. She shot her own stare at MadStab before she handed the disc to Sinead, who gave Orla her homework disc. Gerry had now come back to the front door.
"Right, ye got what ye wanted. Now get gone before we do call the Police. Ye can tell yer Uncle that if he wants to talk to us, he can come round himself, and not send some heavy round to harass our wains!" Gerry barked.
"No problem, Mr Quinn. We won't come by here anymore." Sinead said to Gerry, she motioned MadStab to leave.
"See ya around, boys!" He smirked as he walked away.
"Be careful what ye wish for Danny! Bears are most dangerous when their territory's threatened." Orla called. MadStab shot a look of confusion at her as they left.
"What the fuck just happened?" Michelle asked as Gerry walked back indoors with Mary. Leaving the wains out on the porch.
"That isn't right. There's something strange going on here, James." Erin said.
"It's alright, calm down." James said, he hugged Erin as they walked back inside.
"That bastard is fucking asking for it!" Michelle raged as she followed them.
"What are we gonna do? What are we gonna do?!" Clare panicked. Laurie rubbed her arms as she walked back inside with her.
Marco could see that Orla was holding her head again. "You ok?" He asked her. She turned and hugged him hard.
"I am now." Orla whispered. They turned and walked back inside.