The eccentric petite blonde Derry girl slouched angrily against a wall after charging down the street in an absolute rage. Erin Quinn had just removed herself after finding Mary, Gerry and Sarah at home. James Maguire walked out of the front door to follow her. He walked up to her and could see she was seething with anger. With the last of their first year A-Level exams now finished, Erin had imagined that the completion would mean she could have more time alone with James.
This couldn't have been further from the truth. James had been just as occupied with homework, revision, exams and training with the football team twice a week. Also, Clare's situation of moving away had plagued the gangs' worries while studying. On 9 separate occasions in the past 4 months, for one reason or another, the sale of the Devlin house didn't go through. While Clare was quietly relieved that she wasn't moving away from her friends just yet, her mammy was still determined to sell.
On this occasion, Erin had thought that she'd timed things just right with Michelle practicing on her decks, Clare being at home, Orla at dance class and Marco at work. She was certain that the stars were aligned, and the house would not be occupied. But sadly, when the young couple fell through the front door whilst in the middle of a snog. They discovered that the house was indeed occupied by the parents, which threw their plans right out the window.
"They are unbelievable! There's just no escape from them for Christ's sake!" Erin complained loudly.
"Erin, can you please calm down?" James pleaded softly.
"Calm down? Calm down?! Is that all ye can say James?" Erin stressed. "It's bad enough they suspected I was pregnant 4 months ago, when we hadn't even done anything…. But ever since then, every time we try to find time to be alone, there they are!"
"Yeah, I know. I have noticed that as well, but you can't blame them." James said.
"Ach, maybe we should have just gone ahead and done the deed back in February!" Erin huffed. "Do ye even know how much time we've managed to be alone together, just the two of us, since Valentine's day?" She asked desperately. James stood silent, unable to give an answer.
"Well, let me tell yer; Taking out time for homework, school, revision, exams, and your football. We have managed to be alone together for…. For…. Well, it's not a lot!" Erin stated, engaging her watch. "I thought Michelle being made to chaperone us was a ballache; But my mammy, Ach, she's proving to be the biggest ballache of them all, so she is!"
"Erin?"
"I mean I guess I can see where I get my creative side from, cos it take's someone with a hell of an imagination to just assume I'm pregnant without even thinking twice about it!."
"Erin!"
"She talks about us needing to take responsibility for ourselves, but how can we even do that if we don't even get a chance to…."
"ERIN!"
"WHAT?!"
James pulled Erin in and kissed her. Firm but tender. Erin initially tried to protest, but his touch caused her heightened angst to melt away and she reciprocated James' advances. She ran her hands through his curly short hair while James boldly caressed her. Unbridled teenage passion oozed from the wee English fella as he unleashed his pent-up lust for his girlfriend into one long, lingering kiss. James smiled as he caught sight of Erin smiling back at him as she moaned slightly with contentment. Pulling away she wrapped her arms around her wee English fella. James sighed as he embraced Erin with a warm hug.
"I don't wanna sound like I'm complaining…." Erin said, which made James laugh at the irony.
"What was that for?" Smiling at him as she asked.
"For caring so much." He answered.
"Ye really are an eejit, James." Erin laughed.
"Takes one to know one, right?" He smirked, causing Erin to punch his arm. "Why don't we go and hang out with Orla and Marco?"
"Ach, they won't be done yet!" Erin claimed.
"What are you talking about? Marco was just studying today, and Orla told me her dance class was cancelled." James revealed.
"So where are they now?" Erin asked.
"They're round Jim's house while he's out with your Grandad." James said. He then saw Erin shoot a cold glare at him.
"Stall the fecking ball here!" Erin was off again. "Orla is at Jim's house….…. She's there alone…. With Marco?"
"…. Yeah? They are a couple, remember?" James eventually answered.
"ACH! The sneaky wee feckers!" Erin grunted as she turned on her heels and marched back in the direction of her street. James gave chase once again.
"Oh my God!" He groaned to himself.
The living room lamps glowed cosily inside Jim's living room. The young couple had the house to themselves since Jim had gone down to the pub with Joe for a quiz night. Coco Pops looked on while The TV was on with the sound turned up loud. Orla and Marco collapsed and slumped back onto the sofa amidst smiles of pleasure and moans of satisfaction. They gasped heavily together as they smiled at each other. Orla, still panting deeply then looked up at the ceiling as a large grin grew on her face. She turned and saw Marco doing the same thing.
"Oh my God!" Marco panted, shaking his head in amazement.
"Looks like ye really enjoyed that, hi?" Orla panted, smiling happily at him.
Marco managed to catch him breath. "… I thought that was fucking brilliant! …You were amazing!" He asked, turning to smile back at Orla.
"Aye…. ye were pretty class yerself! Thaaaaaat waaaaaas craaaaaacker!" Orla grinned mischievously. She reached and gently stroked his smiling face.
"…. How long did we go that time?" He asked.
"I don't know." Orla shook her head, smiling as she looked at her watch "Ach, that's class! We beat our best time by 7 whole minutes! I never knew ye had so much energy!" Orla exclaimed.
"I had a good idea that you did." Marco laughed. He leaned over and kissed her passionately. "So, what did you like most?" Marco asked.
"I liked quite a few things!" Orla admitted, flashing her eyebrows cheekily.
"Yeah…. Like what?" Marco asked, very intrigued to hear her answer.
Orla shot a playful smile. "….. I'm thinking…. I definitely liked the creep. I like how ye slid into it from that twirl after ye do the butterfly. That was cracker!" Orla said.
"Thanks, you really need to teach me how to do the roger rabbit! You were mental at that" Marco sniggered.
"Aye, that's one of my favourite dances, so it is. That and the running man!" Orla laughed.
"I've never seen anyone do the running man for that long!" Marco was clearly impressed.
"I still can't believe ye never said you could dance. Ye just keep surprising me." Orla said happily. She then caught her breath and began to fan her t-shirt. "Ach, I'm roasting, so I am. Ae ye hun-ARGH!" Orla cried out hysterically.
Marco had suddenly pounced on Orla, blowing a raspberry on her slightly exposed stomach. Orla giggled and kicked her feet as his lips tickled her. Coco Pops started to bark as the couple began to playfight with Orla playfully cursing him before pinning Marco down with her fingers trenched into his armpits, tickling him mercilessly. Marco was now at her mercy as he flinched and frayed.
"Ach, you are soooo dead! Do ye give up? Say ye give up, Marco! Give up or I won't stop!" Orla warned him, grinning as she mounted him on the sofa, so he had no means of escape, relentlessly tickling him.
"OK. OK. OK. Orla. Stop, Orla, I give up! I give up!" He cackled as he surrendered.
Their laughter eventually simmered down; their smiles mirrored each other's as Orla lowered herself down towards his lips. They wrapped their arms around each other, their kiss deepened as they lay on the sofa. Marco brushed Orla's dishevelled hair aside to see her smiling face. Orla then gently clutched his wrist and slowly moved it down her neck and towards her chest.
"ORLA, WHERE ARE YE?!" Erin shouted as she burst into the house, followed by James. Marco and Orla both flung themselves into a seating position on the sofa before Erin marched into the living room. James shot a curious look towards the couple who had distinguished red cheeks.
"Alright, Erin, how bout ye?" Orla asked, she noticed the stern glance Erin was giving them both.
Marco finally broke the silence, glancing at both Erin and James. "…. Alright you two?!" He asked.
"…. Yeah, Brilliant! how are you two doing?" James asked curiously.
"Aye, we're grand thanks, James. We've just been having a wee dance. Are ye raging about something, Erin?" Orla asked.
"Well, it's just…. I mean…. we were …. just saying…" James stuttered.
"Aye! We're raging, that's what we are! We're just a wee bit pissed off with this…. This… oppression!" Erin stressed as she slumped onto the sofa next to Orla.
"Are you sure you don't mean suppression?" Marco asked.
"No, actually, I think it's repression." James said.
"Well, which one of yers is gonna do it?" Orla asked, glancing at all of them.
"Do what?" They all asked.
"An impression?" Orla said. "Can ye do Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura? He is so class in that film!" She smiled.
"Not impression, Orla! OPPRESSION! It means a prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or exercise of authority!"
"Ach, ye mean ye went home so James can see yer bra again but everyone was in?" Orla asked.
"Aye, I mean No... I mean; Yes, we went back to my house, but as soon as we walked in, there they are! No doubt assuming in their minds that every time me and James are alone together, we just want to ride each other! So they go out of their way to make sure we can't be alone together." Erin snapped.
Marco glanced at James and then Erin. "… But you do, don't you?"
"That's beside the point, Marco!" She snapped.
"Ach, don't get yer knickers all in a twist Erin. Ya mammy's only making sure ye don't get pregnant like last time." Orla pointed out.
"Honestly, Orla!" James moaned.
"I did NOT get pregnant last time, Orla! I was NEVER PREGNANT! Ye have to ACTUALLY have sex WITHOUT ACTUAL CONDOMS to even be within a chance to get pregnant FOR FECK'S SAKE!" She shouted, jumping up from the sofa.
"Aye, I know that, Erin. I'm not stupid!" Orla replied. Erin groaned angrily.
"Alright! OK! Can we just…. Calm down, please." James moved closer towards the sofa.
"And another thing! Whilst we're on the subject. You two don't exactly help the situation, do ye now?!" Erin suddenly shot at both Orla and Marco.
"What did we do?!" Marco asked, stunned.
"Aye, we haven't done anything." Orla said.
"No, she didn't mean it like that, guys!" James tried to intervene.
"Oh, I did mean it, James! Ye can't deny that you two get free rein compared to us! I mean, Here ye are! On yer own in Jim's house! Not one of them is watching ye! I mean if that's not discrimination I don't know what is!" Erin's face began to sport a desperate glare as she sat back down on the sofa again.
"Has it been that bad, mate?" Marco asked, turning to James.
"It's been really bad, if I'm honest." James admitted.
"Sometimes, I just wish I lived away from all this." Erin sadly.
James and Marco then heard Orla speaking in verse out of the blue. As Erin contemplated what she just said, she began to recognise the words. She turned towards Orla, and the boys did the same. James' eyes grew large as he saw what Orla was doing. Erin's eyes were like wild animals when she saw Orla reading aloud from her diary. Marco glanced worryingly between both Erin and Orla.
"I'm sitting in my room, wondering about Seamus Heaney when he wrote 'The Toome Road' and the more I read it, the more I feel I can identify with how he felt. The helplessness and resentment he felt about the military occupation. Right now, I feel like I'm living amongst a military occupation in my own life. An occupation that I didn't ask for. I think that the trouble is, the more things change, the more they stay the same. And in my case, that is very true. No matter how much I try to move forward, I feel like I'm being stopped. All I want to do is take that step forward." Orla concluded.
"Oooooh shiiiiiiiiiit!" James frowned.
"What? What's gonna happen?!" Marco asked, slightly panicked.
"That…. is…. It!" Erin screamed as she lunged at Orla, causing her to jolt backwards, the back of her head collided with Marco.
"ARGH! WHAT THE FUCK!" Marco groaned in pain.
"Huhhh!" Erin gasped in shock as Orla groaned, holding the back of her head.
"Jesus Christ!" James shouted.
"Are ye alright, Bear?" Orla asked; she panicked, still holding the back of her head.
"Yeah…. Yeah, I'm alright. I'm alright. Calm down. Ach…. And I'm bleeding." He said as he saw blood trickle down onto his t-shirt.
"Oh, sweet suffering Jesus!" Erin moaned.
"Oh gawd! Hold your nose and keep your head back, 'Co." James ordered.
"It's alright I know what to do." Orla said, she took Marco by the hand, and they made their way to the kitchen. Orla handed a large bundle of tissues to Marco.
"For fuck sake, can this get any worse?" Erin asked aloud, more to herself.
"Wassup motherfuckers?!" Michelle burst through the door with Clare in toll. They walked into Jim's kitchen. "Ye not gonna believe this…. What the fuck happened?" Michelle shouted.
"Sweet suffering Jesus! What's been going on here?" Clare echoed the same question.
"It's nothing girls! Relax" James insisted.
"Erin made me headbutt Marco in the face!" Orla said, rubbing her head.
"What! Why would ye make Orla do that, Erin?" Clare asked.
"Jesus Christ! Can I not get a fecking break!" Erin cried.
"It was just an accident, just calm down, for fuck's sake." Marco said, covering his nose.
"Shut yer bake, yer whiny English prick. Let me have a look." Michelle moved the tissue to inspect the injury. "Well, it's not broken. But yer still an ugly fucker!" Michelle walks away.
"Well, thanks for that." Marco huffed.
"Ach, don't ever say I don't do anything for yer!" She said.
"Ok. I won't." Marco said as she walked away to sit with the others around the kitchen table.
"I'm so sorry, Marco." Erin walked up to him. The lad rolled his eyes and put his arm around her.
"Come on. It's alright Erin, no worries." Marco assured her. "You alright, babe?" He asked Orla.
"Aye, I'm OK. I'm Sorry too, Erin." Orla sheepishly handed over her diary.
"Ach, catch yourself on, Orla." Erin sighed, pulling her cousin in. "I'm sorry too."
"So, what were you two gonna say?" James asked Michelle and Clare.
"Oh aye! You are not gonna believe this!" Clare said. "We were just as Fionnula's place, and we heard that MadStab got sent down today for 12 years!"
"12 YEARS?" Erin gawked. "Jesus wept!"
"No word of a lie!" Michelle said. "Fucking serves him right too, the wee jacked up fucker!"
"Ach, that's desperate." Orla said sadly. "I mean…. Not for him, obviously, but for Shannon."
"And that's not all!" Michelle said, motioning towards Clare.
"Why? What is it Clare? Did it…. Go through this time?" Erin asked worryingly.
"No. It didn't!" Clare answered, the gang breathed a sigh of relief.
"Christ! What happened this time? did yer mammy get cold feet again?" Erin asked.
"No, this time it was the bastard buyer who pulled out at the last minute. I swear girls, I am proper ready for the hills with this house sale malarkey." Clare stressed.
"Don't take this the wrong way, Clare. But I seriously think that house is jinxed!" Michelle said. "Wouldn't it just be best for yer Ma to just drop it and stay in Derry?"
"I wouldn't say it was jinxed, Michelle."
"This is now the tenth time this has happened, Clare" James stated.
"Do ye reckon yer Da's ghost is making it so ye can't sell the house?" Orla asked. Clare wasn't sure what to think of that statement.
"Orla!" Erin gawked.
"Well, at least you're not moving for now, Clare, that's not a bad thing, right?" Marco intercepted before things escalated again.
"Ach, thanks." She said.
"So, what's the craic with you four?" Michelle asked. "I mean besides Marco trying to look like he's wearing Michael Jackson's nose?"
"He said it was an accident. Michelle." James said.
"I'm aware of that, Dicko, but why did it happen?" Michelle asked.
"Erin was raging cos Aunt Mary reckons these two ae trying to get pregnant again." Orla said.
"Again…. I was never pregnant!" Erin stressed.
"Ahhhhh, I see. Yer both horny as fuck and ye can't find any privacy?" Michelle said, feigning to vomit.
"Well, I wouldn't put it like that, Michelle." James said awkwardly.
"Mate, don't lie." Marco quipped. James huffed and rolled his eyes in defeat.
"Well, why don't ye just go away together for a weekend or something?" Clare suggested.
"Wise up, Clare! My parents will NEVER let me do that!" Erin argued.
"Why not? my Ma let me stay with Laurie for a weekend." Clare then gasped; she covered her mouth, but it was too late.
"I'm sorry. What the fuck was that?!" Michelle cried.
"OHHHHHHHH!" James, Orla and Marco cheered together. The boys playfully banged their hands on the table.
"That is class, Clare!" Orla beamed with excitement.
"Clare! Ye never did!" Erin gawked in astonishment.
"It's always the quiet ones!" Marco smiled, shaking his head.
"Nice one, Clare!" James shot a wide smile at the wee lesbian.
"When did this happen and why didn't ye tell us?" Michelle asked.
"… That same weekend when the boys had the away game in Buncrana." Clare said.
"No….. fucking….. way!" Michelle exclaimed.
"I did say to Laurie I wasn't completely comfortable lying to yers." Clare confessed.
"Ach, it's alright Clare. As long as ye had fun and used protection." Orla smiled. Everyone glanced at her.
"Well, this is grand, so it is! So, the way things stand are thus, Michelle's no longer a hetero virgin, Clare's no longer a lesbian virgin, Orla and Marco have at least shared a bed together…."
"And you've just shown James yer bra." Orla concluded. Erin turned towards Orla and scowled again.
"Where you going?" James asked Marco.
"The living room, I ain't getting hit again." Marco answered as he walked past.
Joe and Jim then fell jubilantly through the front door. The gang turned to hear the elder men stagger through the living room and into the kitchen. Erin spied the big clock, and it was only 7:40pm.
"Granda, honestly! Are ye drunk?" Erin moaned.
"Alright, Granda? Hiya Jim, yer looking well!" Orla gleamed.
"How's it going, wains!" Joe cried happily.
"Jesus, lad. What happened to ye?" Jim asked Marco.
"Nothing." He said.
"Right, come on. Let's shift. See ya later, Granda." Erin said as she made her way out.
Once Erin had started to shove Orla towards the door. The others followed suit and filed out with her. Marco whistled to Coco Pops and the gang headed out into the night. They sauntered around, feeling the cool air of the June evening as they hung out in Brook Park. Erin still sulked as she sat on the swings while Orla swung high on the swing next to her without a care in the world while Michelle casually drank a bottle of vodka.
"Seriously, ye know what we need to do?" Michelle slurred. "What we need to do is take a book outta Clare pahge's hi?"
"You mean take a page outta Clare's book?" James corrected her. The others sniggered.
"Wha, what'd I say?" Michelle asked.
"What, you want us to have a dirty weekend together?" Marco asked.
"Oi, Fuck off yer dirty bastard!" Michelle argued.
"Me? You're the one who wants a dirty weekend." Marco chuckled.
"Orla, will ye tell yer fella to behave himself!" Michelle called out.
"Ach, Michelle, he's only joking." Orla called as she swung back and forth.
"What are you getting at, Michelle?" James asked.
"We should go away for a weekend. Just all of us. We gotta do something now exams are finished. We did it once in Donegal, we can do it again. Except this time, we just won't crash in the wrong house." Michelle suggested.
"Well, there is a slight problem there, Michelle. If we don't crash in someone's house, where we gonna stay?" Clare asked.
"WE COULD ALL GO CAMPING!" Orla cried out as she jumped off the swings. Everyone looked at her and then each other.
"That's actually not a bad idea, as is goes, Orla!" James agreed.
"Yeah, I'm up for that!" Marco echoed.
"We could go out like proper deep into the woods where no one would find us!" Orla suggested.
"OK. Less of a good idea that time, Orla." Clare said.
"Aye, wise up." Michelle scoffed. "I was thinking of going to a proper camp site. I've heard of this one place in Ballycastle where it's absolutely buzzing with horny rides doing nothing but drinking, dancing and just fucking desperate to get their leg over!" Michelle stated with excitement.
"That last part doesn't really help us though, does it Michelle?" Erin pointed out.
"Speak for yourself. I can tell yer fucking desperate for it!" Michelle said, causing Erin's face to turn red. James squirmed with embarrassment.
"Well… the way things are. I seriously doubt my mammy is gonna let us go. If we suggest we go camping, she'll be suspicious from the get-go." Erin crossed her arms.
"Uh, not if we all go together!" Michelle answered. "At least she'll know we're not alone."
"She has a point, Erin." Marco chimed.
"Aye, I guess there is safety in numbers." Clare said. "And we can pair off into separate tents."
"I could bring my bow and arrow!" Orla suddenly exclaimed.
"Come on, Erin. You said you wanted a chance to show responsibility. Well, this is a chance." James urged her.
Erin looked amongst the group. She then pondered what Clare had said about there being safety in numbers. Maybe if she had gone to her mammy with the idea of just herself and James going away, it would be shut down immediately. But as a group, being the pack that they were, there might be a chance that she'd lower her guard?
"Well…. I guess, if we…. Asked as a group?" Erin conceited.
"Alright. Tomorrow morning. We'll ask our parents together." Michelle said. Taking a swig of vodka, She smirked proudly.
"For the love of God say Yes." Erin thought worryingly.