Dinner at the Quinn household that night consisted of only Mary, Gerry, Joe, Anna, Orla, and Sarah. Erin and James were trying out a double date with Clare and Lorie, and Michelle was working, though she'd most likely spend time with Fin after. Orla continued to have a big smile on her face even as she ate, something everyone else took notice of.
"Orla, what's got ye smilin' so big tonight, love? Mary asked.
"Ach, I don't know what ye mean, Aunt Mary," Orla blushed as she picked at her food.
"I'd say it's got somethin' to do with that Champion o' hers, so it does," Sarah smiled warmly, excited to have some girl talk with her daughter.
"Ach, Mammy," Orla giggled.
"What's this now?" Mary asked with a smirk.
"Orla met a fella today, she did," replied Sarah. "Over at Brooke Park. He's gonna be workin' there."
"Some shite is trying to pick up girls at the park!?" Joe exclaimed.
"I don't think that's what's goin' on, Joe," retorted Gerry.
"Ach, what would ye know, ye prick!?" Joe shot back. "This fella some kinda delinquent, Orla!?"
"Ach, no, Granda! He's a right gentleman, he is," Orla defended.
"Aye, Da, he is," Sarah chimed in. "Met him myself, I did. He was walkin' Orla home after scaring' off some actual delinquents."
"What's happened, love?" Gerry asked.
"Don't be interruptin' my Sarah now, ye shit!" Joe exclaimed.
"Orla says she was walkin' home," continued Sarah. "Two fellas started harassin' her, not takin' no for an answer apparently. One of 'em even grabbed Orla's wrist."
"Bastards, they are!" Joe exclaimed.
"But then this Champion fella showed up behind 'em, he did," Sarah continued. "Gave 'em both a good scare, so he did."
Everyone at the table looked at Orla, who was still smiling after thinking about what happened.
"Saved me, he did," she said turning bright red. "It was class."
"Well, he sounds like a good lad then, he does," said Mary.
"We invited him for dinner, we did," said Sarah. "But he said he had things to do. New to the area I think."
"Nah, Mammy, he's from Derry," Orla chimed in. "But he told me he'd just been livin' elsewhere the last few years or so."
"An' ye never seen him b'fore now?" Gerry asked.
"Ye can't expect her to know everyone in the feckin' city, ye southern shite!" Joe exclaimed.
"I don't recall ever seein' him before, Uncle Gerry," replied Orla. "But he's not much older than myself."
"What age is he?" Mary asked.
"Said he was 20," answered Orla.
"He's a grown man flirtin' with a wain!?" Joe exclaimed.
"Orla's 18, Da," retorted Mary.
"Is she now?" Sarah asked. "Jesus, but the time certainly flies."
"He wasn't flirtin', Granda," Orla blushed.
"Said he called ye beautiful, he did," retorted Sarah, which made her daughter sink into her chair and cover her face.
"How can ye be be so calm 'bout this, love!?" Joe exclaimed.
"Well, like Mary said, Da, Orla's 18 years of age," Sarah shrugged. "She's an adult now, she is. She's also a cracker judge of character. An' he was a perfect gentleman when I spoke to him."
"I'll have my eyes on that one, I will," Joe proclaimed. "Bastard better watch his arse."
In another part of Derry, a double date was happening between Erin, James, Clare, and Laurie. They hadn't had many chances to spend time with the wee lesbian's girlfriend, and figured a double date would be absolute class.
"So, Laurie, how're things at the record store?" Clare asked.
"Pretty standard, really," Laurie casually shrugged. "New Tori Amos album is sellin' well."
"Aye, she is cracker, she is!" Erin exclaimed.
"Her previous albums have been really good," said James.
"Ye like Tori Amos, James?" Laurie asked.
"My wee English fella has very eclectic taste," Erin smiled warmly.
"Probably helps that she's a ride, too," Laurie smirked.
"Catch yerself on, Laurie!" Clare giggled. "James isn't so shallow! Are ye James?"
"She's alright looking," James casually shrugged. "But she's not really my type." He thin gave Erin a wink, making her smile ear to ear.
"Ye are a smooth one, ye are," chuckled Laurie.
"Definitely not," chuckled James, grabbing Erin's hand. "It's just easy to compliment the person ye fancy most."
"I can definitely understand that," Laurie smiled, lightly squeezing Clare's hand.
Meanwhile, Michelle was ending her shift at Dennis's Wee Shop. Walking out she saw Fin standing by his car, a big smile plastered on his face.
"Fancy seein' ye, here," Michelle sauntered over, wrapping her arms around her fella's neck.
"I happened to be in the area," Fin shrugged, placing his hands on her waist.
"Not stalkin' me now, are ye?" she coyly asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Think yer that much of a ride, do ye?" he played along.
"I think ye know the answer to that," she smirked, leaning in to plant a kiss on his lips.
"Ach! Sweet sufferin' Jesus, I'm gonna fuckin' boke!" Dennis groaned loudly as he was locking up the storefront, which gave the two lovebirds a chuckle.
"Oi! At least we're not snoggin' inside yer fuckin' store, Dennis," Michelle chuckled.
"Really wish ye would cut that shite out, I would," Dennis groaned some more. "Customers can't exactly buy shite when my cashier's tongue is shoved down some fella's fuckin' throat!"
"I think Fin's right," Michelle smirked. "Ye need to get yerself some action, ye do.
Dennis didn't exactly reply with words, more a series of belligerent noises as he stomped off. Michelle and Fin had a great laugh at the shopkeeper's frustrations.
"So, ye got anywhere to be?" Fin asked.
"Nah," Michelle replied. "Erin n' Dicko are double datin' with Clare and her girl, Laurie. Boke-o-rama! Orla's no doubt doin' whatever the fuck she does on her own."
"Fancy our own date then?" he asked with his usual shy smirk.
"Sounds cracker," she smiled, planting another kiss on his lips.
Fin opened the passenger side door for Michelle like always, before getting into the driver's seat.
"Ye still banned from Fionnoula's?" he asked.
"Ach, I can't keep track of that shit," she sighed. "But ye can just go in an' get the food, then we'll just eat in the car.
"Works for me," shrugged Fin as he started the engine.
After getting their food, Michelle and Fin found an empty place to park and eat. It didn't take long after for Michelle to straddle Fin's lap and stick her tongue down his throat. She had her hands going through his hair, while he was sliding his hands down her back and squeezing her thighs, which gave her a slight yelp of satisfaction. She pressed a bit more into his crotch which caused him to let out a groan in her mouth. She found that immensely sexy, plus she was very satisfied with the effect it was having on his lower half!
"Someone's really excited, they are," Michelle said in a sultry tone.
"Gotta imagine most lads would be in this situation," Fin chuckled.
"Do ye... wanna take things a bit further?" she asked with a bit of nervousness in her voice.
"Well... um... that definitely sounds cracker," he fumbled to say, something Michelle always found cute. "But... I think it's still a bit early in our relationship... for THAT." There was a bit of awkward silence after that. "Ach! Shit! That must've sounded so feckin' dose, it did!"
"No, it wasn't!" she exclaimed a little too intensely. She then wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. "It was massively sweet!"
"Ye sure?" he asked.
"Aye, it was," she replied, still embracing him. "Had it been a year or so ago, I admit I'd have laughed in yer face and thought somethin' was wrong with ye."
The two chuckled at this remark. Michelle broke from the hug to look directly into Fin's eyes.
"Things are different now," she said softly. "Ye make me feel like the most fuckin' special girl in the world, ye do."
"Well... um... ye are to me," he replied, blushing brightly.
"Which is why I won't complain if ye wanna wait on THAT," she smirked. "Though I won't say no if ye wanna cop feel." She then wiggled her eyebrows.
"I... um... don't see a problem there," he gulped, which made Michelle chuckle loudly.
Niall was lying in the bed of his new room for a while now. He figured he should probably get a chair at some point. He couldn't take his mind off Orla. Ons day of interaction, and the poor fella was completely smitten. He hadn't fancied a girl like this since his school days. She seemed to fancy him too, or at least enjoyed being around him.
While it felt nice, it also brought a lot of worries to his mind. This wasn't just any girl, she was best friends with his younger sister. He hadn't told Michelle or the rest of the family he was out of prison and back in town, plus he hadn't told Orla who he was. He worried she'd hate him for withholding that information from her.
Niall was taken out of his thoughts by a knock at the door.
"Ye awake in there, Niall?" asked the voice of Seamus from the other side of the door.
"Aye!" Niall answered simply.
"Had dinner yet?" Seamus asked.
"Not yet," replied Niall.
"Got some stew cookin' if ye're interested," said Seamus. "Should be ready soon, it should."
"Ay, be down in a moment," replied Niall.
Seamus prepared a simple stew with beef, potatoes, and other assorted vegetables, plus there was some bread.
"Fancy a drink?" Seamus asked.
"Water'll do," replied Niall.
Niall sat down and let the smell of stew sink into his nose. Basically everything he'd eaten today was an upgrade from what he'd eaten in prison the last 5 years.
"So, how was yer first day back in Derry?" Seamus asked. "Get yerself reacquainted with the place?"
"More or less," Niall answered. "Walked about, visited some familiar places."
"Meet with any old friends or family?" Seamus asked.
"Not exactly," answered Niall. "I saw my younger sister at her workplace... even had a small conversation with her."
"But, she didn't know it was you," Seamus said, not asked.
Niall just nodded.
"I s'pose I can't blame ye for that, Seamus said sympathetically. "But I wouldn't wait too long revealin' yerself to her or any other family."
"Yeah," Niall sighed. "Cept things have gotten... a bit complicated."
"Ye only been here a feckin' day," Seamus chuckled. "What in the world could ye have done more?"
"I befriended one of her best friends," Niall admitted.
"I see," Seamus replied. "An' how'd that happen?"
"She tripped on my foot, while dancin' through the park," replied Niall with chuckle. "Had my leg stretched out a bit, cuz of the stiffness. I didn't notice her, she didn't notice me. Luckily, I managed to catch her before she hit the pavement."
"Skinny girl with frizzy hair?" Seamus asked. "Colorful clothes?"
"Guessin' ye already know her," smirked Niall.
"Aye, that girl comes to the park often, she does," said Seamus. "Always with a smile plastered on her face. She's greeted me and other workers on many occasions. What was her her name again?"
"Orla," replied Niall with a warm smile. "Means Golden Princess, she told me."
Niall then told the rest of his encounter with this Golden Princess, such as scaring off the two thugs, walking her home, and even meeting her Ma. Seamus let out a soft chuckle. He'd been around long enough to know that look.
"Sounds to me like ye fancy this girl," said Seamus.
"Yeah," sighed Niall. "Which isn't ideal."
"Why's that, son?" Seamus asked.
"Cuz she's not just any random girl," explained Niall. "Michelle, my sister, she sent me letters while I was locked up. She told me all about her group o' friends. Orla's one of her best friends in the whole world. Even takin' out the fact that I haven't told my family that I'm out and back in Derry, and that I wasn't honest with this friend o' hers, I seriously doubt my sister would be all that excited that her brother fancies one of her friends."
"I s'pose it does complicate things," agreed Seamus.
"Yeah, just a bit," sighed Niall.
"But life's also too short," continued Seamus. "We only get this one go 'round. If this girl's makin' feel this way, sounds like there's somethin' special there."
"But I didn't tell her who I really was," Niall replied. "Just my first name."
"I don't see that girl holdin' a grudge over that, Seamus retorted. "She seems far too friendly for that."
"What about the whole murderin' ex con thing?" Niall asked somberly.
"Ach! We all make mistakes, son," Seamus replied sympathetically. "I admit, I haven't known ye long. But I wouldn't have agreed to this arrangement without the good word from Fergal. Sounds like this Orla girl isn't too quick to judge either."
"I s'pose ye have a fair point there," said Niall.
"Course I do," said Seamus. "But I suggest ye tell her the truth soon as ye can, and tell yer family ye're home. Don't wanna drag this shite out too long. It'll only cause more trouble than it's worth."
The two sat in silence for a couple minutes, Niall let out a long sigh. While he was scared to reveal himself so soon, he knew dragging things out would only exacerbate things; especially with Orla now being part of the mix. Even if they'd just be friends, he didn't want to lose her trust.
"I'll be sure to get this all sorted out before next weekend," declared Niall.
"Fair play, son," Seamus replied warmly.