At Seventeen
Chapter 5
Bryan smiled at Eimear, as she walked over to him and Jane. They
both seemed delighted to see her. Eimear felt a whirling feeling in the pit of
her stomach - she didn't want Bryan to be smiling at her the way he was, she
didn't want to hurt him. But then he turned to Jane, and actually put his arm
around her, and Eimear suddenly felt a whole lot better.
"So, you again!" He grinned mischievously at Eimear. "And your
name?" "I feel like I'm being questioned and that you're a Garda,"
she said, suddenly self-conscious. "Sorry! But I forgot to ask
earlier." "The name's Eimear. And don't arrest me - please."
"Oh well, looks like I'll have to arrest Jane so." He gazed into
Jane's eyes. "Why, may I ask?" asked Jane, who was thoroughly enjoying
this charade. "For stealing my heart." He gave a smile that seemed, to
Eimear, to make Jane melt.
Oh please, Eimear thought. I know I didn't want him to fancy me, but I didn't
want to be retching about the place either, listening to him chatting up my best
friend. And then, she was momentarily saved, by Bryan's mobile. Bryan swore,
lifted his arm from Jane's, who looked disappointed, said "Excuse me
ladies," and answered the phone. "Hello?"
The expressions of Eimear and Jane were a complete contrast. Eimear looked
doubtful, as if she wasn't quite sure if Bryan was all right. "Excuse me
ladies"? Who was he kidding? Jane, on the other hand, had quite recovered
from the removal of Bryan's arm, and was in, if anything can describe it,
perfect bliss.
"Bryan?" Mark was relieved. He had actually gotten through to him at
last. "Where are you? Socialising with the women of Sligo?" He didn't
expect Bryan to reply: "No, I'm with two lovely Dublin girls at the
moment." "Oh." Mark was put out. "No, it's okay. You want me
to come over?" "Wasn't that. I wanted the update on Shane."
At this, Bryan moved further away from the girls. He wasn't sure if they should
know about Shane. "I think Kian is the best person to do that, Mark."
"I know, but he's completely knackered. He said you were staying in the
Great Southern?" "Yeah, I am." "What happened with staying
at Shane's?" "I think he's got relatives there, for the New Year,
y'know. Anyway, with the state he's in, it wouldn't do any good, staying at
Shane's gaff." "Guess not." Mark hadn't thought of that.
"But you know, Bry, you could have stayed at my place, all you had to do
was ask." "Yeah, but I didn't want to! I'm living the high life here,
and well, no offence, mate, but the room service is better!"
Mark laughed. "So are you going out tonight? I'm feeling so much better, I
might join you for a pint or something." "Whereabouts? I still don't
know all the pubs in Sligo, you know!" "You should! Oh well, I suppose
- Carrs?" "Which one's that again?" "Directly across the
road from the station - very near your hotel actually." "Oh cool - I
think I know it so."
"Well your two Dublin girls might show you!" "What..." Bryan
looked back at Eimear and Jane, talking together, "you want them to
come?" "Why not? We can ask Kian to come as well, it'd be a
laugh." "But I hardly know them." "All the more reason to
bring them, so you can get to know them!" "Well..." Bryan was
hesistant. "I only met them today!" "Ah come on Bryan! Are either
of them good looking?" "Both." He smiled to himself. "And
you can't choose? Hey, I'll help you choose!" "No, I've chosen!"
"Fine then, I can have the other one!" Mark was feeling fully well by
this stage. "Hmmm.. dunno. That's typical of you Mark - you're such a
womaniser!" "And you're not, McFadden?! You really can't talk!"
"Alright, alright! So what time then?" Bryan relented. "Eight?
That suit you?" "Yeah, well, anytime suits me, because believe it or
not, Mark, I'm not actually doing anything." "Okay, just make sure to
bring those girls! I'll ring Kian."
"I will." Bryan smiled and hung up. "I will," he murmured to
himself. Maybe he could have a decent relationship with someone now. All he had
to do was ask Jane out, and as he looked over at her laughing at something
Eimear had said, he could well believe she'd say yes. Eimear herself was history
- he couldn't imagine how he'd ever fancied her.