At Seventeen
Chapter 6
"Who was that?" cried Jane eagerly. Anything involving
Bryan was suddenly fascinating. Eimear glanced, cynically, at Jane. Maybe it was
her bitterness towards men because of the whole John thing, but she really
didn't see how Jane could be so excited. Bryan was just a fella - an alright
looking one at that, but still just a fella. She looked like a puppy dog waiting
for its food, the way she gazed adoringly at Bryan. But then again, that was
Eimear's bitterness seeping through. Perhaps she was a little jealous? No. She
shook the thought off fast. She wasn't. She was just... a little angry perhaps.
Jealous, no.
But Bryan was looking just as eagerly back at Jane. "It was Mark. He wants
to know can he meet you two girls tonight. Kian might come as well. We're going
out for a drink." Jane looked overjoyed. "You mean I'm going to meet
him? Mark from..." She suddenly recovered. "But then, of course,
you're Bryan from.... oh God, I am just not used to this." Bryan was
amused. "It's okay, we're really perfectly normal."
"When are we supposed to meet him?" Eimear had other things on her
mind. She was resigned to going to the pub with Bryan and Jane, she knew Jane
wouldn't go without her, but that she would never forgive her if she didn't go.
Bryan looked at his watch. "In an hour! It's seven already - God I
forgot!" "Well it is late night shopping." Jane looked
meaningfully at Eimear. Eimear read the look. 'Shake Bryan off and come help me
choose an outfit.'
"Em, so, Bryan..." Eimear cleared her throat. "Do you mind, if,
eh, we meet you outside the pub then?" "Oh....yeah. Of course, you
girls want to shop. Should have known." He sighed ruefully. "Ah well.
I'll see you then." "We won't stand you up." Eimear assured him.
Jane gave her another look, as if to say, 'You weren't even thinking of doing
that, were you?' "I hope you won't!" He gave one more lasting smile at
Jane, before heading towards the other side of the town to where Eimear was
immediately headed.
"Slow down, slow down!" Jane ran to catch up with her. "Where are
we going? I hope you know the shops in Sligo as well as you say you do."
"Well I hope so. There's a department store here - Lyons's. They should
have something." Lyons's was off the main shopping street, very near the
back entrance to the Silver Swan - the front entrance being where they had
encountered Bryan. Eimear entered with such an air of familiarity that she
looked like she had lived in Sligo all her life. Jane was uneasy, but quickly
felt at home on seeing some of the outfits displayed.
"Oh God that one's gorgeous - but that one's just as nice, and don't you
think green looks better with my hair?" Eimear smiled patiently, as she
knew she had to be - it took Jane half an hour to find the outfit she wanted, a
black cardigan with fur trim over a dark green cocktail dress. But then she
insisted on Eimear getting an outfit. "Oh really, I'd rather go as I am.
It's different for you, you've got Bryan to think about."
"Eimear, just because you're not interested in any of the lads there,
doesn't mean you can't let your friend treat you once in a while!" Jane was
adamant, and Eimear knew it. "Besides, you'd show me up, wearing combats,
and me wearing a cocktail dress!" Now that you put it that way, thought
Eimear....