Just Friends

Chapter 2

It had been a long day in school and Maria was already in a bad mood when she got home. She walked through the door only to be greeted by Colm walking from the kitchen drinking a glass of Sprite. 

"Hey Brat, how was school?" 

Maria grunted at him as she walked past. 

"Jeez, someone is in a bad mood." 

She ignored him, hung her bag under the stairs and walked into the kitchen. Her mam was at the fridge with a notepad in her hand. 

"Hey girly, how was school?" 

She didn't even turn to look at her, she obviously heard Colm talking to her so knew she was home. Maria plonked down on the stool at the counter. 

"I hate Mr Deegan, he's so stupid." 

Marias mother closed the fridge and turned to look at her daughter. 

"Woaah! What happened? I thought you liked Mr Deegan...wait who is Mr Deegan?" 

Maria rolled her eyes. 

"No mam, I like Mr Kennedy. Mr Deegan is not even our teacher he was just in talking to Mr Kennedy. Kelly and Sinéad were passing notes and laughing, the note got to me and I ignored it so Kelly threw her pencil at me to get my attention. I threw it back and Mr Deegan caught me and gave me a warning. Then when he was giving out he noticed the note in front of me and opened it up. He made me read it out in front of the class even though I said it wasn't mine. It was horrible. I'm never going back to school" 

Her mother stayed silent so she sneaked a glance at her. She was chewing the inside of her cheek with a blank expression. She noticed Maria looking 

"Ok and what was in the letter that has made you decide you're being home schooled?" 

Maria's face went red just thinking about it.

 "Ugh..I can't even..it was so embarrassing." 

Maria's eyes teared up just thinking about the embarrassment. 

"What did it say Maria?" 

Maria blinked and the first tear dropped. Her mother pulled her into a hug and told her it was ok. 

"I'm going up to the school tomorrow and I'm going to have a chat with Mr Deegan." 

Maria sobbed into her mothers shoulder

"It was horrible Ma, he made a show of me in front of everyone. I didn't even write the stupid letter." 

Her mother rubbed her back and tried to calm her down.  

Just as she was starting to feel better Colm walked back into the kitchen 

"Hey is it ok if I have....." 

He looked from Maria to her mother 

"Crap..sorry I didn't mean to interrupt I'll come back later" 

He spun so fast and ran out the door that Maria would have sworn in court that she saw smoke coming from his runners. Her mother laughed. Maria moved and stood up 

"Ma, why is he always here? I mean...doesn't he have a home to go to?" 

Her mother smiled but it wasn't a happy one. 

"Maria, be nice. He's a good kid." 

Maria rolled her eyes 

"He's annoying, he's always around..eating our food, drinking our juice and sprite...He even took my seat on the couch the other day. He knows I always sit there so he done it on purpose. I had to sit at the end instead. "

Now it was her mothers turn to roll her eyes. 

"Be nice Maria, he's helping your Da out with some work. His home life isn't as nice as yours, too many brothers and he doesn't get a look in. Poor kid."

This made Maria think for a second. She never really asked him about his family...maybe she was being a bit harsh on him but he just strolled in like he owned the place and now her best friend has a crush on him so whenever she comes over and he's around she just spends their time together swooning over him or talking about him. 

"I'll try Ma but if he takes the last pack of Tayto again all promises are off"

Maria left the kitchen to go upstairs to her room. She popped her head in the living room door 

"Coast is clear now, you can go get whatever it was you were barging into the kitchen for." 

He looked up at her but she couldn't make out his expression. 

"Thanks...sorry for barging in like that, I didn't realise you were upset....Maria?" 

She rolled her eyes and turned back to him 

"Yeah?" 

He had walked over to the door now and put one hand on her shoulder 

"Are you ok? Has someone hurt you?"

She was confused because he was touching her and he genuinely seemed concerned 

"Eh yeah I'm fine thanks Colm, just some idiots in school getting me into trouble" 

He smiled at her and moved his hand off her shoulder 

"Ah ok...well if you ever need to talk or anything...you know I'm here" 

She smirked 

"yeah...you can say that again.." 

It took him a second to get what she meant but when he did he laughed. Maria turned to go upstairs, at the bottom of the staircase she looked over her shoulder 

"Thanks Colm" 

He winked at her 

"no problem Brat" 

**Used a few Irish slang words, phrases and brands here so sorry if you don't understand. If there's something you want to know just ask in the comments :D **