Just Friends

Chapter 16

Maria opened her eyes and quickly shut them again as the sun flooded the room.

"Ma!! Why are you trying to blind me?" 

Her mam laughed and tutted 

"Don't be so dramatic....Good morning Girly, how was your night watching movies and stuffing your face?"

Her mam sat on the end of the bed blocking the sun from shining directly on Maria's face. She opened her eyes slowly this time, and sat up. 

"Yeah it was good...until Keith rang. I don't know why he can't leave me alone Ma. I don't want anything to do with him anymore but he just won't accept it. He wants to meet today to explain himself..." She rolled her eyes.

"Are you going to meet him?" 

Maria nodded her head

"Ok well, maybe it's a good thing to just clear the air. If you're really sure about not wanting anything to do with him anymore make sure you tell him that. You can forgive someone without getting into a relationship again." 

Maria nodded again, "Yeah I guess....I just wish I had never agreed to go out with him at all. I should have known he would break my heart." 

She looked down and twiddled with her thumbs nervously as her mother patted her leg. 

"Ma....I asked Colm to come with me, just to, you know...be there in case anything happens. He'll stay in the car but he'll be able to see us." 

A worried look passed over her mothers face.

"Girly...you're not...you know...I mean...do you have feelings for Colm?" 

Maria's face went bright red and her mouth opened in shock at her mothers question. She had laughed when Colm told her that her mother had warned him but now that she was asking her about the same thing...it wasn't as funny.

"Ma no! God...what is wrong with you? He's....he's Colm. Ew" 

Her mother laughed and patted her leg again.

"Ok ok...I just wanted to make sure. I mean, he's a nice lad but he's 21 and he's more....I don't know, I just don't think you two would be a good idea"

Maria screwed up her face 

"Please stop! you're so embarrassing sometimes. As if I'd ever date Colm" 

The noise of the spare bedroom door closing stopped their conversation. 

Colm POV

When Colm opened the bedroom door quietly he could hear voices coming from Maria's room. 

.... "Are you going to meet him?"

No answer

"Ok well, maybe it's a good thing to just clear the air. If you're really sure about not wanting anything to do with him anymore make sure you tell him that. You can forgive someone without getting into a relationship again."

"Yeah I guess....I just wish I had never agreed to go out with him at all. I should have known he would break my heart."

Colm felt a surge of anger when he heard Maria admit that Keith had broken her heart. 

"Ma....I asked Colm to come with me, just to, you know...be there in case anything happens. He'll stay in the car but he'll be able to see us."

"Girly...you're not...you know...I mean...do you have feelings for Colm?"

Oh shit....he should bang the door or something so they'd know he was up.

"Ma no! God...what is wrong with you? He's....he's Colm. Ew"

When he heard those words he felt a pang of sadness. He heard her mam laughing.

"Ok ok...I just wanted to make sure. I mean, he's a nice lad but he's 21 and he's more....I don't know, I just don't think you two would be a good idea. He's been through a lot"

He knew what she meant. He wasn't good enough for her daughter...he didn't blame her actually. He hadn't had the best life growing up, he got into trouble a lot but he had changed. James had helped him so much by taking him under his wing. He had to squash these feelings he was developing for Maria...he couldn't lose the only family that have truly cared for him. 

"Please stop! you're so embarrassing sometimes. As if I'd ever date Colm" 

Ouch! that one hurt

He opened and closed the door louder this time so they would know he was up.  Maria opened her bedroom door just as he was going downstairs. 

"Good morning sleepyhead." 

She was cheerful, her face was slightly pink and her hair was a bit messy. She still looked amazing though. He had to pretend he hadn't heard a thing

"Morning brat, sleep well?" 

He saw the relief in her body, as it relaxed. Good, she believed that he hadn't overheard them. 

"Yeah great thanks, I'm going to make french toast and bacon for breakfast. Want some?" 

His stomach grumbled at the thought of it and they both laughed.

"Yes please" 

Ellen popped her head around the door 

"Oooh can I have some too?" She looked at Colm "Morning Colm, thanks for taking care of my girl last night. I wish I could have been here but unfortunately work needed me" 

Maria laughed "It's fine Ma, I'm a big girl now. 

"No problem Ellen, we had fun...even though she fell asleep half way through the movie."

Ellen laughed "Who on earth falls asleep half way through a horror movie?" 

Maria pushed past Colm "Yeah yeah...whatever. I'm going to make breakfast"