Just Friends

Chapter 38

Colm's POV 

Colm called James as they got close to the house. Maria had fallen asleep, it looked like he would have to wait until another time to talk to her. James answered and laughed when Colm explained that Maria was drunk and asleep. He didn't want to go through her bag for her keys so he was checking to make sure someone was home. 

When he pulled up outside the house James opened the door. Colm got out and walked around to open Maria's door. She was still asleep. He gently lifted her up and carried her into the house. 

"Do you mind bringing her straight upstairs?" James was shaking his head and laughing. "Why on earth would they start her on a Friday. She's just lucky she's got the weekend off, she's going to wake up with a sore head" 

Colm laughed and carried her upstairs. She stirred in his arms as he got near the top then she put her arm around his neck. He could feel her warm breath on his chest as he opened her bedroom door. As he laid her down on her bed he wished he could just lay down beside her. 

Maria snuggled into her pillow and he couldn't help but give her a quick kiss on the head. As he stood back up she spoke.

"Why don't you love me?" 

He froze...Did she really say that? No she was still sleeping he must have misheard. He took one last glance as he walked out of her room and back downstairs. James came out of the kitchen holding a cup of tea. 

"Kettle has just boiled, you want a cup?" 

Honestly he wanted to just go back upstairs and sit with Maria but he couldn't tell her dad that. 

"Yeah sure, thanks" He followed James into the kitchen. 

Maria's POV

Someone was being noisy, the laughing and voices woke her up and she sat up in bed...wait...how did she get here? She put her head into her hands and tried to think. She remembered Colm helping her into the car outside the bar...then what? She can't remember anything else. She groaned as another loud laugh came from downstairs. 

What is going on down there? She lay back down as she grabbed her phone. She checked the time 11:42 There was a message from Keith and another from Vicky asking how her day went. She quickly typed back replies and put her phone back on the locker. She was hungry...and thirsty actually. As soon as she thought it, it was like her throat was as dry as the Sahara desert. 

She groaned as she stood up and slipped her feet into her slippers. She was still fully dressed apart from her shoes...she tried in vain to recall how she got into her room. Opening her door she crept down the stairs. The noise was coming from the front room so she slipped past and went into the kitchen. She went straight to the fridge and pulled out the jug of water, pouring herself a large glass and downing it in one. She poured another glass then went to raid the cupboards. She didn't know what she wanted to eat, a voice behind her made her jump and she banged her head on the cupboard shelf. 

"OUCH" 

"Oh crap, sorry....I didn't mean to sneak up on you." 

Wait a second...she knew that voice, she turned around to see Colm looking at her sheepishly. 

"Are you ok?" 

She rubbed her head "Yeah fine thanks." She was grumpy and she regretted her tone as soon as she saw Colm flinch. 

He walked to her and bent her head towards him "Let me see" His hands moved gently over her head. Her whole body broke out in goosebumps, she quickly moved away before he noticed. 

"I'm fine..really...she turned back to the cupboard..I'm just hungry" 

He laughed and had just started to say something when she turned to him 

"Hey Colm...how did I get into my bed? I know you picked me up but then...I don't remember anything else." 

He looked at her with surprised eyes "You're telling me you don't remember trying to kiss me?" 

Her eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth "nooooo I'm so sorry" 

He burst out laughing and she realised he was joking. "Oh my god Keith...I hate you" 

She realised her mistake when she saw the smile wiped from his face. "Shit sorry...Colm I just, he..."

He laughed but it wasn't real "It's ok, really. I...I saw you with him today..are you guys getting back together?"

"God no, he gave me a lift to work because I was worried I'd miss my bus." 

Colm stepped closer to her and pushed the hair away from her face, his hand barely touched her cheek and she was shocked by the jolt of electricity she felt through her. She couldn't even look him in the eyes because she knew if she did her own eyes would give away how she was feeling and her heart would break when he didn't return those feelings. This was was easier. 

"Colm..we're heading to bed, you can have the spare room if you want it...Oh love, I didn't know you were up. How's the head?" 

She shook her head around slightly "It's ok actually, um better than I thought it would be anyway" 

Her dad laughed "Poor Colm having to carry you up those stairs because you decided to take a drunken nap in his car." 

Her face went red and she groaned "Please tell me you're joking" 

Her dad burst out laughing as he walked out of the kitchen "Afraid not love, you were out cold."

Maria turned to Colm as her dad left "I'm so sorry you had to carry me....but thank you. I can always depend on..." 

Colm stepped towards her and kissed her before she could finish her sentence. Her stomach flipped and her whole body tingled. She wasn't sure if it was the wine from earlier or what was happening now but her whole body felt warm. 

Somewhere in the back of her mind she was very aware that there was only a wall between them and her parents but at this moment she didn't care. 

"Are we interrupting?" 

Colm jumped back from her like he had been burnt

Oh shit