Love in Ireland

/33/

-Saturday January 6th-

It's been five days since New Year's Day. After the whole thing at the ball, Declan and I decided to explain everything to Owen, Bridget, Mr. Finnegan, and Mrs. Finnegan. We didn't have to, but we decided to anyway since Alannah and Zach knew about the whole fake dating thing. Surprisingly, they all took it pretty well. Bridget started squealing when Declan said we were actually dating. Of course, Alannah and Zach started pestering us the second we had re-entered the ballroom.

Nothing in the past few days could wipe the smiles off mine and Declan's faces. And I thought today would be the same. But I woke up to dozens of texts from unknown numbers. Most were about me and Declan, like how the messages started. And some were still bashing me. I had a text from one number that was a whole paragraph just criticizing my dress and appearance at the ball. I've tried to ignore the texts all day by working, but it's hard. Alannah's still trying to help me figure out who's behind this. But even with her FBI level sleuthing skills, she hasn't made any progress.

Alannah's been in my studio all day playing music and searching on her computer.

"I still think you should tell Declan and Zach." Alannah said furiously, typing on her computer. "And you said you would after the ball."

"I know." I sighed. "But It's almost Declan's birthday and I don't want to bother them. And plus, Declan's probably busy with stuff."

Alannah shook her head and continued typing. "Seriously. How can I not find any of these numbers? You've gotten texts from probably a hundred different numbers by now and I can't find a record of any. Not to mention the area codes are all over the place. There are some from Ireland, some from the UK, some from Paris, and like several from different U.S. states. I can't find anything." Alannah said, clearly frustrated.

"Why don't you come up with a suspect's list?" I suggested.

"Way a head of you." Alannah laughed.

"And who is on this suspect list?" I asked.

"Well, for starters, Tara is currently at the top. I even highlighted and underlined her name multiple times. But it would be hard to confront her with no proof. Your dad is on the list. Which I don't think is likely because I feel like a grown man would not be doing this. He probably has better things to do with his time than send his daughter, who he left, hundreds of insulting texts. And you said you haven't heard from your dad since you were a kid and he up and left. And if he really wanted to get back in touch with you, he probably would have started trying after you were first mentioned in the press. So he's pretty low on the list. And then the rest of the people on the list are just snobby people who have been rude to you in the past when you were just my best friend and not Declan's girlfriend." Alannah explained.

"Tara does seem like the obvious suspect. But we can't be positive that it's her." I agreed. Some of the texts that I've received have given off a Tara vibe. Especially the ones that are very much about how Declan doesn't belong with me. But we have no evidence of it being here and we can't exactly accuse her of it or confront her until we have solid proof.

"Yeah. I wonder if it's possible to catch her saying something that's almost word for word a text you received." Alannah said. "Would that even be good enough proof?"

"I mean, if enough of her texts and in person comments match up, then maybe." I shrugged.

Alannah just sighed and continued searching on her computer. As I worked, I listened to the sound of her typing and Lover by Taylor Swift, which had just came on. Alannah and I were both in the mood for an all Taylor Swift playlist.

I heard a knock at the door and yelled for the person to come in.

"Hello M'lady." Declan grinned, walking over to me. "I brought you coffee." He came over to where I was sitting and kissed me on the cheek before setting down the cup he was carrying. The fake dating was almost like the awkward stage of a relationship (If that is even a thing). And well, everything just felt so natural with Declan now, even though it's been less than a week. Every time Declan sees me, he usually kisses me on the cheek, forehead, hand, or lips. Zach made a comment yesterday about how this was how he expected us to act when we first said we were 'dating'. But because of the whole fake dating thing, we didn't really do more than what was needed. But now it didn't matter. We weren't acting or hiding our feelings anymore.