Derry Girls: A New Arrival Part 2

Chapter 16: Meeting Uncle Colm

The gang sung along to Take That-Never Forget as they drove home. As the song played; James glanced over and saw Erin smile lovingly at her wee English fella as he drove. Erin had never felt so grown up before in her young life as she sat in the car. She then turned to see Michelle, Clare, Orla, and Marco sitting snug in the back seats; her cousin Orla snuggled happily on Marco's lap, who was smiling as much as she was. Erin saw that Clare was trembling slightly. She turned back to James, who could feel her eyes on him again. When he came to a stop at the traffic lights, he glanced at Erin who motioned him to look at Clare. James looked in his rear-view mirror, and saw what Erin was getting at.

"Are you alright, Clare?"
"Aye?! Why ye asking, James?"
".... You just look a bit.... flushed."
"No! Nothing wrong with me!"

Michelle felt what James was implying. Clare's leg fidgeted as she sat. Michelle glanced at Orla, who nodded; she could feel the same shaking sensation coming from Marco. Orla placed her hand on Clare's to comfort her.

"Yer shaking like a fucking leaf there Clare!" Michelle complained.
"I am not!"
"Aye, ye are so, Clare. I can see it." Orla pointed. "And I can feel it." She said to Marco.
"Marco? You alright mate?" James asked.
"Yeah. It's just.... adrenaline." Marco breathed out deeply.
"Aye.... Just coming down from all that excitement." Clare exhaled. Her cheeks now sporting a rouge glow.
"Ye worried about what that dickhead said, aren't ya?" Michelle asked.
"Well.... I wouldn't be sensible if I wasn't just a tiny bit concerned." Clare replied, turning to Marco, he took Clare's hand and held it gently.
"Oi... Don't worry about it, Clare." Marco assured her. Orla smiled proudly at her fella.
"Aye, there's nothing to worry about, Clare. He's just a jacked-up arsehole!" Michelle scoffed.
"I just hope that's true." James whispered, more to himself.
"Fuck MadStab, alright, let's just let our hair down and have a fucking good night!" Michelle stated.

James shot an uncertain look at Marco through the rear-view mirror, knowing the usual drunken state Michelle was looking to get herself into. Marco shot back a reassuring look. As they dropped Clare off; she informed the gang she was having dinner with Laurie and her family, but they'd pop round to see them later. Clare said her goodbyes. The next stop was the Quinn's house. Orla jumped out first. But Erin stayed in the front seat.

"Are ye not getting out Erin?"
"I'm just gonna ride round James and Michelle's. Just tell Mammy I'm with them."
"Can we not come?"
"Orla!" Erin moaned.
Marco whispered something to Orla, she then nodded and understood.

"We'll be back around in about an hour or so. OK mate?" James asked Marco, he nodded in agreement, he patted James's shoulder and exited the car.
"See ya two later then." Erin said to the couple.

"Oi! No funny business!" Michelle shouted. Orla widened her eyes and shot a goofy look. Marco mirrored the same goofy face. Michelle lunged forward to change the radio station. Orla and Marco waved them off as James pulled away.

With his eardrums pulsing from the relentless noise; James grimaced that Michelle had cranked the volume all the way up. While One & One- Robert Miles blared from the car's speakers. James looked over at Erin, who was also swaying merrily to the music. James stared forward and couldn't help but chuckle silently to himself. The madness of living in Derry was summed up by his cousin and girlfriend who grabbed themselves a moment of freedom away from the troubles inside their world within the confides of the car. Michelle jumped out upon arriving home. Seeing the young couple wanted to be alone. She raised a knowing eyebrow at them both.

"Don't do anything stupid, ye two fuckers!" She said. Erin rolled her eyes.

As she walked indoors. James drove towards the outskirts of Derry. James motioned Erin over to work the gear stick as he worked the clutch. He drove carefully, letting Erin know when to shift gears. The gears grinded a few times. Eventually finding their slot. Their hands were tangled together on top of the gear stick.