Irish Promises

Chapter Nine

Stasia

"You've had this phone for hours yet of course it's already filled with nothing but Disney songs even before our numbers are in it" Cian grumbles from the passenger seat as he scrolls through my playlist.

I shrug with absolutely no shame at all. He knows me well enough by now and that shows by how he doesn't seem to be surprised in the slightest.

He hasn't asked where I got the phone from, probably because he already knows. Yet he hasn't gotten annoyed about it, hasn't told me I'm stupid or making a mistake. He's just been Cian and for that I'm beyond grateful.

He continues to scroll through and I already know that he's going to do.

"Even attempt to change my music and I'll crash killing us both off" I warn and he scoffs straight away but that quickly disappears when he grabs the steering wheel and rights is from where I'd been completely unaware I was swerving thanks to looking at him for too long.

"If you don't keep both hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road you'll do that anyways" he laughs but there's definitely a serious edge to his tone.

For about the first twenty minutes of me driving he flinched and gasped constantly which was definitely an overreaction because my driving isn't that bad.

Oh I don't think it is.

When one of my favourite songs Something that I want comes on I turn it up full blast and start singing along to every word without fault.

I don't know what it is about singing but it always gives me this lighthearted feeling even when I'm feeling my worst and right now it's definitely helping which is a massive relief.

I hate arguing with them but it's all we seem to do as of recently. I feel completely stacked against the odds right now and I'm just thankful that I seem to have him on my side.

Everytime I glance over to him he's just leant against the passenger door a lot more relaxed now, his body tilted towards mine with quite possibly the widest smile on his face as he watches and listens to me sing.

When the song dies out he reaches over and turns the volume down.

"Yeah I can see you on a stage dressed as tree or something" he laughs referring back to what I'd told him earlier about really wanting to work in musical theatre like I told Irvin.

I roll my eyes and scoff. "I was actually a dancing and singing lamppost once best performance I've ever done" I admit and that earns me one of his rumbling laughs.

"Surely there's evidence of that somewhere, Finn'll fucking love that" he says and the mere mention of the others changes my whole demeanour straight away which of course he picks up on faultlessly.

"You know they mean well right?" He says and yes I know they do but I'm still pissed with them as I'm sure they are with me.

The silence spreads between use for a couple of miles as I don't drive anywhere in particular. That easy kind of silence that comes with Cian. One where I feel like I can think and don't particularly have to fill.

"Do you think I'm stupid?" I ask not really sure of what response I'm going to get or if he even really understands what I mean.

"No" he says straight away and that is a relief in part or well it is until he continues "but I do think you want to see the best in Irvin because he gave you that chance to be with Natalia" he admits giving me his cold hard truth.

That's what Cian does best he gives the truth no matter how much it might hurt but he doesn't do it in the same way Blake or Hugh would. Where they deliver it in such a brutal way it'll literally slam into you full force. Whereas Cian somehow seems to be able to deliver it in a gentler way.

And I don't know when it comes from him it just seems to sink in more.

It's like because he's quiet and keeps to himself most the time he takes things in more. Thinks and picks it apart before he comes to his conclusion and offers up his thoughts.

When I sigh not agreeing or disagreeing with him he continues.

"That doesn't make you stupid Stas but it does make you perceptible to having your kindness taken advantage of" he explains "you want to see the best in people I get that but not everyone is as good as they appear to be sometimes" he pauses for a moment waiting till I glance over to him before he then says "not in the world we live in"

"You guys are good" I point out attempting to prove there are exemptions to his theory and maybe Irvin is one of them exemptions as well.

"Yeah but it hasn't always been smooth running has it?" He points out before adding "Look at you and Hugh he loves you but he still hurt you"

"That's different" I quickly jump in to say.

"Exactly" he sighs as if he's just made his point.

"I'm fucking this all up aren't I?" I groan, my hands tightening on the wheel.

"Nah you're mostly right" he says reassuringly "you should have your freedom and I will support you with that but I just want you to be careful with it Stas" he then says his tone more serious this time.

"I will be" I promise whilst still wondering how to even do that.

"Don't let him get too close" he warns and when I glance over to him his expression is serious and intense. "Don't forget he happily brought you in a trade for weapons" he then goes on to say and that does give me food for thought.

Love is an open door starts playing and I literally squeal my delight.

"Oh please sing this with me" I plead jacking it up again.

"No" he grumbles crossing his arms.

"Please I know you must know the words we've watched it with me so many times" I point out and start singing.

"Yes I'm aware Stas" he grunts and keeps his lips clamped together for the guys part.

Ignoring his objections I break out into song taking over both parts. Until finally as the second verse starts he jumps right in clearly not as apposed to it as he made out because by the end he's bellowing the lyrics with about as much enthusiasm as I have.

"Fucking Disney brat" he grunts to himself and the next song comes on but he's smiling and just like that all the sadness I was feeling earlier seems to melt away.