Sex Education

Come Together

Mary caught Peggy's eye at mass again, and this time, she gave her a tentative smile. Butterflies erupted in her belly. She'd been so nervous about today that she couldn't think of anything else all week.

She rang the doorbell with shaking fingers. Noel pulled open the door. He grinned and winked at her, which caused her to feel even more nervous.

"Liam! Yer girlfriend's here."

Mary hadn't really labelled what they were, but she guessed that Liam was, in fact, her boyfriend.

Liam shoved him out of the way unceremoniously and led Mary in.

"Ay watch it. It's not like she doesn't know her way around the place." He teased.

Mary caught his eye and flushed bashfully.

Liam glared at him.

"I guess I deserved that, really. Nice to meet you properly this time." She chuckled as she held her hand out.

Noel took her hand with a smile.

"Well, I mean not that there was anything improper about last time. Those for me? Thanks." He said suggestively gesturing to the bouquet of flowers she was holding.

"Would you pack it in?" Pleaded Liam.

Mary smiled at how annoyed Liam was getting. She knew they wound each other up something awful.

Peggy entered the room.

"Well, don't just let her stand there for goodness sake. Take her jacket. Invite her in for a seat. Honestly. Hello, love."

Mary felt a sense of relief wash over at the instant warmth she was greeted with.

She approached her and handed the flowers over to her. Peggy took them graciously with a twinkle in her eye. She gave her a gentle one-armed hug and a light kiss in the cheek. Mary was slightly surprised but held her back warmly.

"That was awful kind of you."

Mary pulled back and shrugged.

"It was least I could do since you've been so kind to have me for tea."

Dinner was slightly awkward as all first meetings were, but Liam would squeeze her hand beneath the table when he could see she was nervous, and that helped a lot.

"So I hear you're going to university in London?"

Mary nodded.

"Yeah. Computer science."

Liam frowned and gave her an incredulous look. Why didn't he know that's what she was into? Over the course of that past month, she'd mentioned Uni but never the details. And he'd never asked.

"I didn't know that's what you were going into." He blurted out.

Mary smiled and nodded.

"Liam?! Do you not know her at all?" Exclaimed Peggy in shocked disappointment.

"Maybe they've not been talking that much when they've been getting to know each other." Saod Noel quietly as he spooned more mashed potato in his mouth.

Liam kicked Noel hard under the table and glared at him.

"Ah!" Exclaimed Noel as he rubbed his shin.

Mary blushed and shrugged.

"I didn't want to give you even more of an excuse not to fancy me. Cause it's not exactly very cool, is it?"

Liam shrugged.

"I think you're cool. So I guess it is, yeah."

Mary smiled and felt her face heat from his gentle yet intense gaze.