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Me and Shan spent the following week off school, looking after our little brothers while also caring for Marie, who was giving us the silent treatment, focusing all her attention on him.
The miscarriage had become the perfect opening for our dad to sneak his way back into Marie's delicate emotions, manipulating the situation to his advantage.
When he returned that night, Joey took off, driving away and staying gone for three long days. During those three days, I was consumed by the fear that he might never return.
Yet, against my worries, he eventually did come back. Deep down, I sensed it was just a temporary respite, knowing it wouldn't last forever.
One of these days, he was gonna walk out that front door and do a Darren and never come back.
Marie returned to work the following Saturday like a robot in her scrubs, she walked downstairs, made her coffee, smoked seven cigarettes, then left for work.
I had to cancel my shifts at work, and Andrew didn't like that. So, on Sunday, when I did decide to go into work, I ended up with yet another marked back, a few bruises, and €100 deducted from my next check.
I couldn't recall anything that happened after I'd left his 'office'; all I remember was waking up in a world of pain.
When I went back to school, seeing Gibsie made me feel ten times better than I had all week. He didn't ask any questions, and I liked that about him. Most of the time, I faked my happiness and smiles, but with him, it was different—I didn't have to pretend.
My last class on Monday was Geography, and Miss Smith, our teacher, was absent, so the substitute decided to play a documentary. Katie and I had been chatting for the past forty-five minutes about all sorts of random things, from school to my siblings to her boyfriend, when my phone suddenly buzzed.
'Johnny's mam's taking me home, sorry x' Shan had sent me.
'It's okay, don't apologise, have fun with your boyfriendddd' I teased before putting my phone away.
The rain was relentless as I bid Katie farewell and trudged towards the bus stop, drenched by the time I reached it. Suddenly, a honk broke me from my thoughts, and there was Gibsie, motioning for me to hop in. With the weather as it was, I gladly accepted his offer and settled in the passenger seat of his Ford.
"Thanks," I smiled, placing my bag in front of me.
Gibsie started driving as Beyoncé's "Dangerously in Love" played in the background. "I ah... need to pick something up from home before I drop you at yours, is that okay?" he asked, his fingers tapping to the beat.
"Yeah, that's fine," I replied, humming along to the song.
"D'you like this song?" He asks smiling as we pull up to a red light.
"Yeah, I love Beyoncé," I replied, nodding along to the music.
"What's your favourite song of hers?" Gibsie asked, his eyes glinting with curiosity.
"I love 'Dangerously in Love,' of course, but I also love 'Crazy in Love,'" I responded, a smile playing on my lips.
The car fell into a peaceful silence as we parked outside his house, our thoughts drifting in the quiet before he finally broke the stillness with his next words.
Undoing his belt and turning towards me, he asked. "D'you wanna stay over for a bit? My mam won't be home till later - if you're not busy, of course,". With Joey occupied and Shan off with Johnny, the timing seemed perfect.
"Are you sure?" I questioned, seeking reassurance as he simply nodded.
"Sure," I smiled, agreeing to stay over.
"Yeah, c'mon or you're gonna get pneumonia from your clothes," Gibsie chuckled as he got out of the car.
Following him inside the house, a voice called out, "Gerard? Is that you?"
"Shit.. I didn't know she'd be back yet," he muttered as he walked to the kitchen, a hint of surprise in his voice.
"I can go if you want me to-" I started to say, but he interrupted, gently taking my hand. "No-no! It's fine," he quickly reassured me, his expression softening.
His mam turned around, her face lighting up with a smile. "Oh Gerard! You should've told me Aurora was coming over. I'd have done extra - oh well, have to get a chippy now!" she exclaimed, the warmth in her tone evident as she welcomed me.
"It's fine, I'll have something at home-" I mentioned, but she interrupted with a kind insistence.
"Nonsense, it gives me an excuse as well, I've fancied one all day. Let me dry your clothes; you must be freezing. You can use the shower."
"It's fine Mrs. Gibson-" I tried to decline politely.
"Mam, I love you but chill out," Gibsie interjected calmly before continuing, "I'll take her to my room to shower, and I'll bring her clothes down if that's what she wants."
"Alright love, and call me Sadhbh," she smiled warmly as Gibsie led me upstairs. We entered his bedroom just as he let out a high-pitched scream.
"Jesus!" I exclaimed, startled. "What's wrong?"
"That little fucker," Gibsie muttered as a fat tabby cat strolled out of his room.
"You're really scared of a cat?" I giggled as he rolled his eyes in response.
"He's the devil in disguise, Brian- mam! Shout Brian down," he called out in exasperation.
"He's adorable," I remarked, stroking the cat as he purred contentedly, snuggling into my leg.
"Jesus, he's got you two... first little Shannon, now you!" Gibsie exclaimed as Brian strutted downstairs. "Fat little fucker," Gibsie muttered under his breath as I followed him into his room.
"This is ah... my room," he stated, taking a seat on his bed with me following suit. His bedroom had the typical setup of a teenage boy's room, complete with a double bed, a TV, and the usual bedroom essentials. "You don't have to shower if you don't wanna, I mean you might freeze up," he offered.
"Fine," I replied as Gibsie showed me to his bathroom.
"All the stuff you'll needs in here obviously, I'll get you some clothes for after while my mam drys yours... just shout us if you need anything 'Kay?" he assured me.
"Okay... thank you again," I smiled gratefully as he nodded.
I undressed, neatly leaving my clothes outside the door before stepping back into the bathroom. Turning on the shower, I let the water envelop me, relishing the rare moment of uninterrupted peace, only the sound of the water falling breaking the silence.
