NAVIGATING 5 - tadgh lynch

12- Lilibeth

25th April, 2005.

I look at myself in the mirror. It's 8:20, school starts at nine, yet I've been ready for the last half an hour. I have my uniform on, a collared shirt with my navy school jumper on top, my knee length skirt practically halfway down my thighs because of the random growth spurt I had since I got the skirt, and navy tights leading down to my black Lellie-Kellies. How can I go on about my day without knowing if he even can? Gibs told me about what happened with Shannon, and I don't even know if Tadhg got beat too, because if Gerard knows, I know he wouldn't have the heart to tell me. Speak of the devil, I hear a knock on my door and my cousin pops his head in. 

"I'm away off to school, but I can hang on a bit longer if you want a lift?" He asked, shrugging on his blazer for the first time in forever, though there was no jumper in sight, half the buttons of his shirt were in the wrong holes and his tie may as well have been tied on by a child. 
"Annalise is giving me a lift, thanks." I assured him as i fixed the buttons of his shirt and tied his tie properly. 
"Alright, I'll see ya later," He ruffled my hair, and pressed a kiss to my head, "Don't lose your cool." He told me, then winked and stalked down the stairs, heading off to who was presumably Johnny honking the horn of his car outside. 'Don't lose your cool' could mean anything, but I know what he means. With Tadhg. He may not like him, but he knows the situations bad. 

Annalise's mums car pulled up awhile later, around 8:45. I said goodbye to Sadhbh after helping her wrangle some of the pastries she made for the bakery into her car, and then walked out the front door and climbed into the back of Annalise's car.

***

We were waiting in the yard before school started, and I saw Oisin approaching, talking to a familiar blonde. Tadhg. He's okay. Before i can stop myself, I'm rushing up to him and throwing my arms around him.

"You're okay," I mumble into his shoulder, so muffled only he could hear it as he hesitates for a second, then wraps his arms around my midriff. "You're okay." I don't know if I'm assuring him or myself at this point.
I pull away from him, to see a few fading bruises on his face. "I was so worried Tadhg, you scared me." He looked like my words physically hurt him.
"I'm sorry, Tiger. I'm so sorry. I'll tell you everything after school." 

***

After school came way to slow, but when we were sitting backstage during rehearsals for the play, I wasn't prepared for what was going to come out of his mouth. During one of the longer breaks I had, which wasn't many seeing as I was one of the leads, and despite it being a primary school play, it was a pretty big thing in Ballylaggin. People of all ages would come watch it, some would set up stands and there would be a market beforehand, and sometimes past-pupils would perform as an older character. Many people declared it 'The official beginning of Summer', one of the reasons why it was so big. Some of the older kids have parties on the same night, so for them it's fun from 10am until god knows how early in the morning, and I thrived in busy environment's, but right now? All I need is to be alone with Tadhg, because I need to know what the fuck happened. 

"And since then, Darren hasn't let me out of the house apart from for training, and took my phone." I gaped as he finished reciting what has happened since I last seen him.
"Jesus, Tadhg. That's... Fuck. You're a warrior." 

Heeyyyyyyyyy... So what do we thinkkkkkkk??????? I think my mind has gone blank and im just going to have to do filler chapters till the 🔥🔥🔥but thats fine right?? Yous will live. XOXO. Love ya x