Finding 4

Chapter 2

Callum

Coach Riely, our assistant coach, blows his whistle and we all start running. Our feet make a thudding sound against the pitch, and a mix of mud and grass flys in the air around us.

The wannabe head coach of our team is taking over for the day because dad had to take Kennedy to the doctor, and mam couldn't drop a shift.

"Faster Murphy come on!" Dad shouts out from the side of the green.

"Would that prick shut the fuck up?" Niall mumbles from next to me.

I snicker "You're the one who got us here."

"Finley had a part of it," Niall defends.

"Yeah because you drug me into it!" Finley shoots back from across the line of teenage boys, sweating and heaving.

"You agreed to it!" Niall stands all the way up and puts his hands on his hips.

"Because you said you'd pay me!" Finley shouts back. "I still don't have my tenner, Niall!"

"Alright fellas!" Riely interjects "I'll make you run ten more lines for that!"

We all groan and a few of the lads on our team even drop to the ground. Sammy runs over to the side of the pitch and throws up, coughing and heaving.

"Sammy," I jog over to him. "You all right?"

He coughs and spits "I'm alright. Just need a moment."

I nod and clap him on the back "Take your time, lad."

"Thanks Cal."

"Lynch, Orion, get over here." Riely shouts out.

I twist around to face him. "Come on Coach, the fella's barely able to stand here."

"He's fine," Riely says aggressively, waving us back. "On the line would ya?"

"Look at him," I gesture at the brown headed boy, who's still throwing up in the grass. "He can't run right now. At least give us a water break."

He huffs and crosses his arms, looking down the line of worn out boys. He shakes his head and looks back at me. "Fine. You've won this time Lynch. Get some water."

The guys all let out small cheers, clapping and even a few of them let out hoots and hollers.

Sometimes I hate being the one who convinces Riely to do these things. I feel like I get privileged because my dad is the head coach, and sometimes I think the guys think that too.

It almost makes me feel bad for getting a starting position. Even if I have worked my ass off on the pitch, and in the gym, and with my meals, and my sleep schedule, and my grades. Sometimes I feel like the only reason I'm getting playing time is because my father is Tadgh Lynch.

The best hurling coach to ever step foot in Tommen.

"Thanks Lynchy." Finley claps me on the shoulder as I use a plastic Gatorade bottle to squirt water in my mouth.

I smile "You're welcome Onettles."

"I think I should just leave now." Niall walks up, heaving like a mad man. "Maybe I should shove my fingers down my throat and pretend to have a seizure."

"Geez," Finley snickers, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Why are you like this?"

"Like what?" Niall sprays some water over his face. "Ruggedly handsome?"

"Incredibly stupid," Grady claps him on the shoulder.

Niall's whole demeanor changes as he shrugs Grady's hand off. Finley glares at the tall red head.

"Fuck off Grady," Finley defends our best friend.

"I was just making a joke," Grady snickers. "Chill out."

We all watch as he walks off, back to the middle of the pitch. Probably to kiss Riely's ass.

Grady is the team's melter. He's a complete scab. The only thing he has going for him is that he can seriously play hurling. Like really really well.

Other than that the fella's ugly, annoying, not very smart, and a complete prick. Although, his father is wealthy. Not near as wealthy as my grandpa, but still up there in the ranks.

"Just let it go," I ruffle the dirty blond hair on top of Niall's head. "His words don't matter."

Niall normally doesn't get upset about peoples opinions. He couldn't care less actually, that's why we love him.

The boy once danced on a table top at Biddies because they played his favorite Beyoncé song.

However, Grady has a way of getting into the wrong places. Somehow the bastard knows every weakness in a person, and he'll use that against you.

Unfortunately for Niall, his weakness is his brain. Niall was born two months before he was supposed to be, so he didn't really develop all the way. He's not stupid, not at all, but he is a bit slower. The technical term for his predicament is borderline intellectual functioning. Which means he learns slower than others.

Luckily for Niall though, he's one hell of an athlete. Hurling isn't even his main sport. Rugby is. He only plays hurling because his dad did, and we do, and it gives him something to do and keep him busy.

He's also a fantastic guitar player. I swear the boy was blessed with magic fingers, because he can play the guitar better than anyone I've ever heard.

"All right, back on the line." Coach Riely shouts out, blowing the whistle and gaining a collective groan from the team.

<>

Later that night I walk through the front door at home, already hearing the laughter in the kitchen.

My Uncle Joey and Aunt Aoife are here. They come over a lot, and even though they say it's because they want to see us, I think it's actually because they want to check on mam and dad.

"Guess who's here in Cork," Aunt Aoife says as I walk into the kitchen, keeping their conversation going.

"Who?" Mam asks, cutting up a head of cabbage.

"Mealla Ahearn's family."

Mam gapes at her "The Anderson boy and the kids?"

Aoife nods "Yeah. Apparently John was stationed here with the navy."

"How are they?" Dad asks, setting himself in a stool.

"I can't imagine they're well," she shakes her head. "Not after Mealla."

"I was devastated to hear about that." Mam shakes her head. "Mealla was so kind."

"What are you guys talking about?" I ask as I sit down next to dad.

"You remember Mealla don't you?" Mam points the knife at me. "The blonde woman I used to work with. She married the American and they moved to Tennessee."

Mam has worked with a lot of people. She's a nurse, so blonde doesn't help, and nurses are always marrying crazy people so you could tell me that the woman married a serial killer and I still wouldn't be able to tell you who it was.

The confusion is etched across my face and she sighs, "You know...the daughter who was your age. What's her name?"

"Marley," Joey adds.

"Marley!" Realization hits her. "You never met the kids though did you."

"No," I shake my head, biting into a slice of pineapple.

"Oh." She goes back to cutting. "Well, they're very nice people. We will have to meet back up with them sometime."

A/N

I swear it's going to get entertaining just bear with me😭🙏