Seeing You - Boys of Tommen

Kidnappings and Lunch Dates

September 11th, 2001

Katie:

I've spent the entirety of the weekend dissecting my interaction with Hugh, and even had to call in for back up, aka my next door neighbor Aoife Molloy, for her advice. She said that he's definitely 'into me' although Aoife is like the most beautiful person I know, so if a guy looks at her twice it's safe to assume he's interested, but me it just doesn't make sense.

I try to stop thinking about it as I make my way to the music room, not sure if I should be hoping that it's empty or if I should be hoping Feely is there again, he was really nice, kind of awkward and shy, the complete opposite of Hugh. I could see Patrick and I, becoming friends, although it might be difficult with us both being more reserved.

Once again lost in thought, I'm walking in the school hallways in a trance like state, but this time I'm able to stop myself before walking right into two boys exiting one of the classrooms, I mumble an apology and try to bolt, until the slightly shorter one although still quite a bit taller than me puts an arm out to stop me. I look up at them, and think what are they feeding these boys at Tommen?

The one who stopped me with his hand starts to speak "hmm...tiny, check...pretty check...red hair, check" he smiles to himself while the taller lad shakes his head "You must be Katie, I'm Gerard, or Gibsie whatever you please" I nod at him still confused.

"I'm Johnny, sorry about him, we don't let him out much" this earns Johnny an elbow to his ribs.

"I didn't even say the part about her being my future sister-in-law" Johnny looks at me apologetically.

"He... I don't have an excuse but I'm sorry"

Gibsie continues on, "You're making me look bad, anyways Katie we'd love to escort you to lunch" before I have a chance to respond Gibsie links his elbow through mine and is taking me in the direction of the lunch room, while Johnny walks on the other side of me, it dawns on me that they could be pulling some type or prank or bringing me somewhere to bully or haze me. Upon this likely realization, I stop my steps and try to pull my arm out of Gibsie's arm.

He turns to look at me "that's not the way to the lunch room Katie" he tisks, realization dawns on Johnny.

"Bloody hell, we never explained where we were taking her, she probably thinks we're bullying her or something." I don't appreciate being talked about like I'm not there, but I also have no idea what is going on, so I wouldn't have much to add to the conversation.

"I'm gonna go now" I say trying to slip out of Gibsie's grip once again.

"You think, I would bully you, my mother would be offended that you thought I was capable of such a thing, I must say I don't know how good of a judge of character you are Katie" I blink at him.

"Um...sorry" I reply weakly, and Johnny pinches the crease between his eyebrows.

"Good god, I am sorry about this, let's start over" He reaches out his hand to mine and shakes confusing me further, Gibsie then takes my hand and kisses the top of it. I stare blankly at them.

"Right okay thanks for clearing that up." I try to turn around but Gibsie spins me right back.

"We must look like proper weirdos, anyways here's the sitch, You're future husband is my future wife's older brother, thus making us basically siblings" I'm so lost at this point, I wonder if I've hit my head.

Johnny speaks up now, not before flicking his friend on the forehead, "We're friends of Hugh, he was going to ask you if you wanted to sit with us at lunch today, but he couldn't find you" he clears his throat "Would you like that?" I nod "Okay, sorry about all of that, maybe should've eased you into meeting him" Behind us Gibsie looks annoyed but only for a minute then he's practically skipping into the lunch room.

Truthfully, I've avoided the lunch room, it's quite large and the sheer amount of people freaks me out. I'm more of a secluded music room type of person, but I won't deny a chance to see Hugh again. I try not to hyperfixate on his friends' words "pretty, check", and "He couldn't find you" that means he was looking for me, maybe Aoife was right, and did he tell his friends he found me pretty?

My excitement dies when Gibsie very loudly announces our arrival "look what we found Hughie, scared her half to death but we got her here in the end" Hugh was sitting at the end of the table and looked embarrassed, I immediately regretted everything.

I turned around before Johnny stopped me holding his hand out "this one's a flight risk" I can feel my blush growing darker and darker.

"I'm so sorry about them, I just...God." Hugh's blushing now too "Do you want to sit down?", he gestures at the seat across from him, and I sit down and Gibsie takes the seat next to me offering me a can of coke from his backpack which I accept out of sheer curiosity for this enigma of a boy. "Ignore him." Hugh says as he reaches over and opens the can for me.

"Thanks, and it's kind of hard too" I say in a hopefully relaxed tone.

"God, I can only imagine what he's said to you" I bite my lip.

"He did mention him and I getting to know each other due to our impending status as siblings." I say holding back a laugh, as his face reddens "I can not stress this enough, please ignore him."

The next few minutes are spent introducing me to the rest of the lads sitting at the table. I feel sort of out of place, being the only girl, a couple of girls stop by to chat with the boys but none are offered a seat.

Curiously, I notice that no one has sat to the left of Hugh, until a familiar shy guitarist/rugby player takes the seat.

Hugh speaks up before I can greet him "This is Katie, the girl I was telling you about." hearing that made me smile, but Patrick's response confused me "Nice to meet ya" he nods and then clips out "I'm Feely" gone is the shy boy from the music room, he appears to have forgotten me, and is playing the role of nonchalant cool rugby player quite well. I'd almost think I'd met a secret twin, until Johnny addressed him as Patrick.

I offered him a quick smile feeling awkward, maybe he really did want me to leave on Friday, and was barely paying attention, but he stopped me from going, and he continued asking his questions, did he forget me? I had only confided in Aoife about Hugh, I hadn't mentioned Patrick, I'm not sure why.

"He's a man of few words" Hugh said gesturing towards his friend, I focused my attention back on Hugh.

Thanks for reading, I'm going to write in parts about Katie's friendship with Gibsie and Johnny despite it not really being in the books because I think it will be more interesting. - H <3