𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝟖 (𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐂)

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟒 | 𝐎𝐫𝐥𝐚 𝐋𝐲𝐧𝐜𝐡.

JAMES GIBSON.

She hadn't left my mind for since the day I saw her again, over a week ago.

Her long brown hair, falling over her face messily.

Her pale skin, clear with a few minor scars.

Her small button nose.

Those tired green eyes, with exhaustion weighing them down. They were so green and so dull. So empty.

I only had one chance to hear her voice, and see her face up close. She had walked away before I could get a better look, and on the car ride with her brother, who insisted on taking me and Gibsie, she was silent and distant. Only picking at her nails and looking out the window.

I knew it was her. It had to be her.

She had my mind in endless raves, she consumed my thoughts, and her name echoed in my brain over and over again. Nonstop, she took over my brain. Meshed with the control panel until she was the only thing I could focus on.

Orla Lynch.

Shannon's Sister.

I had an endless supply of questions I was waiting to ask Shannon, only she hadn't shown up to school for over a week. And I heard Johnny telling Gibsie that her Ma had a miscarriage and lost the baby.

I could only assume that was the reason of her absence.

But something about Shannon always managed to throw me off kilter. The sadness in her deep blue eyes, how small and frail she was compared to other girls—like Claire.

She look like she didn't eat enough. Like all types of nutrients she ate hadn't processed in her body—and the more I think about it the meaner it sounds. But it was true, she looked like she was starved.

And it had me giving her some of my lunch most days, after she finished hers, I'd insist she needed to help me eat mine because it was too much and I couldn't finish it.

I was a growing boy, of course I could finish my own goddamn lunch. But I felt like I needed to make her eat more, like it was my responsibility to ensure she was okay and had a full stomach.

"Hey, you think Shannon's alright?" I ask, to nobody in general. But my words have two pairs of eyes on me instantly, one curious the other defensive.

"I'm sure she's fine, James. Probably just needs to help her mam around the house or something." Hughie shrugs, coddling the small redhead to his side. "She's a tough cookie."

I hum in response, but then Gibsie squinted his eyes at me in a knowing manner, teasing. "Yeah, what he said—What's it to you though? You fancy her?" He reached over to my sleeve playfully, before side-eyeing Johnny.

I noticed Johnny's sudden blaring glare on me. I shook my head dutifully.. "Uh, no—I can ask about a girl without fancying her, Gibs. Jesus, you're gonna make Johnny fucking kill me." I shot back, throwing a glance at Johnny.

Gibsie barks out a cackle when he notices the way Johnny had looked at me when he suggested I fancied his soon-to-be-girlfriend. Whether he wants to admit it or not, Johnny had some serious feelings about the girl, and judging by the way she looks at him, I think she returns those serious feelings.

"My and Shannon are actually good friends," I decide to say, watching Johnny's expression carefully as I repress a playful grin. "We share food at lunch sometimes."

Gibsie looks at me knowingly, a matching glint in his eyes. He cocks a brow. "Really?" He eggs on, a devious tone in his voice.

I nod slowly, a grin curving the corners of my mouth. "Oh yeah.. We've also hugged." I announce.