Seeing You - Boys of Tommen

I Swear On My Love of Rolos

April 4th, 2002

Katie:

"So...six months, Katie that's a big deal." Aoife says, we're sitting in her kitchen drinking tea.

"Yeah."

"How is Hugh? He treating you well?"

"Yes."

"If he's not, give me his address."

"He treats me well."

"But?"

"There's no buts." Aoife just gives me a look and I concede, "It's just that, he's sometimes kind of distant, and he's been missing practices and lying about it to me, I don't know where he's going or if it's my business." I ramble on but Aoife just sits and listens to me. 

"You think he's got someone on the side?"

"No, he wouldn't do that to me." I breathe, "It's like he has this secret life and sometimes I feel like his escape or... I don't know."

"Well...isn't that good, to be his escape from the hard parts of his life?" I knew she was asking in regards to her friendship with Joey, but I didn't want what they had, sure it was obvious they burned for each other in a way that's supposed to only exist in books or on screens but I wanted a relationship I felt comfortable and safe in not on the brink of madness at all times.

"Maybe... but I want to be involved in his whole life, not just the parts he chooses to share with me."

"That's kind of beautiful Katie, when did you get so wise?" I smile at that, my father says that I've never really been a kid and I have to agree.

"Enough about me... How's Joey?"

She gives me a look, "we're just friends."

"I know."

"He's...um...well he's Joey." She grimaced, "Let's not talk about him."

"How's Paul?"

"He's Paul." I nod.

 "Kevin?"

"Still a swot." She laughs, "You know... He's always had a thing for you."

"Ew... And I have a boyfriend."

"Sometimes I see him staring at you through the window."

"Say you're joking right now."

"I swear on my love of rolos." God she was serious. " He always says how, you're so smart and how you're doing so great at Tommen, even though you had to slum it with me at St. Bernadettes, and how I should be more like you."

"More like me? Why would you want that?" Aoife's gaze softens, she's about to say something else until Kevin walks in.

"Speak of the devil, and he doth appear."  Aoife says and Kevin just glares at her.

"Hey Katie."

"Hi Kevin." I say, trying to hold in my laugh, Kevin isn't bad looking and he's smart but he's not like Hugh and his friends. It's kind of funny to think about Kevin in a room with all of them, he's a year older than Hugh, and the same age as Johnny but he's just different. 

"How's Tommen?"

"It's good, BCS?"

He shrugs, "It's okay." Aoife yawns.

"You may have inherited all the brains, but you do not have a smooth bone in your body."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're going to make all this money with you're fancy degree, but no wife to spend it on."

"Have you given up on trying to make sense or say intelligent sentences?"

"He's a real catch, isn't he?" Kevin flushes, realizing what Aoife's referring to. "I'm saying you have no game."

"I deciphered that, genius." Kevin says sarcastically. "Really Katie, why do you even bother with her?"

Before I can answer, Aoife is rearing back, "And who should she bother with? You?" I hate that they're using me in their sibling fights, I'm an only child and I'm not used to it. Over the years, I've witnessed many of their squabbles, the funny thing about them is that they'll be screaming at each other and then five minutes later eating together like nothing happened.

"Fuck you Aoife."

"Just go back up to your swot friends, she's already got a boyfriend, a hot rugby player, isn't that right Katie?"

"You have a boyfriend?" Kevin asks and not in a jealous or disappointed way, but in a judgemental way. Like I'm whoring myself out and no longer good enough for him.

"Yes, his name's Hugh." Kevin just retreats back to his bedroom. 

"He is driving me up the wall." Aoife sighs, "Sorry for doing that in front of you, I know you hate people fighting but the little prick deserves it, and I think it stings a little more with his perfect little Katie as an audience."

"I don't think I'm perfect to him, anymore."

"True, I think he wants to marry the Virgin Mary." I laugh at that. 

"You know who else was asking about you?" Aoife asks.

"Who?"

"Podge, he said he saw you in the market and he couldn't believe how gorgeous you got."

"Podge said gorgeous?"

"Well, he said hot, but gorgeous sounds nicer."

"Aoife, why are you telling me about other boys right now?"

"Because you deserve someone really good and I hope this Hugh bloke is that for you, but if he's not then you don't have to settle."

Thanks for reading! This chapter was super random but I'll use any excuse to write an Aoife chapter.  - H <3