Lemongrass and Sleep (A Clodagh Story)

Strawberry Mentos

"Clo, you have to. It's not that bad!" Sorscha lightly tugged on my arm to try and get me out of bed for school.

"We can get candy afterwards if you want?" Suddenly, I was more than willing to go. I've always had a sweet tooth and Sorscha uses it against me all the time. Mainly to bribe me to do homework or go to school. Which just so happens to be exactly what she's doing right now.

I hurriedly put on my uniform. Sorscha having to help fix most of it when I left the bathroom and we headed off to school. The day goes by incredibly slow, slower than a sloth.
I just want to get candy with my girlfriend. Is that too much to ask?

At lunch, Sorscha and I talk all about our day. Unfortunately we only have about 2 classes together but it works out that we have lunch together. It feels like the classes with Sorscha make the class and day in general goes by faster. Without her, which is my last couple classes of the day, it went by even slower than in the morning.

Once I heard the bell ring, I practically ran out I the classroom. Sorscha couldn't help but chuckle and my excitement, "Let's stop in a shop real quick and get some candy."

I grabbed her hand and we walked into a smaller area of Dublin. There's quite a few people who only speak Gaelic, they want to keep the language alive. Sorscha is fluent in it for the most part but isn't absolutely perfect. I love to listen to her speak it, its very intriguing. I personally have absolutely no idea what she is saying when she speaks it but it's nice to listen to.

She got some foreign coffee candy and black licorice. I depise black licorice but if she likes it I won't complain about it.... In front of her. I got some Srawberry Mentos and sour patch kids, specifically the watermelon ones.

She payed for the both us and was more than happy to do so. Once we acquired our candy, and Sorscha accidentally swore at the cashier by saying the wrong word, we started home.

We were eating our candies on the way back home. I gave one of my mentos to Sorscha and she offered me a black licorice. I felt bad but I ate it anyways. It was absolutley disgusting but when Sorscha placed her lips on mine for the first time, I knew the taste of black licorice made her smile just like the taste of the mentos did for me.

When she pulled away, I hadn't even realized, that was our first actual kiss. Sure we'd kiss on the cheek, hand, forehead, head, but this was the first time we've ever kissed on the lips.

If I wanted to lie, I'd say I wasn't screaming on the inside but the whole time I was having a full panic. A good panic but still a panic.

"Did I just have my first kiss..?" my fingertip rested on my lips just soaking in the fact.

"By yours truly." Her comment made us both laugh. I adore when she acts like a fictional medievel knight. It never fails to make me laugh.

We stood there laughing and connected our hands again. Finishing the walk home.

"So, how are the lovebirds today?" Fia, Sorscha's mom asked, she never said anything previously about knowing but I assume the flushed red face and the hand holding isn't very secretive.
"Mam? You've known and you haven't said anything?" Her mom just laughs at Sorscha's comment.

"You two are more obvious than a tree in a field of flowers. It's been so obvious." Sorscha's mouth was slightly agape, I just giggled at her.

"We're good, thank you Fia," I turn to Sorscha, "Now if a certain girl doesn't mind closing her mouth before her chewed up licorice falls out that'd be great."

She closed her mouth and we just walked to her bedroom and I couldn't help but break out into a laughing fit for the second time today. I love the Doyle's so much. This time I pull Sorscha's into another kiss despite my laughing. She gladly accepts. The kiss itself lasted only a few moments but we sat across from each other, very little space between us.

It was obvious we were just adoring each other.

Her freckles were one of my favorite features. I've tried to count them when I was struggling to sleep.

1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9..

I lost count of how many there were because it was too hard to not just smile at her sleeping. I lose all thoughts when I get to just adore the one I call my girlfriend. It's illegal for us to get married right now but one day it won't. I'm sure of it.

Sometimes I think England was better but without Ireland there wouldn't be Sorscha. I don't think I want to live in a world without Sorscha. It would be dull and bland. Sorscha adds color to my life. Colors I never knew would be possible.

She's completes me in a way I never knew was missing. I think without Sorscha, everything would have gone back to how I felt in England. I felt alone, unimportant, useless. She makes me feel important, useful, like I'll never be alone again.

I don't know how I got this lucky. I think it was full and total fate that I met Sorscha. Not as many are lucky to find someone so absolutely willing to stay when you can barely take care of yourself or when you get overly excited.

She has and I have a feeling she always will. Maybe Clodagh Doyle is possible. I can't full think of what I want to be when I'm older or the choices I plan to make. There are many paths of life I can control. But I know that each and every single one of them, includes Sorscha.

"I love you, Sorscha."

"I love you too, Clodagh."