In His Shadow

Paralell

Johnny's P.O.V

"Have you seen it?" Gibsie asked as he barrelled into the kitchen with Joey on his heels.

I put my chocolate protein shake down on the counter, clearly my peace was shattered. I had only been home ten minutes...I was hoping for some time alone to process the wild rumour about Maya that was going around the Academy. The gossip mill was rife with the notion that they wanted her to Captain the Junior Worlds team. The Junior Worlds Team was for under 21's! Maya was just fifteen which meant they were considering her for Captaincy over people who were six years older than her. No matter how much I protested people always viewed Maya as a mini version of me. But the truth that everyone was blind too was that Maya was so much better than I was. Nobody was considering me for international Captaincy when I was fifteen.

"Seen what!? Have you two besties been hanging out and gossiping again?"

Joey rolled his eyes heavenward to let me know he was not amused by my attempts at winding him up. "I live here" he deadpanned, shoving Gibsie away as he attempted to cuddle him.

Gibsie pouted, yes actually pouted like a toddler who wanted sweets. "Lynchy! Johnny said we were besties" he huffed crossing his arms across his chest.

Joey smirked, absentmindedly patting Gibsie atop his blonde curls as he passed me his phone. "He is asking if you have seen this"

My own phone was somewhere at the bottom of my gear bag. But Joey's phone screen showed that another video had been circulated - I knew without pressing play that it would involve my little sister. Fucking hell! Reluctantly, I clicked play I was not surprised to see my little sister displayed in her bright red Cork kit; I had heard Da and Ma discussing her return to play this morning.

Dread sank like a stone to the bottom of my stomach, if this was what I thought then she was now being targeted outside of school. A rugby ball sailed across the screen slamming square into the middle of her back. Maya, would never be bothered by a rugby ball hitting her not when she had grown up helping me train. However, the intention was not to hurt her physically - the message was one she had dealt with her entire life...They had stopped play with a rugby ball to let her know she would always be compared to me.

The tiny figure of my sister moved to pick the ball up. It was only once it was in her hands that she froze, a look of horror flickering across her face before it was replaced by something that looked an awful lot like disgust. Ailbhe appeared by her side then prying the ball out of her hands - it was clear her best friend was saying something to her but the video had been filmed from the stands and it was impossible to hear. Clearly, whatever Ailbhe said did the trick because she resumed play and the video cut off.

"Are we after thinking the ball said something?"

"Yes" They both replied in unison.

I knew my little sister was home because the Academy had said she could not return till she produced a clean X-ray. I moved for the stairs with her two adopted brothers flanking either shoulder. I did knock but did not wait long before I pushed the door inwards. To reveal my little sister and her best friend sprawled on her bed in fits of laughter wearing matching Cork warm up strips. Maya's was all rucked up around the middle and I was pleased to see that the bruising had mostly disappeared from her ribs leaving only a yellowish stain behind. But I was not pleased to see that I could see almost every one of her ribs straddling a pronounced six pack. Still, this was the happiest I had seen her in weeks. Her eyes were sparkling, her cheeks were rosy and she was smiling like it was Christmas morning.

"Talk about heavy handed arrival, are you the Guards?" Ailbhe asked gesturing to my escort.

"Want to see my handcuffs!?" Trust Gibsie to make it lewd.