Seeing You - Boys of Tommen

Self Restraint

August 21st, 2005

Patrick:

I hadn't seen Hugh since Friday night when Katie collapsed in his kitchen and he barely even reacted. He seemed more annoyed, than anything. And if I hadn't been so focused on getting Katie out of the house, I would have hit him. Maybe a good punch would bring him out of this funk he was in.

That night with Katie, was honestly one of the best nights I've ever had. It was under the worst circumstances but, getting her all to myself was better than I could have imagined. It was honestly a struggle to drop her off at her house, when I all I wanted to do was keep her forever.

We had a pre-season meeting with the rugby team this afternoon and I had been dreading having to face Hugh. Would he be mad? Would he question me,  for how I acted? For taking his girl away from him that night?

"Hey, lad...what was the deal with Friday?" Gibsie asked, arriving before his neighbour.

"Huh?" I asked, trying to delay providing an explanation. 

"Liz said Katie got sick and you took her home."

"Yeah."

"Don't tell me you still..." Gibsie shakes his head, "Katie Kat, still?"

"No, that's done." I lie.

Gibsie just looks at me sympathetically,"I thought you were going with that girl, Aoife's friend."

"Casey."

"Yeah, that one."

"It's just casual."

"Casual?"

"Yeah."

"Hmmm."

"What? If you've got something to say, just say it Gibs, don't make jump through any hoops." 

"Nothing, it's just.... why are you keeping it casual?"

"It's what we both want."

"Okay, just a sword of advice, Liz's been in a weird mood."

"That's not advice, Gibs."

"I think she might have caught onto your... emotions regarding your Katie Kat." Usually I would correct him, that she wasn't mine, but I love the way it sounds. I let the words circle around in my head, imagine how they would sound on my tongue. I imagine, her telling me she's mine, and me telling her, that I'm hers.

Because I fucking am. It doesn't matter how much I deny it or ignore it, I've been hers since that day in the music room.

"There's nothing to catch on to." I grumble, and walk over to where Johnny and Hugh are speaking.

"Hey Pat" Hugh greets me, but he eyes me warily, and I try to give him an easy smile, but all of the anger that's been building inside me since that night is resurfacing. 

How could he not notice, had he even called to check in on her? Had he visited her?

Johnny walked over to Gibsie, leaving Hugh and I alone, "um...how's Katie doing?" Hugh asks, catching me by surprise.

"What do you mean?"

"She was sick on Friday."

"Yeah, I remember." I say, a little too snappy.

"How's she doing?"

"You haven't talked to her?" I ask, trying to keep my tone in check.

"I texted her this morning, but she hasn't responded."

I shake my head, but manage to keep an even tone, "she was a lot better when I dropped her off at her house, but I haven't talked to her since."

"Okay, that's good. Did she eat something weird? Like food poisoning?" This fucker....

"I think the problem is she hadn't eaten." I say, having to restrain myself from flicking him on the forehead. 

"Oh....Has that happened before?"

"She's your girlfriend, mate." I say too quickly, and try to amend quickly, "I just noticed on Friday." I wanted to tell him about the years of me noticing, but it felt like a betrayal to Katie, and I couldn't do that to her. 

"Yeah, okay." He rubs the back of his neck, looking down at his shoes, "what should I do?"

Lord take me now...."Go see her after this, bring dinner."

Hugh just nods and Johnny and Gibsie rejoin us, "I don't know if it's such a good idea, lad."

"It'll be grand, Cap."

"What's a bad idea?" I ask, and Gibise pouts.

"Claire planned another camping trip."

Great, just what we need, more drama.

Thanks for reading!  - H <3