Seeing You - Boys of Tommen

Bonfire

August 27th, 2005

Katie:

I wasn't exactly looking forward to the camping trip, I knew I should be. I should be happy to spend time with friends and have fun before having to start the school year, but I had a nagging feeling it wouldn't go too well.

I texted Hugh, after leaving him on delivered for a whole day. I know it was stupid, but I really didn't want to face him. I had been trying my best, to eat regularly, thinking of Patrick's words and not wanting to disappoint him. 

Hugh hadn't asked me what was actually wrong with me, in our phone conversations, and I was hoping he would stay ignorant. 

I was also dreading that Lizzie Young would, more than likely be in attendance at this event, and I had been doing my best to avoid her all summer, and especially after her witnessing me fainting in Hugh's kitchen. 

I got to the beach later, than the others as I had been working. Aoife got me a job at the bar she used to work at, and I had been working as a waitress. The hours sucked, and the clientele sucked even more, but I needed the money and the tips were good, although I suspect not as good as the tips Aoife used to receive.

We were currently sitting by the campfire together. We had watched one of Claire and Gibsie's iconic dance performances and had since been talking and drinking. Well, the others were doing a lot of drinking.

By the grace of God himself, Lizzie had turned in early with her boyfriend Pierce and she wasn't here to attack us all and ruin the night. When she wasn't here it was like we finally had peace, but when she was it like all out war, picking sides, and trying to make it out at the end with the least amount of damage. 

I was currently observing Johnny and Shannon, they were both drunk, but so in love. I watched as gently rubbed circles into her back, and comforted her about something. I was in awe of the love they shared for each other, they complimented each other so well, and besides Aoife and Joey, I had never seen two people so in love, so utterly enraptured by their other half. 

"We're going to call it a night, night all" Johnny announced, picking Shannon up and walking to their shared tent.

"Night" we chorused. 

"Jesus, they're disgustingly loved up, aren't they?" Patrick commented.

"So bad, it's nice" I respond, with a chuckle, earning a small smile from him.

"It's epic, and so incredibly deserving." Claire said gushing.

"And permanent, mark my words, lads, come what may next summer after graduation, we'll all be back in this town in a few years for their wedding." Gibsie declares.

"You really think so?" I ask, their love for each other was blindingly obvious, but it was hard to imagine one of us getting married. It was an insane notion to me, to be so sure about something or someone to the point of planning your life around them. 

Gibsie replies without missing a beat, confident in his answer, "no thinking necessary, it's already a done deal. Knowing Johnny, he already has his Grandmother's heirloom engagement ring waiting in the wings for the perfect opportunity."

Claire's eyes widen in excitement, "really? Johnny has an heirloom ring?" 

Gibsie smiles, at Claire, "oh yeah, the rock is the size of my fist." The majority of the students at Tommen made me feel poor, but I could never get used to the thought of having that much money.

"Whoa" Claire replies.

"I know, right?" Gibsie looks at Claire, marvelling at her.

"I'm best man!" Hugh says.