Seeing You - Boys of Tommen

That Night

January 13th, 2006

Katie:

We had just watched an impressive rugby match and we were all sitting around the common room. The lines drawn in between us clear. 

Lizzie was sitting with Shannon, besides Joey, Shannon was the only one on speaking terms with her. 

Liz was eying me and I don't know what I did to deserve her wrath tonight, but with Gibsie being under constant protection by Johnny and Claire, I seemed to be her new punching bag.

The lads were busy speaking about the match, and all things rugby related, and I couldn't help but look at Liz, how she stared at the group with so much contempt, I could also see pain there, but it was overshadowed by her anger.

When Damien, showed up and needed my seat, she made sure to call me out. Hugh had started to pull me onto his lap. "Relax, he won't break." She sneered, and I could feel my face heat up.

"I know" I said as I settled onto Hugh's lap, I had hesitated because we hadn't touched since the night of the dance, but whatever fit her narrative, I guess. 

Another hour passed and the others were starting to leave, and Aoife invited me to go with her and Casey to the bathroom. 

We were standing at the sinks, and Casey was touching up her lipstick, while Aoife was in one of the stalls.

"Girls, never get pregnant! I swear I have to pee like every three seconds." Aoife exclaimed dramatically.

"I thought that was when you were actually pregnant?" Casey said, blotting her perfectly red lips. "Oh God, Aoife, please say Joey didn't get you pregnant, again!"

"God, no!" Aoife said walking out of the stall, "don't even put that into the universe, Case. But when I was talking to my Mam about it, she said her bladder's never gone back to normal."

"Christ." Casey replied.

"Yeah, I gave her a massive hug, if I only knew the horrors she went through."

"And with twins too, everything would be like doubled!" Casey replied and I laughed at their conversation. 

Casey looked to me then, "how's Hagnus?" 

"Please stop calling him that." I drawl.

"He'll have to earn me remembering his name."

"Hasn't being with me for almost five years, earned it?" I ask.

"Nope."

"Ooh, I forgot we were calling him Hagnus, that's perfect." Aoife said, washing her hands, and rearranging her perfect hair. 

"Come on guys" I say, but I don't exactly have any examples to give them, to make him worthy of them using his given name.

We walk back down the hallway, and I silently decide I'm going to talk with him tonight, try to sort us out. But I stop when I'm about to open the askew door, because Hugh is standing right in front of it, talking to Lizzie. 

I look to Casey and Aoife and they lean in looking concerned. I know it's completely wrong to eavesdrop, on my boyfriend no less, but I can't help myself.

Their voices are slightly muffled, but I can make out their words.

"Did you tell her?" Lizzie asked. and when Hugh didn't respond she said, "I'll take that as a no."

"That was a mistake, I wasn't thinking straight, okay? Please just forget that night ever happened." My heart stops, and Casey gasps.

I open the door before I can think, "what mistake? what night?" I ask, but I think I know the answer, and my stomach is already churning. 

"Nothing, it was, nothing." Hugh is explaining quickly, not able to fully meet my eyes. 

"That's not what you were saying that night." Liz corrects and I can see everyone in the room turn their heads and I just want to die.

"You....were together?" I ask.

"No.. I mean yes but it was only once and I wasn't thinking, and I regret it so much and I would never hurt you, I wasn't thinking, please just listen to me when I tell you that I love you and that it meant nothing." Hugh says.

I need to get out of here, I need to be anywhere but here. I feel like Liz has sucked all the air out of the room, and my lungs are shrinking. "I just.. I have to go" I say, stumbling away.

"Please let's just talk about this." Hugh said, but I didn't want to hear it.

Aoife started walking with me down the hallway, and Casey was yelling something at him, but I didn't even want to hear it. I wasn't a revenge girl, I was a girl that liked to dwell, to let everything eat at her until she couldn't take it any longer, a girl who internalized everything. 

Casey rushed to join us, "I can kill him, if you want" she offered, but it didn't make me feel any better.

"Don't kill him." I say weakly, 

Hugh had followed us and had now caught up, "can I talk to you, please."

"No, you may not." Aoife answered for me, glaring something fierce at him. 

"Come on, we've been together for years, I deserve a few minutes."

"The audacity of men, to think they deserve anything." Casey replied, looking ready to throw down.

"I just want to go home." I say to Aoife, and she nods. 

"Wait, two minutes, and then I'll drive you back myself."

"She is not driving with you, asshole" Casey spits out.

"This is between Katie and I, could you two stop speaking for her?" Casey was ready to brawl, but I didn't want anymore drama. 

"Two minutes, then Casey will drive me home." I say, and he nods.

"Can we talk somewhere else?" I nod and follow him. 

Thanks for reading!  - H <3