HAVING 13 - Johnny Kavanagh

60. Never, not ever

JOHNNY
September 12th 2005

What drove me over the edge, you might ask?

I overheard Mel and Tadhg talking.

"So, you finally ditched that rugby ball for brains?" He teased her as I creaked open the door.

I smirked, waiting to hear her stutter. She gave the opposite reaction.

"No, but we're taking a break from each other," She replied. "We keep having miscommunications."

We were not on a fucking break. We were taking space that we needed. That wasn't a break.

"Big word," Ollie added. Missy booped his nose.

I opened the door, acting like I just walked in.

"Hi," I said, passing by. I was getting water. They just happened to be there.

Melissa didn't even say anything.

"Hi," Ollie greeted me.

"What's up, little man?" I inquired, ruffling his hair until it was messy.

"The sky," He giggled.

"Cheeky sucker," I made sure not to curse.

I brushed my shoulder against Mel's as I reached for my cup on the counter.

As I left the kitchen again, I looked back at her to find her staring at me.

Fuck, we were both already struggling to stay away from each other. What made it worse was that she was right. Anytime we argued, it was because of a misunderstanding.

We really had to work on our communication.

•

"Who's got a stick up your arse?" Gibsie asked at school.

I frowned. "What?"

"Who pissed in your cereal?" He clarified.

"Why do you think I'm upset?" I scoffed sarcastically.

"Is it because you didn't arrive to school with Missy?" He offered.

"Well," I threw my arms up in an exaggerated shrug. "No shit."

"Are you in the doghouse?"

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"What?" He cowered.

"She called you..." I laughed in disbelief. "Didn't she?"

Gibs shook his head, but I knew when he was lying. I sighed.

"What did she say? Please, I need something to work with," I pleaded.

"Well, she told me you guys argued and that you're driving each other crazy. That's all. We talked about other things, too," He added.

"Like?"

He frowned. "I'm not telling you that."

"If she talks about sad movies, it means she's feeling self-destructive. If she talks about what she ate that day, she's fine," I explained. "It's important."

"Why? Is she hurting herself again?"

"You know about that shite?" I gaped.

He shrugged. "Mel and I are pretty close. I hate to break it to you, Cap, but she might be my best friend."

I rolled my eyes. "You're better than half of the guys on the team. They've all got their eyes on Shannon."

"And your girlfriend. Don't forget how they talked about her last week," He commented.

"What? When?"

"Oh, fuck," He gasped. "You were at the doctor's. That's why they were talking about her. Look, Kav, I yelled at them."

"What the fuck did they say? And who?"

"Ronan and his two friends," He immediately told me. "They talked about her... chest? I mean, I agree that Missy has a nice pair on her, but Jaysus, they were vulgar."

"Don't even go there," I sighed. "I'm gonna talk to them."

"With your mouth or your fist?"

I didn't even reply. Gibs already knew the answer.

•

At training, I barely gave McGarry a chance to breathe before I grabbed him by the throat.

"God—what the—"

"You had a lot to say last week. Want to repeat it to me?" I seethed.

"What—fuck, what did I even do?" He stumbled over his words.

"You know what I'm talking about," I tell him.

"Are you talking about what I said about your lass?"

I nodded sarcastically. "So, explain yourself, then."

"I didn't mean it like that. It's just a compliment, really," He stuttered. "Y'know, Shannon and Melissa are... pretty girls."

"Don't piss on his back and tell him it's raining," Gibsie chimed in.

"Yeah, don't," I added.

Ronan sighed. "I'm sorry Cap. I didn't think you'd take offence from that."

"You didn't think I'd take offence from you sexualising my girlfriend and her sister?" I raised my voice.

"What in the hell is going on over here?" Coach walked in. "Kavanagh!"

I sighed. "This is not over," I told McGarry before letting go of him.

Training was fine.

•

"Jonathan Robert Kavanagh Jr!" Mel burst into my room.

"Hello to you, too, Melissa Lynch," I said, confused.

"Oh, shut up. Why did you choke someone?" She rolled her eyes.

"He talked about you and Shan," I answered.

"What did he say about Shannon?"

"I don't know the details, okay..." I sighed.

"...Are you upset with me?" Mel asked.

I shrugged.

"Why?"

"You told your brothers that we're on a break," I scoffed.

"Aren't we?"

"No," I said sternly. "We will never be. Not ever. We take the space we need from each other, sure, but we're never on a break."

She shrugged. "I don't know the terminology for that shite."

"It's simple. We're not on a break. Never will be," I ended my statement.

She nodded. "Okay."

I smirked. "Okay?"

She rolled her eyes again. "Goodbye."

Only minutes later, I received a picture of her in her bra.

Mel and I were okay, I'd say.