Chapter 7

Mattie pushed back the brim of her straw hat and wiped a bit of perspiration from her forehead before bending down again over the bed of tea roses. It felt good to be working in her garden again, good to go back to being plain old country girl instead of big city University girl. It would be a few more weeks yet until she would be able to get back to doing this sort of thing, so she was enjoying it while she could. She worked over the rosebed a few more minutes before stretching back and settling on the heels of her feet. She squinted when she saw three figures coming up the road, and smiled when she recognized them. Taking off her hat, Mattie stood up and waved.

�Hullo boys!�

�Hi Mattie!� Kian, Bryan and Shane chorused, waving back. Mattie ran down to meet them at the gate. She opened it and hugged them all as they each gave her a friendly kiss on the cheek.

�What brings you guys over here today?� she asked curiously, brushing her hands together to get rid of some soil that was clinging to them.

�We came to ask you if you would like to go to Equinox tonight with us,� Kian said. �The old crowd is planning a little send-off tonight for us before we leave for Dublin.�

�Yes, I know about it, but sorry lads, I can�t come,� Mattie said apologetically.

�Aww, why not?� Bryan whined.

�I already promised Mark�s parents that I would watch Barry and Colin tonight because they�re going to be gone, so I said I would do it.�

�Come on, Mattie, you have to come,� Kian entreated. �It�s not going to be the same without you. You�re always so much fun! Pleeease?�

Mattie put her hands on her hips. �If you're talking about that time the girls and I got raging drunk and ran around the town dressed in ballerina costumes singing the national anthem in Irish, that was only one time, and we only did it because it was Emma�s eighteenth birthday and we wanted to do something a little out of the ordinary, and I�m not planning on doing it again for your amusement, and that�s final!� she said, shaking a finger at the boys. Kian and Shane cracked up at the memory but Bryan just stood there, open-mouthed.

�You ran around the town dressed in ballerina costumes singing the national anthem in Irish and I missed it?� Bryan said forlornly, causing Shane and Kian to laugh even harder.

�I remember that night,� Shane gasped through his laughter. �I don't think I�ve ever seen any of the boys pull a wilder and more hilarious stunt than that one. You girls got crazy that night. It was priceless!�

Mattie rolled her eyes in exasperation. �Please. You boys are too easily amused. It�s not like I ever got so drunk I actually stripped down to my boxers,� she said, giving Kian a pointed look. Shane laughed harder when he saw Kian blushing, but Bryan still had the forlorn look on his face. �You don't happen to have any pictures or, you know, video footage of that night, do you?� he asked hopefully.

�No!�

�Just asking. You can't blame a lad for trying.�

Mattie rolled her eyes again and shook her head before heading back to her garden. It was a minute before the boys collected themselves, then they ran after her.

�Come on, Mat, won't you go with us tonight? Please? We'd love to have you there,� Shane asked.

�I told you, I can�t,� Mattie said. �Really, you boys are far too persistent.�

�That's just because we really really really want you to go. So won�t you? Pleeaaase?� Bryan stuck his lower lip out and tried, unsuccessfully, to make his chin quiver convincingly.

Mattie sighed. �That was pathetic, Bry. Anyway, I promised I would take care of the boys tonight, and I will.�

�Come on, Barry and Colin can take care of themselves!� Kian said grinning. "After all, Barry's fourteen years old! Almost fifteen! How much trouble could he get into?�

Mattie put her hands on her hips. �Don�t you remember when Mark crashed his parent's car into that very gate when he was thirteen? And do I have to remind you about how you two were when you were fourteen?� she said, directing her comment at Kian and Shane, who both squirmed uncomfortably. �I bet Mrs. McFarland down the road remembers. In fact, I still don't think her cats have recovered from that reenactment of the Wars of the Roses. Whatever gave you the idea that you could make functional catapults out of wooden planks and iron cooking pots?� Mattie caught sight of Bryan shaking his head and clucking his tongue sorrowfully at the other two. "And I don't even want to know what you were like at that age, Bry.�

�What are you talking about? I was a perfect angel.�

�Right.�

�I was! Ask my mum." Bryan paused, contemplating. �Wait, never mind, don't ask her.�

�I knew it!�

�Well...Barry is much more responsible than we were at his age,� Kian said forthrightly.

�Nice try, but I don't think so. You boys are all the same," Mattie replied authoritatively. "I should know. I've spent my whole life around you two, and Mark, and I know how things go. The minute we leave Barry alone, he'll probably be calling up twenty of his closest friends and they'll be spending the evening throwing stink bombs into the neighbours� windows.�

�Hey, that sounds like fun!� Bryan said. Mattie shot him a look. �I mean, it would be a fun thing for a fourteen year old - I mean it wouldn�t be - I mean - okay, I�m just not gonna talk anymore.� He walked away and sat down on the steps to Mattie's house, resting his cheeks in his hands.

Mattie smiled and turned back to Kian and Shane. �I�m sorry I can�t go lads. But I�ll be seeing you day and night for the next three weeks anyway, and there will be plenty of time for me to party with you then, alright?�

�Okay,� Shane and Kian answered grudgingly.

�Hey, MATTIE!�

�What?� she shouted back at Bryan.

�You got anything to drink? It's hot as Hades out here, and I�m sweltering!�

�Well then get to the kitchen and help yourself!�

�Great! Thanks!� Bryan disappeared inside the house.

�I think I�ll go get something to drink too,� Kian said, following Bryan and leaving the other two alone in the yard. Mattie picked up her hat and knelt again beside the garden. Shane sat down next to her.

�So, is our little Peanut all ready for the trip?�

�Yes, I�m almost all packed," she answered as she loosened the soil with her trowel. "I am really excited about it.�

�I'm glad to hear that. You'll have so much fun, I promise you Mattie. There's nothing like touring." He lay down and stretched out on the grass. "You meet tons of interesting new people, go to places you've only heard or read about, it's fantastic.�

Mattie smiled. �I know, I can�t wait.� She laughed. �You know, I�ve only been on a plane twice in my entire life and in these next three weeks I�ll probably be going on a hundred.�

Shane looked up at her. �What were the times you have got on a plane?�

�Well, there was that trip we took to Wales with Mark�s family, but that was when we were babies, so I hardly remember a thing. And the other was when we all went to France together.�

�Ah yeah, I forgot about that.� Shane was quiet for a moment, contemplating before he spoke again. �You know Mat, this trip�it�ll be a good opportunity�for you two � I mean, for you and Mark � to, you know��

Mattie�s back stiffened when Shane mentioned Mark�s name. She put down the trowel she had been working with and turned to look at Shane in disbelief. �Shane are you saying what I think you�re saying?� Shane cringed, realizing he had said the wrong thing. �You don�t seriously think that�s why I decided to go with you on tour, do you? Because it�s not.� Mattie was getting angrier by the second. �I don�t see why everybody thinks I�m some sort of conniving wench who weasled her way into the tour so that I could cozy up to Mark.�

�Wait, I didn�t say that, and I don�t think anyone else would either,� Shane protested, startled. �What on earth are you talking about?! Calm down Mattie, would ya? I was *just* trying to say that I was hoping that maybe you coming on tour with us would finally give Mark the push he needs to open his eyes, you know? And nobody thinks that you weasled your way into the tour. Everyone knows you�re not like that. Have you gone crazy, girl?�

Mattie put her face in her hands. �I�m sorry Shane,� she apologized softly. �I didn�t mean to snap at you. It�s just�this has really been getting to me. I�m not sure what to do anymore. I don�t know how much longer�� Mattie paused. �I wish this could all just go away.�

Shane regarded Mattie carefully. �There�s more, isn�t there?�

Mattie bit her lip and looked away. �Caitlin thinks�she thinks that maybe I should just let him go. And I�m beginning to think she�s right.�

Shane�s eyes widened. �Let him go? You mean give up? You can�t do that!�

�Why not, Shane? Why can�t I?� Mattie could feel her anger and frustration begin to rise up again. �This isn�t going anywhere, I can feel it. It hurts too much to keep going on like this and I don�t know if I can do it anymore. And the worst is when I think something just might finally happen between the two of us and then it turns out I have just got my hopes up and he didn�t even mean anything by it. It happened just the other day while we were on Benbulben.� She stopped, remembering. Suddenly she gave a short, bitter laugh. �Can you actually believe I thought he might kiss me? That he might do something to show that he cared?�

Shane took one of Mattie�s hands. �He *does* care.�

�Not in the way that I want him to.� Mattie stared straight ahead, her face blank of expression. She shook her head to clear it. �I�m coming on this trip because I�m Mark�s friend and he asked me to. I�m his best friend, and he�s mine. My reasons are completely devoid of any kind of romantic intentions, alright? We�re friends, and we will always be only friends,� Mattie said resolutely.

�So what now, that�s it? Are you just going to pretend that your feelings for him don�t exist? Put what you *think* he needs before what you need?�

�I�ve been doing it for a while. I can manage for another three weeks before I�m back here and he has to leave me again.�

Shane sighed. �I can�t say that I agree with this.�

Mattie bit her lip and touched Shane�s sleeve. �Please, don�t be mad at me Shane. This is what I have to do, and I need all the support I can get. Yours especially.�

Shane looked down at her. �Well Peanut, you know I�m always here for you . I�ll support you in whatever you feel you have to do.�

�Thank you,� Mattie answered. �That means more to me than anything.� She reached over and hugged him tightly. She looked up when she heard the door to the house open.

�Well, I guess we better be on our way,� Bryan said. �We�ve got a party to get ready for.� He gave Mattie a sly look. �Are you sure you don�t want to go Mattie?�

Mattie exhaled loudly. �Yes Bryan, I�m positive.�

He gave her another mischievous look. �You know�Mark�s going to be there.�

Grimacing, Shane smacked the back of Bryan�s head and Kian pinched his arm sharply.

�OW! What the hell�s the matter with you two?!� Bryan said, rubbing his arm. �Just trying to help it along you know,� he muttered.

Shane and Kian both shook their heads in annoyance. �We�ll be going now Mattie, see you tomorrow, alright?�

�Alright.� She gave the boys each a kiss on the cheek before they left the gate.

Kian, Bryan and Shane were walking down the road from Mattie�s house. They were headed towards the Egan household, where Nicky and Mark both were at the moment. The three were walking along in silence, and Bryan was shooting sidelong glances at Shane. He just *knew* that Shane and Mattie had been talking about something�interesting while he and Kian had been inside. He had tried eavesdropping but they were too far away from the kitchen window, and besides, Kian had seen him and had given him a cuff on the ear, that was still smarting as a matter of fact. Finally, Bryan felt he couldn�t stand the suspense anymore.

�So what were you and Mattie talking about outside? You were talking about Mark, right?� he blurted out.

�Bryan!� Kian exclaimed. �You know, you haven�t got any sense of discretion whatsoever.�

�Who cares? I want to know, I�m dying here! It�s not like you haven�t got any idea about what�s going on, Ki. We all do, and frankly, I would like to know what they were talking about out there. So spill it Filan.�

Shane sighed heavily before answering. �She�s having some doubts.�

�Doubts? What do you mean by that?� Kian questioned, his curiousity getting the better of him.

�She�s�thinking about giving up on Mark.�

�What?!� Bryan and Kian both exclaimed. �She can�t do that! Why?� Bryan said.

Shane shrugged. �She didn�t say it in so many words, but I have a feeling she�s getting tired of waiting around.�

Kian exhaled loudly. �I knew it. I knew this would happen eventually. Actually, I�m amazed that she managed to hold out for him this long. If I were her, I think I�d have given him a good pitching long ago before I went about my business. What the hell is wrong with Feehily anyway? I wish we could just get it through his thick head somehow that he�s in the process of losing the best thing that�s ever happened to him. I�ve never met a bloke so daft.�

Bryan nodded knowingly. �I know what you mean man. This whole situation between the two of them is doin� me nut in. I mean, I know Mark�s not exactly a fast mover, but this is ridiculous.�

�Well, it�s not exactly a question of moving, it�s a question of knowing,� Shane said. �It�s pretty obvious that Mark still hasn�t a clue. It�s driving me crazy as well. Sometimes I just want to grab him by the collar and beat some sense into the lad, but I promised Mattie long ago that I wouldn�t say anything to Mark about how she feels about him. She�s got some crazy idea that if he found out, he�d hate her. And now she�s thinking of giving up.� He shook his head.

�So now what?� Kian said. �We can�t just stand by and watch this happen. They�re both two of my best friends, and I�m not going to twiddle my thumbs while they throw what they could have away. It�s just wrong man.�

�Well, we�re not.�

Kian and Shane both looked at Bryan in confusion, both noticing the mischievous glint in his eye. �What do you mean Bry?� Shane asked.

�I think,� Bryan began slowly. �That what they both need is a little push from some objective outside sources, if you know what I mean.� Shane and Kian both continued to stare at him blankly. Bryan rolled his eyes. �Must I explain myself? What I�m trying to say is that Mattie and Mark�s time is up. They�ve had all the time they�ve needed to get things going, and since things have reached a stalemate, I say it�s up to us, their trusted, loving, caring friends, to�help them along. Now do you get it?�

Kian grinned. �I get it man.�

�Yeah, me too,� Shane said eagerly. �But what are we going to do?�

�I haven�t figured that out yet,� Bryan said after taking a moment to think. �But we�ll be doing something good. Just leave it to the Love Master.�

Kian coughed. � �Love Master�? And may I ask who bestowed such a luminous title upon you? The Love god?�

�Ah, shut it man. Well if we�re gonna get this going, we�ll have to move fast. After all, we�ve only got three weeks. And we�ll have to get Nicky in on the plan too.�

�Yeah, and I bet Caitlin will want to be involved as well,� Shane suggested.

Bryan made a face. �Caitlin? That girl tricked me into visiting a poet museum.�

�Which attests to her ability as a sneaky, wily cohort,� Kian said grinning. �I think Caitlin will be an indispensable tool in our little arsenal.�

�Fine,� Bryan agreed grudgingly. �She can be in on it. So all right then! It�s settled. Let the games begin.�

Chapter 8

Okay, okay, I know you're wondering about the lyrics in the introductory page. I bet you were all thinking, "Omg, she's lost her mind." Lol. Well there really is no point to the lyrics. Sorry to diappoint you guys! My mind blanked out. Besides, I love Nsync, they're my boys, and "Space Cowboy" always did crack me up. Heh. Heh. Okay, that's enough of me being wierd. Bye now. p.s. Is that how you spell "wierd"? Or is it "weird"? I'll figure it out eventually.

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