CHAPTER 006
the kavanagh manor

VANESSA

THE FOLLOWING WEEKS OF SCHOOL became pretty peaceful for Vanessa. Shannon came back to school, and actually had friends to be with. Usually Vanessa was constantly at edge, worrying about her sister, cautious of bullies. But here, she didn't have to worry about beating anyone up. At least not currently.

  No one seemed to be giving Shannon a hard time, thank goodness. Shannon wouldn't tell her all the details of what happened that day on the pitch, so Vanessa could only assume it was bad. And if it was bad, she found it strange that it didn't spread like a wild fire.

  Then she remembered Johnny. The Mr. Popular, Academy rugby player. Not that she would ever admit this to anyone, but he was an interesting person to observe.

  Johnny acted older than the lads on his team, as if he was wise beyond his years. He oozed confidence wherever he went. Drama or his popularity never phased him. It's like he knew he was the best, and was untouchable. He walked around the school giving off the 'I'm better than you. I'm the best and no one compares. Fuck you all' kind of vibe.

  In Vanessa's opinion, he seemed a little to egotistical, but whatever helped him sleep at night.

  She learned co-exist in his presence, especially during lunch. Vanessa no longer gave him stares (or as Katie liked to call it, "eye fucking"), and simply decided he was a regular guy. She talked to Katie, sometimes Hughie, and that was that. She avoided her gaze at the end of the table. A part of her was worried that if she looked, she wouldn't be able to stop looking.

  But whenever they crossed paths, she could've sworn his stoic expression softened. His mouth twitched, as if he was trying not to smile at her. Sometimes he'd tilt his head in curiosity, staring at her with fondness. Vanessa wasn't really sure what to make of that. Something about his dimpled smile made her feel like she was gonna melt. And Vanessa did not melt.

At BCS, no guy really captured her attention. No one was simply worth it. Sure, she's been with a few, but there were never any sparks. It was all physical, and Vanessa enjoyed playing the game until it got real. When there were feelings, she bolted.

She's not saying she felt something about Johnny, though. Not at all. In her defense, she has been trying to mind her own business. It's not like actively wanted anything to do with him.

  On one Wednesday, Vanessa with Shannon and Claire for lunch. Katie, wasn't there that day, and she didn't feel like sitting with the rugby boys by herself. The younger girls welcomed her presence with open arms. Vanessa sat beside her sister, and Claire sat across from them. Vanessa wondered where Lizzie was, but didn't voice it out loud.

  "Do you want to come over after school today?" Claire asked Shannon.

  The lunch hall was so full of loud chatter, that Shannon had to lean across the table to respond. "To your house?"

  Claire nodded. "We can hang out and watch a few films or something?" she glanced at Vanessa. "you can come to Nessa!"

  Vanessa smiled at the offer, but shook her head. "I'd love to Claire, but I have work."

  "I thought you were going to town with Lizzie to see Pierce?" Shannon questioned.

  From the limited information Vanessa gathered, she found out Lizzie and this Pierce guy had an on and off relationship. She guessed they were apparently back on now.

  "Nah, Lizzie's in a mood," Claire explained, stabbing her pot of yogurt with a spoon. "So, I'm guessing they had another fight today."

  That explained Lizzie's absence.

  Ever since their childhood, Lizzie had always been tough to figure out. She held a lot back, and it was impossible to know what she felt or thought. In some ways Vanessa saw Joey, and bits of herself in that girl.

  "Besides, I'm not really into being the third wheel with those two," Claire added, setting her spoon into her lunch box. "So, what do you say? Mam will pick us up and drop you home whenever you want to go." She leaned back in her chair and flashed her a megawatt smile. "Or you could always sleep over?"

"Are you sure your Mam won't mind?" Shannon asked, her voice full of surprise.

  "Shannon, of course she won't mind," Claire replied, giving her a strange look. "My Mam and Dad both love you." Smiling, she added, "Mam is constantly on my case asking when you're coming over again."

  Shannon looked at Vanessa, silently asking for permission.

  "You should go, Shan," Vanessa gave her an encouraging nod. "Just check with our parents."

  By parents, she meant Joey. He was currently at home, and was able to scope out their father's mood. Shannon nodded in understanding, pulling out her phone.

  "It'll be great," Claire told her happily. "There's a tub of Ben and Jerry's in the freezer and I got the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie on DVD." Waggling her brows, she added, "Johnny and Orlando, what girl can say no to that?"

"Not you," Shannon chuckled.

"I love him," she declared with a dreamy sigh. "I do. It's real, hardcore love and one day he'll come to Ireland, see me and instantly reciprocate my feelings. And then we'll run away together and create adorable hybrid pirate babies."

"Hybrid pirate babies?" Vanessa snorted.

"You do realize he's not an actual pirate, don't you?" Shannon snickered.

"Shh!" Claire grinned. "Don't take that away from me. Let me enjoy the visual."

Vanessa heard Shannon's phone vibrate, and watched as her expression fell. Shannon let Vanessa look at the text.

Joey: Bad idea, Shan. He's on the warpath.

"Bastard," Vanessa muttered. She looked back at Shannon and softened. "I'm sorry."

Dejected, Shannon shoved her phone back into her pocket, releasing a heavy sigh. "I can't come over."

"Your dad?" Claire asked sadly, glancing between the sisters.
   
They nodded.

Claire seemed disappointed, but she didn't push it. Deep down, Vanessa believed she might have known. They didn't need to verbalize it, and she never pushed.

"Another time then." Claire offered her a huge smile, almost masking the concern in her brown eyes.

Almost.

"Yeah, another time," Vanessa nudged Shannon's shoulder.

"We'll plan it better next time – give you some notice," Claire quickly carried on, tucking her long blonde hair behind her ears. "But our Johnny and Orlando session is definitely happening!"

  "How's it going Claire-bear?" A deep, male voice asked, distracting all of them. It was Gibsie.

  "Oh, hey Gerard," Claire acknowledged nonchalantly as she looked up at the ginormous, blond boy standing at the end of the table. "How are you?"

  "Better now I'm talking to you," he purred as he walked over and propped his ass right on the table, keeping his huge back to the sisters, and his attention locked on the blonde. "You're looking as lovely as always."

  Vanessa watched amusedly as Claire's gaze darted from his face to hers and Shannon's. She gave them a WTF eye-bulge, then quickly sobered her features as she said, "Didn't I hear you spin that same line to Megan Crean on Wednesday?"

  Vanessa and Shannon, exchanged amused looks, both holding back their laughter. Vanessa had to hand it to Claire, she handled playing indifference like a pro. Although it was clear she was seriously affected by him.

  "Are you jealous?" Gerard teased, his voice highly flirtatious. "You know you're my number one."

  "Spare me," Claire fake gagged.

  "I hear you're coming to Donegal with the team?" he asked her. "Your class got the go-ahead, didn't they?"

  "Yeah, our class was picked to go," Claire replied breezily. "Mam hasn't signed the permission slip for me to go, though."

  Mam hadn't signed Shannon's either.

  After the Easter holidays, Tommen College had an away match against some rugby prep school up in Donegal. It was an important game for the team, a final of some league cup or something. Shannon's class, along with some other class from sixth year was randomly selected to attend. It was an eight-hour bus ride, and she'd be gone from home for two days.

  Shannon was pretty excited to get out of Ballylaggin, for obvious reasons. If their mam didn't sign the form, then Vanessa would forge it. Her sister deserved a break, and an all-expenses paid trip from school is something they couldn't pass up.

  "Ah, your mammy will let you go," Gibsie teased, ruffling Claire's hair. "Sure big brother will be there to keep an eye on ya – and myself of course." He leaned closer and tucked a strand behind her ear. "I always play better when I know you're watching."

The sisters couldn't hold it in anymore, and finally burst out laughing at how cheesy and ridiculous this interaction was.

Shannon instantly slapped a hand over her mouth, staring at Claire's horrified expression and mouthed sorry behind her fingers. That just made Vanessa cackle even more.

As if only just noticing there were other people, Gibsie turned around, seeking out the snorting culprits. His gaze flickered to each of their faces with immediate recognition.

  "Ah, well if it isn't the Lynch sisters!" he acknowledged warmly. "Hey, Little Shannon! How's it going?"

  Vanessa gave him a questioning glance. Little Shannon? Since when did he know Shannon?

  "Uh, fine," Shannon strangled out, wondering the same thing.

Gibsie looked at Vanessa, grinning. "And hello to you, Loch-Ness Monster."

"Hi Gibs."
 
"You know, the three of you being friends is very useful information."

"Is that so?" Vanessa raised an eyebrow.

"I'm Gerard Gibson," he introduced himself to Shannon, giving her a friendly smile. "But everyone calls me Gibsie."

  "I don't," Claire tossed out airily.

  Gibsie chuckled. "Okay, everyone except for this one calls me Gibsie." He pointed a thumb at Claire, flashing her an indulgent smile, before returning his attention to Shannon. "She likes to be awkward."

  "No, Gerard, I like to address people by their given name," Claire corrected, giving him the stink eye. She turned her attention to me and began to explain. "Gerard here is friends with my brother Hugh. You remember Hughie, don't you, Shan?"

  When Shannon nodded, Claire continued. "Well, they've been in the same class since Junior Infants, and this monster right here –" she paused to give Gibsie a small shove before continuing, "has been a permanent fixture in my kitchen for most of my life. He lives across the street from us," she added. "Unfortunately."

"Come on, Claire-Bear," he teased. "Is that any way to talk about the guy who gave you your first kiss?"

"That was the result of an unfortunate game of spin the bottle," she shot back, cheeks turning pink, as she glared up at him. "And I've told you a million times to stop calling me that."

"It's all a show," Gibsie informed Shannon with a huge grin. "She loves me really."

"I really don't," Claire shot back, flustered now. "I tolerate him because he brings cookies to my house." She turned to Shannon and explained, "Gerard's mother owns a bakery in the city. Her cakes are insanely delicious."

"And her brownies," Vanessa added. "Katie let me try some a few months ago, and it tasted like heaven."

  "Gibs! Come on, lad. The team's waiting for you!" someone called out from the other side of the lunch hall, causing all four of them to swing around.

  Johnny Kavanagh stood in the archway of the lunch hall, his hands gesturing wildly in the air, a thunderous expression written on his face.

  "Five minutes," Gibsie called back.

"Coach wants us now," Johnny barked in that thick, Dublin accent Vanessa learned to get used to. "Not in five bleeding minutes," he added, not giving a damn who heard him.

Ignoring his best friend, Gibsie held two fingers up, turning his attention back to Claire. He spoke to her in such a low, hushed tone that Vanessa didn't catch any of it.

Instead, her focus was solely on the large blue eyed boy staring right at her.

Fuck.

Vanessa felt snared, unable to hide or turn away. She's done a good job at not looking at him for more than five seconds these past few weeks. This just broke her streak.

"Why is Johnny Kavanagh staring at you?" Shannon whispered, noticing their interaction.

"He's not staring."

"Yes he is . . . and you're staring back!"

Vanessa turned her head and body away from Johnny's direction. "No, I'm not."

"Hey Nessa?" Gibsie called out. "Meet after school?"

Vanessa gave him a thumbs up, and he grinned. He turned back to Claire, his grin widening. "I expect to see pom-poms and the words 'I heart Gibsie' in neon letters across your tits next week at the School Boy Shield final,"

  Without waiting for Claire's response, Gibsie waved them all off, before jogging away.

  "Sorry about him," Claire said, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes twinkling. She pulled at an imaginary piece of fluff on her jumper before adding, "He's a little strange."

"He's a whole lot into you," Shannon stated.

"Gerard likes everyone," she replied with a heavy sigh. "Well, everyone with a vagina."

  "He seems very fond of you in particular," Vanessa noted. "I have classes with him, and somehow he always manages to bring you up. I don't know him well, but it seems to me—"

"Nessa, I know him," Claire cut her off, her cheeks even pinker. "He's a player. A total fecking player. He rides anything in a skirt," she added. "They all do."

"They?" Shannon asked.

"The lads on the rugby team," she explained. "With the exception of Hugh – and possibly Patrick. Oh, and maybe Declan."

Shannon scrunched her nose up. "Oh."

Vanessa could've sworn she saw a faint blush appear on her sister's face at the mention of the last boy. Interesting.

"Yeah, oh," Claire replied, grimacing. "And the only reason Gerard carries on like that with me is because I'm Hughie's little sister and he knows he can't have me." Sighing, she added, "It's a harmless game of flirting to him that won't amount to anything."

  "What about you?" Shannon pressed gently. "What's it to you?"

  Claire chewed on her bottom lip for a few seconds before whispering, "Torment." She let out a sigh, and added, "Boys with pretty eyes and big muscles mess everything up for girls,"

  "Yep," Shannon agreed weakly. "They certainly do."

  "What are we like?" Claire chuckled half-heartedly. "The three of us liking the worst possible thing for us."

  Vanessa's face scrunched up in confusion. "Pardon?"

  The three of them? Claire and Shannon, sure. But herself?

  "Me?" Shannon shook her head, immediately jumping in denial mode. "I don't like anyone."

  "Yeah, right," Claire scoffed. "Don't even try to pretend, little miss blush. I see you looking out for Declan Moore in the hallway everyday."

"Is that so?" Vanessa raised her eyebrow amusedly at her sister. Then she turned to Claire. "So what's the story on this Declan guy, anyway?"

"He's new. Just transformed from Dublin in September. Fourth year," Claire explained. "his mam died earlier this year, so his dad moved them back to Cork, to feel closer to her."

"That's horrible," Shannon whispered, full of sympathy.

"Poor guy," Vanessa thought back to all the times she saw him. First at that party, second when Shannon got hurt, and the few times she passed him the halls. He seemed quiet, with a million things on his mind.

"Johnny's parents were good friends with his, so they helped him move back in. I think they're like neighbors." Claire shrugged, then looked at Vanessa, a curious smile growing on her face. "Okay, changing topics to something less depressing. Nessa, what's going on with you and Johnny?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I saw the way you guys looked at each other!" she grinned. "Yearning and tension was written all over it."

"You've been watching too much rom-coms."

"I like to call things how I see it," Claire shrugged innocently. "Don't worry, I won't tell. Ever since that thing with Bella, he hasn't been with anyone."

"I don't have a crush on Johnny."

"And I don't have a crush on Declan!"

"Oh look!" Claire gasped, pointing behind Shannon. "Declan's coming over here."

  "W-what?" Startled, Shannon swung around and discovered she was lying.

  "You're so adorable, Shan," Vanessa smiled, watching her sister's cheeks flush.

  "Ha," Claire snickered. "I knew it."

  "Not funny," Shannon mumbled, patting her burning cheeks.

  "Don't worry, Shan," Claire replied, smiling knowingly. "Your secret's safe with me."

"And in return, we won't tell anyone about Baby Biggs' crush on her brother's teammate," Vanessa teased. A small smirk formed when she saw the younger girl blush again.

"Do not!"

"Sure."

"Why are you meeting him later anyway?"

"Stupid math project." Vanessa answered, rolling her eyes. "he's gonna give me a ride to his place. Shan, you're still okay with going on the bus right?"

Shannon nodded, while Claire's expression turned into confusion. "But Gerard doesn't—oh."

"He doesn't what?" Vanessa furrowed her brow, noticing a realization dawn on Claire.

Claire shook her head, her lips curled into a half smile. "Nothing."

  AS PROMISED, Vanessa met up with Gibsie after school. She met him by the entrance, and they both made their way to the parking lot.

  "So I may have forgot to mention one minor little detail..." Gibsie spoke, an apologetic smile crossing his face, as he leads her to the car.

  "And that is...?"

  "I don't have a car...yet!" he confessed. "and I usually get rides from a friend...and he agreed to let us work at his house."

  "And by friend you mean..." Vanessa trailed off, as they approach a sleek black car. Clearly belonged to someone from the upper-class.

In the driver's seat she saw familiar brunette boy, staring off into space. Of course Johnny Kavanagh owned this car. And of course he gave his best friend rides, and let them work at his house.

Fuck her life.

Gibsie climbed into the passenger seat, while Vanessa went to the back. She sat in the right corner, feeling a little cramped. The rest of the backseat was full of gear bags with different club crests, as well as another schoolbag.

"Johnny," Gibsie acknowledged, with his trademark grin. "This is Nessa, and Nessa this is Johnny—oh right, of course! You guys met before!" he laughed, as if pretending he caught himself in a mistake.

"No shite, Gibs," Johnny grumbled, then looked to the rearview mirror. "Hi, Vanessa." he greeted, his tone lighter.

"Hi, Johnny."

"I'm sorry you got stuck working with this gobshite."

"Hey!" Gibsie gasped, placing his hand over his heart dramatically. "I'm a pleasure to work with!"

"Keep telling yourself that," Johnny muttered, putting the car in drive, and pulling out the parking lot.

Unfortunately, Vanessa was also painfully aware of the god-awful stench of a teenage boy that came out of those bags. She knew the smell all too well, considering her twin had a similar stench coming from his room. The distinct odor was compromised of sweat, sex, and man.

"So an A3?" Vanessa started a casual conversation, in order to distract herself from feeling the need to vomit.

"Yeah," Johnny nodded. "You into cars?"

"My twin brother works at a mechanics shop. I've heard him talk about a lot of different types."

"You're a twin, huh?" Johnny's eyes glanced at the rearview mirror to look at her.

Vanessa nodded. "He goes to BCS, though."

"We met him, lad!" Gibsie joined in. "Remember last spring when I tried giving him and his girlfriend a—"

"Yeah, I don't need the details." Vanessa stopped him, making a face.

"also you knew that already. Remember when you read their fil—"

"Gibs!" Johnny hissed.

"Right, sorry!"

Before Vanessa could ask what was going on, Gibsie turned on the radio. Kanye West's All Falls Down blasted, and the blonde boy sang along, completely off-key.

  After about fifteen minutes, Johnny pulled up outside a gigantic pair of black iron gates. He rolled his window down, stretching his arm out to key something into the pad. Seconds later, the gates swung inward.

  Holy shit.

  She knew this guy was loaded, but damn.

He was rich, rich.

  They continued up a long, winding laneway that was lined with huge trees on both sides. After about half a mile, a house finally came into view.

  Vanessa tried not to gawk at the large Victorian-style mansion, with a million windows, and the biggest front door she'd ever seen.

"Jesus," Vanessa whispered quietly to herself, in full awe of the house before her.

  "Welcome to the Kavanagh manor, Nessa." Gibsie spoke playfully, as if he heard her.

  Johnny rolled his eyes in response, parking the car in the garage. "Not a manor." he muttered.

"The Kavanagh's humble little home." Gibsie corrected. "Better?"

They got out of the car, and Vanessa followed the boys as they led her inside the huge house. They entered a spacious foyer, with two archways on either side of the room, leading who knows where. Vanessa kept her lips smashed together, not letting her mouth fall. She did her best to school her expressions, not trying to let how in awe she was.

She took in the sight of the staircase at the center with lion heads on top of its intricate wooden balusters. Her gaze trailed up to the top of the staircase, both sides of the landing visible through the wooden banister rails that eventually joined the wall on either side.

  "It's an old house," Johnny spoke, as if it's some explanation. "Like a hundred and fifty years or something. My mother didn't want to change the original design too much when we bought it. We renovated most of the rooms and put in a new kitchen, but she wanted to keep some of the original parts." Shrugging, he added, "She says the place has character or some shite."

  "Well your mam is right," Vanessa walked around, taking in the sight of the tall ceilings and dangling crystal chandeliers. "I bet you can fit my whole house in this hall."

  Johnny led her down another long hallway, leading to the kitchen and living room. If Vanessa didn't have him as a tour guide, she most definitely would've gotten lost.

  In the kitchen, Gibsie raided his fridge for food. Vanessa just contently munched on potato chips she found on the counter of the island table. She sat on a stool next to Gibsie, while Johnny was standing.

"So why exactly are we working at Johnny's house, Gibsie?" Vanessa asked.

"Because he's Einstein, and we suck at math." he replied simply, his mouth stuffed with leftover chicken.

"You're smart?" Vanessa turned to Johnny, almost skeptical.

"I've always been in higher-levels," Johnny looked at her, as if offended by her judgement. "except science. Fuck that shite. So glad that's over."

Well at least he wasn't some dumb jock.

"So you're not good at math?" he asked, his tone curious. No mockery or teasing behind his words.

"Better than him," Vanessa pointed at Gibsie, who glared at her in response.

  "You only got 1% higher than me on the last test!"

  "Exactly." Vanessa retorted. A moment later she added quietly, "I used to be good, though."

  "Used to?" Johnny asked. "Then what?"

  Then her older brother left. She became her father's favorite punching bag and squeeze toy. Her twin got addicted to drugs. Her brain became a chaotic mess, and she felt like she was constantly drowning. Life went downhill, and school was the last thing on her mind. Joey barely managed to pass. Meanwhile she was forced to repeat a year.

But she didn't really feel like discussing all that. So she just shrugged her shoulders.

  "Anyways," Vanessa quickly changed topics, ignoring the looks of concern. "Let's get this started."

  She grabbed her school bag, taking out her folder. She found the paper with the instructions. They began to work on math, trying to be productive as they could.

  Key word: tried.

LEXI NOTES !

sorry for the lack of updates!! school has been kicking my ass like usual, but since summer is FINALLY here, hopefully more frequent updates will occur !!