Eire.(chapter 16)

Kell called and asked if I'd be ready by 7, because he wanted to take me out. I agreed; I should make it. I knew Kelly wouldn't expect too much from me. He'd always loved me just the way I was, and sometimes it even annoyed him when I put on too much makeup. The doorbell rang,

"Piotrek, open up, tell him I'll be down in a minute.

" "Okay.

" *

"Kell, what are you doing here?"

Piotrek was very surprised when his little sister said she was going on a friend's outing. He thought they were going somewhere with Anne, not with Kelli. He didn't like it. Kell was known for picking up girls; that wasn't the kind of guy he wanted his sister to go out with. Oh yes, he remembered again that he'd finally let his friend kiss her and mess with her mind at a party. But it was different then; N. had confided in him that this time he didn't care about any bets because he truly cared about her. Piotrek believed him, but until now he hadn't had time to talk to him about it, couldn't invite him over because it was driving her crazy. He was a guy himself, and he knew that when a guy wore expensive perfume and dressed in decent clothes, he wasn't going on a friendly outing, but to pick up girls. "

Relax, man, I'm not going to hurt her. I'm just taking her to a magical place to relax and forget about what happened at the party. I'm not going to hurt her, she needs someone to talk to. And it just so happens that we're good friends, and I don't know any other guy who knows her like I do, except you.

What kind of friends? Since when did they know each other so well..." His thoughts were interrupted by his sister. She looked gorgeous; she didn't need to wear any special short dresses to look attractive. In normal combat trousers and a haki-colored coat that brought out her eyes, she could drive men crazy. The way she moved, the way she smiled, could knock them off their feet. It was immediately obvious she wasn't one of those normal girls guys chased. Because besides her body, she had that certain something about her, and that was precisely what he feared. He knew guys were crazy about her, and he was afraid one of them might hurt her.

Kelly's thoughts weren't much different from Piotrek's. He felt his heart beating faster again. Even though he'd lived in Dublin, stayed in Wexford and Belfast, been to France on vacation and Florida, he'd never seen a girl as beautiful. Not a single girl had that certain something about her, that twinkle in her eye, that same smile; none of them moved like her. He knew plenty of models his age, but none could fly like her, because she didn't walk; she moved as if gravity were nonexistent. So what if she was younger than him? Sometimes she seemed more mature in spirit.

"Guys, why are you making those faces? Piotrek, I don't know if N. told you, but Kelli and I used to go out. We're friends now, so don't worry, he won't hurt me. I'll be back late, because Kelli and I are going straight to the Centre, so I guess we'll meet there.

" "That changes a lot, so bye."

*

Kelli arrived on his motorcycle, blindfolded me with a husky, and said he'd take it off when we got there. We stopped after about 20 minutes. He gently untied it. He knew I loved the beach; today's weather was perfect, cloudless, star-studded. It was the beach where I had my first kiss, with him. I called this beach Heavenly because the water was clear blue. Long and empty, it seemed even more heavenly at night than when we walked along it during the day.

"Kell, you can't expect too much from me." I just went through one disappointment, and I don't want to…

"I know, but we'll take a walk and you can get it all off your chest."

We talked like old friends, like we'd known each other forever. We reminisced about old times, laughing when I remembered how I'd tried to convince him to buy those extra beige pants he looked divine in. I whined so much that he finally bought them, and then on our date, I spilled blackcurrant juice on them. The stain still hasn't come out (his version, but he probably threw them away a long time ago and didn't even try to get it out). I was freezing, so he wrapped me in his jacket, I smelled his perfume, and then I started crying. N. used the same one; he wore it when he pinned me against the wall, telling me he wouldn't let go until I went out with him, when we danced at the disco, when we kissed at the party, when he pulled me closer to him in the City Centre and I pushed him away.

"Little bird, what's wrong? Did I say something wrong?

" "No, it's not your fault (how clichéd that sounded), it's… it doesn't matter. I won't be.

" "Maybe we can go to your place, because you'll freeze to death here and your brother will kill me. "

"Okay, and at 9 we'll go to the Centre, you haven't been there in ages.

" *

We were sitting on my bed, looking at photos, resting after the pillow fight. Among the thick albums, Kell found a photo of him running with me in his arms along the beach, about to throw me into the sea. I lifted my head, our eyes met, I felt a shiver run down my spine, and before I knew it, Kell was kissing me. So passionately, in a way only he could. Someone entered the room, I opened my eyes and saw N. I jumped up, but he was gone. Why was I so concerned about him? I gave up chasing him. Let him suffer, I wanted to forget about him.

"Kell, I can't do this. You're wonderful, but everything's happening too fast. I don't want you to feel used later. I still love him, it's such a stupid young love, but still, I haven't forgotten him yet. I'm sorry, but I'm not ready yet…"

I started shaking, I didn't know why he was acting this way. Nothing had happened, N. would only be jealous if he really felt something for me. Kell hugged me.

"Little bird, be quiet, I'm sorry, but I couldn't help it, your eyes are so alluring. I lost my mind when you looked at me like that again. I understand you, I won't push you anymore. Let's live in the moment, lighten up, we'll go to the Centre and show N. how to have fun."

Kell went to the store to buy some chewing gum, but he really wanted me to have a moment to myself. I used it to change and put on some makeup. Kell was right, I need to stop thinking about what happened and start having fun again, enjoying every moment of my life.