Cian

I'm staring at Siofra as she walks across the pond in her little bikini, shaking her behind for anyone to see. She's going off to find somewhere private to call her mom; she rang during the last dare. Siofra wants to make sure everything's ok at home, so we're standing around waiting for her to get back. Suddenly, I feel a hand slap across my shoulders, hitting me in the chest from the side.

"You. Me. Talk. Now." Fionn's giving me the serious "I'm-the-big-brother-and-I-know-you-were-checking-out-my-sister look". He's pissed.

Crap.

I sigh and turn towards the shaded glen of trees behind us and walk towards them with Fionn.

"What's the deal, Cian?" Fionn asks, giving me absolutely no time to pull myself together.

"What do you mean?" I ask, not giving anything away.

"Cut the crap, man," he replies with a pointed look. "You know what I'm talking 'bout. I see how you look at Siofra. How you've been looking at Siofra. And I see how she looks back at you, especially when she thinks I'm not looking."

"I-"

"No, man. No way. That's my sister, Cian" he grits his teeth and goes on. "You can't go after my sister. Not if you're not serious about it. Not happening."

Rubbing the back of my neck, I squint my eyes and then look up at him.

"Where's this coming from, Fionn? What's your problem?" I ask.

"She's my sister!" he yells back at me.

"Yeah, so?" I ask just as loudly.

"What do you mean, so?"

"I mean, what's going on?" I answer. "Why are you freaking out, Fionn?"

I know it's his sister and all, but it's not like I'm some douchebag just trying to get into her pants. This is me. This is Siofra. We've all been friends since we were little kids. I can understand Fionn being protective of her, but him going all postal on me is a little over the top.

"It's just. Look, man, Siofra's my sister. And you're my best friend." He sighs, walking a path in the dirt around us. "You can't just hook up with Siofra. She's not just some random piece for you to go after."

The more Fionn explains the more I feel my temper rise. The fact that he'd assume I think of Siofra that ways makes me want to punch him, which is the last thing any of us need right now.

"Look, Fionn" I grit out, "I'm not sure what your problem is, but you know me. I would never do anything to hurt Siofra. And, the fact that you think I could ever look at or treat her like some random girl who means nothing isn't cool. Not at all. If we weren't best friends I'd be in your face right now."

"I just don't want to see her get hurt, Cian. There's a lot going on at home right now, with my dad and mom and all. I don't want to see Siofra upset over you two if something goes wrong."

I take a deep breath and sit down on a large rock nearby. I know about their parents' divorce. I'm sure it's hard on both of them, but Fionn's just wrong to come at me like this.

Scratching my forehead, I look up at Fionn and try to put myself in his position. His parents are at war and their family is coming apart at the seams. For that reason, and the fact that we've been friends for so long, I decide to give Fionn some slack on his attitude.

"Fionn,"

"What?" he asks.

"You're an fecking eejit."

I must've taken him off guard because he stops midstride and comes over to sit down on the rock next to me.

"Let me ask you something, Cian."

"Ok" I reply.

"What happens when you both graduate college? What happens when Siofra goes to grad school? You know she wants to be an occupational therapist. She's has so many more years of training ahead of her. Are you planning on waiting around for her to finish? Or, are you gonna want her barefoot and pregnant, giving up her dreams of a career?"

What the-?

His questions catch me completely off guard. I can't figure out why he's even asking about this right now. I would never encourage Siofra to drop out of school. I would never ask her to do any of what Fionn is saying. And I sure as shit am nowhere near ready to become a father. Heck no. One day, but not now. Not for a long time.

"Where's this coming from, Fionn?" I ask.

"It's my parents. My mom and dad have been fighting. My mom keeps yelling that she gave up everything to make my dad happy. That she stayed home after having us to make him happy and he's never appreciated her...blah, blah, blah. I guess I'm just worried about what some guy is going to expect from Siofra. Well, what you'll expect from her."

"Listen, I promise. I have no plan to ever tell Siofra what she should or shouldn't do. I love the fact that she wants to have her own career; be her own person. I really care about her. I would never stand in the way of that. If Siofra wants to go to school until she's 60, fine. I'm cool with it. Whatever."

"Ok, Cian, but this is weird. You'll be dating my sister. You better treat her right. I think you will but, you know, we've all been friends for so long, and I want us all to stay that way. The thing is-"

"I know. I know, if I hurt her, you'll kill me. Got it."

"Yeah, well. Something like that."

"Come on, Fionn, let's go back to the group." I say, laying an arm across his shoulders. "Let's go see if we can dare you into a hook up. You need someone to warm up to. Pearl has had her eye on you all day, you know."

"Oh yeah?" Fionn asks, clearly surprised. "But she's been talking to Brody most of the night."

"Yeah, I know," I answer. "but it's you she's been sneaking looks at all night. Just watch her. You'll see what I mean."

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Photography Copyright 2018 A. E. F.

Want to hear what Cian, Fionn, Ruari and Tadhg's names sound like? Check out this YouTube video I found online: 

Hampshire, L. J. (2017) Irish Baby Boy Names and Pronunciations with Meanings. Names from Ireland. Web Search 28 May 2021. Website: https://youtu.be/QX3CbUqIRHQ

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