Chapter Text
Hugh
2006, Jan 5
This wasn’t even my idea.
It was my sister’s idea.
I personally think throwing parties wouldn’t be the solution to anyone’s, nevertheless Gibsie's misery.
It’s been a few weeks since the horrible news came out, and Gibsie has really changed. He was first quiet, in hiding when he got exposed, then slowly put his mask back on that he’s been wearing for all this time.
Claire says with the mask he's "Gibsie" and without the mask he’s “Gerard”.
In this party, I think he’s going to have his “Gibsie” mask on.
Which is also weird, because all my life—and the lads—have been calling him Gibsie since we were out of our nappies.
I know Gibs better than anyone, but Claire knows him even better than me, which is why I'm not arguing when she claims she can get him to put his “Gerard” mask on—but me personally? I don’t think she can.
Hes gone bad, what happened to him was even more fucking bad and I just wish I could’ve realized it earlier.
I will never let Mark go near him again, matter in fact I hope he’s behind bars before he decides to get near Gibs.
Besides that, the friend group has been quite distant after the news. Something about siding with Lizzie’s story and Gibsie’s.
I trust Gibs and Liz, but something isn’t adding up with their stories, specifically Lizzie’s. There’s something missing.
Every single night from the winter ball, I’ve tried to recall the last memories of Caoimhe and the rest of her family, including Mark.
There’s just this one thing that doesn’t sit right with me.
Caoimhe’s funeral.
Lizzie was having an outburst, yelling something along the lines to Gibsie,
“Come on, tell them! Tell them what he did to us! She said we can get rid of him, Gibs.”
I can't get my finger around it, but something happened, and it’s not good.
“Hugh?” I heard the familiar voice of Katie as she called out name, followed by her soft footsteps.
“Yeah?” I replied, standing in front of the mirror, fixing my hair.
When the footsteps stopped, I assumed she was in the room.
“Ready to go?” She said, walking closer to me.
I nodded slowly, “Mhm,” I hum, still fixing my hair.
“You look handsome,” she reassured, “Now let’s go—You’re driving, remember?”
I scoffed, glancing at the mirror one more time before resting my eyes on her, “I always do,” I mumbled, pressing a kiss on her cheek.
—
Claire right away grouped everyone into my room. Called it, “Operation Bring Gerard”, short for “OBG”.
A few minutes later, Gibsie entered the room and everyone went silent until Claire started talking, “Hi Gerard, come sit.”
Once he made his way next to her, everyone began talking again.
I wasn’t the type of guy to be overstimulated easily, but I wasn’t in the mood to play games nor be a part of a worthless operation, so I excused myself and left to “use the bathroom”.
As I went down, what caught my eye was Shannon running out the door.
I got curious and looked out the window to find her banging on someone’s car window. I couldn’t tell who it was, but as soon as she stepped aside, it was hard to miss the beauty of Lizzie Young’s blonde hair and her icy blue eyes.
Other than her natural beauty, she didn’t look too good.
And I was far too familiar with that look.
In fear of looking like a creep, I managed to slip away, grab a drink of iced water and arrived back in the room with worry rising up in my chest.
“You good?” Katie asked as she sat down.
I nodded, "Yeah, thanks. I think I just need some water.” I chugged the whole thing.
One card game later, a noise at the door made us all look up.
It was Lizzie.
Once realization hit her, it looked as if she shrunk.
Gibsie instantly looked back down. Poor guy.
“Liz, did you want to sit?” Feely asked.
Great idea lad! just traumatize Gibs now.
Lizzie shook her head, then locked her gaze at me, mouthing or mumbling my name.
I couldn’t tell, but that didn’t matter.
My heart stopped. She looked horrible.
Depressive episode horrible.
Ah, fuck.
Something happened.
She looked at me desperately before darting to Claire’s room after denying Feely’s offer again.
“She had no right to be here.” Claire huffed. “And you, Pa.” she said, pointing at him in disappointment. “I should’ve known whose side you were on.” she mouthed to him, or something like that.
Feely shrugged, “Did you see her? She looked upset, not viper-like.”
“Yeah, that was weird.” Katie commented out loud, then looked at me. “She was really looking at you.” She added quietly.
I lied, “Did she? I didn’t notice.”
She looked at me skeptically, “She was.”
“Probably nothing.” I said, hoping it was.
“Probably.” she agreed.
—
“Where’s Johnny?” Gibsie asks.
Everyone collectively shrugs, except for me.
“The last I saw him downstairs with Shan, I heard that he’ll be up here soon though. Johnny just came back from Dublin earlier today, so he’s probably tired, that’s why he’s away.” I paused, letting the information sink in. “You want me to go get him?”
“Ah, um, sure. If he wants to join us.”
“I can find him for you,” Feely offered.
I shook my head and stood up, “Nah, it’s alright. I’ll be back.”
I left the room and reluctantly went downstairs. Part of me wanted to go and find Liz, who I assumed went in Claire’s room, but I had more important matters to attend to right now.
“Johnny!” I called out, knocking on a closed bedroom door.
A groan called out from behind the door. Yuck. “I hope you're just drunk and not fucking around!”
I stormed off into another room, surprised to find Shannon in front of the bathroom door, out of all places.
“Uh, Shannon?” I asked.
She bounced, “Sorry! You scared me. What’s up?”
I tilted my head in confusion. “Um, Gibs wants Johnny.”
“Ah—Johnny is feeling nauseous.” she said. “I’ll let him know when he’s out.”
I nodded, “Thanks.” I turned to leave then stopped in my tracks. “Oh, and...Um I have a question.”
“Ask away.”
“Was Lizzie, like, quiet when she came?” I asked nervously.
She paused, tapping her chin, then looking at me skeptically. “Yeah. Kind of. Why?”
I shook my head dismissively, “Nothing, but thanks. Don’t forget to tell Johnny, ye?”
She nodded slowly, “Will do.”
Fuck.
I thought as I raced up the stairs.
I know something is wrong.
I swung open Claire’s door. “Lizzie?!”
I was met with the concerned face of Aoife and the alarmed face of Joey.
Then the sight of Lizzie. She was leaning out the window, saying something about being free, then stopped.
“Hugh?” She asked, softly.
I walked over to Liz, hugging her back, waiting for her to crumble.
She doesn’t love me and I don’t love her. She’s not herself right now, so she will act like she loves me, but it isn’t fully true, I reminded myself,
A pause.
“I’m here, Liz.” I whisper.
Her body convulsed.
Suddenly she started laughing, “Make it stop, Hugh.” she said, tears falling out of my eyes.
I turned her so I could face her, then wrapped her in my arms even tighter.
“Scary lady’s back,” She mumbled, sniffling. “She’s back and she’s going to push me out the window into the water.”
I stilled. “I won’t let her, I promise.” Fuck.
“You believe me, right? That she’s real? I saw her on my way here.”
I broke apart the hug and made her look me in the eyes. “Of course. I saw her too, remember?” Double fuck.
She nodded slowly, “No matter what?” She whispered.
“No matter what.” I said, forcing a smile.