Chapter Text
1- 6 weeks after the kiss
Erin caught herself staring again. There was something about the way James carried himself; the curl of his hair, the way his scarf perfectly fell against his blazer, and his shy but charming smile. She remembered the softness of his lips against hers, surprised at first and then deepening as they conveyed the years of pent up tension.
The lips she found herself missing. It had only been one kiss (before they were so rudely interrupted by Michelle), but if Erin was completely honest it had been the best moment of her life.
She’s not exactly sure when the shift started. James had just been…there. The wee English fella. One of her best friends. Her crew. Her Derry Girls. Over the past few years, she watched him mature from a scared boy to a man.
A very hot, very sweet man. The man that was currently hunched over his math notebook, concentrating on his calculus problem and nibbling on the end of his pen.
Erin was starting to get very warm because she began to wonder what else he was capable of nibbling on. She shook herself out of the reverie and tried desperately to focus on her work. She got through one problem before feeling like she was being watched. Subtly she turned to find James glancing her way, one errant curl against his forehead and a lopsided grin on his face.
Fuck it. Erin was ready to throw caution to the wind. Michelle would get over it.
She scribbled a note quickly, tucking it into the pocket of her blazer like it was contraband. She would figure out a way to get it to him without Sister Michael seeing. Unfortunately that was easier said than done.
The remaining twenty minutes of class dragged on. Erin kept glancing back at James, trying to get his attention. He was either very into his class work or purposefully ignoring her. Whatever the case was, she had to come up with a plan, and fast.
Unfortunately for Erin, coming up with an excuse or a plan on the fly was not her strong point.
Opportunity arose five minutes later when Erin’s pencil broke. She rose from her seat, ready to take the long way to the pencil sharpener and drop the note on James’ desk when-
“MIss Quinn! What are you doing?” Sister Michael’s sharp voice rang out, startling Erin in her place.
“Just going to sharpen my pencil, Sister.”
“Sit down, Miss. Quinn. Use another writing instrument. I’m tired of people wandering around willy-nilly in class.”
“But Sister-”
“Miss Quinn. Enough. Borrow if you need to. I have a headache.”
Erin plopped back down in her seat and pulled out another pencil. She tapped it lightly against her book, trying to concentrate. This was her only chance to get the note to James, as they did not share any other classes in the afternoon. Erin had a doctor’s appointment after school, and she promised Ma that she would mind Anna for the evening. Gerry and Mary were taking a well-deserved break and going out for dinner and the new comedy at the cinema. Mary had specifically told her that her friends could not hang out, as they, in Mary’s words, “caused too much ruckus and Anna needs to sleep.”
Erin’s train of thought was broken by the bell. She raced out of her seat, attempting to get to James. Since he was closer to the door, he managed to get there first. The throngs of people pushed ahead of Erin, and she saw the back of his head.
And then he turned and winked at her.
That fucker winked at her. Erin was a goner.
—---
After an eventful evening of trying to get Anna to sleep by repeatedly singing the American song “The Wheels on the Bus,” Erin flopped down onto her bed. Her school blazer was haphazardly thrown onto the floor. She reached into the pocket and pulled out the note. Carefully unfolding it, she reread her words and sighed.
Dear James,
Michelle is wrong. Be my wee English fella?
Love, a smitten Irish Lass
Erin folded the note back up and tucked it into her journal. She got into her pajamas, washed up, and snuggled under the covers, dreaming of soft curls and winks.