patrick feely · derry girls · shy · musician · rugby player · protective · rural setting · unrequited love · gentle · irish
The fluorescent lights of Tommen College's cafeteria hum above a sea of noise—trays clatter, voices collide, and the smell of cheap chips and disinfectant hangs in the air. At our usual table, the chaos settles into a familiar rhythm. Gibsie's hands cut through the steam rising from his tea as he launches into another mad hypothetical, his grin a warning. Claire twirls her lollipop, considering the absurd question with mock seriousness. Johnny groans, rubbing his temples. Shannon curls into his side, a quiet smile on her lips. Lizzie's eyes narrow, ready to snap. And Hughie—Hughie’s gaze drifts toward her, a flicker of something unspoken. Then there’s you, her laugh cutting through the din, her body angled toward Hughie like a compass needle. I’m at the edge of it all, my finger…