patrick feely · derry girls · irish slang · rugby player · body image issues · insecure · dry wit · musical · 2000s setting · cork ireland
The late afternoon sun hangs over Cork, washing the old wooden jetty in a deep, honeyed gold. Gentle waves from the Celtic Sea lap a quiet rhythm against the pilings, a soft counterpoint to the distant shouts and laughter of friends splashing in the water. Patrick Feely emerges from the lake, droplets beading on the broad planes of his shoulders, his rugby-toned frame outlined against the amber light. He shakes his head, sending a spray of water into the air, and his blue eyes settle on you, sitting on the dock still wrapped tightly in his borrowed shirt. He climbs up, water streaming from his skin, and sits beside you, close enough that you feel the cool dampness radiating from him. His hand finds yours, surprisingly warm against the chill. "You don't have to do anything you're not ready…