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HIBERNATING HEARTS AND WATERY brIDGES

Hugh

JANUARY 8, 2004

“I DON’T GET WHY SHE WOULDN’T TELL ME ,” C LAIRE COMPLAINED, CARRYING ON THE conversation that had started at the breakfast table this morning all the way to the halls of Tommen. “Liz just leaves and doesn’t tell anyone?”

“She told me,” I reminded her, reeling off my perfectly rehearsed excuse. “She texted me last night.”

“But you guys aren’t even a couple anymore,” my sister groaned, worrying her lip. “Why wouldn’t she tell me that she was going to Spain? And what about school?”

“It’s only for a few weeks,” I repeated for the twentieth time this morning. “As for school, Liz could sit her junior cert in the morning and still wipe the floor with your entire year.”

“I guess,” Claire replied, sounding uncertain about the whole situation. “It’s just…strange.”

“Her mam needs some recuperation,” I added. “And you can’t blame her for wanting to go with her mother.”

“No, no, I understand completely,” she hurried to say. “I just…wish she’d text me back.”

Yeah, me, too . “She’ll be back soon.”

“Are you okay?” my sister asked then, placing a hand on my arm. “I know you’ve been super sad since the breakup.”

“I’ll be—” I was cut off when Feely shouldered past me in the hallway, using the guitar he was carrying to smack against me in the process.

“Jesus!” Claire exclaimed, wide-eyed. “What’s his problem?”

“No idea,” I replied, readjusting the school bag he’d knocked off my shoulder. “He’s been like that since New Year’s.”

“Why?”

I turned around to glare after him. “Hard to say when he won’t fucking speak.”

“Well,” my sister said, smiling brightly. “At least you still have me.”

“And me.” Gibsie draped his arms around both of us. “How are my favorite sibling duo?”

It was at that precise moment a pint-sized redhead, with a guitar hanging over her shoulder, came into view. Green eyes locked on mine when she passed me in the hall. “Hi, Hugh.”

“Hi, Katie,” I replied, feeling a sudden stab in my chest that seemed to come out of nowhere.

She blushed and quickly retrained her attention ahead.

Meanwhile, I craned my head around to watch her pass.

“Well, well, well, it looks like a certain big brother’s been holding out on us, Gerard.” Dragging my attention back to her with a gleeful cackle, Claire clapped like a fucking seal with excitement. “Hughie has his eyes set on someone new. Finally! ”

“Claire.” I narrowed my eyes in warning. “Before you start, just stop, okay?”

“Your brother had more than his eyes on her on New Year’s Eve, Claire-Bear,” Gibs replied with a shit-eating grin.

I glared at him.

Gibsie winked knowingly.

“Really?” Claire’s eyes bugged in her head. “Omigod! Yay! This is the best news ever!” She swung around to watch Katie’s retreating figure. “I think I know her. She started here in September. She’s super quiet, but I’ve seen her talking to Patrick a couple of times.”

“Yeah, they’re both in music club.”

“Aw, what else do you know about her?”

“Nothing, absolutely nothing, because it was just a shift,” I warned, attention flicking to my sister. “I was out of my mind from drink.”

“You know what they say about the truth coming out when you’re drunk.” Claire continued to seal clap. “Maybe your heart’s ready to come out of hibernation and the booze pushed it along.”

“ Claire .”

“Maybe it’s time you gave someone else a chance.”

“Maybe it’s time for you two to mind your own business.”

“Hugh, it’s been months.” My sister offered me an encouraging smile. “You’ve got this.”

“Too many months,” Gibsie agreed, giving me two solid thumbs-up. “And way too much water under the bridge.”