Ahhhh I think this is the longest update I've ever written! It took so long haha.
Love you all:)
"Here's the battle plan," Colm said, leaning over the table to look intently at the other lads.
Keith sighed. "Do we have to have a battle plan?"
"Of course!" Colm insisted. "Now--"
"I mean, can't we eat first or something?" Keith protested. "If you're going to bring us to a pizza parlor, you might as well let us eat."
Colm sighed and glanced at the others.
Damian laughed. "I'm with Keith. I don't even really care so..."
"Then why did I ask you along?" Colm demanded.
Ryan stood and raised an eyebrow. "I'm with Damian here."
"Aw, you've never met Jamie," Colm waved him off. "You should, by the way. She's awesome."
"Don't you have a lass we can bother you about?" Neil complained, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "I think you're too invested in Emmet's love life."
"I don't have a lass because I don't care to," Colm shrugged.
Keith grinned suddenly and leaned forward. "So, lads, here is the battle plan."
Colm narrowed his eyes. "I already have one."
"Let's find a pretty lass," Keith continued, ignoring Colm, "and set this interfering matchmaker up with her."
"How are we going to do that?" Ryan asked, suddenly curious.
Colm frowned. "Ryan, out of all the people I expected to not be interested in MY love life, you were at the top of the list."
Ryan shrugged. "I just want to know why you care so much..." He trailed off before laughing. "What we are saying is relax, mate. Emmet's just slow and steady."
"As is Jamie," Keith put in.
"Oh, lord." Ryan wrinkled his forehead. "Nothing will ever happen if they're both like that. Maybe we do need a battle plan."
Colm nodded eagerly. "So what I was thinking--"
"I have an idea!" Ryan slammed his hand down on the table. "Let them take their time. Brilliant, I know. Now let's eat."
Rolling his eyes, Colm jumped up. "Sounds great."
Damian grinned. "Oh, good. I was worried we would have to revolt."
"Why do you care so much, anyway?" Neil asked softly, standing to get in line.
Colm shrugged. "He's my best mate, and Jamie is...good for him. In a strange way. In a...psychologist way."
"What?" Ryan asked, blinking in surprise.
"She's a psychology person. In school." Keith grinned. "It's interesting hearing her talk about the stuff she learns. I'm learning a lot when I'm over there."
"Are you over there a lot?"
Neil and Colm started laughing at Ryan's innocent comment. "Only like every day!" Neil exclaimed. "Isn't that right, Keith?"
Keith just grinned. "What can I say?"
Ryan rolled his eyes and looked at Damian, who simply shrugged.
"Should we pry the information out of Keith?" Damian mock whispered.
"You'll never break me!" Keith declared boldly.
"I know where you're ticklish," Ryan threatened.
Keith visibly paled and shook his head. "You wouldn't."
Ryan's face suddenly took on the Dark Destroyer persona and he raised an eyebrow.
Keith nodded shortly. "I'll tell. Don't worry."
"This better be good." Ryan grinned and his eyes went gentle again.
"Oh," Colm said. "It's great."
-----
Jamie hung up the phone and rushed out of her room. "Kat! Hey, Keith."
Keith waved and Kat smiled. "What's up?"
"Mrs. Champion has recommended me for her replacement, seeing as I already know the system and as I'm graduation with honors." Jamie jumped up and down slightly in excitement. "I'm going to stay in Ireland!"
Kay's eyes widened and she stood up. "Honey!" She rushed over and gave Jamie a hug. "That's so great! I'm so glad for you!"
Jamie squealed a little and hugged her back. "I know! I'm so excited! I'll have to move out of here, seeing as it's a half an hour away, but I'll still be in the area." She sighed in happiness.
Keith came over and gave her a huge hug, lifting her slightly off the ground. "Jamie! That's awesome. Have you told Emmet?"
Jamie laughed as he set her down gently. "No. I'll text him."
"Oh, no, don't," Keith protested. "You're going to tell that boy over text? Poor lad will have a heart attack. Tell him in person."
Jamie rolled her eyes. "I'll text him to ask if he wants to come over."
"No, no. This is cause for celebration. You two should go out." Kat grinned. "Ask him on a date."
"I can't do that," Jamie said in surprise. "I'm...the girl," she finished weakly.
"What is this, the Victorian era? A woman can ask a man on a date. Especially as they're dating," Kat stressed. "Come on. If you don't ask him, I'll ask him for you."
Jamie rolled her eyes but couldn't stay in a foul mood. "Okay, I will. Where should we go?" She bit her lip in thought.
"The pub!" Kat exclaimed, clapping her hands together and grinning. "Where we all met."
Jamie wrinkled her nose. "I don't like that pub. You dragged me there. And we saw Edmund."
Kat laughed. "But it would be so romantic," she teased.
Jamie rolled her eyes and pulled out her phone. "I'll just call him and ask what he wants to do."
"Whatever you want, my Ireland bound girl." Kat winked.
"I'm already in Ireland," Jamie said.
Keith laughed and shoved her gently towards her room. "Don't listen to Kat. She just enjoys winding you up. You fall for it too easily."
Jamie allowed him to lead her toward her room before turning suddenly at the door. "She only thinks I fall for it too easily." Winking, she grinned and shut the door behind her, dialing Emmet's number.
"Hey, Emmet!" she said after he picked up on the second ring. "Want to go out tonight?"
"Oh, hi," he said smoothly. "Of course. You sound happy."
"I am," Jamie said, smiling at the sound of his voice. "Very happy. Where would you like to go?"
There was quiet at the other end for a few seconds. "How about I take you on a proper date?" he asked. "Restaurant, dancing, you know. That sort of thing."
Jamie nodded before remembering they were on the phone. "Sounds great."
"Awesome! Pick you up in an hour?"
"Uh...how fancy should I dress?" Jamie mentally ran through her bare closet.
"Wear a dress, I guess..." Emmet said slowly. "Uh, ask Kat. I don't know."
"Okay. See you in an hour."
Jamie walked back out. "Emmet will be here in an hour. He said to wear a dress..." She raised an eyebrow at Kat.
Kat jumped up accordingly. "You don't have a single dress," she chided Jamie. "Lucky for you I actually like to look nice."
"Mhmm," Keith agreed and winkled at Jamie.
"Great." Jamie followed Kat into her room and resigned herself to a makeover.
Fifty minutes later, Kat walked out with Jamie in tow. "Ta-da!"
Jamie blinked at the sight of Keith. "You're still here?" she asked. "You've just been sitting here, playing your guitar, this whole time?"
Keith glanced at Kat's guitar before nodding. "Yeah..." His eyes widened slightly. "Hey, Jamie, you look like a girl."
"Thanks, Keith," Jamie laughed.
"No problem," he said, nodding.
There was a knock on the door and Jamie smoothed her dress nervously. "I look okay?" she asked Kat.
Keith winked at her and got up to answer the door. "If I weren't with Kat..."
Kat hit his arm and opened the door before Keith could. "Hi, Emmet! You look nice."
Emmet smiled. "Thanks. Hey, Keith. Is Jamie ready?"
Jamie walked over to the door, grabbing her purse. "I'm ready."
His smile growing, Emmet cleared his throat and offered his arm. "Shall we?"
She giggled and took the extended arm. "Don't wait up," she teased Kat.
Kat rolled her eyes and shut the door.
"You look amazing," Emmet said once they were in the car.
"Keith said I look like a girl," Jamie laughed.
"Oh, I'm sure he doesn't--"
"No. It's okay." Jamie laid a hand on his arm. "I took it as a compliment."
Emmet turned to smile at her. "Well, you do actually look incredible. Or like a girl or whatever."
Jamie laughed.
Emmet's phone buzzed. "Can you check that?" he asked, pointing at his phone.
"You always put your phone in the cup holder?" Jamie teased him, grabbing the phone. "It's from Keith."
"Oh," Emmet said hastily. "Maybe you shouldn't--"
Jamie bit her lip and looked over at Emmet, her eyes dancing.
Emmet groaned. "What inappropriate comment did he make this time?"
"Having never texted Keith, I didn't realize his grammar was so bad."
"What did he actually say?" Emmet asked, hiding a smile.
"u shud kiss her this time man. theres no time like the present"... Jamie laughed as she showed him the screen.
Emmet glanced at the phone, taking in the words quickly, before rolling his eyes. "Sometimes I just want to spite them all."
"Who's all?" Jamie asked.
"Uh... You know. Colm. Keith. Neil. Apparently, Ryan and Damian are in on it, too." Emmet couldn't help but laugh. "They tried to have some sort of intervention for me."
"In order to make you do what?" Jamie asked.
"You saw the text," Emmet shrugged.
She raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.
-----
"Dinner was amazing," Jamie said quietly. "And dancing."
"Who knew you could dance like that?" Emmet teased her. "You've been holding out on me!"
She laughed. "I have hidden talents you are unaware of."
"So can you actually sing?" he asked, laughing at the look on her face.
"No. Never." She grabbed his hand suddenly and he jumped slightly. "Look!"
Emmet glanced in the direction that she was looking and shrugged. "Yeah?"
"Wanna swing?" Jamie grinned at the look that spread over Emmet's face and tugged him towards the park. "Come on."
"It's dark," he protested. "And creepy. Not to mention we are kind of dressed up to be swinging."
Jamie stopped and put her hand on her hip. "Emmet Cahill. Are you telling me that you don't want to swing with me? I'm hurt."
He paused before shaking his head ruefully. "If I get this suit dirty--"
"Loosen up," Jamie shot back, already on her way to the swings. She slipped off her heels and walked across the little, smooth rocks to the swing. Sitting down, she rocked herself gently and smiled as Emmet did the same in the swing next to hers. "This isn't so bad, is it?"
He shook his head. "Nope."
Jamie shrieked as he grabbed her swing and started swinging with all his might. "Hey!" she protested. "I didn't mean going so high!"
He laughed. "Come on. This is fun!"
She let go of the chain he was holding in order to hold her dress down. "Okay, yeah. But..."
Emmet let go suddenly and slowed to a stop. "Hey."
Jamie slowly let the swing slow before looking at him. "Yes?"
"What's up? Why the date and the extreme happiness?" Emmet paused. "I mean, I love it; don't get me wrong. It's just..."
Jamie shrugged before laughing shortly. "Okay, so I had a phone call today."
Emmet bit his lip and swallowed hard. "And you're going to New York?"
"Better."
Jamie smiled, almost shyly, at the hopeful look that came into Emmet's eyes. "You mean you're staying?" he asked, his voice deeper and huskier than she'd ever heard it. "Really?"
Jamie nodded. "Really. Mrs. Champion is recommending me and I will get the job."
His eyes full of emotion, Emmet turned to look across the park.
"Emmet?" Jamie finally asked.
"Yeah?" he responded, not looking at her.
"So, do you think...we should spare your mates the trouble of, uh..." Jamie blushed and stared down at her bare feet.
Emmet turned to stare at her. "Of, what? Interventions? Battle plans?"
She glanced up to see the laughter in his eyes. "Yeah."
Emmet jumped out of his swing and grabbed Jamie's hand, pulling her out as well. "You really want to let them win?" he teased her, pushing her hair out of her eyes.
"Yes," she said softly before reaching up and kissing him.
Emmet froze for a moment before relaxing. Jamie smiled into the kiss and wound her fingers in his hair softly.
When they came apart for air, Emmet smiled, resting his forehead on hers for a moment. "You know they won't be happy with this."
"What more could they ask?" Jamie laughed. "This was the point of their intervention, right?"
"No, I think it was actually to get pizza," Emmet mused.
Jamie smiled and grabbed his hand. "Then what?"
"Colm mentioned..." Emmet hesitated. "Actually, no. I wasn't really paying attention, so I shouldn't slander him."
Jamie squeezed his hand before waking over to the sidewalk and slipping her heels on. "Okay, interesting new rule but I won't ask."
Emmet smiled down at her. "Let's go."
-----
Kat smiled as Jamie walked in. "Hey, you. You were gone a long time."
Jamie just smiled. "Thanks for the outfit, Kat. I think I'm going to bed."
"When did you start calling me that?" Kat asked in surprise.
"Since Keith did." Jamie shrugged.
Kat waited a moment. "So."
"So." Jamie grinned. "I can either go to bed or you can actually ask me what you want to know."
"Did you kiss him?" Kat asked eagerly.
Jamie rolled her eyes. "Yeah."
"Who initiated it?"
"I did." Jamie paused. "Why?"
"Yes! Keith owes me." Kat grinned. "Just go to bed."
Jamie rolled her eyes. "Goodnight, hon."
"Goodnight." Kat grinned and pulled out her phone. "You totally owe me," she texted.
-----
"I almost let it slip, though." Emmet paused.
Colm waited. "Let what slip?"
"What you said about Jamie and me getting married within the year." Emmet winced. "Can you imagine what would have happened if she knew that?"
"Why would that be a big deal?" Colm grabbed a chip and ate it slowly. "I mean, it was a joke."
"Just, after what happened with Edmund..." Emmet hesitated. "It could blow up in my face."
"I'm sure Jamie knows that if you two are still interested at this point, you're pretty serious," Colm said wryly. "I mean, that's just you."
"Besides," Keith laughed from the corner, glancing up from his phone, "considering she had to kiss you, I'm pretty sure she could be the one to propose."
Emmet's head snapped up as he glared at Keith. "How do you know she kissed me first?"
Keith held up his phone defensively. "I had a bet with Kat. I owe her money now, mate, thanks to you."
Deciding to ignore Keith, Emmet turned back to Colm. "Well, I had fun tonight, but I think I'll go to bed."
Colm nodded. "Okay. I'm just going to watch tv. Wanna watch with me?" he asked Keith.
Keith shrugged and plopped down on the couch next to Colm. Grabbing a chip, he asked, "What're we watching?"
Colm flipped through channels for a while. "Doctor Who?"
"Okay."
Emmet rolled his eyes. "Enjoy your nerd time. See you tomorrow."
"Night, Emmet," they both said around huge mouthfuls of food.
Emmet smiled at them. They were weird, but he really did love them. He shook his head, amused, and went to bed.
PS happy national sibling day. The lads in this story are so much like brothers. I love them