tadhg didn’t really know what he was doing here.

he didn’t really want to be here, deep down. but he was.

honestly, a series of unfortunate events had left him to the woods at five in the morning. the unfortunate events being his whole life.

abusive and alcoholic dad. absent and tormented mam. a drug addict brother and a brother who left. a bullied sister and two younger brothers. a house that burned down and being adopted by her sisters boyfriends parents.

yeah. fair to say tadhg lynch’s life was a shit show.

safe to say that’s why he turned to weed. it wasn’t a serious addiction, and he didn’t do it a lot of the time. just when he was worried. sad. trying to forget.

so… well, a lot.

and things were getting worse. he was seventeen, angry at the world and not sleeping.

so here he was, waiting near the big oak tree in the woods on the edge of ballylaggin, for the drug dealer that his friend got in touch with for him. he doesn’t know what he’s expecting. a big guy. greasy hair. a little… gruff.

what he doesn’t expect is a girl.

and especially not a girl bundled in a black coat and leggings. black hair in a neat ponytail. you’re… smiling brightly like this is an exchange of sweets instead of illegal substances, and tadhg isn’t sure if it’s even you he’s supposed to be meeting until you pull out the baggie.

“it’s a small dose. and you don’t have to pay.” you flutter your eyelashes but speak shyly — not a typical drug dealer.

tadhg nods slowly. takes it.

pockets it.

and he stares at you for a moment. he’s processing what he’s seeing, and you’re also looking him up and down.

“if there’s any problems, just… get in touch with your friend.” i offer him a kind smile.

tadhg nods. is this happening? is this some sort of side effect from all the weed? he’s honestly not sure. but you’re walking away and back through the woods and tadhg wants to follow. wants to ask your name.

but instead he watches you go and wonders.

wonders how you ended up in this position — a drug dealer that meets up with people in the woods.