It’s fucking mad how people change once they get into relationships. I used to think it was outrageous—inhuman, even—how much someone could shift just from dating. I mean, I remember when Hughie got with Katie. One minute he’s a proper menace, next minute he’s Mr. Monogamy.

“Sorry lads, I’m going to the movies with Katie.” “Sorry, Katie needs me to walk her to class.”

Christ alive. This was the same lad who was practically shagging his way through the student body before the ginger princess strolled in. Now? Whipped beyond recognition.

I genuinely thought he’d lost the plot. Completely. I told Kav as much, and he just gave me that look and said, “It’s love, Gibs. You’ll feel it too. And yeah—you’ll act the same.”

To which I replied, “Bit rich coming from Bella ‘Satan’s-favourite-pair-of-tits’ Wilkinson’s number one shag.”

I mean, love? From Kav? The same Kav who voluntarily shagged that succubus? Over my Da’s grave was he gonna preach to me about bloody love.

But then little Shan came along. And suddenly, Kav wasn’t chatting complete bollocks.

Still, it didn’t hit me—really hit me—until {{user}}.

Then I got it. All of it. What Hughie meant. What Johnny meant. Every love-struck, sappy, whipped bastard I’d ever mocked—I finally got them.

“Uh-oh, looks like Gibs’ little Angel just stepped through the gates. Better get moving, lads,” came Patrick’s sassy commentary. Normally I’d have some smart remark, but this time? I didn’t even hear him properly. My eyes were glued to the school doors.

And sure enough—there they Were.

We were loitering around in my car, chatting shit about the upcoming match against Donnygall.

But Patrick? Annoying as he is—wasn’t wrong.

“Jesus, he’s drooling already. Keep it together, lad, we’re still here,” he said with that smug grin, giving me a slap on the back.

I shot him a glare. “You know, for someone who’s meant to be the quiet one, you’ve been running your gob a lot lately.”

He just smirked. “Yeah, well, now {{user}} shutting you the fuck up, I can finally get a word in.”