@derrygirlstrash hello! So I saw your idea and I felt really inspired to write it!! So here you go! Hope you enjoy it, but also I’m going to apologise for my terrible attempt at trying to write characters from Derry, hopefully I used the Derry slang in right places and used them correctly, but sorry if I didn’t lol. It’s my first time attempting it and my first time writing something since March last year. And my first time writing anything Derry Girl related.
Anyway, enough about that, also big thanks to @sapphoren-is-my-drug for helping me with the bits I got stuck at :P I’ll probably also upload this to Ao3 later too :D
Derry Driving.
“Mammy please, someone’s gotta teach me how to do it,” Erin pleaded with her ma in the kitchen of the Quinn household.
“Aye and it won’t be me,” Mary replied as she cooked the family’s dinner for the night. Erin letting a huff of frustration out.
“What about daddy?” Erin asked, giving her dad a hopeful, pleading look.
“I’d love to sweetie, but I just don’t have the free time.”
“Why not? Why ye so busy?” Joe interjected.
“Because I have work Joe, what else do you think I do during the week?” Gerry asked.
“Nothing useful I bet, ye eejit,” he answered, Gerry just rolled his eyes and returned to reading the newspaper. He was lying however, he loved his daughter but he had heard horror stories from others who had attempted to teach her.
“So is there anyone here who can teach me how to drive?” Erin asked, she was getting desperate now.
“I can do it,” Joe chimed in. Anna was sitting on his lap, the two of them watching the tv together.
“Wise up Da, ye don’t even have a license anymore,” Mary spoke up before Erin could agree. She loved her Da but she knew he wasn’t the best person to teach Erin how to drive. “Oh I know who can teach ye.”
“Please do, because I’m all out of ideas Mammy.”
“Why not Kathy’s wain, he’s got his license,” Mary suggested, a hand on her hip and smile on her face as if it was the best idea since sliced bread.
Erin’s cheeks went the slightest shade of red at the suggestion. Instantly she was reminded of the kiss she shared with the wee English lad. Since then, the two of them hadn’t really progressed their relationship beyond being friends, though that was more her choice than his. But he was happy to wait until she was ready, that much she knew.
“Catch yourself on Mammy, James hasn’t even had his license for that long,” Erin scoffed. “I don’t think he’d even be allowed.”
“Well I don’t know who else can help, none of the driving instructors wanna help ye, on account that you’re terrible at driving.”
Erin gasped, did they all think that? Was she really that bad, her lip began to quiver a little. “Is that really what ye think Ma? That I’ll never be good enough to drive?”
“It’s not that Erin, it’s just… I just… I think ye need someone who…” Mary struggled to find the right words to explain to her daughter that she just didn’t have the patience or bravery to be in a car with her.
“No, it’s fine, I guess I’m just that much of a dose when it comes to driving,” Erin said, holding her head high, she wouldn’t forget this betrayal. “Well, seeing as James is my only option, can I call him?”
“Call him? At this time of night? Catch yourself on Erin, it’s far to expensive with everyone else making calls,” Mary answered.
“But Mammy, he’s my only choice now that ye don’t wanna help me,” she said, attempting to force some tears into her eyes.
“Aye, take pity on the poor critter Mary, she’s gotta learn some time ain’t she?” Joe chimed in. Mary sighed and Erin knew victory was in sight.
“I’ll be as quick as I can on the phone ma, promise!”
“Fine, but no more than ten minutes.”
“Ye the best Mammy,” Erin squealed with delight, running to give Mary a quick hug before running off to get on the phone.
“Lord give me strength,” Mary muttered under her breath.
Erin stood in the hallway of the Quinn family home, phone pressed to her ear, eagerly waiting for someone from the Mallon house to answer. After a few rings, someone finally answered.
“Aye, what ye want?” The familiar voice of Michelle answered.
“Michelle, evening, is James around?”
“JAMES? What ye wanting to speak to that dicko for?” Her friend yelled down the phone, Erin having to hold the phone away from her ear for a brief moment in an effort to protect herself from going deaf.
“I need his help with something.”
“Oh ye do, do ye? And what can that English perv help ye with?”
“I need his help with me driving, no one around here wants to help me with it.”
“Driving? Is that code for wanting to ride him? I forbid it Erin, it’s incest!” Michelle exclaimed loudly. Erin rolled her eyes, she and James hadn’t done anything close to romantic since their first kiss some time ago now.
“Catch yourself on Michelle, I need him to teach me how to drive a car as no one else in Derry wants to, not even the driving instructors.”
“Oh that’s bad craic Erin, bad craic indeed.”
“Aye I know, so please can you put James on the phone, I don’t have long till Mammy forces me to hang up.”
“Arch, fine… Oi dickhead! Phone call for ye!” Michelle yelled through the Mallon house. Erin guessed Michelle’s Ma and Da were out for the evening.
Rather quickly she heard James’ footsteps approaching.
“Of course it ain’t the pope ye eejit, it’s Erin, she’s got something to ask ye, now don’t go being a perv or I’ll have to smack ye into next week.”
“Erin, hi, how are you?” The familiar English accent of her friend spoke, his voice totally not sending butterflies to her stomach.
“James, I’m cracker. I need a favour though.”
“Oh? What do you need?” He asked, sounding genuinely eager to help her with her problem.
“Well ye see, I need… could you… I need someone to teach me how to drive ye see.”
“Teach you to drive? Why me? I mean I’m flattered you’d ask me, but isn’t that why driving teachers exist?”
“Well, funny you say that, apparently none of them wanna teach me? Can ye believe that craic?”
He could believe it actually, but he wouldn’t tell her that.
“No, that’s rather strange.”
“Aye, but anyway, will ye be my hero?”
“Of course, for you, anything,” he said with a playful tone, but he couldn’t see the reaction it was giving her cheeks, she could feel the heat rising through her face.
“Cracker! I owe ye big time James, I do.”
“Nonsense Erin, it’s what friends are for isn’t it? Besides if you know how to drive I won’t have to help Michelle.”
“I heard that ye dicko, ye on yer way to earning a slap!” Erin heard Michelle yell out. She couldn’t help but smile.
“Well if I pass me test, I’ll take you out for an ice cream? That’d be class wouldn’t it?”
“Yeah, that’d be great Erin, so when do you want to do this?”
“How’s tomorrow sound? Say round ten in the mornin?”
“Yeah that works for me. Whose car would we use?” James asked. “I’m sure I could convince my aunt to let me borrow theirs.”
“Ach don’t worry bout it, I’m sure I can convince daddy to let me use his.”
“Alright, it’s sorted then, I’ll meet you at yours for ten then.”
“Aye, ye made me delighted, so I am,” she said, her face beaming with a smile.
“Alright, times up missy, now saunter,” Mary said, walking into the hallway.”
“Gotta go now James, say bye to Michelle for me would ye.”
“Sure thing, see you tomorrow,” he replied before the line went dead.
“So it’s sorted then?” Mary asked inquisitively.
“Aye Mammy, but I’m gonna need to borrow daddy’s car tomorrow… if I can… please…”
“Thanks Mammy,” Erin said happily and hugged Mary.
“Yer welcome, now get to the kitchen, dinners almost ready.”
The rest of the evening flew by for Erin and before she knew it, it was nearing ten in the morning. She chalked it down to being excited about getting to learn how to drive properly, with someone that would take the time to help her, unlike all those who thought it was too much of a hassle. Time definitely didn’t fly by because she was excited to spend time with the wee English fella, definitely not.
Quickly she went and checked the time on the big clock, almost ten she saw. A moment later she heard the knocking at the door and raced towards it, swinging it open to be greet by the comforting sight of curly hair and green eyes with a warm smile to boot.
“I’m good, thanks for asking, how are you? Ready to start driving?”
“Am I ever! I’m going with James now Mammy!” Erin yelled back into the house.
“Okay, watch yourself now,” Mary called back.
“So what’s the plan?” Erin asked as she closed the front door and walked with James to her daddy’s car.
“Well I was thinking I could take you to a quieter road or maybe a car park that isn’t being used, might make it easier without other drivers around to bring out any nerves,” he replied as they reached the car, Erin handing him the keys.
“Aye, that’s cracker James, maybe you ought to be a driving instructor?” She said and she got into the passenger seat at the same time as he got into the drivers seat.
“I have a feeling not many people around here would want an English man telling them what to do, even if it is how to drive a car.”
“Aye, you’re probably right.”
James proceeded to drive them to a car park in town, the two of them making easy conversation, luckily for them it was relatively empty, only a small handful of cars taking up some of the spaces, it would do perfectly for their first lesson.
“Alright, let’s swap seats,” James said, exiting the car. He waited until Erin was at the drivers side and in the seat, shutting the door for her before quickly walking over and getting into the passenger seat. “So first I have to ask, have you actually done any driving before.”
“Yes… well actually not really, ye see I’ve never managed to get it out of first gear. I always be stalling the car, so I do.”
“Right, okay, turn the car on then,” he instructed and she did as instructed. “Now, the trick is to let your foot slowly lift off the clutch until you feel it bite.”
“Bite? What ye mean let it bite?” Erin asked, but as she asked she let her foot lift from the clutch, causing the car to lurch forward, lucky the hand brake was still engaged, preventing them from moving. Erin let out a squeal. “Ach, you must think I’m a right eejit.”
“Hardly,” he said, sounding rather calm she thought. “Took me multiple attempts before I stopped stalling. Let’s try again, but slowly lift your foot, once you feel the car wanting to move forward, gently press down on the accelerator,” he said gently, she smiled nervously at him, how was he so calm? Normally the driving instructor would be yelling at her by now.
Turning the key in the ignition again, the car revved to life. Taking a breath she thought on his words, softly spoken and calm, calm, that’s what she needed to be. Gently she began to lift her foot off the clutch, thinking in his words and to feel when the car wanted to move forward. She felt it, she began to smile and gently pushed her foot down on the accelerator. If the hand brake wasn’t engaged, she was sure they’d be moving.
“I did it!” She squealed in delight, clapping her hands. But in her excitement, her foot lifted from the clutch, causing the car to stall and lurch forward once again. “Fuck, shite, I’m sorry.”
James couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s fine Erin, want to try it again but with the handbrake off?”
“Absolutely, so I do, this is cracker James, you’re pretty good at this teaching thing,” she said, flashing him a smile. She could’ve sworn she saw his cheeks flaring up a little at the compliment.
“Yeah… um… right, let’s try this again, we’ll just try to move into that next space across from us,” he said, pointing to the parking space right in front of them.
“Right,” Erin nodded and turned the car on again. Once again she followed what James had told her. But the car wasn’t moving. “It’s not moving James!”
“You have to put the handbrake back down,” he told her.
“Oh, right, so I do, well I’m broke,” she laughed nervously.
“Ah it’s okay, it happens, here I’ll help,” he said, reaching for the handbrake. But as he did, so did she without seeing. Their hands soon collided. They were always so warm, his hands, it’s why she always wanted to grab them when she was having a cack attack.
“Sorry, go ahead,” he told her, pulling his hands back and placing them in his lap.
“Right,” she nodded, the car still running, she disengaged the handbrake and once again, she lifted her left foot until she felt the car bite, but this time it started moving forward, albeit, very slowly. So gently she pushed down with her right foot, the car very slowly gaining speed. “I did it! I actually did it!” Erin exclaimed happily.
“Congratulations,” James said proudly. “Now, the more you lift your foot off the clutch, the more you put your foot down on the accelerator, I hope I’m making sense.”
“Aye, I think I get ye,” she replied honestly. This driving thing wasn’t so bad after all she thought.
“Okay, now stop,” James instructed as they reached the next spot.
“Ach, why stop now, I think I’ve got the hang of it.”
“Okay, only if you’re sure, let’s try moving into second gear,” he said. “You know how to do that?”
“Aye, I think so, move the stick thingy into the number two spot yeah?”
“Yep, that’s it. We’ll stick two staying in second gear for now,” he said gently, his eyes then went wide. “Um Erin, you need to turn now.”
“The steering wheel, turn it!” He said, a little more panicked. His slightly panicking made her panic too.
“Shit! We’re gonna crash!” Erin cried as they approached the small stone wall. “James help!”
Quickly James grabbed onto the steering wheel; attempting to turn it, but Erin’s hands had gripped it with vice-like strength. So he went for the next best option and yanked the handbrake up. But by then it was too late, sure they weren’t going fast, but fast enough that her daddy’s car gently hit the stone wall as the car lurched forward as it stalled, due to Erin not putting her foot back down on the clutch as the car came to a stop.
“Shit, shit, shit! Oh no, me Mammys gonna kill me now. I’m such an eejit, I’ve ruined daddy’s car!” Erin began to sob.
“Hey, it’s alright, I think it was just the bumper, likely there isn’t any damage as we hit it with a very low speed,” James said, hoping to make her feel better about the tiny little accident. It didn’t work, she continued to cry.
He gently put a hand on her shoulder, rubbing it in a comforting manner.
“It’ll be alright Erin, if anyone notices I’ll tell them it was me that caused the damage,” he said, his green eyes looking into hers as she turned to look at him.
“You’d do that? For me? Wise up James, no one would ever believe that.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“Well they can’t prove you did it either. You know, you did really well, like really really well, especially for someone who's never gotten it out of first gear before.”
“Ye really think that?” She said, her tears slowly subsiding.
“I really do,” he replied, his smile making her feel warm and safe. She saw his hand raising up towards her cheek, she wasn’t sure what he was planning to do with it. But before she could think about it anymore, his thumb gently wiped away a tear. She practically leaned her head into his soft warm hand.
“There, all better?” He asked. His eyes looking into hers, deeply looking into hers. She smiled at him and before one could say fuckadoodle do, they leaned and and their lips were pressing against each other again.
A wave of feelings crashed through them, memories of their first kiss rushing through their minds, though this time it was James who had her cheeks gently placed into his hands. And it was James who began to deepen the kiss.
Erin felt over the moon, here she was, snogging one of her best friends. She knew she should stop, she knew she shouldn’t be kissing James, Michelle’s cousin. But she didn’t want to, she had never felt this happy, her stomach felt like it was literally doing back flips inside of her and in an attempt to deepen this kiss, she opened her mouth ever so slightly, with James leaning further over to her side.
But suddenly there was the loud, disturbing and distracting sound of the car's horn beeping loudly. In an attempt to allow James to deepen this kiss, she had accidentally leant on the car's horn. And in her fright, she accidentally bit down on James’ bottom lip as she pulled herself back.
“Shit! Oh fuck, ow!” James cried out as he fell back.
“James! Shit, I’m so sorry, shit! I’m such an eejit!” Erin yelled. She had gone from feeling on top of the world to absolute crap in the span of seconds. Across from her, James sat, holding his lip in pain as it bled out, she just hoped he was okay and that no blood had gotten on to the seats, her Mammy would kill her.
In a panic, she took off her jumper and shoved it into James lap.
“Use it to stop blood from getting everywhere. Shit, I’m so sorry James.”
“It’s okay, really,” he said, as he gladly took her jumper which just happened to be red as well and held it up to his lip that was bleeding profusely. But as much as it hurt, he couldn’t help but laugh.
“It’s not funny James,” Erin cried. She was feeling broke to the bone again and just plain awful.
“No, it really is okay, you didn’t do it on purpose,” he said, trying to make her feel better. “We must be destined to having something loud interrupt us when we kiss, I’m just glad it wasn’t Michelle this time,” he said with a light teasing tone.
“I… I guess ye right,” she replied and sighed. “I think, I don’t think we’re ready for this yet.”
“Yeah, I think so too, but I’ll still wait for you,” he said, gently taking her hand into his.
“I know ye will James, I know ye will. One day though, one day,” she said and smiled at him.
“Yeah, one day. I think we should head back now though.”
“No, not yet, can ye… can we stay like this, just a little longer?” She asked, enjoying how his thumb was gently caressing over the top of her hand.
“For you Erin, I would do anything.”
