Me Without You

The boys had played their show in Glasgow the next day and now we were making our way to Dublin. I was ditching the boys as soon as we arrived to see my estranged family who lived in Kilkenny. Everyone had agreed that I needed a few days away from everything so my Aunty was picking me up from the boys Dublin venue and driving me back to Kilkenny. I hadn’t seen my mother’s side of the family since I was ten so this ought to be interesting. I was due to stay with them four days and then go back to England with the band. As the bus drove off the ferry and onto the Irish streets I double checked I had everything I would need while I was staying with my family.
“Uh, are you going to be okay?” A voice mumbled behind me as we pulled up at the venue. I nodded to Jack and hitched my bag over my back.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” I smiled slightly before spotting my Uncle out of the window. He was tall as ever, leaning back against his land rover. “They’re here.” I made my way down the bus, happy to finally have some time to myself after the constant company for so long. I said a quick goodbye to all the guys before jumping off the bus and throwing my bag at Gareth.
“I swear, if you do what you did last time and speak Gaelic the whole time I’m with you, I’ll kill you all.” I smiled at my uncle who swept me up in a hug.
“Jasey-Rae.” He beamed as he held my face in his hands so he could get a good look at me. “Beautiful as ever and… expanding.” He laughed as his eyes swept over my steadily growing stomach. “And I know your mother taught you Gaelic. Last I heard you were fluent.”
“It’s good to see you too, Uncle Gareth. And I am, I just get a really bad twang.” I giggled as I slid into the passenger seat while he threw my bag in the back. “Where’s Liana?” I asked, noting the absence of my Aunt.
“Young’un’s sick.” His accent was heavier than I remembered and defiantly a lot stronger then my now Americanised mother. “She stayed home with Ciara and Ryan.”

“Jay!” Ciara squealed as we pulled up on the driveway of my family’s small terrace house.
“Jesus, the houses are tiny here.” I laughed as I jumped out of the jeep, letting my younger cousin attack me. “Hey, Ra.” I held the girl out at arm’s length and blew out a sigh when I saw how much she had changed in the last… fourteen years. “Shit, you’re big.”
“I’m eighteen.” She sighed, flicking her thick blonde hair over her shoulder. “And you have a terrible accent.” Ciara laughed and grabbed my hand, leading me inside the house, leaving my uncle to bring my bag.
“And you sound like a fucking leprechaun.” I poked her side as we squeezed into the tiny living room. “How do you people live in these places? My apartment in California was bigger than this.” Ciara shrugged and plopped down on the couch, patting the spot next to her.
“It’s not that bad when you’re used to it. And on the accent, don’t deny that you won’t sound like this when you leave.” I gave my younger cousin a look before nestling into the soft leather.
“I will not.” I scoffed and Ciara raised an eyebrow.
“You barely last a skype call without getting a twang.” Another voice joined the conversation. “By the end of these four days you’ll be singing Black Velvet Band and dancing with Ra.” I stood up to pull my Aunty into a hug. “It’s good to see you, darling.”
“It’s good to see you too, Aunty Li.” I smiled at Ryan who had appeared at the bottom on the stairs. He must have been about twelve now and damn, he was just like his dad. The kid stood at about five foot eight, three inches taller than I was, and was built like a rugby player. “Damn Ryan, webcams do not do you justice.” I laughed as I gave the kid a hug. “You’re huge.” Gareth laughed as he came back down from putting my bag in my room.
“He’s a beast alright. If you don’t mind, Jasey, the rest of the family wanted to see you, so we invited everyone round for a barbeque tonight?”
“Of course, I’d love to see them.” I looked down at my stomach and raised an eyebrow. “Please tell me you told them. I don’t think I can stand any more ‘you’re pregnant!?’s.” Gareth nodded and muttered something about getting the steak out.
“They all know. Although I can’t promise that your grandfather won’t attack you.” I smiled at the thought of seeing him again. He had been the one to start to teach me Munster in the first place and I always loved when he talked with me on skype. “And he’ll want you to sing.” I sighed and sat back down with Ciara.
“That man always wants me to sing.”

Notes

So the next couple of chapters are going to be my favourite to write. I was born in England, live in New Zealand, but my family's Irish.
I think we didn't a romantic break in this story so I went off a bit with Jasey's family.
I hope you don't mind!
Thank you all so much for reading!
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