A/N: Alright! I know this chapter isn't too long, but it's here and it's not too bad. I know we're not really getting anywhere too quick, but the next chapter will be better, I promise! Super doper thanks to: KaF, Aniala, DragonAiua, Psalms 121, and Arorra for leaving a review for chapter seven. I love you guys so much! Drop a review for this chapter too if you please!!

Chapter Eight

"I love that it's three o'clock in the morning and I'm not even tired," Leah said with a giggle. She and Mitchell were sitting Indian style facing each other on the front porch of their vacation cottage, or "hut" as Billy affectionately referred to it. Mitchell had pulled his cell phone out of his pocket to check the time and now it lay on the splitting wooden planks between them, glowing neon green; their only source of light.
After walking up the hill and consuming dinner that Mrs. McLayne had ordered in for them in silence, they'd ventured outside again. Leah was still wowed by what Mitchell had said to her earlier, but he didn't say anything about it, so neither did she. She didn't think she'd ever had as many deep talks with one person in four days though.
"I fell like you know me better than anybody," Mitchell admitted, echoing Leah's thoughts.
"I know," she said quietly. She'd talked with him so much she felt like she'd known him forever and she was definitely starting to feel attracted to him in a more than superficial way.
Mitchell had meant every word of what he's said to her walking up the hill, even though he hadn't meant to say it and was pretty embarrassed when she didn't respond. But, she was like an angel. Even with the neon light from his cell phone bouncing off her perfect teeth and making her smile glow green.
The front door creaked open and Mr. McLayne poked his head outside.
"Kids, go to bed. You have no idea the things your mother has planned for tomorrow," he said, but shut the door quickly. Leah and Mitchell looked at each other for a minute before starting to laugh softly.
"You have the best dad," Leah said in a whisper.
"I know," Mitchell said, smiling and standing. He pulled Leah to her feet and slipped his cell phone back into his pocket. The front door creaked again when they opened it, and they both winced. Mitchell walked Leah to her room and gave her a big hug goodnight before going to bed, only to lay awake for a few more hours before the sun rose.

The next day was stuffed full of vacation activities Mrs. McLayne had planned for the family. Mitchell was starting to recognize his mother again. She was up early, got the first shower and started waking others before eight am. She wanted to try breakfast at some waffle house she'd seen sometime on their way in. Leah hadn't planned on waking up early, especially after talking with Mitchell half the night, but when Linda knocked on the bedroom door she stirred easily and felt wide awake.
Mitchell, however, came into the kitchen still rubbing his eyes with his fists. He was dressed, but disheveled and yawning.
"Mom, do you realize what god-awful hour this is?" he mumbled half to himself.
When his sleepy eyes met Leah's though, his whole face brightened and he smiled. His mother shoved a glass of orange juice into his hand, startling him out of his entrancement by Leah's eyes.
"Drink this to keep you stomach full until we get to the restaurant," Linda said quickly. "It's quite a drive."

Linda wasn't kidding about the long drive. By the time Mr. McLayne pulled their rental SUV into the parking lot, Mitchell's stomach was growling so loud he was afraid Leah would be able to hear it sitting next to him. He jumped out of the car as quickly as he could.
As they filed into the restaurant, Mitchell could tell right away that this was a tourist trap. It was trying to be authentically Irish, but it was too busy being invaded by huge emerald green shamrocks, including a nice sized gift shop in the corner. His mother headed straight for the little store like Mitchell knew she would while his father talked to the hostess. The wait was ridiculous, but they stayed anyway, sitting themselves on a long wooden bench against the wall. It was too noisy for conversation, so they simply sat, swinging their feet and gazing around. Mitchell was content observing the various foreign people milling around the lobby of the place and trying to keep his stomach from growling too loudly. Leah was staring at her shoes, lost somewhere in thought.
Just as the hostess called their name, Mrs. McLayne came teetering over to them, weighed down by all the bags full of the trinkets she'd bought in the gift shop. As they seated themselves at the table they'd followed their hostess to, Linda started passing out presents. She'd bought something for everyone during her time in the gift shop. When she pressed a thin, sparkling bracelet into Leah's hand, Leah gasped.
"This is beautiful," she breathed, holding it like it was about to fall apart. Mitchell smiled at her joy, even if he hadn't been the cause of it. He offered to clasp it around her wrist, if only to feel the electricity between them, but Leah was grateful. Her face gleamed as she held her arm up to catch the light streaming in the window. It bounced and twinkled off the shiny metal of the bracelet.
"Thanks you so much, Mrs. McLayne," she said, genuinely grateful.
"No problem at all, dear," Linda remarked somewhat distractedly; she'd started looking through her menu already. But Mitchell could tell his mother was pleased that her gift choice was so successful.

Breakfast was fairly uneventful except for Robbie dumping his plate of chocolate chip pancakes on the floor in a fit of rage when he found out he couldn't have ice cream for dessert. He received a proper reaming from Mr. McLayne in the back of the restaurant where they were hidden from public view in between the men's and women's bathrooms.
After leaving the restaurant, they all piled back into the vehicle and drove, none except Linda and Jerry knowing where they were headed. Linda insisted that it be a big surprise.
They ended up at another tourist trap, eventually boarding a bus that would take them through downtown Kilkenny to see the few sights that the town contained. Neither Leah nor Mitchell were too fond of this chosen activity, but did enjoy seeing the town. Leah thought the town was cute and homey and took many pictures to paste into her scrapbook later. Despite the occasional whine received from any of his siblings about the heat or being bored, Mitchell enjoyed the ride also. But that may have been just because he'd traded seats with Billy early in the tour to sit next to Leah.