1 Out and about - I

She heard her mother before she could hear the birds chirping. Brianna O'Sullivan had one habit that had been unbreakable for almost all of her life and that was waking up early and making sure that the entire house was up as well.

She woke everyone up with her horrible singing.

Before her mother could reach her room, Joyce got up from the bed and darted into the bathroom.

The best thing she could do to get away from the overbearing presence of her entire family was to get dressed as quickly as possible, make it to the breakfast table and scarf down something before leaving the house to get to her college.

She got out of her bathroom, wearing a simple pair of jeans and a floral blouse, she walked downstairs and greeted her father.

"Good morning Papa," she kissed his cheek.

"Mornin' Kid." Killian O Sullivan wished her back, momentarily looking away from the newspaper and glancing at her. "ready for university?"

"Yes." She nodded.

That was all they had for conversation in the morning. The same old routine, something she was satisfied with.

Slowly the dining room began to help. Her grandmother, elder brother Declan, younger sister Aiofe and mother sat at the table for breakfast.

After a quick breakfast but not before saying grace, Joyce finally excused her presence from the table and left for college.

"Wait," her father called and she halted mid step.

Almost everyone had left the room. Only her father who was still at the table, her mother picking up the plates and she, almost out of the dining room, were there.

"Yes, papa?" She whispered, licking her lips in anticipation before her eyes went to her mother who shrugged.

"Is everything alright at the University?" He turned to look at her. "No boy trouble or teachers giving you shit?"

"No," she shook her immediately, "not at all."

"Good." Killian nodded. "Kane will drop you."

What? "But dadd—"

"I said," Killain repeated, his voice firmer than before, "Kane will drop you to your university."

Her eyes went to her mother again, who gave her a sympathetic look. So, she was not getting any support from there. Cool.

"Okay," she acknowledged. "Should I call him?"

"He knows." Of course, he does.

"Bye." She softly whispered before darting away from the couple.

Kane was already waiting for her with his car ready. She jumped in the back seat as her father always told her too.

The moment the car exited the estate grounds, she released a sigh of relief.

She was out, at least for today.