It was Friday morning. Jes was working by herself in the cafe. It was midmorning so it would be slow for a few more hours. Today was Farmer's Market day. Around the corner the streets were lined with stands of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Jes was reading her assignment for her Shakespeare class. Jes was dressed in long black pants and a dark turtleneck. Her bright red hair was laying all over the place. Jes never had calm hair because she had a habit of running her hands through her hair when she was thinking or anytime. She had her reading glasses on. This was prime studying time, finals are coming. The little bell on the door jingled and in walked Professor Thomas and some of his students. Prof. Thomas was an art teacher who came here daily. Sometimes he allowed a few of his students to join him. Jes called out "Morning Professor!". Professor Thomas "Good Day Jes! What is the coffee brew today?" Jes read off some of the names. She didn't notice at first, the other group that entered. Prof. Thomas "I'll have the Java Jive coffee" The students nodded in agreement. Jes warmed up the coffee machine and turned on the Counting Crows CD. Jes hummed along. "All right, here you go!" Prof. Thomas "Thanks! I see you are hard at studying?" Jes laughed "Oh yeah. I am reading through 'Titus Andronicus'" Prof. Thomas "That is bloody." Jes "It's fascinating!" The group went to a table and sat down. Jes noticed the 3 people that had entered only a moment ago sitting at a booth off to the side. She saw one of them walking towards the counter. When he approached she asked "Hello, what can I get you?" He smiled. Jes thought OH MY GOD! I know who he is! He is Paddy Kelly!! One of the members of like the most famous band in Europe!!! What is he doing in Minnesota??? He spoke softly with a charming accent. "Yes, Can I get a cup of coffee, a lemonade, and what tea do you have?" Jes "oh, well....we are low on tea today. We get a shipment in tomorrow. BUT, I do have Earl Grey, Green, Lemon, and Mango." He looked her in the eye with he most gorgeous dark blue eyes, his long hair was in a binder. "Mango?" Jes nodded "Yep, It's unusual but actually very good!" He nodded "Okay, a small pot of that also." Jes set to work. Prof. Thomas came up and leaned over the counter to grab a saucer. "Hey Jes! I am stealing one of your plates!" Jes "Okay." Prof. Thomas chatted with her "I remember something from Titus Andronicus, you should read it aloud." Jes "Thanks, I 'll give it a go." While the machine was humming Jes set on the counter a pot of tea and the glass of lemonade. She asked Paddy "Is it still windy out?" The guy looked up "yeah, but it feels warm outside." Jes nodded and brought over the kettle and thought -okay, now I need to be suave to let him know I know who he is- Jes decided to just say "HEY! I know who you are!!! I could kick myself for not recognizing you sooner!!!" Jes thought -I must be blushing - Jes "You are one of the Kelly Family." He smiled "You know who we are?" Jes scoffed "I love your music! Hold on!" She ran to the backroom and came back without he Kelly's Almost Heaven CD. Jes "See? It is great to meet you!" Paddy laughed "Do you want to come and meet some more?" Jes "Oh yeah! I would love to!" He led her over to the table. Paddy "This is my sister Maite and my brother Angelo." Jes "It's great to meet you all!" Paddy "She's a fan." Jes nodded "Yes I am! I am Jes Cass." Maite "Do you want to join us?" Jes thought -Should I? Well, it is dead quiet in here.- Jes nodded and pulled a chair up to the table. Jes asked "So, how did you all end up in Chicago?" Jes thought -Great! That sounded very stupid!- Paddy answered "We're doing a concert here." Jes "Let me guess, you are playing at the Irish Music Festival? I I knew it! It's a big thing around here. It only comes every 5 years. You have to be over 18 to get into it. I had to sneak in last time it came! I can't wait!" Maite "We are excited to play there. It is nice playing in this festival because we get a lot of time off." Jes "Oh yeah. Good for you!" The bell jangled on the door, signaling someone entered. Jes turned around. There stood her younger cousin, Leeh. She was looking sheepish with a bouquet of flowers from the street market. Jes said to the Kelly's "Excuse me." She stood and looked at Leeh "Leeh! What are you doing here so early?" Leeh stepped closer and said "I brought you your favorite flowers." Jes narrowed her eyes "You should be in school!" Leeh gave her a fearful smile. Jes groaned "What did you do this time?" Leeh "Well, today the science teacher decided it should be "dissection day"." Jes asked again "What did you do?" Leeh "I protested a little." Jes asked "How many people were involved?" Leeh noticed a few people sitting near Jes. She whispered "10." Jes smacked her forehead, "Leeh! I know you want to show your rights but you can't keep disrupting school!" Leeh said "They were stupid!! They expected us to kill the rats ourselves!" Jes asked "Really? They wanted you to pick out a rat and kill one?" Leeh nodded. Jes said "God! What monsters! Well, we'll see what we can do." Leeh ran over and hugged Jes. She noticed a very handsome blonde sitting in the booth behind Jes. Jes noticed her looking. Jes "Leeh, these are some of the members of the Kelly Family." Leeh had a blank look on her face for a moment then she said "Oh! The music group! How cool!" She kept slyly glancing at the blonde. She ran her hand through her short, dark, curly hair. Jes said "This is my little cousin Leeh. Her and her sister and I own the cafe. Leeh, this is Paddy, Maite, and Angelo." Leeh murmured 'hello'. Jes turned towards Leeh and asked "How long are you suspended for?" Leeh groaned "2 weeks." Jes "Well, you can get a lot done around here in between your studies." Leeh groaned again. Jes "Go put your peace offering in a vase and then you can clean behind the counter." Leeh smacked her forehead and then said to the Kelly's "It was nice meeting you." Jes laughed. Leeh decided to be bold and said to the Kelly's before she left "You all should come back tonight for the music. It's going to be great! Well..." She was cut off by the look Jes gave her. Leeh "Okay, Okay, I am going!" Jes turned back to the Kelly's. Maite asked "You own this place?" Jes "Yeah. We bought it about a year ago and changed it." Angelo asked "Are you the oldest?" Jes "Oh, no. Leeh's 17, I am 21, and Stacy is 28...she's the true adult. We all live in the apartment above." Paddy "That's cool." Maite asked "You have live music here?" Jes blushed "It all started when we played here to raise extra cash. Now we hold small concerts here, all different types. Tonight is Jazz music." Maite "Oh wow! What time is that?" Jes said "It starts at 9 PM." Jes looked at her watch and said to herself "Where's Stacy!?!?!" Just at that moment Stacy ran through the door. Stacy looked a lot like Leeh, they had the same dark hair and eyes. She headed straight to Jes and said "I am sorry Jes! The meeting ran late!." Jes "That's okay. I'll just grab my books and run." Stacy looked at the Kelly's sitting there "Hey! Aren't they....?" Jes said "Yeah. Stace, meet Paddy, Angelo, and Maite...3 of the Kelly Family." She waved her hand dramatically and said "This is the eldest cousin, Stacy. Now, I have to get ready to go." She left to the back room to collect her books. She came back a few moments later "It was so great to meet you! I hope maybe I'll see you around! I know for sure I will see you at the festival!" She waved and started out the door. Stacy yelled out to her "Hey Jes! Do you want the car?" Jes yelled back "No! I'll take the bus. I only have 1 class and then I will be back." Stacy "Have fun!" Jes stuck out her tongue and left. Leeh popped around the corner and said "Hey Stacy." She smiled. Stacy said "Oh, no! Leeh....how long are you suspended for?" Leeh said "2 weeks. BUT Jes agreed with what I did this time." Prof. Thomas came up and said "Hey, I heard the whole thing! More power to you Leeh!" Stacy swatted at him and said "Don't encourage her!" Prof Thomas laughed and said "It seems to me that I remember hearing stories of you and Jes doing battle in your time with school." Stacy "It was different then. I didn't have to prove anything to anyone then, like we have to now." Leeh said "Stacy, I have been cleaning forever!" Prof Thomas and the Kelly's laughed at her lie. Leeh gave them all dirty looks. She asked Stacy "Can I take a break?" Stacy nodded "Just watch the counter. I am going back to do inventory." Leeh nodded. She headed over to the Kelly's. "Hello. Do you mind if I bother you?" They nodded and Leeh sat down. She said "It's cool to see you in person. Jes plays your music a lot." Leeh rolled her eyes and said "I am suprised she even went to class." Maite asked "What is she studying?" Leeh shrugged "She's taking a little of everything. Mostly Art though." Leeh kept glancing at Angelo, trying to be cool about it -I love his hair, eyes, and voice- She blushed just thinking about it. Leeh said "It must be cool traveling all around the world. Is the whole family here?" Paddy answered "Yeah. We each do our own things when we are on vacation." Leeh said "There are 4 of us cousin's and our goal is NOT to spend time together!" Angelo asked "There is another one?" Leeh "oh yes. There is Corey. He doesn't live here but he helps with the cafe. He is studying Law at the University. He's 24 and thinks he's a genius." Maite laughed, understanding. Leeh "So what have you seen around here?" Maite "Not much. We just arrived last night." Leeh "Well you must see Navy Pier, if you like shopping and amusement parks!" Maite asked "What is that?" Leeh "It is ONLY the COOLEST place here! It has shops, plays, rides, games and such." Maite said "It sounds like heaven! I have to go there!" Paddy laughed and asked "What else is there to do?" Leeh looked at him thinking -he's cute but not like Angelo. Oh! Paddy is the one Jes had a crush on!- She said "Ooh, well...if you are into music, I mean different music and such, Jes knows all these cool clubs, and museums." Angelo asked her "What do you like around here?" Leeh blushed "Ooh, My faves are the concerts in the park and hanging in the shopping district." Leeh sat with them a little longer and then said "I suppose I should leave you alone to relax. I need to start on my homework." Maite "You're not bothering us. It's great talking with you." Leeh smiled "Well, first thing is first. I am going to change out of this horrible uniform. Will you all be here for a few minutes?" They nodded. Leeh said "Cool. I'll bring some tourist brochures down." She went upstairs. Stacy came in and asked the Kelly's "Hey! Can I get you anything?" Maite "I'll have another Lemonade please." Stacy brought Maite's drink "Here you go. I think this is amazing meeting you all ..." She stopped for a moment and then said "Now, I'll stop rambling." They laughed. Prof Thomas "Hey, Stacy! I am heading out." Stacy asked "Are you taking your flunkies with you?" He laughed "yeah, yeah. Have fun tonight. I can't come but I'll expect a full report." Stacy nodded. Prof. Thomas left. Maite asked "What exactly is tonight?" Stacy "We're having a band come in, a jazz band. It's fun. People get into it. We clear the tables back and people can dance." The phone rang. Stacy said "Excuse me." and she went to the phone "Hep Cat and Canary's Cafe." Leeh came running down the steps. She had on old jeans and a sweater. Stacy called to her "Hey, Leeh, phone!" Leeh ran to the phone and had a short conversation. She hung up the phone and said to Stacy "That was the menu designer. I'll get everything in 2 weeks." Stacy said "Great." Leeh dropped off the brochures at the Kelly's table and said "I am going to go out and sweep the walk and water the flowers. It's too nice to be inside today." She waved at the Kelly's. Stacy sighed and said "She's so great. We let her take over the menu design. Corey was leery at first, because of her age, but she really proved herself. You must get that ...no respect because of your age." Angelo said "I used to, but now it's okay." Paddy "Yeah. It's better since we have older members." Stacy "Jes went through that when we first opened this place. No one would trust her. She had to use my name. Finally she proved herself in the community. I must be boring you guys completely." Maite said "Oh no! It's great talking with people." Stacy smiled. Corey walked in the door. He also had the same coloring of Stacy and Leeh. Stacy asked "Corey???" Corey said "Hello there Stace." Stacy asked "What are you doing here this early?" Corey "Just stopped for a free cup of coffee before my final." Stacy said "What? You stopped BEFORE your final? " She looked at him. He looked awful. He had on dirty, baggy pants and a discolored, stretched black T-shirt. Stacy "Okay, come on. You only have a few minutes." Corey yawned and followed her. Everyone heard a scream fro outside and they heard Jes yell "I will kill you. You little freak!!!" Jes stormed in the cafe with soggy, wet hair. She yelled outside "I will be right back girl and THIS IS WAR!!!" She stopped when she saw the Kelly's sitting there and Corey laying on the next booth and Stacy looking at her. She said "Leeh just sprayed my head with the water hose." Everyone laughed. "I am going to KILL her!" Angelo stood up and threw his cup away. He stood looking out the window. Jes threw her bag behind the counter and grabbed a towel to dry her head. Corey groaned from the booth and asked "How was your class?" Jes said "Fine. Boring. Corey, shouldn't you be at the testing center?" Corey "I need nourishment and so here I am!" Jes said "Good Luck!" Angelo stepped through the door. A stream of water barely missed his head. He said "Hey!" Leeh said "Oh my GOD! I am so sorry. I thought you were Jes. I...Oh...I am so sorry!" He laughed "It's okay." Leeh said "Oh, no! No, it's not! I can't believe I did that. I feel bad." Angelo reached out and touched her arm -she felt electricity shoot between them- He said "It's okay. I promise. If you had hit me, I would just have to defend myself." He smiled. Leeh almost melted and said "Yeah?" Angelo laughed "It is very beautiful out here." Leeh "Yeah. I love living in the city. At my school everyone asks why would I like living in the city. I just do. It has so much character." Angelo "I have spent much time in the country. That is where I like living." Leeh "It must be difficult not having a steady home." Angelo said "We have a home in Germany we spend a lot of time at. That is a true home. I think it would be harder without having the family to travel with." Leeh said "As much as my family fights, I couldn't stand not having these guys." Angelo asked "You live with them?" Leeh nodded "My parents died last year. Stacy took me in. Jes found this place and we all started it together. Corey helps also." Angelo said "I am sorry about your parents." Leeh shrugged "Thank you." They stood there in silence. Leeh said "What you do is cool." Angelo said "Thank you." Leeh gestured to the table and chairs set up. "Would you like to sit? Soon there is a Trolley that comes by. I love watching the tourist." Angelo said "Sure." Leeh was bursting. He didn't choose the chair across from her. He moved one next to her so they were both looking out onto the street. Leeh was a nervous wreck. Normally, she didn't feel like that. She was always calm and mature but not now. She felt stupid and klutzy and happy! Very happy! A moment of awkward silence passed. Leeh asked "So, if your hotel around here?" Leeh hit her forehead and said "You don't have to answer that!" Angelo laughed "It's okay. Yeah, we are at the Hyatt hotel." Leeh said "That's only a block away, only like 2 minutes. Cool." Angelo asked "So what exactly were you suspended for from school?" Leeh blushed and said "Well, I have been taught from the start to pretest what I didn't believe in. I go to a stupid school. In Biology class they want us to dissect animals. I am SO against that. We were supposed to kill live rats! AH! I could have easily just not have done the project but why did 30 other rats have to die? So, I staged a protest. A few others and I stole the rats last night and brought them to some pet shops. The principle assumed it was me, I am not a quiet, good student." She smiled and continued "So, I am home bound for 2 weeks. I don't mind. Stacy and Jes help me with my studies. I just don't like school." She broke off, blushing. "Well, that is about it." Angelo said "that was a great thing you did. My family and I are against that sort of thing." They shared a smile. Leeh said "Hey Look! Here comes the Trolley!" A horse pulled trolley pulled up in front. Leeh said "Hello Mr. Dobbs!" Mr. Dobbs "Leeh, my darling, how are you?" Leeh "Good. Where's the tourist?" Mr. Dobbs "No tourist today. Someone rented the whole thing for the entire day, so we didn't need to take tourist around. But, Felix (the horse) needed his exercise." Jes stepped through the door and asked "Coffee, Mr. Dobbs?" he nodded. Jes came back with a cup of coffee and some carrots for Felix. Leeh walked over and Angelo followed. They spent a few minutes feeding Felix some carrots. He was a huge brown horse, as gentle as a lamb. Leeh said "I wish I had a horse." Jes "I know maybe someday." Angelo "I love horses. We have some. But, I don't get to spend as much time as I want with them." Leeh said "Wow!" Jes said "Good-bye Mr. Dobbs! " She went in. Mr. Dobbs said "Bye Leeh..and friend." He headed off. Jes looked at the two talking and went in. She shouted "Corey!!! You have to go! I can't drive your lazy butt there! Come on! This is your last final!" Corey moaned "Okay, okay. I am going! Bye! It as nice meeting you Kelly people. Maybe I will see you tonight or around." He left, stopping outside "bye Leeh...and...Angelo? right?" Angelo nodded. Leeh said "Good-bye Corey, you'll do fine on your test." Corey nodded and walked off. Angelo said "That must be rough." Leeh "Yeah. That will be me soon. I think I will like college better. How are you schooled?" Angelo said "I have tutors." Leeh "That must be interesting." Angelo "I miss out on the school environment." Leeh said "Not too much. But, I am not cut out for high school." Angelo "At least you have friends to get you through." Leeh shook her head "I have friends but well...no one close. All I have are Jes, Stacy, and Corey. BUT they are all I need. All I want." She smiled "Well, I guess duty calls. I need to finish sweeping." She yelled into the shop "HEY! Turn the music on out here." She asked Angelo "Do you like the Counting Crows?" Angelo shrugged "I don't know them." Leeh stood there gaping "What? Oh you poor, poor boy. The Counting Crows are one of the few bands we al agree on." Leeh put the broom down and said "Okay Angelo. Sit here." Leeh pulled up a chair across from him and started talking to him about music. Inside the cafe Jes turned away from the window. She saw Paddy watching her. She flushed and walked over. She asked "Hey there. Do you need some more tea?" Paddy said "No, We have to be leaving soon. We are meeting the others." Jes "Well, it was so great meeting you!" Maite said "It's not good-bye. We are staying about a minute away. We will probably be here everyday bothering you." Paddy nodded "yeah and we will try to come tonight." They stood up. Jes said to Maite "If you can't find anyone to go with you to the Navy Pier just give us a call." Maite hugged her and said "It is a deal." They headed out. Leeh yanked back from Angelo when she saw the others come out of the cafe. "Hey." Angelo stood up and frowned -Finally, I get close to someone and they interrupt- Angelo asked "Are we leaving?" Paddy said "yeah, we need to get back. It was great meeting you Leeh." Maite said "Yeah," Leeh "you too. Maybe I'll see you around." Angelo said "Bye." Leeh "Oh, hold on.." She ran into the cafe and back. She handed Angelo a CD of the Counting Crows. She said "here. If you get the chance listen. I think you'll like them." The Kelly's walked off. Leeh stood there. Jes came up to her. "Hey, Leeh. You okay?" Leeh "Yeah." Jes "I think you have a crush on Angelo!" Leeh "Oh yeah! You?" Jes laughed "I do think paddy is cute!" Leeh said "I wish I studied up on the Kelly Family. If I knew he was int he group I would be a huge fan sooner!" Jes laughed. The cousin's walked into the cafe to get ready for the concert tonight, each one hoping the Kelly's would really come.

to be continued
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