The log was cold under her, but Jess didn't mind.  Though the fire burnt her legs, it was better than being away and waiting to be warmed by the summer air.  Gazing into the cackling flames, she hardly realized that her marshmallow was on fire and dripping onto the coals.  She didn't care.  Her mind was full of a person she would never see again.  A person that made her giddy, then just plain sad.  Friendships and romantic relationships did not come favor her.  Jess had that figured out quickly after the first heart-break.  Alone and confused, she never imagined anyone would come along that she wholly respected and trusted.

Jess threw her stick into the fire and got up.  She stretched and walked over to her guitar case.  She took out her guitar and went back to the log.  In time to the crackling flames, she strummed along to Eleanor Rigby, one of the few songs she had memorized.  She started to sing at the second verse: "Father McKenzie, writing the words to a sermon that no one will hear..."  Jess was in her element.  Music was the only thing she found comfort in these days.  She finished the song, and got up to go inside.  The fire was warm on her back.  She walked inside to tell her mom that she was done with the fire, and stopped dead in her tracks. 

 "Hey, Jess."  Her mom said.  Inside were five men sitting on the couch and chairs. 

 "Mom, why didn't you tell me we had visitors?"  She looked at each one in turn.  One was older, another had very dark hair, another lighter hair, another had a surfer build and blond hair, and the last one was young and his hair was dark.  "Who are these people?"  The older one gave her mom a quick glance that said 'don't say much.  Just tell her our names.'  Jess didn't see it, so her mom said

"This is George Donaldson, Ryan Kelly, Paul Byrom, Keith Harkin, and Damian McGinty."  She gestured to each of the guys as she said their names.  "They'll be staying here for a while." 

 "O.K. then.  So...um...hi.  I'm Jess."  She held out a hand and each of the men took it.  She was surprised to hear that they had Irish accents instead of American accents. 

 "So, um...hunny, why don't we all go out to the fire? Go get your brothers.  They haven't met them yet."  

"'K Mom."

Jess ran upstairs and got her brothers.  She had three of the four at home.  None of her sisters were home.  "Follow me, guys."  Jess referred to everyone when she said it.  They all followed her up to the fire.  One of the visitors, Keith,  stayed a little behind and looked at the guitar laying against the couch.  He wanted to play so bad.  Jess had come back in looking for him and to get some extra sticks and marshmallows.  

"Do you play?"  Jess asked him.

"Yeah.  I play all the time.  I heard you out there.  You were pretty good.  I liked your singing."  When he talked he was in a rush. 

 "How old are you guys?"  Jess asked.  "I'm thirteen in case you were wondering."  Keith smiled and stood upright from strumming a string.  

"George is 41, Ryan's 30, and so is Paul.  They're six months apart.  I'm 22, and Damian's 16." 

 "Cool.  Just wondering, by the way.  You have one up on me.  It's hard for me to remember half of my family's ages.  I know Ellie, my oldest sister is 29, Jake, my second oldest brother is 23, Leo, my second youngest brother, is 20, and my youngest brother, Allen, is 15." 

 "I see.  Well, you have five like I do, so we're even I guess."  "Yeah, I guess."  said Jess. "Let's go."  Jess took the guitar and led the way to the fire, where everyone else was talking. 

 "Ahh...finally...marshmallow-y goodness!" said Allen.  He took a stick from Jess and a marshmallow and went to sit at the fire.  Slowly, Damian followed and sat down beside him.  Eventually, everyone was joking around and Keith was playing the guitar and the visitors were singing.  Jess smiled and lip-synched on a few songs like Danny  Boy and I Want Know What Love Is. Damian  stared at her when she sang, and she just smiled back.  

"How do you know Danny Boy?"  he asked. 

 "St. Patrick's Day radio stuff."  Jess grinned up at him.  Then they started singing some songs she didn't know.  Was was about two guys fighting over a girl.  Paul and Ryan sang it.  Everyone was surprised at how well  Paul could sing and how Ryan's voice was so rough, but pleasant to hear.  Then, George sang a song about his wife and him losing their love.  All the while Keith was strumming along.  Damian moved over next to Jess and said:  

"Thanks for the marshmallows."  His voice was so calm and sincere, but still had a childish feel about it.  Jess smiled and kept staring into the fire.  "You're pretty good at the guitar and singing.  I see Keith might have a little competition."  At this, Jess turned to him and flat out giggled. 

 "You know, I thought it was weird that I was just starting to learn I Want to Know What Love Is today and Keith was just playing it.  O.K.  So I have a question.  Why are all of you guys together?  I mean, you're all different ages and stuff."  

"Oh. Right.  Well, we um..."  Damian looked into the fire, like it would give him the answer.  He wasn't allowed to tell her about the group.  "We do some...um...travelling.  We go around the country and go to concerts and stuff. You know...we're like...professional tourists."

"Huh.  Interesting."  

Ryan and Paul let out a sigh together. 

 "Come on guys,"  said Damian "even I can hold my breath longer than that.  You were having a competition and you didn't even tell me?"  There was a cleverly concealed edge in his voice.  

"Is everything O.K.?"  asked Jess.  "Yeah, just fine."  Keith finished the final strum and sighed.  He started sing a song about this girl, Lauren.  When he was done, Jess's mom asked if everyone had enough.  They all said yes.  Then her mom told Jess  she had to go to bed.  

"Alright, Mom." When Jess went inside, everyone came in five minutes later.  Her Mom and Dad stayed out and put out the fire.  

"Good night, Jess."  Said Damian.  Jess smiled and closed the door of her bedroom after she said good night to Damian and helped George, Ryan, Paul, Keith, and Damian find a place in the house to sleep.  She put Damian with Allen.  George went in Jake's room.  He didn't live in their house.  Ryan and Paul were in the same room with Paul on a pull out mattress and Ryan on a blow-up bed. Keith was in Sam, Jess's oldest brother's room in his bed.  Sam slept on the floor. 

 "If you guys need anything, my mom and dad's room is at the top of the steps." 

 "Thanks."  the guys said.

Jess got ready for bed with the visitors voices singing in her ears.