The Things We Never Did (3)

(first posted 7th March 2009)

Chapter 3 

At last the five Westlife lads were given the rest of the day off just to chill and now Shane, Mark, Nicky and Kian mulled around the hotel bar even though it’s far too early to be going on a drinking binge and Louis would throw a major fit if he caught them at it too. Bryan had gone upstairs to the room he shared with Nicky to make some private call to Kerry as the other guys guessed.
“All right Mark do you want to tell us what really went on with you and Vickie then?” Shane asked. Kian’s eyes lashed fiery red but Nicky patted him arm gently to keep him cool. Mark stared down at his hands he didn’t really know how to explain what had happened. Looking back on it he felt like an idiot with just a typical foolish man’s needs and not taking other people’s feelings into consideration.
“First thing’s first Mark. Did you only do it because you were thinking of yourself?” Nix asked. Mark’s head shot up immediately.
“No, I swear it wasn’t.” he said.
“Humph, as if that’s believable.” Kian scoffed.
“Then…?” Shane pressed on ignoring Kian’s comment. Mark sighed aloud resting his hands in his hands as he slumped down on the bar. How could he ever explain to his friends about what truly happened? It still didn’t make a lot of sense to him and as hard as he tried he still couldn’t get over the fact he’d allowed his head to be in command.
“Lads don’t take this the wrong way but I…I honestly can’t tell you.” He sighed.
“Ha! I knew it! You just wanted to use her!” Kian exclaimed.
“No I didn’t!” Mark snapped he’s beginning to loose his temper at his friend’s constant conclusion jumping.
“Whatever.” Kian downed his drink and strode off towards the lift, Mark sighed heavily dropping his head into his hands.
“I’ve completely messed up lads.” He said.
“Mark calm down, and stop worrying about what Kian thinks. He’ll get over it soon enough right now you have to decide what you’re going to do about Vickie. She and Nicole will be here later this evening and for the next two months.” Nicky began.
“I know,”
“Good. What went on between the two of you probably was an accident but maybe neither of you thinks it is. Probably best if you try and talk to her about it.” Shane added.
“Yeah let’s just hope she’ll listen, it wasn’t the best parting at least not on my behalf.” Mark answered; Shane and Nicky swapped worried looks this must be another little bump along the way.
“I think you’d better clarify that one up Mark.” Shane said.
“To put it as vaguely as I possibly can, I didn’t hang around I left-.”
“You didn’t!” both Shane and Nicky gasped in unison.
“I did, however I ran into Vic a couple of days after and…yeah well just happened to tell her it was nothing more than a mistake. You can imagine she nearly beat the crap out of me for even saying that but…but it’s the only thing I could say really. I wasn’t sure she would have believed me if I told her,” he explained.
“Told her what?” Nicky didn’t like the idea occupying his mind.
“I…I can’t say.” Mark got up and quickly left the hotel bar; Shane and Nicky stared after him.
“What do you think that was all about?” Nicky looked at Shane.
“He’s in love Nix, really in love.” Shane remarked.
“Huh? How do you know?” a deep perplexing frown crossed his handsome face.
“Just from the way he talks about Vic; the way he’s always acted around her and everything. To be honest I have a feeling he’s been in love with her for years but he’s not willing or ready to admit it. I don’t know why he can’t say the words or even tell the girl; but we have to find a way to get him to. Something tells me if he doesn’t; then their little incident a couple of weeks ago could ruin their chances for good.” Shane said. He gulped down the rest of his drink and wiped his mouth.
“Don’t know about you but I’m going to head up and give Nicole a call see how far she and Vic are from arriving.” He rose from the bar stool.
“You go ahead I’ll come up later.” Nicky answered.
“Suit yourself.” Shane exited the restaurant, crossing the posh lobby and headed to the lift pressing the button. While hanging around he allowed his gaze to roam across the lobby not that he’s looking for anything usual or particular, yet his ever sharp eye caught sight of Mark heading towards the billiards room. He figured his mate probably wanted alone time but maybe that wasn’t the best option. Forgetting about his original plan of heading upstairs Shane ran after Mark.
“Mark! Hold up!” he called. Mark stopped in his tracks to turnaround and see Shane fast approaching.
“Oh…hey Shane.” He remarked.
“You ok?” Shane asked softly laying his hand on his friend’s shoulder. Mark shrugged looking down at the floor.
“I don’t know, I just wish none of this would have happened. Then at least I wouldn’t be in this mess and I wouldn’t have put Vic into it either,” he sighed his hands in pockets.
“I know, I know but what’s done is done and you just have to find a way to fix things. Mean you do love her right?” Shane raised his eyebrows when Mark gave him a shocked look.
“Let’s go inside.” Shane nodded his head towards the billiards room; Mark agreed and they stepped in shutting the door behind them.
“God Shane of course I love her! You’ve known it from the beginning even before I was prepared to say a word.” Mark sighed inwardly.
“So what’s the problem? Why can’t you just tell all this to Vic then?”
“It’s not that simple Shay. You seriously think when Vickie turns up here later I can just tell her exactly how I feel after what went on with us? You’re mad to even think so.” Mark replied leaning against the billiard table for support he crossed his arms over his chest.
“So, you just won’t tell Vic the truth? Instead you’ll spend the rest of your life moping around pretending alls well until the day she decides to find some one else? It’d be far too late by then. You have such an opportunity to take and you’re just throwing it all away. Simply because ‘you can’t.” Shane looked clearly mad now but Mark didn’t flinch away.
“It’s so easy for you to just stand here and tell what I should say. You’re not the one in my position so you wouldn’t have a damn clue over what I’m going through,” he snapped back this made Shane sigh in more desperation.
“You’re the one being stubborn here Mark not me. I’m just trying to help you out. But you know what, if you don’t want any then fine. Don’t come looking for me or the lads when you get stuck again.” He stormed out of the billiard room leaving Mark alone in his thoughts. Sighing deeply he passed his hand through his hair.
“I can’t believe I’ve put myself into this mess. Just bad bloody timing.” He muttered.
Two and a half hours later Vickie and Nicole arrived at Emerald Ritz hotel in Dublin; Vic parked the car in the basement lot. Both girls jumped out and stretched their legs it been quite a long drive but nonetheless their glad to have arrived finally.
“At least Shane will be a lot happier now.” Vickie remarked teasingly.
“Yeah he will be. We arrived safe and sound and we’ll all be together for two whole months!” Nicole laughed. She opened up the boot and grabbed the bags out, Vickie came around to help and once they had their bags she locked up the car and they went to the lift heading up to the lobby. In the mean time upstairs each Westlife lad had a room to themselves; they had insisted on Louis allowing them their own privacy for this year’s tour. At first he wasn’t completely thrilled but alas Louis usually gave in to the boys, they are after all his top priority and no way in the world would he ever deny them what they ask for. Nicky went over to Bryan’s room to see if he’s keen to come out partying tonight while Kian hung out in Shane’s room watching TV.
“Shay you alright?” asked Kian his eyes momentarily moving away from the TV screen to settle on his friend. Shane sat on the chair opposite from the bed he looked dull and listless at the moment.
“Mmm….yeah whatever I’m fine. Just thinking.” Shane waved Kian’s comment away.
“Oh dear that’ can’t be any good if Filan’s thinking and being all serious.” Ki added breaking into a grin; despite his sour mood after the conversation with Mark; Shane still managed a good natured laugh.
“I had a conversation with Mark earlier-.”
“Pft. I don’t want to hear about it then.” Kian grunted now getting angry and folding his arms across his best.
“Ki, come on I know you’re upset with him but this isn’t the way to go. Surely you how Mark feels about Vickie right?” Shane arched his eyebrows.
“Yes of course. Not that it really matters anyway. He just used her that’s all. I’m not going to forgive him so easily for it either,” Kian huffed.
“Ki just stop it. He loves her and that’s the important thing.” Just then his mobile beeped indicating he had received a message. Shane read it and a big bright smile enlightened his face.
“I’ll be back in just a tick mate.” He ran out the door forgetting to close it; Kian shock his head inching a smile as he got up off the bed and went to close the door properly. But in doing so he saw Mark’s head pop around his own door looking a little confused. Kian’s face went deathly dark Mark knew not to say a word so instead he closed his own door Kian didn’t object shutting Shane’s.
“The bloody cheek of him. Thinks he’s gotten away with it well I for one will make sure he never does.” Kian silently made a pact with himself. Meanwhile downstairs in the hotel lobby Nicole & Vickie sat on a couple of very comfy leather arm chairs, their bags at their feet.
“I would love to have a hot bubble bath right about now.” Sighed Nicole.
“A bubble bath that includes Shane no doubt. Or perhaps just to spice it up a little…” A cheeky smirk appeared on Vic’s face.
“Don’t you dare say it Vic!” Nicole shot her a warning look Vickie just laughed.
“Oh stop fretting Nic. You know I wouldn’t say those words infront of Shane. I’m not like that,” she replied.
“That’s a relief, besides I’m thinking you ought to be far more concerned over what you’re going to do with your situation with Mark instead of what Shane and I get up to in our spare time.” Nicole smirked; Vickie sighed outwardly her eyes casting down.
“There is nothing to sort out. What’s done is done and I’m quite happy to leave it that way.” She said.
“Angel!” Nicole and Vickie’s looked up to see Shane sprinting over his face gleaming with pride and excitement.
“Shaney!” Nicole leapt up from her arm chair as Shane reached them. He swept her up in his arms.
“I missed you baby.”
“Aw I missed you heaps too.” With those two getting reacquainted in the middle of the lobby and having on lookers not that they really cared about who is staring Vickie decided she’d leave the two love birds alone. Quietly she picked up her bags and headed off towards the lift. Pressing the ‘up’ button she waited. It didn’t take long before the familiar sound of the lift arriving sounded and the huge doors slid open. Not caring for much else except for wanting to get to her room in a hurry she walked straight in only to bump smack into the person exiting the lift.
“Watch it!” snapped Vickie.
“Hey Vic.” She looked up.
“Oh…hi Mark.”