Chapter 21
Toni turned the television off. She didn’t get any sleep at all. She went home early so that she could get some rest for the show the next day but it was no use. She just lied down, tossed and turned but didn’t sleep at all. Feeling so tired, she got out of bed and looked at the mirror. “Oh! Yuck!” she exclaimed. She looked absolutely hideous. There were dark circles under her eyes. “Oh well, there’s nothing a little make-up wouldn’t fix.” she thought, going to the kitchen and preparing something to eat. She sat down on the dining table, but she was just picking on her food. She couldn’t even eat. She sighed. “Think positive.” she told herself. She went to the bathroom and took a shower. “That’s better.” she said as she peered into the mirror again. Wearing her bathrobe, she sat down on the sofa, trying to drink some warm milk. She laughed a bit. “I thought this can’t eat can’t sleep ‘syndrome’ was only for those in love!” she thought, trying to relax her nerves.
“Mark! Wake up! We’re gonna be late!” Bryan shouted into Mark’s ear. “What? Wha… What time is it?” he asked, rubbing his eyes. He must have fell asleep waiting for the others to get up. Everyone was already dressed and they were waiting for Mark. “Urgh! Look at me! I’m a mess!” he said, looking at his clothes. They were totally rumpled. “Hey slow poke! Get up! Brush your teeth and let’s go!” Shane said, walking into the room. “Slow poke? Incase you’re forgetting I woke up before everyone else did and I managed to fall asleep waiting for you guys!” he complained, making his way to the bathroom. Kian and Nicky went to Mark’s room. “What exactly are we going to do today anyway?” Kian asked. “I don’t know. I was talking to Loraine on the phone so I really didn’t hear.” Nicky answered. “I think we’re gonna do some radio interviews, tv interviews…well, it’s basically interviews and photo shoots for today. Am I right Bryan?” Shane asked. “Don’t look at me! I was busy thinking of Helen!” he laughed.
“Did Shane say radio interviews?” Mark thought as he dried his face with a towel. “Nah!” he said, pushing the thought away from his mind. He didn’t want to deal with Toni, not now, not ever. He didn’t want to admit to himself that he still loved her, even until now.
Toni finally reached the radio station. She was late, but she didn’t quite worry about that. She was much more worried over the interview than anything else. It took her hours to get ready, she was busy building up confidence. After all, she didn’t want to look like a total wreck in front of everybody. Well, she did say “in front of everybody, but unconsciously it was “in front of Mark”. Even is she denied it, she was still in love with Mark. She knew it, and she was just too shy to admit it. It wouldn’t be nice if she was crazy about him and he hated her to death.
Anne was waiting for her at the door in front of the booth. “Toni! Where the heck have you been? You’re late! Thank goodness Westlife aren’t coming here until the last hour of your show or it would be utterly embarrassing if they come here before you do!” “Cut me some slack Anne! I’m only five or seven minutes late.” Toni said, rolling her eyes. She got in the booth, and did what she had to do. The first hour of the show was totally great, and at the second hour she asked the listeners to page in their questions for Westlife or e-mail them to her. She was using a computer that was inside the booth.
She looked at the clock, feeling her anxiety grow as the hands of the clock moved. She almost resorted into biting her nails, but quickly stopped before doing so. While playing a song, she made sure that her microphone was turned off. She took her jacket that was hanging at the back of her chair, rolled it into a pillow shape and covered her face with it while she screamed as hard as she could. Feeling a bit better, she looked out of the booth and she saw Anne, laughing at her. Toni had managed to tell Anne everything that had happened between her and Mark, as well as that night in the club three months ago. She just couldn’t see Mark again for all the hurt might just resurface again just as it did on that night. Anne stopped laughing, mouthing the words “you can do it” and she gave Toni a thumbs up sign. Toni refused to look at the clock. “You can do this…” she told herself as she closed her eyes. The song ended, and Toni went over to the microphone. “Doesn’t that song just make you feel all better and everything? Anyway, that was Five’s ‘Keep On Moving’, a requested song by Claire. We’re gonna go on a commercial break now but don’t you touch that dial, we’ll be right back.” She played the commercials, leaning back on her chair. She didn’t know how much longer she could take. She heard a tap on the glass barrier of the booth, breaking her from her thoughts. She looked, and it was Anne. Toni got up and ran over to the door. “What is it?” she asked, sticking her head out. She was hoping that the band cancelled their visit to the studio or that they couldn’t make it. Or at least, Mark couldn’t make it. “They’re here.” Anne said. “What?” Toni screamed. “Keep it down! Unless you want everyone to know that you’re freaking out that is.” “Anne! I don’t know what to do! If you were in my situation freaking out is more of an understatement!” “Just… let them sing a few songs, shoot a few questions, let them sing again, and before you know it, it’s time for them to go. Just, act professional. Pretend as if they were just any other band that you would be interviewing or something. I mean, for goodness sake Toni. You’ve been around these guys for more than a year. It’s not like you’re meeting them for the first time or anything.” “Thanks Anne. I wouldn’t know what to do without you.” Toni said, hugging her friend before she went back inside the booth.
The five lads got out of the car. There were screams everywhere and lots of flashes from the cameras. The fans were everywhere but they decided to spend five to ten minutes with them before coming in. It was Mark’s idea, since he found out that the last radio station they’ll be going to before doing the television appearances would be the one that Toni was working at. He wouldn’t even know about it if the others didn’t talk excitedly about seeing her again after a good three months.
Mark continued signing pictures and posters as well as posing for pictures. He tried delaying their trip to the station as much as possible. “Hey Mark! Hurry up will you? We’re late!” Shane called out, going into the building. “Mark!” Anto called him. “Just a few minutes Anto! I’m not finished spending some time with these ladies here.” he said as he smiled at the fans. All of them almost fainted, and one actually did. “Quit stalling Mark. You still have a lot to do.” Anto said, pulling Mark into the building. “Can we use the stairs?” Mark asked. The booth was at the ninth floor. “Are you crazy? By the time we get there we’ll have to start making our way down!” Bryan said. “That’s the whole idea stupid!” Mark said, as he laughed and playfully punched Bryan in the stomach. “Ouch!” Bryan said, pretending to be hurt, bending over and clutching his abdomen. He started making silly noises and funny faces and in no time, he had everyone in stitches of laughter. “Lads! Lads! Come on, you’re running late.” Anto said as he practically shoved them into the elevator. They were still chuckling. “So, Mark, what’s this stalling thing you’re doing huh?” Kian asked once they all managed to calm down. “Stalling? I am not stalling.” Mark said. “Hey man! Don’t get defensive. I was just asking.” Kian said. “Do any of you happen to know where the men’s room is?” Mark asked as they stepped out of the lift. “And he says he’s not stalling!” Shane whispered, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear. The others laughed. “Why? Can’t a person use the bathroom?” he asked sarcastically. “Aww… come on you guys. Give the guy a break. Let him use the little boys room so he could go and hide.” Bryan said. Everyone laughed harder as Bryan emphasized the words “little boys room”. “Hide from what?” Mark asked, getting annoyed. The laughter continued as they turned to a corner. “Hide from what?” Mark repeated, looking at Bryan. “You know, that girl sitting over there.” Shane pointed. Mark looked. He felt his heart jump out of his chest as he and Toni looked at each other for a brief moment, and they tore away their gaze at each other.