Chapter 9
Kian, Shane and Mark, along with their three other band mates, had spent the whole day writing songs and singing. They had written two songs, which they sang in the afternoon to Patricia, Sandra and Toni. “It’s so great!” they all exclaimed. “You’re not just saying that are you?” Mark asked. “Of course not!” Patricia said. “It’s totally brilliant.” Toni added. “I’m sure it’ll be a hit.” Alessia declared.
Toni, Patricia, Alessia, Sandra and Helen should have gone back to their homes a long time ago, but they simply refused to leave. Life there was really good, better than what they left back from where they came from, although they missed their families terribly at times. They even made an excuse to their schools that they were still studying not only life in Ireland as a student but life in Ireland itself generally. But the school gave them only two more months to stay, and everything seemed to end too fast for them.
They had all decided to start spending some time alone with their respective partners, of course that was in between Kian, Mark and Shane’s band rehearsals. They often met with the three other guys in the band on afternoons, trying to make some songs and thinking of what to do next. Bryan and Nicky also decided to get jobs of their own during the summer.
Bryan took Helen home with him, where she met his lovely family. They were all so nice and friendly. They talked for hours on end and they all had a nice time. Later on in the afternoon, they went for a drive and Bryan took Helen around Dublin. He took her to this place that looked over the whole of Dublin and the sea. The view was absolutely breathtaking. He told Helen about all the stuff that he knew about Dublin and they made plans to visit each and every spot that Dublin had to offer. In the evening, they had dinner with Bryan’s family. Helen enjoyed it a lot, and Bryan was happy that she did. She got on very well with his parents and his sister. At first she was dead nervous when she met them earlier but now, she felt like she’s known them for years. Everyone went to their own rooms early, in order to give Helen and Bryan some time together. They were sitting by the fire, just staring into each other’s eyes. It was totally silent, you could practically hear Bryan’s heart beating wildly against his chest. “Helen, I have never felt like this before.” Bryan said, gazing intently at her eyes. She looked so beautiful, basking in the soft, warm, luminous light of the fire. He felt like his heart could burst from all the love that he felt inside. “I’ve never been this much in love with anyone before Helen.” Then he began singing softly. “I may have run out of songs to sing, I may have run out of words to say, but I want you to know just what I feel for you…I love you. As endless as forever, our love will stay together, you’re all that I need to be with forevermore. There are times that I just want to look at your face, with the stars in the night. There are times that I just want to feel your embrace, in the cold night. I just can’t believe that you are mine now. You were just a dream that I once knew. I never thought I could be right for you. I just can’t compare you with anything in this world. You’re all that I need to be with forevermore.” It was a song that Toni was singing the other day, and Bryan liked it. He asked Toni for the lyrics and a copy of the song. It was from a band she loved back at home, and they made incredible music. Helen sighed. She smiled at Bryan and traced the back of her hand along his cheek. Bryan took her hands in his. “I know it’s been only a few months since I met you, but there’s only one thing I know, and it’s that I love you so much.” “I love you too, Bryan.” “I know it’s too early for the both of us and we’re both much too young and it may sound so crazy. You don’t have to answer now if you don’t want to. Helen, will you marry me?” he said as he took out a ring from the breast pocket of his shirt. It was just a simple ring with a diamond that was elegantly cut and it was so beautiful as it sparkled against the light. Helen felt tears of joy brimming in her eyes but they refused to flow. She felt like she was the happiest girl in the world. Bryan placed the ring on her finger. He put his arms around her and kissed her, pouring out all the passion and love that he had inside for her. They just held each other, watching the flames in the fireplace as it seemed to dance and sway to unheard music. They had fallen asleep on the couch but they had been awakened early by the sounds of birds chirping as they greeted the first glorious rays of the sun with their sweet songs. Bryan and Helen watched the sunrise as well, wrapped in each other’s arms.
Kian and Patricia meanwhile celebrated their fifth month anniversary. Patricia woke up and found three white stemmed roses on her pillow. She smiled, knowing they were from Kian. She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She breathed in the fresh morning air and the scent of fresh flowers filled her sense of smell. She opened her eyes and found her room totally filled with flowers and balloons everywhere. Every single space was filled and it just gave her enough room to move around the floor. On the floor near her bedroom slippers was a trail of tulips leading to her closet door. She followed it, expecting to see Kian inside. Instead, she found a huge furry teddy bear that was the cutest she had ever seen. She then remembered pointing it out to Kian the other day, saying how cute and adorable it was. “Happy Anniversary!” a soft and sexy voice came from behind her. She turned and saw Kian, much more cute and adorable than any other teddy bear in the whole wide world. He placed his arms around her and kissed her on the lips. “You look so great even in the morning!” Kian said. They spent the whole day together, going about the town and doing whatever they felt like doing. Kian drove to the beach later on, where they sat on the sand, watching the sunset as the moon crept slowly to the heavens. Soon it was nightfall, and there had never been a night as beautiful as that one. All the stars were shining as brightly as they could, engulfing Kian and Patricia in their radiant light.
Nicky went straight home from work and went to see Alessia as soon as he could, making a detour at the florists first. He bought a whole bunch of her favorite flowers, and a cuddly little puppy at the nearest pet shop as well. He just happened to pass by the shop and it had caught his eye. The puppy was looking up at him happily, wagging his little tail. Nicky couldn’t resist its charms, and he knew that Alessia would really like it. He even bought a collar for it, and in a heart shaped piece of metal that was attached to the collar he engraved the puppy’s name, Cuddles. He knocked on Alessia’s door, and he quickly hid at a corner where he would see her reaction. He left the puppy in a basket on the floor in front of her door. Alessia looked out and was totally surprised to see it there. She saw Nicky, walking toward her. She ran up to him and hugged him. It was one of the sweetest things anyone has ever done for her. She kissed Nicky and thanked him. He gave her the flowers and told her to go and get dressed. Nicky then took her to a very expensive restaurant. Alessia was totally impressed. “Anything for the girl that I love.” Nicky said, kissing her lightly on the lips. They talked while waiting for their food but Nicky couldn’t care less if it didn’t arrive for an hour or more. He was totally enraptured by Alessia. She had so much light in her and it made him feel so peaceful. She was so vibrant and full of life that anyone loved to be with her. She could absolutely light up a room by just walking in it. He found her so beautiful. So attractive that she looked so gorgeous without even trying. He then took her dancing to the hippest club in town. They were so tired afterwards but they never wanted the night to end. They rented a few videotapes and watched them at Nicky’s house. They were all curled up and comfortable in the sofa, eating popcorn and constantly chucking pieces of it at each other. They even ran after each other in the living room, eventually collapsing in a heap on the floor, laughing softly as to not wake up anyone. Nicky started kissing Alessia, and before they knew it, Alessia already got locked out of the dorm, as it was past curfew time. Alessia just slept with Nicky at his room, both of them looking forward to another day together the next day.
Shane decided to take Sandra at home with him as well. But the rest of his family was gone on a vacation trip so they had the whole house to themselves. He refused to go with them, much to the disapproval of his mother, but his dad somehow understood him. “He’s a grown lad. He can take care of himself.” he just said. They went to the stables, where Shane proudly “introduced” Sandra to his horses. They then took a ride, while Shane told Sandra all the things he used to do as a kid. Sandra kept laughing once in a while. She couldn’t believe some of the things that he got up to when he was much younger. They then went back to the house afterwards and they looked through the family photo albums. Shane was incredibly handsome even when he was younger, and Sandra couldn’t help but smile at his baby photos. Later in the evening, after eating dinner that Shane cooked all by himself for Sandra, they went for a walk in the garden. The night was totally perfect. Just as it would be in a movie, where the prince would meet with his princess and they would share the night with each other, full of love and affection. Sandra looked so beautiful, even if she was just dressed plainly. She was far too beautiful for Shane. He wondered what she saw in him in the first place. He smiled, remembering how he used to stare at Sandra like he was doing now, when she totally loathed him a few months before. They went back inside the house a few minutes later. It was starting to get too cold to be walking outside. They sat in the bay window in Shane’s room, staring at the stars, wishing they would be as happy as this together for as long as they live.