Chapter 5
Sighing she got up to unpack her stuff. A picture frame surfaced from her pile of clothes. In the frame was a picture of three girls arm in arm smiling cheerfully at the camera. Looking at it Alena felt the tears well up again. No, no!, she scolded herself, I will not cry anymore, I can’t. She buried the picture back to the bottom of the suitcase again.
Now that the meeting was over she could change back into her normal clothes. The white shirt came off, being replaced by a T-shirt that hugged the top half of her body. Loose, baggy, pants took the place of the skirt and her hair brushed into a ponytail. Now she was comfortable.
Alena looked at the clock. It was 12 already. Wow, time flies, she murmured to herself. Time for lunch her stomach said with a rumble.
Down at the dining area she herself a glass of orange juice and some sandwiches.
She settled herself at a table by the window. She was staring broodingly out of the window when she heard someone calling her name. She turned and saw Nicky waving at her. He walked over and asked “Can I sit with you?”
“Sure” she answered, smiling politely although she didn’t feel like having company at the moment.
“So where are you from?” asked Nicky.
“New Zealand”
“Oh cool, I’ve been there before, it seems quite nice. Where are you from in New Zealand?
“Dunedin” a pained statement appeared on her face. Nicky didn’t seem to notice.
“Oh I’ve only been to Auckland. How’s Dunedin like?”
Alena was about to open her mouth when she heard the other lads.
“Hey Nicky. You sly thing you. I seemed to recall someone called ‘Georgina’?” teased Bryan.
“Shut up you.” answered Nicky good naturedly, “I just came down earlier than you is all.”
“Hi Alena. What do you think about Dublin so far?” asked Shane.
“It’s nice” Alena said halfheartedly. Guessed she couldn’t have a quiet lunch after all.
“So Alena, been around Dublin yet? I can take you around” suggested Bryan winking, “We can get to know each other better.”
Alena forced another polite smile on to her face. She groaned inwardly. This was not what she had in mind as a quite and restful day.
“Today? Oh I think I really need some rest I’m sorry and besides I only came today so I want to finished unpacking.”
“Oh don’t unpack” interrupted Nicky, “We’re leaving in a couple of days. There’s really no point coz you’ll have to pack your stuff all over again.”
Alena cast a steely glance at Nicky, he seemed oblivious to it though. Plastering another forced smile on her face she turned to Bryan again. “Ok then. That’ll be fine.”
“Oh Bry, I’m coming with ya. I’ve got nothing to do today anywayz” put in Kian.
Bryan turned to Kian with a tight smile on his lips, “Oh really Kian? What happened to that meeting you have with Louis?”
“Oh I can put it off. It’s nothing important anyway” said Kian with a defiant glint in his eyes.
“Hey since you’re all going and I don’t have anything better today anyway. I’m coming too!” added a cheerful Shane. “So what are you two doing today then?” Shane asked turning to Nicky and Mark.
“Nothing, catching up on sleep” answered Mark.
“Oh I’m going to see Georgina. Haven’t seen her for ages.” answered Nicky a little absently. He was a little worried about Bryan and Kian. Maybe he should go with them. He didn’t like how they were glaring at each other but he did really have to see Georgina. He missed her. He didn’t see her all too often nowadays. Oh well.. he thought to himself, I’m sure nothing’s going to get out of hand... hopefully.