This I Promise You Chapter 8
				Finally Here
	Toni stood at the airport, looking for any of her friends. She had been standing there for more than 20 minutes already, and not even a single familiar face in the crowd could be seen. She kept looking at her watch, wondering if she was too early or too late. She was getting so paranoid, she even thought that she was at the wrong country! She sighed, brushing a few strands of hair away from her face. ‘Hey there stranger.” A soft and low voice said, coming from behind her. She instantly knew who it was, and she felt the hairs on her neck stand up. ‘Hey there Mark.’ She said as she turned around. He smiled shyly at her, looking down at the floor. Just seeing him made Toni want to wrap him up in her arms and kiss him. ‘How have you been?’ he asked, glancing at her. ‘Terrible, coz I missed you.’ She wanted to say. ‘I’ve been great! And you?’ she said, lying. ‘The same as you have been.’ He answered. ‘Really? Which one? The truth or the lie I’ve just told you seconds ago?’ she thought, suppressing the urge to laugh. ‘That’s nice to hear.’ She said, smiling politely. ‘So, umm… where are the others?’ Toni asked. She was totally surprised to see Mark at such an early point. From what Helen told her, she could remember that Helen herself and the other girls would be fetching her from the airport, and she wouldn’t be seeing any of the Westlife lads for a few days because they were still in US for a promo tour. ‘Oh, umm… Patricia is quite busy in the house since a few relatives of hers came to visit. Alessia is away in Asia with her band and Sandra is with Shane in US along with the other lads.’ ‘Oh well, so much for the welcoming committee.’ Toni said, sighing. She wanted to see the other girls so badly. She looked at Mark, and quickly saw that he was hurt by what she said. ‘Oh my gosh! Mark, I’m so sorry! Baby, I never meant it to sound that way.’ Toni said, touching his arm. She gasped when she suddenly realized she had just called Mark by his pet name. He smiled. ‘Well, I wouldn’t really mind if you offend me, just as long as you call me that again.’ He joked, placing his hand lightly on her shoulder. It may have been so casual, but to Toni, it felt like heaven. Her cheeks went bright red at Mark’s comment. She pulled her hand away from his arm and glanced at the floor. ‘Right. Umm… well, let’s get going then.’ Mark said, picking up her bag and walking along with her. Mark rolled his eyes the minute he turned away from Toni. ‘What the hell was I thinking? I cannot believe I just said that!’ he thought, disbelief filling him. He was so embarrassed he wanted to kick himself. ‘Hey! Wait up! You seem like you’re being chased by dogs or something!’ Toni joked, nearly jogging to keep up with him. ‘Sorry. It’s just that I’m already used to walking quickly when I’m in airports and public places.’ He mumbled softly as he slowed his pace down. ‘Why? How come?’ she asked, totally forgetting the fact that her ex-boyfriend is in Westlife. '‘Oh my God! It’s Mark Feehily!’ a girl screamed, followed by a few other squeals of delight. ‘That’s why.’ Mark whispered as a few girls made their way toward him and asked for autographs. Mark signed the papers that were practically shoved at his face as they walked along. He only stopped to pose for pictures. ‘Hey Mark, isn’t she your girlfriend? Can I please take a picture of you two together? Please???” the girl pleaded. Mark looked at Toni who was lagging behind, not wanting to be part of the glamour and attention Mark was currently in. She just smiled at him. ‘Oh sure.’ He said, waiting for Toni to catch up a bit and placed his arm around her. Once the picture was taken, he bid farewell to the girls and he and Toni went out and hailed for a cab. ‘I’m so sorry about that. I know you hate having your picture taken.’ Mark said, once they got inside the taxi. ‘Having my picture taken is fine. I just don’t like your fans taking it though… ‘cause I don’t want them to start hating your “girlfriend” when they don’t even know what she’s like.’ She said, staring out of the window. Mark got hurt a little as she sarcastically put emphasis on the word “girlfriend”. ‘And I’m sorry about that too. I know we’re not together anymore,’ he said, pausing. ‘As much as I hate to admit it.’ He thought. ‘Well, I just don’t want them to talk about it and splash it all over the newspapers and ask me all about it you know. It already hurts to know the fact that things are already over between you and me, and it’ll hurt more if people find out about it and shove it into my face.’ Mark explained. ‘I know… I’m sorry about being tactless of the whole thing. It shouldn’t have even bothered me anyway.’ ‘Well, let’s just forget about that shall we? Right now, I’m just glad that you’re finally here.’ Mark said, making Toni blush. Instead of looking away, she looked into his eyes and smiled warmly. ‘Well, I’m glad I’m finally here too.’ She said. Hearing her say that made him so happy. Mark was sure that after some time, he and Toni would be together again. And hopefully, it would last not only their lifetime, but forever.                ‘So, where are you staying?’ Mark asked, draping his arm on the headrest. ‘I’m staying at… umm…’ Toni trailed off, leafing through the instructions Helen had given her. Mark carefully reached for a few strands of her hair, playing with it like he always did. Toni looked at him weirdly. He laughed, pulling his hand away. ‘Sorry… I can’t help it! You can’t just kill a habit that easily you know.’ He said, his red cheeks getting redder. He looked at her as she continued to scan through the papers that she was holding. Her hair grew a wee bit longer, and he could tell that she lost a few pounds, and that she hardly got any sleep. ‘Totally the same as me.’ He thought. ‘Figured out where you’re staying yet?’ he asked again. Toni looked up at him. She blushed so badly you’d think she was sunburned. ‘I have no idea.’
			Chapter 9