angel

chapter five

Shane and Nicky stood at the bar. Shane couldn’t understand how Nicky was still standing up. He’d been drinking Vodka shots like there was no tomorrow. They had left the hotel at eleven-o’clock, now it was nearly four-o’clock the next morning. Nicky’s eyes were blood-shot. "I’m off now Shay" He patted Shane on the head and attempted to give his a sloppy kiss. "Get off Nix, you’re drunk." Shane had drunk too much as well, but he was pretty sober compared to his best mate. It was late now, very late.
Then, out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She was so beautiful. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, her hazel eyes, her brown hair, her legs, and her lips… He had to do something. She looked fantastic. Angel seemed to become a fading memory as Shane watched the girl dance. Now was his chance. She was alone. He finished his drink and walked over towards her.

Sunday, 5am
The Grand St Leger Hotel, Room No. 303

Shane lay awake on the bed, his heart beating hard. A dark figure knelt at his bedside. "Shane?" a voice said quietly. "Yes?" Shane whispered into the darkness. The girl put her hand behind Shane’s head, then her lips to his. He was in the middle of the kiss before it occurred to Shane that he might be dreaming, but he knew immediately he wasn’t. Shane put one hand to the back of her neck, then to her shoulder. She shrugged off her silver dress and slipped into the little single bed beside him, warm and naked.
She made love quickly, strongly, almost silently. Shane tried to keep quiet too. She lay there on top of him, breathing hard, head on his shoulder for a while, then she stirred. She put her lips to his ear. "How was that then?" she purred, barely loud enough for Shane to hear. "Incredible" Shane whispered back to her. She kissed him and lay by his side, in his arms. Shane smiled and kissed her head. He looked over to the other side of the room; Nicky was asleep. He realized that Nicky was probably the reason why she had been quiet. He held her tight in his arms and closed his eyes. For the first time in years he dreamt of another girl, not Angel Summers. She was in his past now. Or was she?

Shane awoke first. A ray of sunlight was shinning through a gap in the curtains. It shone on the girl beside him. He watched her, as she lay tranquilly asleep next to him. Shane had half expected her to be gone when he opened his eyes. She was so stunning. It felt like a dream. He slowly let go of her hand. Her lips were curved in a slight smile, and when he couldn’t resist the temptation to trace them with his fingertip, her eyelids immediately fluttered open.
At first the girl seemed to be disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings; her hazel eyes were half opened yet still half closed. As her eyes met his they cleared, Shane smiled at her in remembrance of last night. "Morning" murmured the sleepy girl. Shane lowered his head to hers and kissed her. "Morning." "What time is it?" she asked him. "Late." Shane was idly playing with her hair, sifting the strands through his fingers like grains of sand. He arranged her hair over her shoulders and reached for her hand. She attempted to move her hand away from his, but it was no use. Shane caught her hand and starred disbelieving at what he was seeing.

"Angel? Shane managed to stammer. He didn’t believe it, he couldn’t understand it. The girl pretended that she hadn’t heard him. Shane desperately attempted to seek her magnificent hazel eyes. "Angel… please tell me it’s you, Angel…" She cut him off. "How do you know my name? Who are you?" She questioned him with anxiety in her voice. The girl avoided looking into Shane’s dark eyes. He took her hand in his and held it against his lips. "Angel, it’s me Shane, remember? The café in Sligo, the accident in the kitchen, the locket around your neck?"
Her face said it all; shock, confusion and disbelief. Shane knew that there were only three people in this world that knew the truth about that evening, Nicky, himself and Angel. She forced herself to meet his gaze, finding love in his eyes. But there was pain there, as well. A pain that she had seen before, that night in the kitchen. "Shane, I remember what happened. Is it really you?" She looked deep into his hazel eyes. They were dark and sexy. "Yes," said Shane as he put his arms around her waist. "I can’t believe I’ve found you, when you left I was lost without you, I wanted you back…" He drew her against his chest. "I wish I’d told you then how much you meant to me…" Angel traced Shane’s lips gently with her thumb. "Tell me Shane."
"I… I… I love you Angel" He closed his eyes terrified to see her reaction to his words. He lay there, in stillness and waited. Angel said nothing. He opened his eyes and gazed into her eyes. She brushed a gentle kiss against his trembling lips. "I love you too Shane." He couldn’t remember ever being so happy. Shane pulled her closer and held her in his arms. He held Angel, his angel. She cried a single tear, as she lay there, naked in Shane’s arms. Shane couldn’t believe that he’d finally been able to tell her how he felt. She had meant so much to him then, she meant even more to him now. He loved her.
"Shane… how did you know it was me? I didn’t know it was you," she murmured. "This morning, when I was watching you sleep…" he stopped "you looked so peaceful, so beautiful, like an angel and then I saw your hand." Shane was playing with a strand of brown hair that skimmed her shoulders. "But you didn’t know last night?" "No" answered Shane. "You could never imagine how many nights I’ve dreamt of holding you again, making love to you…" he looked at her and continued, "You’re all I’ve ever wanted Angel. I love you more than you could ever imagine and I’m not going to let you leave me again." "Shane…" he silenced her with a kiss. "Shhhh… let me love you Angel."

Angel smiled at Shane as he lay sleeping beside her. She ran her fingers over his cheek and his lips. She couldn’t believe what had happened over the last 48 hours. She silently slipped out of the bed and picked up her clothes, before walking into the bathroom. After getting dressed she stood by the open balcony doors, gazing into the outside world.
How could I do this? How could I let this happen? She thought to herself. God, I’m getting married tomorrow to Carl. How could I have done this to him? How could I do this to Shane after everything we’ve been through together? The voices inside her head were deafening her.
Angel loved Carl and they had been engaged since the autumn, she was happy then. But now, in the misty spring morning she was having doubts. Carl had given her everything, her every wish had been his command. He loved her with all his heart, but did she feel the same way? She didn’t know. All she knew was that she had to tell Shane the truth; she owed him that at very least.
She closed her eyes in the morning sun and stood motionless for what seemed like an eternity. She was deeply in disarray. Do I really love Carl? If I do then why have I betrayed him by sleeping with Shane? Do I in truth love Shane? He’s so different now, he’s more than just Shane, he’s Shane Filan… Shane Filan, the lead singer in Westlife. He meant so much to me before; does he still mean that much to me now? Questions kept tumbling around inside her head. Why did this have to happen? She asked herself looking at the engagement ring on her finger. Why me?

chapter nine to twelve