Chapter 7

Westlife were travelling the world, I’d gone to a college just outside of Sligo, but now I had a job in a private school helping teach PE as they were impressed with how much I knew and could do. I’d made more friends, Marie, Denise and Ciara.

Yet again I hadn’t spoke to Shane for months, but I’d seen him…On TV. Oh and I heard him…on the radio.
I’d started seeing a lad from work, Chris. He was two years older than me. I started to get out more; he changed me in a way. I didn’t mind the change though. We were walking through the streets of Sligo hand in hand. When I saw the familiar face, it was Shane. He’d seen me and stopped, I dragged Chris towards him.

“Hi Amy, long time no see”
“Hi Shane, How r ya?”
“I’m ok thanks…aren’t you gonna introduce me?”
“Oh. Shane this is Chris, my boyfriend and Chris this is Shane and old friend”
Chris laughed
“ I knew who he was, it’s kind of hard not to when you told me all about him and his always on TV.”
“I got to go now, I’ll phone you”
Shane slowly walked away. He went to the park, where him and Amy used to sit, he had realised something he hadn’t noticed before. Jealousy. He was jealous of Chris, when Amy told him it was her boyfriend, his heart sunk. How could he only just of realised he loved her?

Chapter 8

Wahoo Shane was back. I hung out with him a lot. Although it had its downside. Chris had dumped Amy. He said he couldn’t compete with Shane. What did he mean? Couldn’t compete with Shane, Shane and me were just friends.

Shane had to put his love for Amy aside and gave her the comfort she needed, plus he had to make up for the months they haven’t spoke. Thankfully he had time off.

9th march- Day before Amy’s 21st birthday.

Shane and Amy sat in her room. They were planning Amy’s birthday, as Shane had to record some lyrics for the new album in the morning.

“Amy”
“Yeahh”
“I need to tell you something”
“Arrghhh, don’t say that, you’ll get me worried”
“I love you”
“Yeah I love ya to Shane”
“No I mean love, love. I’ve fallen in love with you”
“You can’t have Shane. It’s me, Amy. Who you’ve known since you were three”
“I know”
“You can’t have”
“I didn’t think I could, but I have”
“Shane…I think you should go home… I need to think and so do you.”

Shane got up and left, he saw no point in arguing with her. He would just upset her more. As he left he saw the tear roll down Amy’s cheek.

Amy phoned Marie.
“Hi Marie, it’s Amy”
“Hiya, so decided what your gonna do for your birthday?”
Amy started to cry
“Can I come and stay with you, for a few days in Dublin?”
“Of course you can”
“I need to get out of Sligo for a few days”
“Ok, What’s happened?”
“Shane’s in love with me”
“Oh…why’s that a bad thing?”
“Can I come tonight?”
“Sure ya can”
“Ok bye
“Bye… be careful”

Amy packed a few things into her bag and got into her car. When she arrived at Marie’s, she fell into her arms and cried. Marie rocked her backwards and forwards like a baby and slowly they made their way inside.

Meanwhile in Sligo

Shane was trying to phone Amy, he had been back to the house, but the house was in darkness. He found the phones number of her friend Denise; to see is she was there as Denise lived in Sligo. But he had no luck, she wasn’t there. He managed to get the phone numbers of Ciara and Marie form Denise. She wasn’t at Ciara’s so he phoned Marie.

“Shane it’s not a good idea, I think you should phone back tomorrow.”
“No, please Marie, I need to talk to her”
“Shane phone tomorrow. Bye”
Marie hung up.

The next day was Amy’s birthday, yet another depressing one. Yet again it was because of Shane. She wondered why she bothered. Amy and Marie laid about all day. It was 7pm; they were waiting for their pizza to be delivered. They decided to start watching the film titanic. It had just started when the doorbell rang…

Chapter 9

Marie ran to the door with her purse in her hands, not to find the pizza delivery, but Shane. Marie tried to close the door, but Shane was too strong for her and managed to get pass. When he saw Amy huddled up on the sofa, he stopped/
“Shane get out…Just get out of my house” Marie stood screaming and pulling on Shane’s arm. Shane still didn’t move. Amy turned to Shane and Marie.
“It’s ok Marie, we need to talk”

Shane walked towards Amy and as he walked he pulled out a small box from his jacket pocket.
“Happy Birthday” he handed her the box. In side was a gold bracelet, which said ‘Happy 21st, love always’

“Could you listen to what I have to say, then I promise if I’ll go and if you want me to leave forever I will”
Amy nodded
“I love you Amy, I can’t help how I feel. I know it’s not what you want to hear. I just want you to give me a chance”
“Shane, I want to, I do want to give you a chance, but I’m not sure.”
“Not sure about what?”
“Us being together”
“Think about it then, that’s all I’m going to ask. I best go. Bye”
“Bye”

Shane had just got back to his house in Sligo when his phone rang. It was Marie. “Shane, if you love her, you’ll come and get her now, she bloody loves you, you fool”
“Whhaattt?”
“Just think about what I said. Choose what you wanna do” Marie hung up.

Shane ran back to his car. The whole way back to Dublin he though about Amy. When he arrived back at Marie’s it was nearly morning. He banged on the door, when it opened there stood Amy with her bag. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheek. Amy turned and smiled at Marie.

“Bye you two…Amy I’ll phone you”
Shane held Amy’s bag in one hand and her hand in the other as they walked to the car.

“I never expected this to happen”
“Me neither, what made you change your mind?”
“I saw sense and realised it could be the best thing to happen to me”

The rest of the journey was spent in silence.

Chapter 10

Year later- Amy’s 22nd birthday

Amy and Shane were still together. They couldn’t be happier. Shane had planned a big party for Amy. She was impressed, she never thought Shane would be able to organise something so well. Everyone that Amy knew was there. They were all either Talking, Laughing, drinking or dancing. It was really crowded, so Amy went and sat out side for a bit to get some fresh air. She’d just sat down on the steps, when someone sat next to her. She turned to see Mark smiling at her. She smiled back as she didn’t know what to say.

“Are you alright? You should be inside” mark said still looking at her.
“Yeah I’m ok I just thought I’d get some fresh”
“Oh, Ok. You’re thinking about something. I can tell”
“Am I?”
“What’s up? Do you wanna talk about it?”
“There’s nothing up” Amy replied angrily
“Hey…Calm down, I was trying to help” He grabbed her wrist as she went to walk away, Amy sat back down.
“I’m sorry mark I shouldn’t have said that I don’t know what came over me”
The moonlight caught his blue eyes. They were such a deep blue. Their heads moved closer, their lips touched gently. Amy pulled away and walked back inside not saying anything to mark. The kiss wasn’t supposed to happen. She tried to convince herself it meant nothing, and that they just got caught up in the moment.

Gradually the guests had left. Amy went up to her and Shane’s room. As they had recently brought a house together. Many people said it was to soon, but Amy and Shane didn’t agree. They weren’t just going out with each other, they were best friends. She got into the bed and snuggled up under the covers. She was drifting off to sleep when Shane came in. He pulled off his clothes, leaving on just his boxers and got into bed. Amy moved closer and Shane put his arms around her like he did every night.
When she woke in the morning she was still in Shane’s arms.

That Evening

“Amy, I have to go see my family for a few days. My aunts ill.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow…I won’t be back till Friday, ok?”
“Yeah, I think I’ll ask Marie to come and stay, so we can have some girlie time”
“Good idea. I’ve asked Mark to check on you as well, to see if you’re ok, while your on your own.”
“I don’t need to be checked on”
“It’s just so I know you’ll be ok”
“Fine, fine…I’m not gonna win, am I?”
“Nope”

The next morning Shane packed his bags and left early. Amy had the house to herself, as Marie wasn’t coming till Wednesday. So she had Monday and Tuesday to do what she liked, well that’s what she thought.

She climbed into the bath of hot water, when the doorbell rang. Amy cursed whoever it was as she climbed out of the bath. She grabbed the large white bath towel that was hanging up and answered the door.

“GGGRRR Mark, Shanes’s only just left. You don’t need to check up on me yet” “I know” He edged closer to Amy.

Chapter 11

Amy turned in bed, but woke up in shock. When she realised something was next to her. She slowly opened her eyes

“Arrrrggggghhhhh, what the hell are you doing here?”
Mark turned to look at he; she’d woken him up screaming
“Oh nooo, we didn’t, did we?”
Amy got up she already knew the answer. She put on her dressing gown and went downstairs. She made herself a strong cup of coffee and sat at the table with her head in her hands. She sat thinking: Why the hell did I sleep with him? I love Shane

Mark came down the stairs in his boxers. Amy couldn’t help but look at his perfect body. He still looked gorgeous even though he’d just got up. She had feelings for Mark; she knew it and so did Mark.

“Mark, what happened shouldn’t have happened”
“But it did though”
“I know it did”
I can’t forget about it, it was too good to forget”
“Mark I love Shane, don’t get me wrong I like you, but my life is with Shane”
“I understand, look I best get ready and go” he went upstairs and got ready then left.

Amy didn’t know what to do with herself, so she phoned Shane, but they only had a short conversation. Amy decided she’d go shopping take her mind of mark and Shane for a bit. She grabbed her mobile phone and went out to the car, she was only gonna go into town, as she didn’t really want much. She was parking her car when he phone went off; she’d got a text message.

‘Hi Amy, I need to see you. I love you, I really do.
Come to mine please. Love Mark x x x’

She couldn’t resist, I drove to mark’s house. He let me in and I sat on the sofa while Mark got me a drink.

“I’ve been thinking” Mark shouted from the kitchen
“About?”
“Us”
“What about us”
“If I can’t have you to myself, then meet me at night times, Shane will never know”
“At night?”
“Yeah”
“I think he’ll know if I’m not in bed. I sleep in his arms every night”
“Did ya have to tell me the last bit because that just makes me jealous”
“Sorry. Look I have to go Marie’s coming tomorrow and I need to get a few things”
Mark saw me out and said bye.
Amy didn’t bother going shopping instead she headed straight home.

She walked inside to find music blaring out of the speakers, she turned the music down. She was sure she didn’t leave it on when she went out that morning.

Chapter 12

Amy knew whoever it was didn’t mind being found, so she knew it would be someone she most probably knew. She walked into the kitchen where she heard rustling, to find Mark sitting at the kitchen table.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Oh, sorry I thought you’d be longer. Sit down I’ll get you a drink”
Amy sat down at the table and Mark passed her a cup of coffee and then sat next to her. He put his hand on hers.

“Shane will never know, one last time, please”

Amy got up without any hesitation, she pulled mark up and started to kiss him, they slowly made their way to her bedroom. The next day came Mark had gone home that morning and Marie had just arrived.

“I thought we’d have a chat first. Catch up on everything. Is that ok?”
“Yeah fine”
Amy sat on the sofa with Marie.
“ I need your help”
“What with?”
“Well I need to know what you think…I slept with Mark” Amy mumbled quickly “What…I knew you liked him before. What about Shane?”
“I dunno”
“What you going to do?”
“Forget about it I suppose, Mark said he would”
“Oh, do you believe him though?”
“Sort of, Shane’s one of his best friends”
“I hope he doesn’t for your sake.”

Marie’s stay with Amy flew by. Shane was back and Marie had gone. Amy had cooked her and Shane a romantic dinner. They sat talking for ages, not watching the film they’d put on. That night Shane and Amy made love for the first time. Amy knew it was right she loved Shane; it wasn’t like when she slept with Mark.