BACK		I Found Heaven

By Stephanie

I thought I found love
With somebody else's girl, yeah
Walkin' round feeling so broken-hearted
Lost in a different world

Shane sighed, resting his head in his hands. He heard someone’s laughter which caused him to lean over the railings of the balcony to see who it was. Every muscle in his body died when he seen her with Bryan, again. They were all over one another. He shook his head, walking back into his hotel room. The hotel room that he had been staying in for the past two weeks, the hotel room which held so many one night stands trying to get Kerry out of his mind, the hotel room that he had cried in almost every night, the hotel room that was so dark and lonely…the hotel room that he had first seen her in. He sat on his bed, thinking back to the night that they had first met…
“Where’s Nicky?” Shane spoke into mobile phone, trying to get a hold of his mate but everyone who couldn’t find Nicky had a fair idea where he might be…with Georgina. “Does he ever get away from her? I’m surprised she’s not sick of him.”
Shane laughed before hanging up on Anto. He sighed. Nicky was so lucky, having the love of his life…finding the love of his life at such a young age, Shane thought, and here he was, nearly 21 years old and he hasn’t even come close to finding his girl. The knock at the door broke him out of his thoughts. He smiled, leaving his mobile on the dresser while making his way over to the door.
Tonight, he was meant to be going out with Kian and Nicky which he had been looking forward to all day, he opened the door and in his opinion, time had stood still. The most beautiful woman that he had ever set his eyes on was standing right in front of him. She smiled at him. “Hi, I’m Kerry, have you seen Bryan??” He sighed, thanking God that she wasn’t a fan . “Hi, he’s in the shower. You must be the one he’s taking out tonight?” Shane smiled, inviting her in. Kerry laughed. “Yea, something like that.” And that was it, from that moment on, her brown eyes stole Shane’s heart and kept it ever since. He was in love with her, or so he thought. But she had Bryan, every time he seen them, no matter how good a mood he was in, he’d always end up moping around the place, broken hearted that she wasn’t his.

But then you came in my life
Brought me back to reality so nice
Now I don't need a fantasy
You're the only one I need

Shane walked into the café to be greeted by his sister who was working there part time. “Shane! Hi!” She smiled, throwing her arms around him. “Mom’s been worried sick about you, you haven’t called in ages.” Shane smiled. “Where is she?” “She’s gone out for dinner with Dad, Finbarr and Grainne. The kids are upstairs with Natalie if you wanna go up and see ‘em?” Mairead said, while making tea for the few customers that were there. “Natalie?” “Yup, she’s their new babysitter. They wanted to come here ‘cause Killian wanted to watch video’s and their video recorder wasn’t working.” She said, and left to bring an order down to table no.6, Shane’s eye’s followed her before making his way upstairs to see his Godson and niece who he’s been longing to see since he left. He loved them so much, they were like his own kids. He sighed again, thinking about having kids of his own one day…but it was only a fantasy, he had to find ‘her’ yet, her…the one that he would love for all eternally.
He walked into the living room with Kerry on his mind when he seen Killian playing with a young girl. He was jumping on her, pulling her hair and play fighting, but she didn’t seem to mind, infact it seemed as if she was enjoying it. She was laughing too much to notice that Shane was there, it was when Killian had stopped for no reason that she looked up. “SHANE!!!” He screamed jumping on him, giving him a tight hug. “Hi” He laughed, twirling him around.
“Miss me?” “YEA, YEA, YEA” Killian said with so much excitement in his voice.
Natalie laughed at the site of Killian. “Hi, I’m Natalie.” She smiled, shaking his hand. He smiled back, “I’m Shane.” He said, leaving Killian on the couch next to his sister, Ciara who was asleep.

I found heaven, sweet heaven baby
On the wings of love
I found heaven, sweet heaven baby
On the wings of love
I will never, no I'll never
I will never lose my way again
Oh yeah

It was that handshake that started a deep and strong friendship between Shane and Natalie. Everyday he was at home, he’d spend with Killian and Ciara, either in the park, on the beach or at home watching TV. And Natalie would sometimes tag along, but as the days passed, the more they hung around one another. Shane had another 2 days left of his long Christmas holidays, and then it was back to work. He walked into his bedroom and fell onto his bed. He smiled at the pleasure it brought him, he had just gone for a long walk with Nat, but the pain didn’t kick in until he got home. ‘I really need to work out more’ he thought as his mobile rang. “Hello?” He felt like crying, his face went completely pale as he was taking in every work that Bryan had to say. After congratulating him, he hung up. Re-capping over the conversation, he ended up crying himself to sleep.

I thought you'd soon be my girl
But my imagination was running wild
I wouldn't listen to a single soul
Deep in the sense of denial

Shane woke up by the sound of his mobile, he was about to answer it when he realized that it was a text massage he had received. ‘Hey dude, get ur ass outa bed & we’ll hed n 2 town 4 a while,luv Nat’ He smiled, about to get up when his phone call with Bryan came back to him. He sighed, walking over to his dressing table, and picking out an outfit to make himself look half decent. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, asking life, God and himself – WHY?
Nat smiled at Mae, “Is he up?” She asked, about to run up the stairs. “Yea, he’s up there but I don’t know if he’s actually awake.” Mae laughed, handing a customer their change. Nat smiled, walking past all of his family, saying her good mornings. She walked into Shane’s room to find him crying. “Shane, what’s wrong?” She immediately ran to his side. He looked at her for a few seconds before embracing her in his arms. She was taken back by this at first, but soon slowly put her arms around him and sighed. Seeing him like this broke her heart, she had never seen him cry before…it was different.
“Feeling better?” She smiled as he let go of her. He nodded. “Wanna tell me what’s wrong now?” “I love her, Nat. And now’s she’s marrying Bryan!” He said sadly. Nat’s eye widened, “You love Kerry?” She asked, feeling slightly hurt.
She had strong feelings for Shane, but not strong enough to tell him. He nodded, “But she’s gonna marry Bryan, and….and it hurts so much.” He sobbed again. She looked at him, he really took it bad. They spent over 2 hours talking about it, Shane crying and moaning about how she wasn’t his or would never be, and Nat trying to convince him that he didn’t love her and that he only thought she did, that she loved Bryan and could never be Shane’s. But he was in the first stage…denial.

But then you rescued me baby
Opened my eyes and made me see babe
What real love can be
You're the angel that I need

Natalie comforted Shane, over and over again…day by day and night by night. She knew that she was his friend, and that meant being by his side no matter what, but she was getting sick and tired of his moping around the place and moaning constantly.
“Shane, what do you think love is?” Kian asked him out of the blue, one night as they were waiting to go onstage. Shane stared at him. “What?” He asked, confused. Kian had never asked any such question before in his life. “What do you think love is?” Shane smiled, “Who is she?” He laughed. Kian hit him playfully. “C’mon Shay, I’m serious.” “Ok, Ok, Ok. Ammm…” While thinking about it, Natalie came into his mind, not Kerry. It was then that he realised it was Nat he loved, not Kez, that he was actually over her. Shane check his watch, ‘yes!’ he thought, he had over 10 minutes before they were due onstage. He ran over to his sports bag, and grabbed his mobile phone. Dialling a very familiar number, he wanted impatiently as they picked up. “Hi! Could you come around? I can see you in the crowd.” He smiled, waving out at her. “Shane! I can’t hear you.” She shouted down the phone, so instead he sent her a text message to tell her to meet him in his dressing room after their perform ance of ‘Bop Bop Baby’. When she read it, she sighed, thinking it was more uncontrollable crying over Kerry.
As Shane sung he kept his eyes on her, he couldn’t believe the rush of energy and unbelievable courage he got as he realised it was her that he loved. There was so much hunger in him that he wanted to tell her straight away, not having any fear of rejection.

Oh, I see heaven in your eyes for me
Oh baby, now I will give my lovin' faithfully
Oh sweet babe, be my angel

Shane walked breathlessly into his dressing room. The dancing routines they had really took its toll. “Shane, if this is about Kerry…” She started straight away as he came in. He smiled at the sight of her. She couldn’t even finish her sentence, Shane’s lips were locked with hers. Her shoulders tensed up as he held her but when she realised it’s what she had wanted for so long, she ran her fingers through his hair and down his back. He pulled back as the kiss was getting more passionate. She looked at him disappointedly when made him laugh.
“Nat, before we go on…I just have to get this off my chest.” He took a deep breath. “I love you.” He said, simply. No long speech or anything, but you know what they say, 8 letters – 3 words – 1 meaning. She smiled. “I love you too.” She laughed as he carried her over to the couch. “Wanna prove it?” She laughed.
“No bother!”