Chapter 13

Shane walked into his house. He had a thumping headache. He slowly walked into the living room. He could hear the fire in the fireplace crackling even though they had central heating. The back of the sofa faced towards the door. Hollie and Kian were sat next to each other on the sofa. Shane noticed Kian’s arm was around Hollie’s shoulders and her face was buried in his chest. Shane turned around and walked up to one of the spare rooms.

‘I’m missing you
Girl even though you’re right here by my side
‘cause lately it seems
The distance between us is growing too wide
I’m so afraid that you’re saying it’s over
The last thing that I wanna hear

But if your heart’s not in it for real
Please don’t try to fake what you don’t feel
It love’s already gone
It’s not fair to lead me on
‘cause I would give the whole world for you
Anything you ask of me I’d do
But I won’t ask you to stay
I’d rather walk away
If your hearts not in it

You say that you love me
But baby sometimes
You’re just saying the words
If you’ve got somethin’ to tell me
Don’t keep it inside
Let it be heard
I’m so afraid that you’re saying it’s over
Girl I’ll make it easy for you

But if your heart’s not in it for real
Please don’t try to fake what you don’t feel
It love’s already gone
It’s not fair to lead me on
‘cause I would give the whole world for you
Anything you ask of me I’d do
But I won’t ask you to stay
I’d rather walk away
If your hearts not in it

How I wish I could take us back in time
But it’s gone too far now we can’t rewind
(and there’s nothing that I can do
To stop me losing you)
I can’t make you change your mind
(if your hearts not in it)

But if your heart’s not in it for real
Please don’t try to fake what you don’t feel
It love’s already gone
It’s not fair to lead me on
‘cause I would give the whole world for you
Anything you ask of me I’d do
But I won’t ask you to stay
I’d rather walk away
If your hearts not in it’
(If Your Hearts Not In It, Westlife, World Of Our Own, 2001)

About half an hour later Hollie walks past the room and noticed Shane sat on the small single bed staring at the plain white wall in front of him. “Hey when did you get in?” she asked. She noticed Shane had a bump on his head. It was an angry shade of purple. Shane turned away and looked out of the window. “What’s up hon?”
“You!” Shane spat angrily.
“Me?” asked Hollie slightly confused.
“Yeah you. If you want Kian so bad then don’t lead me on.”
“What are you talking about?” Hollie moved a little closer to Shane. She could smell the alcohol on him. She put her hand on his shoulder and he brushed it off.
“I’ve seen you two together. You don’t say you love me then go and cuddle up to him!”
“Well you haven’t exactly been there for me have you? All you care about these days is drink. One of my best friends was in a coma barely alive and all you could think about was alcohol. What was I supposed to do?”
“Yeah well you can have him.”
“I don’t want him. I want the old Shane. The one I love. Not this new Shane who drinks a lot and talks crap. I don’t like the Shane your turning into.”
Shane just got up and left the room leaving Hollie to sit on the floor crying.

Kian went over to Nicky’s place and knocked on the door. Nicky opened it and let him in. They went into the kitchen and sat at the island counter in the middle. Nicky had already made some tea and poured Kian a cup. “Nicky I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. Me and Cherie were just having some problems and I guess I was just trying to find some ways to cope.” Kian said almost crying. “But the thing is. Me and Cherie have split up now. But I think I’m starting to get feelings for Hollie.” Nicky almost spat into his cup. “I don’t know what they are. Whether it’s just a crush or what?”
“I doubt Shane will care right now.” Said Nicky. “He’s too wrapped up in his own little world. Anyway, I’m sorry for hitting you.”
“Hey I deserved it man.” Kian hugged Nicky quickly. “But I forgive ya anyway.”
“Are we still hiring out the Conrad for Christmas?” Asked Nicky. All of them and their families and friends were going to have a Christmas party in the hotel’s function room on Christmas day. Then they were going to hire out the function room and two floors of the Swallow hotel in Birmingham for New Years Eve.
“As far as I’ve heard we still are,” replied Kian.
“Christmas Day is in three days. I’m still halfway through buying Anna’s presents. We’ve been together for five years and every year we get each other loads of presents.”
“I can’t believe you tow have been together that long. Since you were both sixteen.”
“It doesn’t seem that long. Especially since we don’t see each other that much anymore.”
“But you sure do make up for it when you’re together right?” Kian asked cheekily.
Nicky just grinned back at him. “I did have an idea for a present though.” Nicky went over to a kitchen drawer and rummaged underneath some cloths for a few minutes. He pulled out a small red velvet box and went back over to Kian. He opened the box to show Kian what was inside. A white gold ring with one single diamond in the centre.
“Oh Nicky you shouldn’t have. You know we can’t get married. It will ruin everything.” Kian said laughing his head off. Nicky snapped the box shut while laughing himself. “It’s a lovely ring. Your gonna ask her to marry you?”
“Yup. At New Year’s. Just worrying about her saying no.”
“She’ll say yes and you know it. She loves you. The whole world knows it.” Kian said giving Nicky a pat on the back. “You’re gonna have to hide that ring somewhere more convenient. Someone’s going to find it in there.”
“I was going to hide it somewhere in the shed. She never goes in there.”