Chapter 15

Shane leaves his room to go to the shop round the corner from the hotel. It was ten in the morning and everybody was still asleep from the night before. He shut his door quietly and started to walk down the hall towards the lift. The whole floor was eerily quiet. He heard a door open behind him and turned around to see. Kian was coming out of the room right at the end of the hallway. Shane knew this was Hollie’s room. Shane turned back round and hurried to the lift. He pressed the button to call the lift then turned back look back down the hallway. Kian was opening the door to his own room. He hadn’t appeared to have seen Shane. The lift made a ding as it got to the floor. The doors opened but Shane didn’t get in. He walked back to his room feeling cross. He’d had enough.

Mark saw Shane walk towards his car with his suitcase. That’s odd. Why’s Shane going now? He thought. We’re not going to leave until tonight. Mark ran over to Shane’s car. “Shane!” He called out as he ran. Shane pretended not to hear him and continued to put his suitcase in the boot. Mark got to Shane’s car and stopped in shock. There was a huge scratch going along the entire side of Shane’s car.
“How did you get that scratch on your car?”
“A minor accident. That’s all.” Mark could smell alcohol on Shane’s breath as he spoke.
“It doesn’t look minor Shane. Tell me the truth.”
Shane didn’t care what anyone thought anymore. He was going to leave them all for good soon. Nobody seemed to need him around anymore. Shane told Mark the whole story of how he was driving when he was drunk.
“What the hell did you think you were doing Shane?” Mark yelled.
“I don’t know,” Shane shrugged.
“You could have killed yourself. You could have killed somebody else!”
“Yeah well, I didn’t.”
“You can’t carry on like this Shane. It’s not good for you or anybody else!”
“Like anybody cares!” Shane started to yell back.
“Open your eyes Shane. Too many people care! If you keep acting like this then nobody will. I sure as hell don’t care anymore!”
“Leave me alone!”
“Go on then! Kill yourself. See if I care! You’re a nobody right now Shane. A nobody! Until you straighten yourself out that’s all you will be!”
Shane got into his car and slammed the door. Mark watched as he turned on the ignition and reversed out of the parking lot. Mark walked over to the road and sat down on the kerb. He continued to watch as Shane made his way down the road and round the corner. Mark stayed as he was for a while, not sure whether to tell anybody else what just happened.

After a few hours Shane finally arrived at the Tower Bridge in London. He parked his car at the side of the road, got out and went to look over the edge. For a winter’s day it was bright and sunny. The blowing wind was cold but Shane didn’t mind as he stood in a pair of trousers and a short-sleeved shirt. Soon I won’t be cold ever again, He thought as he looked down at the clear green water below him. Thought of the past few months caught up with him and began to spin round his head. Most of them were Shane sitting in the park drinking. He didn’t know what had happened to his life and thought there was only one way out now. Nobody seemed to care about him anymore. Not even Hollie. He thought about her and his chest began to hurt. Tears came to his eyes. Then he thought about his friends. Or they used to be his friends. Eventually Shane began to climb over the railing on the bridge. Cars slowed down as they went past but nobody stopped. Shane stopped for a few moments to look back at the clear water. It was sparkling in the sun. He let go of the railing and stepped back. He lifted his other foot up and he fell…

“Why are we here?” Daniel asked as everyone bundled into Hollie’s living room. “I have to tell you all something important,” Kian replied. Once everybody was comfortable Kian began to tell them about Mira. A few minutes after they all arrived they were crying over their friend. “That’s terrible,” Emily cried.
“It’s not fair!” said Narna. “Why do bad things always happen to good people?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I didn’t want to ruin New Year for you all,” said Kian unhappily. “I knew what Nicky was going to do at the party. It meant a lot to him and I couldn’t ruin it. I’m so sorry.”
“Where’s Shane?” asked Claire. “Does he know?”
“I haven’t seen him since the party,” said Nicky.
“Me neither,” said Daniel.
“But that was nearly a week ago!” said Mark.