Chapter 9

Later on, after everybody had a few too many drinks Kian went over to Anna who was sat by the bar talking to one of the barmaids. He put his hand on her shoulder and made her jump. “Sorry,” he said.
“That’s alright, Ki.”
“You want a drink?”
“Um…No thanks. I’m not really that thirsty.”
“Y’know I think we are the only two sober ones here. Shane drank about a pint every thirty seconds. Nicky and Bryan are nearly doing the same.”
“Well it’s not my head that’s going to be hurting in the morning,” Anna said sarcastically. Kian leaned in a bit closer to Anna. He could smell her perfume. He didn’t know what it was but it smelled so nice on her. He subtly got closer and closer to her. He could feel her breath on his face as she spoke to him. “I feel sorry for you. Having to work with them tomorrow morning.” ‘I can’t take it any more’ Kian thought and he kissed Anna on the lips and tried not to let. Anna immediately pulled back. “What are you doing?” she yelled at him.
Nicky had been watching Kian’s every move from the moment he first walked over to Anna. He banged his drink down on the table and proceeded to barge through the crowd. “Egan!” He yelled angrily. The room went silent. Nicky went up to Kian and gave him a single punch, which impacted on his nose and cheek. Blood started to pour down Kian’s face and he put his hand up to it.
“Nicky!” Anna yelled. Nicky turned to look at her and saw the disapproving look in her eyes. She gave him an evil look and walked out of the room. Nicky gave Kian one more quick glance and chased after Anna. “What did you do that for?” she yelled at him when they had gotten outside the building.
“I was angry!” he retaliated.
“But he’s one of your best friends. Friends don’t do that to each other.”
“Friends don’t hit on each other’s girlfriends either.”
“That’s still no excuse, Nick. First thing tomorrow morning I want you to apologise to him.” Anna began to walk home. Nicky followed.
“Me apologise to him? He kissed you. He should be apologising to you.”
“I don’t care about that.”
“So you don’t care that he kissed you. You didn’t mind?”
“I did mind. I don’t like him like that. It’s you I love but not when you act like that. You know better Nicky.”

Shane had disappeared. Hollie tried searching everywhere for him inside the building and in the grounds of the building. ‘Where has he gone?’ She thought. ‘He didn’t even tell anyone.’ She was getting fed up of Shane going off on one all the time. He disappears all the time and he always comes back drunk. Hollie loved him so much but him acting this way was hurting her. She didn’t know what to do anymore. They had been together nearly five years and she had never seen him like this before. He’s avoiding most of his friends and family. The record company have had enough of him showing up to work tired and drunk. They were going to have a meeting about Shane within the next two weeks. If only she could get him to talk. Whenever anybody brought up the subject he would always deny his drinking or get angry. She never did find him that night.

Shane sat at the train station. It was a small abandoned one. There was no electricity so there was no light or warmth. The station was rather small, about the size of an average front room. There was dust and cobwebs everywhere. It was starting to get cold but Shane didn’t care. He just wanted to drink. He had his usual bag full of cans and he settled down in an old chair to drink them.

Mark and Claire left the party and got home to find Nicky asleep on the sofa with a bag of frozen carrots on his right hand. Anna came out of the kitchen. “Hiya. How’s Kian?” she asked.
“He’s alright,” replied Claire. “It’s just his ego that’s a bit hurt. A few bruises but never mind.”
“Shane went missing again,” said Mark. “I’m really worried about him. His drinking is getting too much. He does it every night and most days too. Hollie can’t cope anymore. We can’t cope anymore. He’s going to be chucked out of the band at this rate.”
“I really want to talk to him,” said Anna. “He keeps avoiding me so I can’t.”
“I just want everything to be as it was,” Mark said. “I liked it that way.”
“Shane needs all the help we can give him,” said Claire. “Whether he’s going to accept that help is another matter.”

There was tension in the air as Westlife and their entourage were on an aeroplane on their way to Asia the next evening. Everyone felt it even though it was between Kian and Nicky. Neither of them had said a word to each other all day. They had been together since eight that morning doing a photo shoot in London for a magazine. It had been a struggle for them all to get out of bed. “I’ve had enough of this silence!” Anto almost yelled in a patronising tone. “This tension can be cut through with a knife. Now all of you need to smarten up your acts otherwise we can end all of this. It’s your choice. Shane. If I catch you drinking one more time you are out of here as fast as this plane is going. Nicky, you say sorry to Kian because you never should have hit him. Kian you say sorry to Nicky because you don’t go round kissing your friend’s girlfriends. I want those two sorry’s by the time we get off this plane. You understand?” Kian and Nicky just glared at each other. Anto turned round in a huff and sat back down.