Hello everyone!! Sorry I haven’t updated for a few days – my computer has an evil virus!! So am sending this in from work, cos I thought it was about time I got it up! It may be quite a few days until the next update – am not sure when I’m going to get my computer back. Enjoy xx

Chapter 47

It was an amazing feeling, to be able to walk with such confidence, knowing that everyone was looking at you in awe and admiration.

The moment that Mel’s feet hit the concrete outside the Met Bar she knew that all eyes were on her, she could feel the camera flashes hot on her face, knowing full well that every photograph taken was of her and Christian. She had thought that he would pull away, wanting to shy from the publicity, but instead he had held her hand and brought her closer to him.

She felt amazing and couldn’t help but looking down at her feet, smiling as her pink sandals twinkled in the flash bulbs. She knew she looked good, and she looked even better on Christian’s arm.

She was disappointed when they reached the door to the Met and left the glare of the press outside.

“That was mad,” Ben commented

“It’s obvious who they were interested in as well,” Paul commented nodding towards Mel and Christian who were still hand in hand.

“I don’t care,” Christian replied, and by the look on his face he really didn’t. He turned towards Mel and whispered in her ear, “just to warn you, by tomorrow morning you will be my girlfriend.”

She met his grin with one to match and her heart gave a little leap. Sure it was a stupid passing comment, most probably a joke, but she couldn’t help but think maybe he was being serious. Maybe tonight was the night and he was going to finally make her his.

“You’re being very quiet tonight Mark,” Paul observed.

Mel tore her eyes away from Christian and looked at Mark. He was walking along beside them silently, his eyes fixed to the floor. She scowled at him, he was still sulking and it was so annoying! They hadn’t spoken since the night he stormed out of the flat, and now it seemed he was determined to ruin her evening. As soon as Paul had mentioned his name he had started muttering to himself and had now stormed off ahead with the excuse of finding them a space in the VIP area.

The VIP area wasn’t terribly sheltered, mainly because the whole bar was full of celebrities anyway, so it wasn’t really needed. It was a tiny roped off section with a few comfy sofas and its own private bar.

“You’ll be OK here wont you hunny?” Christian asked, as he lead Mel to a sofa in the corner and sat her down.

“Do I have to stay here all night?” she whined in response. All she really wanted to do was go down on the dance floor and celeb spot.

“Well maybe not all night,” Chris said thoughtfully, “but you do need to be careful.”

“You’re like an old married couple,” Ben retorted, rolling his eyes and making his way down to the dance floor to work his magic on some girls.

“Am just looking after you,” Chris muttered quietly at her, obviously hurt by Ben’s comment.

“I know you are,” she smiled at him, “and I think its lovely.”

“I’m going for a groove as well guys,” Paul suddenly announced, leaping to his feet and bounding off towards the floor.

“They always this active on nights out?” Mel asked, watching them weave their way between all the people.

“Yep, one of the plus points of being single I guess,” Christian said.

Mel’s heart leapt again, he was talking like he wasn’t part of it, he wasn’t single, he had someone special and he pitied them for not having it. She couldn’t help but smile with pleasure, he could be setting the dance floor alight, but instead he was sat right next to her on the sofa and they were by themselves, apart from Mark that was!

She glanced over at him, he was looking directly at her, glaring straight at her in a way that was almost creepy, it didn’t matter how long they all sat there for, he was still just looking at her and he wouldn’t go away.

Not being able to stand it anymore she stood up, taking hold of Christian’s hand and pulling him up with her.

“Come and dance?” she smiled.

“You sure you’re up to it?”

“Positive,” she replied, pulling him quickly away, desperate to escape Mark.

The minute they hit the dance floor she melted into his arms. She couldn’t help it, the DJ had started playing a slow Westlife song and suddenly she felt overcome with emotion and needed to feel him hold her.

He did just as she wanted, she felt his arms tighten around her and so automatically rested her head on his chest.

This was just perfect, she could feel his hands stroking gently through her hair, his soft voice singing the words to the song quietly in her ear, the slight twang of his accent making her shiver.

When the song had finished she wanted to stay there just like that, she had never been held like that before, and it was a hard thing to leave.

“Thanks for the dance,” Christian said, letting her go.

She turned to make her way back to the sofa.

“You not coming too?” she asked, noticing that he wasn’t right behind her.

“Am just going to do a bit of socialising,”

“What kind of socialising?”

“Just seen a few people I know that’s all.”

As reluctant as she was to go back to Mark, she knew she couldn’t really argue this one, and so taking a deep breath she returned to the VIP area.

Mark was still sat there – in exactly the same spot, and looking straight at her – it took him only 2 minutes to open his mouth and speak.

“What you playing at?”

“Don’t start this again,” Mel sighed

“You’re going to get hurt.”

“I know what I’m doing,” she turned and glared back at him.

“I don’t think you do.”

“Fine, don’t care what you think.”

“I’m only saying it cos I don’t want you to make an idiot out of yourself.”

“I’m not going to,” Mel argued, “things are going to be fine.”

“But they aren’t,” he argued, “one day you are going to take things too far and land flat on your face.”

“Take things too far?”

“Your little games”

“What little games?” she asked in horror, seemed Mark knew her better than she thought.

“You are always finding some kind of devious way of getting closer to him.”

“Don’t know what you are talking about,” Mel replied.

“Think you do.”

She examined his face for a moment, how did he know her so well? It didn’t make any sense. It was kind of creepy, he was looking straight at her, and it almost felt like he could read her every thought, every time he made contact with her, he would stare so deep into her eyes and it was really beginning to worry her.

“I don’t want to argue with you Mel,” Mark said gently.

“Well don’t then,” she retorted and stood up suddenly and left him. She had no idea where she was walking towards, her only aim really was to find Christian and put as much distance between her and Mark as possible.

As she reached the edge of the dance floor she saw him, he was facing her a little way off and was in heated discussion with someone, she began to pick her way in between the people until she became close enough to distinguish that he was talking to a girl – a girl with blonde hair. The jealousy kicked in immediately, and as the woman spun around to reveal herself it only got worse. She was now directly facing Ella.

They stared at each other with pure hatred for a second before Ella turned on her heel and left her with Christian.

“You OK?” she asked tentatively, noticing the way that he was shaking.

“Fine,” he replied shortly

“Did she come up to speak to you?” Mel asked, hoping beyond hope that he hadn’t tracked her down himself.

He nodded and looked down at his feet.

“She upset you again?”

He looked up at her, “I need a bit of alone time,”

“But it helps to talk,” Mel insisted, “we could find a nice quiet bit of the bar and have a chat.”

“Won’t help,”

“How do you know?”

“Cos I know what helps me,” he said

“What’s that?”

“Look Mel, it doesn’t matter, go back over there and sit with Mark OK?”

Still refusing to move Mel looked at him, he was like a complete stranger. What happened to the warm Christian she had spent this evening with?

“I’ll be fine,” he said to her quickly, his voice beginning to sound a little impatient, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of house keys.

“What are they for?” she asked weakly as he dropped them into her hand.

“To let yourself in when you get home,” he replied, his eyes beginning to shift around the bar.

“Well where are you going to be?”

“I’ll be home late.”

Finally understanding what he meant she forced her feet to move and dragged herself back to the VIP area, by the time she reached Mark the tears had started and as she sank into the sofa next to him the floodgates opened.

He didn’t question her, just let her fall into his arms until her sobs had elapsed and she could speak.

“How could he?”

“What?” he asked soothingly, stroking her back gently.

“He gave me the keys and he’s staying out.”

“Oh,” Mark replied, understanding immediately the problem.

“How could he do it?” Mel sniffed.

“Its just his way of coping with things” Mark replied.

She buried her face into his shirt and began to cry again.

“I’m sorry,” she sobbed from the depth of his arms.

“What for?”

“For getting mad at you.”

“It’s OK,” he replied gently.

“I do wish you wouldn’t get mad at me though,” she commented, “I can’t help loving him.”

“I know,” Mark said, looking at the little blonde girl in his arms fondly.

“Can we go?” she sniffed, “I can’t bear to sit here and watch this.”

He obliged and helping her stand up walked her out of the Met and back to the flat.

Mark stayed with her until she fell asleep, he had been amazing, sitting by her bed, stroking her head until she felt so tired she could no longer keep her eyes open. But then he had left, and this was the first thing she had noticed when she woke up a few hours later.

She wasn’t sure why she had woken up, it wasn’t often that she did during the middle of the night.

But then she heard it, a loud thump slamming hard on the wall, it was so loud it scared her, and she clung a pillow tight to her chest, not daring to breathe in case it encouraged the noise to appear again.

It did, the bang echoing all over the landing and ringing around Mel’s eardrums. The room fell silent for a moment, before an even louder bang sounded, followed by a loud whaling noise. It was too loud for a cat, and sounded far too close.

Suddenly the noises picked up, each one following the other in quick succession and it was then that Mel realised – the noises were coming from Christian’s room, he was having sex with someone right this very moment, and she could hear it all.

She screwed her eyes up tight shut, willing the noise to stop, but it didn’t, and in the end she realised that she would have to move, at least if she went downstairs and switched on the TV she could pretend it wasn’t happening.

Deciding to just make a run for it she quickly opened her door.

Just as she had made it to the top of the stairs a door behind her opened and someone padded out onto the landing.

“Oh mi god,” a loud high-pitched voice remarked.

Not being able to help her curiosity Mel turned round to see a pretty brunette standing behind her. She was wearing tiny pink pants and not a lot else.

“Sorry,” Mel managed to squeak out, wanting to move as quickly as possible.

“I’m Chez,” the girl introduced herself.

Mel tried to force a smile, why was this half naked girl trying to make conversation?

Edging away, Mel began to descend down the stairs, before she reached the bottom she heard the girl speak to Christian.

“That was soooooo embarrassing, I just bumped into your flat mate on the stairs.”

She heard Christian laugh quietly and felt her heart break into a million little pieces.