Hiya everyone! I know, tis unexpected upload! Anyway, just a quick note to say that right now, knowing that you read this fic still is more important than huge reviews, so if you read it can you just leave a note on the reviews board just literally saying, ‘I read it!!’ just so I know and don’t feel totally pointless, haha! Obviously if you can be bothered to leave me a proper review that’ll be much appreciated, but like I said, I’d rather you just let me know you’ve read it, coz much as I thrive on the feedback, people reading it is most important to me! Thanks guys! Oh, and by the way – this is where LTD gets crap for a coupla of chapters before it picks itself up again, hence why I’m rushing through the naff chaps mid-week! So don’t feel pressure to enjoy this one! Chloe xxx

Chapter Forty-Three

“Time for lunch guys?” Ben asked.

a1 were in a hired London studio and had been working on tracks for the new album since the early hours of the morning. After their meeting with Tim, they’d all felt guilty about the fact that they hadn’t been working as had as he thought and decided it was time to make up for it. It was in fact way past lunchtime, and although they were all starving, nobody had liked to say anything for fear of interrupting the creative flow.

“Yeah, good plan.” Paul said.

Mark looked at his watch. “How long have we got for lunch?” he asked.

Ben shrugged. “We’re our own bosses.”

“Why? Got better places to be?” Chris asked.

“Mark grinned. “Sort of. There’s something I’ve gotta pick up. Really need to nip back into Kingston.”

“Is an hour long enough?”

“Yeah, should be. Won’t take long.”

“Back here in an hour then?” Ben asked.

Everyone agreed and went their separate ways. After spending all morning together they needed a bit of time to themselves.

As Mark walked out to the car park, he got out his phone and dialled Colin’s number.

“Hello?”

“Colin, it’s Mark.”

“What a lovely surprise.” Colin said sarcastically. “What can I do for you little bro?”

“Can you take a break for about half an hour? I need you to help me with something.”

“Yeah, I can break for lunch. We’re not too busy today anyway. What’s up?”

“I’ll explain all when I see you.”

“Okay… where are you now?”

“I’m just leaving the studio in London.”

“Where d’you wanna meet then?”

“By the cross?”

“Here?”

“Yeah, it won’t take me long to drive up.”

“Okay. See you in about… 15 minutes?”

“Yeah. See ya.”

“Bye.”

Mark smiled to himself as he hung up the phone ands got into his car. This was by far the best idea he’d had in ages. It was gonna be great; Rose would love it and it’d take his mind off everything. Well, maybe a little bit anyway. Only another six days to go and he’d find out if his life was well and truly over.

“Can’t wait for that…” Mark muttered to himself as he drove.

In no time at all, he was in Kingston heading towards the cross. He’d decided to enlist Colin to help with his little surprise because if Colin didn’t agree to it then it couldn’t really happen. Mark was sure he’d say yes but if he needed a little persuasion, Mark was all ready to sweet-talk him into it. Anyway, it was for Rose, and Mark could tell Colin already had a soft spot for her. If she was a little bit more like Sam, she’d have realised that and would be manipulating him for all she was worth. Thank god Rose was about as different from Sam as you could get.

Mark got to the cross and parked the car. Colin was already waiting for him.

“What’s the big mystery then?” he asked as Mark got out of the car.

“I need to ask you a favour.”

“Might have known. Go on then.”

“You’re at home a lot of the time right?”

“Yeah… when I’m not working.” Colin said suspiciously.

“But generally speaking, you’re there at least once a day.”

“Yes…”

“So if there was something at home that needed attention a couple of times a day, you’d be able to look after it when I wasn’t there?”

“You haven’t gone and got another girl pregnant have you?”

Mark smiled. “No, nothing like that!”

“Well what are you talking about then?”

“Salamanders. Or rather, salamander.” Mark said.

Colin looked very confused. “Salamanders?”

“Yes. Rose wants a salamander but she’s not allowed to have one. So I thought if I get one, it could be hers but it could stay at my house.” Mark explained.

“Ahhhh, and you want me to look after it while you’re off travelling the world with “work”?”

“Please?”

“What would I have to do?”

Mark shrugged. “I dunno. I’ve gotta get a book about them. Feed it I guess.”

“As long as I don’t have to walk it.”

“Oh don’t worry, I wouldn’t dream of imposing any form of exercise on you. Is that a yes then?”

“I suppose…” Colin said.

“Great! Thank you!”

“Is that it? Can I go back to my job now?” Colin asked.

“Um, well there was one more thing…”

Colin sighed. There was always one more thing.

“What?”

“Will you come and help me choose it?”

“Do I have a choice?”

Mark grinned. “Do you ever? Come on.”

“Where are we going?”

“To get a salamander.”

“Yes I know that. Where do you propose to get one from?”

“Pet shop?”

“The same pet shop that sells cute little fluffy rabbits and hamsters?” Colin asked.

“Um, yeah…”

Colin looked at Mark.

“No?”

“No Mark.”

“Oh.”

“Have you actually thought this through?”

“Yes.”

“When did you have this brainwave?” Colin asked.

“This morning…” Mark said quietly.

“Gotta admire your outlook on life Mark. It’s so simple.”

“What?”

Colin shook his head. “Never mind.” He said.

“Where are we going to get one from then?” Mark asked, slightly disheartened that his plan was flawed so quickly.

“Hey don’t worry oh unplanned one, we’ll get you your salamander!”

“Rose’s salamander.” Mark said.

“Hers too. Listen, what time do you finish being a superstar today?”

“I dunno. When we’ve done as much as we can.”

“Okay, well how long have you got before you have to go back?”

Mark looked at his watch. “Half an hour-ish.”

“Plenty of time then!” Colin said. “Let’s go!”

“Where?”

“Well even if the pet shop doesn’t sell vicious people eating lizards, they’ll definitely know where we can get one from so we’re going to go and ask them.”

“Vicious people eating?” Mark asked.

Colin smiled. “No. They’re only small aren’t they?”

“I actually have no idea, I don’t know anything about salamanders.”

“Well let’s hope the pet shop sells books then. Come on, we’ll take your car.”

“…and he said it was up to me, so I don’t know what to do now. Do you think I should call him?” Dawn paused and looked at Ben who was staring into space and clearly not listening to a word she was saying.

“Ben?”

Still no answer.

“Ben!”

“What?” Ben asked, snapping back to the reality of the London coffee shop he was sitting in with a friend.

Ben was just going to go home for lunch, but when he ran into Dawn on Oxford Street he realised he hadn’t seen her for far too long, so they’d decided to go for coffee. They’d been catching up on gossip and each other’s news when Dawn started talking about her new boyfriend Jamie. This immediately triggered off thoughts of Chloe, and Ben rapidly slipped into dream world.

Dawn smiled at Ben. “Something on your mind?”

“Sorry, carry on.”

“No no, if there’s something you wanna talk about, you go ahead. I’ve been talking for too long anyway, I’ve probably bored you.”

“Don’t be stupid, I like hearing what you’ve been up to. Do you know how long it’s been since we’ve had a chat in person?”

“Ooooh, must have been… January? No way, has it been that long?!”

“God that’s awful.” Ben said.

“I know, isn’t it? No wonder we’ve got so much to catch up on!”

“Yeah. What were you saying about…” Ben trailed off, realising he really hadn’t been listening to anything Dawn had been saying.

“Nick?” Dawn prompted.

“Yeah, Jamie.”

“I wanna know what’s been occupying your mind for the last fifteen minutes. Must be either something pretty good or pretty terrible to distract you like that. Did you hear even one word of what I was saying?” Dawn asked good-naturedly.

Ben grinned. “And? I’m sure you said and at some point.”

“Ben everyone says and. It’s like one of the most used words in the English language. So, you gonna tell me or not?”

“Well all that talk about you and Jamie made me think…”

“So it’s a girl who’s done this to you! Well I never. Go on then, what’s her name?”

“Chloe.”

“And is this a long term thing?”

“Hope so. We’ve only been going out for a couple of weeks though.”

“Oh, talking about that, I wanted to ask you something.”

“What?”

“Well there was something in the paper the other day about you. Made the front page and everything. Something about a girl?”

“Oh.” Ben said, the smile fading from his face.

Dawn cringed. “Oooh, touchy subject? Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“No it’s okay, just a bit sick of everyone asking me about that.”

“Well forget I said anything then. Let’s talk about Chloe.”

“It is about Chloe so we’re pretty much talking about her either way.” Ben said.

“So that girl…”

“Yes, I was with Chloe, but no, what the papers said isn’t true. Or, well…” Ben grinned.

Dawn shook her head. “And there I was thinking that it was all rubbish and there was no way you’d have a 15 year old girlfriend. You learn something new every day. You know what people are gonna say.”

“I know, I know. And I’ve had it already. But you know what? I don’t really care. They can say what they like, I’m happy and that’s the most important thing.”

“Wow, you have changed since I saw you last.” Dawn marvelled. “I like the new Ben.”

“Well it’s just as well because he’s here to stay.”

“Forever?”

“For as long as I have Chloe.”

Dawn gasped. “Oh my god, you’re in love!”

“You can’t tell that.”

“I can.”

“How?”

“Tell me you're not.”

“I can’t do that.” Ben admitted.

“Ha! See I can tell! But awww, you’re going all sappy on us!”

Ben smiled. “So people keep telling me.”

“No, it’s nice! When am I gonna get to meet her then? Or am I gonna have to wait to read it in the papers?”

“I hope the papers leave us alone! They’ve caused enough problems already.”

“Problems?”

“Oh you know, the usual. Worried girlfriend, angry manager.”

“Tim wasn’t pleased?”

“You could put it that way. I prefer to say insane.”

“Oh yeah right. Tim’s a pussy cat!”

“Oh yeah, he’s great. I’m just glad he didn’t involve weapons in our little discussion.”

“Did you?”

Ben laughed. “Involve weapons? No, I’d left my dagger with Mark unfortunately.”

“You know I can never quite tell whether you’re joking or not.”

“Well won’t your life be full of surprises then?!” Ben said.

“As long as I spend time with you, I don’t doubt that. So, tell me about Chloe then.”

“Nah I dunno when I’ll be able to get out.” Paul said as he sat in his kitchen, talking to his sister on the phone. “We’re chained to the studio at the moment.”

“You could say it with a little more enthusiasm.” Shareen said.

“Yeah well it’s boring isn’t it? I wanna get out there and do some gigs. Not more of this writing songs crap. I’m just no good at it.”

“That’s not true! Paul come on, don’t be all down.”

“Well it’s just all so fucked up at the moment.” Paul said grumpily.

“Why? What’s so bad?”

“I wanna come out and see everyone! I haven’t seen you for months! I miss you, and mum and dad.”

“We miss you too, but we understand it’s hard for you to get away. You’re not expected to turn up to family meals!”

“I know…”

“It’s not just that though is it? What’s making you like this? You were in such high spirits when I spoke to you a couple of weeks ago. So what’s changed?”

Paul sighed. “It’s Ben and Mark. Well, not them exactly, and it’s Ben mostly…”

“What about them?”

“They’re all loved up with girlfriends.”

“So this is about Carla?” Shareen asked.

“No, well yes…”

“Paul you know she was trouble.”

“But I can’t forget about her! And I can’t stop thinking what if? What if I hadn’t left Spain to join a1? Where would I be now? Would I be happier than I am at the moment?”

“You can’t think like that though. You didn’t stay in Spain and you did join a1. There’s no use in thinking about what might have happened if you hadn’t because you can’t possibly know. You and Carla didn’t split up because of a1.”

“We did! And it was all my fault for being selfish and just leaving her in Spain while I went off to pursue a stupid dream that I’m not even sure I want any more.”

“It wasn’t your fault! It was her fault for not loving you as much as she should have done. And she could have gone to England with you…”

“But I shouldn’t have expected her to leave behind her whole life to come with me.”

“If she’d have loved you enough she’d have followed you anywhere. You know that.”

Paul sighed. Shareen was right. She was always right. She was his big sister after all.

“I know…”

“And you’ll find someone else. Someone who’s right for you.”

Paul sighed dejectedly. “Too old.”

“Never too old! Hey, I’m older than you and I’ve only just got married!”

“Yeah, guess I’ll just keep my fingers crossed then. Listen, I better go, we only got an hour for lunch and I’ve gotta be back at the studio for half 3. I’ll speak to you later.”

“Okay, see ya!”

“Bye.”

Paul sighed as he put the phone down. He wanted so badly to be in Spain right now. He missed his family so much and wished he could just jump on a plane and go to see them. He didn’t want to work for a million hours solid in the stupid studio making stupid songs, he just wanted to go home. Go home and sleep for a very long time. Then he’d get up several days later feeling fully refreshed instead of constantly exhausted, have a huge breakfast cooked by his mum and spend the whole day hanging out with the friends he hadn’t seen for over a year.

But instead he had to stay here in horrible dirty London, and spend days watching Mark, Ben and Chris write songs with their hands tied behind their back whilst sleeping. Coz that was all he did. He watched. He didn’t write music, he didn’t write lyrics, he didn’t play instruments. He was just one big useless waste of space. And on top of all that, he was going to be late back. It really wasn’t his day today.