Mark closed the door, freezing cold from the
late January weather he’d just been out walking in. He didn’t usually do the
whole ‘go for a walk to clear your head’ thing, but today, with a thousand
thoughts speeding recklessly around his head, he was prepared to do just about
anything to sort himself out. The thoughts that were wreaking havoc with the
organisational system in his brain were all about Chloe. Of course they were.
At any one time he only had one thing on his mind, and that was her. Except
recently, the thoughts that had been based around being content and happy had
turned into a swirling mass of vicious black clouds. It was two days now since
they’d been back from Manchester, and two awful days since Chloe had totally
blanked him on the stairs in the hotel. Ever since that moment, she literally
hadn’t said a word to him. Not one solitary word. She’d ignored him when they’d
seen each other in the corridor, she’d ignored him when he’d tried to talk to
her in the lobby before they’d left, and she’d ignored him in the car the whole
way back to London. Ignored him and been all over Ben. It was like the worst
form of torture. Then yesterday at the recording studio it had been the same.
Chloe clinging to Ben like a limpet to a rock, Ben loving every minute of it,
and Mark standing in the darkest corner he could find, praying for someone to
gouge his eyes out so he didn’t have to watch the only person he’d loved this
much in his entire life be like that with someone else.
Mark slammed his bedroom door in frustration,
picked up a book and threw it against the wall. Argh, he could kill
Paul. He was so angry at Paul for doing this to him, and Mark had never
been a violent person, but he felt so wound up by all this that he was having
trouble controlling all the aggression he felt inside of him. Subconsciously -
deep deep down - Mark knew this wasn’t like him at all, but right now this was
how he was feeling, and there was nothing he could do to change that. Not
unless Chloe appeared in the doorway right now, saying she’d left Ben and she
wanted to be with Mark forever.
“ARGH!” Mark shouted, picking up a big teddy
and hurling it at the window.
And now of course Chris knew – something else
Mark had Paul to thank for – and so now no-one was talking to him at all. Which
would have suited him just fine the way he was feeling, had it not been for the
fact that when they did talk to him, it was to give him another lecture
about Chloe. Any chance they got, Paul and Christian would verbally attack him,
telling him all the things he already knew. They really weren’t helping, but
then they probably weren’t trying to. A couple of days ago Mark had been
wondering why they hadn’t told Ben, but then he realised that they didn’t need
to. Hardly much going on between Mark and Chloe at the moment, was there? She
wouldn’t even talk to him! No, they’d done more than enough.
Mark picked up his phone, found Chloe’s mobile
number and pressed ‘Call’. He’d been trying to talk to her over the phone all
day, but every time he started to talk, she hung up on him. That was what had
prompted the walk, actually. Mark had felt himself getting more and more angry
every time Chloe put the phone down, and as the last thing he wanted to do was
shout at her, he’d decided that getting out of the house for a bit while he
calmed down would be a good idea.
“Hello?”
Mark smiled. He could listen to that all day.
“Chloe, I-”
Mark was cut off as Chloe hung up.
Why did she keep doing that?!
He rang the number again.
“Leave me alone.” Chloe hissed into the phone.
“I need to talk to you.”
“Get lost.” Chloe said, hanging up again.
Mark took a deep breath and tried to keep the
bubbling rage at bay.
He called the number a third time.
“Let me explain.” Mark said as soon as the call
was connected, before Chloe had a chance to say anything.
“I don’t want to hear anything you’ve got to
say.”
“But-”
“When are you gonna get the message, Mark? I
don’t want to talk to you!” Chloe said in hushed angry tones.
Ben was at home then, Mark deduced.
Once again, Mark heard the silence at the end
of the line and then the irritating beeps telling him the other person had hung
up.
“I know!” he exclaimed crossly at the
small silver object in his hand.
He managed to refrain from throwing his mobile
on the floor, but only just. Instead, he went into messages and stated to punch
letters onto the screen, one by one. He smiled to himself and pressed send.
Chloe’s mobile phone beeped. She opened the
message and quickly deleted it, Mark’s romantic declaration of
I love you
lost forever.
“Who was that from?” Ben asked, coming into the
room with a sandwich.
“Just junk.” Chloe said.
“Was it your phone that kept ringing?” Ben
asked casually, taking a bite of the sandwich.
Oh shit, had he heard that? Chloe thought.
Damn Mark, why couldn’t he just leave her
alone? He wasn’t so dumb that he wouldn’t have realised by now what she was
trying to tell him, so why did he insist on making things harder for her? She
was doing well so far, though: all Ben, no Mark, good Chloe.
“Oh, er, yeah. One of my friends, um, their
reception kept going.”
“Oh. Want some?” Ben asked, offering Chloe the
half-eaten sandwich.
Chloe shook her head. “No thanks.”
“Sure?”
“Yeah. I’m not hungry.”
“But you’ve hardly eaten anything all day!”
“Keeping tabs on me?”
“Always.” Ben said, leaning in and kissing
Chloe.
She made a face. “Eurgh, you’ve got sandwich
mouth.”
“Probably coz I’m eating a sandwich.” Ben said,
winking at her and leaning back against the arm of the sofa.
“Well don’t kiss me when you’re eating it.”
Ben kissed her again. “Can do what I like.”
Chloe giggled and pulled away from him.
“Bennnnn, you know I hate mustard.”
“Mmm, mustard.” Ben said, kissing her again,
making sure he moved his tongue all around the inside of Chloe’s mouth.
“Nooo, yuk!” Chloe protested.
“Mustard’s great!” Ben said. “How can you not
like it?”
“Eurgh, it’s just gross!”
“How about me covered in mustard?” Ben asked
with a grin.
Chloe laughed. “I wouldn’t lick it off you.”
“I’d lick it off you.” Ben said.
“I wouldn’t let you put mustard on me!”
“Why not?”
“Coz… yuk! Nice things, possibly,
mustard, no.”
“Spoilsport.”
“Would you let me cover you in Marmite?” Chloe
asked.
“Ewww, no.”
Chloe smiled. “See? Not such a nice idea now,
is it?”
“You wouldn’t want to lick Marmite off me. That
stuff’s corrosive!”
“Who said I was gonna lick it off? Personally I
was planning to cover you in small slices of cheese and put a big piece of
bread on top.”
“Well it’s an interesting variation of
foreplay. I’m sure it’d appeal to some people…”
Chloe giggled as Ben put his sandwich on the
table and pushed Chloe back onto the sofa so he was leaning over her.
“You are unbelievably silly sometimes.” He said
fondly, gently kissing her. “Let’s go out tonight.”
Chloe smiled. “Okay. What were you thinking of?
Just me and you?”
“Well I was thinking maybe we could all go out.
Me, you, and the guys.”
Chloe sat up. “All of us?”
“Yeah. Paul’s mate owns this club downtown.
It’s a wicked place.”
Chloe was about to make up an excuse about why
she didn’t want to go when she stopped herself. If she didn’t go out because
Mark would be there then she was letting him get the better of her and she
wasn’t in control of the situation. But she was in control, and so he
should be the one who had to think whether to go or not. And anyway, it was
easier to blank him when he was within slapping distance.
“Yeah, okay.” She agreed. “It’ll be cool; we
haven’t been out like that for ages. Don’t get too drunk, though.”
Ben frowned. “I don’t get drunk!”
“Sorry, I must be thinking of my other
boyfriend called Ben.”
“I may have one or two drinks…”
“Babe, last time we went to a club, you got so
drunk that you thought Paul was me!” Chloe said, laughing at the memory.
“Yeah, and he led me on, the harlot. I’d take
it as a compliment if I were you. Paul’s very good-looking.”
“And you called me Barry.”
“Did I? Who’s Barry?!”
“That’s what I said when you thanked me for a
lovely evening and said you’d pop by the farm soon.”
Ben laughed. “I said that?”
“Yes! I was most put out!” Chloe said.
“I don’t know anyone called Barry!”
“You seemed to think you did that night.”
“Well I promise I won’t get too drunk tonight.”
Ben said.
“Alright.” Chloe said, giving him a quick kiss.
“So what time are we going then?”
The club was already heaving with people when
Paul, Mark, Chris, Chloe and Ben arrived. They strolled past the bouncers on
the door – Ben and Paul being regular visitors – and through into the foyer
where people were being searched for weapons, drugs and… chewing gum. The
proprietor ran a tight ship. Luckily, he also happened to be one of Paul’s
closest friends, so the group managed to completely bypass that particular
humiliation. Paul led the way through another set of doors, and then up some
steps and into the main body of the club. The music was loud, the lights were
bright, the air was hot, and Chloe felt Ben slip an arm around her waist.
She smiled. Places like this always put him in
a very touchy-feely mood, for some reason. When they got home after a night out
clubbing, the sex was always fantastic. If Ben wasn’t calling her Barry, that
was!
“Looks good.” Ben said into her ear. “So do
you. Wanna dance?”
Chloe nodded and they pushed their way through
the happy sweaty people to the middle of the dance floor, where they proceeded
to, well, dance. They bopped about for a bit until the song changed and they
staggered their way breathlessly over to the bar to join Chris, Paul and Mark.
“It’s like a furnace in here!” Chloe shouted
over the music, trying to get her breath back and cool down.
She was having a good time already and she’d
only been there 5 minutes! It was the whole atmosphere of the place that got to
her, and she loved the escapism element to it. You could come here and get
totally lost in the rhythm of everything – forget about every part of the life
you left at the door on your way in, and join in with all the other runaway
people who were concerned only with having a good time. You could be anyone you
wanted in here, and no-one would care. Everyone was looking, but no-one was
seeing. Everyone was anonymous, and no-one went unnoticed. It was just so
exhilarating!
“You want a drink, Clo?” Paul asked. “It’s on
the house.”
“Oh, wicked! Smirnoff for me please.”
“You heard the lady.” Paul said, winking at the
pretty blonde behind the bar.
As she was handed her drink, Chloe wondered why
Mark had come. He was just sitting there at the bar, with a drink that looked
suspiciously (and surprisingly) alcoholic, not talking to anyone, and not
looking like he was having a particularly good time. Chloe looked at him, and
he was looking at her, so she quickly looked away. If she was honest, he was
starting to freak her out a little bit. He didn’t seem to be taking her
rejection very well, and the way he wouldn’t leave her alone was a bit
unnerving. She couldn’t put a finger on exactly what it was, but something about
his behaviour was beginning to make her feel a bit uneasy. Like she wouldn’t
particularly want to run into him in a dark alleyway. And he was still
looking at her. He shouldn’t be doing that, and he shouldn’t be here. Well then
she’d just have to make him wish he’d stayed at home then. Make sure he didn’t
come anywhere near her again. And plus, she hadn’t had her revenge on him for
using her yet, and in her eyes, he deserved whatever he got. If he was going to
mess with her head like he had done, then she was going to mess with his. A
spot of mental torture was always a good way to pass the time.
“Come on Paul,” Chloe said, pulling Paul to his
feet. “let’s see your moves! Back in a min, babe.” She said, giving Ben a kiss.
She made sure that her and Paul were positioned
in Mark’s line of view, and started to dance. She danced as seductively towards
Paul as she could without forgetting that she had a boyfriend, but just enough
to torment Mark a little. She turned round to check he was looking, and then
turned back to Paul, grinning at him and slowly running a hand part way down
his chest.
Paul leaned in closer to speak to her. “Things
okay with you and Ben?” he asked.
Chloe smiled and nodded.
Her and Paul were friends again now. They’d had
a non-screaming and shouting chat yesterday: Chloe had told Paul that it was
all over with Mark, and that she was sorry for putting him in such a difficult
position, and Paul had told her it was okay. Not okay that she’d been having an
affair with Mark, but all the same, she’d given him a second chance when he
didn’t tell her about Mark’s feelings for her, and he didn’t want them to fall
out again, especially not if it really was over. Chloe had also thanked Paul
for warning her off Mark, and for bringing her to her senses. Coz it had
desperately needed doing. Looking back now, she couldn’t believe she’d been so
stupid! Look what she had with Ben – she had everything – and he adored her,
and her him: it was the most perfect relationship imaginable. And then look at
what she had with Mark – nothing. She was glad she’d got out while she still
had the option!
Out of the corner of her eye, Chloe saw Mark
get up from the bar and disappear into the shadows at the back of the club. She
laughed out loud and looped her arms around Paul’s neck, giving him a loose
hug. That had been so much fun!
“I love this place!” she exclaimed to no-one in
particular.
“Who’s complaining when the drinks are free?”
Paul said.
“Not me! Shall we have another?” Chloe
suggested.
Mission accomplished, they left the dance
floor.
“Having fun?” Ben asked, pulling Chloe in for a
proper kiss.
Paul jabbed Ben in the ribs.
“There are toilets for that kind of thing.” He
said, winking at Chloe and letting out a laugh.
He looked like he was having a good time, and
Chloe was glad. They should do this more often! But not with Mark. Nope, he
could not come with them. Hah!
“Why’ve you never brought me here before?”
Chloe asked Ben. “It’s fab!”
“It is rather.” Ben said, grinning and pulling
Chloe onto his lap.
“I knew we shouldn’t have brought those two
here!” Paul said to Chris. “I’ll go and get the bricks.”
“What for?” Chloe asked, shivering as Ben
kissed the back of her neck.
“To build you two a room!” Paul shouted,
laughing with Chris.
“We need to find us some girls, man.” Chris
said, scanning the crowd before him.
“Well I’m going to the loo – I’ll let you know
if I find anyone up to your standards.” Chloe said, sliding off Ben’s lap.
“Toilets are this way, yeah?” she asked Paul, pointing left.
Paul nodded. “Can’t miss ‘em!”
Chloe walked the length of the bar and exited
the room through a doorway displaying directions to the toilets. The door
closed softly behind her, and the majority of the noise was instantly filtered
out. As well as being a lot quieter, it was cooler in the corridor Chloe was
walking down (which was oddly illuminated entirely by fluorescent pink strip
lighting), which was a welcome alternative to the hot stuffiness of the main
club room. Chloe hummed to herself as she happily walked towards the door she
could see at the far end of the corridor that lead to the ladies’ toilets.
“Enjoying yourself?” came a voice from behind
her, making Chloe jump and turn round.
“Looks like you’re having a great time.” Mark
said, walking slowly down the corridor towards her.
“What are you doing here?” Chloe asked.
“Having a good time! Just like you.” Mark said,
getting closer.
Chloe took a step back as he stopped in front
of her.
“Doing it to make me jealous, are you? Trying
to see just how much you can hurt me?” Mark leaned in closer and Chloe could
smell the alcohol on his breath. “Want to see how much I can hurt you?” he
whispered.
Chloe shivered for the second time that night.
This was not a good shiver, though. What had got into Mark?!
“Don’t know what you’re talking about. Excuse
me.” she said, turning and heading down the corridor, towards the toilets.
“You’re only kidding yourself.” Mark called
after her. “And take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”
Chloe quickened her pace, pushed through the
swing door of the loos and went straight into a cubicle, locking it securely
behind her and taking deep breaths to try and slow down her racing heart.
She felt scared, and the fact that she felt
scared, scared her, because she didn’t know what she was scared of. Was she
scared of Mark? She wasn’t, was she? And if she was, why? Mark was Mark! Just
Mark! He was so harmless! And he loved her, or so he said. Or he fancied her,
whatever – he wasn’t going to hurt her. Just because he was acting a bit like
an obsessed stalker, there was no reason for her to feel so edgy.
“Stupid girl.” Chloe muttered to herself,
flushing the loo and leaving the cubicle.
She washed her hands, wiped some stray eyeliner
from under her eye, and left the room. True to his word, Mark was leaning against
the wall a short way up the corridor from her. When he saw her, he started
walking towards her.
“Mark, you’re wasting your time.” Chloe said,
trying to sound firm, pushing past him.
“Chloe, listen…”
Chloe turned round. “No, you listen to me. I am
with Ben now. Only Ben. What we did… it was a mistake, okay? It was stupid. Now
please leave me alone.” She said, turning her back on Mark and trying not to
run up the now sinister pink corridor.
Once through the door and back into the
comfortingly noisy club, Chloe took a deep breath of stagnant air.
Jeez, that guy put her on edge.
She wished she’d never got involved in this
now, and what the hell had she done to Mark? He never used to be this weird!
Was all that her fault? He had been drinking though, so maybe that was it.
Maybe it was just tonight, and tomorrow he’d go back to being normal evil Mark,
instead of freaky evil Mark. Anyway, forget about Mark; back to Ben.
Chloe eventually found Paul, Chris and Ben
dancing in a way that could only be described as cripplingly embarrassing.
“You keep dancing like that and they’ll put you
in a boy band!” Chloe said, trying to get back into the party mood she’d been
in before her little encounter with Mark.
“It’s Chloe!” Ben shouted to no-one and
everyone. “Chloe! My girlfriend! Mmm, come here…” he said, grabbing her and
pulling her as close to him as he possibly could. “I luuurve you.” He slurred
drunkenly before kissing her, his inebriated hands wandering down Chloe’s body.
Chloe smiled to herself, returning the kiss. He’d
certainly been hitting the booze hard to have gone from being sober to more
than just tipsy in 10 minutes.
“I love you too.” Chloe whispered as they broke
from the kiss.
She slid her arms round Ben’s neck, hugging him
tightly, needing to feel his protecting arms around her.
She still felt a bit shaken from seeing Mark,
and – creepy as it sounded – she felt like he was watching her…
Mark stood on the upper tier balcony of the
club, watching Chloe and Ben.
How could she be so cruel? Mark knew full well
that Chloe’s little performances with Ben and Paul were for his benefit. The
dancing with Paul, the hugging and kissing with Ben, oh and look: there she
was, throwing herself at Christian. Why was she doing this? She knew as well as
Mark did that they were made for each other, and Mark couldn’t understand how
she could just turn the feelings he knew she had for him off like that. Coz he
certainly couldn’t stop loving her. He wasn’t trying to – where would
that get him? – but maybe if he could just flick a switch like Chloe seemed to
be able to do, then he wouldn’t be feeling as awful as he did right now. He
wanted her so so much, and it tore him apart not being able to have her.
The words Chloe said hurt Mark more deeply than
she could ever imagine, but it was the things she did that hurt him the most.
Things had been so good between them, and now everything Mark had ever wanted
had been snatched away from him, just as he was getting a taste for it. Well he
wouldn’t stand for it. He knew that deep down, Chloe still had feelings for
him, and one way or another, Mark would make her realise that. She would
be his.