I know that Lou likes this chappy so its all for her! Well done Lou on your French! (She’s quite the speaker ;) hehe) and I hope you enjoy. Seven exams left for me! Yay! Luv Hay xxx

"Chris… I don’t think I can do this." Mark confided as he buttoned up his shirt.

"Of course you can." Christian smiled reassuringly.

"No… no I don’t think I can."

"Well you’re still buttoning up that shirt so something tells me you want to go." Christian observed as he sat on his bed with a guitar in his hands.

Sighing and stopping immediately what he was doing, Mark headed over to his own bed and sat down. The shirt hung loosely as more fumbling with the buttons made the speed of doing it up, decrease dramatically, and as the cuffs dangled around his hands, the black trousers still attained their crease, like his mouth, yet hanging down.

The ball was tonight and as Mark was getting ready and dressing in the suit that Anton had so generously offered, he couldn’t help but feel the wall of nerves he had built, crumble like dough. He wasn’t made for posh gatherings and false appearances, he was made to be himself, and that was what he was scared of when around them.

"It’s Louise. I have to go for her. It’s her night," Mark began to reveal. "Everything I’ve taught her, she’ll be showing and she wants me to be there. I have to."

"Do you want to go? Like really want to go?" Christian asked, placing his guitar on the floor, and facing Mark.

"Yes… no… I don’t know!" Mark exclaimed. "I mean, look at me! Half dressed in a tux… it’s just not me is it?"

"How do you know if you haven’t tried? I’m sure Louise will be impressed." Christian winked.

"Yeah, yeah Chris." Mark chuckled. "Its not as if I can do anything right there either is it? Louise is engaged with some posh old bloke who gave me this bloody suit. She’ll find that appealing won’t she when I turn up in something that he gave me. Maybe I just shouldn’t bother, like you said."

"But you really like her, don’t you?" Christian added, sitting forward. "I mean, when you came home that night, after that piano lesson and she nearly kissed you, you were on top of the world almost! Don’t give that up just because of how much money they have. There’s more to life then money, and you know that."

"Yeah, but that doesn’t mean it makes things easier. I’m nothing compared to him. I’m gonna be a nothing at this ball." Mark frowned.

"Mark, listen to me. I’ve known you quite a long time while we’ve been trying to put this band together, and if there’s one thing I know, its that your not nothing." Christian said earnestly. "Who taught Louise how to play the piano and assemble that tune?" He questioned.

"I did…"

"Yes, you did. Now, that didn’t take money, or… or a big house or big company to do that did it? What that took was patience, time and… and talent and money can’t buy that. Nothing can." Christian explained. "Just because you offer something different, doesn’t mean it means nothing. If anything it means more."

"Thanks Chris." Mark smiled.

"Its ok. Now… now go finish getting dressed in your posh tux and I’ll see you downstairs before you go." Christian grinned.

"Cheers." Mark thanked again.

Continuing buttoning up his shirt, before fixing the black bow tie around his neck, he grimaced at himself, as wearing a suit wasn’t what he did on an everyday basis. Running his hands through his hair, roughly spiking up the front, he then slipped on the black jacket and straightened the tie. If this was how they wanted him to look, then he was going to do a fine job in doing it.

"How’s James Bond doing up there?" Paul laughed as Christian entered the lounge.

"Not too good… he’s just so nervous." Christian answered, sitting in the nearest chair.

"Mark? Nervous? Nah…" Ben smirked. "I think you’ve got something wrong there mate. Mark never gets nervous!"

"Well this is his first then because he’s certainly not on top of the world in going." Christian unveiled.

"The world is not enough for him is it?" Paul commented before laughing loudly.

"Paul, shut up with the Bond theme. It’s not funny." Ben told, trying hard not to break into a smile.

"Oh come on Ben! You’ve got to admit that last one I said was good! Getting the film title in there… that took careful planning and word arrangement along with cunning-ness!" Paul chuckled.

"Yeah, how ever did you do it?" Ben replied, joining in the laughing this time, except Paul stopped.

"Ruin my fun." Paul pouted.

"Shut up the both of you! I think he’s coming!" Christian alerted. "Act normal and don’t say anything that could put him off! He really likes Louise," he instructed, "so lets let him go for it."

"Well, how do I look?" Mark asked nervously, walking in.

"Ahh, we meet again Mr Bond…" Paul said seriously, reaching quickly for the pillow before stroking it.

"Shut up Paul!" Ben told. "Ignore him Mark. This is all because he can’t go."

"I’m only having a bit of fun! Lighten up will ya!" Paul laughed, throwing the pillow aside. "You’re gonna do fine Mark. Just go in there and act like you the man!"

"Thanks… Paul." Mark chortled.

"Yeah, Lou is gonna love you in that suit! Men in uniform, women always love that!" Ben grinned.

"Well I hardly call this uniform." Mark said, glancing down.

"Yeah, well… well it’s a suit isn’t it? Same thing… almost! Just go with it! Louise is gonna love ya! You know that!" Ben smiled.

"If you say so." Mark said quietly.

"Yep. Come on Mark, if anyone should know about appearance then its me! I’m just drop dead gorgeous as it is!" Ben laughed. "And you ask Chris about the whole uniform thing… he would know! This is women we’re talking about, right Chris."

"Yes, it is a known fact to turn women on." Christian added wisely, grinning.

"Looks like you’re luck’s up tonight then Mark! You’ve got a licence to thrill… or should I say kill!" Paul smirked, laughing yet again. "Alright, alright, I’ll stop, I’ll stop." He told, gasping through laughs. "But I’m just so good at this."

"Whatever Paul." Mark smiled. "Ok, so do I need to take anything?"

"Just yourself I think." Christian grinned.

"Right… just me…" Mark said to himself. "Are you sure? Aren’t you supposed to take wine or something like that?"

"To an event like this! Ha – don’t make me laugh! I guarantee you they’ve got a whole cellar full of the stuff and tonight they’ll use like three bottles." Paul told. "Cheap skates." He muttered.

"Ok, so it’s just me." Mark pondered more, just standing there.

"Well off you go then!" Ben told. "Don’t look so petrified Mark! They’re not gonna kill you."

"Yeah, and if they do, just use your watch gadget thing to blow them all away!" Paul advised, grinning.

"You don’t really think he’s James Bond do you?" Ben asked seriously, looking slightly concerned.

"What? Mark’s not James Bond?" Paul said sadly, before laughing. "God Ben! You’re so dense! I’m just giving Mark here a bit of confidence. If he thinks he’s James Bond, then he’ll be James Bond." He told, winking while leaning over to nudge Mark.

"I erm… best go." Mark said, turning to leave. "See you when I get back."

"Hey Mark, remember what I said, won’t you?" Christian called.

"Oh and Mark!" Paul shouted. "If you and Louise do get it on, which no doubt you will, I want all the details! Remember, you only live twice!"

"Shut up Paul." Ben laughed as the door slammed shut and the house fell silent.

"So… who’s for a game of Monopoly?" Christian asked.