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A few minuts later Alyson came into the kitchen where Katie was having a coup of hot chocolade. She sat down beside her and took a deep breath. "That was Renée' mother." she said "She said Renée had been in an accident and the doctors don't think she is going to make it!" Alyson was trying to hold back the tear and Katie saw the hurting in her eyes. She reached out for Alyson and gave her a big hug. "I am so sorry" she said. She thought of what she had said a few minutes ago, right now it all seemed really stupid. She feel guilty but at the same time she knew Alyson did not blame her there was no way she could have known what the call was about.
Alyson raised her head and said: "Could you take me? I really want to go to see her. Lets face it this might be my last chance".
"Of course I will" Katie said
"OK I will be right out, I just need a couple of things"
As the girls drow to the hospital Alyson called her best friend on the cellphone. "Hey talk to me" a voice said.
"Hi it's me Alyson!" Alyson answered. "You sound kinda upset, is everything OK girl?" "Well, no it isn't. The reason why I am calling is..." she went quiet for a short while "... remember Renée?" "Alyson what is wrong? What makes you ask something like that? Of course I remember her the three of us grew up together." "She is at the hospital." "What!?"
"And she might not make it" Alyson said, starting to cry again. "Oh my God! Where are you now?" "I am on my way to St. Mary's hospital. That it where she is.!" "I will get there as soon as I can, OK?"
In the meantime Brittany and Jennifer are in Paris on an no-boys holiday.
The two girls had just walked up the stairs of the Eiffel Tower so they both felt a bit exhausted. It was the first time they had ever been to Paris so they were acting like typical turists with camaras, maps and of course they got lost any way. However running into a group of American turists they finally found their way to the famous tower.
"Wow, you can really see most of the city from up here. Look at all the people down there they look like little ants!" Brittany said in amazement.
"Well, right now I just want to stand here for a little longer. Those stairs are killing me, I don't think I will be able to walk tomorrow" Jennifer replyed.
Later back at the hotel the girls were getting ready to go out, just then the phone rang. "I've got it!" Brittany picked up the phone. "Hello!.....Hi how are you?.....You know I really can't talk right now. I'm on my way out and......I told you already Jen and I said no boys and that includes boyfriends too......I miss you too......See ya' soon OK?.......Bye Ritchie" she hang out the phone just as Jennifer entered the room. "Who was that on the phone?" Jennifer asked.
"No one, just a wrong number, Jen" "Wrong number? It was Ritchie wasn't it?" Brittany started to blush. "I just knew it! You can't last a week without him, can you?" "Jen, I am really sorry. I don't want to mess up our stay here in Paris. Can't we just forget this happend and have a good time?" Brittany asked.
"Sure, I didn't mean to come down on you like that. I guess I would want to talk to my boyfriend to if I had one. Particularly if I had someone as great as Ritchie. You are really lucky." "Thanks, he is great isn't he?" They both started to laugh as the went out the door and shut it behind them. Walking down the street on their way to the Metro they meet an English speaking girl who was kinda lost. Ashley Belanger.
"So Ashley, if you don't mind me asking, what brings you to Paris?" Jennifer asked a bit nervous seeing they had just meet a while ago. "Well, I used to live in Paris when I was younger. My mother is French and she met my father here in Paris. You know how it goes, boy meets girl, they fall in love and get married and move in together in my fathers New York flat." "Oh, that is so romantic"
"Funny, that is what everyone keeps telling me" Ashley replyed with a big smile on her face. "But it is, I wish something like that would happen to me. Couldn't you just imagine meeting the man of your dreams in one of the most romantic cities in the whole world." "Sure, but it didn't turn out exactly like in the fairytales. You see, at first everything was fine they had me and my sister, everything was going great..." "Then what?" Jennifer asked.
"...well, I don't know really. One day my mother just told me she was going back to Paris. First I thought she was just going to visit some family but then my father told me they were gettin a divorce. So now my mum and my sister live in Paris, my dad lives in New York and I travel back and forth. Now ain't that romantic?" "I am really sorry I didn't know"
The lights were starting to fade down, the crowd was going mad and the heat was getting more intense by the minute. Finally the stage lights went on and smoke was coming down from the ceiling. A few seconds later they came out from the very back of the stage. I an split second the soundlevel in the arena rised to an absolut maximum.
"Oh my god, if it wasn't 'cos I could still hear all this screaming I would think I was deaf" Nicole shouted to her friend standing nex to her.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. This is just crazy!" Dawn answered. It was the first time the two girls had ever been to a concert this big. Wembley Arena was filled to the roof. Everybody wanted to get a glimpse of this new act. They were really hot right now, the new best thing. However this was not the reason Nicole and Dawn were here. Nicole had won two tickets through a competition in a music magazine and she wanted Dawn to come with her.
"The concert was really good, don't you think?" Nicole asked. "I totally agree. They are amazing however I do know acts who are better" "Like who? Like Five?" Nicole said with a smile. Nicole had been teasing Dawn for a while because a week before they had been to the recording of the Pepsi Chart where Five had preformed. Nicole trusted Dawn but somehow she had never been able to find the right time to tell her that Sean was her best friend. Nicole had just moved to London a year ago from Leeds where she had grown up. When she first came here she moved into a house just a few minutes walk from Dawn's house. They had become friends quite quickly and now they were inseparable. "Don't make fun of me. I just like their music..." "And their bodies!" Nicole added.
"...stop it. It isn't like you are saint yourself" "What ever do you mean Dawn?" They both started laughing as they walked on to find the entrance to the backstage area.
"Hey, how is she" Abs came down the hall towards Alyson and Katie. Katie was holding her arms around Alyson who had started to cry again when they came to the hospital because it had finalle gotten to her that her childhood friend was dying. "She is kinda shaken up about it all but you really can't blame her, can you?" Katie said with a lowered voice when Abs came nearer.
"No you really can't" Abs replyed. "Aly, come here. We will get through this together, OK?" Alyson let him put his arms around her and hold her close. She felt really safe sitting like that. It was like his arms would protect her from everything bad in the world. But still she could not stop thinking about Renée. "Yeah, we will won't we?" Alson looked up with tears running down her cheeks.
Abs gave her a little squeeze to let her know he was going to be there for her whenever she needed him.
The door to Renée's room opened and her parents came out. Her mother was crying and her father's eyes were empty and he his face was pale. Katie felt really sorry for them. She couldn't imagin what it would be like to lose a daughter, who was that young.
The doctor told Abs and Alyson they could go in but not to be suprised by all the machines in the room. He told them it was nacessary to keep Renée alive. They both took a deep breath and went into the room.
Nothing could ever had prepared them for the what they were about to see.
That same evening on the other side of the world J and his best friend Melinda were in New York for the weekend. They had not seen each other for a long time because J was always traveling but this weekend he had flown her in so they could catch up on lost times.
"Oh my God, this is some hotel! Do you always stay in places like this?" Melinda said in amazement. "You have not seen me for months and that's what you want to ask me?" J replyed with a grin on his face. "For once you are right, I'm sorry, what I really want to know is what have you been up to? I mean you were always to busy to call."
"Don't start with me, now. You know I wanted to call..." "But there wasn't enough time, right?" "Well, yeah. I know it sounds stupid but it is the truth." They walked over to get the key to their room at the frontdesk. "So, what would you like to see while you are here, anything special?" J asked. "Yeah."
"Well, what?"
"You!"
They both started laughing. "You are really something, you know that?" "Yeah, I knew that" Melinda said and they stated laughing again. After a while they had cooled down. Melinda was looking out over New York City form the balcony.
"So, are you ready to see what this city has to offer, Jasmine?" "You bet, howcome you use that name, it has been a while?" "It brings back some good memories, don't ya' think?" "I couldn't agree more" Melinda replyed as they went into the elevator.
"Hey look!" Dawn said. "Look at those people overthere, isn't that.....yeah, that's Sean and Ritchie.....from Five!" "Yeah, I think you are right" Nicole replyed. "Nicole, they are coming this way! What should I do? Is my hair alright? Oh, my God i'm sooo nervous" "Take it eazy, you will be just fine just relax" Nicole said trying to calm her down.
Sean and Ritchie were trying to make their way through the crowd and Nicole realized that now was the time to tell Dawn about Sean whether is was the right time or not! "Hi girl, I didn't expect to see you here" Sean said to Nicole. "Well suprise, here I am!" "So, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" "Sure, this is my best friend Dawn, Dawn this is Sean." "Hello Dawn." "Hi!" Dawn said nervously. They shook hands. "Yeah! OK, I will introduce myself then, I'm Ritchie!" Ritchie said feeling a little out of place. "How long are you guys gonna be here?" Sean saked. "I don't know really, a while I guess, we just got here" Nicole answered.
"Alright then, well we have to take care of some stuff, so see ya' later?"
"You're on"
Sean and Ritchie disappered in the crowd. "Hello, what was that all about" Dawn asked. "Why did Sean come over like, talking as if you have known him forever." Nicole started to feel very guilty for not telling Dawn about Sean earlier. "Well, Dawn there is something I haven't told you. You know how I used to live in Leeds?"
"Yeah"
"Well I lived in the same neighbourhood as Sean and were best friends for a long time. But then he had to move to London and since then it has been a bit harder to keep in touch. So, that's why. Hope you're not mad at me for not telling you. It was just really difficult because you like Five so much."
"Don't worry I'm not mad just surprised!" Dawn said. "You have not idea how good it is to hear you say that. I love you so much and I don't want our friendship to end. I promise I will tell you everything from now on" Nicole replyed with a relieved look on face.
Friday night and also the first day at a new job. Heidi had just moved to London from Canada and she had got a job a pub in Earls Court, Surrey. She was a bit nervous about it because she didn't know what they were gonna be like. Tonight she was going be working as a busgirl.
"Pardon me, can I get something to wipe of my table. Someone knocked over my beer?" Amber asked. "Well, where is your table" Heidi asked. Amber pointed at a table near the door. "Alright, I'll be right over." Heidi went up to the bar and picked up cloth. "Oh, that's great, thank you so much" Amber said. "No problem that's what I am here for" "I'm sorry I don't mean to pry but I don't remember seeing you here before, are you new?"
"Yeah, I just moved here from Canada a couple of days ago. This is my first shift" "Well, you are doing a fine piece of work. I'm Amber!" she said while holding out her hand. "Heidi" "Oh yeah, this is my friend Anna" she said pointing to a girl sitting next to her. "Hello!" Anna said "Hey! Are you guys from around here?" Heidi asked. "No, both of us work at a hotel a few minutes walk from here but non of us were born here. I'm from the Nederlands" Anna replyed. "Yeah, and I come from the US" said Amber. "OK, well I have to get back to work now. It was nice to meet you" Heidi said.
As Heidi was just about to walk away Amber said: "Well, if you want I can show you around London someday!" "That would be really great, thanks!" "I have to work tomorrow, so how about Monday or Tuesday?" "Tuesday's fine with me." "I'll see ya' Tuesday then" "Yeah, Tuesday" Heidi said and walked back up to the bar. She thought to herself that finally she was starting to make friends in this new city.
The sun had gone down and it was only electricity that keept the city lit. Even though it was quite late the trafic was heavy and it took J and Melinda almost 45 minutes to get to a restaurant in the central part of the city.
"This it really good" Melinda said. "I know they make excelent food here" J replyed looking at Melinda. "So what have you been doing lately? You have to fill me in." "Well, to tell you the truth, things havn't been that great. I broke you with my boyfriend this week, so things have been kinda complicated." "God, that must have been tough. You guys were together for a long time."
"Yeah, almost two years but lately everything just went completely wrong. It was just a big mess." "I'm so sorry, how are you coping?" "I'm alright, this was the best thing for the both of us. We just didn't communicate anymore." "I don't want to pry, so if you don't want to talk about it just say so, alright?" "Alright, but I think it would be good for me to talk to someone about it."
"Well, I'm always here for you, you know that." "Thanks!" "So, what did happen? It must have been somthing more than lack of commuincation." "It was much more than that, but shouldn't we just enjoy the food and we can talk about this later?" "Sure" J said and returned to his food.
Earls Court, London
It was part midnight and Heidis first day of working in England was over. She had gone up to her room to get a snack before going to bed. While sitting there in the little room only lit by a few candles, she was writing in her diary.
"Dear Diary
So, where do I begin? Today was my first day at work. I was really nervous about how it would be but everyone was really nice. And the place, I mean it isn't your typical pub it's more like a club.
The music is playing and everyone is dancing even on the tables and the bar. It was really alot of fun.
I also meet this girl who was in here tonight with a friend of hers. Both of them were not English but they were working her just like me, at a hotel or something. They were really nice and offered to show me around London on Tuesday. Tht is so great because I don't really know where anything is but on the other hand I don't know how to get there either. The underground system is a bit confusing.
So this far it looks like I am going to be alright. I'm starting to make friends, it is a great job and the money isn't bad either.
I guess I have to go to bed now, I have to work again tomorrow."
When the doctor told Alyson about the machines keeping Renée alive she did not expect that there would be so many that she could hardly see her friend of 18 years. They both walked over to the bed, Alyson looked at Abs and realized that this was the first time she had ever seen him cry. It really touched her because when the were younger it was always him who was comforting Alyson and Renée. However she always knew he cared even though he did not show alot of emotion, she just knew. It was like not showing emotion was a guy thing they just did not do it as much as girls. All of a sudden she turned around and gave him a big hug.
"It's alright Abs!" she said. "God, this is just way too real, you know?" He replyed with tears running from his eyes. "Why does it have to be like this, why her?" Alyson said with anger in her voice. "It just isn't fair." "I know, she was the sweetest person in the world, wouldn't hurt anybody, ever"
The door opened and the doctor came in. "Doctor, what happend? Is she going to be OK?"Alyson said hoping he would asure her that Renée was just in some kind of shock. "Well Dear, I wish I could say she will be alright but I'm going to be honest with you, it doesn't look good" the doctor told her. "If she doesn't wake up soon there isn't much more we can do." Just as he said those very words one of the machines started to make alot of noice. The doctor told Abs and Alyson to go outside, he went to the intercom and asked some lady for assistance. Outside they broke down in tears.
New York
J and Melinda had returned to the hotel after dinner. Now they were sitting in their suite enjoying a glass of redwine.
"So now will you tell me what happend between you and Matt?" J asked.
"I did promise, didn't I?" Melinda replyed. "Yeah, you did. Now what was really the matter?" "Before I tell you I need to know that you won't tell anyone else." "You have my word" "OK then" Melinda said and took a deep breath. "It all started last weekend. We were invited to this party, it was one of his friends or someone like that. The thing is at the time I didn't think I could come but at the day of the party I found out that the meeting I was supposed to go to had been canceled. So I thought I would surprise him and turn up at the party without telling him."
"Yeah?" "It gets worse, OK. I arrived at the party and someone told me he was upstairs. I went up there and found him in one of the bedrooms with another girl." "You what!?"
"The worst part is, I knew she liked him and I had talked to him about it but he keept telling me that he didn't like her at all. Now I feel completely stupid for beliveing in him" she took a sip of her wine and went on. "I didn't know what to do or even how I felt at the time so I just went home." "That bastard, why didn't you give him a piece of your mind? I sure would have."
"Now what good would that do, J? Can't you see that is what he would have wanted me to do. You know, make a big scene and make me look like a fool." Melinda replyed. "This way everybody saw that it was me who left him and not the other way around. You know what I mean?" "Yeah, I see." "Well, after I left the party I went for a little walk, just to clear up my head. It must have been almost half an hour. Because when I got home Matt was sitting on my doorstep." "What did he want?"
"He was all like, I'm so sorry Melinda I didn't mean for you to find out. Of course he didn't mean for me to find out, he just wanted to play me for a fool. Nobody wants their girlfriend to find out they are cheating on them. That was it for me, that was the end of that." "Yeah well, you are so much better of without him. He never deserved you anyway, you are way too good for somebody like him." "You are so right" They stayed up almost all night talking about all the things they had missed out on.
The girls did not return to the hotel until 4AM in the morning. They had been at the reataurant for about 2 hours and afterwards they decided to go to a club. Alyson had stayed at Brittany's and Jennifer's hotelroom during the night.
"Oh my God, what time is it" Alyson said when she woke up. "Uhm, let me see.... it's almost noon" Brittany mumbled from under the covers. "Why are you asking?" "I promised to meet my sister for lunch today. She is gonna be pissed!" "Calm down, can't you just call her and tell her you are running a bit late?"
"You don't understand, my sister works as a model here in Paris, she hardly ever has enough time to see me when I'm here." "OK, I didn't know that" "Well, I have to go now. Thanx for letting me stay here it was really very nice of you. It was great meeting you maybe I'll see you around." She left and shut the door behind her. "That's kinda strange the way she had to leave all of a sudden, don't ya' think?" Brittany asked. "Yeah, but I do feel sorry for her in a way. Can you imagine how it would be to have your parents living in two different parts of the world? It must be hard to have to travel for half a day to go see your mum" Jennifer responded. "I'm so hungy. I'm just gonna go down to that littel shop around the corner to get some food. You want anything?" "I'll take what you're having." Brittany got dressed and just as she left the phone rang.
At Nicole's house
The doorbell rang and Nicole answered. When she opened the door she saw Sean outside. She asked him to come inside. They were sitting in the livingroom and were talking.
"It was really good to see you again" Sean said. "It has been so long." "Yeah I know. It's been too long" "But lets not talk about that now." "No of course not." "So what did you think of the concert last night, you like it?" "Yeah, they were really good. They got the crowd going didn't they?" "Sure did" "However the thing I liked best about last night was that I finally got to tell Dawn about you. It has just been so hard lately." "I'm not sure I know what you mean?" "Well, I knew she really loves your music. So of course I could've just said that I knew you personally but I was affraid that if I told her to soon she would only be friends with me because of you and not because she liked hanging out with me." "OK, I see"
"But it just feels so much better now because I don't have to keep secrets from her anymore." "I know what you mean, it is really hard not being able to be yourself infront of your friends. But you guys are OK now, right?" "We're cool" "Then why don't you invite Dawn to this party I'm having in a couple of weeks. It will be alot of fun. All the guys are gonna be there and some other people. It is just a small thing but it will be fun and you will get a change to show Dawn what we are really like and maybe she will understand better." "That sounds like fun and I know she would just love to go" "Well, that's a date then."
Everyone was gathered at Sean's and J's house for the party. Nicole and Melinda had come early to help out and so had Ritchie and his girlfriend Brittany. "So Nicole when is Dawn getting here? She is coming right?" Sean asked. "Yeah, she had to finish up at work first" "Really where does she work?" "At a pub in Earls Court." "Hey then she might know my friend Amber, she works down there in a hotel" Ritchie said listening in on their conversation. "She might. Is Amber coming tonight?" Nicole asked Ritchie. "Yeah, and she is bringing a girl from work. Anna?" "Doesn't ring a bell"
"No, but someone did" Sean said as the doorbell rang. He went to open. "Nicole, this Dawn, is that the same Dawn I meet at the concert at Wembley?" "Yeah, that's her" "Cool, she seems nice" "Who, seems nice?" Scott asked as he and his friend Jennifer arrived at the party. "This girl Dawn, she's a friend of Nicole" Ritchie said turning towards Scott. "Nicole honey, walk with me, talk with me" he said and pulled Nicole with him. "Scott, take it easy with her" Sean yelled from across the room. "I will, don't you worry!"
"So Nicole, who's this friend of yours? Is it someone I should meet?" asked Scott "Well, when you put it like that, I don't really know" "You know I'm only joking." "Sure, she is really nice. She was my first friend here in London." "It that so. Now to the really important stuff: How does she look and does she have a boyfriend?" "There is just no way of improving you, is there?" Nicole asked just to see the expression on his face. "OK, she's tall, got blond hair and hazel eyes and no she doesn't have a boyfriend at the moment. That all?" "For now" Scott said and walked away leaving Nicole laughing at his last remark.
"Someone at the door!" Scott said as the bell rang. "Well, don't hurt yourself trying to get it!" Sean said to Scott, who was sitting on a chair as he opened the door. "Hi" a girl said. "We meet a few weeks ago. I'm Dawn!" "Yeah, I remember come on in. Who's your friend?" Sean asked as they walked inside. "This is Heidi, we work together, it's alright, right?" Dawn said a bit nervous "Nicole said I could bring her." "Yeah, is cool. This is a party right, the more people the better" Sean said and shook Heidi's hand.
"Hi, Dawn, did you have any problems finding the place?" Nicole said as she saw Dawn. "No not really, so who's everyone?" "My friends, fiends or friend, people I have never seen before. Come here there is someone I want you to meet" "Who?" "Just wait!" They walked across the room. "Scott! This is Dawn, Dawn Scott" "Hi" they both said.
"So this is Dawn. Nicole you wouldn't mind if I borrowed her for awhile, would you?" Scott asked. "You alright" Nicole asked Dawn "Yeah, I'll be fine" she answered. Nicole knew she was telling her the truth as Dawn had been looking forward to this night for a long time. She liked that Scott showed an interest in Dawn because she had a feeling they would be a great couple.
"So, Nicole tells me you guys are best friends" Scott said to Dawn "Yeah, we are. She's really great we're always doing stuff. Like about a month ago she got us tickets to see The Pepsi Chart recording. You know, the time you guys preformed." "Really I don't remember seeing you there." "Well we were almost in the back so you really couldn't have" "No I guess not. So what do you do? I heard something about a pub?" "Yeah, I just got a job there. It is quite cool, it's more of a club than a pub really." "What do you mean by that?"
"Well, first of all they play pop-music and everyone's dancing on the tables and on the bar. It is like one big party all week long." "Sounds good, maybe I should come by some day" "Always welcome" "Be careful saying that, I might take you up on that offer" "Hey anyone knows where Abs is at?" J asked "Nope, I haven't seen him" Ritchie replied "That's kinda weird ain't it?"