Of course I had to ask my parents if I could go, but they said yes, they wanted to get it all over and done with, they saw how upset it was making me. We didn't talk about it over dinner though, that would have made it more difficult.

Mark slept over that night, sleeping in the spare room across the hall from me. So we could see each other during the night, we slept with our heads facing our doors, instead of the headboards, and kept our doors open (Author Note - awwhhhhh....so sweet!). I don't remember what I dreamed about that night. Actually, I don't remember sleeping much at all. I was so worried about the next day, I stayed up all night, watching Mark sleep, watching him dream, watching him think the exact same things I was.

The press conference was scheduled for 12 noon, so Mark and I flew down from Edinburgh to London Heathrow the next morning. We got into the airport in London, and were greeted by 20 girls waiting for Mark...they weren't expecting me. The looks on their faces said it all. What's that saying? Oh yeah, 'if looks could kill'. That's exactly what it was like. I knew half of the girls from the Internet, but the other 10 were probably some of the people who'd been tormenting me. Suddenly, one of the girls I didn't know went for me, pulling my hair and kicking me, being egged on by the other 9. My friends just looked on...stunned.

Mark was horrified. He shouted for security to come and help him get this girl off me.
"Take that! And that, you slut"
"Ow!! Mark! Help me, please!" Mark grabbed the girl with the help of two Westlife security guards, pulling her out of the way, then Mark let go and came rushing to my side, hugging me tight, rocking me back and forth.

One of my friends, Lisa, felt her blood boil. She marched over to the girl who attacked me. "What do you think you're doing? She's one of my friends, and I don't like anyone messing with my friends. What were you trying to prove? Do you really think Mark would like you if you attacked his girlfriend?!"
"So you're defending her are you? The slut's best buddy?"
"She's one of my good friends, of course I'm going to defend her. All she's done is go out with a guy she really likes, and he likes her back. Just be happy for them, you didn't get like this when Nicky said he had a girlfriend"
"Well, I don't like Nicky that much"
"So just because you can't have Mark, no one can?"
"Yeah, pretty much"
"That's pathetic. If you really cared about Mark, you'd let him do what makes him happy, and Lorraine makes him happy, so leave them alone"

Mark turned around after hearing what Lisa said, thankful that not everyone was against us being together. Lisa came up to Mark and I after the girl had been taken away to get a very serious warning.
"Rainey, are you okay?"
"Nothing an aspirin and an ice pack couldn't fix. That was really nice what you said. I'm so glad someone's happy for us"
"Yeah, I agree with Lorraine. She's got some pretty cool friends who really care about her."

"Hey no problem. Next time you need someone's ass whooped, you know who to call. Come here girl" Mark let go of me and helped me up, where Lisa promptly hugged the living daylights out of me, followed by the other 9 girls there, among them Ally, Clare and Jenni. Thank god not everyone was against me.

Mark and I didn't have much time to get to the press conference, so we had to say goodbye to the girls, but we told them where it was being held, so they could come and see us later.

"Good luck - you'll both be fine, we're all behind you, Rainey Mammy!" Jenni called after us. Mark looked back at Jenni with a confused expression, then looked at me. I laughed. The first time I'd laughed that day. And it was the last time I'd laugh for a while.

As we drove up to the building, Mark told the driver to go round to the back, where we wouldn't be disturbed going indoors, there were too many fans around the front, and too many people to cause trouble.