At Seventeen
Chapter 16
Eimear was led through a series of corridors, and were it not
for the fact that she was not a fine walker, she would have been unable to catch
up with the brisk nurse, who was no longer blushing, now that Kian was not in
the vicinity. "Here," said the nurse, stopping suddenly, and Eimear
paused, needing time to recollect.
"Now listen here," announced the nurse, "ye must remember that
Mark still isn't better. Just because he ain't goin' to die, don't mean he has
all his, ehmm...", she paused to find a suitable word, "powers with
him. Now I wouldn't go upsettin' him, alright?" She looked at Eimear
sternly, as if she wasn't sure what to think of this well-dressed young
Dubliner, in fact, she was rather overdressed for a hospital. Eimear felt
embarrassed - she had just thrown on the dress Jane had bought that afternoon,
it had been the first thing she had seen, in her rush to meet Shane - but she
looked back at the nurse meekly. Satisfied, the nurse opened the door and
escorted her in, "I'll leave ye alone", and sure enough, she did.
Eimear was relieved and slowly walked towards the bed. She choked back a tear.
He looked terrible, semi-conscious, with a whole lot of tubes around him.
Remembering that she should not dwell on anything miserable, she leant closer to
him and called his name. He stirred, but didn't make any sign of recognition.
"Mark," she called again, more softly this time, and this time his
eyes focused properly, and levelled on her. "Eimear?" He sounded
drowsy, and quieter than normal (if that was possible), but otherwise fine.
"Mark," she repeated, soothingly, "how are you?" He was
still looking at her. "Alright," he sighed, "considering..."
"Considering you've just escaped death?" she asked softly. He looked
at her blankly. "Jeez... I didn't think that." Eimear was growing
uneasy. What was up here? Was Mark trying to get closer to her? Did she want him
to? No, no, she didn't!
"Mark," she began again, quietly but firmly. "No, no, hold it,
there," said Mark. He looked at her calmly. "Eimear - I'm kinda tired,
y'know?" So he was not trying anything on her. She let out her breath.
Well, not now. "Just... just call for me if you need me, I do count you as
a friend you know," she replied, still on her guard.
Mark was touched. "Ahh Eimear, that's really sweet. I somehow doubt Jane
would say that," and he smiled. "Yeah, well, she's in love, isn't
she," Eimear said with a hint of bitterness. "And so are you!"
cried Mark, although not too loudly, as he still looked and felt like Death.
"Look who's talking!" She was confused. "Mark, I don't know what
you're on about... I was never interested in you..." "You think I mean
me!" he whispered increduously. He had lost his voice now. "I didn't
mean me, I meant..." But the sentence was left hanging there, as his voice
disappeared altogether.
Eimear had been sitting on the edge of the plastic chair as he had been leading
up to this, and as his voice vanished, she promptly toppled over her chair and
landed on the hard ground. She looked up to find little or no sympathy from
Mark. He was laughing silently - there was no sound coming from his laughter,
but she was well aware just from his facial expression. A nurse speeded in at
the sound; not the one who had been sweet on Kian, but a very different, older,
and harsher-looking nurse.
"That's enough now," she muttered. "Fans. I'll have to escort you
out, Miss." Eimear opened her mouth to protest and looked to Mark for help.
But his voice was completely gone. "Nurse, I came here with Shane Filan."
"I'm sure you did, like the rest of the mob outside. Well you have a nice
story to tell them now. Mark is not in a right state to be receiving visitors
such as yourself anyway." She thrust her into the corridor, then appeared
to have second thoughts. "I'll escort you to the door."
Eimear tried to explain but it was no use. Where were the lads? Why wouldn't
they come to help her? "I know Kian Egan and Shane Filan," she
insisted. "All of Ireland knows them, love, that doesn't mean you've the
right to barge into a private hospital room," the nurse replied grimly.
"Eimear!" She jerked her head as far as she could, across to where
Kian had called her name. "What's going on?"
"This young lady apparently sneaked into Mr. Feehily's hospital room,"
sniffed the nurse. "She is apparently one of your fans. I'm taking her to
the door." "What!" Kian exploded. "She's a friend of Mark's,
who was keeping myself and Shane company. She was visiting Mark because that
other nurse said she could go in. She and Mark are very friendly!" Not
quite, thought Eimear, but I'll go along with it. She gave the nurse a straight,
calm, assured look.
"Hmmm." The nurse was unsure. "Which nurse was this?" Kian
scanned the corridor. "Emmm...she had blonde hair... look, there!" He
pointed to where she was busy with a hospital trolley. "Nurse Fahy!"
barked the older nurse. "Come here!" The younger nurse came
immediately, blushing as she noticed Kian. "Yes Sister." "Did you
let this young lady in to visit Mark Feehily?" "Why, yes, Sister, she
was with Shane Filan." "She was, was she. Well, madam"
(addressing Eimear), "I suppose you were let off lightly." She marched
off.
"I'm sorry about that," apologised Nurse Fahy, whose cheeks were
burning by this stage. "Sister does like to take her bad moods out on
people," she added to Eimear. "Hey, no problem, Bernadette," Kian
said charmingly, reading her name tag. "Do you mind if I call you
that?" "Sure," she said, flushed, before sighting Sister glaring
in her direction. "Eh, I have to go now, but glad to be of use to ye."
She left rather hurriedly.
"Well she sure liked you," Eimear giggled, as they walked down the
corridor again. "Just remember, it was all down to my natural charm,"
Kian answered cheekily. "And now to find that Filan lad. Jees, he'll never
believe that the sister of the ward suspected you of being Mark's stalker."
Eimear had to laugh.