At Seventeen
Chapter 3
After Bryan had left Kian's house, Shane decided to leave as
well. "I'll come back later," he told Kian, who was in the state of
mind where he was not surprised at anything anymore. Kian just nodded, and Shane
walked out the door.
Some fans were outside. Shane said a brief "hi" to them, before
heading off. Kian could see the disappointment on their faces, and reckoned they
would not be going home with very good thoughts about Shane Filan. If only they
knew the heartbreak he was going though - not that they ever would, Shane was
too proud.
The phone rang and Kian's younger brother Colm ran for it. Kian let him answer
it. He didn't want to do anything - he'd spent the day listening passively to
Shane's woes and Bryan's half-hearted questions. He couldn't do anything for
himself. "It's Mark." Colm handed the receiver to Kian and went back
to his Game Boy. Kian took it. "Hello? Mark?"
"Yeah." Mark sounded surprisingly well. "You don't sound too
bad." "I'm through the worst of it. Really tired though." "Yeh,
tell me! You don't know how tired I am." "How can you be tired?!
You're not stuck in bed with the 'flu!" He laughed. "You really don't
know, Kian." "I do, Mark. Shane came round last night."
"What has that to do with anything?" "It has everything to do
with it." Kian related the whole tale to Mark.
"Jeez." Mark sounded as if he was wordless. "I don't believe
it... Cassie?" "Yeah, I know, I didn't either." "So what is
he like now?" "A bit better. Only a bit though." Kian looked out
the window to see if the fans were gone. They were. "Is there anything I
can do?" "Not really Mark. Thanks though." Kian was grateful.
"Just get better as soon as you can!" "Oh yeah, I reckon I should
be okay by two days' time!"
"Great. I was going to have a lads' night out, well, Nicky's not up, but
Bryan is, and presuming Shane has somewhat recovered..." "Bryan?"
Mark's voice had risen. "Where's he?" "I don't know Mark, he's
disappeared on me too. He's staying in the Great Southern, he was going to stay
in Shane's, but then plans changed. Lucky for him." "I might give him
a ring. Is he on his mobile?" "I guess so. Listen Mark, take care of
yourself." "What else am I supposed to do?" He laughed again.
"Yeah, I guess." Kian was smiling. "See ya then."
"Bye."
Mark took up the receiver again, laying his head against the pillow. He sighed,
dialling Bryan's number. He wondered where he was. It was ringing alright, but
he kept on getting his answering machine.
Bryan was wandering down O'Connell Street, after having something to eat in the
Carlton café, owned by Shane's family. As always, he got a great welcome from
Shane's parents, and signed a few things for fans who had been waiting for
Shane. They were very disappointed that he hadn't come into the café that day.
He walked down the road, his mind working on two different things - how to help
Shane snap out of his misery, and that girl outside the Silver Swan.
His heart stopped. There she was, outside Dunnes Stores. Waiting for someone.
Bryan took a deep breath and slowly walked toward her.