Seasons In The Sun

Chapter 1: Nicola

"Nothing Ventured nothing gained."

"Hey you, are you single? You want me to find you a date?" Davina Mc Call - StreetMate host. Running up to me on the street. I wanted to die. But then again, I'd been single for two years, so why not give it a go? She led me about by the hand, stopping lads to see if she could find me a date. I was in Dublin city centre, on a lone shopping trip, and when she tapped a tall dark man with his back to us on the shoulder, little did I know that Mark Feehily would look round.

If I'd been shocked to see Davina, I was gobsmaked to see Mark! I'd been a Westlife fan since they were known as Westside, when they toured with Boyzone five years ago. Now I was twenty-two, Mark was twenty-four and here we were, being set up by the most popular dating show on TV. Mark had always been my favourite 'lifer, now here I was being set up with him. It broke my heart when he said he couldn't. He had other arrangements for the next night. Davina wasn't letting him away that easily. "Where are you going?" "To a Gucci party" says Mark, he and the other lads were promoting their new single, "We Are One", "Well, can't you take her along?" It was my turn to interrupt, "I haven't got anything designer to wear!", Mark told her, "Sure I can take her, I'd love to, and here, since you don't own anything, go wild in there with this" he handed me his credit card. "No way! Are you mad? I'm not going shopping on your credit card! How do you know I won't run off with it?" "You look trustworthy. Go on, I want to take you, this must be my lucky day." After repeatedly telling him I'd pay him back, Davina and I went shopping in Dublin city centre on Mark Feehily's credit card. I found a gorgeous Gucci dress, Gold with black trim and lace over it. It was fitted around my breasts then dead straight to the bottom where it ruffled out. I loved it and it stung me (Mark!) 350. I just hoped I didn't make a fool out of myself on TV. Mark arrived to pick me up at the hotel I'd been installed into in a stretch limo. Complete with StreetMate camera crew. I saw crowds of fans lining the sides of the venue door and grew terrified of the verbal abuse I thought I'd get. Either these crowds were not Westlife fans or they were happy for Mark. I took the hand Mark offered me to help me out of the car, then his arm as he held it out to me. I felt like I was flying and falling all at once, I was in love with him already. Thank God the cameras only stayed for about ten minutes, they arranged to meet us the next day for the results. After the cameras left I relaxed and started to have a ball. I met Nicky Byrne and Georgina Aherne first, and Mark took him aside to tell him the bizarre story of how we'd met, and I chatted to Georgina. We hit it off right away and we had so much in common, we even studied the same subjects at college! Now though she practiced a little psychology, and volunteered at childline. When Nicky came back with Kian Egan and Shane Filan in tow, I grew nervous. Mark wasn't the only lifer I'd had a crush on, I also liked Shane, and Kian a little, but when I looked into Mark's eyes, I knew who my heart now belonged to. I was so star struck they found it hilarious and Kian was so flirty, he reminded me of me about six years ago, I used to be such a little flirt! Then I settled down and started concentrating on my studies and looking for my soulmate. I'd been too scared to admit it, but I'd felt that special tug the moment I looked into Mark's eyes, I thought maybe it was just that crush. But it was more, much more. The StreetMate cameras had left, but the magazine photographers hadn't, and there were paparazzi outside, but I forgot all about them. TOTP's came over, as did OK! and Hello, who all wanted exclusive rights to our photos, convinced we were an item. I wanted to die, but Mark just laughed and told them we weren't going to go exclusive, and just to take a few photos if they wanted. He slipped his arm around my shoulders and I automatically put mine around his waist. I just felt so relaxed around him. Then TOTP's took a few shots of me and the whole group, including Georgina and Shane's girlfriend, Georgina's cousin Gemma. I still have that photo of me and Mark, it's one of my favourites. I spent the night dancing, with Mark and the others. When we danced to Vonda Shepard's "I only want to be with you" I held him closer, the part about the dancing was true, I did fall into his open arms and I knew I didn't stand a chance. Now I was hoping that the part about "Just one kiss" was about to come true. I saw a glimmer of hope in those bottomless blue eyes of his, I slipped my arms around his neck, and then lost myself to the moment. I just can't describe how that first kiss felt. Now I knew we were soulmates, destined to meet before we were even born. The next morning our photographs were plastered all over the front pages of papers, especially that one of us kissing. That's when it hit me that I was possibly going to be an overnight celebrity, nothing Mark and I did would be private. Even as I headed to the spot I was meeting StreetMate, I was followed by photographers hoping for a rendezvous with Mark. They did get it, but not in the way they hoped. We were kept separate until we'd talked about the night before, then we got a small screened off area to ourselves. He took my hand tentatively and asked me, "Will I see you again?" I just looked at him in surprise. "You're asking? I thought our intentions were clear last night. Of course you will, but those photographers will take some getting used to." "I'm sorry. A celebrity party was hardly the ideal first date. Anywhere else and it would have taken time for the press to discover us." I shivered to hear him refer to an 'us'. "Two days ago, I didn't even know you." "But you knew I was out there, just beyond your reach" He drew me closer and I flowed like a river to his open arms. I don't know how long I stayed there, lost in his embrace, the next thing I knew Davina was coming in to say that their time had run out. "The only drawback there is, my hectic lifestyle. We're in the middle of promotion for our new single, then a tour, then we've got six months off, to write a new album. But any time you need me, or even if you just want to talk, ring me, any time of the day or night." "I don't expect to hear from you everyday, I know how hard life on the road must be, just call me whenever you have the time."

Chapter 2

Finished Stories

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