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Bells Of Ballintoy

1&2  3&4  5&6  7&8 9&10 11&12 13&14 15&16 17&18 19&20 21&22 23&24

 
 11

Eilidh and Jack finally got to where Nicky was. Eilidh could see him, lying there, staring at the ceiling.

"Hi!" Eilidh said, walking in.
"Eilidh, hi!" Nicky croaked.
"Are you really okay?" 
"How about a few broken ribs and a lot of bruising."
"I guess a hug is out of the question." Eilidh said, smiling.
"But a kiss isn't!" 
"I suppose a kiss couldn't hurt," Eilidh said, planting a kiss on Nicky.
"Have you seen Georgina, she seemed to have gone."
"I was talking to the doctor, it seems she had to make a call, and then left."
"Oh, I bet she's back in Dublin."
"Nicky, did you mean what you wrote in that letter? The letter that I wasn't supposed to read."
"You mean you read it, how?"
"Kerry found it, and gave it to me!"
"Oh! Yes, of course I did. I didn't want the weekend to end, I just felt as though finally I'd found someone who understood me better."
"You do realise, that I'm engaged to Mark."
"Oh, Feck! I forgot!!!"
"Yeah, I don't know how to break it off, there's no way I'm ever leaving you Nicky. But it's just a bit unfair on Mark."

"I think you should actually leave now, before I call security. You're not allowed to be in here, immediate family only. " A female voice said.
"Georgina, what the hell are you on about?"
"Nicky, sorry for rushing off before, I've just been trying to organise a bed in Dublin for you, and I've managed to get us a flight down in an hour from the hospital!"
"Would you excuse me?" Eilidh said, rushing out of the room.
"Eilidh?" 
"Yes!" Eilidh said, sitting in the small day room, at the end of the ward.
"My name is Yvonne Byrne, Nicky's mam!"
"Oh Hi!"
"I was with Nicky, when he woke! He spoke a lot about you to me. Obviously you've sparked something within him"
"So you've heard about him being transferred to Dublin."
"Since when?"
"Georgina just told him, that's why I rushed out of the room.
"There's no way, she's doing that!"
"Knowing Georgina, she'll get her way."
"Actually, Nicky is coming home with us; soon, we're got clearance to take him home to rest."
"But what was Georgina on about?" Eilidh said, following Yvonne Byrne down to the room.

"Georgina, I'm heading home with Mam and Dad."
"No you aren't, you need medical attention. You're not well enough to go home."
"Look, Mam and dad will tell you till they're blue in the face, that they are taking me home."
"Not if I have anything to do with it, they won't!"
"Listen to Nicky, Georgina, he's telling the truth!" Yvonne Byrne said, walking in.
"Georgina, I'm afraid that Nicky is actually right, he's being released into the care of his parents, given the circumstances, and I think it's for his own well-being." Dr Jack London said, standing there in the door.

Eilidh stood there watching them all; she didn't know what to think. She quietly walked off, towards the exit, to wait for David.

"Eilidh, you're early, did you not check out the shops?"
"David, I didn't, I followed my foolish heart, and went and visited Nicky."
"How was he?"
"He's okay, just a few broken ribs, and a lot of bruising. He's going home to Dublin soon, with his parents."
"And Georgina?"
"Georgina turned up, stating that she was organising a room at the private hospital in Dublin for him, but the doctor says he's okay to go home for rest."
"Well, are you ready to head home."
"Sure am, I just feel like a bath, and then early to bed. Oh feck, Mark, I completely forgot about Mark."

Eilidh opened the door, and walked into the kitchen. Mark and the others were sitting at the table, just talking.
"Hi." Eilidh said, grabbing some juice from the fridge. 
"How is he, Eilidh?" Mark said, moving seats, to let Eilidh sit down.
"Few broken ribs and bruising, he's probably at his parent's home by now. He's resting there."
"What about Georgina, was she there?"
"Yeah, she thinks that Nicky needs more medical attention, and tried to get him into a hospital in Dublin."
"But he's at his parents now."
 "Yep, I think he will be well looked after there. I spoke to his mam, who seems really nice."

Mark got dinner out of the oven, and dished it out.

"You know Eilidh, I didn't really want to say anything, but I got the impression that Georgina feels you're a bit of a threat to Nicky." Kian said.
"Then why did you say it then. Look, I'm tired, and I've had a rather long day, and the last thing I want to do, is to argue that last comment. I just think of Nicky as a friend, that's all. I'm heading upstairs for a bath, then probably bed. Night all."

Eilidh walked upstairs, her eyes were stinging with tears.

"Good one Kian, can't you see she's been through a hell of a lot today? You always come out with stuff at the wrong time." Mark said.
"Mark, you shouldn't put up with that. I mean fancy your fiancée now in love with another man. It's morally wrong." 
"You know what; I think I might head upstairs as well!" Mark said, walking off.

12

"Eilidh, can I come in?" Mark said, knocking.
"Sure." Eilidh said.
"Sorry about that downstairs, I just didn't think that people would be so rude."
"Mark, apology accepted. You're welcome to share the bath if you felt like un-stressing."
"Thanks, so how is Nicky? Did you two have a discussion?"
"A little until Georgina came."
"Oh, so are you heading down to Dublin soon?"
"Why would I?"
"To see Nicky!"
"Mark, I don't believe we're having this conversation. I went and saw Nicky as a friend, not anything more. We both realised that we're both attached to other people!"
"So you mean you've still got feelings for me then?" 
 "Mark, of course, I do. I didn't say yes for nothing, this morning." Eilidh said rubbing mark's back.
"I know, but you going to Belfast, made me feel that I was losing you." Mark said, embracing Eilidh, in a cuddle.
"Could we start again some how? And forget about the bells, and the legends and all that?"
"Sure, but we're still engaged aren't we?"
"Of course. Cant wait to enlighten your mam, she'll be over the moon!"
"Christ, that's so true. Do you fancy a journey to Sligo next weekend?"
"I would love that so much."

The moon looked magical over the sea; Mark and Eilidh lay in the bath.
"You know what; I can't believe that I'm the luckiest man in the world to have met someone like you. I couldn't believe it when you said yes, when I asked you out that first time. And all those girls gave you the evils, when we were in Dublin. That was such a wonderful night."
"I couldn't forget that guy who thought you were from Boyzone. I was like, excuse me?? That was funny, but I think it was the start of something wonderful. Then there was the time we came up here, for the weekend, something about the place made it magical, and here we are, living here for like 3 months now."
"There is no way, I'd ever let you pass me by. And to think you said yes to me this morning, on the Westlife cliffs."
"Sorry, I shouldn't laugh but the fact we were on Westlife cliffs is so damn funny!" 
"And to think we should have our wedding there!"
"You weren't serious were you?"
"Of course not, I think that's a recipe for disaster."

The moon shone through the bedroom window, as Mark and Eilidh lay there in each other arms in bed.
There was not a single sound from downstairs, obviously everyone was in bed.

"I love you Mark." Eilidh said.
"I love you too, Eilidh, from now until forever, and forever and always!"

The next morning, Mark got up early to make breakfast, he could see it wasn't 7am yet, but he thought if he made a start on it, then soon the others would be up.
Mark walked quietly downstairs, and suddenly noticed that all the bedroms were empty. He thought they're all up early. But they weren't to be found. As he went into the kitchen, he noticed a note stuck by the kettle.

'Didn't really want to disturb you both, you both looked peacefully. Bryan's friend drove up another car so we thought we'd go back down to Dublin, as we didn't really want to overstay our welcome. We have all had the wonderful weekend and we'll catch up with you both.  The gang!'

"Where is everyone?" Eilidh said, wandering into the kitchen.
"They've gone back to Dublin." Mark said, handing over the note.
"Gee, the very thoughtful of them to leave us a note. So, what do we do now?"
"How about some pancakes, and some tea."
"Sounds heavenly. You know what I was thinking last night, that we should have a small wedding, just us with the lads, and maybe Kara and Shamus, I mean Shamus could be your groomsman, and Kara could be like my maid of honour. It's only an idea."
"Hmmm, something simple, maybe invite the gang up for a weekend and not actually tell them until the day, we're getting married and have it somewhere local, in a few months. That will give us time to organise it, and get the promotional work of the new album out the way."
"Yeah, do you think we should invite Shamus and Kara over for dinner tonight to break the news and our plans?"
"Let's do that. I reckon they'll be game for it."
"I'll go down later to get something for dinner, and ask them."
"We'll look for rings in Sligo, there are a few nice places that I've seen, and I do want something special."
 "Sure!"