Untitled

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

Meanwhile over at Bryan's house, Mark was sitting in the kitchen.
"I don't believe it, she's at Nicky's house, probably sitting there, staring into his eyes, talking or even in his bed, lying in his arms."
"Mark, would you stop moaning. Eilidh is entitled to be wherever she wants to be, and to be with who she wants. You're not her keeper!" Kerry said, angrily.
"I knew that introducing her to you all, would have this effect. That is so why I was trying to kept it quiet. I knew that it would turn out like this, just like all the others. They are all out there, living their lives like a free spirit, while little Mark is alone once more."
"Mark, you can't just make people change to suit you, you need to adapt to fit in with the other person."
"I know, but I thought Eilidh was different, she just felt right, and then Nicky came along, and ruined it."
"It could have been anyone, but Nicky was just there at the time, and Eilidh felt she could bond with Nicky. I'd hate to lose Eilidh as a friend; she just gave us all something to feel good about."
"Well, maybe she'll marry Nicky, but I don't somehow see that. I mean who'd want to marry him at the moment."
"Marcus Feehily, I am ashamed of you, for saying those things about your band mate. You should know better than that."
"Well, he's not the Nicky everyone loves. And the fans are noticing it, and probably going, what is Nicky doing?"
"I think it will blow over, before you know it, Nicky will be his usual self, and back full of energy!"
"I don't know!"
"I think we should all head to bed, and we've got a busy day tomorrow at the studios."
"Night all"

Eilidh lay there with her head on Nicky's shoulder, Nicky was fast asleep. Eilidh was trying, but thoughts of Mark kept haunting her. She snuggled back into Nicky, and lightly kissed him on the forehead, and fell asleep.

Soon it was morning, and Eilidh was awake early, she lay there, watching Nicky sleeping. She heard the door open, and Yvonne poked her head through.
"Hey" Eilidh whispered.
"Morning! So that's where he is! I hope he didn't keep you awake!" Yvonne whispered
"No, he didn't!"
"Mam, what are you doing?" Nicky said, as he opened his eyes.
"Just seeing where you were."
"Oh, sorry, what time is it?"
"Just nearly 7am. I'll get breakfast going." Yvonne said, closing the door.

"So how did you sleep?" Nicky said, sitting up.
"Good, how about you?"
"It was good."
"Look, I really should get dressed and get back over to Kerry's so I can change my clothes."
"Stay for breakfast, and then go!"
"Okay!"

Eilidh slowly walked to the house. As she opened the door, she could hear some sort of early morning cartoon show on the telly.
She went straight to the bedroom, to get changed.
"Oh, so you've decided to come back." Mark said, sitting on the bed.
"Good morning to you too Mark," Eilidh said, "I don't really want to start an argument."
"So tell me, how is Nicky, did you sleep with him?"
"Mark, firstly, Nicky is fine, and that's actually none of your business. And secondly, I think for the best, I should really give you the ring back."
"Oh, so that's it now, you don't want to marry me."
"Mark I was very foolish to say yes, but these past weeks have showed me your true side, and that's a side I don't want to spend the rest of my life with."
"So if things were different, would you have still married me?"
"Mark, I don't know."
"So now what?"
"I'll have to get my stuff out of the house."
"You don't have to move out straight away. Cant we work it out?"
"Mark, you don't see, but I can't stay in Ballintoy anymore, its not home for me anymore."
"Please give it a few more weeks,"
"Mark, why waste time on something that's not working."
"What about all the plans, the wedding, and things."
"Mark, I'm sorry!" Eilidh said, walking out.

"Eilidh, where are you going?" Bryan said, walking out the bedroom.
"I don't know! I can't stay here, when he's here." Eilidh said.
"Why should you be the one to go, when he's the one who's causing the trouble?"
"I'm just someone's girlfriend, and he's your band mate." Eilidh said, sitting down on the chair in the hall.
"Eilidh, you're welcome to stay here as long as you want." Kerry said, sitting next to Eilidh.
"Thanks Kerry, you and Bryan have been great."
"I'll make up the other spare room, for you. Consider it, your Dublin base."
"What would I do without you guys, I couldn't ask for anything more."

"You still here?" Mark said.
"Mark, what's it to you?"
"I just thought you were going."
"I've changed my mind about it, and I think I'll stay here for a while."
"Oh, really!"
"Yeah, Kerry and Bryan have offered to let me stay longer."

Eilidh's phone rang.

"Hello?"
"Eilidh, its Kara! How's it all going?"
"Kara, um, it's a bit hectic here," Eilidh said, walking into the other room.
"Sorry for interrupting!"
"No, its okay. I hate to be the one to say this but there's going to be no wedding."
"What?"
"Sorry, I know you were looking forward to it, it's just that since spending time with the others, I've found out so much more about Mark, more than I really wanted to know."
"As long as you're okay. Now how is that Nicky?"
"He's alright, he looks dreadful, but he is single again."
"Oh real? So did you talk to him?"
"Actually, I did and spent the night with him last night."
"Eilidh, I don't believe you."
"What? Kara, I'm telling the truth, and I'll be leaving Ballintoy. I don't really think it's wise for me to be up there."
"It would be a shame to lose you up here, everyone is asking after you."
"Just tell them, I'll be up soon to see them all."
"Okay, I wish Shamus was here, so I could tell him, but he's in Dublin, doing some kind of course! I've been trying to get in contact with him, but he's always got his phone off."
"You mean, Shamus is here in Dublin."
"Better not keep you from your day!"
"Bye Kara."

As Eilidh and Mark entered the studio area, they knew that everyone would soon know that they weren't together anymore.
"Eilidh, it's lovely to see you again." Shane said.
"Everyone, I really think you all should now know, that Eilidh and I aren't getting married anymore, in fact, we've split up." Mark said.
"No way, it can't be true!" Shane said, in disbelief.
"Also Eilidh fancies Nicky."
"Mark, don't talk like that. Speak the truth." Kian said.
"He's telling the truth. Sorry guys!" Eilidh said, going outside.
"How did it happen?"
"Eilidh found out about the past girlfriends."
"Oh, Mark, you need to treat your girlfriends with respect."

Eilidh sat outside, in the small cafeteria.
"Eilidh, I heard about you and Mark, I'm sorry!" Gillian said.
"Thanks."
"So, are you seriously seeing Nicky?"
"Haven't really thought about it yet, he's a good friend, who I like a lot."
"I didn't think you and Mark would last that long, and I just felt Nicky needed someone like you to find him."
"Find him?"
"Its hard to explain, but I wish you and Nicky the best of luck, but I know you won't need it."
"Thank you."
"So where are you living now?"
"Kerry has invited me to stay at their house, for as long as I want. I still have to go back to the house, to get my stuff, and kind of say goodbye to people in Ballintoy."
"That's nice. Look, do you want to go back into the studio, or do you feel like joining me and Kerry for some shopping, we usually do this, just to get out of the boys way. So they can concentrate."
"I would like that, if you don't mind."
"We Westlife girls need to be there for each other."

Mark saw Eilidh go off with the other girls.
"Mark, I think we should really finish that talk." Nicky said, standing next to Mark.
"I don't have anything to say to you Nicky, so don't bother."
"Mark, don't be so rude, all Nicky is trying to do is talk, and you wont even look him in the face." Shane said.
"I don't wish to talk to Nicky, is that so hard to understand?"
"Let it go guys, its Mark's choice." Nicky said, walking away.

Eilidh couldn't get over how fun it was, hanging out with the girls, they went into most shops, and then stopped for lunch at some cafe.
"Eilidh, I didn't really think that once you and Mark parted, that you'd be out of our lives. I knew somehow you'd remain in the circle." Gillian said.
"Gill's right, I know its sounds weird, but I do think you and Nicky are well suited, and you are definitely more open than Georgina was. I mean she was a great mate, but you just always thought she would rather be at some high society outing than spend time with us girls." Kerry said.
"Thank you, I really like spending time with you girls too, it's like a sisterhood, or the female version of Westlife. I do hope as well, that it goes well with Nicky, but I'm taking every day as it comes. I don't really want to rush into another relationship, and I'm sure Nicky is too, I mean it's not long since the divorce and he's still feeling down." Eilidh said.
"It's really a shame that Jodi couldn't make it over for this. She's busy with her soap."
"Yeah, but I'll probably see her at the album launch in a few months." Eilidh said, smiling.

Eilidh and the other girls got back to the studios and found that the guys minus Nicky were in the café. Nicky was still in the recording studio, so Eilidh said, she'd go and see what he was doing.

Nicky was finishing up, recording his vocals. As Eilidh sat down, he finished the final note, and came out to hear the results.
"Hi!"
"Eilidh, hi!" Nicky said, hugging her.
"Nicky, here we go!" said the producer.

The song sounded amazing, and Nicky's vocal seem to suit it.

"That's so amazing. I love that track" Eilidh said, after it had finished.
"Yeah, Nix. I can't believe that's actually your vocals on the track." Louis said, standing in the doorway.
"Thanks Louis. Louis, this is Eilidh, a friend, she used to date Mark, but you know the story!"
"Actually I didn't really know Mark had been seeing someone. That recording you just did, was so amazing, I think Eilidh is a good influence for you to really get those vocals perfect."