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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

23

Mark lay there in bed, thinking. How could he have let Kian kiss him, when it wasn't really true? He didn't want to be seen as Kian's lover, he needed to get back to Ballintoy, and be the best damn friend to Kara, to comfort her when he told her about her supposedly boyfriend's antics in Dublin.

A while later, his phone beeped into life.
"Hello?" he said, looking at the clock. 1am.
"Mark, its Kara!"
"Kara, are you okay?"
"No! Just discovered that the course was a farce, and now I'm worried that he's up to no good."
 "Kara, I saw him tonight!"
"Did you? Was he with anyone?"
"I told him, I'd give him time to tell you himself, but I think you should really know, he's got a new job down here, and it looks like he's moving to Dublin."
"What???" 
"And he's got a new girlfriend, seems he's pretty taken with Georgina Ahern."
"Wait a minute, wasn't she the one who married your mate Nicky?"
"Yeah, but they've divorced, and now Nicky is seeing Eilidh!"
"That guy is going to get it, when he gets back."
"Look, if you need a shoulder to cry on, then I'm here for you."
"Mark, thank you. I'll see you later today, when you and Eilidh get back up."
"Sure. Sleep well!"
"I'll try but who knows."

Mark slept well, and soon it was morning. He looked at his watch, 7.00am. He thought he'd better get up.
"Morning Mark" Bryan said, when Mark walked into the kitchen.
"Morning, what a day to drive home in, the weather looks like rain.
"I'm sure it's nothing major. And anyway it's not supposed to rain for long."
"Morning Mark, what a horrible looking day." Eilidh said, walking in, fully dressed, in warm clothes.
"Sleep well?" Kerry asked, as she wandered in.
"Yeah!" Mark and Eilidh said.
"Well, get tucked in, can't have you travelling on an empty stomach!"
"Thanks Bryan!" Mark said.

Soon it was time to go. Mark grabbed the two bags and put them in the car.
"Well, Guys, it's not goodbye, because, in a matter of weeks, I'll be back. Thank you for letting me stay here, and I'll see you soon." Eilidh said, hugging Kerry and Bryan.
"Bye Eilidh. Just let us know when you're heading down, so we know when to expect you." 
"Will Do."
"Bye Kerry, Bryan. What can I say?" Mark said.
"Mark, we'll see you down in a month's time for the album launch, or we'll be up to Sligo to see you."
"Cheers guys, lets get this show on the road."
"Bye!!"

The topic of Shamus's affair didn't stay quiet for long.
"I don't believe that Shamus would be capable of doing that."
"I know. He's in for it now, though."
"What?" Eilidh said, with a surprised look.
"Kara rang me, late last night. And I kind of told her everything."
"How did she take it?"
"Alright, but I don't think she's too impressed with him leaving the village."
"Ouch, I'm glad we're going up today, she could do with some company."
"I know, I even offered her my shoulder to cry on."
"Mark, you sly devil. I just knew that you weren't gay."
"Oh, god. The papers, there's a shop. Do you want to go in and get some papers?"
"Sure!"

Eilidh was back soon with a pile of papers.
"Well, what's the verdict?"
"Are you ready for this? The main news on all the papers is 'Gay life: Kian comes out.' One of the other papers was quick to get Jodi's reaction. But luckily no mention of you being gay, has surfaced. Oh boy, now we're talking&ldots;" Eilidh said, staring at one of the papers.
"What?" Mark said, impatiently.
"Georgina and her new fella Shamus McKinley were spotted dining at the Plaza last night; other notable diners were Westlife with their partners in tow. 
But the big highlight of the evening went to Westlife, for when they left the restaurant, put on a kissing fest, on the steps. Most notable was Kian kissing Mark." Eilidh read from the paper, "oh and you look like you're going to be sick in that photo."
"Trust me, I probably was about to.  I was standing there, and Kian grabbed me, and kissed me. I was like 'back off' but he wasn't having any of it."
"So the kiss wasn't mutual, then,"
"Nope. Anyway about what were we discussing before, would you be offended if I started dating Kara?"
"Mark, are you serious? I'm totally not offended. You need someone like her in your life. Maybe she's the one your heart's been crying out for."
"You mean, you don't mind. God, I thought you'd go ape at me, for thinking something so stupid."
"Come on, when have I ever gone ape at you!!" Eilidh said, making monkey noise.
"Never. I'm sure going to miss you."
"What?"
"Even through the bad times, we've had the good times; I mean you can't really say you've not stood on Westlife's Cliffs, when you have!"
"Yeah, I do think that maybe it was just what we needed, time to realise that we don't really suit each other, but through each other, we've found our soul mates."
"So true. I wonder what would have happened, if we hadn't met, would we still be looking for the certain someone to call our own."
"Yeah, but lets be grateful, that we did met." Mark said.

24

The rain seemed to disappear as they got close to the border, and soon they were heading for Belfast.
"Should we stop for something to eat, in Belfast, or should we go straight through to Ballintoy." Eilidh asked.
"I think straight through." Mark said.

A few hours later, they were on the home stretch, the town basking in the midday sun.
As they drove down the road, they could see a car parked near their house.
"Hmmm, that car looks like.." Mark started to say, before his Mam and dad emerged from the house.
"Mark, that's your parents. What are they doing here?"
"I think they thought they'd get the house organised."
"Why hello there?" Eilidh said, once the car stopped.
"Eilidh, Mark, how was the journey?"
"Good, what on earth are you doing here?"
"Thought we'd come and surprise you. We rang Bryan to ask when you were heading home."
"Who's for a cup of tea??" Marie said, walking inside to put the kettle on.
"Oh, that would be nice." Mark said, carrying the bags.
"So, is it really true?" Marie asked, later.
"Is what true?" Mark answered.
"That you two have split up."
"How did you know?" Mark asked.
"Just heard it when I was in the grocers, Kathy told me, after Kara told her about it."
"Oh,!"
"Mark, I know its hard but I don't think rushing anything after the break up, I know Kara has been over since we arrived, thinking you're home."
"Now, if you'll excuse me," Eilidh said, walking up stairs.
"What's the matter with her?" Marie said,
"Nothing, long drives up, she's tired probably, or doesn't want to hear us talking about other females."
"Oh, sorry!"

Eilidh opened her lap top, and checked her mail, and laughed at the email from Nicky, along with all the paper clips, that he'd scanned, 
'Just thought you wouldn't mind the pics, you look so amazing in the pics, and the one of us is so breathless, see you in a few weeks!"

Eilidh smiled, she knew that suddenly life was looking good for her!

The End