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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

9

Mark and Eilidh stood on the steps of the house, waving goodbye to the others.
Eilidh grabbed Mark, and started kissing him.
"What's this all for?"
"For the man I'm going to marry!"
"Yeah, and this is for the woman I'm marrying." Mark said, picking up Eilidh in his arms and carrying her into the house and upstairs.

Mark dropped Eilidh lightly onto the bed, and started to remove his top.
"I do think you need to show off that body of yours!"
"But then everyone would want a piece of me. And then you'd have to share."
Suddenly the bells tolled.
"What????" Eilidh said, jumping up, and looking out the window.
"How many was it?" Mark said, joining at the window.

Over in the far distance they could see flashing lights.
"That doesn't look good"
"Mark, ring Bryan! They haven't long left, it could be them!!!!" Eilidh said, worried.

Mark grabbed his phone, and dialled Bryan.

"Hello?" Bryan said, coughing.
"Bryan, are you all okay?"
"Um, sort of. The van got sideswiped, poor Nicky took the brunt of the impact, and they don't really know what the state of his injuries is, until they get him to hospital.
"How bad do you think??" 
"I don't know. I'm so worried, and Georgina is so scared."
"Right, we're on the way, you can stay with us till along as it takes." Mark said, sticking his top on.
"Don't tell me they're involved, please god!" Eilidh said, grabbing her shoes.
"Its seems they were involved in a car accident, they don't know how bad Nicky is,"
"Please god, don't let anything happen to Nicky!!" Eilidh said, without thinking.
"Eilidh, I don't believe you! I thought you said nothing was going on with you and Nicky."
"Mark, at a time like this, I am concerned for him, okay."

Eilidh got into the car, and they were off. They drove slowly, and got to where the accident was.

Eilidh could see where the local doctor was looking at Nicky, she rushed over.
Mark walked over to the group.
"Hi."
"Mark, they aren't telling us anything," Georgina said.
"Mark, why is Eilidh over there, standing over by Nicky?" Bryan said.
"I don't know, she just rushed over there, when we got here."

Mark thought to himself, it was unfair on him to go over and start an argument with Eilidh, over Nicky. It was plain to see, that she was really concerned for his health.

"How is he?" Eilidh asked.
"He's in a bad way, he's currently unconscious, and we're taking him to Belfast Central. Do you want to go with him?"
"I think his wife should be the one to go with him."
"Thanks"

Eilidh walked over to the group.

"They are about to take him to Belfast Central, Georgina would you like to go with them. You are allowed to." Eilidh said, biting back the tears.
"Sure," Georgina said, walking over.

Eilidh soon felt an arm on her shoulder, and she turned to find Kara.

"Kara, what are you doing here?"
"Being here for one of my friends, do you want to go and talk about it, in private?" Kara said.
"Thanks," Eilidh said, walking off with Kara.

Mark could see Kara and Eilidh walking.

"Mark, I think she's just going to need time on her own, it's been a hectic weekend for her, just let her get her thoughts together." Bryan said.
"But, I saw something in her eyes, when we heard Nicky was badly injured, it was like she didn't really want him to be seriously hurt." Mark replied.
"Mark, maybe Eilidh's just feeling a lot closer to Nicky; they are the same age aren't they?"
"Its those bells, I shouldn't have said those things to her, about how I didn't hear them, then saying didn't everyone hear them. I'm just a fool!"
"I think we'd better head back to your house Mark, because it's going to be a long walk back to Dublin, if we keep on moving."
"Sure, I wasn't really thinking. Let's get going!"

Mark and the others got back to the house. Mark stuck the kettle on for coffee, and went to join the others.

Everyone was silent, and in thought.

10

Eilidh soon arrived back, and went straight upstairs. Kerry followed her.

"Eilidh, are you okay?"
"Kerry, I don't really know. Just confused that's all."
"Look, I know it's not my place to ask, but do you have feelings for Nicky?"
"Kerry, I think I do, but I don't want to hurt Mark or Georgina, it just doesn't seem fair."
"Don't be too hard on yourself, maybe it's just a phase, or maybe you and Mark are just not right for each other."
"Is it wrong to like someone who's married? You can't help but wish that you were the one married to him."
"I know I shouldn't be doing this, but Nicky actually wrote you a letter. I found it under his seat. It must have slipped out of his pocket. I didn't read it, as I'm not that nosy." Kerry said, handing over the letter.
"Thanks Kerry, I'm just going to have a lie down, my head is killing me. And I'd rather be alone at the moment."
 "Sure, I'll tell Mark you're having a sleep."
"Thanks"

Kerry went back downstairs.

Eilidh lay there, with her eyes already full of tears. She opened the letter.
'Eilidh, I don't know why I am doing this, I'll probably never have the nerve to give it to you, let alone send it. I have had the most wonderful weekend, to be in the presence of someone so like-minded and someone who's not afraid to dream. If I wasn't married, I wouldn't like to let you go, as you seem such a good catch. I feel so envious of you and Mark, and somehow I wish that you were my girl, and not my best friend's girl. So could we be able to remain friends, even after all this.

Le Gra Go Deo

Nicky'

Eilidh read it over again, and the tears still came. How could she face Mark after all this. She needed to tell him, that she couldn't marry him, not after what's happened. She needed space, and time to consider her options.
"Mark, I'd leave her alone for a while," Kerry said.
"I want to talk with her about this all." Mark replied
"Give her space Mark; she's been through a lot."
Mark stared at the wall, could he really be living this hell? 

Eilidh stood there, staring into the bathroom mirror, looking at her red eyes. She suddenly remembered that David had offered to drive her to Belfast, for the late afternoon shopping trip that she had organised ages ago.  She rang David.
"David, hi it's Eilidh."
"Eilidh, I was just about to ring you. Are we still on for Belfast?"
"Of course, what time are you heading off? I might walk up to the house to meet you."
"Soon, so feel free to walk up now, if you like!"
"Thanks David!" Eilidh said, hanging up the phone.

Mark walked up the stairs.

"Eilidh, we need to talk!"
"Mark, not now, I'm heading up to David's as he's dropping me in Belfast, and before you start. I had organised this way before today, so don't jump to any
conclusions."
"I wasn't going to; I don't really mind if you visit Nicky, I really don't. Eilidh, I just feel confused. I don't know whether to be jealous or tell you that you shouldn't go
chasing dreams, that may turn into be bad ones."
"Mark, I didn't mean to snap, it's just that I need some space, some 'me' time."
"Eilidh, what time will you be back? And if you do see Nicky, tell him to get well soon." Mark said, walking over to Eilidh.
"6-7pm I think. I don't know if I will, with the circumstances."
"Trust your heart, I bet its saying go see Nicky."
"Mark!" Eilidh said, walking down the stairs.

Mark followed down the stairs, and went into the kitchen.

"So, Mark did you and Eilidh have a talk?"
"Sort of, she had to go to Belfast. And don't even start on the speculation of Nicky. It's her business if she goes, and anyway didn't Georgina go with him. She'll be there by his side."
"I wouldn't count on it, she took her bags as well, I think she'll get to Belfast, and then try to head south to Dublin."

David drove slowly to Belfast.

"So, would you like me to drop you at the hospital?"
"David, why does this seem really awful. I don't know whether I should go visit, I mean, what if his family are there, with Georgina. I might seem like an outsider."
"I'm not usually one to give advice, but I think you should go with an open heart, if he's got company then you just leave without saying anything, but if he's alone, then you should just tell him how you feel."

Eilidh stood there in the entrance of Belfast Central. Was she doing the right thing, by coming here? She knew that she wasn't losing anything by coming. She politely enquired at the desk, and then she saw Jack, the local Doctor who had attended to him.
"Jack!"
"Eilidh, what on earth are you doing here?"
"I don't know. How is Nicky?"
"Why don't I show you?"
"Are you allowed?"
"Of course, when he regained consciousness, his first word was Eilidh."
"Who was with him when he came to?" 
"His parents and I were."
"Where's his wife?"
"His wife, as soon as we arrived, she said, she had to make a phone call, and left. She's not back, and no one has seen her!