Vault

Here and Now

Part 7

I lay there, watching Eilidh as she checked her e-mail. She would once in a while, giggle at something. I moved myself so I could see what she was looking at.
"what's so funny?" I asked.
"Nothing really, just one of my mates, says her and her Sis and their friend are heading overseas to a secret party with ZED, this e-mail was sent 3 days ago."
"Maybe, but I doubt it, it's this SECRET party we've been invited to as well."
"Oh, that might be it. Andy and Kian are having a dinner party to celebrate something, and they're inviting the other lads from Zed and Westlife along with partners or friends."
"If it's partners, then who is Shane taking??" I asked suddenly out of the blue.
"Duh, the love of his life, oh you don't know about Shane's love life do ya??" Eilidh said, regretting saying anything.
"Do tell, or do I need to tickle it out of you." I said.
"You mean, you've not seen anything strange of Shane lately?"
"in what way do ya mean by strange?"
"the way he's been acting around people, like in the band."
"You mean like Shane and Mark?"
"Bingo!"
"Don't be stupid."
"I'm serious."
"What? Since when?"
"Nicky, obviously you've been too occupied with the whole Georgina business, to notice."
"Well, yeah, but I didn't think that those two ever fancied each other!"
"It's amazing what life throws at you."

I sat there, still coming to terms with Shane and Mark being possible lovers, then it hit me, they both had a long term lovers before the band, but they both broke them off, saying it wouldn't work while they were in the band. Could it be that they were an item before the band?
"Nix, you okay? You're awfully quiet."
"Just thinking!"
"I didn't know you didn't know about Shane and Mark."
"That's okay, at least they're happy now."
"Yeah, just like us!"
I couldn't believe how happy I was at that moment, being in the company of Eilidh. 

"Look, all I want is one measly table for 2 ppl." A loud voice said, as we walked towards the restaurant.
"Ma'am, the restaurant is closed for a private function." The doorman said.
"I don't give a hoot, if it's a private function, I want a table now!"
"Excuse us," I said, showing the doorman, our invite.
"Enjoy your evening." he said, closing the door behind us.

"Any sign of who's party this is." I said, scanning the room.
"It's a definite Kian and Andy, cos those ppl over there are my mates and the rest of Zed."
"Oh so, we were right."

"Evening!" Eilidh said, to the group, as we approached them.
"Hi, oh my god. Eilidh!!!" one of the girls said.
"Fee, why hello! Any clues to what this dinner is about?" Eilidh asked with interest.
"Not a clue, do you?" 
"It's got to do with Kian and Andy." 
"What???" another girl said.
"Leanne, I thought Ben was the one, not Kian." Fee laughed.
"Yeah, but Andy!!!" 
"Fee, Leanne, and Ally, this is Nicky. Nicky, meet the girls and also Ben, Nath and Adrian aka the rest of Zed." Eilidh said, introducing me to the group.

"Nicky!!" said a male voice.
I looked to where the voice was coming from, it was Shane and Mark, who were walking over, hand in hand.
Introductions were made. And we all waited for the rest to come.
"So Shane," I said, while I was getting drinks from the bar. "what's this about you and Mark?"
"Nix,  I've been wanting to tell you, but with you being so occupied lately, I never got a chance. Yeah, me and Mark are an item."
"I'm cool with that. in fact, it was Eilidh who enlightened me with the news."
"Oh, she was the one who confided in us, with her suspicions."
"Huh?"
"She saw us sitting there in the bar, yesterday morning, around the time you and her had the argument or whatever it
was. So she came and join us, and well, she asked us straight out if we were, and how could we lie?"
"She's a treasure." 
"Who?" Eilidh said, walking over, catching the last bit of the conversation.
"You are." Shane said, laughing.
"I am a what?" Eilidh said.
"You are a treasure, in the eyes of an Irish man." I said, smiling.
"An Irish man, does this man have a name?" Eilidh said, with a serious look on her face.
"Yeah, Nicholas Bernard James Adam Byrne" I said.
"Hmmm that names seems familiar" Eilidh said, with a fake look of confusion.
"Duh! It's me!!" 
"I know, silly. I love you for who you truly are, not for the fame and the glamour, but the person inside, the one with the feelings and the honesty."
With that comment, I was speechless.
"Nicky, I meant every single word, I don't see you as some big headed pop star who thrives on success.  I'm in love with the man who stands before me, the one  who isn't afraid to cry, to show emotion at any given time or place!"
"Do you know, that I'm lost for words. Your words are so meaningful. As I struggle to come up with something to say, I cant find the right words."
"You don't need to say a word!" Eilidh says, putting a finger to my lips.