X’Nedra turned around before the mirror to see if the back of her dress was alright. “O goodness” she said loudly, trying to put her hand up her back to tighten the strap of the green dress.
“Let me help you” she suddenly heard J say. He came into the room, and fastened the back of X’Nedra’s dress. “You look good” he complimented her.
“Thanks” she replied warmly. “Has father let you in?”
“Yeah. Are you all done?”
“Can’t ya see? Or should I do my hair up?” she asked him worried.
“No, I like it this way” J answered, touching one of X’Nedra’s red curls.
She gave him a grin when he offered her his arm and took it, to walk downstairs together. “Ya know, you’re v. good with dresses” said X’Nedra to him. “You’ve fastened mine since I was like what, 12?”
“Mmm.” Replied J, and continued in a deep low voice: “I’ve undone more, tho.”
X’Nedra laughed at him. “Sure ya did, J. Sure ya did.”
“Don’t believe me?” he said semi-angry. “Shall I show you?”
“Er, no, thank you J.” When he was about to reply, she warned:”That will DO, J.”
He shrugged, and they were finally down.
“We’re leaving, dad!” shouted X’Nedra into the living room.
“Sure, hun, have fun and J, you take care of me daughter!” he yelled back.
“I will!”
They walked out together and drove away in J’s Audi TT.
“So, who are going to be there?” X’Nedra asked.
“Oh the lads, of course, Sean, Ritchie, Abs and Scott, Scott’s girlfriend, the dancers, Sean’s girlfriend, same thing, though, the Westlife lads and their ladies, Atomic Kitten, who invited them, I dunno, but anyway, and like some bussiness people.”
“Alright. J, would you do me a favor?”
“Whatever, love.”
“WATCH THE ROAD YOU BLOODY GIT!!!”
They finally arrived and J held the door open for X’Nedra, knowing his mates would be watching from the window. Abs and Ritchie approached them when they went inside. “Hi J” they both yelled, but were looking at X’Nedra.
“Hello mates” J replied, before turning to X’Nedra and saying, “X’Nedra, meet Abs ‘n Rich. Lads, this is X’Nedra Magick.” He looked down proudly at the small girl when she shook hands with his bandmates.
“What a special name” said Ritchie. “I’ve never heard it before.”
X’Nedra smiled. “I guess. Me mum found it in a book, she thought it was nice. At least it’s not confusing, I never met someone by the same name.”
“And Magick? Is that really your surname?”
“Yeah. Me mum’s doing, too. When she was about 23, before she had me, she officially changed her name in Magick. And me parents are divorced.”
“And you’re from Ireland” added Abs not questioning.
“Obvious right? Yes I’m from Donegal.”
Abs nodded. “Ireland’s beautiful. My mum’s from there.”
“I see.” Replied X’Nedra, just as two new guys bursted in.
“Ah Sean, Scott, meet X’Nedra” said J to them.
X’Nedra gave them a smile and shook hands again, what she’d do a lot that night. Scott introduced her to his lady Kerry, and Sean did the same with his girlfriend Suzanne, and after that they went in. X’Nedra forgot a lot of names she got introduced to, but smiled sweetly and just acted nice like J’d asked her. At a certain point, though, they got seperated and X’Nedra found herself talking to Abs about beloved Ireland, and saw J and Ritchie talking in the corner of her eye, apparently about her because she saw them both glancing at her.
“You know, she’s really nice J” said Ritchie to his bandmate. “I hope it works out for you two.”
“Erm, yes “ replied J a bit worried. They weren’t exactly supposed to get used to him and X together.
“What does she do?” asked Rich.
“What? Oh, she’s an assistent producer, her father works with Virgin.”
“Hey we need a assistant producer as well!” Ritchie exclaimed.
“Forget it man. She deffo wants to get back to Ireland.”
Rich frowned. “You’re into her aren’t ya?” he asked curiously.
“What do you mean?”
Rich smiled. “Nothing. It’ll work out.”
“Mmm” replied J, panicking a little bit. X’Nedra had been right. This could become beautiful mess…
