| Mark woke with a start, his eyes darting around the room wildly. He glanced at the clock and groaned as he stood. After a quick peek into the bathroom, he realized she had left, and went out into the hall to look for her. Her door opened and she emerged, her clothes already packed and ready to go. His eyebrow rose as he watched her drop the bags at her feet and make sure her door was locked, adjusting the navy cap pulled over her head. She looked up and started, backing up a few paces. �Something wrong?� he asked quietly. She shook her head and stooped to pick her bag up before walking past him. He reached out and grabbed her elbow, turning her to face him. �I�m fine, really,� she lied, forcing a bright smile as she turned again, but he didn�t let go. She sighed and gave in, turning to face him a second time. �You�re a horrible liar,� he said, unable to clear the sleep from his voice. Her gaze lowered, and she shifted uncomfortably. �Talk.� She shook her head. He sighed. �Please talk to me, Eibhleann.� �Mark �� She stopped, shifting her weight again. He nodded slowly. �We�ll talk about it later then.� She nodded and he leaned down, kissing her forehead lightly before she walked away. He watched her make her way down the hall, his hands on his hips. With a heavy sigh, he rubbed his face and turned toward his door. He reached out and turned the handle, but it didn�t budge. �Shit,� he muttered, realizing that his key was on his bedside table. *** Scottie�s eyebrow rose as Mark entered the hotel cafe, dark bags under his eyes. With a heavy sigh, Mark plopped down in the chair next to his best friend and leaned his head against the wall. �You okay, man?� Scottie asked quietly. Mark shrugged. Definitely not a good sign. �What�s up?� he pressed, hoping to find out what was bothering Mark. Mark just shook his head. �I�m not sure yet.� �What�s that supposed to mean?� Scottie returned. �Is it about Ayvee?� Mark nodded slightly. �What�s the deal?� �I don�t know. She seemed really out of it this morning. Didn�t want to talk about anything, so I�m as clueless as you are.� Scottie smiled sympathetically. *** �Sean, can I talk to you?� Sean looked up and smiled brightly, nodding. Eibhleann sat next to him with a defeated sigh. �What�s wrong?� She shrugged, avoiding his eyes. He sighed. �You wanted to talk, so talk.� She leaned back on the couch and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. �I can�t help you if you don�t talk to me, babe,� Sean pressed, reaching out a hand to tuck a stray hair behind her ear. �Is it about Mark?� She shook her head slowly, her gaze fixed on the carpet. �What did he do?� he asked, his lips pressed together, set in a firm line. �Nothing.� Sean�s eyebrow rose. �Well, I guess that�s not really it,� she said with a slight smile. �He said he loves me.� Sean�s face registered shock. �Really?� �Yeah. And I don�t know what to do about it.� She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. �I mean, on one hand I want to believe him, but he�s only known me for a few months now, and I don�t feel like I really know him that well, you know?� �Do you love him?� She sat and thought a minute, not expecting Sean to ask her that question. She opened her mouth to speak, and then closed it again, as if she had changed her mind. �It�s a simple question, Eibhleann. Either you love him or you don�t.� �I don�t know.� Sean stood slowly, his hands sliding into his pockets. �I think you do, but you�re just afraid to admit it. You wanted a relationship. Figure it out and tell him.� Eibhleann watched him exit the room in complete shock. She hadn�t expected this from him. Then again, she hadn�t known exactly what to expect, either. *** Eibhleann boarded the bus nervously, knowing that Mark would press her for the answers she didn�t have, and didn�t know how to find. She hoped she could avoid him, but with a 600-mile drive, it was nearly impossible. Her fears were confirmed when he looked up at her from the couch and reached out, taking her hand and pulling her onto the couch next to him. She smiled awkwardly. He didn�t say anything, though, just holding her hand, stroking her fingers, and looking into her eyes. The bus lurched into motion, and they were alone in the front room, the others in the back room playing a noisy playstation game. He turned to her, the hurt reflecting in his eyes, his face serious. She looked away, not wanting to see what she was feeling. Gently, he squeezed her fingers and kissed her cheek before standing and walking to the little convenience refrigerator. He handed her a soda and sat back down, popping his open with one hand. She eyed him warily, and he smiled slightly. �I�m not going to ask, so don�t worry about it. You�ll talk when you�re ready to.� Her eyebrow rose. �I�m serious.� �Did you mean what you said last night?� He turned to her slowly. �Of course I did. Why else would I say it?� �So I�m not just a tour fling to you then?� It was more of a demand than a question, and his eyes darkened as he pulled back in surprise. �Is that what you think?� She just looked at him, not speaking, holding her breath. �You know me better than that, Eibhleann.� Her eyes focused on the ground again, and he lifted her chin with a finger, leaning down slowly to capture her lips in a soft, gentle kiss. *** Eibhleann woke slowly, groggily. Her eyes shifted around the room, as she was desperately trying to figure out where the hell she was. Her surroundings gave her no clues, other than a hotel, and her head turned to the side when she heard someone else rustling under the covers. Her mind slowly came into focus as the sleeping man grumbled something incoherent, and a slight smile found its way to her lips. It fell quickly, however, as the feeling of emptiness and loneliness sunk in. She sighed and leaned back onto the pillows, taking in the sleeping form beside her. It had happened again. Or had it? A confused look crept across her face. She quickly lifted the covers and looked at herself, clad in her own pajamas. Her eyebrow rose slightly. It hadn�t happened. What the hell? With a soft sigh, she turned onto her side and reached out, smoothing a curl from Mark�s forehead. He stirred, his eyes opening into small slits, still half-asleep. He breathed in sharply and shifted, scooting his body closer to hers as he snaked an arm around her waist, mumbling something unrecognizable. �What was that?� she asked quietly, snickering. �Go back ta sleep,� he repeated. She could make out the words, just barely, and laughed. He nuzzled his cheek against her shoulder, his lips pressing against the soft skin in a quiet kiss. �I can�t.� �Mmm,� he returned, his voice deep in his throat. �Why not?� �Too much shit to think about.� �Like what?� She took a breath and shook her head, feeling his eyelashes flutter against her skin as he opened his eyes again. He lifted his head to look at her, and she sighed. �Don�t worry about it.� �I thought we cleared this up.� Her heavy sigh pierced the air. �I said don�t worry about it,� she repeated firmly. He groaned as he sat up, leaning back against the headboard of the bed. �Mark � � His eyes met hers, and she stopped mid-sentence, biting her lip. �You still don�t believe me, do you?� It was more of a demand than a question and she sighed, sliding down to rest her head on the pillow, turning on her side with her back facing him. �Eibhleann, talk to me here,� he begged, leaning over her shoulder. �Just don�t worry about it, Mark,� she said, her voice suddenly cold. �Fine,� he huffed, flopping onto his side, his back also facing her. Sleep didn�t come easily for either of them. |