Chapter 36
It was perfect.
She twirled round in the mirror the opposite way.
Yes it was absolutely amazing.
Mark obviously agreed, when he had popped into the room a few moments earlier he had been lost for words, that had to be a good thing.
She had picked up the dress a few months ago, she knew it would come in handy one day, and now it had turned into the perfect “end of tour” dress.
It was a very light pink, low cut and tight at the top and billowing out loosely at the bottom, completely appropriate given her current situation. Her hair was pinned back in tiny sections with pretty little glittery butterfly clips and the outfit was finished with high-heeled pink sandals.
“I look too girly don’t I?” Mel called into the bedroom where Mark was getting ready.
“No you look perfect,” he replied, leaving the room and coming to inspect Mel, “you will be the best looking girl there.”
“That wasn’t the aim.”
“Could have fooled me,” he grinned, giving her a kiss on the top of her head.
“Well, you don’t look half bad yourself,” she returned the compliment, “you brush up nicely.”
“Why thank you Madame.”
She laughed, Mark was always such a loon, she failed to understand why everyone thought that Paul was the funniest member of the band, it was obviously Mark, it was just that no one knew him well enough to realise it.
“I’m glad you decided to get ready over here.”
“Ah, well there was some logic behind it.”
“There was?”
“Yep, knew that Ben would hog the bathroom over there.”
She smiled, gave herself one last look in the mirror and Mark lead her out of the apartment and towards the party.
The end of the tour party was held in Reds inside the Sky Pavilion, and by the time they arrived it was packed.
“Who are all these people?” Mel asked, turning to Mark and squeezing his hand tighter, needing to know that he was next to her.
“Don’t ask me!”
“But it’s your party, shouldn’t you know who is at your own party?”
“You’d think so,” he laughed, “half the time at these things we don’t know who anyone is.”
“So what do you do at these celeb bashes then?”
“Get very bored normally,” Mark admitted.
His eyes darted around the room, finally finding his band mates. Taking Mel by the hand he started pulling her over to where they were standing.
“Do we have to go over there?” she asked, glancing fearfully at Christian and Ella who were standing only a few feet away.
“We don’t have to,” he replied gently, “but I think it’s important to go over there and act normally.”
“I cant,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Because you don’t want to face him?” he asked.
She nodded, turning herself around so she wasn’t looking at Christian anymore.
“You cant run away from things Mel,” Mark said, “what happened happened, and now you need to get over it.”
“Its not that easy,” Mel replied.
“Because you love him?”
“Yeah, that and the rest,” she muttered in response.
“What do you mean?” he looked at her quizzically.
“It really doesn’t matter, just don’t make me go over there, please.”
Mark looked at her for a moment, she could see that he was trying to look right into her eyes, trying to gage what it was that was her on her mind. She looked down quickly at the floor, she didn’t want him knowing anything yet, this wasn’t the right moment, the place was too crowded.
He eventually seemed to accept that he wouldn’t be able to make her speak and so took her over to a quiet corner of the room.
“You want to dance?”
Thankful that he had changed the subject she nodded at him, a little smile appearing on her face.
He pulled her into his arms and they began to sway gently to the music.
“You know if you ever need to talk I’m here don’t you?” he told her gently.
He was so sweet. So sweet and kind, everything had been going so wrong lately, and he was the only person keeping her together.
“Thanks Mark,” she replied, and rested her head on his shoulder, careful to make sure that the tears dropped silently.
“You’re making my shoulder soggy,” he said to her gently, noticing immediately that she was crying.
“Sorry,” she sniffed, “I can’t help it, everything is so awful, I don’t know what to do.”
“Well, tell me exactly what’s wrong and I can help.”
“But you can’t help Mark, unless you have a six foot magic wand, you can’t possibly help.”
“How do you know I don’t have a six foot magic wand? He asked grinning.
Despite herself Mel found herself laughing, although combined with the crying it did sound more like a snort.
“That is such a Paul thing to come out with.”
“Yep, but made you smile,” he said triumphantly.
“Sorry”
“What are you apologising for?”
“Ruining your party,” she said timidly.
“Doesn’t matter – I hate these things anyway.”
She started crying again and Mark pressed her against his body again, soothing her back with his hands.
“It’s going to get better,” he whispered to her.
“It can’t” she sniffed from the depths of his shirt, “it can’t ever get better now.”
“Mel, he isn’t worth it, he’s been a bastard, and you shouldn’t waste your time getting upset about him.”
“But I love him,” she sobbed, “I love him so much and he’s with her.”
“I know it’s hard,” he replied, “but it will get better.”
“How can it possibly get better?” she asked, “my life is ruined.”
“Let’s not be too over dramatic shall we?” he chuckled.
“I’m not”
“Yeah you are, there are plenty more guys around, and one day you will find one right for you.”
“I don’t want anyone else,” she replied insistently, “I want him.”
“Yeah, you do now, but in time you’ll want someone else.”
“I wont.”
He chuckled at her determined face, she looked so funny standing there, hands on hips with a deep frown on her face.
“You will.”
She turned quickly on her heels and started to stride across the dance floor, Mark trotting behind at her.
“Mel, where are you going?”
“Does it matter?” she retorted, “you obviously don’t care that I’m hurting.”
“Don’t be daft,” he replied, almost catching up with her.
“Then why were you laughing at me?”
“I’m sorry, I’m just trying to help.”
“Yep, and you’re doing such a good job,” she replied sarcastically, “you should take up counselling professionally.”
“Mel, stop being so touchy,” Mark caught up with her, putting his hand on her arm.
She flung his arm off her and continued to stride away from him.
“Mark just fuck off and leave me alone.”
“Not going to do that,” he replied.
She sighed in exasperation and picked her pace up.
“Mel, I’m sorry for upsetting you,” he shouted after, “I honestly didn’t mean to.”
“Too late,” she replied, finally reaching the women’s toilets and shutting herself inside. Mark reached the door just in time to hear the lock go across the door.
“Come on Mel, come out,” he thumped on the door.
“Go away, I want to be left alone,” she replied.
He could hear her starting to cry again through the thin wood door.
“Mel you OK?” he asked.
There was no response, just a little sniff followed by some more quiet sobs.
“Mel let me in.”
“Please go away,” she replied, less ferociously this time, “ you honestly can’t help.”
“Well let me try,”
“I’d rather not get you involved,” she replied, “it’s messy enough as it is.”
“Mel please open the door.”
“No,” she said quietly, leaning against the door and letting her tears flow freely.
He sat himself against the other side of the door.
“OK, well I’m going to sit out here until you change your mind.”
They sat in silence for what seemed like forever, Mark able to hear Mel crying through the door. He wanted desperately to hold her but the door was stopping him from making contact.
Eventually she unlocked it.
The door opened to reveal a tear stained Mel. Her eyes were swollen and red, her hair was tangled and she was shaking slightly.
She still looked beautiful and so vulnerable.
She sank back down to her knees right in front of him, crying openly. Leaning forwards he took her in his arms and she leant against him, both of them curled up on the floor.
“Mark I don’t know what to do,” she let out between sobs.
“Don’t know what to do about what?” he pressed.
“About Christian.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m pregnant.”