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Mark stared out the window as the train sped along the tracks towards Dublin. There wasn’t much to look at, mostly just rolling green hills and once in a while, a flock of sheep could be seen as the locomotive whizzed by, but to Mark, it was a beautiful sight. In his opinion, there wasn’t any place in the world like Ireland and there was nowhere else he would rather be. Out of all the boys in the group, Mark probably was the most attached to the Emerald Isle, as the country was often called, and it was no wonder why their manager, Louis, had dubbed him, “Homesick Spice.”
Mark’s gaze shifted and his eyes rested on Mattie, still sleeping by her window seat. He smiled. This girl was one of the things he missed most about Ireland. In the past two years, even though they spoke to each other at least twice a week, every week, this was probably the only the fifth or sixth time he had seen her since the group exploded in Europe. The last time they had seen each other was the past Christmas. Too often, their schedules conflicted, and when the groups would finally get to go home, Mattie would still be stuck in Dublin at University. Then Bryan and Nicky would meet up with her and take her out while Mark, Shane, and Kian would be in Sligo with their own families. That was how it usually went.
But this time, he was glad that she would be with him for the next three weeks. More and more he was missing home, and with the pressures of succeeding in the States looming over their heads, Mattie would be just what he needed to stay sane and not lose his top. He knew he could always count on her whenever he needed it. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for him, he knew, and truth was that there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her, either. Mark thanked his lucky stars every day that fate thought it fit to place them as neighbors and best friends. He had often wondered what would have happened if Mattie hadn’t ever lived next door to him, and they had never become friends. In all honesty, he probably wouldn’t even be where he was right now if it wasn’t for her. For a long time, he had kept the fact that he had wanted to sing a bit of secret from everyone in town. The only people that really knew were his family, who only knew because he went around the house singing all day, and Mattie, just because Mattie knew everything about him, whether he expressed it in words or not. She was the one who prodded him into trying out for the production of Grease back in Sligo, which had ultimately been how he, Shane, and Kian were discovered. If Mattie hadn’t forced him to try out, he would probably still be loafing around Sligo trying to hang on to the tennis career that he had tried to convince himself he wanted. In the end though, it was the music that had won out. Mark didn’t see how he could ever repay Mattie for everything she had done for him, for being just person that she was.
Mark reached out and touched her hair softly. His fingers traveled down to brush lightly over her eyelids, which at the moment concealed her exquisite eyes. Mattie’s eyes had always been one of her trademarks. Whenever she met people, the first thing they noticed were her eyes, always full of light and laughter. And they never stayed the same color for two hours at a time. While Mark’s eyes were a steady blue all the time, Mattie’s changed like the weather. There was no dominant color for them to be. Sometimes they would be clear blue, sometimes they would be a luminescent green, or they could be a mysterious grey, a grey and clear as a fresh winter morning. Mark loved those eyes. There’s that old saying that the eyes are the windows to the soul, and that seemed to fit Mattie perfectly. Whenever Mark wanted to know what Mattie was feeling or thinking, he could tell just by looking at her face, and he would know by the glint or the color in her eyes.
Sitting next to Mark, Nicky had caught the gesture. He cleared his throat discreetly and tugged on Shane’s sleeve who sat across the aisle reading the newspaper. Nicky jerked his head in Mark’s direction. Shane took in the picture, then nudged Kian who also looked over. The three boys exchanged mischievous grins. Kian leaned over to nudge Bryan. When Bryan didn’t respond, Kian nudged him harder. Still no response. Kian bent down and yanked a hair out of Bryan’s leg.
“AAAHH!!! WHAT THE HELL!” Kian reached over to clamp a hand over Bryan’s mouth but it was too late. Nicky and Shane put their heads in their hands as Mark’s head jerked back up.
“What the hell just happened?” he said.
“Kian just pulled a flippin’ hair out of my flippin’ leg!” Bryan exclaimed, rubbing the sore spot. “What the hell man, what did you go and do that for?! There’s two things men should never do to each other: one is kicking another guy in his…sensitive spot, and the other is pulling out his leg hair! Damn!”
“Will you shut it, you deutz? People are staring!” Mark admonished.
“Why don’t you yell at Kian? This is his fault!”
“Well, what have you got to say for yourself, Kian?” Mark demanded.
“I say…” Kian glanced at the other boys. “I say that’s the funniest thing that’s happened in a while, man! You screamed like a woman!”
Suddenly Shane, Nicky and Kian couldn’t hold it in anymore and they all exploded in laughter. After a few seconds, even Mark gave in.
“Hmph,” Bryan said, insulted, and turned to face the window as the others continued howling with laughter.
All the noise the boys were making stirred Mattie from her sleep. She opened her eyes slowly and yawned.
“What is all this noise?” she demanded. “Can’t a girl get some rest without you five howling in my ear?” Mattie sighed exaggeratedly (yo, is that a word?). “Well I suppose any hope of getting back to sleep is out of the question.” She looked at her watch. “Ah well, we’re almost there anyway. Should be just a few more minutes.” Mattie leaned back and stretched. “So what will we be doing when we get there?”
“We’re probably just going to go home, get settled back and have a lunch,” Nicky said. “It’s too late for tea.”
Shane leaned forward. “Hey, have we got settled where each of us is going to stay yet?”
“Yeah man, where were you? We settled that hours ago,” Mark said.
“We did?” Mattie looked surprised.
“Yeah, while you were sleeping. And apparently, when Shane was spaced out.”
“So who’s staying with whom?”
“Well,” Bryan began. “We figured that Mark and Shane would stay with me, and Kian would stay with Nicky.”
“Hey, what about me?”
“Ah, you, my good woman, are going to be staying with Georgina.” The five grinned when they saw Mattie’s shocked expression.
“I’m going to stay in the Irish president’s house?” she squeaked.
Nicky shook his head. “Don’t even worry about it Mat. Georgina’s great, and her dad is too. After spending a few minutes with them, you’ll totally forget about who they are, trust me. ”
“If you say so,” she replied uncertainly. “Just the same, is there anything I should know or do? Like, I don’t know, am I supposed to bow or something?”
Nicky gave her a funny look. “Not unless it turns out he’s the Second Coming.”
Mattie blushed. “I just wondering.”
Kian laughed. “Ah Mattie. Sometimes it’s good to know that you’re just as dorky as the rest of us.”
Suddenly, all six noticed that the train was about to pull into the station. “Well, let’s get our things together boys,” Bryan said as he hefted his carry-on over his shoulder. “There’s sure to be a huge crowd at the station. I want to get out quick as we can and go home so I can have one of my mum’s glorious fry-ups.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty hungry myself,” Kian said, patting his stomach. The train slowed to a stop at the platform and Mattie stared in shock out the window. If she thought that the crowd at McDiarmada was big, this one was even bigger and rowdier. There must have been hundreds of people, mostly girls, gathered around. Just then, the conductor entered the passenger car.
“All off for Heuston Station, Dublin!” he announced. The other passengers began to alight from the train, and Mattie insisted on going first, without the boys, claiming that she didn’t want to get mobbed. She stepped off the train unnoticed as the crowd anxiously awaited the band to come out. The first person she saw was Susan McFadden, and the two girls ran over to each other and hugged.
“Susan, it’s so good to see you again!” Mattie exclaimed. She and Susan had become friendly when Bryan had brought her home and introduced him to his family while he had come back on holiday from a tour and Mattie was in Dublin at Trinity. Susan adored Mattie and looked up to her as a big sister.
“Well, it’s good to see you too, even though we were at this very station seeing you off back home less than a week ago!” she laughed.
“Yeah, it’s been a crazy couple of days,” Mattie replied smiling. “Where’s your mum? I want to say hi to her.”
Susan turned. “She’s over there with Dad, waiting for Bryan to come off. In fact, she’s with Nicky’s family as well. Come on, let’s go over.”
Mattie and Susan made their way over to Nicky and Bryan’s families, with Susan leading the way.
“Oh, hello Mattie!” Yvonne Byrne and Mairead McFadden exclaimed, each giving Mattie a hug.
“We didn’t see you get off the train!” Gillian Byrne said, also giving Mattie a hug.
“Yeah, I hid behind that tall bloke over there because I didn’t want any rampaging prepubescent girls to chuck things at my head because I rode on the same train as Westlife.” The group laughed.
“That’s a smart girl,” Bryan’s father, Brendan McFadden, putting an arm around Mattie and squeezing her affectionately.
“Look, here they come!” Susan said suddenly, pointing to the train. Everyone turned their heads. Bryan was the first to get off, and when the crowd caught a glimpse of his blonde head, the steady roar grew even louder. He caught sight of his family and promptly bounded over to them and grabbed them all in a huge hug.
“Ah, it’s so good to see you all!” he exclaimed. Bryan gave Susan and his mother a kiss on the cheek. He turned around as the crowd became even louder. One by one, the other lads were stepping off the train. When Nicky came out, he made a beeline for his family much like Bryan had, as the three Sligo boys followed closely behind. Nicky had been busy greeting his parents and brother and Gillian when he heard his name being shouted.
“Nick! Nicky!” He turned around, a huge smile lighting his face at the familiar voice. In a second, Mattie noticed a dark-haired girl making her way through the crowd towards Nicky. She ran to him and flung herself into his arms, and he hugged her tightly for a long time. Mattie guessed that she must be Georgina, as she stood off to the side with the others, smiling at the sweet reunion.
Georgina pulled back to look at Nicky, but he quickly leaned in a gave her a long and lingering kiss, right there in the middle of the crowd.
“Awwww….” Mattie, Mark, Bryan, Kian and Shane chorused in unison.
Georgina, blushing, pulled apart from Nicky, as the others burst into applause.
“Ah, quit it lads,” Nicky said grinning, still holding on to Georgina’s waist. “Oh, Georgina, this is Mattie. I told you about her, remember?”
“Yes,” Georgina sparkled excitedly. “It’s lovely to meet you Mattie, I’ve heard a lot about you from the lads.”
Mattie groaned. “Oh no. You know, I’m not really like that all the time, I swear. They just tell you the bad stuff, but in reality, I’m actually quite normal.”
Georgina gave her a curious look, but still smiling. “What?”
“Uh…” Mattie looked back at the other boys who looked away innocently. “Never mind, I guess.”
Georgina laughed. “Well, I know we’ll get along grandly. I’m sure we’ll have tons of time on our hands to get to know each other, and we’ll see if we can’t cook up some mischief between us to torture the lads.”
“Are you kidding?” Mattie waved her hand dismissively. “I wrote the manual on how to torture unsuspecting Irish boybands.”
Georgina smiled and turned to Nicky. “So what have you all got planned now?”
“Bryan’s family have invited everyone to have lunch at their house,” he said.
“Sounds absolutely brill,” Georgina replied. “Come on, let’s get out of here before we’re all mobbed. Mattie, we can put your bags and such in my car, and then I’ll drive you to the McFaddens.”
“Alrighty.” Mattie picked up one of her bags and Georgina grabbed the other and with the rest of the group, headed towards the rest of their cars. Mattie gave Nicky a confused look. “No chauffuer?” she mouthed silently to him. Nicky laughed and shook his head. Mattie shrugged. She guessed Georgina’s life was more normal than she had originally thought.
About an hour later, the whole lot of them were gathered at Bryan’s house at a small welcoming home party of their own, complete with both Nicky and Bryan’s families as well as their close friends and relatives. Everyone was having a great time, just relaxing, eating and having a good time. The Byrne and McFadden families were loads of fun. Mattie spent most of the time talking with Susan, Gillian, Georgina, and Georgina’s sister Cecelia. They were all getting on fantastically well. The girls busied themselves with dishing gossip about the boys and every once in a while breaking out in shrieks of laughter, the source of which was unbeknownst to the the suspicious Westlife lads.
“Hey, Mattie!” She looked up at the sound of Mark’s voice. “Come here, there’s someone I want you to meet!” Mattie made her way over to where Mark and the other lads were standing. “This is Anto, he’s our tour manager,” Mark said, introducing her.
Mattie stuck out her hand politely. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“And Anto,” Mark continued, “this is my best friend in the whole world –”
“Hey!” the other four protested.
They all laughed. “Okay okay, this is my best friend in the whole world outside of the band. Mattie.”
Bryan waggled a finger at Mark in warning. “And don’t you forget it.”
Anto grinned and shook Mattie’s outstretched hand. “It’s nice to meet you also, Mattie. Any friend of Mark’s…well any friend of Mark’s deserves pity,” he said in mock sympathy.
Mattie laughed. She liked him immediately. He looked to be in his early thirties and seemed to get on with the other lads like he was one of them.
“So, what are you all planning on doing today?” Mrs. McFadden said, joining the group, along with Nicky’s mother.
“We’re going out clubbing tonight,” Bryan said, slinging and arm around his mum. “We’re going to party all night, paint the town red, set the streets on fire – ”
“Alright, Bryan we get the point,” his mother interjected. “Are you planning on doing anything this afternoon?”
Mattie glanced at her watch. “Well, the Mass I was planning on going to starts in about an hour and a half.” Mrs. Byrne and Mrs. McFadden both gave her an approving look. “Would you like to go with me?”
“Oh, we’re already attending the evening service, like we always do,” Mrs. Byrne said apologetically. “But why don’t you take the boys? Who knows the last time they’ve attended Mass.”
Mattie gave a pointed look to the five young band members who seemed to be doing their best to avoid eye contact with her. “Well, I tried asking them, but it didn’t seem that they were too keen on the idea.”
“Please don’t make me go Mum,” Bryan blurted out. “I don’t have to go, do I? Do I Mum?”
“Oh, of course not darling,” Mrs. McFadden cooed, patting her son on the cheek. “You can all stay home while Mattie goes to Church by herself.” Bryan shot Mattie a triumphant look. “After all, you five can always stay home from the pubs tonight and go with your father and me to the night service.” Bryan gulped.
“We’ll go with Mattie,” all five boys chorused.
Less than an hour and a half later, Mattie, the lads, as well as Susan, Gillian, and Georgina, who had also elected to come, were gathered in a pew in Dublin’s St. Stephen Church waiting for the service to begin. The four women of the group were occupied with talking amongst themselves quietly while the boys were busy fidgeting in their church outfits and already trying not to fall asleep. All around the church there were whisperings and pointings at the certain pop group that were sitting near the front row.
Suddenly Bryan let out a whoop. Susan gave her brother a dirty look as Mattie whirled around to face him and Kian who had guilty grins on their faces.
“What on earth are you boys doing? Are you thumbfighting?” she asked incredulously. Bryan and Kian exchanged sheepish looks. “Don’t you dare try that again. Have a little respect, why don’t you.” With that Mattie turned her gaze back to the front of the church. But out of the corner of her eye, she noticed their hands edging towards each other once again. Her own hand darted out and grabbed them both. “What did I just tell you?! If you try that again, I swear I’ll box your ears, the both of you! This is the house of God for chrissake!”
Bryan gasped. “You just took the name of the Lord in vain! That’s like, the second commandment!” He faltered as Mattie shot him a withering look. The other boys dissolved into giggles. Nicky let out a guffaw which was promptly checked by Georgina with a swift kick in the shin. The four girls gave each other despairing looks.
“Men,” Gillian said disgustedly, giving her brother an additional smack to the back of his head. Suddenly the church organ started up and they immediately turned their attention to the the altar as the procession and service began.
An hour later, after the service had ended, the five Westlife lads were gathered outside of the church signing autographs for church-going fans while Mattie and the other girls were waiting for their turn to talk to the priest.
“Well, hello, Miss Byrne,” he greeted Georgine jovially. “It’s good to see you as always, dear.”
“Thank you Father Darley,” she replied warmly. “My father sends his greetings.”
Father Darley smiled benevolently. “Well, you send him my best wishes, will you? And tell your parents I said hello also, Miss Byrne and Miss McFadden.” He turned to greet Mattie. “Well, hello. Your face looks familiar, but I’m sorry, I can’t seem to place your name.”
Mattie smiled and stretched out her hand to shake his. “I’m Madeline O’Shaunessy. I’ve come to service at this Church before, but I usually attend masses at the University chapel.”
“Ahh,” he nodded in understanding. “A Trinity girl. Well, I must go now, you girls take care of yourselves and have a good day.”
“Thank you Father,” the girls chorused as he walked away. When he was a safe distance off, the boys edged their way back over to the girls.
“Is he gone?” Bryan whispered loudly.
Susan looked at her brother strangely. “Erm, he doesn’t bite Bry.”
Bryan gave his sister a withering look. “Well I already got yelled at by Mattie about not going to Church and I didn’t want to have a lecture from Father Darley too.” Susan rolled her eyes at her brother.
Mattie smiled. “Well!” she said brightly. “What shall we do now?”
“I’ll tell you what we’re doing,” Kian said. “We’re going to go home and get ourselves ready for a wild night out on the town!”
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