Mark sat in the armchair by Mattie's bed as he watched her sleep. He didn't know how long he had been in there, but it had seemed like forever. It looked like she was sleeping and for the whole time he had been in there, he had been fighting himself on whether to wake her up so they could talk or just let her sleep. He knew they needed to talk, and they needed to talk now...but he was scared. Kian's words in the hall resounded loudly in his head. You don't even know what you have when it's right in front of your face. What had he meant? Was he saying that...that Mattie...but no, that wasn't possible. Mark recalled what had happened earlier that evening, when they had almost....he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, remembering how it was to be that close to her, so close that he could feel her breathing and feel every part of her against him. At that moment, he had wanted to kiss her, that he couldn't deny. He had wanted it more than he could remember wanting anything else in his life. But she hadn't wanted it, she had pushed him away. The knowledge that she hadn't wanted it tugged painfully at his heart, but he couldn't understand why it should. This was Mattie. He wasn't supposed to feel this way, not about her.
Mark sighed and leaned forward, resting his head in his hands. What was happening to him? What was happening to them? He thought they'd settled this back in Florida. But things were still far from what they had used to be, he could see that plainly. He had tried, but somehow he couldn't seem to get Mattie out of his head. She was in his thoughts all the time. Mark tried to remember if it had always been like this. Mattie had always been one of the most important things in his life, but he was sure that she never used to occupy almost his every waking thought. He noticed everything about her now, what she wore, how she talked and laughed, the curves of her face, the expression of her eyes. But why now? Why was he noticing all these things now? His mind was a whirlwind of confused thoughts.
Just then, Mattie started to stir and Mark sat up straight, waiting to see if she would wake up. He saw her eyes open sleepily, blinking against the lamplight. When her eyes focused on him, Mattie gave a little gasp and then promptly shut her eyes tightly again.
Mark sighed. "Mattie, grow up. I know you're awake." There was no reaction. "Mattie! I just saw you open your eyes, I know you're not sleeping."
"Go away Mark," she mumbled, her eyes still closed. "I'm trying to sleep."
"We need to talk."
�Can�t it wait? As you can see, I am well on my way to a hangover, and you are really aggravating it.� Mattie turned that she was lying facedown on the bed, clamping a pillow over her head.
�Mattie � � Mark began again, unfazed.
�Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Mark, what do I have to do to get rid of you! I�m completely bulloxed, I�m not in the mood for chit chat, alright? God! Sometimes you can be a real can of piss. Just leave me alone!�
�Mattie, I think we should really � �
�Argh! Will you SHUT UP, you bloody SOD!" A pillow came flying at Mark and hit him across the face. Mattie glared at him before turning over on the bed so her back was to him. Mark sat in shock for several seconds, completely speechless. Suddenly, his face began to get red, and he started getting angry. Mark stood up and flung the pillow to the floor.
"All right, THAT is it," Mark said. "Now I'm pissed." He got up off the chair and climbed up on the bed, flipping Mattie over so that she was laying on her back. Mattie looked at Mark in shock as he climbed on top of her and straddled her body.
"MARK! What the hell are you doing, have you completely lost your mind?!" Mattie tried to push him off her, but he pinned her arms to the bed so that she was for the most part immobilized. "Mark Michael Patrick Feehily, you get the hell off me THIS INSTANT! What are you doing?! Mattie twisted and turned under him, trying to free herself somehow, but he was stronger.
�I�m trying to get you to listen to me, now shut your hole, will ya!�
�You are insane! I will NOT take this! Get off! Get off or I swear, I'll scream for help!"
"Just try it."
"HEL-" Mattie's words were cut off by Mark's hand clamping firmly over her mouth. She twisted and turned under him, still trying to get free, but the immense amount of alcohol still in her system was not doing much for her stamina. After several moments of struggling, she finally gave up and dropped limply on her back, her eyes glaring at Mark. Seeing that she had been subdued, Mark finally relaxed and loosened his grip on her arms.
Bad move.
Once Mark had let up his hold, Mattie immediately pushed hard and sent him flying off the bed and Mark fell with a thud to the floor. Not wasting any time, Mattie jumped up and tried to make her escape as a dazed Mark gathered himself from his fall. She looked back in a panic as he tried to collect himself. Deciding to make the most of her situation, she went and hopped onto Georgina�s bed, then down to the floor and made a dash for the door before Mark could get up.
Mattie came flying into the hall, past a stunned Nicky and Georgina, and began pounding on the door opposite, which happened to be Shane�s room.
�Help, HELP! LET ME IN!!! HE�S AFTER ME!!!� she shrieked, pounding on the door.
There were running sounds heard in the room and the door was flung open, an understandably panicked looking Shane standing there. �What, what is it??� he asked her.
�It�s Mark! He�s gone insane!� Mattie turned around to see Mark coming out of her room. �Oh no! There he is!� Mattie pushed past Shane and ran like a madman into the room as Mark launched himself after her. A short wild chase ensued in the room, a shocked Nicky, Shane and Georgina looking on as Mattie jumped on Caitlin�s bed and Mark finally managed to tackle her, sending them both sprawling down on the mattress. Mattie was stomach down on the bed, and Mark was sitting on top of her again, panting triumphantly. Her legs were kicking wildly, but her arms were immobilized, as Mark held them firmly together. By now, they had a bit of a bigger audience as Bryan, Caitlin and Kian had joined the others and were looking on in utter disbelief at the scene in the room.
�You guys!� Mattie yelled at them. �Help me! He�s gone mad!�
�I�VE gone mad?� Mark asked the back of her head (as that was the only part he could see considering her awkward position) incredulously. �You are the one who�s being impossible! I was just trying to have a nice rational conversation with you!�
�Erm�.I don�t think that�s particularly the best way to go about it, Mark,� Bryan said doubtfully. �I mean, it�s an intriguing tactic and all, but��
�Shut up Bry!� Mark said crossly. �I was trying to talk to her before but she threw a pillow at me and called me a bloody sod!� There were snickers all around. �Shut up! It�s not funny!�
�Mark,� Georgina, the voice of reason, said gently. �Maybe you could wait until tomorrow��
�No!� he said in frustration. �This can�t wait. I�ve got to know what I�ve done!�
�What are you babbling about?� Mattie asked irritably.
�That�s what I would like to know!� Mark exploded.
�Mark, if you don�t get off me RIGHT now, I swear, I will start screaming, and there have got to be people on this floor that will call the cops. This is assault!� When Mark didn�t answer, Mattie opened her mouth to let out a good long scream. Mark quickly reached out and pushed Mattie�s face into the bedspread, muffling the yell because she could really get it out. Mattie�s legs began kicking even more and before he could stop it, Bryan let a small chuckle escape. Mark glared at him, but that only made it worse, and soon Bryan was in convulsions, and it wasn�t long before everyone else was laughing. Everyone, that is, except for Mark, whose face was starting to turn a rather unbecoming shade of red and purple.
�WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT?� he roared, struggling to keep a hold on the writhing Mattie underneath him. �THIS IS NOT FUNNY! STOP LAUGHING!� Of course, this only caused them to laugh even harder. Bryan was quite helpless and had to sit himself down on the floor, gasping for air and holding his stomach.
�Oh man!� he wheezed. �This has got the be the most hilarious thing I�ve ever seen. Hey, anyone got a camera?�
�GET OUT!!!� Mark screamed furiously. The only response was more laughing. Suddenly, he heard a muffled squeak from beneath him, which sounded suspiciously like, �Can�t breathe!� Mark quickly realized that he was still holding Mattie�s head to the mattress. �Oops!� He let her put her head back up, clamping a hand over her mouth to be safe. Mark turned his attention back to the group at the door who were all but rolling on the ground. Taking a deep breath, he asked them politely, �If you would be so kind as to shut the door so that the lady and I might have a bit of a discussion? NOW, DAMMIT!�
The guys had been around Mark long enough to know that when Feehily got that tone of voice, it was best not to mess with him. So, still giggling, they made their way back out into the hall and finally closed the door, leaving Mark and Mattie alone in the room. Mark closed his eyes and sighed with relief before turning his attention to Mattie, who had suddenly gone limp and was staring dully at a wall, her cheek against the bedspread. Mark sighed again. It looked like this was going to be a long night.