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Louis called a quick meeting, the guys were set to leave London at the end of
the week, and he wanted everything tied up. Various magazine shoots were on
schedule, plus rehearsals for their upcoming tour.
Louis wanted everyone's commitment. "No slacking off. No
excuses" He
directed that at Mark. It was getting on his nerves now. He never even
noticed Nicky slouched in a corner, looking as if he was on another planet.
Louis was convinced that Mark was the one that needed watching, after Anto
told him how stressed out he was about getting a few hours off.
Shane watched Nicky suspiciously. He knew that he said something to Tonya to
upset her. She'd said she was okay, and even this morning, when he knew she
had something bothering her. She insisted that she was just tired. He
accepted that, he didn't want to push the issue, if there was an issue.
Nicky stood up on command, he had another gruelling day ahead of him, and he
just acted on auto-pilot. Smiled when asked to, politeness could have been
his middle name to everyone else, but to the rest of the lads, he was
anything but polite. He had to take his depressive comedowns out on someone
and he chose them. Kian and Bryan kept tight lipped as he mouthed off about
the day's schedule
Shane opened his mouth to shout him down, but Mark beat him to it "Do
you
even know how lucky you are! There are loads of people who would kill for
what you do"
"Not my problem is it. If I don't want to do this stupid photo shoot, then
I
won't"
"Oh yeah?" Mark asked sarcastically "I'll leave you
to tell Louis, let him
see just how polite you can be"
Nicky turned to look at Louis, he was talking with Anto. He decided against
it, not that he'd have the courage to stand up to them anyway. Nicky was
weak, which is why he turned to drugs in the first place. Nicky glared at
Mark "Come on then, if we're going!"
Mark smirked "Just as I thought"
Nicky stopped, hearing the snide comment, he clenched his fists tight, and
turned to Mark "Don't push me Mark. You have no idea what I can be
capable
of"
"I'm not scared of you! You're a mess Nic" Mark walked off, but
not before
Nicky stuck his foot out, Mark went flying across the floor. Bryan fought the
urge to laugh. He knew it was wrong, but the sight of Mark flat on his face
was making him crease up in laughter. Kian and Shane stared at Nicky,
dumbfounded by his actions.
Mark got back on his feet in an instant, rushed towards Nicky and shoved him
"You'll regret doing that!"
Fire burned in Nicky's eyes. He was the third person who'd taken a swing for
him in one way or another. This time he wasn't about to take it lying down.
"I won't regret this!" Nicky said before he punched Mark on the
nose. Bryan
pulled Nicky off Mark. Blood streamed down Mark's face. Louis chose the
perfect moment to walk over. Seeing Mark, he sighed "Can't you stay
out of
trouble?"
"I didn't.." He began, but knew he had no excuse, no plausible
explanation
Shane could see that Mark was having trouble, so he stepped in to help him
out. The least he could do, seeing that his best mate had bust his nose
"Don't blame Mark, I caused it"
"You did?" Louis looked at Shane in shock
"Yes, we were just toyfighting and I hit him a bit too hard. Sorry
Mark"
Mark looked at Shane in amazement, Nicky looked at him in thanks. Louis
accepted that, knowing Shane wouldn't lie, and also knowing their penchant
for toyfights.
"Get yourself cleaned up Mark" Louis instructed
Anto pulled Mark into his office to apply first aid to his nose. When they
were alone, Bryan began to lay into Nicky
"What the hell are you playing at!"
You were way out of line!" Kian added
Nicky stared at the floor "I know. He deserved it though"
Shane shook his head "No Nic. You're taking your anger out on all of
us, and
it has to stop!"
"What has to stop?" Tonya and I approached the lads, we'd
planned a day out
shopping and wanted to see the lads before we left
Nicky and Tonya locked eyes, the same uneasy feeling she sensed last night
returned. Shane smiled "Oh honey, I didn't see you there"
"What has to stop?" She asked again, breaking the gaze with
Nicky and gazing
into her boyfriend's hazel eyes
"Nothing sweetheart" He glanced at Nicky nervously
"It's obviously something Shane, why can't you tell me?"
"Probably the same reason why you can't tell me what's bothering you"
"Nothing's bothering me" She said quickly "We're
going out for the day,
we'll see you later" She kissed him softly
I gasped as the door to Louis' office opened and Mark stepped out, I knew
then what had happened. The way Mark was glaring at Nicky, the way Mark held
his hand protectively against his face
"Now I know what has to stop" I spoke up. Shane looked towards
me, as did
the rest of the lads. Except Mark, he was still angry. I walked towards him,
ignoring Nicky. It was clear he'd hurt him
"Mark?" I touched his arm "Are you okay?"
He let his hand fall from his face, his nose was swollen "I'll
live" He
smiled through the pain
"He started it" Nicky butted in
"I don't give a damn who started it Nicky. You think you're some big tough
guy by hitting your friends?" I said
"Shut up" He mumbled
"I should have expected that response from you" I said sadly.
Mark stepped
towards Nicky, I stopped him from doing something that would make matters
worse
"Don't lower yourself to his level Mark"
"He can't talk to you like that" Mark said
"I just did" Nicky scoffed
"You asshole!" Mark pushed Nicky, he fell against Bryan
"Mark, don't!" I grabbed him, made him look into my eyes
"You're better
than him. I know that"
"Sorry. I just had to"
"You can't solve violence with violence Mark. I'll talk to you later. Stay
out of trouble. Please?"
"Okay" He smiled, and I knew I could trust him
I left with Tonya to go shopping, I needed the retail therapy
"Are we going to be okay now?" Kian asked Nicky and Mark
Mark pushed past them "Fine. Keep him away from me though"
"Don't worry we will" Kian laughed nervously. He could feel the
strong unit
been torn apart, he couldn't do a thing to stop his dreams been ripped to
shreds
The rest of the day was a struggle. Mark kept well away from Nicky. His nose
ached, he knew he didn't deserve that, he had to find out what was wrong with
Nicky. Not now though. He thought. He's too wild
Shane observed Nicky from a distance. Like Mark, he'd taken to avoiding him.
His dark moods and violent outbursts were enough to destroy a friendship, but
he was also worried that he was the cause for Tonya's change in mood.
Nicky was huddled on a sofa, awaiting the call from make up. His whole body
ached, he glanced at his watch. Only ten hours till my next hit. He thought.
He let out a groan. Ten hours was far too long, almost an eternity away. If I
can have a hit now, I'll get through the rest of the day.
"Shane?" He called out meekly. Shane jumped. He didn't know he'd
noticed his
presence
"What is it?" Shane asked
"Cover for me. I have to go" Nicky said in one breath and ran
out of the room
"No Nic!" Shane called, but it was futile
"DAMN!" Shane screamed out
An eventful day shopping managed to calm me down, but still I was worrying
about Mark, and why Nicky could hurt him.
"Penny for your thoughts" Tonya smiled
"Oh" I smiled "Sorry. Not quite with it today"
"I noticed. You're having problems with Nicky aren't you?"
"You could say that. I don't know him anymore. He punched Mark. My Nicky
would never do that" I said as we sat in a small cafe sipping
cappucinos
"Don't take this the wrong way, but I think that he's not your Nicky
anymore"
I looked at her across the small table "I know that, but he will be
again"
"You really think so?" She raised an eyebrow at me
"After what we just
witnessed, you think he can change?"
"I have to hold on to that small scrap of hope Tonya. What we had was so
good"
"I saw the look on your face though when you saw that he'd hurt Mark"
"The look?"
"Yes, disgust and betrayal were apparent. You don't want to be with someone
who makes you feel like that"
"What else can I do? I love him"
"Break it off with him honey"
I stirred my cappucino. Froth spilled onto the serviette "I can't
just leave
him"
"You know that he's cheating on you don't you?"
"I know"
"Use this to get out while you still can, before he starts on you"
"He would never hurt me!" I stood up and rushed out of the cafe.
Tonya
rushed after me "How do you know?" She gasped, catching
her breath back
"I know Nicky. He may cheat on me, but he would never raise his hand to me.
Never"
"I saw him last night Caz, it wasn't Nicky"
"What do you mean it wasn't Nicky?" I asked, worried
"His eyes, something just wasn't right. I've seen that look before"
"What look?"
"Just a scary look" The look that can end a life so
tragically. She added
silently
Nicky fed his habit and was flying. He didn't care that he broke into Nily's
flat. ripped her place apart. It was worth it when he came across his best
friend. He knew he could continue with the rest of the day's work. Any guilt
he had disappeared when the drugs flowed through his body. He floated around
the room, smiling like some immature child.
He raced back to the photoshoot, shouting obscenities at everyone he passed
in the street. Collapsing in fits of giggles as he ran into Shane
"Hey matey!" Nicky threw his arms around him, Shane backed away,
annoyed at
him for just taking off, again
"Where the hell have you been?" Shane glared at him, perturbed
by his
strange affectionate manner
"I was around" Nicky skipped into make up. Shane followed him
in, and
lowered his voice "You're a liability Nicky!"
"Stop been such a stick in the mud Shane. Enjoy yourself!"
"I am here to work Nicky. Not run off and get pissed at every chance I
get"
"I'm not pissed" Nicky sniggered "I'm stoned"
Shane's mouth dropped open, he pulled him out of make up and shoved him
against a wall. "You idiot Nicky! You bloody idiot!"
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