Nicky cocked his head to the opposite side and made a face, “You look…” he trailed off, and then stood up straight, “Pudgy. You look pudgy.”

“Eh?” Mark asked, stepping into the room, “Did you call me, Nicky?”

Nicky resisted the urge to laugh very loudly and very annoyingly, “No, I was talking to Bry. He wants to look good, apparently, for tonight.”

“When we meet those birds who won that contest?” Kian asked from his spot on the couch, in the far corner of the hotel room.

“Yes,” Bryan replied, sighing, “Ya know I like to look me best.”

Mark snorted, “Bryan. You’re married. It doesn’t matter.” He spun around on his toes, “How do I look?”

“Chubby,” Nicky replied, crossing the room to grab his jacket. “Lose the puffy jacket.”

Narrowing his eyes, Mark discarded the jacket, “I’m gonna be cold.”

Nicky shrugged, “You asked.” He pulled his jacket on and turned to Bryan and Mark, who were surveying each other critically. “These are just contest winners,” he said to them, “You don’t need to be so worried. You meet hundreds of fans a week.”

Kian stood up, dropping his magazine on the coffee table, “These are Americans. American fans. We’ve only got the two. We need to look brilliantly handsome and be extremely charming.” He eyed Bryan, “So try not to do the fart jokes, okay?”

“What’s with you and American birds?” Mark questioned, taking Bryan’s proffered jacket and making some comical arm movements in order to get it on.

Kian grinned sheepishly, “I like the accents.” He stopped grinning and peered at Mark, “Don’t you?”

Mark shrugged, “Sure. How’s this look?”

Nicky rolled his eyes and left the room, only to bump into Shane in the hallway.

“Hey the car’s here,” Shane said, glancing into the room. “Are they ready?”

“Hardly, go in there and talk some sense into ‘em.” Nicky sighed heavily, “I’m gonna call Georgina.”

Shane nodded and brushed past him into the room, which was a mess of flailing arms and legs. “Whoa, whoa, lads, what’s going on?”

Kian was in the corner laughing hysterically, and also trying to catch his breath, “Mark. Bryan. Fight. Over. Jaket!”

Shane gave Kian an odd look, “Mark and Bryan are fighting over a jacket? And that’s funny how?”

Rolling his eyes, Kian stopped laughing abruptly, “They were calling each other names. Ya know how Mark’s gained some weight lately…well…Pudge and Chubs over there are trying to decide who weighs more. And I couldn’t find the scale.”

Shane broke up the fake fight immediately and then ushered his friends into the idling van, in order to take them to the restaurant they were meeting the contest winners at.

“We’re meeting Westlife,” Grace muttered again, glancing out the car window.

“Yes,” Juliet replied, parking the car. “Don’t say it again.”

“We’re meeting Westlife, Jules,” Grace said, laughing. “I can’t say anything else.”

“You just did, now shut up,” Juliet unbuckled and jumped out of the car. Grace followed suit, and the two of them walked towards the restaurant.

“Do you think you’ll be able to speak when you see Mark?” Grace asked curiously as Juliet told the waitress who greeted them who they were and what they were doing there.

“Probably not,” Juliet answered, shrugging. “Oh well. Do you think you’ll be able to talk AT ALL?”

“Yes, apparently when I get nervous now I just get really chatty and can’t shut up.”

“I’ve noticed,” Juliet joked, laughing.

Grace ignored her, “So Instead of becoming a puddle of goo, I’ll be one of those things…a thing that never shuts up.”

“A chatter box,” Juliet supplied, “If you keep talking like this, you’re going to be mistaken as someone who rides the short bus.”

“Oh ha ha, very funny,” Grace remarked dryly.

“I try,” Juliet bowed, trying not to laugh. The waitress showed them to a room in the back that had a huge table and not much else. The room was very comfy looking and was secluded from the rest of the patrons.

“Do kids from the short bus talk really, really fast?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well why the hell did you call me that, then?”

“I don’t know.”

“Stop saying you don’t know.”

“No.”

“Are you nervous? You’re not saying much.”

“You’re saying enough for the both of us.” Juliet’s head snapped towards the door as a loud bark of laughter was heard and five handsome young lads entered the room.

“Hello!” Bryan bellowed, shaking Juliet’s hand, “I’m Bryan.”

“I know,” she grinned, “I’m Juliet. And this is Grace.”

“Hey,” Grace said, probably trying to play it cool.

“The American contest winners! Lovely accents and very lovely names,” Bryan winked at them and stepped out of the way for Shane to approach.

“I’m Shane,” he said, shaking Juliet’s hand and then Grace’s. “Nice to meet you.”

“I’m Grace. Can I call you Sheen?”

Shane glanced at Nicky, who shrugged, “Sure, why not.”

“Shane sounds like Sheen when it’s said in an Irish accent,” Grace commented, while Juliet said hello to Nicky.

“Does it,” Shane said blankly, “Shane. Yes. You’re right.” He took a deep breath, “STOP MOCKING ME. FOOK IT ALL TO HELL.”

“Fook it all to hell,” Grace repeated quietly, “Interesting.” She was about to take notes, but remembered she didn‘t have any paper, “I’m sorry, don’t mind me, I’m just nervous,” she laughed awkwardly, and introduced herself to Nicky.

“Hello,” Kian said, stepping forward and elbowing Nicky out of the way, “I’m Kian.”

“Hi,” Grace replied, looking very pale all of a sudden. Juliet was staring at Mark and wiping her mouth to make sure there was no drool coming out. She and Mark then introduced themselves, and their eyes stayed on each other, unmoving. “You have a----a great accent,” she said to him.

Kian smiled and Grace nearly fell over, “Whoa, are you okay?”

“Er---yes, fine. Emmm…” she glanced at Juliet, who was in a heated discussion with Mark in Gaelic, so she couldn’t understand a word of it.

“You have a great accent too,” Kian said, grinning and letting her go.

She nodded, “Thank you.”

Shane cleared his throat, “FOOOOOOOOOD.”

Bryan wiggled his eyebrows, “I think they’re busy.”

“Bloody hell, we can’t let the single ones alone for a minute,” Nicky complained, sliding into the booth beside Shane.

“So how old are you two!?” Bryan hollered in the general direction of the rest of the group.

Grace turned towards him, “I’m, uh, nineteen. Yeah. And Juliet’s….twenty-one. I’ll be twenty soon, and she’ll be turning twenty-two…obviously.” Kian placed a hand at the small of her back and gently pushed her towards the table. She nearly fell over on the way there, but managed to slide into the booth beside Bryan.

Bryan handed her a piece of pizza, “Eat up. Oy! Chubs!”

“JULES!” Grace gasped, “They call him Chubs, too!” Grace slapped a hand over her mouth, but the boys began laughing hysterically; Mark and Juliet made their way over to the table.

“You call Mark, Chubs?” Kian asked her, savagely biting into his pizza.

“Em, Jules does, yes. In a fond way. You know, like you’d give a nickname to a puppy you really liked.”

“You just compared Mark to a puppy,” Juliet said blankly, “Thank you.”

“If I’m going down, so are you,” Grace replied, through a forced smile. Juliet kicked her under the table.

“American birds are quite funny,” Kian mused, looking amused and trying not to laugh.

Mark laughed loudly, “This’ll be good. Are you two gonna get into a chick fight?”

“Why are women called after poultry?” Grace asked, looking directly at Kian, “Birds. Chicks.”

“Roosters,” Juliet supplied, and then closed her eyes and sighed heavily.

“Roosters aren’t a name for women, I don’t think,” Grace said.

Mark shook his head, “No, I think that it is.”

“Aren’t roosters sort of about lads?” Shane asked, “Cock…and such.”

Grace bit her lip in trying not to laugh, “I’m not sure.”

Juliet laughed and then stopped when she realized Shane didn’t appreciate being made fun of.

“Juliet,” Grace said, leaning across the table towards her, “Was that a duck I just heard? Nope, it was a cricket.”

Kian looked oddly at her, “Are you…sane?”

Juliet snorted, “Hardly.” Grace kicked her under the table. “Ow?”

Shane looked at Nicky, “Remind me to call Gillian when we’re done and tell her how glad I am she’s not American.”

Nicky nodded, “Yeah, me too. I’ll have to call Georgina.”

Bryan shrugged, enjoying his pizza, “At least they’re not boring, and they’re not screaming at us.”

“Yet,” Mark replied, winking at Juliet; Grace shuddered. “So,” he said, stretching out and putting an arm around Juliet, “Do you two wanna come back to the hotel and get some coffee?”

“They have coffee here,” Shane said, motioning the waitress over.

Mark gave him a look, and Shane shrugged. “I don’t actually drink coffee,” Juliet stated, sipping a random drink.

“I do,” Grace piped up, “A small bit too much, actually.”

“That would explain the hyperactiveness,” Nicky replied, laughing.

“Well, you can come back for coffee, the hotel’s got a great…blend,” Kian said to her, and she nodded.

“There’s really costly bottles of scotch in the mini-fridge, and some carbonated beverages,” Mark said to Juliet. “Do you drink those?”

“Hell yeah,” Juliet replied, nodding happily. “I’d love to.”

“Hello?” Juliet answered the phone, glancing out the window at the clear day that beheld the lovely city of Portland, Maine.

“Juliet?” The voice was male, muffled, and joined with lots of static and loud, booming voices in the background.

Juliet pressed her finger against the opposite ear and said, “HELLO!?”

“JULIET!” The man yelled, nearly making Juliet fall over from the force of it.

“I’m not deaf! I can hear you!” She shouted into the phone, which was now pulled away from her ear, “God. Who is this?”

“Why are you shouting?” Grace asked, coming out of her bedroom, “Who’s on the phone?”

Juliet glared at her and yelled, “SHHHH! I can’t hear!”

“Obviously,” Grace muttered, heading into the kitchen.

“JULLLLLLLLIETTTTTT!” The man on the phone hollered, then lowered his voice, “Are you there?”

“I’m here. Who IS this?”

“It’s Mark,” he replied, surprised she’d have to ask. “How are you?”

“Mark who?” Juliet asked, slipping onto the sofa and sighing heavily. Her head was beginning to pound.

“Mark Feehily. From Westlife? We met about a year ago, you won that contest. Remember?”

Juliet did remember, she just didn’t know what to say. What would possess some guy to sleep with a girl and call a year later, out of the blue? “Oh, hey,” she said, her voice quiet, “What’s up?”

Mark stared in confusion at the cell phone in his hand; he motioned to the others to be quiet, and they stopped making noise, “I’m in town.”

“What town?” Juliet asked, for lack of a better response.

“YOUR town,” Mark replied, laughing slightly.

“My town,” Juliet repeated, blankly, “Why?”

“Tour,” Mark said, “I’ve got some time off, d’ya wanna hang out for a bit?”

“Um,” Juliet looked around the apartment, Grace was standing in front of her now, looking confused. “Hold on a sec, okay?” She heard Mark say okay, so she cupped her hand over the receiver and began whispering feverously at Grace, “It’s Mark. From Westlife.”

“There is no other Mark, Jules,” Grace replied, putting her hand on her hip, “Wait. He CALLED?!”

“YES!” Juliet hissed, “What am I supposed to do? He wants to ‘hang out for a bit.’ What does that MEAN?”

“I think you know,” Grace laughed, “Say okay and meet him at the hotel. Or is that too whorish.”

“Did you know they were here?” Juliet asked, “Did Kian call you?”

“No, and no.”

“Oh,” Juliet said blandly, “Well.”

“Yeah, so GO if he wants to see you.”

“He’s a whore, Grace, he just wants me for sex.” Juliet narrowed her eyes, “Why do I care?” She shoed Grace off, and got back on the phone, “Yeah, Mark? Where are you?”

“On my way to your apartment, I think. If the address is correct that I got from the operator. I‘m in the car with the lads. We’ll be there in…about five minutes. Okay?”

“Um, yeah, okay.” Juliet said goodbye and hung up. “Grace.”

Grace peeked her head round her bedroom door, “Yes?”

“They’re coming here.”

“Soooooo?”

Juliet stood up and began running through the apartment, picking random things up and throwing them at Grace; then she changed her clothes about fifty times. When the doorbell rang, she was trying to catch her breath. “I’ll get it,” Grace offered, shrugging; Mark was standing at the door looking very casual and yet cool in jeans, a t-shirt and light jacket.

“Hey,” he said, smiling. “Is Juliet around? Or did she run off when I called?”

“She’s here,” Grace replied, moving aside so he could go in.

Mark started walking towards the living room, “Kian says hello by the way.”

“Uh huh,” Grace muttered, “Hello back.” She grabbed her jacket, “I’m going out for a bit. You two have fun.” She waved and then left the building.

“Hey,” Juliet smiled, “It’s good to see you.”

“You too,” Mark replied, grinning widely, “I’ve missed you.”

“That explains why you haven’t called. I know that I never call someone if I miss them.”

“I’m sorry about that,” Mark said, taking a step towards her, “I shouldn’t have let a year pass without at least calling.”

Juliet shrugged, “Meh. I don’t care.”

He reached out to tickle her side, “Yes, you do.”

She pushed his hand away, “No, I don’t.”

Mark took a deep sniff of the aroma of the apartment, “Man. I could eat you, you smell so good.”

“No sweet talking, Feehily,” Juliet reprimanded, but her smile gave her away.

“God, it’s good to see you, Juliet.” Mark said, before tackling her.

Juliet knew no more after that.

Grace snuggled deeper into her jacket as she walked past the limo parked on the sidewalk and down the street towards the coffee shop. It was summer, so it was warm, but the breeze from the ocean was a tad chilly.

Nicky nudged Kian and Kian glanced up, looking out the window. “Isn’t that Grace?”

“I don’t know,” Kian answered, peering at the girl as she walked by. “A year does things, you know.”

“Yeah, it changes you,” Bryan muttered, laughing. “I didn’t know that was possible! I thought you always just stayed the same.”

Shane hit him in the back of head, “Don’t aggravate him. He’s been in a semi-good mood today.”

“Semi being the keyword,” Nicky joked, laughing a little.

“Go on,” Shane urged, “Go talk to her. That’s what you came here to do. I wanna get back to the hotel.”

“Those of us with balls and chains would like to speak to them,” Bryan commented lightly.

Kian narrowed his eyes at his band mates and pushed the door open, “I don’t think----”

“Don’t think,” Nicky instructed, “Just go.”

“No,” Kian sighed, “Flings aren’t really my thing, I never know what to say afterwards. I mean---”

“It’s obvious you like her, so just go talk to her,” Bryan interrupted sternly, “Stop being a prick.”

“If you’re going to come all this way and say you want to see her, don’t chicken out,” Nicky stated, “You’ll kick yourself if you don’t go talk to her.”

“And we’ll kick you too,” Bryan put in helpfully.

“What if she won’t talk to me?” Kian questioned, “I wouldn’t talk to me.” They all shot him looks that plainly told him he was being stupid. He took a deep breath, sighed, and jumped out of the car. Nicky slammed the door shut behind him and they peeled out.

Kian shoved his hands in his jacket pockets and started jogging down the street, “Grace!” he called out, after he realized his voice was working. She spun around and her mouth dropped open when she saw him; she stayed rooted to the spot as he caught up to her. “Hey,” he said, smiling and slowing his pace.

“Kian?” She gasped, “What the hell?”

“You knew I was here, I figured, since Mark called Juliet.”

“Well, yeah, but I didn’t think I’d be seeing you.” She glanced at the door to the coffee shop and then looked back at him.

His blue eyes were sparkling in the sunlight, “Sorry I haven’t called.” He laughed awkwardly.

Grace raised an eyebrow, “Yeah. Listen, I’m just going in there----I’ll see you later.” She turned to go into the shop, but he grabbed her elbow. “What are you doing? It’s okay with me if you just leave it, you know.”

“It’s not okay with me,” he said, “Can we go in there and talk?” He jabbed a thumb at the shop; after a little hesitation she nodded and followed him inside.

“What an ass,” Grace complained, setting her bag down heavily and entering the living room.

“Who’s an ass?” Juliet asked from the couch, where she was sprawled out with a Steven King novel.

Grace gave her a look, “I broke up with him. He was an ass.”

“Oh, whatshisface, Josh,” Juliet went back to her book, “I told you he was an ass.”

“I know, I know,” she heaved a heavy sigh, “So…any interesting calls while I was out?”

Juliet laughed hollowly, “No. Why would there be?”

“Because it was a year ago today that there was one, and I was thinking…you know.” She waved a hand around, “Never mind. Wishful thinking I suppose. Bastard.”

“Bastards plural,” Juliet said, laughing. “I can’t believe you just went back to him last time.”

“What about you?” Grace countered, “You went right back to Mark.”

“Well, he’s Mark.”

Grace didn’t seem to accept this as any sort of answer, but she let it slide. “I’m going to go run around a few times. I feel the need to get rid of some pent up energy.” She was in her bedroom changing when she called out, “Why do you think we can’t hold onto any guys? Or, correction, any decent guys? Are we waiting for them?”

Juliet sat up on the couch and looked at the wall, “I’m not. Are you?”

“No,” Grace answered, “I’m not waiting.” She came out in sweats, “It’s a hopeless…something or other.”

“I’m glad to know you’re no more articulate than you were the day we met them,” Juliet joked, sliding back onto the couch to continue her book.

“I feel jaded,” Grace muttered, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge. “And I hate it.”

“Stop quoting John Mayer.”

Grace laughed, waved, and left.

Grace looked both ways while jogging in place and then crossed the street. When she’d almost gotten to the other sidewalk a horn blasted out and she let out a screech of terror and fell against a nearby building and slid to the ground, her heart beating way too fast.

“GRACE?!” Mark questioned in a shrill voice as he climbed out of a convertible.

She waved her hand limply, “Er…hi.”

“Sorry, did I scare you?” He asked, bending to help her stand.

“No,” she replied angrily, standing up and brushing herself off. “What are you doing here?”

“Why do you two always ask that? We’re on tour.” He laughed, “Where’s Juliet?”

Grace sighed, “At the apartment.” She glanced at the car, and was semi-relieved to see that there was no one else in it.

“I’m actually not even supposed to be here,” Mark laughed, “We’re in Boston, and I got a car and drove up here…I wanted to ask Juliet to come and stay with me there.”

Grace raised an eyebrow, “Oh really.”

“Yeah,” he grinned, “So I’ll just go ask. Is she…is she seeing anyone?”

“Not exclusively,” Grace answered vaguely, “How long are you in Boston for?”

“Four days,” Mark replied, “Oh.” He pulled a letter from his pocket, “This is for you. Ki’s doing radio interviews all day, otherwise he’d have come.”

“Uh huh,” Grace took the letter and pocketed it.

“Want a ride back?” Mark asked, indicating the awaiting car.

“No, thanks,” she declined, “I’ll run around a few more times and give you and Juliet a couple minutes.”

“Thanks,” he turned to get back into the car. “Do you think she’ll speak to me?”

“Speak? Yes, probably,” Grace nodded.

“Will you read that letter and then do what it says?” He opened his car door, awaiting her answer.

“Depends on what it says.”

Mark nodded, “Well, maybe you ought to read it before you come back to the apartment.” He smiled secretively and got into the car.

Juliet was putting the finishing touches on her hair when Grace walked into the room and flopped onto the bed, “JULES,” she whined.

“What?” Juliet demanded, stepping into the room.

“I’m having trouble.”

“Of what kind? I’m busy.”

“I know, I can see that.” Grace sat up on the bed. “Where’s Mark taking you?”

“Some club,” she shrugged and went back into the bathroom. “Are you having Kian trouble?”

“Yes,” Grace muttered, “I don’t want to be his whore anymore.”

“What do you mean?” Juliet laughed.

“I’m his Portland whore. It’s not fun----well, I mean it IS, but it’s not.”

Juliet raised an eyebrow at Grace’s reflection in the mirror as Grace stood in the doorway. “Do you regret coming here?”

“No,” Grace replied, “I’ve gotta talk to him.”

“Mark will be back in five minutes, so probably Kian’s on his way to your room as we speak.”

Grace leaned against the doorframe in a dramatic fashion, “This sucks. It doesn’t bother you being Mark’s Portland whore?”

“Nope,” Juliet replied, shrugging, “It’s Mark.”

“That’s not a good answer for anything, by the way.”

Mark came in the room then and stood beside Grace, “Hey, ladies, what’s going on?”

“Grace is having Kian trouble,” Juliet replied, turning to kiss him.

Grace groaned loudly, “You don’t have to announce it to everyone.”

“It’s Mark,” Juliet replied, grinning teasingly. Grace rolled her eyes, laughed, and disappeared from the room.

When she opened her hotel room door she could hear the shower running and some sort of singing. She leaned against the door and began to giggle hysterically.

About five minutes later she was still laughing, but was laying on the bed, when Kian came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around himself. “What’s so funny?” He asked, trying to hide his laughter.

“You were singing ‘The Thong Song!’” She burst out laughing again. He laughed and kissed her and then went to dig around in his bag for some clothes. Grace sat up and sighed heavily, “I need to talk to you.”

“About what?” He asked, sliding some boxers on and then a pair of jeans.

“I don’t want to be your whore,” she said quickly.

Kian’s brow furrowed, “My what? You’re not my whore. What are you talking about?”

“You beckon, I come, that’s the definition of whore.”

“I don’t think that it is,” Kian laughed, but then became serious, “And that’s not how I think of you.” He threw a shirt on and crossed the room to her.

“I think of me that way. I don’t like it.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, “But we’re on tour and it’s hard to have a relationship…and I like you…”

Grace stood up and walked past him, “It’s not working. I hate to do this, but next time you’re here, don’t invite me to Boston for four days, or take me for coffee, or anything else like that. I need something more.”

Kian frowned, “So this is it?”

“Yeah,” she nodded; she left the room and went to the one that she and Juliet shared, though they’d never used it except to store their bags. Juliet was there packing when Grace entered. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t want to be his whore either,” Juliet answered, slinging a pair of pants into a bag. She shook her head angrily and then walked out the door.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” Mark stated, blowing a stray piece of hair out of his face. He plopped down on the couch beside Nicky, “I find something amazing and I fook it up. It’s the same story.”

Kian nodded, “I know what you mean.”

Mark looked up at him in surprise, “What are you talking about? I thought everything was going fine with Grace.”

“Appearances can be misleading,” Kian replied, “Things aren’t so great.”

“What happened?” Mark asked him.

“I let her walk away,” Kian answered, his voice remarkably quiet. He looked down at the floor and became immensely interested in his sneakers.

“Why the fook did you do that?” Nicky asked, “I thought you loved her.”

Kian laughed, “I don’t know. I don’t know how I feel.”

“Well, I do,” Mark said, “I‘m in love with Juliet. And I was a bloody prick. I just expected her, time and time again, to be there waiting for me.”

“She’ll probably forgive you,” Kian said, “She loves you.”

“And Grace doesn’t love you?” Mark countered, raising an accusing eyebrow.

“How should I know? I’ve never discussed my real feelings with her, or allowed her to discuss her feelings with me.” Kian ran a hand though his disheveled hair.

“Maybe you should,” Nicky suggested lightly.

“It’s too late now, isn’t it,” Kian retorted angrily, “She’s gone.”

“It’s never too late to say how you feel,” Bryan said, coming into the room. he left the door open so that the yellowish light from the hallway wafted in. He sat heavily beside Nicky on the couch, “I should know.”

Kian shook his head, “It’s no use. I’m a lost cause.” He paused, looking at a spot on the wall. “I think I do love her.” No one said anything for a moment, and finally Kian spoke again, “I love the way she does dishes, always trying not to touch the really gross bits, and then when she sprays the water, she always ends up spraying herself ‘cause she forgets the spout is pointed towards her and not the plates.” Kian laughed fondly and smiled to himself, “She’s just…she’s unlike anything I’ve ever had.”

Mark swallowed, “Why haven’t you told her?”

“Same reason you haven’t told Juliet, I expect. I’m a fool. I’m scared. Take your pick.” Kian sighed, “I think I’ve blown it.”

“I doubt that,” Nicky commented, maneuvering his chin at Kian.

Kian shook his head in confusion, “What?”

“Did you mean all that?” came a voice from behind Kian, in the doorway. He spun around and tried hard to stop the smile from plastering itself on his lips.

“I meant every word,” Kian answered honestly.

Grace’s face was stoic as she stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame. Her eyes were glistening with tears and her hair looked windblown as if she’d just run a very long way. She stood up, “I’m looking for Juliet.” She glanced at Mark, “Have you seen her?”

“I thought she was with you,” Mark answered, sitting up. “Why, have you lost her?” He looked worried, his forehead was ceased and his lips were in a frown.

“No, I…I went to tell her that I was leaving…and she was packing and walked out. So I came back here, to see if she’d come to talk to you.”

“She hasn’t,” Mark replied, biting his bottom lip, “I hope she hasn’t left. I‘m such a duetz.”

Kian’s eyes remained on Grace, unwavering, but Grace was avoiding his blue eyed gaze like the plague. “She wouldn’t leave without telling me,” Grace said to Mark, sighing. “I’ll go check…somewhere else.” She motioned vaguely, “Um…I’ll see you.”

Nicky stood up, “Grace.”

She turned towards him, an eyebrow raised, “Yeah.”

He shook his head, “You can’t leave like this.” Nicky stepped forward and prodded Kian in the back. Kian let out a little ‘ow’ of pain and took a hesitant step towards her.

Grace stepped back, “I have to go. My plane leaves in an hour. I gotta find Jules----” her voice trailed off as she let her eyes fall on Kian’s at last. His eyes pleaded with her, but he didn’t speak.

“I’m right here,” Juliet said, stepping into the room.

Mark immediately stood up and rushed to her side; Grace tore her eyes from Kian and watched as Mark took Juliets hand in his own. “God, don’t ever leave me.” He kissed her hand, “I love you, Jules.”

Juliet looked briefly surprised, but then a smile crept onto her lips, “Do you.”

“Hell yes,” Mark replied, smiling hugely, “I thought you were gone, I was a mess. I’m so sorry. I’m just so, so sorry for hurting you.”

“I know,” Juliet replied, “I’m sorry too.”

“But you didn’t do anything,” Mark stated, taking her other hand in his own.

“Exactly,” she smiled. She leaned in and kissed him quickly on the lips. “I love you, too, you know.”

He leaned his forehead against hers, his smile unmistakable as it spread further across his lips. Soon, he had engulfed her in a big bear hug that didn’t falter while Nicky and Bryan left the room. Both of them gave Kian bruising jabs in the back and threw encouraging smiles to Grace.

Grace cleared her throat once they‘d left and Jenny and Mark had begun making out, “Jules, I’m going.”

Juliet pulled away from Mark, “What? Why?”

Gracenodded towards Kian, “He can explain. I’ll call you later.” She hugged her friend, waved at Mark and disappeared from the room.

Mark glared at Kian as Grace’s footsteps faded away. “Go after her, ya duetz.”

Kian pulled himself from the trance he’d been in, “I can’t let her just walk away again. I’ve gotta go after her.”

“Duh,” Juliet remarked, laughing. “Go!”

Kian gave them a quick smile and then took off in a run down the hall. Grace wasn’t in the long hallway, so he figured she’d taken the elevator downstairs. He couldn’t wait, so he flew down the three flights of stairs and appeared panting in the lobby in a matter of moments.

“GRACE!” he hollered, not caring when everyone turned to look at him. He couldn’t see her, but he knew she had to be there somewhere.

The elevator dinged behind him and Grace stepped off, tears falling down her cheeks freely. She brushed a piece of hair from her face and started to walk to the front door. She hadn’t noticed Kian, and he hadn’t noticed her.

He looked wildly around, his eyes darting to and fro for a sign of curly brown hair, but all he saw were old women and older gentlemen. Then, suddenly, in the corner of his eye he saw a brief glimpse of her. He stumbled getting to her, but he got there and grasped her arms, just as he fell to the ground in a Kian-heap.

“Grace,” he gasped, breathing heavily, “Wait.”

She was extremely startled as she pulled from his grasp and turned to face him, “What are you doing?”

“I’m stopping you,” Kian answered.

“Good job,” she laughed, wiping some tears away. “It might be helpful if you could actually stand, though.” She sighed heavily and began walking away.

“Grace, don’t. Come on.” He stood up as quickly as he could and took the remaining step towards her. “You can’t go. Not until I’ve said what I need to say.”

“I have to go,” she replied stubbornly, “I’m going to miss the plane.”

“Good, then miss it.” He didn’t give her a chance to say anything else. He grabbed her shoulders and leaned closer to her, “I love you,” he whispered, with as much honesty as he could muster. It was difficult since he could barely breathe.

“What?” she breathed, staring at him.

“I said I love you. I‘m so IN love with you,” he smiled, “Don’t leave me.”

Grace tried her best to stop crying, but it was useless, “I love you too, you arse. Now let me go.”

Kian laughed, “No, I’m not letting you go.”

“Bastard,” she muttered, wiping more tears away. He chuckled, and then kissed her so hard that it took her breath away.

“I would totally make fun of this if I thought she wouldn’t get violet and throw something at me,” Juliet remarked, as she and Mark walked up to them. Shane, Nicky and Bryan were all walking behind them. “The ‘something’ being Kian.”

Grace pulled away from Kian and smiled, “I can’t throw him.”

“Too heavy? Or you just love him so much that you couldn’t bare him getting hurt?” Juliet asked, as Mark slipped his arm around her waist.

“Obviously too heavy,” Grace smiled.