Queen of my Heart

15

DEEP BREATHS, JULIET.

The closed door in front of me looked as welcoming as a cemetery.

One week. That was all it took for me to come back to Westlife's doorstep. Talk about pathetic.

And since then, I've never heard from any of the lads. It was like they disappeared off the face of the earth. And no matter how much I wanted to be hurt, I knew it was all my fault. I wanted them gone, and they finally had enough of me.

The door suddenly opened.

"When will you decide on knocking, Juliet?" Mark said with a silly smile on his face.

I stood there, dumbfounded. I didn't even know why I was so speechless. So he opened the door for me. Big time.

My brain finally functioned again. "How did you know I was here?"

He raised a brow. "I didn't, but I heard some long, miserable sighs and nerve-racking footsteps as you walk back and forth the hallway." He ushered me inside. "Seriously woman, what is wrong with you?"

I let out a chuckle, despite my nerves. "I missed you, too, Mark." I faced him. "Where are the others?" Where are Bryan and Shane? I wanted to specifically ask.

Rolling his eyes, he enveloped me in a tight embrace. "Well, don't I feel your need to get away from me pronto?" he joked as he pulled away.

Damn, I was rude. "I'm so sor—"

He waved a hand dismissively. "Haven't heard of a joke, Juliet? Man, you're more uptight than I thought." He pointed to the far end of the hallway. "Bryan's out to who knows where, but Shane's in the first room, if it helps."

Great. The only person I wanted to talk to right now was MIA. Talk about great timing.

"Thanks, Mark," I said as I flashed him a smile before striding to the first door.

Knocking, I pressed my ear against the hard wood. "Shane?"

Not a few seconds later, Shane's face came into view. He looked taken aback for a moment, but quickly recovered.

"You look like hell," we both said at the same time.

Chuckling, he pulled the door wider to let me in. "Well, thanks, I guess. I was rocking this look for a few days," he said as we sat on his bed.

That got my attention. "How come?" A pause. "Gillian-related problems?" I inquired softly.

He seemed to contemplate for a moment. "Yes and no," he finally answered.

"Then what is it?"

"Something you don't know."

"Gee, can't you be more specific?"

"Specifically, something you should've known but don't, for some reason."

I held his hand in mine, my heart going wild in my chest. "Don't you trust me?"

There was a fleeting moment when our eyes met, and I took a glimpse of what was hiding behind those hazel orbs of his, until he looked away.

And the moment was gone. Poof.