Life Is A Rollercoaster (Ronan Keating / Boyzone / X Factor) fan fiction

One

Vicky

April 2003

"Vic, please don't take this the wrong way, but what on earth is the matter with you today?" asked my Cousin Sophie with just a hint of impatience in her voice.

"Nothing Soph, I'm just a bit excited", I answered felling a little silly.

"It's stupid really, I mean I never normally see anyone, I don't know why I suddenly think today should be any different?"

"Ah, but Vic, don't you remember that time that you saw Simon Cowell, and Alex Turner? You just never know"

I laughed at the memory. "That was different Soph". "It's not my fault that I look like Simon cowell's P.A and the Artic Monkey's were getting told off for playing football in the car park"

The Sports Travel company that I worked for, 'Travel City', rented a small office within Cardiff international Arena. It was a standing joke between Sophie and I that I held a secret celebrity lifestyle, and hung out every night with the rich and famous.

The reality was that we had nothing to do with the arena, we just heard the bands/ touring acts doing (usually very noisy) sound checks and saw the occasional roadie in the corridor - that was about as exciting as it got. 

I had to admit though that it was strange though...

Some days I went to work and didn't even consider the environment that I was in, and others I'd wonder to myself who was 'in' and whether or not we'd see them.

Today happened to be one of those days. That may have been something to do with the act appearing that evening though..

"I don't think I should let you in today!" exclaimed Brian in the window of the security lodge, as I pulled my car up outside the arena gates.

"Why not?" I asked confused, it was way too early for my brain to be functioning properly.

"Well you might try and stalk the poor man"

"Oh ha ha very funny" I answered dryly, but I couldn't help but laugh. 

It was a well know fact amongst my colleagues that I was a fan of a certain Mr. Ronan Keating, previously one fifth of Boyzone, but now forging a successful solo career for himself.

He was funny, had a voice to die for, and was easy on the eye... What wasn't there to love?

I wasn't under any illusion that I was going to meet him though, things that like that just didn't happen to people like me. 

But I couldn't help think 'what if'. 

I literally couldn't concentrate on a thing, and was instantly transported back to my school days where me and my friends had been so excited every time we went to a concert, that there was no question of ever getting any work done.

A girl could dream, right?

"Bri, I haven't even got tickets for tonight!" I complained, "I'm hardly going to start stalking the poor guy, besides I haven't got the time" I moaned, referring to how busy we were currently were at work.

"Oh, and Dan would kill me!" I added laughing, "you know he much he hates groupies!" I joked.

"Oh yeah good point" laughed Brian.

"So are you gonna let me in or what? Some of us have got work to do!"

Brian just grinned at me as he raised the barrier and let me in to the top car park area of the arena. I watched for a moment at the stage hands unloading stuff from the back of the stage trucks, wondering what the stage would be like.

Work thankfully was a little quiet for a Thursday, I decided to take my lunch early and went out for a walk. 

I strolled through the back security gate and laughed at poor Brian who was being besieged by a load of screaming girls. He always got stuck with the groupies. 

Though I suspected he secretly liked the attention.

I laughed to myself, today, I was probably just as bad.

As I strolled nonchalantly back through the gate a little while later, I had to remind myself to breath, for there by the arena loading doors was none other than the man himself, talking to one of the stage hands.

One of the girls next to Brian actually screamed as she spotted the blonde Irish man.

"Shush!" he said to her laughing

"Hey! Ronan" he shouted.

Ronan turned and looked around curiously at Brian. "This is the young lady I was telling you about"

What? They'd been talking about me? 

I stood there with my mouth open. 

This was so surreal.

Ronan walked over to us and stood in front of me. "So....you must be the lovely Vicky?" he asked.

Oh god. I groaned inwardly. What on earth had Brian been saying to him? 

He held out his hand as if to shake mine, I put my right hand out to him, but instead he took mine gently, bought it up to his mouth and kissed it softly.

"I'm Ronan" he said with a slightly mischievous grin, "In case you were wondering?"

I just stared at him wordlessly. I was afraid that if I spoke, I'd say something ridiculously stupid.

Like how much I fancied him.

"I heard you were after a ticket for the show tonight?"

"I, um..." I just nodded at him.

"I'll see what I can do"

"Thank you" I whispered eventually.

"It was lovely to meet you" he said, and took me by surprise, enveloping me in a hug before he turned and walked back towards the loading area of the arena. I watched him go with my mouth open.

Had that really just happened?