The Price of Stardom ( Westlife fanfiction)

The Price of Stardom- II

"I shouldn't have trusted him" she thought to herself as she once again broke into tears and curled up on the sofa, her head tucked into her knees. Her insides were set ablaze and the fact that she didn't speak to Shane for a long time only emphasized the growing distance between them. Her phone rang incessantly and she ignored the calls, not wanting to talk to anyone, as she wanted to be left alone for a while. Her world was crumbling beneath her feet and she could not possibly talk to someone about it and stick the pieces back together. The doorbell rang in a frenzied manner, setting Gillian free from her thoughts and she jumped up to answer the door. Gina & Jodi had already seen the papers and thought it was best to be with Gillian in her hour of need. They made their way inside and locked the door.

"There's a whole lot of paparazzi out there. Its getting crazy. Why didn't you answer our calls? We've been frantically calling you since an hour now," ranted Jodi. Gillian couldn't stop herself from crying and Gina held her tightly, pulling her into a bear hug. The three sat down on the sofa and Gina kept her arm wrapped around her best friend, Gillian. She could not see her best friend crying, neither could she ask her to calm down. She just waited and gave her company until she was better. Jodi gave her some water to drink and decided to slowly talk Gillian out of the whole episode, trying to make her see the drawbacks of media attention. "Listen Gillian, it might not be what you see at all. Its just the press acting stupid sometimes. They do cook up stories randomly, it is a part of their job. That's how they earn their living. So relax and don't jump to conclusions about anything before you talk to Shane about it", Jodi explained. "I am unable to reach him. And why would he tell me the truth?", snarled Gillian grabbing the newspapers again and flipping over to the page she saw earlier. "Does this photograph also lie? They're almost kissing!" she snapped, tears not stopping their fall. Gillian started reading the report accompanying the image, in which Mariah was said to be depressed and undergoing a tough time since her separation from her husband. Gillian had totally forgotten about her pregnancy amidst all this news. Gina tried to pacify Gillian, knowing she would have reacted the same, had it been Nicky instead of Shane. They were newly married and here they were, on the crossroads of their lives, and on the verge of extending their family with the little one on its way. Gina tried calling Nicky and he answered the call.

"Nico, is Shane there? It's pretty urgent. It is getting crazy and the newspapers have published some crazy stuff about him. Gillian is absolutely broken and the reports of him snogging Mariah have not helped", she explained. Nicky exclaimed,"What!?" , the surprise in his tone evident. "There's no way that could have happened, we were all together last night!" Gina retorted, "Whatever Nico, don't defend your buddy. Shane ought to speak to Gillian right away. Please get him to talk to her right now." Nicky replied, "That arse is sleeping in his room. I'll go and give him a good kicking. That should wake him up. I'll make sure he calls her in the next fifteen minutes", he hung up.

Gina stood up and walked towards the kitchen. Gillian was quiet now, staring into the blazing sun on the horizon , from the large window across the room, the memories of Shane singing during their wedding flashed into her vision. Gina returned and got three mugs of coffee from the kitchen for Gillian, Jodi and herself. Jodi waved before her eyes and shook Gillian out of her thoughts. She asked her to have the coffee, that might help her relax a bit, as they waited for Shane's call. The phone ring echoed into the large walls of the house. Gillian blankly stared at the screen, lost in thoughts. The phone kept ringing and finally stopped. "Oh God! What on earth are you thinking? Why won't you talk to him? Answer the phone, girl!" Georgina snapped at Gillian, slightly in an upset tone.

She could understand the turmoil Gillian faced and wanted them to clear any misunderstanding at the earliest. The phone rang again. This time, Gina snatched the handset, pressed the answer key and held it to Gillian's ear. She softly mouthed, "Talk". She finally heard Shane's voice. The voice that would soothe when he sang, sounded tensed. She could understand from his tone, he was scared and his voice croaked groggily as he just woke from his sleep. "Gillian, babe", he whispered meekly, "It's not how it looks. Let me explain please. I don't even know what crap they've written in the papers. Nicky just woke me up and told me something huge has happened and everything is pretty messed up at home. I'm sorry I've been caught up with work and couldn't return your phone calls." "Shane, I can't take this anymore. I'm heading back to Sligo, to my parents", she burst into tears again. "What?! Nooooo!!!" Shane stood up from his bed and started pacing frantically across the room, as Nicky stood in a corner and watched him fly by. Shane was scared to death, he could never let down Gillian, she would be so hurt! Why would he hurt the one he loved more than his life. He had to put it back together. "Gillian, please don't go. I will try getting back soon. Till then please wait, I love you, I really do." Gillian hung up the phone.