"Let me help you," James smiled, climbing out of the car and walking round to my side.
I gratefully accepted his arm as he helped me through the crowd of paparazzi, all shouting my name and shoving to get closer.
"Back off!" he warned, trying his best to push them back.
I sighed as we reached the entrance to the Mayfair, walking through the door and into the lobby. "God! I can't go anywhere these days," I giggled.
"The price of being Cheryl Tweedy!" he joked, removing his arm from around me and stepping back. "Would you like me to wait?" he asked.
"I really don't know how long I'm going to be, James," I hesitated, knowing this meeting could go either way, annoyingly long or terribly short. "Maybe just stay nearby?"
"Sure thing." Smiling he gave my arms a quick rub before disappearing out of the door and back through the paparazzi... who were still eagerly snapping away.
I gave the pretty receptionist a smile as I walked by, heading for the hotels bar.
It wasn't unusual for everyones eyes to be on me when I entered a room, all pointing and gasping at my presence, but this time it felt weird because this time I knew someone was looking that I was yet to spot, someone I knew.
I scanned the room, trying to pick her out... and smiled politely when I spotted her waving me over.
I wasn't nervous... why would I be? I hadn't done anything wrong.
"Cheryl," she smiled, hesitating whether or not to hug me as I approached the table.
"Hi, Nadine," I said, greeting her before quickly sitting down, making it clear that I was in no mood for 'happy hellos'
"Can I get you a drink?" she asked, her cool demeanor slipping as she took a sip of her own beverage.
Sitting back in my chair, I relaxed myself before answering, "Just a water, please."
She nodded while beckoning one of the waiters over. "Can I have a water, please?" she politely asked.
"Still of fizzy?" the man asked.
"Still," I answered for her.
He smiled and noted it down. "Would you like ice in the glass?"
"If you don't mind," I answered again, smiling at him when she realised who I was.
"I'm loving the new single by the way," he cheekily said before walking off.
I turned my attention back to Nadine. "New hair?" I observed.
I could tell she was uncomfortable, my laid back non tactile attitude probably surprised her.
"Aye, I needed a change," she replied, tangling her hand in her brown locks.
"It suits you." Looking around, I smiled at a few people who were looking over, obviously wondering who Nadine was and if she was famous.
"I feel like a celebrity," she giggled, noticing this too. "Is it always like this for you?"
I knew what she was trying to do, she was trying to strike up a conversation. "More or less," I smiled.
It wasn't my intentions to go there with an attitude, but I also wasn't going to pretend that everything was hunky-dory.
"Look, Nadine..." I started, biting the bullet. "We're both adults here and we both know what happened and how I felt about it."
She nodded, listening intently to what I had to say.
"What Kimberley did hurt me and the fact that you helped her..."
"I didn't help her, Cheryl," she protested, her head shaking in disagreement. "Yes, I kept her profession a secret... but I did not help her. And if she had asked, I wouldn't of. She knew how I felt about what she was doin'."
I took in her words, comprehending them. "You still lied to me."
"Tell me what I lied about?" she demanded, her eyes fixed on me.
I fought the anger that was building within me while keeping my tone low, making sure no one got an earful. "You didn't tell me the truth, Nadine!" I spat.
"And if you were in my position, would you have?
"You're water."
I had time to gather myself as I accepted the glass with a smile, taking a sip from it. "I wouldn't of even got myself involved."
"She's my best friend, Cheryl," she sighed, her hand moving up to her forehead as she held it there for a minute, clearly trying to compose herself.
I chose to remain silent, my fingers tapping annoyingly on the armrest of my chair.
"Neither of us could have foreseen how close we were going to get... especially Kimberley. She went into it with a preconceived image of what you were going to be like..."
"A *Female Dog*!" I cut in.
She ignored me. "It's safe to say that she didn't leave with the same image. Whatever you may think, she was heartbroken..."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Don't try and make me out as the bad one!" I warned, my voice raised.
"You didn't let me finish," she said, looking around to see if I had attracted any unwanted attention, although, it was questionable as to why... she didn't have to put up with the press or the stories that might get created out of it.
"Go on then," I encouraged.
"She was heartbroken because she knew how much she hurt you... she hated herself and she still does."
What she was telling me meant nothing.
"She had reason for why she took the job on," she continued.
"And what would they be?" I sarcastically laughed.
"It really isn't my place to tell you that, Cheryl."
Shaking my head, I sighed. "So, what you're sayin' is... I need to talk to her?"
She nodded. "It would mean the world to her if you did."
"That's basically bribery."
"I'm not bribing you, Cheryl," she said before taking a sip of her drink.
"Sure you're not... you tell me she has reasons but refuse to tell me what they are."
"Because it has to come from her."
I sat quietly, digesting what she had just said. Even if Kimberley had done it with the best intentions, how could I ever trust her? How could we ever be friends again?
"Please, Cheryl? Come to my wedding."
I shook my head. "I don't think I can, Nadine," I replied.
"I gave invitations to Nicola and Sarah... you can come with them and..."
"I don't think I can," I repeated, this time for my own benefit more than hers.
She reached across the table, offering her hands for me to take.
I looked at her and hesitated.
"Please," she pleaded.
Sighing, I caved and took hold of them.
"All she wants, and all she has wanted for the past year, is to talk to you, to have a chance to explain," she told me, her hands clutching onto mine tightly. "She never wanted to hurt you, Cheryl, she never wanted to make you cry. Yes, at the start she wasn't too bothered, but once she had gotten to know you she felt terrible. She cried about it and in the end she just couldn't go through with it."
I blinked back my tears, closing my eyes to hide my hurt.
"Please just come," she begged. "Give her a chance to explain things to you."
"I need to think about it, Nadine."
