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Post by misssunflower on Jul 20, 2009 22:57:36 GMT -5
Hey all it's Tangy from the pub! I posted a series of fanfics a while back. there are four and I only jsut finished the third when the FF changes happened. I hope all who did read them enjoyed them and I hope all who haven't enjoy them now. Starting with; REAL MEN
Rachel figured she must have looked like a true nutcase as she wandered Central Park in tears in a long blue summer dress holding a drawing book. The thought made her smile a bit. Though, she thought, if she looked even near as depressed as she felt people probably would think her a ghost, no life no light no happiness. No... Rachel continued thinking, she wasn't going to go about feeling sorry for herself. Not here. Not while she's in NYC. Her eyes darted around the glorious park she was in. Birds chirping in the early spring air, sunlight streaming freely through the trees. Now, this wasn't the setting for someone in pain, no. She sighed. It was certainly going to be hard, though. She found a bench and stretched out on it. Keeping her mind off of her emotional agony, Rachel flipped to an empty page in her sketches, then looked up for a subject. Trees. Birds. Flowers. Average tourists wandering the park. And… oh. Oh.
Her gaze centered on five men who had stopped their walk through the park and were now around the benches opposite her. Rachel couldn't help but continue to stare. They were certainly 5 of the most attractive men she'd ever seen. Almost absent-minded she began to roughly sketch them, taking in each of their features. Closest to her was a tall blonde. He was laughing, making him look younger. Still she guessed he was in his mid-early 20's. His longer blonde hair was messy but lovely. He certainly looked to be enjoying himself and Rachel's smile grew. His good humor was infectious and she didn't even know the joke. Next to him was another one laughing. He was younger, but only by a little, maybe older teens. He defiantly wasn't like other teens Rachel knew. A certain maturity surrounded him, while he was still having great fun as well. He had think dark hair spiked up, Rachel noted as she looked down to make sure she was getting this all right in her sketch. When she looked up she blushed as he, the blonde, and a young man with lighter brown hair, looked at her. She tried to stay casual and looked quickly down at her drawing. Looking up again slowly she was glad to see they were no longer looking at her. She now concentrated on the tallest, a bald guy talking now to the youngest. He looked to be the oldest, but seemed to be having fun as well. His eyes glinted almost mischievously with whatever he was telling the young dark haired boy, grinning. Once again, Rachel found herself beaming just watching these guys. Her eyes now rested on another young man, his hair jet-black. He was shaking his head, softly laughing himself. He looked very, very good- looking. He looked closest to her age too. She now shook her head, shaking off thoughts. Sure he was... well... hot, but she knew nothing about him. She wasn't making that sort of mistake... not again. She shifted her attention to...
Now wait, Rachel though, there were five of them she was sure. Now she couldn't find the 5th one. The other one who had caught her drawing them. She gazed back down at her drawing... and yes, there was the beginnings of a 5th member. She’d begun his hair but she didn't have it engraved in her memory enough to make it accurate. "May I see your artwork?" A accented voice asked. Rachel shot her head up to see a pair of blue eyes, less than a foot away from her. "eeeep!" An odd squeal passed through her. Practically dropping her 'artwork' she scooted as far back in her bench as possible. "I'm sorry!" The blue-eyed young man responded, laughing. Rachel blushed, quickly noting it was the 5th man she had been drawing. Embarrassed, she closed her book quickly. He was quite attractive too, Rachel thought, okay that was an understatement. He was still grinning playfully, not looking very sorry at all. She was going to respond but he continued. "I really am. Guess I should have expected that sort of reaction when sneaking up on a young woman. I'm just glad you weren't carrying pepper spray or somethin'" He chuckled, he was quite friendly. "I-it's fine." Rachel stuttered, her face still flushed. His playful grin turned into a genuine smile, with just a hint of that humor in his eyes. "Glad to hear it. I just couldn't help but notice you were drawing my friends and I, and I got curious." "No problem." she mumbled, the guy was rendering her speechless. Good gosh Rachel, she cursed herself, stop acting like such a fool around guys or it will end just like last time. She realized the young man appeared to be waiting on something. "hm?" She asked, embarrassed that she'd spaced out on him. He laughed and shook his head, "I asked your name." He explained in his light Irish accent, "Though, if you don't want to tell me, I can tell you I understand completely." "No, no, it's fine. I'm Rachel Lane." Rachel stumbled over her words. Awkwardly she held out her hand. He shook it warmly, "Paul Byrom. Pleasure to meet you." He stood up, still holding her hand, and gestured to his companions, still chatting, "Now, would you care to the meet the rest of your subjects?" He asked with an almost-smirk and a raise of one eyebrow. Despite all her internal warnings there was no way she could say no to that.
Still as they were walking towards the other four men Rachel needed to pipe up. "Oh no, I mean you don't have... introduce me or or anything." "Nonsense!" The young man, Paul, said, laughing. In fact almost everything the man said he said as though, if not while, laughing. "Besides I'm sure they'd like to see your drawing." "No!" Rachel squeaked without thinking clutching her sketchbook close. "Please I - They- They aren't that - that goo-" "Rachel," Paul cut her off. She blushed and internally cursed the way her heart leaped at hearing him say her name. "The guys have seen some awful art work. Mainly mine." He gave a mock shudder, "I'm sure your drawings are far better." Her blush deepened but before she could protest they were in front of the subjects of her artwork. "geez Paul." The blonde one laughed, his voice accented thicker, she had to strain to keep up, "I said I wanted to know what the picture looked like. Not that I wanted to see her!" He looked at Rachel and added quickly, politely, "No offense, miss. I'm just sorry this Mouth dragged you over here." Paul playfully shoved him as Rachel shook her head laughing, "Oh no, no, it's absolutely fine" She glanced at Paul, then back to the other four. "um... What are your names?" She couldn't help but feel like she was in kindergarten getting introduced to her new classmates.
"I'm Damian McGinty" The youngest one said, grinning. Rachel was surprised by the deep voice that came out of him along with a even thicker Irish accent. "I'm George Donaldson" The bald one, the eldest, said in a thick Scottish lilt as he winked and shook her hand. Rachel grinned back, she knew right away that she liked him. "I'm Ryan Kelly" The handsome dark haired young man told her. She blushed slightly, however he seemed very gentlemanly and she didn't feel as "Omigosh he's hot" as she had before. "And I'm Keith Harkin" The blonde man who had spoke to her earlier. "And what's you're name?" He added politely. "I'm Rachel, Rachel Lane." "Nice to meet you." They all responded, in or around the same time. "I'm sorry Paul shocked you" Damian added, another playful punch at Paul, "Told him not go and do that." "Oh you did, did you?" Paul asked him with a hint of sarcasm. "I'm pretty sure you were just as curious as the rest of us were." Damian blanched, and Paul glanced at Rachel, as if a cue. A cue for what? For her to show her sketch? No, no, no. "Do you all really want to see it?" Rachel asked, a little confused. "It's really not all tha-" Paul chuckled and put his arm around her, "Rachel, what did I say about saying that?" He turned to his companions as if explaining some tragic story. "I think the girl needs a little self-confidence boost." "Give her some of yours." Keith laughed, "God knows you have enough." "Now, hold on!" Rachel listened to the mini-argument with only part of her mind. The rest had temporarily shorted out when Paul put his arm around her. Rachel, Rachel, Rachel, her mind yelled, Your only a few hours after one heartbreak and your practically waltzing into another. Rachel decided to ignore that. "well..." She sighed, "I guess, I could show you my sketch...."
"Keith, I think I made you look like a girl... sorry." Rachel stalled, her face still hot. Keith ran his fingers through his hair and chuckled " Ah, don't worry about it." Rachel sighed and began to page through her notebook for the picture she had drawn. Pachelbel's canon suddenly blasted from the pocket of her jacket. "Ah!" Rachel exclaimed, dropping her book in order to quickly answer her phone, for once embarrassed by her odd choice of ring tones. The guys exchanged smiles, nothing mean though. Rachel relaxed. "Hello?" She asked, surprisingly sunny. "Well, someone sounds inappropriately cheery." Rachel's close friend Vanessa piped in. Her voice toned in a light sarcasm but mostly pity. "You doing okay? Your stuff's at my house already so come over whenever you want." Rachel's face fell as the events that occurred earlier played in her head. "Yeah.. no I'm fine. You know you really don't have to do this..." she added. Vanessa was almost speechless for a moment, "Don't have to...? Rachel your Boyfriend just dumped you and kicked you out of YOUR apartment. You don't think, as your best friend, I should be taking you in? Darling, I think you are truly losing it. You are staying with me. Okay? Okay." Tears, not surprisingly, filled Rachel's eyes. She turned away from the guys quickly, but not quick enough. She could see right before she had her backs to them a look of surprise on Paul's face. Don't ask, she begged him in her mind, please don't ask. She knew the second anyone mentioned it again, she'd be sobbing like earlier. "T-thanks Vanes... I love ya." She chocked out, quietly. Vanessa softened her voice, soothingly she said, "Don't worry about it, hun. You just head over to my apartment soon as you can. I have something that will cheer you up. Bye." "Bye Vanes." Rachel smiled through her tears, which had now spilt over and were trickling down her cheeks. She hung up the phone, and tried to think of a plan to avoid the awkward questions that were sure to follow. She took a deep breath and turned...
"Eeek!" she squeaked. "Wow Rache, you are amazing." George said, beaming. "You're really good. I don't know anyone who can draw like that so quick." Damian added. "Told you, you weren't bad. Certainly better than me." Paul said, smiling at Rachel. His eyes, though, she noted, were confused, worried. The boys were turning the pages of her sketchbook, which someone must have retrieved from the ground when her back was turned. Her face was hot enough to start a fire. She quickly brushed off her tears as casually as possible. "Re-really?" She mumbled. "Yes!" They all said at once. Rachel could think of nothing to say to that, so the six stood in awkward silence for a bit. "I like your Ring tone" Ryan said with a laugh, at last. Rachel grinned, despite her blushing. "Yeah... I have an um... interesting... taste in music." "That's okay," Keith added in, "So do we." Rachel laughed, once again quickly over her tears that came only minutes ago. Of course then, Damian had to, oh so innocently inquire "So who was on the phone, anyway?" Rachel suddenly felt she was a lead in some play and the spotlight was centered on her, everyone was looking, and she forgot her lines. "Um... a... a friend... Vanessa. She um... she well, She... I'm uhm, staying with her to-tonight. And she w-was just calling to say I could head um... over... now." God, she sounded like an idiot. "You alright?" Paul asked, also innocent, sweet, worried. Rachel felt tears filling her eyes again. She pushed them back. Not now, not now. "Ye-yeah. Don't worry about it." She truly didn't want him to worry about it. He was such a cheerful guy, he wasn't meant to be weighed down by worry over a girl he just met. "I really should probably be going." She added, regrettably. She was almost afraid to leave these friends she'd made in such a short time, likely to never see them again. "It was so, so nice to meet you all. Really, really it was." She smiled warmly at each of them. They seemed sort of confused by her quick farewell, "So long, Rachel." "It was nice meeting you." and "God bless you." all came at around the same time. She beamed and took off in a fast walk to the park exit, turning around twice to send final waves, to which they responded enthusiastically. "GOOD BYE!" She called finally, and left her new friends behind.
Comments are welcome and appreciated.
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Post by misssunflower on Jul 21, 2009 17:24:02 GMT -5
updates
The Taxi ride to Vanessa's 5th avenue apartment was quick anyways, but it seemed to speed by as Rachel's mind continued to replay her encounter with the five guys. The five Men, they weren't average guys. Average guys, now those were like her Boyfr- her EX-boyfriend, she reminded herself with a sinking heart... she tried to cheer herself up again. Aaron, he was like the typical guy. He was drop-dead gorgeous but he hadn't grown up much since his teens, although he was 31. He had always expected Rachel to do everything for him, and if she didn't he put her through a guilt trip. "Don't you love me?" He'd ask her, painting her as the bad one. She finally told him to stop. And he kicked her out. That wasn't a relationship one should mourn, she thought. Still, there is nothing that hurts more than being rejected by anyone in any situation. It would take a while before Rachel could trust someone enough to be in a relationship. Of course as she thought that an image of Paul came into her head. Actually more a collage; Paul's curious face when she first saw him, inches from her, Paul laughing, dragging her to meet the other guys, Paul's worried gaze after seeing her cry. Geez Rachel! She hardly knew him! She'd probably never see him again anyways. She sighed, he taxi parked in front of Vanessa's expensive apartment. "Thank goodness you're here!" Vanessa exclaimed, pulling a comb through her hair. She was dressed nicely, though that wasn't a surprise. Vanessa was a thriving Fashion Designer here in NYC. "Come on in! come on in!" She pulled Rachel in. A modern looking couch was lined with outfits. Tops, pants, shoes, bags. "Now choose which ever you'd like. I think they'd all look great on you but you should probably go for the more causal one. I don't think a the show is a very 'dress up' one" Rachel took a step back from her hostess, confused. "Show?" she asked a light anticipation rising. "What show?" "Oh" Vanessa said vaguely, trying to find her other high heel. "It's a new one, they sound amazing though.... you like Celtic music right?" She asked suddenly. "ummm... yes." She, in fact, loved it. "Then you'll adore it. It's called Celtic Thunder. And it starts in a few hours so pick and out fit and lets get you ready to forget your troubles."
Vanessa was an absolute godsend sometimes. By a few hours until Celtic Thunder she meant about 5 or 6, leaving Rachel and her a lot of time to "Get Ready." "Getting Ready" was exactly what it sounded like in terms of Vanessa curling Rachel's hair, painting her nails and giving her advice on clothes. Vanessa was an age where she could be Rachel's best friend, sister, and motherly figure around the same time. She giggled about recent occurrences in the fashion world. A topic they both knew a lot about; Vanessa was the designer, Rachel the Photographer. Vanessa always made Rachel feel like the most loved girl in the whole city, which was very good right then. She needed to get her mind off of Aaron again. "So what were you doing earlier?" Vanessa asked as she finished painting Rachel's left hand a lovely shade of purple, to match the outfit she'd chosen. Curlers were in both there hair and two of Vanessa's silk bathrobes around them. "Oh I was just in the park. Drawing, you know..." Rachel decided she'd try and leave out the meeting of her five friends, for later at least. "That's good." Vanessa responded, "Whatever calms you down." She paused, "Wait, drawing on what? You didn't your book when you came over, I thought it was with your other stuff." She gestured to a corner where all of Rachel's worldly possessions from moving out were. Her sketchbook was famous to Vanessa, she took it everywhere with her. That was besides the point right then, the point, Rachel noted in fear, was that she did NOT have her sketchbook. Last she'd seen it was...... in Paul's hands, as the five studied her work. She never got it back. "oh NO!" She squealed, "I left it with him... with them! I mean-" Too late. Vanessa's ears picked up the words. "Him? Who was he, and why did he have your precious sketch book?" Her voice making no attempt to hide her curiosity. "Multiple hims actually," Rachel admitted, blushing. She told Vanessa everything, leaving out the names though. "Well, don't they sound sweet." Vanessa gushed, "And you say to were your age?" She winked. "NESSA!!" Rachel squeaked, appalled, "Nessa, it's not LIKE that! They were just nice guys I met." "Were they cute?" Vanessa probed. "well- I- yes. Yes, defiantly." Her face lit up, but Rachel pushed on, "But Nessa! Honestly!? I can't go into a relationship after this!" She gestured at her pile of stuff. "You know it's going to be a while before I'm willing to get in a relationship with a man again." "Please!" Vanessa laughed, lighting up the mood, "That is your issue. Aaron is lousy excuse for a guy. We need to find you a REAL man." Instinctively Rachel's Paul collage played in her head, and she shook it away again. "Yes, but how do I know if I'm getting a real man or another Aaron?" She asked. Vanessa shook her head and smiled, "I just know if you're blocking guys out you won't get anyone. Take some chances sweetie. I mean," She added, "You could have at least given them your number!" "Vanes!" Rachel shook her head, no longer upset, "well, my sketch pad does have my number in it, in case it gets lost. Who knows?" She shrugged and blew on her wet nails.
A mini timer went off. "Curlers are done." Vanessa said cheerily. Rachel reached up to tug them out. "Ah, ah, ah!" Vanessa reprimanded, Rachel dropped her hands and let Vanessa pull them out of her hair. "Oh wow! Rachel you look absolutely GORGEOUS!" She squeaked. Rachel turned to face Vanessa just as she pulled out the rest of hers. Vanessa's light brown hair made a shower of curls, framing her face. "So do you." Rachel told her, a little jealous of how amazing her friend looked. Before she could say anything else, however, a mirror was thrust before her. Rachel's own short - normally straight - auburn hair was curled softly, giving her a very retro look. Almost like she was in the 40's. "Wow..." She mumbled, blushing. "Well come on now!" Vanessa squeaked happily. "We lost track of time! The show is in an hour!" Vanessa was already in a casual but beautiful dark blue dress. Rachel changed into a pale tan shirt and long flowing purple skirt, both chosen by her. The trip to Radio City music hall was a bit longer in traffic but went by even faster, laughing with Vanessa along the way. "So you've heard them before?" Rachel inquired causally as they walked in to find their seats. It was packed, people from every age. "Only one of the group songs, I've heard its mostly solo's though. Still marvelous." "Sounds wonderful." Rachel relaxed into her seat, 2nd row, and dead center. They were level with the stage and less than a few feet away from it. This was going to be marvelous.
Once again, time flew by and the lights were dimmed. People all around her squealed at the top of their lungs and frantically waved glow sticks in the darkness. Rachel laughed and screamed for the sake of it. The sound of thunder rumbled from the stage and she jumped, before realizing it was part of the show. The music came up behind it. Rachel shivered, it was gorgeous, in a dark sort of way. A voice boomed from somewhere hidden, a speech sort of, only more interesting. She was still shivering as the banging drums crashed over the stage. The drums quieted down and a male singing voice came out, quiet, haunting, beautiful. Rachel searched the stage for who was singing. Before she could it was done and the sound of drums came up again. Then out of the mist that had been flowing over the stage five men came out and down the stairs as the next verse began. Rachel gasped. No.... way....
Shorter.... but nice.
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Post by misssunflower on Jul 22, 2009 14:34:17 GMT -5
Rachel could hardly breathe for a moment as Keith, yes, Keith Harkin, HER Keith Harkin, sang the next verse of the beautiful haunting melody. It was defiantly him, he had the same accent same voice, same hair. Yes, it was defiantly him. Rachel was almost afraid to look away to see the other four singers, her five friends, as they moved into a brilliantly toned Gaelic chorus. But still she did as the next verse began, and to her horror, delight, and utter amazement, was Damian, HER Damian - singing. HER George - harmonizing. HER Ryan - who she figured right away sang the first verse. And... her Paul - who hadn't soloed yet. Rachel's heart pounded in anticipation. It all made perfect sense, of course. They could have been for average tourists but something about them, it just didn't fit. Now it did. They were singers, here to perform. As the chorus flowed over her, Rachel's original shock slowly faded, to be replaced by amazement, and almost pride. And excitement, as Paul came towards center stage. Rachel felt her jaw drop, with out her thinking. Quickly she shut her mouth, only for it to open again. Paul- Paul's voice, it was- it was... Rachel didn't even know enough adjectives to describe it. It was so... smooth... beautiful... strong... relaxing. Her dying shivers started up again. She could hardly believe it. The song built up to a final climax of the chorus and Rachel was clapping faster than her hands normally could allow. She screamed again too. She suddenly realized something. What if one of them saw her? What would they think? They obviously knew she didn't know who they were; she had asked their names. But now? What then? She wasn't sure if she wanted them to see her or not. Her mind was spinning in circles as the next song began. A solo of Keith's, playing guitar too. He sounded lovely, and Rachel calmed. The show went by uneventfully for the most part. Rachel's hands hurt by the intermission for her wild clapping and her voice ached from screaming. She loved every second of it. "It's amazing!" She gushed to Vanessa as they awaited part 2 "I mean, I didn't even know they sang! I should have asked! I feel so silly now!" Oops. She forgot Vanessa didn't know. Thankfully, she was fantastic at catching up, "Wait - who wha- NO! You're kidding!" Vanessa's face lit up in pure giddiness. "They!? Your five park buddies!? They're THEM!?!?! You should have told me!" "I told you, I didn't KNOW!" They were laughing now, on a high from the pure energy the show produced. She wished she could talk to them again, tell them how fantastic they are. How she was a bit jealous of their singing abilities. All she could do was Irish dance. Though she was often told that that was no small feat. She just wanted to talk to them again. She smiled wistfully, realizing how lucky she was to have seen them earlier. Jealousy came in again too. This time not over her five friends but someone she hadn't met. A very sexily dressed dancer with the group. She was gorgeous. Plus she got to get pretty close to not only Ryan but Paul as well. Rachel knew 100% that it was just for the show, but she couldn't help her jealousy. Wait, Rachel thought, why was she Jealous!? They ARE just friends. Ryan is just a friend, and Paul is... just... a... friend. She vigorously shook her head and concentrated on the song they were now on. Damian. She giggled. He seemed so shy when she met him but on stage he was far from - Just as Ryan was certainly not the dark aggressive character he acted out on stage. Damian on stage was great fun. He was certainly enjoying the squealing he got from the younger girls. Rachel laughed, and squealed as well, for fun. At the end of his song he pulled out a rose, and brought it forward for a girl in the front row, right in front of me. That girl must just be on cloud 9,000 Rachel thought, just as Damian, ever observant looked up a row, right at her. His eyes winded a margin but nothing to noticeable, if you didn't know. Vanessa knew. She turned to her and over the clapping said something to the effect of "My God, you're right!" "Of course I'm right." Rachel said, loudly, over the cheering. Vanessa's expression turned quickly to shock, then a horrifyingly mischievous expression followed. Rachel gulped involuntarily. "Wha-" She began but the cheering died down and the next song started. Rachel sighed, it would wait then.
Rachel had to confess she cried twice. She was, however, glad that was it. Once was in You Raise Me Up, Paul had just been "left" by the sexy dancer for Ryan's character. Rachel felt a tiny leap of joy when the girl didn't end up with Paul, but she buried that down. Still, how sad he looked that he was "alone" made the tears start before he even began singing. Of course once his gorgeous, velvet - as Rachel decided was best to describe it - voice sang it didn't do anything to stop them. And as he apparently had a talent of doing so, Paul looked straight at her as tears poured down her cheeks. Rachel thought she looked like a nut case again, Crying, but smiling, and blushing all at once. Paul did something miraculous, he smiled. It wasn't shocking for Paul to smile, she knew he did so all the time. It wasn't surprising that he grinned in the show, for he'd done that often as well. It was how sad this song was, he was doing so well at looking hurt, sad, but it seemed the second he saw her and infectious smile lit his face. All Rachel's worries about what they'd think if they saw her disappeared just then, and her wistful, sad smile turned into a foolish grin and she gave him a tiny wave. He continued singing without a hitch but he made no attempt to look desolate for the rest of the song. Rachel had trouble ignoring the playful grin Vanessa was giving her as the wild cheering came up again. Her second cry came at the end of the end. The last chords of they're group song Caledonia marked the very end of the show. Rachel cried for multiple reasons. First off, it was beautiful, Rachel had never heard five completely different voices come together so well. Second, it was done. Her second time seeing her friends, one she hadn't even counted on, was over. Now she was certain she'd never see them again. Vanessa absently patted her, still smiling softly. "That was good, wasn't it?" Vanessa asked playfully as the hall filed out. "Good!? My gosh Vanessa they were brilliant! Absolutely - WOW!" Rachel squeaked. Vanessa rolled her eyes, "I knew you'd love them. Wasn't quite counting on the fact that you'd met them before, though. You were pretty lucky, huh?" "I'll say. But that's it, they're touring so I doubt I'll ever see them again." There it was, that evil smirk on Vanessa's face. "Wha-" Rachel began, before she could finish Vanessa thrust two other tickets in her face. She really needed to stop assuming things...
Rachel blinked. "Backstage passes?" Not sure she understood. "I think they are called Meet and Greets... that's what the lady who I got them from called them. I think they're generally the same though." Vanessa responded with a nod. "Why didn't you TELL me!?" Rachel squeaked, not mad at all. She was delighted, her show high hadn't even worn off and she was now going to get to see them again. Three times in ONE day! "Would you believe me if I said I forgot earlier?" She asked innocently. Rachel's eyebrows rose, "And when you remembered?" Vanessa surrendered, "I was having fun." She stuck her tongue out childishly. Rachel laughed and shoved her. "Now..." Vanessa added, "From what I've heard it's nothing too long or anything. You just go up get stuff signed and get pictures. We will get to talk to them a bit though. It won't be like your meeting. This way." Vanessa was leading Rachel to where, she supposed, this was to take place. "I didn't think it would be." She responded. She didn't. Nothing would be like that, she smiled, remembering. Vanessa caught the smile, "Also, it's only with SOME of the guys. There's a chance you won't be with your Paul." "Oh well that make sen- my WHAT!?" Rachel stopped walking to gape at her friend. WHAT had she called Paul!? HER Paul!!! Vanessa was still grinning, even more so now at Rachel's shocked, blushing face. "Please Rachel! I HAVE eyes! You think I didn't see that smile he gave you?" She rolled her eyes. Rachel stammered to find a defense. "He smiled the whole show." "Not like THAT!" "He's just delighted to see me, you know because we're friends..." She tried pathetically. Vanessa simply laughed an infuriatingly amused laugh. "This way" She added as they turned a corner to face a line. "Is this it?" Rachel asked, as she and Vanessa took their spots in line. "I can only assume..." Vanessa responded. Rachel occupied the line time by looking at the range of ages in all the girls, as they were ALL girls. There were teen girls. Teen girls with their moms. Teen girls with their moms AND Grandma's. Girls Vanessa and her age. Girls from 7 to there 80's. Rachel laughed, her friends were more popular than she thought. She wasn't surprised though, they were every bit of amazing out there. Of course time in line didn't take very long and all too soon Vanessa and Rachel were up for meeting whichever two or three they got.
"Rachel!" Was the first thing she heard, the second was "So Paul WASN'T seeing things!" And some insane laughter. Rachel felt herself filled with joy, overcome by warm welcomes from Keith, George, and Paul. "I never expected to see you!" Paul added, his face still in that smirk of his. "We didn't think you were a fan!" "I -I wasn't. I me- mean I certainly am now, but I didn't know who Celtic Thunder was, who YOU- you all were until now." She was stumbling again, it was like old times. Paul laughed and shook his head, taking her program from her, and signing it. Then passed it to George and then to Keith, who added "So you liked the show then?" "Liked!? Geez - you were all fantastic! I could hardly believe it was really you guys!" They laughed. And there was a cough from behind me. Vanessa. Oops. "Keith, Paul, George - This is Vanessa. Vanessa - Keith, Paul and George." Rachel felt funny introducing them as friends. They shook her hands warmly, and Paul said, "So you are the Vanessa that called during our first meet with Rachel?" "Yes," Vanessa responded, giving Rachel an over-the-shoulder hug. "She's in a bit of a relationship issue, and I'm taking care of her until things settle down." "Vanes..." Rachel choked, she shot a glance at her three friends, looks of confusion, distress, and pity. "Right, I'm sorry. Can I add one thing though?" Without waiting for approval she looked at the guys again, got her - signed- program back and with a grin said, "Let me tell you, meeting you guys really brightened her up. She's a sunny girl, I hate to see her down or upset." "So do we." Paul said with an answering beam, at Rachel. She blushed and looked at her shoes as Vanessa continued. "I'm really so glad she met you." "I'm really glad I met you too." Rachel added quickly. They laughed. George reached over and gave her a hug. Not just any hug, either. A full out - both arms around squeeze. Rachel almost got the breath knocked out of her. She laughed and hugged him back. "We're real glad we met you too Rachel." He laughed.
Something made Rachel feel like they must have been nearing the end of their meet, and she felt the sadness wash over her again. Keith caught it, and, God bless him, thought of something to get her mind off of it. "Hey Rache, missing something?" He asked her. "Missing some-" She just barely started as Keith brought out her Sketchbook, smirking. "You mean we're giving it back?" Paul teased, "I thought she left it as a gift." Rachel and Vanessa laughed, and Rachel reached for it. Paul held it up, "Not yet." He laughed. Rachel couldn't believe it, they were SIGNING her sketchbook. She nearly squeaked, but worked to keep it in. "Well I have to do something in return for that!" She exclaimed. "No, you don't" They all said together. Nonetheless, Rachel took her sketchbook out and with a flourish tore out her drawing of the guys. She looked up for a pen, which Paul willingly offered, and with another flourish signed "So you never forget - Rachel" The guys looked at it as she handed it back, and smiled. And then more hugs. Keith was first. Pulling her into another tight squeeze. Wow - Could these guys hug! She was giggling and blushing and so happy. Then there was Paul, she almost didn't want to hug him for fear of Vanessa's later teasing, that small part of her was greatly outnumbered, however, by the large part of her that really did want to hug him. Hug him and not let go for that matter. She blushed furiously cursing herself for even THINKING that for an instant. Before she could think of a way to get past with just a handshake Paul was hugging her too, and that part that didn't want it just died right then. She hugged him back, not wanting to let go and leave him- THEM, she told herself- behind. Right as she slowly let go Paul told her quietly, "You don't have to worry, there is no way I'll forget you, Rachel Lane." Rachel could practically feel her heart melt. His playful twinkle was back in his eyes. She blushed as red as a over-ripe tomato and quickly tossed in, "Tell Ryan and Damian I say Hi!!" "Will do!" The three responded. "It was nice meeting you!" Vanessa added, giving each of them a hug in turn. George even picked the petite woman off her feet. Laughter all around. It was in this laughter and smiles that Rachel and Vanessa finally left the M&G's.
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Post by misssunflower on Jul 23, 2009 12:15:03 GMT -5
"What did I tell you?" Vanessa mumbled into her pillow. "What did you tell me about what?" Rachel giggled with a yawn. The two girls were back and Vanessa's classy apartment laying on an air mattress in the living room. It was about 2:00 AM but neither could sleep, their memories replaying the gorgeous concert. The even more amazing meet afterwards. "About YOUR Paul." She stressed the 'your' a bit more than needed. "I don't know what you are talking about." Rachel replied as strong as physically possible, then buried her face in her pillow in another giggle fit, blushing. "Ple-ease." Vanessa yawned, longer this time. She flipped on to her back and gazed at the ceiling. Rachel joined her. "Ness?" Rachel asked. "Rache?" Vanessa answered after a moment. "How long do you think it'll be until I can find an apartment?" Another pause, "Rache, I really can't say. You know how hard it's going to be to find one nearby." "Plus one in my price range..." Rachel added in. "Until then," Vanessa pressed on, "Know it absolutely NO BURDEN having you here. Understood?" Vanessa had read Rachel's mind. She had in fact, been worrying about how long she'd be forced to be in her friends hospitality. She new Vanessa would never mind, but it made her, uncomfortable, she wanted her own place again. Still the thought of leaving NY had always been in her mind even when she had her own place, maybe this was the time. "Vanes, what would you say if I didn't find a place in NYC, just say I couldn't find one?" Rachel rushed quickly, "Would you be alright, if-if I left? This could be a time to get out of this city." Vanessa knew Rachel's secret interest to leave the city and simply nodded. Rachel loved NYC but she truly couldn't stay there for too long, it was too hectic too insane, in all the bad ways. She liked city life but she needed more... space? She supposed. "Go where you want Rache." Vanessa added quietly, slowly closing her eyes, "I'm happy when you are, sweets." "Thank you Vanessa." Rachel relaxed about her pillow, before she knew it she was knocked out.
Rachel woke to the sound of the radio and the smell of scrambled eggs. She rolled over and sat up, looking around. "Morning sweetie pie!" Vanessa called cheerily from the kitchen where she stood in front of a small stove. "You... don't have to make... me... breakfast." She mumbled, not even close to being fully awake. "I know." Vanessa said simply, "But I am." Rachel sighed and rubbed her eyes. She looked groggily out at the window that was pouring in light. "What time is it?" Vanessa shook her head sadly at Rachel's sleepy state. "5 to 10. It's Saturday, you're at my place. Also, you're name is Rachel Lane, and you're 29, is there anything else? "I'm pretty sure I knew that much." Rachel laughed softly, "Thank you though" She pulled herself a chair at a simply designed glass table. Semi-fresh flowers sat in a vase in the middle. Rachel smiled. "By the way, your Canon went off a few minutes ago." Vanessa added over her shoulder. It took Rachel a few seconds to understand Vanessa meant Pachelbel's Canon. Her ring tone. In other words, her phone had rung. "Who was it?" "Didn't recognize the number, you'll have to check the message." So it wasn't Aaron, Rachel exhaled. In past break-ups, and there had been past break-ups, Aaron would call often afterwards apologizing vigorously. Though his apologizes were often false promises and soon Rachel knew not to trust him. She felt a bit happier knowing she wouldn't have to deal with that again. She ate her eggs quickly, thanking Vanessa, and rushed to dig out her cell phone. "1 new message!" It read, by a number she didn't know either. She clicked play. "Hey Rachel!" Paul's cheery Irish accent flew from the speakers. Rachel nearly dropped her phone as her face automatically heated up. How!? oh... Her drawing book. He must have- must have- SAVED her phone number. Her heart pounded as the message continued. "Hey, I'm sorry I caught you away from your phone! I guess it might still be early for you, or you're busy or I don't know" Laughter "But anyways, there is something I need to ask you about, I'm not sure what your going to think about it but I need to ask to make sure, so please try and call back as soon as possible. Talk to you soon, I hope!" Rachel blinked at her phone a few times, unsure of what to say, or even think. "You going to call him back?" Vanessa tossed over her shoulder as she ate her breakfast. I guess Rachel's blood red face and look of shock was more than enough clue to who called. "I-I suppose, I ought to." Rachel stumbled at last, "He did say he had to ask me something." She didn't understand that part. "Well?" Vanessa added impatiently. "Oh Right!" Rachel giggled, and dialed the number in her phone. It took a few tries because she noticed her hands were shaking.
"Hey Rachel!" The cheery voice wasn't Paul's but Damian's. Rachel was still overjoyed to hear Damian, a friend she didn't get to meet the night before. "Hey Damian! Is... Paul available" "Unfortunately not right now, no." Damian told her, sounding sorry. "It's no problem." Rachel responded, "He just called earlier, about something... Could you tell him I called?" "I certainly could." Damian replied politely, then added, more serious, "I know why he called too, if you'd like to know right now." Rachel did. "Yeah, he said he had to ask me something?" "WE do." Damian stressed, "but before that, would you be upset if we read your diary?" "My what!? I don't- don't have a -" "Those entries you have around your drawings. Paul called them Diary entries." Oh. Those. Rachel had never been a diary keeping person but still when there was something she really needed to talk about, and no one was around, she noted it quickly in her sketchpad. There was nothing really mortifying in there. A few things about Aaron when they first started dating, her going to and winning a National Irish dancing competition, goings on between herself and Vanessa or other co-workers. "Yeah, no, that's fine. Why?" She asked, confused. "Are you really good at Irish dancing?" Was the following question. "Yeah. Damian, Why are you asking me this?" Rachel was growing impatient. "Zara - the dancer for the show, she broke her leg."
Rachel was rather quick at picking up the meaning in Damian's words. She gasped and dropped her phone. Shaking, she picked it up quickly. "Rachel?" Damian's confused, worried voice asked. "No! No, no, no, no, no, no!" Rachel squeaked, "You can't be asking what I think you are!" She couldn't fully grasp her mind around what this could mean. "What do you think we're asking?" Damian evaded answering her. Rachel couldn't even say it, instead she asked in an accusing tone, "Don't you guys have, like, understudies!? Incase of this!?" "Normally, yes." Damian responded, sounding a bit gloomy about Rachel's reaction, "Zara had convinced Sharon - our producer - that she would be fine and wouldn't need one this tour. You wouldn't believe how mad she is now. We thought we were up a creek for sure. Then..." "Someone thought of me?" Rachel asked incredulously, still not able to believe this. A pause, "Paul did." Nervous laughter, "We all decided you were our best bet." He admitted slowly. Rachel practically dropped he phone again. They were really asking her - HER - to be the dancer for this!? Go on tour... on tour... with... them? Her face heated up more and more with every thought. She couldn't, she told herself firmly, she simply could not do that! "Won't people know? I mean I'm defiantly no Zara." She tried that defense. "People will think you’re the understudy, which you are - basically." Was the practical response. "I -I don't know the-the routine." "We have rehearsals for a reason. Plus, it's less complicated than you think. And Zara can still help you." God, the guy knew every defense to her defenses. Another pause, "Is there any thing you have to do in the next month... we'd understand if you can't." Damian added slowly. Rachel had to admit she didn't. She of course could say work kept her from going, but from her overtimes and diligent work she had in fact gained a full 3 months worth of vacation days. And her co-workers always urged her to take a vacation. Not only her co-workers for that matter. "N-no... I'm free." "Then say yes, will you!" That didn't come from Damian but Vanessa, who was washing the breakfast dishes and had clearly eavesdropped on the entire conversation. Rachel whipped her head around to give a shocked stare. "C'mon Rachel! Don't even attempt to tell me you don't want to do this!" She began to object but Vanessa added in a meaningful tone, "This could be your chance to get out of the city. Remember?" Oh. Rachel could find no response so she held the phone up to her ear.
"Damian?" She began. But Damian was talking to someone Rachel couldn't hear very well. "Good, you're back." He was saying. "Here, this is for you." There were the sounds of the phone being passed. "Who is it?" She heard Paul's voice ask. Her heart leaped, and a smile formed without her even thinking. "Just answer it." She heard Damian's muffled voice laugh. "....Hello?" Paul asked, confused but polite. "H-hi Paul." Rachel giggled into the phone. "RACHEL!" The delight in Paul's voice was impossible to miss. Rachel felt her face heat up. "So, you got the message?" "Y-yeah." She mumbled. "I know it's really, really short notice." Paul rushed, "I understand completely if it's overwhelming and all and I'm really so sorry." He was going to continue but Rachel cut him off. "I-it's alright. I've thought about it a bit." A very short bit, at that, but enough. "And?" "I'll do it." Rachel said softly, she could hardly believe her own words. She would!? She would! "Really?" Paul asked, still sounding a little unsure. "Sure. Yes. I will." "That's - well that's GREAT" Paul's cheerful laughter flowed from the phone and Rachel could help but join in. "So..." Rachel continued as the laughter died. "When do I start?" "Our next show is Wednesday." Paul told her, "You can come early though. How soon can you be in Buffalo?" "Depends. By plane it will only be an hour or so. Maybe less." She didn't fly often. "That's probably best. We'll get there tonight, by the way." "I'll go tomorrow morning then." "I'll pick you up at the airport." He answered. If it was possible, she'd say she could hear his smile. "May I ask when this ends?" She added, quickly. "May 6th." It was April 1st. It would be about a month then. Yes, she could do that. It was incredible how confidant she suddenly was in this. Yes, she could go spend a month with 5 Irish singers touring the U.S. and replace their dancer! Why on earth not! "Alright then!" She said at last. "Alright?" "Alright!" "Well good!" More laughter, "I guess I'll see you tomorrow morning then!" "Bye Paul." She laughed. "See you later, Rachel." And then they hung up.
Rachel fell back on her mattress and burst into a fit of giggles. Vanessa was, within seconds by her side squeezing her tight. "My little dancer!" She squeaked, "Isn't this wonderful?" "Oh Nessa! I can't believe it! I'm going to be touring the U.S.! I'm going to see so much more in the next month than I will have in my entire life time!" "And you'll be seeing it with some wonderful guys too." Vanessa hinted. "Hush. They're like co-workers now, and I can't very well be getting emotionally attached - like THAT anyways - with any of them." Rachel said, trying to sound reasonable, through giggles. "A little late for that, don't you think?" Vanessa laughed. Rachel gave her a playful punch in the shoulder. It was, in fact, quite late for that.
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Post by misssunflower on Jul 24, 2009 12:08:45 GMT -5
Though no one is really reading or commenting... MORE
"Let me tell you that I love you..." Rachel said to Vanessa in a quiet singsong voice as she gave her closest friend a tight hug. "Back at you, darling." Vanessa squeezed her back, "You enjoy yourself." Rachel felt tears, quite embarrassingly, in her eyes. "Thank you so much, Vanes. For everything, I mean. I'll miss you." "Oh sweetie! It's a month!" Another hug, "You'll call, I'll call, we'll keep in touch. And know that forever and ever, you will always have a place to stay, when needed." That did nothing to stop Rachel's tears, "Now go on! You'll miss your flight!" Rachel sniffed and finally pulled away. With final farewells, she left Vanessa to head to her terminal. She was going to miss her friend terribly, but she tried oh so hard not to think about it. It was only one month. And besides, that month was going to be well spent indeed. She grinned as it crossed her mind again just who would be picking her up at the Buffalo airport. her face glowed as she dug out her drawing pad. Fighting the urge to start doodling hearts like a schoolgirl she slowly began to work on a face. Just an average one, from memory. It was her favorite thing to doodle, faces. Try out different expressions and hairstyles on them. She had to stop her increasingly detailed sketch as the plane was called to board. She had not flown in a long time so she was relatively excited. She put her stuff back in her suitcase -which was small enough for carry-on and wandered on. The ride was just barely and hour. And that hour flew by incredibly fast. It seemed the second they were in the air they were heading back down. Rachel's heart sped up at the thought of landing soon and getting... well... picked up. It'd be nice to see Paul again. Though it was hardly more than 24 hours since she last saw him, it felt like a bit more, a lot more. Was it always going to be like this? She thought shaking her head softly, She'd never felt the need to be near someone as much as she did with Paul. She always wanted to be by Vanessa, but that was different, Vanessa was practically family, probably closer, and she'd known her for years. She'd known Paul for a - a day? Two? Not long enough for someone to normally get these feelings. She shook her head as the plane landed. As she walked into the airport she took out her phone and quickly dialed Paul's number. "Rachel! Hey!" Paul's voice flowed through and Rachel beamed, happy to simply hear his voice. "I just landed!" She said sunnily. "Great! I just got here myself." He replied. "So where are we going to meet?" Rachel looked around the twisting crowded airport terminals. "No idea. I don't suppose you know the first thing about these airports?" "Nope." Paul replied, still cheerful. "Baggage claim?" He proposed. "Nah, I got all my bags here." She responded, "How about right outside security, closest you can come with out a ticket. You'll see me get out." "Sounds good. What terminal area." "Six" "See you there. Bye!" Rachel closed her phone and with a sunny, almost dancing step, headed off to where she'd meet him."RACHEL!!" She heard Paul call before she even saw him. She laughed and squeezed past all the people in the area looking for him. She saw him waving a few people away and her heart practically exploded. She quickened her pace and bumped into a few people before finally coming to him. She stiffened the urge to throw her arms around him and hug him joyfully. She just stood there grinning like an idiot "Hi." She mumbled breathlessly. She held out her hand, just as awkwardly as she did the first day they'd met. He blinked at it, than looked at her with a wicked smirk before pulling her into a hug. Oh my. Rachel thought, and that's basically all Rachel could think. It was a longer hug than the one she had shared with him before. Her face was red and she might have been shaking but right then she didn't care. He laughed, gave her a squeeze and released her. "I'm so glad you're here." He told her, his grin was softened into a sweet smile. "S-so am I." Rachel stumbled. "Well?" The humor back in his eyes, he held his arm out as though a formal escort, "Shall we?" Rachel giggled and took his arm, "We most certainly shall." And laughing arm and arm, Rachel was lead to see her close friends once again.
"You alright?" Paul asked Rachel cheerfully as they walked into the Buffalo hotel Rachel assumed her friends were staying at. "Hm?" Rachel asked, a bit out of it. Quite a lot of excitement, and a lot a lot of worry was floating through her head. "You’re shaking." Paul explained, chuckling. "Oh no, I'm fine." Rachel blushed. "You sure? I certainly don't want you to faint on me." "I'm fine." She stressed, giving him a mock glare. "Alright, so you are." He laughed harder, holding his hands up in surrender. Rachel dropped the glare and laughed with him. "We're on the second floor." He added, "Stairs or Elevator?" She didn't like elevators much, "Stairs." "Alright. If you can make it without fainting." Rachel glared again, but was still grinning, so it didn't really work. As they reached the door Paul's smile went a bit crooked, "I didn't bring the key so I only hope they guys are in." He knocked. "Paul?" Ryan's voice asked from the other side, the door didn't open. “And Rachel." Paul added, grinning at her. The door opened a millisecond after her name was said. "Rachel!" came a lovely chorus of four voices. She was hugged from all sides and there was laughter and relief from all. "We're so glad you agreed!" Keith beamed, "It was such short notice we all counted on you to say no." "Ah but I couldn't leave you guys in a problem like this!" Rachel laughed, "Plus, it's a sort of win-win thing. I'm getting to see outside NYC for once!" "You don't like The Big Apple?" Ryan inquired curiously. "Oh it's lovely, for a while." She told him, "But I'd like a place where I can have a bit of the country and City at once." "Sounds like Ireland." Damian laughed. Rachel blushed scarlet, but after a second nodded, "I suppose. I've never been there." "You should go sometime, Rache." Paul told her, her blush deepened. "May-maybe someday." She mumbled. There was a bit of an awkward silence before George added, "So would you care to meet Sharon? She'd probably like to know you've made it." The first and only other time Rachel had heard of the boy's producer Damian was explaining how mad she was. Not exactly something she wanted to witness. But hey! She'd have to see the woman eventually might as well get it done with.
"Sharon, Zara, and well, you are in the room next door." Keith added. "I kind of figured that." Rachel laughed. "I'll go introduce myself then. Be back in a bit." She wandered out to the room next door and knocked quietly. Nothing. Louder this time, "Sharon?" She asked stupidly. "She went on a walk." An accented female voice called, "Who is it?" "I'm um... Rachel." she responded. The door, once again, was threw open the second her name was said, and Rachel was face to face with the lovely dancer of the show, her eyes full of relief and happiness. "You're Rachel!! Oh Praise God you're here!" She exclaimed, hugging her warmly. Rachel decided she liked her. “And you're Zara." She mumbled awkwardly, not knowing what else to say. Zara released her "I'm so glad you made it! We would be in SO much trouble without you! Well, come in! I'd like to get to know you a bit more, I've only heard bits and pieces from the lads! Come in!" Rachel decided she really liked her. It was only 5 minutes into there meeting and the two of them were already sharing everything about each other. When they started dancing, favorite dances, shows, and songs. Zara wanted to know Rachel's side of how she met the guys and Rachel explained everything that had happened in the past two days. Including her breakup with Aaron. "Well, he sounds like quite the jerk." She concluded simply. "I'll say." Rachel laughed, "I can't even believe how broken up I was about it, though. I'm past it now." "Glad to hear that" Zara smiled, "Broken hearts are know fun to deal with." "Have you ever had to?" "Not myself, but with friend's back home. My boyfriend and I never plan to leave each other." "You have a boyfriend?" She asked, surprised, and embarrassingly relieved. "Yes." Her smile growing, "I think he's going to propose this summer." She giggled. It was odd to see the classy gorgeous woman giggle in such a girlish way. It made her more... human. Rachel liked it. "Wow. You're lucky." Rachel replied, more than a tiny bit jealous. A knock came on the door. "You girls okay in there? you've been in for HOURS!" Paul called in, teasing in his voice. "It's open!" Zara called back, "Check for yourself!" The door opened and Paul walked in. His eyebrows rose expressively at seeing both girls sitting atop pillows on the floor of the room. "What have you been talking about?" He asked. "Oh you know," Zara said vaguely, "Girl stuff. Dancing, fashion, boys, feelings." Rachel laughed and nodded along. "Really now?" Paul chuckled, "Sounds like you two have hit it off quickly." Rachel and Zara simply laughed.
Sharon returned minutes after Paul had intruded on the two-friend conversation, and the whole crew had a little meeting. Rachel had to admit she was surprised; the blonde motherly looking figure was not the Sharon she had in mind. She looked at Rachel as if checking to see if she would do. Rachel blushed, but at last her serious stare turned into a pleasant smile with humor glimmering in her eyes. Rachel began to think it was an Irish thing; the sparkle that came when they smiled. "I'm glad you're here. Don't like to think of what happened if the lad's hadn't met you. Fate, I suppose you could say it is." She told her. "Fate. That's a nice way of putting it." Rachel nodded. Fate Aaron broke up with her, fate she went to Central Park that day, fate Vanessa had bought tickets, fate that she left her drawing book and that zara broke her leg. And boy, did Rachel love fate. "There is a show Monday so you'll be rehearsing tomorrow right up to the show." Sharon explained, "If that's alright." "Oh no, it's fine." Rachel said then paused, "But I thought I heard it was Wednesday?" She glanced at Paul who looked rather guilty. He said nothing, everyone else was looking at him now, a bit confused. "I thought I'd get you to agree better that way." He confessed, a nervous laugh escaping. Rachel had to admit she was a little mad that he lied to her. But she thought about it, she HAD just barely agreed to this. Had she really if she knew she had less time to learn the routine. She would never know. She found it strangely flattering, though, that Paul really wanted her to come. Well wait, she told herself, they ALL wanted her to come really badly. She really needed to stop her little dreams. "It's fine. We start tomorrow then?" She said, "Yep." Everyone answered, in and around the same time. "What do we do for the rest of the day then?" It was about noon. "We sight-see." Keith laughed simply. "And see what?" "Whatever there is to be seen!" "Well Alright then!" Rachel laughed, then added, "Can we get lunch then? I'm starving!" Everyone laughed.
Sightseeing with her friends was lovely. Buffalo was lovely. The day was cool but sunny. Rachel enjoyed herself almost as much as she did seeing them live two days ago. The city was nice. Far smaller than New York in all the best ways. She bumped into no one on the streets and the sounds if taxi horns didn't fill the air. They ate lunch at a small cafe downtown and Rachel absolutely loved the quietness, aside from their own conversations. As for conversation it seemed everyone wanted to know about Rachel. Where she was from. Where she went to school. What she did for a living. How she met Vanessa. What movies, books, and music styles she was fond of. Rachel started to feel like she was in an interview. "Well," She was saying at one point, unsure how it had even been brought up "I've had only two cameras in my entire career as a photographer. First one broke when I met Aaron." "Who?" George innocently asked. Rachel's blushed more than a little, which did nothing to still anyone's curiosity. "Oh well... didn't you hear about him? I mentioned him in my - my 'Diary'" She put air quotes around diary. "I guess we missed that part." Damian commented, casually, "So, who is he?" "He's - well -he's ehm..." She didn't want to say it. "He's her ex-boyfriend." Zara said simply, resting her hand on Rachel's shoulder from where she sat next to her. "Oh." That came from Keith, "Well I'm sorry." "Don't be. It-it -it wasn't wo-working out anyway." She cursed her quivering voice. Rachel get over it! Her mind yelled again and again. "Is that what your Vanessa meant about relationship issues?" Paul asked, making an obvious effort to sound causal. "Yeah... He well..."Just say it Rachel, let it out, "he kicked me out of the apartment." "What!?" That came from everyone, except Zara, who had heard it all before. "Yeah, that's why I was staying with Vanes." "Is that why you were crying?" Paul asked. "Why I was... when?" Rachel stumbled, her face growing even warmer. His worried gaze didn't drop, "At the park, when you were talking to Vanessa, you were talking about Aaron weren't you?" "Po-possibly." Rachel coughed then quickly moved on, "But that's just the point. This is all easier if we don't talk about it, so can we not? Please?" "Of course, sorry." Paul said, the other guys nodded simply. And that was that. For the anyways. The rest of the sightseeing went by uneventfully. Rachel was still enjoying herself a great deal but she felt bad for bringing up Aaron. She felt she'd put a wrench in things and the guys might treat her differently now, pitying her. She didn't want that. Not remotely. So she put on a smile and made sure they knew she was a-okay! That evening was rather uneventful too, the guys decided to play cards and while Zara and Sharon happily joined in, Rachel was content with watching the fun they had. Watching them reminded her vaguely of her first sight of them. Only, of course, then she hadn't been in a small hotel room with them. As their dancer. Funny how things change. Zara stood up suddenly, laughing. "Well boys," She told them, "It's been great craic to see you all lose your money but Rachel and I have some business to attend to. Night!" "Goodnight Zara! Goodnight Rachel!" calls came around the entire table, and before Rachel could ask she was whisked off to the girl's bedroom. "What business is this exactly?" Rachel asked with a raise of her eyebrow. Zara had wandered off to the closest and pulled off two dresses. Rachel automatically recognized them as the two Zara wore throughout the show. "Now, come on." Zara said, sounding excited though, "We need to see how you look!"
Morning was an odd affair for Rachel. She was fairly certain the last day's events were a dream. However, she woke up to Zara telling her the guys, Sharon and her were going out for breakfast, and if she would get ready she was more than welcome to come along. Needless to say, Rachel was dressed and ready in seconds. Still, that didn't make her fully awake. Yawning got in the way of much of her early morning conversations. "You sure you're up for rehearsals, Rachel?" Ryan teased. They would go to the theater and start dress rehearsals right after breakfast, up until show time at 7:00. "Oh, I'll be fine." she laughed through another yawn. "I just went to bed later than usual." "What were you and Zara doing after you left?" Paul added in. Zara laughed, "I was making sure Sharon wouldn't have any more worries." The guys looked confused, "I was making sure my outfits fit her." She explained with a dramatic roll of her eyes. "Oh." The guys laughed, "Did they?" Damian asked, glancing at Sharon, who had been drinking her tea without as much as a change of expression. She smiled a bit. "They're a tiny bit long but nothing to worry about. Everything else fit wonderfully. She looks beautiful." Rachel blushed, and mumbled, "Right. If you say so..." Keith jumped on that, playfully poking her across the table, "What? You don't think so yourself?" He chuckled as though she was missing something insanely obvious. She stuck her tongue out at him. "Certainly not like Zara." She said simply, sipping her own steaming tea. Zara shook her head but smiled politely. "You may be pretty in different ways, but you are most defiantly pretty Rachel." That didn't come from Zara. It came from Paul. Rachel's face was suddenly as steaming as her tea. He thought she was pretty? Really? He couldn't truly think her as lovely as Zara, who was positively stunning, even in average clothes. He's simply being polite, she told herself. "Thanks." She muttered again, her face cooling down slowly. She didn't bother trying to sound like she believed him. He rolled his eyes, and shoved her playfully. "Really!" She laughed, "I mean, you haven't even seen me in her dresses yet, so you wouldn't know." She wasn't mad nor was she trying argue, just playfully making her point. "I would know that you are perfectly pretty right now." Paul replied, and Rachel's face went red again. Goodness, the man was so, so... she once again was at a loss of adjectives. How was it that could he say such simple words and get her so flustered? She thought about what she was wearing; a dark grey, shapeless, hooded coat, old jeans and tennis shoes. She hadn't combed her hair that morning, much less thought to apply make-up. He thought she looked pretty like this? "You really are Rachel." George added in, another friendly wink. She beamed, her face once again working its way back to its normal temperature and color. "Well, I, um, thank you." She laughed happily. They, thankfully, got off the topic of Rachel's looks, and the rest of the breakfast sped by before they headed to rehearsals. Rachel's first rehearsals.
They weren't dress rehearsals. They just ran through the show in what they were wearing, moving around the stage as they would. When they weren't onstage, which was pretty frequently, Zara was helping Rachel with her movements and even her expressions. Rachel needed no assistance once so ever when it came to the solo steps in That's a woman. That kind of stuff came easily to her, and Zara was perfectly impressed with it. Her issues came in how to move or act a certain way. Look very alluring in Nights in White Satin, annoyed in Heartbreaker - though that didn't take much, she just pictured Aaron saying those words to her and the annoyance came right out. How she had to look a torn for a bit in That's A Woman before leaving Paul. One of her biggest problems was not laughing, especially in Ryan's parts of That's A Woman. It was so hilarious to see how he shifted into 'the dark-destroyer' on stage. That's A Woman was nice for other reasons. One's Rachel would not like to ever admit aloud. The beginning of the song was her favorite. Being twirled around stage in Paul's arms as he sang sweetly to her. Well not to her, to the audience, but about her. It was quite romantic, even though it was just for the show. Good gosh was she truly THAT head-over-heals!? Yes, yes she was. By 3:00 they had run through the concert 5 times, still making mistakes. They had a late lunch and more rehearsing until 5:00 when they were to get dressed and have a bit of a break. Zara gushed about how Rachel was getting better with every practice and certainly by 7:00 it would be perfectly set in her mind. This was all done while Rachel's hair was pulled in curlers and Zara carefully applied her stage make-up. In the back of her mind Rachel remembered only a few nights ago getting ready to see the guys on a stage like this. Who would have imagined, Rachel thought, her now sitting here in Zara's gown ready to go out on stage with those five talented guys. At around 6:30 Zara wished Rachel a final 'good luck' and whisked her off to where she would wait backstage when not dancing. The guys came shortly, all dressed in the suits and jackets for Heartland. All of them seemed amazed by how Rachel looked, in make up and a sexy red dress. It wasn't really like her. "You look fantastic Rachel." Ryan told her with a playful grin, followed by general expressions of agreement. She laughed. Paul chuckled as well, "I told you, you were pretty normally and you are still stunning now. And you said I wouldn't know." He as chuckling but his expression was that of awe. It made her face glow as fiery as her dress. "Thanks." She stuttered, than tore her eyes away from his to look at all of them. "Good luck you guys, you'll do perfect." "Back at you." They all responded, and then the show began.
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Post by misssunflower on Jul 24, 2009 21:16:07 GMT -5
By the end of her first show Rachel was crying. Granted, they were not tears of sadness, or humiliation. Quite the opposite, in fact. The tears that started as she gave her curtsy at the end of the show were of pure and utter delight. She had never had such a crowd applaud for something she did. It did embarrass her to start, but by her last few moments on stage she was more proud than she could possibly contain. And so she cried. Heartbreaker she won her first round of applause for slapping Ryan. Which was great fun, she hoped she didn't really hurt him though. He certainly acted hurt, though that could just be him, well, acting. As soon as she was offstage she was cracking up. Keeping a straight face while hearing Ryan, sweet chivalrous Ryan, singing about being a "Bad Boy", it was too much. Too much. He got some wonderful reactions from the crowd though, and he looked to be enjoying the heck out of it. Good for him. Nights in White Satin got more applause. It was harder to look alluring than one might think. Still Paul, God bless him, made a show of looking quite allured indeed, making Rachel's performance look a bit better than it probably was. "You were great." He smiled as they both stood offstage, waiting for the others next performance. "Me?" Rachel whisper-laughed, "I just walked around on stage. You. You were amazing." He was, and not just his singing abilities, for that matter. But she wasn't very well about to tell him that. “Well," He chuckled, looking rather proud himself, "Thank you." "Anytime." Rachel nodded. He had to leave then, for a change of outfit. The show went by pretty fast and she was back up in, her favorite, That's A Woman. Once again, listening to Paul's gorgeous, velvet voice singing as he held her close was enough to make Rachel explode. She, of course, got applause for her "Stage kiss" with Paul. Which she had to continuously remind herself that's what it was. A stage kiss. He kissed Zara in this song too, it didn't mean anything. A girl could dream though, and Rachel certainly did. And then she had to leave him, for Ryan. That was fun too, though she didn't like being the cause of Paul's "Distress" even on stage. Ryan was certainly... smoldering, she decided was the right words, especially at the end of the song. But knowing the real Ryan made it lose a bit of its effect on her. It didn't take much acting on her part to melt under his gaze though, even if, when faced with this situation in real life her choice would be a no-brainer. "You did great." Ryan told her as they walked offstage and Paul began You Raise Me Up. "Thanks." She smiled, "It was fun." "Yeah, it's a real fun song. Paul and I tease each other about it often. Now it's going to be even worse." He added, with an almost dark laugh. "Why would it be worse now?" Ryan gave a sort of roll of his eyes, "Because it's not Zara I 'win' in the end, it's you." Rachel was confused and embarrassed all at once. "Wait why would-" "Have to change sorry!" Ryan cut in quickly, he gave her an absent pat on the shoulder, "You were great out there." And he was gone. Rachel stared after him, her unfinished, unanswered question left hanging in the air. She looked out onstage as Paul was ending the last notes of his oh so sad song, and finished it anyways. "Why would it matter that it's... me?"
Paul looked more than a little surprised to see Rachel still standing right off stage. Earlier, when she wasn't dancing she was back talking to whoever was around and didn't have a song coming. He raised an eyebrow. "I wanted to hear." She mumbled a defense, it was part true anyways. She did love to hear Paul sing. The rest of her had been lost completely in thought from Ryan's words. "It was perfect." She added quickly. He beamed at her compliment and added one of his own, "You were brilliant earlier." She blushed, "Thanks, Ryan said I did a good job too." And that he was going to have field day teasing you about this later, Rachel thought with a quite laugh. "Did he?" Paul asked, looking almost disappointed, what for Rachel was still unsure about. Ryan's comment about Paul "loosing" her came to mind. Yes, but why does that matter? It's her, sure, but they're friends, and he knows it's an act. She shook her head to still her arguing mind. "Yeah," She shrugged, "It nice to hear it from you, though." It was. Ryan's compliment had made her happy but certainly didn't cause her heart to pound like Paul's did. Although they said about the same thing. Paul's eyes lit up a bit. "Thank you. You really were great." "Thank you. It's loads of fun to do." "Yeah, probably one of the crowd's favorites for sure. Speaking of, what was your favorite?" He asked her. "To perform in or in general?" "In general." "Oh goodness! How could I choose?!" Rachel laughed after seconds thought. Paul cocked an eyebrow again, managing to look impatient. She wasn't getting off with that answer. "Fine. Okay. For Damian I like Come By The Hills best. Keith, I love Castles in the Air. Ryan, well, probably Desperado. George, 500 Miles, hands down." Paul laughed and nodded along, "And for you, I just can't describe how much I love the song Remember Me." He shook his head, still laughing. "Here I was sure you'd say you liked You Raise Me Up." "Oh well that one makes me cry!" Rachel told him. "And now watching it, it makes me feel bad because you look so sad because I "left" you." He smiled sweeter and lightly mussed her curled hair. "Don't be upset about that! It's an act remember? You didn't really have a choice." He changed the subject, "Favorite group song?" "Caledonia. Defiantly. Which, you should know, will probably be starting soon and you aren't ready." She said pointedly. Paul looked around as if suddenly aware that there was, in fact, a show going on. He coughed awkwardly. "Right. Should probably go then, see you in a bit."
Rachel was out again for the curtain call where she "left" Paul again, walking offstage with Ryan. It was at this point she was in tears. "You alright Rachel?" He asked, concerned. She rubbed her tears with the back of her hand, "No... I mean yes! I'm fine. They aren't those kind of tears." "Oh. Understood." "Understand what?" Keith asked cheerfully as he, Paul, George, and Damian came down backstage. "You okay, Rache?" Damian asked. Rachel laughed through tears. "Th-they're happy tears, guys." They all looked quite relieved. "So what did you think of your first Celtic Thunder show?" George asked. "It's not my first." "Your first as part of the cast." "Right, it was lovely, absolutely great." She beamed, her tears finally slowing. She wiped them again. "We heard you did absolutely great, Rachel." Keith told her, smirking. "But you didn't really see me?" "Yes, that's what I mean by we 'Heard'" He replied, "Paul felt he had to tell us miraculous you were out there. As if we didn't think you would be." He chuckled. She rolled here eyes at Paul, despite the way her heart rate exploded. "Thanks." She told him, laughing. "Anytime." He told her, laughing himself. The laughter slowly died. "So," Rachel asked, "What now?" "M&G's." They all said at once. Of course, how could she have forgotten that? Something struck her, she would be expected to talk to fans, she wasn't a very talkative person, and they would all want to know what happened with Zara, and why was Rachel here? She was embarrassed just thinking about it. Plus, she was a tad worn out and ready to get home. She needed to call Vanessa too. "C'mon, love." George told her, still cheerful, "It won't be that bad, will it?" He could tell from her expression that she was worried. They all could. Goodness, she was an open book. "No, I'm sure it will be fine." She said, more to herself, "So, who am I with?" Paul raised his hand and her heart pounded, she wasn't surprised, just delighted. George also held up his hand from beside her. The M&G already looked brighter. "Well then," She asked, as she heard the sound of dying cheers, as the audience filed out, "Should we not being heading over?" "Right." They all said, followed by general "See you later" 's from Keith, Ryan, and Damian. And Rachel was off to her first - well second - M&G.
They, the Meet and Greets, were just as awkward as Rachel had imagined. Though, being with Paul and George brightened it up a bit. She did get questions from every girl about where Zara was, and who on earth she was. At one point Paul laughed and put his arm around her, "This lovely girl, Rachel Lane, more than graciously agreed to be the understudy for the show." he explained to a girl in her teens and her mother. "But what happened to Zara?" The girl asked Rachel as she got her program signed. She didn't look disappointed in the slightest, just concerned. "She's injured, nothing serious of course. Just needs some healing time." Rachel explained, surprising herself by how professional she sounded. “Oh." The girl said, her face perked up as she got her program back, "You did amazing though!" Rachel blushed, "I'm glad you liked it." The girl and her mom moved on to talk to George for a bit and Rachel relaxed. The rest of the night went by in the same fashion. Rachel's shyness went away and slowly began to ask girls what they enjoyed about the show. They all, no mater what age, told her they enjoyed her performance in Heartbreaker and That's A Woman. Rachel was sometimes almost too happy to speak. Another sense of awkwardness came in the fact that they were NOT all girls at this M&G. Of course, the guys that came were husbands or boyfriends, or sometimes sons - never teenage though - of the other fans. They always sounded as though they thoroughly enjoyed the night as much as their female relative had. She guessed her friends could appeal to all genders as well as ages. It was only awkward when the guys came with their girlfriends. It made Rachel think of Aaron; he always told her he wanted to take her to a show someday. When he wasn't being a jerk. Rachel blinked out of her thoughts to see the next couple people walk in. Her eyes widened and she gasped. Well speak of the Devil.
"Rachel?" Paul asked her, watching her tense. "You alright?" Before she could stutter a response, Aaron, and a young woman were by them. Aaron took little interest in the fact that there were other people there to see. "Rachel!? It WAS you! I thought I was going nuts!" He exclaimed. "How - I mean... what are you doing here!?" His tone was in less delight in more of an accusation. Rachel stayed tense. She didn't answer his question, "Uhm... Aaron, this is Paul and George. Paul, George, this is Aaron." She glanced at the young woman and tried hard not to look too expecting. Still Aaron caught on, "This is Nina. Nina this is Rachel." He didn't bother introducing the other guys. Though, Nina probably knew them. "You're Rachel, then?" Nina asked, her voice soft, shy. "Nice to meet you." "You too." Rachel didn't have to fake a smile, she liked Miss. Nina already. She gently took her program and passed it about for signatures. As it was being signed Aaron came in again, his tone harder, "You haven't answered Rachel, what are you doing here?" He made it sound as if she'd run off and joined a cult. Or some community of drugged hippies. Or both. In anyway, he made her comfortable time with her friends sound like some radical taboo. She hated it. "I'm helping my friends." She replied, coldly. "You're friends...?" He repeated, sparing her friends quick glance. He didn't sound like he believed it. Rachel's anger grew. "What are you doing here?" She added. Why was he out of NYC? Was couldn't he leave her to get over him in peace? "The NYC show was sold out so I settled for here. Nina thought it sounded like fun." "Glad you liked it." Now get out of here. She spared Nina a sympathetic smile. Poor girl, get out of this while you can. It was clear the girl was making the mistakes Rachel had. Falling for Aaron's looks and smooth way of talking without seeing behind it. Rachel had finally been able to look inside, and what she found was not good. If only she had known earlier on, she would have spared the pain. "Nice meeting you!" Nina called smiling as she and Aaron arm and arm left. Aaron looked over her shoulder and gave an infuriating look of... disappointment. Like she was doing something wrong, and he'd tried to warn her. She gave him the iciest glare back.
“Well..." Paul whistled quietly. "That was one meeting I could have done without." No more people were coming so it was assumed that the M&G's were done. Rachel was more or less hyperventilating, she gave Paul a nod and then began to pace. Anger flowing out in quite mumbles of "That jerk. How dare he? How can he just waltz in like he can still tell me what to do? We're past that, and he dumped me anyways. He doesn't have the right to do that anymore. He NEVER had the right to do that. I mean I was such an idiot then letting him walk all over me. How dare he? How dare he? " Her mumbles grew softer but angrier, and, of course, she was crying. It came out when she felt strong in any emotion. If she was very mad, embarrassed, happy, or surprised, she cried. It was quite humiliating at times. This was defiantly one of them. She'd turned away from her friends as her angry tirade continued and it suddenly was cut short as Paul turned her around to look at him. "Come on now." He told her, a smile still having not left his face, "Surly you won't give a guy like him the satisfaction of your tears." All Rachel's anger just evaporated as she looked at his smiling blue eyes. She dabbed at her already dying tears, and gave him a shaky smile. "That's our Rachel." George smiled coming over to wrap her in another bear hug. Her mood swung, she was laughing now. How could she be mad around them? "Now come on." Paul added, "We should probably get back the hotel. We'll be leaving for our next show tomorrow morning." Another show, Rachel felt excited, and exhausted, just thinking of it. She yawned. "Right." She smiled; she put one arm up around George and the other around Paul, as if trying to keep from fainting. "Then I'll need some sleep. I'm dead tired." She laughed softly and pushed the worries and anger full out of her mind as she headed off to the end of the day of her first show.
The whole crew was on the road at 6 in the morning. Something about wanting to get to their next place early. Rachel wasn't the only one mostly asleep that time of morning, within minutes of getting on the bus most everyone was passed out on the comfortable, recliner seats. She didn't feel like she had been out for long before she was woken to Pachelbel's Canon in her suitcase. Yawning, she dug it out, noting with part of her mind sun was now cheerfully streaming through the windows of the bus. It was much later. By the time she picked it out of her messy pile of clothes the ring had stopped. Rachel sighed and looked for the message. "Rachel Lane!" Vanessa's familiar, gently scolding voice came through to Rachel, "You have been away from me for two full days without so much as an email! I am disappointed in you young lady. We need to talk - I cannot stand not knowing how things are going with you!! You sure as heck better call me back, darling, or so help me-" A peal of lovely laughter got in the way of finishing her sentence, "Love you sweetie pie! I'll talk to you soon!" Then the click of the phone being hung up. Rachel simply smiled at the phone for a second, so happy to hear her lovely friend talking. After a few minutes, she gazed around the bus; no one else showed any signed of life, except for the driver, God bless him. She clicked Vanessa's speed dial. It rang once before, "Rachel, Love!" She squeaked happily, she didn't wait for a reply, "Tell me EVERYTHING!" And Rachel did. Not leaving a single fact out. "The nerve!" Vanessa said furiously, "And you say he already found another woman!? That Jerk." "Yeah, he did. But I'm glad of that." Rachel replied, then added, "It means I won't have to worry about him in my life anymore. That poor woman, though." "Oh I know! But let's not talk about that anymore. You're first show! Oh how I wish I had been there!" "I wish you had too Nessa, it was such fun." Rachel smiled happily. "So I would assume." Vanessa said simply, "How are your boys?" Rachel rolled her eyes, though on the phone that didn't quite work, she didn't deny anything though, "They're well. They are all out like rocks right now, what time is it?" "About 9:30." Vanessa laughed. "What did Miss. Vanessa say the time was?" A voice from behind Rachel asked, she whirled around to see Paul walking - as they were free to do on a bus of this size and stability - to where Rachel was sitting. Smiling softly and looking hardly awake, but still managing to make Rachel feel giddy. Her face reddened and she struggled to remember the question. "Um... 9:30." She mumbled, her hand over the receiver. "Thanks," He told her, "Tell Vanessa I say good morning. Oh and good morning to you as well, Rachel." "'Morning." She took her hand off, "Ness, Paul says good morning." It sounded silly to say, for some reason. Vanessa's soft laughter was heard. "Tell him the same. Is he the only one up?" Rachel was a bit confused by the question she glanced around the bus, still no one else was even remotely awake. "Yeah.... wh-" "Then I'll leave you two alone! Email me later, sweets!" "Nessa- - I -!" Rachel stammered, her face hot. "Love you bye!" "Vanes - ugh! Wait!" Too late. The call had ended.
Rachel tried to gain control of her heart rate and embarrassment as she closed her cell phone and plopped it back in her bag. Vanessa's words spun in Rachel's thoughts in horror. Especially, because, for the short time right now, it was true. Not that that mattered or anything. "What was that about?" Paul asked casually from where he was leaning on her seat to look at her. It looked almost like a model pose, but that might just have been him. "What was what about?" She asked innocently. He laughed and rolled his eyes, "You know the "Vanessa -Wait!" thing." He did an awful impression of her, she didn't care. "Oh that- Vanes is just trying to find ways to annoy me, that's all." She said as vaguely as possible. He stared at her for a few seconds raising his eyebrow just a bit, but dropped it. "Whatever you say." There was silence for a bit, before Paul added in, "So how are you this morning?" "Fine, still sleepy, you?" "Just about the same," he laughed. He paused looking at Rachel for a bit longer this time, "I like your skirt." he said simply. Rachel blushed; embarrassed mostly by the fact that she didn't even know what she was wearing. She normally just threw stuff on. Of course, when noticing what skirt she was wearing her face warmed more and more. "Thank you, I-" She began but decided it would be best for her already maniac heart rate if she left it there. Paul didn't take the hint, "You what?" he asked, his blue eyes unmoving from her face making her flustered. She surrendered, "I made it." "Really? Wow that's great!" He told her, doing nothing to keep her from blushing. "It's not all that hard." She muttered. "It certainly looks it." "Then it's easier than it looks." She said simply, practically. He wouldn't settle for that, he shook his head and ran his fingers back through his hair, "You draw, you dance, and you can sew, Rachel, you are one of the most amazing girls I've ever met." Rachel's face steamed, it took a bit before she could form a educated response. "Well I- I- I um... Thank you. A lot. It's nothing huge, though." He shook his head again and this time ruffled her hair, "Give yourself more credit Rache, you are beautiful." A pause, "I'm going to go wake the other guys." He added quickly, and was HE blushing? Before she knew for sure he patted her hair again and turned to do just that. Rachel figured she must have imagined it. She'd never seen Paul blush, and why would he after that? It was a sort of embarrassing thing to say. But much more to the person receiving it than the one giving. Maybe he hadn't meant it to come out like that? But he's called her pretty before, so why? She shook her head in confusion. "This is going to be an interesting tour." She mumbled to herself.
Rehearsals that day went without a hitch, as did the performance. It was Keith and Damian who got the M&G's that night so Ryan, George, Paul and her got to retire to the hotel early. Rachel was relieved, it wasn't as though she was worried about Aaron ever coming back but she didn't want to have to deal with fans every night. "Another great performance, Rache." George told her, grinning. They were walking to their rooms at the hotel. "Geez," Rachel mumbled, "Really, I know you think I did good, you don't have to keep bringing it up." "We're just complimenting you," Paul said pointedly. "Well, it gets me all embarrassed." She explained. "Why?" They all asked. She blushed, "I don't know, it's just- I don't know." "That's okay, it's understandable." Ryan told her, they were laughing though. They enjoyed flustering her, didn't they, she thought. "Hmph." She sniffed, than quickened her pace to be in front of them. "C'mon Rachel, we're sorry." Paul said, still chuckling. Despite her pounding heart Rachel didn't slow down or turn. She was silent for a moment as they reached the hotel. "I'm going to bed early." She said simply. Awkward silence, "Night Rachel." They all mumbled, the laughter dead. She felt the need to turn and apologize for being cold but hid that. That could wait until tomorrow. No it couldn't. She turned right before they entered, "Night guys," she said smiling. They looked a bit surprised at the mood change, but all very happy about it. "Goodnight!' They replied, more enthusiastic. Paul gave her a quick over the shoulder squeeze before she finally made it into the hotel room, blushing. "Well someone enjoyed herself, I see." Zara laughed from a chair, where she on her laptop. "Yes, it was quite fun." Rachel answered, beaming through exhaustion. "I'm so worn out right now." "As you should be, you were up early. Tomorrow I think we can leave later." "Thank God." Rachel sighed. Zara giggled at something on the computer. Rachel's interest sparked. "What are you reading?" She asked, casually. "The Celtic Thunder Fan Forum." Zara replied matter-of-factly.
Rachel blinked, not sure she heard right, "The what?" "A fan forum... for the guys. Where fans can talk about them." Goodness, they WERE a lot bigger than she thought. "Well what are you reading on there?" "Somebody was apparently at the show last night, and the M&G and is telling the other fans about you." Rachel mouth dropped, "What -what's she saying!!?" She exclaimed. "Oh nothing bad, Rachel! She's just telling the other girls about my injury and that you’re the new understudy. Read for yourself." Rachel walked over to read over Zara's shoulder. The girl did say that Rachel had done beautifully and looked like a real natural on stage, and that she had an American accent. They, the site members, were asking Zara who she was, and where they'd found her. "Do you answer these?" She asked. "I was just about to," Zara replied. "Are you going to tell them- you know, how- how I met the guys?" She wasn't sure if she wanted to share that with the rest of the world. "Nope." She answered simply. "Going to say we found you through the dancing competition you won, and that we were very lucky that you agreed to be my understudy." "That sounds good." Rachel relaxed. Zara sent it and Rachel wandered to the bathroom to change into her PJ's, which was simply a long shirt. It actually went to her knees - she'd stretched it out over the years. For someone high in the fashion world in NYC Rachel sometimes looked the opposite. Zara suddenly burst into a fit of hysterical laughter. Rachel was actually a little frightened to know what brought THAT about. "Zar-Zara?" "Oh Rachel! This is - oh my goodness!" She laughed again. "What's what?" Rachel asked, somewhat impatient. "This girl - someone from the M&G's said, and I quote, 'So this Rachel, I don't mean to pry, but is there anything between her and Paul? Like more than just friends? They seemed awfully close at my M&G, certainly the way he looked at her.'" She laughed harder. Rachel fell onto her bed, staring at Zara with an expression of abject horror. Did they really look that close? And what did she mean "The way he looked at her."? Surly her gave that gorgeous, humor-filled smile to everyone, there was no difference in how he looked at her! "Well? She asked, her face was as hot and red as the hot end of a poker. "Well what?" "Well, how are you going to answer that?!" "Oh... let's see...." Zara began typing away, with each key press Rachel's embarrassment grew. "There." she finished. "What- What did you say!?" "As far as I can tell, no nothing is going on between them yet." Zara replied, closing her laptop and climbing onto her own bed. "Yet? Yet! Why did you say that!?" Rachel exclaimed. Zara yawned, but managed to give Rachel a very knowing look, "Because, miss. Rachel, who knows?" "I do. We're friends. Close friends, but friends." "You became really close friends within your first meeting, right?" "Maybe." "This is a whole month together, so I repeat; Who knows?" Zara smiled. "Good night." "Oh... Good- good night." It's safe to say, Rachel got very little sleep that night.
I'm posting this in long pieces so I can get to part two of the series quicker. lol
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Post by thethunderroar on Jul 24, 2009 23:39:39 GMT -5
oh gosh Tangy.... i am loving this... once again!!!! and ryan as smoldering.... *thuds* soooo great! more more more!!!!! (even though i've read it... )
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Post by misssunflower on Jul 25, 2009 19:57:39 GMT -5
more
Weeks passed and weeks passed. Shows came and went, as did M&G's. Rachel could never decide what venue she liked best or what crowd was most responsive. They were so good, too good, to her, and she was thankful for every clap of every person in every crowd. She began to routinely check the reviews on the fan-forum. It didn't take long for it to become something the boys liked to tease her about. "I thought you didn't like being showered in compliments." Keith laughed one day. They were in a hotel in Calgary with the day off, she was re-checking the Forum. She waved him off with her hand, laughing, "Oh but this is different, they aren't just talking about ME! They're talking about us." It still made her giggle to think of putting her and them in "us". "Right, right, whatever you say." He laughed in reply. "Honestly, though." Ryan added in, "We've got the day off we might as well DO something." Rachel had to admit he was right, more than right. It was a glorious spring day and Calgary itself looked like fun to explore. She shut off the laptop. "Right." She smiled and stood up, "Shall we then?""What do you say to splitting up for a while?" Zara proposed, out side the hotel. She didn't need crutches to walk, her leg had healed quite a lot over the weeks she was immobile. She had told Rachel that she probably could dance, but nobody would hear of it, they didn't want her getting hurt anymore. "Splitting up?" Rachel asked, just around the same time as the five guys agreed. She rolled her eyes and dropped it. "I'll go with Keith." Damian said simply, Keith nodded. "I'll go with you two then, make sure you don't do anything stupid... without me." George laughed, the two boys joined in. Zara looked at the rest of the crew, "Ryan?" She asked casually. He blinked at her, then looked at Paul and Rachel, smiled and nodded. This couldn't be happening. "Alright then, say, we'll meet back at... 3:00?" It was 11:00. This wasn't happening. "3:00 sounds good. See you guys then!" Oh God, it was. Rachel and Paul were alone on the streets of Calgary before they could even say "See you" to their friends. "It's... you and I then." He stated after a silence. "I'd assume, no one else is here." She started walking off, "I'm not in a shopping mood, I'm going to do some drawing." She told him over her shoulder, "You don't have to come with me." "Ah, but I'd like to see you work." She heard the playful grin in his voice. "S-suit yourself." She said, internally thankful she was facing away from him so he couldn't see her blood red face. They did find a nice park, nestled in the city. Benches darted the tree dotted fields where people played catch or Frisbee. It was lovely. She sat down quietly. "Here?" Paul asked, curiously. He looked out, as if trying to find something that she was looking at. She laughed. "Yes, here." She dug out her sketchbook and flipped to an empty page. She glanced at him again, "You sure you want to put yourself through this? It's not as interesting as it may seem." It didn't even seem that interesting either, she thought. "I'll decide that for myself." He beamed at her and her heart hammered. "o-o-okay."
Drawing under Paul's gaze was more enjoyable than she had planned. Well, drawing was always enjoyable but more so than normal. He didn't say much, a surprise to her, so she could concentrate on her sketch of two birds playing with each other on the sidewalk. She wasn't making it too detailed so it was over and finished rather fast. "That was very interesting." Paul said simply. "How so?" "I don't know," He laughed, "It's just very- well- you make it seem so easy, you know?" She blushed, "Well, thanks, but I'm not that good." She rushed before he could deny it, "I mean, I know I'm GOOD but there are so many people that are better than me, you know, it's like I'm good at a lot of things but there isn't anything I'm really GREAT at." "I think your great at a lot of things." "Well you wouldn't be, I don't know, biased or anything," She said sarcastically. He laughed, "What makes you think that?" "You're my friend. You wouldn't very well tell me I'm awful at something." "You never know, I could criticize you, in a constructive way." He told her. She raised an eyebrow dubiously, and turned to a random drawing she'd done before she'd met him, one of a pear tree flower. "Try." He looked at it with an over-the-top expression of concentration, Rachel had to try with all her might not to laugh. His eyes flicked back to her, then back to the drawing, and back to her. "Fine." He surrendered. "Hah!" She laughed triumphantly. He gave her a shove and started laughing himself. "What can I say? I can't even think of anything bad about you, I like you far too much!" Rachel's blush grew deeper at his last words. She stammered a thank you, and then coughed. Her throat ached a bit as she did so, just a little. Paul noticed it though. "Do you want something to drink?" He asked her politely. There were vending machines at the entry to the park. Not far. She did. "You don-don't have to." She told him, though. He rolled his eyes. "Seriously, Rachel, it's no problem. Do you want anything?" "Sure yeah. Just a diet coke." He stood up, ruffled her hair again - as he seemed to enjoy doing, "Sounds good, I'll be back in a second."
Rachel just beamed at nothing for a few minutes, just about on cloud 9. In Memory of The Trees, an Enya song, and her other ring tone for text messages, went off. Still smiling, she dug it out. She continued to smile until she saw the number. Aaron. Why!? Slowly reluctantly she opened it. "WHERE ARE YOU?" was in all caps. Rachel cringed. What did he mean? she typed the question back and waited. "I thought you were staying with Vanessa! She told me you haven't been there for almost a month!!" "Did you forget I'm on tour!?" "You're still doing that!!? I thought that that was a one night deal!" If they were talking, Rachel knew he would sound outraged. "What? You think their dancer would recover over night!! They NEED me." "What do you care?" Rachel gaped at the phone. She could hardly believe he typed that. Why did she care? Why did she CARE!? She couldn't even think of where to begin. "What do I care!? What do YOU care!?" Rachel typed in anger as tears once again filled her eyes. "I care about you." He typed. Her anger faltered for a bit. She tried to remember he was never fair to her when they were together, that he'd kicked her out, that he already had another girl. She cried harder and fumbled to think of a comeback. "You can always chose silence." Paul's voice came in quietly behind her, she whirled around to see him holding to sodas, looking very serious. She closed her phone, took one and he moved to sit beside her. "He'll keep texting." She said in a quiet voice, "And if I don't he'll keep calling. He knows it'll make me feel guilty and I'll give in, in the end." "Why does it make you guilty?" "I-I don't know, it just does. And he knows it." She practically whispered. "Does he do this often?" He asked. "All the time when we were dating." She confessed, "It always worked." "What did he ask?" She had never spoken this much about Aaron to anyone, except Vanessa. "Simple things, but annoying. You know, cleaning, cooking. I had to drive him to and from his work. He treated me more like a maid than a girlfriend." It felt nice to say that out loud. "He made it sound like if I didn't it meant I didn't love him." "Well, I've heard doing those simple things are sometimes a way to show you care." Paul admitted, "Most always, though, it's without being asked." She nodded and he continued, "And also, am I safe assuming he did no such favors for you?" She nodded again. "I'm so mad at him." She said, her voice cracking, she continued though, "but I'm pretty mad at myself now too. He looked her in the eyes, surprised, "Why? What on earth would make you mad at yourself?" "When he said he "cared" about me, I knew- knew he didn't b-but it was almost e-enough to - I-I might have gone back to him. I knew he wa-was going to ask me to c-come back a-and I might have, just because of that. I'm an idiot!" She wailed in frustration. He smiled very lightly, "We've been through this; You're an amazing girl, Rachel. He's the idiot for using your sweet nature against you." Her heart pounded harder with every word and then her phone rang. She picked it up, looked at it, then at Paul and pressed the "ignore" button. He began to laugh. "What?" She asked. Still, his laughter as always, was infectious and she grinned back. "You just look so proud of yourself. Like you just single-handedly built a bridge." He chuckled. She shrugged and sipped her soda, "Or burnt one." "True, there is that." He relaxed against the bench and put his arm around her, casually. Rachel didn't even think, just leaned her head on his shoulder with a sigh. In the back of her mind she remembered girls on the fan-forum talking about how she and Paul looked like more than friends. She imagined what one of them would say if they saw them now. And truthfully, she didn't care.
Rachel was still resting her head on Paul's shoulder, and his arm was still firmly hugging hers, neither even showing the slightest intention of moving, when Rachel' phone and Paul's watch beeped at the same time. They had both set a timer for when they needed to meet up with the others. "It's 3:00" he stated, not moving his arm. She, however, lifted her head and sighed, "Time flies..." She mumbled, she was smiling though. "... When you're having fun, right?" Paul finished, lifting his arm off her and giving her a wink. Her heart skipped one or two beats. "Can't say I was having fun the who-le time." Rachel's smile grew a tad crooked at that. "But we can leave that out." He laughed, "I certainly think we could. So, shall we go then?" "Of course." She laughed. Neither acted any differently when they met up with everyone else but right away Zara was giving Rachel a rather wicked beam. "What!?" Rachel hissed quietly as they walked back to the hotel. She and Zara hung back while the guys chatted ahead of them. "Nothing! Nothing! Just curious?" "About what?" "What you two talked about!" Rachel blushed but made no attempt to hide anything, "We DID talk about Aaron. But only for a little bit!" "Oh." she paused, "How did that go?" "Oh fine, fine. Paul was very- um very- s-sweet." She trailed off pathetically. Zara's smile grew wicked again. "Not in that sort of way!" Rachel hissed, "He was just being like-like that because he cares about me, in the same sort of way YOU do." She said hastily, "And Keith and Ryan and George and Damian and Vanessa." Zara giggled, put her hand on her shoulder and made an attempt to sound serious, "You keep telling yourself that." Rachel gaped at Zara for a second before replying, "I WILL keep telling myself that. Because it's TRUE." "Mmm-hmm" was the sarcastic reply. "Za-ra!" "What is going on back there?" Ryan laughed from in front of them, Rachel blushed. "Girl stuff." Zara warned again. The boys dropped it. "Sorry," Zara said quieter, to Rachel, "I'm just playing." She gave Rachel a meaningful look, though. Rachel sighed, this wasn't the end of that conversation.
The next couple days or so sped by again, faster than Rachel thought possible. Before she new it, it was rehearsals for the 3rd to last show. "Something wrong?" Damian asked her casually during dress rehearsals. She snapped out of her thoughts, "What? No, I'm fine. Just thinking." Damian nodded before being called off to one of his pieces. Rachel sighed. "Went fast didn't it?" Paul asked her casually. That's A Woman was going to be next so it wasn't a surprise he was there. "Heck yes." Rachel muttered, "I mean really, it feels like only yesterday I met the five of you, had no idea who you were..." "... came and found out, and the next day you were on your way to being part of it..." He continued. "... and now it's almost done." She said smiling. It would be nice to finally be done touring from city to city, though she loved it, stability was good too. It was going to be nice to be home. Home. It hit her like a thunderbolt. Home. Her home. Their home. Her smile completely erased. They- they would be leaving her. Going back to Ireland. She'd go back to New York. And then, then, then nothing. It would be completely over. It would be completely over in three shows. Three single shows, she could count on her hand, and then they'd be leaving her. The guys, her friends, they would be gone. Ryan, Damian, Keith, George, Zara, and Paul. Paul. He'd be gone. They'd be gone. "Rachel?" She heard Paul ask her, concerned, "Do you feel okay?" Her face had drained of color and a look of pure loneliness shone on her face. "Rachel?" He asked again, he playfully tapped her forehead. She came back. "I'm sorry. No-no I'm fine, just thought of something." A very awful something. "Alright, I was worried." "Don't be. I'm fine." She told him, smiling softly. "Rachel," he said softer, his tone different. She looked at him, confused. "What?" He paused and they both looked at each other, finally he admitted a laugh, "It's nothing, never mind." Rachel raised an eyebrow, expectant. He laughed again, "I'll tell you after the show." "We have M&G's tonight." She reminded him. "After those then." He said practically. She wasn’t fully convinced though. "Promise?" "Promise. Now, come on, it's our turn." The rehearsals were going well. Rachel was doing alright on the outside but her mind was in turmoil. The entire time on stage she was thinking about leaving them, never seeing them again, and how it hurt her to think about it. Her heart literally ached to think about being a whole ocean away from her close friends. It made it really hard to concentrate. Her mind wasn't even registering her steps as she began her solo steps in That's A Woman. It only woke up as the bottom of her silk dress caught under her shoe. She slipped, her arms flailing to no avail and she was falling backwards. She felt a sharp pain in her head and then everything blanked out.
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Post by thethunderroar on Jul 25, 2009 23:21:06 GMT -5
oh gosh... this is even better the second time though!!!!! and keith and damian going off together... i think we all know now that that's a BAD idea!!! good thing george went with them!!! More Tangy!!!
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Post by misssunflower on Jul 26, 2009 12:38:45 GMT -5
alright this one is almost done. Hopefully this'll get more following as I start the next...
By the time Rachel's consciousness was even semi-restored the pain in her head had dulled to a slight throb. As if she'd just lightly bumped her head on a low ceiling or doorway. Nothing close to major. Still, there was no need to open her eyes or try and do anything productive for a while. So Rachel just lay on whatever solid substance she was laying on and breathed slowly, wondering how long she'd been out. She wondered if the boys were still doing rehearsals, or if they stopped after Rachel fell. She began to wonder about there reactions to seeing her hit the ground as she must have before her mind blacked out. She remembered dully people's voices yell "Rachel!" in panic as she slipped, she'd heard Paul's the clearest, whether because he was closest or because he sounded the most... the most.. scared. She was glad she hadn't been facing him, she would have hated to see his shocked face as she fell into unconsciousness. She thought about whether or not they'd let her dance tonight, she wanted to certainly, and she didn't feel real injured. She wondered if they were still worried about her, if she'd been out for a long time they might be. In a sudden panic she thought she may have been out for days, the tour could be over, they could be back in Ireland. Rachel would have never gotten to say goodbye to them. Her heartbeat picked up and it entered her mind slowly that there was beeping that picked up with her heart. A Heart-meter? She was in a Hospital? Rachel guessed she shouldn't have been surprised, she had been unconscious, of course she'd go to a hospital. Rachel's heart picked up again as a she felt someone's hand reach over and lightly brush her hair off her face. She groaned and opened her eyes. She felt a millisecond of disappointment when it wasn't any of the boys, much less Paul, but a young woman sitting in a chair right by her side. Of course that swirled out of her head the second she saw who the young woman was. "RACHEL! Oh thank God! You're awake!" Vanessa squealed, her voice traced with worry and lots of relief. "Nessa, hey." Rachel muttered pathetically, smiling though, "H-How long have I been out?" Light was streaming freely through open shudders on a small window. Rachel was laying on a hospital bed reclined so she wasn't quite sitting, but not quite laying down either. "Oh a little over 12 hours. You hit your head about 6:30 last night. It's about 7:00 now." Vanessa said softly, "I was so worried about you." "About that," Rachel continued, "What- I mean, how did you find out about this?" "I called you about 6:50-ish to wish you luck, like I do sometimes," She did, every couple of shows Vanessa would call and wish Rachel a final 'Good Luck', "Paul picked up, told me what happened. He sounded like a nervous wreck, to be honest." She chuckled, "They still had to do the show though so he couldn't wait by your bedside 24/7 like I know he wanted to." Rachel blushed furiously and she gave her friend a shove. She laughed and continued, "I knew I had to be here for you so I got on the first plane here, arrived around 11:00 and have been in here since, making sure nothing gets worse." "Thank you, Vanes." Rachel sighed, but stayed tense, "The show? How could they do it without me?" "Zara said she could defiantly fill in, her leg is much better and she did fine." Vanessa told her. At that Rachel finally relaxed, "Good." "So how are you sweetie? Is your head okay? Do you need anything? anyone?" "I'm fine, yes, no, maybe." Vanessa smiled more, "Paul said the guys aren't going to go until your ready, the next concert isn't for two days yet, and it's not far from here." "But if Zara is fine, they don't really... need.... me." Her heart ached with every word, but she finished anyways. "I don't know sweets, I'm just saying what Paul said. Now, are you SURE you don't need something?" Vanessa continued worriedly. Rachel's throat did feel dry, "Can you get me water?" She asked. "Most certainly, I'll be back soon dearie." She got up and walked out of the small hospital room. "Oh, hey! Figured you'd show up sometime this morning," Rachel heard Vanessa say outside the room. There was a pause. Rachel guessed someone was talking. "Go check for yourself, I'm going to get some water." She replied, cheerfully. There was another pause and the door opened. "Oh my God! Rachel!" Paul was at her bedside at once. Rachel blushed lightly but smiled. "It's okay, I'm fine." She told him, laughing softly. "Are you sure?" He asked, concerned. "Positive." He sat back in his chair, closed his eyes, and gave a rather loud sigh of pure relief, "Thank God." He whispered. "You were really worried?" It came out more of a question than she'd planned. His eyes opened again, "Of course, I was worried! We all were. You were out cold for a long time." "I heard." Rachel groaned, "I'm sorry." "For what?" He asked. "For making you worry, I suppose." She said lamely. Another sigh, sadder this time, "I thought you might've.... you know..." he skipped over the word, "... last night." "Died?" Rachel asked, shocked. "I was still breathing, right? You shouldn't have thought that!" "It all kinda looks the same when someone's lying unmoving on a hard floor, you know?" "Oh." She said in a small voice, "I'm really sorry." "Again, why are you sorry? It wasn't anything you could control." He chuckled, lightly. She was relieved that he could still laugh, she didn't like to see him too serious like this. "I wasn't concentrating on what I was doing." She admitted, "So in some ways I think I could have. I'm so sorry I made you worry like this." He put his hand on hers, "It's fine," He told her smiling, "I'm just so glad you are still here, still okay. You have no idea..." He trailed off laughing, with another maybe-blush. Rachel still didn't know. She did know, however, that her own face was burning and her heart rate exploding on the meter. If Paul noticed he showed no sign of it, his eyes still smiling as he looked at her. Rachel was grateful for that.Rachel's nurse came in shortly afterwards. Paul didn't leave, though. He sat back as Rachel was asked average questions about her physical and mental health after her fall. Finally, she was put down as free to go and just to take care walking, or dancing. "So where do we go now?" Rachel muttered as she, Paul and Vanessa walked through the hospital lobby. "The bus, of course." Paul laughed, "And Vanessa, we DO only have 2 shows left, what do you say to staying for the rest of it?" Rachel and Vanessa gaped, it was such a good idea, neither of them had thought of it. "I'd LOVE to stay!” Get to see my little Rachel dancing!" Rachel nodded happily, but Paul coughed uncomfortably, "Rachel," He asked, "You sure you're set on dancing still?" "What do you mean? Of course I still want to dance!" "Well, I'm just kind of worried." "Paul," she said sternly, "I told you, I wasn't paying attention yesterday. It was my fault and it's not going to happen again." "Rache, maybe Paul's right, though. You did just get out of a hospital." Vanessa said quietly. Great, she thought, she was being tag-teamed. "Nessa!" She cried in frustration, "You too! I'll be fine!" They didn't look convinced, "If it makes you feel any better I could hem Zara's dress for the shows so it's shorter, then take it out at the end of the tour." They both seemed torn by the idea. Rachel tried another tactic. "Well... I guess, you know, people would want Zara to dance now that her leg's healed. I don't really have to dance anymore." It was unfair, she knew. But it was part true, she was worried about not being needed anymore. "Rachel!" Paul laughed awkwardly, "That's unfair and you know it!" Darn, he was onto her. She laughed just as awkwardly, then sighed. "I do want to dance though." Paul smiled and put his hand on her shoulder, "How about you dance at the last show then?" "But I wouldn't want to take THAT from Zara!" She exclaimed. "I don't think she'd mind." Vanessa commented. "But if it bothers you," Paul was laughing harder now, "I think we can work something out." Rachel sighed, and gave in, "Fine, sure, whatever helps your nerves." They both thanked her greatly, as they boarded the tour bus. "RACHEL!!!" Rachel was once again overwhelmed by hugs and warm welcomes from the 4 boys and Zara. "You had us so worried!" Zara exclaimed. The guys all gave agreeing statements. "Everyone, everyone!" Rachel laughed, "It's fine! I'm good! Now can I have some air or I WILL pass out again." They all took a few steps back. Except Paul, who purposely put his hand on both her shoulders as if to keep her from falling over. She turned and made a face at him. He made one back and they both laughed. "So who's dancing tonight, then?" Keith asked curiously, looking back and forth between the two dancers. "Zara." Rachel said, regrettably. "Rachel." Zara said at the same time. "Huh?" Everyone else responded. "I told Paul I'd take it easy, Zara, this one's yours." she said again, sparing Paul an only-half-mock glare. He winked at her and the glare went away with a blush. "Rachel, are you sure?" Zara asked. "Positive." Rachel replied, "I'll do the last concert, I think." She still wasn't sure about that part, she glanced at Paul, who was giving Zara a meaningful look. "The last concert," She mussed, "We'll work that out when we come to it." "Um.... okay." Rachel said, more confused than ever.
The night was amazing, though Rachel and Vanessa didn't even watch the show. She wished her friends a quick good luck at the end of the dress rehearsals and then the two girls got sometime to themselves. The month away from Vanessa had felt like so much longer, but not so much in a bad way. It also meant that her time with Celtic Thunder felt like a long time, but in a lot of ways it didn't. That just flew by. She finally, on a walk with Vanessa through another local park, admitted her sadness for leaving them. "I knew you'd feel that way," Vanessa said solemnly "You did?" Rachel asked, not all too surprised, Vanessa knew a lot about her. "Of course. I knew that, well, you and Paul..." She trailed off. Rachel blushed and wanted desperately to deny it but that night, she just couldn't. She stopped walking and moved to sit under a tree, there weren't any benches. Vanessa moved to sit beside her. The ground was wet but neither cared. "You going to admit it?" Vanessa asked at last. "Do I even have to?" Rachel asked in reply. "Probably not," A laugh, "It would be nice to hear all the same. Make sure we're on the same page." Rachel sighed and just stared at nothing for a little bit, watching the evening darkening into night. "I love him." She finally whispered, and her heart pounded in reply to her words. Beside her, Vanessa nodded without expression, but finally a smile twitched at her lips. "You going to tell him?" she asked. Rachel gasped. "How could I? It-it's not li-like he..." She couldn't even say it. Vanessa raised an eyebrow, "You don't think it's requited?" She laughed. "Vanes! You aren't helping this!" "I'm sorry darling, I know this must be difficult." She sobered, "Just remember you have one more show. One more night. Do you really want him to leave without knowing how you feel?" Rachel sighed leaning against the tree, "He's leaving me either way. This way is probably easier for the two of us." "If you say so..." Vanessa sighed as well, the stood up, "Just do whatever makes you happiest." She extended her hand and pulled Rachel up. Rachel didn't mention that if she truly wanted to do what made her happiest.... well, she couldn't do that. It was that simple. So she'd have to settle with it being the least miserable. The two sighed once more in unison, followed by quiet laughter, before heading back to the hotel. The night of the second-to-last show.
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Post by misssunflower on Jul 26, 2009 14:33:34 GMT -5
For your impatience and need to get to part 3 of my tale... tis the end of RM
The morning of the last show was met with relief, stress, worry, sadness, mostly from Rachel. She denied anything being wrong with her though, when asked. "Rachel, do you feel okay?" Zara asked her casually over breakfast. "What?" she responded, trying to look cheerful. "You look really pale." She paused, "Maybe it's best if you didn't dance tonight, either." Even Rachel's fake cheer died out on that, but she didn't argue. "I suppose that would be best." She said glumly. Paul opened his mouth to say something but closed it right away. Rachel thought he looked like he wanted to object, to say he did want Rachel to dance, but something kept him from doing so. Maybe she really did look sick, she sighed. She felt miserable, but she didn't think that was health related. He decided to speak anyways, "You should defiantly come to the show, though, Rachel. You too, Vanessa." Vanessa nodded, and Rachel eventually joined in. Why not, she sighed. It would be nice to hear them perform again, even if she wasn't part of it anymore. The thought made tears fill her eyes again. Before anyone could say anything she stood. "S-sounds good. I'm going to get dressed," she was still in sweat pants and an over-sized t-shirt, "see you all in a bit." She mumbled, her fake cheer coming through, and she walked quickly back to the Vancouver hotel room. She was being silly, and she knew it. She had known from the very beginning that this wasn't going to last forever. It was one month, and she had known that. That's why she didn't really want to get too close to them. Well, to be really close as friends is one thing; it's simpler to keep in close contact with good friends. But love? She sighed and pulled on a black t-shirt with the skirt Paul once complimented. It was difficult, impossible, to have kept from falling in love with him, she thought. But it only made this all the worse. Much, much worse. There wasn't much she could do now, she was defiantly in love, and they were defiantly leaving. And she wouldn't even be apart of the last show. "Rachel?" Paul asked, tapping on the door. Her heart pounded and she wiped at her tears quickly. "Yeah?" She asked opening the door. He beamed at her, "Just going to say we're going to rehearsals, are you coming?" "Well I-I'm not g-going to dance tonight s-so-" "Nonsense!" He laughed, taking her hand and pulling her out, "you're coming, okay?" No way she was going to turn that down, "Okay." She paused, "Oh wait!" She tugged out of his grip on her hand and ran back to the room digging for her drawing book. She pulled it out and ran back, slipping her hand back into his, without thinking. He looked at the sketchbook and then back at her with a raised eyebrow. "Can I not draw?" She asked, raising an eyebrow herself. They both looked at each other with identical expressions before bursting into laughter. "Of course you can." He chuckled, tussling her hair again, "You know I love when you do." She blushed through her giggles. "T-thanks, I think." "You're more than welcome." He said, and they both laughed again. She wished the two of them could stay talking like this longer, that he didn't have rehearsals to go to, a show later, and then his home. She sighed. "You sure your okay?" he asked again, still lightly laughing. "Yeah, don't worry about it." She said, he didn't look convinced, so she changed the subject, "so what were you going to tell me earlier?" "When?" He asked, slightly confused. "You know, the night I fell, you told me there was something you wanted to tell me after the show..." She trailed off suggestively. He laughed awkwardly, "Oh that... it's nothing really." "Oh come on!" She laughed, "please?" He looked at her and she did her best at looking pleading. Somehow it worked. "I'll tell you after the show tonight." "You said that last time!" She complained, she laughed though. He grinned, "And I would have, too! But some things happened that were a little beyond our control, you know?" "Do you absolutely promise that you WILL tell me after the show?" She asked him sternly. "I promise." He made a show of crossing his heart, too. Rachel giggled. "Well alright then. Off to rehearsals!" And hand in hand they went.
The show that night was the most memorable of the entire tour, of that, Rachel was sure. The first half went by beautifully, as it always had. Rachel felt so weird to be sitting front row, watching it, instead of being backstage as it was performed. She hummed along to every song, screamed and clapped at the end of every piece and tried to enjoy every single second. It was the second half, however, that truly made it. "Rachel?" Someone whispered to her, right as That's A Woman began. Rachel looked to see Sharon, grinning at her. She gulped as Sharon motioned her over. She glanced at Vanessa, who just beamed and gave her a thumbs-up. She tried to keep out of everyone’s way as the two secretly slipped backstage. George, Keith and Damian were back there, grinning at her too. She was really wondering what was going on. Sharon shooed the boys off and tossed Rachel Zara's other dress, the one she wasn't wearing just then. "What?" Rachel asked, stupidly, looking from the dress, to Sharon, to where the stage was. "Shh, no time to really explain this. Just get ready." Sharon said simply. "Ready for what?" Rachel stuttered as she pulled on Zara's dress, still so confused. Her hair was pulled through a comb and a light, quick coating of make-up applied. Still without her question being answered. By this point, however it was pretty easy to see one thing. She was going to be going on stage. There came wild applause from the stage and seconds later, Zara joined the two girls. "Good. Your almost ready, your almost up." She giggled. Rachel listened hard, and yes, Paul was beginning You Raise Me Up. What could Zara mean? Before she could even open her mouth to ask she was tugged to the side stage where she normally waited to go. "Zara!?" She hissed, looking at her, then back at Paul singing, an expression of confusion and fear on her face. "There will be a music interlude part, go out during that." Zara whispered. Rachel looked out again, in panic, but it hadn't come yet. She whirled back to Zara. "And do WHAT!?" Zara paused, then shrugged, "I don't know, think Night's in White Satin, that sort of thing." "But wha-!" Rachel started, but didn't finish, she just let out a sigh and glanced out again. Trying to control herself for when her ad-libbed section came up. What was the audience going to think of THIS? Finally Paul stopped singing, not for the end though and Rachel knew it was time. Taking a deep breath she walked out. She kept the same sort of expression and moves as she had in Nights in White Satin, there was cheers in the audience, but some audible gasps as well. It actually almost made her laugh. Paul, for one, didn't look surprised at all. He was beaming at her with an expression that made her heart melt. He started to sing again, the last chorus. He wasn't looking at the audience, but at HER, just her. Rachel almost started crying again, happy to be on stage again, being sung to, in Paul's arms. And for once in the entire tour, Paul didn't leave "Lonely." "That was- that was- was- WHAT WAS THAT!?" She squeaked as the she Paul walked off stage to the sound of deafening screaming and applause. "That was a thank you, I suppose is what we decided." Paul shrugged, laughing. "So you all PLANNED this!?" "Basically." "I'm sorry I sounded rude this morning, Rachel." Zara commented, giving her a tight hug. "But it couldn't have worked if you danced the WHOLE thing, you know?" "No, no, I understand." Rachel laughed, "I j-just can't believe it. Thank you all." "Thank YOU!" They all laughed in unison, and they all laughed. And Rachel was crying again. She came out again for the end bows, and she was so thankful for the extra screams she got from the crowd. And when Zara left with Ryan, she left with Paul. It worked perfectly. "You did incredible as always, Rache." Paul beamed at her, as they walked off again. "I didn't do much." She laughed. He shook his head, "But on such short notice. We just sort of shoved you out here, didn't we?" "I guess I'm good at performing on short notice," She thought of first being asked to come here. Paul must have too, because he was laughing as well. "So do we have M&G's tonight?" She added in, excited to hear comments about her improv work. "We certainly do. You, Ryan and I do." He smiled. "That's good. Do you want to go on a walk afterwards?" She asked causally. "Hm?" He asked, confused. She blushed and added on quickly. "I mean, we could all go too. There's a park and, I think, a ice-cream place across from the hotel. W-we could celebrate..." She sounded silly again. He laughed though, "You like parks, don't you?" was all he said. She shrugged, still blushing, "Nature.... you know?" "A walk would be wonderful." He told her, giving her another heart-melting smile. And so it would be.
Rachel regretted her proposal of walking the second it was mentioned to the rest of the crew. The boys were planning to go see a movie and sounded so excited that, while they said they were willing to drop it, Rachel wouldn't let them. She glanced at Paul. "You going with them?" "Nah, I said I was up for hanging out with you tonight, didn't I?" He grinned at her making her blush. "I-I guess you did, but only if you want to..." She stumbled over her words. He laughed, "I do." And she wasn't about to argue with that. The guys all had had a relatively understandable reason to not go but Vanessa and Zara were another thing. They blinked, looked at each other then back to Rachel as she proposed the same idea in the girl's hotel room. "I'm kind of tired... actually really tired." Vanessa said slowly, looking sorry. "I am too, plus my leg is sore from dancing, it'd be best if I didn't walk much." Zara said reasonably. Now, in any other situation those answers would make perfect sense. Not now though, especially with the looks the two had been giving each other before hand. Rachel rolled her eyes, and sighed. "Really?" Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Yes." They both said at the same time, then laughed uncomfortably. Rachel made a face and left. She shut the door and wandered back to the boy's hotel room with a sigh. The rest of the guys had left minutes ago so it was just Paul. "There's not really a point in it now." She sighed, "It'd just be the two of us." He blinked, confused, as if waiting for her to continue. When she didn't he chuckled softly, "Care to elaborate? I have yet to see what's wrong with that." Rachel blushed. She didn't find anything wrong with it either, but that she was going to keep inside. "Well..." She said, as casual as possible, "If you say so..." He laughed and stood to meet her by the door, "I do." He said, "Now come on, it is getting late and I'm sure you and I would both like to be mostly awake on this." He held out his arm again. She giggled, took his arm and off they went. It was wonderful, though the two hardly talked. The park was lovely even at night, with soft lamps illuminating a path. Despite how late it was the sun had only just set, so there was still an evening glow about. Silly as it sounded, Rachel thought it looked almost magical. She thought about what she'd been told about Ireland, what pictures she'd seen, how magical that sounded. Oh what it would be like to LIVE there, she thought wistfully. She was slightly jealous of her friends for getting to live in such a great area. Of course that reminded her of something she'd been trying to keep from thinking. Their homes, in Ireland, far across the sea. Where they would be headed tomorrow. Vanessa's question about telling Paul her feelings came into her mind, but she shook it out. What good would that do? Either he didn't like her back, or he did but he had to leave. None ended happily, and so she wasn't going to bring that up. Her shoulders sagged, and she slowed down her walking. Paul slowed down too, looking at her worriedly. She didn't say anything, just unhitched her arm from his, as they hand been walking arm in arm the entire time, and moved to a bench. It was a lovely spot for a bench, facing out to a pond. Man-made or Naturally there it was beautiful, especially in the fading evening light. She felt Paul sit beside her. "Rachel?" He asked, "Are you sure you're okay? You haven't been yourself recently." "I'm f-fine" She mumbled, not surprised to hear her voice crack with the tears that had formed in her eyes. Still she fought them back, she didn't want to go and burden him with her sadness. "I'm fine." She said stronger. He leaned back against the bench with a sigh, not looking like he believed her at all. There was silence for a while, and finally he coughed as though trying to think of something to say. Rachel thought he might be about to tell her what he said her would. Instead he said, with another, almost relieved, sigh, "Well, the tour's done, isn't it?" A small laugh, "We can go back home." Rachel burst into tears.
Rachel cried at the end of almost every show, but it didn't take Paul a second to know that these weren't the same kind of tears. Rachel tried to stop the crying but once she had started the task was almost impossible. So the least she could do was turn away from Paul, in a pathetic attempt to hide them. "Rachel?" He whispered, confusion and sadness in his voice. He knew he'd said something wrong. She didn't want to go into it. She tried to stand up, stumbling through her tears. He was faster. He stood up right as she did, and turned her to face him. She looked pathetic, crying so hard she could hardly breathe, much less speak. He didn't ask anything though, he just pulled her into a hug. She made a silly attempt at pushing away but surrendered as quickly as his arms were around her. She just sobbed, into his shoulder. He made no show of caring about that once so ever. Her heart pounded unsteadily and the joy of being held by him only made her cry harder. They might have been like that for seconds even, but it felt like forever. Finally he asked her again, "Rachel? Rachel, what's wrong? What is it?" She sniffed through another sob, trying to find her voice, "'The tour is done.'" She quoted in a choked voice. She felt Paul stiffen, as if suddenly aware of what he had said. She continued, "'We c-can go- go h-h-home now.'" She broke into sobs again and Paul pulled her in tighter, stroking her hair gently. She continued to try and talk through her tears. "It's over now. I-it was -was probably the best month of my life. All because- because- - it's over now!" She wailed, unable to even finish sentences. "I don't want to go back to New York." She whispered through tears She felt awful. Not only because they were leaving, but for bringing it up. She hadn't wanted to do this because she knew it would upset Paul, and that was the last thing she ever wanted to do. It was true though, there wasn't a single part of her that wanted to go back to NYC anymore. The city had no real fond memories to her, besides Vanessa. Every city she stayed in over the tour was more like home than it had ever been. It would seem even less so after all this. Her tears had begun to slow at last, not because she was cheering up any, but she simply had used them all up. She had literally cried until she couldn't anymore. She let out unsteady breaths, as Paul held her silently. Finally he let out a small.... laugh? It wasn't depressed but it wasn't cheerful either. "Rachel," he told her softly, "Rachel, Rachel, Rachel." Her heart pounded; his good humor still shone in his voice. "Just because it's the end of the tour doesn't mean it's the end for, well, for us." Rachel pulled away slightly, so she could look at him. Her tear filled eyes wide in shock. For us? For US!? She didn't even know where to begin. He smiled at her surprised expression, "Come back to Ireland," He told her, gently. Rachel's eyes winded but he pressed on, "You don't have to stay forever if you don't like it, but you're more than welcome to come back to Dublin, with me. You'd love it there, Rache. Even when in the dead center of a city you aren't even an hour away from fresh open air. It's truly beautiful and I know you'd enjoy being there. I'd like you to be there too." Rachel didn't think anything would have surprised her more than what Paul had just said, her mind was barely able to grasp what he was suggesting, "Y-you would?" She whispered. He chuckled softly, "Of course I would. I love you, Rachel." She was speechless, and when he had received no response he quickly added, "Again, th-this is only if you want to." Rachel had slowly begun to smile through her fresh tears, now she was laughing. "What?" He asked, feigning hurt. "Silly," She laughed, "There is nothing I could ever want more." "Really?" "Of course. I love y-." She hadn't finished before he hugged her tightly, lifting her off the ground, laughing. "I love you." she repeated as she was set down. They beamed at each other for a few moments before Paul finally let her go. "We should get back to the Hotel." He said, "I need to let the guys know you agreed." "You've been planning this?" She squeaked, surprised. It dawned on her that this probably was what he'd been wanting to "Tell" her after the show. "For a little while," He said vaguely. "Now, shall we?" He said cocking his elbow in an escort pose again. Rachel laughed and, without second thought, took his arm. "We most certainly shall." And with that she was led to the hotel, to tomorrow, and quite possibly, the rest of her life. Arm in arm with the man she loved. She wouldn't have had it any other way.
EPILOGUE
Vanessa Brennon dug through her deep pockets of her winter jacket. Her closest friend had sent her a key to her Dublin apartment the week before Vanessa went to meet her there. It had been about 7 months since Rachel had a chance encounter that had turned into the happiest ending Vanessa could ever wish on her. Vanessa hadn't been even the tiniest bit put out to hear that Rachel wouldn't be coming back to New York with her. Paul had invited her to come back to Ireland with him and, Rachel, God bless her, had said yes. And that had been that. As Vanessa opened the door to the lovely, but tiny, apartment she wondered what Rachel was planning. She had mentioned two things when inviting her to come. The first, the end of the boy's fall U.S. tour and the second, Christmas. She heard was the sound of a shower running, and saw the small couch was over flowing with plain brown boxes. One with a small note sticking on it. "Vanes, sweetie - Thanks so much for coming! I'm in the shower, be out soon. You can start without me, every thing's in the boxes. Thanks loads, Rachel" What was "Everything" and what was she supposed to "Start", Vanessa wondered idly as she opened the first box slowly. Christmas decorations. Mountains of them. Lights. Holly. Candles. Everything. Vanessa understood, not just what she was supposed to be starting but how the two things Vanessa was called over for connected. She heard the shower shut off and a few minutes later Rachel wandered out, drying her hair. She was in a long tunic-like shirt and torn jeans. She beamed at Vanessa. "Do they know?" Vanessa gestured to the boxes. Rachel laughed, "Nope. Well, I suppose they know it's a welcome-home party but not the Christmas part." "So they're coming back today?" she asked. "That's what Paul says." She giggled, throwing a towel over a chair and opening another box. She pulled out a string of garland, knotted all together. Vanessa laughed and got up to help her. She raised her eyebrows at her friend, "You do know Christmas isn't for 4 days, right?" Rachel nodded, "That's the point, I know they'll all want to be with their families then, so I'm having the party now." "Makes sense. Do you know if Paul...." Vanessa trailed off, glancing at Rachel. Rachel rolled her eyes at her. "Vanes, could you please ask me a question straight out?" Darn it, Vanessa thought, she was on to her. "Do you know if Paul's planning on spending Christmas with you?" She struggled to say it all without laughing. Rachel blushed, no surprise there. That would never change. "He hasn't said, I figure he'll be spending it with Amanda," his sister, "her kids, and his mom, you know. I'm just not sure if I'm going to be apart of that." "I don't see why not. I mean his family likes you, don't they?" "I think so. I mean we get along. I'd feel kind of weird, like I'm in the way." Vanessa made a tsk-ing noise and pulled the, now free, strand of garland out. "Ple-ease , Rachel. You've been with Paul for... over 6 months now. I'd think you'd be almost part of the family by this stage. You may be someday." Rachel's blush deepened, and she pointedly said nothing. Vanessa caught it. "What?" "He's talked about that." She mumbled, stringing lights around the entryway. Vanessa was confused but already liked the sound of that. "Come again?" "About ehm... you know, someday... in the future... maybe..." "Getting married?" A nod. "And? What do you think about that?" "I don't even know what I think." She laughed as she, ironically, set up a sprig of mistletoe.
Vanessa could think of so many questions to ask Rachel about the past 7 months but decided to spare the poor girl. Evening came, and Rachel's apartment had become a Christmas wonderland. While the stereo played deck the halls she noticed Rachel had begun to pace. "When were they supposed to get in?" She asked. Rachel glanced at the clock, "Right about now." "Well then why are you freaking out, girl? It's not like they are hours late." "Well I-" Before Rachel could finish her canon went off. Her ring-tone, that is. Vanessa just liked calling it her Canon. "Hello? Hey!! Well that's good, you heading over? Really!? wow. Right, tell them I say hi." It didn't take a genius to tell who was on the phone. Vanessa sat back and smiled, happy to watch her friends face glow as it did whenever she spoke to Paul, even on the phone. "Is it?" she asked, dropping her garland to run and open her single window by the kitchen. Vanessa, along with Rachel, noticed large wet flakes of snow falling through the darkness. "How fun!" Rachel gushed, both to Paul and Vanessa. "Yes, yeah I will. See you soon. Love you too. Bye." She clicked off the phone with a contented sigh. "They land?" she asked. "They landed early." Rachel giggled, "They are about 10 minutes from here now." The next few minutes sped by. Rachel had started pacing again. Vanessa lit some of the candles, and the largest fake tree Rachel could have fit into her apartment. The doorbell rang and the door was open before Vanessa could even see Rachel move to it. "RACHEL!" She heard Paul exclaim, she wandered into the entryway to see him drop what little bags he had to pick Rachel off the floor with a hug. They were both laughing and the scene was probably the sweetest one could get, outside of movies. Vanessa loved it. "My God! You're freezing!" Rachel squeaked, pulling Paul in by the hand. She gave Vanessa a gigantic grin before running to the kitchen. "I'll make hot chocolate!" She called in, "Will everyone else be here soon?" "Any second now." Paul called back. He glanced around at the decorations and raised his eyebrows expressively. "It was all her idea, by the way." Vanessa told him as he moved to sit in another chair around a small coffee table. "I kind of guessed that much. She really didn't have to, though." He shook his head laughing. He looked delighted, though, Vanessa noted. She laughed at the sound of clanking coffee mugs from the kitchen. "That's just how she is, I suppose." "Oh, I know." He chuckled. "What do you know?" Ryan asked casually as he, the other guys, and Zara showed up in the, still open doorway. "Ryan!?" Rachel called, and she was over there in a flash. She gave each of them their hug in turn. They laughed and smiled and all looked more than delighted to see her. All in all that night was glorious. Rachel had surprised everyone, even Vanessa, by getting everyone presents. Nothing elaborate of course, in fact... "Yum!" Damian laughed as he unwrapped a box, and showed a tin of what looked to be home made Christmas cookies. "You made them?" Keith asked her, taking one out. Rachel blushed, "Yeah, they're a family tradition sort of thing, I thought you'd like them." "Thank you!" they all told her, Vanessa hugged her. "You're such a sweetie." She told her quietly. "You too, Vanes. Love you." Rachel replied.
The night was short and all to soon people were talking about heading out. Heading back home. They all gave Rachel warm hugs and "Thank you" 's. Soon it was just Rachel and Vanessa... and Paul. Vanessa didn't think he was going to leave early and suddenly felt oddly in the way. She wandered off to wash dishes and listened to Paul and Rachel's conversation as best she could without obviously eavesdropping. "Are you sure it's okay?" Rachel was asking, her face red. He laughed, "Rache, my sister wouldn't have told me to invite you if it wasn't okay. She thinks your wonderful, you're family to us and besides, it's Christmas. You are NOT spending it alone." Rachel giggled, "Maybe I'm the type that likes spending it alone." "You think after this," He gestured to the decorated room, "I'm going to believe that." "You got me." She surrendered. "So you'll come?" "Of course." She sighed happily,and it turned into a yawn. "Well," He yawned himself, then continued, regret in his voice, "I shouldn't be keeping you from sleep, should I?" "I really don't care." Rachel told him, "But if you want to go..." "Rachel," He chuckled, "If it were up to me I wouldn't ever have to go anywhere, without you, that is." She blushed prettily and he continued, "but it IS late, and I think Vanes is either getting tired or bored out of her mind." Rachel looked over at Vanessa apologetically. "Right, yeah." She stood up as Paul did and they wandered to the doorway. As he took his suitcases, which hadn't moved from their spot where he first dropped them, a small box fell from an open pocket. He dropped his bags again, in order to try and quickly grab it. "I'll get it." Rachel told him, picking it up before he could. Vanessa moved in to see the box. It was small, black, and looked velvet. It was just the right size and style to be... Paul looked ready to say something right as Rachel innocently opened the box. Her eyes winded and a gasp left her. Paul groaned. "Th-that was supposed to wait for four days." He coughed uncomfortably. "I-is it?" she whispered, looking from the shining diamond ring in the box up to Paul. "Is it really a- a-" He nodded, starting to grin. "Are you really- really asking me t-to- to?" It appeared Rachel couldn't say the words again. "I suppose I am." He laughed. He looked as if he was trying not to look expectant. Vanessa held her breath, if he was really asking her all that was left was her reply. She didn't ever really say yes or no. Her first response was an ecstatic squeal as she through her arms around Paul. It was as if she just finally realized what he'd asked. Finally, with her arms still around him, she glanced back at Vanessa, a thoughtful look on her face. "I suppose I'm taking your advice, then?" She asked vaguely. "What advice?" Paul and Vanessa asked at the same time. Vanessa guessed they were thinking the same thing too; was that a yes or a no!? "Yeah, you know around the time Aaron dumped me." Vanessa stiffened, most of her advice revolving Aaron was something to the effect of 'stay the heck away from him, he's a worthless jerk.' Rachel continued though leaning her head on Paul's shoulder, smiling a dazzling smile. "Oh what was it... something like, 'Rachel, you need to get yourself a Real man.' I suppose I've taken that advice, don't you think?" Vanessa was a tiny bit speechless but was able to give Rachel a assuring enough grin. She did, in fact, remember telling her friend that. Never thought it would be used in this context though. Paul was staring at Rachel, an eyebrow raised, his eyes questioning. "Is that a..." She simply nodded; looking happier than Vanessa had ever had the pleasure of seeing her. Vanessa pushed past the two of them into the hallway, laughing. Rachel tore her eyes from Paul for a second, to look confused at her friend. "Where are you going?" "I don't know." She shrugged, "I just know I'm right in assuming you two would probably like some alone time. Talk dates and stuff." She winked, "You better invite me." She added. "How could we NOT!?" The couple laughed, then they looked back at each other. And suddenly Vanessa felt they probably didn't even know she was there. She stayed long enough to see them kiss.
THE END
Hope all who read enjoyed.
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Post by Mindy Kinney on Jul 27, 2009 0:05:40 GMT -5
a lurking friend who refuses to get an account cause he feel out of place wanted me to pass on this message "As a former Arts & Entertainment director for a major market radio station, I'd have her on my show." gordy
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Post by misssunflower on Jul 27, 2009 12:45:43 GMT -5
*falls off chair* okay then MK!!! Tell him thanks and WOW!!!
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Post by Mindy Kinney on Jul 27, 2009 14:24:36 GMT -5
I TOLD you you had talent
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Post by maureenj on Jul 29, 2009 1:40:02 GMT -5
I just want you to know that I literally laughed and cried my way through this. You have a few typos, but nothing major that would distract from the story. Which, by the by, is incredibly well done. Rachel is believable, flawed, and *real*. I love her, and wish I could be her. *crooked smile* I'm sorry I didn't find this sooner to reply while you were still posting it. This is truly one I'll be coming back to over and over and over ... Now, seeing as I get up for work in less than 6 hours, I shall go attempt to fall asleep and with a wee bit of celtic magic, dream myself into this world.
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