essie
Fantastic Fan
Posts: 159
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Post by essie on Jul 20, 2009 20:40:11 GMT -5
this used to be up in the FF... just a warning it is pretty long ... please please tell me what you think!!!!!! ;DShe lay on the slanting hill just beyond the lights of the outdoor party. Her dark blonde curly hair lay over her face so she could not see the nighttime sky above her. But, this did not matter because her eyes were closed as the cool summer breeze drifted across her face, relaxing her almost to the point of sleep. “Hey… is someone down there?” said a voice from the top of the crest of the hill.
“I think that’s a person” said a deeper voice in return.
She felt the echoes of their footsteps on the ground as the strangers ran down the hill and knelt beside her. Just as she lifted her head to see who had disturbed her peaceful isolation she was scooped up in someone’s arms and carried up the hill and towards the party.
“Let me down, what are you doing…put me down!” Callie screamed flailing her arms trying to push herself out of the man’s grasp.
“Hey Paul, put her down. I don’t think she is unconscious,” said a dark haired man taking a step away from Paul to not get hit by the girl. Sadly Paul was not as lucky, he got a good wallop to his jaw by the flailing limbs of the confused girl. He immediately placed her on the ground on the outskirts of the party.
“What was that for,” Callie screamed glaring at the man kneeling beside her.
“We thought you were hurt or something,” the man named Paul said still looking worried.
“Why.” “Because you were lying on the ground,” said the other dark-haired man from behind Paul. Callie turned her glare on him, furrowing her brow with more anger.
“I was just laying down on a hill, away from the party…relaxing. Is that so incredibly unusual?” The dark haired man did not answer, still the victim of her glare. Callie started to get up from the ground, and realized Paul’s arm still resting on her shoulder, attempting to support her. She brushed off his arms, quickly got up, and focused on her wrinkled dress to avoid further discussion.
“Yes,” Paul said regaining eye contact with Callie as she looked up from smoothing her dress out with her hands. His gaze looked worried.
“Excuse me,” Callie said in confusion, she wondered who these two men were.
“It is quite unusual to find a person on the outskirts of a party collapsed on the ground,” paul answered keeping eye contact. Callie had to look away from his still worried stare and smooth out her dress to even be able to answer.
“I was not collapsed on the ground,” she said while raising her voice to a near scream. “And I do not think it is unusual at all, I was simply enjoying the summer night.”
“Well it is quite pleasant out here tonight,” the dark-haired man said to Callie, trying not to get another angry glare from her. She looked up at him. She was glad they were not talking about her hiding out from the party anymore.
“Yeh, it is a perfect night for a party,” said Callie smiling at the dark-haired man who gladly returned the gesture. His smile melted her, she could only smile back and hope that she did not have a stupid grin on her face.
“Then why were you not enjoying it?” asked Paul. Callie once again stared back, confused.
“What,” she said. It was hard to stop staring at the dark-haired man and look at Paul.
“You weren’t enjoying the party if you were ‘napping’ on the hill.” He had a faint smirk growing on his face. Obviously beginning to be amused. This comment made Callie once again glare at Paul, his eyes looked worried and his face concerned. She noticed his deep and bright colored eyes framed by his saddened eyebrows. She stared until he prompted her again with the same question.
“I am fine, obviously I am not hurt,” Callie said. Being defensive was the only way she knew how to react without looking completely foolish. She turned away and started making her way back to the party without looking at either of them in the eyes. Callie heard them walking behind her. Not that this was unusual, because they must be going back to the party too, she thought. She had only taken a couple of steps when she slowed down to let them pass her. They too slowed down, and she immediately stopped and turned around, her brow already furrowed in anticipation. The dark-haired man now stood next to Paul, instead of behind him. They were both very close to Callie, too close for comfort. She immediately took one step back and they advanced an equal amount.
“I believe we never introduced ourselves,” Paul said extending his hand with a smirk, his mouth curling in the corners. “I am Paul Byrom”.
Callie did not know how to react, she could only relax her glare and spurt out “I’m Callie”. It took her many more moments to extend her own hand. He took it in a soft embrace and the two smiled at one another. He brought her hand to his mouth to kiss it and Callie quickly pulled her arm back. She must have looked surprised or dumfounded by the gesture. Paul looked shocked The dark-haired man stepped in front of Paul and extended his hand with a very amused smile.
“And I am Ryan Kelly”
“Nice to meet you,” she said smiling at him again as she outstretched her hand. The handshake was initially awkward, because the guys had been so close to her when she turned around that Ryan had to take a step backwards to grasp her hand in a tender embrace. But he did not seem to mind, he did not acknowledge stepping on Paul to be closer to the stranger he had just met. The handshake was much longer than Callie had had with Paul, they continued to smile at each other without a care in the world. Paul, on the other hand, seemed quite annoyed at Ryan. Paul glared at him, making eye contact with Ryan who quickly smirked before he turned back to Callie.
“It is very to meet you too,” he said, bringing her hand to mouth to kiss it. Ryan tried to kiss her hand just as Paul had tried to. Once again Callie quickly pulled her hand back to stop the courteous gesture from the strangers. Her face turned from complete giddiness (from smiling at Ryan) to shock as her face turned bright red. She blushed and turned away, starting to wish she never left the party earlier. This time only Paul followed, he pushed past Ryan and patted him on the back. Ryan did not move, he looked hurt, the giddy smile was no longer on his face. Paul was able to catch up to Callie as she sat down at a table at the party.
“Is this seat open,” he said pointing to where he had already sat down next to Callie.
“I believe so,” she said while covering her eyes with her hair and turning away from Paul.
“Hiya,” said Ryan appearing inches from her face, “can I sit here” he pointed to the chair on the other side of her, smiling. He seemed to be over the rejection from earlier. She was flustered and could not speak, he continued smiling.
“Umm…yeh.” Paul stared at Ryan from the other side of Callie, and Ryan’s smile faded. Callie had no clue why their expressions had suddenly changed, their silent resentment continued.
“So, you guys said your names were…” she had to think for a moment, “Ryan and Paul, right?” she said trying to ease the tension. They both nodded and turned their attention to Callie. “I thought…Paul, aren’t you supposed to be bald… and Ryan, aren’t you supposed to have long blond hair?”. Paul and Ryan stared at her, not knowing how to respond.
“I think you are confusing us with someone else,” said Paul, his face was in shock, but he continued to stare deep into her eyes. ”Do you really not know who we are?”
“Well of course I know who you guys are, this is of course a party dedicated to Celtic Thunder…I just kind of mixed you guys up,” Callie said trying to look innocent. But, a huge smile spread across her face… of course she knew who they were, but their reactions were quite priceless! Callie focused her guilty smile on Ryan and then on Paul, they looked shocked and insulted, but easily returned the smile. She could not help laughing in amusement. The two guys exchanged a glance of confusion but quickly understood that she had only been joking.
“So why are you here?” said Paul still laughing with the others.
“What do you mean,” said Callie. Her fit of giggles was beginning to calm down. Ryan moved closer to Callie and looked into her eyes: “I think what Paul means to say is how did you get invited to this party”. He smiled at her sweetly, trying to not be the victim of sudden anger or defense. Callie smiled at Ryan then at Paul, both seemed interested for an answer.
“I know some people.” She knew they were going to question her further, and she already felt a need to escape from the conversation.
“Speaking of that, I really must be going, it was nice to meet both of you,” she gently touched each one on their shoulders and left the table. They watched her dress flow through the crowded party as she escaped their view.
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essie
Fantastic Fan
Posts: 159
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Post by essie on Jul 20, 2009 21:02:05 GMT -5
Callie had smiled when she left them alone at the table. Her bright blue/green eyes were full of light and warmth as they squinted to make room for an affectionate smile. Paul and Ryan smiled back, attempting to look suave. But Callie’s reaction was unexpected: she turned and skipped away with a quiet giggle. The two of them sat there without speaking; they wondered if she was laughing at them for a silly uncontrollable and probably foolish looking grin that had come across their faces when they had seen her smile.
“So, I guess you were wrong,” said Ryan looking at the party.
“Wrong about what,” answered Paul, shifting his thoughts about Callie to Ryan’s comment.
“You thought she was hurt or unconscious, she was obviously neither! ”
“Yeh, she has quite a bit of spirit doesn’t she?” Paul smiled at the memory of himself carrying the complete stranger safely against his chest. Her body molded nicely to his, even though she had been kicking and flailing her arms.
“Are you okay? It looked like she hit you pretty hard when you woke her up.” Ryan smirked and turned towards Paul.
Paul’s smile slipped off his face as he felt his stiff jaw. It had not hurt as much as when she had rejected a kiss on the hand.
“It’s fine.” Paul could not help smiling again at the weak handprint she had left on his face. Her reaction to him had been much more painful. The two sat there without talking for many moments.
“Good, because Sharon would get angry. I don’t think we can blame Damian for hitting you, he is too tall now. He probably would have made more of a dent.” said Ryan, he could not help but chuckle. Paul also laughed.
“I think we need to use that excuse more sparingly, Sharon might soon…”. Paul stopped midsentence, raising one eyebrow in confusion, and followed Ryan’s gaze. Ryan pushed the chair in between them, that Callie had sat in, out of the way and knelt on the ground. He stood back up, and held up a delicate silver necklace so Paul could see. The pendent was a small thunder-bolt that shone blue/green with the light.
“Is that Callie’s necklace,” Paul asked. There had been no need to ask, he remembered it perfectly. He had thought the thin silver chain had framed her delicate neck beautifully.
“I think it is, it must have fallen off,” Ryan said out loud, then talking to himself said: “I didn’t realize it matched her eyes perfectly.” Paul heard this comment very clearly and his face became rigid and serious at Ryan’s observation. Ryan slowly wrapped the loop of the necklace around his fingers, protecting it as he started to get up.
“Where are you going with that?” asked Paul, holding his hand out for the necklace.
“I am going to bring it back to Callie,” said Ryan as he looked up to make eye contact with Paul.
“But I saw her first.”
“But I saw the necklace first.” Ryan started walking to where she had disappeared into the crowd. Paul followed at his heels.
They were still arguing about the necklace when the crowd subsided and they saw Callie. They both waved, but she did not see them and turned around. Ryan stood stunned; his hands swiftly dropped the necklace in shock. Paul kneeled to the ground and picked up it up; he gently rubbed it against his suit to make it shine as it had when Callie had worn it earlier.
“It looks like I get to return the necklace after all” Paul said looking at Ryan with a smile. Ryan still stood, shocked. Paul turned to see what Ryan was staring at: Callie was hugging Sharon ten feet in front of them. They released their caring embrace and smiled at one another. Even from far away Ryan and Paul were captivated by her smile, a smile that she gladly gave to those close to her…
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essie
Fantastic Fan
Posts: 159
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Post by essie on Jul 20, 2009 21:22:14 GMT -5
They stood near a table with food, and recently poured champagne glasses. Sharon held Callie close. They had not seen each other in over a year.“Look how much you have grown, let me have a look at you,” said Sharon stepping away from Callie.
“It has been much too long,” said Callie with a grin at her godmother. Sharon lightly patted her on the cheek and held her chin up to the light.
“You look so much like your mother,” said Sharon with one eyebrow raised, scrutinizing her like a rare wine. “I am so truly happy we get to spend more time with one another.”
“Well, I don’t think I had much of a choice, you and my mother practically guilt tripped me into it.”
“Anything to be able to spend time with my favorite godchild.”
“I am your only godchild,” Callie giggled.
“Yes, but you do a great job at making Alex jealous. He won’t have any girls nights out with me, and he definitely does not like to go shopping when we are on tour.”
“Well, now you will have some more female company.”
“I am very happy for it, you will be an excellent assistant, I really needed the help with the show and the lads… speaking of the lads, where are they?” Sharon turned, looking around the party. She saw Paul and Ryan standing a little ways off and she motioned them over. But they did not move. Their faces were in complete shock still. The mysterious girl knew Sharon!
Callie turned away from both Ryan and Paul when Sharon had called them over. “oohh crap,” she mumbled with her back to Sharon, Paul, and Ryan. Callie had not expected to see them again so soon. The two men walked up to where the two women were.
“Did you say something dear?” asked Sharon, she must of heard Callie’s comment. “There are some people that I want you to meet Callie.” Sharon nudged her shoulder prompting her to turn around. Callie took a deep breath and turned around in a graceful twirl. She gave the men a captivating smile, and bat her eyes.
“This is someone very special to me, so you lads better be extra nice to her. She is going to be my new assistant,” said Sharon.
“It is very nice to meet you, I’m Callie,” she said looking deep into both their eyes pleadingly, and extending her hand in a feminine way.
Paul understood. “Nice to meet you too, my name is Paul Byrom,” he continued looking into her bright eyes and shook her hand gently. But, he did not quickly release his grasp. Paul knew Callie did not want Sharon to know that they had already met. With Sharon right next to them watching their introductions Callie would not be able to resist…he lifted her hand to his mouth and gently kissed it.
Callie stiffened, but did not pull her arm back.
“And I am Ryan Kelly,” Ryan interrupted with an alluring smile. Paul continued staring at Callie while she glanced at Ryan and they shook hands...again. Ryan understood too. He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it. Ryan did not let go immediately, many moments passed as the four stood there with Ryan and Callie holding hands. Ryan gently squeezed her fingers before he let go. Callie could not help her eyes from fluttering in embarrassment. Thank god Sharon had not been looking at her face!
Callie noticed that since both had initially kissed her hand that they had been smirking. They were smirking at her not being able to reject them. And now she stood with them silently laughing at her in amusement and satisfaction.
“Oh, aren’t they such gentlemen?” Sharon said with a laugh. They still smirked at her. Callie felt her face grow a deeper shade of red, she did not know if she was embarrassed or flattered at their continued gestures of affection.
“Honey?” Sharon turned towards Callie, prompting her to answer.
Callie wiped the foolish and uncontrollable grin off her face and answered: “aren’t all Irishmen gentlemen?”
Sharon laughed and turned back to the lads, they laughed while still staring at her with a smirk. Callie gave them the hardest and sternest glare she could while Sharon was not looking at her. They continued to smirk, and Paul answered in a very suave way, focusing his eyes on hers: “We learned how to be gentlemen from George.”
Sharon started to laugh at the comment, but Ryan interrupted with a quick glance at Paul and then at Callie: “Well I learned from George. I believe Paul learned from Damian.” They all started to laugh, except Paul. Callie was able to relax her glare through the fit of giggles, she covered her mouth while laughing uncontrollably. Ryan’s last comment had made Paul become slightly red and embarrassed, but Paul tried to look unaffected by dramatically lifting one eyebrow. Callie’s laughing calmed down as Ryan and Sharon continued. Callie looked deep into Paul’s serious face, his eyes were so blue and bright…
Sharon took Callie by the arm and pulled her a few feet away to continue talking with their backs to the guys. Ryan and Paul stayed nearby, lightly sipping champagne in long glasses as they listened to the two women talk. They were only a couple feet away from one another, and Callie could feel their stares on the back of her neck. Whenever Sharon looked away for a moment Callie would turn around to find Paul leaning against the table and Ryan standing right next to him. They would both slightly raise their champagne glasses and wink. Callie initially glared at them, but then could not help quickly smiling and turning to talk with Sharon.
“Oh Honey, I meant to ask, did you ever receive my gift,” Sharon asked during one inopportune moment when Callie had turned her head to see of Paul and Ryan were still there. Ryan and Paul became attentive to the conversation once again at Sharon’s comment.
Callie touched her neck with a smile, but then realized her necklace was not there. An expression of complete shock came over her face, “um, yeah… yes I did get it. But, um, I did not wear it tonight because, um, I thought that I might lose it. You know how careless I can be sometimes. But I truly love it, it is beautiful.” Callie tried to keep the tears from rolling down her face. She must have dropped her necklace somewhere!
“Oh thank you, I can’t wait to see it on you… Well, I sadly must talk to some other guests at the party. I will talk to you later. And do not think about leaving the party early or anything…you really should learn to be more social” Sharon said with a smile, as she brushed her hand against Callie’s hair and walked off.
Callie’s hands flew to her neck, searching for her necklace.
“So you do this often,” said Paul appearing on her left side, smirking.
“What?” Callie said in a hysterical tone.
“You hide out and avoid parties.” Paul smirked.
“Not right now, this is not the right time,” she said still holding her neck and trying to not cry. She turned away from Paul, and ran straight into Ryan on her right side; she tried to push past him but he did not budge. Callie looked up at both of them with her bright eyes about to overflow with tears.
“I think we may have found something of yours,” Paul said with an affectionate grin, trying to get her to listen to what he was implying.
Ryan stepped towards Callie and softly lifted her chin with his hand. They noticed her expressive and tearful eyes. “It’s ok” said Ryan.
Paul did not want Callie to cry, and quickly added: “We found your necklace”. He pulled his left hand out of his pocket. The necklace was delicately draped over his fingers.
“Oh thank you so much, thank you thank you thank you.” Callie jumped up and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck. He was just tall enough that her feet almost did not touch the ground. Paul did not know she was going to react this way, he was tempted to embrace her hug with his own hands but was too late. She let go and got her feet flat on the ground before he had a chance. Callie smiled up at Paul with the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. Genuine happiness and bliss, her eyes twinkled with relief.
Paul smiled back, a little dazed, and whispered: “Turn around.” She complied completely and lifted her hair off her shoulders. He gently placed the necklace around her neck, with his face inches from hers the whole time.
Ryan was in complete shock and added: “Well I found it in the first place”. Callie’s face lit up again, as bright and thankful as before. She brushed off Paul’s hand that was still on her shoulder and ran up to Ryan. She threw her arms around him, just like she had done to Paul before.
“Oh thank you so much Ryan.” He loved how his name sounded when she said it.
“How can I ever repay you?” she begged. Ryan looked at her smile and bright eyes (now matching the necklace draped around her neck). With her arms still tightly holding on to Ryan neck he answered: “You can dance with me”. He smiled and looked up at Paul. Paul’s gaze had changed from complete happiness from his moment with Callie, to resentment.
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essie
Fantastic Fan
Posts: 159
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Post by essie on Jul 20, 2009 21:34:40 GMT -5
Callie quickly dropped her arms from Ryan neck, and stepped back.
“Well… would you like to dance?” Ryan prompted.
Callie did not know how to respond, “um…I don’t..um…I don’t think that is a really good idea…I really can’t dance.” She had to look away from his pleading smile and saddened eyes to be able to take a breath.
“You know that necklace really looks beautiful with your eyes” Ryan said, trying to fluster Callie into giving in.
“Oh, thanks…um…”. Callie still looked towards the ground.
“I promise I won’t bite,” he said titling his head down to be able to look into her eyes. Callie looked up and noticed Ryan was inches from her face. She felt like she could have fainted right there in an instant. His misty blue eyes stood out brightly against his dark black hair. And his mouth pouted in a cute way to show his sadness at her not immediately saying yes.
“Um…..ok”. Callie hesitated.
“Great” Ryan quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the dance floor. Callie turned, looking back, wondering if she should have turned him down. She saw Paul's expression and immediately felt horrible. He looked sad and angry. She flashed him am apologetic grin, but he continued his irate stare. But to her upmost horror she realized he was following Ryan and Callie to the dance floor.
Callie turned back around and continued walking with Ryan. “Is Paul ok?” she asked. Ryan did not answer but continued grinning and quickly pulled her to the dance floor. He stopped suddenly, as Callie was about to turn around to see of Paul was still following them, and she completely bumped into Ryan.
“Whoa, watch it…” Ryan said in a playful way as a slow song came on. He let go of her arm and moved his hands to her waist. Once again his smile captivated her and she did not resist.
She wrapped he hands around his neck and slowly started to dance. It did not feel as comfortable as before when she had hugged him with sudden excitement. He hummed the music they were dancing too and looked deep into her eyes. Once again she felt uncomfortable and looked away. Callie looked past his shoulder and saw Paul sitting at an empty table only a few feet away! Everyone else was either dancing or talking, and he was sitting almost within reach with his chair facing the dance floor…staring. He looked angry, Callie smile at him in a weak way and Paul’s eyes flickered. Anger or pain maybe? She had believed him to be a passionate person ever since she had seen him but…
Ryan noticed Callie looking away from him at the awkward moment, and turned his head. Paul looked very angry, he had never seen Paul look this irate before. Ryan quickly spun Callie around so that her back was facing Paul. And then he drifted further towards the middle of the dance floor. Paul flinched but continued staring. Ryan noticed Paul angrily push away his chair and walk away in a humph.
The first song ended, but Ryan continued to drift around the crowd dancing with her. Callie smiled at the brief moment between songs, and she placed her head on his shoulder. She could feel him smiling again…
“How are you two doing?” said Paul’s boisterous and booming voice coming up behind them. Callie looked up and saw Paul approaching them quickly.
“Great,” Ryan said with a smirk. Callie let her arms drop from Ryan’s neck and she faced Paul. One of Ryan’s hands still lay around Callie’s waist, holding one side of her body tight to his.
Paul stiffened and tried to smile again as he said: “Well Callie I think there are some people you have to meet.” Three figures came up to them and Paul ran to Callie’s other side and wrapped one arm around her shoulder.
“I must look ridiculous” Callie thought to herself. Ryan on one side with his hand around her waist, and Paul on the other with his arm around her shoulder. She could barely move.
“Hiya Callie, I’m Damian,” said a tall boy with a very deep voice. Callie awkwardly tried to shake his hand, leaning forward away from the two men holding onto her. They both loosened their grasp to let her shake Damian’s hand but then quickly adjusted themselves to the same position they were in before. Callie and Damian grinned at each other in an apologetic way.
“Be careful with the lass boys, she’s bound to break,” said a bald man with a Scottish accent. He came up to Callie and gave her a big hug, Ryan and Paul immediately surrendered their hold on her.
“I am George Donaldson, and we are very happy to have you part of our Celtic Thunder family.” Callie was immediately overtaken by his sincerity.
“Nice to meet ya, I’m Keith” said a gorgeous man with long blonde hair standing beside her. He was the first thing she saw when George released her from the hug. Keith stood there grinning with his hand extended for many moments. Callie only smiled, her heart fluttered uncontrollably and she did not say anything.
Ryan and Paul came up to stand on either side of Callie and she glanced up at them and smiled nervously. Keith still had his arm extended and raised his eyebrows questioning why she would not shake his hand.
“Don’t worry he won’t kiss your hand,” said Ryan with a grin and winked at Callie. Keith, Damian, and George stared at the other three laughing; they did not understand the joke.
“I’m Callie” she said and outstretched her hand. Keith took it warmly and looked her straight in the eyes. With one small glance at Ryan and Paul he gently brought Callie’s hand to his lips and kissed it.
Callie did not resist. Keith laughed at the flirtatious way her eyes bat the air before he let go of her hand. She could not help but give him a huge smile. Paul carefully draped his arm around Callie’s shoulder, letting his own fingers gently touch her elbow. “Don’t you think about it pretty boy,” said paul with a laugh, “she promised me the next dance”.
Callie looked up at him, shocked. He smiled and winked, his eyes never leaving hers…
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essie
Fantastic Fan
Posts: 159
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Post by essie on Jul 20, 2009 21:53:29 GMT -5
Ryan let out a small laugh. Everyone turned towards him.
“What’s so funny Ryan?” said Paul, breaking eye contact with Callie and glaring at him.
“Oh nothing,” Ryan smirked.
“Good”. Paul turned his attention back to Callie smiling sweetly and softening his eyes. “So how ‘bout it? Lets dance.”
She slowly lifted his heavy arm off her shoulders. “um…I don’t..um…I don’t think that is a really good idea…I really can’t dance”. It was the same stumbling excuse Callie had made before.
“Sorry Paul, it does not look like she wants to. Anyway we weren’t done with our dance,” said Ryan smirking.
“Sharon has told me so much about all of you,” said Callie trying to change the conversation, focusing on Keith, Damian, and George.
They all smiled at the blatant way she changed the subject. Callie could feel Paul’s head turned down and looking at her. She smiled out of embarrassment, and blushed.
“Ya, Paul told us how you’re goin’ to be working as Sharon’s assistant during rehearsals and during the next tour,” said Keith, smiling at Callie.
“It should be great craic,” added Damian.
“Ya, these lads really need some looking after when Sharon turns her back. They can be hard to handle,” said George laughing.
“Well, it’s those three, not me!” giggled Damian and motioned towards Keith, Ryan, and Paul.
“Don’t let him fool you for a minute, it’s all Damian, he always starts it, right Ryan?” said Paul broadly grinning and glancing at the other lads around him at the joke.
“Yep, Damian’s the difficult one,” Ryan answered.
“Are you kidding me, Paul is the one you have to watch out for,” said Keith defending Damian. They were all laughing very hard at this point. Callie smiled up at Paul for an instant and saw him smiling at her.
“Oh, and Callie, it’s Keith too. Keith is just as provoking as Damian, right Ryan?” Paul joked.
“Yeh, all of us are so innocent except for Damian and Keith…then George…” Ryan started laughing with the others.
They were all laughing very hard right now. Paul noticed Callie’s smile, the one that he had only once seen directed at him. Her large and enchanting smile was unmistakable, and was focused directly on Keith. Keith was smiling back at Callie with a full set of dimples on his cheeks, he hair bouncing from side to side with each chuckle.
Paul reached over and ruffled Keith’s hair. Everyone suddenly became very quiet and the laughing stopped. Keith stood completely still, shocked. His part lay in a messy fashion, and drifted across the wrong side of his face!
Paul was the only one smiling as he looked back at Callie. She looked up at him and made her eyes big, questioning the reason why he had just touched keith’s hair.
Paul just smiled at her, and put on hand on her shoulder. His eyebrows were very serious and framed his deep eyes so that she could not look away from the bright blue color. Keeping his lips close together he whispered into her ear: “Are you sure you don’t want to dance?”
This time Keith laughed. It was not necessarily a laugh, but one very serious and vengeful chuckle. He shook his hair and stood in front of Paul. Paul looked up from Callie's eye and stared at Keith, his smile slowly vanishing off his face.
"I meant to rub George's head, sorry Keith," Paul said in a joking manner, trying to look innocent.
"Oh it is ok Paul," he said slowly, Keith was smiling too now. "But, well...with my hair messed up now I will definitely need a confidence boost." Keith directed the next comment at Callie. "Can you imagine, me at a party with messy hair?...it must make me feel horrible."
"I'm really sorry Keith," said Paul a little more relaxed. Everyone was happy that Keith seemed to be keeping calm.
"Oh, you don't have to be sorry Paul. Now i have an excuse to dance with a beautiful girl...to get my confidence back." Keith took Callie’s hand and pulled her towards the dance floor. Paul stood, completely shocked...his hand that had been on Callie's shoulder fell to his side.
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essie
Fantastic Fan
Posts: 159
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Post by essie on Jul 20, 2009 22:17:36 GMT -5
“Keith I..don’t think this a very good idea,” said Callie with a sigh. She looked back and noticed Paul had the same shocked and hurt expression on his face from earlier when she had left him to dance with Ryan. Damian and George were still standing near Paul and Ryan, but they were bent over in fits of laughter.
“Hey Damian, you were right, how much do I owe ya?” said George jokingly, unable to catch his breath while laughing.
“George, I thought you said Ryan always got the girl, I guess we were both wrong,” chuckled Damian. They both received harsh glares from Ryan and Paul. They all watched Keith whisk Callie to the dance floor. Ryan and Paul gave each other one glance then quickly made their way to a nearby table.
“I don't…”Callie lost her footing when Keith stopped suddenly and spun around. She tightly grabbed his shoulder to catch herself, and he wrapped one hand around her body for balance.
“Please Callie, just one dance…” Keith interrupted. He pouted his face and tried to look as sad as possible, but small amused dimples escaped on his cheeks.
“But…”
“I just want to get to know you a little better, you are going to be working for Sharon.” His reasoning was logical, and she could not think of anything to say. She just smiled sweetly.
“I will take that as a yes,” he said with a grin. The position they were in at this moment was more like a hug: he had caught her in his arms and they had been wavering back and forth. Keith let go of her and brought both her hands up to his neck. He gave her a little smile, and his eyes twinkled. She had not realized how tall Keith was before this. With both her arms around his neck she could feel him looking down at her. It made her very uncomfortable, and she tried not to look up.
“It looks like you are quite popular tonight,” said Keith, nodding with his head to something behind Callie.
“Huh?” She turned around in surprise to see both Paul and Ryan sitting only a few feet from her! Both of their chairs where facing Keith and Callie. Paul sat on his chair leaning forward very far with his elbows on his knees, he looked like he was about to pounce. Callie thought that he was probably close enough to hear their conversation. Ryan was sitting in his chair backwards with his chin resting on his hands, resembling his stature from the song ‘Desperado’. They both looked angry, and had serious expressions on their faces.
She turned around quickly and hid her face in Keith’s chest, hiding from the glares.
“Don’t worry” Keith said, “they aren’t angry at you, they’re angry at me.”
“Why,” she asked. Keith did not answer. He took one of his hands from her waist and softly rubbed the side of her cheek with the tips of his fingers. He twirled one little curl of hair that was in front of her eyes, and softly placed it behind her ear. He made a small giggling noise and pulled her closer as they continued to dance.
Callie did not like to dance, and at the moment being in public was the last thing she wanted. She stopped staring at his chest in one single glance and looked up.
“Um Keith, I think your hair looks fine, Paul did not really mean it,” she said. They were only half-way through the song but she could not take it anymore.
“What?” Keith asked. He had completely forgotten his excuse for being able to dance with her.
“I really think I should be going.” Callie pushed away from his chest and tried to walk away.
When she turned around she saw Paul inches from her face, he was smiling again and that made her very happy. She smiled back as sweetly as could attempt in her fright to get away from the party. She immediately turned from Paul and started walking away when she realized Keith was still holding onto one of her hands.
She blushed and saw a faint flash of eye contact between Keith and Paul before Keith looked at her.
“Sorry guys I really do have to get going now…” she said.
“But we did not finish dancing,” Keith looked sad, but that was the last thing Callie was going to fall for this time. She gave him a quick glare and he dropped her hand.
“Do you have to go?” This time it was Ryan who appeared in front of Callie. He smiled at her and for a moment she forgot that she wanted to leave the party. She smiled back and looked into his dark gray blue eyes that were shining and changing hues due to the light. Callie quickly shook her head and turned around to leave on the one side she wasn’t surrounded.
“But I did not get a dance.” Paul flashed her a quick grin. “This must be a joke,” Callie mumbled out loud, and started walking away. ......
“Callie, Callie is that you?” yelled a deep voice running through the crowd.
Keith, Ryan, and Paul noticed Callie flinch at her name being called. She quickly came back and gave them all a quick enchanting smile as they stood stunned. She pushed the three of them together into a closer grouping, and shrunk down behind them.
“Callie, I definitely saw you!” said the voice approaching from the crowd and titling his head to see around Keith, Ryan, and Paul. Callie stood up and smiled innocently. The man shuffled around the lads and picked Callie up in a huge hug.
“It’s good to see you Alex! I was just leaving, but I was definitely going to see you tomorrow at rehearsal so…” he put her back on the ground, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Keith, Ryan, and Paul looked shocked, and Paul and Ryan made a slight advance foreword.
“You were trying to leave the party early, right?” he said lifting one eyebrow. Alex referred his next comment to the three lads standing shocked on his side.
“You see, this little lassie has always hated parties, ever since our childhood. I don’t know why, but she always seems to just disappear in the middle of them, just doesn’t like the company I suppose. You wouldn’t expect it from looking at her, the pretty little thing,” he gave her a small wink, “…but she can vanish at any kind of social event if ya’ give her the chance.” He smiled once at Callie, who couldn’t help but look guilty.
“Well actually there is a funny story about that…”said Paul, slightly out of shock. Alex turned his attention to Paul, and smirked at Callie.
“Well, you see…” Paul began, grinning from ear to ear. The last thing Callie wanted was for Alex to have something else to mock her for. She had to stop Paul from talking. She quickly slid over to Paul and leaned against his shoulder. She kissed him on the cheek.
“Paulie” she tried to sound sweet and flirtatious, she batted her eyes and smiled at him as he looked down at her… “didn’t you say you wanted to dance?”…
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essie
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Posts: 159
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Post by essie on Jul 20, 2009 22:18:34 GMT -5
“Ohooh,” laughed Alex boisterously. “Callie don’t even think about it. Let him tell the story of how you were hiding out from the party tonight.” Callie gave him a quick glare and turned back to Paul. Everyone started to laugh and tease Callie in a friendly way. Paul was torn between telling the story or dancing with her. His facial expressions changed across his features as he tried to make the decision. His eyebrows danced up and down as he weighed the pros and cons.
“Well is that a no?” said Callie smirking at Paul, although she was obviously blushing from all the comments.
“See it all started earlier tonight…” Ryan began through the laughs. Callie tried to glare at him but could not keep a straight face. She melted at the little smile he gave her.
“Oh, looks like you lost your chance,” said Callie patting Paul on the cheek. It was the same spot she had hit before when she had woken up in his arms.
“Hey wait, that’s not fair,” Paul said, everyone laughed as he came out of shock.
Callie giggled then quickly added, “Well, I should probably be going.”
She was suddenly answered by the four men.
“Why.”
“But, the Party is not over.”
“Not again.”
“Sorry, we were just teasing you Callie.”
“Guys, calm down, you will all probably have more fun without me,” she tried to reassure them. “I will see you all at rehearsal tomorrow anyway.”
“But we are all going to be singing later,” said Keith flipping his hair out of his eyes.
“The better reason to get going, I should wait until I can watch the whole show, not just a few select songs,” said Callie stepping away from the group.
“Well of course we can’t stop you Callie,” said Alex. “But we have to talk tomorrow; I haven’t seen you in such a long time.” Alex ruffled Callie’s hair like he used to do all the time when they were younger. She gave Alex a big hug, and he kissed her on the cheek. “See ya’ tomorrow kid, goodnight.” Callie started to walk away.
“Um Callie”. Alex interrupted Callie’s escape. She knew they had let her leave too easily. “I don’t think I was the only one that wanted to say goodbye.” Callie blushed and turned around, Alex was smirking and Keith, Ryan, and Paul had little innocent smiles on their faces. Keith gave Alex a friendly “I-wish-you hadn’t-of done-that” punch to Alex and got really red when he realized Callie was walking back towards them.
“It was really nice to meet you guys too.” Callie gave them one of her biggest and most enchanting smiles although she felt the desire to run away. She gave them all a little wave and Ryan stepped forward. In a sudden awkward moment she extended her hand to him. He gladly took it and pulled her into a big hug.
“It was nice to meet you Callie,” whispered into her ear.
“Ya, nice to meet you too,” she said pushing away from his hug. His gray-blue eyes held her stare and she forced herself to look away to stop herself from jumping back in his arms. She stepped away from Ryan and stood on front of Keith.
“Thanks for the dance,” Keith said giving her a smile.
“Oh no, thank you keith, it was a lot of fun.” He stepped forward and twirled a little curl of hair in her face and gently put it behind her ear. She blushed a deep dark red color and pushed the piece of hair back in her face. Callie looked around for Paul, and for a single moment thought she had somehow escaped one more awkward goodbye. Just then she felt a warm hand on the back of her neck.
“You didn’t think you could leave without saying goodbye did you?” said Paul. He must have seen the slight expression come across her face between the awkward pleasantries.
Callie turned around and Paul was inches from her face. He smiled and the corner of his mouth curled in a cute little way. They both stood there for many moments and neither said anything. Callie felt herself move closer and slower, she did not know if it was his mesmerizing blue eyes or his inviting mouth that made her move…
“Hey Paul, you have only known her for one night, don’t move to fast with my Callie” said Alex laughing in the background. Everyone stiffened at the way Alex said ‘my Callie’.
She laughed and stepped away from Paul, ruffling his hair with her hand quickly. He did not stop her and just smiled as she messed up his hair that had taken hours to make perfect.
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essie
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Posts: 159
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Post by essie on Jul 20, 2009 22:19:22 GMT -5
Callie started to back away from the four guys again. “Okay goodnight everyone.” She received small pleasant little nods from everyone.
“Night Callie, be careful,” said Alex giving her a wink.
Keith, Ryan, and Paul stopped looking at Callie, and quickly turned to Alex questioning why he had said that.
“What”
“Why would she have to be careful.”
“Callie, Callie come back.”
Callie was walking only a couple yards away from them. “I already said goodbye, I can’t stay any longer at the party,” she said without turning around.
“Callie come over here right now!” said Paul in a very serious tone, worry in every syllable. Callie had never heard his voice get so strict and serious. But it was not as if she had known him for a long time or anything, thought Callie.
“What is it Paul!” Callie stomped over to Paul with a pout on her face. She put her face inches from his to express her anger.
Paul just smiled sweetly and said in a formal joking manner, “Our dear friend Alex has just informed us that for some reason we should wish that you travel safely. May I ask why… is there any reason that your trip to your residence should be unsafe in anyway?” His formal charming manner infuriated her.
Callie continued to glare at Paul, her nose crinkling in anger “Not at all Paul. I am just going to Sharon’s house where I will be living for the next couple months. It is no more than a mile or two walk from…”
“You aren’t planning on walking alone?” Paul interrupted.
“Of course I am” Callie answered hotly. “I am perfectly capable of walking tw--”
“I agree with Paul, you really should not walk alone Callie”. This time it was Ryan who interrupted her.
“Callie, it could be unsafe at night,” added Keith.
“You guys are crazy” said Callie in a humph and started to walk away. The three of them followed and Alex chuckled while walking back towards the party.
“I do not need help!” yelled Callie as she spun around. She got very close to all three of them. “I do not need an escort!”
“It appears that we disagree,” said Ryan with a smirk.
“Callie it is for your best interest,” added keith.
“I do not need an escort” she repeated.
“I won’t have you walking alone,” said Paul getting very very serious.
Callie poked one finger into Paul’s chest. “It is not up to you to make the decision.”
All three of them shrunk back. Callie stomped off into the dark night of Ireland.
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essie
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Posts: 159
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Post by essie on Jul 21, 2009 19:48:26 GMT -5
“Are you sure Sharon, are you really sure,” said Keith calmly into the phone, but his voice was obviously stressed.
“Yea I am sure, but there is nothing to worry about. Really you guys should just go to bed so we can rehearse tomorrow.”
“How could we possibly even think of doing that,” screamed Paul from the other side of the room. It was three o’clock in the morning and the three members of Celtic Thunder were still awake. After the party they had all come back to the house where they were staying over the summer (to be able to have constant rehearsals in a central location).
It would be an understatement to say that Ryan, Keith, and Paul were worried once Callie left the party. A two mile walk seemed like a very dangerous and unnecessary risk. Either of them would have gladly walked her back to Sharon’s home.
When they had gotten back to the house they all were tempted to call up Sharon, just to check that Callie had gotten home safely. But they resisted, they were scared that she would be insulted or scared by their forwardness. After her sudden outburst they felt guilty, but they still could not stop thinking about her. It took a stern recommendation from George to not call up Sharon again, when no one had picked up initially.
Ryan was the one that gave up and finally called. After George and Damian had gone to bed Keith, Paul, and Ryan had casually sat around the phone. It had been simple chat for a while until Keith brought up the party.
“So that girl, Callie…”Keith had started.
“What about her,” Paul had interrupted angrily. They all made fleeting glances at one another.
“She seemed nice,” Keith finished his sentence with a smile on his face. He got another glare from Paul. “What Paul? You barley know her!”
“That’s not my fault,” said Paul raising his voice.
“Calm down both of you or you are going to wake up George and Damian,” said Ryan.
“Oh and you!” Paul turned his anger to Ryan. “If you had let me give Callie the necklace without interfering” he stressed that word, “then I would have actually been able to dance with her.”
“You would have been able to dance with her if she had wanted to dance with you,” said Ryan with a smirk, his voice also rising.
“Oh that pretty necklace that matched her eyes,” mumbled Keith, smiling in a giddy way. He received two angry glares for the comment. After the moment subsided they did not talk for a couple minutes. They were all thinking about the same thing.
“Do you think she got home okay,” said Paul in a low a solemn way.
“Well, it couldn’t hurt to call one more time.” Ryan insisted.
They called Sharon and asked about Callie, trying to not sound too upset, only polite.
She told them that Callie was not back yet. “Callie is fine. She probably just went to a pub or something on her way back.”
This was not an acceptable answer to Paul, who aggressively handed the phone over to Keith. Paul threw his coat to the other side of the room and sat down in a chair with his hands over his head.
“Are you sure Sharon, are you really sure,” said Keith calmly into the phone, but his voice was obviously stressed.
“Yes,” Sharon continued to repeat, she had obviously been woken by their phone call. “I can give you her cell phone number and you can try and give her a ring if you really want to though.” Keith wrote down the number and handed the phone off to Ryan.
Ryan talked to Sharon for a little while and then hung up. “We can’t look for her tonight,” he said.
“But we can call her up,” Keith objected, he was the only one smiling as he gently waved the small paper in the air. Paul immediately got up and took the piece of paper away from Keith.
“Hey what was that for, I was going to call her,” Keith argued. Paul glared at Keith only for a moment and quickly whipped out his cell phone. He dialed the number and the three of them crowded around the cell phone.
It rang several times and then they heard her say, “Hello…” then a pause. They all sighed in relief.
“I’m sorry I’m not picking up right now…” the three of them listened intently at her casual tone. “which is kind of weird because I always have my cell phone with me…”. They were all scrambling to get closer to the voice as they heard a friendly (and pre-recorded) giggle come over the line. “But I will try to call you back as soon as possible, thanks and leave a message.”
Keith, Paul, and Ryan tried to leave a calm message; it did not work out like they had planned.
“Hi Callie we just called to…” started Ryan.
“Hiya Callie,” yelled Keith in the background.
“Where are you,” interrupted Paul trying to grab the phone back.
“Yea,” said Ryan glaring at Keith and Paul, “We just wanted to call up and see…how you were doing..well we will call up again later.” He hung up with a sigh. They took turns calling her cell phone for the next hour.
“Where could she be,” questioned Ryan. “If she always has her cell phone with her…”
“Well you two can stay here but I’m not. We can’t be expected to just wait around,” Paul said irritably and went to get his coat.
“Yes we are,” Ryan insisted. “We don’t even know where to look.”
“Well then, Sharon said she might have gone to a pub. So who is up for a round of drinks,” Keith said on his way out the door. Ryan and Paul quickly followed.
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essie
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Post by essie on Jul 21, 2009 20:13:54 GMT -5
Ryan, Keith, and Paul were warming up for rehearsals in the large theater. The night before (only a couple hours before), they had been asleep at one of the many pubs they had visited. All the pubs seemed the same after the first couple frantic visits. They all had tempting and unattainable Guinness, and Callie was not there. They had just left the last pub when the sky was beginning to become light as day approached. They quickly had to run back to the house to get ready. But their fears were not subsided.
“Why are you three coming in late,” Sharon had yelled across the theater when they first entered.
They were all too tired to think of an excuse and all three of them quickly mumbled “Damian turned off our alarm clocks.”
“Hey did Callie ever come back to your house,” asked Ryan, shaking his head back and forth to wake himself up.
Sharon mumbled some answer as she went off in search of Damian. They all traded little hopeful looks. But, it quickly passed as it got later and later and Callie still did not show up.
The lights in the theater dimmed as George started to practice a new song. All the lads sat in the first row with Sharon to be able to watch.
Just then the back door of the theater opened, shining light down the aisle. A stumbling figure started to walk towards the stage.
Keith was the first one up and was running by the time Paul and Ryan even turned their heads.
“Callie?” he shrieked. The stumbling figure seemed to drop to the ground at the sound of her name…
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essie
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Posts: 159
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Post by essie on Jul 21, 2009 20:18:11 GMT -5
They had all heard a faint cry when her figure had fallen to the ground.
Keith was the first one there, his arms went to cradle her in his shoulders. It was still too dark in the theater to notice much. Ryan and Paul were only a few steps behind Keith and they also kneeled around her.
“Get off, get off” Callie shrieked as she flailed her arms and tried to tumble out of Keith hold. She pushed against his strong arms and toppled onto the floor about a foot away. “What are you doing?” They all stared at her in complete confusion, searching her over with their eyes for any evident damage.
She lifted her head up from cold theater floor where she had landed and noticed they had all come closer. “What are you doing?” she repeated trying to pick herself up. She felt three hands gently hold her to the ground.
“Be careful, don’t get up,” said Ryan in his deep voice. They all traded worried glances and then stared back at her.
“If anything I need to be careful around you three,” she stated with a pout and then forcefully pushed them out of the way.
“Just look what you made me do…” She pointed to the spot where she had fallen.
“Sharon asked me to get you lads some tea, and I come here and I see you all practically stampeding towards me.” The shock of the moment when she had entered the theater and seen three people rushing at her was still evident in her eyes. But she just looked angry now.
“…And I dropped your tea.” She knelt back down on the floor to pick up the empty cups.
Keith still had a horrified and worried expression on his face. He knelt down next to Callie and brushed away the hair that was blocking her eyes. She shifted away from him to pick up one last cup and then stood up.
She gave him a wary glance and shifted her attention to not dropping the empty cups that filled her arms. One cup slipped out of her grasp and it caused the rest to fall to the ground silently.
“Ugggh” she moaned, and started to kneel down again. Keith straightened out his arms and held her by the shoulders, scrutinizing her. She just stood there with her hands at her side. He jerked his arms and slowly spun her around. Callie immediately shook off his hands and stepped away from the three surrounding her.
“What are you doing?” she screamed in a hush voice to not disturb the rehearsals that were still going on. They all still looked worried. Keith answered first: “Are you ok.”
“Of course I’m ok…you guys just freaked me out and I dropped your drinks. It’s not like I spilled any of the hot liquid on myself.” All three of them quickly looked at her arms that were not covered by her T-shirt. Just to check.
“But…”Ryan started.
“You had us worried sick,” Paul interrupted. He sounded tired, angry, and gruff.
Callie turned her head towards Paul: “Excuse me…”she questioned.
Keith tried to explain when Paul did not answer: “Sharon told us that you…”
“You never got back to Sharon’s house,” Paul interrupted again, but looked away to hide his anger.
“And how would you know this?” Callie questioned, starting to get annoyed.
Paul did not respond again.
“We called up Sharon to make sure you got there ok…since you wouldn’t let us walk you back…remember,” Ryan said softly with a little smile and a wink. Callie blushed and could not think of anything to say.
“So where were you, we called your cell phone,” asked Keith in the nicest way he could.
“How did you get my number?”
“Sharon gave it to us, you don’t mind do you?” Ryan said with another charming grin.
She tried to answer, but it only came out as a whisper: “…um I guess not.” Callie took her cell phone out of her pocket and opened it; her expression changed immediately to surprise.
“How many times did you guys call me?”
The lads all traded guilty glances. But none answered her question.
“So where were you?” Paul prompted in an angry tone.
She hesitated but then said with a smirk, “Why does it matter?”
“Well in case you disappear again, we will know where to look,” Ryan said with a chuckle.
“Where did you think I was,” she smiled at them all.
“Well we checked a bunch o’ pubs” said Keith.
“You know you aren’t allowed to go drinking the night before a rehearsal…Does Sharon know?” Callie tried to seem disappointed, but had to bite down on her lower lip to hold in a laugh.
“You still did not answer our question,” said Ryan making eye contact with Callie.
“What question?” she teased.
“Where were you?” Paul almost screamed.
“I was at the beach…I think I must have fallen asleep.” She let out a little giggle at her mistake. “It was quite lovely waking up to the ocean and the water.” She closed her eyes and smiled at the memory from earlier this morning. She let out a happy sigh and she heard Keith let out a sigh too.
“Well if you only picked up your cell phone…” Paul blurted out. Callie opened her eyes and he made eye contact with her for the first time.
“Maybe it was on silent…”. She glared at him trying to defend herself.
Paul took the cell phone out of her hands, flipped it open, and started to push buttons aggressively.
“Now the volume is up. You won’t have the same problem again.” Paul handed the cell phone back to her and tried to give her a little smile. Callie grabbed it, turned the phone off and shoved it in her pocket while she crinkled her nose up to him in anger.
“We are just happy you are okay,” Keith said from behind her. She turned and saw his dimpled smile.
She could not help but smile…an uncontrollable and enchanting smile that turned into a laugh. “Ohh you guys are so cute…trying to be all protective.” She made eye contact with each one of them. She continued chuckling and they joined in not knowing how to react. “But I can watch out for myself…No matter what Sharon told you guys, you don’t have to pretend to care.” She smiled again at each one of them as she started to walk away.
Their mouths were agape; they were all hurt by her comment. Callie turned around a few steps away and cheerfully said “Don’t worry, I’ll get you all some tea.” She turned around again with a playful giggle and continued to walk away.
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essie
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Post by essie on Jul 22, 2009 13:31:44 GMT -5
Paul, Keith, and Ryan watched her gracefully walk down the aisle of the theater. She almost had a skip in her step as she sat down in the seat next to Sharon. They all wondered what they had said wrong.Her comment had each made them feel guilty. But, nonetheless they walked up to the front of the theater and sat behind her and Sharon. Damian was practicing his new song and the two girls in front of the lads giggled trying to imagine the audience’s reaction during the upcoming tour. Callie’s head turned just enough to make eye contact with the three sitting behind her. She was checking to see if they were in a better mood. They could only each give a slight chuckle as she turned her head back to the stage. Ryan sat in the middle between Keith and Paul, and was directly behind Callie. He had only known her for a day, less than a day. None of the lads had known her for long, and they understood why she was always defensive around them. Ryan felt that his feelings were going way too fast, it was something he felt was impossible to stop. He did not try to ignore the obvious flustered expression that came across her face when he smiled at her. Paul felt guilty that he had been angry, but how could he have not been. She had disappeared for hours and just left them there to worry. When she had not answered her cell phone he thought the worst, when he had seen her fall to the ground he thought the worst. He had wanted to keep her safe from the moment he saw her on the hill at the party. But, it seemed like she wanted nothing to do with him, or any of them. When Callie had slightly turned her head it was only Keith who had not been able to see her face. Her focus had seemed to be on Ryan and Paul to his right. He had been the first one up, and he had felt like he had overacted. Keith thought that when she had fallen to the ground that it must have been his fault. Him bounding down the aisle at her must have been what caused her to drop their tea. He remembered himself sprinting, he had must have looked like a blonde monster. And Keith remembered himself cradling his arms around her. Even though he had thought she was hurt at the time he felt better with Callie resting safely against his chest. Well, at least until she had tried to get away from him and fell on the cold theater floor. Paul had been angry. He had expected himself to be happy when he realized Callie was okay. But, his uncontrollable worry had taken over and Callie being defensive again did not help. They had all been worried and she did not seem to understand that beyond any of their control they were attracted to her. Purely and simply drawn too her. Callie was some new mystery that seemed to intrigue them all. She never talked about herself or even looked anyone straight in the eyes for too long. And that made them want to look in her eyes longer. It was moving too fast, but as she sat in front of them they did not care. Her hair bounced on her shoulders as she chuckled, seemingly without a care in the world. While they could only sit back and try to get over the happiness they felt because she was okay. But Callie’s comment had still left them hurt…and the ebbing feeling the three lads felt left them saddened and wanting to be friendly with her again…
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essie
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Post by essie on Jul 22, 2009 19:07:40 GMT -5
Rehearsals seemed to go by quickly that morning. Soon Ryan, Keith, and Paul all left their seats to practice on the stage. They had expected Callie to quickly escape to her assistant duties, but she stayed. She continued sitting next to Sharon, she clapped and smiled pleasantly at them when they performed. But, more importantly Callie seemed to never remove her eyes from any of them when they were singing; she did not hide her stare.A lunch break interrupted the rehearsals and the whole staff escaped to a back room.
The room that was set up for lunch was very big, it must have been meant for larger parties or performances. But everyone involved with the show seemed to be enjoying themselves; different groups were scattered around all of the numerous round table that filled the room.
Everyone was already sitting and eating except for one figure flitting about the room. Ryan, Paul, and Keith could only stare: Callie seemed quite at ease in the setting. Strolling among the tables, waving at a few of the people she had met. She was obviously well-liked and already friendly with most of the crew and members of the show. In only one day, only a few hours, she had been accepted by everyone, and some understood that feeling more than others.
Callie stopped at one table with some of the musicians. Keith, Ryan and Paul could see a flautist motion to a chair, but Callie respectfully declined. She was given a pleasant half hug from Megan and then she skipped off, weaving between more welcoming tables.
Sharon and Phil were at their own table, barely touching their food and busily working on computers.
“Do you need anything else right now?” Callie whispered into Sharon’s ear, hoping to not disturb her.
“Oh no sweetie, you just eat some lunch like everyone else. I don’t want to work you to death,” Sharon answered in a motherly way.
Callie gave Sharon a sweet smile and went to the table that had all of the food for the staff. She just stood in front of all the food and shifted her weight continuously while biting her lower lip. She appeared to not be able to make a decision and the three lads at a nearby table tried to hold back their amusement with her cute hesitancy.
And then, in a very quick and clumsy motion Callie grabbed a bagels and an apple and started to walk towards the tables. “Hey Callie, we have a seat for ya,” said Keith excitedly, and motioned to an empty seat that was already pulled out from the table.
She smiled sweetly and said “Oh I’m sorry guy…” she took one step away from them, “I already promised to sit with someone else.”
She expected the look that came across their faces. Disappointment. Callie did not turn around and escape the repercussions fast enough. She saw Paul’s seemingly alert eyes drop down and Keith’s dimples fade from his cheeks. Ryan’s little grin fell from his face.
Callie mumbled a breathless apology and let her hair fall across her face as she turned and walked away. She hoped they would not watch her as she left. But, she did not hear their seats scrape against the ground as they sat back down. Callie moved to the back of the room and tossed her lunch down at an empty table. Without even looking at the food in front of her she opened the book that had been tucked under her elbow.
“Ohhh Callie.” She heard a voice and three sets of footsteps come up behind her. “Do you really insist on sitting alone.”
Callie sighed. Without looking up from her book to answer Ryan’s comment she said, “yep.”
There was a long moment of silence.
“So what book ya reading?” Keith asked.
“Oh nothing,” Callie answered and placed the book on the chair next to her. “So what’s up?” She smiled at all of them.
“Well we were thinking…” Ryan started off saying.
“Hmmm. That’s never good,” Callie interrupted with a giggle. No one continued after her comment. Keith grabbed Callie’s uneaten apple and started to nervously spin it with his hands.
“Ok, sorry” she shifted her weight and pretended to be serious: “…you were thinking?...”
“Well you said before that we don’t have to…” Ryan hesitated… and keith added in a strange ‘mimiky’ voice “….don’t have to pretend to care.”The three lads seemed intent on staring at Keith spinning the apple, not daring to look Callie in the eyes.
Paul was the one to interrupt the silence first: “We were truly just trying to be friendly Callie.”
“Ok,” she said in a quiet voice. Keith, Ryan, and Paul all looked up; the apple carelessly rolled off the table.
“Ok,” Paul repeated what she said.
“So are we all friends now?” added Keith.
“Well of course…but we haven’t known each other for long, have we?” said Callie, she cocked her head in confusion.
“But we are all going to be spending a lot of time with you lately,” said Ryan with a grin “…getting to know you better”.
Callie took a single small bite out of her bagel and placed it back on the table.
“Ok!” she gave them a single enchanting smile. “Do you have any questions …you guys must know nothing about me.”
Keith, Ryan, and Paul were all shocked at her sudden openness, and they half expected her to withdraw her offer.
“Well…”
“Umm..” They all hesitated trying to think coherently while she just sat there and smiled.
Just then Sharon came up behind Callie and placed her hand on her shoulder.
“Callie, I have a quick little errand for you to do, you don’t mind do you?”
“Oh of course not Sharon, that’s what I’m here for,” Callie stood up from her seat and grabbed her book and uneaten bagel. “…And it was so nice talking to you guys…” she smiled at them again and turned back to Sharon.
“I was planning a little get-together tonight, would you three want to come over for dinner? George and Damian have already agreed.” Sharon asked Ryan, Keith, and Paul.
Their faces lit up and Paul jumped out of his seat anxiously and yelped: “Yes!”
Sharon seemed a little taken aback by Paul response, but Callie just giggled again and started to walk away.
“Ok you guys can come over around six…” said Sharon as she followed Callie off.
Other than the fact that Paul was blushing because of his reaction, the three all shared the same happy grin.
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essie
Fantastic Fan
Posts: 159
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Post by essie on Jul 23, 2009 19:04:49 GMT -5
..sorry this is really long....please comment and tell me what you think !!! It was generally a casual meal. The five members of Celtic Thunder seemed to have quite large appetites, and Sharon and Callie were constantly bringing out more food to the table.
Dinner ended and Callie excused herself to the kitchen to clean up the dishes. She heard the boring chatter in the next room and decided to sneak out the front door and sit on the porch.
Callie sat on the end of the porch. She calmly watched the dusk get darker and a storm slowly roll in across the sky.
She could barely hear the conversation inside, but stiffened when she no longer heard the voices.
“Hiya Callie,” said a friendly voice behind her. She lay on her back to be able to see who was talking. It was Keith, but he was not alone. Callie saw three towering figures smiling down at her. She smiled back at them, and closed her eyes peacefully.
“So how did you three get out of the conversation?” she asked, opening her eyes again.
“They think we are helping you with the dishes,” said Paul. He put air quotes around “dishes”.
Callie sat back up and started rocking her legs back and forth against the edge of the porch. She heard the bench behind her creak. They must have a sat down.
“Oh yes, please make yourself comfortable,” said Callie jokingly.
“Hey I thought we were friends now,” yawned Ryan. Callie leaned back again and saw Ryan, Keith, and Paul looking completely exhausted sitting on the bench.
“Oh you guys are so tired, you really need some sleep, I can go get George and Damian for you if you want.”
“No, no Callie we are just chilling,” yawned Keith.
“…relaxing,” Paul added.
Callie was still lying on her back looking up at the three guys. Paul was leaning on his arm with his eyes closed, and Keith’s head was slowly bobbing down to rest on Ryan’s shoulder. Ryan was the only one with his eyes open and his eyes were beginning to flutter closed, but he gave her a sleepy looking smile. Callie couldn’t stop herself from staring into his hypnotizing gray-blue eyes. She felt her heart hesitate with a beat every time his dreamy lids fluttered a little more closed. Ryan continued to stare at her too, but continued to drift off happily. His eyes did not seem to have the normal fierce and ‘Dark Destroyer’ attitude. But, Callie still found herself breathing heavily. Once his eyes closed completely she felt strangely free and turned to look at Paul and Keith who also had sleepy expressions, with their eyes already closed.
“Hhhmm, maybe you guys should of slept instead of going to the pubs last night,” she said in a joking manner. Their responses were barely audible or coherent:
“No not at all…”
“Our pleasure…”
“No problem…”
Callie saw the storm coming in faster over the valley. The thunder started to boom in the distance, and she swore she saw a glint of lightning as the wind started to speed up.
Callie turned around and saw Ryan, Keith, and Paul fast asleep on the bench. She could not help but smile at how exhausted they looked.
Without any apparent reason Callie decided to leave the porch and take a little walk away from the house. The temperature had decreased dramatically and the wind got stronger as the sky darkened. But she just walked; the porch was still in view, and except for the thunder it was very quiet.
Then there was one sudden loud crack of thunder and she saw a lightning bolt shatter the dark sky.
“CALLIE!!!.” she barely heard the unintelligible voice coming from the porch.
Callie did not even try to respond above the thunder. But, she did turn around to see Ryan, Keith, and Paul obviously screaming at the top of their lungs from the porch.
She started to slowly walk back to the porch. The wind became much stronger as Callie’s hair started to whip around her face. When she got a little bit closer to the house she yelled back:
“WHAT!!”
The three guys seemed to be angrily flailing their arms and motioning towards the house. Callie continued to slowly walk back to the house but screamed: “IT’S ONLY A STORM.” She was interrupted when a huge crack of lightning filled the sky and it started pouring rain. Callie ran at full speed back to the porch, just a little bit frightened now.
It was raining so hard that she could barely see in front of her. It felt like she was swimming; her clothes and hair were drenched. When she got on the porch she could not help but smile and burst out laughing at the three worried faces.
Worried may have been an understatement; Callie thought they looked terrified and furious. She actually had to kneel over and hold to stomach to control how much she was laughing and enjoying herself. When she was able to calm herself down she looked them all in the eye, but could not stop smiling.
Callie also realized that one of the guys had put a coat around her shoulders. She did not bother to check whose it was.
The guys were all taller than Callie and they glared down at her. She felt like they were her parents and she was about to get punished, but she still could not stop smiling.
“What?” she asked them, after they had not said anything for a long time. “It was fun…”
She was immediately answered by flailing arms and seemingly random complaints:
“That was not safe…”
“Why did you not come back immediately…”
“What did you think you were doing…”
They were being completely serious; they actually looked furious. “It was fun!” she tried to reason with them again, still smiling. The three of them were surrounding and towering over her. Callie turned her attention to them specifically.
“Oh come on Keith, you must understand, the ocean is sometimes the best during a storm.” Callie tried to squeeze some of the water out of her hair to make the point. She would have expected him to understand the easiest. He just stood there looking angry and crossed his arms. She had never even imagined Keith looking angry!
Callie then looked at ryan who was directly in front of her and in the middle of the two guys. He looked just as angry. She just gave him a wink and nodded up and down. He responded by shaking his head back and forth and lowering his chin. The fierceness in his eyes were back…
Callie turned her focus on Paul. Looking into his eyes she could not even think of anything to say….
“Oh come on you guys! I just went for a walk and it started to rain.” They all rolled their eyes at her gross under-exaggeration.
“What is it…do you guys not like water or something?” A mischievous smile spread across her face.
Callie shook her wet tripping hair back and forth so it sprayed water on the lads. When she stopped she could still tell they were being serious. Callie immediately, still tripping wet from head to toe, jumped up and gave paul a huge hug. He got completely wet, and she hesitated only for a moment to see his reaction. Then she gave ryan and keith a huge hug. Callie stepped back with a smile and tried to push the wet hair out of her face.
They were all smiling giddily, obviously surprised.
“And what is going on here?” asked Alex raising one eyebrow. Callie spun around to see that George, Damian, Alex, and Sharon were all standing behind her.
“Oh nothing, I just got caught in the thunderstorm and got a wee bit wet…” Callie smiled at all of them in an innocent way. They all just looked at her, she was completely dripping wet and looked like she had just come out of a pool.
“Anyway…” she said while rolling her eyes at the awkward silence, “ I should probably get changed or something….”
“I think we should probably be going too,” George said to damian, who nodded. Sharon, George, and Damian all walked back in the house. Alex stared at Callie for a moment and started laughing before going in…
“Sorry I got you wet guys…” she smiled at them innocently and held out the coat around her shoulders. It was tan and worn-in, but huge and comfortable.
Keith pushed back Callie’s hand and with a wink said: “You keep it.”
She blushed but then quickly shook her head and handed it back to him. “I can’t take your coat Keith…I would totally forget to give it back to you tomorrow...”
“…hmm tomorrow…” Keith interrupted her. He quickly glanced at Ryan and Paul to his right then stepped forward towards Callie.
“I was thinkin’ …tomorrow night would ya wanna go out or something?... We have a day off after tomorrow so it is not like it will interfere with rehearsals.”
Paul and Ryan stiffened in the background but did not interfere. Callie smiled: “Oh of course we can go out tomorrow. It will be fun to hang out with you guys again.” Keith’s face dropped, Callie did not notice. She continued: “…so where are we all going?” Keith did not know how to respond. She somehow missed the fact the he wanted it to just be the two of them alone, not her and three guys hanging out as friends. But her smile was too excited and enchanting…
Ryan and Paul took a step closer to Callie, suddenly Keith making the first move did not seem like such a discouraging thing. Now they would get to spend more time with her. “Well, it’s a surprise where we are going Callie…” Paul answered her question.
“Ready to go lads,” George interrupted coming out of the house, followed closely by Damian.
“Uuuhhh,” they all hesitated, not wanting to leave.
Callie answered for them, and turned towards George and Damian. “Oh it was so nice to see you two tonight.” She went to give them a hug but they retreated away from her soaking figure. She giggled and outstretched her hand for them to shake. Damian and George graciously accepted the handshake and ran to the car in the pouring rain.
“So I will see you guys tomorrow then?” she said starting to back into the house.
Paul put one firm hand on her shoulder “Yes, but you have to promise us that you will not go prancing around in this thunderstorm again…”
“Oh don’t worry…” she brushed his hand off, “I won’t go outside in this thunderstorm”. She emphasized the word ‘this’ which made him frown. Callie only winked and walked into the house and closed the door.
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essie
Fantastic Fan
Posts: 159
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Post by essie on Jul 24, 2009 14:27:00 GMT -5
ok, i was totally going to update with a really really long one including the date part (going to be epic....)...but i completely ran out of time ... please comment and appreciate The next day seemed to go by quickly. At lunch Callie graciously accepted an invitation to sit at their table.
“See, that wasn’t too hard, was it?”Paul teased her. Callie just stuck her nose up at him and playfully stuck her tongue out.
“So where are we all going out tonight?” she asked. “Why can’t we keep it a surprise?” Ryan smirked at her.
Callie tried to make her argument sound as dramatic as possible: “But what shall I wear?”
“It will just be a night on the town, some great craic. Wear whatever you want to wear,” said keith smiling, trying to get her attention.
Callie quickly said: “Ok”, shrugged her shoulders, and skipped over to Sharon’s table.
She had once again escaped their conversation. Left them to wonder and stare.
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