"Shut up, . You've had enough to dri - "
"I have not had enough to drink!" shouted , standing up. He looked down at Mark, who was sat on a sofa, wearing a paper hat that had exploded from a cracker they'd found on the floor, glancing up at him with a sceptical look on his face. He took another swig of his drink.
"Sit down, will you," Mark told him, noticing how a few of the people in the room were starting to look over. He didn't want this talk printed all over the newspapers... slumped down into his chair, slamming the bottle of beer he was drinking down on the table near to them. He'd only just started to drink. No way had he had enough.
"Are you calling me a liar?" he asked Mark. Mark's eyes darted to the floor, he hated being confronted. The things that was telling him...they were just too unbeliavable. But, then again, was his friend, one of his best friends. Why would he do something like this to him?
"I...no. I'm just saying shut up. You're just having a laugh with me." But the situation was filled with anything but humour. The air between them was tense, like it was going to break anytime soon.
"Do I look like I'm having a laugh?" he asked. Mark observed his deadly serious face, and worried look in his eyes. "Do I, Mark? I would never do this, mate. But I think it's only fair that you know. I would of been dying to tell you all night otherwise."
"Yeah, you can't keep anything to yourself, can you? I'm nervous now," he told him, drinking more of his drink, and fast. "Where are they..." he asked himself, looking around the crowded living room and seeing everyone but the two people he wanted to see.
"Believe me now?" asked. "Go up there for yourself. You'll see."
"What if I don't want to?"
"You have to, Mark! You can't live a life of lies! I'm being honest, that's what I saw. If I am lying, you can just come down and pound me, can't you?" he asked, smiling slightly. Mark half smiled back.
"I guess I can. But we're causing minimum fuss at this, aren't we?" he asked.
"Yep." Mark and just wanted to stay low profile this New Year, instead of going to some huge club night somewhere and getting recognised. Mark had been invited to a party at a friend's house, so he went there. It was full of people he hadn't seen in years, not ones who were jealous of his success. They'd not been here long, they'd just made themselves comfortable and broke into some beers, planning on dancing as soon as the alcohol hit them, but then had to make that fateful trip upstairs...
"Right. I'm off then."
"Go on." Mark stayed static. "Go ON, Mark!" urged. Mark sighed and stood up, going towards the stairs and begging for it to be all a pack of lies...

"Excuse me? Fine, ignore me then...have you seen...oh, forget it!" you said to no one in particular, throwing up your arms in despair. Again, no one noticed you do this. They were all too wrapped up in themselves. The living room around you was large, and very posh. It was swimming with people you'd never seen before. The only person you knew was your boyfriend, who had disappeared from right infront of your eyes. You had been dancing in the centre of the room, when suddenly he'd shouted something to you and walked away. You tried to follow but more and more people filled in the path he was leaving behind. It was impossible to push past them in time. He'd insisted that you'd love it here, but you didn't. How on earth does he know these people, you wondered in amazement as you looked around the living room. But, was always getting his way into parties. He probably DIDN'T know them at all. You managed to fall into the kitchen. It was much cooler and less crowded in here. Bottles of alcohol were lying freely on one of the work surfaces, so you took one and opened it.
"Lost?" asked a man with a heavy London accent, and also a heavy smell of larger on his breath.
"Urgh," was your responce, making your way back out of the kitchen but through another door. This one left you in a corridor. You slowly walked backwards, wondering whether to try the door next to the kitchen, or the door next to that, when -
SMASH
You must of bumped into someone. You span around, embarrassed. Stood infront of you was...it was Mark. Mark from a1. You thought you were maybe hallucinating. Then, you were in London, an a1 hangout. And this house was very posh, definately up to pop star standards. Even though you were old enough to know better, you were a closet a1 fan. Friends and your boyfriend would laugh if they knew. You bought magazines on them, read all of their books and spent as much time as possible divuldging in your secret obsession. Yes, this was Mark Read. A smashed bottle was at his feet, and an angry look was on his face.
"Watch where you're going!" he said.
"You can talk! You must of seen me! I had my back to you, for God's sake," you snapped back. He shook his head from side to side.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. I'm just looking for the stairs. Have you seen them anywhere?" he asked, laughing. You laughed too.
"This place is like a maze, huh?"
"You can say that again."
"They're through the living room, and outside of one of the doors," you explained. He looked confused.
"But I just came through a door..."
"I'll show you," you said, grabbing his arm. Back through the kitchen and crowded living room you went, pulling him along behind you. Sometimes it took a while to get through people, but you finally saw the door that would lead you to the stairs. You opened it and pulled him through. The wide stairs were right infront of you.
"Thanks!" he said, starting to head up them.
"That's okay. You haven't seen a guy named , have you?" A weird look crossed his face when you said the name. He looked panicked, and turned his back, climbing up the stairs two at a time.
"What's his problem..." you muttered, sitting down on one of the steps. Maybe had gone to the toilet and would be back down soon....

Mark stomped up the stairs. He knew which that girl had just been talking about. He didn't want to believe it, he wanted to stay in denial, but what had told him was starting to make sense...

"Mark..." said breathlessly when he came back downstairs. He sat down next to him. "Mark," he said again.
"Wha'?" Mark had asked, wondering what was so overly important.
"You're not gonna like this..."
"Like what?"
"Erm..."
"Stop messing around and spit it out!" Mark had told him.
"Okay, you asked for it. Do you remember a guy named ?" Mark wrinkled his nose in disgust. If he was a member of the opposite sex, he would be blushing and swooning as he thought back to him. He had been in one of his classes at college, and a total heart throb. All of the girls liked him, and he was such a casonova. He always had a different girl on his arm, and managed to steal girls away from their boyfriends. had lost one of his old girlfriends to him. "You know, that prick, that eejit who was totally - "
"I KNOW! I know who you mean!" Mark told him. Thinking back to 's ways and his perfection still made him go into a jealous rage.
"Sor-ree! He pissed me off too you know! Not just you...anyway, he's here. And let's just say he's back to his old ways from what I've just seen.."
"And what have you just seen?"
"Your girlfriend...and him."
"Together?"
"Yes Mark. Together. I was walking to the bathroom and opened the wrong door..." went on. Mark didn't know what to believe back then, but now he knew. He felt absolutely gutted. So much for her being the love of his life. He found the bathroom door, then looked around him. He heard sounds of laughter coming from a door near to it, so angrily tore it open. The two kissing people on the bed looked up. Mark's eyes bore into his girlfriend's, then into 's. He stood rooted to the spot, not knowing what to do, or what to say.
"Baby?" she said in a soft voice.
"Mark, long time no see!"
He swore loudly at them both, then turned. He could hear her calling him, saying all of the usual cliques such as 'I didn't mean to!' and 'We were just messing around!'. He ignored her, and ran down the stairs. His cheeks were red with anger. He was going to just fly out of the door, drive back to Surrey and drown his sorrows. Then an image of the girl he'd just met flashed before his eyes, and sat in the living room, waiting for him to return. He didn't really know anyone at the party. He saw the girl sat at the bottom of the steps, who turned at hearing loud footsteps, and looked disappointed to see it wasn't her boyfriend. Mark's conscience appeared like it did in cartoons; the angel was telling him it would be cruel to let the girl know about what he'd just seen, and the devil wanted revenge on him. If this girl wanted to...wanted to hit her, Mark didn't mind...a small grin crept onto his face. He sat down next to her.

You couldn't believe it when he sat next to you. You turned your head, looking at him. He looked at you, twirling his thumbs. He wanted to say something, you could tell.
"Mark!" shouted a voice you recognised from the top of the stairs. "No!" It was . His top shirt buttons were un done, and his hair was messed up. He started to come down the stairs, a small girl trailing after him. You could half guess what he'd been up to, but didn't want to think about it. Mark clamped a hand on your shoulder.
"Come on, we have to move."
"Why?" you asked. "Ask me later," he said, looking at you with pleading eyes. "You need to know something," he said, standing up. You stood up too, and this time he pulled you after him. Down the hall, and outside into the garden.
It was cold outside, you could see your breath as it came out of your nose and mouth. The garden was like the interior of the house, amazing. It was huge, and spanned back for what must of been acres. Trees were everywhere, as were all kind of plants. Lights were draped over things too, like trees and sheds. Shane was taking you further and further away from the house, he turned a corner and took you into a concealed part of the garden. He tested the grass and it must of been dry, as he sat down.
"Sit down, if you want," he said. It was so silent outside, you could hear every single noise. A rustling of a hedgehog in the bushes, him constantly gulping...You didn't sit, so he spoke again. "I need to tell you something. I'm presuming the guy at the top of the stairs is your boyfriend?"
"How did you know?" you asked, taken aback.
"I used to know him. He was a player back then, and he still is. As soon as you said his name, I knew it was him you were on about. My friend, he took a wrong turn...and walked in on my girlfriend - "
"Oh, I'm sorry," you said, looking away and begging him not to say it.
"And. And your boyfriend...I didn't want to believe it, so went upstairs for myself and saw them with my very own eyes. I'm sorry too, I just thought it was right to let you know."
"No, it's okay. I'm glad you did. Why would I want to go out with a cheating scum bag?"
"I know the feeling!" he said and you both smiled.
"There you are!" said , slowing down as he approached you. He had on a fake smile.
"Get lost."
"Honey! Nothing happened!"
"Oh, whatever! You're dumped, . Leave us alone."
"Please, I didn't do it! He's lying!" he accused, pointing at Mark.
"He is not! Why were you getting dressed back on the landing then?"
"It's not what it seems..." he begged. You tutted and started to run, you heard someone coming after you but still continued to run, dropping your drink onto the grass and making your way to the road. It was a relief that you decided to bring your car. It was parked outside. Not that you'd of had a problem taking off with 's car...You took out your keys, pressing the un lock button. The lights flashed and you continued to run towards it, stopping when you arrived to catch your breath.
"Wait," you heard someone shout. You quickly opened your car door, thinking it was . "Wait!" they repeated, this time in a more audible voice. It wasn't him, it was Mark. You sat in the driver's seat but didn't start the engine and waited for him to appear. In the rear view mirror you could see him. He had always been your favourite member, and tonight he looked stunning. It was different to how he looked on TV and in magazines. He looked more real, but still just as perfect. You had been trying your best not to act star struck infront of him, trying to act your age. He had his hair spiked up, you could still see some of it despite the silly hat he had on, his skin looked much better without make up on it and he was wearing designer jeans and a white shirt…you stared into the mirror, he was getting closer and closer…"…okay?" he asked. You mentally shook your head, clearing away the thoughts of him.
"Sorry? I was just in a world of my own then…" you aplogised.
"I was just. Just wondering," he said, breathing fast. He paused for a few seconds then started again. "Boy, you don't half run fast. Are you going to be okay? This is a shock for you, I know."
"I will be fine, yeah. Is he back at the house?"
"Yeah…"
"What's he doing?"
"I dunno, he just went back inside the house."
"Oh. Well, I'll be off then. Don't want to miss the big countdown on TV, do I?"
"I ended it with my girlfriend," he blurted out.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Some new year this is, huh?" you asked, turning the keys. The engine started and Mark put his hand on your arm. He nodded his head at the illuminated clock on your dash board. It was 11:59 and 40 seconds.
"Gonna have to drive pretty fast!" he commented. You just smiled, pondering over whether to ask him to move out of the way so you could close the door or just sit and wait…wait for something to happen. "Ten, nine, eight…" he started to say. You joined in, and he was grinning at you.
"Seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Happy new year!" you said stimutaneously. The house echoed your words, and fireworks from the garden shot into the sky. You felt something soft on your cheek. He'd kissed you. You looked at him, surprised yet extremely happy.
"That was rude of me," he said, backing off.
"No!" you shouted. "I mean, no," you repeated in a calmer voice. "It was nice. How about another?" He smiled again and you turned your head. He brought his mouth nearer to yours, and you poised, just staring at each other. He slowly came forwards and your lips met. You shared one of the most passionate kisses you'd ever had, your hands running through his soft hair. More fireworks shot up into the sky, blowing up and raining down pretty colours.
"AHEM!" said a voice, making you both stop and look. It was yet another pop star, . He was laughing.
"Yes?" Mark asked him with a grin.
"You got over her fast! And you don't seem too upset about your boyfriend!"
"We were just sharing a new year's kiss, man. Here, take my car back to the hotel," he said, throwing him a key with a BMW key ring attached. "Can I get a lift with you? This party sucks."
"Of course you can!" you said, blushing and not been able to believe your luck.
"Yeah it sucks! See you back there, we can have our own party. Wow, I get to drive his car!" gushed to himself. Mark got into the car and sat next to you. He couldn't stop smiling, and nor could you.
"Our own little party…should be fun," he said.
"Mmm…so, where to?" He told you a location. "Very nice."
"Very," he said, lightly touching the side of your face. "Do you believe in fate?" he asked you, turning to look out at the dark world.
"What, things happening for a reason?" you asked, casting a glance his way. He nodded his head. "Yeah."
"Me too. What if they slept together so we could be together?" he asked, looking at your again, admiration in his green eyes.
"Then I think we better put that to the test," you said, your heart pounding with nothing but excitement. "So do I!" he said, sounding estatic. "Maybe we should ask if our party can be private," he said with the cheekiest grin ever. "Definitely!" you said, and both of you gleefully laughed all of the way back to his hotel.

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