Westlife Romance - Part 46
It was Mark who walked up to Bryan and placed a comforting hand on the sobbing boy's shoulders. Glancing up with glassy eyes, Bryan looked like a lost boy in need of answers. "Why didn't he wait for me, Mark? Why?"
Mark was at a loss for words, for he too didn't understand Nicky's reasons for leaving. Sure, he had said some horrible things over the last few days, but was that really reason enough to give up on everything that he had? He remembered his conversation with Michelle only several days earlier. He remembered how Michelle had warned about the possibility of Nicky sliding into depression. Mark wondered if he had done enough to help Nicky. He realized that over the past few days, both him and Shane had essentially given up on Nicky. Sure, they still regarded him as their good friend, but neither he nor Shane made much of an effort to break through Nicky's self-erected walls. Looking at Bryan again, Mark realized that unlike him, Bryan had given everything he had to help Nicky. But was it enough? Were one person's efforts sufficient?
As he gave these questions some thought, he could see Kian hugging Shane. Looking more carefully, he could see that Shane was taking the news of Nicky's departure almost as hard as Bryan. Mark found this strange because over the last few days, Shane had appeared to be most distant with Nicky. There were occasions when Mark silently chastized Shane for his aloof behaviour towards Nicky, but now it seemed like Shane was more upset than either him or Kian.
Looking back towards the runway, the British Airways jet was nowhere to be seen, no doubt already well on its way to London. It was at this moment that Mark realized Bryan was no longer by the window. Looking around, Mark caught site of Bryan heading towards the middle of the terminal. Mark decided to follow his band mate, for fear that Bryan might do something that he might regret.
Bryan walked up to the ticket counter, his eyes still red from his crying. "Excuse me, ma'am. I need a ticket for the first flight to London," Bryan said softly, his voice still coarse.
"The earliest flight to London will depart in two days," the ticket agent answered.
"Don't you have anything earlier?"
"That's the earliest direct flight, sir. You can always take connecting flights, but I can't guarantee that you'll get tickets on every leg of the trip."
Bryan thought for a moment and sighed. "Fine, I'll take a ticket on the flight to London."
When Bryan finally walked back to meet the rest of the lads, Shane had calmed down noticeably.
"You're not thinking of going after Nicky, are you?" Mark asked as Bryan rejoined the group.
"I have to, Mark...I can't just let him leave like this," Bryan answered, his voice threatening to break again.
"You don't even know where he is...by the time you get to London, he could be half way around the world already," Mark reasoned.
"I don't care...even if I have to chase him ten times around the globe, I'm still going to try," Bryan replied defiantly. "If I have to look for him till I die, I'll do it."
"Bryan, are you sure about this?" Mark asked, concerned that his friend may be acting impulsively.
"Mark, I know you're concerned," Bryan said as he looked into Mark's eyes. "But all I know is that I'll never be happy again if I don't try to find Nicky."
The ride back to the hotel was filled with silence and gloom. No one spoke during the ride for everyone had so much on their minds. When the taxi finally reached the hotel, the sky was already getting dark.
"We should grab something to eat first," Shane suggested.
"Yeah," Kian agreed. "Why don't we just find some nearby restaurant and grab some dinner."
"You lads go ahead," Bryan answered. "I'm going to turn in early tonight."
"But you haven't eaten anything today," Shane protested.
"I'm not hungry," Bryan answered glumly. "I'll see you all tomorrow morning." With that, Bryan turned and walked into the hotel, as the other lads looked on helplessly. They knew that the only person that Bryan wanted to see right now was Nicky, but that he was already flying over the Atlantic Ocean. The lads decided to give Bryan some space while they went to have a quick dinner.
The hotel seemed emptier than usual for Bryan. Perhaps it was because suddenly there was such a huge void in his life. Oh how he wished Nicky was there with him. If only he could hear Nicky's voice again, hold his hand, and gaze into his eyes for just one more time.
He remembered what the nurse told him at the hospital, about how Nicky had carried him for miles in the rain just to get him to the hospital. No one had ever done that for him before, and Bryan doubted that anyone would ever do that for him again. "I never even got the chance to say thank you," Bryan thought as his eyes became watery again.
The elevator door opened and once again, Bryan looked down the empty corridor. He could almost see himself and Nicky, walking down the corridor, laughing and joking after a shopping trip. He and Nicky had become so close during the past few months, it was incomprehensible that the older boy was now gone.
Bryan slowly walked towards his room. He really didn't want to go back to his room, for there were too many memories of Nicky there. Almost everywhere he turned, he could think of a time when he and Nicky had spent time together.
Halfway down the corridor, Bryan heard a noise that made him become alert. Ever since the alley incident, Bryan had become very sensitive to sounds around him. Looking up, he could see someone coming out of his room. He quickly searched for his access card, and found it in his wallet. Bryan stopped and did not make a sound. He couldn't see the person's face but he recognized the jacket. Bryan opened his mouth to speak but no sounds came out. He forced himself to try once more, "Nicky!!!!"
Immediately, the person turned around and looked at Bryan. It was Nicky. Recognizing Bryan, Nicky immediately turned and ran down the corridor towards the stairs.
"Nicky!! Wait!!!" Bryan called out as he chased after the blond singer. Doing the best he could in light of his injuries, Bryan gave chase. Moving into the stairwell, he could hear Nicky running down the steps. "Nicky...wait!! Please!!" he called out desperately. There was no way he could catch up with Nicky. His legs were hurting tremendously and each step became increasingly difficult. But Bryan was determined not to let Nicky go this time. In his hurry, he slipped on a step and tumbled to the ground. Bryan grabbed his ankle in pain. Trying to get up, Bryan's ankle refused to cooperate and the boy fell to the floor again. In frustration, Bryan slammed his fists against the wall and sobbed.
Then there was the sound of more footsteps. But this time, the footsteps grew louder and louder. Looking up, Bryan came face to face...with Nicky.
...to be continued....