Notice Me (11 page)

“Is everything alright?” Tim asked.

“Yeah, I just have to be somewhere.”

“Is Megan…?”

“She is fine. Now please, if you will excuse me,” I replied stepping into the lift.

“No problem, see you soon,” Tim smiled at me as the doors closed.

I got a taxi back to the apartment, not really wanting to have to fight for space on the tube seeing as it was rush hour.

Charlie was laying across the sofa playing with his guitar.

“Hey, how did it go?” Megan asked from the kitchen looking really concerned.

“Not very good. I hope you don’t mind, but I am going to bed.”

“No Shan that is fine. We can talk in the morning,” Megan smiled. “I haven’t said anything to Charlie.”

“What haven’t you told me? I thought there were no secrets between us,” Charlie asked with incredible puppy eyes.

“This is girl stuff… butt out you,” Megan teased.

I half smiled back at them, as I entered my bedroom.

I lay awake all night. It was a strange feeling. I wasn’t really upset, just annoyed that Will had lied to me. My thoughts began to race as I realised my Mr Anonymous was still out there somewhere. The problem was did I really care now I had Will? My feelings for Will were strong. We connected on so many levels physically and mentally. However, to me something was missing. I had no idea what, but it was stopping me falling for him. The more I thought about it I realised how much I had counted on Will being Mr Anonymous. Now I knew it wasn’t him I found it harder to want to be with him.

It was about three in the morning when I decided I needed a drink. My mouth was so dry my lips were beginning to sting. I stood in the kitchen dazed wondering if I should have orange juice or make a coffee.

“Are you feeling any better, Shan?” a soft voice said.

“What are you doing up Charlie?” I asked stunned.

“I can’t sleep with Megan’s snoring,” he smirked.

“Megan does not snore,” I laughed punching his arm lightly.

“Are you alright though? You seemed really upset when you got back earlier.”

“Yeah, I just have a lot on my mind.” Charlie watched me in the faint light.

“Is this about Will?”

“What do you mean?” I asked taken aback.

“Shan, Will told me about you guys a few weeks ago.”

“He did?” Now I was even angrier with Will. How dare he tell someone. Charlie especially.

“And you didn’t tell Megan?” I suddenly realised.

“No, it wasn’t my secret to tell.” Charlie ran his hand through his ruffled dark brown hair. “So do you love him?”

“I…” I was taken aback by the question.

“You don’t have to tell me. It’s just Will has no idea how you feel about him.”

“That makes two of us,” I replied finally taking some orange juice out of the fridge. “Do you want one?” I asked holding up the carton to Charlie.

“Yeah, thanks.”

I leaned across the counter reaching for two glasses, finding myself a little too close to Charlie. He had a manner towards all females that made them almost lose their balance. Charlie couldn’t help it, he was just unbelievably gorgeous. I felt one of the glasses slip out of my hand as I stared into his amazing blue-green eyes.

“Easy there, Tiger,” Charlie whispered as he caught the glass before it shattered into a thousand pieces.

“Sorry, I am just so tired,” I replied coming out of my daydream.

“Why don’t you sit at the table? I will get these.” I nodded passing him the other glass and made my way to the kitchen table.

“Here you go,” Charlie placed the orange juice at the table as he sat beside me.

“Thanks, you don’t have to sit up with me. I will be alright.”

“I know that… I just well, have my own problems.”

“Really?” I asked interested. It was better than talking about mine.

“Yeah,” Charlie sighed putting his face in his hands, it must be bad.

“What is it Charlie?” I asked worried now. I had never seen him like this before.

“It’s Megan, Shan,” Charlie looked up at me, tears in his eyes. “I don’t think I can be what she wants me to be.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s all the press. Do you know she has a photo shoot with Marie Claire next week, then Vogue? It’s all going so fast. I don’t think I can keep up. I am trying to protect her. Keep her safe but she absolutely loves all the attention. She is changing so fast I can’t keep up. Have you noticed?”

“Not really, Megan will be Megan.” I smiled.

“And the male attention, it drives me insane. I am starting to get hate mail.”

“Seriously?” I asked shocked.

“Yeah, and quite a lot of it.” Charlie’s head was in his hands again. “I have never been in the public eye so much before. People actually notice
me
in the street. To be honest it is starting to freak me out a little.”

“Charlie, I had no idea.”

“I love her Shan, but sometimes…”

“Don’t you dare say it would be easier if you weren’t with her? Charlie she is so in love with you, it would destroy her. You are the luckiest man on the planet Charlie Collins. Do not ruin this. You would be a fool.” I was raising my voice. Charlie and Megan were the couple you dreamed about. I couldn’t imagine them not together.

“I know that, Shan. I love her, but…”

“But nothing. She needs us, do you understand me? I would never forgive you if you left her. I would have to pick up the pieces. Do you realise how hard that would be, for anyone to try and get over you?” I tried to lower my voice. I really didn’t want Megan to hear this.

“She would get over it. I am nothing special.” He replied like he really believed what he was saying.

“For God sakes Charlie, you must know how gorgeous you are. I mean every time I go out with you and Megan it’s like going out with two gods. All the men are looking at Megan while the entire females are looking at you.” I laughed, but it was true.

“Don’t be absurd, Shan,” Charlie laughed.

“I know meeting her parents scared you, but Will is really working on his father for you and Veronica well, we know how she feels about you.” Charlie placed his head on the cold table groaning. I had to smirk. It was pretty funny that Veronica was still trying to get him in the sack.

“Please do not remind me about Veronica,” Charlie replied lifting his head up to look at me. “Megan’s family is so messed up.”

“Only the parents,” I corrected. Charlie didn’t answer. “So what is your problem exactly Charlie? I am a little lost.”

“So am I,” Charlie replied staring at me. “Look, I better go to sleep. I am just tired. Everything is fine really. Megan and I are great, don’t worry.” I could tell by his face that wasn’t true, but I was pretty sleepy now. This conversation would have to wait for another day.

“Okay, if you say so.”

“Yeah, I do,” replied Charlie getting up. “And please hurry up and fall in love with Will because he is starting to do my head in,” Charlie teased. I really wanted to throw something at him, but nothing was close so I just gave him an evil stare.

“Night, bookworm.”

“Night Charlie.”

My chat with Charlie did help me sleep partly because I was more worried about Megan than myself. I was so tired in the morning I decided not to go to my lectures for the day. Megan brought me a cup of tea before she left for Uni. She could tell I wasn’t ready to talk about Will yet.

I didn’t even have a shower until lunchtime. I pulled on some comfortable grey jogging bottoms and a baggy pink top before sitting down in front of my favourite love film. At least I knew that would have a happy ending.

 I decided to make myself some chicken soup. I was in the middle of heating it up when the doorbell went.

“Hi Shannon.” I wasn’t really surprised to see Will at the front door.

“Hi,” I said curtly back to him

“You are still angry with me then?” I just looked at him. He did look rather handsome in his fitted grey suit with his eyes burning into mine. I was trying not to picture him naked, but it was difficult. He really did have a pretty incredible body. “Can I come in at least? I am on my lunch hour.”

“I guess so.” I sighed in defeat.

“No lessons today then?”

“No, I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Shannon, I am so sorry. Please let me make it up to you. How about dinner later?”

“I will think about it,” I replied going back to my soup.

“How long are you going to torture me?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“You are going to forgive me in the end though?”

“Yes, but please from now on be honest with me. Lying about the letters was really wrong Will.” I turned to him. His ocean eyes were soft on mine. I couldn’t be angry with him any longer. He was the only person who has ever told me he loved me, apart from my letter writer, but I couldn’t wait around for something that may never appear. His arms wrapped around my waist as he kissed my neck tenderly.

“I promise I will never hurt you again,” he whispered lightly in my ear. “You mean too much to me Shannon. You are everything.” My body shuddered at his sweet breath on my neck. Softly he began to kiss down my neck. “Will you let me make it up to you?”

“I thought you were on your lunch break,” I teased.

“I will just tell them the traffic was bad.”

“Well, I guess I do deserve some sort of apology.” I turned the cooker off, suddenly I wasn’t hungry. As I turned to face him his lips crashed against mine. His hands were everywhere. We walked backwards towards my bedroom slowly dropping items of our clothing as we went. I wish Will and I had fallen out before – it was true what people said about making up.

So I finally decided to try and forget about Mr Anonymous. He would never get the courage to show himself. I had no idea who he was so why bother when Will was in front of me doing everything he could to make me fall in love with him.

We became
sort of
official eight weeks into our relationship, partly because Will could not wait to tell his parents. Their reaction stunned me. They were ecstatic with his choice. I was glad I wouldn’t have to go to Cheshire any time soon seeing as they already knew me.

Patrick wasn’t surprised when I told him even though he called me a gold-digger.

“Shut up.” I slapped him hard.

“Shannon, why else would you date him other than his money?” Patrick chuckled. “I don’t blame you, but you could at least be honest.”

“It’s not about his money,” I moaned “Will loves me.”

Patrick choked on his water. “He loves you. You have only been seeing the guy five minutes.”

“Eight weeks actually,” I beamed getting lost in thought.

“Do you love him?”

“I… I’m “