Notice Me (6 page)

“Shan, I have got you the most perfect black dress for tonight. Michelle said you could have it. She is such a sweetie.” Megan threw a large pink box at me.

“You didn’t have to. I already had a dress for tonight.” She was always too generous to me.

“I know, but you are my best friend who is going to New York in eight months. I want to cherish the memories,” Megan sighed pretending to wipe a tear from her eye.

“I am coming back after six months.”

“That’s what they all say. New York is a magical place.” I rolled my eyes smiling as I opened the box. The dress was beautiful, black lace with a silk undercoat. I ran my fingers over the soft fabric. How had I managed to keep a wonderful friend like Megan?

“What time are we meeting the guys?” I shouted from my bedroom while I was getting ready.

“We are meeting them in Reds at nine thirty. Shannon, you look… beautiful.” Megan was hovering by my door stunning as ever in an ice blue plunge neck dress. Her hair was straight, feathered around her face. The light blue eye shadow made her eyes glisten more than usual. I could hardly believe I could look beautiful next to her.

“Thanks Megan. You look stunning in that dress.”

“I think we should curl your hair for tonight. It will just finish the dress off.”

“Don’t worry about that I was going to just…”

“Please do not say you were going to put it up in a ponytail. Please, no,” Megan interrupted in a dramatic voice.

“Not a ponytail. I am not
that
stupid.”

“Oh my God, you were going to put it up. Honestly Shannon, have you not learnt anything yet?” She giggled.

“I do try,” I smiled back.

“That dress is one thousand pounds in the shops you need to do it justice, so sit down while I do your hair.” Megan smirked. I was speechless. I had never worn a dress so expensive before, I felt uncomfortable. What if I ripped it or spilt something down it? I could never live with myself. “Breathe Shan, it’s your dress now remember.” Megan could tell what I was thinking because I was suddenly too scared to move just in case I creased my dress. I sat patiently while Megan did my hair. She was singing along with the radio, dancing with the curling tongs. I felt my heart speed as they came incredibly close to my dress. I thought she had finished as she put the curlers down but then began to touch up my make-up. Megan was obviously giving me the full works tonight.

“Finished,” she sang half an hour later.

I turned to look at myself in the mirror. My eyes widened in shock. I did look sort of beautiful in a way. Not the breathtaking way like Megan, but I had to say I had never looked this good before. My dark brown curls bounced down my back. My big green eyes sparkled wide with excitement as I noticed the silver glitter Megan had added. My flawless pastel skin went well against the short off-the-shoulder black dress. Megan could see I was pleased and clapped her hands with excitement.

“Does this mean for once you won’t worry what you look like next to me?” Megan beamed.

“I wouldn’t go that far Megan, but I will admit I do look nice.” Megan rolled her eyes in disbelief, but what did she think I would say? She knew how beautiful she was.

We arrived at Reds a few minutes late. Megan had stopped for the press, showing off her blue ice dress by a new designer whose name I could not pronounce. Reds was busy as we made our way through the crowds of people. Megan was noticed by almost everyone. One creepy guy almost had an attack as he caught sight of Megan. Her security were busy trying to control the crowd of people around her that the creepy guy slipped through their defence. I tried to get in the way so it didn’t scare Megan. She had a few psycho fans like him. Just as he was about to pull me out of the way voices came from behind me.

“Don’t touch her,” Charlie shouted as he pushed the man roughly away. This was bad boy Charlie as he glared at the psycho fan. Megan began to relax immediately as her eyes met with Charlie. The man flinched as he caught sight of Charlie and Will towering over him. Will didn’t look happy either as he glared at the man, his deep blue eyes piercing. He looked rather sexy to be honest. His short spiked light brown hair caught the rays from the bar. His tall tanned body snugly fitted into his tailored suit. The creepy man held his hands up as an apology as he disappeared in the crowd.

“Are you two okay?” asked Charlie. I knew he meant Megan really. He held her in his arms lifting her chin up to kiss her softly. “Shannon, what were you thinking, we have told you before about trying to protect Megan? It’s just as dangerous for you too you know. You need to let the security do their job, not jump in trying to help.” Charlie glared at me. I was slightly taken aback.

“Sorry Charlie, I just didn’t want him in her face. He was really… creepy.” I hadn’t seen Charlie this angry before.

“Are you sure you are okay, Shan?” Will asked touching my arm, almost stroking it. “I might have a word with Mike. That should not have happened.” Will glared at the security, but they were still fighting the crowds.

“I’m fine. It was Megan he was going all psycho over.”

“Oh guys, just forget him. I came out for a drink,” Megan shouted. She was so brave. I knew deep down inside it freaked her out. How people she didn’t even know knew everything about her. It was the price of fame, but sometimes it could be too much. Fame was the one thing Megan could never switch off, it was her full time job.

Luckily Will had sorted out the VIP area for us. It was nice to get away from the crowds of people. I knew Megan would feel more at ease too.

“You look very beautiful tonight, Shannon,” Will smiled after a few bottles of wine.

“Thanks Will,” I was sure I was blushing, but I was a little giggly from the alcohol.

“Are you getting excited about New York?”

“Yeah, I can’t wait. It’s going to be amazing.” I was surprised how excited I sounded.

“I’m not sure how my sister will cope without you for six months,” Will laughed.

“I think she will be fine,” I laughed swaying my head in Megan’s and Charlie’s direction. They were happily making out, in a few more minutes I was pretty sure they would need a room.

“I see what you mean, perhaps she will be okay,” Will laughed.

“Will you be in New York at all while I am there?” I asked curious.

“I expect so. Would you like me to let you know if I am going to be in town?” Will’s deep blue eyes widened as if he was eager to hear my answer.

“That would be great. It will be nice to know I won’t be a total loner for the whole six months.”

“You are not a loner, Shannon,” Will replied touching my arm looking into my eyes as if he was searching for something.

Will seemed a little distant tonight, perhaps it was stress from work. I knew how hard he worked. In the summer holidays I worked as one of his personal assistants. He really was a workaholic to some degree, but he was not as bad as his father.

It gave me chance to understand Will. We became very close after that long summer. Will was able to separate himself from work unlike his father. We had many deep conversations about life and the future. He had some big plans for the company. Megan had the beauty in their family. Will Field seemed to have both. I had never known a more clever business mind.

By the time we reached the new nightclub I was pretty drunk. Will held me round the waist to support me as we followed Megan and Charlie straight into the club. The lasers hit my eyes as soon as I entered. I stumbled a little. I had decided no more alcohol for tonight; Will agreed with me on that. I didn’t realise how thirsty I was until I got to the bar.

Patrick almost threw himself over the bar when he saw me. I had to laugh as he noticed Megan. He was star struck and couldn’t even look her in the eyes.

“Aren’t you going to ask her to dance?” I giggled as he passed me a bottle of water.

“You said she was dating a photographer, not a model.” Patrick glared at me.

“He is a photographer.” I laughed at his stunned face.

“You look pretty tonight.”

“Thanks.”

“Who is the other guy you are with?” Patrick asked as he began to dry some glasses. “He is giving me some creepy looks.”

“That’s Will Field.”

“Megan’s brother?” Patrick was stunned.

“What?” I sniggered.

“You really have some friends Shannon. I feel like a poor relation.”

“Don’t be silly. You are my normal friend.”

“Normal?” Patrick just rolled his eyes. “How much have you had to drink tonight?” I was about to answer when Megan grabbed my arm.

“Shan, I want to dance,” Megan shouted. I gave Patrick an apologetic smile as she took my hand and dragged me towards the dance floor. I passed my water quickly to Will, hoping I hadn’t splashed him. “Wait here for us boys. We won’t be long,” Megan smiled as we squeezed past them. My eyes caught Wills for the slightest second.

Megan was as drunk as me I realised as we reached the dance floor. The music felt so good to dance to. As if we could dance all our troubles away if we had any. We grinded and sang along to the song giggling, laughing and hugging for a while. I noticed Charlie and Will watching us. Their mouths were wide open, looking to be honest quite aroused by us dancing. Megan noticed too as we burst into fits of laughter. The boys didn’t know where to look as we grinded against each other, teasing them.

“Will does really like you. I think he was a bit jealous of the barman you were talking to,” Megan whispered in my ear. I just looked at her. “I think he is going to tell you himself, but he is too shy. That’s why I think he wrote the letter.” I looked over at Will watching me, suddenly I became nervous. I was shy too. If he had written the letter how would we ever approach the subject?

Watching him on the edge of the dance floor laughing with Charlie, part of me was beginning to wish he had written the letter. I had never put Will down for a romantic, but as I thought about it I didn’t really know much about Will romantically. At this point in time I couldn’t think of anyone else who could have written the letter and Will was certainly noticing me now.

Chapter 5

Megan was really drunk by the end of the night. She had carried on drinking. I was sure she had mixed too. She would regret that in the morning.

“I can’t believe you let her get that drunk?” Will said to Charlie by the car.

“I am not her keeper!” Charlie spat back. Had I missed their fight in the nightclub? They had seemed fine to me.

“No, but you are her
boyfriend,”
Will replied back just as harsh.

“Look Will, I know most of your family think I am only with her because of her money, but I am not,” Charlie pleaded with him.

“I know you care about her. I don’t doubt that,” Will whispered.

“Can you guys stop talking about me like I am not here? I am only drunk. I can hear what you are saying,” Megan snapped back. I just stayed out of it. This was none of my business.

“Sorry Megan,” Charlie whispered kissing her gently on the lips. I sighed. My eyes caught Will looking at me warmly.

The drive home was quiet. Megan fell asleep in Charlie’s arms, as he caressed her arm gently.

“So next weekend is the big one then Charlie?” Will asked.

“Looks that way,” Charlie smiled a little nervous.

“Did I miss something?” I asked confused.

“It was probably when you were talking to that barman,” Charlie smirked at Will. “He seemed really into you, Shan.”