Notice Me (17 page)

“No Megan, no more help. You are on your own with that one.” I glared.

“Please Shan, if he knows you and Will are going, I am sure he will turn up.”

“You can’t trap him Megan. You have to let him find you naturally.”

“Please Shan,” Megan begged. All I could do was roll my eyes at her.

“This will be the last time though, Megan.” Megan jumped up and down with excitement.

“Charlie will be back in my arms in no time.” Megan skipped off to her bedroom.

What had I got myself in to? I needed to be working things out about Will rather than persuading Charlie to go to the ghastly charity event.

I was in a mood all day at Uni. Patrick could tell, but I just ignored him.

“Seriously what is eating at you today?” Patrick asked nudging me.

“Nothing, I just have a lot on my mind,” I sighed, shutting my notebook.

“You look as if you have the whole world on your shoulders.”

“Do I?” I asked surprised.

“Yeah come on spill. I am your normal friend after all.”

“I’m fine,” I sighed.

“You do know you can talk to me right? I am your friend Shannon.”

“Pat, really it’s nothing.”

“Does this have anything to do with William Field?”

“Why do you ask?” I was shocked that Pat could read me so well.

“You haven’t mentioned him for days. Usually you don’t shut up about him…and Megan and Charlie for that matter.”

“There is so much going on Pat. I really don’t know where to start.” I put my head in my hands. I couldn’t tell Pat what was going on when I had no idea myself.

“Relationships are never easy, but the most important part of them is the happiness they bring.” It wasn’t like Pat to go all philosophical on me. I couldn’t help but snigger. “What?” I just carried on laughing. “Fine, I won’t try to help you.” Patrick glared before starting to laugh himself.

When I got back later I was rather stunned to find Charlie sat in the apartment.

“What are you doing here?” I replied shocked.

“Megan is taking me out to dinner apparently.” Charlie rolled his eyes at me. I couldn’t help but snigger.

“How is everything going?”

“Slowly,” Charlie put his hands through his hair. “But she is really trying.”

I knew now was the only time to ask him. Megan had clearly planned this all along. “Has Megan invited you to her parent’s charity event next weekend?”

Charlie smirked at me. “No, but I have heard about it.”

“Will and I are going,” I sighed.

“Megan has put you up to this hasn’t she?” Charlie smiled walking closer towards me. Why was I suddenly feeling so hot?

“Yes,” I whispered. “Please just say you will go… it will be fun.”

“Okay,” Charlie chuckled. “I guess I will be
fun
.”

“Thank you.” I beamed in relief that my work getting them back together was finally over.

I was getting used to these charity events. It was easier now with Will by my side. He was the master of conversation and always seemed so proud to show me off to his colleagues.

Megan had dressed me in a baby blue dress that wrapped over my body and brought my waist in so much so I was having a job of breathing.

While I was leaning up against the bar I decided to go and get some air just to loosen the dress a little. Will was busy in conversation and I hadn’t seen Megan or Charlie in a while.

The cold air hit my face. I pulled slightly at the dress just enough to release some room for me to breathe.

“What are you doing out here alone, Shan?” Charlie called walking up the grand steps.

“I didn’t realise you had left,” I asked bewildered.

“Straton needed me for something.” Charlie smiled coming up behind me as I began to walk back in. “Hang on Shan. Your dress is a little loose.” Charlie was close behind me. I felt his hands tie a small bow at the back of my dress. His breath on my neck was electric.

“Thanks,” I was almost breathless. I really needed to get over our kiss.

 “My pleasure.”

“So has Megan done enough yet?” I asked as we entered the main room.

“Almost,” Charlie chuckled. “I guess I just can’t stay away from her.”

“She loves you so much you know.”

“I know,” Charlie smiled. “My life just isn’t the same without her. I have no choice but to be close to her.”

“She won’t let you down again Charlie. Trust me.”

Charlie looked thoughtfully at me. He was about to speak but I felt a pair of arms around my waist. “Here you are. I have been looking everywhere for you,” Will whispered into my neck.

“I was just getting some fresh air.” I smiled as he kissed my lips.

“Charlie, Megan will be pleased you came back,” Will smirked.

“I told her I would,” Charlie brushed past Will and I. “If you excuse me I guess I should go and find her.” Charlie was still off with Will. Their friendship had been tested when Charlie learned of Megan’s deceit.

“Shall we dance?” Will asked as he took my hand leading me towards the dance floor. I nodded, smiling back. “Are we okay Shan?” Will whispered in my ear as he held me close swaying to the music.

“Will, I go to New York in a few months. I have so much on my mind.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” Will pulled me back and his deep blue eyes were burning. “Ever since Megan’s birthday party you have been different.”

“Will, we are fine.”

“I don’t believe you. If I have done something tell me. I will change. Shannon, you are the world to me. I love you.” I just looked up at him. Why did all of this feel so wrong? “And still you can’t say it,” Will replied deflated.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I want to say it, really I do.” I was fooling myself. If I was ever going to love Will I would have felt something by now.

“Shan, it’s fine. Just having you in my arms is enough for the moment.” Will pulled me back into his embrace as we danced in an uncomfortable silence.

 Megan came into my view making her way to Will and I, panic was all over her face.

“Shan… Will I need your help. Tim is here and if Charlie sees him I think he will flip,” Megan screeched.

“For once Megan, I would love to have my girlfriend all to myself… you really can be so selfish,” Will glared holding me tighter against him.

“Please,” Megan pleaded.

“Where is Charlie?” I asked as Megan beamed at me. “Is he anywhere near Tim?”

“Not yet, Charlie is near the bar. Tim is waiting to speak to me outside.” I glared at her. “I am only going to tell him to back off and leave me alone.”

“Fine, you go and speak to Tim and make sure he leaves. Will and I will try and hold Charlie at the bar.”

“Thank you,” Megan rushed through the crowd.

“Why don’t I trust her,” I whispered to myself, luckily Will didn’t hear me.

Will and I made our way to the bar. Just as I caught sight of Charlie, Will was collared by a colleague. I could see Charlie was about to move so had no choice but to collar Charlie alone.

“Hey,” I touched Charlie’s arm with no idea how I was going to keep him in one place.

“Hi Shan. Have you seen Megan?”

“I’m not sure. I was hoping you would save me from Will’s work colleagues,” I pleaded.

“Tired of business talk are we?” Charlie smirked.

“A little,” I smiled as I took a glass of champagne from a waiter that walked past.

“So are things going okay with you and Will now?”

“We are working through things.” I really didn’t want to talk about Will and me.

Charlie was about to speak when I felt a set of arms around me. “This is where you disappeared to,” Will whispered into my neck. “I can’t leave you alone for a moment.”

“Shan is safe with me Will,” Charlie glared.

“I know that Charlie. So are you and my sister back on yet? Has she done enough to win your trust?”

“I am willing to give her another chance.”

“That’s very honourable of you.”

“Don’t patronise me Will.”

“Guys,” I interrupted. “Please don’t argue. Think about Megan.”

“That’s all we ever think about,” Charlie sighed walking off. I was about to go after him, but Will had a tight grip on me.

“Megan has told Tim to leave, Charlie will be fine.” I still searched the crowd for Charlie. Why was I doing that? “Come on let’s enjoy the rest of the party.” I sighed to myself. All I really wanted was to go home.

Why was I was beginning to feel as if I didn’t belong here?

“So let me get this straight you are thinking about finishing with William Field?” Patrick just looked at me in class.

“I go to New York in less than eight weeks. I just think it would be easier.”

“Do you feel anything for the guy at all?”

“I do care about him.”

“I feel a ‘but’ coming,” Patrick smiled at me.

“I guess I am looking for more than just ordinary.”

“Shan, I don’t understand, you need to explain.”

“I don’t know Pat. I just want romance, passion. Will really is all business. We just don’t fit somehow.”

“I hope you find what you are searching for, Shan.” Patrick touched my hand. “I really mean that. You have to email me while I am in Japan, no excuses. I want to know if you find what you are looking for.”

“I can’t believe you got a work placement in Japan,” I sniggered.

“I know,” Pat was proud of himself. “Can I have Megan’s number now?”

“Never,” I laughed hitting his shoulder. “I’m going to miss our chats.”

“Of course you will… I am your only normal friend after all.” Patrick laughed and I had to smile with him.

So many things were about to change, was I really ready for them?

Chapter 13

Charlie took Megan back, but things moved extremely slowly. Charlie really wanted Megan to realise what she had done. It made me laugh how he made her get down on her knees to beg for him back. It was so Charlie. Megan needed to understand how much she had hurt him.

Everything appeared to have gone back to normal but somehow that didn’t feel like the case to me.

I was getting regular letters from Mr Anonymous. He never left clues as to who he was, but the words melted my heart with each word he wrote.

Shannon,