Rachel & Jay

Part 1

‘Jay, seriously, stop!’ I giggled, swatting his hand away. He got up, and looked at me. His smiled made me melt. I had to try and catch my breath; i hated being tickled. And Jay knew i did. Which was why he did it. I had been seeiing Jay for a while now, a couple of weeks, I guessed. I was friends with all the lads, and I knew that I loved Jay. He got up, and scratched his head. ‘What was I meant to be doing?’ he asked. ‘Getting ready! You have a photo shoot in an hour!’ i grinned. He nodded, grinning it me. ‘Right, back in a minute.’ he smiled, kissing my cheek quickly and leaving.

He came out a couple of minutes later in jeans and a t-shirt. ‘Hows this?’ he asked. ‘Fine.’ I smiled. He went about the flat, picking things up and shoving them in his pockets, or just putting them back down. After about ten minutes, he walked back over to me.’Right, I’ll see you later. We’re going out for lunch, yeh?’ he smiled. I nodded. ‘12.30 at the cafe in town.’ i smiled. He nodded, leaning down to kiss me softly on the lips and left, leaving me to watch him shut the door quietly.

Part 2

I waited in the cafe for Jay. I looked at my watch. 12.45. I sighed. He wasn’t often late, but i expected it now due to the fact that he had fans, and that he had work to do. But it was hard for me, sat alone in that little cafe, to see the bright side. The bell on the door dinged and I looked up. Jay pushed through the tables, coming towards me. I smiled. ‘I’m sorry!’ he said, before i had the chance to say anything. He grabbed my hand across the table. I smiled, looking down. ‘It’s fine.’ I muttered. ‘No, it’s not. I’m sorry. Here.’ He leant over the table and kissed me. ‘That’s part of how I’m going to make it up to you. I shook my head. ‘You don’t-’ ‘Come on, let’s just order, yeh?’ Jay smiled, picking up a menu.

Jay put his arm around my waist as we walked back home. I could see cameras flashing out of the corner of my eye, but I had learned to ignore them, just as Maxchelle and Nariva had. I looked along the street. All I could see were puddles. ‘Oh god.’ I muttered. ‘What?’ Jay asked, looking down at me and frowning. ‘My boots. They’re suede. And they’re about to die in the puddles.’ Jay looked at my boots, and then looked at the street in front of us. He stepped in front of me. ‘Come on then.’ he said. ‘I’ll give you a piggy back. Yet another way to make it up to you.’ I shook my head. He was so sweet. I held on as we walked along the street, cameras flashing furiously, and smiled to myself. ‘I love you.’ I whispered in Jay’s ear. ‘I love you too.’ he smiled, lifting me up a bit and continuing down the road.

Part 3

I picked up a copy of Heat on the way home, and had a flick through on the tube. Mine and Jay’s piggy back session was a few pictures in, with comments like ‘he loves her so much’ and ‘such a good couple’. I smiled to myself behind my sunglasses, putting the magazine down and looking out of the window. My phone buzzed in my pocket. ‘Hello?’ I asked, answering it. It was Jay. ‘Hi, Rach, erm - get home as quickly as you can, there’s been a fight - Max and Tom and - just get back.’ He said. He sounded so upset. ‘Okay, honey. I’ll be back as soon as I can.’ I said, and hung up, anxious to get home.

But when I got there, I wanted to get back on the tube and run away. Jay stood with Nathan and Siva, his lips pressed tightly together and his arms folded across his chest. ‘Jay!’ I called, jogging up to them. I put a hand on his arm, and he put an arm around my waist. ‘What’s going on?’ I panted. I had ran all the way from the station. Jay went to speak, but Nathan said, ‘Michelle was being stalked by some guy - he got too close, and lashed out at Max. Max fought back, but wasn’t doing to well, so Tom joined in.’ ‘Well that doesn’t sound too bad.’ I said, frowning. ‘Yeh, well…’ Nathan trailed off. I looked around, and for the first time noticed all the blood, and the two ambulances that had arrived. As we stood, two paramedics came past carrying a strecher. On it lay Tom, covered in blood with an oxygen mask on. Jay spun me round, hugigng me tight to his chest. I was shaking, I realised, and was beginning to cry. ‘Come on,’ Jay said, hugging me tight. ‘Let’s go to the hospital.’

Part 4

In the car, I cried. I cried so much. It was a taxi, too. The driver looked at me with pity, as Jay put his arms around me and rested his chin on my head. ‘Shhhh.’ he murmured, kissing my forehead. I tried to speak, but it was useless through all the tears. I sniffed, trying to blink the tears back so that I could speak. ‘How - how is max? Was he - was he okay? Was he like T-Tom?’ I stammered. It was silent as Jay pressed his lips together ina tight line. I broke down into tears again, hearing the words that no one had said. He was terrible. he was as bad - or maybe even worse - than Tom. And so I sat in the back of the taxi and cried.

The receptionist saw us coming, and looked at me with pity. The mascara had ran all the way down my face, and my eyes were red and puffy, but I didn’t care. ‘Here to see Thomas Parker and max George?’ she asked. Siva nodded. ‘Room 203 and 204.’ She murmured. ‘Up the stairs, to floor one and to the left.’ Nathan thanked her and we walked on. ‘You okay?’ Jay asked me, looking down at me. I nodded, wiping my eyes again. He didn’t seem convinced, but we carried on up the stairs. ‘Here we are.’ Siva said a few minutes later. ‘Room 203.’ He opened the door and went inside, followed by Nathan, and then me. I wanted to turn around and leave the room. ‘Oh my god.’

Part 5

It was Max’s room. Michelle sat in the corner, clutching his hand, tears streaming down her face. I pushed my lips into a thin line, trying to hold back the tears. The room wasn’t that big. It was completely white, with white tiles on the floor, and white wall paper, with little blue flecks in it, and a white ceiling. But from the bed, all I could see was crimson. Max’s head was covered in scratches, a big one just above his forehead. His chest was bandaged up, and his arm was in a sling. Millions of tubes stuck out of him, leading to various machines and monitors, and the drip stood just behind Michelle. I tried my hardest to hold back the tears, but I couldn’t. And, as just he had when I first arrived, Jay spun me round and hugged me to his chest, letting me cry as much as I needed.

I had to be taken outside. I sat in the corridor, back against the wall, knees pulled up to my chest. Jay jad said to me, ‘Do you want to go and see Tom?’ And I had shook my head. I hated crying. And I had done mroe in the space of an hour than in the past year. If I went in, I would most likely have a break down or something, and I didn’t want that to happen. I was trying to collect my scattered thoughts when I hear footsteps, almost running along the corridor. ‘Hi Jay.’ A voice said. ‘hi Rach. Are you okay?’ I looked up. It was Kelsey. I shook my head. ‘Have you - have you been to see Tom?’ she whispered. I shook my head again. I started to speak, ‘But-’ my voice came out as a hoarse whisper. I coughed. ‘But we saw him before he got here.’ I croaked. ‘Just….prepare yourself.’ I murmured. She nodded, looked at the door, and went inside.

Part 6 - 2 weeks later

‘Welcome back, Tom.’ I smiled, hugging him tight. He laughed. ‘Thanks Rach.’ he said, pulling away. Max had come out of hospital before Tom, as his injuries had had healed quicker. But now they were both back, and everything was fine. ‘So, since yous are both back,’ Michelle said, ‘we thought we’d go on holiday!’ This was news to me. We all cheered and wooped, and then Nathan went, ‘Where to?’ ‘Marbella!’ Michelle smiled. ‘But, when?’ Nathan persisted. Michelle sighed. ‘Next saturday.’ ‘Best get packing then!’ I smiled, running off to my bedroom.

The fans were waving as we walked away to get on our plane. The boys had spent a good half hour, 45 minutes with them, but it was time to go. I put my on flight bag in the little compartment, and went to sit next to Jay. I sat in the middle, between Jay and Nathan, with Siva, Nareesha and Tom in front of us, and Max and Michelle behind us. Kelsey wasn’t coming. As we took off, I gripped Jay’s hand. I hated flying. ‘It’s okay, babe.’ he said, giving my hand a squeeze. I nodded, forcing a smile, but I was screaming on the inside. And so it was all the way to Marbella…

Part 7

I walked out of the airport with Kelsey. We had been the very last people to get off the plane and get our bags, and so everyone else was probably already in a taxi on the way to the villa, if not already at the villa. But, as we stepped outside into the hot, spanish sun, we saw Tom and Jay waiting for us. ‘Aww, you waited!’ Kelsey grinned as she hugged Tom. ‘Yeh, the others all went on to the villa.’ Jay said, as he wrapped his arms around my waist. ‘Cause they’re a bunch of arses!’ Tom put in. ‘I’m gonna tell ‘em you said that.’ I grinned. ‘I could take them!’ Tom said cockiy. I laughed, putting my bag in the boot and sliding into the car.

The villa was beautiful. White walls, with a brown tiled roof, and a big pool full of glittering blue water in front of it. Palm trees waved in the breeze behind it, and the beach lay just a little way in front. ‘Oh my god, i’ts amazing!’ I gasped, looking out the window. It was huge, with two floors, and, Jay told me, 5 bedrooms, one each of the couples, and Nathan. ‘Gracias.’ I smiled at the driver. He nodded, smiling and drove off, leaving us to go inside.

Part 8

I stood at the balcony, leaning against the railing. Our room looked out of the beach, ad it was quiet. It was only 7am, so the whole house was quiet. I felt arms aroundmy waist, and Jay kissed my neck. ‘Morning.’ he said. ‘Good morning.’ I smiled, leaning back against him. ‘What were you doing?’ he asked. ‘Thinking.’ I replied. ‘Well, that’s very unlike you.’ he asnwered. ‘Oi!’ I cried, turning around and hitting him. He laughed, making me laugh too as  wrapped my arms around his kneck. ‘I love you.’ I smiled. ‘I love you too.’ he grinned, kissing me softly.

‘Maaaaaax!’ Michelle yelled from the bottom of the stairs. ‘We’re going to the beach, babe, come on!’ She rolled her eyes at me and smiled. I laughed, putting suncream in my bag, along with a book and my purse. We waited for ages, but Max didn’t come down. And then, a few minutes later, he skidded down the stairs. He seemed in a hurry. ‘What’s wrong?’ Nareesha asked. She was sat with Seev on the sofa. ‘Nath’s gone.’

Part 9

It was silent for a while. Then I said, ‘What do you mean, gone? ’ Max turned to look at me, shaking his head slightly. ‘He’s gone. Not in his room. All his stuff’s still there though.’ Jay pulled his arm closer around my waist. ‘We have to look for him.’ Tom said. Nareesha nodded. ‘But where?’ Michelle asked. ‘We haven’t even been here a week.’ And then, just like something out of Scooby Doo, Jay said, ‘Let’s split up.’

‘You and Siva go left, me and Jay’ll go right, Tom, Max and Michelle will go up from the centre. Any questions?’ I asked, looking at the group. They shook their heads. ‘Good. Meet back here at 4pm tonight. If you find him, or think you see him, ring us, and we’ll come for you.’ The others nodded again. ‘Let’s go.’ Nareesha said, pulling Siva’s hand. Michelle raised her hand in a wave. ‘Bye.’ she murmured, turning in the opposite direction with Max and Tom. ‘We best be off then.’ I smiled at Jay, but he didn’t smile back. ‘Let’s go.’ he whispered, holding my hand and walking off.