Notice Me Page 8

  “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 “

  “That’s a no then,” Patrick laughed watching me. “Told you it’s about the money.”

  “It’s not, stop saying that,” I replied, irate.

  “I just always put you down as a romantic that’s all.”

  “What does that mean?
”

  “You and William Field… I mean… come on Shannon, is that what you really want?”

  Patrick was confusing me. I couldn’t understand why he was so against Will and me “Will is what I want thank you very much.”

  “It’s your life I guess,” Patrick muttered as he went back to his text book. “At least you can double date with Megan and her model boyfriend.” I just stuck my tongue out at him. How did he know so much about my life all of a sudden?

  The four of us did double date quite a lot. I had never seen Will so sociable, but I think he was just trying to impress me.

  “Seriously Will, can you put her down just for one minute.” Megan teased while we sat drinking champagne in Reds.

  “This is no different than you and Charlie when you first got together.” Will glared back at his sister as I giggled. I had had too much wine again.

  “I know, but it would be nice to have a conversation with my best friend.”

  “You can talk to me Megan. Don’t mind Will,” I replied leaning forward to look at Megan.

  “Well, I was just wondering if you would come to Paris with me next month. It’s my big break. The photo shoot for Marie Claire, if I nail this one the offers will come flooding in.” Megan gave me her puppy eyes. How could I resist, plus I had always wanted to go to Paris?

  “I thought Charlie was going to be there. Why do you need me?” I suddenly remembered.

  “He will be working. Please say you will come.”

  “Okay,” I turned to look at Will. As I rolled my eyes he stroked my back.

  “You will love Paris, Shan. I am rather jealous. I was hoping to take you myself first,” Will whispered in my ear. I just touched his face smiling at him.

  “Brilliant, I can relax now,” gleamed Megan.

  “Megan you will be amazing. The people from Marie Claire paid a high price to get you. Don’t you realise how desirable you are already?” Charlie placed his head on her shoulder. “Even Sir Straton wants to take your picture. You really are too beautiful for your own good,” Charlie teased, kissing her neck.

  “Really?” Megan asked shocked.

  “Yes.”

  “You never said before.”

  “He only told me today. Give me a chance.” Charlie laughed.

  It was good to see whatever had been bothering Charlie had gone. He was more in love with Megan as each week passed. It still sent flutters to my heart watching him. The way he studied Megan so intense and passionately. It was a strange feeling almost as if I was jealous because I knew even though I was with Will I would never be loved that way. Will wasn’t that sort of man. He could be romantic, say all the right things at times, but work always seemed to take over. Charlie loved with every fibre of his soul, nothing ever distracted him. I knew it was Megan who made Charlie act this way. She was a goddess, but it never stopped me dreaming just what it might feel like.

  Chapter 9

  Paris wasn’t quite as marvellous as Megan had made it out to be. Being stuck in a bright studio watching my best friend have photo after photo taken was pretty strenuous. Charlie had kept me company for as long as he could, but he was working too. I was left sat next to the coffee machine more bored than I had ever been in my entire life.

  Megan was amazing as I knew she would be. Marie Claire adored her. At least while I was in New York Megan would be too busy to miss me. I couldn’t even imagine how many offers she would receive after this shoot. Charlie really had his work cut out now about trying to protect her.

  “Did you see me in that pink swimsuit Shan? Did I look hot?” Megan asked when she was finally given a break.

  “Yeah, I think so.” I laughed.

  “I wonder which man’s magazine will contact me first.”

  “I thought you had told Charlie…”

  “Charlie cannot stop me if I want to,” Megan interrupted sharply. I was taken aback by her response. Charlie only wanted her safe surely she could see that.

  “Charlie does sort of have a lot of knowledge in this business Megan. You really need to listen to him.” I tried to be reasonable.

  “He just doesn’t like the idea of me being a pin up. He hates the attention I get now. Imagine how he will be when I am a centrefold? He needs to learn I will do as I please.”

  “You’re not doing topless are you?” I almost screamed. Had she really gone mad?

  “I am not sure. Janice has recommended I think about it. There is a lot of money in it if it’s done the right way. Imagine that Shan. I could get by without any interference from my parents.” Megan appeared lost in her own little world, as she began to laugh. “Just imagine my father’s face if he saw a picture of me topless. It would be priceless.”

  “Oh yeah, hilarious Megan,” I said sarcastically. She really seemed to be losing it. “But what about Charlie?”

  “If I decide I want to he will have to understand. I am not being controlled again. I had enough of that from my parents.”

  “Charlie is a little different. He is only doing it because he loves you, and knows what stupid ideas you come up with.”

  “You think my idea is stupid?” Megan was annoyed with me.

  “YES!” I replied glaring at her.

  “Well fine, be that way!”

  “We both care about you Megan. There are other ways to make it on your own. What about your fashion label? Have you given up on that already?” I asked widening my eyes.

  “No, of course not it’s just… well, this is easier”

  “When has Megan Field ever taken the easier option?” I smiled at her. She had to know she was better than page three.

  “I know you are right. I am only thinking about it.” A woman waved Megan over. “Break over, see you in a bit. Save me a muffin to go with my coffee later.” Megan darted back over to the large white screen to slide into yet another outfit.

  Hours maybe even days passed by. Luckily I had packed a few books to help pass the time. I was deeply engrossed in my book when Charlie snuck up behind me.

  “Are you that bored?” Charlie teased as I jumped out of my skin. “Sorry, did I make you jump?”

  “Charlie, don’t do that,” I replied hitting him with my book.

  “Seriously though, how old is that book? I swear I have seen you read it at least three times.”

  “It’s a classic. You can’t beat those.”

  “I will just trust you on that,” laughed Charlie putting his hand through his freshly cut dark brown hair. It was still semi long. I don’t think Megan would ever let him cut it too short.

  “You’re not a book person are you?”

  “I like books, just not old soppy romance.”

  “You are a man. You’re not meant to like it. Why don’t you go bug your girlfriend over there.…? Here take her a muffin,” I teased pushing a muffin into his chest.

  “Easy bookworm. I was going to offer to end your boredom, but if you are going to be like that,” Charlie smirked trying to look offended.

  “Okay, how were you going to end my boredom?” I moped.

  “Will you be my guinea pig for a new camera I am dying to try?”

  “Would that mean I have to pose?” I looked at him warily. I hated having my picture taken Charlie knew that.

  “I’d take your picture, but you don’t have to pose if you don’t want to. Seriously Shan, it will take ten minutes. I’d ask one of the models here, but they are all too busy.” He pleaded with his unbelievable dreamy blue-green eyes.

  “Okay, as long as it is only ten minutes.”

  “I promise.” Charlie led me to a small room hung with white sheets. I had never really seen Charlie at work before. To be honest it had been months since I had even been to his apartment with Megan. I had forgotten how wrapped up I had become with Will.

  “At least try and smile, Shannon.” Charlie teased as he picked up a large technical camera.

  “What’s so amazing about that new camera then?” I asked as he began to take snaps of me. Words really
couldn’t describe how uncomfortable I felt.

  “It’s just a new prototype from Japan. Higher zoom, better mega pixels. You can send the photos to your PC straight from the camera too.” Charlie did sound rather excited about his new toy, it looked just like a normal camera to me. “This has to be a bit better than watching Megan all day?”