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Fan Fiction

 Title: True love
Author: Trang
Genre: Romance/Drama/Humour
Started: 29. July 2001
Finished: 06. November 2001

CHAPTER 7 - A secret

A week later Paddy and the band were back to USA.

*Bring Bring*
"Hello?" Marie pick up the phone.
"Hi honey… I have a bad news for you!"
"You are not coming?"
"I'm sorry, we have a charity concert that day."
"But you promised!!!"
"I know, I'm sorry!!"
"Paddy, I don't wanna hear it!"
"I'm sorry!"
"It our first anniversary and we will apart! Great!!"
"You can come to me, to USA. We can spend a few days together!"
"To sit in a hotel longing for you coming back from your work? No thanks!"
Marie threw the phone angrily. She had planned this day to spend the whole time with Paddy.

"Joey, do you hear me?? I have to come back!! It's very important to me and Marie. I promised her!!!" Paddy begged his older brother.
"Paddy, listen to me for the last time! It's not depend to me! It's not my fault that we couldn't record those songs in a week like it was planned. I know you have been working hard and now you are paying for somebody's irresponsible, but I can't help it! I'm sorry man."
"But you are our manger! You can ask them to give me only one day off, so I could be with Marie. Just one fucking day."
"I did, but the manager of Elton John didn't agree. Marie can wait a few days more if she really loves you."
"Joey, you don't understand. I promised! I have to keep my promises!"
"Man, I'm sorry for you, but I can't help!"
"Yeah…"
"Paddy, can we talk like a man to a man?"
"Sure!"
"Are you sure that you love Marie? Or you are with her just because she looks like Madeline?"
"Madeline? What Madeline has to do with it??"
"Don't you tell me that you can't see it!"
"See what, Joey?"
"Marie looks exactly like Madeline! The hair color, eyes color, skin. The same feature… dimple… France… and they both have names with M."
"Why are you doing this to me?" Paddy said and left Joey's room.

Paddy went to his room and looked at a picture of him and Marie.
'What the hell?' Paddy thought to himself. 'Madeline and Marie? Nah...' He looked closer at the picture. Joey was right, same features. The dimple was the same, too. So was the hair color. The longer he looked the more he saw it.
"Oh, God" he said out loud. "Joey is right. They do look exactly alike." He put down the picture and started to cry. First softly, and then the tears turned into a continuous flow. He knew what was wrong. Maybe he only felt something for Marie because she reminded him of Madeline, his first and only love. Paddy cried himself to sleep.

The next morning Paddy woke up early and went to Patricia's room. His older sister was always a good adviser for him.
"Trish, do you think that Marie and Madeline look alike?" he sat in her bed as she was combing her hair.
"What??"
"Marie and Madeline, do they look similar?"
"Uhmm… yes, they do. I thought you know it. That is why you are with her, aren't you?"
"Why didn't you tell me from the beginning?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Just tell me why you didn't tell me!"
"Because it was not important. You were happy with her. We didn't want to remind you…"
"Do you think that I'm with Marie because she is like Madeline?"
Patricia looked at her brother, who had tears in his eyes. She came to him and hugged him.
"No, Paddy. You love Marie and it has nothing in common with Madeline. Forget about it, bro!"
"Paddy, your phone is ringing!" Angelo yelled outside.
"Coming!" Paddy said, wiped his tears and stood up to the phone.
"Paddy, it's gonna be ok!" Before he left Patricia told him.

"Hallo?" Paddy picked up the phone.
"It's me Marie! I thought about it and I think it's a good idea that I come to you. I want to spend this day with you, no matter what!"
"Uhmm… we will be home in a few days. It's will be after our anniversary, but…"
"I want to spend this day with you Paddy. I miss you!"
"I miss you too, but I don't think it's fair for you to fly so far just to see me."
"Paddy? You don't want me to come?"
"No, not at all… I just wanna say that… errr… So when do you have a plane? Our anniversary is already tomorrow!"
"I'll be there tomorrow. I have ordered a ticket for tonight!"
"Ok, see ya then! I have to go!"
"Bye Paddy!"
"See ya tomorrow! Love ya!"
'What I'm gonna do now?' he thought to himself. 'Madeline… Marie…'

In the next evening Marie arrived at their hotels. They were going to a concert hall.
"Hey, Marie! It's good to see ya!" Paddy greeted her first and then did his family.
"I'm exhausted." She said.
"Do you want to rest or go with us to the concert?" Paddy asked.
"I want to be with you today. That is why I'm here!"
"Sure, let's go!"

It was a charity concert in a small hall. Marie could stand in the first row. The first song was 'I feel love', and then their great hits like 'Why why why' 'I can't help myself' 'An angel'. The last song was 'Hold on'. When Paddy sang 'Hold on, there is hope…' a single tear rolled down his cheek.

After the concert in Paddy's dressing room.
"Paddy, why did you cry when you sang the 'an angel' song?" Marie was curious.
"I didn't cry."
"Yes, you did!"
"I didn't."
"Ok, stop it! What are we going to do tonight?" she kissed Paddy.
"I'm starving. Let's go to eat something first. I saw a Italian restaurant down the street."
"Ok, let's go!"
After the dinner Paddy and Marie went back to the hotel. Paddy leaded her to the top of the hotel.

The warm August air blew slowly against her face sending a few pieces of hair into the air. Paddy caught them and pushed them over in front of her other shoulder. Marie, feeling the comfort of his hands on her neck, snuggled her back closer to his chest. The small bonfire they had lit on the beach provided the perfect amount of light and the perfect amount of warmth and the whole setting was just perfect. The two of them were wrapped in the blanket that he had brought along and were gazing up at the starry sky. They sat there in each other's arms just thinking. Suddenly a shooting star shot across the night sky and they each gasped in surprise. 
"Did you make a wish?" Marie turned to Paddy.
"Huh?" Paddy was still surrounded by his own thoughts. 
"I said, did you make a wish?" 
"Oh, no, I didn't. Why?"
The shooting star reflected off of her dark green eyes in the moonlight. 
"You're supposed to make a wish when you see a shooting star" she explained to him. 
"Well, I didn't need to make a wish. I couldn't ask for anything more. You're all I need." Paddy pulled Marie closer to him.
"I love you" she assured him. "Happy Anniversary." 
"I love you too." He kissed her.
"I'm so lucky to have you."
"And I'm happy being with you. When I put this ring on your finger I did a promise." He took her hand on his.
"You are so wonderful. What did you promise?" she kissed him sweetly.
"That I'm going to love you forever. And when I'm on the road, I'm faithful to you. And when we're both ready, we'll spend the rest of our lives together. Basically, I promised it to myself and to you."
"When you'll be free, so we can get marriage?"
"I don't know yet. We will be back to Germany in a few days, but you know… interviews, meetings…"
"Hmmm" Marie signed.
"I know it's hard for you. Thank you for being with me through that."
"I do this because I really love you."
"I know honey. I know…" Paddy said dreamy.

They sat there for a few minutes more. When they felt the cold blew to their faces, they decided to go sleep.

"Paddy. Paddy wake up!!" Marie yelled at Paddy who was all in a sweat.
"Wha…"
"Paddy, you had a dream."
"Really?? Sorry that I woke you up."
"Are you ok??"
"Yes, I'm ok. Go sleep, Marie."

The breakfast the whole family had together.
"Marie, tell them the news!" Paddy told his fiancée.
"Hmm… well I have got a job. I'll work with children as a teacher."
"Congratulations!!" Jimmy said.
"Thanks!"
"So when will be the wedding? I bet it's not 15th August." Maite spoke up.
"We don't know yet! Joey, when we have a break?" Paddy asked.
"We don't have any plans for next two months." Joey informed his brother.
"That's great!! We can do it in a month and then have a month of honeymoon. What do you think Paddy?"
"Hmm… well… do you think we can prepare everything in a month??"
"Yes, of course. I have got my grown already, and you have got your tux."
"Marie, we think of it later, ok? Eat!" Paddy seemed sick of this stuff.
Marie only looked at Paddy with surprise.
"Ok…" she murmured.
"Patricia, may we finish our conversation now?" he turned to his sister.
"Sure! Paddy!"

The two went to Patricia's room.
"Pat, I think I can't marry her."
"Why is that?"
"Because I don't know if I love her because who she is or just because she looks like Madeline!"
"Paddy, Madeline is not here! She is gone. You are here and you have to live! She wanted you to love someone else, remember?"
"Yes, I know… but… I feel that I can't be with Marie."
"Marie is a great girl. You should wait with the wedding if you are not sure about your feelings!"
"Yes… you are right… but how I tell her this?"
"The truth!"
"No, I can't! She will hate me! Hmm… well… I have to think how to tell her this. Thanks sis."
"Welcome."
Patricia looked at her poor brother. She would give anything to help him, but she couldn't do anything.

"Hun, we can't just not talk about all this. You know that." They were sitting on the couch. Her hand was resting on his leg. She acknowledged that she agree with him. "I've realized something in these past few months. I haven't been as good to you as I should be. I mean, I put our relationship on the side all the time and dealt with other things, career things. With the album and everything, I wasn't able to give you the time that you deserve. And I'm sorry about that. I wish I could repeat that part of our lives but it's impossible. Time doesn't run back. If you… err… if you feel that you and I are not mean to be together, just say that…"

"You are having two months off. I'm so happy with that. I think we have a good chance here to start over. Move on, and continue with our life. Get marriage as we planned."
'Our life' Marie thought 'Sure, we had two different bodies, but they had one soul. And one can't just go walking around with half of a soul, so we have to be together.'
Paddy pulled Marie close to him and he embraced him.
"I'm so happy that you're here. You don't know how much you mean to me." 

Marie didn't reply. She lifted her head from his shoulder and brushed her lips against his. That was all the reply that he needed. The kiss turned more and more passionate.

That night all Paddy and Marie did was sleep. They didn't make love… they didn't have to. All Paddy needed was to hold Marie in his arms all night long. It was the first decent night's sleep that either of them got in a while.

Marie awoke to a warm, sunshine-filled room. It wasn't one of those things where she asked herself where she was, cause the room was so familiar. She didn't want to disturb Paddy and she didn't know if he was still sleeping or not, so she just lied there with Paddy's arms around her. 
"Morning" he whispered in her ear. 
"I didn't know that you were awake. Why are you just lying here?" 
"I didn't want to let you go. I love you" He kissed her on the cheek and rested his head on the pillow once more. "You know that, right?" 
"Yea. I know." There was a short period of silence. "Why?" 
"What? What do you mean, why?" 
"Why do you love me? I mean, why ME? There are plenty of reasons why I love you, but I can't think of one why you just might love me. You could have anyone." 
"What are you talking about!? You can't think of anything that might make me love you?! I can't even count the reasons. You're smart, and you're funny and your absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous. It's like…" he paused, thinking. "When you walk into a room, you draw all the air out of it and leave me breathless. There aren't really words to explain it. I still get weak in the knees when I'm around you. I guess you're my second half and I feel so lucky to have you." 

He could tell she was smiling even though he wasn't facing her. Maybe it was the way she sighed contentedly. Or maybe it was the way she was stroking his arm with her thumb. Maybe it was just because he knew her so well.
"So what about me, now? Why do you love me?" He was anxious and impatient like a little boy on Christmas morning. 
"Why do I love you? Well, you're sweet and caring and funny… Not to mention that you're extremely talented. I feel safe when I'm with you. I feel whole. You complete me! You're a lovable person. I love you because you're you." 
"Well, I love you because you're you too..." He kissed her sweetly on her cheek. They laid there in silence for quite some time.
"Paddy, you know what? I made a song, it's stupid but I want you to hear it."
"You made a song? Wow, show me."
Marie took Paddy's guitar and sat in the bench of the bed while Paddy was still laying under the warm blanket.

Was I awake, or was it just a dream? 
I opened up my eyes, and you weren't with me. 
And now you've said that you're leaving but you'll be home soon. 
It's never easy being away from you. 

One thought, boy, I'm all choked up. 
There's something about you, I could never ever get enough. 
It's the way that you move. 
It's the smile on your face.

Breaks my heart in two everytime you go away. 
I always said I'd never cry over you.
But it's hard to hold back tears when your fears come true. 
I'm sitting here lonely just missing you. 
Baby, come home... 

Everytime you go away, my heart goes with you. 
Everytime you go away, my heart's torn in two. 
Is there something I can say? 
Won't you change the plan to make? 
'Cuz my heart can't stand the pain. 
Everytime, everytime you go away.

Last night, I was sitting up in my room. 
I knew I should be sleeping, but instead I was thinking about you. 
I can still hear your voice calling out my name. 
I just closed my eyes, and you're lying here next to me.

I always said I'd never cry over you. 
But it's hard to hold back tears when your fears come true. 
I'm sitting here lonely just missing you. 
Baby, come home... 

Everytime you go away, my heart goes with you. 
Everytime you go away, my heart's torn in two. 
Is there something I can say? 
Won't you change the plan to make? 
'Cuz my heart can't stand the pain. 
Everytime, everytime you go away. 

Why do you want to make cry? 
Why do I feel such pain inside? 
I need to know. 
I always said I'd never cry over you. 
But it's hard to hold back tears when your fears come true. 
I'm sitting here lonely, and I'm missing you! 
Come home! 

Everytime you go away, my heart goes with you. 
Everytime you go away, my heart's torn in two. 
Is there something I can say? 
Won't you change the plan to make? 
'Cuz my heart can't stand the pain. 
Everytime, everytime you go away. 

Come home, baby. 
Missing you when you go away. 
Everytime you go away, I can't stand the pain. 
I can't stand it. 
I know, I know. 
All the days will be perfect. 
Someone stand the pain! 

Everytime you go away, my heart goes with you. 
Everytime you go away, my heart's torn in two. 
Is there something I can say? 
Won't you change the plan to make? 
'Cuz my heart can't stand the pain. 
Everytime, everytime you go away.

"Wow, such a beautiful song." He was in surprised.
"Thanks! I wanted you to know that I miss you very much when you are far from me."
"I know it, I feel the same way."

Later Paddy went o bathroom to take a shower. He hold his face on his hands.
"Paddy, you are hopeless!!" he said to himself. "You are gonna break up with her… err… Marie, I think we don't mean to each other. We can't be together because… hmmm… because of… Oh, god… how to tell her that? Again… Marie, I can't marry you, because… we don't match to each other. I love someone else!"
"Madeline?" Marie heard everything.
Paddy turned to the door to see Marie's face covered with tears.
"Marie… I… I…"
"Is it her who you love?"
"I have to tell you something very important!"
"You don't have to lie. I heard everything." She cried.
"I'm sorry. We can be friends!"
Paddy watched as she run out of his room. He felt like he had the whole world in his head. His heart ached like never before.
Suddenly Angelo run in.
"Paddy, I saw Marie… you told her, did you?" he yelled.
"I broke up with her." He cried.
"You are just stupid Paddy. Madeline is dead!! Forget her!! You have lost your chance to be happy!"
"I couldn't cheat on her. Since when Joey told me about their look… when I look at Marie I can see Madeline… when I kiss Marie I imagine it was Madeline."
"But you didn't do it before! So loved Marie, not noticing she looks like Madeline and that is what count. You asked Marie to marry you, not Madeline."
"What if I did it all because deep inside of me I knew it and I didn't want to lost Madeline again? What if all the words that I told Marie were to Madeline? Maybe I was scared to loose Madeline again, that is why I was blind?"
"Madeline is dead Paddy. She wanted you to find another girl and be happy. This girl is Marie. You were happy with her. Don't let the happiness slip of your hand."
"I lost them, both!! I don't want to live anymore!"
"You lost Madeline, but Marie is still there and she loves you."
"Not anymore!"

Two days later they all were back to Cologne. Marie was really sad. She didn't do anything but think of him and of the reason why he broke up with her. He hurt her so much. She already thought that the happiness was in her hand, but it flew away. After two month of break the Kellys had to go to a tour again. During these two month Jessica and Jimmy got really closed. Jimmy invited Jess to go to the tour with him. Jean moved back to France. Marie was left alone.
'I can't live like this. I need someone to talk to, someone to spill my emotions too.' She thought to herself.
She thought about her options whom to call. Jessica spent all the time with Jimmy. Suddenly it came to her. Someone caring, someone who was always there. Someone who would listen to all her problems.
She picked up the phone and dialed.

Without opening his eyes, Paddy mumbled: "Angelo... get the phone..."
Angelo sighed and walked over to where the phone was.
"Hello?" he asked, wondering who would be calling at this hour. There was no answer. "Hello?" he repeated. Still nothing. What the hell... he thought, then walked over to his bunk.

Marie shuddered. She wasn't sure who had answered the phone, but she thought it was Paddy. It was hard to tell, because the person was whispering.
But she had to try again. She needed to talk to someone... especially... She dialed.
The phone rang again. Angelo was on his way back from the phone, so he turned around and headed back to it.
"Hello?" he asked.
"Um, who is this?" said a voice.
"Who is this?" Angelo shot back.
"I really need to find out who this is before I can say who I am" the voice begged.
"This is so weird" Angelo said. "This is Angelo. Now who is this?"
He heard a sigh of relief on the other end of the phone.
"This is Marie. Sorry Angie."
Suddenly Angelo understood.
"Oh, I get it" he said. "You didn't want to talk to Paddy."
"Yeah" Marie said. "Sorry."
"That's okay" Angelo said. "Do you want me to get Jess for you? She's asleep, but I can wake her."
"Actually, Angelo" Marie said. "I called for you."
"For me?" Angelo asked, surprised. "Why? No offence, but Jimmy or Jess… you were always closer to them. Well, especially Jess." 
"Angelo, I can't talk to Jess… she's too hooked on Jimmy right now" Marie admitted.
"Oh, I know" Angelo said, smiling to himself. "I see that with Jimmy too."
"But the thing is, I can't get over Paddy. He really hurt me, and you are always there. You're so nice… I just need a good friend right now, to keep my mind off of things" Marie said.
"Marie? I will always be here for you" Angelo told her his cell phone number. "We'll have a code, okay? When I answer the phone, I'll say 'hey' instead of hello. If someone says hello, hang up. After awhile, you'll know my voice. You call me anytime."
"Thanks so much, Angelo" Marie said. "You don't know how much that means to me."
"Well, it means a lot to me too, since you chose me!" Angelo laughed.
"Yeah, I did. I want to hear about your life Angie, tell me everything." Marie said. "I need to get my mind off of… him."
"Sure" Angelo said. "You picked a good day, cause I'm not tired."
"Great!" Marie said. "Oh, maybe I should give you my phone number, too." 
"Sure" Angelo said. She told him, and he wrote it down. "Thanks."
"Okay, start talking" Marie said. "I really want to hear all about you."
"Well, I was born Spain… and my first second name is Gabriel" Angelo began. "And then…" he kept talking.
Marie smiled to herself, and listened to Angelo. She loved his voice, it was so soothing.

Angelo yawned and glanced at his watch. It was 6:30am! 'I've been talking to Marie all night, and I'm not even sick of her' Angelo thought to himself.
"…anyway" Marie was saying. "That's the end of my life story."
"It was fascinating" Angelo said, really meaning it. He had never realized that someone could have such a life full of ups and downs, and she was only twenty two.
"Thanks" Marie said.
"Yo, Angelo! Who you talking to?" Paddy shouted.
"Oh, shit, Marie" Angelo said." Paddy is up, he saw me on the phone. I have to jet, but it was really nice talking to you. I mean it. Call me later, okay?"
"For sure" she answered. "And thanks."
"You're welcome" Angelo said. "Crap, Paddy is walking over here. Bye." He said, hanging up.

Marie hung up the phone, smiling. Angelo and her had talked all night, and it made her feel better. She didn't even cry when they talked about Paddy. Angelo was a friend. A great friend.

"Who were you talking to?" Paddy asked Angelo, walking over to him.
Angelo thought fast. "My friend" he said, with a straight face.
"Oh, okay" Paddy said. "Who called last night?"
"Oh, two prank calls in a row" Angelo shrugged.
"Okay" Paddy's face fell. "I thought… I was hoping… never mind." He walked away.
That was so close, Angelo thought to himself.
"Hey, buddy" Jimmy walked up to Angelo.
"Hey" Angelo answered. "Where's Jessica?"
"Sleeping, she said the phone kept ringing, or someone was talking outside" Jimmy said. "I have no idea what she's talking about."
"Me neither" Angelo lied.
"Anyway, I was told to remind you we have an autograph signing this morning at the Hyatt, and a concert tomorrow night" Jimmy said.
"Yeah, thanks" Angelo said.

***During the Signing***
"Oh, Angelo, you are my favourite!!! And those Backstreet Boys and Nsync are crap compared to you! Hear that? Crap!" A girl yelled in Angelo's face.
"Well, thanks" Angelo looked down at the picture he just signed "Katelyn. Have a nice day."
"Oh, I will have a nice life now that I met you. You are the reason I wake up, eat, sleep and do what I do!" Katelyn shouted.
"That's great! But other people have to get autographs, and…" Angelo began.
"Autographs, shmatographs" Katelyn said, spraying spit in his face. "I love you." She got on the table. "EVERYONE! I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT!" Heads of people everywhere looked towards Katelyn. "Angelo and I… we're getting married!"
"Okay, that's enough" one of the bodyguards picked up Katelyn. "Sorry, little girl." He said, and brought her to the door, while she shrieked, "I love Angelo!"

In Jimmy's table
"There you go, Diane" Jimmy said, to an overweight women, who looked to be about forty-five. "Have a nice day" he smiled.
"Thanks" she said, and walked away.
Jimmy called over the bodyguard, and told him to watch his place. Jimmy walked behind the table, to get a glass of water.
"Jimmy!" the bodyguard called. "The fans are getting rowdy."
Jimmy walked over to his table again. After about seven more fans, a little girl came up.
"Hello, can you sign this? My name is Maggie" she said, with a smile.
"Sure" he took the picture. "With love for Maggie…" he said signing.
"Thank you, sir?"
"Call me Jimmy" he said.
"Ok Jimmy, bye!!"

After about five more minutes, they closed doors to the fans, and The Kelly Family was led out the back to their bus.

Angelo called Marie.
"Hey" she said, when she heard his voice. They had talked a couple hours earlier, but he wanted to talk to her again. 
"Marie, I have to tell you… after this concert, we are going to have a six month break!
"I don't believe in those so-called breaks anymore. You said after the recording in USA you'll have two months break, and see where you are now… bussing around Germany."
"But this time is for real."
"Really?" Marie said. "That's fantastic!"
"Yeah, and I wanted to tell you something else" Angelo quickly explained to Marie that they couldn't all get back to Cologne. "So I was wondering…"
"Oh, of course you can stay with me!" Marie said.
"That's what I was going to ask" Angelo said. "Just, you know, as friends. And I am sure Jessica and Jimmy will come too. They weren't talking really today, though. I don't know why."
"I am sure it was a petty fight" Marie replied. "Where are the rest staying?"
"Well, I heard Joey saying that he needs a break. He will go to Bonn to his family. And he knows about us."
"He knows about us?" Marie said. "I mean, how we talk and stuff?"
"Yeah, he told me he wouldn't say anything" Angelo answered.
"That's good" Marie said.
"Does Paddy still send you emails?"
"Yeah, why can't he stop?? He broke up with me when… errr.. I don't even read those mails."
"He still loves you!"
"I don't think so! He wouldn't treat me this way if he really loves me!"
"Hmm… he is simply an idiot!"
"Yeah, haha, I guess so. Uhmm, sorry, someone's knocking to my door. Bye Angelo."
"See ya later."

It was a postman who handled Marie a recommended letter from Berlin. She opened it.

Marie

I know you probably won't even read this, or any of the other emails I sent you. But this letter is different. I don't know if you remember why we broke up in the first place. But I do. It's been haunting me ever since.
Marie, you looked exactly like Madeline, and I thought, me being in denial, that I was with you to ease my pain. I was wrong. I was with you because I really, really love you. A lot. And then I messed up the whole damn thing. Here is a picture of Madeline, just to show you that you two really did look a lot alike.
I know it's not mutual, but…
Give me a chance to tell you who Madeline is for me.

Love Paddy

She looked at the picture. Paddy was right, they looked really alike.
Leaning back in her chair, she began to read every single email that Paddy sent her. 
Tears fell down Marie's cheek as she read over a specific email. So far, it was the most touching one. She read it again.

Marie

I miss you. A lot. I wish we were still together. You were everything to me. 

Paddy

It was simple, but she loved it. All of the others were just apologies. This one was different. She couldn't wait any longer. She had to call Angelo.

The phone rang. Paddy looked at the clock. It was an hour before showtime, and they had to leave. They were supposed to be there early.
"Hello?" Paddy said.
Marie immediately recognized the voice. She panicked. "H-h-hey… is Angelo there?"
Paddy, oblivious to who it was, answered. "Yeah hold on."
"Hello?" Angelo said seconds later.
"Angelo, hi" Marie said. "I did it. It was Paddy, and I did it."
"Great" Angelo said. "I'm proud of you."
"Thanks" Marie said. "How is Jess doing? I miss her so much."
"She misses you, too" Angelo said.
"So… where are the others going?" Marie asked.
"Joey said he needed a break from us, I'm not sure about Paddy, I guess he will come back to Cologne too" Angelo answered. 
"I'm glad that you guys are coming back."
"Paddy too?"
"Yeah" Marie said. "Definitely."
"Definitely?" Angelo asked. "What happened?"
"Well, I read some old emails from his, that I never read before. I've decided to meet him make things clear with him, I think. Don't tell him though." Marie said.
"Are you going to get back together with him?" Angelo asked. 
"No" Marie answered. "I really doubt it."
"But there's a chance?" Angelo asked.
"Why do you ask so many questions?" Angelo laughed.
"I don't know" Angelo said. "Well, I do, but, I have to go. Bye."
"Bye" Marie said. "Good luck at the concert."
"Yeah, see you" Angelo said, and hung up. He felt incredibly defeated.

Marie sat on the couch beside the front door, waiting for the group to ring the doorbell. Suddenly the phone rang.
"Hello?" Marie said. 
"Marie?" it was Jess.
"Jessie" Marie exclaimed. "I've missed you so much. When are you guys going to get here?"
"That's the problem" Jess said. "We've been delayed."
"How long?" asked Marie.
"Just about six or seven hours. We'll be there by eight, okay?" Jess said.
"Okay" Marie said. "I can't wait. Bye."
"Bye" echoed Jess and she hung up the phone.

Marie sat down, unsure what to do. She was nervous, but excited to see them. She hadn't seen Jessica in a month, and most of all, she wanted to see Angelo. He was being such a great friend.
Sitting at her computer, she logged onto her email. There was one new message. Of course, it was from Paddy. She clicked on her inbox.

Marie,

Jessica told me today that we are coming home to your house for a month. As you know my apartment is in remount and I have nowhere to stay. Joey is now, too, he changed his mind. Only Maite flew to USA and Patricia went to her Dennis. Anyway, I wanted to say that although our relationship has finished, I hope you don't treat me much different. Can we act like civilized adults? Although I still like you a lot, Marie, I really hope we can just at least say 'good morning' and stuff like that.
Anyway, I will see you soon. Please write back if you get the chance. Jessica is going to call you because we are going to arrive late. I will stay online to see if you come on and email me back. I am not on chat though, so don't bother looking.

Paddy 

Marie suddenly felt a burst of need to write him back. She clicked on reply and began to type.

Paddy, 
Hey, it's Marie. I just wanted to say that you are right. I agree with you about us being able to talk. But it's more than that Paddy.
The other day… well, yesterday I think, I went into my email. I had been avoiding it for a very long time. Finally, I got the courage to read them. And I did. Every single one.
Paddy, you reached out and touched my heart. The same heart you broke not too long ago. And you were exactly right… Madeline looks just like me. But I don't know what it has in common with me. Who is she? 
Memories come back to me all the time. I miss you a lot. And I would like to say that I want to re-try our relationship. But I can't… because although I realized I still care for you, I found someone I also care for. And I don't know what to do.
I'll see you tonight. Don't tell the others about this, okay?

Marie

Marie smiled as she hit send. She waited impatiently for a reply.

Five minutes later, she got one.

Marie

I can't believe I actually got a reply. Thanks so much. You're the greatest to be so understanding. We're coming soon, so I have to go.

Paddy

Marie smiled, and shut down her computer. Laying on the couch, she turned on the television, and watched it until they arrived.

The arrived a little earlier than Jessica had said. The doorbell rang. Marie ran up to the door, then stepped back glancing in the mirror. She wanted to make sure she looked good for them. She had on dark blue jeans, a white tank top, and her hair was up in a ponytail. She opened the door.
"Marie!" Jessica screamed and hugged her. She ran past her and threw her stuff on the floor. "I can't believe I'm home." 
"Hey, everyone" Marie said.
"Hey Marie" Jimmy said, hugging her. "How are you?"
"Good" she said. Jimmy walked past her. Angelo walked up to her.
"Hey" he said quietly. He smiled, and he wanted to hug her. But he didn't. 
"Hello, Angelo" she answered. Joey and her bid each other hello's.
Paddy walked up next. "Hey" he said. "I've missed you. You look great."
"So do you" Marie said. She really meant it. He was wearing a white T-shirt and jeans. He had on new white running shoes.

They group set down their luggage where Marie told them they could sleep. Marie was in her room, sharing her queen sized bed with Jessica. Paddy and Angelo were going to sleep in Jessica's big bed. Joey and Jimmy were sharing the large pull out couch in Jean's period room.
When everyone was settled where they were going to sleep, they all sat down in the kitchen.
"So, what now?" Joey asked.
"I don't know" Jessica said.
"How about we go out for dinner?" Joey suggested.
"Great idea" Marie said. The rest of the group nodded in agreement. "There's this great place. It's really casual, and serves everything."
"Oh, Bobby Diner's?" Jessica asked. "Yeah, it's great there."
"Okay, let's go" Jimmy said.

After their dinner, they went back to the house. It was later, and everyone was tired from the late night before.
Jimmy and Jessica went into the backyard. They laid on the grass, and watched the stars. 
Marie went into her room and put on her old shorts and a T-shirt and went into her bathroom to brush her teeth. She took out her ponytail and her hair fell loosely over her shoulders. She heard someone come in the back doors. Opening the door, she saw it was Jimmy and Jessica. They kissed and wished each other a good night, and Jimmy went into Jessica's room. Jessica walked into Marie's room, and fell into bed. Minutes later, she was sound asleep.

Marie sat in bed, and opened her new copy of Cosmopolitan. She read through the whole magazine and looked at her bright alarm clock. It was past midnight and she was wide awake. She decided to go in the kitchen. Opening the fridge, she poured herself a glass of water. Grabbing a box of crackers from the counter, she finally sat in the chair. Taking the remote control, she turned on her favourite late night talk show. 
Shrugging it off, she un-muted the TV and watched the musical guest, one that she had never heard of. She heard the noise again. This time, she took her feet off of the counter and shut off the TV. She turned around. 
"Hello, Marie."
"Paddy!" Marie was surprised. And Paddy was only wearing his boxers. "What are you doing?"
"Just watching you through that mirror" Paddy said. He pointed to the one that he was looking through.
"Paddy, that's not nice" Marie said. "What if I was picking my nose or something?"
"You'd still be the same beautiful Marie no matter if you are picking your nose or eating your ear wax" Paddy smiled.
"Paddy! That's sick!" Marie laughed.
"I was serious" Paddy said.
"Stop it, Paddy" Marie said.
"Why do you keep on saying my name?" Paddy asked.
"What are you talking about?" Marie said.
"Every sentence you are saying Paddy something, or something Paddy" Paddy looked at her closely. "What is with saying my name?"
"I don't know" Marie said. "I didn't realize I was doing it."
"Okay" Paddy let it go. "Anyway, what are you doing up?"
"I should ask you the same thing. I'm just not tired." Marie said.
"I'm not either" Paddy said. "Something else was on my mind."
"Oh, really?" Marie said, she leaned closer to him. "Like what?"
"Stuff" Paddy shrugged. "It doesn't matter."
"Paddy" Marie said. "Tell me."
"You did it again" Paddy teased. "You started with Paddy."
"Don't change the subject" Marie said. "Talk to me. What's wrong?"
"Okay, I'll tell you what's wrong. Month after you hating me, you're finally talking to me again, and it just happened. It's a lot to take in at once."
"I'm sorry" Marie said. "But you did some awful things. You gave me hope and then just broke up when I think I found my true love. The your concerts… If I saw you often, I am sure we would have talked sooner. I have learnt to forget. Can we forget all this and screw the past?"
"Marie, you said I broke your heart. But I really love you for who you are… I just… I understood it at last, but you just kept ignoring me, and hanging up on me" Paddy looked away. "You broke mine."
"Paddy, I'm really sorry" Marie said. "I really am. But I can't change the past. Those emails… they were really thoughtful, and it showed me what you really meant to me. I don't want you to hate me"
"I don't, Marie" Paddy said. He looked at her. "Fine, let's forget it all. I think that would be the best." He smiled at her.
"Where is that your new girlfriend, Madeline?"
"One day I'll tell you all about the great girl named Madeline. But not now… I'm not ready yet. We are friends?"
"Sure" Marie said. "Friends"

Angelo woke up and realized he had to go to the bathroom. He couldn't hold it, but he didn't know where it was.
He walked out of the room, unsure where to go. Seeing a light in the kitchen, he decided someone might be up to tell him where to head.

"I'm glad we've settled this little fight" Paddy said. "Even though it wasn't really little. I still love you, Marie. The same as I always have."
"You're my friend right now" Marie told him. 
"Okay" Paddy frowned. "Well, let's make our friendship official." He opened his arms wide. "Hug?"
"Of course" Marie said. She went into his arms, and they hugged tightly.

Angelo walked into the kitchen, and horror swept over his body. Right in front of him were Marie and Paddy, together in a close hug.

Chapter 8 - A date