Don't Ever Let Me Go

Susan and Lynn liked Karaoke but little did Susan know that a song in a karaoke bar in Sligo would change her life forever...

The Sligo rain was pouring down on Lynn and I. "Let's go into the first pub we see", I said to Lynn, "at least it'll be dry". We had only just arrived in Sligo and dumped our bags in the hotel room. We'd been looking forward to this trip for ages and now it had arrived we couldn't wait to go out and 'PARTY LIKE THE IRISH'. We found a pub which was bursting at the seams. Lots of laughing and loud music was coming from inside. We walked in and headed straight to the bar. Karaoke was on and someone was murdering a Westlife song. 'Westlife'!! sigh. My eyes scoured the busy pub looking for signs of KIAN, SHANE or MARK. Nothing. Lynn had put our names down for a song, we were both big Westlife fans and that was why we decided to go on the trip to Dublin and Sligo. I was crazy about Kian and Lynn liked Shane and Nicky. Our names were called for the next song "Seasons in the sun". I remember saying to Lynn that I was singing Kian's part of the song. She didn't mind as long as she got to do Shane or Nicky's part. The music started and the words came up, my hand holding the mic was shaking and sweaty. "Good bye to you my trusted friend" i began, but as the verse went on I was aware of someone (not the whole pub) watching me.I just had that feeling that someone's eyes were on me even tho there was probably hundreds of eyes on Lynn and I.
The song finished, everyone clapped, someone whistled, I needed a drink and went to the bar. "Two Bailey's on ice please" i said, i was about to pay for them when a soft irish voice said, "no i'll get these." As I turned to thank the owner of the lovely voice I gasped at the familiar face. "OH MY GOD" I said. Kian told me that no-one had ever been able to sing his part of Season's in the sun as good as I had that night. I couldn't speak. The guy I'd cried over at night, talked about 24/7, dreamt about every day and night was standing in front of me. My legs had turned to jelly. My mouth couldn't move. Lynn could see my reaction and quickly came to my rescue."She's lost for words Kian, you should feel proud coz no-one has ever managed that before, she talks non-stop, mostly about you." Lynn said. I could've killed her for telling him that. Kian smiled and took my hand and told me he felt honoured. I managed to smile. He asked Lynn and I to join him and his mates. I was able to say "ok" but it came out as a little squeak. We walked over to the table in a quieter part of the pub, to find Shane, Nicky, Bryan, and Mark arm wrestling. Kian introduced us. "Guys this is Susan and her friend Lynn." They all said hi and I noticed Shane couldn't take his eyes off Lynn. Bryan said Kian didn't waste much time charming the laydees. Kian smiled and said he'd never charmed one as nice as me. Aww sweet.
The conversation and the drink flowed freely and Shane and Lynn were getting closer. A little too close I thought. He kept touching her leg and she would move his hand away, but this time she let it rest there. I suppose I felt a bit jealous in a way. Kian wasn't touching me, although he did insist on asking me every 5 minutes if I was ok.
Mark, Bryan and Nicky decided to go on to a club. Shane asked Lynn and I if we'd like to join them. I didn't care as long as I could be with Kian, but he didn't want to go. He asked me if that was alright and said he'd like to get to know me a bit better. "And I can't do that in a busy, noisy pub or club can i?" he said. "What do you suggest?" I asked him. He wanted to go for a drive to Sligo bay. How romantic. It was still raining but not as heavy as it had been. We went outside to the car park and made our way to his car. He opened the door of his silver porsche and helped me in (what a gentleman). "Are you cold?" he asked. He'd obviously seen me shivering. I wanted to say no it was just excitement, but I held back. "Yes a little" I said. He took off his leather jacket and put it around my shoulders. I could smell his aftershave from it. I closed my eyes and drifted into a peaceful dream. I didn't want to wake up incase it was all a big dream and i wasn't sitting in the one and only KIAN EGAN'S car. I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Hey lazy bones" that voice again. I opened my eyes and there he was. I just wanted to kiss him right there and then. "You were fast asleep" he said "am I boring you?" I came back to reality. "Oh no" I said, "I was just lost in the warmth of your jacket." He opened the door and I got out of his lovely warm car into the cold Sligo night. This time I was shivering with the cold. He helped me to put his jacket on properly and zipped it up, then he took my hand and we walked along the shore. We talked for ages. He was really interested about me and wondered why a girl like me was still single. "I always choose the idiots" I said. He laughed at that and said he wouldn't mind being one of "my idiots". I looked into his sparkling blue eyes, my heart pounding, he put his arms around me, our eyes fixed on each others, our lips met under the light of the moon. The kiss was passionate and lingered for what seemed to be an eternity. It made me tingle all over. We came up for air and he held me in his arms. "Mmmmmmm that was nice" I said. "Glad you approved,there's plenty more where that came from" he said chuckling.
We went back to the car and Kian asked me to phone Lynn and tell her I wouldn't be back at the hotel tonight. He had asked me to stay at his. A cheeky smile was etched on his face. I knew why. Lynn's phone was off. So was Shane's. I wondered what they were up to. I didn't care, I was with my fav guy ever. I smiled from ear to ear.
At his house he showed me all his certificates and awards for achievements etc. He said his best achievement is in his bedroom. "Oh yeah,what's that then?" I quizzed.He put a finger to my lips and led me to his room. "You" he said as he kissed me tenderly."I want you so much" he said as the door slammed shut behind us. This was turning out to be the best weekend of my life.
I woke up in the morning and felt the warmth of Kian beside me, I turned over to look at him and all of last night's memories came flooding back, I felt that tingle again. I kissed his cheek, he let out a sigh and woke up grabbing me round the waist to greet me with a passionate kiss. "Mornin babes sleep well?" he asked. "Like a baby" I sighed. He kissed my cheek before getting out of bed. Kian made breakfast which we both ate in bed, then I had time to shower and get ready before we met up with Shane and Lynn. The four of us had big smiles on our faces so we knew what each of us had been up to, much to Shane's amusement. He would keep asking Kian if we did it and Kian would say "leave it Shane, it's private ok" and Shane would just continue to giggle. We spent the day together with the lads showing us the sights of Sligo. As evening fell and the rain started again Shane suggested a video and some drinks at his house. Mark, Nicky and Bryan were going to come along later for a glass or two.The four of us settled down to Titanic, my favourite film, i remember thinking Shane had good taste.
I cried during the film and Kian put a loving arm around my shoulders. He told me never to let go, just like in the movie. The thing was, Lynn and I were going home tomorrow. I cried for an hour, too upset to talk to Kian, and Shane comforted me. He said that Kian was finding it very hard too and I should try to be brave for him. I wiped the tears away just as Nicky,Mark and Bryan arrived with the drinks. Nicky looked at my red eyes he looked concerned. "Hey are you guys ok, why's Susan cryin'?" he asked. Mark thought Kian and I had fallen out and he started yelling at Kian. I shouted at Mark to leave him alone, "it's not his fault," I said "I'm crying because I have to leave him and the rest of you behind tomorrow". Mark gave me a hug and Bryan said "well let's make the most of the time we all have left together and PARTY." That cheered me up. The music played and we all danced around the room laughing. Kian never left my sight all night. He didn't even notice Shane and Lynn had been gone for ages. We just danced together, kissed, talked to each other, laughed and even sang along to the songs to each other, never letting go.
Sunday morning arrived and no-one was up. Lynn couldn't get out of bed, Shane wasn't letting her. Nicky was curled up on the sofa and Mark lay at the bottom of the sofa, half on and half off. Bryan was sleeping on the rug in front of the fire, and Kian...he was in Shane's spare room all alone. I stood at Shane's back door breathing in the cold Sligo air as tears filled my eyes. I heard footsteps behind me "there you are, I've made you a coffee, it'll be getting cold. "That soft Irish voice again. Oh My God, I thought, why the hell am i hurting so much. A tear rolled down my cheek. Kian put his arms around me and held me tight. "I know it's hard hun, but you have to go home sooner or later and we start our tour soon, but I promise I'll call you everyday", he said, then he lifted my chin so he could look into my eyes and said the words I'd been longing to hear since I first fell in love with him "Susan, I love you and I wanna be with you forever." I loved him too but it hurt too much to say the words. After all it wasn't as if he'd see me again, once I'd gone he would probably move onto the next girl that sang his song so nicely at the karaoke.
At the airport we shared a long passionate kiss before our flight was called. The other lads gave Lynn and I big hugs and when Kian hugged her I seen him hand something to her and wink. I didn't ask although I was curious. Our flight was called and we made our way to the gate. Lynn blew Shane a kiss and I turned away from Kian with tears in my eyes. I managed to wave to them all before we got on the plane, but my heart was breaking. Shane was comforting Kian and Mark, Nicky and Bryan looked upset for him too. Kian suddenly looked up and shouted "I love you, don't let me go" and I smiled before he was out of sight.
The flight seemed to drag. I sat there the whole time in a dream thinking about the last two days, the best ever two days of my life. Lynn pushed the "something" into my hand. "Kian said to give you this when we'd left." I opened up a small box and inside was the head of a red rose and a note saying "Susan I hope you are reading this now, but I will be crying, so please accept this token of my love for you and never let me go. Love you always KIAN XXX. I couldn't see what it was through my tears. Lynn opened up the rose bud and took out an emerald and diamond ring. "Oh my god" I said in a surprised tone.
The plane landed safely and I walked through the arrivals gate in a daze. I was just getting my bag when my mobile rang. "Susan did you get your gift?" the voice said. I mumbled the word "yes", then he said he wanted to ask me something, but he couldn't do it over the phone. My heart was pounding and Lynn was hugging me to stop me shaking. Kian told me to close my eyes and listen carefully. I did. I felt like an eejit in the middle of the arrivals lounge with everybody looking at me. Then I heard the sound of a guitar and that soft voice again,singing the words "goodbye to you my trusted friend"........ as he sang his lines I was aware of his voice becoming clearer. I still had the phone to my ear when he said "open your eyes". I couldn't believe what I saw when I did. Shane, Kian and the rest of the lads were standing in front of us. "How?" I asked, but he put a finger to my lips, went down on one knee and said "Susan I wanna grow old with you and never let you go, will you marry me?" I said yes, we all cheered and cried and hugged each other, then my fiance turned to me and we shared a tender kiss. I thanked Lynn for taking me to Dublin and Sligo and for letting me sing Kian's part in the karaoke.

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One year on and Kian and I are still deeply in love, Shane and Lynn are still together and the two of us left Edinburgh behind to join our lads in Sligo. We are joining them on tour this year too and Kian is taking extra special care of me...why???? He doesn't want his "soon to be mother of his baby" to get too tired. All of my dreams came true thanks to a song on the karaoke. Our love is stronger every day since we promised never to let go and Seasons in the sun became my favourite song.