Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 04:13:44
From: Jeff Langdon <jeff_langdon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Westlife Romance - Chapters 23 (revised)

This story is pure fiction and involves the members of Westlife.  I am in
no way implying anything about the sexuality of any of their members.  This
is purely a fictional story.  Enjoy!

I would really, really appreciate some feedback on the story...so please
send any comments and/or suggestions to jeff_langdon@hotmail.com.  I would
love to hear from you!!

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Westlife Romance - Part 23

For the next hour, Nicky and Bryan were engaged in a fierce battle in the
pool.  During this time, all worries escaped their minds as they focused on
the task at hand.  Bryan was the first to emerge from the water as he went
to grab his towel.

"So who's best swimmer now?" Bryan gloated triumphantly as Nicky climbed
out of the pool.

"Okay, so breaststroke isn't my best stroke," Nicky answered with a smile.
"There's always next time."

As Nicky walked towards him, Bryan felt himself get tense.  The sight of
Nicky's body, dripping with water, was almost too much for him.  Bryan
could feel his cock stir in his speedos.  "Fuck," he thought, "I can't let
Nicky see this.  Why is this happening to me?"

Nicky could see Bryan's mood change and he didn't like what he saw.
"What's wrong, Bry?"

"Nothing's wrong," Bryan answered nervously.  "Why would anything be
wrong?"

"Well, I wouldn't know if you don't tell me," Nicky continued.  "Come on,
Bryan, you can tell me anything."

"Nothing's wrong, okay?  Just leave me alone!!" Bryan hollered out of sheer
frustration.  He didn't even wait to see Nicky's confused and hurt
expression as he stormed back to his room.  "Oh god, this is so fucking
messed up!!" he said to himself as he tried to push Nicky out of his mind.

Nicky stood there dumbfounded.  "What just happened?" he thought to
himself.  He began to analyze the conversation that he just had with Bryan.
Perhaps he said something that offended Bryan?  Or maybe the effects of him
pushing all his problems on Bryan were beginning to show.  After a short
debate, Nicky concluded that the latter reason must be the cause of Bryan's
short temper.  Sadly, he walked back to his room, knowing that there really
wasn't anyone who could help him through his problems except for himself.
But Nicky couldn't blame Bryan.  "After all, he wasn't obliged to help
me...and at least he tried," Nicky said to himself.

Bryan tried to clear his mind with a cold shower but it didn't do much
good.  All his thoughts were filled with Nicky.  He couldn't even imagine
what his outburst must have done to Nicky.  "Shit, Bryan," he scolded
himself, "you're supposed to be helping him, not taking advantage of him.
And then you go ballistic on Nix.  Fuck!!"  He was dejected and confused.
He felt like a failure for not being able to help his friend.  And now, he
probably put the trust that Nicky placed on him in jeopardy.  When Bryan
finally emerged from the bathroom, Nicky was nowhere to be found.  As he
put on some fresh clothes, he noticed a note on his bed.

"Sorry about this morning.  Hope everything's okay.  I'll see you at
practice.  Nix"

Bryan held the note in his hand as his eyes swelled with tears.  "It's not
your fault, Nix," he whispered.  "It's not your fault..."

When Bryan finally arrived at the studio for practice, the other lads were
already there.  As he took his place, he caught Nicky giving him a quick
smile.  He returned the smile but nothing else was said.

It was during the practice for the song "What Makes a Man" that things
began to happen.  Up until that point, everything had proceeded as usual
with the lads just running through the songs.  As the song began, Bryan
caught sight of Nicky shaking gently.  He wasn't shaking because he was
cold...he was crying.  But because of the lighting in the studio, the other
lads didn't notice...

What Makes a Man

"This isn't goodbye, even as I watch you leave, This isn't goodbye, I swear
I won't cry, even as tears fill my eyes, I swear I won't cry.

Any other girl, I'd let you walk away, Any other girl, I'm sure I'd be OK.

Tell me what makes a man wanna give you all his heart Smile when you're
around and cry when you're apart If you know what makes a man wanna love
you the way I do Girl you gotta let me know so I can get over you.

What makes her so right?  Is it the sound of her laugh?  That look in her
eyes When do you decide?  She is the dream that you seek, That force in
your life.

When you apologize, no matter who was wrong, When you get on your knees if
that would bring her home.

Tell me what makes a man wanna give you all his heart Smile when you're
around and cry when you're apart If you know what makes a man wanna love
you the way I do Girl you gotta let me know so I can get over you.

Other girls will come along, they always do.  But what's the point when all
I ever want is you, tell me.

Tell me what makes a man wanna give you all his heart Smile when you're
around and cry when you're apart If you know what makes a man wanna love
you the way I do Girl you gotta let me know so I can get over you."

Kian glanced up as the song ended and saw Nicky looking at him.  His eyes
were glassy from his tears and there was a sad look on his face.  He also
saw Nicky's tears start again when he didn't react to Nicky's silent pleas.
Kian decided that Derek was right.  He wasn't going to dwell on it.  He
pushed all thoughts of Nicky aside and returned to the music.

Bryan saw the silent communication between Kian and Nicky from his seat.
His heart was breaking as he saw Nicky's attempts at reconciliation
crushed.  There was nothing he wanted to do more at the moment than to wrap
Nicky in his arms and tell him that everything was going to be fine, but he
knew that that was going to be impossible.  So he sat where he was,
watching in agony the pain that Nicky was going through.

The practice ended and as the lads began gathering their stuff, Derek
walked in and immediately began kissing Kian passionately.  Kian eagerly
returned the kiss, and was sure that their kiss could be clearly seen by
Nicky.  And yes, Nicky saw everything more clearly than he wanted to.  But
he refused to cave in and show emotional weakness in front of Derek.  With
all his strength, he walked up to Kian, greeted Derek with a smile and even
began to strike up conversation with the couple.  Soon, Kian and Derek left
on their date, leaving the other four lads in the studio.  Nicky was the
first to leave, walking down the hallway in silence.  Not knowing why,
Bryan went up to him and just embraced him.  It wasn't a friendly hug,
there was much more.  Bryan no longer cared that Nicky and Kian were
supposed to be a couple.  The last few minutes clearly demonstrated that
Kian didn't deserve Nicky.  And Bryan told himself that he would be there
for Nicky.  He would give Nicky the kind of love that he deserved.

Nicky felt Bryan's arms wrapped around him.  How he wished it was Kian who
was embracing him.  But he knew that it was only wishful thinking.  He
eventually turned to face Bryan, who offered a sympathetic smile.
Actually, it wasn't merely sympathetic...it was a loving smile.  It was a
smile that was different from Kian's smiles.  This smile was actually real;
it was actually sincere.

"Don't let him get to you, Nicky," Bryan finally said.  "There are other
people who care so much about you..." Bryan smiled and leaned closer,
"...let me love you the way you deserve to be loved."

Nicky didn't know what to say.  He wasn't expecting this at all.  What he
eventually did say, he would regret.  "I'm sorry, Bryan..." he said,
turning away.  "I can't...I just can't..."

"But Nix..." Bryan continued.

"Just drop it, ok?" Nicky stammered.  "It's not going to work...I...I don't
love you..."  With that, Nicky ran off into the night, leaving a broken and
devastated Bryan in the studio.

...to be continued....

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Hope you enjoyed this segment.  Let me know what you think!!

I'd love to hear any comments/ideas/questions.  Please e-mail me at
jeff_langdon@hotmail.com.