Mark's POV
Robbie's words ring around my ears, as we all just sit there in silence. Collecting my thoughts surprisingly i act calm... for now. I nod my head whilst pressing my lips together, looking at Robbie who has his hands still over the tops of Yasmin's shoulders. "Suicide rehab, eh? Who'd thought Mark Owen would wind up there? Well... i guess that's what fame... and love does to you... anyway... i'd love to sit around and chat, but i'm rather tired... besides tomorrow will be a busy day... packing for rehab whenever i'm due to get my cuffs snapped on before i go there... g'night." Doing nothing more, i reach for my crutches whilst standing to my feet. Both Robbie and Yasmin look surprised over my calm reaction.
"Erm...b...bed?" Worry sounds in Robbie's voice. Peering my head back around the kitchen door, i grin lightly.
"Don't worry pal, i'm not gonna hang myself out of the bedroom window or try and drown myself in the toilet. I'm going to bed. Night." Without saying another word, that's where i go, but of course not to sleep. After staggering carefully back upstairs to 'my bedroom' i close the door, before reaching for my phone from the bedside table. Punching a few digits into my mobile, i hit call in an agitated way. Annoyed with myself i hoped it wouldn't happen, as i forcefully try to hold the tears back whilst the mobile rings.
"Uhh...h...he...hello?" A tired sounding voice answers the phone. All of a sudden my throat tightens again, as the tears flood from my eyes. "M...Mark? Is that you?!"
"H...H...Howard?" Heavily i sob, wrapping the duvet weakly over my shoulders.
"Mate... it's 3:00am... what is it?" Howard speaks in a much more deeper voice.
"C...can... you meet me...tomorrow...please?"
Howard clears his throat, and the phone is blocked by silence for a minute or two. "T...tomorrow...? Erm...i can't mate...i promised to go and visit...er...Gaz..."
"P...Please...Howard... i'm begging you... i haven't got anyone else... Jay's in Manchester... Gary hates me...and....and..-"
"What about Robbie?" Speaking in a concerned voice now, i can imagine him sitting up in bed with a worried look plastered all over his face.
"T...they're...sending me away... to...to... a suicide rehab...clinic...i...i'm...so scared..." More and more tears drip down my cheeks, as i hide my face into my pillow, trying to silence my cries.
"Oh...Jesus... right...ok... we seriously need to talk mate, and i'm not leaving you in such a state... er... meet me in the cafe down town at about... 9am? Is that ok?" Breathing a little slower, i dry my tears on my duvet feeling a little relived.
"Y...Yes...t...thank you... see you tomorrow..."
"See you tomorrow, Markie."
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Combing my hair in the bedroom mirror, i stare at myself, my much older and weaker self. I feel like an old man, especially with these crutches. A fist quietly knocks against the wooden bedroom door catching my attention. "Come in..." Mumbling under my breath, i reach for my trilby which sits on the bed's headboard.
"Wow... you're up early...?" Robbie peers around the bedroom door still wearing his dressing robe and pj bottoms.
"Yeah... i'm off out."
"Oh...off anywhere nice?"
Shrugging my shoulders, i neatly perch my trilby on my flopping fringe. "Meeting Howard for a coffee... just to have a catch up... before he goes to see Gaz later."
"Are you going to see Gary with him?"
Frowning my eyebrows, i sarcastically laugh at him. "Me going to see Gary? Yeah, that's such a great idea isn't it? I'm feeling completely shit right now, and me going to his to hear him tell me how much he regrets us is really going to help isn't it?"
"But... he does want to see you... i mean he wouldn't of agreed to come with us tomorrow would he?"
"Tomorrow? What's tomorrow?" I ask in a confused tone, whilst slipping on my jacket followed by my boots.
"Er... i'm taking you to the...clinic... Gary agreed to come too..." It feels like my heart has been repeatably stabbed. He's taking me to the clinic tomorrow?! Already? It hasn't even sunk in yet. I wish i did drown in the bath last night, at least i wouldn't have to go through this as well.
"...I'm going to be late... see you in a couple of hours..."
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Howard's POV
I sit at the end table of the cafe nursing a coffee. Things between Mark and Gary seem to be going from bad to worse. First Mark finding out he has a son, to Gary beating Mark up over it all and now we find out Mark is going to a suicide clinic. I never would of thought my two best mates would be suffering so much, and now i feel completely helpless. "Please... just leave me alone..." A saddened, broken voice catches my attention. Limping in the cafe, is Mark, who is fussing over a couple of paparazzi snapping a few photos of the hurting man.
"Mark?" I call standing up, waving him over. As soon as he sees me, he lets go of the door, and quickly makes his way over to me using his crutches. "Are they causing you trouble?!"
"N...N..no nothing i can't handle..." Placing his crutches down, Mark pulls me into a tight friendly hug. "Thank you so much for coming, Dougie... i really do appreciate it."
"Hey... it's no bother...honest... it's the least i can do..." Pulling away slightly from the hug, i take a good long look at him. I haven't seen him in a while, so his bruised face and injuries are new to me. "Oh...Mark..." The colour has drained from his skin, leaving behind a pale looking man who has seemed to have aged from this stressful time.
"Yeah...i know... i look a mess..." Carefully he sits down, gritting his teeth whilst holding his ribs.
"No mate... you're not a mess... it's understandable with all the stress you're going through... here... drink this..." I hand him his strong, black cappuccino.
Mark sips from his mug, whilst forcing out a smile. "Thank you..."
"How have you been keeping? Still staying at Rob's?"
"Yeah... they've been good to me...even if they have been planning stuff behind my back."
"What made they get that idea though? I mean... you... in a suicide clinic? I don't get it?" Once the words leave my mouth, a couple of middle aged women turn around to look at us, who are sat behind Mark. "....What happened, Mark?" Lowering my voice now, i move a little closer to him.
"Things are getting hard, you know?" Softly he sighs running his hands over his face. "...Real hard... i've lost the love of my life... he was even thinking about being a single Dad... can you blame me? I'm not feeling sorry for myself... i understand he's hurting for what i did, but i need Gary back in my life... so bad... i've never experienced such pain, as i did through losing Gary. I tried to drown myself in the bath last night...a way to end it all and give Gary a better life with me gone."
Stunned by what Mark's just told me, i try to collect my thoughts as quickly as possible, so it doesn't look like i'm judging him. "Mark... listen... if anything was to happen to you... it would break Gary completely... i know all this is killing him inside, but deep down he still loves you. It's just going to take a lot of time and effort which will eventually pay off... and i guess once the baby is born you'll start to work together... and who knows what could happen from there... just don't give up Mark..." Gently i stroke the top of his hand showing him he has my support too.
"...Rob said Gary is coming tomorrow..."
"Tomorrow? What's happening tomorrow?" I ask whilst sipping my coffee, still noticing the women looking at the pair of us out the corner of their eyes.
"The clinic..."
Surprised by Mark's response, i almost end up choking on my coffee. "Tomorrow?! What? How long have you known that you was going to go there?"
"...Since last night... when i rang you... and Rob told me this morning before i came here... that we're going tomorrow..."
"Bloody hell... he loves surprises does our Rob, doesn't he? Wow...and Gary's taking you too?"
Slightly he nods, not completely sure with the state of mind he's in. "Apparently so... unless it's just a way to get me to go quietly... tomorrow will show the truth..."
"Have you spoken to Gary since... you know?"
"I rang him on Yasmin's phone yesterday... but as soon as he knew it was me he couldn't of ended the call quick enough, so i don't know... all i can do is to be there for our baby... and to be there for when ever Gary needs me... no matter what has happened... i'm not giving up on him...ever..."
"That's what i like to hear..." Softly i smile at him, noticing the women start to make their way over to our table.
"Oh my god... you're Mark and Howard from Take That!" They smile at the pair of us, before shoving one of our albums under our noses to sign.
"Listen ladies... right now isn't the-"
"Hiya... how are you girls?" Mark forces out a grin, whilst signing both of their albums. "Sorry... i can't take photos right now... and besides i don't think you'd want a photo with me looking like this... but as soon as i'm better again i promise to owe you both a photo." He hands me the albums to sign too.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Widely they smile at both of us retrieving their now signed albums. "Send our love to Gary! It's fantastic news about the baby and engagement... really made up for you both! See you later too Howard." On that note, they disappear out of the door.
"Yeah... i'll tell him..." Quietly Mark whispers under his breath downing his coffee.
Shaking my head i look at him. "How do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Pretend like everything's ok? Do people know Gary's the one who beat you up?"
"Years of practise... years... and no... of course not... only you, Robbie, Yasmin and Gary of course... i don't want people to make out like Gary's some sort of monster... i honestly don't blame him for what he's done... it's a shame he didn't do it hard enough..."
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{Not sleeping a wink of sleep, Mark begins to pack for his month's worth of rehab. It's not long to go for them to leave to go and pick Gary up, so they can set off to the clinic, just the three of them.}
Gary's POV
Walking downstairs wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around my waist, i walk down towards the front door. Why did i ever agree to take Mark to the clinic with Robbie? What on earth was i thinking?! Rubbing the soap from my eyes i reach outside for the newspaper, which is curled up on the front doorstep. I guess with Mark going to the clinic it will give us time apart, and with me going for the journey at least he'll actually leave. Pouring the hot water into my mug i make myself a strong coffee in the kitchen, before sitting at the table with the newspaper. Taking a sip of the steaming liquid, within a few seconds it ends up being spat across the kitchen table, but surprisingly not because it's hot. Blinking my eyes a few times i re read the bold words printed on the front of the newspaper. "TAKE THAT! - Mark Owen takes a beating from current Boyfriend Gary Barlow, and is later this evening said to be checking into a Suicide rehab clinic. For full story read pages 4,5 and 6." My jaw drops in shock, utter shock. How could he?! On the front shows a large photo of Mark looking emotionally drained being supported by crutches. His eyes almost stare into mine filling me with nothing, but hurt and pain. He spoke to journalists about this? Why would he do this?! Anger fills my body, does he actually thinks that i'm going to speak to him let alone go this evening with him after this?! Well he's got another thing coming! Picking up my mug i end up throwing it across the kitchen until it smashes against the nearby wall. "Bastard!" Loudly i shout. This just makes things ten times worse if that's even possible. Did he really think journalists were a shoulder for him to cry on?! Brainless, brainless man!
My phone begins to vibrate. Incoming call - Rob. "Fuck that." I mumble tossing it onto the table. He's nothing to me, absolutely nothing. He gets to go off sleeping with god knows who behind my back, then ends up having a son, yet it all seems to be my fault? Poor innocent baby faced Mark Owen, not stepping one foot out of line, and who gets beaten by big bad Gary. Great life isn't it? And if he thinks he's going to be involved with this baby, he doesn't have a chance... as soon as he or she is born, we're gone. Far, far away from here without a trace.
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