Chapter 35

Robbie's POV

A loud buzzing sound wakes me up, instantly my eyes snap open. "Uhh..." Groaning whilst i stare up at the ceiling, i notice that i must of fallen asleep on the floor instead of the bed last night.
"Sir?" A female voice sounds outside of the door. "It's 9am. We've tried to ring you for your wake up call over an hour ago, but you must of unplugged the phone last night." Scrolling my eyes over my shoulder towards the phone, the wires have been forcefully pulled from the wall and the phone has been thrown across to the other side of the room. Oh dear.
"Y...Yeah...sorry...erm...thanks... i just need to get dressed and i'll be out of your hair." What the hell even happened last night? Using the back of my hand to wipe away the sleep from my eyes, a stinging pain prevents me from doing so. Looking down at my fist, the dry blood triggers my memory from last night's actions.  Taking a deep breath, i get my stuff together leaving the hotel room to head back to the clinic to visit Mark.

Arriving at the clinic a little later than expected, i hurry through the doors towards the reception area. Once i've checked in, i slam open the visiting area's doors a little harder than intended, catching pretty much the entire room's attention. Mark sits alone at the other end of the room, slightly shaking his head as soon as he sees me. "S..Sorry...er..." Blushing majorly, i make my way over into Mark's direction. Today is just going to be a day full of bad luck... i can feel it. "Hiya mate." I grin down to the small weakened man, who remains in his seat with a blank expression on his face. "...I know... i'm late... traffic has been awful." Clearing my throat from my lie, i take the seat opposite him.
"...Or you forgot about me... which is more believable." Mark chews on the inside of his cheek. Staring at the older man's face, i notice the red rings around his eyes, possibly from the hours of crying previous.
"No Mark... never mate... so... how are you finding it? Made any new friends?"
"This isn't play school you know? I'm a grown man and i want to be treated like it more, ok?" Angrily he snaps at me. This isn't like Mark, the emotions running through him are creating a new attitude.
"Of course... i know... i didn't mean it like that."

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Mark inhales a deep breath. "No... i didn't mean that... it's just... being alone gives you more time to over think things... i haven't really spoken to anyone yet... apart from the woman who does the classes... they're pretty good... even if i avoid communication with the other members... i prefer to sit out of the way and just listen."
"Well it's good to hear that the classes are working... that's the main thing... and i'm proud that you're doing this Markie..." Gently i stroke the top of his hand, which i instantly regret, drawing away my bruised hand in a blink of an eye. Mark's eyes widen by the quick flash of it.
"W...What...what happened?"
Swallowing hard, i rattle my brain for yet another lie. "Huh?"
"Your hand? What happened?!" He takes my arm, resting my hand into his palm, so he can examine it properly.
"Oh... it's nothing... long story. Anyway... have you made any new friends yet?"
Mark blinks his eyes at me, refusing to release my hand. "You've already asked me that. Stop avoiding my question."
"It's nothing, it was just a moment of anger that's all. I punched a wall, end of."
"Liar." Mark mumbles under his breath, scanning my face causing me to feel even more guilty about the whole situation.
"I'm telling you the truth, i went to speak to Gary and i-"
"G...Gary...? You went to see Gary?" Backing away from me slightly, whilst remaining in his seat i can tell that he understands what really has happened.
"...Mark... it's not what you think..."

"You...you've hurt him... haven't you?" Gritting his teeth, as the tears build in his eyes he stumbles to his feet.
"Please...let me explain...Mark-" Reaching out my hand into his direction, i take hold of his arm. Mark looks up at me, as his body tenses from the anger.
"Don't fucking touch me. Don't ever... come and see me again. I hate you." Tugging off my grip he storms back towards his room.
"Mark! Please come back!?" I call after him, but it's no good. He's gone.
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Gary's POV

Holding the bundle of tissue against my nose, i stare at the torn, soggy pieces of paper on the table. It's ruined. Robbie's ruined the written side of Mark's life. All his and our memories gone, just like that. The blood continues to drip from my nose and lip. I'm not feeling sorry for myself, i understand why he did it and i don't blame him. My phone begins to ring, which knocks me out of my daydream. Pressing the accept button, i hold it against my ear, before speaking in a hoarse sounding voice. "H...Hello...?"
"Hiya hun, how're you?" A familiar voice sounds in my ear, which immediately brings a smile to my face.
"'ello Yaz... i'm not too bad, thanks, and yourself?" I lie.
"Just a bit tired, guess it's my hormones starting to kick in... are you up to anything today?"
"Any excuse." I laugh a little, which comes to a sudden stop, when i feel a twinge in my face. "...I was actually going to pop out... isn't Robbie back?" Dipping the edge of the tissue under the running tap, i gently stroke away the dry blood on my cheeks.
"Cheeky sod!... Oh... i was going to come round to yours? It's pretty boring here and Eleanor would love to see you... Rob texted me an hour or so saying that he's left the clinic and now at the studio...so i'm rather lonely at the minute." Quietly she sighs. As much as i'd love to have Yasmin and Eleanor round, i can't allow them, not whilst i look like this. Things are just starting to get better between Yasmin and Robbie, and i can't be the one to stop all that... they have a little girl to think about, and Yasmin needs to be stress free whilst she's pregnant.
"Sorry love, but...the reason you can't come round is... because... er..." Carefully biting my lip, i tightly close my sore eyes. "...I'm going... i'm going to visit Mark." Silence fills the other end of the phone.

"Wow... really?"
As much as i'm trying to avoid socialising with Mark, the least i can do is show my face. Although i'm looking like some sort of zombie and it will only get him worried, at least i can get it all out of the way. "Yes... we've got a few things to sort out for the nursery... and i want to crack on with it as soon as we've had the scan done."
"That's great news, Gaz... i'm really proud of you... i know how tough things are, especially for you. Let me know how you get on?"
"Y...Yeah... of course, sweets... anyway... i better get off... i'm a little tired, so the sooner it's out of the way, the sooner i can come back for a kip." Throwing away the blood stained tissue, i make my way into the hallway for my keys and coat.
"Hope things go well for you both. Speak soon, tell Mark i send my love."
"I will do... see you later..." Ending the call, i slide my phone into my coat pocket. Walking to the front door, i glance at myself in the mirror. "Frankenstein Barlow..." Shrugging my shoulders, i release a sigh. "Well... here goes nothing."

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Mark's POV

Laying on my bed with my arms folded, i stare up at the ceiling as the tears continue to roll down my cheeks. He hurt Gary, he actually hurt him... doesn't he understand that Gary's been hurt enough?! Well...by me he has.
"Mister Owen?" Knocking on the door, stops my quiet crying.
"Go away." Releasing a moan, i roll onto my right hand side facing the wall.
The female clears her throat, ignoring my words. "...You have a visitor."
"Who is it?"
"He didn't give us a name... he just wanted to see you... it sounded urgent."
Shaking my head, i roll my eyes sarcastically. "I'm not seeing that twat ever again. I don't want Rob visiting me anymore, ok?"
"Erm...this...this isn't Mr Williams..."
Frowning my eyebrows, i sit up in bed as a confused look fills my face. "Who...who is it then? The lads aren't visiting until next week... and family isn't until tomorrow?"
"Would you like me to turn him away?" She asks, sounding just as confused as i am. Closing my eyes for a brief moment i make a decision.
"No... i'll come."

Walking down the corridor beside the nurse, out of nowhere i feel a slight heart racing moment for no reason what so ever. "Feeling alright?" A hand is placed onto my shoulder, causing me to flinch.
"Eh?! Oh...y..yeah...just nervous... i guess... it will probably just be paparazzi..." Rubbing my aching face, we continue to walk back towards the visiting area. Less people are in there than when Robbie arrived.
"If there's any problems, just let us know... ok?"
Managing to force out a friendly smile, i walk through the doors. Searching around the room, i bite my lip looking at the empty seats. "I...I don't get it...? Where's my visit-"
"Mark." A male Mancunian voice speaks in a low sounding tone. Instantly by hearing the voice i spin on my heels into the direction it came from. In surprise my jaw drops, as i blink my eyes once or twice. It can't be...? Is this real?
"G...Gary...?!"
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Gary's POV

Nervously Mark walks over to me, but stops in his tracks when he sees the artwork or should i say fist work, printed all over my face. "Oh... god... G...Gary..." He reaches out an unsteady hand towards my face, which i avoid by turning my cheek.
"Let's not go into it... that's not why i'm here." It feels weird speaking to him, let alone seeing him standing in front of me. The shock still fills Mark's face, probably over the fact that i'm actually here. "Sit down... if you like?" I point to the empty seat opposite me. Nodding his head, Mark quickly accepts my offer, trying to move as close as he can to the table. There's an awkwardness in the air, which prevents conversation to happen. What exactly can we talk about? We use to be so close... we use to be best friends for over a decade... we were even going to get married... and now... just look at us... two strangers sitting in front of one another.

"It's nice in here..." After 10 minutes i decide to break the silence, i've only got half an hour here so we might as well make the most of it, seeing as i might not be back to visit him again.
"Y...Yes... it is..." Playing with his fingers, Mark doesn't take his eyes off me, which makes me slightly uncomfortable, is he even blinking? Inhaling a deep breath, i place both of my hands flat onto the table.
"The reason i came here was... because... the scan is approaching... it's almost around the corner... so we need to discuss some things about the nursery."
Running his thumb along his jawline, he begins stroking the rough looking stubble. "...What do you have... in mind, Gaz...?"
"No... don't lay it all onto me... i've got enough stress going on in my life... i can't make all the decisions on my own... you have a mind of you own too." Once the words leave my mouth, i bite the tip of my tongue regretting it.
"I...S...Sorry..." He bows his head, disappointed in himself. Being here just over 10 minutes, i can see that he's started to punish himself over the slightest things... and i guess that's how he ended up here. It can't be easy for him either, even though he is the main cause that everything has ended up like this. For now i have to bite my tongue for the sake of our child.
"I was thinking about maybe turning the spare room into the studio, and having the studio room as the nursery? It will be much bigger for him or her, and space is what we're needing right now."

Mark scratches his head and nods in agreement to my plan. "To  be honest... i was going to suggest that... but i wasn't entirely sure whether you would want that to happen? We do have quite a lot of equipment in there... unless you get rid of some of mine? I don't think i'll be needing it for a while, so it will just be left laying around."
"Maybe once you're out of here you can come round and sort exactly what you want to keep? I'll go through my lot too... i wont be needing my old cassettes... especially not from my stone age." My lips curl into a faint smile.
"Don't be daft... i'm sure little Gaz or Gazzie would love to hear your version of  A Song For Christmas." Mark tries to hold back his laughter.
"Ay... and i'm sure they'd love the mullet an all!" Shaking my head, the smile remains as it begins to widen a little more.
"You're not going to give our baby a mullet Gaz!" He laughs, for the first time in what it feels like years, hearing Mark's laugh fills the pit of my stomach with warm. Gently Mark places his hands over mine, where he continues to smile at me. "...I can imagine him or her taking your hair...and smile... and eyes..." Happily he sighs. His dull looking eyes slowly turn into a faint sparkle.

Looking into Mark's eyes, the memories of the pair of us come running back into my mind. "...And your laugh... personality... charm...style... selflessness... and..." My throat becomes dry, as i gulp feeling as if i've swallowed razor blades, suddenly the moment of the night Laura came round sinks back into my mind. Pulling my hands out of contact from Mark's, i place them into my lap. He studies my face looking embarrassed over his actions.
"...It's getting late... and there's some things i've got to sort out..." Standing to my feet, i feel the ache in my body kick in from forcefully hitting the floor. Mark stands up almost in sync with me. "I'll drop you a text or something when we can sort things out... studio wise..."
"Will you be visiting again?!" Anxiously, Mark asks. Running my tongue against my gums, i lower my head avoiding his sense of puppy dog eyes.
"I'm not sure... i'm rather busy...It's been good seeing you."
"Oh... ok... yes... i really appreciate you coming, Gaz. Thank you." Lifting my head again, i notice his bottom lip start to tremble faintly.
"No problem... see you... at the scan then...?"
Tears enter Mark's eyes, as he forces out a smile to hide them. "C..Can't wait..."
"...I better get off then... stay safe..." As i turn to walk out of the door, a pair of arms tightly wrap under mine. Mark starts to cry softly against me, as his body shivers from the emotions.
"T...T...Thank you...for coming... it means... a... a lot..."

Wrapping a single arm around Mark's body, it stops shivering by my touch, as i return the hug for no longer than a second or two. "Goodnight..."
"...N...Night..." Shyly he wipes away his tears. "See you soon..." He remains standing at our empty table.
"Ye...Yeah.." Not wanting to stay in the room any longer, i quickly walk back out of the corridor and out towards the exit. Once i've scribbled my name on the piece of paper on the reception desk to check out, i sprint out of the exit, feeling the cold air make contact with my burning cheeks. Unable to hold them back any longer, the tears run from my eyes as i cup my face.