Author Notes - I'm a little late to the party but this is basically a story about what would had happened if Kieran never died. Hope you like it.
Heart Lies Here
Chapter One
John-Paul McQueen was last seen that day by a worried looking Niall Rafferty getting into an ambulance with an unconscious Kieran Hobbs. This was never supposed to be the plan, this changes everything...
...
Craig Dean was still in the bedroom; it has been at least half an hour. Though Craig just presumed John-Paul was giving Kieran a very long last farewell. Therefore he didn't think calling him was the right move to make now. He started to relax a bit more which is when the door opened. He gasped.
"What are you doing? Get out!" Myra shouted while holding onto a basket full of clothes.
She dropped the basket as she chased him down the stairs. He was only wearing his underwear which caught the attention of Tina and Carmel. They were just looking on in shock as their mother chased him outside.
"Get this in your head Craig; he is with Father Kieran!" Myra insisted, not knowing the truth.
He had a red face and it wasn't entirely due to wearing underwear out in public. Though it didn't help. Myra was so wrong but he didn't want to tell her before John-Paul got the chance to.
"Can I have my clothes back?" Craig asked before Myra slammed the door shut as she ignored him.
...
Niall didn't know what to do as he paced around the village. Trying to look like he has no idea about what happened however if Kieran wakes up then everyone will know. Including his beloved Steph. She already hates him enough after Max. He turned around to notice Craig running across in just his underwear. He would laugh if it were any other day.
...
Kieran was quickly rushed away on the stretcher with a helpless looking John-Paul looking on. The doctors were trying to revive him quickly, he had a drug overdose. With John-Paul struggling to accept this with good reason. This wasn't like Kieran; suicide wasn't something he believed in. Just the thought made John-Paul sick to his stomach as he was sleeping with Craig while Kieran was almost dying. He looked on his phone which read '2 missed calls from mum' and '1 missed called from Craig' He didn't feel like answering to either. He looked through the door where Kieran was being prodded. He went through his contacts and chose to call Tina. He clicked call...
"Tina Hi...Look can you come to the hospital.. Kieran's in a bad way...I explain more when you come...Bye" John-Paul placed phone back down with a sigh.
He excepted the whole lot to come and he was right.
...
Tina alerted both Myra and Carmel what the problem was. They both looked as stunned as each other. Mercedes opened the door to see them all collecting the belongings that they needed.
"What are you lot doing? We haven't been evicted again have we?" Mercedes asked in a half-serious and half-joking kind of tone.
She waited for their answer but they pushed past her quickly. Turning back around to see her, this wouldn't concern her. She didn't care about Kieran and this would not faze her but they had to tell her now anyway.
"Kieran's in a bad way... We're just going to visit him...Anyway, I left you a curry in the microwave" Myra told her.
Mercedes nodded without caring too much as expected.
"What happened? Did God finally strike him down with lightning?" Mercedes asked sarcastically.
They all tutted in unison.
"We don't know...He could be dying and you're here cracking jokes about God and his ways" Carmel replied with her arms crossed.
Mercedes couldn't help but smirk.
"Alright then...Have fun" Mercedes grunted before going inside and shutting the door behind herself.
...
John-Paul was allowed to enter the room after the doctors did all the could at the moment. His family was still not here. All his guilt came flooding back as he looked upon Kieran's lifeless body. The only thing keeping him alive was this electrocardiogram as it went 'Beep! Beep! Beep!'.
"Hi.." John-Paul spoke though it was just like he was speaking to an empty room.
He sat down on the chair next to the bed. With tears falling down his cheek as he still did care about him a lot. He grabbed onto his hand as he held it softly as he watched the heart monitor.
"I'm so sorry"
More tears came down his cheek as he tried to wipe them away with one hand. He already felt guilty enough because of making him losing his job as a priest and then actually carrying on around with Craig. Kieran sacrificed so much and he got so little in return. He knew how selfish this was yet if he stayed with him, it would be only be out of pity right now.
"Please get better... I'm so sorry that I can't love you the way you deserve to be loved"
He shook his head as he started to sob, covering his face with his hand. He was still holding onto his hand as he stroked it with his thumb. He received a text from Craig which read 'UR mum caught me. It was bad. Have U broke up with priest boy yet? X' Reading that text alone made him shudder. He slammed his phone down.
"Hey...We made it as soon as we could...How is he?" Myra asked in the doorway; he turned around.
She pouted as she walked in with Tina and Carmel. He didn't know what to say to that at all as he just carried on looking down upon in tears. Trying to hide them but it was no use as they all noticed.
"Hey don't cry John-Paul...He's going to get better, he is being looked after by God. He never forgets an ex priest" Carmel tried to say, saying another one of her made up sayings.
Though it was no use, she pouted as she gave him a hug. He shook his head as he could hardly look at them all after what he done. No doubt Myra will ask questions after finding Craig in his room.
"I don't mean to alarm you John-Paul but I found Craig in your bedroom...I don't even know how he got in but I chased him down the stairs and he's gone now...You're lucky Kieran wasn't there" Myra told him; he put his head down in shame.
Tina being the smartest suspected John-Paul of being unfaithful though now was not the time or the place. She knew that.
"I know...How did he get in? Perhaps the backdoor was open" Carmel was cut off by John-Paul.
"Enough! Please!" John-Paul shouted as his guilt was obvious.
They both sighed, still not catching on. Though something clicked for Myra after a few moments of silence. Her face changed into a look of disgust and disbelief, she hoped what she thought wasn't true.
"Please tell me you weren't playing behind Kieran's back with Craig" Myra spoke in a knowing tone.
John-Paul could barely say the words as he knew that true and he already felt sick to his stomach. That text message from Kieran before he overdosed was going to stay with him always.
"I can't help who I fall in love with" John-Paul replied without much thought though he regretted it.
Carmel walked out in disgust. Tina soon followed her as they didn't want to look at their brother after that. Only person who stayed was Myra but not for the reasons he would had liked. He was still holding onto Kieran's hand.
"You took Kieran away from the church... Why did you do it John-Paul? Did you just feel like sleeping with a priest? Was it just so you could brag to your little mates?" Myra questioned in a patronizing tone.
He started to sob again as he knew how much she was so against their relationship before. How she blamed Kieran however now the tables has turned and he couldn't cope with it. He didn't want to answer her.
"And you think you have a right to hold his hand still? I can't even look at you" Myra hissed before walking out.
...
