The next day after Kayleigh had walked out of the car, John had been up all night recording a song. He was so determined to drop it off to her that morning, but he just couldn't face it.

"What if I balls it up again and hurt her even more?" he thought to himself.

He left it and went to work as usual, well usual minus the trip to Bury. He had no responses to his texts so didn't feel it was right to pick Kayleigh up.

As he drove to work, he played the song he had written over and over in his head "God I miss her" he thought, but he convinced himself it would all lead to more heartbreak in the end.

John arrived at work feeling downcast and that's when he saw her, looking equally as sad. She was chatting as usual to Rosin and Diane, but her spark had gone.

He resisted going to speak to her and just went to his office.

This carried on going into weeks and then months. John struggled but got used to not having her in his life. They said a cordial yet awkward hello but nothing more.

Kayleigh forced herself to move on. The first few weeks had been hard for her and despite her heartbreak she lied about the reason John was no longer giving her a lift when she was asked by her colleagues and just explained it was merely not reasonable for John to drive so far out of his way.

She hadn't told Mandy the full ins and outs of the events although Mandy had guessed there was something much deeper and tried to cheer Kayleigh up.

As Christmas approached Kayleigh went on Donna's hen do, she didn't really fancy it but knew she had to get back out there and put John to the back of her mind.

The hen do consisted of the girls from the store teasing her about John and what happened between them.

"I thought yous were getting it on?" asked Elsie.

"No, we were just friends...car share buddies."

"Oh yeah, that's not how it looked" added Diane "he looks broken now you're not car sharing."

"I'm sure he isn't" replied Kayleigh.

"Eh Rachel...didn't you have a crack at Mr Redmond?" said a blatant Elsie.

"Hardly...just being friendly!" came the sheepish reply.

"Well, he didn't pick me for his crappy Christmas team..." said Elsie "eh or you Kayleigh...I thought you'd have been a dead cert, considering how close yous two were."

"I told ya...we were just friends. Now can we change the subject...please?!"

"Oooh touched a nerve?" added a smug Rachel.

"No, but this is a hen do and we're meant to be having fun, not talking about the knob rashes at work."

"She's right everyone...let's get this shittin' hen do started!" added Elsie.

The hen party cheered and the night continued.

John regretted not picking Kayleigh for his Christmas team, but he knew it was too soon to be that close to her and not have that connection. He knew she was out on Donna's hen do tonight and felt uncomfortable not knowing what she was up to and that he wouldn't get the gossip, well not from Kayleigh anyway.

Elsie had supplied John with the itinerary of the hen do when he found himself in conversation with her at the deli counter. He actually deliberately sought her out as he knew he would get the full details, it gave him some comfort that he knew what Kayleigh was getting up to.

He had thought of asking Paul or Jim for a night out in town in the hope of accidently on purpose bumping into her, but it would have been too obvious why he was out and didn't want to ruin Kayleigh's night. He just sat on his own, looking at his pitiful Christmas decorations that he was yet to put up.

The hen do had been better than expected for Kayleigh, she had been chatted up by a man called Darren, it was someone she vaguely knew from years ago so felt comfortable talking to him. He was a little taller than John, more slender with close shaven dark hair and around the same age and very pleasant.

He had asked Kayleigh if she wanted to meet the next day for coffee, Kayleigh agreed and they swapped numbers.

Mandy had been taxi driver for the night so Kayleigh updated her on the nights events.

"Oh I'm so pleased Kayleigh that you're getting back out there."

"I'm just glad I didn't have to join heart searchers again."

"Well hopefully you will get your prince charming yet!"

"Mmm" replied a thoughtful Kayleigh not really convincing herself let alone Mandy.

"Look, are you sure you're over John?"

"There was nothing to get over...we were mates. Nothing more" she replied as she looked out of the passenger window.

"You were more than that...I still think he did have feelings Kayleigh, he was just a typically terrified man!"

"Well he had his chance, I'm not going to wait forever. I haven't got time."

"I know, but don't rush into something for the sake of it. I really want you to be happy and if you're fine about John now, that's great, but if you have unfinished business..."

"We don't Mandy...I'm sick of talking about him. How am I meant to move on with everybody going John this and John that?"

"Ok, sorry love."

The rest of the journey continued in silence.

The coffee with Darren the next day went well and they spent the rest of the day together. He was more confident than John but not as funny but Kayleigh had to get passed that, this was a nice guy and she didn't meet many of those. The fact they had known each other previously through mutual friends made Kayleigh feel more at ease. Darren had been married before for a few years and had just got out of a long term relationship but he had no children. He worked at a machine factory and was renting a flat until he got himself sorted.

For the next week Kayleigh and Darren spent most of the days texting and meeting up most evenings for a drink or bite to eat. Things were looking good and Kayleigh's sparkle was slowly returning.

For John, hearing various stories from the hen do did not help his troubled mind and had finally heard about Darren through a not so discreet Elsie.

"Oh aye...sounds like she's met a keeper Di" was the tail end of the whole conversation he heard.

John was dumbstruck, he had to leave work early that day just to get his head round things.

Was now the right time to give her the song? Maybe this new guy was the one for her and he should leave it. He was crushed but knew he only had himself to blame.

He drove to his mums as he didn't want to just sit on his own and felt he needed to talk this through with someone as the whole situation had been making him crazy. His mum was quite sensible when it came to matters of the heart and she would have put him right about Charlotte way before if he opened up to her.

John opened the door to his childhood home and stood at the kitchen door where his mum was tidying.

"Hi ya love. What you doing here?" she said as she looked up and saw his sullen face "John, what's up?"

John moved over to her and gave her a hug and broke down in tears "Oh Mum...I've really messed up."

"Oh John, come on sit down, it cant be that bad?"

She lead him to the living room sofa.

"It is Mum, I've lost someone I love so much and now she's seeing someone else..."

"Is this your car share buddy? Kayleigh wasn't it?"

John smiled "How did you know?"

"Call it a mothers intuition? Let me make you a brew and you can tell me all about it."

John told his Mum everything from the first car share to the radio dedication, his mum listened in stunned silence to a son she didn't recognise.

"John, this is so unlike you, I've never seen you like this."

"I've never felt like this...and I was too selfish and scared to be man enough to tell her."

"You tried though John."

"Not hard enough Mum...now I've lost her."

"You haven't...she's only being seeing this guy a week...it's not too late."

"She will hardly speak to me mum. And she will probably think I'm just saying this because I don't want anyone else to have her and I'm gonna muck her about."

"But you don't know that...you're just wimping out again!"

"I know...and Kayleigh deserves better...she seems happy, happier than I've seen her for a while."

"Happier than when you were with her?...she loved you John, that doesn't just go."

"But I hurt her so much...I can't guarantee I wouldn't do it again...you know what I'm like..."

"Well I thought I did...but the John that's been telling me about the love of his life is not the John I know...your face lit up just by talking about her..."

"Don't..." tears filled Johns eyes.

"I don't know what to say John...I can't sit here and watch you suffer like this when you can just tell her how you feel."

"I cant! Not now! It's ruined...I ruined it!" he raised his voice and broke down again.

Jan hugged him.

"Can I stay here tonight?"

"Course you can love..."

"You won't tell our Paul will ya Mum?"

Jan laughed "Course I won't" she sighed as she kissed John on the forehead.

As Kayleigh left work, John's car was gone, she had noticed he hadn't been around all afternoon.

"I hope he's not ill" Kayleigh thought to herself. A car beeped, it was Darren, she walked over to where he was parked.

"What are you doing here?" she asked as he opened the window.

"I was just passing and thought I would take you to mine for tea...and dessert!" he winked.

Kayleigh was shocked at his forwardness and had tinges of guilt but knew she had to move on.

"But I'm not changed" she laughed.

"Don't you worry about that...look Kayleigh, I really like you and we've had such a good week...and you are hot. What you holding back for?"

"I'm not...I just...don't want to rush into anything" Kayleigh replied.

"We are both single adults and we are not doing any harm...or is there something you're not telling me?"

"No...its just..."

"What? Is there someone else...I don't want to waste my time Kayleigh?! I don't want to be taken for a fool "

"There's no one else."

"Well then...get in and I'll treat ya to takeaway" he smiled.

Kayleigh smiled and got into the car, scared that taking her relationship further with Darren would certainly move her further away from John.

The next morning, a Saturday, John left his Mums and returned home, he felt better he had finally spoken about it and got it all off his chest. He was meant to be doing extra hours at work as part of the Christmas Team but he just couldn't face it, he had called Dave Thomson to let him know he wouldn't be in.

He sat and had a brew and decided he better do some Christmas shopping so headed into town in the hope it would take his mind off Kayleigh "Who am I kidding? She loves Christmas, the whole experience is gonna remind me of her" he said to himself, he sighed and headed out.

As he wondered through the crowds, he saw Charlotte out of the corner of his eye "I need to dodge that bullet" he thought and turned into a cafe for a brew, as he opened the door keeping an eye on Charlotte instead of where he was going there was a sudden jolt.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry..." he looked up "Kayleigh?"

"John...I am so sorry, Are you ok, you've got coffee all down ya" she put her coffees down.

John hadn't even noticed the hot coffee all down his front.

"Its ok...it will come out" he said wiping his jacket "I didn't know you were working today?"

"I'm not" Kayleigh answered confused.

"It's just you've still got ya uniform on.'

"Oh...yeah" she looked down bashfully.

"So...are you working?"

Kayleigh knew she couldn't lie, John would easily find out.

"Er...no...no...I...erm...didn't go home last night."

BOOM! John literally felt like he had been hit by a ten tonne truck, his heart raced and his eyes glazed over.

"John are you ok?...John?"

John snapped out of his daze.

"Oh...yeah...yeah I'm fine...where did you stay?...Your new boyfriends?" he knew the answer he just needed her to say it.

"What?!...How do you know? I mean...it's none of your business."

"I overheard Elsie...I know it's none of my business but..."

"No buts John..." she started to go to the door ".. anyway we are blocking the door and I've got to get back..."

"To his?" asked John.

"No to our Mandy's...not that its any of your concern" she said snapping.

"Do ya need a lift?"

"Not from you ta" she left the cafe.

John sighed and went after her "Kayleigh!" he called after her, she stopped and turned.

He walked up to her "Please let me give ya a lift. We haven't spoken for ages..."

"I can't John...I'm sorry..." as she turned round Darren was in front of her.

"Hi ya...is this guy bothering you babe?"

"No, no...he's a friend from work. John, this is Darren, Darren, John."

"Alright mate!" Darren held out his hand for John to shake.

"Alright?!" replied John coolly and shook his hand.

"Eh mate do ya know you've got coffee all down ya!?" Darren laughed.

"Aye, well with Kayleigh around there's always gonna be some mishap" John smiled at Kayleigh.

Kayleigh smiled back at John as Darren put his arm round her "Yeah she's a right dozy mare" Darren added "is that where me coffees gone? That's a fiver I won't get back" he said quite seriously.

"It was my fault, I wasn't looking where I was going. I'll buy yous another?"

"Nah not to worry. Anyway John...nice to meet ya...but I've gotta get this one back to her sisters before the football."

"Yeah, I'll let you both get on. Nice to meet you Darren...see you Monday Kayleigh."

"See ya John" Kayleigh said as Darren dragged her off. John watched them walk away then turned round to get back to his car, as Kayleigh was about to turn the corner she turned to see John walking away.

"Oh my god! What were the chances of you bumping into John whilst doing the walk of shame!" Mandy chuckled as Kayleigh told her the recent events.

"Don't...I'm mortified."

"Well? How was he with you?"

"He was a bit weird..."

"Jealous?"

"I don't know...he wanted to give me a lift, he even came after me, that's when we bumped into Darren."

"What did Darren say?"

"Not much, he was too busy trying to rush me home so he could go to football. I felt so bad, John did look sad and tired but I think he went home ill yesterday so it may have been that."

"How did you feel seeing him?"

"I see him all the time at work."

"But you've not spoken properly since...well since that day."

"I don't know Mandy...John is...was...well what I thought was, the one."

"And now...is Darren the one?"

"I've only been seeing him a week!"

"Yeah but you fell for John pretty hard very quick and you've probably spent more time with Darren this week than you ever spent with John."

"It was different with John...I can't explain it..."

"If John came here now and told you he loved you and wanted to be with you...what would you do?"

"Don't ask me that Mandy! It's not going to happen so...no...I don't want to think about it...I can't...I have to move on...I'm with Darren now."

"Don't do anything hasty sis..."

"Who would you pick if you were me?"

"Oh Kayleigh, I can't answer that. I only met John a few times and Darren was in and out like a flash...I know who Steve would pick if that helps" Mandy laughed.

"Right...nope...I know who I have to pick...the guy whose actually making an effort to be with me...not hiding away or playing games. I have to stick with Darren" said Kayleigh quite surely.

"You have to follow your heart and what makes you happy...anyway are you taking Darren to that wedding?"

"I didn't get a plus one...but Donna said he can come to reception."

"Is John going to the wedding?"

"I think so...apparently, according to Elsie... he knew Donna's mother quite well so I'm sure he will be."

"I wish I could be a fly on the wall for that" Mandy laughed.

"There's no need to be Johns a mate and Darren's me fella"

"Ok Kayleigh...whatever you say."