John awoke at 1.21am running over the previous nights events, thinking about what 'an arse' Darren really is.

John didn't know what came over him in those songs, he just needed to somehow let Kayleigh know something. He hoped he hadn't caused Kayleigh too many problems, he had seen her run out.

"What a mess" he said to himself.

Kayleigh was also awake, she had got out of bed and was sitting on Darren's sofa. She had been crying, she didn't know how she had got into such a situation, should she have held out for John? Has she rushed everything with Darren out of fear? Did she want John to be jealous?

She checked her phone, hoping John may have text. Kayleigh decided to text him, she needed to get some things off her chest.

K: Hi John, I cant sleep, I dont know what you were doing last night. But it has messed with my head. What are you trying to do? I am so confused. Help me understand.

John was shocked when is phone beeped and his heart raced faster when he saw it was Kayleigh.

J: Hi, I cant sleep either. I dont know what to say or what came over me. I know your with Darren now and I should respect your choice. I dont want to mess with your head.

It was Kayleigh's hearts turn to race now when she saw a message from John. She was disappointed at his response but not overly surprised.

K: Is that all you have to say?

John was welling up, he knew what he wanted to say but words failed him.

J: Its all I can say.

K: Typical. Goodnight John.

J: Night Kayleigh. I'm sorry. X

'A kiss!' Kayleigh sobbed 'how can he still do this to me?' she thought.

John wiped the tears from his eyes 'Darren was right, I'm not man enough for her' he ran that thought over and over in his broken sleep.

After her messages from John, she felt nothing had changed so grabbed the bull by the horns and moved in with Darren over the weekend. It was bittersweet but she was fed up of being torn so decided to make a commitment to Darren once and for all despite protests from Mandy.

"You're moving in? After all that happened last night."

"John isn't going to change Mandy! He confirmed that in his texts last night! I'm sick of this hold he has on me."

"Kayleigh, you really need to think about this, I think you're making the wrong decision."

"Why? Don't you like Darren? Is that it?"

"No, its not that, its the fact you still love John...and don't you dare try to deny it."

"Well...well...argh! I'm not doing this!" Kayleigh yelled.

"Now you're doing what you say John does...run away."

"I'm not running away...I'm trying to move on but no one wants to let me. I'm the big sister here and I know my own mind."

"Fine Kayleigh, fine...you move in with Darren and you kid yourself that this is what you want. I'll just stand back and watch shall I?"

"Do what you like Mandy, regardless of what I do or don't feel for John, he doesn't feel that way for me."

"I think you're wrong...and I think you know you're wrong too, you're just being stubborn and impatient."

"What because I want someone whose not scared to tell me he loves me and wants a life with me? I'm just following the guy who is given me what I need. Please just pretend to be happy for me? Its difficult enough as it is" she cried.

"Oh Kayleigh" she hugged her "Its your life love...I just want wants best for you. And if you feel this is the best decision right now then I will support you."

"Thank you."

As Monday arrived, Kayleigh was settled as much as she possibly could be at Darren's. She felt it best she explain to John first about her living arrangements before she tells anyone else. Once she got to work she would go to his office.

John had been at work since 7.30am going through paperwork. He had spent all weekend tormenting himself over his behaviour and messing everything up.

He felt work and the band were the only things he had to take his mind of Kayleigh. He saw the irony of work being the place they met and the place she still inhabits and music being a shared love and how every song would somehow remind him of her.

At 9.30 there was a knock on his door.

"Come in" he said. The door opened and he looked up "Kayleigh?" his voice softened as he said her name, he smiled.

"Can I have a quick word?"

"Of course, sit down."

She sat opposite, his face so happy to see her but tortured all at once. 'Be strong Kayleigh, he doesn't love you' she told herself.

"John, I just thought I would tell you before somebody else does...I've moved in with Darren."

John was shocked to the core, he picked up some paperwork and looked down.

"Right...why are you telling me this?"

"I didn't want you hearing it from someone else."

"What would it matter how I heard it? What would change?" John said snappily.

"I thought with everything that has been going on, it was the right thing to tell you myself" Kayleigh replied with her broken voice.

"Right thing for who?" he looked at her.

"I better go" she sat up and made to walk to the door.

John jumped out of his seat and stood in front of the door.

"What did you want me to say Kayleigh? Why come up here and tell me, you could have text me! You could have let me find out from the store gossips! Why come to my office and tell me?"

"I didn't know what I should do for the best."

"What do you want me to say Kayleigh? That I'm happy for you?"

"Well aren't you?"

John welled up "Is that what you want me to say?"

"Say what you feel John, for once, tell me what you really feel!" Kayleigh pleaded with tears in her eyes.

There was a knock at the door and Kath put her head round the door.

"Sorry John, Dave's here and will be on his way up, he'll probably want to see you."

"Thanks Kath."

Kath shut the door.

"I've gotta get sorted for Dave" John went to sit down.

"So that's it...?"

"I can't do this here Kayleigh."

"You can't do this anywhere, your car, at work, at weddings, at social clubs, in texts. You just cant do it can you?"

"Well sounds like you found a man that can!" he was snapping again.

Kayleigh wiped her face "Yeah, looks like I have" she turned and walked out.

John sat down, let out a huge sigh before he flung his papers on the floor in a fit of anger and hit his desk before putting his face in his hands and sobbing.

Kath heard the commotion and ran in.

"John! John, what an earths the matter?"

"Nothing Kath" John sat up and wiped his face "you tell no one about this...you hear me?"

"Of course not John."

"Right help me sort this paperwork out before Dave arrives."

At about 1.30 after Dave had finally left, Kath went to see John in his office.

"John have you got a few minutes?"

"Yeah sure."

"Look, John, this is really awkward for me, but as HR I do have to address what happened earlier, especially as I heard Kayleigh had been upset after your meeting this morning."

"Yeah, I understand."

"John, are you able to manage Kayleigh? If not, I can look at her answering to someone else if professional boundaries have been crossed?"

John had to think long and hard about his response.

"No professional boundaries have been crossed Kath. But because of the situation, I do think it's best I do not manage Kayleigh directly anymore."

"Thank you for your honesty John, I will get on it now and speak to Kayleigh. She will probably answer to myself and the assistant Managers as well as Dave when he is here and not doing his area manager bits."

"Thanks Kath."

"John, is there anything I can do to help? This morning was so unlike you...I'm worried."

"Just a one off outburst Kath...honest."

Later that afternoon Kath called Kayleigh in.

"I'm not in trouble am I? I know I was upset and away from my stand for a while but..."

"You're not in trouble Kayleigh" reassured Kath.

"Thank god for that!"

"However, due to circumstances between you and John, it has been decided, and John agrees, that he no longer manages you."

"What? I don't understand. What circumstances?"

"This mornings meeting between the two of you was not professional and it is obviously causing you both a lot of pain, whatever this situation is between you. From my point of view boundaries have been crossed."

"But nothings happened between us!"

"Something is going on and I don't want John or you to be put at risk with your jobs if the pair of you have more than a professional relationship."

"But nothing is going on Kath."

"Something is and John would be in a lot of trouble if you run out of his office crying again. I've had other staff commenting on it today and there was already gossip when the two of you were car sharing."

"So, I can't have anything to do with him at work?"

"You can, he is still management, but you do not answer to him, he will not do your appraisal, return to work forms, things like that."

"Ok" Kayleigh looked sad at this "Can I go now?"

"Of course...if you have any questions just come and see me."

"Thanks Kath" Kayleigh went to leave.

"Kayleigh, I really hope whatever is going on gets sorted for you both" Kath smiled and Kayleigh returned it holding back tears.

John left work feeling rather bruised about the whole day. He wanted to message Kayleigh to see if she was alright but was starting to worry if he causes anymore upset he may find himself out of a job.

Kayleigh sat on the bus thinking what a mess everything had become. After seeing John's face when she told him about her moving in with Darren, she knew that she still loved him. She wondered if Darren had been her way at getting back at John for not responding to her declaration. Kayleigh realised she wasn't being fair to either of the men in her life and made a decision she wasn't looking forward to making.

As she arrived at Darren's house, her new home, she sat and waited for him to return.

"Alright Babe" Darren said as he walked in "how was work?"

"Fine" Kayleigh said not moving but visibly upset.

"Eh what's up?" Darren asked and sat beside her.

"Darren, this really isn't easy for me to say...but I don't think this is going to work out."

"What isn't? Babe you're freaking me out."

"This, us..."

"What's changed? You only moved in the other day."

"Nothings changed...that's the problem."

"Eh? I don't get what ya mean."

"I spoke to John today and..."

"I knew he would come running straight to you. Look Kayleigh, whatever he said its not true...I hardly touched him."

"What?! What do you mean?"

Darren realised he put his foot in it.

"Er...nothing, honest...sorry...you were saying."

Kayleigh stood up "No, you were saying something, what happened with John."

"I just...I just... roughed him up a bit...you know just grabbed his collar...told him to stay away from you" he said hanging his head.

"You roughed him up? When was this?"

"Friday...I saw the effect he was having you...making you feel uncomfortable and trying to win you over with those songs...right in front of me...I mean the guy has no shame" he laughed awkwardly.

"So you threatened him?"

Darren walked over to Kayleigh "I only did it because I love you and I didn't want him getting in the way."

"Hang on!" she moved away "Is that why you asked me to move in that night so John knew where he stood?"

"No! NO! Not at all...I just wanted it to be us...a future..."

"I don't believe you and I cant believe you did that to John."

"I didn't do anything to him...just a few words that's all...I should have left him alone and accepted you were not interested but...he just seemed to be there all the friggin time."

"Stop Darren...I think I need to finish what I was saying...as you explaining yourself isn't going to make a difference...as you're right."

"About what exactly?"

"Before when I said nothings changed...I meant nothings changed in how I feel about John..."

"And what do you feel?"

"I love him."

"You love him?"

Kayleigh nodded still upset.

"When did you realise this...on Friday? When he was singing his soppy songs?"

"No...I've loved him since June last year...I never stopped...I'm so sorry Darren."

"So you've just been messing me about all this time?" Darren asked angrily.

"No no...I was trying to move on and I really thought I was...but every time I saw him, heard his voice, heard his name even...All those feelings would come back."

"But he knocked you back.. You told me that he wasn't interested..."

"That was true...but I never gave him a chance to talk things through..."

"What and now he has...that fucking bastard...going behind my back and telling you what you want to hear to get you away from me..." Darren was shouting.

"He's not said anything..."

"What...so you're finishing with me on the chance he may feel the same as you?"

"No, I'm finishing this because I will never feel the way I feel about him with you...I'm so sorry" Kayleigh was still emotional.

"You bitch!" Darren grabbed his coat and got up into Kayleigh's face "I'm going to the pub I'll be back at 9...you and you're shit better be gone by the time I get back" he slammed the door.

Kayleigh slumped into couch and sobbed, partly because she felt awful about the situation, scared of how angry Darren was and mostly out of relief that she can be honest with herself about John.

Kayleigh looked at the time, it was 18.15. She called Mandy but there was no answer on her mobile or landline. She packed as much as she could, luckily most of everything was still packed and all her furniture was in storage so it was mainly clothes and cosmetics.

She tried Mandy again and again, still no answer "Come on Mandy...where are you?"

It was 19.25, she needed to get going, she dreaded to think what state Darren would be in when he got back. Kayleigh thought of the only option she had left.

John had cooked some tea, not that he fancied eating anything. He was still kicking himself for not just saying how he felt, always running away he thought to himself.

Johns mobile started to ring.

"Whose this?" he uttered to himself.

He saw it was Kayleigh...a sudden panic hit him before he answered.

"Hello..."

There was silence

"Hello...Kayleigh?" John said.

"Yeah its me" Kayleigh spoke through the tears.

"Kayleigh are you ok? What's up?"

"Erm...I need your help."

"Oh aye, with what?"

"I need you to pick me up from Darren's and take me back to our Mandy's, I'm moving out."

"You only just moved in!"

"I know...and I hate to ask and I'll explain more but I need to get out of here...now."

"Has he hurt you? What's happened?"

"No...I just need to leave tonight."

"Where's your Mandy?"

"I don't know I cant get hold of her and I need to be out of here before 9...I wouldn't have asked John but I'm really stuck."

"Ok, ok...Where's Darren?"

"At the pub...he's told me not to be here when he gets back?"

"He's kicking you out?"

"No...I've told him I'm leaving...look John I hate to be pushy but can you help or not as time is against me?"

There was a silence.

"John?"

He sighed "I'm on me way."

Kayleigh's heart skipped a beat 'there it is again' she thought 'my hero' and smiled to herself.

John was very confused about what was happening. He was worried about Kayleigh but wasn't sure why this was happening so soon, he didn't know if it meant what he hoped it meant, but he just had to focus on the job in hand - he started the car and drove.