A/N: Man, I'm good! It took me less than a month to update! You hear me? Less than a month!

Oookay, so here's chapter nine. Don't know when chapter ten'll be up, but I've got notes and good ideas for it, so, hopefully, it'll be within the next month. Thanks to everyone for still being with me. I really appreciate all of your reviews, 'cause they mean a lot to me and my self confidence! So thanks!

Enjoy reading!

Miss Sofie


Chapter 9 – Don't Let Go

I spent a lot of time with Nick the next weeks. I must admit that I probably neglected my friends a bit, but Juliet understood why, and Mark said it was fine with him. I'm not sure he meant it, but my conscience felt a little better after hearing him say so.

Nick was a gorgeous guy. He bought me flowers and took me to places I had never been to before. He wasn't rich, and he didn't buy me cars or decorate my apartment with ten thousand roses and all that stuff, but he did spoil me. He took me to restaurants at least once a week, and then we went horse-riding, wall-climbing, ice-skating, and of course, diving, and all that kind of things. I had a lot of fun with him, but at some point I also began missing Mark. It was not the same, of course. Nick was my boyfriend, and Mark was just my friend. What we did together were totally different things, but I still missed the company of Mark, so one day I called him and asked him to go watch a movie with me. Though he was rather reluctant, he said yes, and I wouldn't have let him do otherwise. I hadn't seen him since January 1, which was around one and a half months ago (I couldn't remember a time when I hadn't seen him for more than a week!)!

Anyway, Mark and I went to the movies together, and afterwards we had coffee on a small café.

Though I had feared it would be a little awkward as we hadn't seen each other since he and Nick had had a fight, it was nothing like that at all. We talked as we used to, and I felt a twinge in my heart when thinking of the fact that I had neglected him for so long. Suddenly I didn't know why I hadn't seen him, as I enjoyed his company just as much as I enjoyed being with Nick.

"How've you been doing?" He asked as we sat down on either side of a small table. We had walked arm in arm from the cinema and talked about the old days back at school. Mark's mood was really great, and it warmed my heart, thought it was minus 9 or 10 degrees outside.

"I've been doing good. Really great, actually." I said with a smile at him. His cheeks were pink and so was his nose. He looked so cute that way!

"And…?" He asked bringing me back to the conversation again.

"Uh…sorry?" I said and didn't know what he meant. Did I miss something?

"Aren't you gonna ask how I've been doing?"

"Of course! I was just going to!" I tried and focused on the red tip of his ear. "So, how have you been doing?"

"Fine, I guess. Been seeing Juliet and Peter a lot."

"Yeah. I suppose it's still hard, isn't it?" I said feeling really sorry for him. I knew exactly what it was like to be in love with a good friend. I just hoped he'd get over Juliet soon.

"It is. Very. More than you could ever imagine!" He said and looked away. I doubted he was right.

"Aw, Mark!" I exclaimed with a sad smile at him. "There's no need to be embarrassed. It could happen to anyone!"

He didn't answer to that, and I chose to let it lie.

"So, how are things between you and Nick?" He changed topics. That was one topic I could talk about forever!

"It's going alright. He's fun to be around."

"Fun? That sounds fun!" He said with a sarcastic look on his face.

"I'm just sorry that you don't get along with him."

"Yeah. I've been wanting to talk to you about that. I'm really sorry for being such a jerk at the soccer match. He really didn't do anything to piss me off like that."

"No. He didn't. What went wrong?"

"I don't know. I guess I was just afraid."

"Of what?" I asked with a frown. Why would he be afraid of Nick?

"Of losing my best friend!" Mark answered frankly. His look was serious and his eyes did not blink.

"What? You won't loose me! Ever!"

"Really? I haven't seen you for more than a month. What'd you expect me to think?"

"I don't know. But you of all people should know what it's like to be in love. You must know why I want to be with him all the time!"
"Yes, but I still don't want to loose you."

"You're not!"

"Fine."

We were silent for a moment, then our coffees came.

"Are you sure that you're in love with him?" Mark said making me laugh with the suddenness of his question.

"Yeah. I think I am. I really like him." I said, though I wasn't sure yet, if love was what I felt for Nick. Love was a big thing and not just something you said after a few months. At least that's how I felt. Maybe I was in love, but I didn't love him. No. That couldn't be. I loved Mark, but I wasn't in love with him. Those two things didn't necessarily have to go together!

"Does he treat you well?" He asked, once again bringing me back to our conversation.

"Of course he does!" I exclaimed and put down my cup. "You really think I'd be with him, if he didn't?"
"No, and if you would, I'd have to beat him up!" He smiled at me and made me spill my coffee as I laughed. It was so good to see Mark in good spirits again.

"Don't worry. You won't have to beat him up. He is a good guy, and he'd never do anything to hurt me. I'm sure you'd like him, if only you'd give him a chance!"

"But what if he breaks up with you? Wouldn't that hurt?"

"Come on, Mark!" I said and gave a small laugh. "You're being ridiculous. We're not even a real couple yet!"

"You're not? Then why have you been together every day for the past month?"

"We haven't. I didn't see him last Thursday!"

"See! You are a couple! And I'm not sure I'll like him until he lets you see your best friend some more!"

---

The Thursday that I had talked about, when I hadn't been with Nick after work, I had seen Natalie instead. (Natalie? The Prime Minister's girlfriend? You remember her, right?) She was a really sweet girl, and she talked a lot. I didn't mind, as I was not always one for keeping conversations going. Not that I didn't like talking, but sometimes (very often during the past weeks) my mind would drift off, and I would just say yes and no at the right (and a few times wrong) times. But though it may sound as if I only liked Natalie because she talked a lot, that's not the case. I really liked her company. She did listen whenever I would say something, and she was good at it. Maybe it came with having such and important – and sometimes frustrated – boyfriend. She probably had to listen to him every night, too, so she was used to it (and maybe that's why she needed to talk so much when she was not with him!).

Anyway, I told her about Mark, Juliet, and Nick, and after our first coffee together, she knew more about me than Nick did, and also a bit more than Mark had ever done. It was quite a relief to tell it all to somebody, and in return she told me of her secrets too. How living with David wasn't always easy. Not because of his personality, but because of the journalists and people from the opposite parties. The worst thing about it, she said after three coffees and two pieces of pie, was her family and old friends. Her family absolutely loved David, but only because of the fact that he was famous, which wasn't exactly flattering. Her old friends, who had turned their backs on her once they had been married or had children, had suddenly wanted to see her again and stay in touch. It had been easy to feel that they only wanted to know her now that she was in the papers frequently.

I could see why it must be hard, and I was grateful that Nick wasn't anyone famous. I don't think I would've been even half as strong as Natalie was, and I wouldn't be able to handle it, so I guess it was good that it was Natalie and not I, who was dating the Prime Minister (besides, I had never found him that gorgeous, though I knew that a lot of women adored him)!

Anyway, Natalie and I went to a small restaurant together in my lunch break a few days after I had seen Mark.

Her mood was great as she arrived, and she looked so pretty when she smiled. I have to admit that I envied her a bit. Though she was a bit chubby, one didn't notice, as she was always bubbling with life and spirits, which made her look really pretty. Therefore it surprised me a lot, when she told me how lucky I was to be so beautiful.

"What?" I exclaimed and almost choked on my pasta salad. "You're kidding me, right?"

"No, of course I'm not." She replied with a questioning look on her face. "Why would I?"

"Because…you're the one here who's pretty, not me."

"That's nonsense, Anna, and you know it!" She said and took another spoonful of her baked potato. Talking with food in her mouth, she continued. "You're tall and can wear all those small skirts that I've always wanted to wear, and anything that you put on looks amazing on you. I wonder why the boys aren't fighting over you!"

"Natalie!" I said opening my eyes in disbelief. "You're exaggerating. I'm just an average girl. My eyes don't shine with life as yours do, and my cheek don't turn pink when I'm cold. Only pale. And I haven't been to the hair dresser's for more than six months!"

"Six months? Are you trying to kill your hair? "

"No, to save money!" I joked, but she didn't hear me.

"Six months? You're lucky to have such fine hair, then. My hair would never survive that."

"Stop it, Natalie!" I said as I put down my glass, which made me sound and look angry. That had not been my intention. "Stop thinking that you're not as good and good-looking as everyone else. You are, and you're a great friend. I'm glad I've met you!"

"Really? That's so sweet of you to say. David says it all the time too, but it's hard to believe when it's coming from someone who's blind with love!"

"But why do you think he is? Because you are gorgeous and you are a good person and you do look really good. You'd better start believing it or I'll kick the out of you!"

"Anna! I didn't know you could swear!"

"Because I'm too polite to do so around new people. Especially our Prime Minister's girlfriend!"

"Oh stop it! I swear all the time, too!" She stated in a small laugh.

---

A few days later Nick and I were to have dinner with Natalie and David (Natalie had invited us when we had finished discussing who was the prettiest of us!). Nick was wearing his beige suit which he knew I liked, and I was wearing a dark green dress. Nothing really fancy, though fancier than it would've been to a dinner with our other friends. In some way I knew this wasn't different, but dinner at Downing Street number 10 sort of makes you dress differently without thinking about it. At least it made me do so. And Nick, I believe.

We arrived a little late, and I was so embarrassed that we did. It was my fault, as I had forgotten my purse so we had to turn around and get it.

I had had no reason to feel embarrassed, though, as Natalie and David were far from ready for us to show up yet, when we arrived.

For some reason the housekeeper, the chef and probably more of the household staff had been sent home, and the two of them had tried to cook dinner themselves.

Natalie opened for us, as David was in the kitchen trying to save a smoking roast. It was impossible to tell which kind of roast it had been, and putting it under the cold water sure didn't save it. In the end David called for some Chinese food, to which we drank two bottles of his expensive red wine!

It tasted wonderful, and the accident in the kitchen sort of made us connect from the very beginning. Nick and David talked a lot, and as a few times before Natalie and I did too.

Some time not long before midnight, the conversation turned to houses and interiors. Natalie wanted to show us the house, and though one would think that the Prime Minister would be tired of showing people around the house, he jumped up from his seat with a "Good idea, sweetheart!" and lay an arm around his girlfriend. They were really sweet together, and though David was much older than the rest of us, they looked like a sweet, young couple.

"So this is the stairs!" David said gesturing with his arm as we walked up the stairs to the first floor. I couldn't help giggling a bit, and neither could Natalie. I think that she and I may have had most of the red wine. Nick would be driving home later, so he had only had one glass.

"And this is the corridor!" David said, still making Natalie and me giggle. I sort of felt like a school girl again. Natalie made me feel young, in some way, and I suddenly thought that Nick and David were really, really old. I imagined them with gray hair and sticks in their hands. The thought made me stop giggling to begin laughing instead, and when Natalie demanded to hear what was so funny, I had to stop to catch my breath before telling her. She too couldn't help laughing, and neither of us could walk on.

When I was having my next fit of laughter after something Natalie said, my cell phone rang, and without thinking about the impoliteness of answering it at this time and place, I pushed the green phone on the left and said "Hello?"

"It's me." I heard Mark's voice in my ear. He sounded sad. Almost as if he had been crying.

"Mark? What's wrong?" I asked suddenly able to control my laughter.

"Can you come over?"
"Now? What's happened?" I felt nauseous by hearing the fear in Mark's voice. He sounded terrified.

"It's Grandma. She's…"

"I she…dead?" I asked trying to swallow, but I couldn't.

"No, not yet. But she's very, very ill. She's asking for us."

"I'll be there in a minute, Mark. I'm so sorry. Are you still at home?"

"Yes, I'll be waiting for you. She wants to see both of us."

"Tell your parents we'll be there as soon as possible. I'm coming over now. Can you drive?"

"Eh, yes. Why?"

"Because I can't. Too much red wine!"

"Oh. Are you out with Nick?"

"Sort of. But it's nothing that can't be changed. I'll be right there."

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

"Anna?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks!"

---

"I just can't see why it can't wait till the morning!" Nick said for the third time on our way to Mark's place. "It's a long way to go at night, and it's dark and cold outside."

"Because!" I said and left it at that. I was beginning to feel a little annoyed with Nick. Mark needed me, and it couldn't wait till tomorrow. Why couldn't he see that?

"That's not a real reason!"

"Because Mark's grandma is dying! Try to tell her to wait till the morning!"

"But what's that got to do with you? Let Mark go. It's his grandma, not yours!"

"She's my grandma as well as Mark's. Maybe not biologically, but I've known her as long as I've known Mark. And when my best friend needs me, I'll be there for him! No matter what!"

"I thought I was your best friend!" Nick said sounding rather disappointed. It made me feel sorry for him, though he was being annoying.

"Oh, Nick!" I sighed. "It's not the same. You're my boyfriend, and I love you, but Mark's been my best friend for years. Nothing'll ever change that!"

"You love me?" Nick asked. He had obviously forgotten the other topic like all of a sudden.

"Eh, well…" I said wanting to kick myself. I hadn't meant to say that. It had just slipped my lips like the most natural thing to say. I wasn't sure yet, if I loved him, but I guess I did. Otherwise it wouldn't have felt natural to say, would it?

"What?" Nick said slowing down. I still hadn't answered his question.

"Yeah. Yes. I do love you." I said surprised at how easy those little words were to say. I had always imagined it would feel different. Like the first kiss or something. I mean, those words meant so much that they would have to make you feel much, right? But they didn't. They just felt like every day words. I supposed it was because it was a natural thing for me to say to Nick. If I hadn't felt it, then it would've been hard to say, I'm sure!

"I've so longed to hear you say that!" Nick whispered and lay his hand on mine. "I love you too, Anna!" His voice was hoarse and I could've sworn he was close to crying. I didn't know why. He should be happy, not sad, right?

Anyway, we reached Mark's place and Nick parked his Mercedes next to Mark's old Volkswagen. I opened the door to run up to check on Mark, but Nick reached out for me and pulled me near.

"I love you!" He whispered in my ear and kissed me softly. "I've loved you since the moment I let my eyes on you in the airport. You were the most beautiful and sexy…"

"Nick!" I interrupted impatiently. "Mark's waiting for me!"

I got out of his embrace and of the car. He didn't try to pull me back, and I was glad he didn't. All I could concentrate on right now was Mark and his grandma.

---

"The darn car won't start!" Mark yelled and got out. He had tried to start his car for fifteen minutes, but it refused. He slammed the door and kicked the tire – a thing that I'm sure Nick would never have done. He was far too rational for emotional outbursts like that. Though there was not much fun about the situation, I couldn't help feeling a bit amused. Mark frowned his forehead and looked really, really helpless.

"We'll find out of something." I said and squeezed his arm. Nick had gotten back into his car, but he hadn't left yet.

"But what if we'll be too late?"

"We won't. She wants to see you, and I know her well enough to know that she won't let go until she's had her way!"

"She wants to see both of us. Mum said that she asked for both me and you."

"And she will see us. I'll ask Nick if we can borrow his car."

"He won't let us." Mark said quietly and leaned against the old car. He looked up, and so did I. The sky was practically covered in stars tonight.

"Nick!" I shouted well-knowing that he couldn't hear me in the car.

I opened the door in his side of the car and said his name again. He smiled and took my hand, kissing it softly.

"Nick, can we drive your car to Milton Keynes?"

"No." He said still caressing my hand. I withdrew it annoyedly.

"But Mark's car won't start!"

"I noticed. I'll drive you." He said and reached out for my hand again. I threw my arms around him giving him a big kiss.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I said relieved and felt something else as well. Was it love?

"Mark! Nick's going to drive us!" I said happily and opened the door to the back seat. "Come on. Let's go!"

---

The trip to Milton Keynes wasn't exactly funny. Mark and Nick hardly spoke to each other, though Nick had claimed he liked Mark, and Mark had promised to behave. Well, one can only say that they didn't behave bad towards each other. How could they, when they only talked to me?

"I'm looking so much forward to meeting Mark's parents." Nick said and took my hand. I was sitting in the other front seat, though I had wanted to sit with Mark in the back.

"Why?" I asked questioningly. I let his fingers play with mine while he drove.

"Because you've told me so much about them. They obviously mean a lot to you."

"Yeah. They do." I said and turned around to look at Mark. "Have you seen your parents since Christmas?"

"I was there in January." He replied and looked at Nick's fingers playing with mine. Then he looked out of the window.

"How were they doing then?" I asked removing my hand from Nick's. I knew what it was like to be the only single, when couples would keep touching and flirting. I hated it.

"They were doing fine. Grandma was better than around New Year, so I soon went back to London again."

"I'm sorry she's worse." I said and reached back to squeeze his hand. I kept holding it for a while.

"Yeah. Me too." He said looking out of the window again, though it was dark outside. He withdrew his hand after a few more moments.

---

"Anna!" Clara (Mark's mum) exclaimed and threw her arms around me in the doorway. "It's so good to see you again. And you've brought a friend!"

"Nick is my boyfriend." I said and introduced them to each other.

"Oh." Clara said with an expression on her face that I couldn't read. She shook Nick's hand. "Come on in, then."

The house was warm and comfortable as I remembered it. Though Mark's grandma was dying, the house was its usual self, and one couldn't help but feeling sort of happy when entering. I still enjoyed coming there very much.

"I'll go check on Grandma." Mark said and hung his coat on the bannister. Then he rushed up the stairs, not caring about introducing my boyfriend to his parents. One couldn't blame him, really. He was anxious to see the old lady, and so was I. A moment later he came out from her room again and said that she was asking for me. Nick and I went upstairs hand-in-hand, which felt really strange. It was the first time I had been in this house with others than Mark and his family.

"Anna?" Clarisse (Mark's grandma) asked in a whisper when we entered her room. She was very pale, and she had lost weight. She looked in my direction, but I'm not sure if she saw me. "Anna, my child, is that you?"

"Yes, Clarisse, it's me." I said and took her hand. Mark was standing by the window letting me have a moment with her.

"Who's that next to you?" She asked closing her eyes. It was easy to tell that talking exhausted her.

"It's Nick. My boyfriend. He wanted to see you."

"I didn't ask for him." She said opening her eyes again. "Mark! Mark, where are you?"

I looked at Nick, mouthing "sorry" to him, but he shook his head lightly and let go of my hand. "I'll wait outside." He whispered and kissed my cheek.

Mark came over to us as Nick closed the door behind him. Clarisse smiled and took his hand. Then she placed it upon mine and drew our hands to her heart.

"You've got it all right here." She said and took a deep breath. She coughed a little and continued. "Don't…don't you ever let go!"

She took another deep breath and closed her eyes. Tears filled Mark's eyes while we waited for her next breath. It never came.

---

A couple of minutes passed. Tears were streaming down our cheeks, but we kept holding each others hands close to her heart. Letting go would sort of be like ending it all over again. Once was more than enough for both of us.

"I'm sorry." I whispered and squeezed Mark's hand. The small movement made Clarisse's hand fall off ours, and, finally, we withdrew our hands from her. It was tough. Really tough, and I started crying loudly.

Mark pulled me near and lay his arms around me in a big hug. I hugged him back and felt like never letting go. I felt how his tears fell down and mingled with mine, and suddenly all I wanted to do was hold him and comfort him and protect him from all evil.

"Thank you." He whispered, his breath tickling my neck. He was wearing the aftershave that I loved so much, and, instantly, my hands moved from a normal hug to carressing his neck. I couldn't resist it. He was so sad and had no one else to hold him, and I felt the same way.

I felt his lips upon mine, and much to my surprise I responded. He tasted a bit of salt, probably because of the tears, and his lips were so soft. I closed my eyes and let go, but only for a split second or so. Then I heard the door being opened. Pulling away from Mark, I turned my head only to see Nick staring at us from the doorway, his eyes widening, then expressing a deep sorrow!

I wanted to move, to say something, but I couldn't.

I was paralyzed!


A/N: Aww...! I want Mark! I'm thinking about having him for myself instead of letting Anna have him. That's not so very egoistic, is it! Ahem...

Please review and let me know what you think. Should I keep him to myself?

Anyway, indivual replies, here they come:

Dawn: Thanks again! I'll never ever stop writing this if it's not yet finished. Don't you worry about that, I'm just a very busy person, and I'm afraid I'll be busy until sometime next year when I finish my education. Hopefully, I'll have finished this story before that, though! Thanks for reviewing!

Sushimi: Thanks for reading and reviewing. I'm glad you're still here. Oh, and by the way…wish granted! J

Spooky Bibi: It only took me about three weeks this time, didn't it? Thanks for the review. I sure know who I like the best, though the other one is a great guy as well. And yeah, watching the movie again always does the trick. It does for me, that's for sure! Thanks again!

Cornishxxxpixie: Thanks for reviewing again and thanks for liking the story. I shall keep updating. Don't worry. I'm just a bit slow! And ehm…if I was thinking about not updating, you sure changed my mind by threatening me like that! J Keep reading and reviewing, thanks!