As Time Goes ByEpisode 10It was lucky that tomorrow was a Saturday and the students were all ready to go home.Kian didn’t return to he and Shane’s dormitory until two o’clock in the morning, and so Shane fell asleep feeling very insecure and extremely lonely. The next day he got up early and found that Kian was sitting straight up in his bed, staring at nowhere.‘Ki?’ Shane got dressed and asked him.Kian slowly turned his head. ‘Shane mate, good morning.’ He greeted Shane without looking at him.‘Morning Ki. Come on, you go down and have some breakfast before we leave?’ Shane sat down beside him.‘No I don’t feel like eating.’Shane frowned and stared at his handsome face. ‘Oh Ki, get over it. I’m sure Daisy had her own reasons for leaving, please Kian just get over her.’‘You don’t like her from the beginning, do you?’ said Kian, firing up at once.‘Oh yes Ki I like her,’ Shane replied back rather patiently.‘Then shut up and leave me alone,’ Kian seemed really annoyed.‘OK Kian I’ll do that,’ Shane stood up. ‘But there is one thing I wish you to know. I said all this to you cos I don’t wanna see my best friend upset like this, nor does Mae, nor do Mark and Ellen. There are many people you have to lose during your life, it doesn’t worth destroying yourself when things getting hard. You’ve got to stand up to them and face them bravely, you’ve got to be strong. If you need help, I’ll always be there for you, so will Mae, Mark and Ellen. Please trust me and take care of yourself, OK?’Kian looked at Shane straight in the eye and tears fell down from his eyes once again.‘Thank you for your patience, mate…’ he hugged Shane tightly. ‘I know, I’m sorry…’‘It’s okay Ki, everything will be fine.’ Shane patted him on the back and walked out of the dormitory.Once out of the dormitory Shane sighed. Kian used to advise and comfort him when he had problems, like failing on physics, having arguments with Mandy, crying because of the pain in his hands… But what now? Daisy left Kian and took his heart away. He needed someone who could bring back his world. And was Shane going to do it? Or, could he do it? He was sure that he himself had difficulties to cope with right now. He didn’t want to think about Spencer at all, but he’d got a bad feeling of he and Mandy’s relationship, and every day it seemed to be growing stronger… Every time he thought about it his heart quivered. No, Mandy always loved me, he said to himself. Oh stop that Filan, another voice snapped back from his heart. Didn’t you see, she always became so worried when talking about schoolwork, future and other subjects like these, and her strange reaction after Daisy left…Shane shook his head and entered the breakfast hall. It was early, not many people were there. He walked to the seats — it didn’t feel good at all without Kian standing by his side, talking and laughing with him. His mind drove away as the breakfast arrived and he was thinking about his piece of physics paper yesterday morning until he felt someone tapped him on the right shoulder.

‘Oh hi Ellen, good morning,’ he looked up and said politely.‘Rare to see you up this early, hun?’ She sat beside him holding her glass of orange. She smiled which made Shane relieved. ‘Is Kian OK?’‘No I don’t think so,’ Shane shrugged. ‘But he’s getting over it, don’t worry. Why ain’t Mark with you?’Ellen looked at the ceiling. ‘Ay, he just wouldn’t get up till lunchtime. And how come Mandy’s not with you?’‘I dunno,’ Shane simply replied.‘Oh, here she is,’ Ellen looked out and found her ordering breakfast out of the hall. She winked at Shane. ‘I’d better get going,’ she stood up and walked away before Mandy could notice them.When Mandy entered the hall Shane had already finished half of his meal. ‘Mae?’ Shane waved at her, seeing that she didn’t find him.‘Shane!’ Mandy made her way towards Shane. ‘Fancy and early morning?’ She joked.‘You do, too?’ Shane laughed, as he watched Mandy having her toast.‘Dreaming? Or haven’t woken up from sleeping?’ Mandy pushed him when she saw him fix his gaze on her.‘Oh,’ Shane was pulled back into reality. ‘Mae, I got lost in your eyes.’Mandy coughed on her toast.‘Don’t you believe me?’ Shane teased her.‘Of course I do, but…’ Mandy looked away, pretending that she was shy. ‘I heard your words very often in the lyrics of those pop songs all over the place, you know,’ she tried to act casual but failed. Her voice trembled as she spoke these.‘Babe,’ Shane finished his breakfast and pulled her head to force her look at him.‘Yeah Shaney?’ Mandy’s eyes flashed with tears.‘Something’s on your mind. Why not make it obvious?’ Shane was opened with her.‘No there isn’t anything, thank you Filan.’ She put her coffee on the table and faced Shane. ‘Sometimes you care about me so much. I’m moved and I guess I fall for you because of this… but Filan, everybody has the right to have some privacy.’ She held Shane’s hands.Shane nodded. ‘Yeah baby I understand. I’m sorry.’Again she gave Shane a very weak smile. Shane hugged her and tied his arms around Mandy’s shoulders. ‘Babe I love you,’ he whispered.‘I know, Shaney. I love you too.’When their lips finally connected they heard Mark yelling cheerfully. ‘You’re in a public place! Behave yourself Filan!’Letting go of each other quickly Shane and Mandy both smiled. ‘How about you and El? Swimming throw the crowds like a pair of eels!’ Shane said standing up, laughing. Everything seemed so fine and perfect. *