We'd let Sarah pick where we went, and she'd chosen a well-known shopping centre in the busiest part of the city. John, who was looking worried about getting recognised now we'd arrived, had promised to pay for everything to make up for it. We had a great time traipsing through the shops together, marvelling at the most expensive clothes, sorting through the record stores and just forgetting about the argument.

John took me by surprise when he offered to buy a dress I'd been eyeing up. I tried to convince him not to, since it was ridiculously expensive, but he insisted. I couldn't believe he was doing all of this for me, and my sister too. Even now, as we were sitting at a table in one of the various cafés, and Sarah was poking around in a nearby shop, I continued to thank him for it.

-"It's no big deal, Irene,"- he told me plainly, -"but I'd like to see you in that dress. Or out."-

I felt my face go a bit red again, since his teasing had reminded me of last night. And this morning. He was such a flirt! It took me a couple of seconds to get my act together before I could finally reply.

-"But surely you're not gonna see me again at all? I have to go home this evening, John, and I'm sure you're not planning on coming back to my house with me."- I said. I poked at the cheese toastie on my plate so he couldn't see me struggling not to cry again.

What was wrong with me today? I was an emotional wreck.

When I eventually turned to look at him, his face was a mixture of emotions, and he was deep in thought about something. Whatever it was, I was itching to hear it. I reached out for his hand and he gratefully let me take it. After a little while, he came out with what had been occupying his mind.

-"Irene, this is going to sound ridiculous, and wild, and stupid and naughty, but I want you to listen to me."- He instructed. From the severe look in his eyes, and the way he took my other hand and clasped it with his own, I knew he was being serious.

-"Of course, John."- My reply was equally as serious.

-"I think there's a way we can see one another again,"- he told me, -"but it's quite drastic"-.

Excitement flared up inside me and I could barely control my already raw emotions. I didn't care what his idea was, so long as I could see him again, since I hadn't enjoyed someone else's company this much in my entire life. The best reply I could manage was a nod.

-"I've been thinking about doing this by myself anyway, and who better to it with than you. I want you to run away with me, Irene, just for a few weeks. We could call it a kind of holiday."- He finished, with words that were ridiculous but seemed heartfelt.

I was completely speechless. He liked me enough to ditch his glamorous, fast-paced life for a few weeks, just to be with me? I was ecstatic beyond words, and couldn't begin to tell him how much I'd love that. The last few days had felt like one long dream, and this only furthered the feeling. But what about his job?

-"Are you sure?"- I managed, -"I mean, I don't think I've ever wanted to do anything quite so much, but don't you have work to do?"-

He gave me another one of those winning smiles before replying, and it's a good job I was sitting down already.

-"I can't begin to tell you how bored I am of working,"- he sighed, but it seemed more like a laugh, -"I'm bored of the band, writing music, meeting producers, struggling through crowds and just of SEEING people. I just wanna get away, Irene."-

-"Then let's go,"- I answered simply.

I saw how the desperate look on his face changed to a more relaxed one, but there was still a desperate kind of look in his eyes. This one was different, though. His arm was around my waist again, since he didn't dare to do anything greater in the public eye, but I'm sure he would've celebrated in an entirely different way had we still been in the hotel room.

As we finished our lunches, we discussed the finer details of our plan in hushed tones. This was something secret, and we swore not to tell anyone we knew, ESPECIALLY not my sister, or either of John's bands. I'd only have to keep it a secret for a few days, until I could meet him at the airport, which wouldn't be too difficult, right? I was full to the brim with nervous energy and adrenaline from discussing such exciting and daring things, so I struggled to sit still in my seat. Clearly John was feeling something similar, as he chose to occupy his hands by running them up and down my thigh. Right then, I didn't think I could wait a few days to have him again, but I would have to. This was the most disobedient thing I'd done in my life, and I didn't care if my family missed me. I couldn't wait.