However hard I tried over the next two days, I couldn’t stop running into Shane. All three of us had been getting on really well with all the guys, and we’d hardly spent five minutes without one of them being around. I tried not to think about him too much, but it was impossible. Even if I didn’t think about him during the day, we were at all the concerts, and he was inches away from me.

I had decided, almost as soon as Shane asked me, what I was going to tell him. But I was still scared. Nancy and Karina were great, offering advice, but without putting pressure on me. I knew they thought I should go with him though.

As Wednesday evening approached, I got more and more nervous. We decided to just stay in the hotel and talk, because Shane didn’t want to risk being spotted. At least that’s what Kian told me.

Just after 8 on Wednesday night, I walked downstairs to the hotel restaurant, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door.

Instantly I spotted Shane, sitting at a table in the corner, talking to Nicky. I wandered over.

‘Hi.’ I smiled, and tried to hide my nerves.

‘Hey Harriet, I’ll leave you two to it. Georgie should be down any minute.’ He stood up and left.

‘Hi, you look nice.’ Shane smiled, and I just about melted away.

‘Thanks, you too. How’ve you been?’

‘Good, thanks. You?’

‘Yeah, good. The concerts are really good Shane, you guys are amazing.’

He blushed. ‘Thanks. It helps knowing you’re watching. I have a feeling that Glasgow’s going to become a favourite venue!’ It was my turn to blush now. ‘Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you. Look, d’you want a drink?’

‘Don’t you want to know what I’ve decided?’ I think my face gave the game away.

‘Is it...? Are you...?’ Shane swallowed. ‘Tell me.’ He closed his eyes.

‘I’m coming with you.’

His eyes opened. ‘Say that again, I need to know I didn’t dream it.’

‘I’m coming with you.’ I couldn’t stop myself smiling. Shane jumped up and hugged me.

‘Thank you.’ He whispered in my ear.

We sat down again, and ordered some drinks. ‘What do your parents think?’

‘Dad’s not sure, but he knows that I’ve thought about it properly, and that I’m not just rushing into anything. I think Mum’s probably jealous!’ I giggled.

‘And school?’

‘I dunno. I’ve been thinking of quitting anyway. I can’t cope with all the work, and the school knows it. They’ll understand. And anyway, it’s not as though I won’t be able to go back and do my A levels another time.’ Shane was staring at me, and I knew he wasn’t listening to what I was saying. I waved my hand in front of his face. ‘Earth calling! Everything okay?’

‘Okay? That’s an understatement! You have no idea how happy you’ve just made me!’

‘Really?’

‘Oh yeah. Listen, stuff the meal. How about we go and get everyone else and go out and celebrate?’

‘Oh, Shane, we don’t have to do that!’

‘Yes we do! Come on.’

For the next five minutes, I watched him phone round everyone’s rooms, and speak to Nicky and Georgie who were about to sit down to eat. I whispered in Georgina’s ear, ‘Anyone would think we’d just got engaged or something!’

She smiled. ‘You have no idea how worried he’s been that you’d say no! You’re all he’s been able to talk about for the past 48 hours!’ I watched Shane as he told everyone the news. He looked so happy. I caught his eye, and he blew me a kiss. I sent him one back.

Within an hour, we’d found an Irish pub in the centre of Glasgow. Although we were supposed to be celebrating us, Shane and I sat in a corner, and talked, whilst everyone else propped up the bar.

‘Any second thoughts?’

I shook my head. ‘No way. Not now. I was nervous earlier, but now,’ I paused.

‘What?’

‘I couldn’t be more sure.’ Shane leant over and kissed me. The kiss sent shivers down my spine. When he pulled away, I said. ‘How about you? You haven’t got any second thoughts?’

‘God, no! I was terrified you’d say no, and that I’d lose the one person I’ve ever loved.’

I sat up suddenly. ‘Woah, what did you just say?’

He smiled, shyly. ‘What do you think I said?’

‘You, you, you said you loved me.’

He nodded. ‘That’s what I said.’ He looked me straight in the eye. ‘And I mean it. I never believed in love at first sight, but now...’ He tailed off.

‘I love you too,’ I whispered, too scared to say it louder.

‘Really?’ Shane took my hand in his.

‘Yeah. I love you Shane. That’s why I knew I had to come with you. I knew if I didn’t that everything else would slip away from me, cos I’d think ‘what if?’. I didn’t want that. I want to be with you.’

‘I know. Now do you see why I was so scared? I didn’t want to pressurise you, but I didn’t want to let you go. I only met you three days ago, but already I can’t imagine my life without you.’ We kissed again, and I never wanted to let go. Bryan came bounding over, and he was already very drunk!

‘Awwww! Look at you two! Smile for the camera.’ He pulled out a fancy camera, and took a photo of the two of us as we laughed at him.

‘Bry,’ I said, ‘the best camera in the world ain’t gonna give you a picture if you don’t open the lens!'

‘Oh right.’ But instead of taking another picture, he went back to the bar for another pint.

The rest of the night went quickly. We left the pub at about half one. Bryan persuaded most of us to go off to a club, but Shane and I shared a taxi back to the hotel with Nicky and Georgina.

The journey back was quiet, and we said goodnight to Nicky and Georgina in the foyer of the hotel. Their room was on the ground floor. Shane and I got in the lift, and I pressed the button for the floor we were both on. Our rooms were both in the same direction, but we passed his first.

‘Thanks for tonight.’ I gave Shane a kiss on the cheek.

‘Thank you. You made it a great night.’

‘Well, I’ll see you in the morning then.’ Shane was just opening his door.

‘Do you,’ Shane looked worried, ‘do you want to come in?’ I nodded, Shane took my hand, and led me into his room.