I walked into the kitchen that morning, and Mark was there, mixing some coffee. I looked like a right mess, wondering in with my pyjamas on and my hair all dishevelled.

‘Morning.’

‘Morning.’ I yawned.

‘You sound tired. Get up to much last night?’ he asked sneakily.

‘And what exactly are you implying?’

‘Well…’

‘Shut it Mark. It isn’t funny.’

‘Woah. Sorry mate. What’s the matter? Did something happen last night?’

‘We managed to argue twice with in the day. In fact, twice within the hours you lot were out.’

‘About?’

‘Well…he wanted to…you know. But I didn’t feel like it. We had just made up after an argument and I wasn’t exactly gagging for it. But he thinks that if we don’t when he wants to, I don’t want him anymore!’

‘Oh…I see. What else was there?

‘Oh well, in the morning we fought over something really stupid. I can’t remember what now.’

‘You and Paul argue far to much.’

‘State the obvious.’

‘It isn’t right you know.’

‘Course I do. Don’t you and Rhia argue?’

‘Yeah! Course we do.’

‘Well then why are me and Paul any different?’

‘First of all, Rhia and me argue maybe once a week, if that and usually over something big. You and Paul argue all the time. Maybe you need a—‘

‘Before you say a break, bare in mind that I love him.’

‘Bare in mind that if you really loved each other you wouldn’t argue!’

‘I swear to god Mark, you want us to split up.’

‘Course I don’t, but I don’t want to see you so unhappy.’

‘What do you care anyway?’ I started to walk out of the door.

‘More than you’d think.’

I stopped for a minute, just to make sure I knew what I was hearing. Then I carried on.

‘Paul my love!’ I sang loudly. ‘Wake up!’

I ran over and pulled the curtain across.

‘Wakey wakey.’

‘Oh Cat…what’s the time?’

‘9.15.’

‘Why am I supposed to be getting up?’ He stretched.

‘CD:UK performance.’

‘That’s the one,’ He lent over and kissed me. ‘What would I do without ya?’

Then Mark came out of the Kitchen. I just looked at him, hoping he’d heard what Paul said.

‘Be late for CD:UK rehearsals?’ we laughed.

‘That’s true.’

I left him to get changed, and went to see what everyone else was doing.

‘Is everyone awake?’ I shouted.

‘Yeah we are now.’ Christian muttered.

‘Good good.’

‘Argh, my head is thumping,’ Ben came around while I was standing by his bed.

‘That is your own fault young man.’

‘And what are you now,’ He blinked a couple of times. ‘My mum?’

‘If I was, I’d give you a damn good smack for being out so late and getting smashed.’ I said with fake aggression.

‘Oh don’t get frisky with me now!’ He raised his eyebrows.

‘Piss off Ben!’ I laughed. ‘Come on get up,’ I pulled off his covers. ‘You got to be at the CD:UK studios soon.’

‘Why don’t YOU piss off Cat,’ He replied, pulling the covers off me and rolling back over.

‘Fine!’ I shouted.

‘Woah, cool it!’

I hoped he would say that. So what I did to ‘cool it’ was go to the kitchen, got some ice, and then put it under his covers and pressed it against his bare back.

‘Cool enough for you?’

‘Cow!’ He jumped up out of bed.

‘Ha ha, I try.’

‘Dammit…’ He mumbled. ‘I’ll get you back Cat.’

‘Kiss my bootie!’ I laughed.

Ben and me had a thing. We always, always picked on each other. If he would do something to me, I’d say, ‘I’ll get you back Ben!’ And he would say, ‘Kiss my bootie!’ So, I just did it to him. Don’t even ask me how we got into a habit of doing that!

When everyone was eventually up, we had to be on our way to CD:UK. It is the guys’ performance; just to remind people they’re still around. Seeing as they have been on tour, they haven’t had time to go on any shows, and they are releasing a new single as soon as they are off tour.

I was waiting backstage when they were performing, and the crowd was going mad. I think their new single ‘Take on me’ is going to be a big hit. I’ve been there before when they’ve had a big hit, and Paul has never changed. Not really. As much as being a pop star should be expected to, anyway. To be honest with you, what ever happens between us, when I look at Paul, on stage, off stage, I still feel those stupid little beautiful butterflies you get from no one else.

I was admiring him on stage. How much effort he puts in, how him up there looks totally right. And before I knew it, the song had gone off and they were coming back from the stage. All I could do was stare at Paul, the love of my life.

‘Hey babe,’ he kissed me on the cheek. ‘How’d we do?’

I just stared at him, like a child.

‘What, do I have something on my face?’

‘N-no,’ I stuttered. ‘I just never realised how truly wonderful you are.’

‘You only just figured out how great I am? Wow, it took you a minute to catch on, didn’t it, love?’ He joked.

‘Yeah, I thought about how wonderful you was for the whole 3 minutes you were onstage. That’s about how wonderful YOU are, mister.’ I teased him back.

‘Blah blah blah!’ He waved his hands at me, and me, wetting myself laughing, did it back.

‘Wah wah wah!’ I laughed.

‘Aw look at that!’ I turned around and Cat Deeley was standing there. ‘Hi ho loved up couple!’

‘Er, hi.’ I replied.

‘Hey Paul,’ she said, nearly ignoring me. ‘Haven’t seen you for a while, short stuff.’

They sound like the best of friends, I thought. I never knew they were friends. Well, I’m just a tiny bit jealous! Cat Deeley is absolutely stunning…I hope Paul remembers that he already has a Cat in his life!

‘Hey Cat, no I haven’t. It’s been nice seeing you though.’

‘Yeah you too. Better run. Take care, see you soon.’

‘Yeah me too. Thanks, you take care too. See ya round.’

Then she waved and walked off.

‘Well that was surprising.’ I said, when she was gone.

‘What, why?’

‘I didn’t know you were friends with CAT DEELEY.’

‘Yeah well…I’ve seen her round a few times. She nice.’

‘Hm yeah, I bet.’

‘Hey—I’ve already got a Cat in my life, I couldn’t handle two.’

‘Thought so. You can barely handle me.’ I smiled as I walked off, with a spring of confidence in my step.