"Shelly, hun, it's time to get up or you're gonna be late for school," my mum yelled up the stairs.

I groaned turning over, and hit the top button on my alarm clock to see whether I really did need to get up yet or not. '7.10am Monday 7th August 1999' said the monotonous electronic voice that I had learnt to hate. Bugger, I though to myself, I should have got up 10 minutes ago, I can't wash my hair now. I tossed my duvet to the side and got dressed angrily.

"Shelly, if you're not down here in the next 2 minutes you're not going to have time for breakfast before you catch the bus,"

"I'm coming," I said trudging down the stairs.

"There's some cereal on the side, along with some post that came for you today, now hurry up," she said whilst fiddling with my hair. Post? I thought to myself. I never get post. I walked into the kitchen and sat down on a stool whilst examining the letter. It wasn't from a mailing list as I had first thought, it was hand written. I turned it over and opened it, half looking at it, and half looking at what shenanigans were going on, on the Big Breakfast which I had flicked on. Inside the envelope were 4 concert tickets just as Shane had promised, with a little note in Mark's handwriting saying, 'I do want you there Shelly. Mark xxx'

I sat there staring at them, and I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. He wanted me there?? No he couldn't, not from the way he totally blanked me at Boyzone. I had behaved like a bitch and he wanted me to go? Wanted me to go so he could rip the piss out of me more like. I saw that look in his eyes, and only Shane would talk to me, so I'd obviously hurt him, he probably wanted me to go, so he could say, 'Ha ha, I'm over you, but you're not over me, and I'm a pop star,' But deep down through my bitterness I knew he wasn't really like that.

"Shelly, I've just booked an appointment for your hair on Thursday at 4pm, is that okay?" Called my mum, whilst washing her hands. "Shelly?" She said turning around to face me. "Are you okay honey?" I sat there completely hopeless shaking my head unable to control the tears. "Shelly, whatever's the matter?" She said softly while stroking my back. I couldn't say anything and couldn't stop the tears from flowing. My mum just sat there holding me until I was finally able to hand her the envelope. She carefully let go of me, and opened it. "Is this what all the tears are over? I don't get you Shelly, I'd have thought you'd be crying happy tears if you were crying at all." I started crying even more, how could my own mother not even understand?? "Shelly, these are front row, and look, Mark even says he wants you there. I don't understand honey."

"That's exactly the problem," I blubbed through my tears. "He wants me there-I can't go mum,"

"Of course you're going, and you're taking me too-they're quite good looking. Now which one's Mark?" she said pointing at a picture.

"No, mum, no," I mumbled through my sobs, shaking my head.

"Right, you go upstairs and have a shower, get out of that uniform, you can have the day off school, and then I want you back down here telling me exactly what the problem is, or I'll ring Mark and ask him why you're acting like this."

"No mum, you can't do that," I started, but with the look on her face I knew she'd do exactly and more what she said she would.