I looked at the note. It was a mobile number. Presumably Shane’s. Under it he’d written ‘Please call.’ I showed it to Nancy who was standing next to me.

‘What d’you think?’

‘Hey-hey! You’re in there!’ Nancy laughed her warm laugh. ‘Seriously, he was watching you all the way here, and at the airport. Call him.’

‘You think so?’ I wasn’t sure. I knew I liked Shane, but so far, I only knew Shane the pop star, not Shane the person.

‘If they’re staying here, we’ll be seeing them all week. If you don’t, it’s going to make things really awkward.’

‘You’re right.’

‘Don’t look so surprised!’ Nancy poked me in the ribs. ‘Cheeky thing.’

‘I’ll call him later. I need some sleep now!’ We’d all been up since 6 that morning, and we had the first of the concerts that night.

I woke up just before midday. Nancy and Karina had gone into Glasgow to do some shopping. I turned over in bed and saw the piece of paper with Shane’s number on it, lying on the bedside table. I picked it up, and thought about it. Nancy was right, I should call him. I got up, and washed my face to wake myself up, and picked up the receiver and dialled. It rang and rang. ‘Please pick up,’ I thought. It must have worked.

‘Hello?’ Shane’s soft Irish voice came through the phone line.

‘Shane, hi. It’s Harriet.’

‘Harriet, I’m so glad you called. Listen, I can’t talk now. Can you come down to the venue? We’re going to be here all day until the gig. I’ll put your name on the guest list. And your mates’ too.’

‘Sure, yeah. That’s cool. Listen, give me an hour or so to get there. I’ll see you soon.’

‘Bye.’

I ordered some lunch from room service and jumped into the shower whilst I was waiting for it to arrive. I dressed, and scribbled a note to Karina and Nancy, explaining where I was and that they should come down later. I picked up my bag, and headed downstairs to get a cab.

Almost exactly an hour after I had spoken to Shane, the taxi pulled up outside the SECC. I paid the driver and got out. I went inside, and was given directions to the backstage area. Anto Byrne was chatting to Bryan. I went over.

‘Hi.’

‘Hi Harriet. Shane’s just through in the dressing room.’ I walked off but Bry called me back.

‘You’ll need one of these.’ He handed me a guest pass, and I headed off backstage. I found the dressing room easily enough, and tapped on the door.

‘Come in.’ Nicky called from inside.

‘Hi Nix. Is Shane around?’

‘Yup. He’s just gone to get a drink. He’ll be back in a sec.’ As he spoke, Shane came in.

‘Harriet, you’re here already.’

‘I’ll leave you to it.’ Nicky made a sharp exit. In the mirror, I saw him give Shane the thumbs up as he went out the door.

‘Have a seat.’ I sat down on one of the couches, and Shane sat down in one of the chairs opposite. ‘Did you get some sleep?’

‘Mmm, yeah. A couple of hours. Bet you won’t have done though!’

‘Not a chance! Aaah, it’ll be fine.’ Shane looked into my eyes, and we both fell silent. ‘Can I ask you something? And I want you to be honest when you answer, cos I don’t want you to do something you don’t want to.’

‘Yeah, sure. What is it?’

‘I was sort of wondering... And remember, you don’t have to say yes.... I was wondering, would you like to have dinner with me tonight?’

‘Wow, yeah, that’d be great. Really?’

‘Definitely. I wanted to ask you earlier, but I thought that might be a bit forward.’ Shane leant forward in his seat, and ran a finger down my cheek. His light touch sent shivers down my spine.

‘Shane, I’ve got something I should tell you.’

‘What?’

‘I’m only 17.’ I waited for his reaction.

‘I know. You told me in one of your letters.’

‘You’ve read them all?’

‘Oh yeah. I kept them all. I knew I’d meet you one day. I’ve still got the picture you sent me with one of your first letters.’

‘You’re joking?’

‘No way. I’m deadly serious.’ I could tell he was. He was so close I could feel his breath on my face. He leant forward to kiss me.

‘Shane don’t!’ I pushed him away. ‘This can’t happen.’ He looked hurt.

‘Why not?’

‘You have to ask? You’re 6 years older than me. You’re a huge star, I’m a normal girl from a little town in Scotland. After this week I’ll probably never see you again.’

‘Only if you don’t want to. I like you, and I’m not going to risk saying goodbye to you at the end of the week without telling you how I feel.’

‘Oh Shane. I like you too. But both you and I know this wouldn’t work. It’d only end up with us both getting hurt.’

‘Are you not willing to risk it? I am.’

‘I don’t know.’

‘How are you going to know?’ He ran his hand through my hair and tilted my chin up. Then he kissed me.

When we pulled apart, he looked at me. ‘Does that help?’

I smiled back at him. ‘I don’t know. Maybe I need to try another time...’ We kissed again, and I knew Shane had been right. There was something too special between us to let it pass us by.

All of a sudden, the door opened, and Bryan came in, with Karina and Nancy in tow. Shane and I sprang apart, and I could feel myself blushing.

‘Oops sorry.’ Bryan threw an apologetic glance in our direction. ‘I didn’t know there was anyone in here.’

‘That’s okay.’ Shane glanced at his watch. ‘We’d better go Bry - we’ve got an interview in a few minutes.’ He turned back to me. ‘I’ll see you later Harriet.’ He smiled.

Shane and Bryan disappeared out of the door, and Karina and Nancy gazed at me in amazement. Nancy spoke up first. ‘Did we just walk in on what I think we walked in on?’

I grinned. ‘That depends on what you think you walked in on!’

The two of them sat down on the sofa next to me. ‘Well?’ Karina looked expectant. ‘Tell all.’

‘Nosy Parker's! Well,’ I blushed, ‘we kissed.’

‘And?’ Nancy raised her eyebrows at me.

‘We’re going out for dinner tonight.’ I took one look at the expressions on their faces, and we all started yelling. After a couple of minutes, we calmed down.

‘Are you serious?’

‘What do you think Karina? I’m not joking.’

‘You’re so lucky. Is he good?’

‘Good at what?’ I said, even though I knew exactly what she was talking about.

‘Y’know! Is he a good kisser?’ The two of them sat and waited for an answer.

‘Wouldn’t you like to know?! But yes, he’s an amazing kisser.’ I smiled, remembering. It was still sinking in.

‘You’re a lucky cow, you are!’ Nancy was still in shock.

‘I know. I know.’