As soon as the concert was over, I ran backstage. I had to see Shane. I found him, running around, looking for me.

‘So, do you believe me now?’ He had tears in his eyes. I couldn’t speak. I rested my head on his shoulder, and nodded. He held me tight, and I never wanted him to let go.

That night, we didn’t go clubbing with everyone else. Instead, we sat in a corner of the hotel bar, not even talking, just feeling totally comfortable with each other. About 40 minutes after we had sat down, a journalist Shane recognised from the Sun came across.

‘Shane! How are you? And this must be the lucky lady. Do you mind if I join you?’ He sat down before we had chance to answer him. Shane sent me a look that said ‘let me handle this’. ‘Well then, I heard about your little speech this evening. Any comments?’ He pulled out one of those little recorders.

‘I think what I said at the gig said it all! I love Harriet, and I’m not scared to admit it.’

‘Isn’t her age a problem?’

Shane did a double take, but he tried to hide it. We hadn’t been expecting that. ‘Should it be?’

‘Well, she’s not even an adult yet.’ I hated the way he was talking about me as though I wasn't even there.

‘And...?’

The journalist looked awkward. ‘I mean, there’s six years between you. That’s quite a lot.’

‘Most of the time, age is only used to cover up other problems. It’s only a number. It really doesn’t bother me.’ Shane looked at him, and he obviously decided to give up then.

‘Right then. I’ll see you around then.’ He got up and left.

‘Not if I see you first,’ Shane muttered quietly as he walked away. ‘Sorry about that. He’s a moron.’

‘Don’t worry. It isn’t a problem, is it? My age, I mean?’

‘No way. I mean, you’re 18 in a few weeks anyway!’

‘How did you know that! I haven’t told you.’

‘Yes you have! Your very first letter to me, you wrote it just before your birthday, and told me what you had planned! End of January isn’t it?’

‘I’m amazed! I didn’t even remember writing that.’

‘Well, there ya go. Listen, I know this seems a bit "organised", but we need to sort out about you coming to Dublin with me.’ After the week in Glasgow, the guys had one day off before a run of 6 shows in Dublin.

‘I can come! I know that! But I’ll have to go home first, to get my passport and stuff. I was thinking of going home tomorrow evening, but then I’d miss the concert. So I figured I’d go through on Saturday, stay over night, and then come back through on Sunday in time to fly across with you after the gig that night.’

Shane was smiling.

‘What? What are you grinning at?’

‘That’s what I thought you’d say. I’ve had another idea though. I thought since we’ve got Monday off, that we could go through together on Monday morning, stay over, and then fly from Edinburgh to Dublin on Tuesday lunch time or something.’

‘But if you come through, you’ll have to meet my parents.’

‘I know. What do you think?’

'Definitely!' Then I remembered something. ‘What about the other girls? Karina and Nancy?’

‘Haven’t they told you? They’re coming! Nancy’s been able to change her flight, so she can fly straight back from Dublin, and Karina too, even though she’ll have to go via Heathrow. They sorted it out this afternoon.’

‘I can’t believe how well this is working out! It’s like it’s meant to be.’

Shane’s face went serious. ‘It is meant to be. Fate. I didn’t believe before, but now I do.’

I picked up my glass. ‘To fate, who’s dealt us a very good hand!’

‘To fate.’ We said together.