Chapter 1

"Please, Howard?"

"No."

"Oh, go on."

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"You can ask as much as you want, the answer will still be no."

"It'll be fun!" Vince persists. Howard ignores him.


It's said that opposites attract. Vince Noir and Howard Moon were two teenagers who proved that this was true. Vince was always cheerful. He followed fashion. Everyone loved him. Howard was the kind of person who wrote depressing poetry and wore tweed. Barely anyone knew he existed. Nevertheless, they were the best of friends.


Earlier that day, Vince had seen a poster on a classroom door advertising a talent show. He was trying to persuade Howard to enter it with him. Howard was having none of it.

"What's the worst that could happen?" He says as they walk around the school yard, trying to hide from the wind.

"Apart from being publically humiliated?"

"Yeah, apart from that." He says offhandedly.

"Isn't that enough?"

"It wouldn't be the end of the world." Howard scowls at him.

"That's easy for you to say. Everyone loves you, no matter what you say or do. Some of us actually have to worry about what people think."

"Oh, go on."

"No."

"But I could play my guitar, and we could sing!"

"I don't sing."

"I've heard you sing. You sing all the time!"

"Not in front of people, I don't."

"Well, maybe that should change."

"It most certainly should not."

"But we could sing Heroes!"

"No."

"But Howard-"

"I said no, Vince. Come on. We've got Maths."