She knew the girls were up to something when they practically dragged her to the pub as soon as college finished for the day. They were never usually in this much of a rush, even if it was Friday. Only when she'd finished her first pint did they spill the beans.
"Everyone reckons you should sing the lead in the next concert," Chloe announced as soon as Rae had put down the glass.
"Everyone?" she asked, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Who's everyone?"
"Everyone in our drama class, silly," replied Izzy. "And I bet if we asked them, the boys would agree too."
She stood up, wanting to walk out of this whole conversation. "They haven't even heard me sing!"
"Well they've taken my word for it," the redhead insisted, rather firmly for her. "Come on, Rae. Sit down, please?"
She found herself unable to refuse Izzy. As well as the fact that she was genuinely lovely, the girl sounded so certain; so despite her misgivings Rae relented and agreed to at least hear them out.
"Hang on, I didn't even know we were having another concert," she said then as the thought occurred.
"It's on the 22nd. We didn't tell you before because we didn't want to freak you out," Chloe explained sheepishly. "We sort of told the others we'd try and ease you into the idea."
"Oh, so basically you're all ganging up on me?"
Izzy suddenly looked horrified. "No! We're your best friends, we'd never try to bully you into it. Look Rae, you do know we wouldn't persuade you to do anything if we thought it would end badly?"
Rae let out a sarcastic laugh. "You mean like last time when I got on stage in front of the whole school and it ended badly?"
Chloe took hold of her best friend's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "That wasn't because of your singing, though. It was because you got scared, right?"
"Thanks for reminding me."
"I just meant that it won't be like that this time. We'll all have your back, Rae."
The lads chose this moment to walk into the pub, and she cast a look in Finn's direction. "Did you know about this?"
"That we were meeting here? Er, yeah," he answered in confusion.
"No, I mean about the concert," Rae was starting to grow agitated again. But when her boyfriend grabbed a nearby stool and sat down beside her, his face still curiously bemused, she realised that he really had no idea what she was going on about. He looked to the girls for an explanation.
"We're trying to talk Rae into singing the lead part at the college show. She thinks everyone's out to get her," Chloe was rolling her eyes.
"When is it?" he asked casually.
"Finn! I'm not doing it, you know."
Izzy smiled at him. "The 22nd."
"Go on, Raemondo, you'll smash it," Chop said, placing another round of drinks on the table.
"What are you gonna sing?" asked Archie. Rae was incredulous.
"Guys, what is this?" she exclaimed.
Finn nudged her playfully. "Hey," he said in a low voice. "I'm sorry, girl. I just really want to hear you sing. No one's going to make you do it if you don't want to."
"But if you do it you'll be amazing," Izzy gushed. Everyone at the table turned to stare at her – it was unheard of for Izzy to be this determined on someone else's behalf. "Sorry Rae. I can't help it. And anyway, none of the rest of you heard how great she sounded last time she rehearsed."
Taking a deep breath, Rae put on a smile. "Alright, if I promise to think about it will you all just drop it for the rest of the night?"
The rest of the gang looked appeased by this, and Finn dropped a quick kiss on her cheek. "Done," he promised, and she let herself relax as he put an arm around her.
Her friends had been true to their word, and even Izzy had stopped herself from asking again about the concert. But days later, sitting in her lounge with Finn, Rae began to consider the idea for herself.
"If I ask you something, will you promise to answer honestly?"
"Hmm?" Finn looked up from the television. "'Course, what is it?"
"If I sing in the concert and I end up having a panic attack, will you still want to go out with me?"
He immediately sat up straight in his seat and made a point of looking Rae in the eye. "Yes, I will still want to go out with you. Is that what you really think?"
She avoided his gaze, feeling guilty for doubting him. "No. I don't know Finn, I'm just scared. I want to be brave, I want to be able to do things without having a meltdown. But last time was horrible. I'm just an embarrassment."
"Don't say that," Finn said, and he looked so upset at the level to which she put herself down that now she felt even worse. "You're the strongest person I know, remember? It doesn't matter to me if you get on that stage and then change your mind about performing. It won't stop me loving you."
He opened his arms for her and she slotted into them, thinking over all that he had said. Rae had known for a while now that he loved her in the way she had always longed to be loved. Finn accepted her for who she was, and it was daft of her to spend any time worrying when she was with him.
Would she be able to take the lead and sing on stage like everyone thought she should? She honestly didn't know. But at least she could count on him to be her anchor, no matter what she decided.
"I'm gonna make a brew. Do you want one?" she had jumped up without warning, making her way to the kitchen and startling him.
"Yeah, please," he replied, staring after her.
Finn heard the kettle come to life, and as it boiled, a voice could be heard singing over the noise.
"I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do, about you now..."
He stayed put, transfixed by his girlfriend's voice. By the time she finished the song and emerged with two cups of tea, he was grinning from ear to ear.
"I'm first in the queue when you start signing autographs, girl."
