Sunday 30th March 2004

I woke up the next morning with a headache. My ears were still ringing a little from the concert the night before. I sat up and found Lisa's tabby cat asleep on the end of my sleeping bag. I kicked it off and glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table. It was only 11:25 in the morning and our performance at The Dolphin wasn't till six that evening.

I crawled out of my sleeping back and quietly tip toed out of Lisa's bedroom, trying to avoid stepping on Angie who was asleep in her sleeping bag on the carpet. I heard Lisa stir under her bed covers as I stood on a creak in the hallway. I ran downstairs and headed for their ultra-modern kitchen located at the back of their house. Ms Levett, Josh or Jem wasn't around, but they had left us a note which was tapped to the fridge door.

Girls,

I hope you girls had a FABULOUS time last night seeing McFly, (I'll be very surprised if Lisa or Angie comes running up to me saying that Kayleigh likes them). Jem and I are out for the day and Josh is going to an open morning for his university. I've left some corn flakes in the cupboard but if you don't want to have corn flakes, you're more than welcome to make some pancakes if you really want.

Jem and I wish you girls the best of luck for tonight and I'll be waiting outside to pick you girls up and take you home.

Lots of love xxxx

I sighed and walked back up to Lisa's bedroom and crawled back into my sleeping bag which was still warm. I wanted to sleep again.

"Wakey, wakey, Kayleigh!"

It was Angie.

"How long have you been awake for?" I asked, sitting up and leaning against Lisa's bed.

"Since you went downstairs," She replied. "What's for breakfast?"

"Well Ms Levett left us a note saying that we have a choice of either cornflakes or pancakes."

"Well count me out if we're making pancakes. I'm no good with the cooker."

I shrugged. "Fine with me."

There was a bit of silence until Angie scrambled out of her sleeping bag and jumped onto Lisa's bed.

"WAKE UP LISA! WAKE UP! IT'S ELEVEN THIRTY IN THE MORNING!" She shouted.

I could hear Lisa groaning and I jumped on top of her too.

"Would you two get off me?" Lisa hissed, attempting to push us off.

Angie got off the bed laughing. "That was so much fun." She gave Lisa a high-five.

"Pancakes?" I asked.

Lisa groaned and pushed me off the bed. "What?" She asked, rubbing her eyes.

"Do you want pancakes for breakfast?"

Lisa sat up. "Are you going to make them or something?"

"Well your mum said we can."

"Okay, but you're doing the cooking."

I shrugged. "Fine with me."

Half an hour went by and Lisa came downstairs in a yellow strappy top and blue three-quarter length jeans. I was in the middle of frying the pancakes. Lisa came up to me, putting her hair up in a messy bun.

"Wow, this is new," She said, peering over my shoulder. "First time I've ever seen you cook, Kay." She then laughed. She stopped abruptly and nudged me. "C'mon, laugh with me."

I shook my head. "Nahh, you're not funny."

Lisa shrugged and sat on the counter, watching me. We then started chatting and I was completely distracted from cooking.

"So, you're nervous about tonight then?" Lisa asked; swinging her legs to and fro.

"Slightly … I suppose. I don't really get that nervous."

Lisa nodded. We carried on talking about our gig and the conversation led to talking about McFly. However, as I got so distracted away from my cooking, the pancakes had burnt to crisp, and even before I noticed that, they blew up in flames. Lisa and I screamed. I quickly took the frying pan off the stove, yelling, "WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS?"

"I don't know!" Lisa screeched, sounding as panicked as I was.

My first instinct was to run over to the sink and pour cold water over the pan. As I did so, it started crackling. I screamed once more, dropped the pan and fell to the tiled floor. The flame eventually went down and Lisa and I found ourselves laughing uncontrollably.

"You're not supposed to pour water over a flame like that you dumb shit!" Lisa laughed.

"How was I supposed to know? I panicked!" I then looked down at my right hand. It was black.

Lisa had got out an ice pack and wrapped it around my hand. We had cornflakes for breakfast instead.

"Remind me to never let Kayleigh cook in my house ever again." Lisa said.

"Okay, Lisa, at least I wasn't the one who dropped chilli powder on the flame in our Home Ec class in year 8. The whole class was choking to death and we had to be evacuated."

"No, I believe that was me." I heard Angie say.

It was only a matter of minutes till we were about to go on stage and perform to our first crowd. Lisa, Angie and I sat at the side of the pub, reading through our lines. I was more worried about singing List of Hatredas it was only recently written and I was singing it as a solo.

Lisa started pacing up and down, wringing her hands nervously. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I picked up my electric purple guitar when one of the bartenders announced us onto the small stage. There was applause as the three of us walked on. We sang Too Close for Comfort first. I sang the first verse on my own and Lisa sang the second. While Lisa was singing, I looked out in the audience and I spotted McFly sitting at a table, right at the back. I quickly looked back down as if I didn't notice them. The audience applauded again when we finished the song. It wasn't a very big crowd. There were about 30 people. When everyone went quiet, Lisa said in the microphone,

"This next song is called List of Hatred which was written by our very own guitarist: Kayleigh Slovenia."

I felt a drip of sweat trickle down the side of me face.

I took a deep breath in and started to play my guitar. The audience started to nod their heads to the music.

It was nearly midnight and everyone was leaving the pub. Angie, Lisa and I walked out the back door and stood under a lamppost by the car park. It started to tip it down with rain and there was the odd rumble of thunder. I put my black umbrella up and the three of us huddled under it. We were waiting for Ms Levett to arrive to take us home. I put my guitar up against the lamppost and sat by it on the wet ground. Lisa and Angie joined me.

None of us said anything about our gig.

"That's my mum." Lisa said as a car pulled up beside us. As we started to pick up our bags and instruments, Ms Levett got out the car and stormed up to us, looking rather infuriated.

"Right, who was the idiot who burnt the frying pan and the stove?" She asked spitefully.

We all exchanged looks.

"Is anyone going to own up?" She shouted, "The pan wouldn't just burn on its own!"

"I'm sorry," I mumbled. "It was stupid really. I wasn't concentrating on what I was doing and it caught alight. I got distracted and didn't pay attention to what I was doing. I'm really sorry …"

"Well sorry isn't good enough. That stove was only new and it had cost me a bloody fortune! And those frying pans aren't exactly cheap either!" Ms Levett had both hands on her hips. Lisa and Angie quickly tip toed into the car, not saying a word.

"What do you expect me to do?" I hissed. "Pay for a new stove for you?"

"Young lady, you'd better be careful by what you say!"

"For fuck's sake! Can't I do anything without being told how to control my temper and be careful what I say? I get it enough at home and at school. Getting it from you is the last thing I need."

"You are one ungrateful child, you are, Kayleigh!" Ms Levett pursed her lips. "I always thought that you were better than that. I do remember the horrible, bullying Kayleigh Slovenia you used to be when you were ten years old. Thank God your father changed your ways but sometimes I can't help but think that that old Kayleigh is starting to come back."

"No!" I snapped. A tear had leaked out of my eye. "You know that I'll never go back to the younger me. That was one of the biggest regrets of my life, and you know that, Ms Levett. I'm sorry I can be rude but I do learn that off my dad. We both are very hot headed."

Ms Levett breathed out loudly. "I am disappointed in you, Kayleigh, I really am." And with that, Ms Levett turned round, got into her car and drove away, leaving me behind. I froze on the spot, watching the car drive down the dark road.

There was a loud rumble of thunder which made me jump and the rain became heavier. I put up my umbrella again and started to walk on ahead, the wind blowing in my face. I let my tears roll down my cheeks. I didn't care.

The wind and the rain got heavier and heavier and I started to struggle to walk against it. My house was only a couple of roads away. It wasn't until the wind blew my umbrella inside out till it broke that I was close to giving up. I didn't mean to mess everything up with Ms Levett. I was being clumsy that morning and wasn't paying attention to what I was doing. I couldn't help losing my temper with other people. I carried on walking against the wind, still holding my umbrella to my shoulder, even though it was no use. I was getting soaked in the rain. I wiped my forehead. My hair was sticking to my face and my clothes were stuck to my skin. I glanced down and my black bra was seen clearly through my t-shirt.

I heard a car pull up behind me and someone getting out the car.

"Kayleigh?"

I recognised that voice. I recognised the northern accent.

I turned round and saw Danny standing by a silver car, holding an umbrella above his head.

"What are you doing out here?" He asked.

"Walking home." I replied, my voice trembling.

"Could I give you a ride?"

I shook my head. "I only live a couple of roads down." I gesture behind me.

"Well, at least take my umbrella."

"I already have one." I said, pointing at my broken one.

"You'll catch a cold in this weather, and you wouldn't want to ruin your beautiful singing voice."

I froze looking at him, not knowing what to say.

"Come on, I'll even lend you my jacket."

I looked up at the sky as there was another loud rumble of thunder.

"Why don't you toss that lightning rod away and get in the car." Danny said, laughing slightly.

I smiled weakly. "Thank you." I chucked my broken umbrella into the bin as Danny grabbed hold of my hand and pulled me into the back of his car. He closed the door and started to drive on.

I directed Danny towards my road.

The car was warm and Danny had some music playing softly.

"You and your band were pretty good this evening." He said, looking at me through the review mirror.

"You think?" I asked.

"Yeah, I really liked the first song."

I raised my eyebrows. "You're the first the ever say that." I said as I took my blue fluffy scarf off.

"How do you mean?" Danny asked, turning the radio down.

"I wrote the song a while ago and have sent it to music companies, but no one accepted it."

"Well at least you try. It's better than nothing."

I sighed as I realised that I was getting the car seats very wet.

There was a moment of silence as I tried to think of a question to ask Danny. "Erm … how long are you staying in Eastbourne for?"

Danny looked pensive for a second or two before saying, "We've got about five weeks left till we're going back to London."

I nodded as Danny parked into my driveway.

"You sure you're gonna be okay?" Danny asked as I went to open the car door.

"I'll be fine. Thanks again." I said and smiled. Danny smiled too.

"No problem. It was really nice talking to you, Kayleigh."

I just smiled again and didn't reply to his comment. I thanked him once again before getting out the car and running to the front door, realising that my views on McFly had changed completely.

However, as I tried to sleep that night, all I could think about was Danny.