*****Chapter 11*****

 

It was finally the first night of the tour. We had traveled down to Butlins in Minehead where the whole thing would be kicking off. Aside from the last night of a tour there was no better feeling than the first night. It was a night when all the hard work eventually paid off and the whole thing was seamlessly, or not as the case normally was, run through. The energy from the fans was just exhilarating and gave everyone that extra boost that was always lacking in the rehearsals.

 

We had arrived the night before so we had a few hours to go shopping before we had to be ready for the show. Me, Chantelle, Sez and Mel jumped at the chance to do some retail therapy. The idea wasn’t so appealing to the lads from a1 apart from Ben who was eager to come.

 

“Ben you know how much we love you but you’ll stick out like a sore thumb,” Chantelle said.

 

“Yeah we’ll never get any shopping done when you get harassed by fans,” I added.

 

“It’s not really a sight I like watching either,” Sez teased. “All those girls drooling over you, I mean personally I don’t see what the big deal is.”

 

“But guys I want to come,” Ben said and turning to Sez. “Well they can obviously see just how good looking I am.”

 

Sez laughed at him, “I’m sure they do. And with the tour in town tonight they’ll all be out in force in town waiting for the concert.”

 

“We’ll be going to all the girly shops as well Ben. I haven’t been for ages and I need to buy some clothes!” I said melodramatically. “I don’t think they’re the kind of shops you go to.”

 

Ben pouted and turned it on me. I could have melted as he looked so adorable, “Jo I can’t believe you of all people is getting rid of me.”

 

“Aww Bennykins we’re not getting rid of you, we just don’t think you’ll enjoy our shopping,” I said pinching his cheek.

 

Ben frowned at me laughing, “Don’t ever pinch my cheek again. Ok I get the message,” he replied.

 

I laughed at him, “Did Bennykins not like it? Just ask Mark to go round with you for an hour or so, tell him you’ll buy him lunch or something.”

 

“Nah lunch would only work on Ben,” Chantelle laughed.

 

“The insults are just flying today,” Ben said in mock hurt. “First I’m bad looking and now I’m fat. I’m off to find Mark, at least he appreciates me!”

 

We watched him swagger off. He knew we were only teasing and he didn’t take any of it to heart.

 

“Right then, let’s go shopping!” Sez exclaimed pulling Mel along with her.

 

“Yeah!” me and Chantelle yelled in unison before hurrying to catch Sez up as she was already through the door.

 

We enjoyed a good few hours shopping and an even more enjoyable hour in McDonalds. It was a rare indulgence as most of us didn’t have McDonalds to keep our figures trim for dancing. I had inherited my mum’s high metabolism so it had never been a problem for me.

 

I was too busy enjoying my McFlurry to notice Chantelle and Sez staring at me with curled lips.

 

“What?” I asked as I eventually noticed them.

 

“How can you do it?” Chantelle asked.

 

“Do what?” I replied.

 

“Eat so much and not put any weight on!” Sez exclaimed shaking her head. “It’s so unfair.”

 

I shrugged as I finished my ice cream and was just putting it in the bin when I was sure I saw Ben and Paul scurry past the front door looking intent on a mission and disguised in caps and sunglasses.

 

 “Come on, I just saw Ben and Paul looking really suspicious.”

 

We headed out of the shop after them observing them from a distance. I shook my head as we watched them, “They will never learn, I mean a cap is fine but cap and sunglasses is going a bit far in the middle of town. It makes them stick out even more.”

 

“Where are they going?” Mel asked.

 

I shrugged as they scurried down the street but eventually stopped in front of a shop and disappeared inside.

 

When we reached the shop we all smiled in amusement. Ben and Paul had disappeared into Ann Summers.

 

The four of us stood in the door where we could see Ben and Paul looking through the stock. Paul was delighting in looking through all the underwear, no doubt imagining certain beautiful ladies in them while Ben was looking with a seemingly lost look on his face.

 

He eventually spotted us and we stood there grinning as we waved at him.

 

“Coo eeee.” Sez said waving.

 

Ben looked horrified then a grin slowly spread across his own face. He ran over and grabbing me and Chantelle, who were nearest, dragged us into the shop.

 

“You can help me!” Ben exclaimed. “I want to get Marie a present and I have no idea!”

 

“You know her size don’t you?” Mel asked. “Or we can’t really help you.”

 

Ben nodded excitedly, “Yeah that I do know, just not what to buy her. It all looks the same.”

 

“Well your opinion should count as well,” Chantelle said nudging Ben playfully. “I mean you’re going to be the one enjoying it.”

 

Everyone laughed as I managed a feeble chuckle.

 

I watched as the other three got into finding Marie a present but I just stood back, not wanting to take part. The three of them were doing a well enough job without me and even Paul was getting into it.

 

“Mel, Mel can’t you buy this to wear!” Paul said holding up a tiny red see through number. “I’d love to see you dancing in that.”

 

“In your dreams,” Mel laughed.

 

“It was the only way I could get someone to come with me,” Ben said as he noticed me laughing at Paul.

 

He went back to looking through the underwear and I slipped into a day dream.

 

 I was broke out of my day dream by Ben. “Jo………Jo?”

 

“Huh yeah,” I replied.

 

“This one?” Ben asked holding a set up.

 

The four of them looked at me expectantly as they waited for my thoughts. It was a bra and knickers set and the girls had steered Ben away from the trashy red ones and they’d picked out a gorgeous set. The set were see through baby blue with delicate embroidered flowers as simple details in the corner.

 

Marie would look gorgeous in them and Ben would fall even more in love with her than he already was. There was no hope for me yet I just couldn’t get rid of my feelings for him. He was looking at me curiously waiting for my response.

 

I nodded, “They’re pretty.”

 

Ben’s face broke into a grin as he looked at them and I had to look away. He was so excited about his gift; he loved Marie more than anything.

 

We all went back to the hotel together and I was quiet on the way back but no-one noticed as they were too busy talking excitedly.

 

“When are you going to give them to her?” Sez asked.

 

“Next time she comes to visit,” Ben said wiggling his eyebrows.

 

Paul wolf whistled with his fingers as everyone apart from me laughed.

 

The only person who actually did notice I was quiet was Mark when we arrived back at the hotel. We’d all flopped down in the comfy chairs in the lobby while Ben treated us to drinks after our shopping trip. They were strictly soft drinks of course.

 

“Cheer up, it might never happen,” Mark said as he squeezed himself in next to me on the settee.

 

I gave him a smile.

 

“See that’s better, what’s the matter?”

 

“Nothing,” I said shaking my head. “Just thinking.”

 

Mark smiled knowing not to push it, “Well this should cheer you up,” he said spreading a newspaper out on the small table in front of us.

 

It was a two page article on the awards ceremony we had attended. There were photos of celebrities arriving on the red carpet and my mouth dropped open as I saw a photo of the four of us, Marie, Ben, Mark and finally me.

 

“I’m in the paper!” I exclaimed.

 

“Yeah,” Mark grinned.

 

I read the small caption next to it.

 

“Two members of a1 turned up with their stunning girlfriends. Ben, on the left, who has been seeing Marie for a few months, said he was very happy with her and Mark stepping out for the first time with his new girlfriend Jo, a dancer on their tour told reporters he thought Jo could be the one. Mark and Ben later went on to present an award to a brave little girl called Caroline Agine.”

 

“Aw Mark am I the one?” I cooed.

 

Mark laughed, “You were there all night, what did you hear me telling all the reporters?”

 

“This is my friend Jo,” I replied.

 

“And yet they got you’re the one for me from that,” Mark laughed.

 

“Newspapers print a load of rubbish, you know that,” I said turning back to the paper. “Oooo I don’t care! I’m still in the paper! I’ll have to tell my mum!”

 

Mark laughed at me.

 

Ben came back with all the drinks and noticed the newspaper on the table.

 

He smiled as he finished reading and looked over at us, “Guys is there something you’re not telling me?” he grinned.

 

“Yeah we’re getting married,” Mark replied looking horrified. “Did we not tell you?”

 

I laughed as I shook my head, “Papers just print lies, whatever sounds best to sell a story.”

 

“Spoil sport,” Mark laughed. “I’m sure we could have got Ben going.”

 

“I’m not that gullible,” Ben snorted. “I think I would have noticed if you two had got together recently.”