You're My Number One

Chapter One

The awful buzzing noise from my alarm clock broke into my dream. I hit wildly at the bedside table in an effort to switch it off but only succeeded in swiping it off the table completely.

"Damn!" I yelled in an exasperated fashion, realizing I'd have to leave my beloved bed to switch the stupid thing off.

Glancing at the time, I realized I had 45 minutes before I had to leave the flat. I was so tired I couldn't even see straight and as usual, I was on automatic pilot as I managed to reach the shower.

The blast of icy water brought me to my senses immediately and I fumbled with the dial. Why is it that showers never stay at the same temperature? It's so annoying!

It was Monday 24th March 2001 and we were about to embark on our first ever UK tour in just over a month's time. And by we I mean S Club 7 - Tina, Paul, Rachel, Jo, Bradley, Jon and me. I'm Hannah by the way.

Our lovely management company 19, (no, I'm not being sarcastic! Well, okay - maybe a little) have decided that we need to get used to living in each other's pockets for 24 hours a day in view of the length of time we'd be spending together on the road. So, at an undisclosed location (sounds so mysterious doesn't it?) somewhere in the south of England, we'd be staying in a large country house to rehearse, prepare and (I hope) chill out before the tour kicked off in May.

I was so excited about this tour. Performing in front of thousands of people who were all coming just to see us! I find it so amazing that people like our music so much! Tickets sold out in days and we'd even had to add extra dates at some venues. We were buzzing!

But at the same time I was really dreading the next few weeks. And this was all down to one thing (or person I should say.) Paul Cattermole. One of my fellow bandmates and one of my closest friends ever since we met about five years ago, performing in shows for NYMT (National Youth Music Theatre in case you didn't know.) We've always been close and since being together in the band our relationship has grown and grown and grown...and that is the problem. Over the last three or four months, my feelings for Paul have been changing. I've found myself falling for him. Hard.

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I wasn't long in the shower. I found my clothes exactly where I'd left them - in a crumpled heap by the side of the bed. My Mum would despair at the state of my room. In 30 minutes I was ready to go. Thank God I'd had the sense to pack the night before.

I forced myself to eat some breakfast even though my stomach was churning with nervous excitement. There was no sign of my two flat mates. Sheridan was away, staying with her parents somewhere up north. And Neil, who just happened to be Paul's best mate, was presumably still in bed. He rarely surfaced before midday. Then again, neither did I if I could help it!

I was determined not to be late for once so at 9:10 I started my drive across London to 19 H.Q in my little silver Peugeot.

I'd not seen the guys for a full two weeks. Simon Fuller (our manager) had given us the time off. It had been really welcome in more ways than one. And I was glad of the opportunity to be away from Paul to be honest. But it didn't work out as I wanted it to. I really missed him and felt my feelings were stronger than ever. Normally we'd hang out a few times during our holidays but with my feelings complicating things, I didn't think it was a good idea. He'd text me a few times to try and organise something but I'd brushed him off each time. Every time I did, I felt part of me break. Deep down I wanted to spend time with him but I knew it would make things harder. Anyway, we'd be spending plenty of time together over the next few weeks whether we wanted to or not! Heigh ho...

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I arrived at 19 with time to spare and was ushered into the car park to check out our tour bus. You wouldn't believe how amazing it was! It even had beds! And best of all, it had a little lounge area with a TV, video and a DVD player. It was better than my flat!