Mr Barlow

Chapter One

Everywhere I go he's there somehow, if not a song, an ad, if not on the tv, a poster. Everywhere I go something reminds me of him. Every fucking where I go, I can't get away from him. Some people would love seeing him everywhere, but then again he didn't break their hearts when they were sixteen did he, most know him as Gary Barlow, that one out of Take That. But I know him as Gary Barlow, the one that went and left me and broke my heart when we were only sixteen.

I work in a music shop and as much as I love music I really dislike working here, everyday you get some little indie teenager, who thinks they're cool because they listen to the likes of Mariah Carey or Rage Against The Machine from the nineties. They don't even realise the crap we used to have to listen to everyday like the Spice Girls.

Ah right on que Pray comes on the radio, damn.

"Urm Michael, would it be okay if I took my break now please?" I ask my manager because I don't think I can stand listening to this.

"Yeah of course you can Katie, is everything okay?"

My mind flashes back to all the fun times me and Gary used to have together before everything changed, before he left, when everything was still a dream. "Uh yeah, I just need some er fresh air"

"Oh okay don't be long though, it's about to get really busy"

Of course it is, it's always 'about to get busy' whenever I want a break. You know, sometimes I so badly want to quit this stupid job, but I need to pay rent and buy food. I guess a job is a job. As i'm about to get out the back of the staff room door to get some fresh air my phone rings. Ah it's my best friend and roommate Lauren.

"Hel-" I get cut off by her screaming down the phone.

"OH MY GOD YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHO'S TOURING AGAIN NEXT YEAR AND AT THE 02 AS WELL!"

"Firstly hi, and secondly wh-"

"TO SLOW, GARY BARLOW, GARY FUCKING BARLOW. KATIE WE HAVE TO GO, WE HAVE TO OH MY GOD I NEED FRONT ROW, VIP TICKETS WHATEVER I CAN, OH MY GOD WE NEED TO WAIT AT THE GATES AND TRY AND MEET HIM OH MY GOD KATIE YOU DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND HOW HAPPY AND EXCITED I AM"

Shit, shit, shit. She has no idea that I used to know him let alone that I was best friends with him. I can't go see him, I can't but how do I get myself out of this, shit I always knew my childhood would catch up with me I just didn't think it would be like this. "Erm I don't know, Gary Barlow not really my style is it?"

"Katie please, please, please, you know how much I love him, i'll do anything absolutely anything, i'll go see anyone with you Katie please. In fact no, you don't have a choice in this you are going, you know how long i've waited for this Katie!"

"Bu-"

"No Katie, no but's. The only butt you're going to see is Gary Barlows, okay! Good, done."

"Katie, your breaks over now, come back in please" Michael shouts to me.

"Okay" I call back to Michael. "Look i'll think about it okay, i'm not making any promises. I've got to go back to work now okay, bye."

"Yay yay oh my god yay, thank you I love you so much. Bye, bye, kiss, kiss"

"Shit" I whisper as I end the call. I've spent so long staying away from him, never seeing him live and it's all going to be thrown away. Shit.

I then spend the rest of the afternoon thinking about this. I think it's time to face the music, it'll be fine.

Hopefully.