Chapter 1
It's the final night of my A Million Lights tour and it's taking place in my home town of Newcastle. I take to the stage in a couple of hours and i'm just about ready to go and complete the meet and greet proportion of the evening. I love this part of the evening almost as much as being on stage and performing. Lots of singers hate it, I don't see what's so bad about it. My fans always have such lovely things to say to me and such inspiring stories to tell me. Some of them bring me little presents too which I always appreciate. "Can you believe it's nearly all over?" I turn in my chair to find Lily stood at the door. "No. I've had the best time, I wish we could just keep going." I reply with a reminiscent smile. "You've been amazing you know." Lily says with a smile as she sits on the chair beside me. "Thanks Lils."
I've met seven fans already tonight, all of them fellow Geordies. They've all been lovely girls, bringing me little presents to remind me of home, things you could only find in Newcastle. "You ready for the last one?" Lily asks as she pops her head around the door. "Aye." I smile. I hear the door open once more and then click shut and I look towards it. Wow, she's beautiful. Her hair is brown with blonde tips that tickle at her shoulders. Her lips are full and plump and her body holds the most perfect pear shape. She looks to be in her twenties and I don't think i've ever seen someone so naturally stunning. "Hiya pet." I manage to croak out. "Hi." She replies so quietly I almost don't hear her. She looks like she wants nothing more than to run out of the room and hide. "What's your name?" I ask her as I flash her a friendly smile. "Kimberley." She mutters quietly. It's only now that I notice her distinctly none-Geordie accent. She's from Yorkshire, definitely Yorkshire. "You can come and stand with us, I don't bite." I joke. She nods as she tentatively walks over to me. I don't think i've ever seen someone look this scared of us. "You okay pet?" I ask her. "Yeah. Just a bit overwhelmed." She replies. "Er, this is for you." She says as she shoves an envelope into my hand. "Thanks pet." I reply placing it down on the table by my phone. Usually i'd put it on the pile with all the others but there's something about Kimberley. I want to read her letter as soon as possible. "I can't believe i'm finally meeting you." She says. "How long have you waited to meet me?" I ask her, genuinely interested. "Since you won the X Factor." She replies. It all comes flooding back, the best moment of my life.
"The winner of the X Factor 2008 is..." Dermot pauses and I tighten my grip on Simon Cowells hand. He's been my mentor for the series and he's believed in me from the start, god knows why, i'm just an average girl from Newcastle. I glance over at Louis Walsh who is squeezing the hand of his act 'Born Again' an all male group from London. They were amazing tonight, pure class. If i'd have been at home watching I would've voted for them myself. "CHERYL." Dermot shouts through his mic. Everything stops. I tear my hand from Simons and throw it over my face. I've won, i've actually won. "Oh my god." I whisper. "Well done kiddo." Simon shouts as he pulls me into his embrace. "You deserve this, you really do."
"Five years then?" I ask Kimberley as I come back into the real world. She nods before replying. "Five long years." "What made them so long?" I ask. Kimberley's like some sort of abyss. I feel that there's so much I could learn about her, so much I want to learn about her. "Just stuff. I wrote it down." She replies gesturing to the letter by my phone. "Can I hug you?" She whispers. "Of course you can pet." I smile as I open my arms and gesture her towards me. She locks her arms around me and I rest my head on her shoulder as I close my eyes. I feel safe in her embrace, protected, like I never want to let go. "Thankyou for everything." She whispers in my ear and I feel the hairs on the back of my neck raise as her hot breath meets my skin. As we pull apart I take her hand and squeeze it. "Photo time." She smiles and wraps her arm around me as I wrap mine around her. We both smile for the camera. "Do you want a picture of us hugging too?" I ask her. "Really?" She asks, her eyes widening. "Yeah." I smile. "Oh my god. Yes please." I quickly pull her into me again. She's like a drug is Kimberley. A drug i've become addicted too in a matter of minutes. As we pull apart Kimberley begins to speak. "Thankyou so much, for tonight, for the last five years, for everything I guess." "You're welcome pet." I reply. "I hope I can meet you again some day." She smiles. "Me too, don't be a stranger." I grin back at her.
