Could be a Star

Chapter 32

I can't wait to do the show again. The excitement from last night has just made me want to be Billy again even more.

When I step into the blinding lights, the thrilling feeling that was once just in my spine, starts to take over my hole body.

The crowd are fantastic with their cheering and woo-ing and laughing in all the right places.

Kerry explained this to me before we stared.

'My fanclub are coming tonight,' she had told me.

'Fanclub?' I had asked, clipping my head mic securely into position.

'Yeah, well like all my friends,' she said 'So I'm going to try and make tonight my best performance, to impress them and so on,'

I had been confused for a small moment, I didn't think Kerry worried about needing to impress people. I didn't think she cared what people thought at all, to be honest.

But I guess everybody cares about what other people think, even if they only care a tiny little bit. It's human nature, probably.

I had smiled at her and thumped her on the back in a friendly sort of manner.

'Kerry, I assure you, you're always impressive,' I had told her.

'Says you!' she grinned and turned to the mirror to apply her Grandma wrinkles. Then she turned back.

'Thanks, Jack,'

Now, she's sitting in front of me, all grey hair and wrinkles.

'Grandma, do you really not remember about Grandad?'

She stands up with her hunched back and stunningly realistic fake limp. 'Course I do,'

Her Geordie accent, if I do say so myself, is fantastic. She does is stronger than the rest of us for added effect.

'How could I forget your Grandad, Billy? We we're married thirty three year!'

There is something very strange and also very humours about seeing a fifteen year old do an excellent impression of two things that she is not- Geordie, and an old woman.

'So what was he like, like?' I ask.

'He was a complete,' she looks out to the audience and screws up her face 'Bastard!'

The audience laugh and there's a some serious woo-ing from the back few rows.

Kerry winks at me as she begins to do her dance with a limp around the stage. Very amusing.

At the end of the song, she grins because there's insane woos and chants of 'Kerry, Kerry, Kerry,' from the back few rows. Her fanclub must be proud.

During the interval, a girl with pink hair from the audience sneaks into the room that links to backstage. Before any of us have the time to question who she is, Kerry is hugging her.

'You we're soooo funny!' says the girl.

I watch Kerry beam and it makes me feel extremely happy.

'Jack!'

Max is calling me. I turn round and he beckons me to come backstage.

'What's up?' I ask when we get there.

'Look through here,' he says, indicating at a small hole in the curtain. I peer through and see audience members stretching and smiling on the other side on the stage. I see my Mum and Dad taking to another couple, they insisted on coming to see me every night.

'What?' I ask, confused.

'Don't you see him?' Max takes off his Michael glasses and peeks through the hole 'Look, on the left side near the middle,'

When I look back through the hole, I immediately know what he means, and I couldn't me more surprised at what I see.

In a crisp white t-shirts and blue jeans, Alex is sitting next to a small girl drinking from a bottle of Coke. There is not a tracksuit or a clone in sight.

I stare at Max, wide eyed.

'I know, I know!' he exclaims 'What the hell is he doing here?'

I look back through the hole, half expecting him to be gone and that my eyes were deceiving me. But no. There he is, looking like a normal person, talking to the about eight year old girl beside him. A woman with curly hair takes the seat next to the girl and says something to them both.

'Do you think that's his sister,' I ask Max 'And his Mum?'

'I presume so,' he says 'I just don't understand. Why on earth would he come to see the show?'

I think about it for a second, just a baffled as Max is.

'Well he was at the audition wasn't he?' I remember 'Perhaps he just a fan of the show?'

'Could be,' Max raises his eyebrows 'But then why was he such a douche to me, I mean us, about being in the show?'

It's a very excellent point, but we don't really have time to wonder because the interval is ending and its time for us to wish good old Maggie Thatcher a Merry Christmas.

As we do, I can't help but glance over at Alex in the audience, next to his little sister. What is here? He looks like he is enjoying himself anyway, he doesn't look angry or annoyed or mocking or just punched in the face which are really the only emotions I've seen his display before. Why would he be such a douche about to Max and me and then come and see the shown in the end? Did Mrs Dean make him come as a punishment for how he made Max so miserable? Did his Mum force him along because his little sister wanted to come and see it? Why is he here? If I don't deserve to know, then Max definitely does.