Do you need anybody?

It's the big day. The spotlight shines onto me, blinding me. It's too hot. I can feel myself sweating as I grip the microphone. I open my mouth to sing...

I woke up, my hands and neck sticky with sweat. I had had the same nightmare over and over agin even though the performance wasn't for two weeks. It was always the same - I sing and it goes horribly wrong. The audience boos and shouts me off the stage.

Shuddering, I calmed myself down, got out of bed and got changed. I was going to meet my friend that day. There wasn't anything to worry about for ages.

After breakfast and a cup of tea I walked to Maddy's house. She my best friend. She likes me for who I am, which is great since we're both a bit eccentric.

"Hi Emma!" She exclaimed happily when she opened her door for me. "Come on in!" She ushered me inside, her curly red hair bouncing up and down with joy.

We went up to her room and chatted a little bit about the usual things we talk about. The Beatles, McLennon, George's cheekbones and blah blah blah... I still can't get the awful feeling out of me that I'm going to mess up.

Maddy seemed to see through my smiles and asked me what was up. "Emma." She said gently. "There's nothing to worry about." I didn't say anything and looked down at her fluffy pink carpet.

"Tell you what." She said kindly. "Why don't we do a bit of practise? That'll make you feel better." She leant over and grabbed her electric guitar that was constantly plugged in. I told you she was eccentric.

It seemed strange that such a fierce looking instrument could even exist in such a cuddly pink room.

Maddy is a genius at guitar. Unlike me. I can't play anything for toffee. I watched her magic fingers dance on the fretboard as she played the opening. Then I joined in.

After we had practised for a good half hour I felt a lot better. I gave Maddy a huge hug. It was great to have friends like her.

"Hey!" She said suddenly. "I have an idea! Let's go into town and buy something." She winked cheekily. I grinned and patted my coat pocket. A few coins clattered inside of it. "Okay." I smiled. "Let's go!"

*

We walked around a couple of shops before something really caught my eye. It was *cough* a soft toy. Don't judge me - I have a soft spot for them. Especially this one.

It was an adorable fluffy Old English sheepdog. The only reason I knew this is because I had seen pictures of Paul's dog Martha - I was never really a dog breed nerd.

Anyway, it had the sweetest chocolate brown eyes and the softest fur - I was in love. Hastily, I pulled some coins out of my pocket and counted them. Yes! I had enough!

I turned to Maddy to ask if she thought it was a waste of money. She laughed. "Of course not! Money you enjoy wasting isn't wasted!" I grinned at the way she had twisted the quote. Although I wasn't 100% sure it was wise, I picked up the toy and went to pay.

I had nearly reached the desk when a menacing shadow blocked my path. "Well. If it isn't little goody-two-shoes Emma." I gulped. It was Caitlin. She hated me. She used to be my friend when we were about 8  - but once she tripped me up by accident and I had told the teacher. She had hated me ever since.

She was surrounded by her menacing little gang of bullies. They were all big thug-like girls. But Caitlin was actually quite small and angelic looking - with floaty golden hair and innocent blue eyes. Instinctively I reached up to touch my glasses. I self consciously thought of my messy auburn plaits and grey irises.

Caitlin laughed but there was no humour in her voice. "What's little Emma doing? Buying a little baby toy?" Her fellow bullies laughed. "Toys are for babies." She smirked. "Hannah, get her money."

Emma gasped and backed away. The enormous girl called Hannah advanced towards her. She grinned spitefully and Emma could see she had missing teeth. "Had it ova!" She spat thickly.

"Umm... pardon?" Asked Emma.

"I said, had it ova! Or else!"

Emma took a deep breath. "No." She said. "It's my money, not yours."

Hannah frowned. She stayed silent for a few seconds, as if she was processing the information. "Well then." She said. "Tough." She drew back a flabby arm and hit Emma in the stomach. Emma's coins rolled across the floor towards Caitlin, who pocketed them.

"That's what happens to little snitching babies." She smirked.

Suddenly a red-haired ball of fury charged towards Hannah and punched directly in the nose. "How dare you treat my friend like that!" Spat Maddy aggressively. She could hardly hold back her anger.

Hannah wiped the back her hand across her nose; and when she saw the blood she burst into tears.

Maddy ignored her and marched right up to Caitlin. She bent down and stared directly into her blue eyes that were so full of spite. "You ever try anything like that again." She spat. "And your pretty little crop top will be dyed red. With your blood!"

Suddenly a lady came running up to them. She had a uniform on and obviously worked at the shop. "Is everything okay children?" She looked around at the group of furious girls who were so obviously not "okay".

Caitlin smiled sweetly at the shopkeeper. "Yes, we were just on our way out." She beckoned to her group of bullies and left the building; only turning around to give Maddy and Emma a poisonous glare.

The shopkeeper looked at them distrustingly. "Can I help you two?" She asked warily.

"As a matter of fact, yes." Replied Maddy cheerfully. "My friend here would like to pay for this toy." Maddy nudged me to hand over my money. "I can't." I mumbled, looking at the floor.

"What do you mean? What happened?"

"They... umm... took my money." I stared hard at the floor but I could still see the fury in Maddy's eyes.

"You should've have told me!" She exclaimed. "I'll kill that Caitlin when I get my hands on her!"

The shopkeeper looked at her watch impatiently. "It's okay." I said quietly to Maddy. "It's only a... a toy anyway."

"Nonsense." She grinned at me and pulled a note out of her purse, handing it cheerfully to the shopkeeper. I gasped and grabbed her arm. "No way Maddy! It's fine, honestly!"

Maddy wouldn't hear of it. I walked home that day with a fluffy sheepdog teddy nestled in my arms.

*

"It's the big day!" Exclaimed Maddy excitedly. I couldn't help but smile at how ecstatic she was. She had a guitar part in one of the pieces - and she was brilliant.

The only thing I could feel was fear. A horrible fluttering feeling clawing away at me from the insides. It didn't help that the performance was on Valentine's Day either. There would be so many people looking for a romantic and perfect performance. What if I didn't provide?

A few hours later I was set to go on stage. It was just a few minutes until my solo. "Are you ready?" Asked Mr. Bagnall, the man in charge of the show. I nodded and smiled; although I felt like I was going to burst into tears.

There was a huge cheer from the audience and a few wolf-whistles. "Okay." Mr. Bagnall said calmly. "On you go." I grabbed the microphone and walked out onto the dark stage. Immediately, the spotlight trained itself on me; blinding me. Making me sweat. I froze, rigid with fear as the audience waited, anticipating greatness.

It was my dream all over again.

My whirling thoughts were interrupted from a sudden cheer from somewhere in the crowd. I squinted my eyes and thought I saw a blob of bright red curls in the audience. "Emma! Emma! Emma!" Maddy chanted.

She was the only one in the entire packed hall that wasn't silent. I could have died of a combination of horror, fear and embarrassment at that moment. Then; hesitantly; another voice joined in. I was certain my ears were fooling me. I followed the sound of her voice and there she was, Caitlin, cheering me on. I saw her elbow her friends to join in. I even heard Mr. Bagnall begin to chant from the side of the stage.

Soon, the majority of the 2000 people in the hall were chanting my name. It filled me with such a wonderful feeling - I can't even describe it. A glowing feeling of pride; happiness; courage; strength and forgiveness for old mistakes.

I took a deep breath.

The hall fell silent, each and every person anticipating what I was about to do.

I opened my mouth and sung.

*

A few weeks later I entered the classroom, grinning. I sat down next to Maddy and we started a gleeful conversation revolving mostly around Paul McCartney's eyebrows.

Out of the corner of my eyes I saw Caitlin raise her eyebrows at us and whisper something hilarious about us to one of her friends.

I had hoped that after she had cheered me on in the concert we could make up and be friends like we used to.

I soon learnt that some things can't be mended; and some things never change. It doesn't matter though. The important thing is that we learn to accept them the way they are and do what we can to make ourselves better people.

That's what me and Maddy try to do. She's the greatest friend ever.

The End