The Lighter That Shone Like A Star (Story of The South) (6 page)

Although they each had
their own favourites, they idolised all five of the members of Light on the Landing
and could not wait to see them live. In fact, they were all agreed on only one thing: it would be the best night of their lives.

Max was not quite aware of just how much his life would truly change on his sixteenth birthday and coming of age. He was finally content in Pipton with his new group of friends and wonderful girlfriend. He wanted things to stay as they were. Forever.

He could not have known just how impossible this would be.

Jimmie had been expecting it to be the most tiring week of his career so far, but instead it had turned out to be one of the most enjoyable. Light on the Landing
was rehearsing for their upcoming tour, which gave them a more than welcome reminder of why they loved their job.

It was a daunting task, having just over a week left of rehearsals before travelling to Hurburt for the first show of their tour, but everything was going swimmingly. They were grateful that their choreographer expected little synchronicity from them, and demanded only lots of movement, jumping, and energy.

As well as rehearsals, the boys had something else to keep their minds busy. When Haze first received the message regarding a boy called Max Myers he was stunned. After he and the other boys read it over and over again, trying to make sense of it, they were all confused.

It read:

Private Message from :

Dear Tommy, Jacob, Jamie, Nathaniel and Zackary,

I write to you in the hope that you will be able to help save someone’s life.

Meet me by the
Stone Circle in the field of flowers on the night of your return.

I cannot elaborate here – just know that
The South needs you.

Max Myers needs you.

It was not possible for an anonymous Scribbler to send a personal message to another and that is what Jimmie found most confusing. The use of their birth names also seemed strange as nobody except their family and very close friends used them anymore.

Whoever had written the message seemed positive that they would help and, as much as Jimmie tried to deny it, he was sure they would follow the instructions. They had no real choice in the matter.

The five read the message in silence, nobody wishing to have the first word. Jimmie eventually broke the silence.

“I know Max Myers. He lives next door to my parents.”

“Then we need to help him,” Haze responded, uncertainty ringing through his words. The other four nodded in agreement and fell silent once more.

“It could be a trap,” said Jayke, saying what they were all thinking.

“What kind of trap, though?” Zaak asked.

“I dunno. Maybe someone wants to hold us to ransom?” he suggested.

“But why?”
Haze wondered aloud.

“Money,” Jayke replied simply.

Naithian laughed, “Guys, I think you’ve been watching too many films.”

“No, but seriously, we don’t know who it is. It could be anyone. People have gone missing in those woods, remember?” Jayke’s voice was filled with concern.

“Jayke’s got a point,” Zaak muttered. “What if something bad happens?”

Jimmie was glad to see the disappointment in Haze’s eyes. He did not blame his friends for worrying, in fact he was glad he was not alone in thinking these thoughts, but there was a bigger picture that they did not appear to be seeing.

“Okay, say it isn’t a trap. Imagine if we’re in Pipton, or just leaving, and we hear that Max Myers has been harmed. Or, if this message is to be taken
really
seriously, killed. How would we feel then?” Haze asked, looking at each of his brothers. All eyes were aimed at the ground.

After a few seconds, Jimmie spoke up. “Haze is right. We should go, all five of us, and at least listen to what they have to say.”

“And if it
is
a trap?” Jayke asked.

“Then we’ll improvise,” replied Haze immediately.

“Improvise,” Naithian repeated, smiling. “It’ll be just like we’re on stage.” The others smiled, Jayke in spite of himself.

The boys began to discuss the boy in question. Jimmie had lived next door to him in Pipton but he could not find a reason why anybody would want to harm a quiet, shy Hurburtan boy like Max.

Despite being his neighbour, Jimmie could barely remember what Max looked like. From what he could recall, Max was a bit of a mummy’s boy with not many friends. The other boys had no idea who Max Myers was until Jimmie recalled the time his trousers
had been pulled down in front of the entire town. It was most bizarre that he was apparently in grave danger, they all agreed.

When the boys had fallen silent once more, Jimmie took the ScribblePad from Haze’s hand and, for the first time ever, switched it off. He had expected Haze to be angry but instead it was relief that swept over his friend’s face. Jimmie smiled at him, turned his own ScribblePad off, and looked at the other three who quickly followed suit.

Jimmie was often considered the leader of the pack by the others and by their fans, but he liked to think it was because he always had the best ideas.

With nothing to distract them for the rest of the evening, the boys all sat down together with some cyders and a mildly entertaining film and just talked. It was strange for them not to be in bed already tired from the day’s rehearsals, or sitting together but stuck to their ScribblePads, finding out the latest and most imaginative rumours surrounding them.

What surprised them most about the rumours was that they were often true, or at least resembled the truth, meaning they would have to prepare solid lies for when they were interviewed.

The gossip was mainly about girls they were dating, but also included what they had recently bought with the money that was coming their way or what hotels they would be staying in when they toured.

This last one was the most frustrating, as they would often spend a day rushing around to do interviews and performances and rather than getting a few hours of peace when they arrived at the hotel, they would be greeted by hoards of wailing fans.

Jimmie found this new life more difficult than the other boys, which was something they all knew and he would never admit. The message about Max Myers had also hit him the hardest.

He knew Max and he could not help but worry about the fact that he was clearly in danger. Not only that, but he now had the responsibility of helping, no
saving
, the boy. He could not help but sometimes feel resentful towards his fame, knowing that there was so much expected of him that would never have been before.

Haze noticed that Jimmie was quiet during the evening while the other four were chatting away about girls; fawning over the attractive female stylists they had employed for the tour and speculating over what ladies they might meet whilst on tour.

Jimmie felt a pair of eyes on him and looked up to see Haze staring with that worried frown he would often wear. The two boys had formed possibly the strongest bond out of
all the members of Light on the Landing. It was probably to do with the fact that Haze was the youngest and Jimmie the eldest, meaning Jimmie had adopted an elderly brother role early on.

The two lads were so close that they could read each other like a book, so Jimmie was not surprised when his best friend nodded towards the bedrooms, where they could speak privately. Jimmie stood up and walked towards his bedroom, Haze close on his tail. Naithain wolf-whistled jokingly, before returning to the conversation that had now moved onto backing dancers.

“What’s up, Jamie?” Haze asked, as soon as he stepped over the threshold into Jimmie’s room?

“I don’t like it when you call me Jamie, it’s weird,” Jimmie replied, sitting on the edge of his bed.

His younger friend sat next to him and smiled, “It’s your name you idiot. Anyway don’t try to change the subject. What’s up?” he repeated.

Haze knew exactly how this conversation would go, and Jimmie hated that. He would simply ask “What’s up?”, Jimmie would blurt out everything on his mind in one breath then Haze would tell him that everything will be okay and give him a hug.

But this time it was different.

“I have this horrible feeling, you know?” Jimmie began, “We’re going home in a few days and I was so looking forward to it until you got that message. It’s, like, all I can think about is what’s going to happen and what we might have to do. I mean, I’ve been trying to make sense of it but it just doesn’t make sense. I’m scared,” Jimmie paused, waiting for Haze to respond but he did not. “I don’t know. I’m just tired I guess. And I’m nervous about the tour, and… I don’t know. Sorry, Tommy,” he finished, staring into his lap.

The room stayed silent for a while, until Haze finally replied, “I don’t like it when you call me Tommy.” Jimmie smiled and looked up at his best friend. “Look, I don’t know what I can say. I guess I’m scared to. I think we all are. None of us can make sense of the message and I think the best thing to do is stop trying. We’ll just have to see what happens. At least we’ll be in it together. You’ll have me there to hold your hand if you get too scared.”

“Hold my hand and I’ll break your nose,” the older boy replied jokingly.

“Shut up, you’ll love it.”

The boys looked at each other, both smiling, both grateful that they had each other to talk to when everything got a bit too much to handle.

“I think I’m going to get in bed and watch the rest of that film,” Jimmie grumbled, wanting to be alone for a while.

“Ah, maybe I’ll stay for a bit and watch it with you,” said Haze, making
himself comfortable on Jimmie’s bed. He knew that Jimmie wanted to be alone, but he also knew how that made him think too much and become even more upset.

Jimmie sighed, shook his head, and lay next to Haze, his head propped up against the headboard, cushioned by a feather-filled pillow.

“Thanks Haze.”

“I don’t like it when you call me Haze.”

The boys fell asleep shortly after, exhausted from their work schedule, and woke up the next morning, necks aching slightly from being in an awkward position. But Jimmie was feeling happier already after a good night’s sleep. Just two more days of rehearsals and they would be going home. Nothing seemed so daunting at that moment in time.

Max had expected to wake up on his sixteenth birthday feeling instantly more mature and like a proper adult. Instead, he awoke to his mother’s voice shouting for him to come downstairs for breakfast and realised that nothing had changed.

As he rose from his bed and opened his bedroom door, the smell of fried bacon wafted in and carried him downstairs to the kitchen. His mother prompted him to take a seat at the head of the table where his father usually sat, and presented him with a big fried breakfast and a large steaming mug of sugary tea, wishing him a happy birthday.

Harvey Myers joined his son and handed him a gift. Although Max already knew what it was after his mother accidentally let it slip over a month ago, he feigned surprise for his father’s benefit when he unwrapped his new ScribblePad.

“Thanks dad! Thanks mum!” Max exclaimed happily.

“Kerry, when did you tell him?” his dad asked, chuckling.

“What? I didn’t tell him! It’s a surprise!” Kerry replied, far too quickly and shrill. “Oh, you know I can’t keep secrets.” Max stood up to give his parents a hug and turned on his ScribblePad.

“This is it… we’ve lost him for ever now!” Harvey joked, watching his son’s expression fix on the screen in front of him.

Max quickly set up his Scribbler account and scribbled, ‘Finally have a ScribblePad! No idea how it works though! Help!’ He glanced over the top of the screen.

“So what are the plans for today then?”

Max’s birthday plans were to spend a relaxed morning at home, go for lunch at The Rusty Kettle, the most expensive restaurant in Pipton, and then they would have a small party at his house before heading off for the Light on the Landing concert.

It sounded like the perfect birthday to Max. Without question the best thing about it was that he didn’t have to go to school. (In Hurburt, it was tradition that on a person’s birthday, they were not required to attend school or work.) It did mean, however, that he would not see his friends or Sofia until after they had finished, and now that ScribblePads were banned in their school, they would not be able to scribble to him either.

Max finished his breakfast, which had gone slightly cold while he played around with his new gadget. After subscribing to Sofia, his friends, and Light on the Landing, he quickly began to understand why people found it so addicting.

He was extremely excited when he saw that the boy band he would be seeing that evening had scribbled to announce their arrival in Pipton.

In reply to Jimmie’s Scribble, not naïve enough to believe that he would see it let alone reply, he gushed that he was looking forward to seeing them on his sixteenth birthday, before putting it down again and going to get ready for the rest of the day.

Max knew that his coming of age really was a big deal when he learned that his parents had booked a private booth in the restaurant – a very costly privilege. As they were shown to their table, furnished with a bottle of expensive champagne chilling in a silver bucket, Max noted with a pang of annoyance that they were not the only people to have booked a secluded booth.

In fact, a rather large party of people had just popped open one of their many bottles of champagne with a celebratory cheer and were chatting loudly while the waitress filled their glasses. The family of three took their seats and watched the waiter pour champagne into their crystal flutes, Kerry Myers remarking on ‘how nice’ and ‘how wonderful’ everything was. Harvey raised his glass and, with a clink, they toasted Max and his coming of age.

Max took his first gulp of champagne at the same time as a man from the next table stood up to make a toast. Almost comically, he accidentally spat some out when a booming voice shouted “To Light on the Landing!”

For the first time since arriving, Max took a proper look over at the large party. His eyes confirmed what his ears had heard; there sat the five members of his favourite band sipping champagne on the table across from him. He looked back to his parents whose gaze had also turned to the other table.

“Oh look, there’s Henrietta and
Jozeph, I didn’t see them there,” Kerry said.

Who cares about them, does she not realise who they’re with?!

Henrietta and Jozeph were the Myers’ next door neighbours or, as Max like to call them, Jimmie-from-Light-on-the-Landing’s-mum-and-dad.

“Oh, let’s go and say hello. We haven’t seen them in a while,” Harvey suggested, rising to his feet.

“
Dad!’
Max hissed, “You can’t just go and interrupt their meal! They are famous you know!”

“Oh don’t be so ridiculous, they’re our next door neighbours. We’re just going to say hello.” Harvey scorned, now making his way over to the other table. Harvey looked back over at his son. “You can stay here if you’d rather.”

Max was already on his feet, trying to remain cool, but all he could hear was his pounding heartbeat and his hands had suddenly become very clammy.

“Oh, hello you three!
Fancy seeing you here!” Henrietta shouted over the loud chatter.

“Just thought we’d come and say hello! We’re here for Max’s sixteenth birthday – our little boy all grown up!” Kerry shouted back, just as the rest of the table had quietened to overhear the conversation. Max felt his face turn red.

“Oh, how very exciting! Happy birthday, Maxance!”

Max smiled nervously, barely even noticing the use of his full name, as he quietly mumbled his thanks. He glanced around the table, searching for his five idols, and was confused to see that they were all staring at him with intrigue. His eyes found Jimmie.

You can do this. You grew up in the house next door to his. He is just another human being.

“Hi, Jimmie,” he muttered.

“Oh, hey Max,” Jimmie replied, smiling back at him. “Happy birthday, mate!”  The other four echoed Jimmie’s birthday wishes, followed by the rest of the party, whom Max assumed were their parents, siblings, and grandparents.

“Thanks, everyone,” he blushed.

“Anyway, nice to see you all. We’ll let you get back to your big reunion,” said Harvey, putting his arms around his wife and son, leading them back to their own table.

“Wait!”

Max turned around, astonished to see that Zaak was on his feet looking directly at Max. Haze, Jimmie, Naithian and Jayke were all glaring at Zaak and, in Max’s opinion, looked worried, almost frightened.

“Max, we… Look, there’s something…” He stopped and looked down at Jimmie, sighing heavily.

“Here…” Jimmie reached into his pocket and pulled out what appeared to be a tangled bundle of string and some cards. “Some VIP passes for tonight’s show. There are seven there, so you can bring your friends.”

Haze stood up too, “Yeah, Max, consider it a birthday present. Come to the school like an hour before the gig and you can come see us backstage. I’m sure you and Jimmie need a catch up anyway.”

Max stood frozen in a stunned silence, befuddled and overwhelmed by what was happening.

“Yeah,” Jimmie added. “It’s been a long time buddy. We can hang out before we go on and then afterwards… Well…” There was a long pause, during which all the boys looked as if they were trying to think of what to say.

“We can go for a drink,” Naithian finished.

“Happy birthday, Max.”
Jayke took the tickets from Jimmie and reached over to pass them to Max.

“I… Wow. This is crazy. Thank you so much. Thank you.” Max was beaming. “Thank you!”

“Yeah, you said that,” Haze laughed. “See you later, Max.”

Max nodded, his grin now eclipsing his face, and went back to join his parents.

“Wow Max!” his mum exclaimed, thrilled for her son. “How
cool
is that! What a fab birthday treat, bless them. They’ve always been nice boys that lot. You must be so excited!”

“Yeah,” Max replied. “It’s pretty cool.”

This is the best birthday ever!

After having devoured a four course meal, including a creamy pea soup, the most succulent roast beef he had ever tasted, biscuits with more varieties of cheese than he thought existed, and a mountain of profiteroles, Max and his parents were back at home, Harvey and Kerry asleep on the sofa while Max played with his ScribblePad.

After his encounter with Light on the Landing, Max had scribbled, ‘Adsdfghjklll best birthday ever! Can’t wait for tonight!!’

Nobody was there to share his excitement, though, because all his friends were still in school.

Half past three eventually rolled round and one minute later, all his friends had subscribed to him and scribbled lots of birthday wishes. He scribbled back to them all, telling them to be at his house an hour earlier than originally planned because he had a big surprise in store. He had not stopped smiling since lunch time.

It all felt extremely surreal and he could not wait to share it with his five best friends and his beautiful girlfriend. The seven of them would be together, watching their favourite band play live.

He paused.

How did they know to give me seven tickets?