"It was delightful." I snuggled further under the duvet.

"Aww. Don't say that. I was about to be ultra soppy and tell you I missed you."

"That would be soppy."

"Well, I won't say it then."

Just hearing his voice had made me forget the horrible stories in the newspaper. "Okay," I relented. "I missed you a little bit too."

"Soppy cow."

"Hey!"

"Just playing you at your own game."

I switched my phone to my other ear and rolled onto my side. "So how was band practice?"

I could hear excitement in Noah's voice. "It was good actually. Really good. In fact, we've got a pretty big show lined up."

"That sounds cool. Whereabouts?"

"We got a call today from this guy who helps us get gigs. Do you know Ponyboys?"

I did know Ponyboys. Everyone knew Ponyboys. They'd been on the radio constantly. They were one of those indie-pop bands that had exploded in popularity after releasing some rocky, catchy love song. Ruth and Amanda were really into them, and I had a few of their songs on my iPod.

"Yeah, of course. Why?"

"Well..." Noah paused for dramatic effect. "...They're playing The Complex in two weeks."

"Yeah. Ruth and Amanda have tickets. So?"

"Apparently they always like to have a local band support them. They found out about us online and listened to our demo. And, Poppy, I can't believe it, but they've asked us to support them."

I sat up in bed. "You're kidding."

"Nope."

"Really?"

"Yup."

"That's amazing, Noah." I couldn't believe it either. The Complex was about a twenty-minute drive from town. It usually hosted quite big names. I'd seen a few bands there in the rare moments I was organized enough to get tickets.

"I think I'm still in shock. We've got so much practising to do. Only two weeks! I hope we don't screw it up."

"You won't screw it up."

"Well, I won't if you're there."

I sighed. "I would love to come, but tickets sold out ages ago." It sucked actually. I would've loved to see Noah on such a big stage. Why hadn't I let Ruth buy me a ticket?

"Poppy. You'll be there. You're with the band. I'll be able to get you in."

It took a while for me to digest. "Say that again."

"I'll be able to get you in."

"No, the first part. Say the first part again."

Noah sounded confused. "You're with the band...?" he ventured.

I sighed happily and slumped back into my pillows. "Do you have any idea how cool that sounds?" I laughed at my own pathetic-ness.

Noah laughed too. "I get it. One of the reasons I got into music was just so I could say the phrase 'I'm in a band' to girls."

"Don't remind me, please."

"Well, you're my groupie now, Poppy. My only groupie. And that means free backstage passes."

I smiled. "Have I ever told you that I love you?"

He laughed again. "If I didn't know any better, I would say you're only interested in me because I'm in a band."

"Well, if I'm your official groupie, doesn't that mean I have to sleep with you?" I said it innocently enough, but Noah went quiet down the phone.

"Noah?" I asked, slightly panicked. "You still there?"

He eventually spoke again. "Honestly, Poppy. You can't just spring that mental image casually into a conversation like that. I can't think of anything else now."

I giggled. "Men are so one-dimensional."

"I'm afraid we are. I'm trying my hardest not to be."

For a brief moment, I entertained the thought of sleeping with Noah and it made me draw breath. I was still terrified, naturally. But when I thought back to the previous night and how it had felt with him in that field, I got judders.

I spoke raspily, surprised by how turned on I'd suddenly made myself. "You sure this taking-things-slow thing is a good idea?"

More silence.

"Honestly, Poppy, are you trying to kill me?"

"Sorry."

"It's okay. I do think it's a good idea. It's just going to be hard logistically that's all." He was quiet again for a moment. "The thing is, Poppy, it's you. You're so special. We're so special. And I don't want to rush it. We have a lot of time..." More quiet. "In fact, at the risk of sounding massively soppy, I feel I have all the time in the world with you. I feel like we're for ever."

I really honestly completely and utterly couldn't stop smiling now.

"Do you feel the same?"

There was a nervousness there again. I thought about what he'd just said, and what it meant. For ever. Well, a lifetime anyway. It was daunting to think of being with someone for that long. Yet I knew I would never find someone like Noah again. He was my fit. Outsiders would look at us, sneer, and diminish whatever was going on as "puppy love", but I knew better. I supposed that was why I'd been freaking out. You're not supposed to meet your soulmate at seventeen. In fact, until last week, I hadn't even believed in them. But I just knew, inherently, that this was right.

I'd kept Noah waiting for an answer and I chose my words carefully.

"I do feel the same."

"Really? 'Cause I don't want to overwhelm you. Honestly? I'm a little bit overwhelmed myself."

"I am a bit freaked out. But, at the risk of sounding like a melodramatic teenager, I feel I could spend the rest of my life with you quite happily."

Noah sighed in relief. "Thank you," he said. "I was getting scared that I was the only one having all these crazy thoughts."

"Nope. Not just you. It must be our raging teenage hormones."

"Well, we might be a little bit young, but look at Romeo and Juliet. They were all true-love and they were only about fourteen. Gross really, when you think about it."

I laughed. "And look how well that turned out."

"Let's try not to kill ourselves, shall we? Just for a while?"

We spoke a bit more about the gig. About Ruth. I told him she was planning to break up with Will and he got a bit annoyed. I found myself trying to defend her, then realized I didn't have much of an argument.

After a while it was time to ring off.

"Anyway," Noah said. "I've been good and not seen you all day, so can I walk you to college tomorrow?"

"Sorry. I'm walking in with Lizzie."

"Well, can I see you after college then? We'll go and do something fun. A surprise. Something away from my flat so we're not tempted to...you know..."

I was aware of all the coursework I had to do, and tried to find a compromise.

"I've got coursework..."

"Oh yes. Of course. Sorry. I don't wanna screw up your A levels."

I went through tomorrow's timetable in my head and found a solution. "I've got two free periods tomorrow. If I go to the library and actually behave myself and work instead of gossiping with the girls, then I should be able to get most of it done."

"You sure?"

"Yep."

"Brilliant. Well, I'll see you tomorrow then."

"See you tomorrow."

"Oh. And Poppy?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

I met Lizzie the next morning. The weather, in line with its continuing indecisive behaviour, had decided it was winter again, so it was bloody freezing. I wrapped up in my huge parka, a scarf, gloves and hat, and pondered how I'd been sitting outside in a beer garden just two days ago.

Lizzie was hopping from one foot to the other when I met her.

"Dear Baby Jesus, it's cold," she said, her breath frosting in the air. "What the hell is going on? Does the weather have PMS or something?"

She was equally dressed for the chill, wearing her long woollen coat with a trilby hat. Lizzie could do hats.

"I don't know." I stuffed my hands further into my pockets. "But I wish it would make up its mind. It should either be a proper full-blown Indian Summer, or just get on with it and freeze our arses off constantly until May."

We walked quickly to stay warm.

"Oh, I forgot," I said, when we neared college. "Noah's band has been asked to support Ponyboys at their next gig."

Lizzie stopped walking. "You're kidding."

"Nope. He rang and told me last night."

"That's incredible news."

"I know."

"Did Ponyboys actually find them and ask for them?"

"Yeah, apparently."

"Have you told the local paper?"

"Yes, Lizzie," I deadpanned. "That's the first thing I thought to do."

We started walking again. It was too cold to stand still.

"It's a good local news story," she whined.

"Yeah, I suppose."

The college gates didn't have the normal crowd of students dawdling around them as we stomped through. It was too cold.

"Wow. Your boyfriend is going to be famous."

"Hmm, maybe."

It made me a little nervous, to be honest. There would be thousands of people at this gig. Thousands of girls looking at Noah, wishing they were me. And probably thinking he could do better. I pushed the thought from my mind.

"You wanna meet for lunch?" Lizzie asked. We were at the corridor where I went to English and she went to Government and Politics.