Melody 5 - Rising Stars

12 (v) - Kat

--- KAT ---

“Kat, we need you to come home.  Now!” - That was the frantic message Dani had left on Kat’s voicemail. 

Kat listened to it after the girls had finished rehearsing Molly’s choreography for their new track – Break The Silence.  A play on words for Psylence’s name and a witty reposte about how girls shouldn’t be coerced into doing anything by guys, by friends, by anyone!

“I’ve got to go home,” announced Kat.

“We are home,” said Rhian, referring to the fact that their make-shift dance studio was at Amy’s house.

“No, back home to Ipswich.”

“It’s 10pm,” said Amy.

“Doesn’t matter,” said Kat frantically.  “I’ve got to go home now.”

“What’s happened?” asked Molly.

“I don’t know,” flustered Kat.

“But it’s the Festival tomorrow,” said Jadine.

“I know, but Dani says they need me.”

“Have you tried ringing her back?” asked Lena, who’d been watching the rehearsals.

“No,” said Kat tearily. “But I bet my dad’s done something terrible again.  What if he’s hurt Lucas?  Or Stefan?  Oh God!  I’ve got to go home now!”

As Kat raced out and headed up to her bedroom to grab some things, she heard footsteps following.  She knew it would be Jadine.

“Kat, wait!”

Sure enough, she was right.

“You can’t just bolt off like this,” said Jadine.

Kat scanned the room for her bag and quickly stuffed in her purse, phone and a change of clothes.

“I’ll be back in time for the Festival,” puffed Kat.  “We’re not on until 4pm.”

“But you might not even get a train to Ipswich at this time of night.”

“I’d better hurry then,” said Kat.

“No!” said Jadine, grabbing Kat by the arm.  “You can’t go!”

“You can’t stop me,” snapped Kat.

“Yes, I can,” stormed Jadine.  “Whatever’s happening with your family will still be there tomorrow.  You can go after the Festival.”

By now, the other girls had piled into the doorway and Molly stepped forward. 

“Jadine, we didn’t stop you from seeing your mum when your nephews were being taken into care,” said Molly.

That stopped Jadine in her tracks.

“That was different,” she finally uttered.  “We were only playing The Granite Rooms.  Plus it was near my mum’s.  Ipswich is over 100 miles away.  The trains will take forever.”

“Then I’ll drive her,” said Amy.  “I’ll borrow mum’s car.  We’ll be there in a couple of hours.”

Despite her panic, Kat was touched that Amy would do that for her.  Before she could accept, Lena piped up.  “No, I’ll drive Kat,” she said.

Kat was about to protest when Lena added.  “You all need your rest ahead of tomorrow.  Kat can sleep in the car on the way back.”

“That’s if she comes back,” snapped Jadine.

“Of course I will,” said Kat.  “This band means everything to me.  You know it does.”

Jadine didn’t look convinced, but Kat didn’t care.  The most important thing in the world right then was to get home – and find out what the hell had got Dani so panicked.  What the hell had her papa done this time?