It’s my cousin Annie’s, fifth birthday today and we’re at my Uncle Colt’s house for her party. I’ve known my cousin Annie since she was six-months-old, that’s when Uncle Colt and Auntie Lia adopted her. A year later they adopted Ella, and ever since then I’ve been the one to look out for them. Even though they’re younger than me and we’re not related by blood, I still love them with all my heart. Although they can, at times, really annoy me when they want to play with my hair and have tea parties under the willow tree.

I’m twelve now, practically full grown. Me and my best friend Indi are here at the Slade manor. Indi goes everywhere with me these days. She’s been my friend since I started school and all through when I was sick, she was by my side. She’s the only real friend I have, other than Aston and Chad, but they’re younger so that doesn’t count. Being the eldest kid sucks! Everyone looks up to you, and you have to play with all the younger kids. When all I really want is to learn guitar from Dad and play music. Indi is my age and I think that’s why we get along, ‘cause we’re on the same wavelength.

She was excited when I told her the story of my father and him being in a famous rock band. She’d heard of Slayed, the band, and she loved their music. I’d heard of them too, but I didn’t really care for music much back then when I finally met my dad after seven years of not knowing who he was. That’s a story in itself, but I won’t go into that right now.

Indi is standing at the cupcake stand and scoffing her face full of the salted caramel and chocolate cupcakes. She’s so cute when she eats. As a matter of fact, she’s cute at everything she does. Her little dimples, when she smiles, fill me with such happiness that it makes me shudder every time I see her. In a good way though.

She loves hanging out with me and my family. Not just because they’re famous and that excites her, but also because they’re nothing like her family. Unfortunately, her parents are poor and live like hippies. They really only care about each other and Indi doesn’t even enter their minds. I hate her parents and that’s why she spends all her time with me, Mum and Dad. She gets whatever she needs and wants with us, whereas at home she has to fend for herself, and at twelve-years-old that’s not fair.

The party is in full swing and I walk over to Indi as she takes another cupcake. Poor girl doesn’t eat much at home, so whenever she’s with me, she eats like a horse.

“You’ll get fat eating all those cupcakes, Indi,” I tease and she rolls her eyes and shakes her head causing crumbs of the chocolate cupcake to fall from her mouth.

“Nuh uh. I’ll never get fat, and if I do you’d still love me anyway,” she says with her mouth still half-full of food.

“Yeah, I will,” I say leaning in to kiss her cheek.

She smirks and wipes the crumbs from her mouth. “So, are you gonna play the guitar for me today?” she asks raising up on her toes in excitement.

“I guess,” I reply and she frowns like she’s upset.

“Oh, Caleb, please? I love hearing you play. You’re so good at it.” She takes my hands in hers and I smile at her. How can I say no to that?

“But Uncle Colt and Dad are here. Wouldn’t you rather hear them? They’re in the world’s most famous rock band, surely they’re way better than me?” I ask and she rolls her eyes.

“I can hear them play on the radio all the time, I hardly ever get to hear you play. C’mon Caleb, pleeease?” she begs and then smiles brightly showing me those adorable dimples.

“Okay fine, but I’m not singing—”

“Oh, yes you are. C’mon lets go to the music room.” She drags me along with her out of the gazebo and up the stairs and through the back door into the manor.

“Indi, I should actually check with Dad if it’s okay to use his guitar first.”

“Seriously?” she asks and I nod. I know Dad’s funny about people touching his guitars.

“He won’t even know, Caleb. Just sing me one song and then we can go back out there and party with the rest of the rock stars.”

“Okay, but if I get into trouble, I’m blaming you.”

She smiles and continues to drag me to the music room. We walk through the door and Dad’s guitar is sitting on his stand like always. I walk over to it while Indi sits down on the pristine white lounge suite and brings her legs up onto the seat sitting crossed legged, then leans forward waiting to hear me play.

I strum the strings and the vibration filters up through me which makes me feel alive. There're two things in this world that can do that. Playing guitar and Indi smiling, and right now both of those things are happening.

“Hello, England, and welcome to the Caleb McCormack-Slade show. For one night only, this is Caleb unplugged!” I speak out like I’m performing to a real live crowd.

Indi giggles setting my heart pumping. I strum the guitar to Uncle Colt’s favourite song that he wrote called, ‘Until The End Of Time.’

“Yay, I love this one!” Indi calls out and claps as I start to sing the first verse. I look into her eyes and they’re glistening and sparkling like endless pools of blue. It makes me shiver and I know, at that moment, she will be my forever.

She sways along with the words as I sing them to her and she smiles so brightly mouthing the words along with me as I sing them. She knows them all and I can tell she loves my performance. I belt out the final words and strum the guitar and she stands up and cheers so loudly I’m sure people outside can hear.

“Indi, shhh. We don’t want them to know we’re in here remember,” I say and she rushes up to me.

“Caleb, you’re magnificent! And when you’re rich and famous and in your own rock band, make sure you remember me. I can’t wait for you to serenade me at your sold out concert at Wembley Stadium. I know you’re gonna be huge!” she says full of excitement. I laugh nervously and shake my head.

“I’ll never be famous, Indi, but I promise to serenade you if I ever play at Wembley. But don’t get your hopes up, I doubt that will ever happen—”

“Don’t doubt yourself, Caleb. I don’t. You’re the best, and you’re only twelve! Imagine what you’ll be like when your voice breaks,” she teases with a giant smirk.

“Hey, my voice has broken, I’m practically a man,” I say lowering my voice to prove her wrong.

“A-huh, you keep telling yourself that, little boy.”

“Little boy, huh?” I reply taking off Dad’s guitar and placing it carefully back on the stand.

“Yep, that’s what I said, just a tiny little boy.” I can already see her positioning herself to run.

“Well, this little boy is gonna show you how strong a man he really is. Come here!” She screams in excitement as I lunge toward her and then she pushes past me and runs out of the room. I laugh and chase after her as she bolts back outside. We’re both laughing loudly as I take chase and I nearly knock Auntie Lia over as I rush past her.

“Slow down, Caleb, and don’t run in the house,” she says with a smile as I run past her and out the back door, down the stairs and toward Indi. She’s laughing so hard she stops and grabs her side.

“Stitch!” she yells.

I race up to her and tackle her to the ground.

“Ahh Caleb, I have a stitch,” she states again laughing and holding her side.

“See if I was a boy I’d have a stitch too, but I’m all man, right?” Pinning her down, she shakes her head as I lean over the top of her.

She laughs and shakes her head repeatedly. “Nope…nope, definitely all boy.”

I grin and start tickling her. She tries to escape and is laughing so hard she can hardly breathe.

“All man, right?” I question and she shakes her head, so I tickle her harder.

“Oh God, okay. Okay. Okay, you’re all man.”

“Don’t you forget it!” Kissing her forehead she slaps on my chest and pushes me off her, I laugh and roll on my back onto the grass beside her.

“Say you’ll be my friend forever, and that you won’t forget me when you’re famous?” she asks taking my hand in hers.

I turn to look at her and smile. “I could never forget you, Indi. Never ever.”