Belgium's Got Talent?

At the hostel you freshened up and headed downstairs in a new shirt and some comfortable jean shorts. You looked alright if you said so yourself.

The coffee machine from breakfast also did hot chocolates and that was what you went for to unwind. In the games room you ignored pleas to return to the pool table and joined Daisy, Alex, Sam, Holly and Lily on the comfortable armchairs by the fußball table. "Alright dudes?" You joked as you slumped down amongst them.

They were actually just talking about the day which was quite nice. It was interesting to hear how the experience was on the other coach, they'd done everything in a slightly different order and obviously had different teaching staff to shape the experience.

Instead of Mr Benz poignantly having the wood talk to them after the poem, Coach 2 had Mr McCarthy march them across the field holding a piece of flint as he read the poem off his phone.

"It was so shit." Bemoaned Daisy. Her and Lily were in Benz's English class and whilst he was a bit unconventional, they clearly fiercely respected him. Holly too. "He's really funny but really clever too. When he just gets on with the lesson you learn so much.." her expression betrayed her feeling that a bit too often he didn't just get on with the lesson and that was something you could identify with from having him a few years back.

Nice guy but sometimes you just wanted teaching.

"He was brilliant today. That moment at Mametz Wood.. I won't forget that I don't think." You admitted. Sam agreed and the conversation moved on.

You finally spoke to Lily. She was in a really nice white halterneck top with a baggy grey hoodie draped at her elbows and tight denim jeans with those holes in that were in fashion in the 80s and again sort of late 90s and apparently now. With her indigo Converse she looked good though. Chilled and pretty, fresh and young.

"I actually really liked Placebo." You told her, and went over your favourite tracks. You were thrilled that she'd listened to Generation Terrorists all the way through and admitted 'Little Baby Nothing' was her favourite. To this day it makes you think of her.

Then you discussed your mutual favourite band: The Stone Roses and which tracks you liked. It was a conversation a million guys have had with a million girls but now you and Lily were in those millions whereas before you were not.

Wisdom.

The casual chat was interrupted by Millie and Bryony announcing an open Mic hour before curfew and inviting people to get up and do a turn in a special Edition of Belgium's Got Talent!

When you saw French ICT teacher Monsieur Laville had brought his guitar, you had an idea.

"Bryony! Bry?" You hissed at the beautiful, if alternative, photographer. She hurried over with her notepad.

Within fifteen minutes, nearly everyone had moved into the dining hall because there weren't enough seats or enough space in the games room. An impromptu talent show was underway! Quite a few of your friends from Room 1 did bits. Kaitlyn and Courtney did a dance routine whilst Ange demonstrated a gymnastic style that verged on contortionism! By the look on Mr Robbo's face and his whispered asides to Mr Benz, he was having the same impure thoughts as you about how Ange's skills might be put to better use!

Lauren and Millie did a medley of Disney songs and it was fucking abysmal. Eventually it was your turn. You took the guitar from Mon. Laville and pulled a stool up to the mic stand. Every eye was on you but you looked straight at Lily.

"This is for my friend." You smiled and left it at that. She smiled nervously back, unsure what you had planned. Slowly you strummed out the GGGG DDDD GGGG DDDD EmEm pattern of the Roses' "I Wanna Be Adored" the song Lily had confessed was her favourite.

By the second 8 bars Mr Benz had shouted "Aw Yes! Elliott lad!" And then mockingly sang "I wanna be a door!" Whilst hugging the door to the teachers' room you'd infiltrated that morning. There was a burst of laughter but then it settled down. To you, it was like only yourself and Lily were in the room. Her blush was fierce but she didn't look away.

"I don't have- to sell my soulll-

He's already in me.

I don't need- to sell my soulll-

He's already in meyyy-

• I wanna be adored...."

And so on. Lily mouthed the words with you and the whole performance you sang it to her. There was a booming round of applause and you returned the guitar and squeezed Lily's hand in yours as you sat back down.

"Thank you" she smiled demurely, this was awkward for her but you felt maybe you'd slightly made her day. Hopefully.

A couple of acts later Curtis did "I'm Sexy and I Know It" and stripped to his boxers- earning him a unanimous win but to tell the truth it was a performance that will haunt your dreams til your dying day so he probably deserved it.

And so alas! Bedtime was called and you had to drag a still half-dressed Curtis to your room to grab the holdall and get it to Room 1 before Mrs Ashton knocked you both out with one of her haymakers.