LAURYN

Being the daughter of Mr May can take its toll sometimes. Correction: most of the time. I'm not even allowed to know what my father does. He says it's none of my business. Living in the north of Wildwoods, I've never been to the south. Honestly, my father won't let me. He says they're all jealous vermin because we earn money and they don't have a single penny. If dad had his way, he'd shoot a southend for just looking at him! Personally, I think they're just people like you and me - except they talk differently.

My best friend - Sasha Halls - her brother, Jack, has been to the south. Sasha's more of a goody-two-shoes during the day and a rebel, breaking every rule possible, at night. I believe she gets the latter from Jack - he's a troublemaker day or night.

Anyway, I heard that down at the south there are clubs and bars - and even a place to dance! The clubs aren't like ours - ours are for things like book club or tea parties or a youth club. No, their clubs are different.

During the day, Sasha phoned me with Jack listening in on our conversation.

"Hello Lauryn," Sasha greeted me when I answered.

"What's going on?"

"Guess where we are going tonight." She giggled.

I gave up. "Where?"

"The south!" Jack shouted through the phone.

"Hey, I wanted to tell her!" Sasha whined at her brother.

"Ha-ha, very funny," I laughed but I was also worried that they were being serious at the same time.

"No, tonight you, me, Jack, Luke and Jane are all going." Sasha told me. (Luke is her boyfriend).

"Sorry, have you met my father?"

"Make something up." Jack suggested.

"Just tell him that there's a little gig at the youth centre and it'll finish about one in the morning." Sasha made it all up.

"Fine," I sighed.

"It's settled then." Sasha sounded pleased.

"We'll pick you up at ten," Jack informed me and then hung up.

Great, if dad ever finds out about this then I'm dead. There's two way I could get into huge trouble: one - there's trouble in the south; two - my parents, school or security will moan at me and then kill anyone that had looked at me.

"Dad," I said when he came home, "mum said it was fine." I lied, she didn't know anything about it.

"Yes, what is it? Hurry up, I need to get on with my work." He started softly and then he snapped.

"Well, there's this gig..at the youth centre...in Sunny Wells, and if I go, I won't be home until one in the morning." I panicked, "I promise to not wake you or mum up, and I'll behave and-"

"You can go," he waved his hand, indicating for me to leave.

I just had to tell mum. She said it was alright because had agreed to it. Sunny Well is a little more north from us, but dad thinks its acceptable as long as its not south.