"Look boys" Matthew sighed "this isn't good news I'm afraid"

"What isn't?" Dec frowned "what isn't good news?"

"I'm so sorry" Matthew replied "there's no easy way to say this,I know how much you love it here"

"Matthew,just tell us will ya?" Ant insisted.

Matthew stared directly into Ants eyes,before averting his gaze to Dec,who was fidgeting nervously,anticipating what Matthew was about to announce.

"You're being written out" he stated bluntly,before looking down at the floor,not being able to stomach the shocked looks on the boys faces.

"What?" Dec whispered,hoping he'd heard wrong.

Matthew glanced up at Dec "I'm sorry,but PJ and Duncan are being written out of Byker grove"

"Why?" Dec was trying desperately to hold back the tears,the news was devastating to him,this was his second family,he had loved every minute of working on byker.

Ant sensed Decs wobble and placed a comforting hand on his knee and gave it a squeeze.

"It's ok Dec" he smiled "let's just hear what Matthew has got to say"

Dec was impatient though "I don't get it though" he whispered as a single lone tear escaped and trickled down his flushed cheek.

"I don't get it" he repeated "you've literally only just told us what a great job we are doing,how popular we...our characters are.Why would we be written out?"

"Yes and all of that is true" Matthew insisted "you are doing a great job and you are popular,very popular,but think about it for a moment will you?"

"Think about what?" Ant queried while moving his hand upwards to rub his upset friends back.

"Anthony,Declan" Matthew sighed we've nearly finished filming for this series...."

"Yeah?so?" Ant interrupted.

"So" Matthew continued "by the time we come back to start filming for the next series,you boys will be nearly eighteen"

"Yeah we know that" Ant replied "what's that got to do with anything?"

Matthew sighed heavily,not sure if Ant was being deliberately obtuse or if he genuinely couldn't see where this conversation was heading.

"Byker Grove is about a youth club" Matthew continued.

"I think we know that too" Dec snapped tearfully.

"Well then,you must also know that eighteen year olds don't hang around youth clubs?" Matthew asked "and if they do,there's definitely something wrong"

Ant and Dec sat quietly,trying to process what they were being told.Of course they knew realistically that Matthew was right,they were just getting too old to be a part of the programme any longer.

That didn't make the news any easier to take though,they were both devastated,it had never,up until that moment,ever crossed their minds that they wouldn't be a part of the programme they loved for much longer.

Matthew kept quiet for a while,letting the news sink in to the boys confused brains.

"I really am sorry" he announced eventually "I know you weren't expecting this,but it's just the way it is"

"Yeah" Ant replied sadly.

"I did pitch it to the BBC about maybe doing a spin off programme for PJ and Duncan,but it was a non starter I'm afraid,they weren't interested,they just want a younger audience for byker,that's the bottom line,a younger cast means a younger audience and that's what they want"

Matthew found it hard to take the pure look of devastation and disappointment on both of the boys faces and hated that it had come down to him to break the news.

"Hey" he continued "you boys are great actors,you know that right?you'll go far,both of you.I do understand how you're feeling right now,but this isn't necessarily a bad thing for you.Byker was just the start for you,you guys are going to go far,I know it,so please look to the future ok?don't let this get you down,it's dog eat dog in the acting world I'm afraid,but you'll be ok,I know it"

"Er yeah,I guess" Ant replied,standing up "come on Dec"

"Ok" Dec snapped out of the lost world he seemed to have drifted off into for the last few minutes.

"Thanks Matthew" Ant forced a polite smile.

"Yeah thanks" Dec copied.

"Bye boys" Matthew said sadly,as he stood up to shake their hands,not believing that even he felt a tear come to his eye as he watched the boys leave his small office.Having to handle things like this was just part of his job,he shouldn't be getting emotional about it,but he couldn't help himself.

Ant and Dec walked in silence down the corridor alongside each other,feeling numb and trying to take in what they'd just been told.Their worlds had come crashing down around them,this was the last thing they had expected when Matthew had called them into his office.

They had a few more scenes to film for this series then that was it,no more acting,no more working,no more doing the job they loved,no more hanging out with their mates on set.They were on the scrap heap at the ripe old age of seventeen.

Still walking in numb silence as they both tried to process the events of just a few minutes ago,they reached the bottom of the large,sweeping staircase that had featured so heavily in Byker Grove.

"Ant,Dec,stop" came Matthews voice as he clumsily swung his office door open and hurried down the stairs to catch up with the boys.

"What is it Matthew?" Dec asked sadly.

Matthew caught his breath for a moment,he wasn't the fittest of middle aged men.

"Telstar records have just been on the phone.They want to offer you a record deal"

"Er...a what now?" Ant asked,rather flabbergasted "this is a joke right?"

"No,no of course it isn't" Matthew continued "they've been keeping an eye on you two since the 'tonight I'm free' episodes were broadcast,they think they can do something with you,well with PJ and Duncan,what do you think?golden opportunity right?"

Matthew was surprised at the boys distinct lack of enthusiasm,he genuinely thought they'd be over the moon at this offer.

"Is it?" Dec asked "singing isn't what we want to do,you know that,we're serious actors"

"Yeah,yeah,I know" Matthew replied,getting slightly impatient with the boys "will you at least have a think about it?but don't take too long,telstar want an answer as soon as possible,they want you to start recording an album as soon as you've finished recording your last scenes here"

"Bit presumptuous isn't it?" Ant asked "we haven't agreed to anything yet"

"Yeah well,that's how it works in the music industry,if you don't want to do this,they'll have no trouble finding someone who does" Matthew pointed out "why don't you have a chat about it?talk to your parents...er your mum Ant and let me know what you decide"

"Ok" Dec sighed "we'll have a think about it and get back to you"

"Great" Matthew smiled "but don't leave it too long,the record industry waits for no man"

"Ok,ok" Ant sighed "bye Matthew"

Ant and Dec made their way to Decs car.He had taken driving lessons as soon as he turned seventeen,desperate to pass his test and gain more independence,which he did with ease.

Martin had actually taken him to a supermarket car park in the evenings when it was quiet a few times so he could practice driving but of course that was something neither of them admitted to Anne and Fonsey.Anne especially wouldn't have approved of her baby being in charge of a vehicle with anyone but a qualified driving instructor.

It wasn't long before Dec had saved enough money to buy himself an old runaround,it was nothing special,an MG metro turbo,but he loved it and it got him from A to B which was all that mattered.He often picked Ant up from his house and dropped him off as well on their scheduled working days,even though they still had access to a driver.They liked the time together,just the two of them in Decs car,chatting,laughing and more importantly,blaring out the car radio and singing along at the top of their voices as they sped through the Newcastle streets.They obviously couldn't do that when they were being driven by a byker chaperone.

"Fancy going for a drive?" Dec asked glumly.

"Yeah alright" Ant replied "where to?"

"Dunno" Dec shrugged "just get in and we'll see where we end up"

They were soon driving around their beloved Newcastle,having no idea where they were actually heading.

"I'm hungry" Dec announced,after they'd been driving around aimlessly for around twenty minutes.Neither of them had made much conversation on the journey which was very unusual for them,Ant had stared out of the window in a world of his own while Dec concentrated on the road.They didn't even turn the radio on.

"I know,how about we go to that chippy down by the quayside?" Ant suggested.

"Sounds good" Dec smiled.

A short time later they were sat in the car munching on their battered cod,chips and mushy peas.

"Best chip shop in the whole of Britain that is" Dec smiled as he polished off the lot,screwing up the greasy paper and throwing it to join an array of empty fizzy drink cans and sweet wrappers on the back seat.

"Agreed" Ant stated "Love it here,look at that view"

They both watched as the sun began to set over the river tyne and it's surrounding buildings.

"I find it so calming" Ant continued "I used to come down here with me Dad when I was a wee nipper,we'd sit on that bench over there and just people watch,ya know?just watch the world go by"

"Right pair of old women you two were" Dec laughed as Ant threw his food wrapper to join Decs in the back.

Ant shook his head affectionately at the memory "yeah I guess we were"

"So Dec" he smiled "are we gonna discuss this or what?"

Dec sighed heavily "I just don't know Ant,it's not what I want and I know it's not what you want either"

"Might not have any other options though" Ant replied sadly.

"Not necessarily" Dec insisted "we got the parts in Byker Grove,who's to say we can't just walk into another part,no problem?"

"It's not that easy Dec and you know it" Ant said "do I have to remind you about Geordie racer?"

"Yeah alright" Dec snapped "there's no need to bring that up,that was a long time ago and I was really young.I...we've got alot more experience now,we're even well known to an extent,we should walk into other parts"

"Dec stop it will ya?" Ant sighed "you know damn well that isn't how it works.Any parts that might come up,we have to audition for them along with hundreds of other people,there's no guarantee that either of us will ever act again"

"Why are you being so negative?" Dec asked,getting slightly annoyed.

"Sorry I don't mean to be" Ant replied "I'm just trying to be realistic"

He turned to face Dec "Dec look at me. I don't see what other choice we have pal,if we don't do this record thing then what else can we do?go back to college?what would we even study?that's the only other choice as far as I can see or maybe get some badly paid,mundane job that we'll hate,is that what you want?because I certainly don't.I think we should tell telstar we'll do it,but I can't do it alone,they want both of us,so what do you say?"

Dec shrugged nonchalantly "I guess you're right"

"Hey" Ant rubbed Decs shoulder gently,he hated seeing him so down over this "it'll be ok Dec.I promise and it won't be forever will it?"

"Dec" he smiled.They both turned to face each other

"I promise you,no matter what happens,we'll always be together,me and you just fit together don't we?whether it's PJ and Duncan or Ant and Dec,you'll always have a friend in me,you'll never have to be on your own out there no matter what happens or where we end up as long as I'm around,wild horses couldn't drag us apart,I'll always look out for you,I promise,that's what friends are for eh?I'll always have your back"

Ant noticed the tears starting to brim in his best friends eyes.

"I'll be forever grateful for byker cos it brought us together" he continued ""isn't that great?and I promise I'll always be here for you no matter what,but I can't stand to see you so unhappy,so how about we just give it our best shot eh?might actually be a laugh and once all those little teenyboppers who keep sending you their knickers grow up and lose interest in us,we can move on and hopefully forget about it,what do you say?"

Dec wiped a few tears from his eyes with the back of his hand before Ant pulled him in for a tight,reassuring hug.

"Ok Ant" Dec smiled as he nuzzled himself into Ants jacket "and everything you said about being there for me and all that,right back at ya,I'll always be there for you too.It's me and you against the world right?"

"Absolutely" Ant smiled "we're gonna be best friends forever Dec,I just know it"

"You swear?" Dec asked hesitantly.

"I swear" Ant replied while holding his hand out to shake on his promise "friends for life"

"Ok then" Dec grinned.

"Let's do this!"