‘Kenny? God, no. Everyone loved him.’ She twisted herself so she was leaning with her elbow on the back of the bench, her legs kinked away from me across the seat. She stared straight into my eyes as she spoke. I was doing my best to maintain eye contact, but I could feel the shaking in my breathing. Every few seconds, I’d have to break away because it felt somehow dangerous, something in my head reminding me that I was having an actual conversation with a gorgeous older girl, reminding me how that’s not the sort of thing I do.

‘Blokes get jealous of guys like Kenny,’ she went on. ‘He was just way too nice. He could’ve snapped the guy in half if he’d wanted to. He died because he was too kind to fight.’

‘I’m sorry, Sophia.’ It felt bold, alien, to say her name. And exciting. ‘So where’s the quote from?’

‘Those were the days of our lives? It’s an old Queen song. They played it at his funeral. Kenny was mad for his old music. You’ve heard of Queen, right?’

‘Of course.’

‘Like them?’

‘I love them.’ Not absolutely true. I did love them, but I’d pretty much stopped listening to music by then. Sometimes I couldn’t remember the point of it. ‘They were incredible. Not sure I’ve ever admitted it in public, though.’

‘Shut up. You should admit it. Have you heard the song?’

‘Dunno. Don’t think so.’

‘It was one of the last things Freddie Mercury ever recorded. It’s unbelievably sad.’

‘What’s it about?’

‘You ever looked back at shit, Ollie, and realized that everything was perfect, but you never took the time to realize how perfect it was?’

We smiled at each other. There seemed no need to say anything.

‘It’s a song for everyone who’s ever thought that,’ said Sophia. ‘Listen to it tonight. Properly listen. Every word.’ She wagged her finger at me. ‘That’s an order.’

I did listen to it that night. Over and over again.

‘Oh my God,’ she said suddenly, ‘I thought you looked familiar. I know who you are.’

I felt the familiar sinking in my stomach. Everyone knows who I am. I’m the bullshitting weirdo with no friends, the kid that even the teachers have learned to hate. She wasn’t the only person with an unearned reputation following her around.

‘You’re the piano man!’

I actually laughed. ‘How do you know that?’

‘Last year. That May Day thing in the park. Your band was awesome.’