BooksBarbecue
Back When We Were Friends
Chapters (52)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. Dedication
  4. About the Author
  5. 31
  6. 14
  7. 31
  8. 14
  9. 31
  10. 14
  11. 31
  12. 14
  13. 31
  14. 15
  15. 31
  16. 16
  17. 32
  18. 16
  19. 32
  20. 17
  21. 32
  22. 17
  23. 32
  24. 17
  25. 32
  26. 17
  27. 32
  28. 18
  29. 32
  30. 18
  31. 32
  32. 18
  33. 32
  34. 18
  35. 32
  36. 18
  37. 32
  38. 18
  39. 32
  40. 18
  41. 32
  42. 18
  43. 32
  44. 18
  45. 32
  46. 32
  47. 33
  48. 33
  49. 33
  50. Acknowledgments
  51. Discussion Questions
  52. Booklist

So, until now, it was never me getting any attention, and it felt bloody amazing.

“So, what do you know about him?” Jade asked, being very gracious considering we were now on slightly unequal footing. I’m not sure how I would’ve felt if she’d suddenly been plucked out from our “ugly friend” obscurity.

“Well, he hates capitalism,” I said, feeling very grown-up for using the word “capitalism.” “He keeps wearing this T-shirt that says ‘The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains.’ And, last lesson, when he was telling me about the gig, he said they have a song about capitalism called ‘Burn the Bin.’”

They all nodded like that made perfect sense. Did they understand what the bin was? Because I hadn’t figured it out yet.

“What else?” Sally said. “He’s got such good hair.”

I blushed. It was incredible really, how much I fancied Liam Gillingham, even though we’d only had about two conversations.

“Mike says their band are really good. They’re called Suicide Pact.”

My three friends nodded again, like that made perfect sense.

“And that’s about it so far. He seems quiet and mysterious and deep mostly, and, yeah, weirdly into me because of his head injury.”

Jade and Sally chuckled, while Jessica threw a chip at me. “Stop being INSANE,” she said. “Just enjoy it. I can’t believe I’m missing this band night and can’t watch this whole date unfold. Stupid divorced parents weekend away. Jade? Sally? Will you take detailed observations the whole night?”

Liam’s “gig” coincidentally was at some open band night in Croydon, and Mike’s band was playing too, making my first-ever date something our entire peer group would be watching. I couldn’t decide if that made it better or worse.

“That would be voyeuristic and weird and of course I will,” Jade said.

We all cracked up and got back to our kebabs, moving on to planning my perfect outfit. While Jessica asked for his star sign to figure out our compatibility and started charting for us, I watched her with a funny feeling. What I could never admit to her was that I was relieved she couldn’t come. It was my chance to shine. And the only way I could do that was for her not to be there.

32

now.

Ben returned home after me in a mad rush, just as I was plumping the cushions in the living room.

“I know, I’m late. I’m so sorry. Sorry.” He dumped his coat and bag onto my freshly washed floor, slid in for a quick kiss, then ran into the bathroom for a shower.

“Did your phone die?” I called. I’d spent a good five minutes convinced he might be having an affair, before reminding myself that was crazy, and his phone regularly lost battery.