My chest seizes up and a strange choking sound comes from me.
‘What’s up?’ says Faye. ‘Did I pull too hard on your hair?’
‘No,’ I say, and I can hear my voice choke up too. ‘It’s just – who’s going to remember these things about me when I go to uni?’
Faye pats my head soothingly. ‘We’re not going anywhere. We’ll still be friends.’
‘Yeah, and you’ll get so many new firsts with your new uni friends too,’ says Kira.
‘Like what?’
‘I don’t know yet, but I don’t think all your firsts happen before you’re eighteen,’ says Kira. ‘And even then, you’ll still have us, like Faye said.’
‘Do you think we’ll be friends forever?’ I say.
To my surprise, it’s Faye who responds, ‘No.’
I laugh. ‘I thought Kira would say that.’
‘I’m not trying to be negative,’ says Faye. ‘I don’t think we know the future. And that’s okay. Maybe we’ll be friends when we’re fifty, maybe we’ll be distant memories to each other. But what matters is right now, in the present, we’re here for each other.’
‘When did you become so wise?’ I say, turning around to face her.
‘When did we all start growing up?’ she says, with a small smile.
‘Are you excited for your apprenticeship next year?’ I say.
‘I’m excited to stop studying, honestly,’ she says. ‘And do something.’
‘I’m excited to see what you become,’ I say.
‘It’ll be a while, but it’ll be the best of times,’ sings Faye to me.
‘Speaking of which, I should get going,’ I say, looking at the time. ‘Oh crap, I’m already late.’
‘Didn’t you set the time?’ says Kira.
‘Yes, but I lost track of it!’ I say, stuffing on my shoes.
I pull them both into a group hug. ‘Thanks for always being by my side,’ I say.
‘Go get ’em,’ says Kira. ‘Or I should rather say, “go get him”.’
I roll my eyes. ‘None of that will be happening tonight,’ I say. ‘I think he’s made his feelings clear.’
‘You don’t know,’ says Faye.
‘You’re both right, I don’t know. Maybe he’ll profess his undying love on the tube. While queuing for drinks. As the opening act comes on. So many opportunities.’
‘Hey, you’re the writer,’ says Kira. ‘You never know where the moment will take you. Be open minded.’
‘I have to be open minded,’ I say, opening my bedroom door and walking out. ‘I’ve been waiting for this night for so long.’ I turn back to them. ‘You guys can get out yourselves, right?’
‘Selena,’ says Kira. ‘Your mum gave me a key years ago.’
‘I know, I know,’ I say. ‘See you both later. Love you!’
And with that, I run outside into the day, unable to believe this is the night I see Rose Conrad live.
