Page 17

“If I could cast actors in a play, he’d top my list,” said Alex. “It’s a shame some people only know him from the Bond films… and look at his hair. It’s always epic.”

“Isn’t it? He’s surprisingly shy in real life, though.” Lucy swigged her pint. “This makes me happy. Two years on, you’re still crushing hard on the same actors. So loyal, not switching to the flavour of the month…I really should reactivate my Facebook and Instagram accounts, get myself back online.”

“Do it. I’ve missed your pop culture posts. If I didn’t love you so much, I’d be disgustingly envious. I remember you posting photos of your old ticket stubs from concerts too. So how many times did you see the Arctic Monkeys in the end?”

“Nine times,” said Lucy. “Yeah, I went a bit mad there for a while. Dancing my face off, letting the music sweep away my worries…I also got into Years & Years, big time.”

“Whishy’s in their Real video. I don’t know much else about them, though,” said Alex.

“They’re brilliant. I’ll make sure you’re properly schooled in the best Brit bands…but before I forget, I’ve been dying to ask…who was that girl with you in Pret? I don’t mean to sound nasty, but what are you doing with Little Miss Snooty?”

Same old Lucy, never mincing words. Alex smirked. “Olivia? I met her yesterday. She’s the girlfriend of my friend Harry from Emory. I’m staying in his flat in Hackney for a few months.”

Alex sipped her drink. “But never mind her, what’s new with you? Last we were in touch…well, I can’t imagine what that must’ve been like for you…”

Lucy stared straight ahead and picked at a damp beer mat. “My world collapsed. Nothing else mattered except Gran’s cancer diagnosis. I stopped drawing, dropped out of my animation course at uni—Gran was so upset about that, but I wanted to look after her. I went into full-on caregiver mode.”

“I don’t know how you coped,” said Alex. “It was always you and her against the world, right?”

“Yeah, more so than ever. My shitty excuse for a boyfriend dumped me because I wasn’t there for him all the time.” She tossed torn shreds of the beer mat onto the table. “Such a selfish fucker.”

“He didn’t!” Alex spluttered on her drink. “Well, you’re better off without him.” She laid a hand on Lucy’s back. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve tried harder to stay in touch. I just didn’t know what to say.”

Lucy shook her head. “I’m sorry. I vanished. One day I had Facebook and Twitter accounts. The next, they were gone. I just couldn’t deal with anything but Gran at the time. I felt so bad, disappearing without telling you how bad things were. I’ve never forgiven myself. I wasn’t avoiding you.”

Gentle tears swelled in her brown eyes. “Things went from bad to worse. They said she’d have a year, but she only made it to six months.”

Alex pulled her friend into an embrace. “Oh Lucy, I prayed for her to get better. I wanted to see how you were doing, but I was afraid to intrude. It was a stupid, naive decision on my part. I should have been there for you.” She dug some tissues out of her bag for Lucy and tightened her hug.

Lucy dabbed her eyes. “I was a mess. And then there’s all this stuff you have to take care of when someone dies. I wasn’t prepared for any of it. I was only twenty. What did I know about dealing with wills, making funeral arrangements? And relatives you haven’t seen for years, claiming what they believe is theirs. It was bad enough losing Gran’s flat in Upton Park and being forced to find a new place to liv—”

Alex jumped in, loosening her hug. “Did your mom show up?”

“Thankfully, no. I wouldn’t recognize her if she did, it’s been so long. But my aunt showed, sniffing around like a rat for any tasty crumbs left behind by the mother she couldn’t bother to visit. So pathetic.” She blew her nose. “Freddie was a lifesaver. He stayed with me afterwards…until I got turfed from the flat.”

“Thank God he was there, Lucy. It’s about time someone looked after you for a change.”

“He’s the best. I don’t know what I did to deserve him. Now I can’t get rid!” Lucy laughed and wiped her eyes. “Now I just want to enjoy my friends and my new job. I’m done with drama for a while, you know? Bring on normal life for a change.”

“Are you drawing again?” Alex pulled the straw from her lips. “Your hands! They were always covered with ink when we’d chat on Skype.”

Lucy shook her head. “I haven’t even looked at a sketchbook for at least a year. With everything that’s gone on, I’ve kinda lost my passion for it.” She shrugged. “And it’s hard getting back into the starving student routine when you’re used to a regular pay packet. Never say never, though…”

She sipped her pint. “So that’s me all caught up. Please tell me that I’m the only sad sack around here? I hope the last two years have been kinder to you.” She touched Alex’s hair. “I love the shorter ‘do.”

“Thanks. New hair, new start.”

“So who’s this Harry? Have you snogged?” Lucy winked. “And what happened to that bloke from your theatre class… Damon, Davin…what was his name?”

“Devin Lockhart. Yeah, I met him at the start of my freshman year.”

“Go on. Spill.”

Alex’s voice went quiet with a slight smile. “He was lovely. Six foot tall, a year older than me, deep blue eyes. He wasn’t the cutest guy in my theatre studies class, but he had this gentle, centred way about him. He wasn’t arrogant or showy like some acting students, and he always knew how to make me laugh.”

She slowly spun her glass around with her fingers. “Living away from home for the first time, we leaned on each other for support and friendship. He was there for me during some tough moments. His parents were dead set against him being an actor, just like my mom hated my playwriting aspirations. For the first time, I was in sync with someone and didn’t have to explain why I was so keen on this unstable career. He did a lot of community theatre in his spare time, and I wrote a play for his acting group. We clicked on so many levels.”

“Did you fall hard?”