I forward it to Tadhg, who instantly responds with ‘That’s it.She’s won me over.I’m going to hire her as my new stylist’, and I reply ‘Do you actually have a stylist?’and he replies ‘NO!’. But even though this makes me laugh, it’s a reminder that all the unwanted attention isn’t going to go away any time soon.And when the bubble bursts at the end of the week and he heads off to America, I’ll be back in my old life, dealing with it on my own.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
2003
We played ‘Anyone But You’ at the Battle of the Bands, and the minute we finished it, I knew we were going to win.I wasn’t being arrogant or anything, I just knew.
‘Fuck,’ said Brian, staggering out from behind the drum kit as the packed Buttery cheered wildly.‘I think we might have actually done it.’
We descended from the stage, sweaty and elated.The first person I saw was Jess, throwing her arms around Tadhg.And standing behind her was Fiachra.
Fiachra and I had been seeing each other regularly since that last gig, but we mostly saw each other in his bed.Or, on one memorable occasion, in the stairwell at the far end of the top floor of the Arts Block.And, once the weather improved, in an outdoor stairwellbehindthe Arts Block.I already knew he was at the Battle of the Bands – he’d led me out to the Atrium next door earlier that night for ten efficiently used minutes that had, I have to admit, given me a little extra glow on stage.
‘How was that?’I said.
‘Well, I’m pretty sure you’ve won,’ said Fiachra.
‘I think you might be right,’ I said, beaming at him.
‘I’m definitely right, you were the best band,’ he said.‘Especiallyyou.The way you were looking down at the audience when you were playing, like you didn’t give a fuck if they liked what you were doing or not …’ He grinned.‘It was very … imperious.I was kind of into it, I can’t lie.’
I shook my head, laughing.‘Why does that not surprise me?’
‘Seriously, though, Laura,’ he said.‘You were brilliant.I’m really proud of you.’
‘Oh,’ I said, slightly taken aback by the affection in his voice.‘Um, thanks.’
‘Oh God, don’t look so worried,’ said Fiachra.‘I’m not going to declare my love or anything.’Then it was his turn to look worried.‘We both still want this to be just a friends-with-benefits thing, don’t we?No messing around, no one getting hurt?’
I let out a sigh of relief.‘Yeah, we do.’
‘Good,’ said Fiachra.‘Well, in that case, as your friend, with benefits or otherwise, I can say I’m very proud of you.Or can I?If it makes things weird, forget I said anything …’
‘It doesn’t make things weird,’ I said, smiling at him.‘And you can.’
He put his finger into the pull-loop of the zip at the neckline of my vintage dress.‘Can I unzip this later?’
I laughed.‘You can do that too.’
That was when a familiar female voice said, ‘Hello!’
Fiachra let go of the zip and I turned to see Jess and Tadhg standing behind me, arms around each other’s waists.Tadhg was wearing another well-cut charity-shop suit, grey this time.Jess extended her hand towards Fiachra.‘I don’t think we’ve met before.I’m Jess.’
‘Hi!’said Fiachra.‘Fiachra.’
‘You must be so proud of Laura,’ said Jess.
Fiachra and I exchanged an amused look.‘I was literally just telling her that.’He turned to Tadhg with a warm, genuine smile.‘You were great up there, man.’
That was when I realised that they had never actually met before.
‘Sorry, where are my manners?’I said.‘Tadhg, this is Fiachra – Fiachra, this is Tadhg.’I glanced at Jess.‘Sorry, I mean Tim.’
‘Good to meet you,’ said Tadhg, offering his hand.
‘Likewise,’ said Fiachra.‘I’ve seen you play a few times now, you’re deadly.’He turned to Jess.‘Are you a musician too?Or what are you into?’
‘I’m a musician,’ said Jess.‘I’m on the Music and Technology course with Tim.’
