“Election Records. Will they wait for you to finish uni?”
I smirk to myself at her smooth change of subject, then I stop in my tracks. Blowing out a sigh, I answer, “To be honest, no. And before you say it, I know it’s a risk.”
“I wasn’t going to say anything,” she laughs. “But let me guess, your parents are giving you a hard time.”
I squeeze her hand. “Not sure my dad would give a rats arse, that’s if he knew anything about it in the first place.” She looks at me, mouth wide open, eyebrows raised. “I know,I know. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet. For some reason, he thinks I’m too young to make my own decisions in life, but I think twenty-one is old enough. I’m just happy my mum’s cool with it. Worried at first, but we talked it through, and Tommy had a word. I don’t know what it is about Tom, but fuck me, he’s persuasive.”
“He seems like a really good guy,” she says, looking to the pavement we’re now walking along. “I hope Angie doesn’t give him the brush off.”
“She seemed pretty into him when we left.”
“Yeah, but—” she shrugs her shoulders. “Angie has been hurt, so don’t be surprised if they get so far and she decides not to take it further.”
Being with one girl for too long isn’t exactly Tommy’s style, but I decide now is not the time to drop that bombshell. “Girls. I don’t understand them full stop,” I laugh out.
“Oh, we know what we’re doing. Do you think we want to make your life easy? We’re intent on making you work for it.” Her brows raise over the half-smile on her face. She’s full of it. “So, what’s next Ash? What have you decided?”
“About the band? Not sure. Brett and Max are chomping at the bit, it’s just Tommy and me holding back for now. Between you and me, I want to take the contract. I want it so badly; I can taste it.”
“Then the degree should take a back seat. Don’t let it stop you doing what you love most.”
“It’s not as simple as that.”
She tilts her head while her eyes narrow. “Why not? I don’t get it. What’s the point of taking a degree if you’re not into it?”
“I am into it, but it’s not my first love.”
“Then what’s the problem?
“I’ve got commitments.”
“Like?”
“Like my mum.”
“Your mum? But you said she’s cool about it.”
“She is, but that’s the problem. She isn’t thinking of herself. I worry about her all the time. My dad’s a difficult man and I’m sure he gives her a hard time. Bernie was saying, if we go ahead, we could go into the studio to record our first album by the end of the year, then touring next summer. If we’re travelling, it means leaving Mum behind and I don’t trust my dad anymore.”
“You think he’d hurt her? Physically I mean.”
“No…at least I don’t think so. He’s just not the easiest to live with. Mum puts up with a lot. I’m her escape, you know?”
“Yeah,” she nods, her eyes glazed over. “I kind of do. If I didn’t have uni, I don’t know what I’d do. My mum and me, we don’t get on too great either. She’s about as unbearable as she can be.”
“Well, maybe this year, I can be your escape.”
“Maybe you can,” she smiles.
“So, what about you, Calla. What is it, you want to do with your life?” She looks a little pink in the face while her long, dark hair, waves in the gentle wind blowing from the evening sea.
“Oh, nothing as exciting as making music and going on the road.’
“Then what?” I ask, but I’m pretty sure Calla could do anything she wants.
“Promise not to tell?”
“If you don’t want me to.”
