Elliot remains stone-faced as I regale the tale of The Drumstick to his friends until he feels the need to interrupt.
‘You didn’t catch it first, we’ve established this–’
‘We’ve established nothing, actually,’ I counter.
Josh throws his head back and cackles loudly – so loudly that the last few people remaining from the Queen Ego crowd spin round to locate the source of the sound. I didn’t even notice that the majority of the crowd has cleared out, leaving us standing in an almost empty field in front of the stage. I feel strangely exposed given my new circumstances and feel the urge to throw a puppet on top of our hands to hide the stick.
‘Either way, your friend has been on what some might refer to as “horrendous form” by not letting Nora keep it,’ Hennie says.
‘Ah, an accusation!’ Josh presses his hand to his heart with a dramatic gasp. ‘Of poor form, no less. Will his crimes never end? How do you plead, Walker?’ he asks, holding an invisible microphone towards him.
Elliot responds with an affectionate roll of his eyes and swats his hand away.
‘He is incorrigible,’ Josh says, shaking his head.
‘Wait, wait,’ Owen cuts in. ‘So you – both of you – you’re really gonna hold on to that stick and stay attached like this?’
‘Wait.’ Josh’s smile freezes on his face. ‘Is this not a joke? I thought you were winding us up. Or it was some kind of performance art.’
‘Well, not really.’ I shrug. ‘I’m too stubborn to give in and apparently so is he.’
Owen stares at us for a beat before doubling over, wheezing with laughter. ‘This is so good, I love this. Really, I do. You have to respect wanting something that much; it’s kind of amazing.’
‘Kind of amazing… and also mad?’ I say.
‘Yeah.’ He beams. ‘But you know, in the good way.’
‘Is it?’ Josh says with a frown. ‘You’re both gonna go insane. Have youmetElliot?’
‘What do you mean?’ I ask.
‘Yeah, whatdoyou mean?’ Elliot adds with a glare.
‘Listen, you know I love you, babydoll,’ he says to Elliot. ‘But if we were attached at the hip for longer than a few hours we’d kill each other.’
‘Why?’ Hennie asks, crossing her arms. ‘Any warnings? Anything we should be prepared for?’
‘Aside from his thoughtful and scintillating conversation,’ I say.
Elliot’s head snaps to mine with a scowl, and Josh erupts with laughter again at his expression.
‘Ham is, as always, just being dramatic,’ Owen interjects. ‘You’ll be fine.’
‘Seriously, though? What about going to the bathroom?’ Josh asks with disgust.
I meet Elliot’s eyes again. He looks as uncomfortable about this as I feel.
‘We’ll, uh, work that out as we go,’ he says quietly.
‘You can’t follow her in, dude. That’s not polite,’ Josh says.
‘Behave yourself, Ham,’ Elliot begs him, wearing a tortured expression. ‘Please.’
Josh then receives a harsh elbow from Owen. ‘Yeah, shut up, you’re freaking the girl out.’
‘Sorry, I’m just messing with you.’ Josh’s face lights up. ‘Although I am personally concerned for you about the bathroom situation.’
‘Aren’t we all,’ I mutter to myself.
