Spence has his back to me as I tread into the kitchen. He’s made a pot of coffee and is staring out of the window, the mug in his hand.
‘She’s playing Fortnite,’ I say. He turns, eyes a little more settled than they were. ‘Her language is a bit more colourful than I’m used to.’
He nods. ‘I know.’
Over the years we’d talked about the mistakes our parents had made with us; Spence’s mum had literally washed his mouth out with soap once. ‘Did it work?’ I’d asked.
‘No, of course it fucking didn’t. The way I see it, the bigger a deal they make of it, the more of a temptation it is.’
He sits back down at the table. ‘Food’s on its way. Domino’s OK?’
I smile, our takeaway of choice back in the day.
‘Perfect.’
My phone sits between us, the unread message just sitting there.
‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ he says with a roll of his eyes, but it’s not taunting or sarcastic… it’s more defeated. ‘Just read it.’
My hands move quickly.
But it’s not a notification from one of the nostalgia groups. Instead, it’s a message.
‘It’s from Josie.’ I glance up briefly, then back at the screen. ‘She has free tickets to some TikTokers event… Perri Kilado? Never heard of her, you?’ There is a look of recognition from him.
‘Sounds familiar, actually…’
‘It’s tomorrow night, in London… open bar,’ I say then shake my head immediately. No. I’m done with that world.
‘I think she’s one of Georgia’s favourites,’ Spence replies, and I can already see his mind ticking away.
‘She’s on TikTok?’
He pulls a face that readswho isn’t?
‘Maybe this is what she needs…’ His jaw works, then he shakes his head. ‘We won’t have time to get there by the time I’ve finished work and…’
Even though the last place I want to be is at an event in my old life, I think of the girl upstairs, the hurt she must be going through.
‘You could take a sicky?’
‘I can’t. I’ve got classes all day. And?—’
‘You can. And maybe…’ I look up at the ceiling. ‘Maybe you should?’
I can see him warring with his responsibilities.
‘It’ll be good for you both, just the two of you.’
‘Three of us,’ he interjects. ‘She might… open up to you.’
My stomach dips. I don’t want to do this. I don’t want London and being reminded of who I used to be. But they need me.
‘Should you invite Ruby, too?’ Georgia and Ruby have been friends since reception. ‘Maybe what she needs is a proper friend around her. Not just us?’
‘I don’t know… It’ll mean her taking an unauthorised day off…’
‘Always the teacher. Just ask Ruby’s mum, it’s up to her if she wants to risk it.’
