Page 31 of Common People

‘What?!’ exclaimed Emma. ‘OK, let me get us another round, and you need to explain everything!’

‘Very well,’ said Max, who watched Emma get up and head up to the bar.

As Max watched Emma at the bar ordering drinks, it was hard not to get wrapped up in nostalgia. Before the accident they had been really happy together. One of the things with Emma was that it had always been so easy. From their first date all the way until his parents’ deaths, being with Emma had been like the smoothest flight in the world. There had been literally zero turbulence, and so it was so enjoyable, and it made him think that’s how the rest of their journey was going to be. He hadalmost forgotten that turbulence existed, but then his parents died, and from there on out, the seatbelt sign was on, no-one was allowed to use the toilets, and they had just held on for dear life, hoping for the best. In the end, it hadn’t been enough and the turbulence had got the better of them, but now, ten months later, on a brand-new flight, the air was smooth again, and it reminded him just how enjoyable it could be when everything was new and fresh.

Emma came back with a round of drinks, and Max explained all about Rab’s Sandwich Shop, and Max found himself speaking quite passionately about it. He hadn’t realised just how excited he was until he explained everything to Emma, who was stunned it was happening so quickly. As he spoke about it, and why he had chosen to finally spend some of his inheritance on it, she said she thought it was a wonderful idea and couldn’t wait to visit the shop. They drank slowly, talking almost as if their break-up hadn’t happened. They were so at ease, talking, laughing, and when they finally stepped outside and started wandering towards the tube station together, it was like they were the old them again.

‘Before we get the tube, can I say something?’ said Emma, before they descended into the depths of Oxford Circus tube station. They lived near each other now, and would both jump on the Victoria Line, but then she would get off before him and change. He turned to face her.

‘Of course.’

‘This has been really nice catching up, and I know there’s a lot of baggage with us, but I’d like to see you again, if that’s all right?’

Max was momentarily caught off-guard, but surprisingly the answer came easily to him. ‘I’d like that too.’

‘Yeah?’

‘It feels like there’s some unfinished business between us, don’t you think?’

‘I do,’ replied Emma with a smile, and with that they walked down the stairs and into the tube station to catch the tube home.

When Max was a boy he loved playing Lego, and not the Lego they had nowadays, where everything was a special kit, and you followed directions to make something specific. Max just had a huge tub of random pieces and he would sit for hours making all sorts of things from cars to spaceships, and the thing was, often when he started out, he wasn’t sure what it was he was making. He would grab pieces of Lego and just start building, and slowly something would take shape. It was like a strange sort of alchemy, where it all just fell into place, and that was how his life felt at that moment. From the morning in the coffee shop when he had seen the flyer for Common People, he hadn’t known what it was he wanted to build. He had just begun, and now he had an amazing group of friends, was healthier, about to open a sandwich shop with Robbie, had Bethan, and now Emma was back in his life. None of it had been planned, but as he sat on the tube home, he could see that he was building a life again. Something was taking shape.

Nostalgic painting

It was Saturday afternoon, and everyone was at the sandwich shop, paintbrushes and rollers at the ready, and Robbie was holding court. Max and Robbie had arrived a few hours earlier, putting down large dust sheets across the floors and preparing the whole shop to be painted from top to bottom. Joe’s brother-in-law, Pete, was coming to work exclusively on the front door, while everyone else was going to help paint the shop. Hope was still working on signage ideas with Robbie, and that would be done before the official opening. It was going to be something minimal and small, perhaps hand-painted lettering and they were brainstorming ideas for a potential logo. Robbie had decided to go with a Scottish theme inside, so the walls were going to be bright blue with white trim like the Scottish flag. He had also decided to go with wooden floors to keep it smart and traditional, and they would be installed after the painting.

‘I’d like to thank all youse for coming today and helping out. It really means the world to me, and my business partner, Max. The idea of having me own sandwich shop was mostly, airy-fairy, never going to happen, pie in the sky stuff, so to be here, in me own shop, is proper magic. This is hopefully just the beginning of Rab’s Sandwich Shop, and youse all will have played a part in it, success or no. Once we’re done painting, I’ve sandwiches to go around, and some ice cold cans of Irn-Bru!’

Everyone clapped, and then it was time to get to work. Bethan was in a pair of denim dungarees, and Max thought she looked fantastic with her hair in pigtails too. It was a little strange seeing her after his impromptu meeting with Emma inthe week, almost like he was cheating on Bethan, which was crazy because nothing romantic was happening with either of them. His thoughts and emotions were all over the place. Robbie put on some music, a mix of the sort of songs he wanted to play once Rab’s was officially open. It was essentially a playlist of his favourite Scottish bands from Aztec Camera, Travis, Paolo Nutini, The Fratellis, Del Amitri, Belle and Sebastian, Texas, and, of course, The Proclaimers.

With music playing they all got to work. The least skilful or confident painters (Anita, Bethan, Max, and Charlie, who despite being the most confident person in that shop, admitted that he had never actually painted before) went into the back room, while Robbie, Joe, Eve and Hope, painted the front of the shop, where it really mattered. Joe’s brother-in-law, Pete was stripping layers of paint off the front door, before he was going to paint it again in a brilliant blue. Everyone was soon in a rhythm, listening to some classic Scottish music, and painting their strip of wall. Charlie and Anita were on one wall, while Bethan and Max were on the other. Bethan already had some paint on her cheek, which only made her look more adorable to Max, who was trying his best to think of her as just a friend. Nothing was going to happen between them, and as difficult as it was, he just had to accept it and move on. The consolation prize was that he also loved being friends with her, and he wanted to spend more time with her. She was good company, even if she wasn’t ready for anything more.

‘Have you painted before?’ Max asked.

‘Once, but it was years ago, and after less than an hour, I was relieved of my duties because apparently, there was more paint on me, the floor, and everything else but the actual wall I was supposed to be painting. In the end, I ended up being the coffee and lunch run girl.’

‘You do already have some paint on your cheek, and some in your hair.’

‘Ugh, really? I’m useless at this,’ replied Bethan, laughing at herself.

‘Luckily you’re brilliant at so many other things, and honestly, I don’t think being good or bad at painting is going to have a massive effect on your life.’

‘Agreed. Although if I do ever get a husband, we buy a house, if he’s rubbish at painting too, it will mean we’ll have to pay professionals. So, technically, it could have a financial impact on my life.’

‘True, but one day I’ll buy a car, and that doesn’t mean I’m going to take a crash course in how to change a tyre, fix a spark plug or, you know, change out a carburettor.’

‘You say those words like you actually know what they mean.’

‘Oh, I know loads of car words. Like, err, gasket, oil filter, piston, crankshaft!’

Bethan laughed. ‘Stop it, you’re killing me.’

‘Fine, I literally know nothing about car engines, which was my point. When the time comes, I’ll go to a garage to get my car fixed, and I’m sure it will cost a pretty penny. You will just have to pay for a proper painter and decorator. It’s called life tax. The cost of living.’

‘Fair enough. Although now I know Joe’s brother-in-law, Pete, maybe I can get one at mates’ rates.’

‘Bingo!’ said Max, as they continued painting, while Paolo Nutini sang about new shoes.