Page 122 of How We Began

“Lilah, he has gone off, not knowing either way.”

“Oh yeah.” I thought about this. “Oh well, he’s gone. All I have to do now is obsess about him being stalked by girls in black lacy underwear for two weeks.”

“No, you don’t. You know he won’t be that stupid again.”

“Hmm.”

“Shall we go and get drunk somewhere?” suggested Beth as she poked her head through the door to my room.

Meredith wiggled her eyebrows at me.

Deep in my heart I know I can’t drink though. Not until I know for sure.

(11:55 p.m.)

Ben: I am here. Miss you. Try not to get too pissed. XXX

Me: Miss you too. Make good music

24th March

Oh dear! Taylor was back this morning when I woke up, singing a nice upbeat tune in my head: “Sparks Fly.”

I have to go see Big Baz today and put in a few hours at the shop. It's my first day of work, and all I want to do is lie in bed and hide under my duvet.

Ah, a text. Yippee.

Ben: Get out from under your duvet and go to work.

Me: It smells of you though ;-)

Ben: Jeez! Try to wash it before I get back!

Me: I didn’t agree to do housework. What is this? 1956?

Ben: Go to work, Lilah. Love you.

25th March

Taylor Swift is singing “Breathless.”

I dreamt of Ben being chased by girls in black underwear. They were all tall, blond, and skinny, and he was fending them off with his guitar.

A guitar’s not a great self-defence weapon in the face of an onslaught of screaming near-naked women.

Yesterday I sold a recorder. It was not a great start to my new career.

26th March

(7.30 a.m.)

Today I get to open the shop. I have my own keys and everything. How big and important am I? Exciting stuff.

(Later)

Or not. By lunchtime, all I’d sold was some sheet music to an eleven-year-old. I’d also polished every guitar in the place, lovingly paying extra attention to the only remaining Gibson. It must have been missing its friend. I know I am. The other Gibson is in the States and obviously a little busy today.

(10.00 p.m.)