Page 129 of How We Began

At the end of the set Ben got asked questions by some enthusiastic but very spotty teenage boys who wanted to play like him. We sold eight guitars, mainly to harassed mums, and Ben had to give a gaggle of sixteen-year-old girls autographs, which made me laugh my head off as he blushed furiously and signed the pieces of paper they offered him.

As one of the girls turned away, looking like she wanted to snog the bit of paper in her hand, I noticed a picture printed on there. Upon closer inspection I found a picture of Ben.

“Where did you get this?” I asked, trying not to sound like a crazy jealous girlfriend.

“Off the website.”

Judging by the look she gave me, I failed. “What website?”

“Well, duh! Sound Box’s website.”

I had no idea that they had a website, nor the fact that Ben has a large following of teenage groupies. Hmm. How did I not know this? Is my head that far up my own arse that I do not know my own boyfriend has a website? It hadn’t even crossed my mind, otherwise I’d have found it during my stalking days.

When Big Baz cashed up he handed me a fifty.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“You guys make a great team. Go out for some drinks or something, on me!” He gave a little chuckle at his ‘or something’.

“You know, Ben, you sound pretty good playing by yourself,” Big Baz said as we rushed into our coats.

“Thanks, Baz. I don’t usually bother. Guess I am just used to the band being with me.” Ben turned from peering out into the pouring rain.

“Well, you’re welcome to play here anytime, especially if you help me shift stock like that.”

Ben flashed him his rock-star smirk in return. “No worries. Should be easy.”

Cocky git.

“Come on, Lilah.” Ben held his hand for me. “Ready to run?”

We ran a whole thirty paces to the nearest pub where we settled down and drank all of our bonus money.

I love having a boyfriend. I love having Ben as my boyfriend even more.

3rd April

“Shall we go to the library and find those sources?” I tried to ask without giggling. I was turned on my front while Ben kissed up the back of my bare leg, one sneaky hand creeping up my inner thigh.

“Nah, let’s just stay in bed.”

Okay then.

I wonder if the end-of-term paper will have a multiple-choice section entitled, ‘Things that make you giggle in bed.’ I hope so, otherwise I’m screwed.

4th April

(Work and the Ben Chambers show)

I wondered why we had such a crowd until I noticed that Big Baz has snuck up some flyers in the window.

‘Ben Chambers of Sound Box playing here, today at 11.’

I think I’ve been naïve not realising just how big Ben and his group are. We’ve been so isolated in our little History bubble at uni that even when we’ve been to gigs I’ve not really seen it.

Yeah, Ben’s pretty damn famous, and that’s before they’ve even done their thing in America.

He’s going to skyrocket once the record label have finished with him.