Page 145 of How We Began

My arms are pink where I probably should have put sun cream on. Not quite as bad as Meredith.

Meredith decided to wear a boob-tube so she could get a better ‘all-round colour,’ I think she called it. She got an all-round colour all right. She is bright lobster-red after passing out in the sun due to drinking four pints of lager. She is currently lying face-down on her bed making some awful moaning sounds as Jayne applies after-sun every ten minutes.

Jayne has got a date though and has asked me to take over the role of cream applier.

It’s not really what I had in mind for the night, so I suggested to Meredith that I call Tristan because I am pretty sure he would relish the opportunity to spend the whole evening lavishing her with a lubricant, but she screamed into her pillow that she did not want to see him until the burn had faded into a golden glow.

“How long’s that?” I asked. “I’ve things to do other than smother you in aloe vera.”

“About a week,” she told the pillow optimistically.

“Sod that. I’m calling Tristan.”

* * *

18TH MAY

Tick, tock. Tick, Tock. Tick, Tock.

How can everything be so ridiculously perfect? It is like living in a dream world where every day is an exercise in perfection.

Tick Tock. Tick Tock. Tick Tock.

Well, apart from last night, when Ben had to go and see Mihraandah with the rest of the band and make some final choices about something or other. I didn’t really listen to what he was telling me. I heard the word ‘Miranda’ then zoned out to concentrate on keeping my inner green monster under control.

After he left, I ate cereal and drank pints with Jayne and Beth. I never expected it in a million years, but they have decided to live together next year. I quite like that. We’ll all still be together, just separated into smaller groups: Meredith and I in one place, Beth and Jayne in another. The only people missing will be Eva, who I don’t even think I would recognise if she came up and bopped me on the nose, and Ben. Of course Ben will be missing, too.

19th May

It is ridiculously hot. The shop is a sweatbox and Big Baz and I are taking turns to stand in front of the fan. We can’t both fit behind the counter at the same time without getting stuck in there together.

24 degrees in bloody May! Who’d have thought it? I’m quite grateful to be out of the sun and in the shop, I doubt Meredith will be heading out anywhere today. I reckon she’d take one step out into sunlight and her skin would start to sizzle like bacon on a grill pan.

I’m trying not to sulk but Ben stayed at Dave’s last night. I know it’s to be expected, but it still cuts a little. We’ve less than four weeks left and I’m feeling very protective of every minute that passes. Sound Box can have him forever and always. I get thirty-five more sodding days.

(Guitar Karaoke)

“Do you fancy a beer, love?”

I made a face at my boss.

“Baz, do you think I need alcohol for everything?”

It worries me this is what people think. It worries me this might be what I think.

“No. Let’s be honest, it’s boring.” He had a point.

“Shall I go and get some?”

He nodded at me and I opened the till for some money.

“Baz, when I get back, will you play me some tunes?”

“Sure, lovey! Let’s have a rock out!”

There is nothing Baz loves more than a rock out on a boring Sunday afternoon.

“Cool,” I said before dashing out of the shop to Waitrose.