Mates, Dates and Cosmic Kisses (13 page)

Lucy put her hand on my arm. ‘Don’t look now. Mark’s just arrived.’

I quickly turned away but too late, he’d seen me and was walking towards me, smiling.

‘Izzie,’ he said, putting his arm round me. ‘You look fantastic. I was hoping you’d be here. Wanna dance?’

I couldn’t believe his cheek. Hoping I’d be there. Why didn’t he phone and make sure?

‘No thanks,’ I said. ‘I want to listen to the band.’

He looked taken aback. Actually I did want to listen to the band but I also wasn’t going to fall into his arms the minute he arrived.

‘Maybe later,’ I said.

‘Oh, OK,’ he said. ‘I’ll go and get a drink, then. Want anything?’

‘No thanks,’ I said, turning back to the stage as he walked off looking puzzled.

‘Good for you, Iz,’ said Lucy.

I took a deep breath. I wasn’t feeling as confident as I may have looked. Mark was still cute but I had made a promise to myself that I wasn’t going to be such a pushover in
future.

‘Anyway, I think Ben likes you,’ said Lucy, pointing at the stage.

I turned to look at him and sure enough, he was looking at me as he sang the words of a song.

‘Do you think?’

‘I do,’ said Lucy. ‘He’s really nice, you know. I’ve talked to him when he’s been waiting for lessons at home sometimes. He thinks about stuff like you do. I
reckon you’d get on.’

I spent the next half-hour standing by the wall, listening to the set King Noz played.

‘There’s a secret there for learning,’
Ben sang.

‘A journey to be taken in my search for truth. Krishna, Buddha, Gandhi, Christ, all bid me follow but which road offers proof? While I seek the smiles of angels, darkness calls my soul,
Jesus help me fight the fight, Buddha lead me to the light.’

Then he went into a rap chorus,
‘Omnipresent, omniwhere? I look for God but is he there? Heaven, hell, a state of mind. The way is lost for our mankind.’

As I listened to the lyrics I thought, Lucy’s right, I would get on with Ben. He seems to be asking all the same questions as me. Even if we didn’t get off with
each other, we obviously had a lot we could talk about. I’d never even given him a second glance. Not considered him for a moment. But watching him up there playing, I had to admit I was
impressed. Very impressed.

When the band had finished playing, the DJ started up the disco again and I could see Ben heading towards me.

‘You were fantastic,’ I said. ‘Really brilliant.’

He looked pleased. ‘Thanks. Bit of a change from songs from the shows.’

‘A bit,’ I smiled, thinking he had really nice blue eyes with thick black lashes behind his little round glasses.

‘My brother made me get up at that wedding. I felt a right prat. But it was his wedding and that’s what he wanted.’

‘Right,’ I said, not wanting to admit that I’d put him in a box and labelled it naff.

‘Have you been playing long?’ I asked.

‘About four years. Lot to learn still, that’s why I’m taking lessons. In fact, there was something I wanted to ask you about.’

Suddenly he looked embarrassed.

‘What?’ I asked.

‘Well, I know I shouldn’t have looked and I know I should have asked . . .’

‘What are you on about?’ I asked.

‘Well, you know that day I saw you at Lucy’s house? When I was there for my lesson?’

‘Yeah?’

‘Well, after the lesson Mr Lovering went off to find some CDs for me and I was just sat there waiting . . .’

‘And?’

‘And I saw this book on the piano. It had your name on it.’

‘Oh no,’ I said. ‘Oh
no
. You didn’t look, did you?’

He nodded, ‘I did. I didn’t mean to . . .’

‘I never show anybody my lyrics, not
anybody
.’ I felt awful. He’d laugh at me just as I’ve decided I like him. And his songs are so good, he must think mine are
awful.

‘I’m sorry,’ he continued. ‘As I said, I didn’t mean to look, not for long, but I really liked what I read. Did you write all those songs yourself?’

I nodded.

‘They’re really good, Izzie. In fact, I wanted to ask you . . . Have you put any of them to music yet?’

I shook my head.

‘Well, what do you think about us getting together sometime and working on them?’

‘Honestly?’ I asked. I couldn’t think of anything I’d like better.

We spent the next half-hour talking about bands we liked and who we didn’t, when we were interrupted by Mark.

‘Dance?’ he said, giving Ben a filthy look.

I was feeling so pleased with the way everything was turning out, I accepted. As I danced with Mark I could see Ben watching me.

Mmm, I thought. Could be interesting.

‘So,’ said Mark. ‘Want to go out next week?’

I shrugged. ‘Maybe. I don’t know what I’m doing yet.’

Again, he looked totally taken aback. ‘Oh well, phone me when you do,’ he said.

‘Yeah,’ I said, enjoying the effect I was having on him.

He leaned close to me and whispered, ‘Because I really like you, Izzie.’

‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘Whatever.’

He looked completely bemused. It was hysterical.

‘Anyway, maybe catch you later,’ I said. ‘Got to go. I came with my friends. Got to find them.’

I left him standing in the middle of the dance floor with his mouth hanging open. That’ll teach you, I thought. You could have come with me,
if
you’d bothered to phone.

The rest of the disco was brilliant. Nesta, in her usual style of fancying older boys, got off with some Sixth Former and was last seen in the canteen snogging for Britain.

Then Tony turned up.

‘I have to speak to you,’ he said urgently. ‘About Lucy.’

‘What about Lucy?’ I asked, doing my best innocent face.

‘Tell me what to do. You’re one of her best mates. How can I get her back?’

‘What does Nesta say?’

Tony laughed. ‘Nesta? Nesta’s told me from the beginning to keep away from Lucy. But I don’t want to. I
really
like her.’

‘She’s over there,’ I said, pointing out Lucy to him. She was slow dancing with a good-looking boy who looked really keen.

Tony’s face dropped. ‘I’ve blown it, haven’t I?’

‘Maybe,’ I said. ‘Maybe not. You never know until you’ve tried.’

What an evening, I thought, as Tony went on to the dance floor to cut in on Lucy. Boys. Strange species. Don’t want you when you want them and do want you when you’re not interested.
But I’m learning. Fast.

As the party started to wind down, I went to go and get my coat and Ben caught up with me.

‘Izzie,’ he said. ‘Can I phone you? You know, about getting together to do some songs?’

I was about to give him my number when I stopped and laughed.

‘What’s so funny?’ asked Ben.

‘Nothing,’ I said, getting out my pen. ‘I’d love to do some songs with you. But you give me
your
number.
I’ll
call you.’