Page 27 of We Used To Be Magic

‘Uh – on and off, like … ten years, almost?’

‘On and off?’

‘Yeah. We moved here when I was, like, seven. I did boarding school for a bit, though, and that was back in England. Now I’m here again.’

‘Really? I used to bedesperateto go to boarding school!’ she gasps, eyes wide. ‘I always pictured myself in this huge, beautiful library, working at one of those big long desks while it got all pink and dusky outside.’

‘Wow. That’s an extremely nerdy fantasy.’

‘You’re the one who actually went!’

‘Not by choice.’

Her expression shifts then, her brow creasing. ‘Oh. Really?’

Ah. We’re getting too deep again, only this timeI’mthe one in the emotional firing line.

‘It’s not much of a story,’ I say. ‘I skipped school a few times. Too many, it turned out.’

‘So … you got sent away?’

‘It sounds very Dickensian, when you put it like that.’

‘Sorry,’ she says quickly. ‘I wasn’t trying to sound judgy. I mean – it’s not as if my parents are so perfect. They can’t always find the kind of project they want in the same area so we move a lot. I used to think I was fine with it, but I don’t know any more. Maybe not.’

‘Are you still living with them?’

‘I guess so,’ she says after a beat. ‘Maybe I’ll move out permanently if the whole modelling thing works out.’

‘But it’s going well so far, right? I mean – you’re here.’

‘I think so. The whole thing just kind of … happened. But I care about doing a good job, even if it’s only for a little while.’

‘That’s cool. Cool to have something you care about.’

Audrey doesn’t reply to that – she’s looking at her phone, frowning at the screen.

‘Um … sorry,’ she says haltingly. ‘I just got a message from Marika.’

Marika, her friend from last night who spent a good chunk of the evening eyeing me suspiciously. I liked her.

‘Everything okay?’

‘No. I mean – yes, but I have to go,’ she says, glancing up at me with big, stricken eyes. ‘Our agent wants to see us, apparently – last minute. I’m sorry, I—’

‘No worries. Where’s the meeting?’

‘Her office. It’s close to Madison Square Park – is that nearby?’

‘It’s walkable. You know the address?’

‘Uh-huh. I mean – I’ll recognise the building when I see it. I’m not great with orientation, but …’

‘Want me to come with?’

‘Would you? I mean – you don’t have to.’

‘I’d like to,’ I say honestly. She smiles, obviously relieved.

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